Hunt and Gather......

Since we have had such a mild winter (so far) here in Minnesota, John and I have spent the last two weekends exploring Minnesota. We usually spend winter weekends cross country skiing....no snow and temps in the 50's have put a hold on that.


Here's a little view into my last two "Hunt & Gather" weekends.

New Years Day found us out exploring Hopkins. They have several great antique shops, and I tried to hit them all. Our first stop was Blake Antiques. This shop has been around for as long as I can remember.

I love visiting this shop, but don't usually find much for re-purposing. I did well this time!

They had a few religious medals, that wonderful old brass box chain and the brass and red rhinestone pendant. I already know how I'm going to use that!
The next stop was this cute little red brick shop...The owners name was Red! So cute.

I did not find anything here, but I will be back. The shop is cute and the owner is so nice.
This next shop is new. People were still setting up their booths.It's Antiques On Mainstreet.

Again, I went out empty handed. But It is a great shop, and I'm sure I'll find some goodies next time.

Last weekend we visited Becker and Monticello. Pedal In Antiques in Becker is charming
I found some wonderful European type antique skeleton keys. Love the one with the square top!

We also visited a newer (they are celebrating one year) shop in Monticello. Antiques Monticello was fantastic. The vendors were super nice! I hit the jackpot there and just about cleaned them out. At least the rosaries!



And....I just received this package of goodies in the mail from my favorite online vintage supplier.

Don't you love the Mona Lisa locket? The grape cluster pendant charms are wonderful! I am so excited to work with them.

Gotta go for now.....it's finally SNOWING here. A perfect winter day to create with my new stash!
I'll post my creations soon! :-)

“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” — Albert Einstein

Guilty Pleasures….

guilty pleasure: noun 1: something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt

We all work so hard and spend so much time on others that we forget about ourselves.

Now I’m not into resolutions, but I am going to commit time this year to guilty pleasures…and to get all of you on the guilty pleasure bandwagon I’m starting a monthly feature “Guilty Pleasures”.

I hope you will enjoy this feature and will leave LOTS of comment on your guilty pleasures.

My January pleasures,

Pinterest…. I have had my Pinterest account for several months but never knew what to do with it. I spent some guilty pleasure time last night playing with it. I am in LOVE!



Candles are also a guilty pleasure (more like an obsession). These are a pin on my Family Room Board.

I think I’ll pin a Guilty Pleasure Board!

Ugh….These next few I can only dream about for the next few months. Can we say "Healthy Eating Plan" :-(
Byerly’s Killer Brownies


A glass of red wine

OH…and it can be cheap wine! *Love Trader Joe's
Those are my January Guilty Pleasure reveals. Let me know what some of yours are….. I promise I won’t tell ANYBODY!

Leave me a link to your Pinterest account, I enjoy following!
Here's my Pintrest account

Happy Birthday….January!

A little birthstone history, fact, lore and legend.

The origin of birthstones is believed to date back to the breastplate of Aaron, which contained twelve gemstones representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

There are numerous legends and myths about birthstone healing powers and their therapeutic influence. According to these legends, wearing a gemstone during its assigned month heightened its healing powers. For the full effect, individuals needed to own all twelve and alternate them monthly.

Most months have more than one birthstone, the modern and traditional, and the mystical.

January’s modern birthstone is the garnet. It signifies eternal friendship and trust. The word garnet is derived from the Latin word granatus, which means seed, and is called this because of the resemblance to a pomegranate seed. Reference to the gemstone dates back to 3100 B.C.

Myth suggests that the garnet originated with Persephone, the Greek goddess of sunshine. Persephone was captured by Hades, the god of the underworld. Before Hades released Persephone, he wanted to guarantee her return, so he gave her some pomegranate seeds.
Hummm…I like pomegranate, but it would take more than that…anyway.

The garnet is said to hold the powers to stop hemorrhaging, cure inflammatory diseases, and cure anger and discord. It also balances yin and yang energies. Place under your pillow to ward off bad dreams and evil spirits.

Although the Garnet is traditionally red in color, the stone ranges from a colorless hue to black.

Since the garnet signifies eternal friendship and trust and is the perfect gift for a friend!

The traditional birthstone for January is the rose quartz. The rose quartz is associated with emotional balance and forgiveness. Some call the rose quartz “The Love Stone!”

Rose quartz is one of the most desirable varieties of quartz. The pink to rose red color is completely unique, unlike any other pink mineral species. The color is caused by iron and titanium impurities.

The garnet and the rose quartz necklaces pictured here are now available on Etsy.

The mystical birthstone for January is the Emerald. To be fair to all those May birthdays I will save that for later!

Stay tuned, next month for Happy Birthday…February!

