Giveaway Update

I had planned to announce a giveaway by the end of March to celebrate my one year blogging anniversary, but here it is the end of April and I still don't have anything set up.  I have to leave early early tomorrow for a one-day trip but will do my best to post something on Sunday, May 1.  If you're a follower or commented on my one-year blog post you're already registered, but if not check back Sunday evening and leave a comment for a chance (or an extra chance) to win.

I'll be posting about the May Basket swap on Sunday, too.  Here's a little preview.

Craft Days

I am so very late posting about some recent craft days.  On March 19, Leann, Debbie and Jeanne came over to make "bird bowls" from Anna Corba's Vintage Paper Crafts book.  We had a great time visiting and crafting.  They all took home cute wooden bowls, not quite finished but close.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo while they were here but maybe I can get them to send me some. Ladies?

I only had one wooden bowl with painted flowers and we all deemed it too cute to decoupage over, so I did a tray.  It's still not finished (imagine that) but here's a preview shot.  I just need to find some jute trim (that I know I have stashed somewhere) to go around the edge to add interest - and to cover my messy painting.

On March 27, Chris and Kerry came over for a craft day.  I did a tutorial on the burnt-edge or singed flowers.  Kerry did a tutorial earlier this year on the Tim Holtz-style paper roses and Tim Holtz Fragments, and Chris will be showing us applique-making on the Cricut next month.  While they were here, we also made ribbon roses and decoupaged birds similar to the one on Sue's blog. 

As part of our craft days, we decided to do mini-swaps. Our first was a destash exchange - what's old to one is new to another, right?  This time we made cloth collages.  Kerry's (with the spot of blue) and Chris's are both amazing. They both have a great sense of style and are very imaginative.

I enjoyed putting mine together and was inspired by the collage I received from Jamie to use a napkin as the base.  They were supposed to be 5" x 7" but I cheated and made them bigger in order to use the napkins.  I was also supposed to make one for myself but haven't done that yet. 

I'm loving craft days.  It's wonderful to hear about what everyone else has been working on and to see how each person interprets a project or idea.  I LOVE my artsy crafty friends!

Happy Easter!

Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy Easter weekend.  Thought I'd share some of the natural beauty in our backyard - these gorgeous things thrive in spite of neglect.  Please ignore the weeds.

Oops!  How did they get in here? That's Henry with his cousin Ethel.

April Finds

April isn't over yet but I'm so short on space these days that I need to skip any junqueing forays until I either get rid of some things or reorganize.  That said, here are a few things I added to my stash this month.  Happy junqueing, everyone!

A few cards, hankies and embellishments. Love the poodles.

Vintage millinary fruit, a small compact and lots of bling
for fifty cents to a dollar a piece.

A hat from e-Bay, doilys, an old notebook to jazz up
and use as a journal, vintage seam binding, an old
clothes brush (like the stripe), a piece of bling, and
two old needle folders without the needles.

I have a smaller version of this and am using them to store
scissors, rulers and other supplies on my craft table.

I have absolutely no idea where I'm going to
put this but it was too cute to leave behind.

Another Sneak Peek

This is for a swap project I'm working on.  You can't tell anything about the project at this point, but I liked the image of all these ladies.  It seems very Monty Python-esque.

Thank you, Michael's

A couple of months ago I e-mailed Michael's because I was totally fed up with having to print pages of coupons when I only needed one or two AND with each coupon having a huge black bar across the top that required a ton of toner.  Lo and behold, this past week when I was ready to print my coupons, there was an option to select only the ones I wanted to print, and there was no black bar on any of them.  They actually listened!  I'm sure I'm not the only one who brought this up and maybe they've been working on a better system for a while, but it made me happy anyway.  Thanks, Michael's! 

To celebrate, I bought a pile of stuff today, including several fun things from the clearance bins.  LOVE the clearance bins.  Here are a few of my purchases.  I also bought some Glitter Mod Podge which I just discovered in a class last week.  LOVE it.  So fun.

Sneak Peek

Can't have two posts in a row with no pics, so here's a sneak peek at a fun May Day swap project I put in the mail yesterday.  It should be delivered to its destination tomorrow.  I'll post more as soon as I know it's been received.

Benefit Bling

While browsing for some art tutorials online, I ran across Jess's blog.  She's selling some of her beautiful earrings at a discounted price and donating all the proceeds (up to $200) for aid to Japan.  Her jewelry is lovely.  If you're in the market for some earrings and want to do good at the same time, check it out here.
I scrolled through her most recent blog postings and found several great recipes and ideas.  Her blog is simple, sweet and informative. 

