LittleJunkShop

A New Journal Page...at last!!

2011-01-30T12:34:00.001-08:00

Here we go again...
It's been a while, I know...
I've been rather busy
I know you understand
I dont get to create much anymore but I had a day at the fabulous Miss Tiffany's house. Kathy was there too. I actually got to create a journal page in honor of Valentines Day. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by despite my horrendous hostessing!

New journal page

2010-08-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

2010-08-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

Ahhh...love! It's in the air...

I know, I KNOW...

2010-07-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

I know, I've been gone entirely too long...
I know, you've totally missed me...
I know I've missed you...
I wouldn't blame you if you gave up on me.
Man, oh MAN, life just has a way of scooting along doesn't it? Where does the time go? Last time I posted it was May. {{MAY!!!}} And here, summer's almost over.
Sigh...
Well, I did get a chance to go to my BFF Tiffany's to craft and managed to pop out a few journal pages. But, I can only show you one right now, because my computer's being obnoxious. So, yeah....

"Nothing is so personal as happiness. Each soul is fitted for a joy entirely individual, often an entire lifetime is required to discover it." Jeanne DeVietinghoff

Holding on to hope

2010-05-25T15:26:00.000-07:00

Hope is Nesting in my heart again

It's been a looong time...

But I feel like winter is over and its time for spring...

Hope that Im gonna make it alright on my own.
Hope that I'm gonna be ok.
Hope of happiness, even.
Sooner rather than later.
Yes, I definitely feel like spring is coming...

I cannot sleep...

2010-05-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

"I cannot sleep for dreaming; I cannot dream but I walk about the house as if I'd find you coming through some door." Arthur Miller

Out of the depths...

2010-05-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

"Many of us spend time and energy trying to be something we are not, but this is a move against the soul because individuality rises out of the soul as water rises out of the depths of the earth." Thomas Moore

Art Journal page

2010-05-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

Doesn't this quote just say it all?

"Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed, I was here, I was hungry, I was defeated, I was happy, I was sad, I was in love, I was afraid, I was hopeful, I had an idea, and I had a good purpose, and thats why I made works of art" Felix Gonzales-Torres
That pretty much sums it up for me.
What about you?

Art journals, anyone???

2010-04-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

A pile of vintage car dealer ledger books:

What do they look like to you?

To me, they look like the perfect art journals!

I found them at an estate sale in Seattle a few weeks ago. You wouldn't even believe me if I told you how much I paid for them...
Soon, I'll post some pages I've made in the one I chose for myself.

Have a lovely and creative day!

If you need me, I'll be in the dining room...

2010-04-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

Hello, all!

Have you been busier than a one-legged man in a butt kickin' contest?
Well, I have!!!

Things have been crazy, but I'm hoping they'll be settling down now. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know about how I've been separated from my husband since July, and have been living in the house we own (well, by "own", I mean we live in it, pay the mortgage and owe more than it's worth...damn economy!). He had been paying the mortgage as his child support. Meanwhile, he was bouncing around living in spare rooms here and there and pressuring me to move out of the house with my 3 girls so he could move in. Without getting into how pissed off that made me, let me just say that I was stressed and worried about money and tired of not knowing where my babies were gonna be when they were with him.

So, I finally gave in. I made the decision on the 11th and moved the 4 of us out of the house on the 17th. Wham, BAM... just like that.

I'm grieving.

Now, that house wasn't anything super special. It was old, but not old enough to be cool. It had issues (a hot water heater that needed replacing, a furnace that was going to be needing replacing, a roof that was on it's last legs...you get the picture, right?).
But, still. It was MINE. I tore out nasty carpet to the original wood floors, I painted, I decorated... When I say "I", I really mean "I". He did very little to help make that house a home. I loved it in all its not-so-cool-shabbiness. And more importantly, I live there for 10 years. The longest I had lived anywhere, EVER. It really was my home.
But, it IS just a thing. My girls are the most important, and they need stability, you know?
I moved into my Mom's mobile home, just 7 minutes away. We get along wonderfully. My girls LOVE her.
The problem is, there's only 3 rooms. We have to figure out how to add a room on for me, but in the meantime, I was sleeping on an aerobed on the floor in the living room. I am the kind of person that NEEDS some personal space, which is why I am NOT interested in sharing a room with my messy 14 year-old! So, to make a rather long story short, I took over the dining room. Moved the table and chairs out, set up a vintage cot and a few art supplies, and I'm good to go.
So, if you need me, I'll be in the dining room, probably passed out asleep...

What a dream...

2010-04-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago, I had a dream weekend. My sweet, sweet friend Tiffany hosted a Terri Brush class at her house.
Here's what we did: catered dinner, chocolate martinis, cream puff cake ( YES, you read that right!CREAM PUFF CAKE!!!, birthday presents from women I'd never met, a salloon called the Yella beak, mooning passing cars(OH, WAIT...that was Isabelle), bootleg videos,9 women spending the night under one roof, going showerless (Oh, WAIT! That was just me...!!!),soldering, eating, glittering, collaging, yakking, LAUGHING, tinkling a little (Oh...WAIT...was that me?), gagging over dog poop, taking silly pictures, laughing hysterically, crying a little....making friends I hope will always be friends...
sigh...
SUCH a great weekend!

This is the collaged egg I made. I didn't get my glass box done that was to be its home, but I LOVE it anyways!

Honestly...
If you can swing it, have yourselves a dream girls weekend...
You'll never forget it!

2010-03-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

Im about...

to be...

doing a bit...

more of THIS fun stuff this weekend!
Wahoo! Hooray for a Girls weekend getaway!!! Terri Brush will be teaching a class at my darling friend Tiffany's house this weekend. Guess who gets to go? ME!!!

AAAAACCCKKKK! Its March??? Already???

