A Closer Look at Ottoman

And More Gift Tags

I have to admit that I'm having a lot of fun making gift tags. Here's the latest....

Make Your 40 Gift Tags Double-sided

These are specifically for this listing. You can either have me print on the reverse of the TO/FROM gift tags (like in the image above) or have me fill-in-the-blank...like this:

Can you tell that I recently read Emma by Jane Austen? I've re-read all her books within the last few months with the exception of Sense and Sensibility...I need a new copy for my book shelf as my previous copy was damaged by water. I think that Persuasion is my favorite.

Up next...blank gift tags....

Blank Gift Tags (Set of 10)

Use your own handwriting for these, or make them into bunting!

And a larger amount....

Blank Gift Tags (Set of 20)

The blank gift tags are dyed with tea and are subtly iridescent just like the other tags...they're very sweet.

In other news...it's definitely fall here; the weather changes drastically from week to week. And, this week is the last week of the farmers' market until March which is sad. However, I'm sure the farmers are happy to have some time off.

Thanksgiving is next week already...where does the time go?

I hope your week is going swell. Thank you for reading my little blog.

 

 

Recent Thrifting/Rummage Sale-ing

Goodness! Boo's school schedule (getting up early...we're both night owls) and this time change has got me tired all the time lately. So, it's been a bit spotty on this here blog.

However, I did get to my church's rummage sale and have done some thrifting, so here's some highlights....

I've been looking for a sweet cake stand, and here it is! There is a hairline crack on the edge which is barely noticeable. I don't know whether to fix it or not (for structural reasons). If you have any wisdom on the subject, please share!

Here's the top:

Yes, it's pink milk glass (oh, these dark days!). I think it begs for a cake with whipped cream frosting and maraschino cherries!

These wee candle holders were made in West Germany. I think they would be very cute at Christmas with beeswax candles.

I got this little chipped-up deer for Christmas decorating. It's a happy little thing.

Jenny actually gave me these spreaders. They are handmade, from Sweden, and made of juniper. Mmmm...goat cheese...or jam!

I hope you are adjusting to the colder, darker weather...and if not, I hope you are in the Southern Hemisphere. Happy Thursday!

New Product: Gift Tags (and a wee how-to)

Well, the tea-dyed, iridescent-layered paper got cut down to size...and made into gift tags. Yes, the holidays are just around the corner and I've a bit of inspiration for you.

For You - Gift Tags (set of 10)

These gift tags come as a set of 10 with a V-cut just like ribbon. As a child, I remember thinking that the little v-cut ends of ribbon were made as if by magic.

Since they are completely handmade and repurposed from scraps, they have irregularities and vary in length 1-2 inches.

Each is subtley iridescent in red, yellow, or blue and the listing is for a random mix (unless you're desperate for a certain color). As a reference, the first picture of this post shows the yellow (reads as gold).

I also have a personalized listing...

Personalized Gift Tags (set of 10)

Personalize this set of 10 gift tags with whatever you choose, each can be a different word/short phrase...however, please keep your word/short phrase to about 10 characters (including spaces).

To wrap a gift in this monochromatic packaging, here's a wee how-to:

1. Wrap your gift in vintage paper (the kind used to practice writing in school) or newsprint.

2. Use ecru crochet thread (mine was thrifted) to tie a bow and before tying the knot, slip a...

3. For You - Gift Tag or Personalized Gift Tag through the thread (you can use a tapestry needle or somesuch if this proves to be tricky).

I hope your week is treating you well!

 

Halloween Thrifting

I think I've mentioned before that I like to find one or two things while thrifting when it's near a holiday for that appropriate holiday. Well, the other day, Jenny and I went on an impromptu thrifting trip with Boo and I found these two vintage pieces...

Boo had already picked out a trick-or-treat container at a previous thrift store, but I thought that if he still wanted to use the other one, this nice vintage one would be great for serving candy!

This gentleman Jack-o-lantern lights up! I turned it on and the bulb popped, so I'll find another one. If not, it would be easy to re-wire. Funny, I have a Santa one too!

Oh, and I did list something in the shop today...a vintage gold shiny plastic (like gold chrome) hanger! Oh, the possibilites for usage...okay, I'll even list my thoughts:

1. House-warming gift
2. Hang photos, maps...anything small and 2D (the clips have some rubbery goodness on them)
3. For the disco lover
4. To hang the gold lamé item in your closet
5. For the Leslie Hall fan in your life

And, here's a peek at the little gem...

Happy Tuesday!

Halloween Grouping

I know, I know...it's awhile until Halloween. But! I have a few things in the shop for the occassion and I've been seeing things in the thrift stores for Halloween, so I thought I'd do a little mock-up to showcase these pieces.

Firstly, I went to a thrift store with Boo and Jenny the other day and coincidentally, I found a couple of items I can use for Halloween decorating. Plus, Mr. Owl is perfect for such a display.

I try to find one item each holiday at a thrift store to add to my decorations (I don't have much for any holiday...I like to keep it simple). I found a great kitsch candelabra....Check out the drips! Then I found some hook frames with silhouettes as the example. I figure that I can make little bats out of cut paper or something and change the images out whenever I feel so inclined.

 

Suspicious Eyes Back in the Shop

Halloween is just around the corner (whoa) and I put the Suspicious Eye Plaques back in the shop.

Here's more info:

This 5x7 inch (approx. 12.75 x 17.75 cm) plaque is painted white with acrylic gesso and the image is a photocopy transfer (which offers a unique look) from a drawing hand drawn by me. Graphic and spare. There is a wire hanger on the reverse.

Your Suspicious Eyes Plaque will not be identical to the one shown, as the result of photocopy transfers vary slightly.

