VISITORS, ENTER TO WIN..........

BEFORE I CREATED MY OWN BLOG, I WAS A LURKER. I WOULD CRUISE FROM BLOG SITE TO BLOG SITE AND ENJOY ALL THE GREAT COMMENTS AND TALENT. I NEVER COMMENTED, JUST ENJOYED! NOW THAT I HAVE MY OWN BLOG, I REALIZE THAT IF I ENJOYED SOMETHING, OR HAD A THOUGHT, I SHOULD HAVE NOT KEPT QUIET. AS OF YET, I DON'T HAVE A VISITOR COUNTER, BUT EVEN IF I DID I WOULD STILL ENJOY GETTING FEEDBACK, EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY A "LEROY WAS HERE" COMMENT. TO ENCOURAGE YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE OUT IN BLOGLAND TO LET ME KNOW THAT YOU VISITED MY SITE, (SO THAT I CAN VISIT YOUR SITE IN RETURN), I'M GOING TO OFFER A BRIBE. FOR EVERYONE WHO LETS ME KNOW THAT THEY VISITED, I WILL PUT THEIR NAME IN A JAR.(OR MAYBE A HAT). FOR EVERYONE WHO VISITS AND THINKS IT'S WORTHY OF ADDING MY SITE TO THEIR LIST OF SITES TO VISIT, I WILL PUT THEIR NAME IN A JAR 3 TIMES. TEN (10)DAYS FROM NOW, I WILL DRAW OUT A NAME AND SEND AN ALTERED PHOTO HOLDER THAT I DESIGNED JUST FOR THIS. FAIR ENOUGH?

THE FRAME IS A 5"X5.5" STRETCHED CANVAS WHICH HAS BEEN COVERED IN DIFFERENT PIECES OF VINTAGE LACE AND TRIM, THE PHOTO POCKET IS AN OLD PIECE OF LEATHER ADORNED WITH PIECES OF WOOD TRIM AND THE TOP HAS PARTS OF VINTAGE DRAWER PULLS.

MONDAY MORNING FUN

ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE FLEA MARKET YESTERDAY, I WENT TO A LOCAL CRAFT SHOP TO LOOK IN THE CLEARANCE ISLE WHERE I FOUND SOME SWEET LITTLE STRETCHED CANVASES FOR UNDER A DOLLAR. I LOADED MY CART. EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO PLANS FOR THEM, I FIGURED THEY WOULD ALWAYS BE USEFUL FOR ALTERED ART. AS I WANTED TO STOCK MY SHOP WITH MORE VALENTINE GIFTS, I MADE THIS PROTOTYPE AND DECIDED THAT THIS COULD BE A SWEET GIFT THE YEAR ROUND. THE LITTLE LINEN BANNER COULD EVEN BE PERSONALIZED OR CHANGED FOR THE EVENTS OR SEASONS. A SIMPLE BUT FUN PROJECT.

FLEA MARKET FINDS

SINCE THE WEATHER WAS A LITTLE FRIENDLIER ON SUNDAY, I WENT TO THE DUPAGE FLEA MARKET TO HAVE A NOSE AROUND. IT WAS FUN AND SOMETHING I LOVE DOING. IT WAS NICE TO CHAT WITH FELLOW FLEA SHOPPERS AND DEALERS AND SHORE ONE ANOTHER UP. I BOUGHT A COUPLE OF PIECES OF SHABBY FURNITURE FROM THE TALENTED MISS ROSEMARY AND ALSO FOUND A FEW FUN SMALLS TO USE IN ALTERED ART.

TIN HEARTS

ANOTHER GREAT FIND AT THE FLEA MARKET. THESE HEARTS ARE MADE FROM OLD CORRAGATED TIN AND THE ORDINARY KEYS WERE MADE SPECIAL WITH THE ADDITION OF HOT PINK GLITTER AND SOME OLD DOUBLE HEART CHARMS. I JUST LOVE THESE! THE CREATORS ARE SANDY AND JOE OF " RHUBARB REIGN".

