Spring DIY Banner Kits Were a Real Hit!

 Hello + Hello!

How is everyone?

I hope you are well!

I just wanted to stop in here & share a little bit

 about what I did this past rainy & dreary weekend...

 

>>>>>--------------->

 

Honestly, I'd been craving some sit down crafty time for quite a while now.

So,

I decided to take some time out and make up a cheery

Spring banner with some vintage

 Contact Paper.

 I've had these rolls squirreled away

from my thrifting adventures

for quite awhile now...

and it suddenly seemed like the right time to use them!

 I had so much fun making the banner for myself,

that I made a bunch of

DIY Kits and sold them in my

Trisha Brink Design Shop

on Instagram.

They were a huge hit!

Each kit simply contained just the right amount of

vintage papers & string

(along with instructions)

to make these adorable banners

which total about 3 yards in length.

It doesn't take rocket science to figure out how to make these.

Finding the right combination of prints and colors is the difficult part;

and I simply lucked out.

I figured I'd spread the luck around

being it was St. Patty's Day weekend and all.

(wink, wink)

 

Pretty sweet huh?

I had so much fun making these....

I may have to come up with other kits soon!

Just in case anyone is interested in making their own garland...

I have a few kits left.

They can be purchased from me for $6.00 each

with free shipping within the USA!

(Just contact me via email at trishabrinkdesign@comcast.net

& I can send you an invoice via PayPal.)

 

>>>>>--------------->

 

So...

sometimes you don't need to make huge

leaps and bounds on a rainy dreary weekend.

Sometimes you simply need to

get crafty and create your own sun shiny cheer!

 

Cheers,

T.

xx

A Rainy Memorial Day Weekend...Time to Fire up the Tacky Lights!

 Hello + Hello!

I hope your Memorial Day weekend was lovely?

We had a very relaxing weekend, working on this and that....

but sadly...it rained. the. whole. weekend. long.

Boo-hoo.

Oh well, I got to spend a little time admiring the drippity drops

from the front porch.

 I decided to fire up the fun little find I got out thrifting the other day......

 Yes that's right....tacky trailer lights!

(this one's for you mom! ha ha ha!!!)

My dad always thought these little party lantern lights were the tackiest thing around

when we were kids in the 70's.

We had a trailer in a campground we used to visit, &

dad always made fun of people who had them.

My mom and I are of the less "worried what people think of us" version of folks.

SO.....

my hubby and I hung them up last night to give it a try.

We laughed pretty hard....but left them up for the night.

 We'll see if I'm brave enough to leave them lit in our respectable neighborhood....

Hey... a little granny/grampy trailer park chic never hurt anyone....right?

Now....

where are my lawn flamingoes?

 

>>>>>---------------->

 

T.

xx

The 32 Things I've Been Doing Since We Last Spoke

 

 Hello + Hello!

How have you all been lately?

Long time no speak...

yeah, I know....my bad.

Quite honestly I needed a little break from the internet/blogging,

but...just for a bit.

I guess I should've given a warning...but you know...it just didn't happen.

WHAT DID HAPPEN HOWEVER

was a bunch of stuff!

Whew...have I been a busy little bee.

In addition to my normal everyday job at

Grandiflora

this is what I've been up to while not

mothering...or wifey-ing

(is that a word?)

Ha ha ha!

 

>>>>>--------------->

 

Anyway...here goes:

Above you'll see that I painted a dresser for my son's room.
I also did a bit of fun painting for Etsy & Grandiflora items.

Next, I ripped up a neat old butterfly book and went a little

crazy with the gold and white washi tape!

I love how it turned out!

Then I started on some projects I can't reveal yet....at least not fully.

Isn't blanket stitching just the most relaxing thing?

I tried my hand at making a grocery tote from vintage sheeting....

it was actually going quite well

( I don't sew....no....frankly....I don't like to sew...not enough patience.)

until the machine decided to be stupid and I almost

threw it through a window!

(Well not really....but I thought it sounded like a good idea at the time.)

Needless to say,

I may be calling up one of my seamstress friends to finish it for me?

 I feel that I've been surrounded by books and magazines lately as well.

Truly I've not had the chance to really enjoy all of these lookers yet...

but everyday I savor a page or two!

I have been out picking and thrifting for finds lately.

Most of them go to one of my Etsy shops....but a few I either keep,

or send into Grandiflora.

I love shipping out orders from Etsy

&

washing and caring for the sweet vintage items.

A couple of other things I've been up to in my silly life are:

taking care of the t-shirt ninjas that seem to have invaded my life...

they demand fresh Asian food...mainly Spring Rolls.

I roll my eyes every time they get their swords out!

