32˙ North Supplies

I Love This Pin Cushion!

2012-01-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

This is quite possibly the most adorable pin cushion ever.

He was carefully needle felted by Judy Johnson of Bay Colony Designs.

New to the Shop: Czech Glass Buttons

2012-01-24T20:01:00.000-08:00

We've added a whole host of Czech glass buttons to our Etsy shop this week. From clear glass with silver accents to colored milk glass with a hobnail design to pretty multi-colored florals to dramatic blues and blacks, if they caught our eye, we couldn't resist. Here are a few of my favorites:

We have twenty-four styles all together, all of which you can see HERE. Not just for clothing and costumes, these buttons are stunning when worked into jewelry design, mixed media projects and more. We thought you'd get a kick out of seeing how they're made, too:

A Blown Glass Heart Valentine

2012-01-21T21:02:00.000-08:00

This year delight your Valentine with a beautiful handmade heart ornament. Made with a blown glass heart from Germany, Dresden foils, paper scraps, and pretty fabric trims.

Here are links to the very supplies we used:
Gold Dresden Border, Silver Dresden Border, Blue Shell Border
Dresden Halos
Floral Scraps, Angel Scraps
Blown Glass Heart
Rosebud Trims, Metallic Trims

Step 1: Start by gently removing the cap from your heart ornament.

Step 2: Next wrap a Dresden border around the side of the heart.

Step 3: Gently glue a fabric trim on top of the Dresden border. You may have to hold the trim in place while the glue sets up so it conforms to the contours of the heart.

Step 4: When all has dried, gently replace the cap.

Step 5: Next pair your angel scrap with a floral scrap and a halo. We used the pairings below.

Step 6: Glue the angel scrap to the halo. You may wish to reinforce behind the angel's head with a light cardstock so the halo's embossing isn't visible.

Step 7: Glue the angel and halo to the ornament and, once dry, glue the flower scrap in place, layering it slightly over the bottom of the angel's wings.

Step 8: Allow to dry.

A few things to keep in mind:
We like a clear-drying liquid craft glue for applying scraps and trims.

The angel design can be repeated on the back of the heart as well. Or you can apply a petty Dresden foil heart.

Layering is what takes these from ordinary to extraordinary -- metallic trims, Dresden foil trims, fabric trims and scraps -- the art is in the overlay!

Myrtle Studio's Sweet Nutcracker Suite

2011-12-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

We're absolutely taken with the work of Leslie of Myrtle's Studio! Her use of trims, textures, colors and whimsy never ceases to amaze and delight us. When she shared photos of a custom nutcracker order she'd just created, we asked her if we could share them here with you all as well.

If you've got a special occasion and need something extra special to make the day all the more memorable, consider engaging the artistic talents of Leslie. From ribbon cornucopias to luxe gift tags to rich ribbon wreaths, Myrtle's Studio has something to delight everyone.

Specialty Christmas Cards for Sending and Decorating

2011-11-27T09:26:00.001-08:00

Things We Love: kitschavan

2011-11-24T09:26:00.001-08:00

It's always a delight to see what people make with the craft supplies we sell. In this case, kitschavan, in England, has taken simple bottle brush trees and turned them into individual works of art that are a feast for the eyes and sure to delight Christmas lovers everywhere. She's been bold but discerning in her color choices and layered the trees with tinsel cording and glass balls and then anchored them in great figural ceramic bases that lend themselves perfectly to her trees. Even Santa and Mrs.Claus would approve!

Do stop by her shop and take a look at her artful creations here: kitschavan

Still Time for Advent Calendars!

2011-11-20T20:19:00.001-08:00

Things We Love: Meaicp

2011-11-16T22:32:00.001-08:00

We love the way that meacip combines vintage millinery elements, glass and tinsel ornaments and picks, and adorable spun cotton characters to create the most festive Christmas, holiday and special occasion corsages. They are truly a burst of cheerfulness!

She has more than just heirloom quality corsages in her Etsy shop, even awesome retro fabrics!
Be sure to stop by her shop, as you're sure to find something for yourself or someone special.

New Styles of Old Fashioned Favorites -- New Blown Glass Beads, Dresden Foils & Christmas Scraps

2011-11-16T22:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T06:28:00.000-07:00

TocameMika: Absolutely fascinating!

2011-10-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

It's no secret -- we love seeing our supplies in use. So imagine our delight and amazement to see this gorgeous fascinator created by Mika of Madrid, Spain. Dramatic, elegant, and with the most beautiful greens and reds together, this piece took our breath away!

Specializing in fascinators and headbands, you'll find a wide range of colors and shapes in Mika's Etsy shop TocameMika. Thank you Mika, we love your work!

Caturday #1

2011-09-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Thomas, our favorite guest, enjoys the sunshine on one of his daily visits.

A Quote by Any Other Name

2011-09-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

This was too cool not to post. I find myself saying many of these on a daily basis. Thanks to Gerard for posting this first.

New Scraps from England

2011-09-07T19:21:00.000-07:00

Just in from Europe: New Blown Glass Beads

2011-08-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

We've just received several new styles of blown glass beads and have them listed HERE in our Etsy shop. Apart from new shapes, we're also stocking pretty new colors like aqua, deep teal, light pink, hot pink and even black. I'm partial to the acorn beads in matte green and shiny brown and the bell shapes, shown below.

Have you started crafting for Christmas yet? I have ideas swirling around but haven't actually started working on anything yet. I get both nervous and excited to think that Christmas is less than 4 months away!

New Shop Additions: More Chenille Tinsel

2011-08-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

We are excited to tell you that we've added 14 more colors of rayon chenille tinsel cording to our Etsy shop. Beautiful color mixes just in time for holiday crafting: red with red tinsel; green with green tinsel; hunter green with silver tinsel; violet with silver tinsel.

I can't decide if my favorite is the snowy silver, the old gold, or the violet and silver. And of course I LOVE the red, pink and silver mix -- very Valentine in a tiger stripey way!

Get to Know: Bate Chocolate

2011-08-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

We love to see how our supplies get used, so we were delighted to learn that they are included in many of the wreaths at Bate Chocolate. Created with painstaking twine wrapping, handcrafted fabric flowers and a touch of whimsy, be sure to check them out!

The Cat Days of Summer

2011-08-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a cool drink on a hot summer day. Thomas digs in.

New to the Shop: Bouquet Holders from Germany

2011-08-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Also new to the shop are three different sizes of bouquet holders from Germany. Best described as strong doilies attached to small cones with a split center hole to accommodate flower stems, these elegant floral embellishments are perfect for brides creating their own everlasting bouquets. Above is a medium sized all white, and, below, a detail shot of its pretty edge.

The medium sized style below features a beautiful hand-tinted edge. Color choices are pink, rose pink, green, lilac and yellow.

The small size below is available in plain white, gold foil or silver foil. This size also looks wonderful on a Christmas tree with white lights stuck up through the holes.

New to the Shop: Crepe Paper Streamers for Halloween

2011-08-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Also new to the shop are two styles of crepe paper streamers from Germany. Both feature Halloween designs and come in 32 ft. rolls. Apart from decorating with these garland-style, they are wonderful for putting around the edge of a party table, embellishing cones, and making spooky rosettes. Both are HERE.

New to the Shop: Dresden Cake Decorations

2011-08-08T16:24:00.000-07:00

We're excited to say that we've added a range of adorable dresden foil cake decorations from Germany to the shop. Each features a gnome scene with a different number, 0-9, on a food-safe wire. And each number is available in red, fuchsia, gold, silver, green or purple foil. You can also remove the wire and use these in card making, scrapbooking, as gift tie-ons and more. Click HERE to see them all.

