Valentine’s day

I woke up to a dozen red roses and a beautiful day visiting favorite places and yummy food.

And in the theme of Valentine’s day, a photo from yesterday…

Another quaint (and very romantic!) cottage that I often admire in our wanderings-about in our favorite local town.

And a found treasure, a spoon with a little ship yard scene in blue enamel. This seems to resemble an ocean portal of sorts, far away from the frosty moss of this morning.

There will be a shop update coming very soon, with a new print, cards, and a special vintage pendant to honor the fox.

wrapped up in books and paints and treasures…

???PAINTS???

I have been slowly but surely painting away. Here’s some work in progress from a painting from weeks ago. Getting all the details down…work in progress still.

I added some golden harp-inspired embroidery on her hat.

And remember the feathers that my father found from this post? Initially, I thought that they were from the American Goldfinch (which has such a pretty song!) so I added them to the painting (birds still need to be tweaked, but have a peek).

It turns out (with the help of my awesome readers) that the feathers are from, almost definitely, the Northern Yellow Shafted Flicker.

So the story is slowly unfolding in paint. I hope to finish this tonight, and as soon as it is dry it will be offered as a print in my shop.

???TREASURES???

I was quite sick the last couple of weeks, but I managed to find some amazing treasures. Attempting to de-clutter has put most thrifting efforts to a halt, but sometimes it’s a real mood-lifter.

Vintage maryjanes, broaches, a silver locket on a chain (for me this time), little hair combs and white gloves with red polka dotted trim, and a sweet embroidered bag perfect for springtime.

Of all my treasures from last week, the most inspiring was a bag of faded, multicolored, wide silk ribbons, all hand embroidered with women’s names. We can’t figure out what they were used for. The embroidery also includes their home town and state after their name. Here’s one, which I pressed and put on display. I’ll show the others later.

???BOOKS???

I love the cover of this book, from 1905, which is a real treasure too!

More books…I have a giant, deckle-edged watercolor album that has been capturing my treasures as of late. I make these pages for myself to use as reference, for inspiration, to record my findings, and as a catch-all for all the little things I find. Otherwise, the boxes and baggies pile up and are impossible to sift through! So I guess it’s a process journal of sorts. I watercolor-wash it’s pages with subtle color and glue in little fragments of things I find on my travels and treasure-hunts. I don’t put too much care into the pages…I love to keep them loose and free as I don’t want to attempt to make this an an end product. Just a journey, recorded. The only rule I have for myself is everything has to be genuine and found either on the ground or in a thrift or antique shop, given to me, etc. Today was so nice and sunny I decided to snap a few pictures and share (along with my personal collection of vintgagey necklaces). Private inspiring things…why not?

The little chick-a-dee necklace above is from Found and Made.

Absolutely in love with this lace collar. I have two. Sometimes it’s hard to paste things down so it helps when there are duplicates.

I found a roll of old wallpaper on a rainy day walk. Thank goodness for my umbrella! I just love the pale yellow roses on the grey polka-dotted background.

Little notes on pretty blue scraps.

And finally, has anyone read this book? I have been meaning to read it for a long time. I read “The Lady and the Unicorn” by the same author which was interesting. Anything Historical fiction floats my boat. Last week I found a copy in the thrift shop and I couldn’t resist. I didn’t see the movie due to the fact that I wanted to read the book first:)

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway! There’s still time! It ends Monday at 8:00 pm eastern time.

waking up to this every morning was quite nice

And because you have inspired me with all your sweet comments on my old bedroom…
The staircase leading to the dining room below my old little bedroom featured in a snippet of a photograph a few posts ago.

See the bay window with the rosemary plant? The tiny space and the bay window mirror the bedroom above!

So many times I have come down these steps imagining I was back in time, say 1850 when the house was built. I heard the family used to have parties and dancing in this room. I can only imagine what it was like.

And here’s the whole dining room (my second favorite room in the house!) View from the staircase

What a lovely room my mom has created! See the mantle? A doctor lived in the house and was terrified of fire. He had all of the fireplaces blocked off. Another view: the staircase and bay window:

The colorful peacock wallpaper is the best, it graced the walls when my family moved in.

