See my complete listings here!
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(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
girl scout badges in my etsy supply shop
Now for sale in my Etsy art supply shop, bunches of authentic Girl Scout badges from the past decade.
See my complete listings here!
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(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
See my complete listings here!
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(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
Friday, January 27, 2012
new in my etsy vintage shop
I found a couple of really nifty treasures over the past couple of weeks. Namely, some really lovely mid-century dishware sort of fell into my lap while I was out thrifting for a pair of Converse for my husband. I had my Commando (phone) along to help with a bit of on-the-spot research, and so I came home with the lovelies below . . .
Broadhurst Ironstone by Kathie Winkle. Five pieces in this pattern, Viscount, are currently listed in my Etsy Vintage Shop, Night Garden Vintage. Kathie was a designer at Broadhurst for a few decades, and was one of the first designers to have her signature on the back of pieces she'd designed. Now sought-after by collectors, folks are gathering large collections of her machine-stamped, hand-painted pieces to mix and match.
Also found, one small saucer in pattern 1506.
I have scoured the web to find more information about pattern 1506, but haven't found any other images of this pattern. The closest I've seen is Kathie Winkle's pattern "Safari". I've linked here to someone else's Flickr page.
As you can see from Louise's Flickr photo, the pattern is identical, but the color is different. Possibly "Safari" was available in more than one color-way? Possibly the plate is an early prototype? Possibly this colorway was simply known as "1506"? I don't know.
Next up, this serving plate by Stetson China Company for Mar-crest's Nest Stone line. The pattern name, according to website Modish.net, is Diamond Carousel, by designer Alfred Dube. The pattern is a ring of elongated diamonds and starbursts around the rim of the off-white dish, very retro-modern.
My assumption is that this is a serving piece; the only other plate in this pattern currently for sale on-line (as far as I've found) is listed as a dinner plate on eBay, with a 10-inch diameter. This is one and three-quarters inches larger.
Visit my Etsy shop to check out more photos and details! I have some pieces in Franciscan's Pomegranate pattern I'll be listing in the near future, so if you like that pattern, stay tuned!
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
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Broadhurst Ironstone by Kathie Winkle. Five pieces in this pattern, Viscount, are currently listed in my Etsy Vintage Shop, Night Garden Vintage. Kathie was a designer at Broadhurst for a few decades, and was one of the first designers to have her signature on the back of pieces she'd designed. Now sought-after by collectors, folks are gathering large collections of her machine-stamped, hand-painted pieces to mix and match.
Also found, one small saucer in pattern 1506.
I have scoured the web to find more information about pattern 1506, but haven't found any other images of this pattern. The closest I've seen is Kathie Winkle's pattern "Safari". I've linked here to someone else's Flickr page.
As you can see from Louise's Flickr photo, the pattern is identical, but the color is different. Possibly "Safari" was available in more than one color-way? Possibly the plate is an early prototype? Possibly this colorway was simply known as "1506"? I don't know.
Next up, this serving plate by Stetson China Company for Mar-crest's Nest Stone line. The pattern name, according to website Modish.net, is Diamond Carousel, by designer Alfred Dube. The pattern is a ring of elongated diamonds and starbursts around the rim of the off-white dish, very retro-modern.
My assumption is that this is a serving piece; the only other plate in this pattern currently for sale on-line (as far as I've found) is listed as a dinner plate on eBay, with a 10-inch diameter. This is one and three-quarters inches larger.
Visit my Etsy shop to check out more photos and details! I have some pieces in Franciscan's Pomegranate pattern I'll be listing in the near future, so if you like that pattern, stay tuned!
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
hometown tourist : artsy stuff at the harrisburg museum
"Hometown Tourist" is an occasional series in which I tell tales about our adventures around town, and actually, the whole state of Oregon. Take a peek and come exploring with us!
