Of course it could be I would enjoy sleeping more if I was laying my head on this pillow.
Maybe one of these would bring sweet dreams.
It would be just the thing to have my clothes in this…
So slip into your comfy boots, don’t forget to feed the chickens,
You might want to put a little flower in your hair.
Can’t you just picture this?
Hope you can join us today at the Land of Tarte.
Do you wonder why I can’t seem to do a blog post more often? I have several great excuses. In no apparent order…
Every time I turn on the computer, I HAVE to check my email, naturally I have to respond, then I need to delete all the junk I don’t need to keep. Then I get sucked into the whole blog, black hole, you know the one where if you just want to check one little thing, whish, your sucked in, no return until your eyes give out and your forced to do something else.
I don’t have any pictures to go with something I want to talk (post) about. Sound simple enough, take a picture you say… Oh but that would mean I must find that little card that I forgot to put back last time and who knows where even one of the eight I have is?
Too busy getting ready for the next show, lots to do, need to get organized, these things take lots of time…
Well the good news is, the stars were all aligned, things worked my way and I, quick did the emails, took some pictures this afternoon, and what the heck I’m never going to get it all done, I may as well admit it!
Fortunately I found one of those elusive memory cards so I could take some pictures this afternoon. 
It was a BEAUTIFUL day, it looks like spring!
Wish I had planted about a thousand more bulbs last fall…
I took a few pictures of the jewelry I have been working on.
I think one of the excuses I might be able to use, is I love, love, love making jewelry and that leaves very little time for the computer…
I do however want to remind you to mark your calendars, next Saturday, I will be at the Land of Tarte in Oregon City, read the details here.
Then at noon I will be on my way to Deepwood, to teach a class on crown making. Maybe I will wear this necklace that I made,
And the following weekend, this is where I will be.
Here is the deal, print out this ticket and bring it with you to the show, it is good for $3 off the admission. This one is the one you want to print out, there are others, all the vendors have them, this one has my name on it. And if you bring it with you, not only do you get money off, I also get a prize… If that is not the best idea ever!! We will both win!!
Do you know Timi? Have you read her blog? You must, she is so funny, and has the best of times. She plans parties, excursions, trips or whatever best describes them, they are toooo much fun. I have been doing Portland Expo for several years and I am skipping that to do this show! That is how much confidence I have in Timi. When she decides to do something, she really, goes for it! You’ve heard,
GO BIG, OR GO HOME!
I’m pretty sure that is her theme song…
Here are some more details,
Saturday March 6th
8-4
$8 entry
Friday Night March 5th
Early Bird Shopping
5-8
$10 entry
Gift bags for the first 30 people through the door on both days
Door prize drawings
17 vendors
Lunch by Kathrine's Folie
I can’t tell you how much fun this is going to be, I am so excited, you will want to be one of the first 30 people through the door. I have heard of a few of the items in the gift bags, I wonder if I can be one of the first 30?? If so that only leaves 29, so you will want to get there quick!
So back to those excuses I have, I am busy getting together some really special things for the next 2 weekends!
Several months ago, a woman I know asked if I would consider speaking, and possibly bring some of my “merchandise” at the fund raising event that Silverton Hospital Auxiliary would be hosting in February. Stalling, which is my first response to a request like this, I said I would need to wait and see what my schedule was going to look like closer to the date. So to make a long story short, I said “yes”, and today was the day.
The event was a Tea Party, with 25 or 30 tables. Every hostess decorated her table with items she brought from home. It was really lovely, but incredibly diverse. I can say with a certain amount of confidence, not everyone decorates with the same amount of intensity as I do.
I’m sure you know that I load up my treasures on a regular basis and display them in what I consider a pleasing way, so people will be tempted to have them as their own. In my world, I feel confident that while everyone might not want what I am selling, for the most part people “get” where I am coming from. There is an overall appreciation for the old, tattered, rusty, chipped and otherwise well loved.
I sometimes forget this phenomenon, as I am completely immersed in the business. The places I shop, the events I attend, the blogs I read, the magazines I buy and even for the most part my friends houses, all reflect this same appreciation for items with character and history. I was reminded today we are not the majority, some people are different…
I decided to bring my own table.
And decorate it with old things, sharing the process as my “talk.”
Who wouldn’t love this wonderful drop leaf table, with it’s old paint….
I showed how it doesn’t matter if the bottom layer is stained and imperfect.
I was going to cover, it with this multiuse crocheted cover.
I like to start with the plates, mostly because I want to make sure there is room for them when I am finished. I used a silver platter for a charger, then an old clock face, a clear plate, then a pink depression glass plate.
I had a little silver bowl to act as a charger for a pink bowl, then I added some other items you can see.
My theme was a Valentine’s Dinner for my Valentine…
The house I made, (at Terri Brush’s Art Camp) was the “center” of the center piece. Elevated on the old cocoa can.
The trophy shape of the sugar bowl, might make one think he was “the winner” of my affections.
The flower frog in front of his place setting to hold his Valentine card.
The matchbox holder, used for sugar, after all, he is my sweetie…
The little flower frog to hold a cherished photo…
I wanted to do this with what I had, so instead of getting fresh flowers, which would have been my first choice.
I used a vintage flower, and filled in with paper shreds and a silver heart that I had saved from a Valentine Luncheon last year at Martha’s.
Naturally I used the lovebirds, salt and pepper shakers, I’ve had for at least 10 years.
The rusted flower curtain tiebacks are something I usually find a place for in whatever I am decorating because I really, really love them.
And last, but not least I used the sweet clock that my friend Karen gave me for my birthday one year.
That would most likely show my Valentine that I will be his,
for all time.
I’m pretty sure I didn’t convert anyone today, we are all going to be who we are, like what we like and hopefully your not too grossed out but all this sappy, mushy, lovey talk.
Go ahead do something special for someone you love this Valentine’s Day!
I’ve been working on some necklaces the past couple of days. I love collecting the pieces, then organizing them in little drawers. It is my favorite pastime of late. 
Hope you are getting lots of projects completed these long winter days!
I will be teaching a
Crown Making Class,
Saturday, Feb.27
1pm until 3pm
at Deepwood Mansion.
If you would like to join us you can click on the picture in my sidebar for details.
Would love to have you there!
If you came to the Land of Tarte this Saturday, you know what I am talking about. Every thing was shining and beautiful, put together with a flare that no one I know except the Queen herself can accomplish.
There were lots of familiar faces.
Beautiful treasures…
Amazing displays.
It was fun to be free of my own commitments so I could hang out and lend a hand. Nothing worse when your friends are having a get together and you have something else keeping you from the party.
I have been going to make some crowns for a while, and nothing gets you motivated like seeing a beautiful show come together. The great ideas that aren’t made before the week of a show, are going to have to be left for another time, there are just too many other details to be done. I’m determined to use my time between shows getting some projects ready.
I started with this one, the base is chicken wire,
I covered it with lace and then wallpaper, next I filled in with vintage millenary flowers and jewelry.
This crown would definitely be for a spring gala of some sort, or maybe while gardening to give the flowers some motivation???
This one was made much the same way, except I used white burlap over the chicken wire.
This picture makes it look more like a royal cake than a crown, but you get the idea.
This crown would go with anything, something you could wear for any occasion…
I also decided to make some wire bird nests. So I did and then I thought why cant I just make this wire into a crown??
Well that was fun, so then I made this one.
Can you see the flowers?
The good news, I have lots of wire, I can make lots of nests and crowns.
The bad news… the rust gets all over my hands when I am working with it…
