the art of peace

MMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Sparkly

2012-01-27T07:29:00.000-08:00

Timmy, the kitten who lived under the house but who is presently the overweight cat who comes in now, reminds us that love is in the air, so be cute.

And cover your mouth in case it's contagious!

I'm not big on Valentine's Day, it's no secret. I had planned to make some Mod Podged Xmas ornies cuz I saw some very pretty ones out there in the bloggyverse last year, but "plan" is a very loose term with me. So yeah, it didn't happen. Next best thing, pretend I meant to do it for Vday!

Hot pink plastic heart ornies, various sheet music strips, delicious glitters and paper flowers come together sweetly in these sugar-dipped pretties. If I do say so myself.

I left some of the pink of the heart peeking through the torn strips, because all hearts have a few tears in them.

These are sugary enough to dip strawberries in.

Too bad I don't do VDay decorating. Hmm, maybe a good time to start? Dig out the pink Xmas tree and keep gluing?

I love how the Podge works with glitter! Also, I think I need these flowers in every color!

Fragile

2012-01-27T06:34:00.000-08:00

Life happens. Saying goodbye to my friend and faithful jealous companion, Tikky. There is so much empty space without you. :O(

Comfortablest cat we had.

Master of the kitty flop.

Pretty girl, you are terribly missed. 2001-2011

Anti-Valentines Sneaky Peek

2012-01-09T07:03:00.000-08:00

I LOVE being a part of the design team for Ten Two Studios because Lisa & my fellow minions all share a common trait - we enjoy embracing our dark sides whenever possible. So I was JAZZED when Lisa challenged us to take some of our past sweet V-Day projects and cast an anti-Valentine shadow over them.

Lisa chose these danglies, which took me forever to find this picture to show you:

...and these happened:

This playing card bunting..

...became this Bingo card bunting.

I'm not a big Valentine's Day gal. In my old crotchetty age I find it more suited to third graders and engaged couples. But for some reason this year I've had a hankering to do some sweet swaps, yikes! I'd better re-examine my choices. I can't help lovin' pink & red though! And glitter!! ;O)

All images, words, and Anti-Valentine AND regular Valentine BINGO cards available at Ten Two Studios

Deck the Blogs ONE. MORE. TIME.

2012-01-05T09:30:00.000-08:00

Finally sharing a last round of Xmas ornies from last year. Last year, sounds so long ago. It's almost time to start thinking about holiday stuff again, right? RIGHT? ;O/

Pardon my sucky pictures. Did you ever just want to take the goshdarn picture even though it's like 5AM and you know it's gonna be blurry or washed out or weirdly non-lifelike? Yeah. Me too.

Beautiful star made by my daughter Eryn. LOVE!!

Eryn also made this ribbon wreath from an old ribbon spool. Another ribbon spool usage! I am so stealing this next year!

And to top off her adorableness, she made me a new popsicle stick reindeer like the one she made in third grade. How freakin' cute is that? You can't really tell the difference between the new one and the old one from like, 17 years ago. Popsicle stick reindeers: CLASSIC.

This was MY last Xmas creation, made with some thick felt trees I found at the thrift and some vintage (duh) buttons. I had an awesome plan to attach these to some distressed boards with button snow falling all around. Imagine it, isn't it purdy? Yeah, I never got that far.

Now I'll show you some of my wonderful pretties from artful Journey's ornament swap. I lucked out with some sweet artsy partners. This little angel came with her own sparkly box from Lisa-

-as did this spool tree that I want to copy!! Lisa also made a beautiful hanging collage of a Christmassy front door embellished with delicious buttons, but I was ruthlessly packing stuff away before I remembered the photo op.

Look close to see the gold reindeer Molly made - I LOVE deer!! And glitter! And pink & blue & bows and, you get the idea.

Molly also made this cuter-than-puppies ballerina star...

...and the sweet blue & pink cupcake on the right. The cupcake on the left side was created by Peaches on Swapbot. :O)

And Robin made this eye candy...the Santa bottle is my fave, I had a hard time packing it away...

..since even the back was pretty!

This last goodie is also from a talented Swapbot partner, Heather. Two of my favorite things, Christmas and sugar skulls!

I'm sure I'll be done with the holiday stuff by...Valentine's day?

And This Happened

2012-01-02T06:47:00.000-08:00

Some embarrassing happenings of the TMZ type caught on 'film' at the Christmas Village this year...

What the actual heck is going on behind the gas station??

I hate it when mom & dad get drunk in public.

See ya next year, Christmas Eve Forever.

Vintage Dragonfly's Christmas Advent Matchbox Swap

2012-01-01T17:13:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure my partner has finished 2011 along with the rest of us, so Imma share these pics of the matchboxes I made for JoAnne's Advent matchbox swap. Instead of building a two-story box, I opted for the More Is Better approach and created two boxes.

I used pink & silver 'cuz my partner loves it as a Xmas color alternative and I could not agree more.

So I decked one out with silvers and creams..

...and the other with as many pinks as I could squeeze into one lil' box.

Plus glitter & lace, of course.

I didn't take photos of the goodies inside, but I tried to keep pink & vintage as much as I could. I hope she liked it...them...me...LOL!

I took about a scrillion pics of stuff yesterday as I was un-making Xmas, but of course forgot to take some of the great box I received, so I promise I will do that and share ASAP. :O)

Last of the Great Thrift Scores of 2011

2011-12-31T04:38:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I hesitate to share my thrifty finds after seeing some of the fabulous fancy things my fellow bloggers share. I tend not to buy antique $80 cherubs and the like, and I am no awesome photographer. But I like looking through other people's stuff (not medicine cabinets or underpants drawers, you know what I mean) so I do it anyway 'cuz I know there are a few looky-loos like me with time to kill even on New year's eve. I've spent most NYEves taking down my Xmas tree, actually quite a few of them have been completely sad and lonely so the 'holiday' takes no special place in my heart other than The Deadline To Have Xmas Gone Or Imma Feel Lousy About It.

So while gathering up stuff to cram (most gently) back into boxes in the process of Unmaking Xmas, I'm sharing the last minute pics of a few new things I found when I accidentally ended up at the ARC before the grocery store this week, plus a couple of things I picked up last summer that finally got to participate in the Xmas festivities. BECAUSE I CAN.

Metal tray. Cuteness & pink, irresistable. Found last summer, looked perfect with a vintage Santa cookie tin and a red HO HO HO on a plate shelf. A picture would have been nice. :OP

I have a thing for sparkly Churches so I could not say no to this. Did I mention the thrift had all Xmas marked 75% off? This was less than dollar. The windows have LED lights in, which I didn't even notice when I put it in my YES pile, but they don't work so I'll probably put some cellophane behind them next year. It's much glitterier than this picture relates. I may have made up a word just now. Someone gifted this to someone else in 1989, which is ridiculous to think that was over 20 years ago. It seems like bad shoulder pads were just yesterday.

I used the stand from the church to try and get a pic with no glare of this Houze Art glass. These things just SCREAM vintage, and my childhood, to me. It's black glass. Only this year I learned to not hate the color gold. I've always been a silver girl. I still wouldn't choose gold for jewelry, but it's so vintage feeling every place else.

For $2.50 I scored these 8 plates, (4 dessert & 4 dinner) which according to the backs, are called "Christmas On Ice, as interpreted by Georges Briard". One of the fun things about thrifting is finding out what the heck you found, so I was happy to learn a lot about Georges Briard, who designed a lot of wonderful vintage and very collectible glassware from the 50's through the 70's. Unfortunately I could find ZERO about this particular design, not even any pictures except for a chip & dip plate for sale for $50. Of course I love them because they have ICE SKATING Santa, duh? These are actually my first Christmas plates, even though I am OLD. I don't count the snowflake ones from the dollar store that all chipped.

DUH!

OMG, how stinkin' adorable are these Moppets? I found these two Fran Mar collectible china plates by Gorham for $2 each, pretty reasonable after hunting them down online, where they sell for an average price of around $10. Of course there are some real a%^h&les on ebay trying to get $50-$80 for each of them...rather silly when there's one for $3.99 there also. Is the original box really worth that much? I despise overpriced resellers of vintage on ebay, just sayin'. Innyhoo, yay, the 70's! I was there! I plan to display these next year!

Who among you could have resisted this awesome pinky purpley plastic wreath candle thingy? That's what I thought.

Snowdude made from that stuff you put under your Xmas town for snow, new in a bag for 50 cents.

Found this little group last summer too. L.O.V.E. No markings. I wish I knew what used to cover the light in the back -see it behind Mr. Caroler? Works! I may re-glitter the snow on the ground next year as it seems to have several years of uck on top.

Not thrifted, but I thought I'd leave you with happy New year wishes from my most vintage cat Missy. This will be her NINETEENTH New Year!! >^..^<

Okay, I have only the tree and the town to pack away. As soon as I blog a couple more things....:OD

Merry Cheers To You!

2011-12-24T23:40:00.001-08:00

And a Batty Happy New Year too!

The Posts of Christmas Past

2011-12-22T07:49:00.000-08:00

I am feeling a little un-Xmassy in spite of the torrents of snow outside, and the fact I am pretty much done shopping except for something to eat, and that I made a few goodies and still have time to maybe eeeek out one or two more crafts before It's All Over and I Just Don't Feel Like It Anymore. (Very serious condition, the after Xmas I don't-want-to-make-any-more-Xmas-things-for-a-while syndrome, but even worse when it hits BEFORE Christmas.)

Here are some memories of last Xmas while we wait to see exactly what I'll do in the next 3 days. Talk amongst yourselves.

Lollicakes all up in my grill

Favorite Xmas lights of last year. These folks had nothing but this blinking DITTO on the roof with an arrow pointed to the house next door that was blindingly decked out.

Eryn made this laundry line of Mr. & Mrs. Santa's clothes for me last year. This year I see Santa's laundry wrapping paper, Santa's laundry stamps, and even received another line of Santa's laundry in an ornament swap!! What gives? I still maintain this is the BEST ONE.

This was my Johnny Weir Christmas in the City winter piece that I actually didn't finish until this April or so, but I wanted to work some Johnny in.

Knee hugger Santa all spread out with his armless buddy, who seems less than happy to be there. Cute or creepy? Answer: yes.

Eryn also made this holiday cuckoo clock from a matchbox last year. I rreeeaaalllyy wanted to make some for swaps this year but one pesky thing got in the way: LAZY.

And this is a reminder of why I have a little forest of trees on my table this year with zero ornaments on them.

I just might do a bit more gluing before Xmas eve and our traditional trip out to look at lights. I want to make a couple of simple wrapped trees and a subway art style sign or two. I have probably jinxed it by typing it out loud. :OP

Spoolville

2011-12-19T01:55:00.000-08:00

Empty ribbon 'spools'. I keep adding more to these and can't seem to satisfy myself. I intended to swap them but they just never were right.

Gnomey Santa with his crooked tree to match his crooked hat.

I dunno what they need. More glitter. More 'stuff'. Maybe a jar to live under like those pseudo-anthropologie ones that are popular this year.

Caroler, Gnomey Santa and the alleged Mrs. Claus making cookies.

I know they need more falderall and flash and bows around the bases. Maybe some banners with Xmassy sayings floating across.

Possible Mrs. Santa beside little drummer dude.

I dunno if he had drumsticks before, but these toothpicks and beads work fine. He is so actiony! Pa-rum-pum-pum-etcetera.

Twin angels. with awesome emo hairdos!

There was also a snowman, but he went to live with my daughter Eryn before this photo op. The drummer boy went with her also. She now demands an upgrade to the snowman, who was let go before glitter and lil' bead feet were added to the spool pedestals. (I told you I just keep adding more stuff.) The twin emo angels in blue were adopted by my other daughter Kya. I'm keeping Gnomey Santa. I dunno what to do with the other two. I will never stop gluing things to them. Help.

A Merry Little Christmas

2011-12-13T06:55:00.000-08:00

You may not remember these folks, gifted to me by the hub last Xmas.

We had a party they won't soon forget!

Broken Promises & Sassy Santas

2011-12-12T03:46:00.000-08:00

I promised myself I would not make another trip to the thrift store before Christmas. I made that promise 3 weeks ago. Oops.

I am weak.

But this TOTALLY AWESOME ceramic candy tree platter had been there for FIVE WEEKS. That's long enough to be half price and then full price again and finally half price ($2) one more time and it was OBVIOUSLY invisible to everyone but ME, I mean five weeks? It was meant to be mine, with it's retro olive green and tomato red splotches, probably spattered on personally by Gayline sometime in 1976, while I was most likely at the 18 and under night at the disco. It waited for me to finally realize it had been waiting for me.

