I still make things (and I need to be selling some)

So - I restocked my booth with new bracelets today. 

Some really pretty ones - the basket weave handled one in the photo below is very different from most of my silverware finds.  

I've been in a strange place for some time now. 

Things are simply out of kilter and a bit overwhelming right now. 

And my go to when I am like this is to shut down - so I am fighting that urge. 

Bracelets are now $25.00 and if you are local to Athens, Georgia, you can find them at Junk in the Trunk on Olympic Drive. 

The rose floral one in the picture below is a favorite too. 

I've also added several new spoon collage and skeleton key pendants to the offerings. 

As the one below speaks - I AM BLESSED - and life is very beautiful.

I absolutely love the blues in the spoon below. 

I sell them as pendants, but they can be converted to key chains. 

Or simply motivational ornaments to hang. 

Again- available at Junk in the Trunk in Athens, Georgia. 

I have that booth - but I am quite willing to sell these and mail them. 

I am not set up for credit card purchases, but we can work out those details if need be. 

(yes MaryAnn - I need an etsy shop - and I need to work out the whole paypal thing) 

Simply leave a comment here - or at my facebook - or instagram message

or email me at 

teresahome @ juno . com 

(just take out the spaces on the email address - the spammers are killing me with junk emails) 

I'll be popping in here in the next few with some "pop up" inspiration kits to sell too. 

Have a great day. 

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

preparing for a show.....

sorry - these are cell phone pictures. 

I am busily preparing for an artist market

Saturday November 16

Danielsville, Georgia

Historic Courthouse 

It has been one of my best shows in the past, and if the weather is good, should be again.

There will be a few 

Lace and button angels

A new item design for me.

I bought the wings stamp years ago

Had not stamped one thing with it ever

(please make me feel better here and pretend you do this) 

I didn't even tuck it away, it was on the shelf in full view, I just had no idea how to use it.

Then the muse came to visit. 

I LIKE HER

Made on a similar design as the button fairies. 

Stamped and embossed wings on card stock - heavy plastic - vellum - etc

Metal wire threaded with buttons/beads/stuffs

Added lace

Pretty little face

Assorted halos (lace, jewelry findings, rhinestones, big buttons)

Note - none of these buttons are super valuable - they are a mixture of glass, metal, MotherofPearl and plastic. 

I ramble through my stash (playing) and decide what fits the personality of the sweet face and wings

There are also these wonderful  - children appropriate - wood block nativity sets.

I've painted several sets and, with help, gotten them all stained. 

Nice, stunning, 20 inch wide, butcher board  with sawmill marks not included. 

Maybe, I'll see you guys on Saturday

MORE ALTERED COMPOSITION BOOKS

I've been very productive of late. This is a good - no GREAT thing. 

I've got a big stash of the composition books and a ton of ideas for them. 

But when I sit down and start on them - sometimes I just stall out. 

The two I'm featuring today were STALLED - seriously stalled for a bit. 

See that blue paper background? HEAD OVER HEELS for that paper. Looks like old old crackled wood. and I was determined to use it. 

So I covered the front of the book and then could not find any embellishments to go with it. 

I thought and I dug and I pondered and fretted.

Then  remembered a box (SOMEWHERE) that I had hardware in. Old doorplates and pulls type of hardware. 

Found the box and this old doorplate. I scrubbed it up and sprayed it with some sealer. But what to do about the keyhole - the lock was long gone.

I scrounged around and found this stamp. It is patterned after old postmarks. I stamped it and glued behind the plate. Then I filled it in with 3d paper glaze. Fun and perfect.

Glue onto the cover. I really really like this one a lot.

Another one that stalled (and that I almost just left without anything on it) was the old measuring tape one.

This is a great paper - with glossy and embossed areas - featuring these old measuring tapes.

Again - I pondered and dug.

For some reason - this felt like an old general store kind of thing.

Gather - old receipts from a dry good store (1920's receipt) and some from a traveling salesman to a lumber company (1950's)

I had a torn bit of a tape measure  - and a polite "collection notice" sticker (thank you MaryAnn)

But for some reason this felt unfinished.

So I left it and came back to it later.

I found some shims I had tucked away and stamped them with some block numbers. (8-15 happens to be my grandmothers birthday - The Man's grandmother's birthday - AND my daughter's birthday)

But they were not exactly the right color ---- GlimmerMist - great stuff and they now have it at JoAnn's.

I sprayed the shims and knew this was perfect.

Pile it all up - and glue it down.

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.

Hope you guys have a great day.

I still do make things and notes on stash busting....

