An English Girl In the USA

New Altered Book Photos and Boys

2009-09-06T22:26:00.009-04:00

Masquerade Spread with real diamond necklace and feathers :-)

Favorite Quote or Saying Spread - I wrote out "She Walks in Beauty Like the Night by Lord Byron. It was a hard choice.......

Pink Spread - I thought this would be harder than it ended up being, Christi did use Pretty in Pink on one of her cards before me, but I had to use it as it was one of my favorite 80's film and this was my era!! Shows my age.

My boys, a few photos for their Auntie Sarah in England.

Sweet Dreams, and yes Paula on the West Coast I am still trying to clean up my little studio, should post photos for you :-)

My Little Hands in the "Handbook" and My Little Angels!

2009-06-03T22:30:00.005-04:00

Took this the other morning while I got them breakfast before school, I can't believe how big they are getting, my oldest is so grown-up, I am very proud of him. He loves art too, I just got him his own Prisma markers, so he is all set and can stop sneaking in to my studio to borrow! The little one is so loving, and loves to read books. They are both so excited that their grandparents are coming over from England to visit for a few weeks in the Summer.

These are my latest round robin pages in the Creative Underground exchange. Enjoy!!

A Fresh Start - A New Round Robin Victorian Gothic Girls

2009-05-03T21:03:00.008-04:00

My cover, black velvet with a collaged fabic piece.

Welcome tags.

One of my sign-In pages.

Gothic Girl - first spread.

Door closed Spread.

Open Door Spread.

Fan Girl.

I am so pleased I decided to start playing with art again.

It's been quite hard to play with the two boys and the new house, but I am having some fun with this book.

Victorian Gothic Girls ..............

I also made some really neat Steampunk charms for a cool charm bracelet exchange, I cannot wait to get this one back.

Have a lovely evening.......

Houses and Numbers, Nudes and Nature!

2008-06-06T20:30:00.007-04:00

This is my youngest with his toy ferret that seems to go everywhere with him. He he is waiting for my oldest to pass in the Memorial Day Parade. He is under the most amazing tree on the town green, it is a beach tree (I think) it's branches reach down to the floor like a Weeping Willow - I must look it up on the web when I get chance.

The above are for my House ATC swap - I still love this size of the ATC's, I have tried Inches but I fee my work seems to get lost!

Here is my youngest trying to escape!

The two images above are for a Journal Round Robin, this one was the last one I did for Delia's Nature Journal.

Here is my original for a swap I did for Red Dog Scot "I Celebrate the Body Nude" Deck project..

Here are another three ATC's for another swap with a Number theme.

So it has taken me a long while to post, but enjoy!
I am still busy with decorating, but am going to try and update my blog on a weekly basis. Promises, promises!

New Fabric ATC's

2008-03-03T11:18:00.008-05:00

Here are the three fabric ATC's that I mailed to my friend Ramona in Germany.

I really like the tin type photos I use. They were found in an old local photo album, there were some unusual photographs of people in it, but the most of the tin types were not in very good condition. These three made it! I also used some of my antique lace collection as I want to start using my vintage finds. I really have to do some downsizing.

It was Mothering Sunday in the UK yesterday, so Happy Mother's Day to all you English Mums, I am kind of happy that it's in May this side of the Pond. Much better weather to celebrate in :-)

I am teaching my velvet strawberry class next week, so I am busy getting the kits ready for that, then I have several more ATC's to make this month.

Where did January GO to?

2008-02-14T10:02:00.003-05:00

Wow, where did January go to?

Well I am now an official member of The American Sewing Guild, the Trumbull, CT chapter meet once a month and make a little sewing project. I am having lots of fun with this.

I made and sent my fabric 3D HeARTs off for the Artezine exchange, still have to post a photo of them. I am in the middle of making my fabric ATC's for Ramona - I am using my antique lace for these, as I used by old tin type photos of a family and wanted to create a family trio, keeping the colors neutral.

Slow Computer Connection!

