Friday, August 29, 2008

Once Upon a Time


ONCE UPON A TIME there were no group of ladies in training... perfecting and sharing their blogs with others across the world.. Oh my what did we do.... I have made this world of blogging a escape into a piece of chocolat' and let my mind melt into the sharing of life... its photos..stories...travels... wants...and needs. I get to travel without leaving the comforts of my home... I can part-take of a cup of tea froma a lucious cup or a glass of iced favorite beverage of summer and share time with all of you... Everyday I find a couple new blogs and enjoy... This makes a ordinary day seem special and places a smile on my face... A smile is the best way to lure a new friend... I find beautiful ways to add romance to my home and share with others that love that style.. I find things that I may not do ... but I say WOW.. that's neat... Sharing of feast and foods... YUMMMM..Somewhat enchanted evenings spent by others.. I get tucked in their suitcases and get to share...Oh so many talented artists... The list goes on and on.. The serendipity of it all ...Thanks to all of you.... BLOG ON....

Aging Envelopes



Need a cheap decorating object... I have used many aged envelopes to make a old looking picture frame or tucked in copied images or old photos as Christmas ornaments and set them in the tree... I have pictured a couple I have in my home at this time... I simply start by taking a card envelope.. can be any size you want to work with... Crumple it in your hands..... Then lay it flat and straighten it out..... To make it appear older I usually tear or cut out uneven spots in the edges.... I use my coffee filter in the morning after I have brewed my pot of coffee to dab onto the envelope or paper I want to look old .. Dab and age to extent you would like... I usually go extreme... It can be a bit messy as I usually leave the grounds in also for a more desired look... You can only do this on maybe 5 envelopes before filter will give out on you.... Let to dry out... When almost dry I like to take a candle and burn just the edges.... Maybe a good thing to do this outside for safety sake and it may Set off your trusty fire alarm..... I ready a old photo for insert by tucking a heavier piece of cardboard into the envelope for structure... Make sure you make a ribbon loop or string loop in back of envelope for hanging before inserting desired photo or tag... I usually glue the top of my photo in once I have desired location.. tilted or straight.. depending on photo or image.... You can do some altered art on envelope or add buttons.. ribbons... gems.... I use the same process for aging papers or many things as I always have a filter to use every day if desired.... Many times I will tell Tom to leave the filter and he knows I am at it again.......

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Sweet Image


I am drawn to this sweet image... The little plaid dress and oh I love the shoes....Nothing brings character to a homw like displaying items you love... In almost all cases choosing related items you love will somehow work... I personally think becausw they are your treasures... I like to peer at them and at times it is like they are wispering a quiet story.... If you choose objects you love your home is personally unique... I mix antique... vintage...new... hand-made.. and it works for me... I love that I can ever change items around when working with a collection of finds... this always making it a treat to add a find.. whether it be a free,a bargin..or a finer piece....Don't be afraid to place your personal stamp on your home.....Just enjoy your surroundings....

Salvaged Victorian Collar


Oh my gracious ... I seem to be moving everything around... I have so much STUFF out right now... I have to get a box and pack some items away till spring.... I am TTTOOOO cluttered..... It looks more like a shop than a house .... Oh yessss... I had this salvaged victorian piece display on a shelf and thought I would try it on my form for more of a winter look... I ended up liking it.... Now I have a mix of Victorian and vintage on her but in my eyes it works....I sure am having fun playing with this old piece of aging felt and cardboard.........

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Finished Dress Form



I have completed my dress form... I have wanted to have a very old looking form but was not willing to pay the 200.00 to 300.00 they go for... I wanted something more old looking... I found this cardboard felt dress form on ebay for under 30.00 and teamed it up with the old floor lamp... It was real close getting the felt form over the lamp parts but it went on real tight but perfect and the globe lamp part fit the neck of the form perfectly.... I tucked in the old aged catalog paper in arms and neck and added a lace collar I had here and also a old aged pearl collar and a vintage brooch... Made a tag and ribbons purchased from Polly.... The old form is held together with old brass notebook fasteners... I love the look... I am thrilled to have the old lamp in use .....This will be worked in beside on of my smaller Christmas trees also.....