One Year of Blogging

Hard to believe I've been blogging for a year today!  While mine will never be one of the widely read and hugely followed blogs, it's been a great experience for me so far and I look forward to recording my finds and creations in the future.  It's been a lot of fun to go back through my posts and see what I was up to for the past year, but I think the best part of having a blog is getting to know others in blogland. 

A big thank you to those of you (all eleven!) who follow my humble little musings and to the others who stop by on a fairly regular basis. The date kind of snuck up on me, but I'd like to do a little giveaway at some point soon as that seems to be the way to celebrate blogging milestones.  I'll try to post a giveaway by the end of the month, so stay tuned!

In addition to working full time for the next few weeks (yes, I'm supposed to be retired) I'm working on lots of things right now - creating an art journal in Teresa McFayden's Windows To My World on-line class, still trying to finish Silver Bella projects, working on a basket for Kari Ramstrom's May Basket Swap and tags for a Secret Garden tag swap at The Rat's Pajama's, and creating and collecting for an Easter swap with my blog friend Terry in California.  My mom asked me to make a collage using a darling Valentine she received when she was six, so I'm getting everything together for that.  As if that wasn't enough, I have friends coming over for the next two weekends to craft - something I'm really looking forward to.  I'll be posting more about some of these things in the next few weeks.

No new acquisitons or creations to celebrate a year of junquing and crafting but a blog post needs pics, so here are a few from my craft room.

My ribbon rack - minus a few rolls that fell off when the DH was pounding
on things on his workbench on the other side of the wall.  The rack is a
 chicken incubator or feeder (something chicken-related) that I bought
at a Junk Market sale in Minnesota several years ago.

My inspiration board.  Notice Don Henley at the top.  Major inspiration.

One of my bookcases with mixed media materials and junque I like.

The pretty accessory holder my sister-in-law made.  Too bad it's
so loaded with craft supplies that you can't really see it.  It's lovely.

My great grandmother's hutch that my mom gave me last year.
LOVE IT!  It's packed with supplies and fun things.

So that's a little view of where I create.  Don't forget to check back later this month for a giveaway!

Meet Henry and Georgia

If you've been reading my blog from the start you've seen a few references to Basset Hound collectibles, or "Basset Crap" as it's affectionately called.  That started when we got our first Basset Hound in 1999.  He was initially found wandering by a neighbor.  She tried for several weeks to find his owners but no one claimed him.  She already had several dogs and we had recently lost our Chow mix to cancer, so Bruiser came to live with us.  Our lives haven't been the same since.  About a year after we got Bruiser along came Walter, a rescue from the local animal shelter.  Sadly, we lost both of them and our sweet old Lab Emma a few years ago - all in the same year which almost killed me.  A wonderful man that I know through work is active in animal welfare in a nearby town and after learning that we had lost both Bruiser and Walter, he promised to let me know if they ever had a Basset at their shelter.  Well, less than a month later I got the call.  We drove to Seminole and picked up a relatively skinny Basset boy who whined all the way home.  Henry won us over totally in spite of months of treatment for erlichia - a result of tick bites he got while he was on his own. A few months after Henry moved in, Georgia joined our family thanks to the girlfriend of our nephew.  She hated that Georgia was on her own all day while she worked, and felt she'd be happier with Henry.  They LOVE each other and play wildly.  So without further ado, here are Henry and Georgia.

Georgia and Henry

Georgia looks like she's wearing a wig, but she's just wrapped in a faux fur throw.

Howliday 2010

I've avoided blogging about them because this could easily become a blog ALL about them.  I'll resist, but I wanted to share that they went to doggie day care today for the first time.  Before they could be added to the "regulars" list they had to pass a temperament test.  I imagine it as just like waiting to see if your child will be selected for the school they want to attend.  Henry passed with flying colors and was even referred to by the handlers as a "social butterfly."  Georgia, however, was timid and stressed at first with the big dogs.  After being moved in with the smaller dogs, she quickly relaxed and started playing and later was moved back in with the bigger dogs with no problems.  I'll be working full time for the next few weeks, so the plan is for them to attend doggie day care a couple of times a week.  Spoiled?  Not our dogs!

Fun February Finds

We've had a couple of nice weekends this month, perfect for junqueing.  The DH and I went to Shawnee one Saturday and, as always, found lots of great things including vintage cards and Valentines, crepe paper, buttons, a locket, and a funky pink corset.  I also couldn't resist the little red and white striped Barbie dress.

