My Cape May Lantern

For today I'd like to show you the lanterns I make from mason jars,

Cape May Lantern

I call it the Cape May Lantern  because I make them when I am down the shore, in Cape May County, and I only use white pebbles collected from the Cape May Sunset Beach.

Sunset Beach in cape May is where they find the "Cape May Diamonds" They are much like these white ones but a bit more clear and when polished and cut they shine like a diamond and make gorgeous pieces of jewelery.

I might start also collecting the peach color pebbles but for now, I have a bit of obsession for only the white ones. Some come with a hint of grey, and some with a hint or vein of sandy beige.

 It gives a nice glow from the little tea lites, and a whole bunch of these lanterns creates a magical ambiance in a yard or lining  a path for a ceremony.

You can dangle them from tree limbs, or just set them on your deck.

 Wire twisted around the neck to form a lantern handle .

 A bit of twine tied around the neck in a little nautical knot.

I try to always use the Atlas mason jar, they have been making glass jars since the 1800's here in America. Sometimes I use butchers twine, or jute twine, and sometimes sisal rope. I like the neutral and white combinations.
These come in  handy when we have power failures, which we seem to have a lot of when the heat is on, and everyone is burning the air conditioners.

To me it's just nice to have the time to be able to craft things that I like  to look at ...and that serve a useful purpose. It's the Good Life!
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
Get your Craft On
hooking up with ~White Wednesday # 112~
and Good Life Wednesday
Wicked Awesome Wednesday #24
Under $100 Linky Party @ Beyond the Picket Fence
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
At the Picket Fence

Vintage Inspiration Friday

Feathered Nest Fridays

The Thrifting Adventures of Picky and Pickier Episode 1

My sis and I have been doing an awful lot of thrifting lately whenever we get the chance.
So I thought I would start a little series on what we find. You know sort of to chronicle our times out, hunting, thrifting, junkin, antiquing.
We've named ourselves "Picky" and "Pickier"
Like a cross between "Dumb and Dumber " and "The Pickers"
And because it is always an adventure going anywhere with my sis,
( you never know how much laughing we will do)
(Or raggin about our DHs)
Isn't it funny how sometimes when the hub is on your good side, DH stands for Darling Husband.
On your bad side, well... we all know what DH stands for then!

So back to The Junkin Adventure...Have you found anything great out there lately?

 Picky.. that's me... I found some really great linens this time out.

• A lovely piece of old lace ...5 yards of it, in Cape May

What makes me Smile

I smile at lots of stuff.

• My granddaughter the most.

• Heading to the beach on one of those glorious summer days in August when the Atlantic is warm.

Roses on a Cottage Table

I just discovered another blog called A stroll thru Life
which has a linky party titled 75th Table Top Tuesday.
It's all about vignettes and things we dress our side tables, end tables, and dining tables with.
So I though I'd give it a try, since I am always taking pictures of that sort of thing.
Last Saturday when I ran to get groceries, they had some lovely cut roses I could not resist, A big bunch for a reasonable price, so I couldn't help myself but to spread them all around the cottage.

for Sweet Shot Tuesday

I just discovered this blog and they are having a photo challenge, called Sweet Shot Tuesday. So I thought I would jump in.
My favorite shot this week is of the lighthouse gardens down the street from my cottage at the beach.
They have a sweet spot that is perfect for the sweet shot.

It's a little hideaway. and I love how cool and cozy... when you open the gate, there is a little bench.

Some White Vintage Cottage Beach House Discoveries

I found such pretty vintage finds out on a recent "Treasure Hunt".
A perfect pristine white cutwork duvet cover.

The cutwork is so awesome.

The prettiest work I've seen in a while!

 I love how it looks wth my simply shabby chic pillows in my shore house cottage

The lamps, I found at "Home Goods" last year, they were a " had to have " find

 Don't you just love it when you have a successful day out shopping?

I also found, on the same day, this lovely twin eyelet bedskirt,

 which I will be holding on to until I find another to use in my middle bedroom which is due for a redecoration.

 i love the look of eyelet

I adore the texture in this bedskirt.

I really enjoyed washing and hanging outside on the line at my beach house.

 The fresh ocean air makes everything smell so crisp and fresh!
It always reminds me of when I was a kid and sheets were hung on the line to dry in the summer sun.
They always felt so crisp, and so refreshing when I went to bed I would move my feet back and forth and listen to, and feel the sheets rustle.
I still do, and some sheets are better than others.
 I really love Rachel Ashwell's "simply shabby chic" line of sheets, because even after 3- 4 years of using some of them, they still have that crisp and fresh feel that reminds me so much of sheets dried out in the sun, on the line. (even when I use the dryer) And they still fit perfectly.
Thank You, Rachel ! for making comfortable precious linens for a reasonable price. So now i will add these precious new finds to my collection of yummy linens.
I like how quickly one simple find changed the look of this room.

which I had originally designed after the idea below in a coastal living magazine

But change is good right? I love change. Although the design challenge was really fun,
 I love the white a lot more.

what'ya think?

Between Naps on the Porch - Metamophosis Monday

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Faded Charm-~White Wednesday # 111~