Sorting, Crafting, Organizing, Etc.

Well, that craft show actually put me in a "I don't want to do anything else" mood.  Guess all the making and preparing and doing of it wore me out a little.  Thankfully there were some sales from my Etsy shop at the beginning to middle of December.  I've made a few things...but lately I haven't done much.  I just finished this embellished key the other day.  Found the chain at a local antique mall and just knew it would go perfectly with the vintage jewelry piece, and it all went together quite nicely (it's in my shop HERE).

Otherwise, I've been working on my taxes so that I'm not overwhelmed with them next month.  Taxes stress me out a little, so I decided to organize all of my paperwork at the end of each month this past year so that once January rolls around there would be only a few series of 12 numbers to add up rather than hundreds!  I got a little behind this fall so had to catch up on October and November's figures. 

I've also been organizing my craft room...my "studio" as it is affectionately called.  It really became a disorganized mess before my craft show, so slowly it is becoming more organized.  It has been amazing to discover, well, rediscover,  the things that are in that room, things under other things and long forgotten. 

We're getting more snow--more in the forecast too.  I guess it is December, and that is to be expected.  I'm looking forward to a fresh, new year coming up in just a few weeks.  Happy New Year!

First Craft Show

Mom and I were in a craft show last Saturday.  What a lot of work!  Whew!  Mom has been in craft shows most of her life, and I remember going to many of them...sitting with her, helping her, etc.  They I got married, moved out of the house...fast forward 24 years.  She hasn't been in one since moving out here with us, so we thought it was time.  We had been going to this one particular show for the past few years.  It looked like a good one--no Tupperware, no Pampered Chef....just all handmade crafts at this show.  We liked that. 

I had worked hard deactivating things from my Etsy shop, tagging items, and organizing for several weeks.  I made two more vintage jewelry wreaths as well as a few other things.  Of course, Mom had many things to put in too...our little table was packed!  It was a sunny day but bitterly cold, and I know that kept some people home.  We did okay...of course, I wasn't exactly sure how it would go.  You always hope to sell, well...like, EVERYTHING, and that rarely happens.  It was a good experience. but we haven't decided if we will do it again next year...probably though! 

Flowers from My Honey

These are some flowers that my sweet husband sent to me.  Aren't they beautiful? 

It has been a rough few weeks.  I was officially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis...and it has been a little hard to deal with.  However, I'm so thankful for a supportive family who has been kind and gentle with me.  My husband has been sweet and wonderful through it all, and I'm so thankful for him.  I'm very thankful too for the Lord for the strength, peace, and comfort He has given me.  No, I'm certainly not mad at God.  Sickness and difficulties are part of life.  He has allowed it in my life for a purpose, and I know He will give me the grace to get through each day.  I'm on meds that I know are helping--I can feel they are helping.  I don't like the idea of being dependent on medication now--for the rest of my life, in fact--and for having to take a med that lowers my immune system.  I don't like not having the freedom of choice in taking over the counter things for colds and headaches like I used to.  Change is always hard.  But, it just takes getting used to.  I'm thankful for doctors and medication for help.  Through my adjustments and tears, I know that there are many, many other people out there with far more serious problems, and I'm extremely thankful to God that this diagnosis isn't more sinister.  

Vintage Jewelry Embellished Button Card Ornaments

I really love vintage button cards and enjoy looking at them on Pinterest.  Some are just exquisite.  I remember an estate sale that I went to that had many...wish I had purchased more of them.  Anyway, while these button cards aren't over the top exquisite, they ARE pretty.  Of course, you know I like to embellish things with vintage jewelry...so these were a natural combination. 

I bought some pretty paper and worked these up.  I tried to make them look pretty on the front and back. 

They are in my Etsy shop and can be hung around the home as home décor all year round. 

Hope you like them too. 

Happy, Happy Fall

It has been a beautiful past several days here in Wisconsin.  The trees are really turning, and they seem especially bright and pretty this year compared with those in the past several years.  We went on a long walk through a local state park on Saturday and another walk yesterday afternoon.  The sky was a brilliant blue, and the trees....gorgeous!  This picture is of across the street this morning.  Have a wonderful day and week!

