Good Things Come...

...Wrapped in a ridiculous amount of colored tissue, ribbons and trims...

...Plus a few pages of Trader Joe's "Swimsuit Issue".

I had sent Patty junk silver plate labeled with the words I wanted each piece to "say".

She sent back art pieces with my tags altered!

It's magic!
Her husband, Mr. Magpie, has a way with a hammer. And Patty is a prolific artist who has a way with presentation.

I have been telling her for months that she needs to open an etsy shop.
I mean, wouldn't you love to have some cutlery like this of your own, or any of her other art or stuff?

(if you know Patty, you are nodding "yes")

Now, go visit the Magpie's Nest and add your two cents.

The chant goes like this,

"et-sy shop, et-sy shop, et-sy shop."

I am past being subtle!

My Inner child

My 5 year old, Rebecca, is my alter ego. My mentor. My muse. She also "a"muses me.
She makes some of the greatest art. It totally inspires me. She doesn't worry about scale, or whether her people have arms and legs. If they are rolling skating, they have legs, because the skates have to fit on something, but arms are optional. The arms don't tell the story like the feet do. Makes perfect sense!

So, for the QB5's (see their blogs in my side bar) current swap (stitchery) I decided to go decidedly primative and took a cue from Rebecca. This is the sign-in book I designed with Rebecca's help. She drew the characters, and I embellished with stitchery.

The thing is, that I am having such a great time stitching on paper, that I am not getting to my piece of linen very quickly. I may be onto something, but the swap can't be held up for my personal experiments.

It's something to pursue later.

And I have a very long "to do" list.

So here is my parting advice... in a creative rut? Go see what your kids or grandkids have on their drawing boards.

Only use arms or legs when they are necessary for the story you're telling, and put a smile on everyone's face.

Also, don't do a lot of sketching.

Just draw.

Rooms With Views or Ode to a Closet Artist

Mary Hendon was a quiet woman who mostly kept to herself. She took trips to Lexington, MO (20 minutes drive from her house) to research old architecture and local history. I heard rumors about her talent as an artist and that she had painted murals all over her house. But when I would meet her and hint at visiting to view her works, she was not forthcoming with an invitation. Seems she painted strictly for her own enjoyment and did not care if anyone ever saw her work. She did not need public attention nor praise.


Mary died last year, from a cancer she had been battling for awhile. She died just about two weeks after her husband, who was also terminal with cancer. A college aged grandson had inherited the house and lived in it briefly. Last week my in-laws bought the house, and finally, I was able to see what everyone talked about (how is it that everyone got to see the house but me?)

The kitchen is set in Italy, with a view of a villa from a wrought iron veranda (the broom leaning against the wall is real). A small lizard scales the wall above the pantry.

The servants' back staircase leading from the kitchen is lined with a dark, story book forest featuring Little Red Riding Hood peering timidly from behind a tree on one side, while a troll/ gnome, snoozes beneath a tree on the other side.

Downstairs, just beyond the front foyer, is the impressive hallway that leads to a bathroom, mudroom and kitchen at the back of the house. The hall is made even more majestic painted up to look like a castle's interior.

The castle seems to be in a tropical location as witnessed by the palm tree "outside". Maybe belonging to a pirate king?


The painted masonery is SO realistic under the stairs that I expect to feel the crevices when I reach out to touch the wall.

A yacht sails up the stairs.

This faux mirror fools me each time I walk up the stairs. I come up to the to landing, expecting to see my reflection, and then don't!

The scenery up the staircase is a little blank, but the architectural arch is quite impressive. I cannot imagine the insane scaffolding that had to be constructed on the stairs to reach that wall for painting!

On the upper landing is yet another window with an unfinished view. Mary's home was definitely her personal castle. I would have liked to have seen this place with her furnishings in it!

The amazing thing is that this beautiful craftsman house exists in a tiny po-dunk, Missouri town with a population of less than 500 (I live just 3 blocks away).

In a shed behind the grand house, among a bunch of old library discard books, I found a coffee table book that had to be Mary's inspiration.