The hub found this Little Reindeer (I am capitalizing it because the tag on the bottom assures me it is a hand painted Little Reindeer, from 1978. Again, I was probably at the underage disco still) for $1, but somehow he passed up every. Other. Cool. Thing. Which leads me to fear he may not be the best at choosing thrift gifts for me this year and may need a field guide. And a spotter.

Which is why I broke my promise and hit one ARC on half price day yesterday. The hub knows I have a newly forming thing for sleighs, and there were a ..sleighload at the thrift, and he found every ugly one. But he passed up this one:

Kitschy reindeer!!! What was he thinking? "I showed you so many that you didn't like I just gave up." Psh. He has bad vintage radar. For real. Maybe because he was born in 1971, so to him the 80's are vintage. He finally stopped pointing out every cheap porcelain doll and resin swan and dollar store Hummell figurine after a year, but I just can't get him to remember basic things like "It should be cute."

And shiny gold is a nice touch. (This lil' guy was fifty cents and is only about 3" long. Somewhere there are teeny reindeer looking for it I bet. I WANT THEM.)

Check out this ridiculously happy Santa. Orphan salt shaker.

And this trio of lovelies, oh it makes me sad that I had to be frugal and put back FOUR more of these *sob* but I kept the sweetest ones. The one on the left is a trinket box.

She and her friend had the magic words on their "bottoms" ~

As did the ones I put back but LET'S NOT GO THERE *sob* I should definitely put this in the field guide.

This April angel is the first one I've found that A) has no chips or broken bits or glued-back-on-after-breaking-wings, and B) was actually reasonably priced at $4. I heart her. Someday I'll have a whole year. :O)

And the gal in blue is someone's hand painted sweetie. Here she is with her choir sisters, adopted from Goodwill and Unique Thrift. Pinkie here has a "copyright Holland mold" on her bottom.

And this elf was from my last thrift trip. You know I love me some demon eyed elfs!

I'm pretty happy with my broken promise. And so is my sassy gay Santa.

Ornaments!

2011-12-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

Here are some ornies I made for various swaps around the swappyverse...

Snow Bunnies

I used some of the DELICIOUS vintage card deck shared with me by Papergoddess for these collages for Artful Journey's Handmade Ornament Swap. I am gobsmacked (I never get to use that word but it feels right) with my incredibly perfect swap partners for this one, and will share pics of their glittery sugarplums later.

Also for that swap, Skater stars. These are big girls, maybe 6" across, and sparklier than they appear. :O)

A box of old fashioned chenille (sounds so much fancier than pipe cleaners) dolls.

THEY ARE LEGION

All I have left to do is decorate my tree, if I can get the cat that used to live under the house to stop trying to climb it or chew through the light cords. :O/

Christmas Present for Crafty Elves

2011-12-03T05:57:00.000-08:00

Elves, not Elvis. Elvis would want something with peanut butter and a Cadillac. Time for the Ten Two Studios annual Original Printables Holiday Countdown! Lisa's already started her 6th edition of completely adorable collage images for your Christmas/Holiday crafting, new every day between now & Christmas. Simply link back to the countdown on your blog, Facebook, etc. and spread the word to enjoy your free image downloads. Check out all the other goodies at Ten Two studios while you're at it! :OD

Gypsy Caravan

2011-11-18T11:34:00.000-08:00

Made with images from Gypsy Caravan collage sheet & tiny bottles from Ten Two Studios, & Republic of Tea tin.

Lil' Bits

2011-11-10T00:06:00.000-08:00

I get so sad when I visit my Blogger dash and there are no new posts to peruse. Y'all are gonna make me actually do what I am supposed to be doing.

Since I am sometimes nice (and don't want to go do what I'm supposed to be doing) I will not make you suffer the same fate. Here is a post to peruse until you just HAVE to go do whatever it is you're doing this instead of.

I'd like to show some of the Christmas stuff I'm working on, but most of it's for partners and some of it's actually SECRET, so nope. Instead, here's another vessel for my collection of...vessels. Of course I could not resist twin kitties in a lemon yellow basket! Sheesh! The leprechaun peeking out was made by Jake in third grade. One of those mom things.

Don't be so sad about the Christmas stuff, here's an onion. He has a couple of chips in his lid, so he's quite emo. How did this guy sit at the thrift all day long on half price day and nobody bought him?

And here's a pic of how I travel the world through my mailbox. Some stamps from the sweet mail I get from swappy pals. I actually forgot to put my Japanese mail in the pile, but here is a big chunk of the world. Hey Belgium, do you really have a peeing boy fountain statue on your stamps, or do I need to get stronger glasses?

I'm all about Christmas cards already this year, and am hosting a swap on the 'Bot to send cards to our pets. :OD

Maybe some tricksy sneak peeks at the holiday extravaganza of glue and glitter next time. Meanwhile, happy planning!

After the Boys of Summer Have Gone...Or Stayed

2011-11-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

It might be Autumn technically, but it has snowed (or snew) twice already, there is definitely white stuff covering the ground, and I have packed up my Halloweenies in a brand new nice plastic storage tub with an orangey lid instead of the old cardboard box I finally got rid of, so I am in full on WINTER MODE. meaning CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE. But I want to say a fond goodbye...and hello to the Boys of Summer of 2011.

Joey

I'm pretty sure his base of operation for the Summer was under my house. Some warm nights we'd sit on the porch and you could say "Hey Joey", and this little nose would come out sniffling around for cat food or cookies or stale cereal. He was rather awesome actually. And freakin' 'uge.

Chillin'

But then the Gang of Teenage Hoodlums must have heard of the free stale treats being handed out here. Or maybe they read the secret "Cat Lady Lives Here" hobo's mark I am convinced exists somewhere on my property and mistook the Cat for Coon. Soon we were infiltrated by a bossy and aggressive bunch of beggars who took advantage of our good nature and held my daughter captive in the house several nights while trying to find their way inside to raid the fridge and watch Swamp People on our tv.

And in the midst of the battle for free food and a big bowl of water to wash their hands in, also living under our house and originating from who knows where, was this:

He was not more than maybe 12 weeks old when I saw him the first time, but Kya said she'd seen him before. I already leave a dish of cat food for the strays, (Cat Lady Lives Here) so I knew he'd eat if he didn't get found or find his way to where ever he came from, but after the Ninja Raccoons started showing up I no longer left the food out. My summer fear became SURE (Sudden Unexpected Raccoon Entry), so I fed Joey only when he showed up, and I started my worrying about the Kitten That Lived Under the House. He seemed not to have had any human contact because he would have none of us close to him in any way.

It took weeks of sitting patiently when he'd come on the porch for food, starting a game of "hand", which he took to, and would come close enough to bat at my hand almost like a real cat.

It took more weeks to get him to come inside. For the first few weeks he'd come in and lay on the bed, which is traditionally a Neutral Zone in our cat family. But you couldn't touch him or he'd freak and hide.

But he sure could get comfortable.

Now, I think he loves me. He likes Kya a lot too. He lets me pick him up and doesn't run and freaks out only about 23% of the time. He likes mornings when only the two of us are here. He doesn't like the Hub or the Boy, but they're gregarious giants, who can blame him. He is almost a Real Cat now.

And gets even comfier.

SO, goodbye Joey & the Gang, whom I haven't seen since Summer ended. and Hiya New Kitty who is apparently staying.

Oh, his name is Timmy.

Now on to a little bit of THIS

and a little bit of THAT

it's beginning to look a lot like...

Made By Eryn

2011-10-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

Showing off Boo banners made by my daughter Eryn!

This one is for her sister who loves candy corn. I think candy corn should be this color scheme.

Mine!!

She also decorated the jar her sister saved her haunted house money in. :O)

Something to Crow About

2011-10-26T01:28:00.000-07:00

I bought some dollar store crows to jazz up and swap, but they were so ghetto pre-jazzing I didn't rush to it. I'm kinda glad now because they turned out pretty cute and I get to keep them. *hoarder*

Please ignore crap in the background.

Walking like Egyptians.

Charlie's Angel's.

Looking menacingly at this defenseless paper mache pumpkin.

I used more of the pages from my 120 year old Bible for this. It feels extra creepy. There's frost on my pumpkin. It's snowing here tonight, so that's apt. :OP

See the pub. date of 1891. I love my memento mori pumpkin.

A few last Halloween shares every day until Samhain! Funny thing about crafting, by the time Halloween is two weeks away we're past it and thinking about Christmas. right?

Way Down Yonder In the Punkin Patch

2011-10-21T03:37:00.000-07:00

Excuse the suckiness of these photos, they were taken with the hub's phone. The hub wanted a phone with a camera and I always questioned why since he is technologically challenged and has no idea how to send the pics anywhere besides his phone. But as usual, I forgot my camera, and fortunately every 16 year old knows how to basically launch foreign space shuttles and things with their phones, so my daughter sent them where they needed to go so I could share. :O)

The hub has yucky days off (Wed. and Thurs.) and we don't get to do a lot of family type things due to that and a pesky thing called school. So we broke the Parent code on Tuesday and called them in for the morning so we could all go to the pumpkin patch together. I mean, who knows how many more times these teenagers will want to do ANYTHING in public with their parents? I've already lost my source of trick or treat candy, let me have this!!

I'm not sure what the hub used as an excuse for their absence...scurvy? Old war wound acting up? Denture pain? I didn't listen. But we were the first ones thru the big stone gates of Rock Creek farms at 9AM! We followed the lady turning the closed sign to open!

Ham & Cheese

These fellas were not as happy..

Pumpkin patch guerilla art!! Love it!

We got 3 pumpkins, yay! And they didn't have to go to 3rd hour which apparently bites! Plus, the hub got to hold a chicken! You don't get to do that every day in these parts! It was a fun morning.

But now I wanna do this and I wish I'd have bought some little punkins (wee be littles!) while I was there. BRB, gonna buy some fangs.

Photo from Martha Stewart.com

Sharing the Love from Rusty Rooster Vintage

2011-10-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

This little bit of nature was made byVicki at Rusty Rooster Vintage, and is only ONE of the crave-worthy things she's giving away this Friday!

Check out her delicious blog here ~ Rusty Rooster Vintage's Giveaway!

Vintage Dragonfly's Halloween Matchbox Swap

2011-10-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

Some things I sent to Becs. Yup, she got the steampunkin. :O)

Will show you the DELICIOUS things she sent me later. :O)

Thrift Scores

2011-10-14T06:28:00.000-07:00

First, let me apologize to myself and others for NOT buying the set of four RED Pyrex fridgees WITH LIDS. They were $4 each and I was being *frugal*. Ugh.

But I was rewarded with a new lamp~ $3. Just need a cute shade.

This Josef Original below has a story. I was shocked to find her on a regular shelf where anybody's unattended children could mess with her, rather than in the case with The Good Crap and a ridiculous at half the price price on her head. $4. I got her home and her left arm was completely missing. I could have sworn she was not an amputee when I grabbed her, so I searched the bags and newspaper she'd been wrapped in, to no avail. she was taken in to the Collection Of Vintage Angels With Broken Wings and Children With Broken Arms. Because someone's got to love them, eh?

About three weeks or more later, my daughter, while getting in the back seat of the car, "found an arm." Just laying there, this teensy little arm. Almost too freakin' teensy for my eyeballs to see to glue back together. But there she is, not perfect, not paying for anyone's college with her cracked and glued little slender dainty lovely arm. I don't know what the moral of the story is, but the picture is purdy. And I lurve her.

In the Oops I Think I Collect These Now category, this old souvenir Colorado plate. Just 'cuz I live here,

and the colors are delicious,

and I ADORE ephemera like this.

Oh, and for the cost of one red fridgee I will never not regret buying, I found this dude:
(this is not my actual dude, I was too lazy to take his picture. This is one somebody tried to sell on ebay for $67 including shipping.)

Mine was free to take home in the back seat.

Must be The Season Of The Witch

2011-10-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

Because everything I've made is creepy.

Although, that happens in the season of the bunny and the snowman sometimes too. :O)

Day of the Dead chunky ATCs.

An EEK banner. I'm trepidatious about how my partner will like this one.

So I altered the other side too.

Altered BINGO card.

Yay for finishing things by their deadline. :OD Yay for blogging it in the same month it was accomplished. *snert*

The Belfry

2011-10-09T06:06:00.000-07:00

12x12 canvas.

Images from Ten Two Studios, bits from 1950 cookbook.

Where It's At - We Got 13 Inchies and 3 ATCs

2011-10-07T03:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, my random hipster wtf is showing with the subject line. I said it in my head to the rhythm of the lyrics "we got two turntables and a microphone", from the song "Where It's At" by Beck, whom I believe stole the line from some old school rappers somewhere. To much info? Yeah. Innyhoo, I made these thirteen inchies of Halloween....

which I was pleasantly surprised to find out, is exactly how many fit in a small matchbox! Pleasantly because I had thought about making thirty one instead, and that would totes not have fit. It took me about 4 hours for that 13 inches already! ;O)

And an ATC...

