Show and Tell...

Finally!! I've been patiently waiting, wanting{almost stalking}MadeByHank's Etsy Shop for years!

I finally bought one of her tough ruffles bags....and I love it!!

My Retrostiletto print arrived{I need to order a larger custom matting}it looks awesome framed!

Something else I recently bought was this antique Casket Plaque/Plate. For some reason I'm extremely fascinated with all things{vintage}Post Mortem. I have the ashes of a family member that have been sitting on a shelf, and this is what I had in mind when I saw the plaque:

I've been searching for awhile for an appropriate container for the ashes{yes, that's a film roll container, that's how they were given to me}I still haven't found one. I think the plaque makes a wonderful accent.

Sites to visit where you'll find interesting Post Mortem collectibles : Tear Drop Memories , Thanatos and Antique Photo Album.

On the Hunt...

Oh how time flies... This is pretty much what I've been doing for the last month~ searching for vintage frames. I had some luck with a couple amazing larger frames{like the one above}but not so much with smaller frames. With our wacky weather here in California so many of my local flea markets have been rained out. I've shown up even when the vendors didn't~ I guess in hopes that they would. I've got my fingers crossed for this weekend, I'd love to walk away with an armful of frames like these :)

1. Frames, 2. Vintage Ornate Picture Frames, 3. "Rescue Me", 4. pieces, 5. Vintage Frame, 6. Ornate frame

Another exciting thing that happened last month was I was invited to place an Ad in Spoonful{a Zine}a short and inspiring publication. I was lucky enough to have the editor put together this ad for me.

I think she did a great job♥

Hidden Treasures

I spotted this old tattered tin{just the way I like them}yesterday at the flea market. It was kind of hidden under some stuff, maybe that's why no one had snatched it up.
When I picked it up it was pretty heavy, I thought to myself "please let there be buttons in here"....
when I opened it up, this is what I found :)
wonderful old vintage buttons♥ You can never have too many{{I wonder if that's what hoarders think to themselves~ yikes!}}
I would have been happy with just the tin, the buttons were just a bonus. Here's some really cool History about the Ward Baking Co.

New Fabric= Inspiration

A couple weeks ago I ordered some fabric on-line. At the time I wasn't totally sure what I was going to do with it, but I was in the mood to buy pretty fabric!
I thought I'd make a few Magnetic Inspiration Boards for my Shop. It's been awhile since I made this style{I've been making chalkboards & pin/cork boards lately}. Before I opened my Etsy Shop{back in 2007}I looked around to see if anyone was making anything similar: they weren't, it was just me{actually I wasn't sure if anyone would know what they were or if I'd even sell one}. Now, there are almost too many to count{which is a little discouraging}. But....
I do enjoy making them, and I don't want to put time and effort into something I don't enjoy doing. Here's the first one with my new fabric, I love this floral print!
....and I used to vintage jewelry I picked up last week at the flea market for the magnets. With the left over fabric I might make a couple pillows~ I think I'm in the mood to sew :)

Paying it forward...

My daughter has been wanting a pair of "TOMS" shoes for awhile now. I didn't see how paying $44 for a pair of canvas shoes was reasonable{especially when you have four kids}but after purchasing these on-line for her for Christmas and seeing what their Company does for needy children, I'm really glad I did :)


With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Very COOL!

Spruced up Wall Art

This might look familiar, I posted about it here. I almost forgot about it after storing it in my hutch almost a year ago~ then I came across it yesterday. Wow what a difference a little paint makes. It's dated: 1970, who knew felt was popular back then.
F E L T on Etsy:
{Wreath By: KnockKnocking} LOVE her Wreaths!!

{Wallflowers By: LilacSaloon}

{Birthday Crowns By: drfeltgood}

{Catnip Cat Toys By: OhBoyCatToy}
I'm amazed at what people can do with Felt :)

This was something fun. I've mentioned before how I love Spoonflower, well a few weeks ago I decided to use my own image and have a swatch made. Since I wasn't sure how it would turn out I only ordered a swatch.
I think it turned out pretty nice. With a few tweaks I'll be ready to order a yard or two.
Now I find myself looking a things around the house and thinking "Oh, that would look nice as fabric"....this could get expensive!

Flea Market Keepers♥

Lately all the ornate framed mirrors I've found have been upcycled for my Etsy Shop, but this one I'm keeping. It might get painted down the road, but for now it fits perfectly here in this spot the way it is♥
How cute is this Sailor boy{or girl- I'm not sure because of the longer hair}?? Whenever I come across poseable Japanese dolls I have to grab them since they're a pretty rare find.


A new favorite portrait. It looks like it was done with chalk, dated: 1943. A few of my kids say she looks like a ghost, my brother said she looks like Lindsey Lohan with dark hair. Of all the things I collect~ Vintage portraits are my favorite. It always has me wondering what the story is behind the people and why aren't they handed down to family members?? because I know she was someone's daughter/sister/aunt or mother. I'm happy she's mine now :)

A few projects I'm working on{{Upcycling}}right now. Beautiful ornate vintage Syroco Mirrors & Shelf
Back to work!

