Halloween Home Decorating Inside and Out

 

Halloween Home Decorating Inside and Out with LilacsNDreams. Welcome to everyone visiting today!

Below you will see some pictures for how I have done some Halloween decorating inside our home. In those pictures are a couple of shots that show some of the bigger items that will be standing, or hanging outside too. I’m behind this year with decorating, but will get it done. It’s fun for us at home, but we so enjoy watching the reactions of the kids…some adults too with the decorations we do. It adds a little more to the holiday spirit of things.

Skeleton swinging, cemetery fencing, skeleton hands and heads, headstones, blow up Frankenstein, and more are for outside the house

This is a side view of our headless man holding an animated pumpkin, and he’s holding an axe too which will be standing outside as well too

I also wanted to note that as of yesterday my niece had invited me to one of her vender fairs she will be attending. I figured I would be helping like I have before. This time she suggested I bring some of my things along to offer too. So, I’m excited as we will have 2 booths side by side, and between our products we will have a variety of things to offer. She does shirts, keychains, bags for kids, and other kid items too. So, with all the handmade, and repurposed upcycled items offered it should be fun too!

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams today! Have a great day! Be safe, and see you again soon. 

Happy Labor Day Weekend and Celebrations

 

Happy Labor Day Weekend and Celebrations from LilacsNDreams! 

Hope this posting finds everyone having a great Labor Day Weekend! Around here the weather has been great, relaxing, and very enjoyable. I hope everyone is able to enjoy the weekend in some kind of way. Our last weekend Holiday for us to enjoy before the season changes, and will slow us down some with the weather changes too. After this we will experience Fall, and Winter. 

I wont keep you all long today. I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Labor Day, and hope everyone is enjoying this weekend! Take care, enjoy, and be safe with all you do! Thank you for visiting at LilacsNDtreams! Till the next time, Toodles . . . . . . 

Google Website Shopping on GoDaddy With LilacsNDreams

 

Google Website Shopping on GoDaddy With LilacsNDreams. 

Welcome to LilacsNDreams today everyone! Glad to have you stopping by! I am excited, and hope I can slow down enough to get it all out here for you. Saturday we closed on the house, got the keys, and by Monday they should be moved out for us to have full possession of the home. So excited, but do dread the packing, and moving part. After doing that Saturday morning we then went furniture shopping. Stopped at 1 store, but didn’t quite have anything for our tastes. Second store we went to was well worth the time spent there shopping for everything we wanted. Just need to visit again to see if we can get our new dining table set there. Unfortunately, time got away from us. We did all we could, and have a very good start. Couch ordered, and delivered in August. End of July the love seat, 2 rocker chairs, mattress with new headboard and frame for our son will be delivered. We also need to get our own bed from another place since we are wanting one of those raising/lift beds. Just so excited about all of this.

Tonight I got a little bit excited again. I was reading a newsletter I receive that discusses things with EBay, Etsy, selling online, changes with things, etc. I read 1 topic about Google working with some of the platforms with selling, and 1 of them was with GoDaddy. I have had my domains there for years. So, I looked at things a little closer with numbers of course. For the monthly fee at GoDaddy for what they had to offer it seemed very intriguing. Pay them a fee for the exposure I can receive with Google, and social media places. Not have all the rules you have with some of the other platforms, and to be selling again using 1 of my domains is pretty exciting. I am anxious to get moved, and very anxious to be working with this at GoDaddy to start showing my products and selling them. I can’t wait to get started. It’s been a long time since I was excited to sell. I’m so excited that this move cannot happen fast enough now. 

I’ll keep you all updated as I progress along. I have LilacsNDreams dot com domain directed at my blog/website which I can always change with ease at GoDaddy. For now to start with I will be using LilacsNDreams Shop domain for my GoDaddy store. I’m so excited that I’m more focused with this tonight then with moving. Been a while since I felt like this with everything happening with the pandemic, shut downs, being isolated, and losing freedom for a while there. I’m so excited I almost feel alive again!