Christmas in July on Etsy

2011-07-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

Christmas in July on Etsy begins tomorrow, July 14 and runs through July 24th. If you're participating and are in need of a banner, avatar or both, please click HERE for a whole host of festive and customizable choices free for you to use.

Needle Felted Goodness

2011-07-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

I love browsing through the needle felted pieces on Etsy and am always amazed by the expressions and character the artists give to their creations. I couldn't resist sharing three of my all-time favorites with you.

The gray kitty above may well be real with his whiskers and sweet expression. Made by Teresa Perleberg of bearcreekdesigns, she also offers kits for those wanting to try their own hand.

It doesn't get much cuter than a polar bear in the snow. Made by talented Latvian artist Inna Pavlova and available in her shop BinnieBear.

KaysK9s has such a knack for capturing the subtle nuances of her subjects. I've been a fan for a long time, especially of her custom pet creations.

New Additions: Chenille & Tinsel Cording

2011-06-20T00:02:00.000-07:00

We're very excited about this chenille & tinsel cording that we've just added to the shop. Made in the USA especially for us, here's a look at the tinsel mixes. I'm partial to the copper, black and pumpkin orange mix below -- so perfect for Halloween projects:

You can see all 28 colors of chenille and chenille/tinsel mixes, HERE in out etsy shop.

The cording is not wired, it's loose and bendable, making it ideal for creating ornaments, embellishing packages scrapbooking and card making. Which is your favorite color?

It's Starting to Feel a lot Like Christmas

2011-06-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

There's been some major stockroom organization going on lately (hence the lack of posting). Shelf installation, consolidation, rearranging and even a little discovery.

We uncovered a couple of boxes of vintage Christmas stuff all made in Japan: picks, glass ball clusters, millinery berries.

Everything has made its way into our Etsy shop. We just love working with the sparkle!

Old Los Angeles

2011-05-26T23:15:00.000-07:00

For all the scores of times I've been to Malibu, yesterday was the first time I walked through the grounds of the Adamson House. Breathtaking doesn't even begin to describe the gardens, house and tile work. Here are a few pictures:

I can't get enough of the outdoor fireplace.

A free-form tile mosaic makes a beautiful segue from pathway to patio.

An elaborate built in fountain with a view of the coast behind.

More stunning tiles.

I can't get enough of the old California architecture.

Looking up the beach from the back yard. The houses in the far distance are part of the Malibu Colony -- semi-private beach and enclave of the rich and famous.

I LOVE this planter! The landscaping featured a very small mix of plants, all growing in sweeping bands of bold color or cascading from ornate planters.

New Spun Cotton Mushrooms from Germany

2011-05-17T21:54:00.000-07:00

We adore German spun cotton mushrooms and are happy to say that we have several new colors in the shop in multiple sizes! There are now ones in black, orange, aqua, grass green, and a pretty new yellow. The much beloved pinks are also back and this time in a new jumbo size as well. Here's a peek at what we're stocking:

We also can't get enough of these very large paper mushrooms on dowels:

It's hard to pick a favorite but I'm loving the orange and black ones!

New Old Stock Flowers, Leaves and Glue

2011-05-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

April showers certainly brought May flowers!

We've just added a ton of old stock millinery flowers, vintage pearlized leaves and even a selection of specialty glue to the website. From vibrant clematis blossoms to dainty silk hyacinths to long stem cosmos, everything is old stock from Germany, Czechoslovakia and Japan.

We're very excited to be stocking Coccoina glues from Italy. Available in both liquid and paste form, Coccoina is non-toxic, solvent-free and has the most delicious marzipan almond scent.

Click HERE for a closer look!

Meet Chantal of Dragonfly Expression

2011-05-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

We love the gorgeous blossoms made by Chantal of Dragonfly Expression. From brights to pastels, whites to beautiful ombre mixes, she creates realistic paper flowers with a mix of carefree refinement.

Be sure to also stop by her blog for updates on new creations and other adventures in paper.

New Lawn!

2011-05-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

Last Friday just after dawn, a sod truck rumbled up the street and delivered two pallets of Marathon I. For the next several hours we carried, laid, watered and placed 1,000 square feet of freshly harvested grass. Here's how it looked when we first started:

And a little further along, maybe 2/3rds done:

Now, a week later, it's grown noticeably and is just about ready for its first cut. After prepping the area for many months and basically living next to a dirt patch, it's amazing how dust-free the house and porch stay. Next up? Flowers, flowers, flowers!

New Items Just in Time for Mother's Day

2011-04-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Mother's day, we added several new items to our website and etsy shop. We're now stocking a vintage style frame mats in two sizes: 8x10 and 5x7. These are beautiful as is but can also be embellished with subtle glitter accents and Dresden trims.

We've also added different assortments of self adhesive stickers featuring beautiful vintage and Victorian images from advertising and more.

Last but not least, we're very excited about scraps from England featuring Beatrix Potters' much-beloved characters . It's a toss up; I can't decide if Squirrel Nutkin, Peter Rabbit or Jeremy Fisher is my favorite.

A Feature on Martha Stewart's Show!

2011-04-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

We're very excited to have some of our supplies featured on The Martha Stewart Show! Watch Hosanna Hauser, Kristin St. Clair and Martha craft gorgeous window-eggs with our supplies by clicking HERE.

Here are quick links to the mushrooms and other millinery supplies they used:

mushrooms -- HERE and HERE

millinery -- HERE and HERE

Inspired by panoramic sugar eggs, their long lasting eggs turned out absolutely beautiful and are sure to become favorite decorations used year after year. We are excited to try our hand at making a set and are amazed by how thick and sturdy the ostrich egg is!

Back in the Yard

2011-04-17T22:32:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a while since I've shown more of our yard progress. And, although we slowed down a little at the end of last fall, we did accomplish several large tasks over the last few months -- boardwalk, beach rock borders, painting... Here's a little peek at what's moved ahead:

The wall is officially blue! On sunny days the palms cast great shadows on the wall and orange and white flowers really pop against its brightness.

Above is a newly formed flower bed bordered by a band of beach cobbles, each handpicked and brought home by yours truly and my faithful elf.

Here's another view of the rock border and, in the very background, the boardwalk. The rocks continue all the way along and also serve as a place for sprinklers.

Next up? A few sprinkler adjustments, grass, flowers, transplanting... slowly but surely it's all coming together!

A Rose by Any Other Name

2011-04-15T18:09:00.000-07:00

I'm obsessed with trims right now and am very excited to keep adding more and more to the shop. These are old store stock rose trims in a few different variegated colorways. It's hard to pick a favorite -- I love them all!

The one above is such a pretty mix of bold.

And this one is moody and elegant.

Can't refuse the sweet one above either. Do you have a favorite?

New Colors of Forget Me Not Flowers

2011-04-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

We can't get enough of these flocked paper forget me not flowers and are very excited to have just received several new colors.

These are the sweetest little flowers and have so many uses - doll making, parties, ornaments and decorating, scrapbooking, millinery, handmade cards, napkin rings - they're adorable!

We now carry 29 different bunches:

You can find them listed HERE in our Etsy shop. How do you like to use them?

Things I Love: Myrtle's Studio

2011-04-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Miniature Hat Box

To say I'm completely taken with Myrtle's Studio would be an understatement. If you're like me and love unique combinations of color and texture, you're in for a treat. Trained in Fine Arts at Parsons in Paris and New York, Leslie brings an artist's eye and the skills of a fine craftswoman to everything she creates. Take some time to savor her works of art. From delicately crafted and embellished cornucopias to elegant ribbon wreaths, from exquisite gift boxes to fanciful stationery, Leslie's work is the ultimate mix of magic and whimsy.

