windows to *ME*

Puzzle Piece Spinner Charms

I created these charms for one of the current swaps in the Oh So Charming group.  The theme is altered puzzle pieces.  I decided to try out the spinner technique for these charms and am very happy with the results.  This is the completed charm.  I'll be posting the technique in the Oh So Charming group.

Now to get them in the mail and get working on my other swap project that is due - brown & blue quilties.  But today I'm headed to Salem to finish pricing the never ending estate sale.  This estate is so huge I feel like we will never finish it.  This coming weekend is the Expo antique show and I always look forward to July - it is my favorite one to shop because they open the front parking lot to vendors who normally can't get a space at the show.  Lots of variety and fun, funky, cool antiques. 

Birds and nests for Spring

I packaged up several birds and bird nests for the antique show this weekend.  I'm hoping these little guys will find some new homes.  I'm trying to go through my stash and see what I can purge, these birds are ready to fly the coop.  They are so cute in a little compote dish or crystal bowl.  If you'd like one, email me and I can get one to you, they are $6.

It's Beginning To Look . . . . . .

Well, you know - 'tis the season.  We have had some horrible weather here in the Northwest - I'm sure if you turned on the news at all you've seen people being plucked from rooftops in Vernonia, highways and interstates closed due to downed trees and flooding.  The Oregon Coast hasn't had power now for over 2 days.  Thankfully, I am warm, with power and dry, despite the 6 inches of rain that fell in Hillsboro over a 24 hour period.  I had to work today and the drive in Portland wasn't bad at all.  I think the rain has stopped for now.  I even saw some sunshine today!

The pictures are some of the vintage Christmas that is on display in our store.  We've been busy there, the weather didn't seem to keep too many people away.  In fact, brought people in who were stranded in town because their road home had flooded.  What else can you do when you are stuck in town all day but shop! 

I've been knitting away on my Tree Jacket.  I would have finished it this weekend except that I ran out of yarn.  Well, thank goodness the yarn store had more of the same color (different dye lot but hey, close enough - you can't even tell).  So, I'll be finishing up the last sleeve, seaming them and then I think I'll frog the bottom hem and make it a little longer - I'm just not happy with the length that it is.  Then it will be time to block it and finished in plenty of time before Christmas - which was my goal.  In fact, this sweater knit up so quick I couldn't believe it.  I cast on November 6th and will be finished by tomorrow - one month!  That is with only knitting in the evenings and on the weekends when I'm not busy in the store.

I've also been making more bags for the hospital craft bazaar coming up this weekend.  These are made from upholstery fabric scraps and vintage embellishments from my stash.  The images are vintage pictures, printed and ironed on to satin ribbon.  The roses are one of my new found obessessions - ribbon that is formed and sewn into roses and then stitched onto the bag.  I'll have these available this Friday at the Emanuel Hospital Craft Bazaar and then the ones that don't sell I plan to list as I open my Etsy shop - hopefully next week.  We will see how that goes . . . . . .

The first bag is completed, the second one still needs a cord attached to it and the top edge finished.

Back from Sisters

We had a wonderful weekend at the Sisters Antique Show in Central Oregon.  Lots of buyers looking for just the right antique to add to their collection.   We sold a few pieces of furniture and lots of small items.  This is always the highlight of our summer show season.  Even a little rain couldn't stop the fun.  We set up our booth in the park and were even greeted by deer each morning who were probably trying to figure out why all of this stuff was in the way of their lush green breakfast. 

I had a chance to visit the Stichin' Post - always one of my favorite places to visit in Sisters.  Tons of inspiration.  Even though I am not a quilter I am in awe of the amazing quilts and inspired by the art work - lots of great ideas to use in my own art projects.  I managed to get out of there without buying anything this year but my head is swimming with new project ideas.  Hopefully I'll be able to put some of them into use in the near future. 

Next up are a couple of local doll shows in September so I'll be busy getting ready for those.  One of the estates we just purchased included several boxes of dolls so I'm anxious to look through those and get them ready to sell next month.

Lazy Days of Summer

Oh how I wish I was having some of those . . . . .

I haven't been updating lately as I have been so darn busy.  As I've said before, summer is a crazy time for us.  With antique shows, trying to fit in some fun stuff and now with the store.  But we are enjoying things just the same.

We had a wonderful weekend in Sisters, Oregon at the Antique Faire.  This is truly our favorite antique show.  All of the vendors set up in this beautiful grassy park, surrounded by big pine trees.  And the opportunity to stroll around town when we aren't too busy, is always a treat.  Lots of fun stores in town.  One of my favorites is The Stitchin Post.  This is an amazing quilt store.  I don't quilt but I can so appreciate all the work that goes into these pieces of art.  I enjoy looking through all that this store has to offer, beautiful fabrics and patterns.  They are not only about quilting.  They also have a fabulous selection of yarn and knitting, crochet items, as well as home decor, candles and other fun stuff.  I love to knit and crochet but I'm not very fast and I like quick things that I can finish up for some instant gratification.  I bought this book:

30 projects that you can complete each just using one skein of yarn.  Some are knit patterns and some crochet.  My favorite are these cute little knitted cupcakes.  So adorable, I can't wait to make some.  Also a great little crochet clutch bag with a zippered top.  Fall is coming and I always feel like sitting in front of the tv with a fun little portable project like knitting.  We'll see what I find time to do . . . .

Some photos of our booth at the antique faire.  We had a great weekend and sold lots of fun things.  I always love it when people buy our things.  The thought that we liked it enough to buy it and now someone else is seeing the same beauty in it and will take it home to add to their collection.  It's a great feeling.