Wish me luck everyone! I’ll keep you posted with things as I figure them out. I hate that I will be waiting till after we move, but I am going to play around with wording, setting things up on my GoDaddy shop, colors, pictures, and all of that fun stuff.

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Till the next time my friends  have fun in all you do, be safe, and we’ll see you again. Toodles . . . . . 

Memorial Weekend Rememberance For the Fallen and the Serving

 Memorial Weekend Remembrance For Fallen and Serving with LilacsNDreams. 

Wishing everyone a safe, and fun Memorial Weekend. Please remember those fallen, and those serving today with sacrifices they make for our freedoms. Thank you to all !!

Thanks for stopping by everyone, and be safe!! See you next time.

Repurpose Upcycle DIY Handmade Vintage Collectibles

Repurpose Upcycle DIY Handmade Vintage Collectibles at LilacsNDreams. Welcome, and glad to have you drop by!

I’m so very very very sorry to all those who have visited, and no new postings done for you to read. I deeply apologize for this. Once in a while Life can throw a curve, or two. Well, that time came for us this past month. 

My husband was scheduled to have all his upper teeth pulled. That went successfully. The dentist liked how things looked his first day after surgery. The following few days from there husband was not feeling well. I was feeling a little off myself too. But, unfortunately for him he kept not feeling well. One of the biggest issues is he was not eating. About a week and a half later I took him to the ER. Great service there. 

Unbelievably he was not tested for COVID. They gave him an IV for dehydration, and talked with him about foods he could eat, and things to drink for protein.

Next day he had a dental appointment. Explained to them what had been happening, some of it they knew about the issues of not eating. Checked his upper mouth, things were still looking good for the healing process, adjusted his denture again to help him. My husband was getting bad headaches too. Dentist wasn’t sure what to say about that. The next night we had the ambulance at the house because hubby was having a hard time breathing, it would hurt, and some slight pain in his chest.

So, off he went in the ambulance with me following hoping we would get some answers as to what has been happening. He still wasn’t eating, drinking water, not enough, and the symptoms kept happening. Got him checked into the ER...different hospital than from a couple nights ago. Went over all the same things, same questions, blood work done, chest X-rays done, hooked him to the IV again, and we were asked again about COVID. He was not tested before his oral surgery, he was not tested at hospital other night, and this hospital was astounded no one had tested him. They tested him on this night, and it was positive. He had COVID Pneumonia, and he was admitted to the hospital. Here he stayed for about 6 days, and sent home with a few instructions. 

He came home on a Tuesday, and on Wednesday Night I took him back to the hospital. Same issue with breathing. He was tested, things look good, and given some instructions. Thursday morning I was woken very early, hubby had called ambulance again due to his chest, and breathing. Rescue unit got there first, his oxygen was good, and things calmed down. He cancelled the ambulance. About 1/2 hour after they left he had me taking him to the ER again. 

This time we spent all morning at the hospital. Ran tests, did a scan checking for blood clots, talked with him, etc. everything was coming out good, no clots, blood work good, etc. Doc spent time talking with him. Explained some situations of COVID, he had it at 1 point, nurse had talked with him about her having it, how long it can take to heal/feel like yourself , etc. This time they explained more, covered a little more, an gave a few more suggestions too. Some medicine had been prescribed, some over the counter sleep aid suggested, and an oximeter was suggested too. Now, with that object my husband treats it like a security blanket. It’s helping him get through this situation, he’s starting to eat more, getting more of an appetite, and he is up moving around a little more walking. He hasn’t worked for 3 weeks, its gonna be about another 2-3 weeks before he can consider working again. 

Who would have guessed this would happen, right? Never any issues with the cross country driving he does in the truck. I feel fine. Just dealing with allergies right now...that time of year you know. Lots of washing, cleaning, and spraying/sanitizing things around the house, the patio furniture, and the car too. 

