Paintings and Thriftings!

So here are some new goodies to gander at.....The top photos are painting I've been slinging paint at and the last two are recent thrifted goodness. The more thrifted goodies I find, the more I want to include them in my Etsy shop. I have already included two thrifted goodies. I am making a full hearted attempt to make my Etsy shop more successful. So far, I've just started it, put a few things in and let it sit. But no more! I want it to work for me...so I have to work for it.

I've been growing up a lot lately.....(pretty good for someone almost 30) But, as we all know, growing can be painful....but it's neccesary. I feel like I'm becoming a better person. I also realize that our choices lead us down certain paths.....common sense, yes.....but sometimes realizations like this take awhile to sink in. And my realizations are sinking in.....and I'm focusing more on what life means to me and can it mean for me. What is it that I want? What are my passions? What do I need to lose to gain what I want? Etc, etc. I feel like everyone goes through this, some sooner and later......I think a lot of my current "growth" has to do with turning 30 and considering all those things I was going to have done before 30.....my to-do list is still pretty long!

Well, I've rambled and carried on.....making little or no sense. You know, I hate stream of consicousness mess but my blog seems to be just that.....well thanks for having it out with me. I promise my next posts won't be so........exasperating.

Have fun!

P.S. Sherry and I will be doing a holiday market on Nov. 21 called Hanna's Holiday Market. Come by and see us! Click the link for more info!

Etsy Shop Update!

These two items are now in my Etsy shop! Go check them out!

What I've been up to....

The top picks are a not-so-recent thrift store find and the last photo is some new paintings that I've been doing lately in preparation for an art show with my friend Sherry! These I think I will sell. It will be my first time trying to sell originals.....I can't wait to see how they do! I'd love to know what you guys think!

Tomorrow I'm headed past B'ham to teach kiddos animation and it looks like it's going to be a blast. But....the 4-hour drive there and back does not sound fun......

Oh, well.....I hope you guys all have a great weekend!

Do people even do this anymore?

So, I have a particular......case (I refuse to call it a problem!) I have entirely too much vintage paper ephemera. Now.... most of this comes from two huge scrapbooks where someone has diligently cut magazine clippings, greeting cards and all sorts of pictures from various sources. Some of it has come from various yard sale finds. Talk about recycling!

I love going through and picking out images that are making a come back today. But what to do with all this treasure? I'm thinking of creating mixed media books that incorporate some of these images, framing some, etc.... but there'll be no way for me to use them all. And their wonderful! Do you think they would sell in packets on Etsy in the vintage category? Any other suggestions?

I've got tons of this stuff......and if you see anything in particular that you like and would like to get or are wondering if I have any particular images, just let me know and we'll go from there....of course some of the images shown are mine, all mine....hahahaha!

New Obsessions...

So, a chance encounter with a blogger acquaintance made me realize it's been a dreadfully long time since my last post....so here are some recently thrifted goodies and some new dolls which are becoming quite an obsession! My, my, how the days just slip away some times.

Bat, Beagle and Few Other Things...

So, if I've been quiet lately, it's because I've decided to hide from the world a little bit. I think it's necessary to hide occasionally, but that doesn't mean that I've done nothing. Quite the contrary. For instance, Friday I had another wonderful opportunity to have lunch with Mr. Peter S. Beagle before hearing him speak and read aloud at our local library. I also took the chance to show Mr. Beagle the working reproduction at the museum where I work and let him try his hand at printing. It was wonderful and as always Mr. Beagle was delightful!

Later, Friday night I set up shop in the museum for the city's monthly First Friday and peddled my wares. I also found a tiny, adorable bat that proved to be somewhat wary of motorcycles.

Saturday found me thrifting with my friend Nicole and scoring a load of books and fabric.

Sunday found me celebrating a family birthday and Monday found me sewing and painting and generally creating and getting ready for an weekend art show with my friend Sherry.

http://www.sherrymatthews.net/

I also have seemed to have used all my links!

So, now I go to hide again and prepare for the return to work tomorrow.....until later.....Have a wonderful week!

Have you seen the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man!

New things are on the horizon and here are some things that have been hiding about the house. The first picture is a Luna softie that I made and it's hanging from a hobo statue I scored for Jacob. You can also see in the background one of my Halloween decorations that stay out year round. I having quite a growing collection of Halloween beasties. The next photo is of a bag that I got for a dollar at the World's Longest Yard Sale. It carried all of my treasures for the day, including my half of the two matching Virgin Mary's that my friend and I got. Lastly, these are some things I've been working on...

But now, new things coming. A wonderful storm blew around today, bringing thunder and lightening and a promise of fall. Fall is my absolute-lest favorite time of the year. I feel a twitching and promises and wishes and dreams coming true. I also have delightful books awaiting me. Some of you may remember when I got Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree, well, I've been saving it for now!

Also, in book related news....Last year I attended one of our local library's author night's and met Peter S. Beagle. We had a showing of The Last Unicorn, well I'd been saving a seat for Jacob when it was taken instead by Mr. Beagle. I loved that movie as a child often singing along and reciting the lines, and here I was watching the movie sitting beside the man who created it....oh my, and I had to fight reciting the lines while sitting there. I told him my favorite part was the butterfly and he told me it was supposed to be him! One, Two, Three O'Lairy! Last year, I made the mistake of not getting a photograph with Mr. Beagle well, I intend to remedy that this year because he's coming back to the library on Sept. 3rd!!!! Yeah!

It's you and me moth, hand to hand to hand to hand.........

Thrifted Treasures!

Here are my latest thrifting finds. I passed up on the wonderful paint by number horse painting, but I did score two excellent Mexican marionettes ( on sale---$4.00!) And a treasure trove of vintage children's books, including one Doctor Who comic book. I got loads of fabric and a back edition of Craft for 79 cents. I'm loving some thrift store goodness.

New Dolls and New Swag

The first two pictures are new creations to come from the Black Woods factory and the last two are swag from the World's Longest Yard Sale or as I also like to call it.....World's Greatest Example of
Collective Human Insanity/Barbie Doll Arm Extravaganza. But my friend Nicole made it so much better (even it she didn't find a creepy doll), not to mention we now having matching Virgin Mary's and really how often does that happen. And now that I think of it....two semi matching Hobos from Japan as well. I also scored a plethora of vintage felt, decoupage stickers and paper ephemera, embroidery patches, caravan charms and wooden planks to paint and an excellent craft book. Rock on!

So, tell me what you think of my new little beasties. I told you I had a devil in the workings!