Rosette Reveal Day

Do you want to see what I received? I've been dying to share it with you!Isn't this a beautiful rosette? It's actually a rosette belt made for me by my secret partner, Kecia of Lemoncholy's Flight of Fancy. For now at least I've opted to showcase it wrapped around some favorite vintage books in my living room. Kecia also sent me a very sweet wall hanging and really cute button bracelet. Thanks again Kecia!
And a huge thank you to Jill of Gypsy Brocante for hosting this swap and the motivation to create outside my comfort zone. You can ooh and ahh over many unique and amazing rosettes by visiting Jill's blog where you'll find links to all the rosette party girls.
Keep on reading if you'd like to get in on my Halloween giveaway.....

Welcome Autumn with Halloween Goodies, A Linky Party, A Workshop and a GIVEAWAY!!!!

It may be 89 degrees here today but I can't wait. I gave my blog an autumn facelift- isn't that header fall-a-rific? Tiffany Jane made it for me. Her website has links to her etsy shop and flickr gallery
where you'll find lots and lots of eye candy for every season.

I couldn't resist this workshop called Romantic Gothic Ghosts. If you enjoy Halloween (or even if you don't!) this is worth checking out. It's not your traditional Halloween. No orange and black, no frightening images. Romance, intrigue and hauntingly beautiful sepia and black & white images are used to create a multitude of Halloween and/or non-Halloween projects. Karla and Beth are hosting and it's their first online workshop endeavor.

It's also time for Spooky Mondays! Wendy at Wendy's Adventures in Wonderland is hosting this weekly spooky event. I'm linked! You can link too or just enjoy the party.
How could the creative spirit not move me surrounded by all of this? I pulled out some Halloween supplies and ended up with.... my skeletons out of the closet. Ma Skelly is wearing a black tulle skirt with beaded fringe and a vintage black seam binding sash. Her eyes are orange Swarovski crystals and she's sporting a little black rose on her skull. Pa Skelly is styling in his black tophat and fiber scarf. He has jet black Swarovski crystal eyes and is holding a fabric bat banner. Winged Grandma Skelly is hovering overhead. She just loves that tinsel bat wand! I plan on listing each individually in my etsy shop but can't devote any more time to computer today. Email me if you're interested. $5 each plus $2s/h.

Candlelight goes without saying for All Hallow's Eve festivities. I repurposed this metal candle holder, complete with wax drippings and imperfections (adds to the creepiness) with an altered skelly, Halloween webbing and plastic spider. Everything is securely wedged in place but I didn't permanently adhere it allowing for repositioning. This piece is $8 plus $3s/h.I am a major tag addict with a million ideas whirling in my head; have been able to produce one so far. $3 includes shipping and handling.
Vintage bingo board from an old Milton Bradley game. Would be great as a cover for an altered Halloween book or use as a wall hanging. $4 includes shipping and handling.

Whew! Did I mention a giveaway? Here's how to play:
Leave a comment and say which you'd like to win-skelly, tags or bingo board. You're entered once.
Become or let me know you're already a follower, in addition to your comment and you're entered twice.
Grab my button or (hopefully coming soon), my Halloween Giveaway button linking back to me, in addition to all the above and you're entered three times.
No need to leave me multiple comments. I'll be happy to breakdown your entries from one comment.
I will randomly choose ONE winner on October 1st and that person will receive either one, two or all three goodies. I'll even custom make the skelly to your specifications. Please, no requests for diamond stud eyes-LOL.
Back to work, lots more to come......

Paperie Potpourri

Ah, my love affair with paper goes back a long way. I've been known to save paper bags (they make great albums!), and collect old books (those pages beg to be altered),salvage scraps of ephemera (don't throw that out, it is NOT trash!), and spend my last few dollars at a great scrapbook paper sale. This being said I simply had to link up to the Paperie Party at French Cupboard.






I like to make paper dolls out of playing cards and scraps of paper.
















And here's some of those paper lunch bags put to good use.
















