Studio Sunday - 'Royal Crowns'

We made these crowns for the Princess & Pea photo shoot. Found them in my studio today. Believe it or not we used Burger King crowns (the ones they give to kids) for the bases then added our own touches! Worked out pretty well! I've always been fascinated with crowns - it seems like a popular motif right now. I was fascinated by their history - read about them here!

Saturday Sojourn - Red Shoes - Michigan

This past summer my youngest daughter and I flew out to visit my oldest daughter in Michigan. We had a chance to go to the Ann Arbor Street Fair and then I insisted on finding Red Shoes - a lovely little shop also in Ann Arbor. Here are a few photos of the outside - so adorable. I just read on her blog that the storefront has closed. How sad. I loved that place! Happy I got to visit! But she has more creative endeavors in store! Find her on facebook as well!

little fairy doors - photo & art by Red Shoes

Thrifty Thursday - Buttons, Lace & Quilt

Some recent thrift store purchases! 

tiny lace pieces

lace trim

I can never have enough buttons!

Have I shown this before? My $3 thrift store purchase!

Wordy Wednesday - Tif Fussell

I am such a big fan of Tif Fussell - well known as Dottie Angel. When I read she was writing a book I was so excited. I was even more excited when I received it! There are lots of little handmade touches on the cover and back of the book - and as an early-buyer I got a little packet of fabric/thread goodies! Tif loves what she calls "granny chic" - doilies, vintage kitchen linens, sheets and fabrics. I  highly recommend her book - order one here.

photos courtesy of uppercase

And because it's 'wordy wednesday' I thought I would let you know about my 'word' for 2012. I've done this for the past few years - i choose a word as a positive focus for the year. My word is luminous! I want 2012 to be light, shiny, bright and clear, as well as enlightening! Do you have a word for the year?

lu·mi·nous

  [loo-muh-nuhs]  

adjective

1.

radiating or reflecting light; shining; bright.

2.

lighted up or illuminated; well-lighted: the luminous ballroom.

3.

brilliant intellectually; enlightened or enlightening, as a writeror a writer's works: a luminous concept; luminous prose.

4.

clear; readily intelligible: a concise, luminous report.

Tuesday Theme - Thimbles

Adorable thimble planters by DoodleBirdie

Thimble Print Bookpage by Winterberry Cottage

Vintage Thimble Necklaces by LovelyMusings

Porcelain Bunny Thimble from Idale's Etsy Shop

As a seamstress I've always been fascinated by thimbles. I have a few of my grandmothers but I've never really been a collector. Here's a bit of history from wiki - 

A thimble is a small hard pitted cup worn for protection on the finger that pushes the needle in sewing.

The earliest known thimble was Roman and was found at Pompeii. Made of bronze, its creation has been dated to the 1st century AD. A second Roman thimble was found at Verulamium, present day St Albans, in the UK and can be viewed in the museum there.

According to the United Kingdom Detector Finds Database, thimbles dating to the 10th century have been found in England, and thimbles were in widespread use there by the 14th century. Although there are isolated examples of thimbles made of precious metals—Elizabeth I is said to have given one of her ladies-in-waiting a thimble set with precious stones—the vast majority of metal thimbles were made of brass. Medieval thimbles were either cast brass or made from hammered sheet. Early centers of thimble production were those places known for brass-working, starting with Nuremberg in the 15th century, and moving to Holland by the 17th.

Here are a couple of 'thimble' blogs -

http://www.thimble.ca/
http://thimbleanna.com/
http://therustythimble.blogspot.com/
http://www.camilleroskelley.typepad.com/

Monday Musings - The Handwritten Letter

artwork by Mark Powell

I used to love writing/receiving letters. However, in this digital age I have sorely neglected any form of handwritten correspondence. I am going to change that! I spent yesterday afternoon attending a presentation at the local library on letter writing. They've set up a 'station' where folks can use an array of pens, pencils, stationary, envelopes, etc. to write letters. A fabulous idea! Our presenter is a letter writer, and also raises carrier pigeons/doves that compete in races. Very interesting! Check out her blog here . This has led me to a few other great resources - The Letter Writer's Alliance , Ginny's Small Studio, United States Postal Service and the National Postal Museum.

from Ginny's Small Studio

Anyone interested in handwritten correspondence? I will gladly write a letter to you if you will respond! Send me an email and I'll give you my address! 

new stamp from usps 

another new usps stamp...I have to have some of these! 

Studio Sunday

It was a really lovely day - spent a little time straightening the studio. I've been thinking about hearts! Made a few little stitched hearts and a bracelet from vintage buttons and beads

 I tried to photograph some of my laces and linens on a fantastic drying rack I found at the Antique Market. I love this rack so much! 