SPRING CLEANING

YESTERDAY WAS JUST TO COLD TO GO ANYWHERE, SO I DECIDED TO TIDY UP MY STUDIO. I DIDN'T GET TO FAR WITH THAT AS I GOT A LITTLE SIDE TRACKED WHEN I WAS SORTING THROUGH MY BAGS OF OLD LACES AND TRIMS. SOME OLD BOTTLES AND JARS WERE CALLING FOR SOME ATTENTION, SO I CAVED AND HEEDED THEIR CALL.

LONGING FOR SPRING

WINTER HAS REALLY JUST BEGUN AND I'M ALREADY LONGING FOR SPRING. WHILE I'M WAITING FOR IT TO ARRIVE, I WILL BE MAKING THESE PAPER FLOWER GARLANDS TO PUT A LITTLE SPRING LIKE ATMOSPHERE IN THE SHOP.

FRENCH BIRDS

FRENCH BIRDS

THE WEATHER IN THE MIDWEST HAS BEEN VERY SNOWY, WINDY AND COLD. I HAVE BEEN MAKING SURE THAT THE OUTSIDE BIRDS ARE FED AS IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIND FOOD. THEY IN TURN, PROVIDE ME WITH ENTERTAINMENT AS THEY FEED AND FRITTER ABOUT. AS YOU CAN SEE, MY INSIDE BIRDS LOOK ON FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR WINDOWSILL. I LOVE THESE BIRDS. THEY REMIND ME OF MY HOLIDAY LAST SUMMER. I FOUND A BIG BAG OF VINTAGE LACE BITS FROM FRANCE, AND STITCHED AWAY IN THE BEAUTIFUL COMFORT OF MY RENTED COTTAGE.

QUEEN OF HEARTS

HERE IS A TRAYFUL OF LITTLE CASHMERE PILLOWS WITH LACE HANGERS AND BITS AND BOBS OF VINTAGE LACE AND MOP BUTTONS. DO YOU SEE THE QUEEN? SHE'S ALSO AN ANGEL AS SHE SPORTS A PAIR OF RHINESTONE PASTE WINGS. I THINK THE LOOK ON HER FACE IS ANYTHING BUT ANGELIC, DON'T YOU? SHE KIND OF REMINDS ME OF THAT CHUBBY BLOKE ON LITTLE BRITAIN.

A BASKETFUL OF CASHMERE HEART PILLOWS WITH VINTAGE BUTTONS AND LACE.

TRANSITION

I STARTED CHANGING THE LOOK IN THE SHOP TODAY. IT WAS VERY QUIET BECAUSE OF ALL THE SNOW THE CHICAGO AREA HAS BEEN RECIEVING. FOR ME, THIS TIME OF YEAR IS NOT AN EASY TRANSITION. THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER AND IT'S TOO EARLY FOR SPRING, SO I STARTED MAKING ITEMS THAT COULD STILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR WHILE PERHAPS CATCHING THE EYE OF SHOPPERS LOOKING FOR FEBRUARY GIFTS. THE LACE WREATH WAS THE ONLY ONE LEFT FROM CHRISTMAS, SO I SIMPLY ADDED A VERY OLD RED VALENTINE HEART TO IT. THE GARLAND ON THE MANTLE IS MADE WITH DELICATE VINTAGE PAPER PETALS THAT NEEDED TO BE PUT TOGETHER.

FUN WITH SWEATERS

THIS IS A BACKPACK WITH FELLED WOOL AND FELTED COTTAGES

ANOTHER TOTE WITH ENGLISH COTTAGES

MORE FUN WITH SWEATERS

LARGE BLACK WOOL TOTE WITH FELTED FLOWERS AND LEAVES.

