A barrel of monkeys
Sugarwings
What is more fun than a Kindergarten music program?
Going to a double header and having a First Grade music program right after!
March 2013
There is only so much time in the day, so I try to make the most of it!
Books, Dew Drop, fairies, family, Snow White, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops
There is not much new around here, I'm still wading through piles of Snow White books and items to stuff into the kits.
See what I mean? Every table in the studio is heaped up with carefully sorted (even though it doesn't look like it) goodies to do with the kits. I even set up two extra tables, and also filled tubs.
But hey, there is HOPE! Look at the stack of wrapped kits on the far table, in front of the window. Yep, the packaging is almost done. The rest of the room is just littered with the detritis of making the kits.
Those stacks of cut wallpaper on the table? Some of those are sorted into piles, ready to photograph and add to the shop. My son and I got just a tad carried away on those chopping and ironing days we had.
But the truth about why nothing else is happening around here, is that I am soooo hooked on the books themselves. I've made up four examples for the class, including one that I'm am keeping for myself and personalizing with family fairy tale photos.
On this page, I've taken a page from one of the children's story books, and cut Black Beauty from it, with another page behind the horse as I cut it out so that I ended up with a second animal shape. (it was an accident, but one that I am glad that I did!) I added a unicorn horn to each, flipped one over, layered them on the paper, and tinted them with glitter markers.
Dewdrop adores "honies" above all things. She is a "My Little Pony" addict, and calls them honies. So, this page is for her.
There are other things I could be doing, but this is more fun. Plus, I thought the students might appreciate having samples in different stages to look through. This one will be almost complete, but I am saving space in it to add pictures from the event itself.
There has also been some Birdsong3 behind the scenes details to tend to. It's funny how much time such things take up, even when the event in months away. Oh, but how worth it! I'm really excited to know that I have both of these fun weekends to look forward to.
Hopefully, once I get all of these kits boxed and ready to mail, I can concentrate on making Birdsong projects and kits. And selling that pile of wallpaper. And doing my taxes (Beth offered to help!! Yay, there is nothing better than having an accountant buddy at tax time. And all I have to do for her is redo her antique mall booth. Heck, that is a pleasure to do, not a hair pulling, tear inducing, fork in the eye, task like tax prep).
There are also extra kits from last year's Birdsong that I forgot about. And need to add to the Boutique. I'd planned on listing them last year and haven't yet. I also found a stack of surplus Fairy Book covers that I'd planned to sell too.
But there is only so much time in the day. You know what I have noticed? I can keep going full tilt and workiing my backside off (not really, it actually seems to grow, not diminish) and never really get ahead. Because there is always more to do, and only so much time in a day.
I've noticed that my income seems to level out, no matter what I am working on, because nothing is "extra", it ends up taking the place of something else. So, if I do shows, I am ignoring my shop. If I concentrate on the shops, I am not having time to make things. And on and on.
You just can't do it all. At least not at the same time. But that is what is such fun about my so called job.
I can switch it up, go from classes, events, creating, selling, shows, one to the next. It certainly never gets boring! When I focus on one area, it does very well, especially the Boutique. But my life would be very dull if all I did was photograph and list and ship every day. So, I'm glad I can stretch out and try different venues and take breaks from the online shop. It's still there, still selling, but not as much when I'm not adding to it reguarly.
Yes, changing my focus might not be getting me ahead financially, but it sure keeps me hopping and happy!
Bottom’s UP!
antiques/junking
The last time I was in Angie's store I cleaned her out of little birdy books, in preparation for Birdsong 3. I have no idea what I will need them for yet, but I always snag a vintage bird book when I see it, just in case.
Then, she gave me a beautiful, old, old, book in German, with a great font. (it's the one underneath the smaller books)
As well as a billion tiny birds. They came in a crystal glass, tied up with lace and silk ribbons. They were much cuter in the glass than they were spilled all over my floor when I got home. And if you want to know if "billion" is an accurate count, it sure felt like it when I was picking them up, as excited puppies pounced on me each time I reached for a tiny bird on the floor. They seemed to think it was a game invented just to entertain them.
Every single one of the billion birds has been rescued and tucked away safely in a baggie waiting for Birdsong now. It will be fun to come up with something to do with them for the event. Thanks, Angie!
The two of us went to Bottom's Up for their big anniversary extravaganza. Gwen always throws a nice party, and it was good to have a night out.
