Shoe Mold

No, not mold like the icky green kind...but this nice wood one. Not sure where the right shoe mold is, maybe a one legged person used this...kidding, of course. I am so drawn to things wood and industrial like. I really should display this with my cast iron shoe repair stands. Need to do that!

My House

Yes, this house belongs to me, but I do not live in it. This was given to me by my niece when she moved into an old house, this little house had been left behind. Since she is not a fan of olde stuff, she passed it onto me. So it graces my studio. It appears that it was well loved by a child in the 1940's.

Quirkiness

That's the only word I could come up with for this 'thing.' I found it at a yard sale (where else) a few summers ago. It is not normally my taste (a little too modern or spacey), but it spoke to me, so to home with me it came! But I do have to say that it fits into my studio of quirky things. This photo does not do it justice. Those wire stems make it move all around and do a kind of jiggle movement. Kinda like little jello globs on sticks. Funny, huh?

Smokey The Bear

This cute and cuddly Smokey Bear has been mine since I was about 6 months old. My parents took me with them to the Butte County Fair in Chico, California in the summer of 1954 and this is where we got him. There was a booth set up by the National Forestry Dept. and they were giving away these Smokey's. My grandparents went with us and they got one too. Their's was played with by my cousins when they were at my grandparents house. So over the years Grandma's Smokey got pretty tattered. Mine, however, is in good shape, albeit his belt is broken loose on one side. So this bear is about 54 years old! He is now considered a collectible.

"P"

Thought this letter was appropriate since it is the first letter in my name.
I think it will look good covered in the larger sized glass glitter. That
stuff looks amazing on things.
After I get it glittered I will post a photo of it.

Bunny in Shoe

And that's all there is...just a bunny in a shoe.
He just looked at home, so I left him there.

Family at the fights

Here is my husband, Tim, with me and my oldest son, Tyler, at the cage fighting event to support Zach last night. I was unsure about going to this event, as I do not like to be around drinking or people who are...they just get too crazy for me. But it was fine. The security kept a very tight rein on that place and anyone who got the least little bit out of line was kicked out. So I felt safe and was not bothered by anyone. Plus I was there with my hubby and son to protect me. The next time I go I am going to take tracks and hand them out to people. I wanted to last night, but did not have any ready. I would love to share the love of Jesus with the these folks. I heard the f bomb enough to last me about ten lifetimes, but I can only pray for the ones who feel the need to express themselves in this way. Can you see me...the mom of The Warrior...handing out tracks sharing the love of Jesus at cage events? Whatever it takes and where ever God calls...there I will go!
I was able to see some of Zach's old school mates there and catch up with them. That was nice. My kid has quite a following! And, now more people for me to remember in prayer. More people who need Jesus...pre-Christians, as I like to say.

Zach The Warrior t-shirt

Here I am showing the Zach, The Warrior t-shirt...telling Zach I cannot really see what the drawing is of...it is a Samuri warrior, as it turns out. So this is why he is looking down. All of his friends wore these shirts to show him support. Red and Black are his colors. Not a good shot of me and my double chin and round belly! UGH. Why didn't someone tell me to suck it in.

Introducing Zach

Here the announcer is pumping up Zach for the crowd...Zach has a finger lifted...I am going to say this is for Jesus. This place was terrible for taking pictures...they pour this smoke into the room when the fighters enter, so this is why it looks so smokey. Plus it was dark and I was not close enough to really get very good shots...most them had to be deleted.

Zach and Me

Here is Zach after he won his fight, wearing his medal. How I got such a good looking son, I'll never know. Congratulations son! I am proud of you. Keep up the good work!

Zach on the Ultimate Cage Fighting Poster

Here is my son, Zach, on the Ultimate Cage Fighting Poster. He is the one on the front left. Last night was his first match and he won. Piece of cake for him. He is not someone to fool around with. He loves to be fit and works very hard at it. I am proud of him and my prayer is that he will bring lots of people to know Jesus through this means. The Lord showed me a long time ago that he had a special calling on Zach's life. I did not know just what that meant, other than he would be a leader and minister to many people. So this may be what God has in store. So please pray that Zach will heed the calling of Jesus and turn this area of his life he is good at into a way to reach the lost.

