Vintage Flair

Mantiques

There is a fun local consignment place in MI that I dropped off a some of the things I grew tired of and it is called Kalamazoo Kitty. {Don't you love the name uh?}  I went there to pick up my check since some of my things sold.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw this "mantique"{I think I am watching to much of American Pickers} that I immediately knew my husband would love.  It is a wooden shipping crate from Globe Tobacco in Detroit, Michigan.  Don't you just love the lettering on the front of the box....take a look.

There is lettering even on the sides.

I am happy when I can find local relics from the past that I can treasure them in our home.  It is also a nice bonus when I buy something old and my husband is excited about it {you know I never get in trouble when it is for him or he likes it...hmmm}.  I did a quick internet {thanks Wikipedia}, search on Globe Tobacco and look at how beautiful their building was in Detroit. If you watch American Pickers, they usually have some sort of history snippet about the item or company so here you go, this is my own little American Pickers episode I guess.  Globe tobacco was one of the leaders of five tobacco manufacturers in Detroit from 1971-1925.

Look at the building today {I am surprised it still looks great}.

That's it for the history lesson for today!

 

 

 

 

I love a good re-do!

My girlfriend gave me a chandelier she wasn't using anymore and I was so excited to use a vintage one vs. buying a new one.  We live in a new home and the lighting fixtures are not my style at all so I was thrilled to be able to leverage a vintage fixture.  It was originally brass and it looked so dark so I decided to paint it and freshen it up a bit.  I went to Karla's trusty painting tutorials and low and behold, yep she had one.  Followed her instruction to a T and I think it turned out pretty darn good.  Here is what it looked like before {Sorry the photo is a bit fuzzy from my iPhone}.

Here is a photo while I was painting it and I wish I would of taken more photos but my hands were full of paint so I didn't think that was a smart idea to grab my phone.

Now lets get to the after shots...

I love when a project works out better than what you anticipated.

Turning 40

I have been thinking about writing a post on this topic for a couple of months, thinking I would have a lot to say on this topic.  I recently turned 40 a couple of weeks ago and I wasn't sure how I would feel about it the milestone.  Well, now that it has come and gone, quite frankly I really have nothing to say about it.  I thought I would feel a since of sadness but you know what....NOTHING.  I am happy to report that 40 is just a number and I have so much living to do and so much to accomplish personally.  I feel like I have checked the box on family and my career.  I now feel like I am going to devote a bit of time to accomplishing things I want to do more so on the creative side.  Yes, of course my first priorities are to my husband and children and I will continue to focus my efforts there.  But I am really talking more about things I admire in others and say gees, I could of done that.  I am tired of saying that, I could write a creative inspired book or teach at a major art event....why not, right?  I am at the point of my life that my motto is "keep on keeping on" sounds silly but I just said that at work the other day.  I just want to live my life to my own set of standards and not worry about others.   I guess I had a little something to say about it after all.

Road trip crafting

Can you believe I made this while we drove to our cottage in Northern Michigan?  I had three plastic organizers resting on my lap as well as my tools {I tired to take a photo of that but it didn't work out so well}.  I usually bring something creative to do while I am at our cottage and I decided to make jewelery this time.  The only thing, I knew we were going to be busy and I wasn't sure I would want to create after our day trips so I just made this while my husband drove.  When I pulled out my jewelery supplies, you should of seen the look on my husband's face.  It was priceless!

Etsy update

After many many years of not updating my Esty shop, I finally added a few things I have decided to part with that I have created over the years.  Many of the collages I create are sentimental to me and I hope they will ultimately go to a good home.  I have so much art shoved here and there, I decided to list a few things and only keep a select few.  So take a look see here for the shop update. 

Peaceful morning

This morning I was sitting alone drinking my coffee before everyone woke up and I walked past this little vignette and it made me smile.  I hope it makes you too.  Have a great Saturday!

Where does the time go?

I just wanted to pop in and say hello.  It seems like life is so busy these days and my days escape me.  I am sure many of you feel the same way.  My kids are now on summer break, the nanny started for the summer, the girls are really busy with their figure skating and my husband always seems to keep me busy as well.  It was so nice to go to our cottage over the weekend and relax.   I snapped this photo when my husband wasn't looking, just he and Lucy relaxing on the doc enjoying the lake.  Since he doesn't read my blog {I am not even sure he would know how to find it?} I am having the photo framed to give to him as a Father's day present.  Just an FYI...my good friend Karla uses this photo editing tool and I have to say....I love it.  I am so excited about all of the filters you can apply and since I can't remember how to use Photo Shop, it is my new go to source to edit my photos.  It is so nice having friends who are in the know!

Latest collage

We went up to our cottage last weekend and I brought up some supplies and I made this collage.  I haven't been creating as much as I would like to so it felt good to finally make something.  There is nothing better than using your favorite stash of goodies {thanks Hope for the wonderful collection of papers} and finding the time to create.

Just lovely

I am sure by now you have seen all of the photos on Kim's event by now but it didn't feel right for me not to do a post on her lovely event. I have to say that Kim really thought of every detail and it was a beautiful event and she {and her sponsors} spoiled us with so many presents. It is kind of a bummer to go back to reality and not constantly be treated like a princess. Even though my husband tells me that all the time, it is just not the same...you know what I mean. Since I have so many photos I will just post them or I will be here all day creating this post for all of you. I was fortunate to fly in a day earlier to hang out with my good friends. We went to the garment district and shopped for lush trims as well as going to a wonderful French bakery, Bottega Louie. I can now say I love macaroons.....OMG! Oh when we went the garment district we were looking for a restroom and stumbled upon market that sold flowers and it was wonderful and smelt divine. The event exceeded all of my expectations and the only regret I have, I wish I would of seen and talked to more people. It is so hard when you are at these events trying to mingle with everyone. I guess that is a good problem to have, right? I enjoyed all of the projects but my FAVORITE was from Jeanne Oliver, my head is still swirling on how I am going to incorporate her techniques and make them my own. I think she is not only talented and she is so dang cool personally and professionally....I am starting to talk like a stalker now...hmmm? Anyway, I really love her work and style. See I keep going on? STOP already! The vendor night had some great shopping and it was fun to see everyone dressed in their best little black dress. My dear friend Karla painted an amazing mural and it was fun to pose in front of it and have Tiffany take our photos. It is always such a long preparation for these types of events and in a flash, they are over. It almost seems like a whirlwind and I am still not caught up from the event. You should see my desk in my studio space, packed with presents, goodies and trinkets I bought....all piled up patiently waiting for me to create with or find a spot in my home. Here are some of my favorite photos for you to take a peak into the lovely experience if you were not able to attend or if you where there, just to re-live for a moment to take you to that happy place!  Just one thing about the event, someone I didn't really didn't  know that well {I wish I knew her more, she is a wonderful person} tragically lost her husband while we were there and my heart goes out to her and her family.  She has been in my thoughts and it is just one of those things that can happen to anyone.  We really do need to count our blessings.

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What do you think?

A good friend of mine gave me this cabinet {yes I know I am a luck girl} and I added some of my favorite things on top and inside but every time I walk past it, I keep thinking should I paint it?  I love the lines of it and sometimes it seems so heavy and dark....what do you think?  Maybe creamy white or grey?