This past summer I had buckled the kiddo into the car one afternoon and gone off hunting for a nap. I picked a direction, then drove and drove . . . through a couple of towns . . . through scenic pastures full of sheep . . . for about half an hour, until I decided to turn around before I got lost, and ended up in the parking lot of The Harrisburg Area Museum.
Besides a room full of newer and antique tractors and farm equipment, the museum features several additional outbuildings full of local history and artifacts, as well as a tiny church and a tiny schoolhouse decorated with historical finds.
We didn't have much time to spend there the first time we discovered the museum (we'd arrived a half hour before closing time), but we've been back a handful of times since then and spent a bunch of time exploring. The kid is totally into the museum for the farm equipment; nothing quite like massive tractor wheels and exposed engines for this guy. I'm kinda into the handcrafts, like these huge button samplers . . .
this quirky "Aristocrat Sign Maker" stamp kit . . .
and these nifty scale models of buildings designed and built in a local woodworker's garage as a hobby.
(Please excuse the foggy photos; it was cold out on our most recent trip, and the lens kept fogging up . . . )
We really recommend it. And if you happen to be there during a slow period, museum curator Leethra will treat you to a guided tour upon request. That woman possesses an incredible wealth of knowledge and passion for local history. And she's really sweet to little kids, too.
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
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This past summer I had buckled the kiddo into the car one afternoon and gone off hunting for a nap. I picked a direction, then drove and drove . . . through a couple of towns . . . through scenic pastures full of sheep . . . for about half an hour, until I decided to turn around before I got lost, and ended up in the parking lot of The Harrisburg Area Museum.
Besides a room full of newer and antique tractors and farm equipment, the museum features several additional outbuildings full of local history and artifacts, as well as a tiny church and a tiny schoolhouse decorated with historical finds.
We didn't have much time to spend there the first time we discovered the museum (we'd arrived a half hour before closing time), but we've been back a handful of times since then and spent a bunch of time exploring. The kid is totally into the museum for the farm equipment; nothing quite like massive tractor wheels and exposed engines for this guy. I'm kinda into the handcrafts, like these huge button samplers . . .
this quirky "Aristocrat Sign Maker" stamp kit . . .
and these nifty scale models of buildings designed and built in a local woodworker's garage as a hobby.
(Please excuse the foggy photos; it was cold out on our most recent trip, and the lens kept fogging up . . . )
We really recommend it. And if you happen to be there during a slow period, museum curator Leethra will treat you to a guided tour upon request. That woman possesses an incredible wealth of knowledge and passion for local history. And she's really sweet to little kids, too.
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
it's dangerous to go alone . . .
I'm deep in party-planning mode right now for the little dude's 2nd birthday. The hubby has made a special party theme request; here's an Etsy Treasury dedicated to some great Zelda inspiration.
Thanks for reading my 100th post!
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
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Thanks for reading my 100th post!
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
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Wednesday, January 4, 2012
nostalgia
FOUND: vintage 1960s Fisher-Price chime ball, just like the hand-me-down one we had as kids. The chimes, when it's floating in the tub during the kiddo's bath time, sound softly, reminding me of the chimes on our old front porch in hot, hot southern Oregon summer, barely moving in the hint of a breeze.
Purchased for $5 at the thrift store a couple of weeks ago; it still had the $2 garage sale tag on it too, a good reminder to hit more yard sales this spring.
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
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Tuesday, January 3, 2012
christmas snack boxes
Here's another use for bakery boxes, adapted from this idea for an ice cream sundae kit (originally pinned on Pinterest).
After giving it some thought, I came up with the idea of a Late Night Snack Kit. Look! Here's one now!
It still has the waffle cones and toppings for sweet cravings, plus popcorn and popcorn flavoring . . . and chocolate-covered GIGANTIC MARSHMALLOWS!
I made several kits this year for gifts, and they're a pretty cool gift option, whether or not you're trying to keep your holiday spending in check. For starters, it's:
#1: Useful. Everyone needs a late-night snack once in awhile, right? Or a mid-afternoon snack? Food is always useful.