Today Project




I am going to work on a project today... This vintage lamp I just drug up from the basement pantry... It as been down there for at least 15 years without being touched... I just took it outside and scrubbed it with soap and water and it is drying in the sun... I just cut the very old crusty wiring out of it.... I had another one in the basement I brought up about 4 years ago and just made it real shabby with a crystal garland and prisms and old dessert saucers glued on candle tops... I burn tea lights for special things and have a small set of mini rice light just worked around top part... I stuck some antique paper and old silver spoons out the top as this will match fall and Christmas...

My mind is working and I am going to try and make the old card board and felt dress form that just arrived and the just right look crusty old floor lamp work together...... I purchased the cardboard and felt dress form off ebay a week or so ago....Well I'm off to see if I can make it work...... To be continued.....ps... the lamps belongs to Tom's mom and dad years ago....

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Tarnished Elegance


I have been creating a vignette look in my tarnished loving cup... I added some tags with the old aged papers and a long neck bottle which came originally with lemonade.. I loved the bottle and saved it ... added a touch of aged paper and a cork... This will stay like this for fall and have artifical snow added to it for Christmas...

Pretty Papers


Pretty Papers...Pretty Ribbons.. Pretty Stamps... Pretty Handwritting... Pretty Images... All make wonderful ingredients for pretty tags and altered art... I found the pretty papers at Hobby Lobby in Adrian, Michigan on my way home from Blissfield the other day. I also bought the PARIS stamp for my tags and maybe Christmas brown bag wrapping.... Thought I would share the toile and tissue pretty paper with you I will be using for myself and items to sell on ebay.....If you don't have a Hobby Lobby near you .. if you do happen to pass one in your travels... please stop... it is a great place for crafters and some home decor if you aren't into antiques or vintage and if you mix.... new and old....

New Beginnings... Romantic





I am taking a morning to myself...not planned but it worked out. Tom went to the golf course at 7:00 this morning and played 9 holes and just called now at 11:00 and said he was going to stay and play in a all day outing with a foursome team... so I have the day to myself to make new beginnings for my objects from my Blissfield trip... I just finished a fireplace mantel redo for fall ... I have made new friends of my old vintage candy boxes and my new glass cloche and my wonderful old druggist jar... You may notice old book print in allot of my fall redo. I will be adding much more as this theme will go on into Christmas. My images and tags and ideas will all have aged book print worked in. It is my way of matching the carmels and browns together and making things work all for under 5.00. I purchased a couple 50 cent old books and crumple ..coffee stain.. burning.. whatever it takes to age... The lovely glass cloche purchased at PATINA in Blissfield has a vintage candy box and book page seltzer I cut... The druggist jar also has a vintage image of a lady in corset with print .. a tag and the cut book grass or seltzer.... I hope you like my new fall look .. I am sitting in the living area looking at it as I am on my laptop doing this post.. I have to look at things I do for a period of time and make changes if needed... The balance isn't perfect but I like it so I think I will just be happy with it....

