tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104645789602362592024-02-20T19:40:38.407-08:00Venice in WinterHandmade Baubles, GewGaws, and FripperiesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-18202783429848363522013-08-22T18:06:00.001-07:002013-08-22T18:06:05.760-07:00II<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:600px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/ii/set?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger&id=94869264' target='_blank'><img force='1' border='0' height='598' title='II' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/FQpoZpFpIhoPdJtA8T2d0w/cid/94869264/id/Xssu1z0iRX_OH0BPz6V31A/size/c600x598.jpg' alt='II' width='600'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/ii/set?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger&id=94869264' target='_blank'>II</a> by <a href='http://veniceinwinter.polyvore.com/?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger' target='_blank'>veniceinwinter</a> featuring <a href='http://www.polyvore.com/diamond_jewelry/shop?query=diamond+jewelry' target='_blank'>diamond jewelry</a></small></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-34776368447028292042013-07-17T20:01:00.001-07:002013-07-17T20:01:58.196-07:00Steampunk it!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:600px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/steampunk_it/set?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger&id=89969677' target='_blank'><img force='1' border='0' height='579' title='Steampunk it!' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/77csdDXj9ZbhxvxlfIXdg/cid/89969677/id/mOAFD8zDTquD8tYWrU5ttQ/size/c600x579.jpg' alt='Steampunk it!' width='600'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/steampunk_it/set?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger&id=89969677' target='_blank'>Steampunk it!</a> by <a href='http://veniceinwinter.polyvore.com/?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger' target='_blank'>veniceinwinter</a> on <a href='http://www.polyvore.com/' target='_blank'>Polyvore</a></small></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-74948978280993873712013-07-17T19:37:00.001-07:002013-07-17T19:37:10.157-07:00She dances in a fading world<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:600px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/she_dances_in_fading_world/set?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger&id=89966658' target='_blank'><img force='1' border='0' height='755' title='She dances in a fading world' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/0YNpgD13kuIrRsOgerT2Sw/cid/89966658/id/cmG6nfp_RsuZU_ftXjOjiQ/size/c600x755.jpg' alt='She dances in a fading world' width='600'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/she_dances_in_fading_world/set?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger&id=89966658' target='_blank'>She dances in a fading world</a> by <a href='http://veniceinwinter.polyvore.com/?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger' target='_blank'>veniceinwinter</a> on <a href='http://www.polyvore.com/' target='_blank'>Polyvore</a></small></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-12262317179743330272013-05-27T07:24:00.002-07:002013-05-27T07:24:27.178-07:00And the next crop of things....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Let's start off with the simplest one of the bunch: A repurposed tassel and chain, and a porcelain bead from a friend's destash:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehRQ-R6LzpmawEeRF0bUptc6xkln_y2Qbz0TRa0SbDykND9bidkQqH1_MYAgnaBjWjO4qnxq4WfvTBgP0V3yB5HpIVLW0ks6XgEywIcIx659fDGUp_AsfoKrKMuvnXAOmxGX_4921tUEs/s1600/P5260001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehRQ-R6LzpmawEeRF0bUptc6xkln_y2Qbz0TRa0SbDykND9bidkQqH1_MYAgnaBjWjO4qnxq4WfvTBgP0V3yB5HpIVLW0ks6XgEywIcIx659fDGUp_AsfoKrKMuvnXAOmxGX_4921tUEs/s1600/P5260001.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Next, a wire wrapped bullet casing (shell?) with a cameo button. This may not be done yet, and might need the cameo popped off and re-glued, as it looks off-center. I'm not sure where I'm going with this yet, but I'm having fun.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1fhM5WGRhPMTlkCTQF_AJLbtuFO0ptQDMcia6Sn85zJxi462g5U9uSdfMyumbRBwrMjOPrGgu7BDnclyCKh1qQdvmu_GYm7lmtBpWlaMF368qDpxO1ompgp0fND8tv6zpMPFpNZAok8D/s1600/P5260005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1fhM5WGRhPMTlkCTQF_AJLbtuFO0ptQDMcia6Sn85zJxi462g5U9uSdfMyumbRBwrMjOPrGgu7BDnclyCKh1qQdvmu_GYm7lmtBpWlaMF368qDpxO1ompgp0fND8tv6zpMPFpNZAok8D/s1600/P5260005.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ok, these are absolutely lovely, and I'm proud of them. Destashed brass stampings and pink plastic. Light as feathers! For reasons unknown, I watched "Pretty in Pink" the other night, and I was all "omg, I want to wear all that repurposed thrift store goodness that was carefully calculated by coldhearted executives, too!"</div>
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These are actually prettier than the accessories in the movie, tho ;)</div>
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And finally, the most demanding one, in terms of time. I had to let this baby cure overnight. There's a washer I picked up outside, driftwood and a shell from a recent beach visit, a brass "coin", and filigree from an old dollar store earring. And scrap chain to finish it off. The thing's hanging on a brown grosgrain ribbon.</div>
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That's all I got for now, folks! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-87277649272446812842013-05-19T05:50:00.000-07:002013-05-19T05:50:08.559-07:00SHE'S ALIVE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>The elusive Liz in her natural habitat.</i></div>
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Yeah, I'm still here, but it's been nuts lately. These are the first things I've made in a couple months. MONTHS, people. Months.</div>
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I can't keep going without some creative outlet, even if it's "just" earrings. I started by refurbishing a broken old pair:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q9_v-7tVbwfJ4rZk8JpseU6O5HodkOwoOqGZSNHWGK7XNW1HvsVRT9GJpoIzrY_5qolrWwFNYarYIMEXq4HjravQOmCfkgTBut30wSsxA0Zy0dcUe102OHc0pGhh5IdRCjLad4tqkXkL/s1600/20130519_072431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q9_v-7tVbwfJ4rZk8JpseU6O5HodkOwoOqGZSNHWGK7XNW1HvsVRT9GJpoIzrY_5qolrWwFNYarYIMEXq4HjravQOmCfkgTBut30wSsxA0Zy0dcUe102OHc0pGhh5IdRCjLad4tqkXkL/s1600/20130519_072431.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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These have seen some wear, so I think I'll keep them. Next, I'm redrafting the earrings I wore on my wedding day. I didn't put too much thought into them on the day, I was all "yay, bees! that's auspicious for weddings!" and on they went. But the cool bee dangles were not set off as well as they could have been. Now I shall fix that!</div>
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And these are in really really early stages of planning. The blue and gold striped glass beads are too pretty not to use, but what to pair them with? I have so little yellow in my bead stash. I might have to....go shopping. Heavens forfend!</div>
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And yeah, that's about it. Just sitting around on a rain sunday morning (for rainy it is where I am - all weekend). Thinking now of some toast perhaps. Or tea. Who knows what hedonism this morning will witness!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-26738877708428425902013-02-21T09:03:00.000-08:002013-02-21T09:03:00.410-08:00I needed a project...In the course of setting up housekeeping, I found a still-boxed aerogarden in the living room. I unpacked that baby and set it up this morning, right near my desk. It's really Jetsons-looking, and I admit I'm having trouble wrapping my head around it. Are you sure these pod things are going to grow plants? This is like a Keurig machine for herbs!<br />
