Times They Are A Changin'

Hello there!  I am sure everyone has noticed that I have been away for awhile and you have been kind enough not to give me grief for not following up on my blog.  Well now, I just want to let you know that I appreciate it and let you know what has been happening.  I have been oh, so busy with my business and friends popping in from round the world and also from here in the states that I just haven't had time to catch up on things recently. 



First of all, Cecile and Marcel stopped here in Maryland for a couple of days, picked me up and we all went and met my business partner, Lacy, in Pigeon Forge, TN for a week.  We had one heck of a week going here and there, seeing the western portion of Tennessee, seeing and experiencing everything.  It was so wonderful.  Cecile and Marcel returned to Maryland with me and stayed for another couple of weeks, all the while, Lacy, came to visit us all here.  It was a blast!   

The first day that we were all here together, Lace, Jeff and Connor entered a fishing tournament on the old Fort Ritchie base.  They fished all day and we ended u p having a fish fry that night with everyone and also had our friend Jim over.  It was so much fun.  The weather was perfect and the Fort Ritchie Community Center ended up putting some funds in their coffers due to the tournament.  It was a win/win situation.  They left the next day and Lace stayed a bit longer as we worked on a couple of projects here (as you can see below).  Sometimes he EVEN acts his age! *maybe not* lol 

Next in line was myself joining a store here in Hagerstown, Maryland that sells crafts and vintage items.  It is called "Spare Thyme" and is owned by two sisters, Jamie and Jennifer and they are just adorable.  Most of the folks in the shop create primitive items but I do only a bit of prim type things, mostly shabby chic though.  It is good to belong to a group again.  I have been doing things here and there but nothing on a routine basis since we lived in Belgium and I sold in Grandma's Attic.  I am now going through my inventory and slowly moving it over to Spare Thyme and beginning to create new things.  In general...having fun again!  My partner brought me a whole bunch of supplies when he came an I have been playing since.  


Well, there you go, my crazy life in a nutshell.  Thank you so much for being patient with me.  I do hope that you check back in soon.  If you would like to visit Spare Thyme, they are located in Hagerstown at 562 D Northern Avenue.  They are closed Wednesday and Sunday.  If you stop by, tell them that Elizabeth sent you!  

*hugz n blessingz*

Elizabeth

Come and Join in on the Fun!!!

(steps up on my soapbox)

HEAR YE-HEAR YE!! ANNOUNCING THE NOSTALGIC DREAMS HALF HOUR OF VINTAGE SHARING!!

Each night, Monday through Thursday at 8 p.m. EST, I will be sharing some of my vintage finds and also some of my creations via my Nostalgic Dreams Facebook page so that you can purchase them for yourself or as a gift for someone.  

Items shown will be available for purchase and afterwards will be available for pick-up anytime from my home, meeting either Friday or Saturday each week or I can poste them to you via USPS or UPS. Other arrangements may be undertaken but must be stated at time of purchase.  It will be fun and laid back and I will have quizzes and give-aways occasionally as well so come and join in the fun!!  

There is no need to register for anything and we take all major credit cards and accept Paypal as well for your purchases.

Thanks ever so much for listening to me while I am up on my soap box and please, share with your friends, the more the merrier!!!

*hugz n blessings*

~Elizabeth~

P.S. If you need to contact me, please call: 717-816-5699 or email admin@nostalgicdreams.com!

Nostalgic Dreams

Hello,


My name is Elizabeth and I own and operate Nostalgic Dreams (with a little help from my family and partner) and love all things vintage.  I believe that vintage is a form of nostalgia and I also believe that nostalgia is what has made us who we are today; all of us.  Everyone had a mom and dad at some point-they came before you, a grandpa and grandma-they came before you...and so on and so forth.  Nostalgic is defined as: 

nos·tal·gic

  [no-stal-jik nuh‐]  

–adjective

experiencing or exhibiting nostalgia,  a sentimental or wistfulyearning for the happiness felt in a former place, time, or situation.

I believe that we all long for a part of our past, no matter when/where it may be or whom may be part of it.  If you have followed my blog for awhile, you know that I love vintage or nostalgic items.  Items that take me back to a simpler, easier time in life where there are so many memories that make us feel happier, more in control.  If you have seen some of the things that I have created, a lot of these use vintage or nostalgic items.  I want to be able to reuse, recycle or re-purpose items so that they may become a useful part of someone else's life other than the one for which they were originally intended.  Here are a couple of things to prove my point below.  

This was found on freecycle (freecycle.org) freecycle's main goal is to keep things OUT of landfills and for them to be useful again.  It is free to use and is a world wide organization so check them out!

Okay, hubby and I went out yard saleing one day (I don't think it's a word but there ya go) and I found these items.  Spent no more than $65 that day and brought home oodles of good things!  Yard sales, flea markets, garage sales, estate sales, etc are all a good source of usable items with plenty of life left to them.

These are vintage doilies that I have acquired through estate sales, yard sales, etc.  They are perfectly usable!

