autumn

We tend to stay pretty busy over here, just like the rest of you I'm sure.

I'm going to spare you all the detailed chit chat and share some

photos of what I've been up to with 

just a little play by play in between...

we went to the apple orchard a couple of weeks ago.

we are already out of apples and we need to get some 

this weekend at the Eastern Market.

this guy turned 12!

so him and his buddies do what they love to do best.

play a little airsoft wars in our backyard.  

They aren't just shooting at eachother like I thought it was,

nope they strategize these games and play a physical 

game of Stratego.

I just stay out of the way of oncoming pellets!

we made it to Art Prize and here is a pic

of Hannah and Max playing in the room with the winning piece.

we are still going to shows and the farmers market most every week.

If you are in the area and get the chance, 

the Detroit Eastern Market is a great 

place to shop, have some lunch and meet wonderful people!

I am now in the midst of adding lots of soldered pieces to the baubles

just in time for Christmas shopping!

As I cleaning my workroom I came across a few

soldered story bottles that needed some tweeking, 

so I added those to the work pile.  

these were a big hit last year, so I am creating more

little snow storms in the bottles for this year.

something very new to the booth are my

MIlove charms.  I will be putting them on key chains also!

I love the organic look that happens when I press into the 

molten lava hot solder.

I think setting up for the show is 1/2 the fun :)

in between all the work and fun, I also try to keep us healthy

with good meals... thank goodness for pinterest!

This is my new favorite salad...

kale, (this time I mixed in romaine because I used all the kale in our smoothies)

roasted butternut squash, apples, craisins,  and sunflower seeds with a 

maple vinaigrette dressing... yum!

actually you can find it in my pin board titled just that - YUM

I also continue to 'play' on my phone with

Rhonna Designs and Photofy

to create marketing pics and thank you notes-

even Max's bday party invites.

(and I really DO start each day with a grateful heart)

xoxo

well there you have it... my life in a nutshell!

I am supposed to be sewing sachets so I better get to it,

soon they will also get a touch of Christmas spirit with

some Christmas stamps on them.

I hope that you are having a fabulous day and

enjoying every bit of your autumn!

love, 

t. xoxo

snow day, snowed in sale...

We have been getting snow for the last few days,

and it is really gorgeous outside!

Truthfully, I've been watching it through the window,

next to a space heater, 

or in front of the fireplace,

drinking hot chocolate...

I like mine with instant coffee and maybe a peppermint stick.

I fell in love with the hot chocolate bars that were all over blogland last year,

and this year since the buffet was moved from my workroom

back to the dining room, I finally have one for us!

I had one old sled left, after selling one and giving another away,

so I put it on top and added some skates, a scale with small platters

for the cookies that will be added closer to Christmas,

and all the fixings for yummy hot chocolate!

When Hannah walked in the door, 

she instantly asked if she could have a sledding party with her friends,

so that they could see it!

yup, totally worth it!

Max - Keeper of the Flame.

After Cameron moved out, Max took over the roll

of keeping a fire going in the fireplace.

He takes it very seriously,

and knows how happy he makes everyone with his

fire building skills.

so sweet.

As the seasons change, so has our booth...

we have gone from this - all green and sunshiny,

to this... still sunny,  but pretty chilly!

These were taken at the Detroit Eastern Market

where we have been going on Saturdays.

We dress in many layers, and put hand warmers in our boots,

and hang a curtain to block out the wind,

and have a really good time!

The market, like most farmers markets, has a rhythm of it's own... 

you can feel the happiness that it brings people!

This brings me to our sale ~

Duane and I tried to make it to the market this past Saturday,

but the roads were pretty bad.

We got about 30 miles or so and  decided to turn around.

I mean, we have kids to take care of!

On the way home, we thought about our car load

of goods that we made through the week and into Friday night,

and came up with a brilliant plan to have a sale!

Everyday through Friday I will be posting jewelry,

and surprise goodies that are ready to be shipped at a moments notice!

We are also including our 

drum roll please...

EXTREME LAUNDRY AND CLEANING BUNDLE

This is the bundle that's large enough to share,

or to give your entire home the natural clean of using

time tested cleaning agents along with the beautiful scent 

and antibacterial properties of Lavender!