So, to keep things healthy for him at this time I have not done any kind of crafting, thrifting, yard sales, shopping, etc. Getting a little antsy myself. Things will pass, they will get better...slowly getting there, and he will be back to work, and I can continue with things I have been doing. Slight delay right now, but it will be better soon. Just working with time right now, and this healing process for him. 

I’ve missed being here every week, and I deeply apologize for it too. I’m happy I could take a little time to share with everyone what the real issue is, and please ask for your patience with me during my husbands healing. 

Thank You so very much for visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone! Take care, be safe, and stay healthy! See you again soon, Toodles!

 

Handmade Homemade Hand Altered Buying Online and Local

 

Handmade Homemade Hand Altered Buying Online and Local with LilacsNDreams. Welcome to everyone visiting!

Special reminder that buying products this way is better for everyone, creators and buyers. 

Handmade is considered made, or prepared by hand rather than by machine. It is made by hand, a hand process, and made by people using their hands. Individual pieces, or materials that compromise a finished item. Paint, wire, and pieces combined that create a final item. 

Hand Altered is glued, nailed, screwed, sewn, stapled, embroidered, inscribed, painted, drawn, photographed, etc. Any alteration, or embellishment to an item by hand, hand controlled machine, and traditional art or craft method. Hand Altered can also be referred to as hand embellished, or hand assembled too. 

Homemade can be referred to pieces that are repurposed, upcycled, restyled, reimagined, etc. Made or prepared in the home, made by oneself, crudely or simply made. Creative touches, quality supplies, ingredients, and so on. 

So, why pieces like this? Many reasons which I will mention a few.

1)  Find something unique. Home decor, clothing, wall decor, and many things will not be exactly what someone else has. You can keep up with the trends  by fixing, adding, changing, fixing it up. Makes it unique for you.

2)  Super Craftsmanship. Handmade items get individual care, special attention, focus on details, quality control, etc. There are no assembly lines with unskilled workers. 

3)  Putting money into good hands. When you pay an artist, or craftsman for their work they are actually getting the profit from it. You are not paying a CEO of a major company, their overhead, and so on. You can also improve the economy, and make a difference by shopping this way with Handmade, Homemade, and Hand Altered.

4)  Better Customer Service. I like to think that buying this way you get individual attention from the seller. When receiving products you might have a hand written note, a thank you, and once in a while you might get some little freebie included with your item. If you have a problem with some kind of mix up, lost or damaged in shipping, maybe item received was faulty, it is almost always taken care of effectively. These sort of issues though happen less frequently due to the care, and the concern Sellers strive for in having Happy Customers. 

5)  Go Green. Smaller scale operations will produce less waste, use recycled materials, found objects, industrial salvage pieces, etc. items that could have gone to the landfills, but with these technique of Sellers they are spared and used.

6)  Get custom items and alterations. Great to have things made just for you. It’s a pleasure to receive one of a kind items, and maybe to help complete a vision you might have of something not yet out there. Also, if you don’t have the skill or time to make it yourself, there is someone out there who does. 

7)  Make somebody’s dream come true. Many of us dream about quitting the day job, becoming your own boss, and doing what you love to do everyday. Whether it is for you, or helping someone else with this, it is very inspiring. 

                              “Do What You Love, and the World Will Follow”

As mentioned before there are many categories that fall into these topics mentioned. Jewelry, clothing, accessories, home decor, housewares, vintage, used, soaps, lotions, bath products, etc. they all have something in common. Start from scratch, connect things, or pieces making something for you. 

There are many wonderful sellers out there doing all kinds of work. They take much pride in what they do, and like many others work very hard at what they do to make their items to be offered to you. When shopping please don’t forget about them. I would suggest if you have not already bought something like this . . . Give it a try. You will be very surprised at what you get, and will want more. It’s addictive! 

