Name Game Winner!

I apologize for not posting a winner in the name my dress form game last night. We are having trouble with our internet, just at night. This has happened before, it is so slow, that pages don't load, and it is impossible to post! We have called about it many times, and moved up our speed, then moved it back down because supposedly our grid couldn't handle the speed...who knows, the tech support doesn't. It is a horribly boring problem to read about, and I know there are others that have had similar difficulties...so on to more important stuff!

It is so funny that many of you offered the name Lucy. I think three different people. I have to admit that it was very tempting to chose Lucy. I do really like it! But it was Wanda's suggetstion of Isabella and call her Bella for short that got me thinking. I actually thought someone, a Silver Bella friend, might suggest Bella! I like the way it rolls off the tongue. But it seems that there is at least one other Bella out there in blog land; I feel like I have read of someone naming their dress form Bella. So to be a little different I have chosen the name....wait for it....wait for it....STELLA!

There is a little girl across the street named Stella, and ever since her mom told me she was naming her daughter Stella, I have loved that name. Now, I also remember the movie a few years back (oh, actually 1998, eek!) called, "How Stella got her Groove Back". I remember liking the name then as well. So, my winner is Wanda, because even though I didn't pick the exact name she suggested, her suggestion reminded me of Stella! Yay! So Miss Wanda, I hope it is okay that I am bringing your prize to Silver Bella with me next week! Pray tell us what you would like me to fill your antique apothecary jar with...here are some options!

Maybe something that you could use on a project? The paper ephemera may not fit well, but I would be happy to make a little packet up that didn't go inside the apothecary jar! The world awaits your decision! :)

Meet my new friend! Play the name game!

I have a new friend. I brought her home from the most recent estate sale we are setting up. She is from the 60's and a little younger than I had been looking for...I was actually on the look out for one like the one below.

Flickr photo

with the skirt cage and black stenciling...

She is growing on me and will serve the same purpose.

(I can always buy another!)

I just need to name her. I would love some reader input...so as an incentive to join in the little dress form name game...a prize! Just leave a comment with a name suggestion. I will review all the names and pick a winner by Sunday evening. What will this winner get you ask?

How about a lovely antique apothecary bottle? This one is 6" tall, 3" wide with a nice wide mouth that is easy to fill.

And fill it I will, with your choice of: buttons, lace, ribbon, ephemera, vintage dresden trims, vintage birthday cake candle holders, millinery flowers, vintage game pieces, sea shells, jelly beans, malted milk balls...you name it and if it fits, I will put it in there for you!

Just leave me a comment with a name by Sunday! Thanks for your help!

Getting Ready for Silver Bella

Silver Bella 2009 - a paper arts event

organized by Teresa McFayden

As I gathered materials needed for my Silver Bella classes, I took out the special folder one of my roommates from last year, Jenny, made for me. (Going to miss you Jenny! Give that baby a kiss from me!)

Inside is all kinds of sweet memories of the wonderful gifts, swaps, and classes from last year ...that now await me and my fellow "Bellas" in Omaha in just over a week!

It is so much fun packing for this trip; ribbons and trims, papers and buttons, scissors and glue, brushes and boxes, fabric and wire, pliers and punches! Oh and glitter, I can't forget the glitter!

This apron, my other roomie from last year, Caitlin, tempted me into buying from Kim Kwan, one of our wonderful teachers! Can't wait to wear it again! I will miss both Caitlin's (who is creating in college) and Kim's energy (since she is not teaching this year).

Here's all the Bits and Bobs, all hoping to get used!

Looking at all the cards and moo cards I collected...

A peek at the only swap I joined this year - Bella Bird Swap

So it is

Omaha or Bust!

{Silver Bella 2008 part 1}

{Silver Bella 2008 part 2}

Stay Tuned!

More Vintage Pink Christmas Inspiration

Perfectly Pink Paper

for purchase at Tias

Gorgeous Vintage Pin

available at Ruby Lane

18" Bottle Brush Tree

find it at Enchanted Decor

Wonderful Wrappings

blogged at such pretty things - 12/08

Adorable Tags and Note Cards

found at Farm Chicks

Mantle Inspiration

courtesy of BH&G

Darling Poinsettia Tin

buy it from SunnyDayVintage

Lovely Antique Angel Postcard

get it at missgaylee

A Pink Christmas?

I am dreaming of a pink Christmas! This year I am responsible for the window display in the month of December at the Antique mall where I have my space. Inspired by some of the pink vintage Christmas finds that I have been collecting for my booth, I made these pink "Christmas trees" which were to be incorporated into that window display.

I found some vintage cones that were used for thread or yarn at the thrift store, originally I offered them in my etsy shop, but when they did not sell, I thought they would make a perfect base for cone trees!

This glittery tree found at a rummage sale (not my church but another one in the area) bound for my booth at Jackson Square Antique Mall inspired this grouping...

I used vintage wallpaper, crepe paper, glitter, and vintage millinery and mercury glass balls to cover the cones.

I took a tiny vintage angel head and made an angel tree topper adding the crepe paper dress and pink dresden foil wings. isn't she cute?!

Set all up on my mantle with the cute little houses I found at the same sale as the glittered tree, I fear I may not be able to give them up!

I have noticed that over this last year I have purchased some more pink things for my study, most of them I was not intent on keeping...

This painting I bought a few weeks ago at our church rummage sale (don't think it made it into the photos in that post) just for the frame. Now that I set it in the room, hmmm, I kinda like it there.

Here are some other elements in the room that have pink. My map covered tables, a project from last winter. (Sorry about the fish bowl...oops it needs a cleaning!)

Just little bits of pink all around...

