Little Pocket Journals

These little pocket journals are a fun gloomy day activity. They were inspired by the book "Vintage Paper Crafts" by Anna Corba. I would put in a link if I could figure out how to do it. Anyway, I made some of these at the holidays with brown paper bags and thought they would look nice in the white as well. They are a great way to use those little bits of scraps and all those rubber stamps you couldn't live without. I decorate each page very simply so that there is room to add journal entries and photos if you wish and the best part is the fact that you can tuck "stuff" or memorabilia inside the pockets.

Thrifting with a Friend

Had a great time checking out The Big Red Barn Antiques and Thrift Store. This was a wonderful find: Vintage trim on the original card and yards and yards of it... for only $3. I am a lucky girl!

This little fifties "beanie" reminds me of the hats they wore in the movie "Mona Lisa Smile" and a bonus is the pin comes off to be worn on a jacket...fabulous flowers!

Pipe Dreams! I just love this print...so kitchy and look at those curves. Thanks Peggy for talking me into getting this. I would have been kicking myself if I hadn't.

Don't you just love this vintage fabric? I really love the little girl with braids. I've never seen anything like it before.

What could be better than an afternoon at the Thrift Shops and lunch out with a good friend ( and enabler) who likes to browse as much as you do?! It's extra fun when you find a booth that has 50% off and the prices are good to begin with. This little clown figurine was just a dollar and I will find a way to use it somewhere. The embroidered tablecloth was also only $1 and it will surely find its way into doll clothes somewhere.

An Early Valentine

I've just finished 4 darling Maminka "mini's". I just love these sweet little dolls. They are scented with lavender and I really enjoyed making their little heart tags from my stash of hand pressed papers, vintage wallpaper and my new bird punch that my daughter gave me for Christmas. Truth be told these small dolls take just as much time and effort (sometimes) more than the larger versions but I do like small things... just something about the scale. These are about 5 1/2 inches tall. I think I'll make some more with a St. Patrick's Day theme and then I can have a year in Maminkas! I will put these up on Etsy today.

Views from my Studio

Here is the work apron I finished this weekend. I made it from some vintage pieces and the bottom of an orange dress I bought at the rummage "bag" sale just for the beaded buttons. The only thing is I wish my waistline was still like this dress form which was mine during college. Well.. maybe someday again if I can lay off the cookies!

This is a shot of one wall of my studio with a small (very small) sampling of fabric that I keep in view for inspiration. Above is my version of pirate's treasure... an old suitcase filled with vintage trims, ribbons, laces and millinery flowers. It's like gold!

Mission Accomplished!

Another one of my New Year's resolutions (besides starting this blog) was to get some of my stuff up on Etsy. Today I finally did just that with a few of my dolls. I even made a link to my etsy shop on this blog... look over there----> I felt so darn technical copying that java script.. what is that? sounds like coffee. I know that real techie people would laugh but this is a big step for me. I still do NOT understand how sizing these pictures works and why they look distorted sometimes and not others. But I am learning and feel very accomplished today anyway.

Belated Happy New Year

After taking down all the Christmas decorations, I thought the house needed a little something for the New Year. I had bought these light wooden "tags" at Michaels a few weeks ago and thought they could make a nice banner. I used some of my vintage wallpaper from the old wallpaper books I found last fall and some other ephemera from old books. I think I'll use the other tag for Valentine's Day.

It's a beautiful day today and feels very much like spring. I even heard a "phoebe" bird which really makes me feel like spring but I know it is just an illusion. There's a storm forecasted for Sunday night.

Voting Day

It's fun to be among the first in the nation to cast a vote. I am hopeful for a positive change! Even after all these years, it is still a thrill for me to exercise my right to vote. It makes me feel very patriotic and thankful that we have this privilege.

Off to College and New Mugs

Sent our college boy back to college yesterday. He looked so much like a man checking himself in with the airline and on his cell phone to friends... it's all hard to believe that he is becoming so grown up and independent. And then I see the bedroom he left behind- in shambles after only two weeks! Sheets orange with Dorito crumbs, sprinkled with Skittles, crumpled receipts and the remnants of grandma's rum balls from Christmas. I am just thankful I don't have to see his college apartment on a day to day basis.

On the way back from the airport we stopped at the mall. A big day for me since I only get to a mall about once a year these days. I was dying to check out the Martha Stewart collection at Macy's. It was very nice but I didn't get anything. I did find six new mugs (non MS) that were half price and splurged on them. They were only $5.40 each but it did feel like a splurge since we have used a collection of ugly and mismatched flea market mugs for years. Used one this morning and it was a treat. They have a nice weighty feel.. small things make me happy.

Veronica Lake

This is my New Year's resolution: to start my own blog. I discovered artistic blogs about 6 months ago and have been addicted ever since. I thought I would give it a try so here goes...

This is one of my pincushion ladies that I made over the past year. She reminds me of Veronica Lake with the hair over one eye and she looks a bit sly. I used some old brocade draperies that were in very bad shape but were free in a box of old stuff. I love the rhinestone earring which really dresses her up I think.