Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Tulips, Journals, Pen and Ink

Hello my friends, welcome!  I almost titled this post "Retail Therapy".  :-)  We went shopping at Costco yesterday and when I saw these mixed tulips I snatched them right up.  Aren't they pretty?  I love the different colors.  


Do you like bouquets all one color or mixed?


I just went back to my studio/creative space/episode of "hoarders" and brought out my Easter tree so I could hang my new little crazy chick cupcake ornament.



Cheep cheep!



Ahhh.. the internet.  And eBay... I was looking at restaurant "ware" collectibles the other day and remembered that I had always wanted a piece of railroad dining car china.. and of course Dayle worked for Southern Pacific Railroad as an engineer for 30+ years... click..click.. oh.. lookie.. a darling little creamer for only $15.. click click.. enter bid.. no one bids against me.. BINGO.. click, pay.. wait.. and it arrived yesterday.  Isn't it cute?  It's tiny.. I can't wait to put a bouquet of Lily-of-the-Valley in it or some other posies.



Then.. you know how it is.. I was reading the blog "Angry Chicken" and Amy had made her own leather covered journals styled after the "Midori" brand books.  So, click.. click.. oh.. look.. I need one of those in passport size for my trip to New Orleans.. you know, to keep a journal of the trip.  Right?  It came in this cool craft paper cover, with a unbleached muslin bag.  *love*


All set to go.  I love how it's small and thin and compact.  


I'm totally back into using my fountain pens all the time.  When I go to meetings, I use them for my notes.  I also use them for all my cards and letters I send.  If you've never used or had a fountain pen, you really should treat yourself to one.



I got the Midori book on the website "Jet Pens" and I saw that they had little tiny bottles of ink in wonderful colors - they are inexpensive so you can try different colors.  This color is called "Moon Dust Purple".  :-)



And as I was perusing (clicking like a maniac) through JetPens I found a nice soft and pretty roll-up fountain pen holder that I needed to protect my pen collection.  



The sun is shining into the dining room and illuminating the tulips - I hope it keeps shining when I go swimming this afternoon.  The pool is so pretty in the sun.  Are you having a good week?  I hope so!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

27 comments:

  1. I love the roll up fountain pen holder, it is beautiful as are the stunning array of tulips.

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  2. Definitely a mixed bouquet of tulips for me.
    The Easter Tree is so cute!
    Love the polka dot candles - Cath Kidston if I'm not mistaken.
    Oh, your trip is coming up soon.
    You & Dayle are going to have a blast.
    Don't eat too many beignets!

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    1. Dayle is staying home - this is a girl's trip. It began as a Mother-Daughter trip, then she asked if my 2 sisters (her aunts) could join us. :-)

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    2. Sad for Dayle but good for you & the girls.
      Laissez les bons temps rouler!

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  3. I think my whole long comment was delete . Or did it just disappear for your approval? Shoot!

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  4. Gorgeous tulips and a lovely little hint of Easter. Internet shopping and ebay is all very dangerous isn't it. Every so often I look on Ebay for fountain pens. Might even go and do that now. It is all your fault. CJ xx

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  5. Love, love, love flower bouquets of many colors! :) That was quite the shopping trip you took me on...and I didn't even spend a cent! :D lol Love your pen and ink! :)

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  6. Shopaholic! Haha. I love your purchases. I haven't bought many flowers from Costco but they always look so beautiful. I will have to see if they still have tulips when I go in a week or two. I try to stay away and only go once a month, otherwise I'll buy everything. :)

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  7. Love your *finds* !!! Blue and white china/dinnerware/dishes are my favorite.