You get one 16oz. bag of our laundry soap, with a tablespoon wooden scoop,

one dryer sachet, (I will choose the fabric unless specified)

one 8oz. linen & room spray, one 12oz. kitchen & bath cleanser,

and one 16oz. jar of our carpet freshener.

All for $35.00 + shipping

I can fit all of this in a med. flat rate box for $12.35

That's an $8. savings if your were to get them individually,

or a $5. savings from the reg. price.

Our market customers love buying our bundles,

so we made plenty to go around!

here's a sample of the rest of the sachets

that I have in stock right now.

This Snowed in Sale is happening on my 

FB PAGE

and on my 

INSTAGRAM - theoldwhitehouse

(that way I can upload faster than listing on etsy, or the website, 

to purchase something you just message me on either site

and I will mark it sold and msg. you about payment)

something special for those that follow me!

Thanks to all of you for doing just that!

Have a blissful day,

 I know mine will be...

 judging from the cheers that I heard from the kids 

when I said those 2 words all kids love to hear -

SNOW DAY!!!

bring on the sledding and hot chocolate!

Thanks so much for stopping by,

love,

t.xoxo

let's play catch up (again)...

Hello! I missed all of October here in blogland... I can't even believe it myself. It has been a wild ride of doing shows almost every weekend and spending the week preparing for them.   To get you a little up to date on what I've been up to I went through the pics on my phone going backwards from most the recent ones and stopped when I figured you were saying "enough already!"

I made shadow box pendants for last weeks show, and a customer had me marry two necklaces together as we chatted a bit.  I love how it turned out!  I may have to take a second look at some of my stock!

Here are some repurposed glass bottles with vintage ornament toppers for Christmas.   The show was the Recycled Art Market.  It's one of my favorites because everything you make has to be at least 50% recycled.  Right up my alley! 

Soldered bottles, some with pearls, some with feathers, some with little trees... They come with a chain to be worn but they look great on the tree too.

 pumpkins, bottles, vintage button rings, and soldered ornaments hanging from repurposed feather trees made by my brother Wil.  Plus the lavender laundry and cleaning goods in the background.

the worktable...

Max the zombie making his rounds on Halloween with his buddies.  Yes, you have to RUN between houses when the city only gives you 2 hours to gather as much candy as your pillowcase can hold!

And YES, at our house you still trick or treat when you're in high school as long as a costume is involved... especially if you made yourself a sweet fairy forest deer costume 

...most especially if you stand long enough for a zillion pics for your mom.

Vintage button rings from my stash of beautiful metal buttons, most were given to me by a dear friend so I could repurpose them... Thanks Judy! xoxo

 Our newest addition to the lavender goodness - Lavender Carpet Freshener!  Lavender buds, and lavender oil along with natural freshening agents to freshen your carpets and vacuum as you clean.  It's really lovely and makes your home smell fabulous!

I put our heron decoy in this apple picking bag a while ago, and he got a fall makeover with corn tassels.

Every birthday should end with you falling asleep in the car hugging your new best friend that your sister bought for you at the cider mill!

...because this is how much fun you had at said cider mill!  Happy #11  Max!  xoxoxo 

Speaking of new best friends, have you met Captain yet?  When we got him in August the humane society called him a 'lab mix'. We are pretty sure now that the 'mix' is Great Dane.  He's much bigger than this already!  

But he's ALL puppy!

Sometimes I play with apps on my phone for Instagram.  This one is my fave by Rhonnadesigns.  

I think i heard someone In the back yell "enough already!" so I'll stop now.  Thanks for playing catch up with me!  This is the first time I've blogged from my phone, we'll see how it goes, maybe I could blog more often and not have to recap an entire month!

I hope that you are having a wonderful autumn!  Thanks for stopping by!

Love, t.xoxo

fall has arrived...

The proof is in the chillier nights and mornings.

The colors haven't changed yet,

but mind you,

 fall has arrived!

I would like to tell you that my home is all decorated for the season,

like in years past, but that would be a fib.

Upon looking for a photo, I came across some from that last couple

of years and thought I would make a collage so that I would

get my butt in gear and maybe add some pumpkins to the porch,

maybe take the scarecrows out of the barn and put them in the front yard.

maybe...

I will take a cue from this pumpkin that I made yesterday

and keep it simple this year.

maybe.

