An Artist's Legacy

Take a Trip With Me

2012-01-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

Introducing Hoardica Proffit.

My alter ego.

Yeah, I'm freaked out too.

Should I be on medication,

or just take the ride?

I am feeling adventurous today.

Come on along with me!

The bus leaves every Friday.

Get on board here.

Enjoy the ride!

Tea for a Sicky

2012-01-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

Rebecca is having a sick day from school today.

She immediately requested a tray set with tea and nibbles, as part of her therapy.

Oscar appears to be attentive and sympathetic,

but it's a thinly veiled disguise for beggery.

He is not a very good actor yet.

Fish crackers in a pretty nut cup,

unlimited TV viewing,...

...And Raspberry Zinger, generously sweetened with honey,

in a pretty cup.

It's going to be an extended sickness.

Rebecca will never want to go back to school!

("Yeah, you're right," she says,

after I read her this post.)

For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog .

A Cheery RED Tea Tuesday

2012-01-17T08:41:00.000-08:00

Today is a chilly, wind-howling-outside day,

so I am drinking hot black tea by the mug full

(working on my second pot)

and dreaming of the cherry pecan muffins

I had at Amy's house yesterday

(I supplied the dried Michigan cherries and Missouri pecans).

I've also got the color RED on my mind.

RED dispells the January blues.

So, no surprise, it's the color I am happily filling my etsy shop with.
You can't have a bad time on a weekend get away if you pack red luggage.
This bon-bon of a figurine looks good enough to eat!

I sold out of these playing cards within a week (12 at a time),

but you may use this photo if you like

(sorry, it's low resolution, so won't print super crisp, but hey, it's free!

And so darned cute!)

Maybe a beautiful book will dispell your blues?

*********

Aha! The sun is making a brave showing through the clouds.

I'm off for a tea refill and photographing more red things (in the cheery sunlight) for my shop.

For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.
Thanks for stopping by!

Tea and After Christmas Shopping

2012-01-10T10:21:00.001-08:00

I went to Walmart this morning for a bag of dog food.

I walked out with $344's worth of Christmas decor and candy for $37 (that's tax included).

Oh, and the bag of dog food.

All of the Christmas stuff was 90% off!!!!

It took me 3 trips from the van to the house to unload my haul, each time going up two flights of stairs, straight to the attic, to deposit bags of lights, silk poinsettas and Santa hats, etc.

The fourth trip was to haul in a 36 lb. bag of dog food.

I was so thirsty from shopping and unloading that the last thing I wanted was a pot of hot tea.

So I had iced today instead.

Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger.

Rebecca had insisted that I make her tea last night and then she never drank a drop of it.

All I had to do was pour it over ice.

So pretty!

I had to photograph it quick before I drank it all.

Feels good to have a jump on next Christmas already!

Hope your day is as productive!

For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Modern Day Pioneers

2012-01-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

Thursday, I finally got to visit my think-out-of-the-box, can-do spirited friends, the Harvey's, at their dream-home-in-progress on 8 acres of Missouri prairie.

The back story.

They lived in a small house in Independence, MO, tolerating suburban living while dreaming of acearage and an energy efficient home (their dream home).

Most people think of a dream home being sprawling, spacious and castle-like

(well, I do, anyway! ha!)

Not Amy and Robin.

Small footprint, efficient use of a small space and eco friendly materials.

The "big" part of their dream was land, animals, a vegetable garden and a machine shed for Robin's power tools and antique car tinkering.

Fast forward to last spring.

They sold their suburban home too quickly and suddenly found themselves moving to land that had nothing but a Morten shed (large metal clad barn).

They lived, er, camped in the barn for 4 months before they even broke ground for their house.

Remember the 103*(F) days this summer in Missouri?

They lived through it without air conditioning.

They are brave and insane.

But living the dream nonetheless.

The Pioneers (left to right)- Max (13), Amy (artist, experimental cook, health food devotee), Robin (photographer, jack of all trades)

When I visited with them, they were living in the basement of their Amish modular log cabin, bought as a kit and they had done the construction themselves, with the help of family and friends.

I was/am in awe.

I got a tour of their former barn apartment (now Robin's wood shop and general storage), the upper floors of their cabin home (studded in and waiting for wiring, some limited plumbing, plank flooring, a few windows and dry wall).

They are doing all of the construction debt-free, using Craig's list for builders' surplus (like the energy effecient windows throughout) and salvaged materials (wood flooring from houses slated for demolition).

I am in awe.

Their footprint is about 680 square feet and is all they will pay taxes on (according to the county they live in).

The upper floors are property tax free.

Cool!

The upper floors will have spiral stair case and ship's ladder access so precious space is not wasted on grand staircases. The house is adorable inside!

Like a luxury treehouse.

Speaking of luxury...

... Here is the fancy accomodations for the chickens.

Three hens and a rooster.

Inside the walls are painted with words of affirmation to encourage happy fowls and good egg production.

"You are EGGcellent egg layers!"

And above each box of straw,

"deposit here"

(with directional arrows).

Their water trough is painted with their own patron saint (attached to the inside of the clean out door).

Amy lavishes her talents in unusual places.

The chickens are a blessed brood.

Lunch was simple but wonderful.

Sorry, all I am showing you is the empty dishes.

We had vegetable soup made from duck stock

(the poor duck was put out of his misery because he had a broken leg)

and home made bread generously spread with home made pesto, which I brought

(saved it, in my freezer, just for this visit, since July;

thawed, it tasted just like summer!)

With a bottle of Missouri wine- heaven!

The visit was too short and I was already planning my return trip even as I left.

I was totally inspired.

And I want to bring my kids next time so they can run around the 8 acres with Max,

in wild abandon.

I'll take more pictures next time.

Promise!

Tears in a Bottle or What I Made on my Christmas Vacation

2012-01-05T06:50:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law's birthday was December 28.

Before Christmas she had shared with me that she was turning the spare bedroom in her house into a room just for herself to read, pray and journal.

There was no time before Christmas to make her something, but after Christmas I was inspired to create her a very special birthday gift.

Voila!

The Bottle of Tears.

Inspired by a scripture in Psalms (56:8-9) that has a bottle reference as a receptical for collecting tears. I used the King James translation because it's the most poetic.

I lettered "tears" using a flat headed paintbrush, dipped in acrylic paint, and held the brush like a calligraphy pen.

I figure I can never go wrong with sheet music and this piece happened to have some rare bars without notes so allowed for some lettering.

I used watered down Elmer's (PVA?) glue to attach the "label" to the bottle.

I created a small booklet, from a folded manilla tag, containing scriptures about tears.

I used the original, humble, cotton string that came with the tag, to hang the booklet from the bottle's neck.

Additional embellishments were an old key on a ring with fibers

(because I believe you can never go wrong using a key and fibers as an embellishment.)

The Psalm is one King David wrote when he was in hiding from his enemies.

He was a man after God's own heart and just knew that God was so involved in his life and knew his grief and struggles so intimately, that each of David's tears were collected in a bottle; his sorrows in a book.

I want to believe that for myself and want my sister-in-law to know that kind of intimacy with God too.

The cork was a stroke of divine serendipity, like the label.

I had this metal ornamental thing and the lacy edging allowed me to push 3 straight pins through to attach it securely to the cork.

I just don't trust glue for all things.

I filled the bottle with old buttons, pearls, faux mica flakes, polyester lace, a couple of ostrich feathers and even dirty old string (which actually looks quite sublime!)

This is a great project for using lesser materials that don't hold up to close scrutiny in other projects.

It just wouldn't do to stick this kind of art piece in a commercially made gift bag, so I hand painted a heavy duty lunch sack with gesso.
It took less time than rummaging for an approprate gift bag and made a bigger hit.

My sister-in-law got teary when she saw the bottle and flipped through the booklet of scriptures.

Mission accomplished!

"Those who sow in tears will reap in joy."
Psalm 126:5

New Teacups

2012-01-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

Christmas afternoon, when all of the in-laws came over for dinner and the gifta-palooza, I spied this fabulous hamper placed under our tree and thought, "I am so jealous of the person who gets it!"

Ha! Wouldn't you know it, it was for me, from my mother-in-law, who is now infamous for finding the perfect gifts for moi.

(See my Magic Suitcase post for another super Christmas gift from my dear MiL).

Inside the basket were 7, yes 7(!) teacups and saucers (I have 6 pictured) and additonally, she also gave me this wonderful teacup stand. She owns a flea market so doesn't have to look far for the perfect gifts. I had exclaimed over these cups before (they were so reasonabley priced!) but buying for myself is rarely a priority, so I just admired them and let them sit for someone else to buy, little knowing that I would get them for Christmas! The hamper basket and stand were the frosting on an already rich gift. Yum!

So come on over for tea at my house! I'm equipped with cups for a crowd!

Footnote: The art stuff happening in the background of the photo is my oldest daughter customizing a paint box she bought with Chritsmas money. Our dining room table always has something going on! Paint water and beverages share the same space so we have to be careful where we dip a brush! :)

For more Tea Tuesday posts visit Kimmie's blog.
Happy New Year to you!

A Puppy for Christmas

2011-12-21T07:09:00.000-08:00

Ever since we lost our basset hound, Scooter, to cancer, our oldest daughter has been obsessively searching animal shelter sites for a suitable replacement.

Meet Oscar Blue.

He is a five week old, miniature Australian shepherd, we got free from one of my husband's co-workers who breeds them.

The litter was born while the humans were away so did not get their tails docked.

Hence the affordable price!

Personally, I wanted to name him "Wags" because his tail spins like it's battery operated.

ha!

The name we all settled on is a compromise.

It's doesn't come to me naturally.

I keep calling him Scooter and Rebecca still insists that his name should be Dr. Socks!

Everything they say about the breed is true.

Oscar is so smart and fun loving.

We've had him only 5 days, but already his is half house broken.

Today he stood by the back door to show that he wanted to be let out

(he loves being outdoors),

and manages the stairs going down from our deck

(he struggles to be let down- he does not want to be carried).

He plays tug-o-war with socks and his squeaky toy

and undecorates the lower branches of the Christmas tree.

Our St. Bernard, Lucy, just barely tolerates him right now and stays away.

She does not take kindly to a young upstart trying to herd her!

I'm sure they will be better friends when he gets bigger.

Oscar has already wormed his way into the hearts of the kids!

They say not to give puppies as gifts at Christmas.

But this one had been on a wish list.

Not mine particularly, but he's wormed his way into my heart too.

Caught on Film

2011-12-18T06:53:00.000-08:00

Only one week left to do Christmas baking and writing out cards(!), and I find myself obsessed with experimenting with this 8mm film I found in my basement.

Inspiration rarely happens conveniently.

Today I decided that weaving it was the thing to do.

I did it on a clipboard to hold the ends in place and the board was also a nice portable work surface.
I added some sheet music for variety and as it happened, stumbled on some lyrics
that suggested a theme.

Done with the weaving, I taped the loose ends on three sides and slipped the piece off the clipboard.

The whole time I worked on the weaving part, I'm thinking,

"what next?"

I made this up as I went along and did not completely rule out the possibilty of trashing it in the end. A waste of time perhaps, that would have been better spent on Christmas preparations.

But I trudged on.

Fast foreward past stitching down the film weaving (stablizing it), rummaging for an appropriate photo, deciding on other assemblage bits and sewing them down too, on the sewing machine and by hand...

...And you have my mostly finished piece.

An homage to some of events and memories caught on film. First child, a beautiful spring day (or is it summer?), and maternal pride.

The photo is an original, already colorized, that I bought in a lot on etsy.

I chose to add metal snaps instead of buttons, because they resemble film reels.

Also a lot of baby clothes has snaps for ease of dressing and undressing.

I was tempted to hot glue the snaps on, but was too lazy to take out my glue gun and wait for it to heat up.

Needle and thread were quicker to find, although I was wishing for a thimble at times.
(Not easy pushing through layers of plastic film.)

So, another use for the film I am selling in my etsy shop. :)

I haven't forgotten my promise to show you my 8mm film brooch idea, I just haven't wrestled one into being yet!

A Little Quiet in the Hustle and Bustle

2011-12-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

You wouldn't guess from this tranquil vigniette...