We are getting nine beautiful new blessings in our life this year. That means 9 baby gifts for Miss Teresa to make. I'm well into it and have posted a few of them already. This is also a challenge in that I want to finish ALL of these from my stash. So far - so good. 

This one is the latest finish. Honestly - I had no idea if I would even like this one. I so rarely work in any kind of bright colors. The purple lustersheen yarn was in some that I was given a long time ago. The white was from an afghan that my mom started and didn't finish. While I had the pattern and the same size hook, I was not able to get the stitch size right. So I "frogged" it and kept the yarn. Plain granny square pattern, a fairly quick finish. The center is a strand of white and purple, the white band is two strands of the white, and the purple is two strands bright, all held together for the duration. (Is there some magic trick to doing that easily? My yarn kept tangling on itself.)

When I finished it, I do like it. Its for the next girl. 

I had quite a bit of yarn left from the "green" blanket. (yes, I know its not green - but there is green in there and that's what we wound up calling it.)

The next baby on the list is a boy. So I wrangled with myself and decided to go with the idea that these could be "boy colors" and maybe be used for longer than just the "baby" years. I love the basketweave pattern on the blanket above so I am using that same pattern and yarns on the smaller blanket. That's the travel project right now.

The pattern is basic double crochet in a variation. The blanket above was done in a 4 stitch block. Here is a link to a tutorial on the stitch.

There has also been a bit of studio work. A friend of mine wanted a spoon pendant with her husband and children represented. Here is that fun piece. --- a topaz, garnet, and turquoise drop (birthstones) completed the assemblage.

Then on a jaunt thru the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, I found these keys, The graphics on them were so pretty to me. Aged just right too. I haven't had much studio time, but I did sit down and pull some blingy stuff out and make two necklaces.

This one is a mix of a key and an earring single that I just couldn't toss. I mounted the bling on the less decorative side and left those gorgeous graphics uncovered, so this one can be worn either way.

 I also look for butterflies everywhere I go and find them often. This necklace is a mix of a butterfly and a skeleton key.  Loving this one too.

Both necklaces will be in my booth at Junk In The Trunk in Athens, GA .

And last, just because he's cute and lovable, here is my sweet helper after a really long day of babysitting the cat. Isn't he sweet. Have to say, he's a great dog, but that tail is NOT coffee table friendly.

I hope you guys are well --

My life is beautiful ---- have a wonderful day.

about the stash busting --- What is it about creative "stuff"? I keep bringing it in and I can see all the incredible things to be made, but then I have a hard time using it. This is an issue I continue to work on. I turned 48 on Sunday. At a friend's suggestion, I am going to try and make 48 projects before my next birthday using nothing but stuff I already have. Goes along with HAPPY DO YEAR quite well, don't you think?


Teresa

a new display

People think I am nuts sometimes.

I literally squealed with glee when I spotted this piece of stunning artwork at the thrift store. 

Drool ---- gasp ---- HAD TO HAVE IT. 

You all know the reaction when you find it ----- it being THE PERFECT THING for that spot.

Giddy with excitement - I took my discovery to the front and for the way too high price of $1.50 I now own this lovely.

A prime example of HOTEL/MOTEL art.

Yes - you can laugh - I did.

Actually I bought it because it is screened on a nice piece of ogee edged MDF.

It lived tucked in beside the refrigerator for quite some time. Until Friday night. Then I took off to the studio with this and an idea for the transformation.

I painted it dark brown, then this color named Country Tan was messily brushed on. Add torn pages from a dictionary too.

And at this point - I got sidetracked playing with my stuff. This almost became an artwork . Notice the adult beverage in the top of this picture. (Needless to say --- I was enjoying playing with fabric and lace and trims. And my art piece was "brilliant")

I took pictures. I loved what I was doing. It was going to be gorgeous.I was relaxed. I was happily playing with fabric and lace and pictures and ebellishments.   Again I call attention to the adult beverage.

It got late and I decided rather than to proceed, I would rest and attack on Saturday Morning ------- I just knew I would have a beautiful art piece that I would claim and hang in my house by Saturday evening. Smug and very happy, I went to bed.

THIS WAS A VERY SMART IDEA.

I got up early and traipsed off to MaggieGraceWorld. Opened the door and gasped. I'm thinking someone screwed with my stuff during the night. Maybe Mr. Black Snake was there.


The beauty from the night before was not nearly as brilliant as I thought. As a matter of fact - it was what some folks would call a "HOT MESS". It would cause Sweet Southern Women to shake their heads and say "bless her heart" or "must have been a gift or she would never hang that on the wall" . Or even ---- "wow, I would put that in a room nobody else sees."