2010-03-06T18:16:00.000-08:00

Oh, CRAP!!! Did I MISS February???
Dang, I think I did...otherwise, how the heck could it be MARCH already??
Do you know what this means??
Well...it means that in exactly 13 days, it'll be the big one...
Noooo...I dont mean a big earthquake. It's not gonna be a rogue asteroid hitting earth.
No.
I mean THE BIG ONE...
My {gulp} 40th birthday....
I can't believe it...it seems like yesterday I was in diapers.
Okay...I really cant remember that far back, but, you know what I mean...Sigh...
I'm getting old.
But, I'm not dead yet. That's my theme for this year. I'm still kickin'. In fact, I think I'm better than ever.
Anyways, I've finally gotten my butt in gear and listed a few things in my sad and neglected Etsy shop.
I listed this lovely French Ebony Rosary:

This beautiful Italian Rosary:

And this amazing Italian Hinged rosary:

I've been having fun fun fun hitting those estate sales! Oh, MAN!!! I've found some awesome loot! Tune in for another update. I PINKY PROMISE you I wont wait sooo long to post again!

I've been a baaad blogger...

2010-01-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

Oh, MAN!!! Its been almost 2 months since I blogged. I hope you all havent completely given up on me!!!
My computer had a "gangster" virus (which was ferreted out by a computer geek friend of my daughter's boyfriend. Thats what he said...a gangster virus... I can just picture it yelling "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!!!!" as he wrestles it to the ground, cuffs it and sends it to the slammer where its currently serving a life sentence...)
Well, then, I get the computer back and I can't get internet. Awwww, seriously??? Yes, indeedy. But wait, it gets worse...then our cable isn't working, so I call Comcast, and they tell me the bill hasn't been paid SINCE NOVEMBER, and we won't have cable/phone/internet unless I can cough up, oh, $600 dollars, or so...Huh. Well, damn if I've got $6 in my purse let alone $600.
My lovely and ever so helpful soon-to-be ex decided he just wasnt gonna pay it, and didn't feel the need to let me know. Isn't he GREAT??? (are you getting a better idea of why I had to kick him to the curb? This is just one of his many underhanded, passive-agressive tricks)
Well, anyways...
Sorry about my ranting...By the way, I'm posting this from my mom's house.
Ok, a little prettiness to lighten the mood:
The pictures up top are the dress form in my room. She was outside in my garden, but, I decided she wanted to be in my room, so, I found her a pretty pale yellow dress and put all my neclaces on her.
Isnt she pretty?
Don't even THINK about suggesting I name her...I just think thats a wee bit weird...

12 days of Christmas

2009-12-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

Lots of fun stuff being given away over at the Where Women Create blog...kinda like Santa without the silly red suit!!! And you don't have to leave milk and cookies for them! And they dont come down the chimney or drive a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer, but, you get my point...

A GINORMOUS rock (and, no, I don't mean a diamond...)

2009-12-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

Weel, I know it's been a while since we've spoken, and I have a good excuse, really! No, I really do...
I had some kidney stones.
Yeah, you read right.
SOME.
As in two.
TWO!!!
Two that passed (which, in and of itself is a huge deal, if you've ever had them...can you say hello to my new friend dilaudid??? I wouldn't have made it through without it...
Oh, and I don't have insurance.
I also got a kidney infection.
Plus, there are others lurking around in there. One that's 6 mm and too big to pass. I'm gonna have to have some sort of a procedure to get that bad boy out.
BUT, no insurance, remember?
Sigh...
I'm definitely feeling better. Thanks for listening...
I made myself feel better today by going to an Estate sale. I got some LOOT!!! Check it out...

Amazing wedding photos

Old first communion certificate

Vintage beads and bathtub chain

A super sweet vintage sleeveless frock in pale yellow and white

Cool pen nibs in a vintage dennison label box. I love the box, but DAMN I wish there were labels in there! You KNOW how I love me some vintage Dennison

Ok, this one's gotta be in all caps so you know just how excited I am about it: A VINTAGE BOTTLE BRUSH TREE!!! BUT THE FUN DOESN'T STOP THERE, KIDS...A PERFECT STRAND OF MULTI-COLORED MERCURY GLASS BEADS!!! AND, EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T SEE IT IN THE PICTURE, THERE IS A STRAND OF TARNISHED SILVER TINSEL!!! I COULD JUST PEE, I'M SO EXCITED....

Pretty little chenille stem/porcelain angel

Four little tarnished silver glitter birds

miscellaneous christmas fun stuff: check out the mercury glass star in the back on the right...I KNOW...**gasp***!!!! LOVE IT!!!! And the litttle whiteish-silver peices are a star that fell apart. I still love the peices.

sweet little velvet drum ornaments

And, finally, a herd of cute velveteen reindeer, with sliver glittered antlers and tails.
All for $12.35, with tax.

Merry Christmas!!!
Love,
Tammy

The reality of it all...

2009-11-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

I struggle with what to post to my blog. I know this is a common problem. I want you to know me. I want you to see the "real" me, to convey my heart in the posts here. While it's true that, by nature, I wear my heart on my sleeve, I also don't want to be the kind of person who verbally vomits on those around her. Do you know what I mean? The person that tells you her life story in the middle of the aisle at Wal Mart on a busy Sunday and you only made time to run in to buy toilet paper, and an hour later she's still talking....I'm not talking about a heart-to-heart talk, here. I'm talking about someone who tells you things whether you want to hear it or not. I don't want to force my problems on you, so if you'd rahter not read this post...PLEASE feel free to skip it and just look at the pretty pictures. I promise I won't be offended!!!!!
( The pictures at the top of the post are from an Estate sale I went to today...I got all that fabulousness for $3.00!!! Totally worth the 30 minute drive!)
Anyways...the reality is...I'm gonna share a tiny bit of the hard stuff with you all. If only to reach out to those who have gone through it before, or maybe to encourage those who are going through it right now.
In July, my husband and I separated after almost 17 years of marriage. It was my choice and it was only after YEARS of heartache and counseling and prayer and agony. It wasn't a decision I made lightly. We have 3 children together, and I had a daughter who was 4 when we married.
I stayed home with the kids all those years, and so leaving him changed EVERYTHING! I had to get a job.
He moved out, but my Mom will be moving in soon.
But, for the first time in my life, I am in charge of my life. Thats HUGE, for me. I am losing weight (which I've needed to do for, oh, probably 15 years!) I feel so much stronger and healthier in every way, so, don't worry about me, please! I am TOTALLY gonna make it!
Well, there it is...the reality of my life. I hope you'll leave a comment if you stuck it out and read all this. I would love to hear from you. And, wwe can encourage each other, right? That's what friends are for. Even if we're just cyber-friends!

