Please remember today . . .

Those who are currently serving and have served to keep our country free.

Arlington National Cemetery

Collage Camp

Those of you who have followed my blog for more than a year know that I was very excited about taking the KC Willis Collage Camp online last year.  I created a lot of collages and submitted several to Sew Somerset in January of this year and they chose several of my collages and a fabric book for publication.

I will be listing pieces of my art work for sale in my Etsy shop, Vintage Recycled.  I have so many that I need to let go of some of them.  And I want to start another project using the techniques I learned in Collage Camp.  Here are the first two:

"Little Ruby"

Little Ruby Culbertson notebook.

"Best Friends"

A collage on a vintage log cabin cutter quilt square.  Check them out in my shop.

I don't know if you feel like I do, but letting go of something I love and created myself is often hard for me to do.  It's like giving up a part of me.  How do you feel about your work?

Still cleaning up and out

I found this wonderful vintage storybook page today.  Wish I could remember why I bought it and when.  Anyway . . .  These picture book pages are on one piece of fabric. The little boy and girl images were printed in color on one side. Someone then lovingly hand embroidered carefully around the images so that when you turn the fabric over to the back side, the reverse images look embroidered too even though it is the wrong side! 

It measures 13 inches wide by almost 9 inches tall. Printed on the fabric is "of nursery pictures made in U.S.A. by Vogart" and also "No. 209."

This is the "wrong" side, but it is almost as cute!  I just listed it in my Etsy shop, Vintage Recycled.

I'm looking for ideas or suggestions on how to make Tooth Fairy pillows or pockets for my grandchildren.  My granddaughter, Kara, is about to lose (or already has lost) her first tooth.  Although I won't be able to get this done before the Tooth Fairy visits this time, I would like to make the pockets or pillows now and get them to the grandkids.  Can you help me out??  Thanks!!

New around the house

Last weekend Merchant Square had a three-day sale with a flea market on Saturday.  Of course, the weather was HOT!  On Friday we broke 100 degrees for the first time this year.  However, this was late in coming.  Usually we hit 100 degrees in the first part of May.  Hopefully this bodes well for the coming summer.  Maybe we won't have so many 100 degree days.  It's beautiful today!!  Cool and the expected high is in the low 80's.

I want to share with you a find at the flea market.  I love this painting!!  It is in my bedroom for the time being.  Can't bear to sell it just yet.  Want to enjoy it for a while first.

This is colorful and a bit naive in its execution, but I do really like it.  On the back is a business card with the title "A Rose is a Rose Oil" and the artist's name was Lora M. Moore.  It came without a frame.

Next, is this dude who was proudly walking along the low wall in the back yard this morning.  It didn't seem to bother him at all that I was out there snapping pictures of him.  Ah!  Roadrunners!!

It's here! It's here!!!

My artist's copy of the Summer 2010 issue of Sew Somerset just arrived!!!  Published again!!!  In fact, this time, TWO Feature Articles are in it featuring three of my KC Willis Collage Camp collages as well as a fabric book!  The photography is really great!  I am really excited about this!!

Here's a preview just for you, my blog readers!

Here's Nora Wadeley.  She has a whole page photo!  Bet she would have loved that since she really was an actress and not a cowgirl!  She is featured in the article entitled "My Heroes."

"Prairie Gals" is the fabric book I submitted.  They did a great job of photographing this entire book.

Now, if you haven't joined KC Willis Collage Camp, now is the time to do so!  Her videos are full of great directions, tips and how-to's!  You can't go wrong!  Just click on the KC Willis Collage Camp gadget on the right side of my blog and it will take you right to the website.  Investigate it!  You can't go wrong!!

Catching up!

My cousin, Vickie, came up from Austin, TX for a visit last week.  We had not seen each other for about two years.  It was such fun to have her visit for several days.  We shopped, talked until we were exhausted, and went through old family photos.  I am so glad she came to visit.

Have you seen these new stamps???

The only one I was not familiar with was William S. Hart.  I am not sure I can bear to use these!

While sorting through the boxes of old photos, I came across this picture of my dad and his sister.

My father passed away in 1994.  My aunt, turned 101 last January!  And she is still doing well!  I talk to her frequently.  Wow!!

Found this weekend while shopping in a thrift store in Cave Creek.

Plus I found two pair of these tiny baby booties.  They are hand crocheted with tiny little pink roses on the toes.  The blouse and the booties are listed in my shop, Arizona Junkin' on Antique Abbey.

However, if you live in the area, these booties will be on sale in Merchant Square.  They will be tucked in my shabby china cabinet.

Little Bits of Vintage Collages

Just listed this morning are two of my Little Bits of Vintage collages on my Etsy shop, Vintage Recycled.  I made these with the bits left over from some of my fabric collages done in KC Willis Collage Camp.

Both of these collages measure approximately 3 1/2 in. by 4 in.  I love the tiny quilted hearts cut from an old cutter quilt piece found at a yard sale.  Perfect to add to a gift for a friend or keep for yourself.