Friday, August 22, 2008

Treasures from Blissfield








I have shared some photos of some of the treasures I purchased at a lovely vintage and shabby shoppe called PATINA located in Blissfield , Michigan while visiting my friend, Barb , yesterday. I also purchased a lovely glass cloche ... that I will share with you when I get it in place in my home.. These objects all have a plan on how I am going to display them.... I will share that with you in the next couple days... The loving cup ... probably my second favorite purchase I will transform by tomorrow... I had bid many times on ebay to buy a Silver Loving Cup and couldn't hold the bid. They went for far more than I was willing to spend.. This one is not as old as some I had bid on in the past but it had the shape I wished for and has been engraved and I did purchase it for 30.00.. That was a small portion of others I have bid on and it is going to be perfect for my fall into Christmas display I am planning so I was a proud peacock when I saw it... It was the first to go on the checkout counter... I found the Antique Jar and I think it to be my favorite... The original label had been shoved in the lid.. I do not know allot about this bottle but the label says SIMON RAU and Co. Druggists Bethlehem,Penn. and some script hand writting.. The glass has a slight tint to it like a smoke or a skin color. Hard to describe... I paid 24.00 for it and I now know after seeing the label and enlarging it to read it ... I think I made a special deal... They had another and I should have bought it also. I do have a plan for this also and I am sure I will display in different ways.... If anyone can give me more info on bottle I would love to know more. I may try to search on Internet to gain knowledge.
I also purchased the lovely creme color crepe - like scarf with fringe in excellent condition... I use scarfs everywhere in vignettes... 10.00 .... A vintage white shabby platter with a silver knife handle attached with a small opening for a bud .. I had a feather I just tucked in to show you the platter.. I have some hopps growing out in my yard and the hopps are just starting to come on and I plan on using a twig of the dried hopps in the handle as soon as available. I hope to make a matching little wreath and just some of the vines for decorating also. I thought the platter was a cute idea.. The knife handle has been added to the platter by gluing buttons onto the platter and the handle for spacing and worked quite well... 17.00... I showed some sheet music I will frame and do altered art with.... I had a lovely time and am well pleased with the items I was able to find to use with my change over for fall.. I just didn't stay with my budget but I will be able to stay within 125.00...... Hope you enjoyed my sharing......

Indulging In Vintage


Oh my... I was so tempted with all the lovely objects I viewed and enjoyed yesterday on my trip to visit an old friend.... Her name is Barb and she has been managing a sweet little shoppe in Blissfield, Michigan called PATINA... they are a new business ... I personally thought the shoppe was lovely and their prices are very affordable..[Look what I went and did on a budget.. well ok I blew my budget} I haven't unwrapped the treasures yet ... Notice how lovely the treasures were wrapped for travel... Just a wonderful extra touch that makes you want to visit again.. I plan on making a trip up again as soon as they are set for Christmas.... Blissfield has a number of Antique shoppes and rather a quaint town.. I enjoyed myself very much.. It was a pampering trip for me.. I don't know what it is about some of us... You can ask me to shop for clothes and I'm not interested but mention a fine antique shop [for looking only} or junk hunting... OH MY ... I'm right there.... I hope to take some pictures later today or tonight of my treasures so please check back... I am off to clean my house as today is not a pamper day... We haven't received rain yet and we are all dust ... dirt and wind ... very hard to keep a nice home.....Oh well... chin up and count my blessings and when I do ..."Life is Good"

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Lovely Image for Tags or Altered Art



I am going to print and work with this lovely french image this afternoon... This is a look I am shooting for in my fall and Christmas change over and trying to create a complete make over for under 50.00... I am sure I will be able to do it... I am just looking at existing items I have in a different way.... I have shared some frames and tablecloth ideas with you... I love working on a strict budget really... that is when you use your imagation and come up with some one of a kind treasures.....

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Feed sack pillow


I found this feed sack at a local thrift store.. brought it home and washed it and gently stuffed it and simply used double sided mounting tape for end closures instead of sewing. I had this project completed in 5 minutes. I really like the lettering and know it is more primitive but still like the look... It will make a great floor pillow when the grandkids want to watch a CD or romp... I did buy another for a old iron bench I have on the front porch to use for a seat pillow... I paid 5.00 for the sacks so alittle different look for a small amount of money... and SO SIMPLE....

Little stove


One of my favorite little charmers is this small little antique stove that has a home in my kitchen dining area.. I just added a little woodie vine to it getting it ready for fall... I do have the botton of this stove where it lights up with flicker lights and looks as though it is burning. I love to use it when I am serving company or want to treat Tom and I to a special dinner... I have not found another like this.... I may have had it in one of my beginning posts ... but I was told this was a saleman model they carried with them... the reason for it being so sweet and petite.... I do not know this to be a fact however.. This was a gas stove which is another interesting fact....

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Another Sweet Image to Share



I just shared this on Etsy Cottage Style and thought I would share it with you all. Wouldn't this be the sweetest image for a altered art journal or notebook for your daughter or granddaughter to use for school ????? Hope you can use it and if you do please send a photo of your project. I love seeing what others create...

Friday, August 15, 2008

Sweet Image to Share


I wanted to share this sweet little cabinet photo with you. The girl is so beautiful and with the sweet little doll. This is a great photo to do altered art or a tag.... Enjoy.....