Time to Blog

To be honest with you...I'm finding it difficult to find time to blog!  I'm sure many others are having the same problem.  There is my Etsy shop to constantly work on including networking there, Pinterest to peek at, emails to catch up with...then of course, housework, kids, homeschooling, and creating for my shop.  Ugh!  It seems like I set there at the end of a day all the time and wonder just where exactly time went. 

I have been putting on the screws as far as creating goes.  I have been working on some new ideas...some things are done and others are still in the works.  Mom and I had a "craft day" last Saturday while Hubby worked.  It was fun, and we got a lot done.  We are actually going to be in a craft show this year.  She has been in them for years...and years.  This will be my first, so I'm glad we will be in this one together.  I'm going to put some of my bigger and hard to ship things to see if they go.  It is the Saturday before Thanksgiving, so at least I have a little bit of time to work some more things up. 

One thing I've started doing is embellishing beautiful keys.  The key first of all has to have design and be pretty.  They have been fun to do.  Of course, you know me and embellishing--can't help myself.  A few have sold (the one above is one of my favorites but hasn't sold yet). 

Also, Mom found at a thrift shop out West a box full of these tiny pink plastic figures--figures from cereal promos in the 1950's.  There are some that I won't use, but the pretty ladies/dancers inspired me to make little shadowbox ornaments.  I tried to make little embellished--true to size, the hard part--scenes.  I made them in colors of ornaments that can be used year round as home décor.  Of course they have lots of glitter.  They are pretty small since they are made out of small cardboard jewelry boxes. 

I had some other little vintage bits that I made into shadowboxes/dioramas...this little winter scene dog is probably my favorite. 
I'll blog about the other "new things" I'm working on, but those probably won't be done until the end of the week or so. 

Fall Sale in My Etsy Shop

Fall is my favorite time of year! To celebrate I'm offering a 10% discount on all purchases in my Etsy shop from Thursday, September 12 through Sunday, September 15. Just use the coupon code "FALLSALE" at checkout.

Vintage Crown Buttons

Mom and I were at the local antique mall last week, and I purchased a bag of vintage buttons for $2.  I got the bag because of these three crown buttons....

...aren't they darling?  I hope to put them into a wearable craft. 

However inside there were plenty of other beautiful buttons---many are glass.  While there aren't very many others where there is more than one of a kind (though those red glass triangle ones are a lovely find!), I'm delighted with the purchase.  Buttons are so fun.

A Door County Sunset

We went up to Door County...the county in Wisconsin's peninsula that juts out into Lake Michigan...last week for a little bit of R&R and camping.  We froze at night in our little tent, believe it or not, but had a great time.  We hiked and fished and shopped.  We went to Wilson's under their famous red and white striped awnings for ice cream.  We had a yummy cinnamon roll at Grandma's Swedish Bakery at the Wagon Wheel Resort.  We walked among the boats at different marinas in the little towns up the coast.  We saw the goats on the grassy roof of Al Johnson's restaurant. It was a perfect few days, and we left relaxed and refreshed (as we always leave Door County).  Did you see the feature in Victoria magazine about Door County?  I haven't read it yet but was glad that Door County was getting some much deserved attention.

A "big deal" is to watch the sun set in the evening--hoping to see a "green flash" after the sun goes down.  One evening we watched from Sunset Park in Fish Creek, and the second evening we climbed the 75 foot tower at Peninsula State Park and watched from there.  When we got to the top...and well out of breath...I saw this pretty sailboat heading into the harbor.  I love the color of the sails.

Then we watched the sun set from our wonderful vantage point.

Going....

Going...

Going...

Gone! 

Ahhh...while we never did see that green flash, it was definitely another end to another perfect day in Door County. 

The Culprit

For a few years now I've attempted to grow Morning Glories by our mailbox.  You have the mental picture:  twirling vines twisting up the length of our mailbox with loads of blue and purple and pink trumpet flowers hanging off.  Beautiful!  Well, this has just never happened.  Last year by September I had a one wimpy vine with two little blossoms on it.  I blamed the hot summer.  THEN...this year...cute as he is...we discovered why I never had beautiful Morning Glories and why I won't this year.....

