Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Valentine's Day Update!


 
Miss Fancy Flight - SOLD
  Diamond Dear - SOLD
Miss Hearts-a-lot - SOLD

Valentine's Day is just two weeks away!  Are you feeling the love yet?  These little spun cotton cuties sure are!  They are very generous with their cards, jewelry, bouquets, and sweet messages.  I hope you love them too!

As usual, blog readers get first dibs on my new spun cotton one-of-kind figures. If you see something(s) you love, just email me at vintagebycrystal@yahoo.com and I'll let you know if they're still available. First come first served! I'll update item statuses in this post as often as I can to make it easier for you to know what's available. Items often get scooped up quickly, so make your selection as swiftly as you can, you can always add available pieces to your order later. Also feel free to include second choices in case your first choice is unavailable, but make sure you label them "second choice".  Click on photos to enlarge.

Shipping is $3.50 for one item and $1 per additional item up to $6.50, then additional pieces are free. All paid orders will ship out immediately via first class mail and should arrive within a few days.  I send Paypal invoices via email unless you specify that you'd rather pay via check. And of course email me if you have any questions! 



Happy Shopping!

 Miss Cake - SOLD
 Miss Love Letter - SOLD
Pearl - SOLD

 
 Bouquet Bunny - SOLD
Miss Hellebore - SOLD

 

 Two Peas - SOLD
The Loving Parent - SOLD

 

Miss Party - SOLD
 Miss Flying Heart - 32
Miss Prima Heart - 28

Patty Perfume - SOLD
  Miss Smitten - SOLD
Miss Float Away - SOLD
 
Miss Bud - SOLD
  Cupcake Carrie - SOLD
Petal Angel - SOLD
 
 Jamie Gift - SOLD
Enamored Ellie - SOLD

The Nerdy Date Owl - SOLD
  Parsons Owl - SOLD
Flicka Owl -
SOLD

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Treasures!

 Winter is a low time for treasure hunting around here and this past weekend I really had the bug to get out and dig through some piles of old stuff.  So on Saturday I grabbed my mom and off we went!  We went to a thrift store in the next town north and discovered a diamond in the rough for used clothing.  I bought 4 warm and attractive sweaters for 5 bucks each!  I also got this little collection of "gold" jewelry.  Some to wear and some to craft with.  After that it was off to one of my favorite antique stores, which is out in the middle of no where and is one of those huge old houses that is just packed to gills with glassware, architectural salvage, antique and vintage clothing, costume jewelry, hardware and everything in between. 

 The woodpecker on a log planter is one of my favorite finds and was on a shelf bunched up with lots of lesser quality, kitschy figurines...you could barely see it.  You can't tell from the photo, but it has venetian dew on it's wings which gives it a spectacular old quality.  The lead skunk on the flip side was in a rotating display case that was packed with awesome things.  I don't why, but he really stole my heart.  His tail is velvet and he has a wheat penny stuck in his base right under his butt.  He's not a bank and doesn't have any moving parts...anyone know why the penny is there?  The little collection of bisque puppies was a no brainer.  I love old bisque!

 They had a big bushel basket full of old hardware doodads on the floor in one of the aisles.  When I was rummaging through, loudly, on my knees, the two guys working there came over to check out what the racket was...I looked up and told them it was a loose animal and he went that way, lol. 

 A half a turkey (he's missing on the other side), an adorable Christmas vase and a cool mini shoe.

 The guy gave me this beaten up old cake topper for free!

 I almost missed the dresser that was filled with old trim.  I found some real treasures in there...old old old ribbon and interesting and very delicate trim.  Not to mention the super thin antique mittens.  So precious!

 The trim drawers also had some random bits of old old millinery flowers.  You'd thought I struck gold I was so feverishly sifting through the ribbons to find all the flowers.  I took almost all of them home.

 And this colorful hat is a treasure trove of flowers too...if I could bear to take it apart...we'll see.

And a quartet of bunnies is a sign of what's to come.  I've been wanting a paper mache bunny for years...and finally I could afford one!  This guy was only five bucks!  Well...just don't turn him around...he's got a nasty ear injury, lol.  He'll look just swell in the studio filled with sprigs of goodies.  :)

And of course my mom didn't walk away empty handed...she's a sucker for books and magazines and let's just say that she had the heaviest bag!  