#2: Doesn't depend too much on a person's aesthetic taste. Unlike a sweater, a framed print, or a Chia Pet.
#3: Doesn't add to a clutter problem, or require dusting. Because it's consumable and/or mostly recyclable, this is one gift that won't sit around indefinitely. At worst, the recipient can use it to fatten up some hungry non-migratory birds.
Start with some of the same bakery boxes used for this project. (Alternately, you can go to grocery store bakery and buy some cake or donut boxes. They might not be quite as cute, but the woman at the counter let me buy some for twenty-five cents apiece, so it's a budget-friendly option you can fall back on.)
In late September, I picked up two bags of gigantic Campfire marshmallows at an end-of-season clearance at the local grocery store. They don't sell these everywhere, and they don't sell them all year, but the expiration date on my bags is for February 2013, so I knew they'd keep fine through the holidays. Of course, if you're using this idea for birthday or hostess gifts throughout the year, you can always use regular-size marshmallows.
Put some semi-sweet chocolate in a double-boiler and melt it down, stirring till it's nice and smooth. Be careful not to get any water in it, not even a drop, or you'll ruin the batch (like I did the first time through)! Stick a jumbo mallow on a lollipop stick, dip the bottom in some chocolate, then into some sprinkles, then put it into a cupcake liner and let it cool until the chocolate sets. I put four jumbo marshmallows in each box; you might be able to fit six or eight regular-sized mallows depending on how much space your cupcake liners take up.
I re-packaged some waffle cones in treat sacks tied with baking twine, six cones to a sack, one sack to a box. For the ice cream toppings, I bagged up some Reese's Pieces, chocolate chips, and a couple of different types of sprinkles for the ice cream toppings, in little candy sacks also tied with twine.
The unpopped popcorn and popcorn flavorings came pre-packaged from Target in such cute little bottles that I just let them be. You can find them in the snack aisle, alongside the regular popcorn, or you can repackage regular unpopped popcorn and salt (a less-expensive option).
Tie up with baker's twine and pretty tags, and you have a fun Late Night Snack Kit!
Cost breakdown for four boxes:
* bakery boxes — approximately 4 for $5 (or 4 for $1, if you go the grocery store option)
* bakery twine — had on hand, but you can use cotton crochet yarn or source the twine through the other bakery box posting
* plastic treat sacks — $2
* plastic candy bags — $3
* sack of Reese's Pieces — $2
* sack of semi-sweet chocolate — $2
* sprinkles —$2
* cupcake liners —$2
* waffle cones — 2 boxes of 12 for $3
* popcorn — 4 for $8 (or buy one large bag for $2 and divide)
* popcorn seasoning — 4 for $8 (or use regular salt, or Nesquik powder, divided)
* jumbo marshmallows (on sale) — $1.13 (or use regular marshmallows)
It breaks down to about $11 per gift for four. Of course, you'll have enough sprinkles, candy, and marshmallows for more people, so these gifts get less expensive per each if you make more.
Have fun with it! If you can think of other snacks you'd like to include, there's no reason why you shouldn't. I added boxes of tea to a a couple, and a salted caramel chocolate bar to one. Just remember to list the ingredients on the tag, and note that mallows (especially large ones) can present a choking hazard.
Enjoy!
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
Pin It
After giving it some thought, I came up with the idea of a Late Night Snack Kit. Look! Here's one now!
It still has the waffle cones and toppings for sweet cravings, plus popcorn and popcorn flavoring . . . and chocolate-covered GIGANTIC MARSHMALLOWS!
I made several kits this year for gifts, and they're a pretty cool gift option, whether or not you're trying to keep your holiday spending in check. For starters, it's:
#1: Useful. Everyone needs a late-night snack once in awhile, right? Or a mid-afternoon snack? Food is always useful.