This dragonfly was so amazing.  I have never seen one this close up and this still. 

On the way home we had an beautiful skyshow, presented by nature itself.  We have been having lots of wildfires here in Oregon this summer.  It has been very dry and that combined with a lightning storm is always sure to start some wildfires.  This weekend the fire started near Mt. Jefferson and the word is that they are just going to let it burn as there is no danger of homes or towns.  The smoke plume was just incredible last night.  That is Mt. Jefferson in the center of the photo with the smoke plum rising next to it.  The sunset became an amazing pink that I just couldn't capture with the camera.  Once we came over the cascades and back toward Portland there was no smoke.

Trying to catch up

I have not been a very good blogger lately.  Summer is a crazy, busy time for me.  Antique Shows, the store, work, and just keeping up with regular life while trying to throw in some fun.  But I'm back and hopefully back on track for blogging.  I've missed it.

I received two circle journals this week.  Swingin' 60's Chicks and What I Love About Being a Girl.  I also have the local journal to complete - Things That Make My Heart Smile.

Today I'll be finishing the Swingin' 60's Chicks and hopefully posting some pics.  It was fun researching some hip 60's women.  There were so many.  The 60's was such a time of change for women.  From the conservative, at home 50's to the wild, free, independent 60's.

I've been doing some other projects away from scrapbooking for a bit now.  Nice to have some variety.  I've fallen back into jewelry and beading a bit.  Between paper and beads, I'm not sure which would be my biggest passion.  I've also been doing more ATCs and I joined a rolodex card swap - fun stuff.

I finally cut my hair for the locks of love donation.  It feels great!  I'll post some pics of that too soon.  A little before and after.  With the crazy hot weather here I decided it was time to do it.  I do miss my long hair sometimes but I do love having it short.  So very easy to take care of and make it look somewhat styled.  All for a wonderful cause which is the most important part.

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of the last antique show here in Portland.  Three more this summer.  Our first annual Downtown Hillsboro Main Street Madness Antique Faire will be this Sunday, August 6th.  If you are local and reading this come on by.  Lots of antique vendors and shops . . . who knows you may find something to use on a scrapbook page or art project. 

Theatre, Antiques and Scrapbooking

I am sooooo not happy with Typepad at this very moment.  I just was finishing my post and zap! gone, no warning, nothing, vanished . . . . . . .

Let's try again . . . .

The title sums up my life right now.  Doug's play at HART (Hillsboro Artists' Regional Theatre) is in the middle of it's second weekend and doing well.  It is a great show.  I so enjoy seeing Doug be successful in something he loves so much . . . . theatre.  The actors have all worked hard and it's really paying off.  The play (Broadway Bound - Neil Simon) is a bit of a roller coaster, sometimes funny, sometimes intense . . . . . much like life.  Of course I enjoy the show so much more when Doug is actually in it but he loves directing and so that makes me happy too.  Here's a picture of the stage . . . .  1940's New York apartment.

We had a fantastic day at the store today.  I would guess we had at least 350 customers come through our doors.  It was one of the best days we've had since opening.  Although we still have a nice selection of lamps available.

Tomorrow is the next get together and trade off of circle journals for the local group that I'm in.  The album I have now is Me and My Good Friend.  I had fun doing this layout and tag for the circle journal and I'm anxious to meet tomorrow and trade off for another.

I'm hoping to work on my ATCs tomorrow for the antique/vintage keys swap that I joined.  I played a little today with my alcohol inks and made a fun ATC that is in no way related to the swap series but I liked it so much I think I'll make a few more and turn it into a series for future swapping.

Hope you are having a wonderful spring weekend, create something fun!  I'm going to finish up a few computer things and then go relax a bit.  I've had a busy week (and weekend so far).

Oh, I did stop by Michelle's blog and then took the what kind of scrapbook collection are you quiz.  Guess what?  I'm Basic Grey . . . . . imagine that.  I love it!

Doodling, a Pee Chee, and a Challenge

I started off blogging about doodling today.  Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock you know it is the hot new addition to your scrapbook pages.  As my thoughts wandered, I was recalling my doodling skills of the past and that brought me to the memory of my beloved Pee Chee.  Wasn’t that the number one place to doodle.  You started off the year with a clean, new Pee Chee and by June, you had a worn, tattered folder covered in doodling.  Mine was covered with names of bands, boys, sports teams and cars.  Along with a few hearts, squiggles and flowers of course!  I don’t think I doodle nearly as much as I should.  Why did I even stop.  It’s relaxing, passes the time while you are sitting in a boring class or as we get older, a boring meeting.

I wondered . . . . what is the history of the Pee Chee?  I came across this:

The yellow Pee Chee Folder was first released in 1943 by the Western Tablet and Stationery Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Early versions featured young boys and girls at the soda shop, or wartime images such as jeeps and navy ships.

By1964, Mead Paper had bought Western Tablet and introduced new artwork to the Pee Chee line. These images of tennis players, football heroes, track stars, and dancers were drawn by Francis Golden, who received only a one-time fee for pictures that would grace millions of folders each year. Golden later became a prominent water colorist, and over the years new artists took over illustrating Pee Chee folder updates. According to Mead, the style of art was updated approximately every ten years.

What?  They aren’t made any more?  How could something so wonderful not be made for children today?  I think I may still have one safely tucked away in a box of my momentos.  I hope it has lots of doodling on it.

Doodle a little today . . . . . let yourself play!  I challenge you to scrapbook a layout about your beloved Pee Chee, include some wild doodling.  Post a link here.  I’ll work on mine this weekend.