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Here's a pod with it's little "pudding cup" on top:</div>
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We'll see what chives result in a week or two!</div>
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After that, I got to beading and laid out a necklace I've been planning for a while, The fleur-de-lis chain was a lucky clearance find! I'm considering lace for the other side, since I've got a yen for fabric necklaces.</div>
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While I did that, all these earrings sprouted out!<br />
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That's always the way of the beadboard...where one project grows, more crop up like mushrooms. Just as well this palette is pink and white and silvery, because I have a fairy ring of gems to make!</div>
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Yes, I'm full of caffiene and *everything* looks this sweet and syrupy :P</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-35769446481423284232013-02-13T12:01:00.001-08:002013-02-13T12:01:33.185-08:00Early springtime?Some photos to show you what's been doin' around here :)<div>
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First, some snaps of the pretty backyard, courtesy of Nemo. I feel bad for LI and Boston, but happy that NJ wasn't so badly hit. We had about 5-6", and it was fast-melting. Not too shabby as far as winter goes.<br /><div>
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In fact, our snowdrops are already out. These are so pretty, each one like a delicate little pearl...Yesterday I plucked a few to press, but one came out with a bulb attached, so I stuck it in some potting soil and it opened today! Must learn more about snowdrops to see if they can be raised indoors, too. A pot of these by my desk would be lovely, but we'll see what happens.</div>
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Yesterday saw a lot of nature walking around the back yard. I gathered some tiny treasures to press. The moss would be lovely dried and set in some resin for delicate earrings.</div>
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Once more I'm at my bead board! I'm working on a new set called "Skully Cat", because I can! Some of my bits and bobbins are still in storage, but I've done remarkably well keeping track of all the beads and shinies. Finally, this morning, something came together, and here it is:</div>
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Those colors are waking me up! Every once in a while, I need to make something with a sense of humor.</div>
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The new workspace isn't nearly that bold, though. I've been granted use of a sunporch, and I've made quite the little nest back there with the plants. It's a narrow space, but that'll just force me to keep it cleaner :)</div>
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It does help my spirits to see familiar things again, like Mr. Cat Skull, and some beautiful abandoned wasp nests:<br />
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And our wedding cake toppers, from New Orleans, gifted by my maid of honor :) The geode was our version of a unity candle. Instead of lighting, we took turns smashing the thing. The white color was a welcome surprise for a wedding!<br />
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I need a certain amount of clutter around to get anything done!</div>
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Some snowdrops still waiting to open:</div>
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And a pretty patch of moss from the front yard:<br />
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Breezes have knocked a few leaves loose, so I added this sprig to the pile of stuff to press and preserve.</div>
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And there we are! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-42663930810731964312013-02-06T05:59:00.000-08:002013-02-08T06:01:29.325-08:00Boy to Man: Re-imagining a childhood bedroom<br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Lucida Grande, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 17.77777862548828px;">If you just landed here from Blogher.com, this post is about tips for updating our "new" bedroom. My husband and I are now living with my mother in law to save for our own house. It's an ongoing project to </span><span style="line-height: 17.765625px;">recalibrate</span><span style="font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 17.77777862548828px;"> everyone's boundaries and style in this space. It's going pretty well, so I thought I'd find out what we are doing that makes this work and share it with you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Lucida Grande, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 17.77777862548828px;">Adult kids moving back home is nothing new, and in fact may be a sensible option as young folks like us try to save money during this recession. It runs counter to the 20th century American ideal of becoming magically self sufficient at 18 and staying that way permanently, but that formula is actually an anomaly. Many cultures do multigenerational households, and while this has unique challenges in the US, it can work well. I was raised in one, myself, and I think it benefited the entire family to have to deal with not only childrearing but also eldercare. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Lucida Grande, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 17.77777862548828px;">But before I go writing a totally seperate essay on that subject, let me deliver the goods I promised! Here's what I discovered trying to ease our now-bedroom from baby room to adult space and</span></span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 17.77777862548828px;"> still respect its history:</span></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 - Clear it out!</strong></div>
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First, last, forever - I say get it OUT YA HOUSE! Emptying the room entirely really helped us think of new possiblities for it. Trash and recycling went where they were supposed to go. Items to store went to their various homes, and anything left over that didn't belong in there was installed in its proper spot, out of the boudoir.</div>
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I can't emphasize this enough. Lightening the load in the the "new" old room made it physically easier to deal with (in terms of cleaning) and psychologically easier, too. Mr. Liz and I symbolically put away the little boy days, and made room for the grown man he is today. And room for me, too!</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 - Scrub it down, up, sideways</strong></div>
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This goes hand in hand with #1, but it's so important I had to showcase it. When we came back to the old room, it hadn't seen use in a while, and was a little dusty and musty. This happens, so it's nothing to be ashamed of. Just like our bodies feel a little stiff and ragged if we don't get some sort of exercise every day, rooms get stiff and neglected if they're not used. So I've been giving that room a workout! </div>
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With my allergies, dusting was my first priority. That's a continuous chore, but a good core dust-off always helps to get you going. The next item of business was taking down any cobwebs, windexing the windows, and scrubbing the sills. The windowsills in this room are painted white, so when they're really sparkly, they brighten the entire space well.</div>
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Part of this is a safety check: are there splinters anywhere? Any drafts? Are all the outlets freely accessed and in good working order? Checking on these basic things saves so much time and energy later, and its easy to fold them into the cleaning routine.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3 - What can you change?</strong></div>
