Sugar Moon

Sugar and Snow

2011-04-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

when steve and i first came to maine in search of a home, we drove around and did a little exploring. what we found was a state teeming with antique shops!... of course, it IS new england! but what i was happy to find was a great mixture of "texas-kinda-finds" (my fellow texan junkoholics, you KNOW what i'm talking about!) and "birmingham-brimming-with-euro-treasures"! at the first antique store my husband willingly entered with me :), fear gripped him when he saw how giggly and cheerful i immediately became. he turned to look at me and said, "honey, i think you're gonna bankrupt us in maine... AND FAST!" hahaha... but he was serious.

of course i'm not really going to spend all our money, but i have spent an inordinate amount of money shopping for little treasures; the irony exists in that i have purchased nearly EVERYTHING from etsy! not here! it's been soooo cold (-8 to 20s) that not much is open this time of year... and in this weather, who wants to lug around a poor 4-yr old and hunt for the goods!?!snow wouldn't normally stop me from getting out; it is quite exquisite to experience a REAL winter, but i have enjoyed sitting in my warm studio with a cup of hot cocoa... listening to ingrid michaelson and getting lost in whatever project tickles my fancy... winter has been long (going on the 8th month of snow now) but it always feels like spring-time in my room.old hankie holders... embroidered, silk, oriental children's shoes...

collection of german glitter in shabby salt shakers, adorned with scraps of antique lace... and yes-- that is MY flute. it's new (not a vintage pc.)... and i DO play. :)

scrap booking items and a collection of odds & ends... notice winter in the window. my studio is covered in windows... brings the outdoors... in. :)

vintage and antique lace and ribbon...

i have this new thing for small white wicker purses... i love to doll them up a bit.

ahhh, the happy end. :)

The Sugar Shak

2011-03-10T20:02:00.000-08:00

it's been pain-staking to make all my stuff fit in this, my little "studio", but it has been a labor of love. everytime i walk into my space, i melt into a world of confection that delights my senses. i've finally kissed my old friend, restraint, adieu.

nothing is ever finished, is it? maybe it is for some, but not when you're a collector. i do not have a store but i find myself re-arranging and re-doing vignettes and corners... just to accommodate the new stuff.

i'm guessing all of you are like this too. i just cannot own enough tattered lace, frilly petticoats, crusty crosses, glass glitter, time-worn pearls... you get the idea.

i've been wanting to purchase "interior alchemy". thought i might learn some schemes from a master. anyone familiar with rebecca purcell's book. the out-ofprint book has become a cult classic and costs over $1oo! ouch!

trinket boxes i've been making...

finally getting back to jewelry making. YAY! :) cheers!

my happy end

...how to stay on ONE path?

2011-01-10T07:25:00.000-08:00

i've finally decided to redo my bedroom from the mirrored nightstands & mongolian lamb-covered pillows of "Hollywood Regency" to the sweet simplicity of of burlap and linen ruffles & pleats. i just can't seem to tone it down, though. my love for shabby pink, seafoam green, old rhinestones and vintage photos keeps interfering. ...and it all goes amock!

...from whence it came

2010-12-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

i feel anxious... i'm not sure why, but i feel like i have to do something! then i realize that this desire for a distraction is some twisted mechanism of my mind... trying to trick me and divert my attention away from something... but what it is exactly, i do not know. ...now, i recognize that i'm immediately drawn to shopping online. then i stop. and i think. is there anything else out there that i couldn't possibly live without? something that i can shove into this already busting-at-the-seams- little-lakehouse in the middle of nowhere!? ...no. there isn't. and i think again, "what if i just accepted that this is the way i am feeling right now and there is nothing wrong with just feeling it?... not trying to medicate or indulge my desire for retail therapy. this is who i am. this is what i am feeling, and the less i resist it, the quicker the feeling will dissipate into the nothingness from whence it came." a few minutes later... it does. so tonight, this is what i give myself... the satisfaction that i was a little bit better (of a person) today, than i was yesterday. that is all i pray for and what i need to strive for. everyday. goodnight. the happy end.

Hark! I am still here!

2010-12-04T14:53:00.000-08:00

ok, people... it's been forever! i know; but it has been one hell of a year! we moved to birminham one year ago and today i am still unpacking... only i'm unpacking in MAINE! i cannot tell you how happy i am here despite the lack of commercial shopping, neighbors, the sun, and... well, life as i had otherwise known it! this is going to be one hell of a ride for this texan! but i'm going to love it every single day!!!

at this point. my computers, cameras, and everything electronic is still quite a mess! i have received promises to have me up and running as of last week, but you know how that "honey do" list goes! i have so many pics to post and stories to tell. the fact that this place is so solitary will definitely feed my need blog. so i will be back. :)

anyway, at this point, the only things i have to share are these images i have saved...some of my favorite. cheers!the following is quite beautiful... i adore it! :) i'd love to use it as an invite for a christmas party!

love and be well!!!

the happy end!

a little test...

2010-08-01T22:23:00.001-07:00

just added a new app on my phone that will let me fix up pics and post them on my blog! this is sooooo cool! no excuse now for lack of updates!

Birmingham Antiques

2010-07-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

all right... i'm finally going to post what i have found living here in birmingham. the scene is quite different than what i'm used to in texas. there are tons of antiques to be had, but the prices are way up there. someone told me that the thing to do here is shop at the salvation army and such, but that was a bust! nooo bueno! :(

truth be told, i haven't really been shopping. i have been working out instead. ...i know-- booo! this place, while wonderfully comfortable and cute, doesn't really inspire the junker in me. every now and then i WILL find something i MUST have, but for the most part, i have learned restraint (somewhat... well, by my standards, though my husband might disagree).

this setee is something i think i really want in maine. :) oh, yeah... did i mention we are moving to maine in late august? probably not... now why i didn't but this stinkin' vanity... i don't know! i am kicking myself right now!!! i've always wanted one just like this! it was probably the price.

i did but this little blue perfume atomizer... is that what they are called?