..and another ATC...

...and another spooky one...

All for various swaps here and there, I'm not telling.

Curiosities Matchboxes

2011-10-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

All my little matchboxes for Speckled Egg's Curiosities Halloween Matchbox swap...okay, LARGE matchboxes have found their way to their new homes, so I can parade them here now.

Green Witch

"Inexplicable sister of the Goddess, my muse to me"

Red Witch

"The bitter air strips panoply from trees where softer winds set leaves, beaks scarce peep. What good the glees?"

Text from the old poetry handbook I found at Goodwill about 3 years ago..I love that thing! Probably enough to keep me gluing profundities forever. Witch bodies from Ten Two Studios paper dolls selection.

I've signed up for another MB swap for the Xmas holidays with Vintage Dragonfly on Flickr. As if I don't have enough to glue:

Two Dia de Los Muertos chunky ATCs
One ATC based on "anceint mythology" that I hope to incorporate some steampunk into
Still not finished with the handmade goodies for the inside of the CURRENT Halloween MB swap I signed up for in ADDITION to this one, because I was busy makine FOUR lavish BOO banners for various swaps and my awesome daughter
Altered Halloween Bingo card for the Altered art group
Eight tiny envelopes and a personalized ATC for each of three partners for an ATC advent swap
Spooky Christmas swap on the 'bot
Not to mention the umpteen postcard swaps I can't seem to stay out of. Oops, I mentioned them.
Oh, and I suppose I should think about my own actualfax family's Christmas as well. Eep! That's a lot for a procrastinatrix such as myself!

I'd better nap.

I Know, Right?

2011-09-22T03:51:00.000-07:00

Pin-up Pixie and deer, how could I refuse?

Cute things I have to dust that I found at the junque shoppe last week. I almost didn't buy them but the hub talked me into it, and I admit I'd have regretted it later because THE KEWTNESS!!

Things You Have To Dust or: How I Started Thrifting and Learned to Love the Stuff

2011-09-13T00:44:00.000-07:00

When people used to ask me what I wanted for my b-day or Xmas, I'd respond "nothing you have to dust." I hated people giving me tchotchkes because I was not only picky, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I LIKED. I've always had a bunch of 'stuff'. Since I began forcing the hub to repaint the house (at his own snail's pace, but it's cre e e e eping along) I've taken the opportunity to re-tchotchke up the place as well. Now that I'm vintage (OLD), I want what I want. And fortunately for the hub, I want it old, used, and at a greatly reduced or at least fair and sensible price. :O)

Hello, thrift store. One of my first not-really-functional-in-my-life-but-I-love-the-lines-of-it purchases was this little vase. It's about 8" tall and if I didn't suck at pics, a pretty shade of green somewhere between seafoam and a retro mint green. Unfortunately is was a casualty of my son and has had its base glued back on so his inheritance is that much less.

I accidentally have this collection of what I call "vessels" because they aren't just vases. This what I think is a cream pitcher I was charmed with because I have a thing for swans...the baby blue and green that I'm loving now convinced me further, and the Proof Of Vintage and last reason not to leave it at the thrift store was the word Japan on the bottom. I'd love to see the rest of the set but thank goodness they didn't have it because I don't have room!.

I don't know if it's a swan, or a duck. But it's glazed, with a nice little crackling of age, in that seafoam/retro color and a nice plum. This one's a planter. <3

Definitely a duck...probably, this one was lucky i didn't break it snatching it up as fast as I could. Glazed robin's egg blue and pink surfing on a pink wake of water. Also a planter. How could anyone pass this by for $1.49? It was meant to be mine, is how.

I resisted the urge to buy thrift owls for a long long time. Then this chalkware guy showed up with his hypnotizin' sequin eyes. Oh noes. The First One.

Another blue, pink & green score, this cute pair with their 10 cents price on the bottom, probably came from a 5 & 10 at one time. Paid about 500% each.

Now that I'm gathering up stuff I actually enjoy seeing, I am not so adverse to dusting! Major life change! ;OD

More Industrial Chic/Upcycled Junque Charms

2011-09-09T01:10:00.000-07:00

Vintage slide rule bits, alcohol ink drizzle, German text from a book I probably should not have cut up, images from Ten Two Studios, bits of broken hand painted jewelry, copper tape. Click for detail.

:OD

Risky Business

2011-09-03T04:23:00.000-07:00

TOPLESS SHOW NO COVER!

I joined a swap (which in itself is a risky business), called RISK ATCS. The risk being to make the ATC according to a theme chosen by your partner, whatever it was, even if it was strippers, which of course in my case, it was*. I said hmmm a lot, but then was lucky enough to find amidst my pile of crap I don't throw away in case I need to glue it to something, an old Westword magazine. I only had to peruse the classifieds for a minute to find this gal, between the gay cruise ads and the medical marijuana dispensaries (free newspapers have changed a lot since last time I picked one up). A little nasty but not too trashy, keepin it classy. Hehe.

*My partner has to make one with Johnny Weir. :O)

That's So Gay!

2011-08-25T03:54:00.000-07:00

Well thanks!

I've had gay friends since I can remember. So long, in fact, that I don't think we even used the word "gay" back then. Really. It wasn't 'a thing'. I never said, "Oh, and my homosexual pal Ron will be coming with me," because who Ron (or Jody or Rosemary or Keith, etc) was crushing on or sleeping with wasn't the first thing that came to mind when thinking about my friends. I guess I was lucky? enough to be born not judging people on their differences where sexual orientation was concerned. OMG, I was BORN THAT WAY!

Innyhoo, in honor of Anti-Homophobia Day Sept. 2nd (which also happens to be my 17th wedding anniversary (I thought it was 18 but it just FEELS like 18) and for a "This ATC Is Gay" swap on the 'Bot, I made these...grungy vintage gay ATCS! :OD

click on pic for complete BIG OL' version

I had to take some common hetero couples from this faux postage sheet and do a little orientation reassignment to create these pairings. As Lisa of Ten Two Studios, your source for all things altery, from whence these images came, remarked; I made those faux postage sheets my bitch. Which is a gender non-specific word these days. Pardon my potty mouth. Ha.

Postcard Post

2011-08-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

I'm smack dab in the middle of beginning/working on/contemplating a half dozen new crafty projects this week, which I am too scatterbrained to want to talk about, so let's look at some of my favorite posties from the past few weeks! Not interested? WRONG! Okay, maybe you're not interested, but these are awesome.

How can you not love this funeral director's convention PC from 1961? How freakin' happy is this lady to be alive instead of modeling from inside a casket? Okay, my tastes do run toward the creepy, but I absolutely love this one. Check out her matchy-matchy green shoes! Is that a funeral fashion faux pas?

This wonderful shapey PC came from a swapper in Germany who picked it up on a trip to Spain. HOW CONTINENTAL!!! It's 8" across. I love it cuz it's so international AND it's shaped like a freakin' fan! Also, my adorable partner taught me her favorite Spanish phrase: "uno vaso plastico" -the plastic cup. Random useless knowledge is my favorite.

Also in the Latino theme are these gorgeous Mexican Senoritas. I collect the lovely latino ladies and this one has a very "venir aqui" look...(come hither...altho Google translate doesn't know a Spanish word for 'hither' so I basically just said come here. :OP)

This one comes from the "I had it in my stash of PCs to send to others but realized I had to keep it" category. Vintage painting by Robert Kent -so sixties. I dig the whole feel of the San Fran scene here. Sorry, whoever is NOT going to get this from me.

I am a sucker for a retro gal in polka dots. Seriously, I'm sad I was just a kid in the 60's and couldn't take part in the standing-out-in-the-woods-in-Sears-clothing protests.

This one of a time lapse of the Aurora Borealis was custom made by someone at Zazzle...a sight I'll probably never see in person so I am thrilled to have it forever on a PC. Delicious light and color.

Another theme I collect is ice skating...pair that with vintage AND from my own home state and I am in perfect PC heaven. Well, it could have Johnny Weir in it for true perfection but he wasn't around back then.

Well, if this is the "wurst" PC I receive this month, I'm doing okay. Ha! Get it? Oh stop it you. YOu know you're making jokes about sausages right now in your head. No? Just me huh?

Okay, last one on our tour today, the Savoco Catacombs of Sicily. We started with death and we end that way also. PROFOUND!

I hope you've enjoyed this visual stroll through the paper gardens of a teensy corner of my postcard collection. Anyone want to swap one, let me know! Have stamps, will find mailbox! :O)

Next time hopefully I'll have either some chenille witch ornies, a shadowbox full of long passed children and rusty trinkets, or the beginnings of a spooky red riding hood collage to show you. Or not.

A Measure of Charming

2011-08-11T03:21:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to making a few charms (through forcing myself by joining a few charm swaps) out of an old slide ruler I found at the thrift a while ago. Here's a crappy pic of the first one, attached to a die cut to enhance it's likability, hehe.

"With gilded wings"

This one was for the Crafting Queens on S'bot. I snickered at my cleverness. Rules, ruler. Ha. Of course a bee always implies a queen, right? Or honey. Anyhoo, I hope the recipient says 'sweet' when she sees it.

This is a bit bigger 'cuz it's a pendant for a Dia de los Muertos themed swap. "Recuerde" can be seen under the figure if I put my glasses on. :OP I was going for that 'industrial repurposed found objects' style that's popular. Always see cool bits at Michael's of that stuff and think, "I wish I had the real vintage bits". At least the chunk of ruler is 'real vintage'.

Now I can get going on making another 4 feet 16 inches of charms! Ha!

The Story Of the Dresser; or; How One Sunbeam Can Cause a Flood

2011-08-06T06:17:00.001-07:00

For a few minutes each early morning in midsummer, the sunrise pours a warm honey glow across my old dresser through the tiny amount of window I allow it to find it's way through in the wee hours, when most people are greeting the day and I'm saying goodnight. It's so perfectly pretty naturally, with no photo enhancements, reminding me sometimes the beauty of nature or the world or whatever makes beauty out of ugly just finds it's own darn way in, no matter how much you sequester yourself against it unintentionally.

This old dresser is as old as dirt. I know that because that's how old my Grandma used to say SHE was, and it was hers. It came to live with my mom and me the same day Grandma did when I was nine. It's over four feet tall and when I was a kid it held things so fascinating I would sneak into the drawers whenever Grandma left her room to watch Dragnet or take a bath and examine the old photos and letters and postcards, cookie cans full of buttons and jars of shells, the souveniers from Europe that my uncles brought back to her from the War, things I found interesting every single time I saw them, maybe because I was told to keep out of the dresser. Maybe because even then, "stuff" was awesomely magnetic to me.

She was born Florence Erma Edwards in 1899, I believe in Wyoming. I realized just recently that this photo of her (front left) probably shows her sisters Myrtle and Irene and brother Ralph...and reeeaaaallllyyyy makes me want to splurge on a geneology search to possibly identify and put names to these people who I have in my blood. My Grandma was seventy when I was nine. Even though I lived with her for eight years, all I really know about her was that she was crotchetty, funnier than I understood at that age, and gave me my crafty gene. And she had the coolest dresser filled with stuff.

When my Grandma began shrinking as most old people eventually do (she was on crutches with a bad hip and already a shorty), she had this one armed carpenter (Yes, one arm. I wish I'd have been old enough to be curious and watch him work, because I can't imagine how he sawed wood or hammered a nail. But he did.) that she gave all her business to, SAW this fabulous old tiger eye oak probably antique and worth more than the junk in it dresser IN HALF in order to make two separate small dressers, because I needed a dresser and she was frugal. Years later when I moved out of my mother's house, I took the top half of the dresser with me. It had no legs and weighed about a scrillion pounds. But I needed a dresser and I was frugal. Eventually I aquired another dresser with more utilitarian features, and I gave the half dresser to a friend. The bottom half still resided in my mom's place. It was the prettier half.

When my mom died, the bottom half of the dresser came to my house. The dresser, even halved, no longer held an intrigue for me, but at that time, just hard sharp achy nostalgic sad memories that fairly burned. I gave the bottom half of the dresser to the same friend the top half had lived with for a few years. Once again, after decades of being apart, like separated lost conjoined twins, the halves were joined into one big ol' dresser. I didn't feel okay about it. I knew my mom would be irked that I gave the dresser away. But I couldn't quite stand to live with it either. It hurt.

Years later I began to pine for the dresser...or the idea of the dresser. It was the only solid bit of generations past that survived, my Grandma, her nine children, their children, even THEIR children, and somehow it came to ME, in pieces, over generations of time. I couldn't ask for it back. We had a name for those people that give you stuff and ask for it back, and it is politically incorrect now. But that's what I would have been. My friend had come to love the dresser and even went so far as to say she thought she felt my mom sometimes around it. Which made me feel rather worse actually.

