Appliqued Quilt Art Work!

"On a rainy day, color makes the dreary go away."

-Alexa Lett

"The only place where housework comes 

before needlework is in the dictionary."

 – Mary Kurtz 

Sherpani Bag with Cathy Nichols Art!

This past weekend I was in Mast General Store.  I love to go in this store!  The merchandising is what I guess to be what a "real" general store would be back in the day...but, a wee bit modern.  It is a delightful store.  But, one of my favorite lines they carry is Sherpani.  They have the cutest, most useful and functional line of bags.  

But, this latest addition was 'over the top' fantastic!  It features one of my favorite mixed media artists, Cathy Nichols!  Check out her blog here.

I had to purchase this great, canvas bucket styled bag.  It features this beautiful tree/leaf art with a precious bird tag on the side.  I fell in love with it.  Finally someone has tapped into some artistic genius available in useful, stylish bags.  

There were some very cute mini wristlets as well.  

Check out her work and now this awesome line of bags.

Mixed media goes functional and stylish!

Handmade Star Necklace!

I love handmade artisan jewelry.  Every now and then I make a purchase for myself...and this is my latest piece.  I discovered "Piggy and Dirt by Kurt Knudsen" on Etsy back in December and I was so excited.  This photo (as bad as it is) is the actual necklace they sent me.  Love, love it.

This is the actual photo from their Etsy store.  Give them a look see!

Enjoy the creativity of others!

Children....

I have been around too many children lately.

Simple, But Fantastic Quilt!

I have to be reminded sometimes of the beauty found in simplicity.  Being a "maximalist", it is often hard to know when to edit.  It makes me think of Project Runway and Mr. Gunn.  Knowing when to stop...not add anything....embellish any more....it is hard for me.  I like stuff.  

My affection for quilts is unmeasured.  I tend to be attracted to intricate piecing and multiple fabric patterns, but when I saw this quilt I was mesmerized.  So simple, but so simply beautiful.

No crazy fabrics, tiny little pieces or crazy geometrical design here, just a big fat circle on a square. 

The seller of this quilt thought it was pretty old.  I think that meant about 60+ years, as surmised in conversation.  Not being a quilt historian, I have to assume she is correct.  My minimal quilt knowledge  does not think it was made in the day of walking into a yummy quilt store and selecting fabrics.  But what we must appreciate about this quilt is the simple pattern, design and fabric choice.  

Enjoy simplicity.  It can be stunning.

Mixed Media "Fancy"

This is one of my favorite old photographs!  I am not equestrian-ish at all.  My Dad once bought a farm that had an old, old pony on it...I named it Larimee.  With no horse gear of any kind I wanted to ride my new pet into the sunset.  Let's just say that didn't happen.  

My Dad moved Larimee into a grazing field by the house.  I was so excited to have a horse (it was at this moment I learned a pony does not grow up to be a horse.  I was equestrian stupid too!)  I spend several days trying to become friends.  I got an old hair brush and groomed his mane...gave him carrots and apples and attempted to become the Horse Whisperer.  The day finally arrived, I felt our bonding was now my ticket to ride.  I gently got on his back and sat there.  The moment I felt settled in and balanced, he walked straight, with no haste, to the pond.  I was within seconds of my feet dragging in the murky, muddy, poop filled pond (the pigs grazed in this field too) before I jumped off.  Larimee never left the pond until I left the field.

The next day I stepped into the field and Larimee walked straight to the pond.  This same routine continued for several days.  I gave up.  Larimee was never ridden again.  His idea of friendship did not involve me sitting on his back.

Back to the photo....

This sassy woman with the lovely straw hat is no doubt in control of this fine stallion.  They both look quite "fancy" to me.  

Quite the opposite of me and Larimee.

My equestrian skills have never expanded.  Although, I know a pony is a pony.

Paint By Number Mixed Media Journal

I am not a journal-er....I start....then I stop...start....stop.  No consistency at all.  But, I LOVE journals!  I usually end up using cool journals for business purposes more than writing my daily thoughts.  

I finished one of the 'paint by number' versions of a journal today.  I kind of liked the coloring.  The 'paint by number' roses were a really cool color.  Plus, I found a wee bit of the "special delivery" ribbon that went great with the reds.

The first page has a red edge label for titling your journal...and the following pages are blank.  

We will see what happens with this one....

Mixed Media Art!

Just sharing a little "art" love!

Have a great day!

Needlepoint Goodness!

Found this little stitchy goodness at Knitting Mill Antiques today.  I have such mixed feelings about these little treasures...

1.  initially I am so excited, for I know it will find a creative place in my home...stuff...or art

or

2.  horribly distraught that all this time and creative effort is thrown into a basket for $4

torn.....but, I do feel point #1 wins...

Mini Vintage Purse Collection!

I love these little tiny change purses!  I have been hoarding them as of late.  I want to make cute little/large necklaces with them.  More projects...than time.

"One disadvantage of being a hog is that at any moment some blundering fool may try to make a silk purse out of your wife's ear. "

-J.B.  Morton

Felt Quilt Project!

Yes, another project in the beginning stages!  I am in a felt phase...as usual.

