Spring Terry/Terri Swap

Since we've been one-on-one craft swappers over the past few months, Terry and I have discovered lots that we have in common besides our names, our spouses names, our age and our four-legged children.  One thing is our perpetual state of running behind.  She has every excuse - a job, a long commute, a busy arts and social life.  I have no excuse, but it works out fine.  Our Easter swap turned out to be a late spring swap.  We both needed more time so agreed to mail mid-May instead of before Easter.  I was a week late for even that deadline.

Here are all the wonderful goodies she sent me this time.  Everything was wrapped in bright spring-colored tissue, and there were little flowers and tin butterfly and dragonfly pins on some of the packages.  Everything she sent is so pretty, and she made me another beautiful necklace.  This one is two dominos with "journal" pages between.  So fabulous!  I wish I had a better camera so you could see the true loveliness.

Her favorite colors are black and white, so I tried to stay close to that while throwing in a little springy-ness.  She's taking a couple of classes with Lisa Kaus next month so I included a little LK plaque for inspiration. 

I've wanted to make this little bird from Lisa Pace's Delight In The Details since I first bought the book. I made this one for Terry, but I loved it so much I'm planning to make an identical one for myself.  The "FLY" tray was inspired by a similar tray in that same book, and also by a few shown in one of the Stampington publications.  Now I need to get started on things for July!  I'm going to do my best to be on time for our 4th of July/Summer swap.

Weekend Finds

We've had a rather bad run of "estate" sales lately - most have been just bad garage sales - which almost caused us to skip one last weekend.  Since this one was only a couple of miles from our house and in an area known for older residents, we decided to drop by for a quick look.  An hour later, we left with our arms full.  Here are some of the more interesting things I found. 

 
The flowers on two of the hats need a little freshening but are actually rather pretty.  I love the 1911 marriage certificate, even if it is in pieces, and what you can't see is a sort of family-events certificate from the same year that also has some lovely graphics.  I thought the colors of the doilies and potholder were some of the best I've seen, particularly the green one - it's my favorite color and I don't think I've ever found another in that shade. 

Secret Garden Tag Swap

I participated in Wanda's Secret Garden Tag Swap - my first ever tag swap.  It was so fun to get the package this week and see what everyone else created!  Each one shows a unique interpretation of the Secret Garden theme, and there are many techniques that I'd not seen before.
 
 
We had to make 20 tags and after making the first few, I realized my design was a little ambitious. I found some beautiful napkins a few weeks earlier and decided to cut motifs from those for my tags. I ended up using five different images from the napkins on each tag, so they all had to be cut out and then glued to the tags, followed by the woman, the trim and the flowers. I completed and mailed them on time, though!

I wasn't aware that most tag swaps use 2-1/2" x 5" tags so mine was a little large, but I don't think I could have squeezed all this onto a smaller tag.  I was glad to see that someone else used the larger tag, too.  Here's a front and back view of mine.

I'm excited to be in Karla's Bird Song tag book swap, but oh so happy that I have quite a bit of time to complete them and only have to make seven!

May Finds

We're going to Canton soon so I've been trying to hold off on the junque seeking but there are so many garage sales this time of year that it's really hard to resist.  Last weekend we went to several sales without much luck but finally found some goodies just before heading home.

The DH got a few things that aren't pictured, including a metal cabinet and a metal tray, plus a DX oil barrel that he'll be using as a trash can in the garage.  I also found some pink and blue crepe paper and a book by one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Berg.

On Friday the 13th (lucky day!) there was a neighborhood sale in the Gatewood historic area of Oklahoma City.  Just looking at the houses makes for a great day, but we also found some goodies.  I had just bought a hat on eBay (shown) but was still sad that I just missed several hats at one sale.  Someone was paying for them as we walked up.  But I found a treasure-laden piece of jewelry art that will be disassembled, linens, an old set of "conversation course" booklets, knitted gloves from France, buttons and a few other small items, plus a fabulous suitcase.  The seller had about ten trunks and suitcases and was ready to deal, but I have absolutely no space to store them.  They even suggested the suitcases-as-end table idea, but I don't even have room for that!  I'm sure some lucky person made a great buy.  I'm hoping to open an Etsy shop soon, so maybe that will alleviate my overcrowding situation.

 

 
I hope all you other treasure seekers have great success this weekend!

Just us Chickens

Do you ever start something that should be so simple, but then just can't decide what it needs? I struggled with the little creation below for several weeks. The base is a cabinet card and the chick pic is an old Department of Agriculture brochure cover that I copied onto transfer paper and ironed onto muslin. I made the flower from ribbon and a pearl button, and the pleated paper at the bottom was added after seeing a tutorial on someone's blog (so sorry - can't remember whose, but thank you!)  I finally finished it last weekend and gave it to my Mom on Mother's Day.

Class Creation

I thought I had already blogged about the class I took in April, but apparently not.  It was taught by Medeah at Paper Crown - her first class there.  I wanted to take the class as soon as I saw the notice online, but felt I had been taking on too much so I held off.  After seeing the actual sample in the shop one day, I immediately signed up.  From the photo I thought it was probably 6"x12", but it's actually 10"x20".  Some of the processes involved were very time consuming so Medeah had the vase and the flower materials ready for us.  During class she explained the methods she used for these so we could recreate them in the future.  It was an enjoyable class and I love the final product. 

We have a winner!

I'm pleased to announce that Lisa Stanton is the winner of my "one year of blogging" giveaway!  Congrats, Lisa!  I'll be mailing you everything shown in my giveaway post, plus a couple of surprises.  Hope you enjoy everything! 

I was excited to win Heather Buhaj's March giveaway.  She sent the cutest little jar packed with goodies - lots of fun things including a petite ballerina, a tiny frozen charlotte, flowers, buttons, brads, cabochons, a bag of blue beads and more. Thanks so much, Heather! 

Giveaway - Shades of Blue

Finally!  Here are the details of the one-year blog anniversary giveaway.  Thanks for being patient. 

My favorite color is blue and my favorite things are vintage, especially trims, buttons and things like that, so I've put together a batch of vintage blue for my first giveaway.  Here's what the winner will receive: one yard of sheer flocked vintage trim with blue flowers, one yard of white and blue embroidered trim, about two yards of turquoise pom pom trim, a vintage blue buckle, a small blue pin (shown just above the buckle), several blue vintage millinary flowers, and a selection of blue buttons.  Because I also like surprises, there will be a few of those included, too.

If you follow my blog or made a comment on my blog anniversary post here, then you're already registered.  For new or additional entries, here's what to do:
1.  Leave a comment on this post. If you don't have a blog, be sure to leave an e-mail address so I can contact you if you're the winner.
2.  If you haven't already, sign on to follow my blog.
3.  Put a link to this post on your blog and let me know at junqueseeker@yahoo.com.

The winner will be selected next Sunday, May 8 - Mothers Day!  Good luck, everyone!

May Basket Swap

I was so excited to have the talented Marti McClure as my partner for Kari Ramstrom's May Basket Swap.  Check out Marti's blog here to see some of the other amazing things she's created.

She sent me a darling basket packed with wonderful things, including beautiful earrings, the sweetest little shadowbox and notebook, a paper cone, and little pinwheel and a tiny little shoe, all handmade by Marti.  She also included a doily, a tea towel, treats and many other things.  Thank you so much, Marti!

I sent Marti a little basket decorated with handmade flowers.  Packet inside were a button bracelet, vintage trim, and other little treasures.  She likes vintage paper, so I made her a fabric folder and filled it with old annual pages, 1930s magazine pages, vintage wallpaper and old flower prints.

Thanks, Kari, for coordinating the swap!

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!