A repurposed shipping tag......










House-shaped atc's are fun!








































Sometimes I like to create totally silly, frivolous things






















other times it's nice to make something functional, like these dove napkin ring placecards for Christmas dinner.









Coming up with something special for art swapping friends, like the pages I did in these Vintage-themed decos, makes the paperie love affair all the more sweeter.




To see what my paper-loving friends have made, visit the French Cupboard where you'll find links to all the Paperie Party blogs.

Another Rosette

I enjoyed making my shabby cream rosette for the Gypsy Brocante Rosette Swap and was inspired to make another. This one has an autumn feel to it but with all the vintage shabbiness of the last.
Just listed in my Etsy Shop too!

One Man's Trash.......

I don't know about you but I love to see what people find at garage sales, flea markets, estate sales and the like. I enjoy the hunt and the thrill of discovering that perfect adored before treasure. I'm amazed when I see vintage rhinestone earrings marked 75 cents laying on a table at the end of the day. WHY WOULD YOU SELL THESE?!?! WHY DIDN'T THE 100 PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE ME SNATCH THEM UP?!?! I suppose it's a good thing that everyone in the world doesn't see the old rusted keyplate or damaged vintage doll as their next repurposed masterpiece.
If you want to join in the "I can't believe you found that, and for that price!" fun, check out Kecia's Flea Market Fridays. I linked up today to show my finds from this past week.
This $2 beaded chandelier adds a touch of funkiness to my already eclectic sunroom.

Vintage 50 cent salt and papper shakers are a nice addition to the kitchen.

Some nice pieces from the 3/$1 table.

Sweet vintage 50 cent babies.....

And twelve cards of yummy vintage lace for $1.
Happy Junkin'!

Inside White Wednesday

Welcome to my second White Wednesday which takes place inside my home this week. Just a couple of quick pics of a mantle and tabletop vignette. This stunning bottle was made by Joanna Pierotti. If you're not familiar with her work you'll want to pay her blog a visit. She's an extremely gifted artist and if you're quick you may be able to purchase one of her creations (most are gone within hours of listing!) in her etsy shop,
Moss Hill Studio.
If you like the sweet frozen charlotte angel assemblage posed next to Joanna's bottle, then be sure to visit Metal Corset for more beautiful assemblage/mixed media pieces.
I put together this little tabletop display using all estate and garage sale finds. It's amazing how much charm a little money and a few attractively displayed items can add to a nook or cranny of a room!
If you enjoy the White Wednesday posts, spend some time visiting all the participants - links to all can be found at the home of White Wednesday, Faded Charm.
Enjoy!

White Wednesday Voyeurism Ends Today!!!!!

I have been a long-time admirer now of all the White Wednesday bloggers and Kathleen's host blog, Faded Charm. Though my photography skills and WW contributions may not be as sharpened or charming as some, I still feel the need to jump in. I hope my fellow WW fans will enjoy these pics of my summertime retreat, namely my deck and backyard. Welcome to my humble deck...... One of my many garage sale cages (I have a thing for cages). They serve as plant hangers in the summer and usually faerie habitats inside during the colder months.
Also on my deck are some more of my garage sale finds. Can you believe this charming birdcage was $2? And the little porcelain bird in the little porcelain nest, aka a salt shaker and tray, was another find at 25 cents!
And the view from the deck is quite lovely too. Thank you to all who joined me on my first White Wednesday venture.

Gothic Arch Pages

We're making a collaborative Women & Birds Gothic Arch Book in my Treasure Art Trends Yahoo Group. With the above average temperatures and extreme humidity in my area it's been very difficult to sit and create. (Never felt the need for central air before but starting to rethink that this summer!) I finally finished my pages today. This beautiful image is one of my favorites, so I thought I'd share her with you. Left click to enlarge, then right click to save.