This is soooo not like me....

2009-11-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

WHAT??? TWO posts in TWO days??? Yes. I know... shocking. But, that's not all. No... Not it at ALL.

I ACTUALLY did a little Christmas crafting. WAIT JUST A MINUTE, HERE!!! Isn't it NOVEMBER?? Technically the BEGINNING of November?

Yes, children, it's true. I did something early for a change. And by early, I DON'T mean December 20th. I know...gasp!!!

Now, pick yourselves up off the floor and let me explain, OK??? Jeez, you people....

I went to an estate sale last weekend. Squeaked in at the very end, which is entirely the fault of my kids' Dad and Google maps, but... whatever...

I don't like to go to sales at the end. Unless I already went at the beginning and snatched up all the good stuff I wanted then came back to clean up the stuff I kinda wanted but couldn't justify buying at the prices they were asking. Know what I mean?

Well, I am quite sure I missed all kinds of good stuff from the day before (but I try REALLY hard not to think too much about the stuff that got away...). But I DID get:

Another cute little suitcase to feed my sickness..I mean addiction...I MEAN love for these handy vintage items. A prett pair of Me/You embroidered pillowcases for my bed, a embroidered tea cloth edged in hot pink ( I SOOOOO love that color!!!), an aqua clutch (which I will embellish an show off in a later post), 4 vintage velvet grabby Santas and a cutter quilt top.

So, the quilt top was a partial. It has a pink background and it had these great stars.

I have been wabting to make Christmas Stockings for forever. But, you know how it is...I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. I knew I wanted something vintage, of course, but I didn't want to do a lot of work. Well, the quilt top was perfect. The colors will go perfectly with the candy colors of the vintage mercury glass ornies I have been collecting.

I have to say, I am soooo proud of myself!

C'est bien

2009-11-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

New Art Journal page

She's packed her bags...

Put on her ruffly dress...

And she's movin' on...but she wants you to know...C'est bien. It's good. She's gonna be O.K.

I'll tell you all about it soon...

I've fallen in love...

2009-11-03T09:19:00.000-08:00

...with my new pink Converse. Sigh. I've waited a long time to find a love like this, and now that it's here, I couldn't be happier. Aint love grand?

2 ATCs and a Tag...

2009-10-29T09:29:00.000-07:00

So, I'm a working girl now. (only in the strictest non-prostitute sense of that phrase.) (how weird is it that I have now mentioned prostitution TWICE in a ROW on my artsy-having-nothing-whatsoever-to-do-with-sex blog???) Huh...

I haven't had enough time to do much crafting, but I did manage to squeak out a few ATCs:

(Both of the images are from ArtChix...)

And a thank you tag, which I can't show the whole of because its a thank you and that would ruin the surprise...(this image is from Spark your Imagination)

Gotta run...doin the working girl thing...

New artwork and quotes

2009-10-20T18:07:00.001-07:00

I LOVE quotes.

I love how a cleverly put together string of words can lodge itself inside my head.

I have been in love with words and especially quotes my whole life, or, at least what I can remember of it. Granted, I kind of have a bad memory, but...whatever.

I do love quotes!

And I almost always include a quote in my artwork. I keep a quote book and sometimes I pull a quote first and create a collage around it. The quote drives the creative bus, so to speak.

Sometimes the art comes first and the quote follows.

This piece has a quote I got from Teesha Moore's blog. I've never heard of this guy, but, DANG, she's got some good things to say! She was a German author and had a meeting house for intellectual and artistic gatherings. At least that's what I can gather from Wikipedia.

The quote is "Woman is born to create. In creating she becomes herself, accomplishes her destiny. Her whole life is only an initiation into creative power. To create is not merely to make a work. It is to give of ones own individuality."

I LOVE THAT!!!!

**The dark yellowish strips above the birdhouse and around the edges of the piece are actually ancient pieces of scotch tape that I took off of a globe I got at an estate sale. I just couldn't throw them out!!! Isn't that sick?

The next piece is kind of a departure for me. I collaged/decoupaged/painted the background before I even knew what I was going to put on it. I am totally DIGGING the drippy paint thing right now, btw...(if you hadn't noticed!)

I made a birdcage out of wire and glued it on at the junctures, sprinkling chunky vintage silver glass glitter onto the glue. I have also been finding myself creating these woman-as-birdcage girls. Notice how the cage is empty? That's not a bad thing. I think she sort of creates and then releases her creation (art, children, etc...) into the world, to find its own way.

This one needs a quote, but I haven't decided which one yet. Any suggestions? Do you collect quotes, too?

Thanks for coming over!

xoxo,

Tammy

A dream come true...