Hopefully we can do it again soon! 

Monday, January 28, 2013


My heart is full of love and excitement as I sit here in my studio, the windows white with fresh falling snow outside and bright reds and pinks inside....it keeps cabin fever at a long distance and makes me just a little giddy with good feelings.  And yes, the studio still has wonderful pops of those lovely Valentine's Day colors that I love so much and a few new characters have come to life as a result.  These guys and gals are hoping to find their Valentine this season, and I hope you do too!  :)

Blog readers get first dibs as usual and if you'd like to be notified about upcoming blog updates and special events, just sign up for my mailing list on the right side of my blog, or leave a comment with your email address.


New one-of-a-kind pieces will be available for purchase on:
 
Wednesday, January 30th - Here, the blog - 11:00 am EST

See you here on Wednesday! :)

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Fly fly fly!

 Last month I got an amazing surprise package in the mail from a friend's dad.  I met him early last year and we were talking about our mutual love for natural objects.  He's a great and very interesting guy and a month ago he surprised me with an amazing gift of wings and feathers!  He has a beautiful farm where he grows plants and flowers and he had collected the feathers and wings over time from birds that had died naturally or accidentally.  The pheasant was a coyote victim.  The turkey was a car victim.  He didn't mention the hummingbird...but I'm guessing old age or window.  There are lots of other loose feathers that I hope to make earrings, garlands and other things from.

 He sent three full pairs of wings:  a pheasant, a sparrow, and a hummingbird.  Small, medium and large.  I was so excited to display them that I couldn't wait until the holidays were over and I spent the new year cutting, positioning and labeling.  I used antique and vintage frames I'd been storing in the basement, vintage crepe paper, vintage matte board and some wrapping paper too. 

 They turned out beautifully I think!

 The hummingbird wings are my favorite...they are so so tiny and sweet.  Poor little guy!  I used the backside of a 1960's receipt to place them on for a pop of mellow yellow.

 I'm not super happy with the pheasant wings frame job, so I may redo it eventually...but for now they are proudly displayed at the top of the stairs on the second floor.  This old Victorian house is staying true to it's kind...the Victorian's just adored pretty dead things!  :)

Thank you so much Huck! 


Friday, January 18, 2013

Valentine's Day Update!

 Pretty in a Poppy - SOLD

I love love!!  And who wouldn't?  Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to let those whom you love know that you love them.  Sure, they may already know in their heart of hearts, you may even tell them every day...but Valentine's Day is that once a year reminder to really let them know just how much you love them.  Whether it's through a sweet poem.  A list of the reason's they are special to you.  A box of chocolates.  A bouquet of flowers.  A sweet little gift.  Some of these things may seem materialistic, but it's the meaning behind them that's so special and that has true value and makes the giver and the recipient both feel so good.  So make sure you let the people you love know just how much you love them (and that includes yourself!).  :)

As usual, blog readers get first dibs on my new spun cotton one-of-kind figures. If you see something(s) you love, just email me at vintagebycrystal@yahoo.com and I'll let you know if they're still available. First come first served! I'll update item statuses in this post as often as I can to make it easier for you to know what's available. Items often get scooped up quickly, so make your selection as swiftly as you can, you can always add available pieces to your order later. Also feel free to include second choices in case your first choice is unavailable, but make sure you label them "second choice".  Click on photos to enlarge.

Shipping is $3.50 for one item and $1 per additional item up to $6.50, then additional pieces are free. All paid orders will ship out immediately via first class mail and should arrive within a few days.  I send Paypal invoices via email unless you specify that you'd rather pay via check. And of course email me if you have any questions! 

Happy Shopping!