...and this sweet ironstone pitcher.

i guess it's just the typical antique mall sort of stuff...

except for this one place named "tricia's treasures". i think this place is a designer's haven. they have a collection of about 300 gorgeous gilt antique mirrors... all for sale at very high prices. they have tons of everything or anything you could be looking for-- all piled high and waiting for an eager buyer.

you can see how the ottomans are just stacked on each other at the bottom of the pic here. it was impossible to reach the books, but i made some poor guy make them accessible. ;)

...and below-- the lamp room. there's room after room of stuff! crazy! the happy end!

Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

2010-07-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

someone let me know if it's too soon to start dreaming about christmas?!

ever since i was in grade school, i'd start singing bing crosby's melikilikimaka in july. Hobby Lobby seems to be the only other who shares this excitement with me soooo early... and frankly, i think they have ulterior motives. ;)

anyhow, here is the prettitiest of the pretty that i have found and collected while birds have been chirping and hydrangeas blooming.
yes... i'm sure you all do the same. search for christmas stuff alllll yeeeaaaar looong! right?

some of this is old and some are just wannabe's but if i love it.... well, then i love it.

the happy end!

'round the garden

2010-06-15T21:49:00.000-07:00

ok... so i was finally able to figure out blogger and picasa glitches! :) ahhh!

just posting the pics for practice... i haven't shopped much. actually, i've been spending a lot of time working out and trying to spend more time with the boys!... parks, the library, the kiddie pool.

from the garden...

the happy end.

...everyday beauty

2010-06-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

...i was sitting in theater arts in 10th grade, lazily flipping through a spring issue of "town & country" when i saw an ad... i have no idea what they were advertising, but there was this ungodly profusion of delicate ivory blooms elegantly sitting in a massive vase. they were hydrangeas. the most beautiful thing i had ever seen. i couldn't turn the page. that was such a tiny moment in my life, but i haven't forgotten it. i'm tempted to be corny and say that i changed a little that day, but no... i think, rather, that their beauty just awakened something inside of me... being allowed to appreciate something beautiful, wherever you may find it, is a blessing. and if you think about it, there is beauty in everything.

2010-01-23T01:20:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to post a quikie! man, I am pissed. I went shopping today... found a marvelous antique mall here in birmingham. they were having great sales. I found an ornate sterling silver letter opener by reed & Barton... in great shape, btw. it was 50% off of $10!!! I had so much stuff, the gentleman helping me was keeping everything up front at the check out. well, after I paid, I felt a little uneasy...like something was wrong! I got home to inventory everything and my letter opener conveniently "disappeared"!!! I hate it when that happens! this is the second time in 2 months this has happened to me. arrrggggg!!! why do they do that? the last time I bought (or was going to buy) a gorgeous French lace tablecloth. showed it to my friend and took it up front while I dug around some more. the sales lady (also a vendor at the mall) asked where i found it...said it was beautiful. later, when I went to pay, the table cloth was gone!!! the sales lady had the audacity to shrug and tell me she didn't know which tablecloth I was referring to!!! it just disappeared into thin air!!! why!? I thought I'd feel better if I vented, but... not so much :-(

the not so happy end!

-- Post From My

Passementerie

2010-01-21T20:42:00.000-08:00

www.etsy.com/shop/BeautifulReign

this is a little shop on etsy that i found...and i fell head over heels in love with it! It's called "Passementerie" run by BeautifulReign. she has a huge luscious collection of exquisite antique ribbon work, lace, lingerie, textiles, and boudoir accessories.

a sweet powder puff wand...

now this is supposed to be a "baby boudoir accessory". hmmm...not really sure what that means. --anyone?

this is a delectable, desired frou-frou that needs to be sitting on my vanity!!!

these are lingerie pins. isn't that neat?...to pretty up your drawers!...meaning underwear, not to be left sitting in the drawers making them look pretty. if you have something delightful, use it!!!

ok--if you're overdosing on pink satin, french lace, pearls, ribbons, and feathers... GOOD! that was my intention. I am so glad i found BeautifulReign on etsy. this is my fairytale...

these pictures are just some of my favorite things she has listed. i did buy lingerie pins, a powder puff, camisole and a hanky holder...mmmmm.

the workmanship...the art!

i think this is a powder box. could be reproduced with some vintage ribbon.

both above are hankie holders.

ribbon embroidery. i used to do ribbon embroidery when i dated steve. it's pretty easy, but the ribbon is costly and nearly impossible to find now.

i collect vintage millinery, but this is quite amazing. i've never seen anything so gorgeous!

ah, and no vanity would be complete without old bottles of perfume!

a flapper boudoir cap. did women really sleep in these?...or rather, did they wake up in them?

the happy end.

Zebra or Mannequin? what do you think?

2010-01-10T10:34:00.000-08:00

ok, people...i need a little help here. i have some money set aside for a little something special and now i need to decide. yes...an antique zebra rug. it's something i have always wanted for my luscious bathroom. it'll go perfectly! and i have wanted one for years!!! yes, it'll get some serious use in a bathroom, but we love things aged and tattered, don't we? plus, where it will be sitting won't see TOO much action.

OR should i buy another vintage mannequin? hmmm... here are a few i have found, but i guess i need to move quick on the mannequins.

these are a bunch of different ones i found. all ok, but nothing i am "in love with"...you know?

so...if you would leave me your vote, i would really appreciate it. i'll post pics of my bathroom off my iphone so that you'll see what i am thinking for the zebra rug. thanks, guys!

the happy end!

more from homewood, alabama

2010-01-09T16:04:00.001-08:00

more shopping in the neighborhood. this is from a little store called "four seasons". I think it's run by four women who favor lots of local artists...

but, of course, my only real interest here are the odds and ends of ironstone, crystal, metalware, and woven baskets.

this table below... me likey!