“Supernatural powers have long been attributed by astrologers to certain gemstones. Wearing the gem associated with one’s birthday is commonly thought to bring good luck or health.”
—Encylopedia Britannica

*Happy New Year Everyone!*

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

Living in Minnesota, Christmas just isn't Christmas without snow. This year we have had warmer than usual weather and rain!

Yesterday as I was finishing my decorating (I know it was supposed to be done a week ago) anyway.....it was pouring rain outside. I was not feeling the holiday! But I finished, and here are the results.



I can't wait for Christmas Eve with all my family, fantastic food, and maybe just a little wine!

Happy Holidays and thank you for following. I enjoy writing this blog, and hope you enjoy the read!

"Here's a toast to the future, A toast to the past, And a toast to our friends, far and near. May the future be pleasant; The past a bright dream; May our friends remain faithful and dear." ~ Anonymous


Look for a new feature starting January 1st. I'm working on a blog series titled "Happy Birthday"...January, February, March, etc...
I'll talk about birthstones, their origins, legends and myths. There will be special jewelry items in my Etsy shop each month featuring that months birthstone.

First up: "Happy Birthday...January." Look for some great items in the next two weeks featuring garnet and rose quartz.

It's begining to look a little like Christmas....Finally!

It has been a busy hectic few weeks. And I have been neglecting my blog, so I thought it was time for some "Holiday Catch Up".

I don't even know where to start....

Nostalgic Summer is looking to the new year already. I've been designing some new pieces for the coming year (just in time for Valentines Day). I know it's not even Christmas yet, but look for a preview in a few weeks.

Also I have been brainstorming some new blog series ideas and will start them in January. I have two fun ideas that I hope everyone will enjoy.

Now back to Christmas.....It is getting crazy here, I just found out TWO days ago I will be hosting our annual family Christmas Eve party. It is a casual fun event, about 30 people, with everyone bringing food, but I haven't even put up the tree yet!

So today I am starting a three day a whirlwind decorating event! Here are a few of the in process photos.
Front entry before:

After:



The stockings are hung, but the fireplace is not decorated. And this is a before picture of the dining room.


I gotta go...but I will update with some final decorating pictures on Saturday. And maybe a Christmas party update after Christmas!


"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make them ring
Is the Carol that you sing
Right within your heart, right within your heart"

Merry Christmas!

Featured!.....And a Giveaway*

Nostalgic Summer has the honor of being featured on Satori Design For Living's blog.
Shauna Oberg is the founder of Satori Design for Living. Shauna is known for creating interiors that strike a balance between desires, sentiments, practicality, and personality. And she writes a fantastic blog!

The *GIVEAWAY* Visit Satori Design For Living. Read the Nostalgic Summer post, and follow the giveaway instructions. While your there start following Shauna's blog, it's well worth it.
http://satoridesignforliving.com/nostalgic-summer-an-etsy-feature-giveaway

And in honor of being featured Nostalgic Summer's Etsy shop will be offering a 15% discount through December 14th. Enter code BLOGSPOT at checkout.

Thank you Shauna for this wonderful feature. I feel truly honored to be included on your fantastic blog!

Is 91 the new 40?

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”
~Henry Ford

On 11-11-11 my mom turned 91. Since she is the subject of my logo I thought I should write a birthday post. A little belated, but we had a very busy birthday weekend!

Here’s a little history on my mom’s life. She was born Gjertrude Jeanette Folstad on November 11th, 1920, in Bergen, Norway.
Now my grandmother was already living in America at the time, but decided to visit her family in Norway, and my mom decided to be born there.

She spent most of her childhood in Duluth, MN and her teenage years in Minneapolis, MN. Married her first husband at the age of 19, against her mother’s best wishes. He died in an airplane accident in the Air Force. Years later she married her second husband, my dad. They raised eight children together, four from her first marriage, two from his first marriage, and my brother and I.


She has always been a fearless person. She and my dad traveled all through Mexico in a car and trailer. AND I mean ALL through Mexico. She has some great stories! She still belongs to a book club, quilting club and a women’s group. Her social life is much more exciting than mine!

So what do you get a 91 year old for her birthday? An IPAD of course! We already got her a stationary bike for her 85th birthday.
She aced her ten minute intro to IPAD at the Apple store, started emailing everyone the next day, and by the third day was telling us she had it figured out! (She had never even looked at a computer before!)

Friday we go back to the Apple store for her 0ne hour training session. I’m just afraid by the end of it she will be wearing a blue Apple shirt and running the store!

Happy Birthday to my amazing, wonderful, loving, loved, caring, smart, adventurous, 40….oops, I mean 91 year young Mom!