I needed to get a handle on my warped relationship with this dresser.

Then one night my friend, in a fit of pique and probably drunken camaraderie, knowing how I had overcome my aversion to the dresser's misery and saw again the light of my childhood in it's drawers, offered me the dresser. I'm pretty sure I cried, because that's what I do when something good happens, or something bad, or something involving puppies, or people giving me big wooden boxes full of memories of people who aren't here any more. The dresser came home.

So, now the dresser sits in my room taking up too much space, full of craft supplies, ribbons, sparkly things, some old photos, cans of buttons and jars of shells. And for a few minutes each early morning in midsummer, the sunrise pours a warm honey glow across my old dresser through the tiny amount of window I allow it find in the wee hours when most people are greeting the day and I'm saying goodnight. And maybe I feel my mom saying how much she loved mornings. Maybe my Grandma admiring the baubles in the dresser drawers. It's so perfectly pretty naturally, with no photo enhancements, reminding me sometimes the beauty of nature or the world or sad memories turning happy or whatever makes beauty out of ugly just finds it's own darn way in, no matter how much you sequester yourself against it unintentionally, no matter how locked up tight you think your heart is.

InappropriArt? Greetings For A Classy Lady

2011-08-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

This little mama was featured on the Ten Two Studios page a while ago! I created her for a design team challenge using assorted paper doll body parts.

I altered her a bit later to personalize her for someone special's b-day, but that's their little secret. This is all you get of her.

Let's just say she ended up with a tassel on her shoulder. >.<

In The Midst Of Summer I Found Within Myself An Invincible Winter, with apologies to Camus

2011-07-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

What happens when you mix a desire to spend the Summer making Wintry things, a love of vintage, a load of glitter, all this crap gathered up over several months while brain(snow)storming...

...a need to incorporate this guy in it...?

You get this 11x14" canvas mixed media collaged orgy of glitter and frosty love, is what you get. Vintage newspaper, sheet music, book pages, post cards, matchbooks, stamps & button cards sprinkled with a generous helping of Things That Remind Us Of Johnny (see below for I Spy list), bling, ice, snow, the city at Holiday time, and of course ice skating all 'melted together.

The picture sucks but I was so excited when I finished it I threw it in front of the first thing it would lean on which happened to be a laundry basket full of freshly washed polar bear slippers.

*Please click on images to see larger...and click again to see HUUUUGE*

It started with this matchbook from my favorite junque shoppe advertising The Terrace Room, Famous For Ice Shows... some one must have had a great time here to have kept a beaten up matchbook for so many decades. I knew I needed to bring the life back from this memento. And stick Johnny in it.

The idea is to see the jar pouring out the winter Holidays, all whooshed and swirled in sparkles, like everything should be.

I doodled Joni Mitchell lyrics along the sides, from "River". The other side says "I wish I had a river I could skate away on". I like the unexpected something there.

Among the Weirish bits hidden in plain site are:

"Be Good" (Johnny Weir)
An aggressive row of Swarovski crystals down the side of the car
A play on "Louboutin"
A crown of roses
Russian text & Russian stamps
Vintage fur advertisement
Cleaning accoutrements
A tiny pair of skates
Three Johnnys...

BE OF GOOD CHEER!
*Please click on images to see larger...and click again to see HUUUUGE*

:O)

2011-07-11T01:07:00.000-07:00

ATC made with the Lemon Slice Bits & Pieces digital collage sheet from Ten Two Studios

Relatives I'm Not Related To, & Update on Actual Projects

2011-07-03T03:33:00.000-07:00

I am SO. CLOSE. To finishing my Winter piece. I tend to take four hours to decide to add one little thing to it every time I drag it out to work on. But I am almost satisfied. You know when you make some 'art' and you feel you've added enough to it...or not...to make it complete. There are times when something is 'done' but then a piece of perfect flotsam or jetsam (which I was surprised to see I spelled correctly) floats in and you add it to the awaiting spot that nobody but you knew was missing something, and then it's COMPLETED. I have some Snow-tex to add, and a pound of snowy frosty glitter, and some words I've decided to either print or stamp around the outside edges, and then I think I'll be finished. I am so excite. So why am I here blogging.

Because I'm so excite, duh!

So it's not a wasted trip, here are some fake relatives I gathered up over the last few months. I love my fake relatives.

Sent to me by a dear swap partner, this fella is ready for band practice, circa 1939.

Obviously related, as you can tell by their identically mirrored stances and dour expressions, these ladies, their gentleman friend, and the lad in the Little Lord Fauntleroy outfit, were also a swap treasure. How would my sons react to an outfit like that? Not even funny.

At first I thought this gal was sporting some thick soled heels that are trendy now, but upon finding my glasses I see she has flower adornments on her shoes. Also from the 30's, this gal's coiffe is identical to the way my mother wore her hair. :O)

This is my favorite. I was sad to have only half the picture, but what a great half. I need to do some research to see if I can identify the circumstances these men are engaged in. Miners? Militia? I can't really tell except there are tents, and they all have hat hair or big foreheads. But the best thing about this pic?

THESE GUYS. Buddy's? Brothers? Big guy taking care of the little guy? Lovers? I dunno. But this single act of camaraderie makes this picture so special to me. I love it when my long lost fake relatives bring me such happiness. I'm glad to share these pics with you to use for your own play. :O) Don't sell 'em tho, or I'll hunt you down on the astral plane and give you guilty nightmares.

Et peut-être pas

2011-06-16T01:54:00.000-07:00

My muse has flown the coop for an extended lavish vaca in some foreign land. Possibly it's not my muse at all that's absent, because I have at least half a dozen begun but not blooming projects sitting around gathering dust and waiting for glitter. Maybe it's my motivation, get-up-and-go, hamster wheel is empty. I just realized one day a few weeks ago that I didn't want to swap, or make anything, or blog about not swapping or making anything. Mostly I wanted to watch old seasons of Runway and Top Model and eat Bad Things and blame my non-functioning as a member of society or even as a member of my own life on..well, that pesky absent muse.

Nobody wants to hear about money troubles, mental & physical ailments, the sucky aspects of real life, it's as engaging as a box of hair. But we all have 'em. suffice to say I chose to lay beaten and eat ice cream through some of them recently. Can you dig it? Are you a kindred spirit? (Awesome lead in.)

Found this cross stitched piece thrifting a while ago, made in Ohio by some crafting guild. $3 already nicely framed. Of course I'm a bit creepy so the term 'kindred spirits' has many meanings, including an invite to any hovering spirity muses to come on in and set my bones on fire again.

I actually did glue a few things together last month, including this collage "Specimens", which showcases the cobwebs in my head at the moment.

"Her lips lyke cherryes, charming men to byte," ..yeah, that's pretty much what it's like. :O)

I've even given up postcarding for the time being *gasp*, which has seen my mail dwindle down to less than a precious few over the recent weeks. But before that, I received this gem from London, featuring a fave theme of mine :A Touch Of Red", AND being from foreign parts.

But the best part, a NANNY OGG STAMP from the source! HOW EXCITE!!! And a lovely informative message from the sender to boot.

Back to some thrifted wall art. since our kitchen finally got painted I've been keeping an eye out for some nice vintage this and that to spruce up the place with some nostalgia. A sweet swap partner sent me this piece of embroidery a few months ago, which looks cute enough in this thrifted Ikea frame.

And another trip lucked me into these embroidered adorbs. Pricey ($8 for the pair, and that was half price) but they just practically smiled at me with childhood memories and simpler pleasures. Someday a new set of frames, for sure, but at least they've been preserved until they found me.

And finally, my piece-de-kitsch, this pair of emo kids cardboard prints in their original cheap plastic frames. I'm sorry, but I love these guys. I almost bought only the boy, but I kinda felt the girl might haunt me if I didn't keep her with her partner. How great are these? I'll soon have my whole home blinged out in old school ticky tack. This pleases me. In spite of my missing muse, which I'm certain will return or at least send a post card of intent, I'm filling the space between ice cream with...well with whatever this is. :OP

Et peut-être pas.

(Or maybe not.)

Lie Back and Think Of..Paris

2011-04-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

My son's health, first of all, is fine! Nothing showed on the second procedure, he probably moved during the first. They did use dye. Unfortunately still having the headaches but not experiencing catastrophic issues. *Whew*

Thanks to Sue for the kind words last post, you were really a bright hopeful spot!

So here's a pretty picture. It's an actual painting (acrylics I think) I found at the thrift a few weeks ago. It's about 8X10. I loved this so much I paid full price for it (gasp) $7. It was professionally framed in New Jersey. I like to give it a backstory, that someone took a trip to Paris and bought this scene from one of those fabled stereotypical one-on-every-street corner painters, painting with a beret and a fake mustache for the tourists. It's dated Paris '80 under the artist's signature, which I can't quite make out, so I like to think of that as circumstantial evidence to back my story. I love the peachy sky beneath the dark thunder clouds. Mmmm, art! :OD

Sorry I wasn't thinking of England even though the wedding was this morning. I saw Diana get married and I'm a little verklempt at the circle of life. :'OP

Sometimes Losing Is All That Fits

2011-04-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

This might be my monthly pity party posting. You can just clear out now if you are easily annoyed by that style of thing. Not a lot of crafting going on lately. My mind gets dumbed down sometimes when I keep my muse under a laundry basket with a fat dictionary on top and an old sheet over it.

So I detach from sucky old responsible reality and hope a This Is What You're Doing Wrong stream of consciousness message comes to me while daydreaming about anything but what's on my mind, because I doubt every judgement I have and could use some thoughts I trust. From that distracted hidey hole, I am blogging some irrelevant bits sprinkled with my worrisome bits, to keep my mind off things while at the same time not really doing that at all.

For instance; look at this adorable coat. I wish I had the hourglass figure to wear this pretty little thing. Have no idea where it came from, just found it randomly somewhere. It'd be nice in any pastel color. And wouldn't it look nice on Johnny Weir.

Who'll be performing in Illinois very soon, which may as well be Siberia for those of us with less than striking bank accounts. But that's just something that makes me selfishly sad, and not the something that is biting at my heart.

I seriously wonder where people find the strength at 60 to go back to college, or the hope at 70 to start a new business. I am feeling quite a bit 'well I screwed this one up I hope there is reincarnation' about things. Lost and ...anchorless, but unmoving. Old. Spent.

My eldest son has talked to me once in the past two years. I don't even know what he does for a living or where he is from day to day. We're both stubborn jerks. The longer it goes on, the more awkward it is. I think about it every day. But that's all I do. Actually, I TRY NOT TO think about it every day also.

My youngest son (15) has ADHD and things are not good in his school life, suffice to say his troubles and poor choices have cost us some money that we can ill afford. And new troubles have sprung up just this week. And to add injury to insult, he had an MRI last week because of headaches. There is apparently a 'gray area' on his brain that needs to be further checked out. I try not to run screaming down the street MY SON COULD HAVE A BRAIN TUMOR because I know worst case scenario gal is not who I need to be for him right now. But my empty well of ability to deal with serious shit is really hampering me. I haven't told him yet that he has to lay with the cage over his head again next week. I really need to be able to lose the emotional wreck persona that is living inside me just now.

I feel like I ate a big ol' pot of this.

I am not a good self motivator (obviously or I'd be able emotionally and financially to afford to fix things without worrying and go places that would make me feel less hermitty and forgotten), so I remain detached and wasteful of my time and thoughts, because really all I feel at this point is

But, look at this coat. It's vintage. Move the buttons to the left and it would also look good on Johnny Weir. sigh.

Partyin' Partyin' Yeah (A Friday Post)

2011-04-15T07:03:00.000-07:00

Not really partyin', I just always get that Rebecca Black song stuck in my head on Friday mornings now, gah.

I've got some crafty and vintage stuff to share today. My thrills have entered the crossover territory this week, my rekindled love of figure skating has touched my adoration for vintage kitsch and slid quietly into my eBay habit. And good thing the eBay seller was conscientious of the fact that the post office is run by 4 intelligent people and a much larger angry mob of ne'er-do wells, cuz she wrapped my precious purchases in a big ol' box, so that when it arrived like this:

...The fragile contents were just fine. (Really? what scenes from the jackass movie were they reenacting in order to punch in the most sturdy part of THEIR OWN PRIORITY BOX???) anyhoo, here's where life meets obsession, these vintage Homeco figurines ON SKATES AND PERMANENTLY SPARKLING. How freakin' cute are these? Click on pic for larger than life sparkly cuteness.