Because I just have to share here’s the bay window in the little bedroom that won my heart (I wish I could take down those frilly curtains as they conceal the most beautiful wavy stained glass!)

The perfect reading nook.

I have a secret I would like to share. The next post here will feature a really super giveaway. Please come back to visit soon.

through the hallway

We happened to visit the most magnificant, quaint (and very abandoned) summer cottage. It was the dreamiest little abode that I have ever set foot in! This is the main hallway in the cottage…

A forest of hand painted trees adorned the hallway (and to get to the hallway we had to go through a door that resembled a bookshelf!) The lamp hanging overhead made it perfect! I can’t even begin to describe the rest of the home, which was basically untouched since the 1930′s or 40′s. Minks were in the closet. Luggage made a night stand for dusty books. And there were little bird chachkes stashed away in cupboards and antique blue glass bottles on windowsills.

And today, my father gave me three feathers he found laying in the snow. Look carefully and you will see a little spot of red blood (a hawk I presume).

Can anyone tell me which bird these feathers are from?! I have a few others of these kind and would love to know!

My swan portrait is currently half-complete. It’s resting (drying so I can add some glazes in the background and other little details). Today I decided to paint her a sister as well! She’s sketched out and is ready to transfer to another panel. The bulk of the second portrait will have to be completed over the weekend. Thanks much for all your comments on my other painting and sketches. I hope to reply tonight!
Good night all!

two vintage brooches

Two more one-of-a-kinds can be found here.

It hurts me a bit to let this one go, vintage butterfly locket brooch with a mini print of my painting “Fluttering Away” inside:

and inside the locket:

Goodness I am in love with taking photos over icy puddles.

It’s going to come to you wrapped up snug in one of these too:

And the other brooch, a basket (with a fox and a girl inside):

inside:

warmest wishes!

The warmest holiday greetings to all! (and I do mean warm, it’s icy and chilly here!) Staying up tonight and painting! It’s nice to have some time off.

Winter walk from yesterday, mittens by a very old tree with little animal tracks in the snow, reflections in an icy woodland pool and lighting the candles on the third night…

And finally, a full photo of the vintage Queen Anne’s embroidery from last post (I thought it deserved to be viewed in full!)
It’s so pretty and textured and I can’t wait to hang it up in my studio (for now it just lays on my painting drop cloth).

Have a magical holiday season everyone!~*~*~

grey day

Rain, bare branches and grey-washed skies today.

Enjoying the novelty of being able to see the bark and rocks and mossy texture on the ground (as I am quite sure this delight will wear off by mid winter!)

Despite the rain (and to wonder why I am feeling a bit under the weather) I decided I needed some fresh air. The little stream directly behind us was a-flowing!

Squeezed in a little walk today. Have you ever watched raindrops as they slide down bare braches and drip slowly from berries and wild rose hips?

A sneak peek at a few paintings in progress, they are coming along s-l-o-w-l-y.

There’s images in these compositions you may recognize…some maybe not. I don’t want to say much about them because I don’t want to give anything away (and I change my mind a lot so they might not be there when the paintings are complete).

I’m working on so many things right now, I just keep jumping from one project to the next. Today I put these aside and worked on a book binding project I am currently obsessing about.

I got this in the mail today! I have three gals from the same family. I am just as thrilled with the delicate embossed border as their faces. It just amazes me that these little tintypes were around during the Civil War. Holding them is like holding little gems (and please try to ignore my horribly dry, chapped hands!).

They are from the ever sweet Oh My Buttons! and I am so happy to add them to my ever-growing collection of old photographs.

And speaking of gems and collections, I am loving this sweet 50′s tuxedo blouse I bought from
The dusty Dog Vintage Boutique

It’s perfectly fitted and is the best shade of gold with little ruffles and mini buttons…I wonder why the 1950′s is my favorite clothes period to collect and wear?! It’s getting harder and harder to find these fashions, but when I find the perfect piece my heart jumps! I have quite a collection going (and yesterday evening was spent organizing it all in my closet so it’s within reach to wear!)