Perhaps our mail carrier has paid this little guy off.  I suppose mail carriers get tired of buzzing bees and vines creeping around mailbox flags.  Whatever the case, at least I know it isn't my seeds or my lack of watering...it is this bunny and his whole family who have nibbled my Morning Glories down to stubs.  Oh, well, I guess this bunny had a truly lovely snack and our mail carrier can have an unobstructed mailbox to deliver into this year! 

Independence Day Sale

10% OFF

INDEPENDENCE DAY SALE

Well, I'm thankful for America, and I'm thankful for the freedoms we still do have.  One of those freedoms is to have my little shop.  Despite having to pay taxes (and hopefully not MORE taxes), I love having my Etsy shop.  So, I decided to have a little sale (and I don't have sales very often) now through July 4th to celebrate--simply enter the coupon code "GLASS10" to receive 10% off your order.  You may visit my shop HERE to see if there is anything that strikes your fancy.  Thank you for looking. Also, thank you, GraphicsFairy, for the pretty picture above.

Catching Up

It HAS been awhile since I blogged last.  Life has gotten busy.  There is only so much time in a day to get things done.  My little blog has suffered.  I can't possibly go back to when I blogged last and catch up on everything.  But I shall try....

In a nutshell:  We finished school at the end of May.  The kids did well this past year, and I'm very pleased with their work.  They are taking a break from violin for the summer but are still working on their piano lessons.  Our daughter is taking swimming lessons to get a little more confident in the water than she is.  We are still doing those lessons, and I certainly see improvement in just this short time.  They are also taking art lessons this summer. 

We went camping for two nights already.  It was fun to get away, and we hope to do some more in a few weeks.  No big vacation is planned this year--just short camping trips around the state.  We really would like to get up to Door County this summer.  I see the newest issue of Victoria magazine has a nice article on Door County.  They are well deserving of the publicity.  It really is pretty and relaxing up there in the "thumb" of Wisconsin.

There have been plenty of parties we've been going to:  graduation, birthday, etc.  My mother-in-law's 70th is on July 4th, and we are helping with a big celebration for her. 

I've been working on many projects.  Unfortunately sales have been a little low, but that is to be expected this time of year when there is so much going on and people are putting their money toward vacations and family get-togethers.  I've been working on some felt projects (I really do enjoy making felt things) and, of course, my vintage jewelry embellishment projects. 

 

Mom and I are thinking of trying a craft show this fall.  She has been in many; I haven't been in any.  We're waiting approval.  I'm not very good at "production", but if we are approved to be in it, I will need to work on that until November. 

Well, I'll try to be more faithful at writing in the days ahead.  Happy summer day to you.

Thankful for Memorial Day

Just a little pause to be thankful for those in the past who served in our military so that we can have the freedoms we have today.  Many thanks too for those who are serving still...and for the sacrifices they and their families make to defend the freedoms we still have. 

Having a Memorial Day Sale...

...in my Etsy shop.  Just enter the coupon code "GLASS10" to receive 10% off your order from now through Memorial Day.  You may access my shop HERE. 

Blue and White Jewelry Embellished Clock

I finished embellishing a clock with vintage jewelry bits--in white and many complimentary shades of blue.  It actually seems like it has a coastal look to it, but I'm sure it would look nice with many different decors.  I've listed it in my Etsy shop.  Hope you like it!

Pretty Dishes for a Song

I found these two dishes this past Friday at a thrift shop.  I've been looking around for a pretty serving dish (like for mashed potatoes) but haven't wanted to spend much.  Well, these two dishes were only around $3.50--for both of them--so they were definitely worth the money.  The shapes, gold accents, cut work, and floral patterns are beautiful.   Hope you like them too!

 

The Best are Hand Picked

We have been keeping our eyes out for violets--Wisconsin's state flower.  Usually they arrive earlier, but this year with a delayed spring they have only just arrived.  My son found the first ones--these four--and picked them for me.  Isn't that sweet?!  Aren't they lovely!

Flea Market Finds

It is so great to have good weather to get out and about again.  What a long winter...and long spring.  The flea market started last weekend, but we couldn't go because the kids had their violin recital (actually, the weather wasn't the best either).  But, today was sunny and pleasant.  Here is a picture of some of the finds from today's flea market--some pretty jewelry, a vintage Christian Dior perfume bottle, a shimmery beaded purse, and some beautiful antique books. 