I will be listing more items later today that are sure to capture your heart!

Wedding Display

Here are some pics of the beautiful new display that greets you as you walk into Merchant Square.  It was set up by Sue, who is one of the assistant managers at the mall.  She did a great job with this display!!  These are all items pulled directly from dealers in the mall.

Lovely dressing table and pretty frocks for a wedding day.  That pretty ecru suit would be wonderful for the mother-of-the-groom!

Such a pretty display!  You just want to walk in there and look at everything!  Sue told me late yesterday that several chandeliers as well as dresses had been bought from that display just yesterday.  No wonder!  This is a beautiful display!

More listings for Vintage Recycled

Here are the two latest pieces I have just listed on my Vintage Recycled Etsy shop.

OK, I know I am forgetful, but this was a major "gee, I forgot I already had one of these" when I bought this one!  Wow!  Senior moment!  Anyway, this Cavallini Bonjour Rubber Stamps set has never been opened or used.  It is in mint condition.  A great deal at $20+ shipping.  Less than retail today.  SOLD!!!

I decorated this Creative Imaginations ready-made notebook as a shop sample.  I love the individual pages in this notebook -- each one is different and there are 20 of them.  Nice gift for a friend or just for you!

Please head on over to my Etsy shop and take a peek at what is for sale.  Tell your friends about it, too!  Thanks for looking!!!

Steam Punk Dolls or Assemblage

I just added two doll heads to my Etsy shop, Vintage Recycled.  I know there are those of you out there that do assemblage work or mixed media that incorporates these doll heads -- OR, you know someone who does.  Jack & Cat, are you there??  Michael DeMeng uses all kinds of doll heads in his work.  Here are the two doll heads I just added:

The doll head on the left is approximately 6" tall and about 4" wide at the ears.  The smaller doll head is 3"x3".  THE SMALL DOLL HEAD HAS SOLD.  Both are composition.  You can get more detailed information about each one on my Etsy shop site.

I received an early Mother's Day gift that was Michael DeMeng's new book, Dusty Diablos.  There are many pictures of doll heads in his new book.  I also saw them in a display case at Saints & Sirens in Phoenix.  I think I posted a picture a few days ago.  I have even seen these doll heads on blogs presented in tall apothecary jars on top of shells, beads, or pebbles.  Whatever!  Not my thing, but I found these today and I KNOW there are people who look for these.

So, even if you don't think you would use one of these, perhaps you have a friend who could use one in their artwork or in a display.

Opening of my Etsy shop - Vintage Recycled

I have finally opened my Etsy shop -- Vintage Recycled!!  In this shop I am going to sell my artwork as well as many of the great finds I have.  I hope you will visit often to see what is in the shop.  I will be posting items regularly.  There is a new gadget on the right side of my blog that will take you there.

These tiny vintage ballerinas are for that special little girl's birthday cake OR a special project you have in mind.  Perhaps they could become  part of a goodie bag from a tea party?  Aren't they cute??

I know!  Valentine's Day is overwith, but perhaps this could become a note or small gift to a special person on their birthday??  Or for any special occasion.

Here's more pics from FOUND:

This cupboard would be fabulous in a studio or the dining room!  Love it!

Another fab picture of a lady.

Check out the hanging lamps!  See the ones at top right and in the center??  Do you know what material they are made from??  Kim told me about this stuff.  It's the net they put on hills beside the freeways to keep the plantings and vegetation in place!  Check out Kim's blog here to see it up close and get a better explanation!

Little Red Dress and FOUND

I bought this little vintage red dress from my BFF friend, Gail.  I love it!  It is hand made and the embroidery on the sleeves and ruffles is hand done.  I made the little pin you see on the dress.

Here is the little pin.  Apologies for the blurred pic.  I had my small camera with me and couldn't get a good shot of it.

But you can see the little old quilt heart is handstitched on and that there are three tiny french knots in the bottom right corner.  I had fun making this little "Adore" pin and putting it on the dress with safety pins -- it is not permanently attached to the dress.  It is for sale in Merchant Square.

FOUND is a new venture for Dan and Kristen of Domestic Bliss in downtown Mesa.  Be sure to check out the links I provided for both.  My BFF Kim and I went to their grand opening on Thursday evening.  Here are a few highlights of what awaited us.

Love this display!

Old clocks, pretty flowers, and "Found" on a vintage flash card.

Absolutely love this huge picture of the lady in white!!  Comfy tufted chairs and the old folding doors with mirrors where glass used to be.  And check out that great chest full of drawers!  Yummy!!

This picture and display is for you, Gail!!  Check out the old cameras!  And those neat flower frogs!  My mother had several of those because she loved camilias and these frogs held them best in a bouquet.  Also love the "You Are My Sunshine" sign!!

Friends at FOUND -- Kim, me and Trisha.   I so want to get rid of some of my furniture and replace it with what I saw in FOUND.  But the budget doesn't allow it!