Christmas Tags

I love to create beautifully wrapped packages at Christmas. I often make my own tags. I created this set of three tags this morning and have placed them in my Ebay store. I think they would be beautiful atop a package wrapped in plain brown paper and then a huge tartan sash and bow. You can see them by clicking here




And this set reminds me of something out of Dr. Zhivago. They can be found by clicking here I think these would be beautiful atop a package wrapped in either silver foil or white embossed wallpaper and then have a sprig of holly and a crystal icicle tucked in among a white velvet bow!
THESE HAVE SOLD!


And for the Victorian/Romantic Chic crowd...



Last of the dove gray-themed tags...For our animal loving friends, "Winter's Creatures"



Charity

Security Code Moron

I've decided that I'm the internet's Designated Security Code Moron. You know what I'm talking about, right? That little line of randomly generated numbers and letters embedded in what seems to be the virtual equivalent of TV static? I'm supposed to type them in so that my comment on a blog can pass muster and my insipid, inane comment can get posted alongside those blessed with more wit and charm than I could ever hope to possess. I'm not sure just how it's supposed to protect the blog owner anyway. Like pornographers and computer-saavy hackers can't read the line, type it in and forward whatever deviancy and chaos they're imposing on the world that day in time?

I think the only people it stops are the graffiti-impaired readers like me. I can never make those things out. Is that a V or a Y? I can't determine if the little squiggle at the bottom is a font tail or a bit of graphic scribble. Feeling slightly desperate, I decide it's a Y. WRONG! The Round Two screen comes up. The one with the slightly less scribbled over version for those not bright enough to get it right the first time. Ahhh...this one I can do. But evidently what I thought was a 3 must have been an 8. I flunk this one as well. The Reserved For Idiots screen comes up. Neon letters flash off and on with a voiceover provided by specially trained phonics specialists..."Listen carefully, Stupid, that would be an A, a B, a C and then a 1, a 2 and a 3. Do you need a repeat?"

I beat a hasty and sheepish retreat. By this time, I had forgotten what I wanted to say anyway...

Charity

Christmas Collage

One more for today and then I'm heading for bed! You can see more pics if you desire here

More Vintage Christmas

The vintage, retro Christmas look continues. These things make me think of my childhood and bring a smile. I wish I still had the red felt, white-cuffed, Santa appliqued stocking of my childhood. But here is a nod to that more innocent time. A set of four Vintage Christmas Chic ornaments made from phonic flashcards, glass glitter, a 60s era wooden ornament and vintage millinery flowers. One set will go on Ebay and the other on Etsy.

The Oktoberfest Bummer...

I took a couple of young friends to Country Peddlers yesterday. It's a fun little antique and gift shop that is wedged into the basement of the proprieter's home. We had great fun browsing together. I came across an unusual item, a vintage Austrian Trachten/Dirdnl jumper. It was elaborately hand-embroidered and detailed. It was probably 60s era and in pristine condition. They were asking only $6.00 and because the store was going out of business, 30% off that! I noted what an amazing buy it was, but didn't pick it up. Afterall, what in the world would I do with a dirdnl? It's not exactly something I'd wear to church.

I came home that evening and on a lark, looked up vintage dirdnls on Ebay. They were selling from $49 to $129!! The prices were reflecting Oktoberfest just around the corner. And the high-ending ones weren't nearly as nice as the one in the store. So...this morning I ran back to the store intent on picking it up for $4.00 and making a quick $100! It had vanished! I searched for it before finally asking the store owner for its whereabouts. She said it had sold just about 30 minutes before I got there.

Bummer!!

Finished the Santa Box

I just finished this little Santa box and listed it on Ebay. It is a reproduction of the vintage Christmas decorations from the 1940s-60s era. I just love how it turned out and will probably make several more similar to it.





If you want to see the listing on Ebay, click here

Can't Catch Me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!

I think the Gingerbread Men have caught ME! :) I just added another pillow to the growing collection. This one is a sachet, scented with gingerbread spices. Like the others, it can be found on Ebay. Link in the sidebar.