Finally Organized

Wow, it's been about a month since I posted a before picture of a corner of my messy work space.
Yikes what an unorganized mess!
I started by framing a few of my favorite prints{The Black Apple, Pinky Toast and Danny Brito}. I've got plenty more wall space to fill, I just haven't had the time to shop for more prints.
A while ago I moved my sewing machine into my Bedroom thinking I'd do more sewing. It was a nice thought but I rarely used it.

Ahhhhh this feels so much better. I'm hoping to get a lot of sewing done here :)

A Favorite Artist...

This is the second time I've ordered from the super talented artist PinkyToast. Unfortunately they've been gifts for others. I had to snap some photo's before wrapping them{actually they were already wrapped when I realized I hadn't taken any pictures of them, so now I need to re-wrap them}.
They're even better in person~ the colors are amazing.
I love how they look in these frames. Normally I use vintage frames, but since they're a gift{and I didn't have any the right size}I picked these up, and think they look beautiful.
I could have her artwork all over my house♥

Happy Mail and New Projects

I ordered this pack of pastel Bakers Twine on Etsy the other day{from bellacreationz4u}, it's almost too pretty to open and use.
Nothing dresses up a package like pretty twine, especially against plain paper. There's so many fun things you can do with it.
1. baker's twine, 2. Personalized Stationary, 3. Untitled, 4. Pretty Polka Dots, 5. Pink Scalloped Edge Gift Tags, 6. air mail kit, 7. Orders Out, 8. Key to the Treasure, 9. Flag Garland Package 1


Here's something I recently finished. I've had requests in my Etsy Shop for Cork boards{usually my boards are magnetic, but I guess some people prefer to be able to pin things to their boards} so here's a version I came up with using two fun ornate frames.
I have lots of projects waiting to be started, and a few ideas I'm looking forward to trying. I feel like I've had the summer off, and now I'm going back to work♥

I ♥ Handmade

I wanted to write a quick post about something really cool I recently bought. When I find something amazing I want to share it with everyone, especially when it's handmade. I've been wanting to buy a handmade purse for over a year now. I've searched all over Etsy, trying to find the perfect bag....then I found Pansy Maiden. I love everything about this purse, the size{now that my kids are older I don't need something huge to hold all the misc. stuff you need with little ones}, all the compartments, how well made & sturdy it is~ I can't say enough great things about it, so if you're in need of a purse check out their Shop.

Last night I had to do the thing all pet owners dread. I had to put my dog Daphne to sleep. This is the third time I've had to do this, and each time I say I'll never get another dog. So today is a little strange{and so sad}not seeing her laying across the floor in what ever room I'm in or hearing her nails on the hard wood as she walks through the house{something I'd hear in the middle of the night as she was figuring out who's bed she was going to sneak into}.

My other dog is probably wondering where her partner is{they were BFF's, always together as you can see from the pictures below}.
I'm going to have a sad little 7 year old who I've got to break the news to when she gets home from school today, something I'm not looking forward to :(

Score of the Year!!

Hands down, this has to be my favorite purchase of the year. I couldn't wait for it to arrive....
I love browsing Eiderdowns on Ebay, just to look{and dream} because usually they're way too expensive for me~ but I love looking anyways. Well, the other day I was shocked to see this amazing Eiderdown listed in a Buy-it-now for a price I couldn't believe!!
It was flashing Buy-me-now, Buy-me-now..... so I did :)
I don't make lots of big purchases because when you have four kids there are so many other things you really need. I haven't had my hair done in a Salon in over a year{yikes, I think it's closer to two years} I look more like a billy goat than a woman at this point, so believe me when I say I don't usually spend money on myself.
The most exciting part of buying the Eiderdown wasn't just the Eiderdown, but who I'd actually bought it from~ which I didn't know until I finished checking out. I guess I probably shouldn't say, but she's one of my very Favorite fabric Designers!! How cool is that :)

Wow~ How time flies.....

I just realized it's almost been two weeks since my last post. Recently I took my kids by my first job. As soon as I opened the door the smell hit me and took me back 20 years....ahhh, it reminded me of working on a Saturday, wearing my gingham apron and icing cakes~ I loved my job!! The smell was the same, but about everything else had changed.
I just bought these fabric labels. I'm SO happy with how they turned out!!
If you're looking for labels, check out this Shop, she does great work & gives excellent speedy service!!
Normally I wouldn't consider paying $14.99 for a Magazine, but this was worth every penny.
So so inspiring! Love this magazine, but it only comes out four times a year, so if you need a fix in between issues~ they also have a Website & Blog .
I picked up this book: "American Junk" last week at an Antique Mall. Every time I flip through it I find something new, it never gets old.
The author talks about the time she found her childhood dollhouse{that she lost in a fire} while visiting a Junk Shop "I paid $10 and carried it out like Lancelot clasping the Holy Grail".
That's how I felt when I found my childhood doll~ Steffie from the "Sunshine Family" last week at the flea market. She makes me smile every time I see her sitting on my shelf♥


I have some very exciting mail coming this week~ I'll be back to share once it arrives :)