My Helpers

Our dogs love to be outside, and they love for me to be there, too.  As we were hanging out the other day, I decided I needed a photo of my old Voss galvanized tub, just because it looked cool.  I bought this at a swap meet for vintage car parts. I think it was used to clean parts in a repair shop, but I use it as a planter.  Anyway, I got the camera and got down on the ground to get a better shot, and one of my "helpers" magically appeared to make sure the photo was extra special.

Not only did Jake pose, he grabbed a daylily leaf so he'd look especially cute.  Henry was just bored with the whole process.

And where was Georgia?  Asleep in the house, as usual. She sleeps under the covers, so no photo available.  Maybe the next time.

Optimal Floral Viewing

My bestie Lucy and I like to drive around seeking "optimal floral viewing."  I have a Pinterest board by that name, too.  Here's a bit of optimal floral viewing for you from my back yard.

I had hoped to have pics of my mom's beautiful hydrangeas, but I was using my iPhone and, being me, I took video instead of pics.  Maybe later!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

My beautiful mother celebrated her 80th birthday on April 29.  You'd never guess it to look at her, and sadly, I didn't even get a birthday pic, but you can see her here with my dad on his birthday last October.  She's one of the kindest, most generous people I know, as well as funny, talented and BUSY. 

Mother has a thing for roosters so I made her this little 6x6 canvas, based on a card I saw on the Cherries Jubilee blog quite some time ago.  I knew it would be perfect for her.

I love the way it turned out, and she seemed to like it, too.  The rooster is from a vintage nursury rhyme book, the doily is from the 50s, and I made the flower from an old hat.  I'm not sure what that doodad is on top, but I liked the look of it.  The pointy top comes off and there's a small space inside. 

Here's the original Cherries Jubilee card photo from her blog.  So cute!

Pistol Annie's Vintage and Craft Show

I'm still woefully behind on blogging, but making an effort to catch up.  Next in line is the Pistol Annie's event last month in Perkins, OK.  I was contacted by the organizers via Etsy, and have to admit that I was hesitant about signing up.  I hadn't done a crafts show in many years - not since the late 80s or early 90s - and wasn't sure I wanted to go there again.  But...when I mentioned it to my friend Leann, she was interested and we somehow talked each other into it.  Ha!  Then our friend Jeanne decided to join us, and it was a done deal.

Since I was selling mostly vintage items and just a handful of crafts, I put my Etsy shop "on vacation" for the weekend and took some of those items to Pistol Annie's.  I did have to stock up, but was able to do a lot of that with things I already had on hand and after visiting just a few estate sales.

We had to borrow a canopy - an OU canopy no less, in decidedly Cowboy country, but no one seemed to mind.  The DH followed me to Perkins on Friday morning to help us set up, and then came back Saturday afternoon to help dismantle and cart things home.

The weather didn't really cooperate.  It was fairly nice on Friday, but with the threat of tornados looming we had to head home early as Perkins is a little over an hour's drive from home.  We did our best to secure everything, taking down the canopy and covering our tables and a couple of bins with a huge tarp.  It was all clamped down and seemed like it would withstand a lot.

Saturday morning, I arrived first to see the tarp in a heap on the ground, soaked and dirty table coverings, and water in one of my bins.  There was also a small pond in the center of our space.  The organizers helped us move to another spot, unfortunately available due to the total collapse and ruin of another vendors canopy.  It was extremely windy all day Saturday, and while we did have sales, things kept blowing over and it just wasn't pleasant.  With severe weather forcast for early evening, we called it quits around 4:00.

I have to add that the show was basically in a cow pasture, which was fine, especially because we had three "cow" dogs to keep us company.  This is Copper.  When he wasn't relaxing, he was mooching for food and at one point was spotted trotting across the field with someone's bag of lunch (they were able to rescue it before he did any damage.)

The organizers were wonderful and had the weather cooperated, it would have been an excellent show. I was still pleased with my sales, but after factoring in the gas for two vehicles to make two trips each, it wasn't very profitable. It was great to have all that time to visit with Leann and Jeanne and to do a bit of shopping with the other vendors, but if we do another show, it will most likely be an inside show and closer to home.

A huge THANK YOU to our friends who drove long distances to see us and to shop!  I got to see several of my besties that I haven't seen in weeks or months, and met some new friends, so that alone made it all worth it.

Proud To Be A Paper Cowgirl

I am SO SO behind on posting.  Let's start with Paper Cowgirl.  I just couldn't seem to get all my info and photos together, but here it is finally!

Chris, Kerry and I traveled to Waxahachie, Texas March 14-17 where we joined Teresa, Sheryl and their friend Tammy, all from Duncan.  We got to see Mitzi who we met at the Donna Downey class in OKC in January, and met so many more wonderful women!  It was a fun few days, with lots of creating, chatting and shopping.

