Red tote Xmas redo!

Thanks to my friends, Jodi and Kelley, I brought this little red wooden tote home. We spotted it during a local Holiday Open House.  It looks so cute sitting on my kitchen bar filled with miscellaneous Christmas goodies. My kind of decorating....simply fill with items you have around the house!

My kitchen has a red back splash so this little red tote isn't just for the holidays.  I'll have fun using her all year round.  I seem to have a thing for wooden totes, tool boxes and crates these days.  I'd love to find some crates and shelves to finish decorating the walls in my studio. They make displaying artwork and treasures so easy. I'll share my dining room centerpiece (an old wooden toolbox) next!  Until then...thank you for your follows and comments. xoxo

Holiday decor - Oh Deer!

The holiday open houses are starting around town.  This one was right down the street at Hidden Treasures. I LOVE this old wooden box.  I picture it next to the tree filled with presents.

This little wagon would look great by the front door or on the patio with a tree inside.  I've resisted so far.  By the way, pictures tonight via the Iphone...not so bad!

Love this lantern!  I tried to pick her up for a closer look but she was nice and heavy. My hands were already full.  I bet she went home with someone tonight.....I sound catty and jealous don't I?

It is not a holiday open house unless someone breaks a glass ornament, right?! lol  There were some really fun ones here and oh so pretty. Fortunately, nothing broken during our visit.

These were hilarious.  I can't believe I have not seen these before. Pink flamingos all decked out for Xmas.

And finally, contrary to popular blogger belief...not EVERYTHING looks good painted white.  I could see those whiskers a mile away! This guy was a hot mess.  lol  I have seem some really cute ones on Pinterest with glitter and bling.  This one looks like the guy at the office Xmas party you try to avoid.  Sorry, my "deer."

I'll share my purchases with you soon.  Until next time! xoxo

Vintage Crucifix and Frame...I'm still here!

Hello,old friends. I hope we can just pick up where we left off.  I've missed you terribly, and I am really looking forward to catching up with you.  All is well.  My absence has really just been due to a very busy life as a mom, wife, business owner and cheerleader for my kids' sports teams.  We go at it seven days a week right now.  I've had very little time this year to create and to think artistically.  That is okay though.  I like being needed.  I like living with purpose, and I will look back on my kids teenage years and be glad I invested the time and effort.  I may be exhausted at times, like I'm sure you are too, but I'm happy.

Kara and I found ourselves with a Saturday morning free this past weekend. We picked up my mom and headed to Adjectives Vintage Market.  This place is a real treat.  The owners have a vision to make sure that the vendors are true vintage stylists and artists.  Take a look at their dealer list here.

I've been on the lookout for so long for a nice vintage crucifix. I found this perfectly chippy frame too and decided to layer them.  I'm loving it so far.  Trying to decide if it needs a background?  What do you think? Maybe a piece of canvas covered in old sheet music? I have an old hymnal I could use.  I would love your thoughts.

 

I have to admit that it was my trip the store that really convinced me that I needed to get back to my blog. I'm sure many of you have seen pics of the store on other Central Florida bloggers sites.  If you haven't, stay tuned. I'll take you on a tour.  My creative juices were flowing when I left.  Now, I just need to find the time and energy!  I have picked up a few fun things recently and will share with you over the next few weeks. I love to share my holidays with you too, so add me to your reading list again.  Let's reconnect!  Hope all is well. XOXO

Roosters to share!

 I'm finally getting around to sharing a few presents from my bday in late April.  My friend, Kim, found this awesome 1950's folk art platter.  I need to get things organized and fine a good spot for this.

I'm guessing these were sold in department stores?  Seem to be plentiful. My kitchen has the same colors so should be fun to display there.

Kim also gave me this great Happy Birthday postcard.  I promise to scan and upload this week to share with you along with a few more images I've collected.  This sure is one you can use over and over again.

Kelley also slipped a little rooster into her gift.  This guy know hangs on the shutters in my kitchen.

Funny thing is that I never collected roosters until I started this blog.  I think most of my readers assumed that I had a rooster collection when I started the blog, but really the rooster is a symbol of the community were we live - Oviedo, Florida.  Our town is very suburban but we are known for the chickens that roam our streets. They even roost at our local Popeyes Chicken among other businesses.  You can read more and see more of the infamous Oviedo chickens in one of my older posts here.

Thanks for visiting!  I have some projects in mind to share, and I'm cleaning the studio. It is so fun to find things you forgot you had.  More to share soon! Linking up to -

Spying on you!

