...'F' is for enamel FLOWER POWER! (enamel pins, Frocks and FlipFlops)

"F" Is for...

FLOWERS!

as in ENAMEL FLORAL PINS!

(that Nobody wears quite like Ms. KitCat!)
"Part of the appeal of the bright enamel flower pins that came onto the costume-jewelry scene in the early 1960s was that they were not your mother's jewelry," ... "There was nothing conservative about them. They were cheerful, cheap, and mass produced, and you could wear them in all kinds of ways and in all kinds of places,"
"Today, collectors covet the perky pins for the same reasons. They're fun to collect, look great on hats, bags, and dresses, and they don't cost a fortune"
CountryLivingOnline
PINTEREST

~and~

"F" Is for...

vintage Floral Frocks!

 
...that Sesame Shimmer and Miss Crane due proud, while sporting VERA scarves!!
(despite the fact that I can no longer squeeze into them!)

~and~

"F" Is for...

Flip Flops!

I have been working on adding 'earrings' to my FlipFlop Arsenal.  Earrings are previously unventured territory to me, but I think that I am getting the hang of it! It has been a FUN adventure (and diversion)... ~sorting through our seaglass/beach bricks/beach pottery hoards for the perfect sizes and shapes ~a Great excuse to play with the power tools in the Studio Annex (ie: Garage) ~and it has gotten my creative juices flowing again!  SOON this addition to the North Shores Collection will be ready to hit the stores!


 ~BUT, most importantly~

"F" Is for...

Family and Friends!

April 29,2019 , just barely over 2 weeks ago... Such a short time that seems like forever. 

 I've learned what a big hole a persons' departure can leave in my life.  At the same time I'm realizing just how he formed the 'complete' person I am today, and that is something that will never be taken from me.

~My 'creative' side was definitely a gene from him.

~Remain observant and curious, there is always more to learn.

~There is So Much waste in the world.

~If you Want to do something, You CAN.

~Be positive

~Actions speak louder than words.

~Take pride in your belongings.

~Always shine your shoes.

~A man's word is his honor.

~Love until the end.

and

~SMILE.

Over the last four weeks, our Family has rallied and drawn closer.  Friends near and far have been an unending wealth of support.  Family and Friends truly are the most important 'STUFF' we can have in our lives.  MANY THANKS to all!!

“Love people and use things. The opposite never works.” 

 I love you Dad ~ you will always be near in my heart.

BE WELL

and

en JOY!

...BAH HUM BUG!

Just.NOT.right.

BAH! HUMBUG!

~OOPS~

I mean...

 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!!

~or if YOU prefer~

HAPPY DAYTONA WEEK!

(yes... NASCAR is upon us again...)

Not much thrifting / saling of any sort happening in these parts.  So how are we spending our time?

CREATING with BEADS & WIRE

BAKING

...and our newest 'commisioned' works...

 Still playing around with proportions and tweaking more 'bits'...  Will have LOTS more to show you soon!

 (IF I don't get struck down by lightening!! ha,ha)

Be Well.

Stay Warm.

&

Love the one your With!!

...WIRED!

Does anyone else get confused as confused as me when converting mm/in to 'GAUGE'??

Here's our answer...

 

...getting my Holiday shopping groove on!

I've had T.W.O. Glorious days of Holiday shopping, and T.W.O. additional of Holiday Handcrafting...

and I think I've just about 'wrapped it up'!  

(*DISCLAIMER: the literal wrapping has yet to be done!!)

Now, I'm sure you're scratching your head, wondering WHY? / HOW? could this person possibly enjoy this process so?

Allow me to explain...

Other than (3) larger, 'high-tech' gifts that HAD to be 'BIG BOX' bought, the rest of my 'gifties' are for people with whom we have an "agreement" that the 'stocking stuffers' (aren't those always The.Best.?) we exchange are either thrifted or crafted!

This weekend our house looked like HURRICANE CENTRAL!

SATURDAY was 'Candy Making' day!

Mostly gifts for my Dad's stocking ~ Black Walnut Brittle, Black Walnut Fudge, Spiced Black Walnuts, ...

Can you guess that my Dad likes Black Walnuts?? - and he keeps me supplied in them ~ one of his Winter hobbies is cracking them by hand!!

SUNDAY was Studio Groovin' day!

This is our kitchen counter...

  The jar on the right is full of bulk Flax (yes. I'm old. Don't judge me.), with a measuring spoon that has come to live it's life perched on top...

This was my vision for it:

Quite a simple process of wire-wrapping...

and beading!

This was about the ONLY project of the day that turned out as planned though.  I can't share the details of the others, as some of the recipients drop in on this blog occasionally!!


FRIDAY and MONDAY were Shopping days!
Found LOTS of goodies - MOST of which I also cannot share here!
Of course, I did pick up a few things not 'on my list'
(Christmas List, that is!!)

RESALE POTENTIAL:

(Pampered Chef Cookie Press, New Dansko shoes, vintage aluminum measuring spoons, Oneida & Ikea flatware)

(Set of Xmas JAPAN stacking mugs, Swedish- ?Iron Stand?, Dallas Cowboys / Taz Ornament, Snowman Candy Holder, Am Girls Cookbook, and a Skeleton Doll - **WHICH WE HAVE NOW IDENTIFIED AS 'LALALOOPSY'? WHO KNEW!!)
~AND~
A few crafting goodies for ME!