I know this is a little out of the ordinary, but this is actually a terrarium...not a milk jug!  lol  Okay, okay, STARTED OUT as a milk jug but made it's way to a terrarium.  

Here are a few baskets that have been "recycled".  My partner brought them from TN when he visited last time and this is only HALF!  lol  I still have another load like this up in the attic.  I bleach and wash them before I use them and then some of them end up like this...

And this is only a portion of what some of the things turn into.  This little basket has a vintage crochet doily, has some cookies, tea, a silver plated teaspoon, a linen napkin and lots of love.  All (except for the food-it is new) was found at one of the locations above and you can hardly tell it was EVER used before!  I package it all up in a little basket with a bow and anchor EVERYTHING down so that we don't have any transit issues.  And there ya go.  

Both of the next two items were made out of vintage bedspreads.  

I guess the point I am trying to make is that when you see something that is discarded, some thing that looks like it has no life left in it, look again and REALLY search to see if you can find something else inside of it. 




You might be surprised!

*hugz n blessings*

Elizabeth

Irony of Ironing

Vintage Sprinkler

All 50 Doilies and Handkerchiefs

I have been fortunate in my lifetime, so much so that my parents actually got to choose me when I was born.  lol  Yes, I was adopted and have not an issue at all with it, or my biological parents.  God does what He does for a reason and we aren't to second guess Him!  This all to say that my mom and my mother are great people (yes I know my real mom-and am happy!) and earlier this year my mom and dad came to visit from Oklahoma when my son graduated from high school.  I was so glad to be able to spend time with them, I don't get to do it enough.  My mom has always tried to get me to appreciate all the things around me, from nature, to people, and even more so the things that were here before I was, especially traditions.  All those stated above have a place in our lives and our hearts and have made us who we are today-in one way or another.  

When she came to visit, she and I went to a little tea shop in Waynesboro and were met by the most lovely woman who owns the shop.  She shared a wonderful banana chocolate chip bread recipe with us and invited us to search her shop...and we did, high to low and all in between.  It was filled with vintage items including hats, lace gloves, tea sets, different teas and more.  It was absolutely heaven on earth.  We had to be home at a certain time so we couldn't stay for tea this time (will go next time) and we headed out.  On the way home we saw a sign at St. Rita's Catholic Church for their annual Attic Treasures bazaar.  I knew we only had a few moments so we ducked inside, looked around and low and behold there it was, the sprinkler of my dreams!  I had one problem though, I didn't bring scads of bucks with me that day, was in a bit of a hurry so I had to let it be so we left and went on our merry little way.  When I got home she handed the newspaper wrapped package and I opened it___I almost cried!  She had gotten me that little sprinkler.  I couldn't believe it.  

Well, as my mom can tell you, I NEVER liked ironing things when I was younger.  I despised, detested, loathed, abhorred, well, HATED ironing.  But...since I have become a "grown up" I have taken on a different outlook.  I feel such a sense of accomplishment when things are crisp and beautiful after they have been ironed.   These doilies and handkerchiefs are to me a part of history that need to be taken care of properly and to me, they had to be crisp and ironed.  They are beautiful and I am so proud that I was able to help make them that way.  Everything that I hope to accomplish at Nostalgic Dreams is summarized in the vintage/older items that come my way when I am out so I love to pass on the elegance and style of times past.  

I have been smiling every since when I do laundry and iron.  *smile*

*hugz n blessings*

Elizabeth

Oh, p.s. if you happen to know of anyone that can give me an idea of the age or derivation of my little sprinkler, please let me know.  I SO want to get to know it a little better! Thanks! E

Shopping

Hey there and welcome back!

If you have gotten to know me (Elizabeth) over the years, you have come to understand that I DETEST shopping... for groceries, clothes, etc.  HOWEVER! I LOVE to go flea marketing, to yard sales, garage sales, auctions, and other things down that line.  The treasures that you are able to find are endless and once in awhile you can find some item that really "trips your trigger"!  (That's the Okie in me, sorry.)  

Anyway, if you know anything of Nostalgic Dreams, when I create an item or fill a gift basket, I try to use formerly "gently loved" items.  This helps to keep things out of our landfills and also helps to put some character in the designs as well as the cost down PLUS, I can find and use some awesome vintage goodies and most of the time it gives the created item a different feel.  

To that end, I am listing quite a few of the thrift shops in my semi-immediate area for you to peruse and hopefully to stop by and shop.  Most thrift stores are for a cause so therefore you are helping to give back to  the world in more than one way.  I do hope you get out and see what you can find in the near future.  As I said before there are wonderful things at these stores, they just need to be found!  Here's you a list to get started and a link for future reference.

