My Weblog

Such is life...

 

Ups and downs, backwards and forward.

Highs and lows.

Joy and sorrow.

"Such is life." Words uttered many times by my dear mother.

At eighty-eight years old, she's experienced a lot in her life. But yesterday, with no warning, while walking back from the dining hall where she lives, her hip gave out. Such an unusual break that the local hospital in the city where she lives wasn't equipped to handle such a surgery.

Of course, my heart weighs a thousand pounds right now. Deep concern for her comfort as well as the emotional upheaval in my own heart knowing that this is not good.

Chances are great that I'll be away for a while. Your prayers would mean the world to me...Xo 

Texture Tuesday: Vintage Laundry

It's another e-dition of Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen! Our challenge for today was to use at least one layer of her texture called aurora.

 I decided to do a little vintage laundry for the gathering today...

 

 

 
Much more fun than doing the real laundry.

Thank you Kim for hosting this fun event! I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone's done with this wonderful new texture Kim sent to everyone on the Texture Lovin' List. If you're not on that list, but would like to be, the info can be found on her sidebar.

Wishing you warm breezes and sunshine {or rain for those who desperately need it!}...xo, Sue

Where Bloggers Create

 
With my hand on a vintage french missel {english translation: Bible} I hereby swear that I am a vintage-aholic of the worst degree.

*I have collected "vintage" for decades

**and I stuff it all in my wonderful bonus room above the garage.

***Adding to that overstuffed room are all the supplies I use

**** in my TOO NUMEROUS to mention crafty pursuits.

 
 
The previous photos are a sampling from the pics I posted last year for the tour. The posts are located here and here. I posted so many pics last year, and since not a whole lot has changed, it's easier to refer those who might be interested to those posts.

But a few things have changed...

 
An old vintage french wine rack, or bottle dryer as it is sometimes called, was added to the room.  

 
I've moved it around a few times and continue to add vintage dolls as they become adopted into my collection.

 
 
Another addition to the room this past year is this shelving unit. I just happened to be in the parking lot of an antique store as this was coming off a truck.

 
The top shelf is loaded with vintage Christmas.......it's just too pretty to pack away!

 
I will also admit to being totally obsessed with vintage dress forms.

 
I purchased this one off of Ebay quite a few years back [for approx. $50]...she's a 3-D inspirational board of sorts...and I love her dearly.

 
I am forever pinning new items to the form...

 

As a point of reference, to show you the size of this beloved dress form, I've placed another form next to her...

 
 
Being a visual person, I like to have a lot of my stuff "out"...

 
 
Another way fun addition to my room this year...

 
...is the Crepe Myrtle tree that has now grown tall enough to show off her pink blooms through one of my windows....

I'm looking forward to spending the next few weeks {months?!} visiting all the entries to this year's Where Bloggers Create Party. To see a list of this year's participants, head over to Karen's place at My Desert Cottage.

An enormous thank you to Karen for hosting this spectacular event! One of my fav's in all of bloggieland! May wonderful things come to you for all the time and effort you invest in making this such a special, and much anticipated event!!!!

Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen

Today's theme for Texture Tuesday is "Pink"....

And this little winged fella plunked himself down in such a way that I could use the backdrop of my pink Crepe Myrtle trees for my pink.

 
...a layer of Kim's newest freebie texture, Aurora. Only had time to play with it a little but just love it! 
...another shot of this adorable little dragonfly with a layer of kim's aurora texture.

Would you like to see his teeth? Sure you would....

 
I betcha you didn't even know that dragonflies could smile...

Life is full these days. Busy full. Fun full. And some days just too full. So much for that lazy days of summer saying...!

And can I scream out a little about winning a NEW EPSON PRINTER from Cathe Holden's blog?!!! The last two printers belonging to me both ended up in the hands of our college-aged kids who needed them for school after theirs bit the dust. The most recent hand over just occurred so the timing couldn't have been more perfect! Plus, like many of you familiar with her work, I just adore Cathe {her art and her heart} so there's an extra layer of special to winning one of her sponsored giveaways!

Full Tilt Boogie

 
Whew! Where does the time go when the warm breezes of summer invade the atmosphere? So far behind in blogging due to a long stretch of hanging out in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Always such a privilege to soak in the beauty and charm of this special place.

But I hope to set aside some time in the next few days to catch up with all my bloggy friends. I don't think I've ever gone this long without inspecting my google reader.