Now I need to get listing some of these things in my Etsy shop.  Have a great weekend.

Vintage Button Card Jewelry

Well, I've had some amazing inspiration for this, my newest project--Button Card Jewelry. 

I have made pendants and pins that look like vintage button cards--complete with little buttons (some of them very tiny).  

Using the digital tools available today and vintage cards and things, I've made pieces that look like vintage button cards and sewn on buttons (many of them vintage) turning them into brooches and pendants.  They have been a lot of hard work but great fun. 

Of course, much inspiration has come from following Button Floozies, a blog that I adore.  Pinterest has been another source of inspiration with photos such as this:

Then, there was the article in the March 2013 issue of Romantic Homes.  I just LOVED the picture in it and was drawn to the colors on this page. 

I haven't copied any button cards actually but rather have created my own and coordinated buttons to go with them.  Hope you like them!  They are listed in my Etsy shop.

Spring is Here!

Had to share these with you!  My crocuses are finally up--and, no, the gophers did not manage to eat these...yet!  It's been such a long winter it seems, and seeing these in the spring right outside my laundry room window is always a welcome sight. 

Glow In The Dark Thread

A friend told me about glow-in-the-dark thread, so of course I had to find some and play with it.  I found some on E-bay and had fun designing these ornaments for a nursery.

 

I have many ideas to use the thread for, of course, but I thought I'd give these a try first.  These ornaments actually took a lot of work--the little banner taking me awhile--but I was pleased with their outcome. 

When the lights go out in baby's room, the thread on these glow. 

What do you think?  I have other projects that I'm finishing up right now (posts later on on these!) but am eager to work more with this thread.  These ornaments are in my Etsy shop. 

Tangerine Butterfly

A tangerine butterfly landed on a pretty Asian plate!  Couldn't resist sharing. ; )

It's my birthday today.  The kids and hubby are making breakfast.  Thankfully it is spring break, and we have today off.  Hooray!  Mom and I are going to the huge antique mall not too far from here and will be there looking for things.  I have some new projects that I've been working on that are almost ready.  I'll be revealing those later this week.  Also, as a thank you to those who frequent my shop, I'm giving 10% off all orders today in my Etsy shop.  Just put the coupon code BIRTHDAY into the code section to receive the 10% off. 
P.S.  Thank you, GraphicsFairy, for the sweet image.

Antique Car Vase Find

We girls were out doing our antique mall/thrift shop hop last Saturday.  The guys were busy, so off we went.  There weren't too many goodies out there, but I did find this...

It's an antique car vase.  They were placed into hooks onto the outside of cars...whether funeral cars or a Buick or what have you...and bouquets of flowers were put into them.  This pretty vase doesn't have it's hook...BUT it is beautifully intact.  It is cone/sconce shaped and has pressed grape vines and grapes all over it. 

Such pretty detail!  I see that the holders can be purchased on Ebay.  However, this does have a hole in the glass, so that a hook could be secured to a wall. 

This would look lovely as home décor or on a door.  Anyway, I was glad to find it and have listed it in my Etsy shop.  It has a tiny crack in the very tip of the glass (amazing that's all since this probably bumpety-bumped along the road quite a bit) that does not affect the prettiness nor does it leak.  Anyway, I was delighted with the find.  Hopefully someone else will be too!

Adele and Josette at the Dress Form Ball

This little lady had been out shopping (in Paris, of course!) all day but still wanted to go to the Dress Form Ball at The Polka Dot Closet.  Adele is, oh, so tiny at only 3-1/4" tall, but, alas, was the only dress form around who was able to participate! 

She wore her finest vintage creme doily dress...the one with the rhinestone sash and bow.  She was pleased with the fleur-de-lis brooch she purchased while in Paris and put it on right away. 

Though she was already cumbered with her purse and packages, she couldn't resist purchasing a bouquet of roses from a street vendor to bring to our hostess of the second annual ball.

 
Little Josette who goes with her everywhere was wearing her typical rhinestone collar and leash. 

Many thanks to our hostess, Carol. 

Be sure to go to her blog, The Polka Dot Closet, to enjoy the ball and the many lovely guests who are also attending!