 

Our Chickens seem to have forgotten what a nesting box is....

or maybe they are practicing for Easter?

Again,

more photography for Etsy of this lovely vintage wallpaper.

Found a funny old photo strip pic of

hubby and I in 1992!

( Buah ha ha!)

Another chair that needs a little help...son picked it out for me.

(Frankly was pretty impressed with his selection!)

And....last but not least,

the new glasses arrived.

It's been mostly rainy lately....so it seems all I've been up to is

using the front of my shirt as a windshield wiper.

But there was a day or two when I was able to pull out the

new prescription sunglasses!

Whoo hooo!

 

>>>>>--------------->

 

Well,

I hope you're all enjoying your early Spring?

And....

that you're going to have an excellent weekend!

I hope to see you back again sooner rather than later...

but here is to a much needed break.

Cheers my friends!

T.

xx

The 14 Things That Made Me Smile This Week

 

 

 Hello + Hello!

Dropping by again to share a few things that made me smile this past week...

14 things to be exact.

Personally, I enjoyed a bunch of junking this past week.

Treasures were everywhere!

I was able to find an antique shell encrusted box for my bathroom cabinet;

it was labelled 1930, Paris. Pretty amazing huh?

It has old mirrors that are losing their silvering on the sides,

& it's in perfect shape....for only $3.00!

Whoo+hoo!

I found a vintage granny square afghan in disrepair, so I decided to disect it...

now I'm waiting on the inspiration I need to decide what to do with the pieces!?

I found hoards of good vintage fabrics & items for my Etsy shops too!

Now that I've washed them all, I need to figure out which ones are staying and which ones are going to need to find a new home.

I treated myself to a few cheap thrills too!

I bought a new necklace with colorful beads from my own shop

Grandiflora

&

some sweet little primroses for my window sill.

($2.00 well spent!)

Other than that,

we've been trying to keep up with our chickens & their

egg production!

Whew!

>>>>>--------------->

While I was at work this past week....

I took a few snaps of the new items that keep pouring in from our

January buying trip to Atlanta.

New jewelry, scarves & purses showed up;

as well as new votive cups, flower pots & candles too!

I love to do the displays when I get the chance to.

Taking the photos for the shop is also pretty fun.

But,

going to market & buying all this product has to top the list.

Grandiflora

could never be accused of being a boring place to

own, or work at!

We have LOTS of fun there together as a family,

 and with

our employees who are basically our friends too!

 

>>>>>--------------->

 

Hope your week was just as fun as mine,

&

I wish you a wonderful weekend filled with joy!!!

Cheers,

T.

xx

Pretty Reusable Bags Are Pretty Easy To Use

Hello + Hello!

Reusable bags were meant to be used right?

Well....

I'm truly on the right track then!

I am in love with this new reusable bag which I was

blessed enough to receive at market last month.

It's a fun faux stitchery bag from

Pip Studio

(A really sweet Dutch line I'm totally in love with, and contemplating bringing into the shop)

So far I've used it to purchase a few

lovely inexpensive tops

from

Old Navy

&

even a fun bedspread from a local thrift store.

I'm quite frankly smitten with using reusable bags

as long as they can all be this pretty... and this high of quality.

How about you?

How do you feel about plastic bag bans & reusable bags?

Our local shopping mecca (Bellingham, Wa USA) has a bag ban.

I can see good in it and bad too...but I'm adapting.

Wishing you a lovely day my friends!!

Cheers,

T.

xx

A Birthday Weekend Filled With Fun!

 Hello + Hello!

Hope you are all off to a magnificent start this week?

I know I am!

I had a super fun weekend spent with loved ones thrifting, travelling & decorating.

Some of my favorite things!

I went thrifting with my mom & sisters on Saturday for the whole day and had a blast!

We found all sorts of treasures, one of which was the chair above,

 which is headed into Grandiflora soon!

 Sunday was spent out on Eliza Island in the San Juans here in Washington State

with my awesome in-laws.

We ate fresh crab and chatted while being surrounded by the beautiful island views.

 Monday was spent doing more picking for the shop...who knows what all this stuff will turn into

at Grandiflora!

 We ate at a wonderful little restaurant called

La Patisserie

which serves Vietnamese food in reference to the French influence from back in the day.

It was SOOOO GOOD!

Yummy!

We had a bit of salted caramel gelato as well...but I didn't get a photo,

it was gone too quickly!

 

 I filled more than 3 carts this weekend with good thrifty finds for either myself or my

Etsy shops

Ollie Bollen & Wesley Asher.

This cart just screamed Fall to me...so it's the one I'm showing you here...

view my Instagram photos over on Webstagram for more views.