(**Had NEVER heard of 'Kendall' towels before!!  'Kendall' is the name of the tiny town I grew up in.  Not 'the same' location as the towel origin, but still cool!)

 Would any shopping be complete without...

(VERA Scarves 2014 #8 and #9 - .25¢ each!!)
Sweater Clip 2014 #7 - $1.)

Of course, by now you all know the Thrifts are near 'my' seaglass beach, so I HAD to stop...

(AFTER I had picked up my FREE 2-scoop Birthday Sundae from Friendly's - as a 'to-go' to eat at the beach!!)

The STRONG Southerly winds overnite had melted the snow and washed in some 'stellar' finds!!  Could have watched the waves carry in treasures for hours, but the rains came!  

 Oh well, don't mind the rain so much when it gives me this to look at my ENTIRE ride home (45min.)!!

Now it's time to clean up 'The. Mess.'!
 'Round one' of stocking stuffer exchanges is THIS SATURDAY!!
Then, the decorating begins...

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!!

...The Cavalier, Corks & Cinco de Mayo?

Still, 'a bit' tooo cool for any true saling in Central NY, or maybe MY saling mojo just hasn't arrive for 2014 YET!!

  For now, the date has been set and we are in PREP-MODE for our ANNUAL Family Garage sale, DEADLINE: May 30-31! I have set a goal for myself to clean out One box of 'stuff' a day between now and then...  That doesn't seem too tough!

I can't think of any better 'sale locals' that I have been to lately than this 'HOTEL CONTENTS' sale that we stumbled upon in Virginia Beach while we were on vacay recently! 

It was Monday afternoon, Last day of the sale, took us a while to figure out where to park, where the entrance was...

But, Oh baby, what a step back in time!

The people that have crossed these thresholds over the years...
If these walls could talk!!

Nothing left that we were interested in buying - old hotel room furniture (eek!)...  but just having the chance to walk through the marble foyer with the dual curving grand stair cases... several HUGE Ball rooms with their original chandeliers with walk out patios overlooking the ocean....  ((sigh))
~we bought nothing, though they were selling 12" square emblems from the original Cavalier wallpaper for $7 which did tempt me ;-) ~

(**FYI: We did inquire, it is NOT being torn down, but IS being turned into high end Condos.)

NO, This isn't Virginia Beach any more.

   It is our lovely FingerLakes....

Where I have been busy in the attic/studio with my latest 'party favors' for our 'Alumni Reunion' at the Wine & Herb Festival last Saturday...

...after the 7th Winery!!

Cork + SeaGlass + Wire Wrap = 8-)


and we can't forget...



HAPPY BELATED CINCO de MAYO!!!

...365 of 2014.

 

Here we are. Three days into it, to be specific!

remember this PIN??

Still, a 'Bright & Shiny' NEW Year...
Brimming with potential and possibilities,
Now what shall we do with it?
2014.
"RESOLUTIONS"... my, how I dislike that word. I recently read the definition of this word to be "Your 'TO-DO LIST for the first week of January ".  I thought that to be rather appropriate!

 Harmony~ Happiness~ Creativity

Yes. I think these three simple words will make Perfect 'goals' for ME for 2014!  They apply to sooo many important aspects of my life...


Family...Travelling... Saling... Purging... Gardening... Cooking...  

We'll see.  Anybody else out there have plans for their shiny new 2014??  I'd love to hear them!!

ETSY recently published this article on a '365 Creativity Plan'.  I found it interesting, and I didn't want to lose it, so here it is...

1. Take a 5 minute walk and make something where you end up using what’s available. Leave it there for someone else to discover, but be sure to document it first!
2. What do you collect? Work with a collection of objects you have in your home (or borrow a friend’s, if you like).
3. Transform an old book into something new by cutting, folding, gluing, etc.
4. Create or alter something so that it disappears into its background.
5. Can you create something using a material that will dissipate quickly? (For example: soap bubbles, smoke, butter on a griddle, cream in coffee, etc.)
6. Turn today’s junk mail (or spam email) into something much more appealing.
7. Make an image with just words or letters. You can cut them from a magazine, draw them yourself or print out words on a computer to work with.
8. Re-interpret your favorite childhood story.
9. Make a unique trophy. Bonus: award it to someone!
10. Add a face to something that normally doesn’t have one.
Be sure to visit my site, MakeSomething365.com, where I’m cataloging 365 projects to inspire folks to start their own! And, of course, let me know if you do start your own project and I’ll be sure to share it there too.

...of TREES, ... and BELLS ...and elves!

 

The Garlands are all strung.

The ornaments are all hung!

 

I created this display from a couple of old window screens for my 'one & only' craft show~flop this fall...  thought it should go to some use!

 

SEAGLASS TREES!

SEAGLASS SNOWMEN!

and more SEAGLASS TREES!!

 REMEMBER Ms. TABBY KAT?

SHE GOT DECKED OUT IN HOLIDAY BLING AND  WAS RELINQUISHED TO THE FOREST!

 

 

 OF COURSE!

The I MUST have at least ONE aluminum tree (this one has 'secondary colored' ornaments ~ purple/orange/green!

~to join in SHARA's elf Party today~

(because no house is complete without a DOZEN...or so...!!)

TWEED UPDATE: Despite a few 'close calls', he did return from Cookie Baking UNHARMED!!

 



Hope everyone is having a BEAUTIFUL week!