Today will be more pandora;

Etta James, Ray Charles, Adelle, Norah Jones, Ingrid Michaelson,

James Taylor, Cat Stevens, anything old and bluesy.

A little chai tea, 

blueberry cake from a sweet friend,

and more pumpkin making.

(oh and throw in some grocery getting too.)

,

This is what happens after a day full of the above,

I go into creative overload

and before you know it

I am adding old photos and charms to a simple gray pumpkin.

(tell me you understand, o.k.?)

Thanks for stopping by!

love,

Theresa

xoxxoxoxo

linking to:

Transformation Thursday

Vintage Inspiration Friday

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Vintage Inspiration Friday

Happy Friday!

Gotta get ready for "a day in the life..."

but I didn't want to miss Debra's party

so here is one of my latest projects recently listed in the shop

If I was given this trophy pin, then I don't 

think I would have minded 2nd place!

To find and wear something that made someone

so happy over a hundred years ago...

priceless.

Have a fabulous weekend,

I hope to be stopping by with more to share!

love,

Theresa 

xoxoxoxo

linking to:

Vintage Inspiration Friday

etsy love...

Thank you Susan from Beach Baby Blues for
featuring my Valentine heart in your wonderful treasury!

To all of my lovely blog friends...

Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart for your love...

your kind words and prayers mean the world to me.

love,

Theresa xoxo

reflecting...

I am so enjoying the process of beading these necklaces!

I started  going through my soldered pendants that have been hanging around the studio,

this one is my first attempt at a double strand necklace.

The two crystal balls on either side of the pendant are from a vintage necklace,

and the pendant is double sided.  The enclosed button with a circle of glass glitter that you see here,

and a fleur de lis on the other side.

I think this one is my new favorite :)

I applied a copper patina to the soldered Eiffel Tower pendant for a more vintage look,

and then beaded with vintage and new creamy ivory beads.

Super romantic!

Our weekend did not go as planned, it was turned upside down

when we found out that one of our best friends passed away Friday night.

Very suddenly, without warning, and much too young.

He was only 49.

One of the nicest, kindest people I have ever met.

Married his highschool sweetheart, also wonderfully kind,

and raised 3 incredible children.

I know that it is almost cliche to say that a death like this,

makes you evaluate your own life.

but it does.

It's too short, not enough time to make sure that you are living to your full potential.

By that I don't mean becoming some huge success

by the standards that the financial world sets for us.

Nor by being famous,

I mean, did I recognize the sadness in someones eyes as we spoke,

and did I do something to help make it go away?

Have I shown a kindness, big or small to those around me?

Have I stopped to appreciate this big beautiful world and have

I made a conscious effort to keep it that way?

Am I the kind of person that I would want to meet?

All simple things really,

but they all require a promise...

a promise to myself that I will stop long enough to give more of myself.

The good parts...the parts that come from a place of love.

Source: ruelala.com via Theresa on Pinterest

nuff said.

Have a wonderful week!  Ours started with a snow day, so Hannah and Max are still sleeping. 

 I'm thinking fruit smoothies for breakfast and some good snuggles are in order.

love,

Theresa xoxoxoxo

Pin It

around the house...

we say this.

and seeing that everything becomes a competition,

even telling one another how much we love each other,

you must win the competition with

I love you most.

This was a special order for the shop

I loved making it and added the design to the rest of the "keeping Christmas simple" heart ornies.

I couldn't believe I didn't think of it first...

anyway I'm so glad that one of my shops visitors did!

*********

The last couple of weeks have been frustrating to say the least.

Danielle's car broke down and so I lent her my truck to go to work.

(she works 2 hours from her house-I work 5 min. from mine)

We got her car running over the weekend

(or so we thought)

Today I make plans to go see my dad, and am so looking forward to a long overdue visit,

go to get into her car and now there is something dragging from underneath it.

ugh.

really?

really?

so you know what this means, besides not being able to see my dad and miss out on a fun outing with him?

yep, I haven't done any shopping either, except for the things that I have gotten online, 

mostly from etsy I might add!

Looking on the bright side, 

(cuz that's what I do)

good thing we kept her car here for a trial ride to make sure that it was going to run for her,

or else she would have been stranded with no way to get to work!

(and she leaves in the wee hours of the morning)

things work out for the best.

for some of us anyway.

fa la la ing 

my way through this.

fa la la,

Theresa xoxo