Trying to create a fun pattern on my own.

The parts are cut....now just embellish with stitching and whatever.

Can't wait to see what happens.

Yet, another pile of felt with no precise destination in mind....let the creative process begin.....

Paint By Number Mixed Media Art!

New projects on the horizon!  In knee deep with piles of undone stuff.  No completion in site on anything....just lots of crafting stream of conscientiousness.  Ahhhhhh.

But to explain how cool an art find was...

about two months ago I purchased to cheaply framed paint by number forest scenes...and when I took them apart yesterday, I found a rose floral and another stream scene behind them.  In the scheme of deal making...I got two for one!  Who knew?

 I have now cut them all in half and making something else out of them.

You will just have to wait and see what surfaces....

You know it will have something stichey involved.....

Might take a few days.....

Boston Terrier Love Was Bored!

I was home alone today...and my furry daughter, Daisy, was obviously lonely.  On my hearth is a small wooden vintage baby cradle that serves as a storage bin for my Daisy's play toys.  Today, she pulled most all of them out and sat there staring at them.  Had she been capable of communicating with me, I feel certain she was saying....

"hey, your sitting there...I'm sitting here....I'm surrounded by all these awesome toys...shouldn't we play a little?  I need exercise, you need exercise....why not do it together?"

Yep, she was most bored.

Presh.

Quilt Pillow Stash!

We have all been down with the flu bug!  I don't think all three of us have ever been sick at the same time....first time for everything.

Any who....this is my quilt pillow stash!  It looks so happy...cheery....and bright in the basement.  Quite the opposite of what is going on upstairs!  I just needed to post the contrary to what is going on.

Whew...can't wait to not have the need for kleenex in every room and the lysol scent filling the air.

It is a coming!

A Bowl of Bracelets!

Just sharing a little storing possibilities.

I love bracelets!  I have no idea how to store them...other than in a pile.  An aunt gave me a lovely square ironstone bowl, yet it had a small crack in it.  Not good for holding food or liquids...but, excellent for bracelets!

"Jewelry takes people's minds off your wrinkles."

-Sonje Henie

Gerbera DaisyThe Middle Of January!

"Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness."

-Lois Kaufman

We are experiencing a rather warm winter in Chattanooga and these beautiful summer colors and flowers make it seem even warmer!  Plus, the yummy hammered aluminum vase/pitcher is perfect.

Enjoy a bright Saturday!

"Ski" Bottle, Too Cool!

Just wanted to share this precious bottle I found at an antique store for my little friend.  I have never heard of the "Ski" brand of drinks, but the graphics on the bottle are outstanding!

My daughter loves water sports and vintage...what a wonderful combo!  And, a gerbera daisy was perfect! My "want" was a unique vase for a bouquet of flowers I would give to her on a special day...it ended up a vintage drink bottle with one flower.

Sometimes the vision is wrong.

Look at the ski girl!  Is she not the cutest?

Sometimes expectations can exceed the need.

Reign it in.

Vintage Purse Collection!

I think it is so interesting to see what people collect.  I have a very severe affection for little beaded purses.  The are all so small...intricately made...delicate...and beautiful! In my upstairs hallway I just have them randomly all over this wall by the potty.

Here are a few close photos of some of my favorites!

Love the leather work on this one...

and the bead work on this is stunning.

Now, we get to the colorful beaded ones!

I so love these bags, but often reflect on what would they put in these purses.  I myself, carry a billfold larger than any of these, glasses, sunglasses, notepad, planner, phone, make-up bag, and occasionally a magazine or two, meds box and my IPAD.  The pure weight of my stuff would send these beads flying.  

To be this delicate and prim, the overhaul is going to have to start waaaaay back in different areas. Weening me from my stuff will only make me purchase a cute purse for decorative purses only.  Or...I should start collecting feed sacks......hmmmm? 

Good Fortune Cookie!

Yep, the Honey got this little paper jewel in a fortune cookie.  He shared it with me.  Evidently he plucked this bad boy from his oriental dessert after a business lunch some time several weeks ago.  The best part of this story?... he kept it.  He actually put it in his wallet for safe keeping.

Who would of thunk it?

Oddly enough, these little strips of verbal happiness can sometimes confirm what you hope you already know.

Wood Animals Talk Humor!!

I found these precious little vintage wooden farm animals at the World's Longest Yard Sale!

They have been sitting in a box of miscellaneous junk for several years...frankly, I forgot about them.  But, with the help of a friend we came up with some back door figure it out yourself kind of "sit-around" folky vintage humor.

On each animal is a word or phrase.

This is my salute to word humor....shout out to my favorite word game on the earth 

THE JUMBLE in the newspaper everyday!

See if you can guess which phrase goes to what animal!

__________around

Lucky _________

________pecked

________out

Holy ___________

________in a row

_________ish

There it is my vintage humor!!

Toaster Light!

This is such a cute little light I purchased at The Vintage Revival in November.  I just now put it out in my kitchen.  It is an old toaster oven that has been retrofitted with a light in it.  

I love how the light reflects from the ornate doors that formerly held the toast. 