#2: Doesn't depend too much on a person's aesthetic taste. Unlike a sweater, a framed print, or a Chia Pet.
#3: Doesn't add to a clutter problem, or require dusting. Because it's consumable and/or mostly recyclable, this is one gift that won't sit around indefinitely. At worst, the recipient can use it to fatten up some hungry non-migratory birds.
Start with some of the same bakery boxes used for this project. (Alternately, you can go to grocery store bakery and buy some cake or donut boxes. They might not be quite as cute, but the woman at the counter let me buy some for twenty-five cents apiece, so it's a budget-friendly option you can fall back on.)
In late September, I picked up two bags of gigantic Campfire marshmallows at an end-of-season clearance at the local grocery store. They don't sell these everywhere, and they don't sell them all year, but the expiration date on my bags is for February 2013, so I knew they'd keep fine through the holidays. Of course, if you're using this idea for birthday or hostess gifts throughout the year, you can always use regular-size marshmallows.
Put some semi-sweet chocolate in a double-boiler and melt it down, stirring till it's nice and smooth. Be careful not to get any water in it, not even a drop, or you'll ruin the batch (like I did the first time through)! Stick a jumbo mallow on a lollipop stick, dip the bottom in some chocolate, then into some sprinkles, then put it into a cupcake liner and let it cool until the chocolate sets. I put four jumbo marshmallows in each box; you might be able to fit six or eight regular-sized mallows depending on how much space your cupcake liners take up.
I re-packaged some waffle cones in treat sacks tied with baking twine, six cones to a sack, one sack to a box. For the ice cream toppings, I bagged up some Reese's Pieces, chocolate chips, and a couple of different types of sprinkles for the ice cream toppings, in little candy sacks also tied with twine.
The unpopped popcorn and popcorn flavorings came pre-packaged from Target in such cute little bottles that I just let them be. You can find them in the snack aisle, alongside the regular popcorn, or you can repackage regular unpopped popcorn and salt (a less-expensive option).
Tie up with baker's twine and pretty tags, and you have a fun Late Night Snack Kit!
Cost breakdown for four boxes:
* bakery boxes — approximately 4 for $5 (or 4 for $1, if you go the grocery store option)
* bakery twine — had on hand, but you can use cotton crochet yarn or source the twine through the other bakery box posting
* plastic treat sacks — $2
* plastic candy bags — $3
* sack of Reese's Pieces — $2
* sack of semi-sweet chocolate — $2
* sprinkles —$2
* cupcake liners —$2
* waffle cones — 2 boxes of 12 for $3
* popcorn — 4 for $8 (or buy one large bag for $2 and divide)
* popcorn seasoning — 4 for $8 (or use regular salt, or Nesquik powder, divided)
* jumbo marshmallows (on sale) — $1.13 (or use regular marshmallows)
It breaks down to about $11 per gift for four. Of course, you'll have enough sprinkles, candy, and marshmallows for more people, so these gifts get less expensive per each if you make more.
Have fun with it! If you can think of other snacks you'd like to include, there's no reason why you shouldn't. I added boxes of tea to a a couple, and a salted caramel chocolate bar to one. Just remember to list the ingredients on the tag, and note that mallows (especially large ones) can present a choking hazard.
Enjoy!
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
Pin It
Saturday, December 31, 2011
decorate ! ! ! celebrate ! ! !
Aaaaand this is where I let a little (more) of my nerd show.
Every year, for the past twelve Christmases, my husband and I have given each other tree ornaments as gifts. Usually, the ornament has something to do with some important event or inside joke from the preceding year; occasionally, they're just pretty.
This year, I wanted to make a little ornament representing a sci fi character that has been trotted out constantly for jokes for quite awhile now: a Dalek from BBC's Doctor Who.