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This one's necessary if anyone is living with family members, or renting. Some things you can't do anything about, and will have to make your peace with - or find a workaround. Find out what those non-negotiables are and keep them in mind. Are you stuck with carpet? Keep an eye out for area rugs you like better, which can cover it. Are the walls a nasty color, and you can't paint or paper? Get into the DIY mode and make lots of art to hang up. Frames can be had cheaply at dollar and thrift stores, or craft stores if you watch for a good sale. If you can't put a bunch of nail holes in the wall, lean large framed posters/prints/etc up against the wall. If they won't hide the awful wall entirely, at least you've put your style on it, which can be a good compromise.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4 - If you can, do something with the walls and floor</strong></div>
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Ok, if you're lucky ducks, you <em style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">can</em> do something about the room's cosmetics. In our bedroom, there's some really dated wallpaper and a patch of "gently used" hardwood right at the entrance of the room. <br />
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I surfed blogs, pintrest, and even BlogHer for ideas, and I found solutions! For our floor, we splurged on a pretty area rug from Uban Outfitters. Yes, yes, we bought new, but Husbandpants was determined to treat me with something, so I couldn't turn that down!</div>
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For our walls, I wanted something I could do in a weekend to really change the look of the room. I caught onto the idea of fabric covering. Carefully placed, and tacked discreetly in the corners, I thought a nice neutral colored fabric would be great in there. It'd make the space feel like ours right away, and it would temporarily solve the problem of wallpaper, and I could repurpose it after. I have permission to take that old paper down, but that's a summer project. I was all set to do broadcloth or something similar, but Bloghers, I discovered....The Burlap Wall.</div>
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Oh yes, burlap. I have 26 yards on its way to me as we speak. Both Husband and I gravitate towards earth tones and natural things (seashells, rocks, sticks, bones), so I said why not go with the crunchies of granola fabrics? Burlap seems to be hot right now, thanks to my super sophisticated research on Google images and MyLowes.com. Apparently I'm trendy. What about that, huh?</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 5 - If you can't change paint/floor/etc., decorate like mad (within reason)</strong></div>
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I'd advise doing this even if you can change the walls and floor! But that's just because I love this step so much. When I started to pretty up the windows and dresser tops, I let myself go nuts within certain limits. Since this is a pretty small room, I had to keep things simple. We used to have 2 dressers and 2 bookcases to play with, which is a lot of surface area. Now there's only 1 small bookcase in the bedroom, and our dressers. And everything's closer together, so I wanted to avoid visual clutter (and dusting disasters).</div>
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For instance, I thought of what I used on my dresser top, and dedicated it to that: jewelry, perfume, coaster for coffee. There are a "few" other baubles on there, things I truly love seeing each morning, but it's much more restrained than it used to be. Tiny pretties and my other thrift store finds were stored to be rotated in at a later date. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt3_dnB0KoIs9xnVbg8mkf4wZJOU87nlswpdHK6EOzE9HwgG1Ku6X6gz5yY4QmvJsTr4s90xllSU8bLT-4uuzd_d5WbhYrDofRm7ONqNXJgGVkdLz_v_jaZP3OWc_Z0rCjs_VY-swk9j4/s1600/P2070008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt3_dnB0KoIs9xnVbg8mkf4wZJOU87nlswpdHK6EOzE9HwgG1Ku6X6gz5yY4QmvJsTr4s90xllSU8bLT-4uuzd_d5WbhYrDofRm7ONqNXJgGVkdLz_v_jaZP3OWc_Z0rCjs_VY-swk9j4/s1600/P2070008.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another good guideline for decorating (especially if you're starting out) is to try to stay in some sort of theme. That way there's visual harmony, which makes the space look (of course) neater and more pulled together. Also, this can make the room look more "masculine", which was a unique concern for me. </div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mr. Liz genuinely likes all my bits and baubles, and will often salvage or thrift with me for more (such a gem! no, he doens't have a brother!) However, a ton of tiny brass vases, or porcelain pigs, or gew gaws makes the place look more fussy. I'm trying to keep this room more mature and neutral, to cut down on any freudian freakouts he might have, sleeping once more in his baby room. So I cut the fuss, and I'm keeping it as simple as I can while respecting both our tastes.</span><br />
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<span style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So there you have it, some handy tips for those downsizing, moving, or simply looking to frugally update their spaces! If you have any more, feel free to leave me some comment love, or send them off to veniceinwinter@gmail.com. I think we're onto something here, so I'd like to revisit this topic another time.</span><br />
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<span style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ok, now pictures of the dogs!!</span><br />
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Gobi, showing that we're still working on not clashing colors! It's been so cold we've just put all the blankets on the bed, coordinating or not.</div>
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The backyard is big. Really big. </div>
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And Gypsy loves that! Both puppies go zooming around together every day.</div>
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We also get a *lot* of birds:</div>
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Mr. Cardinal being shy...</div>
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A puffed-up finch or sparrow? I forget what kind of bird it is, but I love when they get all plumped up for cold weather.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-80022703573309273982013-01-07T06:50:00.000-08:002013-01-07T06:50:09.709-08:00Move it over!Just sparing a quickie moment over coffee to say that I've all but finished packing my craft room. I was a bit sad that my stuff has to be boxed, but the clock is ticking, so all non-essentials need to go to the new house asap.<br />
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Sadly, craft items are "non essential", at least for now. I decided to cease making stuff until either we get the new abode set up, or I tear thru the boxes, shaking until I find my pliers. One or the other. We'll see what happens first!<br />
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Other than this, I'm looking at the aftermath of my Reverse Birthday Party. As I explained over on my <a href="http://www.blogher.com/my-reverse-birthday-party">BlogHer blog</a>, I didn't want gifts for my day, just people to come over and have fun, and take stuff I didn't want or need anymore.<br />
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It was a BLAST! Much wine and food made the rounds, and my load of stuff lightened a bit. Awesomesauce/pants/emus/whatever. I may do this again next year! My MIL was intrigued by this phenomenon and wanted to know if I was going to do another. I told her I'd have to delay, for the sake of our livers, but I'd consider it. <br />