The picture below was made by a friend who is no longer here. She took much pride in her work, and spent much time with it. This bunny was made from colored glass beads using safety pins to form the body. Under the body was a light, and when lit was so soft colored and cute!

Thank You for visiting with LilacsNDreams. See you again soon. Till then take care, and be safe!

Toodles . . . . . . 

Federal Glass Bowl Candy Dish Compote Holder Wood Bowl Glassware Home Decor

 Federal Glass Bowl Candy Dish Compote Holder Wood Bowl Glassware Home Decor with LilacsNDreams. Hello to everyone who visits today!

Yesterday was kind of a lazy relaxing day. So, when it was time to consider what to share with everyone I was a little bit stumped, and not quite sure what to share this time. So, I went back through old pictures, looking at past things I’ve done, having memories of things I did, etc. That is when I decided to share a little bit of things I had done over time. The pieces I am sharing have all sold back in time when I started this change of interests for selling. This would be around the time I was getting started with repurposing different pieces, and I was starting to experiment with painting too. I miss some of these pieces, and wish I still had them. I enjoy being able to combine sometimes a vintage piece with another to give it a new life for others to be able to enjoy too.

This is a Federal Glass Bowl Candy Dish Compote Holder I had repurposed, restyled, and upcycled. 

This was a cute, sturdy little piece that I combined 2 pieces of glassware uniting them to make this one compote piece. Many uses for it like a candy dish, candle holder, jewelry dish, catch all, in bathroom with some soaps and things, and the possibilities are endless. I used a gorgeous iridescent clear glass bowl by federal glass. I united it with a glass candle holder with an hexagon shape to make the base/stand for this adorable piece. Both glass pieces were sturdy, and just adorable together! It look store bought.

Now, this is a picture showing some items I found while thrifting back in 2011. Pay more attention to the brown wooden bowls. Those bowls were my first projects that I painted. I used white spray paint, a French blue spray paint, and the pink paint I used was a pink slipper color. It was a trying time to learn to paint with spray paint, what to do so it wouldn’t run, and I also tried a little of distressing with the white and blue bowl compote stands. The other pieces you see I eventually did some plate compote stands with them too. Creativity of uniting pieces is fun, and makes the finished items unique in small ways. Adds a little life, and character to items being repurposed and preserved for new times and uses.

Below you will see a picture that shows the wooden bowls I had painted with the colors mentioned. I was pretty proud of myself, and how they looked when finished. It excited me to do more too!

Hope everyone enjoyed seeing some of my first repurposed, and restyled pieces I made. I haven’t done as much with the compote plate stands like I use to. But, I do dabble a little bit with it yet. 

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone! I appreciate you stopping by, and hope to see you again soon. Take care till the next time, and be safe everyone! Toodles . . . . 

Vintage Collectibles Repurpose Refresh Upcycle Handmade DIY Crafting

 

Welcome to LilacsNDreams! I’m a little excited, and motivated right now. So, that is the reason for another posting here this week. 

At the top of this page under my banner you will see other tabs that you can click, and it takes you to another page that is associated with this main page of my blog. One of those pages I have hung onto is something I am slowly working on. Trying to anyway. It is a page I wish to use for the items I will be offering for sale. I am in the process of changing from using LilacsNDreams Shoppe to LilacsNDreams Shop. Shortening it a little bit, and a little more memorable too. 

Things are so crazy with EBay, their payment system there, how they do things, the rules they have, and for me it just isn’t fun selling there anymore like it use to be in it’s earlier days. 

I like Etsy, but they have been doing some changes themselves, and I do not like these more recent changes. For one thing the fees are terrible!! Not only do you pay the percent with them, but they charge you a percent if the sale you got resolved from an advertisement. When you put the numbers together you end up paying around like 12% - 15% roughly. For some items sold there you hardly make any kind of profit. I was fortunate since my sales were not much there I was able to opt out of the offsite ads, but some were not able to. They have no choice if they want to sell there, they pay the fees like that. Even more upsetting is in the spring Google went from paid selling, to a free selling. If you do things correctly you have chances of being placed within Google Searches yourself. Something Etsy talks about, and is included with fees. So, why charge sellers for Google when they have made the changes. Etsy fees stayed the same with No changes. Sad. 