2007-09-25T00:50:00.000-04:00

Sorry for not posting for a while, we are trying to get our computer speed up - we are pulling our hair out with how slow our "fast" connection is!! Even my seven year old said it was slow! So we are having a house filter fitted this weekend for $95.00, to see if it will speed things up.

The first two are my Somerset Halloween pieces and the second is my replacement (mailed UPS this time with a tracking number) little bag stuffed with crafting goodies. I actually loved making this and wish I could have kept it. I still have not got an email from the person i sent it to, and she has had it for over three weeks now! Oh well.....

I will take some photos this weekend of my fabric buys from the annual textile sale - I love my vintage peach satin comforter - I washed and dried it and it came up like new. It is so so warm! I also got some ribbon, vintage flowers and some nice fabric seed bags from the 30's.

The last photo is why I find it so hard to take photos, who can resist help like this!

One Year in the Blog World and Somerset Studio

2007-08-16T16:43:00.000-04:00

Well I have been using a blog for one year now! Not as often as I would like, but I am getting much better now the house is coming together and some of my projects are being completed. DH is away on the West cost this week, so it's one busy week. Oh and I have lost my voice too! DH did not time his trip too well (LOL)!

I got my latest Somerset Studio in the mailbox and was so pleased that they used both of my Halloween pieces in the gallery. It feels like such an honour of having my work put into print, and is so exciting to see my little pieces in there. I see my friend Jen Osborn is in there too, but need to take a better look at it this weekend. I think Jen is working in one of my books too. It has been a long worldwide round robin, but the artwork is bloody brilliant - well worth the wait to get it home. I also see another artist friend, working the same RR, Ruth Rae is in the process of having a "charm book" published. I was just admiring her fabric charms in the book I have to work on. Check her blog out. I will take photos of them and post them now they have been published. I will try and add them tonight. And, yes, I have not forgotten to post photos of my studio - I will try and do that this week too!

I am still working on the missing bag replacement, I have finally finished the embellishment and will post a photo of that too - just need to stitch it together, fill her up and mail it to the lady who did not receive the first one. Maybe I can get that finished tonight too, as long as my oldest son doesn't make me watch another Naruto episode!

Strawberry Pincushions (More) and Summer Fun

2007-08-07T16:44:00.000-04:00

This is the strawberry pincushion I am sending out to TN and the Netherlands as part of an exchange. I made them from vintage red velvet fabric, it may be more than 75 years old and I was just waiting for the right project to use it. After the move I have been looking through by collection of vintage textiles and have decide to try and use them rather than keep them in a drawer!

My little boy at play on his favorite toy, when today's favorite toy - I am sure you know how that goes!

Summer Fun - Pincushions and Harry Potter

2007-07-26T12:23:00.000-04:00

Thomas and I went to see the new Harry Potter film on the first day of opening and we also queued up at midnight to get the last book - crazy! I loved the last book and was so pleased it had a happy ending.

This is the beautiful pincushion I received, and the pear one is the pincushion I sent out for this exchange. I found out my little blue bag never arrived, three months after emailing the recipient to check they had got it. So now my next little project will be another little bag and registered post! I put alot of hours into that bag - oh well. Now I need to get moving on the poetry journal for one of the boy's teachers, each page is like an individual collage to showcase her poem. I have nearly finished the pages, just need to do one more and I can add the embellishments. I printed all the poems onto acetate so I could layer them over the collage work.

This is our new backyard before my DH invested in a lawnmower last weekend! The boys are having so much fun, as you can tell in the photos below, playing outside. We have been so lucky with the weather this Summer, not too many humid days.

Can you see the lawn in the photo above? Now I know we need some move top soil and grass seed in certain areas, but for saying there was nothing there 6 months ago, i don't think it is too bad. The garden can wait until next Spring as I still have to hang curtains up - luckily we don't have any visible neighbors!

I also was informed that my Portrait in Sepia book will be published in Sew Somerset, and I think my Halloween piece will appear in the Somerset Studio Halloween issue. So that made my week.