...that this is the mess I create in.
Both art and etsy listings.
Or maybe you would, because you have a similar creative mess?
heehee
Don't ask me why a jar of dog biscuits share the same space with Mod Podge.
There is no correlation.

These beautiful bottle brush trees are from Patty and Linda
(2 of the Queen Bees- see my side bar),
who provided me with a veritable forest!
Strangely enough,
the rooster looks at home among the trees.
I get a mental break from my chaos when I look at this window sill.
A little bit of calm.
A little bit of bliss.
Then back to work I go.
Renewed!

I think I will keep the trees out all winter.

Bottles of Joy

2011-12-14T07:53:00.000-08:00

I made some of these last year to sell at a Christmas bizaar and sold the two sets in no time.

This year's set is a special order for an aquaintence here in town.

I had the bottles chosen and the labels stamped from last year yet, so there wasn't much to completing their assembly.

Yet it took me a whole year to get around to it.

ha!

The bottles are a great way to use up cheap trinkets--

polyester lace, crummy pearls and cheap looking irridescent tulle.

These are last year's bottles in the photo above.

This year my supplies were a bit more limited, so I improvised.

Plastic buttons, a white feather, some cheap lace and even some

yellowed string made their were into the bottles.

The magic is in the faux mica-like flakes I pour in last.

It sticks to the inside of the bottle and gives the contents an ethereal shimmer.

I serioulsy need to make a set for myself.

I make stuff to give or sell away

and all I keep for myself are the photos

and the memories of creating.

Being Martha Stewart

2011-12-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I made curried pumpkin soup.

From pumpkin.

The real thing.

Not canned.

My goal was not to make soup

(that was a spontaneous improvisation),

but to cook up the pumpkins I bought back in October,

after the first frost brought them inside

where they cluttered our front entryway.

My husband was threatening to throw them out.

Because they annoyed him.

They clashed with the Christmas decor.

I was reminded quickly why I procrastinated.

(I have done this cooking pumpkin thing before- many years ago).

It took most of the day to cut up, scrape out, and cook up two medium pumpkins

(twice bigger than the one I have photographed).

Thankfully, Rebecca, now 7 and very helpful,

happily did the chore of scraping and sorting out the seeds.

She also washed them.

And spead them on the pan.

Now I have the satisfaction of not only having 6 quart sized freezer bags of pumpkin to put away for future use (harnessing my child's abundant energy in the process), but also toasted seeds, the afore mentioned soup and...

...several loaves of spicy pumpkin bread all ready for Christmas gift giving to teachers and neighbors.

It's a Good Thing

being Martha every once in a while.

Find the Treasure

2011-12-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

Would you have bid on this box lot at an auction?

How much would you pay, and would you have gotten into a bidding war?

Well, you know I bought it.

But not because it had sewing notions in it.

Those were a bonus of sorts.

I bought the whole box because I saw this vintage red leather wallet in it.

They just don't make them like this anymore and this one turns out to be brand new, never used.

Still has the original papers in it (blank I.D. card, mock photo) which dated it to be the 1950s!
It's in my etsy shop now.

Now what else do you see?

I found another pair of scissors for my collection (!), some rusty and not so rusty tools (seam ripper, needle punch, awl, and screw driver) and a bit of serendipity--
red twist.
"No more twist" from the "Tailor of Glouchester".
"Cherry coloured" twist was used for the button holes.
The mice had run short before they could complete the waistcoat for the mayor's wedding.
One button hole short.
And here's the thread.
In my auction box.
ha!

I also found this lovely pink and green assortment which I plan to add to my shop.
Maybe need to dig into my own stash for a few more buttons, and trims.
Maybe I should add a hoop and it could be a kit of sorts.
One rather drab box can yield a lot!
I love the hunt!
Does it thrill you too?

Why I Never Throw Anything Out

2011-11-30T08:55:00.000-08:00

Most everything is pregnant with possibilities in my book.

Long after the bit of vintage taffeta was used up, I held onto the cardboard spools and packaging, because I just knew they could be repurposed into something wonderful. I just didn't know what, right off. Some things have to clutter up my work space for awhile and be a daily reminder that they have fabulous potential.

Then last night, around 9:30, inspiration hit.

I had been toying with how to present this home movie film I found in my basement (abandoned by a previous owner of our house) and the ribbon spools naturally came to mind-- and because I never buried them into a drawer or box, I could find them easily!

Why reinvent the wheel, when 60 years ago, someone brilliant already designed great packaging?

By the way, the film is also pregnant with possiblities!

I have only begun to play with it!

As an embellishment, it's a no brainer.

Here I grabbed a button card, with two buttons left hanging on by a thread (literally), and transformed it into a tag.

Film is going the way of printed books in this digital world.
Preserve a piece or two in your art!

Perhaps there's a film noir altered book you're working on that needs this kind of authentic element?

Or a classic movies themed ATC series?

I am going to attempt a brooch next.

(You will just have to come back and look now, won't you?)

I am selling the 8mm film in 5 yard lengths in my etsy shop.

You saw it here first!

Happy Birthday Tea (to Me!) and an Old Fashioned Country Auction

2011-11-29T07:13:00.000-08:00

This morning I am enjoying one of the cinnamon rolls my mother-in-law made for my birthday (yesterday!) along with an uncustomary deviation from my "usual" black tea.

Something citrus-y seemed like the perfect pairing to a rich, sugary cinnamon pastry.

And it is!

YUM!

The amazing thing was, that there was a country auction on my birthday(!!!)

So I went.

And dragged my antiquing friend Liz along for the ride.

It's a rare auction that happens on a week day

Most are Saturdays or even an occasional Sunday afternoon.

So one on my birthday had to be a sign of good things.

Or just really good junk at rock bottom prices!

At a country estate auction, where most things are pulled fresh from the barn,

you have to look past the dirt to see the treasures and their potential.

This stuff is not cleaned up for show.

I wasn't the only one who recognized this glass water kettle as something rare.

It sold for $27.

The dirt was free.

The hay trailers look like they are full of junk. Trash even.

So you have to dig through boxes and make a mental note of what is in them.

So you wouldn't accidentally buy a box of old pens.
I actually bought all of these on purpose, when they were bundled with a tray of knick knacks, a coffee mug a couple planters and an old cookie tin of quilt squares.
I paid $1.00 for ALL of it.
Hey, do you know how hard it is to find a pen in my house when I need one?
And my kids like sharpening pencils more than using them!
Auctions are not all about antiques and collectibles.

Although I also scored this McCoy planter (yes, the Real McCoy, marked) for a mere $4.00!
The farmers were more interested in wire egg baskets which went for $16.00-$22.00 a piece.
I was not even tempted to join into that bidding war!

The temperature barely got above 50*F (10*C. ?) and that's only when the sun came out in the early afternoon. Liz and I had dressed for the cold but were shivering within the first hour (auction started at 10am).
But it was worth it.
And some hot coffee from the concession stand eased our discomfort.
Between us, we spent $51-- and packed my van!
I will reveal more in future posts.
The auction was as much entertainment as shopping.
Like, did you know that framed paint by number snow scenes are worth $25 each?!
They are when when close friends and family members bid on them.
For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Compulsive Collecting #138 (It's Tea Tuesday!)

2011-11-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

I don't know which I found first, the cup....

Or the saucers.

Or maybe the collection started with this sugar bowl.

In any event, I found this creamer only last week.

It's only taken me about 5 years (maybe even longer!) to amass this collection of matching crockery, from garage sales and thrift stores, but cost me less than $1.00 total!

And that's the thrill of the hunt!

For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Cheers!

Compulsive Collecting #312 Children's School Scissors

2011-11-18T06:16:00.000-08:00

Yes! When I find a pair of vintage, paper cutting, scissors at the thrift store,

at a garage, or estate sale,

I buy them!

Brings back memories of grade school and doing crafty things.

I also just like the look of their all metal construction.

This is not my whole collection-- I need to find the rest,

squirreled away somewhere.

*sigh*

But moving on...

Don't you love the bit of rust and age patina on this red handled pair?

Here's a pair of "safety" scissors (blunt tips).

I have used all of these for cutting at one time or another,

when other scissors have gone missing around the house.

Kids!

One pair made it into an assemblage tag I created, that was printed in Somerset Studio's "Fearless" issue.

My thesis was,

"Being fearless is,

having never used bee's wax before,

deciding it was a good fit with metal."

I was pleased that the editor "got" my idea and found some room on a page to print my art!

I'm not endorsing RUNning with scissors,

but some rules can be broken,

where no one gets hurt--

Some interesting, new things are explored

and amazing things happen.

What do you compulsively collect?

Stamps, Stamps, Stamps

2011-11-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, my mother sent me one of the most wonderful book/ journal/ scrapbook things I have ever seen.

Her very first stamp album.

She was a young teen when she started collecting.

The inside of the book has cardboard pages, lined with glasseine pockets.

Immediately I thought the album would be great for inchies, but I am afraid the fragile glasseine would tear from the bulky art.

Instead, I am starting to slip in the postage stamps I like or think a friend would like (or the ones I find later under my table, in a drawer,...) as I pour over and sort through the massive collection of postage my mother has sent me over the years.

This book will never be for sale in my etsy shop, but I always offer envelopes of old postage for purchase.

I love using postage stamps in my art, but I have more than I will ever be able to use by myself!

Currently I am offering vintage Christmas postage for sale.

In an appropriate envelope.

I also love the other kinds of stamps and am continually thinning out my collection.
This angel could be what you need for your Christmas cards or envelopes this year (and after Christmas-- she is timeless!)

I am also parting with some of my wooden handled stamps.

This is one from a box load I bought on ebay almost 2 years ago.

Some of wording on some of the stamps leads me to believe that they all came from a nuclear plant or research facility.

What could be more enticing or intriguing than mail art stamped, "CONFIDENTIAL"?
And the rubber stamp looks nice on display (even carelessly tossed aside on your work table).

Good Morning! Tea

2011-11-15T06:33:00.000-08:00

Yawn.

Stretch.

Sip.

Bask.

There is something about wintry sunlight.

It warms rather than blisters.

It shines bravely, not ferociously.

It beckons me outside,

to our eastern facing front porch,

to greet the day.

For more tea inspired musings, visit Kimmie's blog!

Stuff Those Stockings!

2011-11-14T12:25:00.000-08:00

Because I know that time will get away from me, I am busy filling
my etsy with Christmas in mind.

Some of my favorites are the little things that will fit into a stocking.

Something for her.

Something for him.

And they won't break your budget.

New things added almost daily!

Comforting Tea

2011-11-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

Cold and dreary, wet and chilly,

it's autumn in Missouri!

Rebecca is home from school today;

a cough, sore throat keep her from play.

Means I have to be Mom and can't play either,

so I'm off to the couch with a book and tea,

Dora's already on TV;

but Rebecca prefers my company!

For today, my arting will have to wait,

my etsy shop may well stagnate,

for lack of new things to please the eye,

(I am trying not to cry).

"Coming Rebecca!" She's getting impatient.

I really must go.

Drink some tea and think of me-

a slouch on the couch

cuddling with my sickly girl.

I hope I don't get what she's got!

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Gathering Nuts for Winter

2011-10-30T14:48:00.001-07:00

We are blessed with a huge, old pecan tree in our backyard.

Last Thursday an all day wind storm "harvested" the pecans for us.

Without the wind, the nuts drop at their leisure as their casings mature and open.
I suppose at a nut farm, a tree shaker is used, but we don't own high tech machinery.

I didn't even know we had a bumper crop until after the wind storm.

Picking them up is like a cross between an Easter egg hunt and "Where's Waldo" since they are about the size of a bird's egg and as well camoflaged in the dry grass and fall leaves.
Fortunately, I like games.
Also I have a willing helper, who also likes games.

Rebecca enjoys a fun challenge.
Especially when we would count as we found the nuts--
Me (loudly): "45, 46, 47, 48..."
Rebecca (on the other side of the tree from me):
"49, 50, 51, 52, 53..."
We reached 100 in no time, several times over!
(That's a drink holder fron Sonic being used as a collection bin-
quite sturdy with a nice handle!)