It was nice to see what magic Carol has done with her display too.
And to meet some new friends. Sadly, these guys couldn't come home with me. I think they would have loved my gardens, though.
And these silk curtains would sure class up the joint if I'd brought them home with me.
But I did splurge and buy French documents from the 1800s. That seems to be my main purchase every time I go to see Gwen. I can't resist them.
She just unloaded her latest container, straight from France. She'll be bringing more Frenchie goods next month too. I love to ooh and ah over her acquisitions. She used to live in France and knows the ins and outs of all the flea markets there. And finds the BEST stuff.
Of course, Bottoms Up is stuffed with the best stuff. Great dealers and fun goods. And now, the whole district is jammed with shops and dealers open only one weekend a month. On Saturdays, it feels like a street fair, there is so much going on, food trucks, live music, crowds of people shopping. If you are planning a trip to KC, I'd say plan it for the first weekend of the month and drop in to see what is going on there.
Sugar and Spice
Dew Drop, family, Sugarwings
As I sat through endless episodes of The Dukes of Hazard, stepped on Hot Wheels cars left everywhere, or listened to fart jokes, I used to wonder how I'd survive raising Boys. That is Boys with a captial B. They were as rough and tumble, as wild and crazy, as little Boys can be. It was a rolicking, good time, and while they didn't always have the same interests as I did, we found lots of fun together.
And now they are two grown men that I'm proud to call family.
Then, along came two grand daughters! Who are every bit as rough and
tumble, wild, and crazy as their dad.
Now, we watch My Little Pony or Ariel, and I step on doll parts, and still listen to fart jokes. But from small people dressed as fairies this time.
Yep, I know, I'm pretty lucky. It's been good.
ps- Anne has asked me to tell you about Magnolia Pearl's $2,000 giveaway. Woo Hoo, that is a GOOD one, huh? Check it out at Fiona and Twig.
Snowdogs, Snowfairies, Fleas, Spinning Art, and an oddball button. Another typical posting this and that and not much really
antiques/junking, Dew Drop
We have had our share of snow lately! It seems like a lot, with two blizzards back to back, especially since we've had some pretty mild winter weather up till now. Last year was even warmer. These storms were a reminder that we live in the midwest. And you never know what will hit.
The Puppeesh are confused about where they should potty, but seem to enjoy running around in the snow while I freeze waiting for them to make up their minds about whether they will actually do anything or save it till they come inside.
Why did I decide to have winter pups??? Oh, that's right, they are so durn cute I couldn't resist them last fall, even knowing that winter housebreaking might break me.
Sugarwings had a sleepover with us during the first snow, and we decided that the best way to have a snowball fight was to sit in the cozy hot tub while we lobbed the icy missiles at each other.
It would have been much more enjoyable if we'd been smart enough to shovel a walk way to the hot tub. Look at how deep it was on the steps! I wore my boots out there, and balanced on the edge trying to get them off, getting my robe nice and soggy as I wobbled and almost slipped in the water with one boot on.
We had the best time laughing and splashing as the flakes fell on us.
The way back in to the house was better, since we were all toasty and rosy from the hot water, the snow barely bothered me, so I carried my boots and barefooted it quickly inside.
My son built a snow slide in front of their apartment building that kept even the tiniest (and the biggest) of kids slipping and sliding away the snow days.
They had a good hill to use. He made some good curves along the way, and built up the banks to keep them on the track.
He certainly had plenty of snow to work with. Two blizzards in a week?
Between blizzards, we made a run to Topeka to go to a flea market. I was glad I took the time off to go, I loaded up on sweet paper dolls.
A ton of jewels too. This is one baggie's worth. I got 8 bags for $3 each.
Dewdrop loved her first flea market, and was extra happy to see that there was a kid's corner where she could make spin art.
In my goodie bags of loot, there were some odd pieces, like this old button. Ever seen one like it?
Tami gave me the following info, and I looked it up on Ebay with this and saw one listed for $35. Tami is a Button Expert. Thanks for the help, Tami!!
(I don't do ebay myself, so I will put it in my Etsy shop for much less. )
Your button is a chinaman, possibly Dr. Fu Manchu. He was a fictional villain
character in the novels series by Sax Rohmer in the early 20th ca. The button
design and materials can easily date this button around the time of his novels.
The button material appears to be Celluloid; however, the base of the button
might be Celluloid acetate. The face itself is Celluloid.