Yes it really was that bad.

Anyway --- it being Saturday MORNING, I was unaffected by that glass of green liquid.

So I took it all apart and proceeded with the original plan.

Quilted muslin stapled to the MDF.
Add vintage Rickrack and buttons.
A row of brass hooks.

And voila........

A wonderful new display for my booth at Junk in the Trunk. Yup - I like it. And it was (is) perfect for the space.

I have had the necklaces displayed on individual cards for a while. This changes the look and it's easier to check the chain length and such. It was a great decision to take this approach.

I hope you have a wonderful day ----

Teresa

NEW PENDANTS.

So ok - the one pictured is mine.

I make the silverware handle bracelets. I love them and have some STUNNING ones in process. I gather the silver and silverplate from all kinds of sources. In the rambling and purchasing and discovering, I often end up with some random "single" items. I have amassed a small stash of them and decided to make pendant drops from them.
I also have a confession to make. The first several of all of the creations were 100% Made by Me. Not any more. The Crusty Old Guy (TCOG) has become my helper on many things MaggieGrace. So now I guess I should say WE make these.

So TCOG cut and drilled some of these for me, I polished and added the jump rings and in this case the little green beaded pearl drop.

I'm in love with these. I just took another one over to my booth at Junk in the Trunk. (it doesn't have a bead).

Note - I am modeling this one and I love it. I took it as mine, but could be persuaded to part with it for the right money.

The little charms on the top chain are not going anywhere. The silver one was from MaryAnn and it says survivor The beads have significance to me. I never take this one off.

I decided to play a little in the freebie www.befunky.com photo editing stuff and took the above photo and reworked it to this one.....

It shows the detail of the engraving much better.

I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend. Me --- I am gonna try to open my doors and windows and enjoy some spring cleaning......... wish me luck.



I do still make stuff

I have been doing things. I've been cleaning and putting away stuff. I've been creating some things. I've been junking for some supplies. I've been playing. I've spent time with friends. And with my mama. I've done a bit of creating things for the booth at Junk in the Trunk.

One thing I've been doing is painting these letters. The wooden letters were given to me by a friend - not really any words just various letters. I am painting them and finishing them randomly. The letter "P" below was stained with semigloss black stain and finish in one. After it dried, I spritzed it with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist route 66 - a special edition color. (I MUST order some more I love this one)

After I spritzed it, I shake and sling and generally get the glimmer mist on me and almost everything around. then I may spritz again. Then I dry it with the low setting on a hairdryer. I think it looks like rained on wood. After it's dry, I spray it with clear spray sealer.

I have done other with different paint and shaking and come up with totally different results.

What do you think???

I create these randomly, but as I was setting them up I noticed that I could give a reasonable idea of a word (yes, I know that is an ampersand) that why I said reasonable idea.

Got some red paint to do some as well.



I also love me some pinterest. I have several boards and on one of them I have pinned this.

Source: smartaleckstudio.blogspot.com via Teresa on Pinterest

Well - it was haunting me. I had picked up some chipboard books at Michaels (in the dollar bins).

I jumped on the idea and covered them with paper. Then added some buttons and lace. See below my take on the necklace displays.

I bundled the chain in the back and tied it with cotton thread.

Draped the chain over the points and voila.

By adding button magnets to the back, I was able to hang them on the tin that I screwed to the booth wall. ( I marked the board as NOT FOR SALE since they are a bit of a pain to assemble)

But boy do I like how they look on that wall.

I'll be pinning this picture to my "my booth at junk" and "inspired by a pin" boards. Thank you so much to SmartAleckStudio for this wonderful idea.

Have a great day. I promise I'll be back.



Snow.......

edit - to add - the link for the snowflake instructions
http://cherishedvintage.blogspot.com/2009/12/paper-snowflakes.html

Nothing like a last minute decision. When we didn't go to Memphis this past weekend, I called Lannae and offered my help with the Madison County Art Market. Her response was "bring your stuff and set up a table."

I had not finished a single thing since I pulled out of this Market earlier.

So Friday night, I GATHERED a few things that I had made up. This was not terribly difficult, because I pack them in boxes and keep them together anyway. I loaded my table and a table cloth.

Then decided to made some of the complicated looking (yet very simple actually) paper snowflakes.


As I made them on Friday night, I hung them from my dining room chandelier. This will become more important later in my post.

I made some from an old music dictionary and some from hymnal pages. After finishing several, I cut the squares to carry with me and make more on site. (this was an excellent decision)

Here is a music note one. I sold every last one of these - quickly. I literally made snowflakes at my table ALL DAY.