So, this is where my LilacsNDreams Shop page is being worked on to use more for me selling things I have to offer. I intend to do some selling with Facebook Marketplace as well since I will be offering shipping with things there too. Doing things this way, using these places for selling I should be able to offer just a little bit better price on items since I won’t have all the fees to consider when doing those wonderful numbers. 

I will still use USPS for shipping, but getting the little bit cheaper shipping price using Pirate Ship. Invoices/Payments will be done using PayPal. I have used them for years with no issues. Trying to do everything as cost efficient as possible. If I would ever do enough sales to justify I am an online seller than I could move onto having my own website, use shopping carts there, and have it feel more like an online shop. Till then I am doing the best that I can.

So, that’s the news I wanted to share with everyone. Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend too. Take care, and be safe everyone! Toodles . . . . .

Mini Wooden Crates Handmade Restyled Repurposed DIY Crafting

 

Mini Wooden Crates Handmade Restyled Repurposed DIY Crafting with LilacsNDreams! Welcome to all who are visiting.

Today I am going to share with you an item that is used for crafting, and give you a few ideas that have been shared too. All of the pictures below came from one of the Facebook Groups that I follow, Dollar Tree Farmhouse DIY. So much fun, others helping others, and sooo many crafty ideas are shared there too. Many crafters you will find get a lot of their supplies from the Dollar Tree stores, and Dollar General stores along with other places too. With these 2 stores you get new products you can create with. Painting, Mod Podge, glue, calendars, placemats, wired garbage cans, pizza pans, sheet pans, and the list goes on. 

So, one of the members of the facebook group asked for some ideas that have been done with the wooden mini crates that are sold at the Dollar Tree store. What you see below the picture of the crates is just a few things of what everyone was sharing. 

Crates shown are what is being used for the craft ideas people were sharing

The mini crates here were painted, chalkboard tags added to the front, some wooden balls making mini pulls, and these mini crates were placed inside the bigger crates which have been painted, and stacked too.

This project was created with the mini crate which was added to 1 of the handled cutting boards. You can see what was painted, paper/cloth added, wording, ribbon, etc. How cute for a counter top, or on the table too.

This is cute too! Looks like the crate was stained, had some stained feet added to the bottom, white wording was added on the side, and some cute embellishments were added in the top of the open crate.

This is another crate stand that had been made by putting the smaller ones into the bigger stacked crate boxes. Chalkboard tags added to the front, and this piece shows how they can be used for pull out storage drawers probably in the bathroom.

Another popular craft to make with this mini crate is the appearance of stacked books with wording, some saying, names, dates, etc painted on the side. This one was decorated with some twine wrapping the books together.

Both of these pictures show the front, and side of this stand. You can use popular arrow signs for the sides with the wooden crates/boxes, or you could even use some paint stir sticks put together. A rope twine had been wrapped on the sides adding a little more character to this stand. The mini crate boxes could set within the trays used on this stand. 

There are so many things that can be used to craft with, and create with at your dollar stores, things found from thrift stores, and so on. The possibilities are endless. The next time you see something you like, you want it, but don’t want to pay the price on it. Keep in mind that maybe you can still have it by making it, and spending a lot less than what you see in the store. Plus, you can alter a little by putting your color on it, some little touch you want to change, something you might want to add, and etc. 

Hope you enjoyed this, and maybe are able to get some ideas of things you can do too. If you’re not the crafty type, but know someone who is, maybe they can help you out with your idea. Don’t forget to check online too. There are a lot of crafters out there who would be happy to help you because they love what they do.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Hope to see you again. Till the next time take care, and be safe. Toodles . . . . . .