My Rosette

I did it! After admiring so many beautiful rosettes in our artsy blogisphere, I took the plunge. I started with a craft store ivory rose which I totally disassembled into layers of petals. I lightly tea-stained the petals as well as some cheesecloth. After all was dry I layered the petals, cheesecloth, a small crocheted doily and pieces of vintage lace onto a piece of wire. I created the flower's center from a vintage rhinestone shoe clip with cream and light pink scrunched seam binding and vintage lace trim. I have a pin clasp on the back so the rosette can be attached to a purse or a piece of clothing.Many thanks to Jill of Gypsy Brocante for the inspiration, tutorial and swap (huge motivating factor!) If you'd like to join us there's still time. Jill is taking sign-ups through midnight tonight and ALL types of rosettes are welcome.

A Little Bit French

Actually I'm not French at all, but I am drawn to everything French, which is what brought me to Rhonda's blog, A Little Bit French and etsy shop, ParisGal56. She makes such beautiful French-inspired items and I was fortunate enough to have won these fabulously fragrant lavendar filled burlap sachets in last Friday's giveaway. And look at the lace pouch Rhonda made to send them in-another gift in itself! Merci Rhonda!

Spread The Rosette Love

Are you drawn to these beauties as much as I am? Rosettes are popping up everywhere in blogland, and thankfully Jill of Gypsy Brocante is hosting a swap and giveaway for all of us in need of a little rosette therapy. Never made a rosette before? Neither have I! Jill has a great tutorial on her blog to help all of us first-time rosette makers. Either the link within this post or the button on the sidebar will take you there. Hope to be swapping rosettes with you soon!

Under The Sea Bliss

It's here! The Under The Sea Chunky Collaborative is complete and what a fun book this turned out to be. One of our group members, Ellen, has graciously started a companion blog for the Altered Art Fat Book Yahoo Group. The entire book is available for viewing via a Picasa slide show (if you prefer still photos, click on the slide show and you'll link to the web album). If anyone's interested, there is a link to join the group on the top right hand corner of the altered art fat book blog . Enjoy!

What's in the Bag?

Are you curious to see what's in the bag? It's soooooo worth taking a peek - trust me. And if you do, please mention that I encouraged you to snoop. Ready to look inside? What are you waiting for, click HERE!

In Keeping With The Heat, Water Theme

Since posting my Under The Sea pages (thank you so much for your kind comments) many of you have mentioned also experiencing some exceptionally hot, with-little-relief type weather.
If you can't be a bathing beauty, at least create with some!
Here are some images for you to use; public domain to the best of my knowledge. Left click to enlarge, then right click and save.

90 Degrees Here, Wish I Was Under The Sea!

I just finished pages for an Under The Sea themed chunky book collaborative in my Altered Art Fat Books Yahoo group. I started by decoupaging pieces of tissue paper in blues and greens to a 4x4 cardboard base. Along the bottom of the page I adhered seashells (collected from Key West and Ft. Lauderdale vacations). Next was some fabulous trim from Flights Of Fancy Boutique. This trim was perfect for giving the look of seaweed and netting to catch........
MERMAIDS!!!!! Lots and lots of fun-to-make, articulated, mix & match mermaid paper dolls. Deborah of Supplies To Go has the collage sheets to make these mer-beauties in her etsy shop. Each page gets one tucked under the netting. Removable but still very much part of the book. Every page was embellished with seahorse and sand dollar charms. I'll be sure to share the finished book later this month.

The Best Bead Giveaway EVER!!!!

Denise Yezbak Moore, a very talented jewelry designer and owner of Rusty Roxx Jewelry is hosting what is truly the best bead giveaway EVER at her blog, Bling It On. We're talking over $350 worth of some of the most gorgeous beads EVER! Hurry over and check it out. The winner (or winners) will be announced July 2nd.

The Secret Garden, Whimsy Style

This book is such a treasure! I only wish my camera and photography skills were better. Mary Ann McKeating, Queen of the Itty Bitty Book, hosted this collaborative in our Paper Whimsy Ning Group. Using PW images we each contributed a Secret Garden themed page. Below is the result. Enjoy!