 

Last but not least I spent some time relaxing with my hubby and boys in my easy chair

with my new pillow (bought with some birthday money).

We had a delicious dinner, I watched magic tricks and listened to music composed just for me!

It was a wonderful weekend all around,

I can honestly say I haven't enjoyed a birthday this much for a long time.

Thanks to all who made it possible,

I am very thankful to friends and family like you!

Cheers to you all!

T.

xx

Simple Domestic Finds Equal a Happy Trisha

 

 

Hello + Hello!
How are you today?
I just wanted to stop in with a few Instagram photos and say happy Tuesday!

>>>--------->
I was so excited to find green eggs from our Americauna chickens this past weekend, that I thought I should pop by and show you how sweet petite they are! After I took this photo we cooked them up and ate them for dinner. They were delicious! I'm so happy to have green egg chickens in my flock now!



 

I also had fun this past week spending a day out with my mom thrifting. I was so happy to find this lovely quilt for about 10 dollars! Some days it's the simplest things that make me the happiest... chickens, eggs and quilts!
Wishing you many happy domestic treasures this week!
T.
xx

Vintage Wallpaper Cubby Shelf DIY Tutorial

Hello + Hello!

I had a little too much fun this past weekend

working with a thrifted cubby shelf I found recently.

Some of you may know that I sell vintage wallpapers in two of my Etsy shops:

Wesley Asher & Ollie Bollen

Sometimes when I'm working with these beauties

I end up with tiny scraps.

These scraps somehow find their way into a scrap bin

(of which I've recently become very aware of it's fullness)

and I try to do something famously cute with them.

I had honestly thought of selling this little cubby shelf...

but,

after much thought...

I believe I'll keep it just for me!

I will however,

be searching the world over for more of these sweet little cubbies

in the hopes of using more delicious little

paper scraps!

Cheers!

T.

>>>---------->

P.S.

Want a simple tutorial?

Find and clean a painted cubby shelf.

Accumulate scraps of paper.

(preferably wallpaper as it holds up to decoupage well)

Procure a bottle of Matte Mod Pod & water it down a bit,

-OR-

Mix your own with one part white interior glue to one part water

( It will appear too watery...but no worry...it will work perfectly!)

Measure your cubbies

&

cut paper scrap accordingly.

Working one cubby at a time use a paint brush to "paint" glue onto back of shelf.

Adhere paper & immediately "paint" another layer of glue onto paper,

whilst smoothing out bubbles.

REPEAT.

Check a few times for developing bubbles in paper, and smooth out.

Let dry until paper no longer appears wet/dark.

Enjoy your new wall decor!

xx



These Are A Few Of My Favorite Tins....

I love tins...don't you?

Vintage ones inparticular grab my attention.

I have found and sold so many tins in the last few years over at my shops on Etsy, that I am beginning to wonder if it would be better for me to quit my day job?

( Ha! Not really! ;)

The one below recently flew to a happy new home in Australia.

Even tin recipe boxes can be fun to collect....

I love all the bold colors and great use of graphics used on these commonplace kitchen items...
Do you collect tins too?
I know there are many of you out there....as I sell the tins just nearly as fast as I can find and list them over at my shop Ollie Bollen on Etsy.
What do you like to store inside of them? Buttons? Candy? Money?
Hmmmmm.....
Any which way you look at them, they are handy and pretty all at once.
Happy collecting!
T.
:)
xx

Joyriding to Spokane for Farm Chicks!!

OK...

....let's get just one thing straight.

I

 HEART

 the The Farm Chicks Show!

If you've been reading my blog at all....you would know this is an annual event of pure girly fun.

My mom, sisters, and friends all gather up together and drive 7 or 8 hours to go to

Spokane County Washington Fairgrounds to attend this 2 day event.

Truly....

it is our favorite find!

 What a fun joyride it is too....

We have SO much fun together laughing, telling good stories & generally making all kinds of trouble!

The part about the ride I like the most???

Flying down I-90 trying to pick out the rest of the Western Washingtonions who are also headed to the show.

We wave....we make handwritten signs that say:

"Honk if you love the Farm Chicks!"

&

the best part???

The group of ladies in the car/van next to us just rips into laughter and begins honking back!

:D

It's a chance to live like a little teeny-bopper again.

Giggling & Goofing off with like minded girlfriends.

We always have tall tales to tell when we talk to folks about Farm Chicks.

( My favorite is the one about the couch that ate my mother.....but that is hallowed ground....if I tell you the story I may lose my inheritance ;)

To whom do we owe this great adventure time???

Well....

Miss Serena Thompson

of course.

She is a sweet chick with all sorts of fun to share through her great show, blog, cookbooks & contributions to Country Living Magazine.