...and if I can find a place for these sconces, I'll be back, but the truth is, I'm worn out. I'm starting to feel sadness seep into my bones.

I no longer want to see anymore dish-pack paper!!! this house is such a tight fit, I find myself hiding under the sheets in the middle of the day, praying noone will notice that I am gone.

of course, they always do! not even the thought of food or a good tv show lures me out if hiding.

but what can one do when the song is missing from their dance?... except keep dancing and believe the music will start again.

aren't these delightful? ALMOST makes me want one. geez! at $1100 a piece, I regret letting my husband talk me into GIVING ours away!

the end.

2010-01-07T10:10:00.001-08:00

first Birmingham purchase. I found this incredible antique shop... my favorite items-- the old leather bound books. I think I'll revisit them tomorrow for some more!

magnificent iron and marble? ... not sure now.

picture lushious ferns in old white clay pots adorning this sweet thing...

now that darling sitting under the spotlight reminds me of a heroine in a victorian novel... she's been loved and lost, tattered, misused, but her grace is undeniable and always rises triumphantly.

yes, two of these will find their way to my "sitting room" soon.

this sweet thing is lost in translation... really, it breaks my heart when I cannot capture the beauty if a thing.

*wiping saliva off my chin*

the happy end.

a day out...

2010-01-06T18:33:00.001-08:00

the boys started preschool today and I had a day alone... just me, my credit card, and my camera! *smiling*

this shop was jaw-dropping cute! kinda cowboy chic, I'd say... with a kiss of "gone fishing".

I hope the pics do this justice... I'm still blogging from my phone.

I totally want this swing! it's marvelous!!! how many sweet teas could you drink under the porch on a warm afternoon as the kids played under the trees in the front yard? and how many prepositional phrases could you use in a sentence before sounding stupid?

ok... hubby calling... the happy end!

this and that...

2010-01-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

ok, anne...i stole this from your blog because i loved, loved, loved it! (pic is from fiona and twig--check my blogroll; from anthropologie.com) ... so i went to anthropologie and did a little shopping myself.

i can't upload any of my pics on this computer because it's not mine...mine is still in a box somewhere, so i'm improvising for now.

i have these already but thinking a set of 4 isn't enough...is it? hmmmm....

isn't this the coolest idea for the industrial look i soooo love? screw a bunch together and voila...instant, practical, re-used art.

...ok, i think i'm hitting the sack. kids have their first day of school in a new city tomorrow. we must be ready!

the happy end.

2009-12-26T00:57:00.001-08:00

"you look darkly on the day...memories to light your way... a little sad, but it's all right. we are always living in the twilight...living in a dream; walking in between the sunrise and sunset."

-- Post From My

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T12:52:00.001-08:00

wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!!!

-- Post From My

...and a happy new year!...

but hopefully, I'll be back online before then!

the happy end!

Carmen's favorite picture

2009-12-14T18:47:00.000-08:00

just testing... isn't this beautiful?

Papande's Ranch Tree

2009-12-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

once upon a time, i thought if i was wealthier, healthier, or more in love, i would be happier. it turns out the happier i am, the wealthier, healthier, or more in love i will be. *big sigh* this tree is for my grandfather and the land he ranched. papande, my grandfather, was simple and always at peace. i only ever knew him as "grandpa"...and to me he was wealthier, healthier, and more in love because of that contentment in him. he knew everything there was to know about trees, bushes and shrubs,... cattle breeds, horses... he grew giant sunflowers in a small garden patch in his back yard. i would walk through the stems, when i was a little girl, and pretend that i was a bug lost in the labyrinth of bright, happy flowers. this was papande. always gentle. always wise. always happy. i never heard him raise his voice (the loudest sounds he ever made were his sneezes, which did cause me to jump out of my chair because they were so abrupt-- they were just "grandpa-sneezes", though)...

i never saw him frown, except once when i was in college. he was scaling a fish out on the porch, and scales were flying and falling almost like snow, glinting in the sun. i remember thinking, "oh, how pretty...the scales catch the light and shimmer like...well, a fishy christmas." frustrated by the flashing mess before him, he furrowed his brow and said, "cheese", which was really "geez", but sounded more like the dairy product. my best friend who was with us at the time, looked at me and said, "now, that's a REAL grandpa!!!" his "cuteness" almost overcame me, but i fought off the urge to hug him and squeeze his cheeks....well, i did hug him.

i wish i would have known him better, you know? not as a child, but as an adult. (i think i'm going to talk to my tia eugie about this.)

one of my greatest desires is that my children get to know their grandpa (who also has ranching in his blood) like i know him. daddy has always been my hero. if i could be more like these men, i would do my boys much good. the ornaments on the tree are symbols for that which has existed in our family for generations and has been passed down to me. i have a great respect for the land my family has tended and cared for. it's part of me now, too. daddy would like that.

i dream of my grandparents quite often, and it always pleases me to "visit" with them for a while.

years ago when i was in college, papande got sick over christmas break. i went to visit him at the hospital, but my uncle asked me to step outside while the nurses bathed him. i waited 90 minutes. tio forgot about me in the hallway. i only sat with him for a little; school was resuming, and i had to drive back the next day.

on a cold january morning, he was on my mind...there is no english word for what i felt, but is spanish we would say "presienta", which loosely translates to --"pre-felt" or "pre-feel" or just "feel". well, i felt him all around me, so i went to a gift shop, bought him a get well card, and went to the campus post office to drop it off. AS SOON AS i walked out of that usps, it started to snow ever so lightly...and a quiet voice inside me said, "it's too late." i knew he would never get my card. it was bizarre because he wasn't even that sick to begin with!... at least that's what we thought at first. i rushed home and called my dad at the office. daddy wasn't there. his secretary, who did not recognize my voice, informed me that he had just left because his father had just died. i put the phone down and scrubbed my apartment to kingdom-come. when every toilet was scoured, every window wiped, every dish washed...when there was NOTHING left for me to clean, i sat down on the floor with rag in hand and wept for hours.

the only thing of his i ever wanted was his cowboy hat...not the clean, boxed-up, new one, but the dingy, sweaty, crumpled one he wore day in and day out when he checked on his cattle....the one stained by his labor of love. this is that hat. a family treasure that crowns my tree.*i'm smiling*

grandpa missed grandma. he only lasted two years after she passed, and both passed in winter. do the old ever go on warm, sunny days?...when flowers are in bloom and children pretend to be bugs and play in the grass? they probably do, but none of my grandparents did. mine said goodbye when snow fell.