And here is my whoops-I-always-miss-what's-on-your-workdesk-Wednesday-and-it's-Friday-but-oh-well-it's-crafty picture. I've been gathering stuff in a pile for weeks now with this project in my head for a wintry collage. I know, it's Spring and everybody's doing Easter and flowers and blah blah blah but I don't really ken to Easter since my kids are getting older so I am free to devote my entire year to What I Like. I like winter. Hopefully, eventually, this will all come together somehow in a glittery...icey kind of way. If this thing turns out anywhere near cool, I may make xmas cards out of it. We'll see. Of course if you look reeeeaaaallll close you'll see my current obsession is covered here too.

Thrift Store Treasures

2011-04-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

Last weekend this fabulous blue eared burro came home with me, made in Japan, my favorite.

A few weeks ago hubby found this, the kitschiest freakin deer ever! Polka dot bowtie!!! (Notice my creative photo haha.)

Also with the magic words! Both of these costs less than $2. :OD

Fangurl Behavior Alert

2011-04-01T06:53:00.000-07:00

Can't help it, I love Supernatural.

Gloves splurged on from ebay, chunky charm demon deterrent bracelet made by me. :O)

Nothing on this baby is just for pretty, every charm is symbolic of something SPN related or a favorite episode. Well, Dean's image is pretty but you can't help that.

From Left to right:

Devil's tail

Old yellow eyes'..eyes

Quija board from "In My Time Of Dying", which Sam used to try and communicate with Dean in Limbo.

Castiel's wings (in repose)

The Colt

Dean in his I Was A BAMF in Hell ring o' skulls frame

Cheesy motel key

taillight

Salt for emergency demon removal

Crowley's crown during the King Of Hell reign

Tiger eye...for the eye of the tiger

Mirrored bead for the Bloody Mary episode

The Impala

Fight those fairies!!!

Half empty heart for the "Heart" episode, in which Sam falls in love with a werewolf, has to kill her, and he cries. And Dean cries. And I cries.

Handcuffs

Demon eyes

PARANOID for my favorite Yellow Fever episode, in which Dean is ascared of everything

Skull

Just A Bite

2011-03-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

My eldest's birthday was on St. Pat's! Eryn has turned 24. I told her she's just a few years away from the downhill slide to 30. This did not go over well. To make her feel better I reminded her that in 20 years AGO, I'D be thirty. :OP Giant cupcake cake did not turn out nicely as I'd hoped, probably should have practiced it once first, but it got eaten, so no harm, no foul.

I'm working on something overdue, and gathering stuff for my NYC in Winter collage, and have actually strung some chains together for my "Supernatural" bracelet. OH! And am blinging up a cheapo picture frame for a poster. It seems I'm just ogling and lurking but there's activity over here in the dark corner. Tonight the hub and I may do a little thrifting, to avoid grocery shopping, hehe.

:O)

Did I Show You This?

2011-03-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

I found this matchbook at the junque shop a few weeks ago -I can not WAIT to make something New York In The Winterish Rockefeller Center Ice Rink Snowflakes Figure Skaters Vintagey Snowy sparkley with it. Mmm, it's not even Spring and I have my frost on.

Flea Market Style Inspiration Matchboxes and My Distraction

2011-03-08T03:56:00.000-08:00

I'm hoping these matchboxes I sent out for Speckled Egg's swap arrive safely at their new homes soon. You know my Post office paranoia around day four of Where Is My Package Now. I won't say which is going where to keep a teensy bit of surprise in the air (micromodules of surprise I guess), but here's a peek.

I went to the junque shop and found these vintage crocheted buttons for the flower centers. I almost had to hoard them for myself but I'm going for good button karma on this one. :O)

Goodies galore.

Box numero dos. The paper looks collaged but it actually came that way. Well, I did add the vintage flower paper scraps.(Cheater, but it's still purty IMHO.) I tea dyed some old lace to further embellish the fabric flowers.

Lil' bit o' this, lil bit o' that. My fave!

I'm gonna confess something today folks. I've developed a new addiction and it's stealing my attention a bit lately. I haven't been gluing and sprinkling glitter on things as much as I should. I've been late on a couple of swaps *gasp*, and I'm NEVER late. It's because of this guy.

Yeah, he looks innocent enough. But he's a Thief of Hearts. Or a Snow Queen. Something. Anyway, FYI, he's Johnny Weir. Google. Be impressed. he's only a multi-time National Figure Skating Champion and two time Olympian, tv star, author, recording artist, fashionista, freakin nice guy and easy on the eyes. IMHO.

We now return you to our regular crafty/thrifty programming, if you can take your eyes off him!

If We Make It Through Decem...Janua..Feb...are we gonna make it?

2011-03-03T02:33:00.000-08:00

I've been wallowing under real life!! Ack! I don't want to type it out loud but 2011 needs to lighten up! Ironically, here are some doodles I ... doodled for an Edward Gorey alphabet ATC swap on the 'bot. I missed the first five letters from being ignorant, so I'm just now getting in with this make-up swap. My partner needed 'A', but never got her "B" (dang you flakers!!) so I doodled both.

To come, some matchbox peeks from the Speckled Egg swap that I'm freakin' late sending please don't hate me they're outta here today.

From the Great White North (north of Denver)

2011-02-09T22:33:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting on some Spring thaw here, waiting for the car starter, the hot water pipes, and my get-up-and-go to thaw out! I get so frustrated when the snow I ordered for Christmas is shipped on backorder two months later. :OP

Between too much television and not enough daylight I've been burrowed in my warm little hidey hole, poking out once in a while to send out a postcard or eat something dangerous and see what y'all out in the interactive world are up to. I've seen such sweet Valentines here and there in Blogland (I am an expertt lurker) and decided to share a sentiment rather than a cute picture for the Holiday. (Cute picture to come in future post, hehe)

I relish finding love notes in the vintage greeting cards I'm lucky enough to collect. It's funny how you can still feel the heart that wrote it's thoughts 50-60-70 years ago, like Baby Rita's mama:

I haven't been totally lost in the past, though. I managed to finally make this altered spoon for a swap with Knitmom. I knew exactly what I was planning to make when I joined the swap, and made something completely different when I found these miniatures at the thrift store. I was glad I'd procrastinated cuz I think she liked it with it's personalization more than had I gone pretty but generic. (Her words were "It's sew pretty, knittin' like it!)

I also finally (operative word this post) finished this purple paper posies wreath that I'd started LAST February. The flowers were cut from vintage/old greeting cards from an estate sale. After going nowhere with it for a year, I found the Purple Things and Little Aqua Things collage sheets from Ten Two studios were the perfect little interest pop and matched the colors so awesomely. I kind of want to make an orangey/yellow/red one with the rest of the cards I didn't use now! The text is from one of the cards also.

I'm still a PRO at procrastinating and have yet to create the fabric collage I need to mail in 6 days, nor have I begun the matchboxes for Speckled Egg's petite inspiration box swap, but I am SO freakin' excited for both of them!! I was always better at completing my homework at the last minute. It gives my brain a chance to visualize and plan. Don't argue. :O)

Newly Discovered Untapped Source of Art & Crafts & "Junk Fever": VINTAGE ALBUM COVER ART!!!

2011-01-19T23:59:00.000-08:00

I realized after thrifting last weekend and coming home with five new old vinyls and not owning a turntable that I Am Addicted To Awesome Album Art. Not the well known stuff that's old hat and easy to find, like anything the Rolling Stones ever did, or the normal band photo stuff even if I DID adore the Monkees, and no matter how much I like John Denver I don't want to SEE John Denver on my wall in those little round glasses and that pageboy haircut. For one thing it will make me wistful about John Denver.

But I digress. I succumbed to this Lure Of Paradise with the thought that I'm collecting Hawaiian ephemera for a project (which hopefully will not turn out to be the project of simply collecting Hawaiian ephemera with nothing crafty happening at the end) and this is a NEEDS MUST item.

Also, at $1, it was cheaper than the box set of Hawaiian records ($3) - especially when you're only buying it for the picture on the cover.

This was the first "I'm Buying This With The Intent To Make Something Else Out Of It" piece I bought last summer. These kids just don't seem to realize they're leanin' on the latest hit recordings! The gal doesn't seem to have held a bottle of pop before even! Maybe rock n roll hadn't hit the Jersey Shore yet?

Now I've honed my taste to include beautiful scenes like this...the possibilities for this photo are stunning.

And I am SO buying a white scrapbook page frame for this one to hang in at the holidays..

This one appealed to that vintage pin-up/Bettie Page/bad girl fan in me...this one would be good for a game of Caption This Photo...what the heck is going on here I do not know, but I couldn't leave it behind.

The piece de resistance, this one. Who can resist the delicious colors of Drifting N Dreaming? As you can see I've framed it, having to remove about 1/4 inch on each side to fit the scrapbook frame. How much ambience will this lend to a room? I LOVES the brat pack feel of it. And the back of the album will make a fine substrate for a collage, or several smaller, maybe even pages of a chunky book. How completely useful! I see more wall art albums in my future! And I'll figure something non-tacky out to do with the vinyl too. But first, my next thrift hunt list will include a RECORD PLAYER!!

Thrift Store Wishlists part ONE

2011-01-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

I'd bet all of us Thriftynistas have a list in our heads of what we'd love to find on our thrift hunts. Beyond things for resale (I haven't made it that far yet, must overcome the hoarder instinct) - things we collect or develop a taste for or can use. I'm always digging for craft supplies, postcards and notecards (found about 50 PCs!! Aviation, Yellowstone, and charity PCs, and 36 brand new notecards with grey roses, chocolate, and Colorado themes), pink or amber drinking glasses (3 amber, 2 pink this weekend), or when I'm really lucky, BUTTONS and TRIMS and RICK RACK OH MY!!

I also found the spoon for an altered spoon swap, and the buttons in it are all glass. $3 for all this goodness.

Vintage dollies that would make good gifts or swap additions or alteration material...if only I didn't LOVE the colors of her dress and her 40's style hat and her sparkly green eyes!! Ack!

My senorita doll collection usually only gets additions in pink, but this more modern 17 year old (marked Cazumel Mexico 1994) was $1.50 -she's come a ways fashion-wise since her sisters of the 30's-50's in their mantillas and fans and long lacy gowns. This chica is toting some ammo around her neck!

Always on the look for new wall art. This repro came in the frame and cracked me up on so many levels. The hub hates it. But how often do you find boy cherub butts in straw hats on a plow?

More wall art, something VINTAGE, with a WOOLWORTH"S tag on it, photographs, Hollywood, man, this one hit on a bevy of things I look for, and I shelled out FULL PRICE for this one (which I don't usually do on half-price day) of $1.29. I think Ginny Simms came with the frame back then maybe. She won't be leaving it.

There's a taste of a good thrift hunt. What do you look for?

Why My Opinions Are Sometimes In Question

2011-01-18T08:33:00.000-08:00

This is Carl. I bought him at my weekend thrift store excursion for $1. He's one of those ceramic dudes. I don't know if he is old or not. I tell myself and others he drew me in because I like Hawaiian islandy themed things.

Some people have questioned the merit of owning Carl. But look at him!!

Just look!

More faboo thrift finds to come. Do you like Carl? Or am I stranger than fiction with this one?

Shadow Life

2011-01-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

Grungy gorgeous "Valentines", made with images from the Shadow Life set at Ten Two Studios

MISTERIOSO

IMPETUOSO

Vintage Patterny Goodness...and Badness

2011-01-13T06:30:00.000-08:00

Sharing some of the goodies found in that pile of moldy old patterns from a few months ago! I wish I knew what to do with some of these besides copy or collage 'em. I feel like someone out there would make good use of the doll pattern, for instance. Just talking to myself ..in my head...out loud in text...:OP

I did not even know there was a Batgirl doll. I feel a bit gypped.

How much do we love these late 60's almost 70's colors? Does anybody make their own hub's knit shirts any more, for real?

My personal fave, note how stiff she looks. It's cuz she's obviously been forced to strap explosives to her abdomen. Probably one of those yarnbombers.

It has been pointed out to me by Carolyn that it's a spring weight coat, designed to make you look like you've put on weight. Very! :OD

Playing Card Garland

2011-01-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

Vintage and non playing cards, scrapbook letters, baker's twine, images from the Tattered Hearts Faux postage at Ten Two Studios

Melt My Frozen Heart, Please (A Pity Party Rant)

2011-01-11T06:57:00.000-08:00

I make no bones about it, I get crotchety sometimes. Some days/weeks just plain reek of not happy! Last week, a ball of ick began to roll over me that gathered toxic moss and grew blechy bigger and now I'm wading through the muck of recovering from all the icky toxic blechiness this week, with no boots on.

I have a senior cat that's become incontinent, and another one that's developed some illness I'm afraid I may not be able to afford to cure.

I've been arguing for a YEAR unsuccessfully with our cable provider that we won't pay for 5 of their boxes because we only have FOUR, and only succeeded in having my service turned off and having to pay a reconnect fee when I tried to make a statement by not paying. Best customer service my &%$.