First Class Mail


Blue Butterfly Cone

Mille Feuille Wreath

In Search of the Golden Butterfly

Spring Has Sprung!

2011-04-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

New Etsy Shop Additions

2011-01-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

We've just added 16 new styles of buttons to our Etsy shop. I am completely smitten with the little bear head, and the little kitty head is beyond adorable. These are from various places all over the world... England, Italy, Czech Republic, the Philippines... and have such beautiful attention to detail. When I was a little girl I actually had a set of the bear buttons on a pair of overalls. As I grew, my mom would take them off and sew them on something else so I was never without my bears!

Meet Nina!

2010-12-28T23:32:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite things about Etsy is making awesome, talented and kind friends who continually knock our socks off with their creativity. Case in point, Nina! Jewelry designer and mixed media artist extraordinaire, Nina creates gorgeous dreamy pieces that take your breath away.

The above two shots are of a shadowbox Nina created. And below is one of eight owl ornaments she gifted to her mom, made with metallic thread, Dresden owls, Czech beads, felt and a washer.

Be sure to check out Nina's Etsy store HERE and her blog HERE. We can't wait to see what she creates next!

A Merry Christmas to Everyone!

2010-12-24T23:27:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a blessed and joyous Christmas!

Afternoon Relaxing

2010-12-02T18:27:00.000-08:00

Oh to have time for an afternoon nap in the sun! Thomas found a sunny spot on the patio yesterday and hunkered down to take advantage.

I've been a bad blogger lately, so just in case I have to ignore the blog for a little while, I thought you might like to see this guy. Now, if only we could teach him to help pack orders...

Personalized Letters From Santa, Elaborate Cards & More!

2010-11-30T00:17:00.000-08:00

We've just added several new paper goods to the website... kangaroos that double as treat containers and ornaments; pretty 3-D Christmas cards with richly embossed vintage images; old fashioned tags... very sweet things to send or display.

It's always hard to choose a favorite, but the kangaroos are pretty darn cool! I totally see them as favors at a kid's birthday party or hung on the Christmas tree with a pouch full of little peppermints.

My mom has always been a huge fan of Santa letters, so I'm guessing her top pick would be our personalized letters from Santa... darling poems, a vintage graphic of Santa and Rudolph, a reindeer stamp.

If you click the image above you can see all of our new paper pieces together.

A Special Holiday Offer in Our Etsy Shop!

2010-11-25T22:53:00.000-08:00

From now until Monday Nov. 29 we're having a special holiday sale in our etsy shop! At checkout just enter the coupon code 32NORTH to save 15%.

Are you having a sale in your etsy shop and want a special banner? Look no further, there's a large selection HERE.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I made stuffing and cranberry sauce from scratch and spent a couple of hours down on the beach enjoying the sunshine. Beautiful day and many blessings!

A Feature in Victorian Homes

2010-11-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

We're very pleased to share that one of our Victorian style advent calendars was featured in the December issue of Victorian Homes Magazine! Here's a quick peek inside the mag:

You can find this particular advent HERE with the other Victorian style advents we offer.

Just in: Glittered Scraps!

2010-11-21T12:58:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Christmas crafting, we're stocking several styles of German scraps featuring pretty silver glitter accents. Check them out HERE!

Do you Know Dawn of Kiki La Ru?

2010-11-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

I am smitten with Dawn's cake bunting! If you don't know Dawn yet, you must visit her etsy shop where she offers cake bunting for just about every festive occasion under the sun.

This particular bunting is called Snow Queen and features dreamy pink and cream pennants on pink and white bakers' twine.

If you're more of a DIY'er, Dawn also offers kits for you to make your own. And she graciously notes where she gets her lovely props, like these sweet little bottle brush trees.

Free Banners & Avatars for Your Christmas & Holiday Promotions on Etsy

2010-11-16T20:27:00.000-08:00

Are you having a Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion in your etsy shop? We are, and we can hardly wait! I've created several free banners and avatars for you to use just in case you want to really announce your sale.

Here's what to do:

Just click on the image you like to enlarge it to the correct size, then drag it on to your desktop. Banners are sized at 760 px by 100 px and avatars are 75 px by 75 px.

Some have text appropriate for a range of sales. Others are blank for you to add your own text using basic photo editing software.

Keep scrolling! There are more below...

I love these large classic bulbs:

Had to include and orange one. A blog I read frequently wouldn't have it any other way!

Hope you enjoy these, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. I'm happy to help :)

One Degree Of Separation + A Weekly Wrap Up

2010-11-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

The coolest thing happened this week! I got a call from someone who found our website through a google search. Turns out we live in the same town AND have a dear blogger friend in common. Talk about one degree of separation... twice. Who would have ever thought?! Natalie, I'm still totally amazed, and thrilled, we met!

In other news, we've been busy little elves carefully gathering orders and spending lots of time at the post office. In between all the boxes and bubble wrap though, I've made back to back trips to Home Depot for paint samples for our wall. We're still determined to paint it deep blue.

This week we also made a group of crafting supply kits for a special group of scrapbooking ladies who'll be getting together with our blog friend, Cathe. They turned out pretty awesome with a mix of specialty supplies from our shop; so awesome, in fact, that we plan on adding them to our offerings. What do you think? Neat, yeah?

Well, I must run for now. We're having a beautiful warm day today and the ocean is calling, so I'm sneaking down to go for a surf and enjoy the sunshine. See you all back here soon!

'Tis The Season

2010-11-09T07:57:00.000-08:00

The season is in full swing around here! And post office/UPS trips are happening at least once a day. Above is yesterday's first round.

New Shop Additions: More Paper Advent Calendars

2010-11-06T15:12:00.000-07:00

We adore advent calendars and couldn't resist adding a few more to our already large selection. All of these beauties are available HERE, plus about 75 more designs!

These bear angels have the sweetest faces.

This one has Bible verses behind the windows.

This one has beautiful colors.

And this one is super long.

This one is a standing 3-D style. The folks bearing gifts fold forward and the manger and Bethlehem bend toward the the back.

This one has a charming family scene.

This one also has Bible verses behind the windows.

Rock On!

2010-11-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

Look what was in my mailbox! A couple of weeks ago I won a gorgeous hand painted rock in Geninne's giveaway. Isn't it adorable? He has the most charming look on his face. Thank you, Geninne, I love him!

I couldn't resist keeping the cloth and tie that the rock was bundled in. And that's Geninne's card on the right, which now has a happy home on my refrigerator. As for my new bird rock, he has a proud place on my desk where I can enjoy him everyday :-)

Meet Jennifer of Hummingbird Traveler Studio!

2010-10-31T09:11:00.000-07:00

We're big fans of Jennifer Primeaux and are so excited to share a bit about her with you today! From fanciful cotton batting flower girls to handsome mice dressed in their finest royal attire, her work combines Victorian era details, Native American inspiration and the best of 18th century France. With meticulous attention to detail and a flawless execution, we're sure you'll become big fans too! Read on for a peek into Jennifer's world...

A bit about you (name, location, where you can be found on Etsy & online).

Jennifer M. Primeaux of the Hummingbird Traveler Studio. Santa Fe, NM. www.etsy.com/shop/hummingbirdtraveler

How did you get involved in your crafting business?

