Passionate Details

Getting Crafty

There's nothing better than a rainy day to give yourself a reason to do nothing but stay inside and get crafty. After several weeks of running in 100 different directions, it felt great to organize my supplies and start a new project. Just a finishing touch or two and I'll have some photos up for you. I have lots of extra supplies used in this little project, so I'll probably have some kits available if anyone is interested in these goodies. I also spent yesterday afternoon getting crafty with Jennifer Paganelli! She was at Tinsel Trading with her friend Nancy DeWeir Geaney. We made beautiful Victorian inspired cones with all sorts of papers, ribbons, flowers, and glittered die cuts. I had the chance to make it a great mother/daughter afternoon as well, since my daughter Caroline was there too! (a junior crafter for sure!) As always, Terri Vertura makes the afternoon so much fun. If you haven't seen the amazing jewelry she creates, go and check it out. Sweet Heather was there too, she's an amazing milliner, you really have to see the headpieces this gal designs.

 

A big roomful of eye candy! Can you believe all the goodies we had to play with! It was a great afternoon spent with so many talented ladies!

Meleen   

Where Did This Week Go???

Okay, so it's Saturday, again...where the heck did this week go? Tonight is the Annual Spring Auction for my kids' school and I'm the co-chair. We have been so busy getting ready for this, that this past week as been one big blur. I did manage to run into NYC today for a class at Tinsel Trading with the very talented Jennifer Paganelli of Sis Boom. ( I just couldn't miss that!!!) Soooo much fun, but for now, I must really get ready for tonight, so I promise all sorts of photos tomorrow.

Meleen

Collections of Three

If I haven't told you before, I'll tell you right now, between my husband and I we could turn anything into a collection. I love displaying our collections, and often move things around so it doesn't get boring. Some of our collections are quite large, but what I really love is only displaying "three" of something at a time.....

I have many jars of buttons, but these three seem so nice together.

These three antique baby gowns look so sweet .....

As do these three McCoy tulip vases on top of a dresser.

Aren't these the cutest little purses...the largest one is only 2" wide!

I know things look better when grouped in odd numbers, but there's something about just "three" that I love. Maybe having three children explains it!!

Meleen

    

Lending A Helping Hand...Or Two

I had a chance to use some of my crafty tools this weekend in a different way. My oldest son was home from college this weekend to have some stitches out from his shoulder surgery. ( he had torn cartilage, a labral tear, in his right shoulder....yes, you guessed it...lacrosse!) Anyway, he also had a big photography assignment due. Well, with his right shoulder immobilized and in a sling for another 4 weeks, I was the hands acting under his guidance. He had already printed out a beautiful collection of his photographs on 11" by 17" paper, and now needed to present them in a book. He had some 4 ply book board that had to be cut to size, fabric that had to be mounted to the board, inside cover paper to cut, and holes to punch. So, out came my x-acto knife, cutting mat, Fiskars paper cutter, brayer, and crop-a-dile. He was a little skeptical  at first, asking, "are sure about this?" After triple checking all the measurements, I had my weekend arm work-out cutting all the 4 ply book board, then used some spray adhesive to mount the fabric to the front of the board.

After that was set, he instructed me on how he needed the corners wrapped on the inside of the covers.

We cut, glued and clamped everything into position.

After cutting and gluing the inside cover paper, it was on to punching the holes.

This is where things got a little tricky, you see, I had complete faith in my crop-a dile, my son on the other hand....." you're going to use a....what?....crop-a-dile?....what is this going to do to my photos?.....is this going to bend the cover?..."

Well, the holes came out perfect! Seeing is believing! He was actually quite impress with mom's little crafty tools. So, while it wasn't what I thought I'd be doing this weekend, it was actually a lot of fun, working with him was great and we had quite a few laughs! The book is just beautiful and he's on his way back Rhode Island.

Meleen

   

Journals Journals Journals

There are so many reasons to have so many journals, jotting down a quick thought or idea, a sketch, a clipping from a magazine.

I enjoy making new journals, but I love finding the old ones too. Reading through them is a real treat, the old ink on the page, what was so important to someone that they had to write it down.

Ledgers filled with pages and pages of inventory. Homemakers who wrote down every nickle they spent, school notes, or favorite recipes, it doesn't matter what it's about, it's fascinating to see and read.

Beautiful old penmanship, aged pages, worn and mellowed covers!

A glimpse into someone's life...I love it all! Sometimes, you can come across one that's aged to perfection and never been used, a real treat to get creative. At first, I would save the blank ones, leaving them blank, how sad! Once I could get past that, I realized they're wonderful to use...and a bonus...no need to age the pages!! I wonder what someone will think when they find my journals someday!!

Meleen

Hunting for Beach Glass

At 7am this morning I wasn't holding out much hope that this was going to be a nice sunny day. The rain drops meant another Saturday without yard sales. By 10am the sun was out, so I jumped in the car, but the early rain must have scared everyone off. Nothing, absolutely nothing. Since my husband and oldest son had to run down to Washington for the day, I headed out to the beach with my other son and daughter to hunt for beach glass. I have done this so many times with my kids over the years, and it never gets old. They love searching out these little treasures, and almost make a game out of who will find the best piece of the day. The tide was just perfect, and we hit the jackpot!!

Lots of aqua, green, and white glass....and a few of the coveted lavender and blue pieces!!

Like little jewels, each one has a story to tell. (my old wooden box is a little project I'll be working on later this week) So, while I didn't find any of the vintage linen, lace, old photos, buttons, jewelry, and painted pieces I was hoping for .........I have a jackpot of beach glass and two very happy kids!!

Meleen

Sweet Find At The Thrift Shop

Don't you just love it when you stroll into the thrift shop, not looking for anything in particular, and there it is....a sweet little something calling your name! Well, that's just how this English toast caddy ended up coming home with me today.

                      

Some days I'm really drawn to chippy peely paint, other days it's simple folk art that catches my eye. Today it was the worn silver plate and glass. I just love it, but I can't decided how I want to use it. I love the toast rack for my postcards and photos, but I like it with the ribbon in it too!

                      

The marmalade dish is great with buttons in it, but then I tried it with glitter and an old silver spoon, and I love that too!

                     

I could always keep some fine glitter in the old shakers, but it's so nice with flowers. I guess I could just serve toast!!! Any ideas?

Meleen