So I think I like Salt and Pepper Shakers...

Hmmm.... Is it a conscious decision to collect things or is it something we don't even know we are doing? Maybe at first it's a subtle action that so no one even notices; a couple of things you buy here and there. But before you know it you are hiding them when you bring them in the house and are afraid the rule of "bring something in, take something out of the house" being enacted by those you live with. That is a scary scenario. So when is too much too much? I guess when you are running out of space, or when you show someone your collection and they go " oh, wow! you have a lot!"( in a fake kind of tone where they want you to think that they like it when they are secretly thinking about running scared out of your home) instead of genuinely commenting on how awesome the collection is. Do you only think it's cool, or are there others like you? Well I have recently started getting interested in salt and pepper shakers. Can I consciously decide to just like them a lot from afar or will it progress to a physical collection? I guess we'll see...I'll keep you posted.

Ohh and check these out if you have given into collecting...

The Crafty Chickadee at Etsy

The Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers

I finally set up my etsy shop! Take a Peek

iPad Man Bag complete

I finally got the photos of my husband’s iPad man bag! This was a custom made piece that I made with materials and fabric that we had in the house. It is lined with micro fiber fabric and includes 2 inner pockets with sections for phone, pens etc. So far I think it has held up well. It is a simple design which makes it easy to reproduce but functional and one of a kind!

Mid Century Modern Chairs! Oh how I love thee..

So after my experiment with the blue mirror in my living room, another bright color made its way in. I have always had a space in my heart for mid century modern pieces, especially teak. Oh, I love teak. It’s such a rich warm color. The simplicity of scandinavian design from the 50s and 60s is simple and practical and I grew up with many of those around at home from my mother who moved her to NY from Sweden in the 60s. It also helped that I am addicted to summer time yard sales. I would see so many beautiful pieces of furniture and awesome chairs( I love chairs) but at 10 years old I don’t think I could have gotten away with buying or storing furniture for a future house nearly 20 years away. I don’t think they would have fit in my room in between the bed in the room I shared with my sister, the lincoln logs and the Atari system. I still think maybe I could have made it work... anyway my husband and I found this awesome chair lonely on the side of the road shouting “ put me in the trunk!!! please!!!” how could I refuse... So with a little love, teak oil and reupholstering, ta da!!!! I have a bright yellow chair in my living room. I love it!! There is something about that color of gold/yellow that complements the color of the wood well... so the hunt continues for more.....

Vintage Gold Mirror goes BLUE!

So, I don’t know if I made the right move here, but I found some gusto and decided to paint this mirror I had bright blue. I’ve always wanted to “get crazy” and just put a pop of color in a room deliberately to highlight part of a subtle color scheme. This vintage mirror was originally a bit gaudy and a grimy Miss Havisham gold with hints of dirt and age. But hey it only cost me 25 cents at a yard sale so no harm done either way. Rather than hunt down my bottle of gold paint which I was about to do, I instead mixed a custom color that would hide any imperfections and gave it a coat of semi gloss acrylic spray to finish it off. I’m actually a bit proud of myself for trying something new, after all I can always paint it again can’t I? Thoughts??

Dusty Blue Wool Chickadee Bag

So... I like to do all things crafty and creative. It's my way to relax and unwind even when the sewing machine is giving me a hard time and schnerping, as my mom calls it( when the bobbin thread bunches). I still find enjoyment in the projects that I create for myself. My latest project was a gift for my sister for her birthday. I wanted to make her a clutch handbag to use when she goes out for drinks with friends. I used the fabrics that I had around the house and its was actually a lot of fun to literally piece together the various finds of my basement sewing room. I lined the inside with a simple cotton but included a magnetic snap closure and small inner pocket for little items. The last touch was a vintage brass lamp chain as a handle. I loved it so much I can't wait to make one for myself. Love those cute little chickadees!!!!