Sunday, November 23, 2008

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Shop for Haiti









Yesterday I was introduced to a lovely shop, Collaborations.etsy.com,
that donates all its proceeds to Haiti, and thought the story was well worth sharing, and their shop worth visiting! Here's what's going into the beautiful jewelry pictured:

"My husband and I have recently been very compelled to find a way to impact our world. We became very interested in clean fresh drinking water, especially for children.
'Coincidentally', we also reconnected with an old friend who had begun a ministry in Haiti and had started a well project in conjunction with that ministry, that is dedicated to providing easy access to clean, fresh drinking water for schools, churches, and surrounding neighborhoods in Haiti.
And then, on top of that, we also became very interested in creating beaded jewelry and found ourselves inundated with necklaces and bracelets that needed homes."

So if you are looking for a beautiful, handcrafted gift, here's an opportunity to give twice :)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Paris Flea Market



The one time I had the opportunity to visit France, we did not make it to Paris. I can hardly complain, as we were on the French Riviera! But I would so like to poke around the flea markets of France, sipping a dark roast, taking in the atmosphere as well as filling a market basket with vintage treasures! Oh well, until then I'll keep dreaming and creating assemblages like this one, inspired by Rebecca Sower's collage art and her recent trip to Paris. See her amazing work at RebeccaSower.type.com
This was also inspired by my niece Emily, and her love of all things French (but don't think that means I'm going to give it to you, Em!)

Sunday, November 16, 2008

A Vintage Favorite


And I sold it!
Which was the
point after all.
But how silly,
I miss it :(
Just a little
vintage, dresser,
hand made and
distressed
in the 60's
or so, antique
wooden ABC
blocks, and
handmade vintage
clay animals.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

a bit of vintage victorian, cottage, and shabby chic for free!





I stumbled upon a great site for free vintage images, the last photo shown, who also happens to be having a give away! Visit The Vintage Moth for details
http://www.thevintagemoth.blogspot.com/
The other 3 shots are of my victorian cottage creations, which are also available, but alas, not free :0

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Vintage Fashion



I can still remember the first book I read that was set in the 1940's and contained many details about daily life. I was mystified by the single women who had jobs at the "Button Counter" or were "Ribbon Girls." But of course as everyone sewed their own clothes back then, such jobs were common place, and while I dislike sewing, I love vintage dress patterns, and have a passion for collaging them into journals. These gems hail from a later date, 1967 through 1970, and were a gift from a lovely etsy street teammate named Hope (many thanks Hope!) Her store is loaded with vintage goodies, so check it out sometime!
http://www.tripletrouble.etsy.com/

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

1950's Madame Alexander (a.k.a. Bridge is the new Poker!)


My first contact with Madame Alexander's delightful dolls was her collection of Little Women, property of my older sister, which I was not allowed to touch, but of course did! They were beautifully crafted and delightful to the eyes. This bit of original 1957 vintage pictured was one of many ads from a collaborative between Madame Alexander and Yardley perfume, featured in Ladies Home Journal magazines, and is for sale until I come to my senses and keep her for myself!

Monday, November 10, 2008

thinking ahead




I know it's too early to talk about Christmas. It always is, every year! But since my retail stores wanted their Christmas items in August, posting Vintage Christmas photos in November seems not only timely, but rather late! Pictured are a tree garland and card crafted from old, beautiful postcards which I collect and love. The garland is strung with vintage seam binding, and is a great way to keep and display your favorite old Christmas cards!

Friday, November 7, 2008

I was on Etsy's Front Page!



I was so excited to see my work featured
in three different etsy Treasuries this weekend!
Here is a favorite that was on etsy's front page Saturday night,
showing off my Paris Office Girl journal
(second down on left.) The Treasury was curated by 3Squares.etsy.com
and the journal is for sale at VintageScraps.etsy.com

Rocks Papers Scissors


A sample of fun!

Vintage Miniatures




In the early 1970's my mother and her best friend were part of the growing frenzy of adults collecting miniatures. Over the course of a year or two, they each collected and furnished a two story house complete with electricity! Being in grade school at the time, I was enthralled with this mini world and began a modest collection of my own, ranging from tiny hand crafted wonders to inexpensive hobby store finds, some of which I kept and (finally!) turned into these trinket boxes. And if my parents had a computer (how is not having one even possible?!) I would have had my mom send me shots of her mini house, which she still has, and into which I still gaze, pretending I'm small, wandering around its wonderful treasures.
(Okay, so maybe I don't do that part of it any more, but it sounded so blog poetic!)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Midnight Snow Flurries


It's becoming delightfully chilly here in North Carolina! I'm just not a hot weather person, having been raised in the Chicago suburbs and all. So to celebrate the end of Hot, I picked some favorite, dark and snowy looking art pieces from a few beautiful etsy.com stores. (Please contact me if you would like more information on these pieces.)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

VOTE!




Election fun from etsy shops MinorThread.etsy.com, RememberMeEmily.etsy.com, and MullishMuse.etsy.com

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Some Vintage for the Stamp Art Crowd




I didn't even know that "Stamp Artists" existed until I began to collage a year ago, and what a creative world it is! Check out the popular Stampington and Company some time if you, too, are in the dark regarding this art form. And if you lean more toward the chunky, vintage look, check out Corrabelle.etsy.com, the source of the stamps pictured, and go have some fun!