The dictionary page ones were not as popular, but they did well too. I will be making more of these to sell, thus I will be looking for more thrifted hymnals. If I can find some bigger sheet music, I may offer some bigger ones as well - I made 10 inch ones and 8 inch ones this time. I also made a few 6 inch ones, they are a pain to curl and glue.

I sold out of soldered charms - and almost of spoon pendants. I also sold MAJESTY - my button angel. and several composition books.

It was a good show - even though I was far from ready for it.

Now onto the part about hanging the completed ones from my light fixture.

At some point during the evening, Dad let the monster below into the house for the night.

Dang - she's a pretty dog. Spoiled rotten too.

Well - she came thru the dining room door and screeched to a halt. Tilted her head up at the snowflakes dancing in the air from the heat blower, and proceeded to bristle from nose to tail and bark.

The heat would go off and she would calm down. Back on and the movement started and she would nut up again. It was hilarious.

Ok - we are easily entertained anyway.

This week finds me back in the studio - making some comissioned pieces from the Market and generally starting the replenishing of finished goods.

Have a great Monday.

Almost Epic Fail.....

Having come to the understanding that I got stuff, I went to the studio last night specifically to use up stuff.

I gathered card making supplies. I had an idea. I was focused. I screwed up card after card. I tossed things in the trash.

I was obviously forcing myself to do something what just wasn't gonna happen. So I declared card making for last night a failure.

Well I had already punched these beautiful birds from handpainted paper. I had tags punched. I try to keep neutral tags most of the time. And I had stamps and ink at the ready.

Quick and easy.

I took a quickie cell phone picture and messaged the picture and this message.

"these sweet birds softly sing songs of hope and joy."

The tags are 2.5 inches by 1.25 inches. cream background. handpainted paper birds, silver stamped words and novelty thread strings. This picture doesn't capture the tiny sparkles of glimmer mist.

any takers on sets of 10 of these? $2.50 US dollars. mailed anywhere in the USA. email me at teresahome <@> juno com. international available, but email me about postage.

these went much smoother than the cards.

I'm thinking it may be time for an etsy shop. MaryAnn HELP!!!! Pretty please.

Weekend update......

Well - all ball related activities were cancelled. Since the MOJO returned, this was a great thing, because I had those UFO's waiting in the studio. And I finished and framed one of them. The frame is not great, but I had it so there you go.

Meet MAJESTY. A mixed media angel. I love her. She framed up into an 8.5 x 11 size frame and features various sized mother of pearl buttons.



A soldered marble charm makes her precious face.

Wings - vintage lace (thank you Carrie) overlay on a music page. Her wings are dusted with clear glass glitter. Her halo - an orphaned earring (thank you MaryAnn).

In this view you can see that her wings arch - the dimension makes me oh so happy. Her name plate says MAJESTIC, and it is from a player piano roll. I love its faded look.

She is mounted on rough textured linen. This linen has major color varients in it. It is an end from a linen used to make artist canvases. This is normally gessoed over so the variations don't matter. (see lower right corner). I love the irregularities. I have about a 24 x 18 inch peice of this left and then I'll be searching for more. I also used this linen on my tag collage.

This is a pretty accurate color pix of her. What cha think?

NOW -- my facebook status from last night referenced - lemon honey glazed pork chops and resulted in several requests for the recipe. And some questions about my diet.

I eat normal food. I eat out with my family. I cook normal food for my family. I loosely follow the guidelines for the weight watchers points program. I have adapted food choices for myself (and those at my address). The biggest difference is in how I approach food mentally and how I interpret the signals my body sends. I now take the time to enjoy my food and the company I am eating with. This week, I'll be focusing on my new approach to eating.

For right now - here is the recipe for the pork chops.

pork chops (your preference on cut etc.)

spread them out in a single layer in your baking pan.

salt and pepper to taste

add a dollop of butter to the top of each chop

(my nod to paula deen)

squeeze the juice of a large lemon over the chops

drizzle with honey

By all means adjust the seasoning to fit your family's taste.

bake at 375 until the chops test done with a meat thermometer. mine were 1/2 inch think and they cooked about 45 minutes last night. I turn mine once about halfway thru cooking, but the man at my address doesn't and it really doesn't matter in the finished result.

I served these last night with rice and fresh broiled asparagus. I spooned sauce out of the pan over my rice and porkchop. I ate no bread (my Lenten sacrifice) but the rest of the crew had crescent rolls.

the most difficult part of eating right with this kind of food. eating only one porkchop. the glaze (sauce) is so good and it would be easy to eat more than one.