For no apparent reason the driver's seat in our old car broke and now the hub gets to drive with a 2 by 4 behind it bracing it up. (Mayhap the hub needs to lay off the beer and chips, methinks.)

My old camera is being temperamental and turns itself off for no reason, and my new camera hates memory cards and won't take pictures, so no new pics until I figure that out.

I packed away my Xmas things and left my 'normal' decos and pretties in boxes in protest of the hub's promise to paint our grimy walls -FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS and I feel like I'm not home at all in this house full of boxes and nothing personal except the dirt.

The hub is also being forced to switch his days off from Fridays and Saturdays, which were nice cuz he got a day off with the kids and a weekend day to do things as a family, to two as yet unknown weekdays, which will steal more of my private weekday time, prevent us from family activities during the school year, and stop my Saturday thrift shopping, since I myself don't drive.

I have a 15 year old boy that needs to do 24 hours of community service before St. Pat's Day and has so far sorely disappointed us in his efforts to show he's making any progress in that area (a story I don't even want to share).

I had to glue my glasses together again last night.

There's more, but you're probably over it, as am I. I usually don't complain more than once a month, so take heart that it's over for this month and I'll have some better things to share soon.

I'm planning to work on some anti-valentines and some not-so-anti ones for a design team project. I may also take advantage of the sad I have and work on some emo collages I've had in my head for a while. And maybe upload some of my postcard collection, which I never seem to make time for. (I'd rather peruse YOUR lovely blogs than scan stuff. :O) ) I might go thrifting once more before it becomes inconvenient, and I'm still doing a boatload of postcard swaps. I also have a stamp collection from the 70's and before that I'm interested in valuing, but have no idea where to begin with that. But I digress.

But there is some Happy, whether I can see it or not. Like Kya in this gorgeous blue petticoat we found at the junque shop. She begged and begged for it, but I don't give in. Santa, however, was able to arrange for her sister to secure it and she found it under the tree on Xmas. A completely useless gift for a 15 year old girl who doesn't wear dresses, but how could Santa resist seeing her smiling face prancing around like a 4 year old playing dress-up. That might never happen again, and was worth Santa's extra efforts (and his elf relatives). A Happy Spot!

My apologies, dear reader, for blowing my snot balls in your general direction, but where else will I find such a captive audience without paying a therapy fee?

Changing Your Big Girl Pants

2011-01-06T05:46:00.000-08:00

The image up there was the same since I began this blog, and I suppose it was time for a change. The lady in the picture is not me, altho I often have that look on my face, I never wear strappy heels and socks. :O) I don't know her name, but she was a friend of my mom's when she worked at Woolworth's in the50's, and even then the gals were clever with their photo ops! I wish I'd have known then what I know now about my love for Woolworth's. I miss the lunch counter where mom would treat me to a slice of punkin pie after school in the fall.

Here's my mom at work-

Gosh I miss her.

End of Days

2011-01-01T04:30:00.000-08:00

End of days in 2010 anyhoo. I have not got all my Xmas stuff packed up and put away, that's right have NOT, nor begun any new projects as of yet, house still pretty much a wreck, and the snow I longed for came and went and left some temps in the negative numbers so our hot water pipes froze. But that was the year that was. Buh bye old year, you scoundrel! We shared some good times but all in all, it's over, It's not you, it's me. NO, it's you.

We did have a great Christmas, my sweet Eryn got to spend the week here while her significant boy visited his mom in other parts. Here are a few things to remember the season...

Remains to be seen:

Eryn's Day 25 of the Matchbox advent was a double with tree and gifties, and more snow than the real thing! :OD

I challenged the hub to find me a gift at the junque shoppe and he did very well! These semi-evil yet cute lookin' elves S&Ps still have their stickers and made in Japan - I love 'em and will allow them to be shelf elves all year. I don't think they hypmotized me with their elvin eyeballs...

Eryn outdid herself in the Christmas Miracle dept., not only did she go over the $20 gift limit and buy me a new camera with her saved birthday money, but she also managed to gift me with these AWESOME Lollicakes from the Lollicakes Bakeshop, a family run business here in Denver and Long Island. I saw these fabulous lollicakes on the Cupcakes Take the Cake blog and sent the link to Eryn with the message that my Xmas would be awful without one of these in my stocking. When Eryn emailed Kerry of Lollicakes about the Lollies, she was surprised to be offered a dozen of the cuties FREE to gift me with for being such a good daughter!! How completely freakin' SWEET is that?! I am so lucky to be constantly amazed at how kind people can be.

How adorable are they?! In chocolate, red velvet, and vanilla spice flavors with white chocolate!

Red Snowflake (red velvet cake)

And so friendly!

My fave holiday light display was this one. It was the only thing on the roof of the house NEXT DOOR to the house with 25,000 lights, music, nativity, moving train, ferris wheel and animatronic displays:

OOps, I developed an obsession with Supernatural in 2010, nothin' wrong with that.

And while Christmas shopping 2 days before Xmas, I found this marked down to $5 -it's 1o" x 18" -glitter, halloween, vintage, punkin snowman, it was totally waiting for me to find it! GIANT TAG!!

My post-Xmas sale finds: nice sisal wreath! The balls are plastic but it's still pretty. The raccoon didn't come with the wreath but he is obviously happy there! He has a silver glitter streak down his back! He had to come home with me cuz he reminds me of the raccoons who try to come in the back door and eat the cat food in the summer. :O)

My last completed craft of the year; these button brooches for a Winter themed 'Bot swap. The big silver one is BIG, about 2" across. The other is made of mostly vintage buttons.

As one of my blogger buddies said:

2010-12-25T02:47:00.001-08:00

Christmas Eve!!

2010-12-24T04:31:00.000-08:00

Creatures will be stirring soon on this last day before the Big One! No snow in sight but I'll close the blinds and pretend tomorrow morning! Here's the closest to a White Christmas I'm gonna get:

Day 24, only one Big Day left in the A Swap For All Seasons Matchbox Countdown. Sad to see it end. But the thought of a 364 day countdown to the next one sounds a bit (lot) daunting, so we'll save it for special. :O)

Today's matchbox was created by Becky Fierberg, and I did the odd angle on purpose to show the mitten numbers on the side...

...that hinted to the mitten inside - I've seen these on some other pages and no picture can show the softness and deep color of this lil' gem. I so want a BIG ol pair for me. :OD

Eryn's day 23 matchbox makes me excited cuz Santa's giving one of his reindeer a pep talk in prep for the Big Night!

Our Christmas Eve box displays the sleigh all shined up and ready! I am truly a sucker for still believing that Santa peeks in. But don't tell my youngest daughter, who ran screaming down the hall and cried for 15 minutes the year we tracked him on NORAD and it said he was half an hour away. We've apparently stressed the stranger danger thing a bit too much.

Hope I hear some sleigh bells tonight! (But not my daughter if I want her to sleep.)

No Way are we up to 23. Stop it.

2010-12-22T23:42:00.001-08:00

I feel some denial coming on as the days leading to Christmas seem to go by in twos. The fuel pump on the car went out yesterday (again) so my hopes of finishing my shopping before Xmas eve have been dashed a bit. *sad face* I had to complain about that bump in the road, which is bigger and more complain-aboutable than our continued LACK of SNOW. I watched White Christmas again tonight to cheer myself up, so now I feel like sharing my matchboxes. :O) could have sworn i was caught up yesterday, but like I said, the holidaze apparently go by in pairs, much to my chagrin.

Day 21 brought this lovely HANDMADE box from Valery Anne (the infamous Mrs. A). LOVE the teensy pinecones.

Inside, defying the laws of volume and space, was a beautiful bookmark!

Marcia of Vintage French Hen is the brilliant architect of this Christmas Cottage #22..check out the itsy smoke coming from the chimney...

...I'm JAZZED to have my own stamped and grunged garland, this one wishing me a joyeux Noel!

A stunning addition to the top of my little matchbox tree...

Jill Doyle of file-under-misc. decorated a tree with whimsical lights for Day 23...

INside, this beautifully button-like adornment..and look how cleverly Jill attached the components of the box!

I'm a bit breathless with antici.......pation for the LAST *gasp* TWO boxes!!

Sugarplums

2010-12-22T06:03:00.000-08:00

I am determined to be Christmassy as much as possible even tho the holiday is rushing in a blur all up into my grill! speaking of blur, here's a blurry pic of my BIG snowman hat. He was made about...gees, more than 10 years ago from a straw hat, paint, buttons, and a felt birdie. I finally got around to repainting him this year. He spent several years with us when we were smokers and his sparkle had been yellowed (gross), but I've been smoke free for 4 years come January and hubby is going on a couple himself, so he'll stay white as the driven snow now. He's wearing one of the itsy snowman hats I made for some special swappers this year.

Last Christmas thrifted thing of the year? Probably! This gorgeous red flocked guy, altho retro looking, is apparently brand new, as his tag reads North Pole 2010. He was a dollar at the thrift store last weekend, maybe because his body was sitting on one shelf and his detached head was on another. I don't know if that's why he was donated or if he was attacked by unattended children after arriving there, but a bit of good glue sorted him out and he's welcomed into the 'flock', hehe. How sad would it have been to spend his first Xmas unwanted!

Self indulgence here. I found this 3x4 embroidered piece for $3 brand new and honestly, the first thing that popped into my mind was "That's what she said", so I had to have it for that reason along with it's quaint homespun awesomeness.

It's Christmas Eve Eve Eve! I made 2 kinds of cookies last night and hope to make 3 more before the Big Day. I may also do some more crafting, cuz it ain't over 'till the fat man delivers! :OD

Catching Up with Eryn's Boxes

2010-12-22T05:44:00.000-08:00

I'm so busy trying to keep up with 'real life' and watching Christmas come at me like a freakin' freight train (with a jolly cute whistle) that I'm behind on all my matchbox sharing! Here are the sweet boxes that my daughter Eryn created for my personal advent pleasure, days 18-22!

Santa's laundry line is almost full, he should have plenty of fresh duds in time for Christmas Eve, here are his hat and booties in box #18! :OD

All the fixin's for Xmas wouldn't be complete without some delicious cookies drenched in sugary snow in #19!

Aw, Mrs. Santa has taken advantage of our laundry line too! #20 holds her dainty lil' dress.

And no Christmas ensemble is perfect without some mittens and heels! :OD

Here's our Official Clause Laundry Line...mittens and booties still in the spin cycle...

I have loved every single one of my surprises so far, and this one is very important -#22 reminds us to BELIEVE! I believe Eryn did an outstanding job on these treasures and I'm sad they're almost done! :O( I see a lot of folks out there settling into the post-Xmas blues already and Xmas hasn't even happened yet! Not me! More Xmas to come until the last Marley's ghost has given up! :OD

Four and Twenty

2010-12-20T20:15:00.000-08:00

I have FOUR matchboxes to show and tell before I'm caught up to today, number TWENTY! Ack! I have most of my gifts wrapped and under the tree, except the hub's who's always the last one I get finished. I suppose I expect him to be the adult and not worry about it while I finish the kids, but I'm pretty sure he's the biggest baby of all. :OP

This classy number 17 was made by Amanda DeLong...

...and had a teeeeny lil' red bow in it! I have big red bows all over my big tree, so now my matchbox tree is adorned as well! :O)

Noel! says this matchbox created by Michelle and Ashley Cox. Glowing warmly...

..with this glass beaded snowman inside, which this picture does NOT do justice to. He's really very sparkly and looks lovely with the other crystal ornaments this swap has brought my lil' tree!

Day 19 is by the angelic Kim Robinson...

...who's offered this shiny candy cane, yummy on our lil' tree.

And finally day 20, a wonderfully simple little matchbox by Laurie Crowe...

...but the beaded stone angel inside is anything but simple! Her copper wings are gorgeous paired with her rose quartz body.

Laurie also included a card with these words of wisdom:

Don't see other's faults, see your own. For if you dwell on other's faults, your own get stronger.

The Dhammapada, 4:4

What beautiful presents y'all have made for our little tree, and still 5 days to go. I'm a little sad it's almost over. :O)

Sweet 16

2010-12-16T06:31:00.000-08:00

First, let me say a big POOP to Mom Nature for sending our snow to New Mexico. We went from an 80% chance to nuthin in a few hours. I am so sad. :O( Sunshine again. Just not right.

My Xmas paper is also bright like the darn sun. I know folks who would be aghast at the idea of pINK in the Xmas wrap. I LOVES it!

Day 16 of the Countdown To Christmas Matchbox swap brings this classic little number from Jenny Zeidler!

Sweet little stickers and an angel all wrapped in some cute Xmas fabric!

I love this lil' angel especially 'cuz she's wearing RED!