I LOVE WOOL SWEATERS

THESE ARE SOME OF THE ITEMS I HAVE MADE OUT OF RESCUED, FELTED, WOOL SWEATERS. THEY ARE SO FUN TO MAKE. THE TOP PICTURE IS A FRENCH PRESS COFFEE COZY, BUNNY PILLOW, ( NAMED MR MC GREAGER'S GARDEN), A PURPLE TEA POT COZY, AND A COUPLE OF ALTERED CHILDREN'S SWEATERS. IN A FEW DAYS I AM GOING TO BE OFFERING SOME TEA COZY KITS FOR SALE ON MY ETSY SITE UNDEER THE NAME OF JANEYRE. FEEL FREE TO VISIT.

MY MAMA

TODAY IS MY DEAR MAMA'S BIRTHDAY. SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN 93 YEARS OLD. SHE WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1916 AND PASSED AWAY IN THE FALL 0F 2004. HERE IS A SWEET PICTURE OF HER, WITH HER OLDER BROTHER, WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD. HER NAME WAS ALICE, AND I'M SURE SHE IS PLEASED THAT HER NEWEST GREAT GRAND CHILD IS NAMED AFTER HER. SHE WAS THE SWEETEST WOMAN IN MY WORLD AND THERE IS NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK OF HER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA! I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD MOTHER.

IPPICAN STORE FRONT

IPPICAN PHOTOS

IPPICAN YARN SHOP AND GALLERY, UK

TODAY I TALKED TO ONE OF MY NEW FRIENDS IN MUCH WENLOCK, UK. LESLIE IS THE OWNER AND MAIN ARTIST IN A HAPPY AND INSPIRING YARN SHOP AND GALLERY ON THE HIGH STREET IN THIS TINY VILLAGE. THE NAME OF HER SHOP IS IPPICAN, AND WHEN EVER I HOLIDAY IN THE SHROPSHIRE AREA OF ENGLAND, HER SHOP IS ONE OF THE FIRST I VISIT. IT'S TRULY A TREAT FOR THE SOUL WITH ALL THE COLORS, TEXTURES AND TALENT THAT ABOUND THERE. NOT ONLY DOES LESLEY KNIT WONDERFUL CLOTHING ITEMS OUT OF COLOR FULL AND UNUSUAL FIBERS, SHE IS ALSO A FIBER ARTIST WHO CREATES WALL HANGINGS, TEA COZIES AND JEWELRY. OTHER LOCAL ARTIST'S DESIGNS ARE ALSO ON DISPLAY IN HER SHOP. ON MONDAY EVENINGS, LESLEY OPENS HER DOORS TO THE LOCAL WOMEN, PUTS ON THE KETTLE, AND INVITES THEM TO SIT AROUND A SHABBY WHITE TABLE AND BRING OUT WHTEVER PROJECTS THEY WANT TO WORK ON OR ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH. HAVING BEEN INVITED TO JOIN THEM, I CAN TELL YOU THEY ARE QUITE AN ANIMATED GROUP. (NOT TO MENTION TALENTED)

JEWELRY MUSE

MY JEWELRY MUSE HAS BEEN WORKING OVERTIME. I HAVE HAULED OUT MY FAVORITE VINTAGE BUTTONS, BEADS AND FINDINGS AND MAKING JEWELRY OUT OF THE MISHMASH OF BITS AND BOBS. I'M GOING TO SET UP AN ETSY SITE SOON AS I NEED A REASON TO KEEP ACQUIRING JUNK. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

BABY ALICE

AS I WAS REFLECTING ON THE PAST YEAR'S HIGHLIGHTS, THE BIGGEST BLESSING HAD TO BE WHEN I BECAME A GRANDMOTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME. ON JULY 18, 2008, BABY ALICE WAS BORN TO MY ELDEST DAUGHTER TAMARA AND HER WONDERFUL HUSBAND, DAVID. ALICE HAS BEEN SUCH A JOY TO HER WHOLE FAMILY BY CREATING RENEWED HAPPINESS. SHE IS A TREASURE TO ALL OF US. THIS COLLAGE OF PHOTOS ARE SOME TAKEN ON HER FIRST DAY OF LIFE. WE LOVE YOU BABY ALICE!