Getting in the Sprit.

 

It is that time of year again. Time for lefse making, cookie decorating, and eating large amounts of food. But in the small business world it means making money. We have to start early on the holiday grind. At Hello the House I have started to revamp my space into a funky winter wonderland. I want to stand out and be the space to come to for fun and unconventional décor. I have hand dyed over 70 bottle brush trees and made adorable vintage cars into "traveling" snow globes.

 

I just love how these little winter scenes turned out and I am bound to make more. Looking forward to the weekend as the start of the official shopping season and big traffic at the store. I am anxious to see how sales are and what everyone is finding at the shop. It isn't the reason for the season but in the cycle of the dollar my art and crafts being sold help me and my family pay the bills and enjoy our holiday as well. Cheers to all.

Scout Obsessed

I have been so busy. With the start of a new school year, getting back into the routine with the kids, keeping up with selling vintage on Etsy and at Hello the House in downtown Hudson, and now starting Scout I am beat and it isn't even fall yet. 

But I love it and busy at this point hasn't turned into overwhelmed... Yet. 

Here is a peak at a store display Scout Supply Co. Is doing for a great environmentally sound and stable shop in Hudson called The Purple Tree. 

So honored to be asked to do this. 

1.50, 19.00, and 5.99

Three pieces and yes in that order from different days, different people, and all give off different feelings. This piece above, hand embroidered for $1.50. Literally sitting in the grass in a pile of clothes. I think it was once a shirt/poncho and now it is mine... at first I grabbed it with all intentions of cutting it up and re-purposing it. But for now with fall in the air it is the perfect piece to fill the spot where the coat rack used to be. A simple tension rod and wah la, handmade native art.

The most expensive of the pieces of textile is from the local antique shop. I stopped there today because I saw a amazing map in the window, I rushed in and low and behold it was and is $325.oo... yikes. So I settled on this Granny square lap blanket. It is in such great shape, I scored and honestly it was behind the counter getting tagged when I came in and snagged it as soon as she put it out.

Now this really got me smiling today. I quick stop into the local Goodwill and this was there waiting for me. The perfect fall tapestry. It might have been a rug but I can't imagine putting this wool (yes wool!) handmade piece on the floor. I can't believe the handmade tassels on this. The yarn is a little warn but I am so in love with it and at $5.99 how could I not take it home?

Textile love is here to stay.

To die for decor

a colorful vignette

mixing of patterns

industrial chic

primitive decor

textiles and color coming together.

Packed Bags and Bird Cages

Just messing around with a tripod, and some props. I don't have a program on this laptop that can manipulate and edit pictures... but these were fun to play with and I will be posting more of my thrift finds from the other day. I love the little rug/throw that I found, what is it with Granny crafts that grab my heart.? I can only hope one day ,when I am gone, that some of my creations end up at a shop and that some young lady will find charm in them and take them home with her.

Sugarhigh and Lovestoned

I am so excited for Tami of Sugarhigh and Lovestoned, a fellow student from Stout, and her partner for the launch of their clothing line. Such cool style and it makes me want to move to Hawaii, live out of a van by the ocean and throw up the peace sign as I surf on by.

http://http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/sugarhigh-lovestoned/121552667866293

I was asked to contribute to the silent auction to help them raise money for their startup line. So exciting and I am honored to help. I also get a tee like the one pictured.... sign me up! Good luck ladies!

Catching up on Thrift Finds

I am very much in love with these Avon, glass birds. They were $7 dollars and I think worth the money whether I keep them or sell them.

A finch, parrot, and a cardinal

Add to that vintage anchor material, a Vera scarf, and a sweet doe but it doesn't stop there....

A French handkerchief that says "Il pleut, Il pleut bergere" It is very delicate and I love it

Along with blank patches that will soon have words like, Slim, Dame, Ole and Doll stitched to them and a small vintage sewing case that smells like my Grandmas purse. What a good end to a Monday.

Pompom garland, song frames, chair frames, paper garland, fabric garland, various necklaces, wooden phrase plaques... the list goes on... this is just what I have done and I still have deer heads and a few other tricks up my sleeve... oh my. At least I have a month and a few odd days here and there for the show.

Discarded Floor Samples and K-mart

That is all it took to create these design elements. I was sitting in the pedicure salon looking at a Pottery Barn catalog, and saw something similar and bigger that said "Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come." So I ripped out the page and the next day happened to be at the K-mart down the street. I actually remembered, and that usually doesn't happen too often, to just take a peek at their paint department and found the perfect sized stencils, paint, and tape. For all under $10. The floor tiles I have had for years, they were free, and have moved them, stored them, and stared at them wondering what to do with them. And now it comes full circle... well a small circle in the grand scheme of things but they make me happy and I am proud of how they have turned out.

Reclaimed

Three quick makeovers this weekend involving a cuckoo clock, a ceramic cow skull, and a plastic framed mirror.... I had cheap white paint so it was a bit chalky and runny to begin with but it all turned out

The mirror will look great in the show displays coming up

The skull has been added to my bone collection, next to Annie.

This is my favorite piece that turned out. The plastic disc that goes on top of the clock got all marked up and a bit of paint on it too, so that had to go... but it works and even cuckoos which was a surprise. I still don't know what do to about the missing pendulum but I love it and it is mine for the time being. What a great pop of color in the livingroom.