I dear friend Stephanie Lee has a new blog too, check out her beautiful work and gorgeous jewellery:-

http://stephanielee.typepad.com/stephanie_lee_studios/

My Birthday Gifts

2007-06-22T11:41:00.000-04:00

I got two lovely books, Graced by Lace and Julia Cameron's Women, from my boys, I love Julia Cameron's photos, she was so ahead of her time. Some of the images are haunting. See the ones above. My DH bought me new studio furniture and set it all up for me yesterday, except for my sewing table. We went to Ikea, I am really pleased with what I got, but it really takes hours to collect it, get it home, and build it.

I went with a solid wood desk, cherry red and lime green accents. It's a fun color theme and is uplifting. I worked on emptying about half of my boxes last night, going to bed around 2am! I was so excited to have my little art space again. I now have to get the rest of the boxes up to two flights of stairs and emptied this weekend and I will be ready to play again! I have so much stuff to sell on EBay. I really have purged and thrown tons out, ready for a fresh start.

This weekend I want to get some material in green and red, that is funky, to cover my caulk board. I really like this one by Amy Butler, but I would have to mail order it because there are no local shops that sell her line :-(

Or maybe this one, again by Amy Butler, which is more red and lime green, with a hint of girly pink - nice when you are in a household of all men!

I will try and take some photos this weekend of my work in progress. I have put lots of thing in labelled boxes this time, so I don't have as much stuff on my desk all the time. I think this may work out good for me, and the baby can't get into too much trouble in there.

Published - Somerset Studio - Latest Gallery Issue

2007-06-07T11:53:00.000-04:00

Just to let you know my piece below part of a piece that is published in Somerset Studio's Latest Gallery magazine.

There is a really nice article on a project I worked on with some other wonderful artists - each piece had to include a door.

New Home, Boxes and My Big Birthday!

2007-06-07T11:42:00.000-04:00

Well I am finally in my new home, but still living out of boxes - all my art things are in the garage in boxes waiting for new tables and shelving from Ikea - don't you love that store?! So I am taking a little break from my art and crafts.

However, I need to get the studio set up within the next two weeks as I have a commission to make a “sea Poetry” book for one of my son’s teachers. Her poetry is really cool. I don’t want to delay it any further, and I want my things out of the garage!

We got internet service last night - two weeks to flip a switch! I also closed my website as I had not used it in over a year and was paying $10 a month for it! Blog is free - you do the sums. It was so hard to upload photos that I kind of stopped playing with it. So for the moment I do not have an icon on this blog (no link).

It's my 40th birthday on Sunday; I declined a party in favor of having a small diner party including children. I am so looking forward to this. My MIL will also host a little family lunch on Sunday.

The garden is finally showing some green under the hay, so maybe the boys will have a little grass to play on this summer. We have tons of things left to-do, but have made a good start. We have also cleaned out a lot of books, clothes and fabric (yes I am the guilty one). I gave a lot to consignment and have several things to sell on Ebay. The next hurdle will be the toys which really need to be purged to a reasonable level - how many action figures does a seven year old need? We won't go into the obscene amount of Lego he has! I will post some photos this weekend as I think I know where I put my camera!

Missing In Action

2007-05-18T16:39:00.000-04:00

Well, I have been so busy getting my new home ready for occupation - it looks like we will be moving next Friday and life will get back to normal, which mean all my art and sewing supplies will be organized again! Over two years ago I put my heat gun and mini iron into storage and have not seen them since!

I have just finished my pear pincushion from my latest exchange, but the weather is to wet to take photos, so I will post it later.

I will post inbetween packing my boxes - why do I have so many art supplies, looks like I need another Ebay sale, like when I moved out of the apartment. I must remember to put stuff in a special box for that purpose.

Have a lovely Friday evening!

Paula

My Little Strawberry Pin Cushions - Ready To Go

2007-04-28T01:37:00.000-04:00

I had such fun making these - I beaded them on my lunch hour at work and all the girls wanted to buy one. I said I would think about it! I really have other little projects to play with, including my next pincushion in the form of pears - I mailed the two with roses (above) to my Swapbot partner, so she should she them in the next couple of days. I am glad I went with the sand fill, and made a cotton liner, it really makes it feel solid and sturdy for the pins. I forgot to pack the pins for my partner too - oh well!