Little Green Goober

Not sure what this little guy is, but I'll call him a goober. He was a find from the thrift shop. I thought he kinda looked like my grandson, Elijah. No, Eli is not green, but he has a round little head. This guy looks like he is waiting for some kind of trouble. Check out that hair! He likes sitting in the window sill in my studio.

Sewing Chair

This is a pinkeep that was probably made in the 1950's. I am not all that crazy about the print, but like the cute little chair. It sits next to my sewing maching and I do use it for straight pins while I am sewing. Since I prefer a more Civil war style fabirc, I may replace the fabric on this one day...one more thing on my list of "to do's." I tell ya, that list is long. I am sure I will never live long enough to do it all.
I did get some pillows recovered these last few days. I had this great fabric, found at the thrift shop, of course, and decided it time these pillows had gotten a new covering. They look so nice with my leather couch. Plus they fit in with more jewel colors I use in my home.

My Vintage World

Yep, this is my world...and it is vintage. This 8" world globe was bought at a yard sale a few years ago. I have been looking for a larger one where the ocean is black. My grandmother had one like that and I liked it. I do not know what happened to it. I have asked different relatives, but nobody seems to know where it went. This little one will just have to take it place until I can find one that is "just like grandma's."

Here she is again

This is a closer look at the pinkeep.

Victorian Pinkeeper

This romantic pinkeeper has graced my sewing machine cabinet for a couple of years now. I bought it at a local store called "My Favorite Things." This place has vendors booths with a variety of goods for sale, with most of them being antiques or vintage items. It is a fun place to browse or pick up something from time to time.
I think this pinkeep would be an easy one to copy, so if you want a closer look just click on the pic to get a better look at it.
I believe some of the flowers are not original, likely there were added to replace more worn flowers. The ribbon is vintage.

Victorian Box

Jar of String

I found a package of red and white string at my thrift shop the other day. So since everything goes into a jar in my studio I crammed these guys in one too. They are vintage, but I am not sure what they were used for. The labels are in Japanese. I do love string and have been using it more. Rubber bands are more convenient, but they do wear out and string has much longer life to hold things together.

Going Green with GUMBY

Isn't he oh so cute? I loved watching Gumby and Pokey on television when I growing up in the 1950' and 1960's.
I found this guy in a large banana box of semi-collectible toys I have been saving for my grandchildren.
So out came Gumby to be in his new home...my studio. Since the studio is a place for the odd and quirky, as well as
crafting supplies he will fit in nicely.
So welcome, Gumby. The other good thing about Gumby is that he is GREEN...so he is in style since everyone is going GREEN. Now, I need to find a Pokey to hang out with him, something to watch for this summer when yard saling.

Sew what?

I found these 'olde' wooden letters at a quilt sale back in the fall.
The vendor had a few letters in a basket so I was also able to get the initials for
my first and middle name, which was PJ. My mom always called me "PJ"
when I was a child and still does.

I loved these letters because they spell out one of my hobbies: to SEW.
They have found a home in my studio...reminding me to SEW from
time to time. I seem to have so many projects going on at any
given time I sometimes need a reminder.

The next project is to finish a family quilt that was started about 23 years ago.
So...sewing I will be!!!

Lovely new draperies...well sorta

These heavy duty draperies are new to me. I got them at my local thrift shop for $1.99 per panel.
So this made it only $3.99 to cover the bedroom window. They are a soft, dark gold with a slight pattern.
They are a soft brushed upholstery fabric that looks very Victorian.
Here they are displaying the tie backs that came with them.
This is actually a new window as well. But when we had the tree fall on the house
last winter, things in this room never got the remaining repairs done.
So the window is now in and I was able to put up a curtain. Yippee!
I am so glad to have this done! Now for remaining repairs to get finished.
But who knows when it will be, this is the way it is when you are married to
a home improvement man...you are the last to get things done around your house.
Since they have done it for everyone else, they are tired of working on houses and
so things get let go alot. But he is a good husband, so I will just be glad for that and thank God for him

Keeping the cold out

This is how they look down. They have done a good job at keeping the cold out. This has been important this past winter with the frigid days we have had here in the Northwest. So I no longer have a quilt covering the window. I can use it on the bed! Novel idea.