Indulge Your Shelf

Birdsong at Karla's Cottage is only 2 weeks away!  I wish I could say I am completely prepared, but I am so far from it!  Only yesterday I started working on one of the three swaps I joined for the event.  I don't want to reveal too much, but it has something to do with this pretty picture: My buddy Suzanne and I don't really have our travel plans set, either!  I am nervously watching the weather for our drive to Kansas; this morning, for example, the main highway we must travel on was closed for blizzard conditions for a while.  But, somehow, I just know it will all work out! Ever since we met, Suzanne and I have been showering each other with gifties...as I see something I know she'll love, I grab it for her, and she does the same!  So in addition to our craft supplies, swaps, and snacks, I know we'll have the car packed up with bags for each other! Big news in town: a new antique store and a thrift store have opened!  I've already been twice to ...

... sign ups for Silver Bella 2011 begin on April 1 !  That's about 2 weeks away, my dears! Me, Teresa McFayden, and Suzanne at the Vendor Fair, Silver Bella 2010 I am planning to be there!  Will you? Okay...on to Friday Finds!  This time, instead of complaining about the lack of stuff in my thrift stores, I'm going to show you some wonderful stuff I got at an antique store closing sale a couple of weeks ago; everything was marked down at least 50% so it was thrifty, indeed! What's not to love about this little mirrored shelf?  Each of the shelves folds up , too.  I love the shape of the mirror!  And, you can't see it too well in this photo, but at the bottom is a towel rack; it was probably originally for a bathroom, but I'm going to put it in my blue and white bedroom. A gorgeous piece of architectural detail!  I adore the painted green.  It's about the size of a book; no, I'm not sure what to do with it yet but I know I'll find somethin...

Oh I have been dying to show you the 3 incheys I got from the Valentine swap I did with some of my Silver Bella buddies!  Feast your eyes on all this beauty: This is the little canvas book that Jeanelle created for each of us to hold the 3 incheys!  Isn't it FUN?! The sweet "be mine" sentiment on Mollie McCabe's 3 inchey; she included a beautiful vintage valentine in her gift packet, too! Jami Miller's woven ribbon heart 3 inchey  Look how cute Miss Lynn wrapped her 3 inchey... isn't it pink and pearly and gorgeous!  (If you haven't already downloaded Amy Powers' newest ezine , you must go get it; Miss Lynn is one of the contributors/stars this time and it is, as always, FULL of inspiration!) This little crazy quilt was made by Connie . I love how Tamantha wrapped her 3 inchey and sealed it with wax! Her 3 inchey had a little heart that slips into a lace pocket. Sweetness! Lisa's 3 inchey wrapped in hearts...  with a tiny silver heart in...

It's February, I have a bad cold, and the temps today are -15, or up to -40 with the windchill.  It's a good day to be home, with a cup of tea and a Merchant Ivory film on TV, and show you some thrifty finds! It's been quite a while since I bought anything vintage on eBay, but one evening I saw an auction that was about to end for this box from the 1920 and, intriguingly, its contents -- all for a very low price. Inside were some interesting bits of junk -- the kind of stuff I just love to poke through!  First, there was this bejeweled walnut... which turned out to be a sewing kit! It's marked "MOSEL" but I haven't had a chance to research it yet.  There were also these kind of fun bits and pieces... My favorite item, though, was the bracelet, which seems to be a child's souvenir item.  I just think the charms are so kitschy and fun!  They will end up in some of my paper art, some day.     Here are a few trinkets that I picked up while in Omah...

I've been finishing up small projects (nothing major) this weekend.  It feels good, though, to do those little odds and ends that I've been dying to get to.  First, I had to revise the "Joy Within" art piece I made at Silver Bella.  Here's the before: Notice the area to the right of the heart tag.  That's what I changed.   First I gesso'd it, then I layered some pieces of transfer paper (thin, like pattern tissue paper), then I stamped it with some vines in blue, and then the words, "Tell the Story" -- once like a shadow, and again darker.  Do you think it's an improvement? Then, I repaired a pin I've had for at least 10 years, which was missing a button from the middle.  The button has been missing for so long that I can't even remember what it looked like!  I replaced it with an antique black glass faceted button:   Now, in the world of button collecting, this would be a "no-no" because it's not a no harm way of cr...