Magazine Swap - Off To Singapore

2007-04-25T10:13:00.000-04:00

Here are the two magazines that I sent to my swap partner in Singapore, they looked really cool, with some very cool knitting ideas - I do hope she enjoys them, I mailed them with my tax paperwork last week, so they should arrive very soon.

My parents visited from England last week, we did some really cool trips, and they got to see our new house, which we should be moving to very soon. I will post more photos of the visit soon (well after I find the time to download my photos).

2.5 x 2.5 Tinies - Vintage Grunge Children

2007-04-10T23:56:00.000-04:00

Well I finished my cards for my Tinies today, one set off to Scotland today and one set for the USA – that’s two swaps to Scotland for the very same person! What are the odds - well I hope she likes them.

I only have one more swap to do, and then I am taking a break from exchanges to work on packing boxes ready for our move! Actually, I am having such a blast with this last swap, I have already made 5 strawberry pincushions, I think I will send my partner a medium pincushion and a baby one. I just need to get them beaded and they will be ready to go.

I would say 5 or 6 more weeks, and then it will be home sweet home for us. We have been waiting for over two years for our new house, and it has been a long wait.

Some more good news, my parents are crossing the pond to visit will us next week (Spring Break) and I am so happy - they have not met their youngest grandson (14 months) yet, so it will be really exciting for all to be together.

Unfortunately my Mum had to have some foot surgery and could not fly when he was born. I have already book a special trip Grey Gardens on Broadway for them.

We may also go up to Rhode Island and tour some of the houses - I haven't been their since my honeymoon. Talking of that, it is my 10th wedding anniversary on the 19th and that means that I have been living and working in the USA for ten years too. Wow, time sure does fly. I really miss England, especially Boots the Chemist, Yorkshire, Marks and Sparks and mostly my wonderful family.

Good Morning Exchange Is On It's Way to Scotland

2007-04-10T23:54:00.000-04:00

Here is my little bag of "morning" goodies which I mailed to Scotland today - hope my partner like them and the little bag I made for them.

Little Bird Embroidery Swap

2007-04-10T23:50:00.000-04:00

Here is my little bird for a one on one embroidery swap - I worked on it over the Easter weekend, and was quite pleased how it came out saying that I did it from my own drawing of an old trade card I found.

More Fabric Swaps

2007-04-02T20:44:00.000-04:00

Here is a Fat Quarter Swap I sent across the pond to England. I added some pink rick rack too - very into Rick Rack at the moment (vintage cotton stuff). Anyway my partner in England has a household of males too, so I sent her some pretty pink pieces of fabric, two sets of pink buttons, the pink Rick Rack and some pink ribbon (see a theme)?

Sorry for the color quality of these - I had to take them at night before I mailed them!

I put together four set of fabric and made mini lavender bags to go with these exchanges - hope they like them and like lavender!

Sunday Brunch

2007-04-02T20:40:00.000-04:00

Here are the boys in their Sunday best waiting to go into brunch.

Needle Book Swap

2007-04-02T20:33:00.000-04:00

Where do the weeks go - I have been so busy making and a little less computer working!

Here is my needle case (top one) for a one on one swap I am doing. I made myself one and put an "S" not a "5" as my son said on the front - do you like the embroidery? It was a lot of work, but I am so pleased with the results.

My Little Hand-Made Bag of Stuff Swap Is On It's Way!

2007-03-19T20:52:00.000-04:00

My little bag is on it's way to Florida, I had lots of fun making this one. I hope it's new owner will like it :-)

My Swaps - Ready To Send & Received

2007-03-12T20:34:00.000-04:00

Here is my apron for the Apron swap, I am also sending Sarah some yummy brownie mix and a wooden spoon for luck. I totally changed the color scheme after checking the aqua material I thought the print was too big for the apron. I really enjoyed making this and it won't be the last :-)

More bird buys! I bought a wonderful embroidered (silk society) card holder - the stitches are so perfect. I also treated myself to a new bag, again with a bird on it - I really love this bag and I got a great deal on it.