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Technically, I should be selling every last item in the "free stuff" pile, since we need every penny we can get. But I have to be realistic. Not every item is ebay gold. Not every item is yardsale gold, for that matter. For most of this stuff, I originally paid (if I even bought it) a drastically discounted price, bought it used, repaired it, altered it, whatever. Or just made it. I have nothing that falls under the label of "treasure", except for sentimental value. <br />
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There's another wrinkle. I've considered yardsaling the last of this birthday excess, which is mostly books and glasswares (cheap vases), baskets, etc. I'm really torn, because I could probably make a couple of dollars. But then I recall what happened last yard sale here (and my NEVER AGAIN! promise to myself)....People only bought really used, really worn items. And I had lowballed every price, routinely offered discounts. Nothing "nice" moved. Something half used up, something musty smelling, something incomplete - sold! Our neighbor and a friend bought most of the mugs, ashtrays, and vases I was looking to unload. <br />
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This fascinates me. Husband's grandmother noticed a similar thing at her last sale - a couple of people did actually try to buy her trash! I don't get it...is this coming from those "storage wars" shows? Were people purposely buying the crappiest looking things hoping to find something worth <i>serious </i>money inside? I could have assured them they would not have been so lucky! If I was sitting on something like that, I'd know about it! Either way, I'm not sure I want to sit in the January chill all day and not get rid of anything.<br />
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Looking around now, everything's too "pretty", too new looking. None of this would sell. Books didn't even go last time I tried. Books! Can't wrap my head around that! I suppose we'll just have to freecycle a lot over the next week, because I am *not* carrying these things with me. We have enough to do.<br />
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At least my local freecyclers take books and glasswares. I'm counting on them to pull through for me here!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-25165386928862940552012-12-17T10:44:00.002-08:002012-12-17T10:44:43.105-08:00Pages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Kindle case project left me with a bunch of book pages. I sat there and tore out chapter after chapter. This book had been a freebie I picked up for wedding decor. Better I use it for parts than have it hit the bin, huh?</div>
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These simply had to be used further, so I decided to make a paper flower wreath. First I freehand drew 4 sizes of petals out for templates:</div>
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Here there are, large all the way to little. Instead of attempting something more puffy and elaborate, I'm going to have flat flowers. Each bloom will have a charm or some beads for its center, easy to assemble with hot glue. If the gods of spare change are kind to me, there will be some iridescent glitter purchased to put on the edges. Extra pizazz is very important. </div>
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I have a freebie embroidery hoop I'm going to use for the wreath base. There will be a lot of flowers, since this was a several hundred page history book. I'm cutting them out about 5 or 6 pages at a time to speed up the process. This also ensures there's a little variation between batches to look cuter. </div>
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This wreath will take a while, since it's tiring on the old paws to cut out petal after petal after petal! But it's something I can work on here and there, like in the evenings when it gets too cold and quiet. They're great to do when watching some old repeat on Netflix!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-6052648432943058092012-12-17T06:38:00.001-08:002012-12-17T10:45:35.793-08:00Kindled SpiritsAn emotionally-exhausting December has given way to a little spurt of creativity. Even the simplest projects are renewing for me. I decided to finally make a Kindle case for the family Kindle (well, the one I let Himself use once in a while ;)) And here's how I did it!<br />
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First, I pressed the fabric I wanted to use. It's been folded into a drawer for who knows how long, so I thought it'd be good to drag it out, instead of using newer stuff. <br />
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Next I gutted a book that was damaged and destined for crafting anyway. I needed the covers only, so I even took out the spine, because it was far thicker than the Kindle. <a href="http://veneziaininverno.blogspot.com/2012/12/pages.html">The pages are going to another project</a>.<br />
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Next, I measured out the exact fabric I needed. I would have done this first, but it was so wrinkled that I didn't think I'd get an accurate figure. So out came Ma's old sewing box and this handy doodad:<br />
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Next, it was time to start gluing. I tacked the corners down with hot glue and then the edges, pulling it taut, but not tight, since I wanted to be able to close the thing:</div>
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Some scrap booking paper served to cover the seams:</div>
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The straps were a bit tricky, and I needed both my hands, so I didn't photograph the steps. I pretty much eyeballed it. I wanted 2 ribbons where they wouldn't obscure the keys or screen. I held them around the kindle itself to trim them to a length where they were *almost* too short to go around it, plus 2 extra inches to fold under the device. I pinched an inch and glued it to the cover, repeated it for the other side, until I had restraints for the Kindle. Luckily, I got it right, and I was able to slide the reader in under the ribbons and have them hold. I wouldn't waggle the holder around a lot, but for regular use, the ribbons work.</div>
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I glued some more of this pretty cotton ribbon down the "spine" to cover the little fibers from the book covers. I may replace this with wider ribbon in the future, since I dind't anticipate how much the covers would distort the spine area when folded back. </div>
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And here we are, with a little "bookmark" plume at the top! Almost done...</div>
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There we go!</div>
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And it's working pretty well! If I ever make another, I'll play around with ways to reinforce the spine, since that's the most vulnerable part of the design. But for an afternoon's whimsy, this ain't so bad :)</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-45143851339599053632012-12-01T05:47:00.000-08:002012-12-01T05:47:35.081-08:00How to spice up a boring day...Hair has always been the achilles heel of my look. I've got really, really thick and wavy locks, so it seems a sin to complain about them. But I do, sometimes. As much as I love my hair, I can't do anything with it. After a certain length, I can barely keep it in a bun, because of the weight tugging at my poor scalp!<br />
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So I've been cutting it shorter over the years, trying to make it easier to manage. Since I'm in "pretirement", I don't have the funds at this moment to go for a regular haircut. Last one was in May, right before my wedding. I started trimming it up myself not too long after, to clean up the edges a bit and keep my bangs out of my eyes. But yesterday, I looked in the mirror and realized it got to the point of looking like a mushroom. It was time for something!<br />
