And The Winner Is.......

Tiny drum roll please!

The winner of the Tin Heart giveaway is:

CONGRATULATIONS Victoria, and thank you for always being such a supportive follower of Nostalgic Summer!

Victoria...please choose your favorite from the above photo. Email me your choice and shipping info to renee@nostalgicsummer.com 

A big thank you and valentine XOXO's to everyone who participated!

And if you did not win a Tin Heart Necklace visit my Etsy shop as the are now available to purchase!

*Friday Fun*

It has been a busy week here at Nostalgic Summer, and I am so excited to tell you of all the great things going on! I've been busy with new projects, prospects, and promotions...some have to wait to be revealed....but here's a bit of fun for Friday: (don't forget to read to the end....there's a surprise!)

The Re-purposed Tin Heart is the latest addition to the Nostalgic Summer collection. And I think I'm in love!

The Tin Heart pendant is made from vintage tins, a dangle of vintage seed beads, with a small flower bead on the end, it's hanging from a brass ball chain.

These pieces are made with the same attention to detail, care and love as all my re-purposed tin jewelry. I hand cut the heart pattern..... I cut a few trial pieces before I got the shape that I think is perfect!

I think they are sweet and charming.

AND....here's the best part! To introduce the Tin Heart Pendant to you I'm holding a giveaway!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment here letting me know which heart you like best. Follow my blog and you will have a second chance in the drawing....follow me on Facebook at: NostalgicSummer for a third chance in the drawing! 

The contest will run through Sunday, and I will announce the winner here on Monday. Good Luck!

*Have a great weekend everyone!

~ Saturday Morning Finds ~

Around here Saturday morning is the time to snuggle in bed a bit, cuddling with the dogs, watching old movies on the TV, and paruse the internet, especially Etsy.

So....I thought I would show you a few of my favorite Saturday finds. Enjoy!

This is what we see outside the window in January, so I find myself searching for warm, cozy items.

 I love this Snow White Winter Cowl from MaybeTheWhiteDog 

And these Merino Alpaca Knit Headbands from IRISMINT would be perfect for walks with Audrey and Lily. Her scarves are yummy also!

Aren't these Pocket Hand Warmers from WormeWoole adorable! And they are "Eco Friendly."

 I do LOVE the Everyday Cashmere Mittens from purlBknit. You have to check out all her gorgeous original pattern designs....the Necklace of Falling Leaves is fantastic!

For the little ones, these Handknit Puppy Mittens from WarmWoolenWishes  are so sweet!

And this Grey Herringbone Chunky Scarf from EandAHeritage has my name all over it! I also love the Large Pashmina Scarf in tobbaco.

This wonderful chunky Hot Toddy Lap Rug from fringe is just what we need for these Saturday morning snuggle sessions!

Last, but not least...Lily and Audrey made their pick:

A girls gotta look good while staying warm, and this Alpaca Dog Sweater from k9knits will do just the trick!

Happy Saturday! Sat warm and cozy....

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all..... and thank you for following. I enjoy writing this blog, and hope you enjoy the read!

"A happy New Year! Grant that I

May bring no tear to any eye

When this New Year in time shall end

Let it be said I've played the friend,

Have lived and loved and labored here,

And made of it a happy year."

 ~ Edgar A. Guest

It's the hap-happiest season of all......

 Last Christmas we had no snow in Minnesota and it was hard to get into the holiday spirit.....this year we have lots of perfectly wonderful fluffy snow and I LOVE it! (I know, my Southern state family does not get it either!).

Nostalgic Summer world headquarters is all dressed up for the holidays...and here's a peak at what we've done:

 We decided to have two table top trees this year...and I love them!

There is lot's of mercury glass, vintage ornaments, sprayed on frost, and candles!

Also greens, holly, ribbons, and sparkly ornaments!

Snow babies, Santas and snowflakes!

And everyone is bundled up in cable knit and parkas! Isn't this little vintage girl doll in her big green coat sweet!

I love mercury glass...and this year I made a few pieces with Krylon mirror paint and 99¢ goodwill glass jars!


Thank you to everyone for following my blog...I do appreciate it....and from all of us at Nostalgic Summer we wish you the happiest of holidays..and a New Year filled with love, prosperity and joy in every new experience!

 Lily and Audrey finding joy in this experience!
 
 "It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap-happiest season of all"
~Edward Pola & George Wyle

Happy Birthday......December!

This last "Happy Birthday" post brings the end to another year and this series. I have enjoyed learning and writing about all twelve birthday months and hope you have enjoyed reading.

So here goes....Happy Birthday December!

If you were born in December you are loyal, generous, ambitious and patriotic. You love attention, to socialize and are fun to be with! You have a good sense of humor and love to joke.

Holly is your flower and the Druids believed that holly, with its shiny leaves and red berries stayed green in winter to keep the earth beautiful when the sacred oak lost it leaves. Holly was the sacred plant of Saturn and was used in the Roman Saturnalia festival to honor him. Romans gave one another holly wreaths and decorated images of Saturn with it.

Your birth colors are grey, maroon or teal.

 Your traditional birthstone is turquoise it was first mined by the Egyptians in 6000 B. C. Native Americans and Persians value turquoise for its decorative and ornamental beauty. The Navajo believe that turquoise is a part of the sky that fell to Earth.

 Turquoise is regarded as a love charm and is believed to relax the mind and protect its wearer from harm. It is also a symbol of good fortune and success, happiness, peace and patience. Turquoise rings, in particular, are thought to keep away evil spirits. Many believe that wearing a Turquoise will aid in healing as well as bring understanding, wisdom and kindness.

 December's mystical birthstone is the black onyx. The myth of the origin of onyx says that the goddess Venus was resting on the banks of the Indus River. As she slept, Cupid used the point of one of his enchanted arrows to give her a manicure. The parings of her nails then fell into the waters of the sacred river. Since the nails were of heavenly origin, they sank to the river bottom and were metamorphosed into onyx.

Here are a few famous people who share your December birthday: Bette Midler, Britney Spears, Tyra Banks, Ozzy Osbourne, Brad Pitt, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Happy Birthday December! And a big thank you to everyone who followed the Happy Birthday series. Stay tuned next year for a new fun series coming to Nostalgic Summer.

"The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown."
~A Christmas Carol

Christmas....Nostalgic Artifacts Style!

 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......

 Now that Thanksgiving is over it's time to turn our undivided attention to my favorite holiday *Christmas!*

And there is no better time to update you on what's going on at Nostalgic Summer's sister shop Nostalgic Artifacts than now!

So here's a pictorial on "Christmas Nostalgic Artifacts Style".......*Enjoy

Large Bottle Brush Tree Music Box

Vintage Brass Skies with Poles Brooch

 Gold Mercury Glass Candles

Christmas Wreath Rhinestone Brooch

Vintage Christmas Cards

 Victorian Era Tin Christmas Tree Candle Clips

These and many other wonderful Christmas items are available at Nostalgic Artifacts. 

 

I hope you enjoy the Holiday season as much as I....and remember to "Shop Small Business" this holiday season!

 

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." - Peg Bracken