I have been crafting and drawing since I was two. As a toddler I would get fists of crayons and draw on the walls; when I got in trouble with that I started drawing in the closets. Growing up we made many of our own Christmas ornaments and decorations. When I graduated from high school I knew I wanted to be an artist, or maybe an art historian. The preservation of Native American cultures has always been a love of mine. From high school I went to the Institute of American Indian Art, and after that I went to The University of Oklahoma for Art History. I didn't think of starting my own crafting business until the late 90's when I found myself working at a holiday shop. To say that I was enchanted by the Victorian (inspired) and German glass ornaments that I sold is an understatement. It was love at first sight! Within a couple of months of working there, I started making my own Victorian Christmas ornaments. Initially, it's still a dream of mine, I wanted to have my own line of Native American glass ornaments. Unfortunately, this is too expensive to do by myself. Those early years were spent experimenting with making my own molds (for candy containers), learning the art of spun cotton, experimenting with collage techniques and research. Since then, I have been creating my own version of the Victorian ornament. I discovered Etsy a few years ago. I see Etsy as great opportunity to showcase my ornaments.

Describe your signature style.

My ornaments are a combination of the Victorian ornament made from cotton batting, and a three dimensional doll. Each ornament has a doll body on the inside made from cotton batting, cotton fill and wire. There is a lot of hand sewing in each one. Also, I create my own patterns for each. When I can, I try to use vintage supplies in my ornaments. Anything magical like fairies, Marie Antoinette, Native American cultures and the little critters in my yard are all inspirations for me. I love to take my inspirations and sprinkle them with glitter!

How has your approach to design changed over the years?

I don't know. It feels like it hasn't changed.

What are your favorite materials? Any tools or supplies you can't live with out?

My favorite material right now is millinery flowers, cotton batting, vintage seam binding, and glitter. At the moment I'm in love with this vintage 1950's thread holder that I have. Its a pink plastic doll with a bell skirt. Inside of her bell skirt is a place for your threads. Otherwise, I can't live without all of my flowers, ribbons and papers!

Biggest design or crafting challenge so far.

I think the single biggest problem I have now is how to make my ornaments more quickly! Each ornament still takes hours to make.

Who or what has/have been your creative influences?

I come from a family of crafters and artists. My primary influence is a my Mother, Connie Hansen. She is a fine arts painter and has always encouraged me to create. When I was a kid she always found money to buy me pads of drawing paper and colored pencils, paints, etc. Other influences are my Native American ancestry, The Victorian Era, the 1920's-30's, and Marie Antoinette. Also, I love animals. When I look at the little animals in my yard I picture them wearing little outfits and having personalities.

Favorite color combinations?

I really like faded colors, especially light pinks and blues. Anything aged is great. When I buy vintage millinery I don't mind if they have brown spots on them, this gives them character.

Interest outside of work/design?

I'm really interested in History. My boyfriend always laughs at the documentaries I watch. He thinks they are really boring. Maybe they are, but I think they are fascinating! I'm also in love with Victorian architecture, I spend a lot my time looking at old houses for sale. I feel like a displaced Victorian.

Anything else you'd like people to know about your pieces?

Behind each completed design there were at least 20 prototypes that didn't make the cut. I'm very particular about my work. It has to meet a certain standard, and most importantly they have to possess a certain magic or I don't sell it. It doesn't matter how long I have spent on it. An example would be the German style candy containers I tried to make (Native American designs). I spent about five thousand dollars on them and I could never get them to work (problems with the medium). When you get one of my ornaments you are getting something that is truly handmade.

***********

Thank you, Jennifer! :)

A Morning Visitor

2010-10-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

The other morning I pulled the curtains back, surprised to be greeted by none other than Thomas perched on top of the porch. Usually he's fearful of heights and wants help back to ground level, but not this day.

He was content to hang on with his tail, listen to the birds and take in the elements.

Eventually I retreated to make tea and breakfast, leaving my favorite visitor to greet the day in his own way.

Fall Decorating: Cone Cornucopias

2010-10-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

One of my absolute favorite things in our shop is the millinery. I love sorting it, photographing it and, of course, doing things with it. Above are a couple of my top picks -- a spray of autumn colored maple leaves, vintage white cherries and vintage button mushrooms. They mixed in perfectly with other seasonal fruits and leaves to top off a few handmade paper cones.

Much like the treat buckets, we used pretty Italian papers, ribbons and Dresden trims to create these cones. Plus a scrap of a girl holding a cornucopia. I'm very into the large turkey Dresdens -- we just got them in today so they'll be in the shop and on the website first thing tomorrow.

We made each cone unique but kept it pretty cohesive color-wise. Left to right we have a velvet leaf/nut and vintage exotic fruit cone, an autumn floral cone with both vintage and contemporary flowers and, last but not least, a fruit cone with all vintage Japanese and German berries, fruits and chili.

Have you started thinking Thanksgiving crafting? Or is Thanksgiving more of a cooking holiday for you? It's definitely a time for baking around here. And for... mmm... turkey sandwiches!

A Completed Putz Church

2010-10-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

Busy times around here now, especially since Christmas is two months from today. Seems like it sneaks up faster and faster every year! Here's how the little church from the previous post turned out. We're also introducing a new cottage this year:

Is it starting to feel like the holidays for you yet? I know it's early but I'm thinking about putting my tree up soon :)

In the Workshop: More Putz Houses

2010-10-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

Been working on more putz houses this week and thought you'd enjoy a peek at how the design process starts out. That little church above is just a few inches tall -- have to gauge the proportions before it becomes full size. I'll show you how it turns out next week, so until then, happy weekend!

New Yard Project: More Patio

2010-10-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

I've tried to resist doing two yard project posts in a row, but I'm too excited not to today! Yesterday we had a brief break in the rain -- just long enough for the sun to come out, dry things a bit and let me snap a few pictures. This was before all the edge stones had been cut so you can see a few bare areas above. I'm still mystified that one asymmetrical shape can fit together like this:

See the urn at the end of the wall? That's been sitting there empty for a while, but now happily has a foxtail palm in it. The foxtail had been in the ground but, being a palm that's a bit finicky and needs extra TLC, wasn't performing too well. They thrive in pots and like wet soil, so it'll be much easier to care for now. It's also going to cast pretty shadows on the patio in the summer months.

It's another rainy day today so we're on hold again. We still need to sweep sand into the joints and stomp around to encourage it to compact down. It's amazing how much sand it takes, usually more than you think. After sand sweeping our next phase is the lawn area. There are several weeds to pull and a whole lot of leveling and smoothing in the near future.

New Yard Project: Patio Progress!

2010-10-19T23:05:00.000-07:00

The middle of last week was dedicated to moving the patio forward in several huge steps. After spending several hours leveling our area, we spread gravel from the brickyard, leveled it as best we could and began tamping it down by hand. Not pleased with the results, we ended up renting a power tamper that worked like a charm -- as it vibrates itself forward, it totally compacts the gravel. See it above and how large its plate is compared with the hand tamper next to it? Here's a close up view of its handiwork:

With the area tamped and level, it was time to spread sand. After a trip to the local brickyard for two scoops of masonry sand, we were ready to start distribution. One of my jobs was to climb in the truck and push the sand toward the back for easy shoveling:

Spreading it was super satisfying! We could really see the patio shaping up quickly and felt like we were making major progress:

Once the sand was distributed everywhere we gave it a pass over with the power tamper:

Next up came the fun part: paver placement. Can you believe I made six trips to Home Depot in two days to pick up loads of pavers? We chose a faux flagstone in a terracotta hue to tie in with the saltillo tiles on our porch. These are a uniform shape that interlock and go down super easily. It's amazing how one shape can fit together so well.

We got the majority of them placed just before a rain storm moved in. Unfortunately, when I had a chance to take a picture it was already pouring, and hasn't let up for more than a few soggy minutes since then. So... more photos coming soon, weather permitting :) I'm excited to show you how it looks!

New Special Edition German Scraps

2010-10-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

We've just added several new styles of scraps to our website and etsy shop that are part of a special edition reprinting of images from the 1950s. The scraps above are not part of this reprinting but are a new addition to our shops. We love the image of the girl catching stars and couldn't resist sharing it with you!