I also bought some vintage silk flowers and a little basket.

I received my Little Handmade Bag of Stuff swap from Jeannie (Boopgirly). She sent me some lovely fabric, lace, buttons and a couple of chocolates, all in a clever little denim pocket bag. She was so early sending this out, it was such a nice suprise on Saturday. I have just started making my bag for Rhonda (BlueCrayons)!!

I purchased my bathtime treats swap goodies for Kim (Serienova). Her fav color was purple, so I bought with that theme in mind, if you hadn't guessed. I found some really fab things, including a body scrub which she hinted she liked. I also included a couple of scrub recipies as she said she wished she had some! Yum yum!!

And lastly, but not least here is the latest photo of my youngest son, my camera is back from being repaired and I am so happy! I missed it so much.

Apron Swap

2007-03-02T16:52:00.000-05:00

I am ready to shop for material, I have patterns and I know who my partner is (hello Sarah)! I am so excited about this swap, and am so looking forward to tomorrow to pick out some cool fabrics. I really like Amy Butler and some of the new Moda lines - well will have to see what I can come up with.

Thanks SwapBot!

Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day (in England)

2007-02-20T11:12:00.000-05:00

Well tonight I get to eat English pancakes as it is Shrove Tuesday - lots of other nutty things go on in England on Shrove Tuesday - like playing football in the streets and pancake races, to name a few!

Find a great recipe here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/basilpancakswithsuga_66226.shtml

But use oranges rather than lemons, or strawberry jam (jelly)! Caster suger is fine sugar.

Pancake Races

The object of the race is to get to the finishing line first whilst flipping a pancake in a frying pan a pre-decided number of times. The skill lies not so much in the running of the race but in flipping and catching the pancake, which must be intact when the finishing line is reached.

Skipping

In Scarborough, on Shrove Tuesday, everyone assembles on the promenade to skip. Long ropes are stretched across the road and there maybe be ten or more people skipping on one rope. The origins of this customs are not known but skipping was once a magical games, associated with the sowing and spouting of seeds, which may have been played on barrows (burial mounds) during the Middle Ages.

Football (not the American kind at all)

Shrove Tuesday sees the start in Ashbourne, Derbyshire of the world’s oldest, largest, longest and maddest football game. The game is played over two days and involves thousands of players. The goals are three miles apart and there are only a few rules. The ball is a hand-painted, cork-filled ball.

Are the English crazy - well I leave that to my DH to decide :-)

Have fun,

Paula

Happy Birthday To My Dear Sister Sarah Louise!!

2007-02-20T11:05:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to the best sister a girl could ever wish for - I hope you have a wonderful day, wish I could pop over the pond to be with you - and I hope Mark bake a beautiful cake to go with your cup of tea. Love always your, Paula Jayne xxx

Vintage Wall Paper - I Blame Pam Garrison!

2007-02-06T16:11:00.000-05:00

After reading Pam's blog for over 8 months, I succumbed and bought one roll of this adorable 1940's vintage wallpaper - it is such a treat! I can't wait to get it in my hands and start playing!

Anyway I needed something to cheer me up today. Yesterday we were meant to get the power on in the new house, but no it did not happen! As we went with underground cable, the pull rope had frozen to the pipe, so our wonderful overpaid electricity board could/would not touch it!!! This is like one of the final things we need, so that we can get heat on in the house, the appliance we ordered in June delivered/installed, and the last bit of painting/plastering done.

All ready for final inspection! I have been waiting over two years for this house...... Oh well, stiff upper lip (my English side) I will calm down eventually.

I also bought some Victorian era Baby Rose swags (FRAGILE I was told). And as you can see I still do not have my camera back from Nikon! I am borrowing other people's images! I asked them to get it back to me in time for Joshua's first birthday on Thursday, but it does not look like it will be here! Oh well, so much for my Ebay sales - they will have to wait a little longer.

My Oldest Son's' Birthday & The French Inspired Home

2007-01-15T09:42:00.000-05:00

In honor of my oldest son who will turn 7 tomorrow and the fact that he will be starting French lessons tomorrow too, I am classing this as one of my favorite books at the moment.