2009-10-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a little tyke...knee high to a grasshopper, as my mother used to say...I've wanted to work at a Starbucks.
Okay, well, maybe I wasn't little. Really, I was an adult, but, oh, so much younger and less jaded than I am now...
Anyways, I have always wanted to join the ranks of those ultra-cool coffee-slingers who came to be known as "baristas".
Well, okay, if you want to get technical, I didn't even LIKE coffee until I moved to coffee central, otherwise known as Seattle. That was 12 years ago. But, oh, man...once the bug bites, it bites HARD. The very AIR smells like coffee here, truly it does! This is the HOME of Starbucks, people. Be in awe.
Well, I got a job. As a barisata. At a Starbucks. A Safeway Starbucks. (how awesome is America? Not only can you get a fresh, delicious, creamy espresso from a bikini-clad barista on just about any corner (no, I mean in a drive thru stand, not that they stand there hawking their wares on the actual corner! Can you imagine? "Hey, baby...how 'bout a hot one? I have whipped cream!!!...we could call them Barista-tutes...)
Oh, gosh...I got a wee bit carried away there, didn't I? Get it together, Tammy! Where was I? Oh, yeah...you can get coffee while you shop! LOVE it!
So, I start training tomorrow. I'm so excited. Wish me luck!

Here's my last collage:

I found this WONDERFUL vintage book on Oil Portraits. The images are fabulous! The quote is from Lao Tzu "when I let go of what I am, I become what I might be"

This is the one I'm working on next:

Have a lovely day!

Pull up a chair...

2009-10-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

I found this old office chair at Value Village last week. (For $2,50, thank you very much!!!)

You've all seen them...painted an ugly non-color industrial tan, seats an even uglier brown vinyl...

Well, I know you'll all be so shocked to find out that I didn't take a before picture...you know how on top of things I am...how calculated..how focused...

(just had to take a chuckle break there for a second...)

No, really, what happened was I tore into that baby as soon as I could. I couldn't take the ugliness...I was inspired and couldn't be bothered with the before picture...What can I say? I'm an artist! Can't tell the muse to wait a second for the before picture.

A can of cream spray paint and some vintage Waverly barkcloth, and voila!

Isn't it CUTE???? Sooooooooooooooo much better than the big, huge, ugly, black pleather monstrosity I was sitting in before.

I'm way more productive and focused sittting in a cute computer chair. What about you?

then another and another and another....

2009-10-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

A 3-D collage about my 4 beautiful daughters:

Done on a peice of wood I dug out of the garage, coated in beeswax.

Thanks so much for looking!

Have a LOVELY day,

Tammy

To See Beauty

2009-10-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old" Franz Kafka

Ummm...excuse me, Ma'am? You seem to have something in your hair...

2009-10-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks for looking!

SORRY, SORRY, SORRY!!!!!

2009-10-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

I realized I never posted a picture of the goodies in my Giveaway....and I'm sorry about that.

I also realize that I didn't post the winner yesterday...so sorry!

And, now, I can't even find my USB cable to upload the pictures anyway...really...I'm sorry!!!!

But, I will announce the winner, cuz I CAN do that, at the very least!

The winner is...

RAEJEAN!!!!!

Girl, you've got some good mojo, or somethin'!!!! (We should go to the Casino together sometime...just a thought...)

This is the second time you've won a giveaway from me!!!
So, there's some great stuff in that box! I do hope you enjoy it! I'll send it out on Monday (or, I can hold it hostage and you can come get it at Paper Muse, if it would get you over here so I can meet you!!!)

Thanks to everyone for participating!! Have a lovely day! I will, DESPITE the rain...

100th post!!!! Giveaway of a Glorious Nature....

2009-09-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it, but I've posted 100 times, now!!! I'm so happy to have you come and hang out for a bit in my tiny little corner of the blog-o-sphere, that I am having a giveaway. I don't have it all together yet, because I keep adding and adding to it, but trust me...it'll be glorious. So, from now until, oh, let's say...next Wednesday, leave a message on THIS post (yeah, my 100th post!!!) and I'll draw a name next Wednesday, the 30th. 'kay???

Well, it seems that Blogger got over her PMS issues from yesterday and behave rationally and obligingly and let me post pictures. (not that I condone always blaming it on those raging female-type hormones...I HATE it when men do that!!! "Oh, you MUST be PMS-ing," they say, when, really the reason you're pissed is because they left the toilet seat up AGAIN for approximately the 147, 529th time. In a day. Know what I mean??? Sure ya do.)

So, here are some of the pictures from the Prayer book. If you want to see all of them, just hop over to Flickr.

The cover. Isn't it so sweet? It's only 2 3/4" x 4 1/2". Little.
I LOVE to stuff a book full and have it spilling out all over the sides. I don't have any idea why that makes me so happy!

Also, I just posted some of these darlings on my Etsy. They are such a pretty peachy-pinky color. Peachy enough for fall/Halloween crafts but pink enough for everything else, too. I (heart) these! AND, of course, there will be several bunches included in the 100th post Giveaway of a Glorious Nature...oh YEAH!!!

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to leave a comment to be included in the Giveaway!!!

Prayer book spine

2009-09-22T15:56:00.001-07:00

Prayer book spine, originally uploaded by littlejunkshop.

I found this lovely little ivory colored Common Prayers and Hymns at the Salvation Army, and just knew it would be the perfect altered book.
The pages had already fallen out, so it wasn't like I'd be racked with guilt and going to hell in a handbasket for tearing the pages out of a religious book.
I knew it would be the perfect place for my vintage prayer cards.
And it is.
Oh, by the way...this is my 99th post. For my 100th post, I'll be doing a giveaway. A big, fun giveaway.
You'll definitely want to check back for that one.

edit: Blogger is PMSing, and wont let me upload pictures today, so I posted this from Flickr. Go there if you'd like to see more pictures of this book, otherwise, I'll try posting more of them tomorrow. Hopefully, Blogger will be in a better mood...it should have chocolate and a bath. That always works for me.