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I've been flirting mentally with a pixie cut for ages, wondering if I had the gumption. I googled tutorials for this style, and one of the first to pop up was Rachele, of <a href="http://www.nearsightedowl.com/">The Nearsighted Owl</a>. Rachele's a proponent of the pixie for full-figured women. What really got me tho, was that she and I are pretty similar in frame and face shape. This made me decide! If she could pull it off, I could, too! So I sharpened my sewing scissors (the closest I have to real haircutting scissors) and I went to town.<br />
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I went from this....<br />
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...To this in an afternoon! </div>
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It actually didn't take that long. I was in the bathroom, snipping away for about an hour and a half. It's a little puffy right now, because the hairs have never <i>not </i>been weighed down, but I expect it'll calm down in a day or two. </div>
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I felt a little nervousness as the first large lock hit the towel, but I was committed, so I kept going. And it worked!! It's great, I can wear regular hats now! I have a vintage cap from goodwill I've never been able to get on my head properly, but now it fits. My husband has more fedoras than any one man can wear, so I think I'll be borrowing some for the sheer fun of it. </div>
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What fun this was. Now to bundle up and go about the day's errands :)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-80292685389444514152012-11-16T06:38:00.001-08:002012-11-16T11:38:57.523-08:00Still alive! - now with photos!I hadn't realized it had been that long since I updated the craft blog! Oh noes!! We survived Sandy with incredibly good fortune. The only damage was a torn-up porch roof and a few pounds of spoiled ground beef (the power was out for nearly a week). It was cold, dark, and tough at first, but we realized how lucky we were. Our home is in NJ, and we're north of the shoreline, but not by much. So think a kind thought and donate a buck or two (or some warm clothes and food) for our neighbors in the rest of the state and in NY, who are going through a lot.<br />
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In the meantime, we've been going on business as normal here. Crafting took a hit since without artificial light, I found it too hard to bead. Instead, I borrowed Husband's nib pens and india ink and tried to re-learn calligraphy. I used to have a way with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackletter">gothic</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncial_script">uncial</a>, but I am woefully out of practice!! Instead, I mucked around a bit, and started my own hand (Script) which is really a more elegant version of block lettering. I've been trying to develop it further, as I have a fun project in mind....making miniature books!<br />
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In addition to jewelry and such, I also write poems from time to time. But I have come to the conclusion that noone is going to publish anyone's anything anymore - unless you're already published. To that end, I have decided to William Blake it, and make my own books completely by hand. I don't have the fine arts skills Blake did, so my little volumes will be much more spare, but I will be hand lettering and sewing each booklet. Photos are pending - I'll take care of those after today's errands otherwise I'd never leave the house!<br />
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Portions of one of my poems, named after one of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italo_Calvino">Italo Calvino's</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_Cities">Invisible Cities</a>, Eudoxia, which is replicated (or symbolized by?) an intricately worked carpet. You can wander and wander through Eudoxia and the carpet patterns for ever...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDc07HipqkV5ymjN1yqoR6XMN7voIZplY7QJJ89z2MK-IpFGxfn0QA1F0EfoAhKaGsQQntxN2r957Ydwe_VWugq9iktl2GxlJlQ232Pf4jGW32jKT6ifZ8McJ03cvd-dfeMCOoIjZzfhk/s1600/PB160007+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDc07HipqkV5ymjN1yqoR6XMN7voIZplY7QJJ89z2MK-IpFGxfn0QA1F0EfoAhKaGsQQntxN2r957Ydwe_VWugq9iktl2GxlJlQ232Pf4jGW32jKT6ifZ8McJ03cvd-dfeMCOoIjZzfhk/s1600/PB160007+%25282%2529.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This next one is from a quickie book I sewed during the power outage. I was keeping dawn/dusk hours, so I made use of my daylight to practice the stitching. It wasn't the best, as I was going from memory, but that's ok for now. The book is composed of little envelopes, and each contains a tiny, more or less playing-card sized piece of paper with a particularly beautiful line of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolism_(arts)#Paul_Verlaine_and_the_po.C3.A8tes_maudits">Symbolist poetry</a> on it.</div>
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EDIT: Here's some photos of other stuff!<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115943984652239088966/NovemberGoodies#"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">More at the Picasa Album</span></b></a></div>
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In other news, I will have another post featured in BlogHer's money section on the 27th! I must figure out how to cross post between ViW here and the little in-house BlogHer blog I keep. I've also got to start adding photos to my BlogHer posts, so I've opened up a flickr account as well, with a link on the sidebar. What hi-tech sorcery we must do!<br />
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So there we are, fully recovered and ready for Thanksgiving. I'm typing this on the laptop, snuggled in bed with a sleepy spouse and two warm cuddly puppies, feeling very very lucky. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-82233636279883711992012-10-26T15:28:00.000-07:002012-10-26T15:28:10.948-07:00Staring down the storm...So Hurricane Sandy is projected to slam the NE by early next week. Mr. Liz and I went for some minor grocery stockups today. I'm thinking we'll get some water "just in case" tomorrow. Even though I'm hoping it'll all be a big nothing, I made the mistake of reading a blurb that likened it to the big storms in the early 90s. And even tho I was a little girl, I remember those well!<br />
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I hate to play into weather paranoia (they're calling it "Frankenstorm"! Really!) but I do want to be sensible. So we'll put some things by, charge up torches and cell phones, and make sure relatives are ok as can be. <br />
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In the meantime, here's a blog update! The craft room has seen some serious action lately, what with my Halloween costume and its 1001 props. I did find some time to do some smaller projects, such as a necklace and a mini wunderkammer:<br />
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This necklace started life as a vintage buckle. I picked it up in a teeny little antique store in Key West while honeymooning. So I had to find some special use for it. I glued in a castle from a 15th century image (well, the 20th century art history text reprint).... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUyFRW83VFpcYPWhkIAqmJnHwbvuPrG2E52uEHuh5_D1BOBe0piu-xE2_ApXFYeiqsEktV2zkmMww-fzFr10pHcAxiaUAwShErj1U8hPq6uQlEqaZRX7ynChaWMu-KXtgAT91SEwjE9JX/s1600/castle+in+the+air+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUyFRW83VFpcYPWhkIAqmJnHwbvuPrG2E52uEHuh5_D1BOBe0piu-xE2_ApXFYeiqsEktV2zkmMww-fzFr10pHcAxiaUAwShErj1U8hPq6uQlEqaZRX7ynChaWMu-KXtgAT91SEwjE9JX/s1600/castle+in+the+air+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /> </a></div>