My camera is broken, and may have to go back to Nikon, which is why I haven’t posted for a while. Thank goodness it is not one year old, so hopefully it will be under warranty.

On the house front: We hope to have power by 5th February. After that the painters and carpenters have do their finishing and the appliances (which we ordered in June not knowing it would take this long) can be delivered. I am so pleased we have had a very mild winter in New England. Dread to think what would have happened to the house with no heat in it. I love this house, but refuse to get too excited about it after being let down too many times. My only advise if one wants to build their own home, find a well recommended contractor and be prepared to wait and wait :-)

My current love is embroidery; I found several wonderful pieces from the 1920’s that were stamped and ready to sew. I started the tablecloth last week. These pieces are Royal Society and they had the most beautiful designs.

So I am off to hunt for more.

I have also started to work on a journal for a group exchange will post photos later.

Paula

Talking of Window Shopping

2006-12-22T11:32:00.000-05:00

This is a really great vegetarian restaurant "It's Only Natural" (I.O.N.) that I took my cousin Antonia too - I loved this collage board they had outside. Very cool.

What I Would Like For Christmas!!

2006-12-22T11:27:00.000-05:00

When I worked in Curry's as a Saturday girl I wanted a Robert's radio, now I am older and I still want one - why are they so expensive and why can we only get them in England??? I loved this one on EBay, but the shipping was too expensive. They have some really cool retro styles too. Please Mr Santa - can you think about it for me - I have been very good?

Christmas Window Shopping New York Style

2006-12-22T11:09:00.000-05:00

We took the boys to New York City last Sunday. We went to see the tree at Rockerfeller Center and to look at the beautiful store windows, Macy's had out done themselves, the windows were even interactive. The train going into the city was so packed, not even standing room at the last stop before the city. The weather was very mild.

Fabric Chunky Book Pages and Christmas Matchbox Ornament Swap

2006-11-14T10:58:00.000-05:00

Here are my little matchbox swap ornaments, I made eight in all, four to keep for my first tree in my new home, I will also get three more from this swap with Danielle. You really can't see the inside of the box that well, but I hand stiched little ice sequins and beads around a red cardinal on a wooden branch with hand sewn flowers on the bottom - very pretty and seasonal. My oldest son of course said I should have made the birds different, and maybe he was right, but as usual Mummy ran out of time!
The little gold and red bird is from Target 2006 Christmas ornament collection - they have such lovely things this season, I just adore their purple flocked wrapping paper. Nowadays I just don't go for the red and greens!! You can also see my vintage silk thread collection in the photo - crazy what we collect isn't it, but they are such beautiful colors for saying how old they are. I also have vintage cotton thread collection!

Finished at last my seven fabric Chunky Pages. Six are ready to send to Terrie - it's a little sad as these will be the last pages for this wonderful exchange, hard to believe I started this swap before Joshua was born! Like my shell button collection! Yes another little collection of mine - no wonder David is dreading moving my studio stuff.......

On the subject of moving, this should be happening very soon, maybe in the next four weeks - I CANNOT WAIT, it has been too long.....

Fabric Shrine Exchange

2006-11-09T14:52:00.000-05:00

I made a similar one to this last month for a friend in Germany; it was part of an exchange. I decided to make myself one as I loved hers so much. It was also a great way for me to utilize all my antique buttons, textiles, trims, lace and fabric. Now I have the perfect excuse to pop out at lunchtime and replenish my supplies! I am going to visit an antique store called the Black Dog; I have heard good reports on it.

This weekend I should be able to finish the last of my artist pages for a fabric chunky book swap hosted by my friend Terrie. The pages I have received over this year have been outstanding – all originals. I worked out that as I have spent nearly three hours on each page so far, just with the ribbon and bead work, and I am making seven pages! I love doing them, being small and self contained, I can work on them during my lunch hour. I am not sure if I am going to make a book or a wall hanging from them.

I am also working on some Christmas matchbox ornaments; I think this will be the last swap for this year. I will keep busy with the journal round robin until the New Year.

