Gathering Dust

Journals, Chicks and the Nut Cup Challenge

Karla came over this afternoon and we played crafts.  Karla worked on St Pats Day tags and I put the finishing touches on my journals for the Hippity Hop Easter Swap.

After I made this pair of journals, I realized they aren't very "springy"- but I do love this vintage toile wallpaper, so I hope the "swappee" that gets them isn't disappointed.

Besides working on journals, I've been making projects for The Vintage Workshop's e-newsletter.  This Easter chick pail was featured on Wednesday.  To subscribe to the newsletter, go here.

A friend at work saw the pail and wanted one- so I made this using another image from The Vintage Workshop.  Please forgive my picture- I took it late on a not so sunny day, and borrowed the blue bird from Karla.

While we were crafting, I took a few pictures of the "inspiration" board in my craft room.  This is the paper doll dress garland from  the swap put on by Heather at Speckled Egg last summer.  It  hangs underneath the inspiration board.

Usually when Karla and I get together to craft we discuss opera, world politics, 17th century poetry, and the history of aviation- you know, the usual...but today we got a little silly and ended up issuing a "nut cup" challenge.  We each have a stack of nut cups and we're going to see what crafty things we each can come up with.  My first "project" consisted of turning the nut cup upside down and using it as a hat.  I think Karla got a picture of this for her blog....

My nut cup hat idea might not win the challenge, but I'm already a winner.  Look at this darling trophy cup bird nest that Robin in Virginia made for me, and sent home with Karla.

Of Daisies, Birdhouse, Lace and Another Addictive Knitting Project

I love daisies - a reminder that spring may get here someday.  To get a fix from my spring fever, I made this daisy mirror- really simple, just craft flower daisies, a mirror and a floral wreath ring, all from Michaels.  And then I added a vintage pin to give it some BLING.

Speaking of bling, I've been working on my birdhouse for the Bling Your Birdhouse Party.  I've been working with tiny beads, lots of glue and super magnifying glasses.  On Monday, Karla will have a birdhouse tutorial on her blog.

I've been wasting spending my time on another addictive  "use up your yarn" afghan project.

I gathered up a bunch of yarn leftover from other projects and a few full skeins for some continuity, cast on 158 stitches on circular needles and just started knitting.

When I get bored with the yarn I'm knitting with, I just change yarns, or add a strand of eyelash or feather boa yarn.

I'm trying to clean out my "used to be a guest room, now its a junk room" because I have company coming.  My great niece Gracie (and her Mom and Grandma) are coming to visit.

 

And Gracie's Mom said she'll fix MY hair so it looks just like Grace's!

One of the projects I have to do is clear all the lace off the bed.  I want to turn this:

and this:

Into this:

As I was going through the lace, I found this- a single wing.  Do you think a SINGLE wing is good luck or bad luck?

I'm thinking it's bad luck for whoever has the other half....but for me...it might as well be good luck. 

I'm Having A Craft Day

Every so often, the stars align just right and I can spend more or less the whole day in my craft room.  Today was one of those days- I'm taking a break now, and of course had to take pictures before I lost my light!

I made some paper doll dresses- love the vintage floral wallpaper background on this one.

This one combines wallpaper and a child's nursery rhyme book.

I finally got around to working on some of my Sweet Bella projects.  Every time a new one is posted, I LOOK, but took time today to work on some that I was curious about.  This cute little book page is printed on a sheet of ledger paper.  I used a few colored pencils on it and then attached it to a wallpaper collage.  The original project had the page sewn on- but I didn't feel like dragging my sewing machine out, so glue it was.

Another Sweet Bella project is this mosaic journal.  I used torn playing cards because they reminded me of red transferware.

And I had a chance to put some covers on the journals I started for the Hippity Hop Easter Swap.

This deer is from the first Sweet Bella project  "Hello Deer Friend".  The original project had it on cards and tags, but I thought- why not a journal.

Not only does this deer have a crown, he's got a sparkly rhinestone necklace.

And I even had a chance to start working on my birdie's house for the Bling Your Birdhouse Swap and party that I'm hosting with Karla.  If construction proceeds as planned, I should have a sparkler for the party!

A note about the swap/party - its a pretty low stress party &  swap.  You don't have to sign up or anything.  On the day of the party,   just post pictures on your blog or on Flickr of birdhouses or birds nests or bird cages or any kind of bird abode that you've decorated, and leave a link to your pictures in the comments section of my blog or Karla's blog or both.  If you see someone's birdhouse you'd like to swap for- just email to let them know.

Here's a button you can add to your blog to remind you of the date.

 

Saturday Night in the Big City

I don't live in a really big city- I don't think Kansas City will qualify as a BIG city until we have an Ikea.