The first evening we shopped at The Dove's Nest, a large and lovely shop packed with eye-catching and unique things. If you're in the area I highly recommend a stop there.  Here are a few things that caught my eye.

The welcome reception was held adjacent to The Dove's Nest in their tea room. I have to, say, all those Texans warmly welcomed all the Okies, and everyone else.

At the reception we were each given a cute name badge with streamers.  Everyone exchanged "flair" which we added to our name badges - flair could be a business card, a bit of lace or a button, some little charm you'd made, etc.  The little felted heart next to my badge was from Donna Goss - a little extra something she gave us in class.

We also received a book made from black paper bags.  The Paper Cowgirl logo adorned the front, and a few words were written inside and on the back but the rest was left blank so each person could add their own touches.  Kerry and I decorated our books a bit that evening after returning to the hotel. Mine is still a work in progress.  I just had to add the fortune I received shortly before the trip, as it reads, "Travelling to the south will bring you unexpected happiness."  Events like this make me VERY happy!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Our first class on Thursday was Donna Goss's felted crown.  Loved it!  Here are Kerry and Mitzi with Donna.

This is my finished crown - completed in class!  Love when that happens.  I bought a few supplies so I can make another crown later. The little santos was my main purchase at The Dove's Nest and is a perfect display for my crown.

Thursday afternoon we had a Funky Writing class with Cindy Mayfield.  I really enjoyed this class, too.  She showed us some of her techniques and samples of other distinctively funky writing.  The key seems to be practice, practice and more practice until you develop your own style and it comes easily.  For now, it isn't coming that easily to me but I'll keep trying!

Thursday evening everyone met for dinner at Plato Loco.  We were rather loud and there were lots of laughs. Most enjoyable! A lot of the downtown shops were open late that evening so we could have an opportunity to shop after dinner, and we did!

Friday morning we were scheduled for an encaustic class with Sandra Feazel.  She had a last-minute family issue, so her friend stepped in to teach.  She was very sweet and did a great job.  We made mini collages using pieces of book covers, fabric, paper and wax, with little bits of lace and other goodies thrown in.  I truly loved this class, and plan to make many more.  It's such a great way to use your favorite little bits of things that you just can't throw away, and a great project when you're feeling creative but want something you can finish quickly.  I think everyone completed two or three during class.  Sandra had made several of the samples into necklaces, or they can be hung on the wall, glued to other art pieces - the possibilities are endless.  Here are my three. 

  














This was my first trip to Waxahachie. I mainly knew of it from the movie "Places In The Heart."  I was too distracted by creating and shopping to take many photos, but did snap a few.  I caught these as we walked to lunch on Thursday.  Here's the famous courthouse.

Chris and Kerry posed with a "yarn bomb" creation - a light pole outside one of the antique malls. The park benches were also decorated. We were told this happened just before we arrived.

The ladies from Petticoats on the Prairie put on a vendor show Friday evening and Saturday at the Chautauqua building.  The building was interesting to see and there were lots of great vendors.  I came home with a big bag of treasures, I assure you!  Sadly, I only took one photo.

Loved Paper Cowgirl, loved Waxahatchie!  Thanks, Cindy, and everyone else involved!  I'm hoping to be back next year. 



Come See Me At Pistol Annie's This Weekend

If you're local, try to make it by Pistol Annie's Craft and Antique Show this Friday and Saturday in Perkins, OK.  You can see photos from some of the vendors on Facebook. Just search for "Pistol Annie's Boutique."  I have a feeling I'll be buying as much as I sell!

From OKC, take I-35 North to the second Guthrie exit.  Go east approximately 20 miles on Hwy. 33.  The show will be on the south side of Hwy. 33 just before you get to Hwy. 177.  Watch for the signs.

Please cross your fingers AND pray for NO RAIN! 

Something Special's Petite Spring Jar Swap

Michelle at Something Special recently hosted a Petite Spring Jar Swap.  Here's what I sent my partner, Susan. I topped the jar with a vintage flower cart and a tiny little duck.  Susan likes fabric so I included a few little squares.  She also has a thing for poodles, so I tucked in a vintage pink satin poodle patch and a vintage fingertip towel that I found in Waxahatchie when I was at Paper Cowgirl (will be posting on PC soon!)

Birdsong II Sponsorship

I'm very happy to be a sponsor for Karla Nathan's event, Birdsong II, which she'll host at her home at the end of April.  Attendance at the event wasn't in the cards for me because of scheduling issues, but this way I can at least share a little with the ladies who will be there.  I heard from several of last year's attendees that it was a wonderful event, so I know they're looking forward to this year.

I packaged up a few little goodies that they can use in their Birdsong projects or other creations, and will be sending these off to Karla early next week along with a door prize.  Hope they like them!

