To Market, To Market.....

Okay, so cute Mittens has nothing to do with this post, but she is just soooo adorable! Yesterday, Robin and I headed to our favorite little flea and I really had fun! I wanted to find some fun things for my etsy and also to take to a wonderful show we will be doing in June. I came home and started photographing and adding goodies to my etsy... Here are some wonderful wired fabric flowers...the previous owner used them for napkin rings... She was one of my prize finds of the day! She didn't have the bonnet, my mom and I made that when I got home. I love these boudoir dolls!

And...I have always wanted one of these rubber stamp holders...I love the industrial look added into a cottage home.... This baby has the perfect green mixed with rust.....

Here I have added some vintage bottles and flowers...Ooooo la la!

I got these velvet fruit flats awhile ago...how fun would these be to add to a project?....Yummy!

All these goodies are in my etsy shoppe waiting for a good home... I will be back soon to share some more of my finds.... especially the most unusual one! Happy Monday! I am joining Thrift Share Monday at Apron Thrift Girl and Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground.... karen....

Glitterfest Spring

Saturday was the Spring Glitterfest Show in Santa Ana, Ca and it did not diappoint! It was astounding! The above photo is of Rita of Mamabellarte's space. I forgot my camera so she was nice enough to share... Isn't her booth yummy?! They added an outside space for homegoods and there were wonderful things to buy...
I am always on a budget, but did get some really fun things:

On the pink wool piece is a pair of earrings that Robin gave me as a thank you...I wore them to work today and love them!

Here is a sweet bottle that I got from Robin also...(psst..she is an awesome artist) (psst...but she is a dork like me and forgot her camera, ssshhh! don't tell her I said that!)

I also bought a sewing machine drawer, which will recieve a shabby makeover for my postcards.

And these pretty tags....

If you have a chance to go...dont miss it! It is the best gathering of artists in California..no junk!

I recieved a wonderful giveaway from Brandy of Brandywine boutique so I will be back to share that and any creations I make this weekend... By for now! karen.....

Happy St. Patty's Day!

I hope you are having a wonderful St. Patrick's Day! My little kitty just turned 2 today and we have decided that she probably is part leprauchan because she is such a little rascal!
I have been busy making stock to reopen my etsy shoppe.
I want to do more handmade items as well as my traditional art kits and vintage supplies. I will be offering more items in the $5 - $6 range because I want everyone to be able to afford a little treat!
Do you remember my shadowboxes from last week? 3 of them are now listed in the shop.

I also made some pretty french inspired lavender sachets...only $6 each and they smell delicious! The lavender comes from a company outside our wine country here in California and it is the best I have found state-side.

Here is a close up of one of them....

Well, I hope your week has gone well! I am off to eat some corned beef and cabbage YUM!

Velvetty Goodness.....

I LOOOOVE Velvet flowers and berries.... Last year I got a bag of velvet berries, some vintage japan and some handmade....I am keeping these little sweeties.....

They just make my heart go pitter pat!

And talking about pitter-pat! We stopped at a garage sale in the afternoon today and I did not expect to find anything. But! Alas! buried under some things was this vintage thingie...I thought it was a corsage but my mom says it is a ladies hat....without further ado.....

It is sooooo pretty, with velvet leaves and berries and flowers! I will probably take it apart and use it in my art but probably almost all of it will be put to good use. And it was only....ONE dollar! Pitter-pat, pitter-pat!

I have been busy making things and gathering things to open my etsy shoppe. I will be adding the shadow boxes I showed you last week and some more handmade goodness....I will be back when I have more to show you. Have a great weekend! karen....

Using the Good Stuff Linky Party!!!

I wanted to participate in Karla's wonderful party because using my "besties" is one of my goals for my art. I was definitely hoarding for awhile. I think I needed to so that I would have a selection to choose from. But...as my hubby would tell you... my besties are taking over our bedroom and it is time to unleash!!!!
These little shadowboxes have been in my mind for awhile and this was the perfect push to finally make them happen!


Here they are close-up:

I came down with some kind of virus on thursday and didn't get to all the projects that I had planned to show you... All of these shadowboxes are using dolls and figurines that I have been keeping and not wanting to use...I am sooooo happy I did! I am happy the way they turned out!

I had planned to decorate this little wicker purse but at least I fluffed the millinery (my favorite thing to hoard!) to show you what my plan is! I will glue them on this week.... "besties" are the best!

Please go visit Karla's Cottage to see all the other wonderful treasures people are creating with their "besties!" Well, I am worn out! Back to bed for me! Cough! Cough! karen.......

Treasures.....

Today I visited my local flea.... I found some circus tickets, a wicker purse (plastic) which will be foofed soon, some sweet doilies and a doll that I love!
I picked up the doll and asked the vendor how much, $3... it was not leaving my hands! Well, another lady saw me with it and followed me all around the booth just staring at her! She finally said, "She's not German you know!" I replied, "I know, but she is the perfect state of tattered and I love her" The lady "Harummmphed" me and left the booth... Yes she is made of composition and not porcelain...but she is wonderful... The seam binding was from a little trip hubby and I took last week...


The plates are also from that trip, I got three plates and three salad plates. The cup and saucer and millinery are thrift shop finds... I will be re-doing the cup and saucer soon!

This ugly printers tray will soon be renovated into, hopefully, something wonderful using my "good stuff" for Karla's little linky party...The polka dot bowl was just plain happy, thought it would be cute with my easter goodies and at 54 cents, I couldn't pass it up!

On another note, my cute hubby ordered these from Ozma of Odds on Etsy....she has wonderful ex-voto tags and boxes and the bottom card is a pearl garland. I love them! I hope you have a wonderful week! Go find a treasure and make something pretty! karen....

Quirky Pets and I am not a hoarder!!!!

I LOOOVe animals and kids. I have never trained my pets very much, just the basics because I love when their little personalities come out. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats and boy are they funny! Meet Mila...aka Professor Mittens. She is always getting into things and trying to figure things out. Hubby bought this laundry basket last week and while I was sitting by the computer the other day, it was moving....I mean driving....kinda quickly past my door....
I went out to see what was going on and this is what I found....

She has figured out that if she gets a good run and jumps into the basket, it will fly.... we have left it out in the kitchen because it is just so amusing to see this little cat drive this big laundry basket!

Now for a new development.... Little Squeek has fallen in love with my son's stuffed animal from when he was little...she drags pickles the dog around our living room and then lays on him... She can't stay on him if she falls asleep, so she bites into him to help keep hold, it is the oddest development around our house....

Watching her fall asleep is hysterical!!! Go figure!

Now for fun news in the creative world...

Cute Karla of Karla's Cottage is having a linky party! She is encouraging us to use our good stuff in our art and show it on March 6-7th. She made a comment that (and this is not a quote) She is not a hoarder, she just collects the good stuff!!! I am using that from now on.... we will see how that goes over with the hubby!!!
Anyway, I am going to participate because I have been trying to use my good stuff lately and really love the results! So how about you?

I have one more day off! Wahooooooo! Maybe I will start working on that challenge tomorrow! Have a great President's Day! karen.....