Ever fall in love with your creations?

I have had sooo much fun puttering around tonight with a little Christmas box. I had come across a TON of vintage bump chenille at a thrift store. I picked up about 100 yards in various colors and still left about 3x as much behind for someone else. I had been wanting to make some reproductions of the vintage chenille ornaments of the 30-60s. So I was very thrilled to find this stash to get me on my way. I made a little pinecone santa and planted on top of a crackled painted box. Then I added in some snow, a bottle brush tree and 60s-era wooden ornaments. I just have to finish up the bottom of the box and the little details like trimming out the edges and text banners. I am simply LOVING how it's turning out. And the fun part is I think I have enough supplies to make a quantity of these. I'll post when I get them listed.

Calling All Photographers

Tonight I noticed that our rescue kitty had curled up between my teen's feet as Casey laid on the floor doing his homework. I thought it would make such a cute picture, but I could not seem to capture it on film. Without the flash the feet showed up but the kitty is one dark blob. With the flash, the feet and the kitty wash out. I've noticed this before when trying to photograph the kitten. His color makes his legs, tail, etc. disappear into his overall shape rendering him almost a silhouette. I'm wondering if there is a trick to photographing black kitties??? All tips welcome! I would have liked to have had a cute photo to scrapbook as I have a sweet pic of Casey holding the kitten in the palm of his hand. I wanted the feet pic to match! But alas...

These are AFTER the benefit of photo editing in Adobe Photoshop!

Book Alert!

When I make my thrift store rounds, one item I look for are books with gorgeous illustrations to use in my papercrafting projects. I found this one today for, get this...a quarter! It's Popular Nursery Rhymes by Jennifer Mulherin and is 160 pages of illustrations by classic children's illustrator's such as Kate Greenaway (one of my favorites), Walter Crane, Randolph Caldecott, Arthur Rackham, woodcuts by Thomas Bewick, line drawings by Charles Robinson and much more. It's almost too gorgeous to cut up! Just giving all you other papercrafters a heads up that this is one to watch for when out and about, on Ebay and such.

Fabric Crush

I stopped into JoAnn's today to get some fiberfill to finish up some pillows. Stopping in at JoAnn's is always a risky endeavor on my part. I had good intentions of going straight to the stuffing and batting corner and then right back out again. But wouldn't you know it, store layout was such that I had to travel by the Clearance fabrics to get to the bags of fiberfill. And this little floral silliness caught my eye. Something about the color combo and the slightly whimsical nature of the motifs appealed to me. Made me smile. And of course, once I had snuggled that bolt under my arms (it was only $2 a yard!) I had to travel over to the regularly priced quilting fabrics to find a few coordinates! All in all, I only spent about $20 on 7.5 yards of fabric. I'm not sure what I'll make yet. I'm thinking a slightly funky little girl's dress. And the aqua dot definitely has to be a wren applique.

If you're wondering, I DID manage to remember the fiberfill! I really think there should be a law that JoAnn's has to dispense horse blinders at the door to all easily distracted patrons....



Charity

More Gingerbreads...Sugar Plum Fairy? Tooth Fairy?

I made this pillow with a little girl's room in mind. It's actually quite a versatile pillow. It could be a Christmas pillow - because of the gingerbread theme. But I also think it could be kept out year round in a girl's room or a cottage chic style porch or sunroom. I decided to turn one of the gingerbreads into a ballerina, perhaps the Sugar Plum Fairy? The back of the pillow has a very girly ruffled pocket with a little removeable gingerbread ballerina doll. This could be fun for a grandma to give as a gift. The pocket could hold a gift card or a love note or even....a tooth! And the ballerina becomes the Tooth Fairy. Available right now on ebay. Link in the sidebar.

Also..if you're wondering where I'm getting all these cute appliques from vintage quilts, I buy them from a gal named Patricia on Ebay. She does all kinds of color schemes and themes (scotties, cats, cows, birds, pigs, hearts, snowmen, etc). You can find her by doing a search for vintage_crafter.









Charity