First Estate Sale of the Year!

It's been so long since I've been on a true treasure hunt, but yesterday Ben and I finally managed to make it to some estate sales...whoohoo! We didn't find much (we got up late and most of the good stuff was already gone), but we did manage to find a few goodies, including 4 out of 5 of the Dionne Quintuplets. They are porcelain bisque and jointed and are soooo precious! I love their pretty painted eyes.

In the kitchen of one home I opened a drawer to find it full of real silverware with a sign that said "free". I had an enormous handful when Ben came over and reasoned with me. "We have enough!" It was true and I surrendered most of my stash. I did keep all of the butter knives though. Ben has been complaining for years about the rusty handles on the ones we had before.

Sorry rusties...you're going into the mixed media supplies bin. (sniff sniff)

Speaking of rust, I found these two heart shaped pans in the basement of that same house. One is good to go and the other is rather oxidized. I'll see what I can do with some steel wool. Valentine's Day is right around the corner and these two pans just may inspire me to bake!

There were lots of books, but again I had to refrain. I picked up a bunch I won't mind cutting up for crafts. Including a music book, an old spelling book (complete with pencil written notes), a golden book with the back cover ripped off and....

...some sort of old Jewish/Hebrew book! People have been asking me to make Hanukkah ornaments and things for the holidays and this will provide the perfect start!

This cool bottle was the only thing that came home with me from one house. Look at the knobby stopper!

These old baby shoes are for a new idea I have. Stay tuned to see what it is!

An old ladies hat and a bow tie....can't go wrong there!

I've been collecting vintage dresses and with them I'll need vintage belts. This one is perfect!

Sorry for the blur...this what I found in the laundry room. It's a sock/panty hanger thingy. Of course I promptly broke it after I took the photo, so now I plan to snip off the wires, drill holes into a piece of wood, and make a photo clip holder thingy!

It was so refreshing to be searching in old damp basements and in dusty closets for new old treasures! Now I can't wait until next weekend! ;)

Artsy Outing

The day before yesterday I got out of the house for a bit to meet up with some artsy friends. Kerry, Liz, Louise, Betsy, Mimi, and I had great fun and discussed in great detail whatever happened to come up in conversation, and Mimi brought a big box of old buttons to share (she's too kind, really!). Then someone mentioned the thrift store that was down the block and before we knew it, we found ourselves there searching for sweaters and teacups. This particular store is always well picked though, but I managed to find a gorgeous vintage carved wooden corner shelf for $5! Mimi found a nice striped sweater to outfit her dolls along with some teacups to build tiny worlds in, and Liz found a nifty 1960's juice class caddy for a buck or two. Yay!

As usual I didn't snap any photos so I stole the two photos above from Kerry and Mimi...sorry girls!

After we departed I wandered around Cambridge a bit more, hauling my light-weight, but awkwardly-shaped shelf with me. Eventually I stopped in to a huge art store and bought a much needed gallon of glue along with some other things. One of those other things was a huge pack of amazingly colored chenille stems. They were so beautiful and unusual, I was thrilled when I saw them. They have an antiqued pastel quality, much like vintage chenille stems do. I can't wait to use them!


After the craft store I went into the co-op grocery store next door. There were so many wonderful grains and healthy snacks! My mouth was watering. But all I could do was look. I had no free hand to grab something off the shelf! Plus my arms were getting tired. At that point I decided it was time to get on the train and go home. :)

A Few Newbies...

I've been busy in my studio the last two days filling wholesale orders, but have managed to list a few new Valentine's Day pieces to my Etsy shop, including a sassy Queen of Hearts, a serenading senorita, a silly robot, and a pair of elephants in love.

Sigh...I am sooo loving this season of love! I just put away all of my Christmas decorations, but kept my little white feather tree out and decorated it with tiny pink ornaments and all things hearts. I just love it! I'll snap some photos of it soon. :) But without further adieu, here are the newbies!

Love is in the Air!! And so are Valentine's Day goodies!

I've been a busy beaver here in the studio making goodies for Valentine's Day (make sure you get something for your honey now so you don't have to worry about it later!). I've got a few that I just posted to Etsy. Take a look!

A sweet pink bunny wishes you Happy Valentine's Day greetings.

This kitty hold her heart dear.

This kitty shows off her juggling skills in order to impress her suitors.

Who doesn't melt from "Owly" love?

I'm loving these glittery heart staffs...and this kitty agrees!

This little skunk is hopeful to find love this year!

And of course I have to have an all white sweetheart (it goes with everything!)

They're all in my Etsy shop now! :)

Snippets from the Holidays at Home

I spent the Christmas holiday at home with the fam and boy did we have fun! As soon as Ben and I got into town on Christmas Eve, we were whisked away to "the Cove"...which are Hudson River flats my father owns as farm land. It's a constantly flooded area right off the Hudson and it freezes over nicely every winter. I've had many fantastic memories throughout my childhood and even in more recent years at this place. The last time we were here it was on a freakishly warm January evening when there was a thin layer of water on the ice and fog everywhere! It was amazing. Well...this Christmas Eve was amazing too. Dad brought his fourwheeler and a barrel for towing us around in. My sister-in-law Sara snapped a few photos of Dad taking his turn in the barrel. Too funny!


My little sister Suzy and Ben goof off. Suzy wore that tutu the whole time! "Tu" cute!

This pose was supposed to look like we were being blown by strong winds and hanging on to that pathetic dead tree for dear life. Well...sorta. That big pile behind us is a beaver dam! The little beavers were all asleep underneath, waiting for spring. I hope we didn't wake them!