The group above can be found here, here and here. Most of the images from this limited edition feature charming scenes of children and their pets.

Other images feature children in traditional German outfits, costumes and Victorian wear. You'll find this group here, here, and here.

This is just a small sampling of some of our favorites -- we're stocking even more than what you see here!

Cityscapes

2010-10-12T22:24:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I'm guilty of taking photos then leaving them in the camera for ages. Today I discovered this group from a visit north to the city a few weeks ago.

Being up several floors in a semi-old building gave a great view of other buildings. I remember being quite taken with some of the intricacies of the older structures.

See the empty streets? We were up there pretty early in the morning. On our way out mid-day the streets were a buzz with both cars and pedestrians.

Christmas Gift Idea: Mixing Painting & Embroidery

2010-10-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

Do you love to embroider? Do you love to paint? Well, then I've got a project for you! How about mixing the two to create pretty linens for someone special? These pack quite a visual punch and are sure to wow even your most hard-to-impress gift recipients this year.

You'll need fabric paint, brushes made specifically for painting on fabric (they have very stiff bristles and let you really push the paint into the fabric with a lot of control), embroidery floss and a needle, a transfer pencil, a design and fabric to put your design on (muslin, linen, and cotton work wonderfully).

When choosing your design, keep in mind that simple turns out just as lovely as something complex. Color-wise, we like to stick with just a few paint colors and then embroider around them in a darker version of the same color -- it really makes the design stand out like in the leaves, petals, pollen and stems above. Try using DMC's glossy rayon embroidery floss instead of the standard matte variety to add dimension and luxuriousness.

As far as choosing your fabric, we've found that Osnaburg muslin handles beautifully and has a great texture. Linen is wonderful for achieving an heirloom-quality look and creating fringed edges, like in the runner above. Which ever fabric you choose, make sure to shrink it first and sew it into your desired shape -- it's much easier to align and transfer your design to a finished piece then to try sewing it after you've painted and embroidered.

If you have a stash of pretty laces, try incorporating some of them into your piece. We used a crochet lace border, a swath of muslin and careful stitching to create the large, one of a kind doily below.

Because the lace makes such a strong statement, we went with a simpler design in just green so as not to overwhelm the eye.

The blanket stitch running along the edge is more than decorative - it also helps to secure the border in place.

While we clearly have a thing for table runners, this technique can be used on all kinds of linens... a set of pillow cases or napkins, hand towels, even pillow covers. Most of the supplies you need are available at Michael's or Jo-Ann, and design inspiration is everywhere.

Happy weekend everyone! And happy crafting!

New Yard Project Part 4: The Blue Wall

2010-10-06T22:52:00.000-07:00

Next on our yard to-do list is choosing a striking wall color. We're inspired by the above photo of a blue stucco wall somewhere in the Yucatan. A bold color sure makes the palms pop! And it's almost the exact same color as the sky. Below is our wall and a few color chips. The idea is to make our palms pop, too, with the vines creating an undersea kelp effect.

What do you think? Do any of these blues look like the "the one"? After a while, they all start to look really similar.

So far we're partial to the above chip, second from the bottom.

An Everlasting Topiary of Flowers

2010-10-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

We absolutely love seeing how you use our supplies, so we were overjoyed when Stephanie shared the above photo with us. She used a mix of paper roses in different styles and textures to create a stunning topiary ball. Below is a closeup of the mix she chose -- red, white, ivory, dusty rose, gorgeous!

Getting Organized

2010-10-04T19:29:00.001-07:00

A good part of today was spent organizing, something, I must confess, I LOVE doing. With an unexpected storm rolling in early bringing rain on and off, the weather was perfect for labeling, color coordinating, sorting, stacking and arranging. We thought you'd enjoy a tiny tour of our stock room:

Above, zooming in on a few drawers of vintage millinery and a group of blown glass bells. Below, carefully sorted smaller items.

A putz house extravaganza! Hard to believe these will all have new homes by December. Even harder to believe: we made each and every one of these in our studio, from scratch and by hand.

Drawers, drawers and more drawers! Everything from scraps to Dresdens and millinery flowers to mushrooms have designated places.

Each is carefully labeled for easy order filling:

Project Idea: Make a Hallowen Treat Bucket

2010-10-01T21:04:00.001-07:00

With today being October 1st, we couldn't resist sharing a project for making decorative Halloween treat buckets. At just 3 1/2" deep and 4 1/2" across the top, these little guys work best as tabletop decorations as opposed to something to take trick-or-treating.

Tool wise, you'll need: glue, an x-acto knife, scissors, tape and a pencil.
And as for supplies, here are a few ideas:

Gilded Florentine paper from Italy, above, in festive harvest colors. I really like the middle one... reminds me of a pumpkin patch, and the one on the far right looks like a fall orchard. These are all available HERE.

You'll also need a selection of Dresden trims. The medallion shapes are for building the pumpkin medallion and the trim strips are for edging along the top of the bucket. You can find these same trims available HERE.

We also mixed in fancy fabric trims with our Dresdens. Wouldn't the ones below be lovely? You can find the fringe HERE, the pom pom & loop HERE and the lace HERE.

And don't forget the paper scraps! We used the large pumpkins from this German sheet, available HERE.

In addition, you'll need tinsel sticks, non-toxic paint, and sturdy paper board (like mat board used for matting picture frames.) We also used part of a tinsel garland to further embellish our pumpkin medallion. You'll need the following template, too:

Click on the template to make it full size, then drag it to your desktop and print it out. It fits on a standard sized sheet of paper. Next transfer it to your board, cut it out and glue the sides so you end up with a shape like this:

Once dry, we painted the inside of ours with festive orange non-toxic paint before covering the outside in Florentine paper.

With the paper on and dry, we next applied a tinsel stick handle, gluing it to the outside of the bucket then "hiding" it under rows of Dresden and fabric trims. Last but not least came the pumpkin medallion, which we made by layering part of a tinsel garland, a Dresden medallion and a pumpkin scrap. Our last step was applying the medallion to the bucket and, voila! finished treat bucket:

This is a fun and easy project that packs a lot of decorative punch. Try painting the inside a pretty fall hue like burgundy or sunflower yellow.... Make your pumpkin medallion a witch or cat medallion instead -- and you don't have to use paper scraps, different Dresdens layered also look great.

If you're keen to have a couple of these, but aren't feeling creative, we have the ones you see here available on our website HERE along with many more autumn inspired supplies and already made Halloween decorations.

Happy crafting! Hope you're all enjoying the fall!

New Flowers Day 1

2010-09-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

Today was Day 1 of adding tons of new flowers, peps and stamen to our etsy shop. Here's a glimpse:

Funny how my eye was drawn to all the pinks and softer colors, especially considering that many of our new flowers are in pretty fall colors -- burgundy, pumpkin, cocoa. Here, let me show you:

Now we're talking autumn! Tomorrow will see even more new flowers added to our etsy shop.

Now if only this heat wave would break so I could get back out in the yard. There are painting decisions to be made and quite a few seasonal weeds that are starting to show up :)

Fall is in the Air

2010-09-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

It always amazes me how fast autumn arrives; suddenly the air is crisper, the sky bluer and the mornings noticeably chillier. Our etsy shop is looking more autumnal as well... Halloween scraps, unique ribbons and trims perfect for costumes, running pumpkins. Here's a small sampling:

And in the yard: another palm was transplanted yesterday, more soil has been shifted around, lighting is starting to go in and there's a large tree fern that's coming out this weekend. Also, we're trying to decide which color blue to paint the wall. Pictures are coming soon!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Halloween Crafting Supplies, Cards, and More

2010-09-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

Autumn is here and we've put together a group of fabulous crafting supplies, cards and ornaments... click the image above to see what we've chosen.