 Rita Rose - SOLD
 Miss Blooming Heart - SOLD
Miss Hot Air Balloon - SOLD

Dashing Danny - SOLD
Darling Deirdre - SOLD

 Miss Slice of Cake - SOLD
Loving Lilly - SOLD
Sweet Sally - SOLD

 Hallie Heart - SOLD
Blushing Bunny - SOLD
Tammy Teddy Bear - SOLD

 Miss Cupid - SOLD
 Blossoming Bunny - SOLD
 Miss Trinity Treats - SOLD

 Honey Angel - SOLD
Miss Big Heart - SOLD
Happy Helen - SOLD

 Endearing Edith - SOLD
Miss Valentine - SOLD
 Miss Messenger - SOLD

 Fanning Francine - SOLD
Jenny Geranium - SOLD
 Miss Cherish - SOLD

 Miss Glass Heart - SOLD
The Love Juggler - SOLD
 Miss Pink - SOLD

 Harmony Heart - SOLD
Romantic Rachel - SOLD
Miss Mila Mushroom - SOLD

 Charming Charlie - SOLD
Beloved Beth - SOLD

 Olive Owl - SOLD
 Eros Owl - SOLD
Adorable Owl - SOLD
 Hearts for Eyes Owl - SOLD
Oscar Owl - SOLD


Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Remember Dead Horse Bay?

 Remember when I talked about the trip to Dead Horse Bay my friend Andrea and I took last October?  Here's the post.  I've been meaning to show you how I put some of those found objects to work (or in most cases, display). 

 I'm already itching to go back...look at all the junk I lugged home!

 Dirty and discarded bottles, milk glass make up containers, horse bones, and lots of porcelain electrical parts...

 Some of those electrical parts have already found a cool new use and new homes as bases for birdies.  You may remember these bird riders in recent updates.

 I have a few more pieces waiting for their new life.

 There were plenty of shallow milk glass makeup and lotion containers to be found...all without lids.  No matter...they are perfect for sorting tiny things in a shallow drawer.  I think I might bring these downstairs to the bathroom and put them in my antique dentist cabinet to sort small earrings and things.

 The large containers found uses as handy pencil holders in my studio.

 The bottles, both broken and whole, I clustered together is a display on an antique tea tray on the balcony.  This spring and summer they can hold flowers and other natural treasures from outside.

 Two tiny bottles that they have their rusty lids are hanging out on the balcony window sill...just looking pretty.  They were impossible to open.  I might use them for bases for Halloween...

 The old light things will be wired into lamps and fixtures (one of these upcoming weekends I'm going to make a trip to the local lighting shop to get some supplies and hopefully some tips for doing it).  I have an idea of the bathroom strip light...but I need to make another trip to the littered beach to get some more of these. 

And lastly my two horse femur sections are put on display in a simple way in the reading room.  I had a third piece...a vertebrae...but the cat knocked it over and it shattered into sand...weird.  I thought it disappeared at first, and then realized that the "dirt" scattered on the floor was the bone.  So weird.  

I have a few more interesting piece in the basement that have yet to find a place or idea for yet...but one of these days it will come to me!  :)

Monday, January 14, 2013

Valentine's Day Update Announcement!


Love is in the Air!!  There are so many people and so many things about his beautiful world to love and I'm feeling it!  And what's better...Valentine's Day gives me a reason to decorate for it!  With hearts and love birds and bows and arrows and tiny people holding hands...how can one not feel the love?  And with that...I have a new collection of cuties to help you feel the love this Valentine's Day!

Blog readers get first dibs as usual and if you'd like to be notified about upcoming blog updates and special events, just sign up for my mailing list on the right side of my blog, or leave a comment with your email address.


New one-of-a-kind pieces will be available for purchase on:

Friday, January 18th - Here, the blog - 11:00 am EST

See you here on Friday! :)

Friday, January 11, 2013

Valentine's Day goodies in the works...


The studio is blushing at the moment with all the red and pink scattered about!  As I've mentioned before, I really enjoy working within a less varied perimeter of colors.  With the limited palette of pinks, reds and white that the day of love is famous for, I'm able to pull together anything that's red or pink and make it work for Valentine's Day.  Fun fun fun!

With the new year came a few resolutions for me.  One is to work a tad more Henry Ford style and prepare more things ahead of time to makes things easier for myself...like cutting out all of the flags at once instead of as needed.  And I must say, I'm seeing the virtue of doing things that way already! 

 But of course not all things can be put into bulk production.  This little gal got quite the dose of pink and is looking quite chipper for it.

 I found this pretty metal rose at a sale this past year and can't wait to incorporate it with one of the figures.  Giant rose anyone?

 Henry Ford style hats made with really neat Japanese paper.

 A flock of five faceless feathered friends.

They are coming together, slowly but surely!  I'll be having the next update next week!!!  Stay tuned for exactly what day and time!  :)