My box today from Eryn contains everything I need to make a whole new matchbox! :OD and I love the little vintage images she used in so many of the backgrounds! at least I have a little snow in this little environment today! Thanks sissy!

FIFTEEN?! Already??

2010-12-15T06:45:00.000-08:00

Doesn't it seem like just a couple of days ago we started this whole Christmas business? I have shopping to do, wrapping to do, cookies to do, what am I doing? Ack! (That is my near panic noise.)

Well, roll with the flow I guess. I'm starting today with Eryn's matchbox, snowy peppermints! I LOVE the red and white combo. I wish I could cover my walls with peppermints! And some red shiny sequins too! :O)

Day 15 of the A Swap For All Seasons Matchbox advent is from Anne Lambdin of A Shabby Life, and again, luck has given me a box with my name on it!

another elegant creation! Inside this perfect little Santa scrabble tile pin -going on my coat the next time I go out! I love it.

Beautiful santa image!

The weather channel has predicted some SNOW for us here by tomorrow, I have my fingers and other parts that stick out crossed!! :OD

Eryn's Matchboxes, 12, 13, 14

2010-12-14T06:04:00.000-08:00

I am excited every day to see what Christmassy goodies Eryn's put in my advent box. I can't believe she wasted all those years NOT making me things. Hehehehehe! Oh the expectation!! :OD

Day 12 brought Santa with some more of his laundry! A man with his job definitely needs a pair of winter warmers like these! Straight to the clothesline they go.

Here's the clothesline waiting for more duds. Still room!

This is one of my fave drawers so far. I love snowballs and Christmas lights and these are jiggly! I wish my real house had some snow like this. :O( Freakin' SIXTY degrees expected today. What are we, California Jr.? Hmph. Some people get the Winter blues from not enough sunshine but I'm the opposite. I am not happy with zero snow before Christmas. I mean none since Summer got over! We're talkin' Warmer than Springtime! Ack!

but I have these little nice things, like Day 14's glittery shining Christmas trees. Looks like THEY have snow!

HOly mistletoe, only 10 days left?!? How did that happen?!?

Ho HO HO, Three In A Row

2010-12-14T02:12:00.000-08:00

Catching up on my Countdown To Christmas swap show-and-tell! Day 12 was made by Freda Butler and is silvery sparkle-tacular, as you can see, but don't try to say it. The more bling the better, especially at Christmas!

Inside was this shiny snowman! I am LOVIN' the snowpeeps on my lil' tree.

Day 13's lil' giftie came from Marie Entwhistle in this jolly little box!

...and inside an equally jolly wreath-laden snowman magnet. Yay! More snowfolks!

:OD

Now we're caught up to today, whoohoo! Of course I love this one, being as it has a button. And music notes. AND glitter.

This is Cami Dilsaver's box, which I've been wanting to peek into, and today I can, guilt-free!(You should hear Eryn scold me if I peek ahead in HER boxes! Yikes!) Well worth the wait for this shimmery crown wreathed in antiqued ruffle!

What a touch of shabby elegance on the matchbox tree! I can't believe how fast the days are going by, but the tree filling up is a big point of non-denial! More to come! I love this swap because I really enjoy the antici........................pation! :OD

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

2010-12-12T05:52:00.000-08:00

I'm a little behind! Which is a nice way of saying I'm a bit of a butthead. :O) The days until Christmas are really FLYING by! I feel blurry, like an ice skater spun around dizzily after drinking laced eggnog. I'll be shopping right up until Xmas eve cuz that's how I can afford it. I have stated to the masses here at home that I'm sticking to a $20 per gift limit this year. That's right. Gasp. My youngest son couldn't even think of anything in that price range as a helpful suggestion. I'm thinking they don't believe me, but I am so serious! My cause is not helped by the hub who won't stop telling everyone about the coat he wants that's $50. He is just not a team player and I want to slap him, but I digress.

I think it's possible to have a fun holiday without a $300 gift under the tree! I'm irked at the way technology has brought society into this age of gadgets that aren't commonly affordable but for some reason have become status symbols. I'm sure I'm a terrible mom because my kids don't own a Wii, but if you're playing a game of tennis or bowling on your television, why not go play tennis or go bowling? A Kindle? I understand it's appeal to a generation but I LIKE REAL BOOKS!! They have personalities and are like little friends who tell stories always waiting between the covers! Sigh. Off my soapbox now. How did that happen anyway?

I will come back down to Earth and some simple pleasures, like the Day 11 matchbox created by Christine Edwards, with it's glittery trees and snowballs!

Inside nestles a pair of classic snowflake earrings which my daughter has already tried to steal! Love them!

I'll catch up between now and Monday on my matchboxes and Eryn's. As I said, I'm blurry trying to determine what gifts and stocking stuffers and feast food need bought, wrapping it all, working out a money meets time scheme to accomplish that with no help from the defenseless and senseless husband, plus hoping to get cookies and treats made, more lights up so they didn't get dragged out for no reason, finish the few little Xmas craft projects I'd hoped to accomplish the same year I started them, blog about it, whine about it, etc. Onward!

Ten Little Matchboxes

2010-12-10T05:45:00.000-08:00

Michele Askeroth made this friendly lil' Eskimo box (is it non-pc to use the term Eskimo these days? =Oo) that makes a perfect set of 10 boxes and their pretty gifties on my tree.

I am happy happy to find these mushrooms ready for decor duty...I have shroomies on my big tree cuz I love the red and white! It's like everyone asked me what I wanted in my boxes before they made them! :OD

Don't they look happier on the tree?

Nine Lives

2010-12-10T01:42:00.000-08:00

I think you probably already can guess that this pink glitter-roofed dream house made me squeal when I saw it. Heidi Wallace is the architect of this house beautiful, and I may have to find a year-round place for it in my personal space. It's teeny so it won't be hard!

Inside, more squealing (I roll my own eyeballs at myself) when I find this vintage pic Christmasified.

I use the term Nine Lives 'cuz that's what we give our "stuff" when we make awesomely nostalgic things like this lil' house and it's new inhabitant, that was saved from some stuffy box in someone's unwanted pile. On the back of the picture, we find out that this lovely lass is Carrie Marie Anken and she was 16 years old here.

Well Carrie Marie, welcome to the Angel spot on my matchbox tree! Welcome to your new life! :OD

Nothin' But Love, 8 days A Week

2010-12-08T23:25:00.000-08:00

Day 8 of the fabulous Countdown to Christmas! Today's matchbox (which was serendipitous for having my name on it) was made by Linda Freeman at lambworld.blogspot.com. I love the two little angels because it reminds me of all my twins...when they were sleeping. ;O)

Inside is this great tiny birdie badge, going straight to my lapel. I collected these for years! I have an original Aren't You A Little Short For A Storm Trooper from 1977 when Star Wars came out. Eek, suddenly I've reminisced myself into old age!

Since I squeezed enough juice from my camera to upload these pictures, here's Day 7 of my daughter's countdown, a Christmas list! It looks just like my real one! (Snicker) I would love a treehouse to hang out in though, as long as there's an elevator.

And day 8 from Eryn, ADORABLE snowflakeman button fairie! How much cuteness can be stuffed in one matchbox??

I See A Pattern Here

2010-12-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

My hub is always gifting me with things (crap) that he drags home from who knows where (okay I know where, his friend George's house), and I never throw anything away until after sifting through for real treasures among the trash, because although HE has no idea what I will squeal over, he knows I may be pleased with SOMETHING. His last offerings were a dozen old stinky sometimes moldy boxes full of mostly horrible polyester fabric scraps, but stashed among the too gross even for rags were a few goodies, some Crochet mags from the 70's that I'll share when the holidays are over, and these wonderful patterns. The impressive thing to me was that someone actually made every little outfit in this doll pattern, all the pieces are cut and pin-holed. I am too lazy and large to wear aprons as a rule but MAN, this makes me want to make one!! :OD There's also a barbie size doll clothes pattern and some scary shoulder padded things from the 80's (Hello Dynasty!)

At Sixes and Sevens

2010-12-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

The term 'at sixes and sevens' means confused, discombobulated, running in circles. That's how I feel about my bad battery situation today! Argh! I have some charging that may or may not work for me later, cross your fingers cuz technology hates me.

But 6's and 7's are where we are today in the Matchbox countdown! I managed to get a couple of half decent photos before my power failure (cheap batteries).

My number 6 was created by Hope Griffin in the UK of pixiesponderings1966.blogspot.com, love the vintage snowfolks! And another BELL! Yay!

Inside, a little bottlecap encased star for my lil' tree! :OD

Matchbox 7 is so elegant, I totally want an occasion to make a bunch of these for, LOL! Shawnee Halligan is the talented designer of these black tie babies.

Inside, in keeping with the elegance, a shimmering crystal ornament. I know these photos are headache inducing blurry, but look at the colors captured in a shaky second! Love!

My bad photos just keep a' comin' cuz I can't leave out Eryn's matchbox for day 6, the last day I was able to get a picture before the Great Battery Drought (yes, it now has an official name with capital letters.) I wish it was clearer, but for now, see my Santa pants?! These went immediately on my big tree with the Santa coat. I wonder if Santa's drawers will end up on my tree? :OD I promise the next group of photos will do better justice to the subjects!

Snow, Please!

2010-12-07T07:37:00.000-08:00

Every year I make myself a Christmas card wishing for snow, and this year I went with shine and sparkle and utilized a tissue box I'd saved for about 2 YEARS just cuz it had the purty shiny inside. I knew it was supposed to be something, it just took a while for the stars to align and message my brain what that something was! Since I was good and upcycled some trash, I also allowed myself the new ultra cute button embellishments and snowflake die cuts, but that's it!

I pretty much love it, unlike the batteries that are so cheap they won't even turn my camera on long enough to upload any photos. Ugh.

Five (Interfering Kitties)

2010-12-06T07:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, you're supposed to say that to the tune of "Five golden rings", but the synchopation is off, I know. Plus, this is only two and a half visible interfering kitties. I've told you before and I'm sure you kitty familia will concur that you can not have a box without a kitty ending up in it at some point. (As I write this, a cat just tried to jump on the table {FAIL} and knocked off a box of tacks, 2 postcards, a notepad and my camera cord.) Anyhoo, this is what we found when the last Xmas deco box was opened:

Batty. With Tikky's eyeballs and the bottom half of Mags.

But, we are here for day four of A Swap For All Seasons Countdown! My matchbox today I LOVE, and it's FUZZY (or suvvy as my big kids used to say when they were little kids) with flocking, I adore the image and I have already expressed my jingle bell love. Made by Erica at Zunkychic.com !

This crappy blurry picture shows you the awesomely bundled Mr. Snowman that came inside-

And today my Christmas treat from Eryn's matchbox is Christmas Music! Here we come a caroling! I so dig the teeny vintage image she used!

I have icky batteries, so be patient for day 6 after some recharging on the batteries and MY part. :OD

Four Goodness Sake

2010-12-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

My matchbox show-off-ing (yeah, that's how I talk) is a little (lot) late today, sorry! If you knew the weird schedule I kept you would not even be concerned. :O) anyhoo, today's offering is from Liz Droege and is a fave. The creamy/red/green colors are delicious, and the milk cap, please. Ephemera at its finest. And if I don't get me some baker's twine ASAP, I will surely die.

Inside, YAY! My own milk cap in the yummy xmas colors! I already have an idea for using this. Liz rocks.

Eryn's day four is JUST as delicious! A hot cuppa cocoa in a snowflake mug. MMMmmm. :O)

Are those pompom marshmallows not welcoming? I just want to curl up next to this and warm up myself. (IT'S SO COLD HERE, WHERE'S MY GOLLDARN SNOW??)

Eryn's Advent Matchbox -Day 3 -Jingle All The Way!

2010-12-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

If you've stopped by recently for the blog-along matchbox event, you've seen the AWESOME advent calendar my daughter Eryn made for me as I reveal the daily deliciousness! Eryn told me there is everything I'd need to have all the fixin's for Christmas, and today we have Christmas cards and jingle bells, two of my FAVORITE Xmassy things! The teeeensy card is so tiny it's suitable for mousies! And you can bet I'll be jingling the box every time I go by! :OD

Free Images at 5th Annual Original Printables Holiday Countdown

2010-12-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share this wonderful 'juicy' freebie image with you today as an invitation to MORE freebie images! Lisa Vollrath of Ten Two Studios has begun her 5th Annual Original Printables Holiday Countdown, with a new free image daily through Christmas! It's linkware, so all you have to do is link back to her countdown page to spread the word! If you start now you can gather them all! :OD

Countdown To Christmas, Day Three, Whee!

2010-12-03T04:07:00.000-08:00

Day three of matchbox mania continues with this uber whimsical Holly berry fairie made by Wendy Aspinall of BlissAngels. I am a sucker for things with wings and crowns! This one is so fun with it's berry-like red beads!