I have to admit, on my drive back from the cabin all I could think about was getting my paws on my art supplies! You see, Mary Ann's newest online class Full Tilt Boogie debuted in my absence. As usual, her video instruction is superb and full of inspiration. Not to mention Mary Ann's adorable sense of humor...so add the word entertaining to the previous sentence as well.  

 
Although the instructions in this class are focused on altering an old Victorian photo album, any type of book will work. The real empahsis is on bookbinding methods.

For my first journal {she will be teaching several different types of binding} I chose the open back binding. Isn't that fun? Another girl in class posted a photo of her completed journal where she used the baker's twine and I was sold! 

 
The "book" I altered wasn't really a book at all! I repurposed the thick cardboard backing on one of my watercolor pads and made my own book covers! In order to give the covers more of an authentic look of an old victorian album, I first padded them with several layers of cotton batting {a slight brushing of mod podge to hold the layers in place}.

 

Before wrapping the covers in some upholstery fabric, I sewed different embellishments to the front cover using irish waxed linen thread.

The beautiful old velvet violet millinery flower was a gift from my friend, Patty. So fun to find a special place for this much loved little gem!

 

 
 One of my splurges for this class was buying a Japanese Screw Punch. I've wanted one for a long time since I have gobs of uses for this little beauty. It even punches through thick leather with extreme ease. For this particular class, it drilled all the holes for binding my book together.

 
My plans will be to add my own photos I've taken, as well as add lots more tape-in sections, pieces of ephemera, a little paint, rubber stamps, and of course, some journaling.

So much for that housework getting done....!

And by the way, I'm pretty sure you can still sign up for Full Tilt Boogie if this is your cup of tea! It's a delicious cup for sure and the best part? The class never closes...meaning, you will have full access to all of the videos forever and ever. I love that about Mary Ann's classes!

{no, i am not a paid blogger! i post this raving review of the class of my own free will!}

Hope you're finding some time to live in your sweet spot too!

xo, Sue

Flea Market Finds for Texture Tuesday

 
(Kim Klassen textures applied: sonnetmagic and pourvous)

I was a girl on a mission. There were two things on my list I was hoping to find on my trip this weekend to Scott Antique Market. A HUGE antique/flea market show held once a month in Atlanta. {They also have an Ohio venue as well.}

The french boy mannequin is something I bought in Florida last summer on vacation. He's not new. But he was fresh off the crate from France when I just happened thru the doors of this antique store I love to visit when we're in the Destin area of the Florida panhandle. These two delightful dealers also set up monthly at Scott's and will happily bring any merchandise up from Florida to Atlanta. If you're ever in the Destin area, and you love European antiques at FAIR PRICES, you need to visit Misty and Ann at Antiques on Holiday.

So what did I find? Those blue doors! They were on my "mission list"....!

 
(Kim Klassen textures: mayzee. Also applied a dry brush effect.)

 About a year ago, which is how long it's been since I last attended Scott Antique Market show, I passed up a pair of doors quite similar to these. I've thought about them ever since. The same dealer was there again and this time I bought a pair from him.

I didn't find one of the things on my list, but I made up for any disappointment with some other wonderful finds!  The silver trophy champagne bucket was one of the things I dragged home. It is engraved with a date of 1953 on it. YEAH! Something older than me! ha ha!

I'll share some of the other little treasures another time. Meanwhile, if you'd like to see the magic others have worked on their photos using Kim's textures, head over to Kim's to check out the other participants in today's Texture Tuesday party.

Enhance your memories with Photoshop

 
Want another reason to learn Photoshop?  One click later and this photo went from normal to fun.

It's also of a photo taken nearly 14 years ago. Back in the days when we all used film cameras.

 

 
The camera I used back then wasn't of great quality. So naturally, the shots I captured weren't the best either. But the photos will always be priceless to me. Now I can laugh at our youngest's messy day. {actually, it was pretty funny back then too}

~In his brand new outfit.

~The outfit with the little navy plaid shorts with a matching navy plaid, zip up the front jacket. {not to mention reversable!}

~His brother had an identical outfit.

~The same brother that helped fling mud.

~The outfits that were purchased for Grandpa's big retirement shin-dig that was yet to be when this shot was snapped.

With a large creek bordering our property, not to mention all the new construction happening in our subdivision with access to all kinds of building materials, piles of builder's dirt, half-full paint cans, and dumpsters filled with treasures, every day was full of surprises back in those days!

But I digress...

Back to the main point! Reasons why you might want to learn to use Photoshop...