New painting

2009-09-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am just beginning to redo my room. I am going to get rid of the heavy, dark HUMONGOUS furniture and prettify it all up for myself.
My inspiration for the room is the vintage hand stitched wedding ring quilt a family member made that I use on my bed. I adore the fuschia/lilac-ish color in it, and that's what I wanted to pull out in my new painting, and I'll plan the rest of the room around it. So, here it is...my new painting, and the start of my new room (more updates to come in future months about the redecorating...because it will take months, I'm sure!)

I used the quote by Emily Bronte again. I don't think I'll ever get tired of it: "I have dreamed in my life dreams that have stayed with me and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind"

Vermeer's Girl With a Pearl Earring again. I LOVE her...

I can no longer collage birds inside their cages. It feels like they're trapped and imprisoned. They need to be free...

Four eggs, of course representing my four sweet girls...and a close up of the hand painted cherry blossoms (a first for me...what do you think, honestly?)...

Switching gears...look at this beauty:

I found out this morning (on Rose Garden Romantic...thanks so much, Michelle!) that St Joshua is having a giveaway on his blog. The deadline is tonight, so scoot on over and leave a post to be entered to win one of his FABULOUS rings! I love them!!!

Have a wonderful day, all! I'm off to play..I mean work...at Paper Muse!

OOPS...I forgot this one!

2009-09-05T17:45:00.000-07:00

I made this journal page at Tiffany's on Wednesday. We had a girls day with Kathy, and, oh MAN, did we all need it!! We had fun and laughs and a little gutter talk...you know...everything a girl needs to cheer up! Plus, we all got down and created some fun art. Here's a pic of me and Tiffany in her fabulously shabby studio (she's the one standing, hugging my neck...Isn't she adorable?)(and, wow! do I need a bang trim, or what??)

This is what I made, a page titled "altered behavior"

Thanks for looking!

Whats Black and White and Red all over???

2009-09-05T17:35:00.000-07:00

My new journal page, that's what!

Make your own happiness! I'm trying really hard to follow this advice...In hot pursuit of happiness...

(totally went back to my scrapbooking days for this page. Fun acetate stars, hearts, flowers and swirlies, a glass glitter heart, some vintage and scrapbook papers, and, you guessed it...a packing tape transfer from the newspaper a few days ago.)

As promised...

2009-09-04T13:18:00.000-07:00

As promised...here are a few pictures of some projects made with packing tape transfers. The first is a journal page. It says "some days she feels empty". Its made with vintage wallpaper, transfers and a vintage picture.

The cages are packing tape transfers:

Here are two transfers I made and just stuck on a vintage pocket calendar page. I LOVE the bird one!

The following two are ATCs made with a transfer of clouds:

Thanks for looking! Have a lovely weekend!

Packing Tape Transfer Tutorial

2009-08-26T15:09:00.001-07:00

I love transparencies. I love how you can layer them over patterned paper, so the back shows through. I have been using egg transparencies from Art Chix in my collages lately.
Well, there is a SUPER cool technique for making your own transparencies that I discovered years ago, that doesn't require buying expensive transparency film and running it through your printer...)
I've never done a tutorial, but, I thought I would give it a shot. Ready? (don't worry...it's really, really easy and fun!)
ok...
STEP 1: gather together scissors, a large spoon, a bowl of hot water, some ordinary packing tape and some pictures cut out of a magazine, newspaper, photocopy or laser copy (don't even THINK about using ink jet, though...) (my pictures are from Martha Stewart magazine from eons ago):

STEP 2: cut out the picture you want, remembering that even the background will transfer to the tape, so, you can fussy cut it if you really must...I kinda liked the background, so, I just left it as is:

STEP 3: cover the FRONT of the picture with packing tape, overlapping the tape peices slightly. (oh, also, beware: the picture's gonna want to jump up at the tape, in a static-electricity kind of way, so try to kind of hold the picture down with your other fingers while putting the tape on it! And don't panic if your tape goes on crookedy, or you get wrinkles, or anything like that...just make sure the surface is covered with tape and burnish the heck out of those wrinkles and you'll be fine)

I put it over a piece of dark cardstock so you could kinda see the tape with all my grimy fingerprints on it (don't worry about those!)

Trim off the excess tape:

STEP 4: using the back of a large spoon, burnish the tape to the picture

**actually, this step is optional. I tried it without burnishing, and it seemed to work out the same, so...in my lazy opinion...you can totally cut this step out and proceed to #5, as long as you're not the stickler type...and if you are the stickler type, well then...burnish away!

STEP 5: soak your paper in HOT water for, oh, 5-10 minutes (or more if you run off to check whats happening on Project Runway and loose track of time....)

(don't worry when it curls in on itself, it won't stay that way...)

STEP 6: Now for the fun part! Take your picture out of the water and lay it on a flat, smooth surface, like a kitchen counter.(For picture taking purposes, I did mine on a plate cuz my kitchen counters are circa 1962, and soooo not pretty....)
Now, with the pad of your finger, start rubbing in one spot on the back of your picture. The paper backing will begin to peel away...

Keep rubbing, pulling the paper out towards the edges untill you've rubbed off all the paper and you can see the picture (how cool is THAT?). At this point, I wash it off in the water again, and then continue to rub a little, to get all the little pesky white fibers left behind. Hold up the picture and you'll notice cloudy whitish areas if you haven;t gotten them all off. You sticklers can just rinse and rub untill you're satisfied you got it all off.

And here it is, all clean:

Here, I've layered it on a peice of vintage school paper, so you can see that amazing handwriting done with purple ink:

And here it is on a peice of sheet music:

Here are some of the others I did from the original page of birdhouses:

Now, these do have a wee bit of tackiness to the tape, probably depending on what kind you use, so keep that in mind when you're putting it on different backgrounds.

You can store them on a peice of plain copy paper, but, they may stick, so it's probably best to store them on something slick, like an old clear transparency, or a peice of plastic film from your art supply packaging.