Merry Christmas Wherever You Find Yourself

2009-12-09T23:21:00.000-08:00

this time of year is always such a wonder and yet always so rushed, but i have learned this past year that this is the only moment that exists. i call it the "everlasting now". there is only now. the rest is in our imagination in the form of memory or hope, but all we have is this moment. and it is so easy to be happy in this moment, but we tend to tell ourselves, "i'll be happy when... this is over, or when my kids are a little older, when i lose 20 lbs, when my kids come home to visit, when the weekend gets here, or when he finally shows me how very much i mean to him... and we end up wasting the everlasting now with meaningless-nothings to fill the empty spaces in between. the deal is that THAT moment never comes, or if it does it only visits us for a little, and our minds are filled once again with useless waiting. learning to be happy is a skill, i have always believed, but now i know how to lasso it. it takes a decision to be present. the difficulty is that that decision has to be made over and over until it becomes second nature. i suppose that's where the 'skill' comes is.

i bring this up right now because i am trying to sneak in a few moments of blogging while my husband freaks out over packing. he isn't content because i'm not freaking out with him. whatever emotions i feel, it won't matter...whatever gets done, gets done...whatever doesn't-- doesn't. and it won't matter a bit. two years from now we won't remember that i forgot to go through my old teacher manuals and throw out useless markers that dried up years ago.

but, i'll pretend to be frantic for his sake, so he doesn't think i don't care or don't understand how "important" this is. it is to him, so i'll pretend, but inside, i'm laughing and having fun.

so, excuse me if some of these pics are doubled...i worked on this in a rush and typed while soothing my crying children about empty sippy cups ;-)

this, obviously is my dining room. and by the way, this is the stuff that i set up last year. i never posted my christmas last year (i only started blogging i believe in feb, i believe)... and i am posting last year's christmas because i can't live without christmas decor and my house is almost all boxed-up...or about to be tomorrow. (mover get here tomorrow). i made this tree skirt out of silk taffeta and an old wedding dress ( i cut off the bodice)... yes, amy-- i cut it off! (but i did so years ago before i met you and have saved the beautiful leftovers for another project) :-)

i cinched the tree skirt and sewed in pearls for accent. forgot to take close-ups...way to go, jess.

this is my aviary tree with apple green accents. the tree is like 50 years old. it looks pretty ratty, but i still love it.

glass painted ornaments from...wal-mart!

gold and cream houses from "bloom and bee". carmen and i bought these mercury bulb trees at "deck the halls" last year.

my house collection...have had these for about five years now...and keep collecting every year.

tere's husband made the china cabinet and buffet for me. i stuck on bethany lowe's "icicles", but they didn't stay long, as you can see.

nicole sayre's santa...i love her and really miss her stuff.

one of my favorite things to do is to pile up my odds and ends of china...

...again, as you can see. just stack 'em up!

i keep stockings in every room... i made these in honor of our grandparents who are no longer with us, but i forgot to take pictures of all of the ones i made...oops!

my favorite postcard...really describes many of us. vintage sue's ball gown...i bought this from her last christmas at carol caroll. miss you very much, sue!

the HAPPY end!

My Kitchen Christmas

2009-12-04T21:08:00.000-08:00

ahhh, i love this time of year. i have been collecting and using these colors for my kitchen for several years now (since they are my kitchen colors). recently i have found a slew of stuff both old and new. all of this if from my kitchen collection, with the exception of my aluminum tree (which actually belongs in the guest room). i will post my living room, dining room, entrance, and bedrooms in the days to come! love you guys...enjoy.

no matter what, though, i cannot help myself from adding more and more each year.

i bought this wreath from a craft store and added stuff to it so that it would flow with the theme.

my prized ornaments. how i love these little girls! ...and my weiss brooch from amy at "bloom and bee".

garland from "honey's"... and a pink, satin, vintage doll dress from laverty's...

my antique framed chalkboard (for my menus) from "scrap, paper, scissors"...

...and ooooold ornaments from everywhere!

...aluminum tree found at laverty's...

and this very old ironstone bowl from c&a junk...

the bar area....an essential holiday station!...

...and the island, which is enormous enough for me to decorate it with a load of stuff!

...my favorite millinery flower from "the girl next door" at spice...

...and this rack from "bloom"...

my christmas dinner place-setting...

and my favorite arrangement...i don't know why it's my fav...

arte italica goblet and the first christmas house i made myself. it's ok...it's a start! ...this is the second house i made...again, practice makes better. ohhh, my precious ornies have been sleeping all year in the attic....

...time to come out and play!

this christmas house was bought, of-course!

the happy end!

Honey's Home Style

2009-12-03T19:19:00.000-08:00

honey's is one of my favorites in waco, and i will miss it-- no doubt! her mix of new and old, romantic and comfortable bedding, and architectural pieces create a very distinct style. her prices are in the "marburger" ballpark.

i swore i would buy this chandelier before i moved, but it sold before i had a chance to make my move.

god, i love these candlesticks!

...very "wisteria", i think.

isn't that the coolest butcher table?

i took these pics in late september, and misfiled them...oops. i just found them and decided to post them asap!

this arrangement i find so appealing, and i know it's because of those lights! they are amazing!

aren't they? i feel transported to another time.

i will go back before i leave to take pics of her christmas set-up. i went in today and they were still working on it.

the happy end!