New Yard Summer Project Part 3: Labor Day

2010-09-12T22:45:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited to say that we've accomplished most of the major removal stuff in the yard. The big palms are all out and the old lawn is dug up! Look above, can you believe there used to be three 20 ft. queen palms grouped just behind where the wall ends?

Speaking of where the wall ends... we terraced the layers and added a handsome yellowish pot that will soon be home to a fox tail palm. Below, you can see where we marked a potential planting area.

Pretty soon we'll be placing the patio stones and I can hardly wait! We found a molded cement style that mimics flagstone at a fraction of the price (love you Home Depot!). There are several different shapes designed to fit together so we'll have fun putting the puzzle together.

Thank You Amy!

2010-09-08T19:42:00.001-07:00

We are completely humbled by the fabulous blog post Amy of Thirty-Six Ten wrote about us! She peppered the post with tons of beautifully arranged shots from our etsy shop and website and wrote such nice things, well... Amy, you made our day. Thank you!

After you've stopped by her blog, be sure to visit her etsy shop, too, where you'll find her gorgeous hand forged sterling jewelry. Her photos are beautiful, her work is absolutely exquisite and she makes every thing by hand in her Texas studio.

Fall Harvest: Vintage Composite Fruit & Stamen

2010-09-06T09:27:00.001-07:00

It may not officially be fall, but judging by all the vintage fruit we've been working with lately, you'd think we just picked the bounty of the season! Berries, chili peppers, cherries, apples, peaches and even almonds are just a few of our new old stock fruit and stamen:

These are adorable for decorating bottle brush trees and wreaths and for making decorative napkin holders. Most were made in 1950s Germany and still have their original tags; a few are from 1950s Japan. All have been packed away for decades and are in excellent condition. You can find them here, in our etsy shop.

And More Glass Beads...

2010-09-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

... are now listed on our website, too:

Click the image to be taken to our website.

European Blown Glass Beads for Garlands, Ornaments and Crafts

2010-08-29T22:03:00.001-07:00

Glass beaded garlands are a staple on our trees year after year. From simple balls to elaborate shapes, each bead is handmade with such beautiful and careful attention to detail. We recently added many shapes and sizes of traditional blown glass beads to our etsy shop. Made in the Czech Republic using old fashioned molds, each bead is blown and silvered by hand. Here's a small sampling of what we're stocking; to see all styles we offer, click HERE.

New Yard Summer Project Part 2: Another Brick in the Wall

2010-08-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

And the work continues! Our cool and cloudy weather has turned for the warmer and a mini heat wave has kept us seeking shady tasks as we continue our yard re-do. After many trips to The Home Depot for more blocks, we've continued the wall and added another curve.

The wall will wrap around about to where the large queen palm is in the shot below, then be back filled to create a second level effect. You can see there's a palm stump -- it's coming out today as soon as I finish this post. The large queen will also come out and most likely be replaced with a king palm.

Speaking of palms, we transplanted a medium sized kentia into a pot. Here is where it used to be:

And here's its new temporary home. It took almost as long to get it into the pot as it did to dig it up!

I used to have a rickety hose reel with a handle that wobbled each time I reeled the hose in. I thought a change to a hose pot might be an upgrade and was thrilled to find this handsome pot at The Home Depot for only $23.

Time to get out there and tackle that palm stump before it gets too hot!

Traditional Advent Calendars

2010-08-24T21:56:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite childhood Christmas memories is the excitement of opening windows on advent calendars. It was so hard to open just one window per day!

We just received several new styles, including two standing 3-D ones, and they're just as charming as ever. It's hard to pick a favorite!

All of these calendars and more are available here.

A Visit From Thomas

2010-08-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

Thomas, the cat who lives across the street and visits us frequently, has been stopping by in the evenings for a little exercise. I keep a shoelace draped over the back fence for just such occasions.

Thomas likes our heavy gardening, too. With so much bare soil he can roll in the dirt and run through the dried lawn all he wants. Above, he thought attacking a calla was more fun than the string...

I got his attention though and pretty soon he was in hot pursuit.

He'll play "I'm not watching you" then, with a leap, he's up and on the hunt, chasing as fast as he can move. Even though we've played countless times, his speed and agility never cease to amaze me!

New Yard Summer Project Part 1: Rock and Roll

2010-08-15T10:27:00.001-07:00

I've alluded to some heavy gardening that's been going on around here lately and finally have some photos to share with you:

Above, a load of stones after being unloaded underneath our gingko tree. Each piece weight just over 20 lbs. and between loading, unloading and taking them to the wall area, each piece gets moved several times.

We chose Pavestone's Natural Impressions Flagstone in Charcola/Tan. When I pictured the perfect look for re-doing our raised flower beds, I envisioned something like this and hoped they actually existed. Needless to say I was overjoyed to find them at our local Home Depot! They have a little lip to "lock together" and stay in place, no mortar needed.

Here we've started laying the first course and stacking a few to see how they'll look.

And after a few hours progress a significant section takes shape.

Keeping things level is a must!

The old planters used to be wood planks with super straight lines. These stones are perfect for making gentle curves, like we've done near the palm above.

I'll have more to share soon, but for now I'm being called outside to work more!

Meet Cathe Holden!

2010-08-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

We've been big fans of Cathe Holden for a while now and are thrilled to share a bit about her with you today! Apart from being a super talented graphic designer, she's one of the most continuously creative gals around who never ceases to amaze us with her projects and ideas. Her blog, Just Something I Made, is a treasure trove of crafting at it's best, complete with tons of images, graphics and detailed instructions to excite and inspire you. Read on for a behind the scenes peek into Cathe's world...

A glimpse into Cathe's studio. See more shots here.
All photos by Cathe Holden.

* A bit about yourself (name, location, where we can find you online).
I am Cathe Holden of Petaluma, California. I am a mother of 3 really, really awesome teenagers, and wife of a fireman, Mr. Wonderful. I am a professional graphic designer and avid crafter/blogger. You can find my logo design portfolio at www.homegrownlogos.com and www.farmfreshcreative.blogspot.com and my do-it-yourself craft site at www.justsomethingimade.com

* Describe your signature style.
My style is all over the map. But I think I gravitate quite a bit towards vintage advertising art of the late 1800 through the early 1940s. I have been hooked on typography since I began my art career in the early 80s. Although much of my design may be considered pretty, I often lean towards a less delicate or feminine style in my designs and crafts.

A set of vintage cheese labels becomes bunting in Cathe's studio. See what else she did with them here.

* How long have you been blogging? Has it developed like you thought it might or has it completely surprised you?
I am half way through my third year of blogging. I could have never imagined a blog could have taken me this far. Not so much in financial success, but sharing on the internet has taken me on an amazing ride around the world. I am so blessed to have connected with so many wonderful people on this earth.

* Creative influences?
Vintage books, Martha Stewart, creative blog friends, like Selena Cate of Apron Thrift Girl, who, for example, has exposed me to a whole new era of style I’d never been interested in, but one I have recently come to adore, Mid-Century Modern. I find so much inspiration from other bloggers’ styles and the things they share.

Soft and tough: leather two ways. See what Cathe does with these leather shields here. And how she replaces a suitcase handle here.

* Favorite materials? Any tools or supplies you can't live without?
Leather has been lots of fun to work with, sewing and transferring images to. I could never live without my number one tool, the X-acto knife. The computer has been an incredible catalyst for taking my ideas and making them happen. I’d like to thank my Mac, and Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS3 for that.