We have a large marketing basket, full, on our back porch,
but still have plenty more to collect.
I won't have to buy nuts for baking this winter,
unless these get eaten first!
There is something wonderful about having a rich commodity in one's own backyard.
I do not take it for granted!
We also have hazel nuts (filberts?) growing on our property line,
but most of the nuts I cracked were rotten.
They seem to be less hardy and need special care (spraying?)
I will have to Google hazel nuts and see what can be done for next year.
Are you harvesting anything?

Tea Box

2011-10-25T05:13:00.000-07:00

Today I am drinking a peach tea because I like the design on the wrapper and want to be able to use it in a collage or fill it with goodies and enclose in an etsy purchase.

It's such a cute little envelope!

It's one of several teas my mother included in a tea box she found at a garage sale.
The box was empty, but she refilled it for me and mailed it.
An early birthday gift she said.
My birthday is next month.
And speaking of birthays, it was Carole's this past weekend.
Stop over and wish her happy!

My blog has been reduced to tea posts.
If it were not for Tuesdays, you just might not hear from me at all!
(and occasionally you don't, even on a Tuesday!)
Busy, busy, busy!
Kids off from school a couple days a week for teacher's conferences,
garage sales,
a snake sighted in our downstairs bathroom,
a massive house that always needs cleaning
(and I can't find a maid who will work for free!)
and my etsy shop needs stocking.

My days have been full
and I don't have time to blog about it.
My computer runs too slow these days to keep up with my demands.
So I don't even try to use it sometimes,
except when I really need it!
:)
Happy Tea Tuesday!
For more tea posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Tea With a Little Spice

2011-10-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

The weather here, just west of central Missouri, has been unseasonably warm for autumn.

But this morning is cooler and the weatherman has predicted even cooler temps by the end of this week.

Hurray!

So I am responding by adding some powdered chai tea (creamy and spicey) to my black tea this morning instead of just milk.

That is an abandoned cinnamon toaster pastry on my saucer.

Do you eat up after your kids like I do?

No?

That's probaly how you stay slimmer than me. :)

My husband has warned me that I will turn into a "plumpkin".

At least it doesn't sound as bad as just "getting fat".

About my cup and saucer-- they aren't matching, but it made me smile when I saw how the saucer's rose motif reflected onto the teacup, so they appear to be a matched set.

And speaking of plumpkins, here's our four legged one with fur.

Cats aren't the only ones who enjoy a patch of sunlight.

It's just that Lucy requires a larger patch.

(She's a St. Bernard.)

heehee
Hard to be stressed when the dog obviously doesn't have a care in the world.
She doesn't worry about her weight.

Today I won't worry about mine.

More spiced tea please!

For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Another Use For Doll Parts or HOW TO Make Pincushions

2011-10-08T17:51:00.000-07:00

I thought to myself,

"there has got to be something else to do with doll parts besides jewelry!"

That idea is so over done.

So I had this cute idea, but then couldn't find the fabric I knew I had

(in a box somewhere, lost in our move last spring);

but then, eureka!

I was cleaning out Rebecca's clothing a couple days ago

and found a pair of velour pants she had outgrown.

So this post is dedicated to Rebecca's Pink Pants.

Roughly cut a circular piece of stretchy knit fabric, preferably something plush looking,

like Rebcca's velour pants.

Tuck a small bit of fiber fill into the center and gather the ends around so it looks like an onion.

(Fiber fill curtesy of a stuffed animal with a loose seam,

because I don't know where my bag of fiber fill is either!)

Stuff the ends into the opening of the doll leg or arm with a scissor or

other slim, sharp object.

Hot glue some trim around the top to give it a nice finish and
voila!
Are these not adorable?!
BTW, I got these doll parts at the thrift store.
Someone had used the head for something and didn't need the rest.
I knew there was something I could do with them, so snapped them up.
The bugle beaded trim was a thrift store purchase too,
so add that to Rebecca's cast off pants and the "borrowed" fiber fill and
this project cost me practically nothing.
Afforadable crafting!
These pincushions are destined for Christmas gift giving.
Affordable gift giving!
heehee

Now go make something!

Postscript 10-9-11
I found another pair of doll arms and legs in my stash so made more pincushions.

I am selling the extras in my etsy shop, for those who are interested.

Tea With Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi

2011-10-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from a must-read book series, known as "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency". This is book #5 in the series (pictured) and the chapter is entitled, "Tea is Always the Solution".

Mma Makutsi made the bush tea and they sipped on the dark red liquid as they discussed the best approach to Mma Holonga's suitors. Tea, of course, made the problem seemed smaller, as it always does, and by the time they reached the bottom of their cups, and Mma Makutsi reached for the slightly chipped tea-pot to pour a refill, it had become clear what they [Mmas Ramotswe and Makutsi] would have to do...

(and then the next chapter is entitled, "How to Handle Young Men Through the Application of Psychology"- is this a page turner, or what?)

I have tasted red bush tea and I must say that it is an acquired taste (tastes like boiled bark to me). I prefer black tea. But I do enjoy reading about the life and times of the ladies at the Gaborone, Botswana based detective agency and mentally partake tea with them as they brew a pot to put their clients at ease, clear their thinking or calm their nerves in a stressful situation. The red bush tea flows freely throughout the books.

The books are one reason you haven't seen much of me lately -- I've been reading(!) Nay, consuming the stories. Thankfully my librarian can order these books and get them to me quickly so I can go from one book to another almost uninterrupted (I have jokingly called her my "dealer", because these books have truly been an addiction). That and working at the post office every morning the past two weeks has kept me from updating my blog. Well, there is also being a mom-- the kids demand all of my attention from the minute I pick them up from school to the second they are all off to bed (and sometimes beyond).

My days have been full from dawn to dusk!

If you like artsy postage, like I do, you might want to check out the latest sheet available (as of Sept. 28) with the artwork of Romare Bearden (1911-1988).

If your local post office doesn't have it, do go to usps.com to order stamps by mail.

They come right to your door, nicely backed with cardboard and wrapped with celophane.

Pretty much all new postage releases now are "forever" stamps, so if you lose a sheet in the back of a desk drawer and it doesn't surface until your next deep cleaning, 8 years from now (haha), they will still be good for the first ounce of a first class mailing without additonal postage, no matter how much postage has gone up in that time.

Some insider info-- the price of the first ounce postage has not gone up in about 3 years, but there have been increases in the second ounce (from 17 cents to 20 cents) and parcel mailing costs have increased, to defray the postal services billions of dollars in debt and rising costs of doing business over the years (fuel to run all of those delivery cars and trucks!)

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

HOW TO Make Last Minute Bookmarks for a Crowd

2011-09-16T06:59:00.000-07:00

Back in July I got a phone call from a woman who said my name was given to her as someone to call about Altered Books. She did not have a clue what they were about and so was intrigued. Would I come speak to the Higginsville Women's Club in September? I was flattered to be asked and relieved that I had two months to prepare.

Fast forward to this past Tuesday. The program was that evening and I wanted to create a "leave behind" as a souvenier for those who attended which would also have my contact info on it.
Yeah, I know I had two months to do it!
I decided on a bookmark and made 26 of them within 4 hours out of materials I had on hand (because procrastinating limits one's options!)

You are lucky that I had the foresight to take pictures of the process!

I tore pages out of one of my altered books that had pages to spare.

Folding them in thirds made the perfect bookmark width and a little glue(stick) made them "stay" while I designed on them.

First a collage stamp in Eggplant Envy.
Then a clock face in Really Rust (looks like a giant, round blob).

Vintage postage stamps added some much needed color-

my ink pad selection is limited.

Another collage stamp at the bottom...

Then my favorite part-- dulling my sewing machine needle on paper!

In the process of adding a decorative stitch to the bookmark, I also attached some frilly fibers at the top.

I added "ALTERED" (one last rubber stamp) as an after thought

then signed my name on the back in the clean space that was the book page's margin.

The program was a huge hit, as well as the bookmarks.

Several of the 20 women who attended told me, during the oatmeal cake and coffee, that they were inspired and couldn't wait to start a book of their own- or to get their grandkids/ niece/ nephew started on one.

I love inspiring people to try something new.
:)

Proper Tea Form

2011-09-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

During one breakfast over the weekend, Rebecca suddenly took it upon herself to demonstrate for me the proper way to drink tea.

I guess she felt I was not aware,

or she just wanted to show off her vast knowledge of things.

Here she is with her fingers grasping the teacup's handle while her pinky is thrust out for effect.

She also toasted me with a, "pip, pip cheerio", before she raised her cup.

(something she learned from an epsiode of "Backyardigans").

Now you are informed too!

Cheater Backgrounds and Other Goodies

2011-09-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

I have hardly had time to make some art, or blog about it.
This past Friday I decided to make time.

I started with cheater backgrounds sent to me as a RAK from a lovely Christian Paper Artists woman. (The papers were no longer in their original mailing envelope so I do not know who to thank now.) I also grabbed some chopstick wrappers and Chinese fortunes I had saved from a recent dinner. The beautiful Asian images are from Linda
and the "found" items (pins, sequins, postage stamps) are from my good friend Karyn, who sent me a box of goodies just because she was thinking of me. (I love being thought of, don't you?)

I happily played for a good hour before I had to rush off to a friend's house for lunch

(we experimented with making carrot cake waffles and ate until we had sugar comas).

This pastel card looks a little unfinished and will probably get a fortune glued to it before I send it off. Well, of course, I am not keeping these for myself! I have so many friends who have blessed me with goodies and I haven't had a chance to send proper thank yous.

This card is going up to Canada.

I think I need to play some more! I still have lots of materials left to work with!

A Breezy Tea

2011-08-30T16:44:00.001-07:00

August was not as hot as it normally is.

Thank God!

Even if it only lasts for the morning,

I love to open the windows and let

the cool summer breeze in.

There is something mezmerizing

about fluttering lace curtains.

Like watching waves come in on the beach.

Or listening to rain fall.

The time passes too quickly when I'm lost in the moment.

I have to get up and start the day.

See you again next Tuesday for tea...

when it will be September!

For more Tea Tuesday posts, see Kimmie's blog.

Glue Book Fodder

2011-08-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

I admire the people who can slosh paint about with wild abandon when they work on a collage or other altered art piece.

I can do that, but naturally default to paper and glue.

Maybe because paint is messy and requires water

and I find that a glue stick is "dry" and so I don't have to be as careful with it

(if you saw the tiny workspaces where I spontaneously choose to do art, you would understand).

I have come to find out that there is a whole crowd of people, just like me,

who "do" simple, straight forward, paper and glue collage.

And they do it in an altered book known as a "gluebook".

No paint, no rubber stamps.

Just layering paper images.

And so to all of your Glue Book-ers out there I say, "stop by my etsy shop, I've got the goods."

The newest items are my bundles of letters that look as good to display as they are to use.

I also slip in something extra with every purchase,

"just because".

Tea and Laundry

2011-08-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

The kids are back to school which means I can enjoy complete and utter solitude,

even while doing the most mundane things.

A pot of tea also helps.
And the DVR.

Okay, so the DVR does not contribute to the solitude,

but it does make folding laundry go faster.

So today I am watching "Auction Kings"

(old episodes I missed the first time they aired),

sipping tea,

and folding laundry.

Drinking tea always helps me calm down and make order of the chaos in my life.

Mission accomplished, today!

If only all the messy things in life could be so easily folded and neatly put away!

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit our hostess Kimmie!

The Big Picture (Window) or "What Were They Thinking?!"

2011-08-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I boldly tried an artsy experiment on a grand scale. Our 100 year old house has a downstairs bathroom addition (formerly a side porch) with one glaring flaw. It has a huge picture window in it so all the world can see anyone as they shower and use the toilet. Nice! We could install comfortable seating on the deck and sell tickets for the show!
"What were they thinking?!"
When we first moved into the house, there were pretty, but ineffective, lace curtains hanging in the window that takes up the whole outside wall of the room. We hung up heavy, black out curtains which offered a lot of privacy, but completely blocked the beautiful natural light and made the room feel small and, well, we might as well have bricked up the window and been done with it!

So last weekend, my husband took down the curtains without any plan, just because he was tired of the dark dungeon we had on our ground floor. Fortunately I did have a plan.

I saw it in the movie Inception. One of the few non-dream sequences took place in an old warehouse. For privacy, the wall of windows, made up of smaller panes, were blocked out with old, yellowed newspaper glued over the glass.

I LOVED it!