Oh, DO try this at home! And, if you do, tell me all anout it! I would LOVE to see pictures, too. Leave a comment or email me at littlejunkshop@yahoo.com

Happy transfer making!

***Next post, I will show you some of the projects I have made with these cool transfers!

New Journal pages

2009-08-18T16:38:00.001-07:00

I did a few new pages in my art journal, but first, I started on a cover for it. I chose to do the pages on 12x20 canvas paper, just cuz I had it handy. I like working with it, but it is a bit unwieldy in size, so having made all these pages, I had to figure out how to "bind" them together. Being thrifty (read: broke), I decided to use the chipboard backing from the two pads I had. I covered them in vintage wallpaper,and voila...I don't know if I'm done with the covers, but here they are...

Here's the quote from one of the new pages, something I read in a magazine years ago, that stayed with me, despite my bad memory...The picture is my great-grandmother and my uncle

Here's the whole thing:

This one is a quote from Lord Byron, which I actually found in Somerset studio (I think...there's that pesky bad memory again...). The picture is from a vintage magazine:

Thanks so much for looking!

New Collages

2009-08-11T10:32:00.001-07:00

I've been busy! Painting alot, almost everyday. It helps me process, and it's cheaper than therapy, right?

This one says "Let not your heart be troubled"

This one is a quote from Da Vinci "When once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return"

This next one reflects how I was feeling on the day I made it. It says simply, "her faith is shaken".

This one says "Those who are willing to be vulnerable move among mysteries" Theodore Roethke

Thanks for looking!

A cuter knockoff...

2009-08-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Tiffany and I were at Anthropologie.
Oh, man, I soooo love this store. But it's seriously out of my price range.
But that's okay, I gather all kinds of ideas...which are FREE!

As in: F-R-E-E-

that spells free,

credit report.com bay-bee!

(please tell me you know these commercials, and I'm not just sounding a wee bit cray-zee...)

Anyways...I fell in love with this:

How cute is THAT??? I know, right?

But, oh, HECK NO, was I gonna pay $32 for it!!! (I mean, it's a PLASTIC headband like any self-respecting 6 year-old girl has in her collection of hair accessories, wrapped in ribbon and a big silk flower glued on. Seriously...$32???)

I did buy these ($4.99 for 5 at Rue 21)

Then I used E-600, wound it with ribbon and glued on some vintage millinery... clamped it with some clothes pins, let it dry...

And I made THIS most excellently cute headband:

Which, I have to say, is cuter than the original. I might even have paid $32 for it.

But, it only cost me $1 because I had everything but the headband.

Anthropologie should so totally hire me to design for them!

A Pam Garrison Inspired Collage

2009-08-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

I had a creative frenzy today. I don't know what happens. One minute I'm cruising along, doing my housework, laundry, vaccuuming, mopping...you know the deal...and then it hits. This creative energy, this NEED to make something. But not just anything. Usually, theres a vague idea thats been brewing in my brain (or wherever it is that ideas come from?) for a while.
Like today, I KNEW I had to make a collage in Pam Garrison's style. Ive been dying to try it out.
Also, I've been so inspired by Anahata Katkin.
So, it starts to brew, then it's clawing to get out...(is it in Alien where the alien lays its eggs in the humans and then they burst out when they're ready to be born? Gross, I know, but you get the idea, no?...) and before I know it, I'm in a frenzy, and my housework is forgotten. In fact, theres more to do, because I've created art, but I've also created an God-awful mess...
oh well. It was worth it...

2009-07-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

Well, here they are...

Aren't they wonderful?
Vintage Dennison labels in three different sizes

These are HUGE!

And these are so cool...roundy index tabs...LOVE!

Sigh. I'm in vintage label heaven.

Warning: Lots of FAB Estate Sale Finds...

2009-07-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

I left my girls with my mom today and hit the road. I totally needed a break and there were some good-looking estate sales in Seattle. I normally don't go all the way to Seattle for estate sales, but...like I said, I needed a break and I had the whole day to get it. So, I braved the traffic ( bad) and hit these sales (good). I found some **FABULOUS*** stuff.

Wanna see?

First, a vintage medicine cabinet with side shelves and an etched rose on the mirror:

Broken pearly-type jewelry (look at the clasps!)

vintage art supplies:

a pink jewelry box and an enamel refrigerator drawer:

some peices of fabric with embroidery and instructioons on them, some pretty blue thread and a scrap of a crocheted piece of linen...

A pink satin doll jacket I bought just for the buttons (I mean LOOK at them...!!), some fake pearls and (cue angelic choirs singing....) some vintage posies. I {LOVE} these posies!!!

a sweet feather pillow and some ceramic roses for mosaics...

Can I just say how HAPPY these vintage labels make me? I have been looking for these for sooo long. I got a few pieces on Etsy, and a box on Ebay, but I have looked and LOOKED at estate sales for a box of them and I found FOUR boxes today. OH HAPPINESS!!! I know...I'm easy to please, but seriously...look at these....even the boxes are cute! I'll show you the labels in a separate post. They deserve their own, I think...

A teeny tiny plastic baby (less than 1 1/4"!!) fully dressed in a teeny tiny dress, bonnet and panties (SOMEONE had a LOT of time on their hands, methinks!)

a bisque baby, a headless baby and a dismembered baby...awww, aren't they cute?

jewelry pieces: rhinestone pins, a crocheted pin thingie and one of those big safety pin kilt closures (I saw a super CUTE pin at Claires that I'm going to try to make a version of)...

silver Dennison stars and silver glass glitter

brass paper fasteners, otherwise known as brads in the original cute little box:
2 little flower frogs and a wee little nickel (?) scotty dog

Just LOOK at the colors of these silk and velvet leaves...pink, cream, white, gold and pale green...YUMMY! Oh, and there's some pink ribbon, too...
Here's a picture with some of it , including a cool journal-type book

Vintage Christmas: mecury glass beads...bottle brush wreath and a plastic Mary figurine

Whew! And it all cost only about $40. Not bad, right? And, I had fun...definitely a good break! Thanks for hangin in there with me.!

