Precious Metals

A few weeks ago I taught a class called Precious Metals.  We embellished vintage tins to organize and store some of our small supplies.  As I've said many times on my blog, our family loves to go camping.  I spend more time packing my art supplies than my clothes.  It's so nice to have small containers like this to fill up and throw in a basket for the trip.  Each one ends up being so unique, I just love them. 

My favorite would have to be the long hacksaw blade container in the photo above.  This will transport my colored pencils in style.

Even the inside of the tins received some special treatment!

Blazing A Hot Trail

I'm 100% positive that I looked like a tremendous dork when I blazed a hot trail to a vendors table at last months flea market after spotting this from a far.  I LOVE purple and yellow together.  Of course this soda was well before my time but I'd never heard of it. 

What am I going to do with it you ask?  I think I'm going to cart it from store to store with me until I can find glass bottles that fit inside.  I thought a grouping of them in the center slots would be beautiful with some fresh flowers.  Once I'm hooked up I'll share how it turned out.

Creative Camp Out Retreat - Project Peek #1

Hi there...I've been waiting for some decent lighting so that I could take some pictures for some blog posts this week.  Up first is one of the projects we'll be making at this summers Creative Camp Out.  This cream colored retro pail is the perfect vessel to house all of your wall paper scraps or vintage papers.

Of course we'll embellish it once we've papered the outside...

And then tie a bow on top for the sake of prettiness.  Because...it's what we do right?

In case you don't have the info on the Creative Camp Out I will share it here. The cost of the retreat is $450 and it includes 4 classes, 3 mini classes, breakfast, lunch and lodging. I'm only taking 18 ladies for this trip and there are only 6 spaces left. Please let me know if you'd like to attend and I can give you the rest of the details!

I Bought A New Skirt...

For the Christmas tree next year. I bought it here. Isn't it unusual? I love it and it was on sale.

Pretty Mail

A couple of months ago my friend Laura gave me a bolt of gorgeous light blue tulle.  I pulled it out over the weekend and sewed up some pretty packages of art supplies and vintage wallpaper.  I do  believe these will be able to go through the postal service. 

Wouldn't it be fun to see a package like this in the midst of all of your mail?

Sparkly Twine

I'm so excited to get this glittered twine that I purchased on Etsy here.  This is much thicker than bakers twine and the sparkle is so pretty. 

Just thought I'd share a great find in case you want some for yourself!

Our 5 Year Plan...Maybe

For some time now my husband and I have been thinking about moving.  There are a few reasons that we haven't.  For one, my parents live one street away and we're very close with them.  I grew up seeing my grandparents everyday and I want that for my kids too.  Secondly, I've been at the same company for almost 20 years.  They are family to me after all this time.

We've talked to my parents about finding a place that we all like and making a move but until now they've been reluctant to leave California.  In the past if I brought it up one of them would say, "but you can't beat the weather in California".  Imagine my surprise when they came over talking about Tenessee and how much some friends of ours were loving it there, having just moved a few months ago.  My Mom emailed me the picture of this house that's for sale in the town our friends are in.  This house {that I LOVE} is going for about half of what ours would sell for and it's are you ready for this.............4 times the size!

I'm not going to lie, I'm a true California girl but as time goes by I want green trees...lots of them.  I want a big church and a small town.  I want a barn that I can string lights up in and throw big parties with lots of lemonade and dancing.  A porch I can sleep on during hot summer nights.  I want people to call me by my name at the grocery store.

We've made some progress...it's no longer something that just some of us want.  All of us want it now.  I couldn't be more relieved.  I couldn't have gone and left anyone behind.  I know that this may seem unrealistic to some.  Families scatter over time, it's the norm.  For us, well, we just love to be together.  Now that I know it's our tentative 5 or so year plan a little voice in my heart says, "you'll never go you know". 

Maybe, maybe not.

Apronology - Volume 4

The first couple of issues of Apronology left me wishing I had a great apron to work in so

awhile back my Mom and I made the one shown in the bottom right of the

picture above.  I'm happy to be in this upcoming issue, Volume 4.

I get wonderful use out of my apron and I'm thinking that

at some point this year I'll do another workshop

where we make them.

Maybe at Creative Camp Out?



Gifts For Art Friends

I don't normally show the projects that I'm sending in to Stampington.  I realized that that attibuted to

what seemed like less of a crafty year for me in 2011.

I decided to show a few projects here and there and I'm starting with this gift for an art friend.

I found this old thread box at the flea market for $1 and even though

it was pretty rickety I thought it could

be used once anyway.

You can see that I had to reinforce a few areas with some washi tape.  I hardly notice that

when I look at the package because all I can see is that scrumptious

electric purple ribbon.

I love the way the interior box slides out.  So charming.