a happy birthday

Today is the day of celebration...it is my 30th birthday! When I woke up this morning, I thought I would feel different or older, but nothing more than the words "I am 30!". It is a beautiful sunny day, and it feels good to be"30". ;)

Well, I have been celebrating since last week with sweet friends and family, and it has been great! The Lord truly blessed my 20's, and I am looking forward to what God has planned for me in these next years!

I am so excited to celebrate with you dear friends! You a have all blessed me more than you know! So, thank you! I have also reached over 300 followers, so what a perfect time for a most lovely giveaway!

::Giveaway:: CLOSED

::I will be giving the lucky winner one of my vintagey strawberry crocheted hangers (the one above), along with some other sweet goodies to put a smile on your face!

::To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog through GFC and leave a sweet comment. That is it!! *One comment per person pretty please.

Good Luck!!!

 Hope your day is beautiful and creative!

fall pillows and a winner...

Fall is in the air, and we even had a cool, overcast day yesterday. Today the sun is brightly shining, with the feel of fall getting closer. Do you ever have a long list of things or projects to do, but start another project that you really shouldn't be doing? Well, that was me yesterday! 

Sweet Renee of My Vintage Mending introduced me to an adorable e-magazine called Bustle and Sew! Oh my, it is the cutest magazine full of wonderful projects, embroidery patterns, and more! Renee mentioned this sweet fall apple appliqué pillow project in the September issue that she thought I would like, and she sure knows me!

I subscribed right away, so that I could make the pillow! Yes, should I be working on the 20 tea towels, and more for my boutique? Of course I should, but how could I resist making this cute pillow! 

So, I chose some of my favorite red fabrics, and starting cutting away these sweet apples with their pretty green leaves, and black felt stems! A little black stitching around the edges of the apples and leaves.

And, a pretty red scalloped edging for the finishing touch! I love how it came out, and  it was just the perfect addition to my fall decor, which I will have to show you next week! Thank you so much Renee for introducing me to the most darling magazine! 

Last year, I made a couple fall tumbler pillows from one of my favorite lines, Little Apples by Aneela Hoey! I love quilting free-motion on smaller things!

The pretty grey with the pretty aqua, red, and olive green are so lovely together! There is something about all her fabric lines that I just adore!

And here they are sweetly waiting for the first day of fall!! Aren't you ready?

Congratulations Carla! Yay! I will email you and get you contacted with Miss Natalie! Thank you all for entering into the giveaway!! Wishing you a beautiful day!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a shoppe update

I just added some new fall vintagey tea towels in my shoppe! I just love fall, and the pretty colors it brings!

I have been a busy bee sewing and crocheting away getting ready for the boutique, along with building my display. I can't wait to show you some pictures soon! So, if it is a little quite around here, you know where I am! :) 

If you live in the So Cal area, I would love for you to come out to the fall boutique and say "hi!"

If you haven't entered the Take the Cannoli giveaway there is still time!! Hope your day has been wonderful! 

take the cannoli giveaway!!!

Happy Monday and September! I have a wonderful treat for you today! 
Through blogging, I have met some of the most inspiring and sweetest friends who have blessed me so. One of these sweeties is Natalie from Take the Cannoli. She is full of life, has a true heart and passion for the Lord, a love for vintage goodness, and is beyond talented! I will let Miss Natalie take it from here! I know that you are going to love her!  

Hey there lovely Vintage Grey readers, I'm so happy to be part of Heather's Happy place today! You know everyday is a new day (no brainer right?!) Some days are fabulous while others require extra mascara to help accentuate the only thing I have going for me because I'm rockin' my pi's All-Day-Long. Though I have no idea what each day will bring I do know God is faithful and good.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says” Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are New Every Morning; great is Thy faithfulness”

And so I blog. About the everyday life as a wife and mama striving to become a better woman after God's own heart. That includes the good, bad and sometimes ugly. You'll find touches of crafts, fashion (hardly ever), DIY projects and if I'm feeling really spunky I may even toss in a recipe here and there. 

I’m Nat, the girl behind Take the Cannoli. I am twenty something (for just a few more weeks), wifey to Micah, mama to my two sweet babes, a Southern Californian girl, and a crafter of sorts. I am a lover of Jesus, coffee, all things vintage, the beach and any sweet treat!

I also own a little shop filled mostly with hand-stitched lovelies  a.k.a embroidered hoop art; both my blog and shop were created with the goal of wanting to give encouragement and inspiration to others. The pieces in my collection are inspired by affirmations, scriptures, hymns and any other little thing that brings me joy. My hope is that these hoops will be a blessing to those who have them displayed throughout their homes, craft stations or workspaces.

Speaking of hoops, I am giving away a piece from my new fall line, the Custom Mini Initial hoop! These new Initial Hoops would be the cutest hostess gift, baby arrival gift, stocking stuffer or the perfect addition to that wall collage you already have started! The winner will have the choice of a letter and will get to select the linen color, (black or natural) Each hoop created is accented with vintage lace making every piece unique as the placement of letter and type of lace will be different every time! 

Good Luck to you all and hope you'll stop by and say hi!

I told you she was the sweetest!! I am so excited for one of you to win one of her beautiful Initial Hoops!! 

:: To enter the giveaway, please enter through the Rafflecopter below, and I will be announcing the lucky winner on Friday! Good luck and have a beautiful day!! 

Make sure you visit Natalie at the following links!
shop//twitter//facebook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

vintage musical plate

A lovely musical package arrived yesterday in the mail. I have always wanted to have a special birthday plate that could be used for everyone's birthday. So, what better to have than a vintage musical plate that sweetly plays "Happy Birthday". 

This is a Swiss Musical Happy Birthday Cake Plate. Isn't it so pretty!! Love the beautiful red roses, my favorite! 

With a neat on/off switch, and when you turn the plate to wind it, a sweet song plays. 

This has come just in time for September, which is my big "30th" birthday month! Time to celebrate!! It is going to be a great, and busy month for me. 

I finally finished my mini crocheted blanket, and now it is time to put a most lovely scalloped border, adorn it with some vintage doilies, and the words "vintage grey". I will be using it as part of my display for the boutique, which is coming at the end of September. I bought all the wood and chicken wire, and will start putting together my display over the weekend. I can't wait to show you! 

Wishing you all a wonderful Labor Day weekend! On Monday, I have a sweet surprise for you my friends, which I know you will all love!! Blessings!

I am linking up with the sweet Sandra of Lara's Vintage for Thrifty Thursday! Head over to check other vintage treasures!

Hope you are having a most lovely day! I just added some sweet vintagey tea towels and a "Home Sweet Home" mini quilt in my shoppe! 

a quiet weekend

Happy Monday! The weekend went by so fast, but it was quite one with some time to work on my many projects. How was your weekend? One vintage treasure that I love finding are old tin household items. These were such a neat find, especially the Annette's Perfect Cleanser.

 Made in the U.S.A and this one is from the 1930's. There is actually still some left inside! I love the list of things this wonderful cleanser can be used on. Perspiration, blood, grease, oil, tea... Oh, my what a magical cleanser! 

 And, the directions are just as fun. Do you have some neat vintage household tins or items?

 For my upcoming boutique, I have been collecting some vintage items to display my tea towels. I found this neat vintage wooden towel rack on Etsy. 

The patina is so lovely and it will be a sweet touch to my display!

I received some pretty mail over the weekend. Some most lovely reproductions prints, my favorite! 

My mini blanket is almost finished, just another round of colors, and it will be ready for a scalloped border. This week I will be taking out my fall decorations, and I am so excited for the crisp air and pumpkins. How about you?

Wishing you a most lovely and crafty week!