...TIKI

I NEED SPRING!

I NEED WARM SAND BETWEEN MY TOES!

I NEED INSPIRATION!

   Not much I can do about the first two (Well, J DID offer to 'zap' some sand in the microwave for me... ~ always the thoughtful guy!), so I did head to the attic studio in hopes of finding some 'inspiration'.
   As I looked around I Just.Shook.My.Head .   I could easily decorate any small, 'theme' cafe or restaurant, just from the confines of my studio (ie: Mexican, Western-Southwest, Oriental, Italian, Pacific/Hawaiian...).  Wall hangings, lighting, fabrics, table accents, maybe even dress their staff - oh yeh, I could do them up Proud.  OH, this is JUST.SO.WRONG!
   I decided for my Spring Vignette I would do a 'nod' to Hawaii.  To decorate for St. Pat's would be too short lived, Easter is a 'Not Holiday' in my book, I need some BRIGHT COLOR, so Polynesian it was - perfect Mid Century!  So I gathered a box-o-STUFF, a pile-o-clothes &  some fabrics and headed back to the warmth the main house...

 Now, you 'may' (or may not) be scratching your head, wondering WHY I have all of this TIKI - POLYNESIAN Kitsch just randomly floating around my Attic Studio.  The answer: Good question!  I guess I have always been rather fascinated by this whole MidCentury phenomena, and have just picked pieces up randomly as I find them.   

 We have never been to Hawaii.  I guess it is on our 'bucket list' for someday.  Not real high on the list, but one of those places that we think we 'should' visit.  For now I am just intrigued by the history.

 Actually, the REAL INSPIRATION in all of this is that once I gathered it all together, cleaned it, admired it and accessed it I decided it was time to P.U.R.G.E. all but a few of my favorites 8-) !!

 The Mermaids are definitely keepers!

 

As is this funny little guy!!

Wouldn't you know it the next time we went out saling, the first thing we found was this...

It's okay though, because they made it directly to our ETSY shop without passing through the studio!!

 

This coming Saturday (TOMORROW - YEH!!) is opening day for my RUMMAGE SALE SEASON.  Very excited as things have been pretty boring...

Only a few small finds of late ~

Sweater Clips 2013 #3,4,5 & 6 - all duplicates 8-(

Large Copper & Silvertone Brooch $1



HAEGER 2013 #1  duplicate 8-(



Retro Enamel Flower Power EARRINGS!!!

If these earrings don't SCREAM SPRING, I don't exactly know what does!
 

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!
(...maybe all I REALLY 'NEED' is a Mai Tai or TWO!!)

...sou·ve·nir

(Anniversary trip to Montreal)

Last week, I volunteered to do some work at home... frame a couple of items for the new Christmas Store that is going to open this weekend. Just TWO pieces. So, I dug out my cutting board, straight edges, rulers, matte board, screw driver, wire, hammer, matte cutter, razor blade knife, backing board, a couple of frames from the attic.... With all of this in place- (covering our Living Room floor! ), I quickly had the framing/matting complete. Then I got to thinking (oh, this always means trouble!!)... Since I have ALL of this stuff out, I might as well frame some of 'my' stuff that I have been procrastinating on....(M&M package graphics)

Aren't they FUN?!! I only got two done - 'Montreal' and 'M&M', but the 'Holiday' motivation was there. I'm seriously Loving them!!

The M&M graphics were bestowed upon me by dear friends - 'Mr. M' worked for an advertising company that did packaging graphics (pre-computer), and these were doomed for the dumpster. Knowing MY love for Halloween, they were saved!! (Mrs. M - Please don't squeal on how long it has taken me to get these framed - and thank Mr. M for me again!).

As for 'Montreal', that will require some 'background information'....

My favorite 'souvenirs' from vacations are 'found' posters - those advertising an event we attended! Some fellow vacationers yell at me for 'stealing'. I don't look at removing 'soon to be trash' from telephone poles and alley walls as 'stealing'! Do you? Since this has become a regular occurance, I even pack an empty cardboard tube in my suitcase (when space allows) for the safe return travel of my treasures. When safely at home, these become (eventually) wall art. Stop grimacing - I don't do the college thing of 'taping' them to the walls - They are neatly framed and matted. As I'm sure you are all aware, framing and matting can be BIG $$... unless you do your own... with thrifted supplies!! I do. It just sometimes takes me a while.

Back to 'Montreal' - one of my Favorites!! Anniversary trip... Halloween... 24" x 36" poster - (The kind that is like a Giant sticker w/ the entire back adhesive for 'durable' posting)... a few drinks... back alley... The 'acquisition' was quite a 'journey' unto itself!

Here are some other 'souvenirs' that have 'free-loaded' there way home with me...

(previously framed!!)

WARNING: I DO NOT PHOTO REFLECTIVE SURFACES WITH ANY QUALITY!!!

('TouLouse LauTrec exhibit at Grand Palais in Paris')

(My first INDIANAPOLIS race - w/ Sam Bass signature!)

(Chicago NEOCON - w/ Richard Meier signature)

(The Feria & Running of the Bulls - Nimes, France)

(New Orleans.)

(Sausolito, Spring Faire)

How could I possibly resist these beauties, that still make me smile after so many years??

souvenir [ˌsuːvəˈnɪə ˈsuːvəˌnɪə]
n
an object that recalls a certain place, occasion, or person; memento
vb (tr)
Austral and NZ euphemistic slang to steal or keep (something, esp a small article) for one's own use; purloin
[from French, from (se) souvenir to remember, from Latin subvenīre to come to mind, from sub- up to + venīre to come]
hc_dict()