 

My big Saturday night consisted of putting covers on journals for  Heather's Hippity Hoppity Easter Swap.

Isn't it funny how when you make ONE of something, you think- yeah... that's ok..

 

But when you put a bunch together- the Wow factor goes way up.  I've got these journals all "base coated" with wallpaper, so know I can do the fun part- the decorating.

I also spent the evening sorting through junk ...uh, I mean treasures...and put together some doodad destashing lots for My Etsy Shop.  Warning: Advertising ahead!

How Lucky Can You Get?

...to go to estate sales on Valentine's Day, and find Cupid wallpaper?  And it's the heavy stuff- almost like....tarp...yeah...

And not just Cupid wallpaper, but some of his friends- butterflies.

Fair Maiden and her sheep friends.

And the children of the Toile.

And, to make it even better- they came in this vintage floral shelf hatbox.  What a cute way to keep your hats in order and your closet clean.  I wonder what this would look like with my pink camo hat?

At the same house, I got this darling pillow- the lady who embroidered it was there- she did it back in the late 1920's- BT- before TV.

I bought a big group of the cards she had saved over the years.  I think she was a little bit sad about letting them go, but she kept saying "you can't keep everything".  I think she felt a little bit better when I told her how much I liked them, and that I would take good care of them.

I made a couple of other stops and got some of my other "favorite things"- a heart locket, an old box of mending thread, a mother of pearl knife, some pretty silverplate, and a single OLD baby shoe - look at the little buttons. 

Great old curtain rods.

A wall sconce that makes it look like I live in a house with class instead of a ticky tacky house in the suburbs.

If I decorate this, I think it would qualify for "Bling Your Birdhouse"?

Oh look- someone has actually moved in and planted flowers.

Where's YOUR Stuff?

Yesterday, I realized that today (Wed) was auction night and I had this brief, WEIRD thought- "but I already have so much stuff".  But the fact is- NEW old stuff is always more fun than the stuff you already have- and a lot of the fun is in the GETTING, not the having.

My theory is that the stuff you have will expand to about 125% of the room you have to keep it in.  For me, I'd say the percentage is higher- like 150%- that's the explanation for all the boxes of STUFF in my basement. 

Most people will always feel a little crowded and disorganized and messy.  The only person I personally know that has a clutter free house is my SIL.  There is no stray mail, gloves, magazines, jewelry, office supplies or newspapers ads lying around her house.  She has everything organized- tubs on shelves in the basement are labeled- "Christmas decorations- hall"; "Kids Crafts- crayons, stickers"; "Kids crafts- paper, beads".  "Game parts- small" "Pictures- Oct- Nov 2003". 

It sounds pretty obnoxious, doesn't it- but SIL isn't- she's one of the sweetest people  I know- the only way she could be sweeter is if she'd come to my house and organize me.  But I'm afraid the first thing she'd do is have a dumpster delivered....

To sort of keep my STUFF organized- I have several sets of little drawers all over my house.  I don't always remember what I put in them- but to me, it's the "good stuff"- and if I get bored, or want to smile, I can open my drawers and get a little pick me up.

Above are some of my favorite old button cards.

Bluebird Buttons.

Lansing button cards.

Tacky plastic jewelry on original dime store cards- I LOVE it!

And more plastic jewelry.

There are eleven drawers in my chest- and I only showed you four- but that's the thing with your special drawers- you can't look all of them everyday.  If you do, they aren't special anymore.  It's kind of like See's Candy- you have to savor just a few bites and save the rest for a rainy day when you need a pick me up.

ANNOUNCING A NEW SWAP PARTY & CHALLENGE: Bling Your Birdhouse

Karla and I are hosting a swap/challenge & party all in one. Karla has hosted blog parties before- "What do you love about your home?" and "What do you love about your Holiday Home?"

 

This swap, party & challenge asks you to decorate and display birdhouses on your blog on Mar 27. 

Here are some ideas:

• Buy an unfinished wooden or paper mache birdhouse from Michaels or Hobby Lobby and paint, collage, paper, or mosaic it.
• If you're really a do it yourselfer, make a house from scratch- wood, brick, tile, sticks & stones- anything goes.
• Not feeling really crafty?  Buy a ready to go birdhouse and add your own touches.  There are some fun stickers and rub-ons that can personality to your house- or maybe you want to add your  monogram.
• Make it a family project and let everyone create a house- you'll have your own neighborhood for the birdies.

The party is SELF LINKING and SELF SWAPPING.  That's another way of saying- we're having a party but we're being lazy hostesses- kind of like saying "sure come on over to my house for a get together, but bring your food and drink and be prepared to serve yourself".

The details are:

Celebrate Spring with Beth and Karla for their

“Bling your Birdhouse” Challenge!