Inside Wendy tucked a magic fairie bell! I am also a sucker for bells - especially jingle bells! Wendy's color and texture coordination of the ornie and the box are spot on!

Perfect on my tree! (even more perfect than this picture when I tidied up the bow, hehe.)

Stay tuned for my installment of Eryn's matchbox #3 later! :OD What a jolly holiday!

Christmas Whimsy Pocket

2010-12-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

This mini-pocket of goodies was made from less than half a toilet paper roll! It's probably smaller than these photos! For a Swapbot swap in the Shabby Chateau group. I can not resist traditional Xmas colors!!

Here are the "whimsys" for your consideration...

...and here it is all full to the brim and beyond with whimsical goodness, including some 100 year old German Bible pages, shabby vintage buttons, a quirky little Santa and other bits and baubles of a holiday nature, off to Lesley tomorrow!

Countdown To Christmas Day TWO - Everybody's Fine!

2010-12-02T06:56:00.000-08:00

I have to report that in the week since I've adorned my little $3 thrift store tree with the countdown matchboxes, none of my cats have shown any interest in the bright pretties dangling from it's feathery branches....

...until this morning. As I was preparing to open today's matchbox from Linda's A Swap For All Seasons advent extravaganza, I caught Tux (Tux E. Do) choosing the one SHE would like opened.

And wouldn't you know it? The tuxedo matchbox has caught her eye. Who says cats aren't smart. Fortunately she was more attempting to get my attention than ruin Christmas (snicker), so she took NO for an answer. And some treats for a bribe to get off the table.

GUILTY

CAT-astrophe avoided, here's my beautiful matchbox for day two! Fabric covered with a rich shabby ribbon, I love it! It's one of my faves. Made by Kathy McElroy.

Kathy was super generous with her tiny gifties! A Santa magnet kit (bottlecaps- I heart them), a wee stitched fabric ornament, some play candy to make my Christmas joy complete. Since my little tree has a metal trunk the magnet will be sticking around the tree!

And day two of my daughter's advent matchbox had me grinning like a foo this morning as I was happy to see Santa's itty bitty laundry ready for me to hang! :OD This will be spending the rest of the days on my tree, thank you. Eryn rocks. I love how she made everything glittery or snowed on sparkly!

Yup, it all fit in the box!

More matchbox mad happiness tomorrow! And more cat patrols on the perimeter!

Christmas (Eye) Candy, Day One!!

2010-12-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

Today begins the Swap For All Seasons Countdown to Christmas blog-along! I was so happy to see my own lil' matchbox on Linda's page today, complete with First Day of Christmas Miracle! Really, go have a look and be lit up a bit by the spirit of the season yourself! We're counting ourselves into Christmas with a special surprise every day, so hold on!

I was THRILLED to find Linda's creation in my own number one package! The now famous (to those of us playing anyway) vintage cuties that grace our swap photos...

... complete with fabulous glistening crystal dangle -

... I wish you could see it sparkle in real life, I can't do it justice!

To add to the excitement, my daughter Eryn made this perfect one of a kind matchbox advent box for me, and every day something Christmassy brings me closer to the big day! Is it not wonderful in it's red and green glory!?

Day one is what I'm waiting for - SNOW!! How much do I love the red bird? That's right. Lots.

I hope to keep up with the daily unveiling of as many lil' boxes of Christmas woohoo! as I can! Hope you join the fun!

This -N- That, Pre-Holiday Edition

2010-11-23T08:05:00.000-08:00

I actually got a bit done toward Christmas decorating this morning! It is a huge pain in the nether regions decorating my weensy home. Takes me days to pack non-holiday stuff and rodeo the boxes around until the 'normal' stuff ends up in the closet and the Holiday stuff ends up 'out in public'. Phase One: Packing Standard Crap and Unpacking Christmas Crap is almost over. Phase Two: Where Did We Put All This Stuff Last Year? is next, followed by Phase Three: Why Do Half The Tree Lights Not Work?, then Phase Four: Oh, It's All So Purty! Who's Going To Help Me Put It Away After Xmas? (cricket noises)

But too much stuff does not prevent me from aquiring more! What can you get for a dollar at the thrift store?

This awesome reproduction vintage Snoboy clock! All metal, and it works like a dream!

These arguably cute or creepy pixie type fellas went into my bag for free when I bought two angel donation tickets at ARC. Merry Xmas from the thrift store guy! This lil elf does not seem happy to have been given the position of Santa's left hand man. Maybe because he has no hands. :O(

This is my Christmas cuckoo clock matchbox, designed and created by my daughter Eryn, who impresses me to no end with the beautiful stuff she makes me with the supplies she steals from my stash! :OD

I'm hoping to get to phase two of Operation Xmas later, if I can get people to forget about dinner I may have a chance!

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String!

2010-11-20T02:51:00.000-08:00

These certainly ARE some of my favorite things!! I had to share this brilliant idea from Bugs And Fishes by Lupin for giftwrapping, since it's that gifty time of year. How AWESOME is this idea for us snail -mail aficionados? Brown paper, (old) string and vintage stamps, yum! (BTW, yay! I just learned how to spell aficionado!) Big love for this one!

Images and ideas copyright by Laura Howard

Pink Is A Little Deer To My Heart...

2010-11-18T06:18:00.000-08:00

Some things that make me smile from the fabulous Flickr community as the Holidays approach!

1. Liddle Kiddle Animiddle - Dainty Deer, 2. Pink Grapefruit Deer, 3. pink deer 2, 4. Pink dolphin and cute deer, 5. Buck Yourself Brooch - Pink & Gold edition, 6. Sunset shadow of a deer, 7. pink deer, 8.Pink Jacket Lady and a Deer, 9. Pink flock deer, 10. Deer, 11. Pink Polka Deer shoes!, 12. Pink Bubblegum Deer, 13. white deer white winter, 14. Oh Deer, 15. deer oh deer, 16. Magical White Reindeer Floating in a Pool

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Thanks Anyway

2010-11-15T06:29:00.000-08:00

I don't like Thanksgiving any more. Partly because it's a holiday to be with family and friends, and not to throw myself a pity party, but I'm an only child, my parents are long gone, my kids all make other plans, and due to my health (and mental health), I really AM a crotchety recluse with no "real life" friends! Also, the past 4 years I've made the effort to cook and am always frazzled and bedraggled more than I enjoy it, and someone always ends up sick before the weekend is over (not due to my cooking - I hope). Thanksgiving has always been mostly a place to stop and eat between Halloween and Christmas, and the clarion call that I'd better get my Christmas decorating done or I won't do it at all!

So in honor of my little black heart for Thanksgiving, I share these dark ornies I made, some for Thimbleprims Gothic Ornament swap, and some for Dreaming of a Dark Yule and Gothic swaps on the 'Bot. The pics are horrid but I had a goal of sending ALL my crafty packages out last Friday in case I end up with the stomach flu my daughter had the last 8 days (Thanksgiving's coming, someone's goin' down...it could be my turn =Oo) and just wanted to make sure I took some kinda pics!

I wish everyone in blogland and beyond a perfect delicious family and friend filled non-sickly Thanksgiving! I'll be hoping there's a Chinese place open this year. ;O)

What Color is Wednesday?

2010-11-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

Apparently it's orangey. :O)

Today I'll be working on a bunch of Gothic ornaments that are going to involve glittery spiders I think, and addressing some Christmas cards (yes!! Already!! I LOVE Christmas cards!!), taking down the last of Halloween (except for my All Halloween All the Time objects) cajoling my son into raking the back yard, trying to find out when they'll rebroadcast the episode of Glee that wasn't on last night due to election coverage, and NOT stopping by eBay to look at vintage greeting cards.

[Ignore This Rant: I am so irked at people who bid ridiculous amounts in the last 3 seconds of an online auction! Why not just bid your ridiculous amount right off the bat so people with budgets and a sense of reality don't get our hopes up that MAYBE that lot of 50 pink & pastel cards from the 40's might just be ours for under $30? Why rip it out of our beckoning hands like that bidding three times that amount? I know, to resell them all individually for outrageous prices. Sigh.)]

Postcard Jackpot/Bonanza/Motherlode

2010-11-02T07:43:00.000-07:00

Every time I hit the thrift stores I have a little dream list in my head of things I'd love to find, and at the top of that list is POSTCARDS. I love postcards and greeting cards. I have hundreds, maybe approaching thousands, of cards sent to me over the years, bought by myself on holidays or just because, swapped with others through various websites, fallen in my lap by lucky circumstance and because I believe if you wish hard, things happen! So imagine my elation at finding not ONE but FOUR bags full of brand new unused postcards at the thrift store last weekend at half price -half of TWO DOLLARS! All Colorado postcards, 25 different designs, in four 7 inch-ish tall stacks. SIX HUNDRED POSTCARDS FOR ME TO SEND!!!! At the cheapest PC prices of 4 for a dollar, I found $150 worth of posties for $4!!! Pardon my exaggerated thrill, but WOW, the only thing better than finding 600 postcards you can send is finding 600 interesting vintage postcards with fond messages written a hundred years ago...still waiting for that one! :OD So if anyone wants to exchange a postie or 2...or ten, leave me a comment, I have plenty to go around!

Here's a sample:

But my postcard luck didn't end there! I received that same day a card from a partner in Australia featuring Dean Winchester, my Supernatural obsession, and today I found out I've won the WTA in one of my postcard groups, so my mailbox will overfloweth with happy mail this month!

In honor of all this, I thought I'd share a bite of my postie collection. One of my fave themes to collect is vintage beach scenes, beach babes, vintage ocean type stuff, here's a spoonfull.

Here's Martha's Vineyard

Swimming in the Atlantic on Long Beach NY

Boats at Martha's Vineyard

Beach sweeties in Florida

..the message from 1936

....and a different sort of water sport...

Happy mail to you too!

Macabre Tree Ornaments

2010-10-31T22:25:00.000-07:00

These 6 images represent 3-two sided flat ornaments. I hung them from the fishing doohickeys so they can spin, so both sides are altered. Paper on balsa wood, one side crackle painted, other side collaged with 100 year old Bible pages. Poetry fragments from the old poetry handbook I LOVE cutting up. Embellished with dried flattened bits of blood red rose petals. They are slightly simple but effective...creepy enough?

...and now their white bones clutter the holes of foxes...

...there breathes a living fragrance from the shore of flowers yet fresh with childhood...

...and I will love thee still my dear, 'til the oceans gang dry...

...littered with blossoms trickling where the blackbird fusses...

...and fare thee weel my only luve, and fare thee weel a while! And I will come again my luve, tho it were ten thousand mile!

...with grinning sockets and varnished- hung on the sky with a hideous epitaphy...

Belated Thriftiness and Treats

2010-10-31T06:07:00.000-07:00

I went thrifting today, shame on me because I should be thinking about Christmas gifts for those I love and not Things I Love For Me. Here's evidence of my guilt from the LAST thrift hop:

I noticed what a haul it was just sitting jumbled on the table. How much do I love the orange Halloweeny bags at ARC this time of year? Plenty. Here's my vintage flour sifter, white "feather" tree that I may hang my matchboxes from the Countdown To Christmas swap on, old yardstick that I also considered making into some sort of matchbox holder-thingy, a square paper mache box with a cool little "crystal knob" on top that BEGS to be altered, a big ol' modern hatbox, a "prim" stuffed crow in a dress...I think she used to hold a Happy halloween sign but even without it she's creepily cool, some Halloween floral ribbon and vintage trick-or-treat bags, a ceramic glazed retro fishy wall plaque that i don't know what I'm gonna do with, and in the back there, a UKELELE! Not vintage, but about 10 years old and in perfect shape. There's even a hula girl painted on it. I was STOKED to find the ukelele, cuz I have this Hawaii project taking shape in my head for some time now, and it seemed the finishing touch, but I really didn't want to permanantly attach it to anything so my project hasn't gotten off the ground yet. .. More on the Ukelele saga later....it has a happy ending!

My hub found a book about Paris for $2 and I thought cool, I can cut it up for collages!! But when we got home I discovered it's entirely in FRENCH, making it uber awesome, so it instead goes into my Accidental Book Collection.

The adorable Spanish Dancer is a music box that plays Spanish Eyes. I am in love with her. She was just MADE to be in my family of Spanish dolls in pink dresses, duh! I think she sat facing a sunny window in her past life as she's a bit faded on that side, but I love her.

The tippy-top of the feather tree. $2!! I love half price day!

A teapot ($4),same one sold on Amazon for $30. I had no teapot! Imagine!

I thought I'd share since it's Halloween, my thrift store treats. I hit the MOTHERLODE of postcard thrifting dreams come true this weekend, more on that next show and tell day, hehe!