Hello, friends. I've missed you! My father-in-law has recently been gifting me his old cameras to add to my collection. I'm so excited! The latest is this Minox spy camera. Remember these from old movies?

They work something like this.  I bet there were plenty of blurry pictures and plenty of fingers in the photos too!

It really is a cool little camera.  It comes with an exposure meter, pictured above right. The camera and exposure meter are each on a metal snake chain and have their own leather case.  Everything is in great shape.

Yup, he has the original owner's manual and some film left. I would love to try to use it but have no idea how we would get the film developed. I may have to do some research on that.

Thank you for stopping by. I've been so busy lately with work and the kids sports schedules. I miss visiting you and miss my studio.  I have projects in the works though.  I'll be back soon! Take care.

Kitchen cubby redo

I love constantly redecorating my PB cubby in the kitchen.  I usually decorate it for each holiday. Today though, I've decided to decorate it with some vintage kitchen items, including some old recipe cards that I found at an estate sale.

This cubby is my best excuse for all those little pieces of junk that I have to have when we are out antique shopping or hitting the garage sales!  Hope you have a great weekend, my friends!  xoxo

Annual Deland Treasure Hunting

Each February/March we head an hour North to Deland, Florida for the day.  The husbands are dropped off at the Deland Craft Beer Festival while the wives grab lunch and enjoy the shops!  I snapped a few photos on my Iphone to share with you.  Loved this booth pictured above at Back Home Antiques and Collectibles on Woodland Boulevard. They had all kinds of small treasures like buttons and lace neatly packaged and ready for creating and embellishing.  

These little lambs under glass were precious.  I would have loved a few for Easter but they were a little pricey.  I know my friend Deb at Common Ground would have bought them all!

My friend Jodi and I are always looking for old cigar memorabilia for our husbands.  Loved this "Sweet Cuba" tin. 

This particular store has an entire section devoted to ephemera!  I spent a long time sorting through old photos, print ads, calling cards, Valetines, post cards....you name it!  Doesn't this look like fun? 

 

Here are a few of my purchases from the day.  Just bits and pieces to play with and inspire. Ready for the scariest find of the day? (Isn't there always one?)

Princess Grace....Please tell me her bangs did not come like this? lol  Looks like a little girl did some trimming to me and look at that make up.  Ready for my favorite finds of the day? ....the salvage store...Florida Victorian Antiques on Georgia Avenue. I took very few photos because I was way too busy sorting through bins of old hardware! So fun.

Thanks for coming along with me!  I'll share a few more purchase with you soon.  Found some fun items on this trip and really enjoyed the company too.  Hope you are having a great week! xoxo

Some new goodies

Well, I may not have the studio back in order until this weekend, but the creative bug is biting!  I did a little shopping at Vintage Supply Company this week.  This shop is owned by Jeanette Janson, one of my favorite artists and bloggers. You can always find great vintage items and mixed media supplies in her shop. I bought this lot of old tape measure pieces for projects.

Jeanette often has huge lots of jewelry too.  My supply is getting a bit low.  It is fun to purchase a lot and to see what treasures you find.  I know that anything from Jeanette will include lots of interesting and useful finds.

I loved the look of this textured binding and had to buy a small piece. Jeanette thinks it is some sort of carpet binding.  I have a feeling it will end up in a future project! 

These old file cabinet drawer plates will really come in handy.  These will be great for putting words on art pieces or maybe even making a small collage right inside. We shall see!  Thank you for shopping with me. Be sure to visit Jeanette at the links I provided for you above.  All photos courtesy of Jeanette's shop.  Have a great day my friends. xoxo

Loot in my mailbox

Would you like to come along as I open this wonderful box of loot from the very talented Pam at Fairy Rocks and Things?  Pam has the most beautiful studio (see link on her right side bar) where she collects all kinds of wonderful junk and paper, just like me.  She recently shared a special treat with one of her readers, and I won!

I love that old Montgomery Ward's tag.  See the tea stained bag that the rusty botttle caps came in? Well, read this little note from Pam.

How fun! The bags she sent are real vintage geologists bags that her father used as he gathered samples in the Rocky Mountains on horseback. 

I'm crazy for that large locket and this old ice cream wrapper.  Aren't they so cool?!  Here's a great shot of all the loot I received. I"m overwhelmed by all my new treasures. Thank you, Pam!

I hope you had a great weekend. I'll be back soon! Have a great week. xoxo