(Other wise known as “What do you LOVE about your birdie’s home?”)

This is a SELF-linking and SELF-swapping challenge.

Show photos on your blog (or FLICKR site) of a birdhouse you have embellished, in any way your artistic heart desires.  If you aren’t an artist, you can share pictures of your favorite bird’s happy home.

Leave a comment with Beth or Karla (or both) on THURSDAY MARCH 27TH.  Both artists will be showing their own blingy birdhouses that day. This is where the “self linking” comes in.   Make sure that your URL is in the comment so everyone can come to visit and admire your birdie’s home after reading your comment.   

If you want to buy/sell/or trade your creation with another artist, make sure you include that info in your post.  This is where the “self swapping” comes in. If you are up for a swap, want to sell the house, or simply want to keep and enjoy it yourself, let everyone know.

Want some help with ideas for birdhouse décor? Bling kits will be for sale at    Karla's Etsy Shop and at Beth's Etsy   too.  They will be filled with fun vintage touches to make your bird’s abode something really special.

And for a tutorial before the big day, join Karla on her blog Monday February 25TH.  She’ll take you through the steps on a couple of different birdhouse styles. 

Also check out Beth’s blog posting  here for photos of a Shabby Chic neighborhood she has designed for her feathered friends.

If you want to join in the fun and spread the word- here's the button to post on your blog- or you can grab it off my left sidebar.

Just added to My Etsy Shop:

My Heart Belongs to the Sea necklace

I Wanna Be a Cowboy charm bracelet

Triple charm necklace.

Collections & Art: The Art of Collecting

Look what I got from Amazon.  I preordered  Art Making Collections and Obsessions by Lynne Perrella  after Christmas.  I've loved Lynne's other books, and I'm always interested in other people's collections so this was a must have. 

I added the Sweeney Todd soundtrack to the order so I could learn the words to some songs besides Not While I'm Around.

I've only had a chance to browse the book, but this page, showing Judi Riesch's collection of silver, mother of pearl and other treasures inspired me to try and put my own still life together.

Ok, I admit it- I didn't get anywhere close to her look.  After I dragged all this "collection" out- I decided I need to get rid of some of it- so I divided it up and will list it in my Etsy Shop.  It's kind of like assemblage art with no glue...

WARNING:  ADVERTISING AHEAD

Here are some pictures of stuff I'll be listing.

Ok, it's kind of late, and I'm tired- so I'm going to bed, so not all of this is going to get listed tonight- but if you see something you want, you just wake me up, and I'll sell it to you...

Sweet Treats Update & Estate Sale Goodies

I spent all day at Karla's Cottage yesterday putting together Sweet Treats & Roses swap books.  It was really amazing to see so many beautiful and artful pages all together.  That's my book on top- Karla made my cover- it's a hand painted rose wreath heart on top of flocked wallpaper.  My tag was made byJennifer of A Charming Life.

Before we started on the books, we "oohhed and aahhed" over the wonderful gifts that people sent us.  Besides spending all the time and effort on making books pages for the swap, some people gave us gifts, too.  The generosity of bloggers and blog readers is incredible!

Karla of Sugar Bear Designs made both Karla and me valentines- with our sweethearts in the center.  Karla's had her granddaughter Sugarwings, and I got my puppy Milo! 

It's a good thing Karla's cottage has a huge studio- because we needed a lot of room to spread out all the pages.

And the covers.

Our friend Jen was in the swap, too and helped us with the assembling the pages- which was no small task- 42 books with 42 pages is over 1700 pages that she stacked! 

Here's Jen's book- Karla made the cover especially for Jen- Jen is retro 40's & 50's girl.  Jen picked out the tag made by Ele- A Bit of Pink Heaven .

We had a few "production" issues- you can read about them in  Karla's post, but after about 12 hours, we had them ALL done- and it was really a good feeling to put all the

finished books on a table and just LOOK at them. 

It's amazing the effort that all the swappers put into this swap and I'm so pleased with the output- a 42 artist collaboration!

This afternoon's project:  printing postage for the books and getting them in the mail!

Speaking of mail, look what I got in the mail from Rhea.  Rhea makes the most fantastic paper creations, and I asked her where she got her paper garland- she said she MADE it- and sent me some, along with some beautiful wallpaper and a pink feather boa trim!  Even my husband was impressed!

Since I had no auction to go to this week, I needed a little estate sale "hit" this morning.  There wasn't a lot out there- but I did pick up a few little goodies- little portrait with a convex glass frame, pretty lace, a neat switch plate with fleur de lis- and the are all perched in  this chalk compote

I always look for craft supplies when I'm at estate sales, but it was a little thin- but at least what I did get was pretty.

And now- I'm off to mail those books!