Only my husband wouldn't go for yellowed newspaper.

Our house was not abandoned.

So I scrounged up some white (gift wrap) tissue paper and some that had sheet music printed on it, easily found a sponge brush and my bottle(s) of Mod Podge and attacked the windows.
WooHoo!

Imagine doing your little altered art collage-y thingies on a wall in your house!

I spread Mod Podge with wild abandon on the (cleaned) windows, working quickly so I could stick the tissue paper down while the glue was still wet. The fragile paper tore in places, but I just patched it later. I wasn't worried about neatness. This was not a permanent fix in a room that gets steamy. Mod Podge is water soluable.

BUT, it would work for now.

I glued down two layers of the white paper for better opacity and the sheet music tissue for design and for the fact that I ran out of white tissue.

This was not a completely premeditated project. I made do. We may get etching cream and do something permanent to the windows later. For now, I like the soji screen (spelling?) effect and am inspired to strip the existing "country" wallpaper to expose whatever is underneath. I am envisioning an industrial farmhouse look with a hint of zen.

My husband wants to rip out the whole bathroom and re-do the floor (currently carpeted- ick!) and replace all of the bath fixtures, but that will take some cash. He sees a pedestal sink while I see an antique furniture piece fitted with a sink or large ceramic bowl (think "wash stand").

Right now I'm just happy to see the bathroom glowing with sunlight.
By the way, because I know there will be questions; as I worked on the windows, we kept checking the modesty factor of my improvised frosted windows.
Mod Podged tissue paper over glass offers pretty good privacy.

And installing it is cheap therapy.

Garden Fresh Tomatoes and a Bizarre Break

2011-08-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

I am blessed with a generous neighbor across the street from us who put in a garden and has encouraged us to come over any time to pick tomatoes.

The kids and I filled a stainless steel mixing bowl full of cherry tomatoes and within 3 days the bowl was empty. My kids eat cherry tomatoes like grapes- by the handful.

I like snacking on them too.

Fresh from the garden, they are like candy (you can't eat just one!)

The jalapeno peppers were picked for grins.

The kids dared each other to "taste" one, only to spit out their nibble and pant for water.

I think I was the most entertained! ha!

This is the "bizarre" part of my post.

In my haste to grab the afore mentioned stainless steel bowl from a stack of bowls up in the kitchen cabinet, I lost my grip and the bottom bowl took one for the team.

I have broken many dishes, but never in a ying-yang pattern.

Normally they crack right in half.

I hated to stick these pieces in the trash, because they were so unusual,

but a photograph takes up less room.

This has been the perfect summer--

Basil plants (for pesto!) thriving on my back deck

and garden fresh tomatoes, readily available, to go with.

It really doesn't get any better than that!

This was my lunch today.

Tri-colored spaghetti liberally topped with home made pesto,

shredded mozerella cheese and freshly chopped tomato.

I nearly licked the bowl.

What "makes" your summer?

TEA-opoly

2011-08-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

I know summer vacation is almost over when my kids are so desperate for something to do, that they pull out the Monopoly game.

We have 4 versions.

The classic original, the Disney version with Mickey and all of his friends, the version using a credit card instead of cash (which I have yet to play, but don't think I would like),

and my personal favorite, the Pixar version.

I, of course, always try to buy Ratatouille (sp?) properties and the mouse if my favorite game piece.

My other favorite investments are the transportation ones.

Instead of railroads, it's the Dinocopter from "Cars", Towmater Towing also from "Cars", The Incredibles' car and one other I can't remember.

We have had the game out for two days now and currently my daughter Victoria is winning since she bought the green properties just pass "Go to Jail" and loaded them with traffic cones (from the movie "Toy Story 2" and replace houses in the orignal Monopoly game).

The game is now tedious as we all just wait to go bankrupt as one person (Victoria) collects ridiculous rents.

The kids go back to school August 17th here.

I am starting to count the days until my vacation starts.

heehee

For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie.

How to Alter Yourself Part 2

2011-08-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

I'll bet you didn't know that Pottery Barn had free clip art within its catalog pages.

It's true!

I'll also bet that they don't know it either.

Along with their home furnishings and accessories, they also offer clothing. No, really!

It gives

new meaning to the term,

"repurposing" furniture. heehee

What have you repurposed lately?

Tea Colored Self Portrait Or "How To Alter Yourself"

2011-08-02T06:22:00.000-07:00

I am pushing the definition of Tea Tuesday to include the Color of Tea.

Humor me.

You might remember this olde tyme photo I posted of myself a few weeks ago. I got inspired to play with a copy of it. I love the warmth of sepia and monochrome is so easy to work with.

First I took a white pen and did some designing on my clothing and edited my waist. :)

Then I tore pieces of images out of the latest Pottery Barn catalog in shades of brown I liked. I let the photographs decide my composition. After the third piece of paper got glued down, I saw first a doorway, then a frame for my face. I went with it. Then I added some rubber stamping in brown ink and an old postage stamp and voila!

Suitable for for framing, I think!

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie.

You just might get to see some beverages to day!

About a Dog

2011-07-28T13:06:00.001-07:00

I first read about Owney in a children's book that Rebecca found at the library.

When I saw the book, I thought,. "Too many words", but read it at bed time anyway and actually found the "biography" interesting and even endearing.

I had to read it several more times to Rebecca before we returned it.

Owney was a stray that wandered in through the back door of an Albany, NY post office one night in 1888, to get in out of the rain, and because he guarded the bags of mail and the blue suited mailmen, he became a mascot.

One day he jumped on a mail train and traveled all over the country and even up into Canada.

Local papers covered his appearances and the medals, tokens and tags he received on his journey documented his stops.

He made more than one trip.

Later he was even shipped over seas once as an unofficial postal embassader.

You can read Owney's story in this book.

It's really not too may words for a bedtime story.

I kind of envied his freedom to travel and the adventures he had.

I was very excited when I found out that there was a commemorative Owney stamp coming out. It went on sale yesterday.

I bought two sheets.

If your post office doesn't carry it, you can go to USPS.com to order some and have them delivered to your door (along with a lot of other interesting and pretty stamps!)

Owney was stuffed, mounted and now "lives" at the Smithsonian Postal Museum.

Might be fun to make a journey to see him.

He's displayed with his harness full of tags.

Hmmm, he could make an interesting subject for a round robin.

If a dog deco shows up in your mailbox, with instructions to collect a postmark from your local post office, you will know who it's from!
:)

Fixated On Details

2011-07-26T06:07:00.000-07:00

Nope, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, just off the face of the Internet.

Busy, busy, busy.

With kids. With stuff.

It's summer after all.

But last Friday, while working at the post office, I had little to do.

The extreme heat has been keeping people indoors so the post office was not terribly busy.

And mail volume is down so putting up the mail did not take me long.

During my lunch hour, I went to the library across the street for some reading material.

Instead I came away with a book, from the library discard shelves, to "play" in.

The children's book cost me a whole 25 cents.

I couldn't buy a sketchbook for that!

No paints (to add color). No decent glue stick (to do some collage).

All I had handy was a black ink gel pen and some postal rubber stamps.

I did this page over the course of 2 1/2 hours between waiting on customers at the window.

I plan to create a tag for the pocket sometime.

Hopefully I will do more pages.

This is the 4th art journal/ sketchbook I've started.

I am not a great finisher.

I lose interest.

How many "starts" do you have lying around?

Tea Tuesday Childhood Memory Found!

2011-07-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

You would think a humble cup like this from the 1960s would be a dime a dozen in thrift stores and flea markets. There is nothing special about it that would make collectors snap it up.

But I haven't seen one of these since I was maybe 6 years old.

My grandmother served me milky, sugary black tea or "chai" (because she was from the "old country") in a mug just like this one and for some reason I remember the mug.

So when I found this humble white mug at the thrift store last week, the taste of Baba's chai, the warmth of the kitchen, the piano stool I used to sit on in the kitchen, ALL of it came flooding back in a rush.

And the mug only cost me a dime.

I also thought I would share my other finds, from my local junk shop.

I got them all free, because Mr. Mahnken was rotating a little of his stock, because his shelves are always dangerously full and a back room of auction boxes always waits to be emptied.

These were the beauties I rescued from a "free" box destined for the back room, and eternity in the dark. I got the string too, only it was a stained, tangled looking mess when I first saw it. Now it is a stained, neatly wound, ball of cotton string.

It looks right at home with the china.

Funny how that is.

So I'm here to tell you that best things in life are free.

What kind of "junk" tugs at your heart strings?

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit our hostess, Kimmie.

Olde Tyme Photos

2011-07-06T12:32:00.001-07:00

For the next QB5 swap, we are altering pictures of ourselves on honeycomb shaped pages. This is the photo I am choosing. My first "Olde Tyme Photo" when I was 17. Looks pretty authentic all spattered with water and such (it was displayed in a bathroom outside of a protective frame for awhile). I also have to share a photo of me and my honey when we were engaged. I love playing dress up!

Here are the rest-- family photos taken on trips down to Lake of the Ozarks, MO and photos with friends taken at Branson, MO and Eureka Springs, AR.

I have them hanging on a wall in our living room.

They look at home in a 100 year old house, especially when the largest (widest) frame is a true antique (bought at a garage sale!)

I love sepia photos. How about you?

Happy-Happy Joy-Joy Mail

2011-06-27T15:02:00.001-07:00

In the last QB5 swap, I sent out coasters to alter with Asian bits and pieces.

I liked the results so much that I asked a couple of other on-line friends to do a coaster (or two) for me. Jo was one of those generously obliging folks.

I had forgotten I sent her two coasters.

I like this one so much. One of the coins look genuine!

Lovely image of the two girls!

And so much fun stuff going on in the background.

I am inspired,

because, of course,

I have yet to do one of these myself!

The saturated color of this one appeals too!

Jo used the tissue from a paper umbrella I sent her.

(I sent you one, Jo, didn't I?)

Jo and I have a private joke about using "man images".

heehee

The back sides are more understated.

I like that about them too!

The front of the envelope showed some stranged green tape...
I flipped it over to find--
Aha! The U.S. government added their own alteration to the envelope too!
I have yet to have one for my envelope collection.
This one is a keeper!

Now what could have drawn their attention?
I am convinced it's the piece of fortune cookie celephane wrapper that caused them concern.

It wasn't properly glued down and must have flapped in the breeze all the way from the U.K.!

The U.S. Customs kindly stuck the celphane down again with their green tape so the package arrived intact here in Missouri.

Wasn't that nice of them?

Thank you Jo for indulging me!

AND for your amazing mail art!

CREEPY DOLLS Viewer Discretion Advised

2011-06-24T07:13:00.001-07:00

An old friend recently invited me to look at some of her attic treasures in the hopes that I might sell some of it for her. God only knows why some people hold onto some things like these broken, decayed dolls, but some of us are now glad that they did.

If old dolls creep you out, look no further.

If you are fascinated by the beauty of peeling paint and antique doll construction, read on.

No child would play with these now, so I am amazed that these dolls were kept as if some child might want to.

Someday.

The dolls were stored, jumbled together, in a cardboard box in the attic, exposed to extreme heat in the summer and extreme freezing in the winter.

Most of their heads are spilt open.

This doll, although damaged, has her original (very fragile) clothing and is quite beautiful.
She has the kind of face you only see on old church statuary.

Unfortunately, her head is split open.
Fortunately, her fragile bonnet hides the scar.

Then there's the doll my 14 year old said, "Please, Mom, promise me that you'll lock her away so she won't come and kill me in the middle of the night!"

heehee

Old dolls have really gotten a bad reputation.

All of these and more will be available for purchase in my etsy shop.

A Place to Dream... on Tea Tuesday!

2011-06-21T05:57:00.000-07:00

I tried drinking hot tea yesterday and sat there, in my air conditioned house, sweating and melting, like butter in the sun. So today I am drinking Arizona iced Green Tea with Ginseng and it tastes SO good, that I had a hard time pausing between sips to take these pictures (I had to refill my glass once, because it was looking unglamorously empty!)

Do you have a place to read and dream and relax?

I didn't before, but I do now.

My mother-in-law found this narrow day bed at a local estate sale for a ridiculously low price and let me have it, vintage coverlet and all (she buys stuff with no idea of where she's going to put it-- lucky me!)