 What I am also finding as I scan in old photos is the ability to improve the images in PSE. Sometimes just converting them to black and white or sepia tones also seems to give them a little boost in the quality department. Adding a subtle texture can also step them up a notch. As well as playing with the levels,  etc.

I just noticed that Kim Klassen has another section of her online class Photoshop-The Essentials beginning June 21st. Kim is such a great teacher! Come on...you know you've been wanting to learn Photoshop.  

 

 

Oh, and by the way, just in case you wondered, after a few days of soaking the shirt in Biz, I did manage to win against the flung mud disaster! The little outfit was worn at Grandpa's retirement party!

 

 

credits: texture on 3rd photo from DJ Pettite

Do you like me?

 

 

 

 

If you answered yes, chances are, like me, you adore vintage metal containers. This one I'm guessing is a rare find. I'm goo-goo ga-ga over it.

In my imagination gone wild, at one time in history, this safe-like container held the orginal reels to Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz.

Okay...maybe there's a one in a million chance that actually happened. But as Jim Carey so eloquently stated in Dumb and Dumber..."so you're saying there's a chance!"

I'm playing along in Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday party today. Today's challenge was to feature a photo containing words...ones we've added or those present in the original capture.   

 Kim Klassen textures used on today's photos include: may magic, #3 from the Ben collection, framed, not too shabby, life's good, love, and KK2 may magic. Most of the photos also have a Florabella or Pioneer Woman action applied as well.

Speaking of rare treasures, today is our 31st wedding anniversary. Happy 31st Anniversary to Lynn & her hubby {another Texture Tuesday participant as well!}. We met in bloggyland and discovered we share the same anniversary date!

A Vintage Doll

 
She's German. She has a tin head. A leather body. She's jointed. And she's all mine!

 
I've waited a long time to add one to my collection. Mostly because of the price they fetch. But FINALLY, I snagged one a few months back off of Ebay.

 
...such a soulful look in those eyes...

 
At some point in time, someone has restitched the legs just below the knees...otherwise, she is in beautiful shape. I move her all around the house as she looks adorable no matter where she goes.

 
Even in the rearview mirror she's a beaut!

 
 Who allowed her to slip away?

 

And to totally change subjects, did you hear that Karen is hosting another Where Bloggers Create tour?

  

 It's all set to happen in mid July. Oh my...wonder if I can get my room whipped back into presentable shape by then?! Nothing like company coming to get the dials turned to "clean"............

This was a really fun event. So many creative people...tons of eye candy, inspiration, and ideas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And speaking of FUN,  Mary Ann's newest journaling class, Full Tilt Boogie will begin on June 17th. Sign up begins on June 8th. She's also offering a generous chunk of her proceeds to the Red Cross as well as offering a discount based on need to a sizable number of students. Click on her link to read all about it. There's even a video for your viewing pleasure featuring a sneak peek of the upcoming adventure!

Okay. Time to push that vacuum cleaner around before it hits 100 degrees today where I live. Yipes! So grateful for central air...

Xo, Sue

Clematis for a Texture Tuesday

 
{Magic layer from the Kim Klassen Ben Collection}

The theme for this week's Texture Tuesday Party at Kim Klassen's Cafe is "garden"...something near and dear to many of our collective hearts. Although my gardens {mostly of the flower variety} have been severely neglected compared to the time I typically enjoy working in them, I am forever grateful for those dear friends we call perennials.

For the past month, my purple clematis vines (grows in a variety of colors) have been strutting their stuff. Each winter the vines go dormant and anyone who didn't know better would most likely think the plant was a has-been.

      {3 layers of a Kim Klassen May Magic texture, one as an overlay-27% opacity}
I started this one from a one foot little root...and now a few years later, it has filled out quite nicely with very little encouragement on my part. The key is keeping them well watered as they establish their root system as well as an ample pile of mulch around their base. So don't be afraid to start with a little guy as the cost is much more affordable compared to buying a potted plant with a big long vine already growing. 

 

{Kim Klassen textures applied: Magic scratches, May magic on color burn}

Despite their delicate appearance, these little flower heads have been through whipping winds, pelting rains, and yet they've held their ground.

 
{Kim Klassen texture: Sonnet Magic}

 In fact, for a whole month the large clump of flower heads have been smiling sweetly in my gardens. Ample time for me to play around with my vintage amethyst bottles, or whatever else catches my fancy.

Gardens, to me, are a magical place...hence, my choice of applying magic textures to all of my photos today. Now I'm off to see what magical photos everyone else has shared today!

Be blessed! Xo, Sue