The Evening Amusements book has a lot of unique illustrations that will be perfect for mixed media projects, and the cover is really beautiful. I bought the corset "just in case." At Silver Bella there was a blingy bra swap and several people decorated old corsets rather than bras. I suppose if there's another such swap some day, I'll be ready!

The DH scored these old cans to "decorate" his garage. You'll notice the blue one in my pic above as I promptly appropriated it for my own collection.

Last Saturday we stopped by the Leake Car Auction just to see what was on offer.  It was my first time at a car auction and I enjoyed it.  There were several hot rods being sold so the DH was excited about that, but he would have enjoyed it a lot more had he been buying - maybe next time!  Afterward I convinced him to stop by one of my favorite shops where I found some 1938 and 1939 magazines. He's building a 1939 Chevy street rod so I thought I might be able to find an ad for his car.  The only one was for a 4-door rather than a 2-door, but I'll probably frame it for his garage anyway.  I also found a Valentine apron that still has the original price tag sewn into a seam, a pink tablecloth with the sweetest trim and a yearbook with a beautiful embossed cover that will be perfect for a travel journal.

Last Sunday I met two friends for lunch and a fun time exploring all the great things at The Rink.  We all found treasures and got some great crafting ideas.  We sat for a bit after checking out to listen to the live music and to talk a little more - can never get enough of that!  I brought home a navy velvet hat with beautiful pearls, beads and mother of pearl flowers and leaves sewn on a ribbon around the brim (can't see it in the photo, darn it), two huge cards of trim for an amazing price, and my usual buttons, photos and linens. 

And another creamware bowl that I so didn't need, more trim and a Coats and Clark sewing kit with tiny spools of thread and scissors.  The little satin fruit has beautiful velvet leaves that I'll probably remove and use on other things.  The aqua lace near the front is really pretty and I may use it for my first cuff bracelet.

All in all, February was a great month!

Valentine's Swap

The private holiday swap with my new blog friend Terry was over the top for Valentine's Day.  She sent me so many wonderful things and I was thrilled with every single one, but I especially love the beautiful necklace and bracelet she made.

I sent an eclectic box of goodies, including the Cosmo bag I made last month in the Style Stitches bag challenge and a Love canvas I created.  Terry is going to Kim Caldwell's Moulin Rouge event in March (wish I were, too!), so I added a few vintage magazine illustrations that seemed appropriate.  Hope she loves it all!

Valentine Remembrance

Pre-blog (last February) I signed up for Teresa McFayden's Paper Bella Studio e-zine, Paper Romance.  It was my first such experience and I loved it!  There were so many creative projects that I'm still working on mine but here are a few I completed. 

One of my favorites was Holly Abston's Sweetheart wall hanging. I learned later that Holly is an Okie gal, which made me love her project even more!  Here's my version:

Another favorite was a heart garland, but instead of a garland, I increased the size and made individual heart pockets.  I made several of these last year for friends and a few more this year. 

The pink one is my favorite.  I love the corrugated cardboard strip and - you have to look hard to see it - a watch spring tied in with the fibers on the left side.  It went to my friend Kerry last year, and the middle one went to my friend Terry this year.

The Paper Romance e-zine includes lots of non-Valentine projects and is still available at the link above, along with several other Paper Bella Studio e-zines.  I highly recommend these if you want lots of inspiration.

A Swap for All Seasons Fabric Collage Exchange

I participated for the first time in one of A Swap for All Seasons' exchanges. This was a mini fabric collage exchange, and my partner was Jamie.  She sent me a really wonderful creation on which she used a vintage napkin for the base with tea-dyed felt and fabric, a doily and embroidery, ric rac, vintage lace and metal embellishments. It's really lovely and a very creative use of elements. I particularly like the little piece of lace attached with a rusty safety pin, and most of those reading this probably agree! I'm so happy to have found so many who feel the same way I do about old scraps of lace and fabrics, vintage millinary, etc. - "green" crafting at its best.

My vision for her collage was snow covered mountains with a window of flowers. I used layers of white doilys and batting, a bit of embroidery from an old hanky, and included the saying, "No winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn" because she lives in a really cold climate, and also because as I was making it I personally was sick of snow and cold weather (so thankful this week for 70s and 80s!)  The result was not what I had envisioned, but I rather like it anyway.  Hope she does, too!