I have to work on hanging more things on the walls
(a future post).

This cozy corner is in my dining room.
Really.
My dining room is so big, I have room for a day bed and daydreaming.
It's not just for dining any more!

Here's the proof.
So you know I'm not kidding.

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit our hostess, Kimmie.

More Thrifty Finds

2011-06-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

I found the angels this past week. They are actually a framed antique Christmas card (I suspect a reprint, not original). I couldn't resist the guilded frame. They are the perfect companions for the Italian lady I found weeks ago. Neither picture cost me more than 25 cents I think, but they look like a million bucks hanging together in my front entry way!

Thrift Store Finds

2011-06-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

The sticker said, "All for $1.50".

I was not thrilled with the cheapy candle holder I had no use for,

but I was willing to take the good with the bad.

Here is the good.

The octagon pieces are all chipped up and at least one of the drops has it's end cracked off, but I am still thinking "icicles" on my Christmas tree this year!

Anyone want a candle holder?
Or have a suggested re-use?

This saucer was dirty when I first spotted it, but I could see through the grime that it was old and pretty.

Looks more like a round picture frame than a saucer so I am thinking of adding a photo in the center and hanging it on a wall.

Cost me maybe 25 cents.

I can't resist matching bowls. These are larger than the dessert bowls I have already. They are shallow enough to serve cake, but deep enough to hold berries with sauce (think "strawberry short cake"!) I invested a whole $1.20 (12 @ 10 cents!) They aren't china, but humble ceramic.

Oh well. I'll live.

White goes with everything.

Yay!

I couldn't not buy them!
Some days I go to the thrift store and find nothing.

Other days I find a ridiculous number of things to buy.

This was one of the "other" days.
More show and tell to come!

Dining Room- It's Tea Tuesday!

2011-06-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

You have to understand that I am excited to have a room that is dedicated to dining. In our old house, the dining room was the center of the house which sounds domestically poetic and all, but what it really meant was that the dining table became the catch-all for homework papers, unopened and opened mail, art projects in progress, coats, mittens, toys, laundry and stuff. Anything anyone was too lazy to put away in its proper place, deal with or just plain throw out.

In short, we rarely actually dined in the dining room.

Now in this house, the only thing that covers the dining table is a table cloth. And there is always room to dine at the table. You cannot imagine how wonderful that is to me! And yes, that is a plate rail that goes all the way around the room. In fact, I ran out of dishes to display- guess I will just have to buy more! heehee!

So today, dear readers, although I am not having tea I can host you at a moment's notice.

Drop by anytime.

My table is always ready to receive guests!

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit our hostess Kimmie!

Green Gold

2011-06-09T07:06:00.000-07:00

I think it's Susan Branch who refers to pesto as "green gold" in her illustrated recipe book, "Vineyard Seasons".
It's a perfect description.

It is only the yummiest condiment on the face of the earth!

Spread thickly on Italian bread and topped with garden fresh tomatoes. swoon!

Tossed with warm pasta and cherry tomatoes. aaaaahhhh!

Baked into a cheese pizza, instead of tomato sauce. OMG!

You can buy pesto at the grocery store (for about the price of gold!), but freshly made is definitely the best.

Basil is the key ingredient in green gold and every year I mourn when I am too lazy to grow some.

Just the smell of basil is intoxicating

So this year I gave myself a kick in the pants and planted basil in some containers left on our patio by the previous owners. I bought a couple of plants and the rest is started from seeds. It took an hour out of my life to prepare the pots with fresh soil and plant, but I will reap huge wealth in about 6 weeks or so!So how do you spin basil leaves into green gold?

In a food processor of course!

Add olive oil, parmesan cheese, garlic(!), salt and pepper.

Here is the recipe!

I consider the pine nuts/ walnuts optional, but the rest is essential.

I will post again when I spin some myself.

I am already drooling in anticipation.

Tea Tuesday and a Guest Photo Stylist

2011-06-07T05:11:00.000-07:00

I fully intended to do a post about iced tea today, but although it is hotter than Hades, Rebecca and I had hot tea for breakfast. Iced tea just does not wash down warm toaster pastries very well. School is out, so there is time for taking time for breakfast, no matter how late we get up in the morning. And why not use good china? (As good as 25-50 cents will buy at the thrift store! heehee)

I let Rebecca pick out her own cup and saucer, with instructions to choose from the crockery in the bottom cupboard of my china cabinet. This cup does have a matching saucer, but Rebecca found this orphaned saucer first and was immediately attracted to the pierced, lacy, edging and thick, gold rim.

I told her, "That's okay. The cup and saucer don't have to match."

She replied,

"I know. I think it's more fun that way."

She also offered me the remains of her toaster pastry when I told her I was taking a picture.

"Here, Mom. It will look prettier with this,"

and placed the gooey morsel on the saucer.

She is very wise for a 6 1/2 year old.

We should all have a guest photo stylist come to tea occasionally.

For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Bringing Down the (School) House

2011-06-04T06:05:00.000-07:00

No, this is not tornado damage (surprise!), but an intentional salvage and slow demolition.

The last graduating class from this K-12 school was 1965 I believe and then the doors closed to students.

I'm sure it's hard for those Corder, MO residents to watch their alma mater (did I spell that right?) be slowly taken down board by board and brick by brick. A lot of the old wood is being salvaged and the bricks are being rough cleaned and stacked neatly on pallets to be hauled away to California (I was told).

The huge slate blackboards were the first items to be removed and claimed by a buyer.

I was not lucky enough to get one.

I'm glad the building is coming down slowly because seeing the layers "peeled" away reveals alot about old construction. The solid brick walls were a foot thick, then faced inside with lathe and plaster.
I find it fascinating.

No air-conditioning in this place so the windows had to be big for cool breezes to come through.
Would have cost a fortune to heat in the winter.
It's why any tennant using the school later didn't stay long (a garment factory and most recently a computer refurbishing business).

The school house is coming down, but the gymnasium, built later and so is "newer", will remain standing since the Lion's Club uses it for community breakfasts twice a month. The gym is also available to rent (it has a stage, bleachers and basketball hoops still intact).

The whole time (50?, 60? years) that the school was used, it was segregated.
Now it's African American laborers taking it down.

Ironic?

My mother-in-law thinks its justice.

An Heirloom of Sorts

2011-06-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

I took a break from boxes a couple of days ago and spent some time out in the fresh air.

Rebecca has been sleeping on two mattresses piled on her bedroom floor because the bed I had in mind for her had rusted from years stored in a damp basement.

Husband: "Take it to the dump".

Me: "NOooo! It was the first bed I bought when I moved to Kansas City!"

(Therefore, it was an heirloom of sorts.)

I found this bed frame at a flea market and the appeal was that although it looked like a Jenny Lind, it was metal, and the fake wood grain was chipped off in places (bonus!)

Just my showing interest in it immediately knocked $10.00 off the asking price and I happily took it home feeling I had gotten a bargain.

It got my mattresses off of the floor!

Fast forward 22 years.

The wood grain is no longer evident and is replaced by rust. The frame would be more at home stuck into a garden and planted with a "bed" of flowers.

But I am undaunted.

The bed was coming indoors once again, with a new look. If my son needed a twin sized bed, I might have just steel wooled away the worst rust, varnished it and preserved the aged look.

Rust is so IN now!

But the bed was needed for a little princess who wanted it painted pink. Thank goodness I couldn't find Rustoleum in that color at our local Walmart.

She would have to settle for white.

I passed on the spray cans, deciding that brushing it on was more cost effective (and the paint wouldn't be blown away by the breeze).

A cheap, $1.00 brush (disposable!) and a package of steel wool and I was equipped to "transform".

Oh how I hate sanding. It's just no fun, but it is the most important step if you want the paint to last. Rebecca even helped a little until she saw her little neighbor friends come out to play, then suddenly vanished.

POOF!

I was on my own to paint two thin coats of paint, which was probably best.
I used barely half the pint can of paint and patted myself on the back for my frugality.

The frame looks marvelous!

A bit of unintentional "character" I must point out.

Lucy, our St. Bernard, brushed past the tacky paint in pursuit of a motorcycle she heard roar by our yard. I didn't try very hard to remove the neat flag of fur she deposited, thinking more paint would cover it. Not! *sigh*. I was 98% done with the bed at that point and too tired to think about cleaning, sanding and repainting her mess. Oh well. Just one more reason to never part with this bed. It now has our dog's DNA imbedded in the finish!

It's definitely a family heirloom now!

Tea Tuesday Giveaway Winners!

2011-05-31T08:08:00.001-07:00

It's a dreary, rainy sort of day here and the first full week of summer break for the kids.

Instead of tea, I made coffee this morning because my son likes it (with lots of milk and sugar!)
He is moping because his older sister went out on the road with Dad (the truck driver) and he has to wait until next week for his turn.

The weather isn't helping his mood today.

But in Blogland there is happy news--

the winners of my giveaway!

I wanted to show the stained glass window I created (in the same Hallmark Cards employee workshop) that later became the rabbit cards. It's now hanging in my butler's pantry.

But now without further a-do...

The winners are:

Ann (you will get tulips in the mail)

and Judy (you will get bunnies!)

Congratulation, girls!

Send me your snail mail address so I can send you your cards!

For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit our hostess Kimmie.

Tea and a Giveaway

2011-05-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

My "new" kitchen has wonderful light, unlike my "old" kitchen which was just plain dark.

The weather is almost too warm for hot tea now, but the mornings are still cool enough to get away with it. In any event, I think beautiful lighting knows no season, so this May morning you get a steaming cup from me. Hot tea feels good on a throat still battling sinus drainage due to allergies. Iced tea just doesn't sooth the same way!

Now onto the the GIVEAWAY part.
While desperately rummaging for 3 blue glass canning jars I sold on etsy (and could not find until late yesterday morning!), I ran across things I thought had been long ago disposed of (moving will do that). I will never get around to using it all, so the next best thing is to give it away.
SO, leave a comment on this post between now and next Monday and Tuesday I will announce two winners who will get either these batik cards, right, or the rabbit cards below. I haven't decided whether you will get 4 or 6 of each design. I have to make sure I find enough cards and suitably sized envelopes. You will just have to be surprised!

The cards are blank inside, so you can decide whether it will be a birthday, "thinking of you", sympathy, shower, Mother's Day, Easter, Happy Spring, Happy Summer, or a gift enclosure. :)

Both designs were created by me in a workshop while I worked at Hallmark Cards and are a limited run.

These rabbits look good with ribbon or twine tied around their necks.

I have much more to give away, so tell your friends!

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit our hostess Kimmie!

Where Butlers Buttle

2011-05-19T06:02:00.000-07:00

My favorite room in the house. And my favorite window/ niche in the house too. Lovely lighting (northern), nice breeze and a beautiful view of the neighbor's property (grape vine growing on the property line).
This is where I will be photo styling a lot of my etsy items.

How nice to have a "spill over" cabinet for the things that won't fit in my regular china cabinet. I need a spill over to my spill over because this one is pretty much full!

My drop front desk is right at home here. It stores my cookbooks, boxes of stationary and the step stool (plastic but functional) doubles as a seat for writing quick notes. The blank wall just above the desk is waiting for just the right picture. Or artwork.

"Lots of storage", you say?

Yeah, well, maybe for you, but I already have these cabinets packed!

Maybe I should have decluttered/ photo styled the counter for this picture...
Clutter happens.

Don't know where this tour will go next.

You will just have to come back and see!

Levitation and Other Dramatic Devices (It's Tea Tuesday!)

2011-05-17T06:37:00.000-07:00

The view from below.

My china and chochkes are floating effortlessly.

(You may not see the glass shelves in my china cabinet this clean again!)

The view from above.

It's a china jungle in there!

I have a ridiculous amount of crockery.

May have to do a giveaway or two.

For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Showing a Little Leg and other things

2011-05-16T11:02:00.001-07:00

First Blogger went on the fritz and deleted this post I labored over for an hour.

Then we had wireless internet issues in the house.

(We bought a new router. Voila! Fixed!)
So this is why it's taken me so long to start "show and tell" on the fabulous "new" house we live in.

And today all I am showing is the upstairs bathroom!

I know! A claw footed tub and waiscoting.

I have died and gone to antique architecture heaven.