2009-11-26T19:46:00.000-08:00

here it is, guys...damn blogger won't let me add more pics...the tempermental thing!!!

now, these are NOT our furnishings. these belong to the previous owner. i'll post pics once we are settled! the rooms are a good size. and we won't have to repaint the walls in 85% of the house! fushia and lavendar rooms don't settle well with me, sorry!

it is a 3-story 1930's english tudor home. closet space IS TIGHT, but it does have 6 bedrooms, 2 landings, 2 bonus rooms (one of which is a workroom for me :-), a basement, and attic storage. i'm not complaining at all!

located in homewood, alabama...

only deal is... I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO SHOP NOW FOR ALL MY WONDERFUL JUNK STUFF!!! DOES ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA?!

OK...it's about time that i announce that we are moving from waco to birmingham, alabama. i suppose i believed if i did not utter the words, they would not be true...but, they ARE TRUE!...and i have come to peace with the idea (sort of). this is my life...the life of a gypsy. constantly packing up and unpacking. i once visited a fortune teller in new orleans, years ago, after an intense and long relationship. she told me that i would soon meet my husband and told me that we would have an "unconventional" marriage. i immediately thought, "oh, my god! i am going to move around and be the anthropologist i've ALWAYS wanted to be!!!" little did i know that it wasn't going to be because of me that we moved around, but because of HIM! steve builds hospitals...and we go where the work is. don't get me wrong. i love it! ...but it still is sad. uprooting. losing friends. leaving part of my life behind. but...i will survive. another chapter to be written.we shall see what things may come! :-)

marta's room-- fall 2009

2009-11-17T20:30:00.000-08:00

ok...(big sigh)... i have been meaning to post these pics for sometime now, but they accidentally got filed in with my kids pumpkin patch pics (as they occurred on the same day). sorry marta. so here we go. i stole a bow tie from another arrangement and place it with this little guy...it seemed the perfect addition at the time. i think if he's still for sale next time i drop by, i 'll buy him.

funny thing sometimes, is that i find i "shop" while i'm editing my pictures. i suppose that's a sign of a bad photographer because i'm not paying total attention to my "subjects"...my attention is mostly on the arrangement. later when i work on editing i notice a basket here...or a pillow there, and i think, "how in the world did i miss that gorgeous piece?"

i must admit that the places where we all shop, these antique and "junk" stops, have soooooo much to look at that it is easy to miss this or that (at least the first time around).

beautiful dreamy-creamy creams...

(this lampshade within a lampshade is mine girls!)

oh my, aren't those clocks something!?!!!

artfully homemade....and i want those black pins below, marta. i'm waiting for you to be back!

if i had a creative use for this, i so would have bought it! isn't it lovely?

this little find too, is FANTASTIC! if i only had a little girl! ...and this doll, too, is spectacular!

marta has such talent to arrange all of her finds so artfully. i am in love with her place and am honored she is my friend...one of the kindest, happiest, gentlest spirits i know.

this was so marvelous in person. the pics don't do it justice!

i have been meaning to find a scottie for a friend, emily, at crop paper scissors here in waco. she collects them and i can't help but think of her every time i see one!

will and zack hanging out at the store...

i was taken aback when i came across this black dress. it is the epitome of vintage style. can you say, "yuuuuuummmmmm"?

sweet brides abound!

i cannot say enough for what this woman does with this store...and she does it all ALONE! no help, except for her mother who shops with her. she had pulled this all off on her own!

that is quite a feat considering that she does the shopping, organizing, painting and refurbishing, pricing, arranging, checking out, opening and closing the store, attending on all the customers (98% of the time, and....what else is there one does when one has a shop? well, she does that too! yes... all by herself! when i grow up...i want to be like marta!

beautiful!

i am so happy when i am here. i forget that there is a world outside...a world where cars crash, banks go under, and homes are taken away from people.

here...there are only treasures from the past. the things people cherished. when times were far simpler. and people were more brave than we are today. we live in a disposable society of quick-fixes and "conscientious objectors". i find great comfort knowing that things weren't always this way. maybe that's why i collect these things. it's my attempt to "remember" that there is another way.

...or maybe it's just because they are objects of beauty...

...and i'm addicted to beauty....

...everyone has a weakness for something.

this is mine :-)

the happy end!

ever forgetful...

2009-11-13T23:36:00.000-08:00

ok, guys. amy from Bloom and Bee had her open house last night, but since i've been blogging so often...i forgot to put the card back into the camera!!! the gorgeous pictures are saved on the internal memory, so i have to figure out how to transfer. it won't be a big deal, but i have been busy rearranging the house for fall. ALSO, i'm headed to carol caroll's in the morning. yep, i have the camera, the card, and batteries ;-) see ya'll soon!

Lola Luna

2009-11-11T20:43:00.000-08:00

lola luna is my new teacup chihuahua...she's 7 weeks old and soooooo teeny-tiny! i adore her and so do the boys. i can't ever keep them off her, the poor thing. she has the most amazing temperament and already goes "potty"! the easiest of my four dogs to train! wow! she is already super spoiled. cries when she's not hanging out with me~! i never had a baby girl, but now i have lola!...she only weighs one lb.

yes...i am totally going to dress her up in vintage pearls and rhinestones. i was actually thinking of designing some pcs myself. who knows, i might have a new career in vintage jewelry designs for pets!...four of my loves!

she's so cute with her little teddy...she licked him the first time they "met"!by the way, i think i'm going to take her everywhere i go now...so if i'm shopping in your neck of the woods, i might just have her with me!

the happy end!

christmas crafting

2009-11-10T16:04:00.001-08:00

i made these the other day...they came out all right... they are very sweet and romantic for a vintage feather tree.

i painted the birds with watercolors and the adhered the glitter...or diamond dust.