* A glimpse into your typical day?
Coffee, then coffee and then I sneak into my studio before the kids arise. In the summer, that gives me until almost 10 am or later. Otherwise, during the school year, I drive one hour commutes in the morning and another hour or two in the afternoon depending on sports activities. In between that time, I work on client logo designs or crafts and blogging. My husband is a fireman and is gone several days and nights. But when he’s home, he helps take care of most domestic things so I can continue to create. It’s teamwork at it’s best, and he’s amazing.

One of our all time favorites: Cathe's water transfer decal images for tins and canisters. A must-see! Click here.

* Biggest design or crafting challenge so far?
Blogging on demand. I do hit a wall trying to come up with ideas occasionally. There will be times when I haven’t blogged in days, or am scheduled to write for another party and am under deadline with a sort of writer’s block. It can be quite frustrating. But somehow, it all comes together and I get through it. More often than not, my best posts come from those difficult moments, so I try to not get discouraged.

* How has your approach to crafting changed over the years?
I used to not want to tell people that I “crafted”, let alone blogged about it. I thought it wouldn’t be taken serious in the least and would perplex people as to why I give it such high priority in my life. But through blogging I have found myself wonderfully embraced by other creative thinkers and doers and am so excited by how far crafting has come since I was stuffing and glueing wicker-basket lids with calico fabric & ugly lace in the 80s.

Meticulous organization in the studio using cigar boxes and labels galore. Check out Cathe's labeling here.

* Being organized is such a big part of crafting and creating... Any organizational tips for others?
Label everything. I forget more than I remember of where I put things that I don’t use on a daily basis. Labeling every drawer, compartment and box is very important for me and helpful to others, such as my kids, when looking for materials and supplies to work with. It also makes for a quicker clean-up.

* What do you like to do besides create/craft?
Sing. In the car, alone mostly. But I love to sing.

Cathe shows you the ins and out of embossing velvet with rubber stamps here.

* Any crafting projects or techniques that you haven't done that intrigue you?
I’ve yet to carve my own rubber stamps. I find that extremely interesting. It’s just a matter of time.

* Anything else you want readers to know about you?
Yes. I think it’s important to acknowledge that it’s by God’s amazing grace that I am able to create the things I do. It’s been an extremely difficult few years for me and crafting & blogging helps me move through tragedy. Having opportunities to share my gifts with others is a blessing of comfort in itself.

Halloween Crafting & Decorating

2010-08-09T22:05:00.001-07:00

Have you started thinking about your Halloween crafting yet? We've been gathering lots of fall supplies and decorations for the past several weeks and what follows is just a quick sampling.

We found several rolls of vintage crepe paper streamers with pumpkin and cat faces. They're flanked above by two styles of black Dresdens.

We also have a wide selection of orange and fall colored paper flowers.

You can find all of these items here in our etsy shop. Including the orange seashells and inky black glass prisms above.

Identifying Vintage Milk Glass

2010-08-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

First produced in Venice, Italy in the 16th century, milk glass is made white by adding an opacifier - either tin dioxide or bone ash. In the United States, one of the premier manufacturers was the Westmoreland Specialty Company, founded in Pennsylvania by two brothers in 1889. Their focus was pressed glass and, in 1921, the name changed to Westmoreland Glass Company.

Milk glass of many colors was mass produced beginning in the 1940s. Pieces from the Victorian era are lighter and more finely detailed. The best way to tell the difference between an earlier piece and a mid 20th century piece is to hold the piece up to the sun. An older piece will glow pinkish at the edges and a new piece will show blue. I've tried to show you the pink glow in the photo below, but seeing it for yourself in real life is most illustrative. Once you compare two pieces, you'll be able to spot the difference easily.

The four legged covered jar below was made as a mustard pot, circa 1900. It has finely scrolled feet, a fluted and scalloped base and a lid with a crown finial. It still has remnants of its original paper label on the underside. The Westmoreland Specialty Company made lots and lots of different patterned mustard pots before closing their doors in 1984 and they are widely collected. The cherub plate with the openwork border is also circa 1900, but is missing its paper label.

Here's a shot of the label:

And a closeup of the crown finial:

One of my favorite milk glass pieces is a chipped up old covered box that long ago lost its lid. It's nothing to look at but I use it to hold makeup in my medicine cabinet and appreciate it every day.

Be sure to stop by Faded Charm for more white!

More Handmade Bias Tape

2010-08-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

There's something totally soothing about making bias tape and it's always exciting to see how larger prints look once they're ironed down. This time we've made several hundred yards using pretty Ralph Lauren fabric in 4 different prints. Here's how they look made up:

And here's what they started out as:

One fan of unique bias tape told me she'd used it to trim a kimono style baby's top. She'd bought a a pack of the plain white tops by Gerber that are widely available and personalized it with a pretty floral trim. These prints are perhaps a bit grown up for babies, but we have tons of bias prints that we've made in our etsy shop to please all ages.

An Evening on the Beach

2010-07-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

This evening down on the beach felt more like October than July and we were thankful for our sweaters as soon as we neared the water. The sun tried peeking through occasionally but was mostly hidden by the clouds that have hung around all month.

We passed several beach goers who weren't deterred by the briskness and spent most of the time crossing patches of cobble stones washed in by the tide.

A determined beetle took a brief break on his journey just long enough to pose for a picture.

We also passed several castles, the one below being the most elaborate with careful landscaping and bridges.

Another had pebble paving and a thoughtful bridge.

As the sun dipped lower, it grew chillier under thickening clouds and, calling it a day, we headed for home.

In the Garden

2010-07-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

photo by Ann Weber, Smithfield Gardens, Suffolk

There's been some major gardening going on around here lately due to the dreary weather. That's right, while the rest of the country broils, our temps are barely reaching the high 60s and we haven't seen the sun for ages. Definitely one of the strangest summers yet, but perfect for working in the yard, and I've been taking full advantage. About 50 tropicanna rhizomes have been unearthed over the last few days. Their striped foliage and pretty red hues are right up my alley and they're super easy to separate and cultivate. This isn't the time of year to divide them, but in coastal Southern California they're hearty as can be, and in no time will be looking like the ones above.

Last Day of the Christmas in July Sale

2010-07-25T01:27:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder that our Christmas in July sale ends tonight July 25th at 12 midnight EST. Until then everything in our etsy shop is 15% off. Click HERE shop now!

1940s Sunday School Lithograph Posters

2010-07-24T17:24:00.000-07:00

Today I wanted to share a few 1940s Sunday school lithos with you. They have such charming images and can be used for so many different projects, that is, if you don't want to simply frame them and hang them up.

Wouldn't they be adorable decoupaged onto wooden blocks and made into a puzzle? A project like that would require eight different lithos to have an image on each face of a block. They'd also be cute decoupaged on letter blocks, so some faces would have images and others would have letters.

The attention to detail is so sweet. Here's a series of closeups from the images above.

A word about the printer, in case you were wondering:
The Providence partnership of Harris & Jones entered into business as commercial lithographers in 1868, and became the Providence Lithograph Company circa 1875. In 1878, the firm began to emphasize religious lesson material for Sunday schools, and grew to become the leading printers of Sunday School lesson material in the country. Most of their work was done directly for the educational and publishing wings of the larger Protestant denominations. They also published periodicals and a small number of illustrated religious books under the imprints of Harris-Jones and the Religious Press.

Cool Stuff from ESST

2010-07-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

What is ESST, you ask? The Etsy Supply Street Team is a group of etsy shops specializing in supplies and a wonderful jumping off point to find just about every supply imaginable. Above and below are a few of my personal favorites.