Vintage Bird Swap - My Goodies Have Arrived From Coleen!!

2006-11-09T11:32:00.000-05:00

My lovely gifts from Coleen arrived on Monday evening, but I could not get outside to photograph them until today as we have had lots of rain here in CT.

Aren't my little vintage bird goodies lovely? The first is a table runner with hand embroidery, the next is a pair of postcards, and the last (my fav) is a little box of gummed bird stickers, which I can't wait to play with.

Thanks you so much Coleen, I love all of them and simply adore your little bird nest tag :-) Stay in touch.

My New House ATC's and Halloween in Connecticut

2006-11-02T14:55:00.000-05:00

These are my latest ATC's for an exchange hosted by a wonderful Yahoo group. There is so much talent in this group, I can't wait to see what I receive. I am a bit late in sending them, life has been a little crazy recently, the house build is moving far too slow - Oh well.
Thought you whould also like to see my boys in their Halloween costumes, they had so much fun. My oldest look very cool in his skeleton costume, and as it was so warm here in Connecticut for a change, I changed my youngest into a bee costume. This is the first year I didn't make costumes, I just couldn't see where I would find the space or the time!

I am so in love with vintage pansies at the moment - I just keep looking for them and seem to be using them in my artwork too - see the ATC above.

ove

Salamanders, Boys, Fall and Flea Markets

2006-10-24T16:47:00.000-04:00

My oldest found this beauty here in the Garden; Fall has definitely arrived in New England.

My DH has been in Texas for the last week on business, so on Sunday as the weather was fantastic, I decided to take the boys to the Elephant’s trunk flea market. I gave the oldest his very own money.

We found some wonderful things:-

1) Beautiful 1920 hand-painted wallpaper samples (30 strips)
2) Victorian glass get appliqués (50
3) A large piece of fine Victorian netting with hand done beading
4) A couple of mother of pearl button cards
5) Two little bird figurines
6) Another pieces of fine netting with hand embroidery ( I am guessing this was from an Edwardian dress – it’s beautiful colors
7) A lovely Victorian needlepoint pin cushion to add to my small, very small collection. It still had some hatpins in it, and the price was so right.
8) Two Wade Whimsies for my oldest's ever growing collection (he buys them himself).
9) One toy shark – new to add to my oldest's other ever growing collection!

My oldest also wanted a Victorian boot jack in the shape of a beetle, but he said it was too expensive at $20.00! Thank-you Mr. Dealer, I would not have known where to put it.

I missed out on a ledger, just because I had ran out of money, it was a bargain at $25, with beautiful hand-written pages – oh well – budgets are budgets! But where are the ATM’s when you need them!

Vintage Bird Swap and Wire In The Blood

2006-10-24T12:02:00.000-04:00

I am so pleased that I signed up for this swap.

Check out the http://www.vintageswaps.blogspot.com/ Christmas swap - I don't think I will be able to sign-up for this one as things are so busy now the house is coming to a completion, but I am putting it on the calendar just in case!

Not that I am a huge television watcher, I am addicted to a few shows such as Project Runway and a few crime shows on BBC America. Last night I watched the last eposode of Wire In The Blood, I am so pleased there is BBC America!!

Transparency ATC Swap

2006-09-28T13:14:00.000-04:00

Here are my three ATC’s which are being mailed out tomorrow, it would have been today, but I left their little plastic sleeves at home!

Talking of ATC’s – I just saw another of mine in the latest issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors, in the article about the Auction to help Bernie with her animal rescue – mine was the British Bulldog on the Union Jack of course!

I am also working on a fabric shrine this month, and have a matchbox ornament swap lined up for next month and the last fabric fat book pages to do for Terrie Lightfoot’s exchange – I have really enjoyed this one, and think I want to mount them as a wall hanging rather than a book..

Talking of fabric, the Monroe Textile Sale was wonderful – I bought so many wonderful vintage and antique items. I have just washed them, so now I need to do my favorite part and iron them, there so many, but I will try and take some photos of them this week to post here.