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  8. Short answer to your question about having a good week ..... no !! We were struck by lightning yesterday morning and at the moment have no phone line, no internet, no hot water service and a repaired electrial connection to our house ducted heating system. Big dollars here but insurance will cover it and I'll end up with a new hot water service to replace my 8 year old one. Mind you, my insurance will cost more as I'll lose some of my 'no claim bonus'. Ah such is life. I'm struggling with hot-spotting my iPhone so I can use my iPad for internet. Our phone company are diverting all calls to mobile number (at their cost) but the earliest they can come is Friday so my internet time will be very limited till then as I only have 2GB/month on my mobile account. Love your eBay story - such fun isn't it? Anyway, must be off now - enjoy your swimming. xox

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  9. Love tulips ☺☺ Having a very warm day today and the bathroom reno is at a hault for now....got to love online shopping lol

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  10. Beautiful tulips! To answer your question, I love both types of bouquets. Lovely fountain pen-I used to play around at calligraphy. Perhaps, when things settle down a bit or the raindrops start falling again, I will try my hand at it again. Have a blessed week Teresa!
    Blessings, Aimee

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  11. I love ALL of your purchases Teresa. Especially your tulips and pen cover. My Mom always used a fountain pen and I have always wanted to learn but have never done it. My luck the ink would be spilled everywhere! When do you go to New Orleans? eBay and Etsy are dangerous places aren't they? So are antique stores. I have to stay far, far away. :-)
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. We fly out on April 14th - my 2 sisters and I are meeting my daughter for a week of girl fun in New Orleans! Woohoo!

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  12. Shoppers anonymous here you go....ha! Good finds. I like the colorful tulip bouquet you bought. Of course I also like the purple colored ones as well. Am looking forward to our tulip festival that starts on Friday, a week early this year becuz of the warm weather. I've had an ok week....have a slight cold but am ok. Have a great rest of your week, Teresa! xx

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    1. If I have a shopping problem, I don't want to fix it. I'm happy with finding a few new treasures here and there. :-)

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  13. I love mixed color bouquets. The week so far has been good. You have the prettiest handwriting. An all girl's trip. You will have a blast!

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  14. Lots of retail therapy there Teresa and some great finds. My Hb, daughter and I all use fountain pens, I only use them at work but they use them all the time. Your pen is beautiful and the journal looks brilliant. Your trip sounds fabulous you must be so excited x

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  15. Those tulips scream Spring! So pretty!! I love the journal! I like to keep a travel journal too!!
    I have never used a fountain pen before. I am sure it produces beautiful results!!!
    Our trip is drawing near!!!
    XO Kris

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  16. Your tulips are so beautiful, I love all the variety of colors. Good for you treating yourself to some fun things for your trip.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  17. Gorgeous tulips - I adore them. Sometimes I like a bouquet with all same colour at others a mix. Love m fountain pens - have a few but none as gorgeous as yours. The sun shone today and we sat outside on our son's new garden furniture. DH collected the girls from school as Sarah (d.i.l.) had to wait in for a delivery. We then walked round to son's house - noticed lots of new gorgeous growth. Think it really is Spring. Hugs Anne x

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  18. Lots of pretty camellias and cherry blossoms. I've yet to see any tulips yet.
    At the Asakusa temple yesterday, I was admiring from afar six small flowering cherry trees . I was amazed to discover they were fake! As in really fake silk flowers attached to branches nailed to bigger branches.

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  19. Those tulips are just beautiful!

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  20. Beautiful tulips! They brighten up the table. I might have to buy some myself tomorrow! Even though it's autumn the shops have them all year round and I'm yearning for a hit of spring :)

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  21. Wonderful post. There is something to be said about the scratch of a pen nib across the page, ink flowing easily and words just spilling out as if by magic! Love, love the tulips. They always make me smile with their elegant beauty. ((hugs)) to you sweet friend. :)

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  22. I love color so definitely a mix. Your tulips are beautiful. What a lovely journal. I always intend to art journal our travels and it just never, ever happens. I can't imagine writing with a fountain pen. My boss loves the one we gave him a couple of years ago. We also gave him some cotton paper from France. Don't you make a mess with the ink? I know I probably would. I hope you have a fabulous trip. And good weather. And before I forget. THANK YOU! My heart arrived the other day. I LOVE IT! Hugs and blessings, Tammy

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  23. Dear Teresa, I admire the glorious tulip bouquet, and the elegant journal and pen you are using, and the pretty little creamer, as well! Thanks for letting us enjoy your retail therapy, too :-) Also thanks for the resource links. xx

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