No matter how much I feel I have evolved away from the whole pink floral thing, into the industrial browns and greys with a splash of blue, I can't seem to eradicate the pink from my house completely. And that is just the way it is...for now. :)

Check back this week for more Vintage Pink Christmas Inspiration!

Vintage Black Friday

This Vintage Black Friday I am going to share with you a few black and white photos from my collection. I was lucky enough to have been at a spectacular sale almost a year ago, and bought an entire brown grocery bag full of cabinet cards and other vintage black and white photos - hundreds of them! I love to imagine what was going on in the photo...

This one makes me think of the song, "Girls just want to have fun!" Not sure if it is halloween or some other costume party - actually now that I look a little closer, I am not so sure that they are all girls, some may be dressed to look like girls! LOL.

This little girl speaks to me, I am not sure what she is saying, but I want to know!

This one has me wondering if she grew up to be a chef or baker!

I have not seen many hospitable scenes photographed before, I am thinking young Frankenstein, (must have halloween on the brain!)

This bird cage photo is one of my favorites.

And this poor sweet girl seems to have gone from bonnet to dunce cap? I think I have a third photo of her in another hat...hmmm...I will have to look for it.

Check out the other participating blogs at Jill's Gypsy Brocante!

Where is the sun? and Sweet and Sinister package from London!

Where is my Indian Summer? The leaves are gorgeous, but I would really like some sun to go with them, please!! I am not one to complain, until the sun goes away...of course, that happens all too often here in Chicago! Boo hoo. I know.

I shouldn't complain, really I shouldn't. We had two gloriously warm and sunny days last week, Tuesday and Wednesday (and even Saturday turned out to be nice), and I missed them because I was working rummage. But with all the outside stuff we had at our church rummage sale, it was a very fortunate thing that those were good weather days...even if I missed them because I was working inside (and I worked at the estate sale on Saturday!) Another boo hoo.

Ok, now that that is out of the way...here is what Carla, from London - yes I get all the cool International swappers - sent me for Artsymama's 2009 Sweet and Sinister Swap.

Her son even sent me a picture he'd made...guess which on!

Something Sinister

Something Handmade

Something Thrifted

And Something Sweet and Something for the Home!

My kids love the cat soap! And I put the black candles

into my black iron candle opera, which holds 4 candles!

Perfect! And I am sipping the tea as I write,

to keep away the cold dampness...

I can certainly see why the English

like their tea! Thanks Carla!

Vintage Black Friday

Today during Vintage Black Friday I am going to share with you this weeks finds from our fall church rummage sale! I have been involved with this twice yearly rummage sale for the past 5 or so years. It is a great experience, it engages members of our church and community of all ages. This year the volunteer list grew to 275 people. We receive generous donations of clothing, furniture, electronics, toys, books, tools, as well as vintage treasures from both church members and the greater community over the course of the weekend. After a 3 day set up that uses most of our education building, we spend a couple of days sorting and pricing, 2 days of selling, and then about 9-10 hours of breakdown and clean up. All the money raised goes to many wonderful organizations, and the left over donations are passed on to many local charities. I have the very rewarding experience of chairing this event with two other women.

This year I was excited to find three vintage hats, two of them in boxes, and a fluffy sweet baby bonnet. I bought the black bucket, which I plan to decorate, for halloween candy.

Really love this little black hard plastic hat box. Previously, I have found one in red that I gave to my sister. This one I think I will keep. And the hat inside is like one giant orange rose!

I have been picking up silhouettes when I find them, and isn't this vintage black tea box amazing?

Onto a few not so black vintage finds. This vintage apron caught my eye with the cute pocket.

I really like the pattern and colors of this retro barkcloth which has been made into a cushion cover.

I love that this blue and white tray is slightly faded and worn, which softens the patina. The Fire King Blue Swedish Tear Drop bowls I actually bought at this weekends Polly Peters estate sale - only wish they were a full set of 4! More to show, I will save for another day! I have three days off next week, so hopefully a little more time to blog! Be sure and stop by Jill's blog to check out the rest of the Vintage Black Friday participants!

French Vintage Beaded Flowers

My mother was the first to introduce me to vintage beaded flowers over ten years ago, and more recently I saw a big bouquet of them in a ironstone urn on my friend's table. I was hooked.

This grouping has beautiful fall colors! I found them a couple of weeks ago when we went up to Libertyville for a soccer tournament. (Can't travel an hour away and not take the opportunity for a little shopping exploration.)

I have decided to put these in my etsy shop, hopefully tonight.

There are 5 yellow flowers and 5 multi colored ones (in orange and yellow, and orange and white) in the group of 10 that will be listed.

The bouquet that I put together for myself includes some yellow and orange, but also white and blue.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for Vintage Black Friday. I have some vintage black finds to share with you. Last week was our BIG church rummage sale, myself and two others are the new chairpersons.

The reason I have not posted in almost a week is, I have been there everyday (and some nights) since last Wednesday, through clean up this morning and afternoon! More on that tomorrow too!

Vintage Black Friday

{It is Saturday and I am just getting to Fridays post....so sorry!}

Thought I would share with you this awesome old trunk. My husband's mother (bless her sweet soul) was an interior designer, and bought it for him when he was in college. When I met him senior year, he lived in a house with 2 other guys. It was your typical college guy house, until you walked into my DH's bedroom. His mom had it decked out with this antique trunk, Ralph Lauren bedding, he even had live plants in his bedroom (it was a large room)!

Well, he and I have lived in 9 places together since college graduation, and the trunk is one of the only furniture pieces we still have from that first place. It was a coffee table for many of those homes. In the house we have now, it sits in the entry hall and holds our winter gloves, scarves and hats, and serves as a place to sit and put on shoes. It is one piece that I am sure will stay with us until one our children takes it! Check out this weeks other Vintage Black bloggers!