More on keeping busy (a long-winded post...)

2009-07-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been continuing my busy creative sttreak. It's funny, because I can go for WEEKS not doing much creatively, and then whammo! I'm hit with it...the NEED to create.

I've made some rather huge changes lately, life-altering changes. Unfortunately hard and difficult and often depressing changes, but good ones. Do you know what I mean?

So, I find myself needing to keep busy.

I have excess energy.

A bit frenetic, perhaps...

But, hey, it's my life right now, so I'm taking advantage of the surge and riding the creative wave, so to speak. (yeesh! corny, much, Tammy??)

Anyways, I've been breaking things. Again.

And making mosaics with the peices.

Did you see that movie "How to Make an American Quilt" with Winona Ryder? One of the characters finds out her sister slept with her husband, and in a fit of rage, smashes all her prized figurines. She then proceeds to plaster the peices to the wall in her laundry room as a reminder of her anger.

I don't look at my mosaics as reminders of my anger, however fun it is to smash those dishes. Once, during a particularly hard time in my life, I had a revelation. I heard God speak to me. I know there are some of you who don't believe in God, and that's ok. But I honestly believe He did speak to me. It's the one and only time it's happened.

I felt like my life had been blown into smithereens. Like it was in a kajillion peices. I was praying (well, really, I was sobbing and wailing "why me, God?What am I supposed to DO with all these peices of me?") and all of a sudden, I saw a picture of a BEAUTIFUL mosaic. It was stunning. Then I heard God whisper to me "this is what I can do with peices!"

So, that's what I did. I picked up the peices of my broken heart and made art out of them.

I've been a busy girl!

2009-07-15T16:44:00.001-07:00

I have this THING for vintage train cases. I can't explain it. It's like my thing for chairs and hampers. (what does this say about me, I wanna know?) Anyways, I got this cutie at a yeard sale for $2. I lined it with vintage curtain fabric, added the mirror back and a bit of millinery. It even has a vintage luggage tag, and the original plastic tray. Oh...it's CUTE!!!

I have one that I did a couple of years ago. I keep various yummy trims and bits and peices in it so when I go to a retreat or to a friends for a crafty day, I can grab and go. It never fails to attract attention.

I was in a swap hosted by Danielle at thevintagedragonfly. It was a 5x5 collage swap with a bird theme. I got mine in the mail today. It was made by Heidi Gordon. It's so sweet!

This is my favorite part:

I LOVE a good caption! Thanks, Heidi!!!

Next in the line up is a vintage journal I altered on Monday while at Paper Muse.

Still LOVING these doll images from Retro Cafe Art
You will be splendid!

Next! Two new shopping bags: the first is pink and sweet....

The second is aqua fun and funky...(I think this is my favorite!)

BOTH upcycled vintage pillowcases, and lined (can you guess why I lined them? Come to find out...when you load up a vintage pillowcase bag with wine and fruit and cheese, the fabric can't handle it, and it'll split and leave you walking home from the store clutching said bag to your chest to keep said wine from falling to the ground and breaking, causing you to cry like a baby in the middle of the road...forget about the fruit...SAVE THE WINE AT ALL COSTS...Just a little something I learned...)

2009-07-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Moo Card Holder Saturday!!!

It all started when I met Michelle. I was working at Paper Muse on Monday, and she came in. She has a shop near Olympia and was in the area, so she popped in to take a look. When she paid for her purchases, she had the CUTEST little clutch! She said it was melted plastic and that she had done a tutorial on her blog about it.

I was intigued...so I checked it out. Well, I decided right then I HAD to try it out. Melting plastic??? Oooo, it was fun! The only bag I had that wasn't ugly was a silver one, so I went with it. And, I decided to make a Moo card holder, instead of a clutch.

Here's the finished project, which took less than an hour, total! I used a scrap of vintage fabric I had been hoarding, and lined it with the melted silver plastic. Trimmed it with hot pink ribbon and little blue buttons. Cute, no?

Well, then I was on a roll and made the two above. Seriously...for those off you who, like me, suffer from the sad and debilitating syndrome called something like "if-I-cant-see-immediate-results-forget-it-I'm-not-doin'-it-itis", this project took hardly any time at all! Once I got going, it took maybe 20 minutes apiece. I also, decided to forgo the cool but kinda unnecessary step of the melted plastic liner. But, do go check out the tutorial and give it a try! It's fun!
Happy Saturday!

Disconnected

2009-07-09T11:14:00.001-07:00

blog banner close up, originally uploaded by littlejunkshop.

Hey, all!
I am having technical problems...my house computer won't connect to the garage computer where all my pictures are stored (don't ask why we have a computer in the garage, cuz that would require an answer that I am definitely NOT equipped to answer!). So, I can't get pictures, view pictures, upload pictures....sigh. What a pain. I"ll hopefully get it worked out soon. I have some super cute projects to share with you!

The biggest herkin' candy box I've ever seen and other estate sale finds

2009-06-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

Oh, baby, did I hit some fun estate sales today! {***insert happy little dance here***}
One was from a founding family in a nearby town, so there was 100 years of cool accumulation, in a house that was destined to be demolished. Sad, considering it was DARLING!!! They're probably still slip-and-sliding on the drool spots I left in the kitchen. The built-ins...the NOOKS...the moulding...sigh.
Anyways...here's what I found:

The magazine has some fabulous pictures and ads that will find their way into my collages. I found this old Gerber baby food jar (with a vintage Dennison label on it that would have been incentive enough for me to buy the jar) of teeny-tiny mercury glass ornies:
This sweet little couple:
More frogs:

A bundle of seam binding, twill tape and Fagot tape (I know...WHAAA?). I mean...one can NEVER have enough FAGOT TAPE, right? I just ran out of FAGOT TAPE the other day, and said to myself "Girl, you need to getcha some more FAGOT TAPE, pronto!" And there it was!