(photo credit)
If you read the Wiki I've linked to above, you'll think a Dalek is a strange choice for a Christmas ornament. "Mutant cyborgs from outer space?" you'll ask. "Capable of feeling only hatred, and bent on genocide?" you'll query. Well, okay; it's admittedly weird. But, on the other hand, the way they roll around screaming "Exterminate!!! Exterminate!!!" lends itself to lots of everyday humor.
Like when we spotted these fire hydrants in Anaheim and Shawn immediately thought, "Saturate!!! Rehydrate!!!"
Hilarious.
. . . Anywho, here are some photos of the little Christmas Dalek with the big ray gun.
Made of: a little bit of cardstock, felt, fluff, wire, glass-head pins, dimensional fabric paint, thread, and lots and lots patience.
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
all - stars
I found a little pair of Chuck Taylor's at the thrift store which were just the right size, but not the right color. We don't really wear much pink around our house, so I made them into these sweet little day-and-night Chucks for my kiddo as a Christmas present:
These were in practically new condition, as lots of second-hand kids' things are. You can see how the inner soles look pristine.
Even the laces were still pretty new-looking.
Enter Tulip Soft Fabric Paint.
(photo credit)
They come in teensy little one-ounce bottles, which is plenty for little projects like this one, with enough leftover for a bunch more projects. I bought four colors (Yellow, Glacier White, Marine Blue, and Platinum Metallic) for a little over a dollar each; I had the turquoise color left from those baby onesies I painted awhile back. You could also use regular craft acrylic paints; they're colorfast, too, but can be a little stiff. These come out nice and flexible, which is great for stuff kids are going to wear.
First, I painted one shoe solidly Turquoise for the "Day" shoe. I let it dry for about an hour, then added some puffy white clouds with the Glacier White and a tiny little bird with the Marine Blue.
Next, I used the Yellow to turn the "All-Stars" logo into a little sun.
For "Night", I painted the other shoe in Marine Blue, with accents of the Turquoise for depth and the appearance of galaxies.
Using the Glacier White, Yellow, and Platinum paints (alone and in combination) I dotted in stars of varying sizes, and painted in some starbursts, dashed lines (resembling those on a star map), and a little moon near the logo.
My little dude looks pretty darn cute running around in them.
This is a really fun project that can turn out to be pretty time consuming, depending on the complexity of your design. On the other hand, if you were to start with a pair of shoes that was already some shade of blue, it would go faster.
You can also adapt this project for a ton of other designs, as this company does. How well they turn out will totally be dependent on your artistic ability, but a simple Day-and-Night design should be pretty easy to accomplish with decent results.
Total project cost here was under ten bucks, including the sneakers ($4) and paint ($4.50, with lots left over).
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
Linking up to:
Pin It
These were in practically new condition, as lots of second-hand kids' things are. You can see how the inner soles look pristine.
Even the laces were still pretty new-looking.
Enter Tulip Soft Fabric Paint.
(photo credit)
They come in teensy little one-ounce bottles, which is plenty for little projects like this one, with enough leftover for a bunch more projects. I bought four colors (Yellow, Glacier White, Marine Blue, and Platinum Metallic) for a little over a dollar each; I had the turquoise color left from those baby onesies I painted awhile back. You could also use regular craft acrylic paints; they're colorfast, too, but can be a little stiff. These come out nice and flexible, which is great for stuff kids are going to wear.
First, I painted one shoe solidly Turquoise for the "Day" shoe. I let it dry for about an hour, then added some puffy white clouds with the Glacier White and a tiny little bird with the Marine Blue.
Next, I used the Yellow to turn the "All-Stars" logo into a little sun.
For "Night", I painted the other shoe in Marine Blue, with accents of the Turquoise for depth and the appearance of galaxies.
Using the Glacier White, Yellow, and Platinum paints (alone and in combination) I dotted in stars of varying sizes, and painted in some starbursts, dashed lines (resembling those on a star map), and a little moon near the logo.
My little dude looks pretty darn cute running around in them.
