Why I Never Throw Anything Out

Most everything is pregnant with possibilities in my book.

Long after the bit of vintage taffeta was used up, I held onto the cardboard spools and packaging, because I just knew they could be repurposed into something wonderful. I just didn't know what, right off. Some things have to clutter up my work space for awhile and be a daily reminder that they have fabulous potential.

Then last night, around 9:30, inspiration hit.

I had been toying with how to present this home movie film I found in my basement (abandoned by a previous owner of our house) and the ribbon spools naturally came to mind-- and because I never buried them into a drawer or box, I could find them easily!

Why reinvent the wheel, when 60 years ago, someone brilliant already designed great packaging?

By the way, the film is also pregnant with possiblities!

I have only begun to play with it!

As an embellishment, it's a no brainer.

Here I grabbed a button card, with two buttons left hanging on by a thread (literally), and transformed it into a tag.

Film is going the way of printed books in this digital world.
Preserve a piece or two in your art!

Perhaps there's a film noir altered book you're working on that needs this kind of authentic element?

Or a classic movies themed ATC series?

I am going to attempt a brooch next.

(You will just have to come back and look now, won't you?)

I am selling the 8mm film in 5 yard lengths in my etsy shop.

You saw it here first!

Happy Birthday Tea (to Me!) and an Old Fashioned Country Auction

This morning I am enjoying one of the cinnamon rolls my mother-in-law made for my birthday (yesterday!) along with an uncustomary deviation from my "usual" black tea.

Something citrus-y seemed like the perfect pairing to a rich, sugary cinnamon pastry.

And it is!

YUM!

The amazing thing was, that there was a country auction on my birthday(!!!)

So I went.

And dragged my antiquing friend Liz along for the ride.

It's a rare auction that happens on a week day

Most are Saturdays or even an occasional Sunday afternoon.

So one on my birthday had to be a sign of good things.

Or just really good junk at rock bottom prices!

At a country estate auction, where most things are pulled fresh from the barn,

you have to look past the dirt to see the treasures and their potential.

This stuff is not cleaned up for show.

I wasn't the only one who recognized this glass water kettle as something rare.

It sold for $27.

The dirt was free.

The hay trailers look like they are full of junk. Trash even.

So you have to dig through boxes and make a mental note of what is in them.

So you wouldn't accidentally buy a box of old pens.
I actually bought all of these on purpose, when they were bundled with a tray of knick knacks, a coffee mug a couple planters and an old cookie tin of quilt squares.
I paid $1.00 for ALL of it.
Hey, do you know how hard it is to find a pen in my house when I need one?
And my kids like sharpening pencils more than using them!
Auctions are not all about antiques and collectibles.

Although I also scored this McCoy planter (yes, the Real McCoy, marked) for a mere $4.00!
The farmers were more interested in wire egg baskets which went for $16.00-$22.00 a piece.
I was not even tempted to join into that bidding war!

The temperature barely got above 50*F (10*C. ?) and that's only when the sun came out in the early afternoon. Liz and I had dressed for the cold but were shivering within the first hour (auction started at 10am).
But it was worth it.
And some hot coffee from the concession stand eased our discomfort.
Between us, we spent $51-- and packed my van!
I will reveal more in future posts.
The auction was as much entertainment as shopping.
Like, did you know that framed paint by number snow scenes are worth $25 each?!
They are when when close friends and family members bid on them.
For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Compulsive Collecting #138 (It's Tea Tuesday!)

I don't know which I found first, the cup....

Or the saucers.


Or maybe the collection started with this sugar bowl.






In any event, I found this creamer only last week.

It's only taken me about 5 years (maybe even longer!) to amass this collection of matching crockery, from garage sales and thrift stores, but cost me less than $1.00 total!

And that's the thrill of the hunt!



For more Tea Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.

Cheers!

Compulsive Collecting #312 Children's School Scissors

Yes! When I find a pair of vintage, paper cutting, scissors at the thrift store,

at a garage, or estate sale,

I buy them!

Brings back memories of grade school and doing crafty things.

I also just like the look of their all metal construction.

This is not my whole collection-- I need to find the rest,

squirreled away somewhere.

*sigh*

But moving on...

Don't you love the bit of rust and age patina on this red handled pair?

Here's a pair of "safety" scissors (blunt tips).

I have used all of these for cutting at one time or another,

when other scissors have gone missing around the house.

Kids!

One pair made it into an assemblage tag I created, that was printed in Somerset Studio's "Fearless" issue.

My thesis was,

"Being fearless is,

having never used bee's wax before,

deciding it was a good fit with metal."

I was pleased that the editor "got" my idea and found some room on a page to print my art!

I'm not endorsing RUNning with scissors,

but some rules can be broken,

where no one gets hurt--

Some interesting, new things are explored

and amazing things happen.

What do you compulsively collect?

Stamps, Stamps, Stamps

A few months ago, my mother sent me one of the most wonderful book/ journal/ scrapbook things I have ever seen.

Her very first stamp album.

She was a young teen when she started collecting.

The inside of the book has cardboard pages, lined with glasseine pockets.

Immediately I thought the album would be great for inchies, but I am afraid the fragile glasseine would tear from the bulky art.

Instead, I am starting to slip in the postage stamps I like or think a friend would like (or the ones I find later under my table, in a drawer,...) as I pour over and sort through the massive collection of postage my mother has sent me over the years.

This book will never be for sale in my etsy shop, but I always offer envelopes of old postage for purchase.

I love using postage stamps in my art, but I have more than I will ever be able to use by myself!

Currently I am offering vintage Christmas postage for sale.



In an appropriate envelope.



I also love the other kinds of stamps and am continually thinning out my collection.
This angel could be what you need for your Christmas cards or envelopes this year (and after Christmas-- she is timeless!)





I am also parting with some of my wooden handled stamps.

This is one from a box load I bought on ebay almost 2 years ago.

Some of wording on some of the stamps leads me to believe that they all came from a nuclear plant or research facility.

What could be more enticing or intriguing than mail art stamped, "CONFIDENTIAL"?
And the rubber stamp looks nice on display (even carelessly tossed aside on your work table).

Good Morning! Tea

Yawn.

Stretch.

Sip.

Bask.

There is something about wintry sunlight.

It warms rather than blisters.

It shines bravely, not ferociously.

It beckons me outside,

to our eastern facing front porch,

to greet the day.

For more tea inspired musings, visit Kimmie's blog!

Stuff Those Stockings!

Because I know that time will get away from me, I am busy filling
my etsy with Christmas in mind.

Some of my favorites are the little things that will fit into a stocking.

Something for her.

Something for him.

And they won't break your budget.

New things added almost daily!

Comforting Tea

Cold and dreary, wet and chilly,

it's autumn in Missouri!

Rebecca is home from school today;

a cough, sore throat keep her from play.

Means I have to be Mom and can't play either,

so I'm off to the couch with a book and tea,

Dora's already on TV;

but Rebecca prefers my company!

For today, my arting will have to wait,

my etsy shop may well stagnate,

for lack of new things to please the eye,

(I am trying not to cry).

"Coming Rebecca!" She's getting impatient.

I really must go.

Drink some tea and think of me-

a slouch on the couch

cuddling with my sickly girl.

I hope I don't get what she's got!

For more Tea on Tuesday posts, visit Kimmie's blog.