added a small bunch of vintage flowers and some seam binding ribbon... here are some ornaments i made from old book paper, sheet music, curtain rings, and ribbon...

i was disappointed with the frame...i thought it would look nicer than it did. don't you hate when you imagine things coming out way nicer than they do?

sweet birdies

2009-11-08T19:20:00.000-08:00

-- Post From My

jr. league of waco, Deck the Halls--part 2

2009-11-08T12:19:00.000-08:00

the entrance theme was very girlie and sweet...pink and lime green.

amy's Bloom and Bee Swanky was at the entrance and took our breath away. she outdid herself this year! sheer creative elegance.

fyi: my camera, even with the flash, takes terrible pictures...always so dark, so i use picasa to improve the quality. brightening the pics always gives them this look (above). of course i add other elements to change the pics, but the "yellowness" or "creaminess" of the pics...well, i can't get around that. sorry.

this is what they look like before i edit them on picasa. pretty terrible.

anyway, these are the pillars or posts to amy's corner...she covered them up with antique piano paper. ingenious and so romantic. her set up.....yummmm! i want to copy the whole thing now!

just beautiful. of course, i did buy the white houses.

aren't these precious?

her "salt of the earth" shakers!

this is the one i snatched up... lavender sachets...

jewelry and candles...i have my eye on the drawer thingie. (you know how i have a thing for drawers and organization!)

carmen...i think she was checking out. one of amy's girls has also been making she most beautiful "lockets" from old pocket watches. somehow, i missed taking pictures of these. i'll take some at her open house, Thursday, Nov. 12th.

you can't tell in my picture, but this is a "bubble tree". down the center, runs a thick plastic tube with water and bubbles. forgive my description, i'm not sure how else to describe it.

carmen after lunch. they happened to have served the most delicious chicken salad i have ever eaten...in my entire life! cheers, ladies! bright, fun, and very girly!

oh, you know i bought these!!!

...and these teeny houses, too!

and, of course, this one too! it looks like a christmas barn-church. so sweet!

this booth was set up by a group of girls led by vonda krup. apparently, they used to make stuff and sell at "home shows"...you know the type of shows i'm referring to. well, vonda was asked by a jr.leaguer to set up for "deck the halls". carmen and i loved everything they had. i picked up a rectangular magnetic tray in pink (for the guest bedroom), candlesticks... these frames...

carmen took this cute lamp for her daughter's bedroom...

and they had my kitchen green...i adore this color!

picked up this cute little frame in the center for christmas pics...

the entertainment...christmas carols by sweet children.

...and carmen watching them.

this booth belonged to emily from Crop, Paper, Scissors here in waco. precious handmade garlands. happy garlands.

cute little book markers.

ok....now pat at Laverty's outdid herself this year too! she had the most amazing booth filled with glorious junk!!!!! HUGE smiles here!!! now, i don't know if you can tell, but pat covered a glass-top garden table with white christmas lights. then she covered the lights with rock salt (it was heavy enough to hold down the light and keep them from moving, but also allows the light to softly shine through). it had the most beautiful effect. i totally want to steal this idea from her!

all vintage and antique ornaments!

reader, i bought it! this antique goose-feather tree was in excellent condition! it doesn't even look like feathers because it is so full, but it is! purchase... a mere $40! cha-ching!!!

now this "straw" tree was not for sale, but it was the coolest ever! very country looking. and the boots at the bottom totally "made" it! all it lacked was a cowboy hat to crown it...or maybe some antlers...maybe.

aluminum tree sticks made into a swag...

you have to click on this picture to fully appreciate the rustic beauty of this wreath. i have seen this wagon wheel at her store for well over a year, but this was genious! i loved it! the boots, antlers...wow! and the actual ornaments have so much character to them! i was floored. bravo.

this "kitchy" wreath was cleverly done as well. pat is very talented.

...and something sweet to end with. a sock-puppet reindeer. isn't that novel? the happy end!

jr. league of waco-- Deck the Halls... part 1

2009-11-07T18:24:00.000-08:00

honey's homestyle: she had a gorgeous collection of kd vintage homes......

these two are for me! i bought them to add to my collection this year! yea!!!just a quick show of the wonderful things that honey had to offer this christmas. i'm not sure who the designer of this jewelry was...but, I LOVE IT!!!!

the happy end!!!

the junk exchange!!!

2009-11-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

so i guess this officially kicks off the holiday "spendo-rama" for me... the junk exchange was a blast. i only wish i had arrived earlier in the morning. things went fast!...but i managed to find lots of wonderful junk!

...also got to meet troy and becky. they put a lot of work into this event...i can only imagine. they had lots of vintage christmas decor, several of the items were crafted by them...including these cute ceiling tiles used as picture hangers.

i picked up some of these too, though i am not quite sure EXACTLY what they are...ornaments, hangy-decorations, gift card holders (they have pockets in the back). whatever use you can find for them, they are adorable.

loads of fabric and linens...i actually made off with 2 large bolts of vintage silk taffeta (cream and soft pink) for $2 each!!! oh, the things i will make!

my friend and i took apart their halloween display with all the stuff we picked up... this is the after-photo...still nice, but you should have seen it before! (i forgot my camera in my car. had to go back after the fact).

this little basket i found upon making a second sweep of the place. i adored it! would love to top it off with some pink, velvet, vintage strawberries, some ribbons and lace (for spring)...stash some sweet pastel easter eggs,...stuff it with old mercury ornaments for christmas...ahhh

i bought so many flags off of this tree that it just doesn't look like it did before it met me. poor tree!

this little guy needs a bead board backing....and some red paint. it would make a perfect shelf for my boys' room...some stray dinos and die-cast cars need a home.

now this....was actually so gorgeous in real life, but my pics just don't do it justice. with a little love, this swing would be "season of cannon falls" worthy!--really!!!

i missed these the first time... thanks, anne :-)

ok...that was it. i did stop by bloom and picked up three white frames i've been drooling over for weeks now...i am sure i have a pic...somewhere...

by the way, don't tell my husband where i was all day ;-)

soooo confused...

