Fun, Friends, Antiques, and a Giveaway!

This past weekend was so delightful and full of fun! I got to meet my blog buddy, Kim, in person. She and her partner Julie came into town to visit Chicago and go shopping on Michigan Avenue. Miss Jane joined us as she is a kindred nutty spirit! I can't figure out how to post a picture from my email to my blog, so please see Kim's blog for a picture of the four of us taken on Sunday night when we were getting ready to go out for a Mexican food dinner! Ole'!!!!

It was as if we had all known each other for a very long time, we just felt so comfortable together. Also, it was lots of fun to show off the beautiful city of Chicago to someone (Kim) who had never seen it before. We picked them up from the airport and I drove them into Chicago via Lake Shore Drive. It was nightime so all the lights of the city looked extra special. They stayed at a swanky hotel, The Knickerbocker, which is right near the Hancock building and in the midst of all of the posh stores. Friday night we ate dinner at the hotel restaurant and it was divine! We also exchanged some little presents and had a few tutorials (again with the Gamsol, I am like a professor with that stuff! Must show everyone!).....

On Saturday Julie and Kim shopped on Michigan Avenue and found lots of cool stuff. We all got together again Sunday for a day of antique shopping! Many, many treasures were found! We also found the Somerset Gallery 2 at Borders so we were tickled pink about that!

It is so amazing to me the friendships that can be made across the miles through the Internet! Things like this were just not possible even a few years ago. All I know is that we will be friends forever! Along with our other new forever friend, Beth, we hope to go down to St. Louis next year to make a pilgrimage to Red Lead!!!

Now on to see some of the things I got this weekend at our local antique mecca, Jackson Square Mall in La Grange, Illinois.
I love this picture!! Those are great glasses! This lady is sure to come back as a 1920's Maude on my blog banner!
I was so jazzed to find some really cool old patterns with great illustrations! When I found this one I did a little dance!!! Who did not want to be a baton twirler and a figure skater at the age of 10???????? I know I did!!! Sadly, I was never either, but darn it all now I am a professional transcriptionist!!! Oh the lofty heights I have achieved!!
I spied this deck of cards. They turned out to be Rook cards.....don't know the game, but the cards are perfecto for using in projects!!!
I could not resist this watercolor!!! I should have taken a close-up of the lady, girl, and little dog cause that is what sold this picture for me!!!! I want to have it cleaned up a little and reframed.
Get this!!!! Three totally cool blue leaping deer glasses with a silver ball in each for only eight dollars!!!! So cool!
This little birdie thing is a planter! But I plan on putting some markers or supplies of some sort in it!!!! I probably would never have gone for something like this in year's past, but after seeing some thrift store finds on other blogs I have widened my horizons!!! Love this!
The new item here is the girl with dog figurine! She just spoke to me. She goes well with my stamp! Also, see the little birdie with the q-tips, that is from a trip a few weeks ago to Wisconsin. These little planters are just perfect for holding q-tips!
White pottery bowl with silver balls (and that darling little girl in the picture is my Grandma Bates!)

Now that you have read this far, here is the Giveway deal. About a week ago I saw a post on
Lora's Keyhole.....

"The first five people to respond to this post (via the comments section) will get some form of art made by me. The only catch, of course: as with most memes, if you sign up, you have to put this in your own blog as well."

Well, I did not read all the way through before signing up, just saw the get some art from someone else, and I was off to the races. So, now I am following through, BUT WITH A TWIST!,

The first five people to respond to this post will receive a very special individualized present from me to you!!! It is not a piece of art per se (I just can't conceive of making anything right now, at least not anything worthy of this giveaway...), but I can promise you it is something I would be thrilled to receive if I was the recipient!!!

GOOD TIMES PEOPLE!