This is a picture I found of a similar toaster without a light....very industrial...yet, art deco-ish looking.  Very cool!  Big kudos to the person who thought putting a light in what could be a completely useless appliance.  

"To love beauty is to see light."

-Victor Hugo

What the ?

Yep...today we are going to chat about "What the ?"

My Honey and I were in hot pursuit of a unique, vintagey gift for my daughter.  She has an upcoming special day at school and we both wanted to give her a clever gift that would commemorate this day.  The only place to find such gift-giving items is a thrift store or antique mall.  Might I add, there must be some huge reason to spend the afternoon in an antique mall for my husband to do it voluntarily.  

As the breezing down each aisle began....all I seem to hear come out of his mouth was, "what the ?"

His selection of "what the" items began to become quite amusing.  I initially thought they were novelty weirdo junk, but after much observation discovered this was some one's art.

This Styrofoam head was similar to a Carmen Miranda Fall version.  The silk fall leaves and plastic gourds encircling her head were unique.

This head and neck were quite cool, yet the Alfred Dunner Peter Pan collar pleated blouse just didn't go with the roaring 20's hair-do of the mannequin.  Plus the lack of arms.  Yet, the right "non-arm" was reaching up for some reason.  I checked. Someone placed a wood stick in the base of the head to make it appear there was an arm.  Yet, the left arm was air.  All this oddness was mounted to be a piece of wall art.  What the?

This head representation is exactly why some people fear clowns.  This was the strangest non-sensical head I have ever seen.  It is hard to see, but on this rainbow, ringlet wig was a wad of gold mesh folded in a way that someone might think it was a hat.  Note the black and white cord that holds it on.  The bandanna certainly adds to the "what the?"

This was handmade as well.  The whole hanging table light contraption hung from a giant pulley in the ceiling.  This marble top had chain...pipe....odd chain....pipe all the way to the ceiling.  The blue shade was spray painted with lace and mirror dots adorning the exterior. All of this would move with just a wisp of air as you walked by.  The orange sign described all the multi functions this hanging table light provided.  Only $275

What the ?

Just observations....not criticism....just trying to understand "what the?'

Handmade Mini Quilt Runner!

During the moments of squirreled away creative time I had to think of something fun to do with these 5" square quilt pieces.  Not to complain about the sewing skills of the maker....but, nothing was cut "square".  This quilt, had it been pieced together, would have only fit on a cylindrical surface that was covered in huge lumps the size of a loaf of bread.  I had to massively chop, measure, cut and slice off some great colors just to square it up.  

Any who...my counter tops are a black speckled granite.  I felt the strip of black just in front of my stove needed a little pick-me-up!  So, I sewed them into a little strip about 3.5 feet long. Covered up the backside with some left over linen from another project and added a little hint of red rick-rack (the ultimate trim)....

Vah-vah-voom....a handmade mini quilt runner!

FYI:  If you are the least bit intimidated to grab some fabric and make something because of minimal skills...think of me...and the someone who pieced all these whack-a-doodle squares together!  Be bold and brave and just start whacking and sewing.  Please note how some of the squares are completely chopped, and some are elegantly placed on the edge.  We will consider it a dramatic pause in sewing creativity.

At the end of the day...it's a cute little runner for a weird little space.

Quilt Top Handmade Pillows!

I had many email requests to look at the pillows a little closer today.  So, me being a visual junky, completely understood.  These three little piggies...I mean pillows oddly spelled a story that I only noticed after the request was made to look at them.  

Nothing fancy about their construction just a beautiful, colorful square of fabric on front and back with a remnant quilt square appliquéd to one of the squares and each adorned with a hand embroidered word.

I made about 25 pillows at one time...these are the three I kept.  I loved the colors!  And, if you reflect on  yesterday's post the order has not changed.  

But upon looking at them, the first one reads, "rise".  Quite appropriate for the beginning of the day.

The second pillow reads "calm" exactly what a typical day and your mind set should be.

The third pillow reads "rest".  Enough said for the end of the day.

The mantra words to live by...

rise....calm....rest.

Fantastic Quilt Graces My Bed!

The week before Christmas I went to an estate sale!  Maybe because of the time of year, it was very unattended. Slam dunk for me! There in one of the many rooms of priced doo-dads, Mikasa plates, used blenders and Avon bottles was a small stack of some of the yummiest quilts ever made.  One of those being this little quintessential quilt of color-rific shades of delicious goodness. This quilt called my name with an urgency that only a self-purchased Christmas gift could say.  I snapped this puppy up like it was the last purchase I would make in 2012!  

As many of you know I am in love with color!  I am going to assume me and the maker of this little creative gem had a similar aesthetic, and undying admiration for feed sack cloth.  I have no words to explain my burst of visual joy I felt when I saw it draped across a chest freezer. 

Aerial shot of giant star quilt warming my guest room.  I have no idea what this pattern is called, but I love it!

Since Christmas there have been a few dicey days around the bungalow....to lighten my spirit, I just drop by the guest room and gaze.

We always hear that in your mind you should be able to find your "happy place", well, I've found mine laying across a bed in the third bedroom.  Quite a "happy place" to be covered in color!