This is a really fun project that can turn out to be pretty time consuming, depending on the complexity of your design. On the other hand, if you were to start with a pair of shoes that was already some shade of blue, it would go faster.
You can also adapt this project for a ton of other designs, as this company does. How well they turn out will totally be dependent on your artistic ability, but a simple Day-and-Night design should be pretty easy to accomplish with decent results.
Total project cost here was under ten bucks, including the sneakers ($4) and paint ($4.50, with lots left over).
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
Linking up to:
Pin It
Monday, December 26, 2011
delusions of grandeur part two : skyrim birthday cake
My husband made a special request for a birthday cake based on the video game Skyrim this year (cue slow exhale). Talk about being in over my head.
Awhile back, I made a Fallout-themed cake, which got his hopes up. I, on the other hand, was pretty sure this was going to be a big fail. In the end, it was kind of a mixed bag.
To start, I know my dragon sculpting needs work. And, this was my first time covering a cake in fondant. But for a first go, I think this kinda turned out pretty well, really, and I discovered I really like the part of the process where I cover the cake in the nice, smooth, fondant. It's actually kind of relaxing, at least on little cakes like this one. My friend recently made a gigantic cello-shaped cake for her daughter's birthday, covered in fondant, and I can't imagine the fortitude necessary to get one big, smooth sheet like that. Though to hear her tell it, it's pretty simple!
Anyway, here are the photos!
I built up the hillside on the top of the cake using the cut-off bits of cake leftover from the cake leveling, stuck together with buttercream.
I used the cheap-and-easy-to-make marshmallow fondant found on allrecipes.com to cover the cake. I don't know how it compares to working with regular fondant (having never worked with regular fondant), but I found it very workable, and really inexpensive by comparison. Highly recommended.
Most of the little decorations including the Viking helmet, bones, shield, and rocks, were made with gum paste. The dragon was sculpted from homemade modeling chocolate (which I found very hard to work with) and gum paste. All decorations are painted on with food color.
Finally, around the base of the cake, I piped in some grey-blue buttercream icing to look like boulders, and to disguise the fondant edge.
I'd love some feedback/hints/tips on this one. My kiddo's second birthday is in February, and I have a Zelda cake to put together for the party. I'm hoping to get some more practice in before then, so any advice is welcome!
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
Pin It
Awhile back, I made a Fallout-themed cake, which got his hopes up. I, on the other hand, was pretty sure this was going to be a big fail. In the end, it was kind of a mixed bag.
To start, I know my dragon sculpting needs work. And, this was my first time covering a cake in fondant. But for a first go, I think this kinda turned out pretty well, really, and I discovered I really like the part of the process where I cover the cake in the nice, smooth, fondant. It's actually kind of relaxing, at least on little cakes like this one. My friend recently made a gigantic cello-shaped cake for her daughter's birthday, covered in fondant, and I can't imagine the fortitude necessary to get one big, smooth sheet like that. Though to hear her tell it, it's pretty simple!
Anyway, here are the photos!
I built up the hillside on the top of the cake using the cut-off bits of cake leftover from the cake leveling, stuck together with buttercream.
I used the cheap-and-easy-to-make marshmallow fondant found on allrecipes.com to cover the cake. I don't know how it compares to working with regular fondant (having never worked with regular fondant), but I found it very workable, and really inexpensive by comparison. Highly recommended.
Most of the little decorations including the Viking helmet, bones, shield, and rocks, were made with gum paste. The dragon was sculpted from homemade modeling chocolate (which I found very hard to work with) and gum paste. All decorations are painted on with food color.
Finally, around the base of the cake, I piped in some grey-blue buttercream icing to look like boulders, and to disguise the fondant edge.
I'd love some feedback/hints/tips on this one. My kiddo's second birthday is in February, and I have a Zelda cake to put together for the party. I'm hoping to get some more practice in before then, so any advice is welcome!
(p.s. you can make these photos bigger by clicking on them . . . but you probably knew that!)
Pin It
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