2009-11-04T22:16:00.000-08:00

steve set me up with the new windows, he upgraded something else, iphone 3.0 is now installed, and the new picasa has now been downloaded...all at the same time. i don't recognize how to do anything anymore. yikes, does that make me feel old! i WILL NOT be absent again as i was in the past... i just need a few days to find the pics i took at marta's. also i'll be going to the JUNK EXCHANGE tomorrow and Waco's Jr. League "Deck the Halls" event on friday. so there will be lots to post this weekend. see you then!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2009-10-30T22:16:00.001-07:00

ahhhhhh...my favorite holiday! well, christmas is right up there with halloween. i have amassed so much stuff over the years due to the fact that we always have costume parties.

this year i think we counted 20 twenty gallon tubs...something like that. i was so overwhelmed that i gave up and decided to only use some things. haven't used the voodoo themed stuff in a long time...chicken bones, small alligator head, religious candles... way to much in the poor attic.

i'm keeing quiet so i can post quicker!

the kitchen island...

this, by the way, was a nasty piece when i bought it at spice for $50. it was a sad, dingy green and had been modified with "stuff". a little time, love, and paint....and viola! something beautiful that i am so happpppppy to have in my home.

marta, i bought these nobs the other day and they don't match...could i maybe exchange one so they match, if that's possible. if not, it's no biggie. i need to swing by next week for my lampshade. i'll call before i visit.

i am sad that nicole sayre doesn't make her holiday pieces anymore. i really miss her.

the kitchenette...

i made these lights out of dyed coffee filters.they look so much better in person. too bad :( next year i'm adding a small, black pre-lit tree that i've drooled over (for a coupple of years) at amy's Bloom and Bee Swanky. i'm finally buying it this year...for next.

no, i don't need it, but what the hell, right?

the bar...

the ancestral hall...old black and white photos of family.

this year i've given up on buying real hay bales. they are waaaaay to heavy and what the heck do i do with them after thanksgiving?

that's dead fred in the bottom left-hand corner. alex isn't afraid of him, but flies and bees....well, they make him scream like a girl. he's sooooo like me. fred is REALLY freaky looking. i'm shocked that he's cool with him.

the spooky end!

the loot from hico...and a few other stops

2009-10-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

ok...i prepared so well for my trip to hico, but in the end, i forgot the card for my camera. since technology is everywhere, i resorted to using my phone, but the confounded thing has me trying to figure out exactly how to transfer them to my computer. now, i must wait for my husband to help me work out this issue. soooooo, here are pictures of the things i brought home from that trip (plus a few other things i found at Marta's Room, in belton). here we go...

these gorgeous book i bought from H2, which is susan's new store (from homestead in hico). i think her name is susan, please correct me if i am wrong. H2 is gorgeous, crisp, fresh, and all about neutrals and whites! a must see!

now, i couldn't decide which of these to post, so i posted them all! added to these books are vintage christmas ornaments that i bought from marta.

here is the entire collection of white ornaments that i bought from marta (along with a few others i bought on ebay last month)...i am ALWAYS looking for beautiful christmas ornaments.

marta is now hunting for new ones because she confessed she really missed these. too bad!...sorry!

the pink and teal i also bought on ebay last month. my kitchen christmas colors are these lovely feminine hues.

yummmmmmm!

i have been collecting these sewing boxes. this pink one is in excellent condition.

the dress is from Willow Nest Farms. linda has wonderful taste. i always get in trouble when i shop at her store.

willow nest is located in burton, tx. i ran into her at marburger and again at hico.

a little lingerie and lace...

heart and ribbon from marta's and with it is my grandmother's brooch.

again...willow nest. the shoe was a gift from linda. it's emellished for christmas and designed by her.

this powder box...

these tags,

...and this vintage prize ribbon. were all crafted by linda.

the hankie holder i regretted not buying at marburger...found me at hico!!!

more of linda's art.

and a beautiful, romantic, vintage tutu--i'll be using this for my pink tree!

the beautiful end!

...a quick trip to the zoo

2009-10-30T21:10:00.000-07:00

i should have loaded these in reverse order, but...oh, well! dad came to visit for zack's third birthday and we made a quick trip to the zoo. it was a beautiful day.

my kids NEVER pose for photos...they NEVER have. so all the shots are candid or "in action".

animals are alex's favorite thing. he loves, loves, loves them...he even talks in his sleep about them!

very up close and personal.

the happy end

Testing...Testing....123...

2009-10-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

I'm trying this out for the first time...a true technological wonder (for me)... I'm posting from my phone!

-- Post From My iPhone

getting ready for hico

2009-10-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

this friday i'm heading to hico, texas for another antique show. i can't wait! i'm primarily going for pictures and ideas, but we'll see if i can score something magnificent. i'm actually getting tired or all the stuff i have. wanting to simplify life now...especially now with a pre-schooler and a toddler. "me-time" mainly consists of folding laundry and writing grocery lists in the quiet of the night when everyone else is asleep. it is what it is.

Marburger Farms Antique Show-- last take

2009-10-17T20:38:00.000-07:00

ok...these are the last of my photos for this show. i regret not buying this little toy phone. it was the first thing i found that i loved but was afraid to spend so early in the day. what an idiot! oh, well.loved these.

again...almost bought this complete set of antique children's encyclopedias. should have bought but did not.

i fell in love with these french wine crates--these i did buy.

bought french baskets...

i've always wanted one of these for my pepper...like in "Babette's Feast". i love that movie!

i have a table like the one above in a dark cherry. i have always wanted to paint it white; now i will. it looks fantastic.

same for this little number. i have one identical in a dark cherry (which i hate so it's in the back yard storing outdoor toys). a coat of white paint will transform it.

always wanted one of these. so romantic.

beautiful kitchen island.

sweet tattered blue table.

the mix of metal, wood and stone is lovely in this bistro set.