Dresden Foils & Trims From Germany

2010-07-20T20:25:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that we love Dresden foils and trims. And in the last couple of weeks we've added several new styles in a range of colors, like the blue fish above, and several trims, stars and autumn designs:

We couldn't resist the running pumpkins and golden kitties above, and the silver birch leaves hint that fall is just around the corner.

Florals are always useful and, in pretty colors like pink and seafoam green, add a touch of elegance to a plethora of projects.

Last but not least, pretty sheets of mixed halos and stars are something we reach for time and again. The black come in handy for Halloween projects while the colors are versatile for any time of the year. We're also stocking silver and gold in both our etsy shop and on our website.

Vintage Stamen and Peps from Germany

2010-07-19T14:58:00.001-07:00

We're super excited about a group of vintage flower stamen and peps we received last week. Exclusive to our etsy shop, these are all 1950s vintage German and even more awesome in person. Glittered, dipped, fuzzy, fruity, single-ended, double-ended... here's a quick sampling:

I can't get enough of the glittery sticks in aqua, red lilac and more! They look positively sugared.

The realism of the shaped ones is outstanding. From the above three, it's hard to pick a favorite.

The group above left are meant to be lily stamen. Any ideas what the next two are?

Cool Christmas Stuff for Crafting and Decorating

2010-07-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

The Christmas in July sale over on etsy is in full swing! In keeping with the spirit, we wanted to share a select sampling of a few of our Christmas offerings. Above, a trio of miniature bottle brush trees to embellish or decorate with as is.

Next, three groups of blown glass ornaments -- elongated tear drops, nuts and colorful drops.

Above, a shabby cast iron tree stand, a vintage-inspired stocking and a group of silver mercury glass beads.

We can't get enough vintage glass beaded garlands. In fact, we love just about all glass beads!

Everything pictured here can be found HERE, and through July 25 is 15% off. Merry Christmas in July!

Christmas in July on Etsy.com: Save 15%

2010-07-13T23:10:00.000-07:00

The 3rd Annual Christmas in July Sale has arrived! From now through July 25th we're offering 15% off everything in our shop, excluding shipping. These are our lowest prices of the year, so if you've had your eye on something now's your chance to get it for a great price.

If you're participating in the sale yourself and need a banner or avatar, scroll down to the next post.

Free Banners & Avatars for Christmas in July on Etsy

2010-07-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a large group of free banners and avatars for you to use for the upcoming Christmas in July Sale on etsy.

Just click on the image you like to enlarge it to the correct size, then drag it on to your desktop. Banners are sized at 760 px by 100 px and avatars are 75 px by 75 px.

The above banner can be semi-customized with your own text using basic photo editing software.

Here's another pair, one ready to go, the other ready for you to customize.

Here's a more contemporary pair with avatars in several color choices.

We're looking forward to the sale and will be posting more details about how we'll be participating as it gets closer.

White Wednesday: Counting Sheep

2010-07-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a shot of one of my favorite farm scenes. It usually hangs in the kitchen so I can glance over and see it while washing dishes. I love how the artist captured such great detail while retaining a dreamy quality. Let's zoom in...

Let's zoom in more...

Be sure to visit Faded Charm for more lovelies in white. Hope you all enjoyed the weekend!

It's Christmas in July at vintage-ornaments.com!

2010-07-04T21:57:00.000-07:00

We're having a Christmas in July sale at our website! Save 15% on your entire order now through July 16th by entering CIJ at checkout. Click to enlarge the flyer above to see a small selection of the many items you can save on, then click HERE to begin shopping.

Chrissy's Woodland Wedding

2010-07-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Our favorite weddings are ones with a completely personal touch, so we are beyond excited to share a glimpse into Chrissy's wedding with you today! Recently held at Seaquest Park in Castle Rock, Washington -- at the base of Mt. St. Helens -- Chrissy's ceremony was an example of DIY at it's finest. We were particularly taken with her terrarium centerpieces and just had to know more:

*What was your inspiration for the terrariums?

I had a love of moss since I moved to the Pacific Northwest, and love vintage decor. I remember once seeing kitschy terrariums on the Brini Maxwell show a number of years ago, and found a 70's book on making them. The ones I made for the wedding were with dried moss and some plastic ferns and your mushrooms so I wouldn't have to worry about them dying.

*How long did they take to make?

It took me a while to gather all the materials, and I'd been collecting glass containers from thrift stores for almost a year, but I put them together in a few hours.

*Did you also make the bunting?

I did make the buntings, I used vintage sheets for the tablecloths, and the scraps and some other fabrics from my stash.

*What kind of cake? The ferns look so real, are they green icing?

And the cake was a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, made by a local lady (it was cute, but turned out not-so-tasty) and the ferns were frosted on. The bunnies on top were vintage, flocked, and found on ebay.

Special thanks to Chrissy for sharing her talents! All photos courtesy of the talented Lara Jenkins.

White Wednesday: Spring Time

2010-06-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

I've always liked the dreamy quality of this late 19th century lithograph. From her white gown to the wild flowers beneath the tree, the artist, Philip Calderon, captured all the details perfectly.

Called Spring Time, she stays out all year. In fact, can you spot her in the Christmas photo in the blog post below?

Be sure to visit Faded Charm for other lovelies in white.

Six Months Until Christmas!

2010-06-25T11:25:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe that it's only six months until Christmas -- that means decorations come out even sooner! Above is one of my favorite shots of one of our trees all lit up with a roaring fire. The mantel has a snowy village scene with clusters of vintage decorations -- spun cotton animals,
pine cone carolers and snowmen, bottle brush trees -- mixed in with putz houses and tinsel trees. Ah, decorating... I can't wait!

Cool Stuff from ESST

2010-06-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

The Etsy Supply Street Team -- ESST for short -- is a wonderful resource for finding etsy's largest collection of supplies. From beads to baubles, paper to mixed media, yardage to trims, ESST has it all. Above is a very minor sampling of a few team members' offerings.

White Wednesday: Vintage Millinery

2010-06-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

I can't get enough millinery! This time of year, when the garden suffers from summer heat, paper and fabric flowers decorate the house as everlasting bouquets. Above is a group of vintage sprigs from Japan displayed in a footed cloisonne vase. The beach scene in the background is a painting from several Christmases ago; it's my absolute favorite place in town besides home.

Zooming in... made with meticulous attention to detail, these blossoms are nearly as good as the real thing!

They're also displayed in an antique sterling pitcher. I just love the handle featuring Mercury.

Be sure to visit Faded Charm for more pretties in white!

Christmas is Coming!

2010-06-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

This time of year, with our workshop in full swing and supplies all over the place, I start to get super excited about Christmas. How I'll decorate, when I'll do it, where the tree will go, and what gifts I'll make are all on my mind. I wanted to share a few of my favorite Christmas supplies with you, just in case you're also thinking Christmas.

Above, vintage mercury glass beaded garlands are a staple on my trees.

Above we have Dresden flowers, a vintage holiday pick from Japan with the most beautiful composite berries and a group of blown glass Czech beads.

Next are three of my very favorite sheets of Santa scraps.

Last but not least, we have a group of spun cotton mushrooms from Germany, a trio of multicolored bottle brush trees and lustrous embossed foil trim that looks so gorgeous lining shelves or on a mantel.

White Wednesday: Mismatched Plates

2010-06-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

Over the years I've seen so many beautiful dishes that strike my fancy, it was inevitable I'd become a dedicated mix and matcher. These two are part of a small luncheon set I couldn't resist, made in Limoges, France by Haviland.

They fit in well with my other dishes' mostly blue and white coloring and make appearances throughout the year.

This turkey always makes his way into the rotation come fall.

And this cow! He's one of my very favorites -- I love the way he's curled his hoof under.

Be sure to visit Faded Charm for more pretties in white!