Speaking of Country Living Magazine...

I'm pretty excited to meet

Heather Bullard

who's a pretty inspirational chick herself!

She contributes to Country Living Magazine as well as producing her own magazine called

Souvenir

oh....it's so lovely!

Head on over to check it out!

So.....

to wrap this all up,

I hope you can join us at the show.

It will be great fun, and you won't want it to end....but when it does....

I hope you will have yourself some:

:)

T.

xx

Ormalulu & Penny Lane

 Just got back from the

Lynden Craft and Antique Show

(see previous post for more info)

&

wanted to share a few inspiring shots really quickly...

Deb

from
Ormalulu

always has such a stunning booth display...and the most interesting finds too!

 Then....there's the lovely and ever cute

Penny Lane

What a great couple of booths you gals have there...

wishing you all the best at the show & beyond!

Thanks for letting me share your fun finds!

Don't know what you're all up to over the weekend....but I hope you'll all be able to get on out there and show a little support of your nearest small business retailer.

These ladies (and many others like them) work really hard to bring you the best stuff....

whether you're close by....or far away...

I encourage you to head in to your favorite local shops & offer a word of encouragement to the folks behind the counter....

retail hasn't been easy for anyone lately,

&

we should all be thankful that these folks are still sticking it out to provide us with great new products and selection daily.

Hip Hip Hooray for cute Shops!

Speaking of shops...gotta run off to mine!

Have a great day!

:)

T.

xx

My (Mysterious) Favorite Find!

Well well well....

I wonder what the ever talented and always busy

Miss Serena Thompson of Farm Chick Fame

is up to?

Hmmmmmmmm.......

I dunno, but if I were you...

I'd be signing up

OVER HERE

to find out as soon as she releases more information. 

 Serena is truly such a down to earth and wonderful person to deal with.

That's why so many folks (into the kind of stuff we all like) tend to get more than a little bit excited whenever she starts something new.

I just thought I'd be a good friend and share the little secret with you!

So, why don't you spread the word and share a little lovely secret....

I'm sure your friends will thank-you!

:)

T.

More Crafts & a Fun Day in Lynden for All!

 I know that Scrabble Tiles have been used in crafting for quite some time now....

but it never grows old for me.

Fun nights spent around a Scrabble board evoke memories of childhood.

Although it wasn't my favorite board game,

I always had fun trying to come up with the wildest words possible!

Now, I keep my eyes peeled when I'm thrifting for old Scrabble games....I usually find a few throughout the year.

Many are missing pieces etc...and aren't good for "playing" anymore, so I start dividing them up into words.

This year however, Tristan can SPELL & READ! So, I let him help with that.

We had lots of fun thinking of words used to describe Christmas and Wintertime.

Once we had the words figured out...we just started gluing!

Elliot was really in the spirit, and loved making this easy craft.

However,

once the placketts are gone (as there are only about 4 in a box)

you have to come up with other ways to display the words....

So,

I got to thinking and figured out that if we cut a small strip of chipboard (smaller than the word itself), and glued the letters to it, we would have a solid "held together" word!

So we got to working....

Elliot had alot of fun with this part!

I had to watch how he put the words together as "star" suddenly turned into "arts".

:)

Then,

DAD

came to the rescue!!!

He was able to drill tiny little holes with the boys into the corner of each word.

Once that was done I helped them string

black iron wire into each corner to make a primitive hanger.

Pretty cute huh?

We will be selling these little cuties at the craft fair this Saturday:

 at our lovely Lynden Library

The boys are trying to earn money to buy a goat and 2 chickens

 through World Vision Gift Catalog

We are hoping they'll reach their goal of $100.00?

If they go over that, they'll be keeping the rest and splitting it between the two of them!

How fun?!

Did you know that there is a whole day of fun planned in

Lynden?

Sinterklaas comes to town at noon to meet all the Children!

 Yep....Lynden is inherently Dutch!

You HAVE to head to the Dutch Bakery and get some

OLIE BOLLEN!

(small round dutch dohnuts that are divine!)

or some

Almond Sticks

(pastry wrapped almond paste...yummo!)

After poking around town, you must head on over to our shop....

Grandiflora Home and Garden

to shop from all the Christmas Goodies that are all on sale now at 20% off!

And just when things start getting dark....you can head on over to

Front Street

for...

The lighted Christmas parade at 6pm.

It starts over by the Fairgrounds/Fairway Shopping Center

&

heads for Downtown.

It should be a good evening for it,

 as it's supposed to be clear and dry!

It's a fun day ahead in

Lynden...

So, we hope to see you there!

Cheerio!

Trish

:)