...and my fixation on cubbies and organization continues...

;-0 pricey but nice

i bought these brown lamps made from salvaged iron from a new orleans balcony.

very chic.

this was one of the most gorgeous beds i have ever seen in my life. it was breathtaking, though the pics are a little pathetic.

a pretty mix.

...again...the fixation!

love the industrial look!

this is the other amazing bed i found!!! oooooohhh, with crisp white linen bedding.

so precious.

eye candy everywhere!

mmmm...yummmm!

i want to copy this...it was so cute!

...and that lampppshade was the cutest thing too!

couldn't help but spend a nice portion of my budget on magnolia pearl!!!

...bought bloomers...

...and a top. (yikes! that was it!)

the END!

Mother's Day Scrapbooking

2009-10-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

...Willow Nest at Marburger Farms

2009-10-06T20:30:00.001-07:00

willow nest farms was a happy find! their use of the romantic and shabby is masterfully accomplished.

sooo many lovely treasures to chose from... gorgeous!

i was going to nab this hankie holder, but i decided to wait. i could kick myself for not picking it up right away!!!

it was a confection of the senses, and i let it go! :( not happy about that decision...

precious and creative ribbon. i could see this on a shabby pink christmas tree accompanied by strands of vintage pearl buttons, and old sepia photos of family.

exotic and alluring...i think it's the eyebrows and the smoky eyes.

flowers made out of scraps of lace, crochet, tulle, and linen. very sweet.

i collect these vintage bottles myself...not quite sure what to do with mine yet. i've seen them all dressed up in lace, rhinestones, and scraps of yellowed sheet music, but mine just sit there...keeping each other company, quite naked, actually.

willow nest was charming and very appealing. i was so very happy to have found them.

The End

Marburger Farms Antique Show

2009-10-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

this year i went early, as opposed to last year. found some amazing pieces, but still...my budget was thousands of dollars short of what i needed to buy what i loved. (who isn't in that boat?) anyhow, these were just a few of those gorgeous finds. a bought a few of them, but not many. i enjoyed the sights, the kettle corn, meeting old friends, and making new ones.

interesting and creative. something old AND something new.

there was no shortage of french and italian antique candlesticks. (one of my very favorite things, by the way...goes so well with antique santos).

adored this pair of old mirrors with spotted and faded silvering. the pictures do not do these little guys justice. so beautiful.

oooooh, an old zebra skin stool. the stool is iron and covered in a wonderfully aged, crackled, ivory paint. i would have taken this piece, if it weren't for the $400 price tag. yes, a little too steep for me.

santo and crown

another santo nicely juxtaposed against this gilt italian star burst mirror.

"sold" before i got to this little garden table.

piles of antiques books without spines. seems to be a bigger trend now. small bundles sold for $85 each.

file cabinet drawer system...i've been eying pieces like this one to store my beads and stones (for jewelry making). i need something to keep them all organized nicely.

i don't know what kind of table this is, but it was very striking. it was sold, of course.

one day i am going to buy a carousel horse as a statue piece for my living room. romantic, whimsical, fun, and unexpected.

i wanted these so much! aahhhhh....the prices here kill me!!!

more antique candlesticks.

note: the cute garland is made from newspaper dress cutouts and adorned with black seam binding ribbons. very sweet!

i need slipcovers like this one.

interesting display.

beautiful junk...

i was really drawn to this table. industrial furniture just pulls me in and this table is a nice twist on a traditional piece.

i soooo want a rack like this one! BUT every time i find one, it's "for display only"! this one was sold!

...again, the filing system that always catches my eye! i am going to post my pics from the antique shows for four days, because there are way too many to post all at once. i'll be back tomorrow!

THE END

it's been a while...

2009-08-22T23:16:00.000-07:00

sorry guys; things have been a little nuts around here. everyone has caught this "GI bug" going around...first it was the oldest son, then it was the youngest son... the little one was hospitalized for 5 days. he's fine now, but i am still trying to recover from the ordeal. the little one passed it to my mom, so i had to help out there too. i have taken a bunch of new pictures and will work on them very, very, soon! love to all! jessica

New Shopping list from Wisteria...

2009-07-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July!!!

2009-07-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

crafting with the girls...

my friend's homage to AMERICAN cinema...

2009-06-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

i know it's been a while, but i had problems with my computer for a little bit... got a new printer and then ran into some other issues with dell! sorry... (marta, i know you're frustrated). but i'm back!

Finds from Laverty's

2009-06-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

just about everything in this entry is from Laverty's from waco, tx. it's a wonderful place that offers excellent "junk" at excellent prices. i am always guaranteed a good find every time i go!

lace, ribbon, tulle, music sheets, jewelry, flowers, vintage tools, vases, books, old medical contraptions... you name it, they'll have it!

i photographed my ribbon collection and posted it so that two months from now i wouldn't forget where i stored it !!!

the happy end!!!!!!!!!

Insomnia

2009-06-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

i whisper into the night--

swallow me whole;

let me not see the sun

before you strap me down

and give me what is mine.

but alas, you are not the form

that charges over me.

still, i am enveloped in your world.

your spells transform amorphic dreams

into words known only by my pen

and only by my paper.

Quick somethings...

2009-06-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

i just wanted to add a little, quick something. i have lots of new stuff that i need to sort out, display and photograph. i am running very behind on things.
vintage lace from a little shop around the corner... i go gaga for aged lace. fragile, soft, and perfect.

office desk clutter. ZZZZ- is for Zacky, who stole my heart.

recorded on this scrap of paper, is something that alex says constantly..."i need your help, mommy!"

delicate antique millinery feathers is subtle hues of pink and blue.

with ribbon from etsy and scrapbooking leftovers.

the sweet end...for now.