I love that the floor in the room was not covered over by tile.

Hardwood in the bathroom is so warm.

And old fashioned looking.

The previous owner was an artist and painted clouds on the tub.

Dreamy.

On the bathroom door.
So you won't mistaken it for the linen closet

The wallpaper is peeling at the seams from many steamy baths, but I plan to keep it up, because it is too charming to take down. I like children's books. The wallpaper is so 1980s.

I don't recognize any of the stories or rhymes, but find myself reading the walls every time I brush my teeth in hopes of finding something I missed the first time.

Not pictured...

the laundry chute hidden in the bath's closet.

It has definitely cut down the dirty laundry clutter in the kids' rooms!

And the laundry waits patiently for me in the basement.

Just wish there was a way to get the clean laundry back upstairs just as easily!

I must say that I am losing weight climbing stairs!

All of the door knobs in the house are metal and oval, but the downstairs bathroom has the fanciest escucheon plate. It was an outside door leading onto a porch, now a bathroom with an ugly stall shower (which is why you are not seeing photos of it). The room needs some work.

Next time-- the Butler's Pantry.

FINALLY!

2011-05-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

Hurray for my father-in-law who helped me move my studio furniture to our "new" house and got my computer assembled and running!!!!

I have some "normal" back.

It feels very good!

So for my first post "back" on-line, I have to show you a bit of what I did on Carole's hoop.

It wasn't all moving that I did!
I enjoy sewing and hand embroidery, but I don't do much of it unless forced to. Ha!
Thank you Carole for the opportunity!
I loved the materials she sent and it shows in what I created from them.
I thoroughly enjoyed the process and the colors (red and green)!
The hoop should be reaching Carole any day now so you will enjoy a full reveal on her blog.

Happy Tea Tuesday!

2011-05-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

I am so desparate for photos, that I am digging through my daughter's folders. Yep, I am still working off one of the kids' computers. WHY haven't I moved mine over yet?! Because I have been concentrating on setting up the kitchen and now am unpacking boxes into the butler's pantry. Really, I promise to have decent visuals next week. Scout's honor. Cross my heart.

In the mean time, here's our recently departed Scooter (basset hound) and our darling Lucy at our old house. Funny thing is, as big as Lucy is, she is more "to scale" in this larger house we are in. She definitely has more room to sprawl!

My cough is improving (for those keeping tabs), but now my oldest is home "sick" with sinus drainage. Since this is Tuesday, I must report that I am just about to brew my second pot of black tea (my comfort) and my daughter has just finshed a huge mug of Black Cherry Berry (Celestial Seasonings) with honey. Wish I could cozy up on the couch with her and watch TV, but I have boxes and boxes waiting for me. And when those are emptied, I have to go to our old house and refill them.

I promise, promise, promise, photos soon!

To see more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog!

I'm In Print!

2011-04-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

I have been loooong anticipating the latest issue of Somerset Studio (May/June-- the "Fearless" issue) because I submitted a piece of art for it back in December.

I never got a congratulatory email or letter from them, so when I got the magazine in my mailbox today, my heart fell. It did not say "comp" above my mailing address, so I could only assume that I did not make it. I half heartedly thumbed through the magazine over a lunch of leftover spaghetti. As I was nearing the back of the magazine, I browsed quicker-- I still have boxes to unpack and couldn't linger too much longer but right about then I almost choked on my pasta.

There on page 117 was my fly screen tag with bees wax and scissors!!!!!!!! (I am using a photo from an old post since I am still not set up for taking pictures and posting my photos-- this is my daughter's computer I'm on now).
WoooHooo!

My second time in print!

Happy Tea Tuesday!

2011-04-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry no visual aid today. I am on my son's laptop in our new house and feel like I am reporting from a war zone. We moved in last Friday and Saturday I concentrated on cleaning cupboards and unpacking kitchen boxes so we wouldn't be eating carry out pizza for every meal.

Yesterday I went to the doctor about my "cold" because it had gotten worst (the stress of packing, moving and lack of sleep). I was told it was allergies (of course!) and I need to attack it with antihistamines and nasal spray. I was also told that bronchitis can take weeks to go away. So I am drinking tea. Ginger, Bengal Spice (Celestial Seasonings) and throat soothers with anise. And sweeping up mouse poop (this old house was a sanctuary for the critters!) and unpacking boxes. Still lots to do.

Hopefully I will have my computer set up in the next day or so. I can't wait to post photos of our new digs!

Can't Stifle Inspiration

2011-04-20T20:00:00.001-07:00

I am dying to show Patty's whole kipper tin she sent for altering, but don't want to spoil the surprise before she gets it (just mailed it to her today).

I had a whole lot of packing to do yesterday, but what did I do instead?

Made art!

I am lagging behind the rest.

All of the art is "home" except for two pieces from me.

Now I just have Carole's hoop to do.

Hoop to do, hoop to do!

Sounds funny when you say it several times!

heehee.

Okay, back to packing.
My husband came home tonight and is ready to start moving boxes!

Already!

AaaaKccchh!

My studio is not packed up yet and I am terrified that he will just start throwing things into boxes and I will never find anything again.

I am slower and more methodical and he is a "Git 'er done!" type.

I have to work tomorrow, so won't be around to supervise the safe handling of my stuff (I am an uptight micro manager- bet you couldn't guess!)

Deep breaths.

It will all get done in due time.

I just need to take another chill pill.

And maybe sneak in some more art.

Hot Damn, It's Tea Tuesday!

2011-04-19T05:12:00.000-07:00

Last week I was drinking a peppery ginger tea to attack my sore throat.

This week I still have a hoarse voice and a ticklish throat so I am bringing out the big guns.

Tastes like cough syrup with the numbing qualities of Chloresceptic.

Ounce for ounce, costs about the same as Nyquil. Maybe cheaper!

But schnapps looks better in a teacup.

Just trying to show you the possibities for those teacups you collect,

but don't drink tea from.

(NO, I did not have this for breakfast! This was my nightcap last night. Remember I am working full time and packing a house so I am creatively scheduling my posts.)

By the way, I can't wait to show you photos of our "new" house.

I can sum up the house in two words.

"Butler's Pantry".

Swoon!

We're Moving on Up... To the East Side

2011-04-17T19:40:00.000-07:00

Anyone recognize the theme song to "The Jeffersons"?

Seemed appropriate for this post, because we are in fact moving and we are moving to the east side of town.

In this small town, that translates into a move 5 blocks away. Ha!

So that's my excuse for not posting on my blog, not visiting your blog and not responding very well to comments left here.

I am packing boxes.

And any of you who have a lot of stuff know what a huge task that is (and maybe shudder to think of ever having to move!)

The shelves are slowly emptying, but not quick enough.

We just decided last weekend

that we are moving Easter weekend, which is insanely close now; but now to compound the stress, I have to work at the post office all this coming week since the post mistress has a family emergency and doesn't know how long it will keep her out of town.

My husband, the over the road truck driver, is wondering who will be packing the house with both of us working. I told him that I only work from 7:45am- 4:45am daily, so that leaves me with my 1 hour lunch, plus the other 15 hours each day I have "free".

I don't see a problem.

Seeking Healing Comfort in Tea

2011-04-12T05:25:00.000-07:00

I am sick.

Cough, congestion, itchy throat and ears.

It's this dang, "beautiful" spring weather and temperatures fluctuations.

Allergies to mold, dust and pollen have turned into a head cold.

So I am seeking comfort in something hot and spicy

by the MUG FULL.

A dainty teacup won't do today.

Besides, I have a "new" thrift store find to show off.

Got this rockin' souvenir-of-Arizona coffee mug last week.

I fell in love with the cactus-shaped handle and the campiness of it all.

And it was only a dime! (all of the thrift store's mug are 10 cents because they get so many of them).

Today I am self medicating with hot and peppery ginger tea and spoonfuls of honey.

Dreaming of dry desert heat.

And the "medicine" seems to be working.

My throat feels better.

Cheers to the Grand Canyon State!

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Art by Mail

2011-04-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

When I admire someone's art, I am sometimes brazen enough to contact them and say,

"Hey, I LiKe your stuff! May I have some? I will send you something in exchange."

Then I hold my breath, because maybe they are a big time artist who can't be bothered with swapping or maybe they don't want my junk.

Well, the very talented and versatile Kimmie (and Tea on Tuesday hostess)

said, "yes", she would love to swap with me.

I was giddy.

So she made me this wonderful tin and bottle cap assemblage

incorporating a bird bottle cap I sent her (generously sent to me by Carole)

and I made her a junk journal from a beer box she sent me.

You can now find Kimmie's metal assemblages in her etsy shop.

Yep, this once held a 6 pack of long necks.

Gorgeous art on a throw away item.

I'm glad Kimmie shared it!

This is the sister journal I made for myself (the box had two good sides).

Kimmie's was more awesome but I lost the photos I took of it.

They disappeared between the camera and my computer.

POOF!

So you will have to settle for pictures of mine.

I used similiar materials in hers--an old postcard, BINGO card and a vintage time card punctuated pages of ledger paper, maps, yellowed school hand outs (assignment sheets), vintage wallpaper and lots of pages from my mother's postage stamp album.

Some pages still have stamps attached. Kimmie's had more envelopes in hers and I have yet to add some in mine.

You know, for stashing items you don't know where to glue down yet?

Thank you Kimmie for indulging me.

I am so blessed to have some of your amazing metal work!

Art glutton that I am, I have already set up swaps with other girls, so I need to seriously start creating my end of the bargain.

And if anyone ever offers to send you art, if you agree to send art to 5 other people,

take their offer!

I got this stunning display of altered Scrabble tiles from Jo

(not unlike the beautiful inchies she is so good at)

and I am in awe of having something so beautiful.

My life is full.

Now go swap something.

Waffles and Tea

2011-04-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I would talk about The Food.

I like leftover waffles

(not to be confused with frozen waffles you buy at the store).

Waffles taste best fresh and crispy hot from the griddle,

but the next best thing is retoasted, hot from the toaster.

They have the decadence of a donut with the abilities of bread to make a sandwich.

The little squares hold liquids so you can bite into a waffle sandwich

and not have everything run out.

That's peanut butter and honey in my sandwich above.

YUM.

Which tastes very good with tea, and isn't that what we're all about today?

Yes, yes, it can be washed down with coffee too, but perhaps for you coffee drinkers--

--you would prefer NUTELLA.

Please tell me that you've at least heard of it!

I live in the boonies and even I can find it at my local grocery store

(in both the small and large sized jars).

It's been advertised recently on TV, but I remember eating it as a kid.

(My mother did not care for the taste of peanut butter,

but loved hazelnuts).

I suppose we ate it on bread or toast

(this morning my son tried it on celery- not bad)

but I prefer it simply on a spoon.

Or occasionally on a waffle.

Tastes like a giant KitKat bar.

Cheers!

(raising teacup to clink with yours)

What's on your saucer today?

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

More Asian Girls Come Home

2011-04-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

I am loving my Asian altered coaster art!

Yesterday, Linda's and Margaret's girls arrived together, chatting away like old friends, even though they had only just met on the last leg of their journey.

This is Linda's clever girl, hiding demurely behind a paper fan (created from a paper parasol I had included in her envelope) and equipped with a pocket full of fortune cookie fortune "tags".

The other side of the coaster has another pocket,

holding a message inside of a chopstick wrapper "envelope".

A pagoda card is attached with fiber and a coin.

The card opens to reveal a small book! How fun is that? Now here is Margaret's beauty. Margaret was all concerned that this side was too bright. Too pink.

NEVER!

It is perfect!

For some reason I am completely taken by her folded paper lantern. Clever detail. :)

The flip side is elegant, cool and understated. It's the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan. Happy Spring!

Patty is showing off some of her kipper tins,

Margaret is parading her men,

Linda will be giving home tours and

Carole will be hooping it up.

Their blogs are on my side bar under "Queen Bees".

The Tea Cat is "On"

2011-03-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I would shake things up a bit and drink something other than my standard black tea. It's white tea today.

(Carole sent it to me for my birthday last November.)

The peek of "Nebraska" behind my cup and saucer is a souvenir creamer I found at the thrift store for a dime-- I put 2% milk into my tea.

And honey (not pictured).

I really need to visit Nebraska sometime.