Style Stitches Monthly Bag Challenge

My new Silver Bella friend Jemellia is hosting a monthly bag challenge on her blog.  I signed up hoping it would inspire me to actually finish a bag, since I have one cut out that's been in my closet for over a year with not a stitch sewn. 

We're using Amy Butler's Style Stitches book.  The first pattern was the Cosmo, an oversize tote.  After cutting out all the outside and lining pieces and the interfacing for every one of those pieces, I remembered why my other bag was never completed.  It's so much easier - and less expensive in many cases - to buy a purse or tote.  However, once I started sewing it was fairly enjoyable and I loved having the opportunity to pick the fabric and to embellish a bit.  I used three fabrics from Alexander Henry's June Bug line. 

It was inspiring to see other participants' bags.  There were so many beautiful fabric choices and creative additions and embellishments. 

My bag was done by the January 31 deadline - barely.  I made it for a friend, but it turned out so well that now I'm going to have to make one for myself...well, maybe after I finish the year-old bag in my closet!

The next bag is a reversible daily shopper.  It looks easier than the Cosmo, but February is going by quickly and I've yet to start on this one.  I'm torn between using fabrics I already have (what I NEED to do) and buying new fabric (what I WANT to do).  I'll keep you posted!

Fan Dancer

January brought a new round of great classes at Paper Crown.  I wanted to take every class offered but was only able to make it to two - Jackie's shrink class (blogged in an earlier post) and her fan class.  Using old paper fans, canvas, paper doll stamps, and lots of embellishments and techniques, Jackie guided us through the process of making beautiful and unique dolls with a Valentine theme.  You can see everyone with their finished projects here.

I would encourage anyone to take a class from either Jackie or Franc at Paper Crown (or any of the other instructors who visit from time to time.)  Both these ladies are so creative and so much fun, and class participants are friendly and sharing. Cindy, the owner, is wonderful, too.  You can learn about class opportunities from the Paper Crown web site or from Jackie's blog.

Score!

The DH was on furlough today so we hit a couple of estate sales.  The first house appeared to be the home of someone who got rid of all their vintage goodies and replaced them with newer, cheaper junk (and not junk in a good way).  I did find a 1953 medical book with some funny photos and illustrations and a baggie full of stick-on and iron-on lettering, and the DH got a small basket full of nuts, bolts and washers, and a couple of brackets. 

At the second sale I hit paydirt!  I got all of the glorius vintage Christmas bounty you see below, plus a few cabinet cards, a couple of postcards and a few doilies.  For $6.  Yes, $6.  The ornaments were in a larger box marked "$1 per ornament" so I was expecting to have to pay a lot.  I even left a dozen or so in the box because I thought my total was going to be much higher.  Unfortunately, by the time I knew how much they actually cost someone had come along behind me and grabbed the other box. For some strange reason only the barns were open today and all the Christmas stuff was just laying out on the grass.  The house will be open tomorrow and Sunday so we may be going back.  Can you just imagine what all must be in there???

Behold, The Humble Oil Can

Last Saturday the DH and I planned a drive to Stillwater via Perkins. Before we even made it out of town he spotted a yard sale.  They didn't have much for me so I wandered into a little boutique next door and found a cute bracelet.  I went back to look for him and spotted some old oil cans.  DH had already been looking at them.  I bought one but he wasn't ready to jump on the others.  We left but only made it a few miles down the road before he turned around.  The price was right, and he's happy to have them for display in his garage. 

I've been on the search for old oil cans (the small ones) since I saw some transformed into beautiful photo holders by Jennifer Valentine in the Summer 2010 issue of Somerset Life (scroll down at the link to see a pic.) I found seven at a junk store in Perkins, along with five folding wooden yardsticks, some old craft magazines, two funnels, a cool old jar and a few other things.  The DH got a couple of tool-type items.  We then headed on to Stillwater.  Love the antique mall there.  I found old linens and hankies, a 1927 yearbook from Duncan, OK, another oil can, a vintage "Touring" card game and a lot more.  It was a really good junking day. 

I was also on the lookout for fabric for Jemellia's Bag Challenge so checked out a fabric store on Main Street in Stillwater.  Didn't find any fabric, but I went into a floral and gift store and found some wonderful holiday leftovers for 75% off and a Patience Brewster Basset Hound figurine that I had to have because it made me laugh out loud. I'm trying to stop collecting Basset Hound things and have even put away a few to make room for craft stuff, but I had to have this one.  Insane, I know, but if I ever get up the nerve to show ALL my Basset crap, you'll really worry about me.