Saturday Sojourn - Princess & The Pea Photo Shoot

This past November I had the privilege of assisting with a photo shoot! I didn't have to travel far, but I definitely traveled out of my comfort zone. I had never done anything like this before, but I was excited to help! I met photographer, costume designer/creator Tyson Vick through our Montana Camp store. He was taking photos of items to list on the store's Esty shop. He mentioned he was doing a photo shoot with a Princess and the Pea theme, and wanted some help. Great - I'll do it! My job was to gather as many mattresses, bedding items and jewels as I could find. I managed to rummage through all my stuff and found quite a bit. We then spent a long evening making paper and jewel crowns! Awesome! Tyson is hoping to get his photos published soon. I haven't seen them yet, but I know they will be fantastic! Here are some photos I took during the shoot! I want to say a big Thank You to Tyson Vick, the models, hair and makeup artists, Montana Camp, especially manager Jen for use of mattresses and her help, Halsey Bishop of Spunky Junky for the lovely hair accessories, and Mr. Libster of the Historic Belgrade Merchantile! 

Computer Glitch

Sorry for the delay in posts... having computer issues... back asap!

Monday Musings

My Cozy Little Whimsy Nook - I just happened upon this lovely little blog and the artist, Marjorie Liucci. I am often drawn to whimsical drawings of girls and animals (I adore rabbits...) - so when I came across her blog I was hooked! I'm trying to decide which of her pictures to purchase - they are all so great. (All photos/drawings by the artist, Marjorie Liucci) 

Studio Sunday

Haven't spent too much time in the studio today. It's a snowy, wintery day at last! This afternoon I attended my Artist's Way group, which I love. It really helps me explore my creativity. In the studio I finished my embroidery project - I ordered the printed project from Charlotte Lyons. Here's the before ~

the finished project (below) waiting to be made into a pillow! 

Saturday Sojourn

so·journ/ˈsōjərn/

Noun:	A temporary stay.
Verb:	Stay somewhere temporarily: "she had sojourned once in Egypt".
Synonyms:	noun.  stay - visit verb.  stay - tarry

I spent much of the day going through a storage unit I rent. My goal is for it to be completely empty by June 1! I live in a teeny, tiny dollhouse of a house so I've had to store a good deal of my things. I'm finding I don't need so much anymore. It's just my youngest daughter and I living here so we don't need a houseful of stuff! My Saturday Sojourn didn't find me drifting too far out of town! However, I am posting a picture I took on an outing this past fall to the Antique Barn. Don't you just love the look of the book pages covering the wall? And the chippy blue chairs and table?

Friday FYI - Extension

photo by William Albert Allard for National Geographic 

I used to be an Extension Agent (otherwise known as field faculty for Montana State University). I was the Family & Consumer Science (Home Ec), Community Development and  4-H/Youth Development agent for Toole Co and Park Co in Montana. What does that mean? Here is the wiki definition . Basically, I was an adjunct faculty member of MSU who took research-based information from the university and used it for education and outreach for folks in a couple of counties. There is probably an Extension Agent in nearly every county in the U.S. (just ask me, I'll tell you how to find yours).  I taught workshops and seminars on nutrition, family financial planning, housing, gardening and parenting, to name a few topics, and I taught 4-H kids, prison inmates, homemaker groups, city officials, farmers, etc. Quite a diverse audience and quite a range of topics. I enjoyed every minute of it. If you want information on just about anything, Extension probably has the answer, or they know how to find it! Here is one very good publication - a timely bit of info for the new year - click on the title ~

Your Important Papers - What to Keep and Where - check it out...really. Great info - and most of the publications are FREE!

Now...why the National Geographic photo at the top of this post? I was just reading the January issue and realized that the last article in the magazine, which is titled "Riding Out Another Season" written by David Quammen, is a story about the place where I was an Extension Agent for about five years (Shelby, MT in Toole Co).  I know many of the people and places mentioned in the article. Kinda cool! Read the article online here.

Thrifty Thursday - Angel Food Cake

My grandma (Dad's mom) baked the best angel food cakes ever! I remember many birthday cakes with pink frosting and sprinkled with coconut or some nonpareil . I did not like the shredded coconut! Click on link below the cake for a yummy cake recipe. Below that is my inspiration for Thrifty Thursday. One of the vendors at our store bought these angel food cake pans from a local auction. We just had a new Safeway built so lots of things from the old store were for sale. I scored a cake pan from the vendor ... what can I do with it (besides make cakes?)... any ideas? Don't you also love the cart they are sitting on? Another auction item - I love it!

yum!

Wordy Wednesday - Frankie Pratt

I read a-l-o-t so my 'wordy wednesday' will most likely feature some of my favorite books! I purchase very few, mostly using my public library. I happened across a book titled, "The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt"   (I tend to judge books by their covers). Read it in an evening - I couldn't put it down. Author Caroline Preston does a phenomenal job of creating an extremely unique book - all you creative types out there will love it - I promise. This is a book I will need to own. Check out the book 'trailer' on Caroline's website. And if you read the book, let me know what you think!

(photo courtesy of Caroline Preston's website)

Theme Tuesday - Jane Austen

I needed inspiration for Theme Tuesday - my daughter suggested Jane Austen! Where does one start? You can visit the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England and you can join the Jane Austen Society of North America! I'm sure I've read everything she has written and seen each movie! I am a big fan of Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen Mystery Series! Here are a few Jane Austen items I found on Etsy. What is your favorite Jane Austen book or movie? I don't think I can choose!

Click on item below for etsy link ~
postcard
pillow bookends 
bracelet
ATC's