Weird Rooms by Mal and Sandra Sharpe.

Photos by Alexander Vertikoff.

I have it for sale in my etsy shop.

REALNEO Neotimes Mail Call

I knew the envelope was sent by an artist and fellow ephemera collector because it was plastered with postage stamps.

My photos here barely begin to illustrate the amount and quality of the goods inside.


Old letters, unusual scrap, ration tickets, cards from old board games, a cashier's check dated 1935, and so on, and so on, all carefully packaged in hand made folios and cellophane bags.


Below are collectible images from boxed matches. They are what triggered the impulsive generosity.

"When I originally read your blog, I got a smile out of your obsession with pattern model illustrations. As said earlier, I thought I might have something that has a similar quality you would find interesting- a few tiny matchbook labels from Europe. Well, as usual, I thought I knew where they were but didn't really, and thus embarked on a search through every box of curiosities stashed in all places everywhere. I rediscovered a bunch of things as I searched, a sample package of such findings is on the way to you today..."

All of this wonderful stuff came because I sold Neotimes a couple of old rotating date stamps through my etsy shop.
I am in awe at the mystery of how a connection can be made.
Do check out REALNEO.
Totally inspiring!

Fun Mail!

If I could bind books, I would do them like Cindy Leaders and that's why I love her work so much! She repurposes everything from old hardcover books to cereal boxes, to tea packaging and now most recently my library pocket cards. My favorite books of hers are the ones with various old papers inside. Kind of like a swatch book. I have yet to write in any (I own 4 now) because I think the books are perfect just as they are!

Her crafts(wo)manship is impeccable.

Tightly laced waxed linen transforms a humble stack of scrap into something sublime.

When I returned from vacation this little 50 page gem was waiting for me at the post office.
A surprise with a note,

"I wanted you to see what I did with the library cards you sent me..."

These are now flying out of her etsy shop, Useful Books.

She also enclosed scraps of her beautiful marbelized papers she creates to use as end papers in her incredible journals.

I sent her more cards to make more journals.

I am so excited for her success!

The only thing better than coming home,

is coming home to some really great mail!

Marvelous Michigan

As soon as we hit the heat and humidity of Missouri, my husband wanted to turn the truck and camper around and head back up to the cooler, dryer weather of Michigan. We had a great time with my sister Elizabeth (above left) whose house we stayed at. My brother Victor drove in from Wisconsin and my mom flew in from New Jersey. Only sibling absent was Sophia who stayed behind with her family in New Jersey.

The above photo was taken at a belated birthday party for my mom.

I am seated to the right.

Elizabeth's whole backyard is pretty much deck and in-ground pool.

It was like staying at a resort. We had no reason to leave the house!

Being that it's Michigan, the pool was heated, so the water was always warm enough for swimming!

The kids were in the pool as long as there was daylight and Dad couldn't resist joining them.

When we weren't swimming, we were eating (my stomach never got a chance to grumble) and when we weren't eating or swimming, we were garage saling.

Romeo, MI (nearby) had their city wide garage sale while we were there.

A major event!

We shopped two different days and found all kinds of treasures.

Many will be slowly showing up in my etsy shop.

A good time was had by all.

Time Flies...

...whether you are having fun or not!

The kids are on summer break and my time is not my own.

(Hence the huge lag in blog posting.)

The wooden handled rubber stamps have been flying out of my shop!

So I have been busy packing, listing and relisting items.

Lots of library pocket cards sold along with them.

One woman wanted 100 white ones to use for "save the date" cards.

Clever!

I love to hear what people use them for.

Next week we are boarding the dogs,

packing up the camping trailer, the kids, and

taking a road trip up to Michigan to my sister's for a few days.

My mom and brother will be there too.

I haven't seen my family in awhile, so am really looking forward to it.

What are you doing on your summer vacation?

Well, you might consider joining in on Carole's journal workshop.

I'll be slipping into my seat a little late

(when I return from our road trip),

but I plan to be there!

It's not too late to register!