Recently in Free Category

The Caron yarn company blessed us again with a free yarn sample - this time a very soft Bamboo blend.

It's so soft. I can't wait to try it out.

Remember that offer from Caron for free samples of their new line of yarn? Although we understood the offer to have ended after only two days, my daughter and I sent our requests anyway.

Prior to the unfortunate theft and vandalization of our property, I decided to give the entryway mirror a little makeover.

This mirror was gained at a yard sale - way back in 2006. Can you believe it was free? The seller had broken one of the side mirrors. Each side panel is about 8 1/2 x 11, so the whole thing is rather large. It hung in my son's room for a long time, but he never really used it. Turns out boys aren't as into mirrors as girls are. Go figure.

So, I kind of stole it from him.

But, look, the size and shape is perfect for that entryway wall.

Convinced? Okay, back to the mirror makeover.

I decided to print out a picture of Jane Austen for the left panel. My shamelessly purloined version of Dear Jane is, I believe, the 1879 engraving which was based on Cassandra's drawing.

For the right panel, I chose one of Miss Austen's witty quotations, printing it out with a downloaded Jane Austen font.

"Pictures of Perfection make me Sick and Wicked."

When we return to our normal balmy weather, I think I might use this instead:

"What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance."

The portrait and quotation are printed on turquoise paper and I have placed three turquoise glass votives from Big Lots betwixt the two panels.

So, what do you think? Would Dear Jane approve?

***More lovely transformations are linked at Between Naps on the Porch for each Metamorphosis Monday.***

Oh, look, another Mail Call post. I must be working on that correspondence flaw of mine. Brandy, of Minivan Life, kindly noticed my lamp and vintage plate recently.

So pretty! I LOVE turquoise. Love the blue plate and that lamp... is it vintage?

Dear Brandy,

Thank you for the compliment and that you took the time to comment gives me twice the joy.

I picked the plate up from a local consignment shop. It was still in the lovely blue original box. The enclosed Avon note card reads, "1974 Avon Commemorative Plate for achievement in campaigns 1,2, and 3." This plate begged to be bought and I obliged since it was only $6. I like that the plate has blues and greens and is crowned with daisies. Best of all, it shows a mother with two children and the older child is a girl. This fits my situation perfectly. We really did sit amongst wildflowers while my daughter was little and I held her baby brother. Give me a coincidence like that and even I can overlook the hair and dress of the Seventies.

The lamp was absolutely free and spared from my neighbor's garbage. She brought it over one night, knowing that I might like that it was blue. The base is encircled by Roman numerals, as though it were a sundial. I removed the fairy swinging betwixt the lamp arms; not even I can allow for such an amount of whimsy. 

I removed the Christmas tree bows since this photo, as it is no longer winter. (I know many still have snow, but I'm naming it and claiming it.) Sorry, no bowless photo at this time.

Blessings,

Mrs. Happy Housewife

Save up to $15 on books at Dover Publications through March 26th.  

One coupon per customer. Click here for more details.

I found this color career test at How About Orange (how's that for a color choice?) and tried it this morning.

Best Occupational Category

You're an ORGANIZER

Keywords

Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate

These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.

ORGANIZER CAREERS
Suggested careers are Administrator, Secretary, Printer, Paralegal, Building Inspector, Bank Cashier, Private Secretary, Statistician, Operations Manager, Financial Analyst, Bookkeeper, Medical Records Technician, Developer of Business or Computer Systems, Clerical Worker, Proofreader, Accountant, Administrative Assistant, Banker, Certified Public Accountant, Credit Manager, Store Salesperson, Actuary, Dental Assistant, Business Education Teacher, Food Service Manager, IRS Agent, Budget Analyst, and Underwriter.

ORGANIZER WORKPLACES
Your very careful, conscientious, conservative nature gives others the confidence to trust you with handling money and material possessions. Structured organizations that have well-ordered chains of command work best for you.

Suggested Organizer workplaces are large corporations, business offices, financial lending institutions, banks, insurance companies, accounting firms, and quality control and inspection departments.

 

True, or not? Well, despite my ADD (or, maybe because of it), I have always been rather fond of order. I loved filling out forms as a child, the first big purchase my husband and I made was a filing cabinet, and my favorite part of homeschooling is the lesson planning.

I'd love to know how you all fare on the test. Please let me know if the test is accurate.

Because it is the 200th birthday of Frederic Chopin, a free album of his music is available for download from Amazon.

Free - I like the sound of that. And isn't that cast of Chopin's hand really creepy? But not near as creepy as what happened to Chopin's heart. Click on his name to find out what it was.

While the rest of us are waiting for Hollywood to churn out a Lord of the Rings prequel (The Hobbit), Kate Madison of England has put together an amazing one-hour movie telling the story of Aragorn's parents using her life savings, donations, and over 400 unpaid actors.

Here is the trailer:

Can you believe Madison pulled this movie together for 25,000 pounds? Imagine what she could do with a Hollywood budget. Eat your heart out, Peter Jackson.

I watched the whole movie this morning and was very impressed. If you enjoyed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, then I think you'll like Born of Hope.

Also, Closed Captioning is available for those us who are hard of hearing. Click on the up arrow on the bottom right of the movie screen and choose the "CC" option.

Here's Born of Hope: 

I found a great site yesterday for those of us who need or want new furniture. Knock-off Wood shows, step-by-step and for free, how to build mimics of pieces found in magazines or fancy-shmancy catalogs. Naturally, I have already found at least three plans I'd like to try...or, rather, I'd like my wonderful husband to try.

I think Ana, the woman behind Knock-off Wood, is great for showing the rest of us how to save hundreds or thousands of dollars by building our own furniture, as my husband and I found out when we built our bookcase, craft cubbies, and large window seat. And, of course, another great thing about building your own furniture is that you can build to your own dimensions. This is important when you have limited or odd-sized space.

I hope Knock-off Wood continues; it looks like a very helpful website.

The memorial service for H's grandmother was yesterday and I needed some mourning clothes for D, who had nothing appropriate. Thankfully, I managed to pull together a few thrifty pieces we had:

• Talbots charcoal gray lined wool skirt - thrift store, about $5
• Joneswear silk shirt - Bealls Outlet, about $5
• Black leather boots - Bealls Outlet, about $8
• Black vintage scarf - my mother-in-law, free
• White seed pearl necklace - mine
• Pearl earrings - hers
• (not shown) Black wool coat - my mother-in-law, free

D is probably the only fourteen-year-old who goes to a memorial service and gets a million compliments from the fellow mourners. Those who know her best were completely amazed to spy her in earrings AND a necklace.

In other news, the memorial service was short, respectful, and a good opportunity for those who loved H's grandmother to celebrate her life. All things considered, I think it went as well as possible.