Nothing I prepare routinely for my family is ever difficult. I am learning to enjoy my time in the kitchen, but I still would rather be done with it so I can head to the studio.

Have a wonderful day - Oh and MAJESTY is for sale. email me for details. my email is linked through my profile -----

It's Lost!!!!!!

I whined those words last night to LBF. I can't find it. It just disappeared. What am I going to do? And it pisses me off that I can't find it. -------- that is my end of the conversation. His -- this happens, just relax, you will find it, don't be so stressed.

Sounds like something of epic value was lost. So what was I looking (no searching hard for)? My crafting mojo - my muse - my joy - my alter ego. Which for me I guess was pretty epic.

I haven't been in the studio to create in weeks. So last night I decided that the mojo must be buried in the mess that used to be my work surface. Materials piled up everywhere. Unfinished projects that had just baffled my poor brain. All that ganged up and hid the mojo. Sounds logical --- I'm sticking to the story.



So --- hoping I would find it. I made myself go to the studio. With ONE objective. FINISH ONE OF THOSE UFO's littering the table.

An altered compostion book. Covered with a wonderful scrapbooking paper weeks ago. and set aside. I gathered it up - took a deep breath and decided - put something on it - don't worry about it being some of your best work just finish it.

I added the tea stained vintage flower and the pearlized front of a screw on earring (thanks MaryAnn)

I stalled -- just do something I told myself. Then dug out an adhesive metal embellishment. Call it done - and set it aside as complete.

Now then - that wasn't so bad was it. Even better - I kinda like the outcome.

Put all the stuff away that was associated with this UFO. See countertop start to emerge. Breathe a little easier.

Well lets see what happens with this one.

Stare into space.

Read text. Check facebook. Procrastinate. Love on dog. Procrastinate some more. Poke around in boxes. MMMMMM.

Maybe these spool labels will come off easy. Check that out. Those might just work. I know, maybe there's a polyester yoyo in that box that will work. That's better. Now a button - whew. Quick - glue it all down before you change your mind.


Set it aside and call it done too. (note - the picture can easily be changed in the little frame.) Amazing - I'm rather happy with this one too.

More countertop exposed - put away the things that were piled with this one.

Gather scissors - pliers - cutters - put them in their little racks - geez at least it looks better in here.

Wait - I could do that really quick -



Earrings quickly assembled. Me a pair - college girl too. Simple - classic - deep golden vintage pearl beads. Put away jewelry findings - and the little saucer that held this project.

Dang - that counter is somewhat cleaned off. Scary - I still ain't found that mojo. But I gave a good search. Try again tomorrow night after all the other crap life demands.

Turn off the lights - close the door - drop hasp into place -- love on dog -- treat her -- bath - blood pressure med -- bed.

3AM today ------ wake up ----- blood pressure med induces a middle of the night bathroom break. Get back in bed. Guess who shows up from a long hiatus - probably sipping umbrella drinks in a sandy sunny location.

YUP -- the MOJO returns.

Toss - turn - until 5am then give into it and get up --- see the finished project in the next few days.

Glad the MOJO is back. But if I find out just where MOJO goes for the long vacations, next time I'm going on the trip.

Have a wonderful day.

Icing the tree

Last night we finished the tree to my standards. Those shiny silvery strands are my favorite part of the tree and they have to hang correctly for me to be truly happy with how the tree looks.

We complete it with all the lights on. This involves one of the memories my children will have etched in their brains. Me standing on a chair - yardstick in hand. Yes--- a yardstick.

I drape a few strands across the tip and then hang them on the top of the tree. I go around and around and climb and add until the tree is covered top to bottom to my liking.

Then we turn off the room lights and stand back and admire the handiwork. This is absolutely my favorite moment every year. That first time seeing the tree in its finished state.

The picture above was taken using a vellum screen across the flash.

Poca has not bothered the ornaments. Not the lights. Really not even the tree. She drinks out of the tree stand though. Last night this was a major source of amusement for all of us. The inside air is dry and her fur has a lot of static electricity. When she goes under the tree, her fur "sucks" the icicles off the tree and onto her. It is hilarious to watch her try to shake them off - then scratch them off - then chew them off. We laugh for a while before I rescue her and pull them off to put back on the tree.

I also finished the last of the custom orders for people. These are for a local friend of mine. MaggieGrace sales are closed for the week now. Any creative works will be for my pleasure at this point - although one of the children has asked for an "urchin" to include as part of a gift.

The order was for altered composition books one in a cooking/recipe theme and the other was for dogs and cats.

Today is our last day at work for the week. I'll be taking cyber time off through the weekend. Merry Christmas to all of you and yours.

I have a beautiful life.