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...backed it with some leaves for support, and added a pretty cotton ribbon left over from wedding decorations. It's light and summery. A bit late for the season, tho! Still, it's far simpler than many of my necklaces. It still makes a statement, but in a subtle way, so it would be good for an office, maybe with some very small antiqued gold earrings. Since it's such a fond memento, it is *not* destined for the shop :)</div>
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Almost forgot this fascinator! When I was making the fan for my costume, I threw this together as a side project. The vertebrae are too pretty to sit there unused, but their shape and delicacy limit their applications. Luckily, they are good for headgear, since they won't be touched much. I added in some peacock feathers (more wedding leftovers...that was the project that kept on giving!) and a rather pretty plastic button. The whole thing is glued to a barrette, and looks darling. This one needs a better photo shoot and an etsy listing!</div>
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One of my go-to craft blogs is <a href="http://the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/">The Feathered Nest </a>. Dawn has the loveliest projects, with a scrumptious neutral palette. So I took some inspiration from her Victorian style and started this mini wunderkammer. I was about to pitch this box, but it called to me. It's cream and brown, and pretty sturdy. The flower on top is grey and cream (a lucky find while purging!). The objects on the "shelves" are tiny things I treasure. They were just sitting on my bead organizer, since I like having them near, but I worried about them being knocked over, or falling into trash piles. No more...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUogzbS3Mcuznbov5csSpGGQDRzTE7NeNrJcDQRtt-WM08v_46y5gP6M3ihnZPABNtGBe9CT8mJuwrfWEPDwUd8w72kR_MAaUHkfUXQaEfsbzE6fGg1MlsHWlvaL7t47Ba90t_EWmAoOF/s1600/mini+wunderkammer+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUogzbS3Mcuznbov5csSpGGQDRzTE7NeNrJcDQRtt-WM08v_46y5gP6M3ihnZPABNtGBe9CT8mJuwrfWEPDwUd8w72kR_MAaUHkfUXQaEfsbzE6fGg1MlsHWlvaL7t47Ba90t_EWmAoOF/s1600/mini+wunderkammer+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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There's a vintage compact that belonged to my Grandmother, from the days ladies would "powder their nose". Inside is a mix of tiny objects, with a miniature portrait of my Great Grandmother. The medallion is my Mother in her graduation gear - she was so proud to earn her degree, and I was proud to go with her - even tho I was a little girl! The corals are from Sombrero Beach in the Florida Keys, a few of many Mr. Liz and I scavenged. We only took the dead bits that had washed up and bleached, leaving plenty behind for others to find.... </div>
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This little bottle has a scroll with a line from E. E. Cummings' "i carry your heart", and it also contains itty-bitty fragments of the geode we smashed in our unity ceremony. </div>
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Finally, another chunk of coral, and some truly tiny delicate shells from Crane Point in the Keys. One of the prettiest spots we went to the whole trip :)</div>
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Later on, when I find the right scraps, I'll decoupage some stuff on the "walls" to fill the space visually just a little more. And the whole thing needs some pretty paper on the back to cover up the rough ends of the hanger. But all in good time!</div>
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Now to fix up some dinner and make sure we have plenty of batteries, kibble, and candles! </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-34787868502532515192012-10-17T16:29:00.002-07:002012-10-17T17:10:26.001-07:00Medica Della Peste! (props)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This year is the first time since high school I have had a dedicated Halloween costume! This is quite exciting. I'm going to be a plague doctor/Venetian carnival reveller. This ensemble is the product of one late night's hurried inspiration and about 3 days of intense making. I have modded my wedding skirt slightly into something shorter and poofier (thinking of the sheer volume of carnivale outfits), picked out my plainest shirt and vest (to not distract from the headgear), made the hat of all hats, and an array of props.</div>
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Many of the photos are on my laptop, so I'll have to edit this post later. But I had to share some goodies. first off all, a good plague doctor will carry charms, prayers, and all sorts of thingums to counteract the foul vapors arising from the city streets! I carefully drew up an old "abracadabra" charm, and copied a couple from Defoe's <i>A Journal of the Plague Year</i>. </div>
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I figured I'd also need a fan to wave away the stench of the plague houses...or the aroma of Venetian canals...</div>
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And a mask! Of course one needs a mask. This one is a two-buck plastic shell from AC Moore's. I spraypainted it, lined the edges with gold paint marker, and added a charm because one must. There is no room for reticence at Carnival. Or in the Eat, Drink, and Be Merry hedonism of soon to be plague cities...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI6Um1m69qEzmXZ3dWBdrHUDR7L2Xg4ceZjLPL3s5PvHdXisQgx4GAHHYXrMetVgnd2wOsqwOK8C_JbCkgjr3AYzzB0iYhQtLuux4l41RqOQEZwoUZrqiPRokut6qtkoFf1LbRBHl8u2F/s1600/finished+mask.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI6Um1m69qEzmXZ3dWBdrHUDR7L2Xg4ceZjLPL3s5PvHdXisQgx4GAHHYXrMetVgnd2wOsqwOK8C_JbCkgjr3AYzzB0iYhQtLuux4l41RqOQEZwoUZrqiPRokut6qtkoFf1LbRBHl8u2F/s320/finished+mask.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And one needs mystical things for the otherworldly atmosphere of the Carnival....Behold, a Rider-Waite tarot deck that got a pretty sweet makeover. A while back, I was going to make a Tibetan-style book. But I made the mistake of gluing all 72 cards to one side of the papers, thereby making a wedge, rather than the "block" of pages that would then be bound with decorative boards. Still, there had to be something to do with them....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca08TR1LDJubohQG4e5QhznY2VyEt2e3GdJ-UfueeOfOaJ-Wcq3tHB6T6e6kbK_yUQXIPrWhtwSmkOoh_FczFMNDMSepd_E9lrVWJgzDrEQXVtHQwfo8OBhlnCXkdGFRtq8pTJojiTMmo/s1600/tarot+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca08TR1LDJubohQG4e5QhznY2VyEt2e3GdJ-UfueeOfOaJ-Wcq3tHB6T6e6kbK_yUQXIPrWhtwSmkOoh_FczFMNDMSepd_E9lrVWJgzDrEQXVtHQwfo8OBhlnCXkdGFRtq8pTJojiTMmo/s320/tarot+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I cut them out, trimming them to rectangles, which to my eyes looks more "ye olde".</div>
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I stamped the backs (which were the plain paper they were affixed to ages ago). This stamp is little bits of medieval/ren/old typefaces, so it keeps things looking anachronistic.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn4ssPTMo3rvwCI1sL-4yydmrVb-kxYxJuacEYDzbyzvpWOZNje9lmWPJAy23wFV1KSnQtAW46BSniWUD6kts66Ci2g6EU5QMnLohasl2nY-IKa7GJY7VyAXgYw8NbCWLEihSLL0xcHay/s1600/tarot+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn4ssPTMo3rvwCI1sL-4yydmrVb-kxYxJuacEYDzbyzvpWOZNje9lmWPJAy23wFV1KSnQtAW46BSniWUD6kts66Ci2g6EU5QMnLohasl2nY-IKa7GJY7VyAXgYw8NbCWLEihSLL0xcHay/s320/tarot+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here's a half-finished card. The tarot were not done with their journey yet, however...they had to be antiqued!