I've driven through, but haven't stopped to see anything.

Jill lives up there.

Can you say, "Road Trip"?!

Don't worry, Jill, I won't just suddenly show up on your door step unannounced.

But now I am rambling, so let me bring you back to tea...

The white tea is loose, but instead of messing with a tea ball (because we all know they leak tea leaves), I just throw the tea leaves into my teapot and pour water over them. Like in the "old days". Then I just use an old, homely, but functional, mesh strainer to pour the tea through. I feel so Victorian to have so many tea implements on my tray. heehee.

Only mine aren't highly designed, fancy silver things.

(Those stay on display in my china cabinet.)

The Cat, so many of you have commented on in the past, is my one and only tea cozy. That's why you rarely see a teapot in my posts. I like my tea HOT from first to last pour. He is also the one and only cat in our house (I don't care much for felines as house pets- I am a dog person).

My tea tray is the oasis of calm in the middle of whatever artistic chaos I have going on. Today I am assembling a junk journal.

Visit our hostess Kimmie to see who else is having tea today!

Asian Reveal and a Peek

2011-03-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

Wonderful artwork arrived from Patty a few days ago, along with a lot of Asian goodies from her stash! I sent her a round coaster to alter (each of the Queen Bees got the same from me) with the request to do something on the front and simpler on the back. I don't which is the "front", because I think both sides are gorgeous!

This beautiful vintage postcard was among the extras Patty enclosed. I love all of the round shapes in her "one, two, three" design side of my coaster. The bit of blue paper you see is from a paper umbrella I enclosed as inspiration for this swap.

This is the cheese box, I have yet to alter, to hold all of my Asian coasters when they come home.

(No, the coasters won't be used to hold drippy beverages- the art will be strictly to take out and admire!)

And here is a small peek of the art I finished for Linda this weekend. She sent each of us a chipboard house cut-out to alter.

I think I shall tackle a toasted kipper tin next...

You can find the Queen Bee blogs on my side bar.

How to Alter a Postcard

2011-03-25T05:38:00.000-07:00

Find a boring postcard with potential.

This man looks very interested in something.

Amazed even.

His neck must hurt from gazing upwards for so long.

He is lost in the majesty of the fantastic rock formation created by millions of years of lime rich water dripping from the ceiling of the cave.

Surely not!

No, let's give him something truly amazing to admire!

You may have a large clip art collection to glean from.

I have a lot of rubber stamps. And old, yellowed, newspaper.

Let's make some art!

Then...

Sand the surface of your card to not only remove the original image, but also to give something for your glue to stick to.

A rock formation that took millions of years to achieve its glory, sanded away in minutes.

Let's not dwell on it.

It's only art.

The sanding also gives the card an artsy look.

People will be impressed.

Like it took forever to achieve that "look".
Careful not to sand off your spectator.

We need him!

(Ow! His neck must really hurt!

I am starting to feel sympathy pains.)

Glue down your fabulous art piece for the tourist-turned-art-patron to admire.

Add words. I type mine on yellowed paper (of course!) using an old typewriter (doesn't everyone have one?)

Okay, so our man is not really an art patron.

No, he is just a common Joe who just exited off I-70 at the sign that read, "World Famous Art on a Stick". Just down the road from Stuckey's, which we all know if where you will find pecan rolls.

He is nonetheless, impressed.

His wife, Martha (not pictured), nods in agreement.

They want one for their den, but are told that none are available for sale.

They are told that the artist is suffering and has lost all inpiration to create.

And the t-shirts have sold out.

They are back ordered.

(but I digress again...)

So instead our man Joe and his wife (Martha, who is not pictured) buy a postcard in consolation and add it to their shoebox of travel memories. The Last Supper Made of Lint. The Eiffel Tower assembled from toothpicks. The Leaning Tower of Pisa created (3/4 scale) from various shapes of pasta. They also stop to buy a pecan roll on the way back to the freeway...

Don't forget to alter the back side too.

And sign it.

THE END

Of Chicken Salad and Friends

2011-03-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

First off, here is the recipe for this delicious salad. It was a big hit with my friends, Susan and Amy, who came for lunch last Wednesday.

I would suggest two additions to the salad when you make it.

1. Increase the curry to a heaping teaspoon or even two level teaspoons.

I found it too mild, as-is and added several more dashes of curry and remixed the salad.

2. I also added a couple teaspoons of apple juice (but any fruit juice you have on hand will do) because I found the salad was too dry using straight mayo. Definitely make it a day ahead so the flavors have time to "marry". It also allows the curry to stain the salad it's signature yellow color.

The recipe says 6 half cup servings. The three of us polished off the bowl and used bread to wipe it clean of the dressing! Curry is good stuff! Yum. So that is my other suggestion. (3). Make more than you think you need. The salad is excellent eaten as a leftover-- but you may not have any!

I have to mention the serving plates that I used. They are those glass hostess plates you find at sales, in their original boxes, with matching punch cups. I had bought mine 3 years ago for a couple dollars at a local garage sale, but never really looked closely at them (never used them!) until this lunch(eon). Beneath the indentation for the punch cup is another sectioned area with a funny lip on it's edge.... to hold a lit cigarette. It was a built-in ashtray! A perfectly acceptable thing at one time to smoke while eating, but now I think blaacchh! It was a conversation starter at our lunch (we are all non-smokers).

Although we are all tea drinkers, I served wine. Red, because it's all I had, but it was perfect with the curry. Susan makes jewelry (she is a beadaholic among other things) while Amy draws, paints and does mixed media stuff. She does a lot of commission work- mainly murals. So we talked art, old friends, thrift stores (Susan worked at one) and the time flew. As soon as they left, I wanted to schedule another "play date". These gatherings need to be less rare. Susan is moving to Nebraska this week, but Amy and I are tentatively planning a wine and cheese picnic on the acreage she and her husband bought. They have their "city" house for sale and are dreaming about moving to the country. A story for another post.

To recap, make curried chicken salad and invite friends over.

Serve wine.

Discuss dreams.

And make plans to do it again.

Soon.

Teacup Rubber Stamp Winner is....

2011-03-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

I almost didn't post today because for two days I have been cleaning like a woman possessed.

Yes, hard to believe, but it makes perfect sense.

I have to be possessed in order to clean!

(and of course I am drinking tea as I compose this post!)
Sunday I opened up the house to let in the beautiful spring breeze and in the process exposed my poor winter housekeeping.

Dust bunnies were blown from their formerly secure hiding places,

the fresh air coming in exposed the less than pleasant smells inside

AND

the balmy breeze made me want to shed some layers.

Or in this case "piles".

Piles of winter coats, bags of hand me down clothes intended for a neighbor's child, stacks of VHS tapes, mountains of miscellaneous books, magazines, catalogs, kids' school work (saved), etc., etc.

All were dispatched to where they were intended or into the trash.

And that was just the dining room!

I still have more cleaning to do!

Duh!

Today is trash day so it seems fitting that my rubber stamp drawing was done in an empty waste basket.

Congrats Amy!

Go tell her how envious you are that she won.

Because you know she would enjoy it.

And I haven't forgotten my promise to report on my curried chicken salad lunch with friends.

Stay tuned.

And you may have to tolerate my ramblings about spring cleaning a little longer. I am only just scratching the surface of my studio. I started today when I tumbled over the stacks of stuff on my floor to get to my computer chair. It's inexcusable.

Maybe I need to start my own blog feature... Take Out the Trash Thursday (Why Wait 'Til Saturday to Clean?!)

Have you been possessed lately?

Oh, by the way, if you want to visit other Tea on Tuesday bloggers, go see our hostess Kimmie.

The Latest Buzz

2011-03-18T05:20:00.000-07:00

The Queen Bees are at it again with another swap.

Carole gave the suggestion that we make kits of similair items to send to each of us.

Believe it or not, this is our biggest challenge yet since some of us sent very unusual items to alter (smashed and toasted kipper tin, an embroidery hoop with some fabric but no hints or instructions...)

I started with Margaret's lot since I am most comfortable with paper. She sent us each a different "bloke" and a BINGO card of some sort for our base.

I created "Handsom Dan" (named so for obvious reasons!) who wears a ridiculously large tie tack (spinner).
And because I was messing around with the layout while I was working at the Post Office (shhhh, don't tell the post mistress), I gave Dan a postmark halo as a souvenir (although he is no saint!)

This is just a peek. You will have to watch Margaret's blog for the whole reveal.

Three kits to go...

********************

You can find the Queen Bee blogs on my sidebar.

********************

OH! And please stop by my previous post for a giveaway, if you haven't already!

Tea, Curry and a Teacup Giveaway

2011-03-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

I have "city" friends coming over for lunch tomorrow so as I sip my usual black tea with a little milk, I am also snacking on raisins and hunting for a curried chicken salad recipe. I found one quickly at Kraft Foods. The inspiration was a forgotten spice jar of curry that I found in my cabinet. I can't tell you how old it is (which means "too old") but it still tasted fine. Some raw veggies and home baked bread on the side and we will be set for hours of visiting and noshing.

Now for the Giveaway portion of this tea post...

This is the "teacup" I am sending away to one lucky person who leaves a comment between now and next Monday night.

I have been slowly listing my humungous rubber stamp collection for sale in my etsy shop, but this one I would like to gift to a tea drinker, or someone who just likes teacups (they hold gin just as well!)

Most of my stamps are used, but this one happens to be brand new (I had another teacup stamp that was my favorite to use).

I will announce the winner next Tuesday.

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, see Kimmie's blog.

Ah, Spring!

2011-03-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is not a stock photo I pulled out of my stash from this winter. I took it this morning! We had freezing rain, plus a couple inches of snow fall over night. And it is currently (as I write) snowing more. We could have a couple more inches fall by this evening. So much for a warm up and thaw during the day!

It does look pretty though, so I cannot complain too hard.

The weird thing is hearing song birds twitter right through all of this.

(I heard them singing while I was out taking these pictures!)
They are ignoring this slight set back (Snow? What snow?!)

and continuing their courtships.

It will be warmer this week (genuine spring weather!) and nests will need to be built!

So while you may find lush photos of crocuses and tulips bursting into bloom on other blogs,
all you will find here is dormant hostas (and weeds!)

Perhaps I should have planted some bulbs. :)

In any event, spring has not quite sprung in my little part of Missouri.

But anything can happen in a week.

Found in a Book

2011-03-11T10:43:00.001-08:00

Yes, I am still tearing apart books.

For most of them, it's an improvement.

For some, their covers were coming off anyway.

I just helped the process along.

Case in point.

A 140 year old copy of "Elements of Analytical Geometry".

The covers fell off in my hands without much tugging,

but the spine is permanent.

I would have to chisel it off and it's not worth the damage.

The pages inside have the most beautiful coloring so

I may part the book out.

Or not.

Look what I found inside.

Century old vegetation.

I can't part with it now!

It would be like sellng King Tut's tomb.

Another book has priceless verse.

"The Mastery of Words (Book One)"

is full of little gems.

They need to be cross stitched on samplers or

recreated as an altered book page.

Another pearl for you, from the same book-

The is the way the morning dawns:

Rosy tints on flowers and trees,

Winds that wake the birds and bees,

Dewdrops on the fields and lawns.

Isn't that too precious?

From a spelling book written for kids in grades 1-5.

It's a keeper!

You won't find this book in my etsy shop,

but you might find other things you can't live without.

Afternoon Tea at the Corder P.O.

2011-03-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

No teacup photo today.

I am working at the Post Office this week and am using my personal collection of "stock photos".

I am drinking tea though.

Earl Grey.

In a thermal cup.

Which means it is scalding hot for the first 10 minutes, then tepid (blaaach!) and finally cold.

If I were Postmaster, I would have a hot plate and water kettle in the back room, but I am just the "PMR" (Post Master Replacement) which is also an achronym for "temporary help".

The current Post "Mistress" does not even drink coffee so that appliance sits in the back room covered in dust.

I won't touch it, no matter how desperate I am for coffee in the morning.

But I go home for lunch (one block away) and come back equipped with my afternoon survival beverage.

It is a cold, rainy day today (not snowy as in my stock photo).

I love rainy days at the P.O.

The swish of traffic on the wet street outside, the ticking clock and the occasional patron who comes in for postage and a bit of gossip.