These look great in groups hung on the wall, or look rather tombstone-like lined up on a shelf.

This piece can be played up as part of an elaborate display, or is perfect for a modern, minimally-decorated Halloween.

The Possibilities of Adventure

Some of Jeff's fondest childhood memories are visiting National Parks with his family. Also, Boo's birthday is a bit of a kick-off for summer. And, I recently heard that experiences, not material possessions are what bring happiness (I intuitively knew this, but hearing it made a light bulb go off...and maybe that's why I love thrifting and handmade...there's something of an experience about it!).

Therefore, I have an idea. I think that for Boo's 5th birthday, we're going to go to Crater Lake National Park. It's local (I know, amazing isn't it?) and one of Boo's new favorite things is volcanoes.

While there (or before hand, I think it's cheaper), we'll get this:

Here's the info:

"This handy, spiral bound, 6" x 3" travelogue fits conveniently into a pocket or backpack for easy reference. The 104 page guidebook makes it easy to learn about and explore all of our national park sites. The Passport to Your National Parks includes maps color-coded for specific regions in the country, pre-visit information, illustrations and photographs. It also includes a free map and guide to the national parks.

Spaces in each region are designated for you to collect rubber stamp cancellations at each national park site you visit. The cancellations, similar to those received in an international passport, record the name of the park and the date you visited."

So, as we visit National Parks, we can have the passport date-stamped to "check off" that we've been there. According to Wikipedia, there are 392 National Park units (and even more affiliates) and most of them have stamps. The ink is even color-coded for the nine different regions. 

There's also a companion passport for kids:

This has, among other things, info on the National Park Junior Ranger programs:

"The Kids' Passport To Your National Parks Companion is the perfect way to enhance your kids' experiences in our national parks! This 100-page book is to be used with the original Passport To Your National Parks. It contains checklists of many of the national parks in the country, a place to list the Junior Ranger programs your child completes, a field journal, and much more! Your kids can keep track of the memories they make while visiting our national parks!"

There are also spots in the main passport for commemorative stamps (like postage stamps):

 

"This set features all twenty five years Passport To Your National Parks stamp sets (1986-2010). These stamps are made exclusively for the Passport To Your National Parks book.

Make your Passport To Your National Parks book complete by including the annual commemorative stamp series. Each series includes nine regional stamps and one national stamp on one sheet. Simply detach the stamps and place them in the designated areas in your booklet."

What is unclear is whether this is the last year that these will be made (stamps have been made for all sites) or will this continue? If you know, please shed some light on this for me, I'm new to this stuff!

At any rate, Boo isn't ready for these stamps. He's not into stickers, so I think in a couple years we'll be ready for these.

So, dear readers...have you done this or something similar as a child or with your kids? I think it will be quite an adventure!

Herb the Rabbit

I got an old (at least I think he's not made to look old...he's got some major chips and such) concrete? rabbit for Easter from my mom. He cracks me up...I've named him Herb.

I don't know, he may just need to hang around more of the year, if not all of it, instead of just around Easter. Pretty geeky cute isn't he? Oh, and he's roughly life-size at 14 inches tall. It's fun to have him around, I mean I chuckle whenever I look at him, so he's good for my health too!

Links to Share

First off, Happy Mother's Day to all the mommy readers!

I have some links to share with you from the week!

1. I went to a play yesterday. A friend of mine happened upon free tickets...what a gift!

Pride and Prejudice. You may already know I adore Jane Austen and this play had a comedic twist to the book. Imagine the triplet in the picture bouncing up and down as if they were in a carriage whilst conversing. edit: After thinking about what I wrote, I feel it necessary to note that if you are not familiar with Jane Austen's work (or if you are and thought that I was nuts for not noticing Austin's humor), her books are full of wit...but for me, this play boredered a bit too much on a comedy which overshadowed the romantic qualities.

2. I've always wanted a collection of scented geraniums. A collection of different varieties of mint as well. 

3. A fantastic new-to-me blog and shop via (if you love Scandinavian and Japanese design, you'll love it).

4. Perennial veggies! I've really enjoyed the return of strawberry plants and chives on their own...now here's a list of perennial veggies.

All for now!

Weed Seeds and Tomatillo Skeletons

weeding the garden

tomatillo skeletons!

seeds trapped by their bones

I don't claim to be a poet, but these images prompted a haiku. While weeding the garden between storms yesterday, I happened upon these tomatillo skin skeletons. Trapped in them were seeds of what I believe are these crazy weeds that "spray" seeds everywhere when you pick them...one must be careful not to get them in the eyes or mouth when pulling these weeds...it's happened.

Mother's Day is coming up. Poppytalk has some lovely ideas (including Lichen Jar 3). Click here for inspiration.

Also, amazing work by Kathleen Hills is on decor8 today. She describes her work...

'“I have a passion for conceptual thinking and narrative. I’m interested in how relationships are formed with objects within our domestic spaces, my work explores products that may have inherited family tradition and domestic ritual.”'

Whoa! Here's some examples:

Sugar Lump Holder:

"This sugar lump holder is designed to hold Tate and Lyle sugar lumps. It is available in plain white or with the two patterns shown, blue rose or autumn leaves. Bone china."

Pin light

"This light has a free blown, lead crystal bowl containing steel or glass headed pins. The light bulb is burried in the loose pins and casts a spikey shadow when lit."

Creamer and sugar

"The creamer and sugar dish are decorated in a mix of vintage and contemporary prints which I have cut and arranged. They are available in any of the pattern designs shown on the plates section. Bone china."

It's rare that I find someone's work where the entirety resonates with me!