Beautiful Fabric Purchase

2006-09-19T13:43:00.000-04:00

I am so pleased with some antique 1920's fabric I got off EBay - and I didn't pay a crazy price, it is so yummy, but now I am stuck what to use it for - my first idea was a pillow, but it's so beautiful, and I don't know if it will stand up to my boys. The color is more like the first photo, like a silver green.

I also have my eyes on some other vintage pieces, but I don't want to pay too much for them.

This Friday is my dear cousin Antonia's wedding to Ivor. She actually lives and works in Washington DC, but her wedding is in England. I am so unhappy that we just could not swing going home to be there, but we are going to meet up on the 30th when they come back from their honeymoon in Cape Cod. I spent mine at the Cliffside Inn, Newport, RI http://www.cliffsideinn.com/. It was once owned by an artist called Beatrice Turner. It was a very lovely place. She was very talented, and I seem to remember that alot of her paintings were destroyed after her death as nobody wanted them.

Friday is also the first day of the Monroe's Historical Society Textile Sale - I hope to finish work a little early, so I can get to it at 5pm, with Joshua under my arm - can't you just see me now. My DH must think I am getting a little crazy over fabric, but what's new?

Stay turned to find out what I find!

Company Picnic Fun

2006-08-31T23:56:00.000-04:00

As promised here are my Company Picnic photos - the weather was a little grey, but we had lots of fun!

Checkout the photos of the boys!

This weekend is meant to be a wet one, but I hope the annual Newtown Flea Market is still going to be held, I am going to try and pop up to it on Saturday morning to see what goodies I can find.

Which Chandelier??

2006-08-28T13:53:00.000-04:00

I really cannot make-up my mind on which one to get for the Dining Room, but I think I will go with the more traditional Italian Tole one (Left).

At the moment my main new house concern is how long it is taking for the electricity to be connected. The good news is that our wonderful friend Kevin is arranging for the wooden floors to be fitted tomorrow with the aid of a borrowed generator. We also decided on the small deck for the back – I really cannot understand why wooden outside PLAIN decks are so expensive here in New England – we should have got a second mortgage for some of the pricing we were quoted. I think David has figured out how much top soil we need, so it seems to be coming together now – maybe we are on countdown!!??

We took the boys to my company’s annual picnic on Saturday and had lots of fun – I will post more photos tonight.

No art done yet again! I must remind Carla to send me her Shabby Chic Journal!! That, or submit something for Somerset Studio. Next week is Newtown's annual Flea Market - I can't wait - it's really cool.

My Summer Quilt For Lenna's ARTchix Swap

2006-08-17T12:45:00.000-04:00

I got 1st place! I already know who is receiving this quilt because I have hers :-) We have exchanged in the past too, but as she won't get hers for a little bit, I won't let the secret out of the bag :-) You can see all of the other quilts here on Lenna's site:

http://www.creativelenna.com/ArtSwaps/SummerQ/SummerQ.htm

This was a fun exchange. I used lots of vintage and antique materials on this quilt, and vintage seed pearls. The metal side mounts turned up when I was looking for something else to frame the ARTchix fabric images - I thought they worked well with this Summer theme.

My Boys

2006-08-17T12:23:00.000-04:00

I just love these photos of them. I have already ordered a second set of them for Granny and Grandpa in England :-) I am sad because my Mum and Dad have yet to meet my youngest, hopefully when the house is done, we can get them over the pond for a visit. The photo of the boys looking at each other is just the way they are in the morning (chatting) when they are sitting on the bed while I get ready for work.

The New House and a Studio?

2006-08-15T22:38:00.000-04:00

Apart from my new baby boy, we are also building a house, it has taken just a little under two years. I have been told it's nearly ready, we need electricity, a deck and the wood floor. I really need a place of my own and somewhere to spread my art things out. As you can see from the above photo, my art place is very, very tight! And such a mess at the moment. The driveway is long and cost us an arm and a leg, but it will be beautiful when it's finished.

A Boy and His Hat

2006-08-15T13:04:00.000-04:00

My oldest loves this hat, I am so glad I bought it for him.

I am sure he could look for snakes or anything else his heart desires in this hat.

Paula