Thursday, August 14, 2008

VIGNETTE



I just finished up the corner with a small vignette showing the pictures I changed and a lighted crystal punch bowl with 2 crystal goblet and a crystal wine bottle and some old gold glass balls that I dabbed and bloched with brown stain to make them run and look old... A old wood drawer a small purse ..small candle arbra and perfume bottles and a plume muff and antique photo and jewerly completes this vignette...

Antique Bowl of Fall silks



The antique bowl has been placed in the large bay window... Now I have to decide how I would like to decorate my fireplace mantle for fall. I don't quite know where I stored my beautiful silk hand-tied bittersweet branches like the ones in the bowl.. Hum.. Downstairs or back closet.. it is a search and a project thats not happening today... I have a beef roast in oven about done for supper and need to decide what I am having besides the fresh green beans and cream potaotes.. I feel as though if I slice one more tomato from the garden I am going to turn into one... Tom loves them so I will probably just have that and cukes also from the garden.... We just finished off a apple pie so I guess any dessert will have to be the carrot cupcakes I baked and frosted yesterday... Tom is golfing and suppers completion will run me right into prime time olympics... I have been watching till about 1:00 a.m. in the morning... Dawn is trying to do better with her sleeping habits and she has passed her bad ones on to me.. I will she would pass on some of her talent...... Oh my gosh I am just a gabbin' away about everything but the post ... SIGH.. Been telling ya all I am not able to focus as well as I did in the past... Just wait ya all it will happen to you too... LOL

Decisions..Decisions..Decisions





As I am changing my objects around for a deeper fall look and colors I will be using through winter... I look and hold the objects and wonder what stories they would tell if they could talk... The people who have pre-loved them and the homes and families they have survived the ravage of time in... I do know that is why I love them so much.. Gee compared to a cheap piece of plastic used in our homes who can not fall in love with these gifts of time.... I will just keep adding and subtracting from now on till Christmas decorating is complete and I feel the objects are in their favorite place for showing off. I will store alot of my lighter and pink rose items I use for summer till about the end of March depending on when the Easter holiday falls. A couple items may be shifted to the bedroom. This is just a rititual with me....I think it is the shop owner- manager-designer in me that I forgot to retire in retirement.. I really did forget to retire that part and it may never happen. I like to take a picture of changes and look at it and I find that it shows me what things really look like as you study it. It's a bit like when you are adding light to a Christmas tree and other places to decorate you take your eyes and squint and you can find all the holes that the lights needs to be adjusted...Don't beliee that works?? Try it.. It is amazing.. It works... I also was trrying to decide on a table arrangement this morning and snapped a couple photos and am sharing them with you as I studied them... I decided that the arrangement with the antique pitcher filled with lovely silk hydrangias will work just fine.. That will be leaving the bowl that belongs with the pitcher to be placed in my large bay window in living room until the Christmas village come out the last of October....
Also shared a picture of the addition of a lovely crepe beaded scarf and a vintage belt buckle to the stool I covered with a square table cloth a couple day ago. Just added alittle bling.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Love of Vintage

Fast and Easy Makeover for Fall






I have been changing my living room over for a deeper fall look... I wanted to share with you some of the easy and fast ways of picking up some deep brown color... I use table cloths and just turn my stools over unto the laid out cloth and tie the corners together underneath the stool and I am done... The small one with the brooch I was able to have enough end to take two of the ends and tie together and add a brooch on the knot... I change often this way using a different fabric or cloth.... The next couple days I will change over my silks and add some deeper colors... I do find this a very easy way to give me a different look as I can't afford to have my furniture changed all the time....

