Pink Saturday!

Well I do love Pink Saturday!
Today I'd like to share a photo of a beautiful flowering tree


growing in the patio of the El Adobe Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano.
We went up there to meet my daughter and son-in-law

at the beautiful mission church for Easter

and then on to a terrific Mexican brunch buffet on the El Adobe patio.


This has become our Easter tradition,now in it's fourth year.

You might notice that there is not the normal clear blue California sky in these pictures...it actually RAINED on Easter Sunday here!



April showers...May flowers...it's all good!

Treat yourself to more pink loveliness at How Sweet the Sound!

Wedding Friday Freebies!

It's here!!
The Big Day!!
Although by the time you are reading this, the deed will have been done.
The dress revealed.
The vows vowed.
The kiss from the balcony.

Until then, I, from the west coast, am staying up at least until I see the dress.
I'll tivo the rest.

But there are wedding gifts! Or at least Friday Freebies. :)
Today's freebies are vintage wedding wishes for any couple, royal or not.






Click on each image, right click and save.

Happy Royal Wedding Day!

Royal Wedding Wednesday

I am a happy camper.
Thanks to The Background Fairy,
who helped me navigate Blogger's new template designs,
and designed this way cute blog background, my blog has a new look...
and more importantly, BIGGER pictures and a CUTE font!
Yes, my name is Lorraine and I am a fontaholic.
I think I need a little more work on my banner, though...

Anyway, I am only posting because I want to join in on the Will and Kate fun.
I found this wonderful blog with a post of pictures of some of the wedding gown designs that were submitted.



Which do you think Kate will choose?
Which would you choose for Kate?

I do think she will stay far away from the frothier confections
and will opt for a more streamlined silhouette...I like the J Mendel for her.

I, myself, am partial to the Nanette LePore:


Whimsical me.

Please visit DecoretoAdore for Royal Wedding Wednesday
and links to more Will and Kate fun!

Spring Matchbox Swap!

I had the lovely pleasure of participating in Laura's
Decor to Adore Spring Matchbox Swap
and was paired up with a a wonderful partner, Mary!
I blogged about the matchbox and goodies that I sent to her here
...and here is the beautiful box full of sparkly lovelies that she sent to me:
I love the way she created her own decoupaged insert:
And inside:
I loved the way she carefully wrapped all her treasures in pattern tissue...it was so fun to unwrap and savour each and every one.

Thanks so much Mary and Laura, it was a pleasure!

Pink Saturday: California's Flower Fields

Happy Easter weekend to all!

For this Pink Saturday I have some lovely pictures to share
that I took of The Flower Fields®
that are just north of San Diego,
around the Encinitas/Carlsbad area.



These fields have been a part of the
San Diego landscape for over 85 years.



It all started in the early 1920’s when an early settler began growing ranunculus in his fields in Oceanside.
Originally the flowers were single petal
and ranged in shades of red and yellow.
The beautiful colors and fullness of the flowers you see now are due to careful selection and propagation done over many years.


The site has been a popular, if unofficial, tourist attraction, even gaining the attention of photographers for National Geographic magazine.

The fields were expanded to Carlsbad and overlook the ocean and Highway 101, bringing the field of vibrant color even closer to the
motorists traveling between Los Angeles and San Diego.



Yes, for several weeks in April and May,
you really can see these beautiful fields from the I-5.
And the Pacific Ocean on the other side.

Please visit How Sweet the Sound for more lovely pink blogposts!

Happy Earth Day!
Happy Pink Saturday!
Happy Passover!
Happy Easter!

And Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband of 33 years and me! :)

Have a happy and blessed Easter!

Good Friday

Good Friday.
A lovely, appropriate image:

Click, right click and save.

Spring Altered Matchbox Swap!

I recently participated in Laura Gunn's (Decor to Adore)
Spring Matchbox Swap.
I created this matchbox for my partner Mary,
who I knew had a penchant for French/Marie style:

I used black and white toile paper to cover the matchbox,
and tore a strip of fabric with French words and wrapped it around the box.
I trimmed both edges with silver german scrap.
I then scrunched up a vintage doily and attached to the box,
topping it with some tulle, velvet leaves
and roses I had made from vintage music paper and glimmer misted.
Then I painted a butterfly with
Tim Holtz's crackle glaze and attached it atop a rose.

Here's another look and a peek at the contents:

Freebie Friday on Sunday!

Today's sweet image is one of my Easter favorites...

Click, right click and save.

Have a great week!

Spring Linky Party

Soooo, two linky parties today!! Party, party, party! :)

Here is the May Day basket I made for Kari's May Basket Swap:
(Click pictures to enlarge.)

My "basket" is actually an embossed tin bucket,
I wanted to do something a little different.
I'm a rebel.

Here's a close up of the little May banner I made...I love it!



And an even closer-up view, just cuz she's so cute:



And packed inside:

Vintage doily, crepe paper, millinery flowers, and postcard.
Everything else was from an estate sale, thrifted,
or handmade except for the journal and rubber stamp.
And the candy. ;)

And just to make it more fun,
once the package was in the mail,
I sent Karen (my swappee?) this picture to pique her interest:


And the next day I sent her this:


Visit Decor to Adore for more adorable Spring crafts.

And hop over to How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday
and more pink delights.

Pink Saturday!

My second Pink Saturday!
Today I'd like to share some lovely pictures taken at the
Urban Barn:

This bunny reminds me of a Steve Martin quote:
"Today I saw a bunny that looked like a cloud." :D
You know...instead of "That cloud looks like a bunny..." :D

It's such a beautiful shopping experience,
the most gorgeous vignettes everywhere you turn.

Freebie Friday!

Bunnies everywhere!
Especially in my backyard,
where I think they're adorable,
but my husband (aka Mr.McGregor, lol)
chases them away, because they eat the grass.
And leave behind little inapproprietnesses. :(
But here is a sweet little pic
with bunnies whom I'm sure would never do that!


Click, right click and save!

Join me tomorrow for Pink Saturday,
hosted by How Sweet the Sound!

Pink Saturday!

Pink Saturday!
I have been wanting to get it together to join in on this for awhile--
who doesn't love PINK?
I thought I'd show you another car I made for my circus wagon:

It seems like I am seeing vintage circus stuff everywhere now!
Stampington featured them in their
Creative Impulse newsletter last week.
And have you visited Michaels dollar bin lately?
All manner of supercute vintage circus items:
notecards, journals, stamps, treat bags, etc.
If you want to get in on the circus (band)wagon, check it out!
But grab a coupon first! :)

Here's a little Pierrette
that I pinked up for you:Click, right click and save!
Please visit How Sweet the Sound for more Pink Saturday inspiration!

Have a great weekend!

April Fool Friday Freebie!

Please check back later today,
as I will have my first Pink Saturday post
and another freebie!!
A pink one!!