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Where oh where have I been?

I've been on an expedition, that's what--suddenly strangely & totally obsessed with all vintage holiday stuff (not that that's new--it's just a major obsession at the moment).

It was just a few months ago that I had no interest whatsoever with any of the holiday stuff I've collected over the years and I wondered what I was going to do with it all. Another fickle moment by moi~~Then I suddenly got bit by the bug again and I feel totally inspired these days to make my own creations with as much vintage flavor as I can muster in them. So, I've been holed up in the studio with every spare minute trying to get some stuff made as well as seeking out supplies online, on foot and by car.
;-)

I am digging the blogs of Magpie Ethel, Oodles of Oodles, and My Vintage Soul as of late and am getting envious by the minute of their junking holiday finds every week. Wondering if there is any chance of my finding wonderous loot at a fraction of the price living here in Los Angeles?  Hmmmmmmmmm....My big hope at the moment is a Rummage Sale next week I found in a little freebie paper somebody dumped on my doorstop.

I went to the Pasadena Rose Bowl this month where I hadn't been in about six years. What fun! I picked up a bunch of stuff--some good deals, some good stuff and I can't wait for next month. One vendor had a little pail full of some wierd bits and bobs and I found some vintage easter chicks bodies in there that looked like they were destined for the trash bin. But I tore off the remainder of what they had been and gave them a new skin and new features--and loved the result. That ended up being a very enlightening experience for me--like reinventing the wheel.

So, I made the two of them a little son from scratch to make them a nice rounded little glitter and chenille family.

Here is my loot from the last month or so:

This is the second crocheted greeting card basket I've found. I really like them and they are so useful--

for holding more vintage goodies like greeting cards and dennison seals!

This german duck candy container is missing part of his beak and his eyes but I will rescue him as I did the chick family and also study his construction so I can replicate it somehow, someway.

And I do love me some vintage crepe paper~ One of these days I'll scan in the Halloween Napkin collection I've been building since last year.

So much to do, so little time...

A Thrifting we will Go

I promised you a thrifting post so here ya go. Every once in a while, I have a need to go hog-wild and run around to every thrifty/antique store I know and have a fun time hunting for treasures. The last time I did one like this was Christmas. I just love the thrill of the hunt!

These little wooden egg cups are from Italy and were my first find of the day. Not a bad way to start the expedition.

 

I got this cute little picnic basket style tin and filled it with vintage sewing notions from nearly every shop I went into. There are many paper measuring tapes, a ribbon measuring tape, snaps on vintage cards, vintage seam binding and I liked the graphic on this restringing pearl necklace card but why do they always have to ruin things by putting the price tag on with unremoveable red grease pencil? OY!

Dontcha just love Knitting Nancy? I used to do this when I was a kid! Never knew what to do with the knitted rope when I was done though so I used to just knit away! I still have mine somewhere around here and now I have these two to add to it--guess that makes it a collection now. Glad it came with a how-to booklet cause I never knew how to get it started~My mother used to always start it for me.

I cannot resist Peanuts when I see it. That's my childhood right there! Some old valentines still in the wrapper and a Hallmark Hankie.

I handpicked these wonderful vintage cards and valentines. You can never have enough of these in my opinion. Most haven't been used either--yay!

And last but not least, I picked up these old photos on my trip to Cape Cod when I was out and about on my bicycle trip. I hoped off the bike path to do a little shopping in Brewster when I was there. I want to put these guys in a Halloween book. Yes, a Halloween Zine! I hope I will have time to get it done in time for Halloween. These things take so much time. Right now the plan is for 5 copies of these handmade books. I ended up ordering black paperbag books for these from my friendly ebay seller. And while I was at it I got some other colors--so there will be a Christmas book, a Valentine's Book, and an Easter Book. I will make 5 books for each holiday--keeping one for myself. I hope to offer the other ones up for sale. They will sorta be like the paperbag books I did for my swap. So expect pop-ups and vintage treats, etc. in the pockets. I'm so digging the idea of this project!!!! I'm just wondering if I should skip Halloween which I don't want to and head into Christmas so I will actually finish. But then, if you are like me, you'll buy Halloween anytime of the year. I imagine only die-hard fans will be interested anyway. So, we'll see. I'm still waiting for the empty paperbag books to show up--pesky media mail!

I

Typewriter Fever!

 In yesterday's mail, I got the pack of zines I ordered from etsy seller Niku--and I really liked the one on mailart. It brought back to mind my initial attraction a few years ago to carving rubber stamps which lead to artistamps and all that other good stuff--including my postage stamp collection from age six--and mostly how letters are a dying art that despairately needs to be revived. Niku talks about her vintage typewriter and how she typed up some of her zines on it and I've been thinking about that for weeks since my initial order! I've never seen a typewriter at any of the thrift stores around here in all my years and now I've got my brain telling me how badly it wants one on a daily basis. My birthday is coming up at the end of this month; and by golly I got to have one!!!

These two beauties are killing me from Mr.typewriter.com! And so is their asking price! I could write an awesome novel a la Hemmingway on one of these! Where's a royalty check when I need it?!

Anyhow, you know you have it bad when you just can't sleep. I tossed and turned all night with desire and wanting and my brain was thinking about all the things I want to type up and leave behind--my stories.

The idea of the zine is really appealing to me right now. There is so much one can do with the concept. It's possiblilities are endless. I've always thought I would write a memoir and this could be a nice way to do it--simple, DIY. Crazy, huh?

I've thought about all the kinds of zines one could make:

• artzines/mailart zines
• instructional zines/tutorials
• comic zines
• memoir/diary zines
• coloring book zines
• zine as a kit of some sort
• inspirational zines
• magazine/slice of life zine (various subjects all in one issue)
• Full-color zines
• black and white cheapies

And they come in all shapes, sizes and colors! Did I leave anything out? Makes me want to start one right this very minute! But not yet....not yet. I'll just add it to my "to-do" list.

Lessons from the Master

I'm very excited to be taking a class with Jennifer Murphy this summer! In August I'll be spending three days up in Northern California in Pleasanton, which is near San Francisco. Myself and up to 19 others will be making a pompom bunny and bird box. I've meet Jennifer a few times at a couple of bear shows but it will be nice to spend some quality time under her tutelage learning a few new tricks of the trade. One thing I especially want to know is how to secure wire feet to the pompom. I tried to do that with Benny but his feet came out a bit wobbly.

Benny at the railroad station-2006

Bernard- a Softie Award Winner! 2005

Froggy pincushion. 2005

I have several parts to put together that I started some time ago to make more pincushions which should get into the shop this year...if all goes as planned. After Jennifer's class, I should be that much more better at it!

All well and good, as I bought these vintage easter cups earlier this year on ebay to fill with all sorts of Spring Critters. Look for them next year--oh, the plans, the plans!

The ConvenZioNE is being put on by ZNE which is a special (and friendly!) group for mixed media  artists and there will be some other events going on over the course of the three days. I'm going to have to start saving my pennies because I'm sure I'm going to want to do some serious shopping while I'm there.
Like add another critter to my already growing Jennifer Murphy collection? No doubt.