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8XuBnaOpS74-GTsnH_lywylZF7pAAw5lltat-ECj5oPa9kASkGZrf_ye5cwCWllKMl_7VxL9DphBMGE9FiQI8jjF-FaNgfW8Zlmc8qUGKuuTm79fDGwqm03H2wmAq0q9QU84GHtLxqze/s1600/tarot+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8XuBnaOpS74-GTsnH_lywylZF7pAAw5lltat-ECj5oPa9kASkGZrf_ye5cwCWllKMl_7VxL9DphBMGE9FiQI8jjF-FaNgfW8Zlmc8qUGKuuTm79fDGwqm03H2wmAq0q9QU84GHtLxqze/s320/tarot+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here's some of the cards, laid out on a baking pan, covered with coffee and grounds, in the time-honored DIY paper aging method. I did this for the programs for my wedding and got pretty good at it. All you do is drizzle/sponge coffee onto your paper (let it cool!), sprinkle grounds for added age spots, and bake until dry on your ovens' lowest setting. You'll have to keep an eye on the paper, and make sure the rack is not right up by the heating element, but you can end up with some really cool results. And your kitchen will smell of coffee if you're into that :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNi4ejiq-uWPFzTE78xkU9dMS2IuJyuNWO0m7FyQnuWWok37Q-Z7UHeGZs9wzK-JhCSg0pQDAjmNp-0PT9d4csWd1ULoQAkwXaoGXD9_Vm-NSrDrZWlKA-qlkfLHedkEHjwOqPgm69cdj/s1600/tarot+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNi4ejiq-uWPFzTE78xkU9dMS2IuJyuNWO0m7FyQnuWWok37Q-Z7UHeGZs9wzK-JhCSg0pQDAjmNp-0PT9d4csWd1ULoQAkwXaoGXD9_Vm-NSrDrZWlKA-qlkfLHedkEHjwOqPgm69cdj/s320/tarot+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you have one of those pod-brewers like the Keurig, you can still do this. Just rip the foil off the used pod and you have a few batches' worth of grounds! This can get messy, but cleanup's easy. A damp dishrag will rescue your stove and counters.</div>
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At the end of this, I was left with a tarot deck that was yellowed, a bit wrinkled, and looked like it had seen some years. Just the way I wanted it!</div>
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Ok, here is the hat of all hats. It's built onto a fedora my husband wanted to get rid of. I cut out a larger brim from a cheerios box, as well as a top, and hot glued them to the fedora. I was inspired by tophat-like carnival head-dresses. Top hats are pretty basic, so they seem like a good place to start with DIY millinery. <br />
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I proceeded to cover the "shell" with burgundy satin, and gluing the whole thing. Inch by inch...fold by fold!</div>
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I added all manner of stuff, once it was covered. Flowers, a little skull, lace for height! I went nuts. Since revellers must conceal their identity, I wanted to make sure I'd be covered, so I added a burgundy velvet placemat to the back of the hat. There's a similarly colored window valance now as a veil for my face. Surely, I will be a mystery :)<br />
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This was an interim shot, just to show some friends what I did on day 1. These are the potpurri sachets for the "posey" I'll be carrying to ward off the plague. They smell divine! They're 2 blends from <a href="http://www.wellcat.com/">Wellcat.com</a> that I used in my sachet tutorials.<br />
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The posey itself is really an antique salt shaker I found at a secondhand store. I'm presuming it's really old, since it's metal, but who knows. It makes a great holder/stand for the posey.</div>
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I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I added the skull and jawbones to make a chimeric beast :) Because I can!</div>
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And there you have it, most of the bits and bobbins I'll be putting on myself for this Hallows eve! I'll have some shots of the full ensemble posted soon!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-21956619257834168142012-10-13T15:41:00.000-07:002012-10-13T15:41:34.310-07:00New workOh, how lovely it is getting at the beadboard on a chilly fall day! It was all about multimedia today, with 3 brooches in progress, and a funky necklace:<br />
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This last one is a special case...it took a while to really come together. Bone can be very hard to work with because of all the little contours. But I think I have it now. It still needs a few more touches and an actual pin on the back, but it's coming along :) There's a wire circle element I linked old chain to, added a broken piece of filigree, and put on top of a watch lens. The watch lens itself saw a quickie decoupage with a cherub head, dried rose petals, and copper glitter. I can't wait to see what the next state of this piece will be!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-41670593272255949762012-10-11T09:32:00.000-07:002012-10-11T09:35:28.493-07:00Follow the Money....<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I've been featured on BlogHer's Money page! My list of sane-and-sassy frugal tips tickled the editors and they have put me up there. Now I can officially wear this thing:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-size: small;">You can follow this link to <a href="http://www.blogher.com/friggin-frugal-beginners-guide?wrap=blogher-topics/money/frugal&crumb=32404">"Friggin' Frugal: A Beginner's Guide" </a>to see what's what!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-48862713621898483472012-10-08T11:51:00.000-07:002012-10-08T11:51:04.239-07:00Derp-Free Sachets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-89760253054025351042012-09-28T15:53:00.000-07:002012-09-28T15:53:24.271-07:00Toot-toot! Tutorial ahoy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It occurs to me now that I must enunciate, or "Venice in Winter" turns into "Venison Winter". Also cool, but not what I had in mind :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-20600263729892704742012-09-28T09:37:00.001-07:002012-09-28T09:53:11.750-07:00Kits!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Samples of the kits!</i></div>
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Ok, the envelopes are dried, the earring parts are assembled, and it's time to take professional-looking photos for the Etsy shop. I'll be posting technique tutorials with the listings to put any jewelry newbies at ease. Oh, and I also have to make little tool lists to put in the envelopes. This is exciting! I really hope some of these sell. It's more work to gather the supplies and think of what another person would need. I tend to take my ability and tools for granted, so it's a good refresher to consider what is really needed for even a simple pair of earrings.</div>
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Techniques:</div>
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Turning head pins into eye pins</div>
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Opening and Closing Jump Rings</div>
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<a href="http://www.ornamentea.com/BasicTutorials.htm">Ornamentea.com's basic tutorials page - jump rings are the first entry on top</a></div>
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Simple loops</div>
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<a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_howtos/beading_projects.asp?docid=691E">Tammy Honaman's tutorial for Firemountain Gems</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-32616311847066690552012-09-27T19:45:00.001-07:002012-09-27T19:45:24.635-07:00Change of PlansOk, so a couple of days ago, I was all hot on tussie-mussie jewelry kits. My prototype went well, but not well enough for me to continue with. So what else? I needed some small container for little earring parts. I thought, why not make envelopes? Goodness knows I did enough papercrafting for my wedding that I could churn out a template in a flash.<br />
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And I did! I have 4 little earring kits, a pair a kit. On the front, there's the ingredients, and on the back, a ribbon bow with a tag bearing the etsy store URL. Not so bad for an hour and a half :)<br />
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I'll photograph the contents tomorrow when I have some daylight, as it's quite late where I am. Also, my puppy dog has deemed it bedtime and who am I to argue? :)<br />