And for those of you who are wondering…there will be a print giveaway sometime next week…but not here! For now it’s a secret but I’ll fill you in when it occurs so you can have a chance to win!

Have a good day, and for those of you in the northeastern US, stay cozy for the rainy weekend!

Favorites

The fall makes my eyes wander, making a wish list of pretty, earthy textured things (and in colors I normally wear all year).

This sweet nubby brown capelet by Deciduous Soul.

I am amazed by Lady Lavona’s shop. She sells such strange things. I am in love with this antique sterling silver neck piece, which has an “S” engraved upon it too. There’s a little apothecary bottle hanging from it which really opens.

The texture organic forms and colors in Irregular Expressions work are so perfect.

These slipper boots are hand-knit and look so warm! They have felted fern leaf details, swoon! By Felted Finery.

I am obsessed with the vintage section on Etsy. It’s funny to come across a vintage skirt I already have! I love this skirt so much I should buy a duplicate, but it’s up for grabs! I think it’s the piece of clothing I have owned the longest (bought it maybe 9 years ago at a thrift shop) and its so super soft and warm! Patchwork velveteen on an a-line, in Ruby Bandicoot’s Shop:

I saw this ring featured on the Etsy homepage and I can’t get it out of my mind! Silvery birch-bark for your fingers by E S Designs. Her organic-shaped silvery jewelry is so inspiring.

A autumn-y inspired wool felt scarf to wrap around one’s chilly neck by Purl Hand Knits.

And last but not least, the best shoes on Etsy, by Kalia Footwear.

Its raining here and so cold (and very cozy) I think I’ll light some candles. Have good weekends, all!

still dreaming of sea things

Even though we are in the last days of Summer, I find myself still sea-obsessed. And this cute little find didn’t help to relieve my obsession one bit. It’s a sailboat mug that houses a few of my brushes and palette knives perfectly.

When I brought it home I discovered a kitchy little mermaid on the handle. She’s a bit cheesy I think.

It has been a very busy week, and now the weekend calls for rain (which is good because I’ll be snug indoors painting and sewing!) I have some things I have been waiting all week to work on, including some sewing projects for myself. I was able to make some cute little things for the shop which will be updated sometime tomorrow, so check back! Mostly mini-prints, ready to hang, sent to the lucky buyer all wrapped up in vintage velveteen and lace. The one below will have some hand-painted details added to the wood.

I have been thinking about putting more little-ish things in my store, mainly ready to hang printettes mounted on wood with hand-painted details.

And finally, I just had to add this little scrimshaw-inspired detail to my sketchbook closure before it was sent out into the world (and over the sea!) There’s another teeny-tiny ship on the other side and two anchors as well.

Friday bliss to everyone!

orange marmalade, embroidery and other things

Yum! Part of Saturday morning breakfast.

I opened the fridge the other day to find the most delightful jar of orange marmalade (put there by my husband who is quite the foodie). Besides the marmalade’s amazing taste and subtle orangey zing, the jar is so pretty. My paint brushes are sure to find a home in it when empty. It’s made from a thick milky-white glass and the antique-inspired labels make me feel like it’s from very long ago (and the label says established 1797 so I’m in).

Inspiring me the past couple of days…

Rich, fall-like embroidery, velvets and wool. So perfect for September!

Went to a bag sale yesterday and thrifted these little vintage white gloves. They are completely hand sewn and I am in love with the delicate little bow details. They found a home clothes-pinned to my inspiration ribbon, behind my desk.

I have been thinking about goats since last weekend when we visited a farm. They must enter my painting sometime soon! The snippet above is from the book Heidi by Johanna Spyri.

I so wanted to take this little guy home:

It’s a rainy night and I am tucked away in my little room sorting through boxes of wool and calico. I am thinking about making a few totes and picking out the fabric is half the fun. Looking forward to tomorrow, we are visiting an organic farm (and I hope they have goats there!).
A good weekend to all!