Monday, February 15, 2010
Valentine's Recycled
Though not the best picture I could have taken, hopefully you can see my vision. Well, I had this spectacular image of what I would do to decorate for Valentines, when I stumbled upon this unique picture stand at Goodwill. Total cost = $2.00! I know, I will fill it with vintage 40's & 50's Valentine cards. Quickly I realized finding the stand was one thing, but who knew the rarity and price of vintage cards! One antique store wanted at the least $14.00 for one used Valentine! NOT! Then I remembered, in the top of my closet in a giant shoebox (they are all giant since I wear a size 10) I have been saving cards of all occasions since before going to college. Yes, jackpot. Even better because they all had a deep emotional meaning. They are quite the smattering from my mom and dad, sister, grandmothers and friends. Forget the vintage, this is much more memorable. Lesson: Use what you have and recycle!
A Labor of L*O*V*E!
I love to wrap, I love to create and I love to give personal & unique gifts! So, one special friend of mine has a birthday approaching and I had to brainstorm what to give her. She and her sister both are very hard to top when gift giving is the agenda. Their whit and creativity are unmatched in my opinion, which makes it very difficult to reciprocate the "perfect" gift. The following is my attempt:
Yes, the creativity process got a little out of hand and resulted in the birth of two gifts, one for each sister. Wrapping to me is all about presentation. It is like a first impression, you only get one chance and you must woo your recipient.
The cake is tops! I started by making the base out of a noodle can I had been salvaging, folded some scrapbook paper for the cup, stuffed it with floral foam and added the flowers & candle.
A peek inside reveals two precious dolls! (A slight obsession of mine) The first one began with a vintage boy scout first aid tin, which was befitting since my friend is a retired nurse. From there it all began to build momentum and I had to refrain from adding too much. 
Everything is salvaged, recycled, vintage or hand made, which makes the possibilities endless. This is a shot of her purse made of an old matchbook. The strap is part of the chain from my closet light, it was too long anyway.
I cannot believe what is at your fingertips when you begin looking at "things" through creative lenses.
She also enjoys gardening, hence the name I dubbed her "Mother Nurture" i.e. gardening and nurse combo. Her bouquet is a vintage 50's floral pin and her watering can is one half of a salt and pepper set I found at an antique mall.
She would not be complete without a removable birthday hat.
Yes, the creativity process got a little out of hand and resulted in the birth of two gifts, one for each sister. Wrapping to me is all about presentation. It is like a first impression, you only get one chance and you must woo your recipient.
The cake is tops! I started by making the base out of a noodle can I had been salvaging, folded some scrapbook paper for the cup, stuffed it with floral foam and added the flowers & candle.
A peek inside reveals two precious dolls! (A slight obsession of mine) The first one began with a vintage boy scout first aid tin, which was befitting since my friend is a retired nurse. From there it all began to build momentum and I had to refrain from adding too much. 
Everything is salvaged, recycled, vintage or hand made, which makes the possibilities endless. This is a shot of her purse made of an old matchbook. The strap is part of the chain from my closet light, it was too long anyway.
I cannot believe what is at your fingertips when you begin looking at "things" through creative lenses.
She also enjoys gardening, hence the name I dubbed her "Mother Nurture" i.e. gardening and nurse combo. Her bouquet is a vintage 50's floral pin and her watering can is one half of a salt and pepper set I found at an antique mall.
She would not be complete without a removable birthday hat. As for sister, she was inspired by this tobacco tin. Both sisters love a good cig, so I had to jump at the opportunity to make her extra special.
The custom broach on the skirt even has a hand made flamingo accent. Another quirk which makes it unique and personal to them both.
She has some somkin hot legs!
A stack of packages resembles what they they do best, gift giving. Hence her name "The Giftaholic".
I could go on and on about my how to's and why's and where's, but I must come to a close. I feel fortunate just knowing each of these women, while it may have been a labor of love, I LOVED every minute!
The custom broach on the skirt even has a hand made flamingo accent. Another quirk which makes it unique and personal to them both.
She has some somkin hot legs!A stack of packages resembles what they they do best, gift giving. Hence her name "The Giftaholic".
I could go on and on about my how to's and why's and where's, but I must come to a close. I feel fortunate just knowing each of these women, while it may have been a labor of love, I LOVED every minute!Tuesday, February 9, 2010
My Muse of the Month!
Holy mushrooms! I think I am in LOVE! This morning I stumbled upon Katie Runnels photo stream on flickr and boy does she pack a wallop of ideas into one tiny terrarium. So, for all of my former customers out there who ever purchased a terrarium/ cloche/ glass dome, I highly recommend you gaze upon the endless possibilities she can offer. I can honestly say I do not know what it is about a mushroom that I am constantly drawn to. Is it that you can eat some and not others, maybe it has a whole Alice in Wonderland fantasy about them, or is it they can transform into larger than life candy as in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?
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