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Good night, everyone!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-82137628472235192932012-09-26T12:12:00.000-07:002012-09-26T12:12:02.202-07:00While the Glue Dries....The Sunrise List and views from the studio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I keep a little notebook with images pasted in to remind myself of where I'd like to go in life...</div>
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It was easy to put together: just pick locations that make yourself sigh with longing, especially at the thought of seeing the sunrise there.... </div>
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A little book of dreams can keep you so centered!</div>
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Sometimes, I just collect words and images....celestial, silence, primordial...treats to the brain and tongue! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBh9nE_qGV7KMTNC6uOaBjbnDpxjtIJDNhVW9sJ5-b38OdqVizofck0pTH8W0gngeTzYh9SCypt1Rs6-1YkwR-1fsjQUziTC_Oapsw_plGZjA5m5bRPyT2r-rD8hGcj5RQGFaRix-Sevw/s1600/P7280003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBh9nE_qGV7KMTNC6uOaBjbnDpxjtIJDNhVW9sJ5-b38OdqVizofck0pTH8W0gngeTzYh9SCypt1Rs6-1YkwR-1fsjQUziTC_Oapsw_plGZjA5m5bRPyT2r-rD8hGcj5RQGFaRix-Sevw/s320/P7280003.JPG" width="240" /> </a></div>
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I try to do the same in 3d, making little islands of interest in my studio. I keep the light low and the room cozy. Each nook has somethign meaningful. The little bottle above contains tiny seashells my husband gathered for me on our honeymoon, and the box to its right contains a mini photo of my great grandmother - I paired her with "The Empress" from a tiny tarot deck. </div>
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Even the lampshade must be beautiful! </div>
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I clean up my worktable so much that it looks a bit different now, but you get the idea of the magpie's nest where I work. </div>
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Sometimes I cannot resist a macro! </div>
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Beads get left out on display if their colors are especially beautiful... </div>
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I keep a portrait of Aunt Hazel in here. She was my great aunt on my grandfather's side. I never met her, so I only know her through stories. She was a Zigfield's Follies girl until she started her own costuming company. She's one of the few female artists/artisans in the family, and certainly the only one (that I can think of) that made her living creatively. She's a real inspiration! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotcnHMGnevIPUibANuMolLpzgtj07nrViD86AeYYYAm3LM-c6h8DJwPZGOQJ-ykoX661kHjj9jV2e3AjWbCzKbk85rfaR4ykLMLMCkU4-33JgMOH_PjWi2UFDqrS1sN_XT0WKow37KhFT/s1600/P7280016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotcnHMGnevIPUibANuMolLpzgtj07nrViD86AeYYYAm3LM-c6h8DJwPZGOQJ-ykoX661kHjj9jV2e3AjWbCzKbk85rfaR4ykLMLMCkU4-33JgMOH_PjWi2UFDqrS1sN_XT0WKow37KhFT/s320/P7280016.JPG" width="240" /> </a></div>
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I keep the finished products up on the walls so they don't tangle in drawers and trays...they're also instant decor! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgiaV8VFeW3vKZCil6Mgf5OvLPplwW1dhvNR-x6UYhgN47inmcilwfnLm4HAZuvZUqFdqAVNNsZ-89680FtytNnsXMz3e68FTBtns0-EUSFR7KqOQCb3YnBeWI3XdporW_GdsUqawNiUc/s1600/P7280020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgiaV8VFeW3vKZCil6Mgf5OvLPplwW1dhvNR-x6UYhgN47inmcilwfnLm4HAZuvZUqFdqAVNNsZ-89680FtytNnsXMz3e68FTBtns0-EUSFR7KqOQCb3YnBeWI3XdporW_GdsUqawNiUc/s320/P7280020.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmbQSnmBCp5PgRG-MgIn3TxgFiEMBDHIYMWo6XBhO6BDBLpzr198ORo0NRVViUs77R8wbLTPL1SyjGZB0ARVGu9PCsom1WNrKdZ1io_DB2QCwwRekFko2yNvcs4JbU6o8SgnUe4h9wrCl/s1600/P9260032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Small details mean so much....</div>
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There must be wild life in every room, even if it's pressed and dried to suit my inner Victorian! I keep a summer's worth of pressed flowers in a journal that's never far from where make or write:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfx2nEYZhn0A6HpDbSMIk7BVlvEW-eWysw384DKyvsz4Q-OwQbtlP0UV65lDE1J8TbjAbdbE4ssJgofRtKTsW-c3ZOvL2NDDFh5T-aRP2rDPzXnChJxOKGwwxnJhRM3s9SC1U7JuHt5NF/s1600/P9260037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfx2nEYZhn0A6HpDbSMIk7BVlvEW-eWysw384DKyvsz4Q-OwQbtlP0UV65lDE1J8TbjAbdbE4ssJgofRtKTsW-c3ZOvL2NDDFh5T-aRP2rDPzXnChJxOKGwwxnJhRM3s9SC1U7JuHt5NF/s320/P9260037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And, a parting piece of advice:</div>
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Always ask this before attempting anything :)</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-32866085409207033012012-09-26T10:01:00.000-07:002012-09-26T10:01:41.193-07:00Tussed and Mussied!Oh, have I got a swell idea! I was nosing around a bunch of crafty blogs, and I saw advice on making kits for classes. Now, I'm not in a position at the moment to try to teach a jewelry class, but I would like to lighten my bead load. <br />
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I'm gonna make kits! And they will be on Etsy! And it will be grand!<br />
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I wanted a container prettier than a plastic baggie, as this is pretty much advertisement for my stuff. So it has to be awesome. I have a supply of scrapbooking paper I'm not using, so I thought "tussie mussies"! At its heart , a tussie mussie is a small, conical bouquet of flowers. It's a Victorian thing.<br />
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Googling TM's will find you a lot of wedding and crafts suppliers, and images of very pretty, highly decorated cones, often containing flowers or candies. They're lovely and easy to make, and they look like fun to jazz up. I'm going to head to the worktable now to make a prototype and see where it gets me. <br />
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Hopefully this works out, since I really like the idea :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-87559507210166543442012-09-26T06:33:00.002-07:002012-09-26T06:33:26.370-07:00Whee!Blogher's editors have deemed one of my posts feature-worthy! I only put it on the network's blog, not here, but apparently it qualifies :)<br />
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Here's the link to <a href="http://www.blogher.com/friggin-frugal-beginners-guide">"Friggin' Frugal: A Beginners' Guide"</a> on my Blogher table. The post also gets a badge, which I'm going to put up when the post is featured. Because I'm needlessly conscientious like that.<br />
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So, off to get coffee with the Husbandpants and be happy the rest of the day!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610464578960236259.post-28271340479292428312012-09-24T20:16:00.001-07:002012-09-24T20:16:44.045-07:00Vintage Memories<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='width:600px;margin:0 auto'><div style='position:relative;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/vintage_memories/set?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger&id=59623910'><img force='1' border='0' height='850' title='Vintage Memories' src='http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/ufh8rC4lemyxDL3c9x3Zrw/cid/59623910/id/wDcHM087SZW-_TajZfantA/size/c600x850.jpg' alt='Vintage Memories' width='600'/></a></div></div><br/><div style='text-align:center'><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/vintage_memories/set?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger&id=59623910'>Vintage Memories</a> by <a href='http://veniceinwinter.polyvore.com/?.embedder=4300158&.svc=blogger'>veniceinwinter</a> featuring <a href='http://www.polyvore.com/alexander_mcqueen/shop?brand=Alexander+McQueen'>alexander mcqueen</a></small></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496525494397243593noreply@blogger.com0