CreativeDaily Blog Giveaway

To celebrate her blog anniversary, Lorraine at CreativeDaily is having a giveaway.  She's created another of her amazing pieces and you could be the lucky winner (although I hope I'm the lucky one this time!)  She makes amazing fabric collages, crazy quilts and lots of other beautiful things.  You can see the giveaway post here.
 fabric collage by Lorraine at CreativeDaily

Friday Finds

Today I had lunch scheduled with friends so I stopped by an estate sale on the way.  After a nice visit and a great lunch, the others headed back to work and I hit another sale.  I suppose that is my work now, and I must say that it's so much more fun than being in an office all day!  Not as lucrative, but money isn't everything, right?

The crazy quilt pillow came from the first sale.  The back is aqua velvet - beautiful!  There are quite a few of the friendship quilt pieces.  I'll be keeping a few, and the rest will make an appearance in my Etsy shop in the next day or two.  Those came from the second sale, along with the button wreath.  There are some beautiful vintage buttons on the wreath. It's going to take me weeks to remove the glue from the backs but it will be worth it.  They came from the home of a woman who is 93 and had just recently moved - happily I was told - from her home to a senior housing facility.

I found some lovely linens, a pretty dish, two glass bead garlands, buckles, a sweet vase, and a darling little figurine.  She's mostly orange and black - Oklahoma State colors - so I'll be taking her to the Pistol Annie's event in April near Stillwater if she doesn't sell on Etsy before then. She could be a 1920s OSU coed walking with her little terrier.

The cute tin will be going in my Etsy shop.  I'm not sure about the other items yet. The plastic doilies are great for applying texture and pattern to mixed media projects. I found some at both sales today.

The DH and I are hitting another estate sale tomorrow, so we'll see what that brings. Since women tend to live longer than men, we're finding that there isn't much for him to see at most estate sales.  I suppose by the time the ladies pass on, they've sold or given away their husband's tools and other guy things.  Still, he does find things occasionally and thankfully he still enjoys going. 

Wishing you an enjoyable weekend!

A Little Blogging Love

I almost let the month of love get away without posting about some gifts from blogging friends.

Wendy sent me this darling tag along with beautiful fabric and lace and a cute clothespin.  I had sent her a Valentine tag and she sent these in return.  I think that fabric is going to make a beautiful rose.

Laurie was also the recipient of one of my Valentine tags.  She had just scored a wonderful box of vintage Valentine goodies (read about it here) and she shared them with me!  I was so excited when I opened the envelope.

Thanks, ladies!  Blogging friends are wonderful!

Available - Handsome Guy with a Great Sense of Humor

Meet Jake.  We're fostering him for Forever Yours Rescue in Oklahoma City.  He's been here about three months now and we're becoming too attached, but he is a very active boy and deserves a family that will give him more exercise than two late middle agers and two Basset Hounds can offer.  He's allegedly part Basset Hound, but he seems to be much more of a Retriever.

Jake is very entertaining.  The first week he was here he climbed to the top of a six-foot shrub - I could kick myself for not having a camera handy.  He has an Elvis grin that is adorable, loves to chase birds (the ones in our yard don't seem to mind), and LOVES to run.  If you're a walker or runner, he'd be only too happy to accompany you on a daily basis.

Jake is about two years old, about 55-60 lbs., housebroken, neutered, heartworm negative, and doesn't shed much.  He's loving, gets along very well with other dogs (don't know about cats), and is sweet and comical.  He can jump and climb, so a six-foot privacy fence is essential, and he must be an indoor-outdoor dog as he loves to spend time with people as well as romp outside.

If you need a cute and friendly dog that will make you laugh, check out his Petfinder listing here.  But hurry. If he stays much longer, we're going to be too attached to let him go!

Estate Sale and Antique Mall Finds

The DH and I traveled to Stillwater Saturday for an estate sale and a visit to one of our favorite antique malls.  There were several good finds at the estate sale, including this little chartreuse box.  I looked at my ticket later and realized they didn't even charge me for it!

I've been wanting one of these for quite some time but the ones I've seen were more than I wanted to pay or were damaged. I don't mind a crack or chip here and there, but the ones I've found in the past that I could afford were beyond what's acceptable even for me. 

I also found this petite kimono-style jacket or robe that will be going on Etsy as soon as it's pressed and measurements taken.  I love the closures. 

I bought several "boxes of crap" as I affectionately call them - my favorite things - and at the bottom of one box I was thrilled to find this little gem.

It's a vintage Arrow stapler, and it works perfectly!  I can't tell you how many cheap plastic staplers I've bought, and I always get upset when they quit working or just fall apart after a few months.  This beauty has apparently been working for years and I hope will continue to do so.

I'll have more to show soon.