*hugz n blessings*

Elizabeth

http://www.thethriftshopper.com/  (Nationwide Thrift Shop Directory)

1.  Better Days Animal League Thrift Store

22 W. Main St.

Waynesboro, PA 17268

(717)404-6330

10:00am-4:00pm

Mon-Sat,

Closed

Sun

2.  Goodwill Industries Thrift Store

11105 Buchanan Trl. E.

Waynesboro, PA 17268

(717)762-4561

9:00am-9:00pm

Mon-Sat

12:00pm-5:00pm

Sun

3.  New Hope Shelter and Thrift Shop

25 S. Potomac St.

Waynesboro, PA 17268

(717)762-5840

10:00am-4:00pm

Mon-Sat

4.  The Pantry Thrift Store

201 W. Main St.

Fairfield, PA 17320

(717)642-6426

1:00pm-7:00pm

Tue

10:00am-5:00pm

Wed

9:00am-2:00pm

Sat

5.  Goodwill Industries Thrift Store

202 E. Main St.

Thurmont, MD 21788

(301)271-2100

9:00am-7:00pm

Mon-Sun

6.  Seton Center Thrift Shop

16840 S. Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

(301)447-6102

10:00am-4:00pm

Tue-Sat

7.  Booksavers of Maryland

13625 Pennsylvania Ave.

Hagerstown, MD 21742

(301)665-1525

9:00am-5:00pm

Mon-Fri

10:00am-2:00pm

Sat

8.  World Treasures Thrift Shop

22 W. Franklin St.

Hagerstown, MD 21740

(301)797-8624

10:00am-4:00pm

Mon-Sat

9.  Goodwill Industries Thrift Store

151 N. Burhans Blvd.

Hagerstown, MD 21740

(301)665-1044

9:00am-9:00pm

Mon-Sat

12:00pm-5:00pm

Sun

10.  Hagerstown Rescue Mission Thrift Shop

125 N. Prospect St.

Hagerstown, MD 21740

(301)739-1114

9:00am-5:00pm

Mon-Sat

11.  The Salvation Army Thrift Store

524 Frederick St.

Hagerstown, MD 21740

(301)739-6737

9:00am-5:00pm

Mon-Fri

9:00am-4:00pm

Sat

12.  Goodwill Industries Thrift Store

524 N. Antrim Way

Greencastle, PA 17225

(717)597-0868

9:00am-9:00pm

Mon-Sat

12:00pm-5:00pm

Sun

13.  Battlefield Thrift Store

2145A Biglerville Rd.

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717)398-2354

9:00am-5:00pm

Wed-Sat

15.79

14.  Thrift Shop

10 Lincoln Sq.

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717)334-5264

10:00am-4:00pm

Mon-Sat

15.  The ARM Boutique

2515 York Rd.

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717)334-7502

9:00am-5:00pm

Mon-Sat

Treasures

The word treasure means quite a few things to quite a few people.  In this sense, for me, it means a bargain at a yard sale.  Hubby and I have "done" yard sales most of our lives and have found an abundance of "treasures" throughout our 28 years of marriage.  On the recent 4th of July holiday, instead of doing things with friends/family (we had Jeff's birthday w/e beforehand while Lacy was here) we opted to do a little yard sale hopping while we were on the way to his office.  He had to p/u some work to bring home.  We found an almost new pair or luggage pieces at one yard sale in Smithsburg and then when we arrived in Hagerstown we stopped at another a few blocks from his office.  That is where I found this beautiful cart and quite tarnished tea set, along with a couple of very nice baskets.  We were quite fortunate while we were out that day!

When we lived in Belgium (first time 90-93 and second time 96-2002) they had wondrous flea markets-which are called Marche au Puce.  They had everything!  There were also 2nd hand sales which were termed "Brocantes" but they could not be in their front yards or garages.  It was illegal to do that so you had to go to one of the ones that is permanently set up on a certain day of the week to vend your goods or find one that was done on a certain date in your area and tote alllllllllll  your inventory to that place to have your sale.  It must have been a pain in the tush to do all that and I am very glad that we have the freedoms that we have and do not have to tote it to a certain location, most of the time.  I found so many wonderful items at brocantes and marches au puces.  It is quite easy to find fine linens, cut crystal, silver flatware and serving utensils along with all sorts of wonderful antiques with character for your home.  We had an abundance of crates when we moved back to the U.S. in 2002 and were almost over our moving allowance limit, but we shaved it close!  Didn't have to pay extra. 

One last awesome event was jour du encombrantes.  In short, it was a day, set aside by each city or village and they would come by and pick up items that you had set out by the side of the road, in front of your house.  I found soooooooooooo many wonderful things this way!  From the lace for the canopy above the bed in the garden room and the lace on the edges of the handmade curtains to some old suitcases that I stacked together in the Americana room, found a couple of leather belts at the good will store, and strapped them together for a whimsical nightstand.  Both are shown on this page http://nostalgicdreams.com/BnB.html  

The way that I came up with the name, Nostalgic Dreams, was not hard at all.  It encompasses all we are here.  We love to show congeniality and care.  We love to have older items (vintage) in our home that were lovingly and carefully packed to display and share with all who enter.  And lastly, we like to think and have ways of days before.  We love to show hospitality and share with all who enter our home.  We believe that is why we are all here.

*hugz n blessings*

Elizabeth