Monday, August 11, 2008

Changing Out Picture Frames For Fall






BLESSINGS AND THANKS FOR STOPPING BY... ENJOY YOUR STAY AND PLEASE COME BACK SOON FOR A SIP OF TIMEWORN...VINTAGE.....
I believe you can make your very own treasure with pennies for cost... I have just started changing out my frames for more of a fall look and will leave them on display till spring then change out again... I achieve this by the use of old post card images or photos .... small addition of ribbons or a button or brooch or two.. So sweet and so simple... If you like it more over done feel free to step out of the box....I love all mixed objects displayed on my walls and totally realize this is not for everyone... I don't know the word simplify when it comes to design.. I like that word when it comes to everyday life however... To try to keep it simple and not all stressed out... No more over loads.. I don't handle them well these days... To me chipped and peeling adds the feeling of glamour when added to a vintage home....Oh my lace and grace my nice friends.. we can't get enough of them.... I have also started to change all my table cloths and scarfs and pillows over for winter... I think our unusal dry weather has got me going on my favorite time of the year... The bottom picture shows the age and crust that came off the back of these picture frames. I had purchased them this summer knowing I was going to change them out.. I loved the shape and size of the two frames for 3.00 both... I have shown the finished very simple with lady images and a tuck of some french ribbon in deep colors.... The other two were basically done the same for just a closing cost of a couple bucks... WARM TREASURES... TRUE BLISS....

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Jewelry for Books



Found this childs belt... a touch of western with fringe and rhinestones for 50 cents at Goodwill and thought it would dress up a couple antique books... I place it around 3 old books and it has a rather quaint look to it... won't find another that for sure..... Just thought I would share... Just think of all the neat ways there are to display old books and share with others... How fun.....

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Antique Beaded Purses



I snapped a couple more pictures of a couple of my purses I have hanging on my living room wall of my beaded purses.... This is 2 of 5 I have on one wall. Not too many of my purses are in museum quality as I could not afford them .... Most of mine have there own personality and are loosing beads and have imperfections but I love them anyway.... The black beaded is a vintage but the gold one with bead loss is a steel beaded {I was told at antique shop} and very heavy and older.... Thought you would enjoy as I have a couple friends that love purses and also collect them..... Seems these days I fall in love with anything that with stands the test of time.. Maybe I admire the test of time as I age and tend to struggle a bit myself.....Thats the truth.... Arthur is visiting the elbow and wrist today... LOL

Altered Body Cream Box


I am using the body cream that came in this box originally... We pay 3.00 0r 4.00 extra for packaging a product most of the time I like to look and see if there may be another way or use for the box to have a new life... To me this one was a perfect make over and I gave it's re-do a very simple make over... I covered up the original product name ... ingredients ... ect. on the front and back of the box with a page from a repro old Sears catlog that I purchased at a barn sale for a couple bucks... I am going to get about 500 sheets from that book for altered art.... I used a wonderful flapper image on a cinnamon and coffee soaked tag with a fancy paper sheet behind it and a simple button and didn't feel it need any more added.... This will be neat in a vignette or a simple way to give a gift... Be really sweet with altered art tags or to place some Christmas tree tags like I made for my Antique bridal tree for a gift or a small gift of any kind tucked in.....Even candy... HOW DEVINE !!!!!
Take time and look at your packaging in a different way... You paid for it.... So very many items and objects can have new life and I love the challenge of finding a way to give it to them....

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

A Couple Goodies





I went to the post office to mail out ebay packages this morning and took a trip to the antique store in Defiance ..Fort Defiance Antiques.. and found a couple little goodies for a small little vintage fix... The first picture is a antique beaded applique from a dress... it is just lovely. There was a couple more pieces but at 8.00 a piece I thought I should do one. I thought it also would be pretty below my antique wedding tree for Christmas...
The second picture is a lovely irish linen hankie... also will use in tree for Christmas... Hundreds of little white childrens buttons and many others .... I bought a big jar full for crafting and the finer ones for display.....
The third picture is of a pair of rhinestone shoe clips... I can't resist rhinesone clips or brooches or buttons.. A fetish maybe...
The last picture is a wood holder that said crochet hooks and there was 2 in there but also several steel hat pin posts. I have been saving some lovely antique beads for just that purpose...
I did buy a handfull of vintage jewelry for altered art work but didn't take picure of them....I love to make a small shopping trip and lately I have been keeping myself on a budget to prevent stock piling and over spending.... Oh so very hard to do however when you are a person who is satisfied finding little goodies you know you can use for art or display...