I live in a small town.

The pace is slow.

And I know more about some patrons than I care to know.

They mistaken me for a bartender and tell me their problems.

**************

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Disintegrated Ornaments Revealed

2011-03-04T17:21:00.001-08:00

If you read my blog two months ago, you saw these shining Christmas ball ornaments and learned that I was putting them outside to weather in the, um, er, weather. They were free after Christmas ornaments from my local thrift store, so I had absolutely nothing to lose with the experiment.

And, in fact, I have gained everything, by doing nothing.

Two heavy snowfalls, rain, wind and temperature extremes did all of the work.

This is my kind of project!

Now, I have some lovely rust...

Pitting and flaking...

Mottled textures...

And general decay.

Aren't they GORGEOUS?!

The trick is to place them into a container that has drainage (so they don't soak in standing water) and shelter from the wind (so they don't get buffeted around and break).

A basket would be good.

Mine were on a soft bed of dead grass in a large, stoneware crock with no bottom, in front of a friend's antiques shop.

Then you pray for harsh weather and forget about your project for about two months.

Mine were off-site, but even my friend Liz forgot to look in on the ornaments.

Now she swears she is buying every box of old Shiny Brites to do this herself.

I think that means her crock is booked for next winter...

I don't know what I will do with my shabby sparklers, but it just might be something as simple as heaping them into a bowl for display

decorating an unconventional tree.

Can you say, "Junk-le bells?"

Tea on Tuesday- Sewing Box Safari

2011-02-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer-

I wrote this post on Monday to post very early on Tuesday morning,

but forgot that there was no "2-29" this year so Blogger took my wrong input and defaulted to "2-28". I have been caught with my slip showing. How embarrassing!

So many eager readers have already left their kind comments so I can't very well remove this post!

So Happy Tea Tuesday on Monday!

Thank you, everyone for your kind words of sympathy and prayers.

The first day without Scooter was the hardest, but it has gotten progressively easier.

Our St. Bernard, Lucy has stepped up her role as house dog and been very attentive to us all.

But also for me, creating, making something, is powerful therapy.

All of you creative types are nodding your heads. Yes?

So I invite you today to join me on a journey into the deepest darkest part of my sewing/ button box.

Go ahead and get yours out- I'll wait a minute.

I have my Earl Grey in a utilitarian mug. No room for fussy china on this trip.

I have no time for mopping up tea spills in the middle of exciting discoveries!

I normally push pass the first layer quickly, but with my recent success at transforming button cards into angels, I am giving these cards a second look. The ones with missing buttons have possibilities...

Is your tin or box (jar), a mess like mine? I don't clean much "out" because everything is interesting in context. Single buttons attached to clipped off card bits, or the buttons hurriedly cut off shirts so the fabric still clings to them. Other buttons are strung together in groups in case a matched set is ever needed. And sometimes I find a piece of soap or wax (to lubricate needles or thread or maybe to mark fabric?) or tags from some forgotten purchase or old safety pins, or etc., etc.
Today everything has possibilties.

And this is how I've come to make a mostly empty button card into a base for a collection of notions. The pearly plastic button was hanging by a thread on this card so I shored it up with snippets of lace and gave it some company in the 3 remaining spaces. I didn't cut anything down. The other buttons and hook and eye were found on their respective card scraps, "as-is". I used artistic license by adding the scrap of sheet music, but otherwise everything else I found in the bottom of my button tin.

Really!

I added the bit of blue thread for interest. I clipped a tangled length from a spool and wrapped it around the button until the arrangement looked right to me. Looks pretty natural, doesn't it?

Then I made "le chic" to read "eclectic".
Too peRfecT!

Here's another card I started. There was only one snap left on the card, so I gathered a diverse group of buttons to keep the snap company, following the pattern of holes left by the other snaps. I still haven't figured out a clever title to make out of "Sew-On-Snaps", but something will come to me.

What have you gleaned from your button safari?

For more Tea Tuesday posts, see Kimmies blog.

He Will Be Missed

2011-02-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

Our bassett, Scooter started feeling poorly about two weeks ago when his eyes got gooey and he couldn't keep them open. The vet gave me an ointment for his eyes without an office visit (thank you!).

Then a week later, he started looking sickly. No energy, walking like he was suddenly fragile.

A trip to the vet and we were told he had a urinary tract infection.

A couple days ago, after 10 days of antibiotics and no improvement, his breathing was labored and he wouldn't even eat a dog treat.

After a rough night where I got maybe 3 hours of sleep and thought he would die,

we took him to the vet again.

This was yesterday.

An x-ray revealed that something was enlarged. The vet thought the spleen.

My husband said, "operate".

Like we have the money.

The vet does not accept Blue Cross.

But suddenly we love this pain in the butt dog who digs into the kitchen trash and has chewed up my favorite storage containers (to get at the food inside) and has followed me around like a cat so that I have almost tripped and fallen over him many times.

@#!&%!!

Yes, THAT dog. We suddenly want to try anything to keep him. If we can. He is barely two years old. Too young to be serioulsy ill. We will make payments to the vet.

So the doctor operates and finds, not a bad spleen, but Scooter's liver covered in cancer.

She does not rouse Scooter from the anesthetic. We had agreed on this before hand. And late afternoon we get the bad news. Scooter is not coming home.

We cry and miss him.

His velvety ears. His clownish ways.

His pain in the butt habits.

We eat dinner for the first time last night without worrying about food being eaten off the kitchen counter while we aren't looking.

Our St. Bernard gets all of the leftovers scraped into her dish alone.

Scooter's dish will be washed and retired.

He is missed.

Junk Mail

2011-02-24T05:06:00.000-08:00

When I left a comment on Halle's blog so I would be entered to win one of her hand made creations (One World, One Heart), it was like every other time I left a comment to enter a drawing. I was hopeful but not laying bets. But this time
I WON!

The really cool part is that although I had admired this particular journal, I had no idea it was a junk journal made up of paper scrap. My favorite kind!!!
This salt and dye page is one of my particular favorites.

As is this retro spread.

All disguised as a conservative looking day planner circa 1978.

My grandmother's favorite flower was lily of the valley as is my mom's (she is a May baby), so the cover of this journal is sentimental to me.

The best prize on all counts!

And thank you also Halle for the tea you enclosed!

I've Been Everywhere, Man, I've Been Everywhere...

2011-02-22T07:01:00.000-08:00

I have managed to avoid getting sick all winter, in spite of the germs and bacteria settling in with my husband and kids, but this morning, my dry throat feels serious, so I am drinking some seriously medicinal tea.

Fortunately I like the taste of anise, because this tea's main flavor is black licorice.

Doesn't need any kind of sweetener, because the flavors are naturally sweet.

Aaaaah, I can feel my throat feeling better already!

Now on to my kitchen tour!

My studio may be brown, but my kitchen is colorful and kitschy.

I started collecting cheesy souvenir plates a few years ago.

It started when we were furnishing a travel trailer and I found a spoon rest from Old Faithful (now broken) and a metal tray from Mt. Rushmore (our "s'mores tray").

My first criteria is that I had to have been to the place the plate was a souvenir of.

Kansas, Missouri, Virginia, Dodge City (KS), Monatana, New York (NY), Washington D.C. and Bagnell Dam (MO) are represented in my collection so far.

After that it is unique shape, lacy rim piercings or gaudy gold highlights.

This is something my grandmother might have bought.

She sent postcards to friends, but bought a plate for herself.

Actually, my grandmother prefered The Last Supper decoupaged on a slice of wood, but that's another post- "religious kitsche".

I wouldn't use these plates for serving pieces, because the glazes and finishes may contain lead. They are just for "pretty".

In fact some of these plates come with holes (and strings) in the back so they can be be easily hung up on a wall.

I have had to attach plate hangers to a few plates that weren't already "wall ready".

I started with a modest display over my stove,

but now the plates are spilling over onto other walls.

This group is on a short wall next to the refridgerator.
The Statue of Liberty is the most contemporary and "tasteful" plate in my collection so far.

But my heart belongs to the ruffly, fussy plates.

And these are all china,

and I always find them in mint condition.

They are survivors!

To be honest, I don't think I've actually been to Montana, but I've been to Idaho and the Dakotas, so I figure I've at least experienced the "big sky" that Montana has laid claim to.

I am loving buying my travel memories for 10- 25 cents apiece at the thrift store.

Like orphaned saucers and widowed cups,

these old colorful ladies need a home too!

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Spine Tingling Books

2011-02-20T14:58:00.001-08:00

I did some more book demolition over the weekend.

There is nothing more exciting than tearing the covers off of an old decaying book to see what is hidden underneath.
And I love the paper sandwich created from restacking the resulting mess!
All I need is a bird's nest and a stuffed crow and I've got a Victorian naturalist's vigniette!
It might be hard to find a stuffed bird, but I'm sure I could find a nest.
It's a windy day and all kinds of things are falling out of the maple tree in our backyard.

Carpe Diem!

What crazy things are you creating today?

The Color of Chocolate

2011-02-19T05:29:00.000-08:00

Inspired by a recent post on Penny's blog where she asked if readers would post of a photo of where they blog, I took up my camera, aimed and clicked.

Maybe I should have actually fixed my hair, but then I would never get around to taking a picture!

And then emboldened by my spontaneous act, I changed my blog's avatar.

No more hiding behind a teacup and dip pens!

So aside from the deeply etched wrinkles, the second thing I noticed was that my photo was very brown.

The color of antique wood, aged leather, yellowed and stained papers, tea, coffee and chocolate.

It's the color of my hair (specifically nutmeg), half of my clothing (the remainder is mostly black) and the color of my eyeglass frames.

I have tumbling piles of yellowed and antique things in my studio and this is where I blog.

I bet you are so not surprised!

The color of my blog might have been a small hint...

More Button Card Angels

2011-02-17T05:49:00.000-08:00

Just to illustrate that even a card of rather homely plastic buttons can be transformed into something sublime.

Old hymnal pages were the right color and set the right tone for these heavenly beings. Antique buttons disguised the "new-ness" of the original buttons on the cards. Variety adds interest!

Crocheted bits were once capped sleeves off of a shirt too stained to wear. I splashed some cold tea (the dregs of my teapot) onto the crochet for a light, irregular stain. Once dry, I cut out shapes that suggested wings to me and sewed them onto hymnal pages for a bit of stability. The sewn thread holes made natural perferations in the paper. Easy for tearing irregular shapes.

This trio is flying off to Linda's for a Christian Paper Artists angel swap.
And in case the angels' face looks familiar, but you can't quite place it,
it's The Mona Lisa.
But you knew that.

A Nursery Feast

2011-02-15T05:14:00.000-08:00

Our two girls shared the same room up until last weekend when snow induced cabin fever inspired some change. The playroom annex to their bedroom is now Rebecca's room, separated from her big sister's by a dust ruffle-turned-curtain. Rebecca has had a hard time sleeping by herself (the curtain might as well be a brick wall!), but last night we got her room just right and she felt comfortable enough to throw a party to celebrate. "A Feast" she called it.

I was invited to partake of plastic donuts, pizza, a plum and various green and yellow vegetables. And of course, there was tea!

The most impressive part was that Rebecca cleared her "table" (under bed storage container holding all of her sister's hand-me-down Brat dolls) and put the dishes in her play kitchen's sink, without me telling her to. What a treat to put a child to bed in a tidy bedroom!

I am inspired to tackle the mess in my studio now and I am looking forward to many more feasts in Rebecca's (clean) room.

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

My 6 year old has the cutest foot wear and can get away with wearing whatever she wants to in public. Today I suggested she wear a red velveteen/ velur skirt and top to which she added a Disney princess crown. She can carry it off.

She is passing out Disney princess Valentines in her kindergarten class today, so she is completely in theme!

Since my Honey is back on the road today, truckin',

(a load of styrofoam cups bound for Texas)

it's just me and the kids.

May make heart shaped hamburgers for dinner.

Or heart shaped pancakes and sausage

(I love breakfast for dinner!)

What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

2 Hats and an Artist

2011-02-12T05:18:00.000-08:00

It's easier to say something when someone else does the talking for you.

And I have a lot more to say!

STAY TUNED.

Nudes

2011-02-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

Anyone interested in a stack of old, tattered book covers?