These are a few silly photos snapped on Christmas day at my brother Dan's house. His wife cooked a yummy dinner and we all played games for the night! So much fun!

Grandma looks thrilled to have gotten a "new" shirt. lol

I tried to take a nice photo of my grandmother but Danny always has to ruin it! I cropped it so you could see what I mean. :)

And on our way back home on Sunday evening Ben swung around the block once we were almost at our home in Boston to show me this fabulous display! Holy smokes! I'm glad I don't have to disassemble that. :)

I was a fabulous Christmas and I really look forward to spending it with my family again next year and all the years to come.

Show and Tell!

It's finally time for show and tell! I haven't had a spare moment in a while to treasure hunt at flea markets or antique stores, but I have been picking things up here and there at shows and on trips and I've been anxious to show you!!

This first little collection is from Tinsel Trading. Ben bought me a generous gift certificate for my birthday last year (well...2008) and this past Thanksgiving (and birthday time) was the first time I'd been back since. It was hard to decide. Did I want things to decorate the house? Or did I want materials to use in my work? Well...I decided on the latter. I found fabulous big red baubles on sticks (huge balloons for some future large figures), crinkle wire, tiny bees and a ladybug, antique metal thread, wee little white flowers, a snowman head and a parakeet pin (I'll be wearing that one...it looks a little like Sam!).


I also picked up these antique wood feather tree bases. I got a red one too that I used for a spun cotton display tree for my holiday show booths (the one that fell!).

This heavy metal fly is quite large and really neat. I love insects and spiders and couldn't resist this guy when I spotted him in a Texas antique shop. I didn't do much shopping during my cross country trip in November, so he's one of my only souvenirs! His wings flip up to store...cigarettes ashes...but for me he'll hold stray earrings and things. :)

The Boston Bazaar Bizarre yields tons of amazing wares every year. I managed to run around for just a short while scoping out goodies. I spotted this really amazing letter press mushroom card from Ilee Paper Goods. The quality of the print and paper is great and I love the vivid colors. I don't ever buy cards to giveaway...I prefer to give presents...this one is going in a frame for myself!

An interesting fellow approached my booth at Baz Biz and offered a trade. His name was Peter and he mentioned that his creations included dried crab legs. I was a little skeptical, but told him I wanted to see. I was very pleasantly surprised! While this figure is nothing short of strange and bizarre, she is quite a work of art and very nicely detailed! And I love her removable fishing pole. I gladly accepted the trade. :)

This pretty necklace was made by my friend Lisa of Glamour Puss. I have admired her vintagey jewelry for quite some time and finally decided it was time to get one for myself. I had such a hard time deciding but finally made up my mind. Thanks Lisa!

This pretty little thing was made by a super sweet gal who took my needle felting class last winter and so thoughtfully recently gifted me with this green wool bead necklace! I LOVE this necklace and wear it a alot. It's very well made and I've gotten lots of compliments on it. She has her own Etsy shop with necklaces, earrings and other goodies. Check out it!!

While in Saratoga for the holiday, my Mom, Ben, sisters, and I ventured to Schuyler Pond, my favorite local store. You can walk to it from my parent's house! It's a huge barn filled with amazing furniture and whimsical treasures. And I always try to take advantage of their after Christmas sale. I got this Cody Foster snowman for a steal!

These Jennifer Murphy repro birdies aren't nearly as well made as her originals, but they are still super cute!

I actually saw this pretty ornament last year and thought about it many times throughout the year. When I saw it again this year, I knew it was meant to be.

And last but certainly not least is this amazing dresden sheep. Sally of The Dresden Cottage and I did another trade. Thank you so much for this amazing ornament! I need to find a place for it so I can keep it out all year round, just like my owl. :)

Happy New Year!! And a sneak peek!

Happy Happy New Year everyone! Wow! My first post in the new decade! 2010 has been off to a cozy start for me so far. I've been spending time snuggling with Ben and Magic and have been spending time in my studio too, working on....Valentine's Day goodies!! It's already right around the corner and I swear to decorate for it this year! It's one of my New Year's resolutions....along with getting more organized with my time and my stuff. Organizing was my resolution last year too...and I accomplished it. I am now much better organized than I was in 2008, but it can get better still!

Anyway, my cold is gone and lots of pink and red and white people have been popping up in my studio. I'm so happy to be working in this cheery color palette. And I think these characters are happy about it too!

I went around my studio the other day gathering the appropriate colors and hearts and flowers and ribbons and trim to accessorize with. Looking at the little collection together made me smile.

Vintage glass picks, cupcake toppers, little metal hearts (thanks Mimi for these!), velvet flowers, feathers (some from my own birds!) and more. Pompom trim, sequins, ruffles and vintage seam binding. I love it all!

Many of these cuties will be going to stores locally and around the country, but I also plan to list some pieces on Etsy soon. Stay tuned!!


Oh yes! And I found the Martha Stewart clip that had eluded me. Luckily they didn't show my tree falling down!


In more general blog news...for some reason blogger stopped sending me an email every time a comment was made. I didn't think anyone made a comment on my last mega post until I looked at the post itself today, but I was wrong! Thank you so much for all your sweet words! It really melted my heart as it always does. I always want to respond to your comments, but for some reason your email addresses rarely show up, so I can't just hit 'reply' when they arrive in my inbox. :( Another New Year's resolution...figure out why and fix it if I can! :)

Also, I just added a 'follow' do-hicky the side bar on my blog (thank you sMacthoughts for the suggestion!). If you wish, please feel free to follow my blog if you're not already. I love seeing you all and exploring your blogs if you have them!

Thank you again for all of your sweet words and encouragement. It makes me want to create more and share more with you all! :) Happy New Year!