Midweek Scribbles | Bead Happily Ever After

Sweet Memories

Posted on June 29, 2010 by crystal

Isn’t it funny how certain smells, and sounds, and music can immediately transport you back in time? I would also add “weather” to the list!

In winter, when I feel the first icy blast of air, and see my breath for the first time of the season, I’m always reminded of past days. And, in summer, in the midst of a refreshing afternoon breeze, when the lush green leaves are rustling lazily, I might suddenly find myself daydreaming of a little girl (me) riding her bike with friends to the country store for a Coca Cola, or a Popsicle, or some penny candy!

Yesterday, I was trying to think of the name of one of the brands of penny candy that we loved. I did a search and came across a wonderful website specializing in candy that was popular during the 1950s, 60s, 70s, or 80s!

You can search by decade, or you can search by pictures of the candy, itself. Talk about cool! 😀

Just for fun, I am going to list some of the candy that I used to buy as a kid. (In those days, we knew sugar wasn’t exactly a health food, but there was a little less pressure on us to avoid it.)

Here’s my list – not in any particular order, and by no means my absolute favorites – it would be too hard to narrow it down to only 10! 😉

1. Bull’s Eyes Caramel Creams (I still love these today.)

2. Candy Buttons (Candy stuck on paper – We unintentionally ate more paper than candy with these!)

3. Burnt Peanuts (Sounds bad, but pink sugar coating on peanuts = good!)

4. Red Licorice (regular or shoe strings!)

5. Gumdrops ( I loved the purple ones!)

6. Canada Mints

7. Wax Lips, Moustaches, and Teeth! (Fun for dress up, but I can’t believe we used to chew this wax until every hint of flavor was gone.)

8. Bubble Gum (We were all expert bubble blowers!)

9. Dots (The Gummi Bears of yesteryear!)

10. Fruit Stripegum (Their slogan: Yipes! Stripes!)

Did you have a favorite candy as a kid? 🙂

Hugs,

No beige for me!

Posted on June 23, 2010 by crystal

You’re probably familiar with the following line:

“When I am an old woman I shall wear purple…”

from the poem, Warning by Jenny Joseph.

I figure I’m way ahead of the game on this one…

I’ve been wearing purple ever since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. 😉

Someday I’ll be a little old lady who boldly wears purple, or fuchsia, or red!

But ya know, kids, it occurs to me that we haven’t gone shopping together in months! So, just for fun, let’s pop over to etsy and see what we can find in purple! (If you’d like a shopping trip in your favorite color scheme next time, just holler!)

Fashion meets art with this gorgeous shawl from sweetknitting.

There’s something special about handblown art glass. This vase is from infiniteglassworks.

As an iris-lover this adorable wristlet purse from KnitzyBlonde caught my eye!

Here’s a lovely linen and crochet pincushion from namolio.

And finally, a pretty Hydrangea Pillow from dedeetsyshop.

‘Til next time,

All That Glitters

Posted on June 15, 2010 by crystal

Hi Kids!

I’m enjoying the chance to read about your collections and your thoughts on collecting, in general.

If you’ve been visiting here for a while, I’ll bet you can guess the category of things that I collect. 😉

My love for beads and jewelry-making began years ago, at a neighborhood yard sale, with the purchase of a vintage pin!

I was immediately impressed with the artistry, not to mention the sparkle, of the little treasure that I bought that day – for just a few dollars.

At the time, collecting vintage jewelry was a fairly new hobby, so it was easy to gather some lovely pieces for very affordable prices!

Here’s part of my collection. Click on the photo once, and then again, for the best view.

These pins are all “costume jewelry” and most carry the name of the company or country where they were made. I keep them in a glass covered shadow box so that they can easily be seen. In the past, I displayed them on an old velvet dress form, which seemed like a good idea because they looked very beautiful on it. However, I quickly discovered that I’d have to spend an awfully big chunk of time dusting them – so I had to abandon that idea. 😉

It would be fun to see a photo of your collection – whatever it is! I’d love to share your pictures here on the blog! 😀

Hugs,

Thanks, Robin!

Posted on June 2, 2010 by crystal

Ever had one of those days when the hours between breakfast and bedtime pass in a flash?

I know you have!

It’s been that way around here for a couple of weeks now – just too much on the schedule.

In the middle of it all, I thought of Robin Williams.

<Oh boy! Poor Crystal is cracking up!!!> 😉

Seriously though, do you remember the movie, Dead Poets Society? In it, Robin Williams is an English professor who inspires his students with his unconventional style of teaching. He urges them to “seize the day” (carpe diem).

After the popularity of the film, that phrase (originally from the writings of Horace) quickly caught on. It reminded all of us to “live in the moment”.

Recently, after a blur of an afternoon, I happened to glance out the window and notice that our iris were at their peak. So beautiful; so soothing to behold; I could feel myself begin to relax . . .

My mind wandered for a few seconds, and then somehow I remembered the movie . . .

Carpe diem, indeed! 🙂

Wishing you a calm moment today.

Hugs,

Chance of Showers

Posted on May 18, 2010 by crystal

Now, this looks pretty harmless . . . right?

Well, opening one of these babies is like a game of Russian roulette, I tell ya!

I like seltzer.

It has “fizz” for the kid in me, and no calories for the adult in me (who realizes that I don’t need sugared soft drinks, all the time).

But, I’m beginning to think that the teens, who stock the shelves at the supermarket, are having fun tossing, shaking, and otherwise roughing up a few of these bottles every so often – perhaps in an effort to make the shift go faster? 😉

I can just imagine them chuckling as they wonder which poor soul will be opening a mini version of Niagara Falls in the near future!

The other day, I absent-mindedly went to the kitchen for a drink. As I opened a new seltzer bottle – a tidal wave of spray and bubbles covered me, my slippers, a cabinet door, the floor, the counter, and the day’s mail! I was no longer absent-minded. Talk about a call to attention.

The thing is – I’ve had this experience many times over the past few years. The funniest part is that right after it happens, I spend the next week or two being extra careful to open all bottles over the sink.

Of course, none of those bottles ever spray at all, and eventually, I’m lulled back into a relaxed state about the whole thing. I stop thinking I need to be near the sink and I return to opening bottles willy-nilly! 😉

It isn’t very long though, before . . .

Yep! You guessed it.

There I am, once again, absent-mindedly going to the fridge for a drink and . . .

NIAGARA FALLS!!!

Hugs,