Cait1, I have a brother in Melbourne and we might end up living in Tassie in year or two, I'd love to open a little mosaic studio down there, just a dream but one that will hopefully come true some day in the not so distant future. I haven't bought anything from the US for a while, it was fantastic when our $ was about the same as theirs but not so good at the moment, hopefully it'l pick up again soon and we can start buying again - YAY!! As for the postage I try and get as much stuff as I can that will fit into an $11.95US parcel, I think it holds around 2 or 3 kgs so it works out quite economical to do it that way. Can't wait to see your seat finished, it's amazing! (((hugs))) Tracey

Thanks guys. Soxxx, DH was hesitant about me hanging the kitties outside, but since they were only $10.00, I'll just glue them if they take a tumble. I have one in my kitchen which is the "Camark" pottery that I collect, it wasn't cheap like these ceramic ones. Soxxx, did I read that you live in Kilgore, my very favorite cousins live there and we used to visit often. Jeanne, that was sweet of ya'll to make your friend her very own cat house, it's lovely. Sunnyca, I've had those mirrors for a couple of years and have never had to clean them, guess the rain and sprinkler keeps them shined. That's a great idea about flipping the urn for a dove base. Kathy, I'm gonna keep my eye out for one of the squirrels, I remember them too. Frou

I really wish my hubby would be back interested in thrifting! He lost interest in what was once a common hobby for us. I am an antiquer/thrift/side of the road/yardsale a holic! Everything in our very packed home is from a place such as this. We have very few modern items (modern dishwasher and a few small appliances) - everything else we own is old. I have a small hi-fi to play my records which I collect. The only new pieces of furniture we have are a bed, and some Ikea cabinets with glass fronts because we need narrow places (Small house) to showcase all our treasures. One of my addictions is 50's wire furniture. I love 50's iron porch furniture and my friend is holding her entire original collection for me. I have a glass table and 5 chairs to be repainted and to go outside (it's from the 60's), and my hubby wants a glider. A few weeks ago we finally found a 2nd glass front mini-hutch for the basement. I was so pleased. Small open space for a small TV, glass up top for displaying my crazy beloved things, and hidden space below I plan to use to hide canning things and some blankets for the daybeds down there. I'm also proud (and ashamed for having so much stuff) that I re-did the guest house for less than $100. Redecorated the entire thing - just bought some paint, spray paint and some curtain rods! It looks totally different and I could use horded stuff. I've been making new curtains from saved fabric, spray painted all the furniture (I tend to buy stuff for the shape, and not for the condition), did some simple reupholstery, dug out frames and pictures/posters. It is so fun in there now! EVERY single item in that house is 2nd hand! I always look for garden items. Love vintage planters, wire plant stands, old tubs and other types of galvanized stuff.

That's lovely. I sold a lot of MIL's china at an antiques mall nearby, but I had better luck selling off the rare pieces on Ebay. I sold them one at a time, so shipping was easy. She had a full set of Franciscan Desert Rose. Some of the rare pieces fetched up to $300 per piece! I almost sold that entire set for $500, I would have kicked myself later if I had! Good luck, that is a lovely pattern you have there. Personally, I'd keep it! It's a timeless pattern.