****side note: don't bother looking it up...you will get NO links to vintage sewing supplies...just trust me on this one, 'kay?****I really don't think it has anything whatsoever to do with sex. I'm just sayin'...

A few more of those cool metal cups...

A cute train case, sheet, Kewpie doll and millinery flower:

The second sale was just as good. I found a hat!!! I LOVE it!!!! I rarely find hats at estate sales, so {***insert another little happy dance***}.

Here's a close up of the millinery flower and some crocheted trim:

some sweet little silverware:

A reproduction of an oil of St. Denis Gate:

Heeeeeeere's Kewpie!

And here is the BIGGEST herkin' candy box I've EVER seen! This puppy is a whopping 18"x18"! Can you imagine how much chocolate was in this thing? You have to wonder...does this say "love" or does it say "here, have a 50 pound weight gain", right? I mean, really...talk about overkill.

Another house on the market

2009-06-25T13:40:00.001-07:00

I know...I have a thing for houses. But, really...

Who doesn't love the idea of home?

It represents love,

family,

safety

warmth,

belonging

And this little gem is on the market.

You don't even have to fill out an application, or provide collateral, or sign over your firstborn child to own it.

There's no interest or points or even sleazy real estate agents involved (please don't be offended if you are a real estate agent...I'm sure you are totally non-sleazy!).

It's not a fixer-upper.

You don't even have to have an appointment to see it! Just click here. The seller is motivated!

Remember these?

2009-06-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

My Auntie had a set of these when I was a kid. I remember drinking from them, but I don't remember what my favorite color was.

My mom remembers making Jello and freezing it in these cups, until it was icy, and eating it right out of the frosty cup, to keep cool in the middle of a hot Sacramento summer.

I found a set at a sidewalk sale this weekend, thinking I would sell them in my Etsy shop. But, now, I'm not so sure.

My mom nearly came unglued when she saw them. I don't know if I can do that to her!

A blast from the past. They're fun, right?

Whether it's a cup that you used to drink from, or a book you remember reading, or even an old friend you haven't seen in almost 2 decades, and when you find them, (God bless Facebook!) you just pick up, right where you left off...cuz that's the kind of relationship you have....

A blast from the past is a good thing.

Makes me want to hold on a little tighter to those things and people that I treasure now, so 2 decades don't go by before I see them again.

Know what I mean?

New artwork

2009-06-19T14:48:00.000-07:00

What a sweet little Dutch couple! And they even dress to match! I made this for a friend (who is, in fact Dutch!) for her birthday. Happy Birthday, Cassandra!!! I love you!

"as good natured a girl as ever lived"... collage on 1/4 " wood.

Un, deux, trois....

Thanks for stopping by! Have a lovely day!

Lace

2009-06-10T16:04:00.001-07:00

Remember that box of lace I found at the Estate sale I went to a couple of weeks ago? The one I wrestled with the old lady over? (awww, come on...I'm just teasing about that!)
Well, I got some packs made up to put in my Etsy shop. There are 3 yard packs and 5 yard packs. One yard per different kind of lace.
This lace...It is so pretty! The different shades of white, the age spots....all authentic. I didn't touch them, exept to cut them up. There are so many different textures, too. Go check them out...they're GORGEOUS!!!!

Beautiful, right?

DROOL...

A few with black lace, too...Oh, and the best part? I got such a good deal on this lace, I've priced them cheap! Just passing on the savings...cuz I'm cool like that!

Thanks for lookin!

We have a winner!!!!

2009-06-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

I'm participating in a swap hosted by Danielle at the Vintage Dragonfly. The theme is vintage bird and we are doing a 5x5 collage, and in return we will get the same. It's been a while since I've been in a swap, and I'm excited! I'm already almost done with my collage :) I'll post sneaky peek pics when I can.

The winner of my blogaversary giveaway is RaeJean!!!!! Congrats girl! And, yes, I'll be throwing some of my loot from the estate sale in there! Do you drool over aged lace? Mmmm, hmmm. Thought ya did!

YIPPEE!!!I'm happy for you!

I'll send you a package-o' yummies a.s.a.p.!!!

Have a lovely night!

Estate sale finds

2009-05-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

You know how sometimes you try and try to find good estate sales and yard sales, and you just can't? Sometimes, you hit dud after dud, and you get frustrated. Right? Then, one day, you hit the motherlode. Well, maybe that's a little dramatic, but, still....you find a sale that's JUST what you NEEDED...your heart starts pumping, your breathing gets shallow, you see a box of beautfully aged lace for $3 and you get tunnel vision and think you're gonna faint, but the only thing that keeps you from fainting is that you just know that sweet looking little old lady in the room with you has her eye on that box of lace, and she's just WAITING for you to slip up or faint cuz she'a really not a sweet little old lady, she really is a....

Oh.

Well, that's how I get....

I found a good one today, girls!

here's the loot:

Flower frogs. This one is TINY! I've never seen one so wee. It's probably only 1/2" across. Soooo cute!

Couldn't resist this cute little elephant. Why? I have no idea....

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these!!!! Milk and cream caps. A ton of them. The picture is probably only 1/3 of the ones I got.

A tiny sweet Catholic children's prayer book, and a mesh purse...

Ball jar salt and pepper shakers in the original box...

A gorgeous red tablecloth, teeny tart tins, and a set of measuring cups (there's those shakers again..)

A record book from the 40's and a bunch of childrens readers

Beautiful mantle cloth, and matching runner and tea cloth

In the box of lace, some vintage eyelet and embroidered cloth...

Lace...

Lace....

And more lace.... What's that? You'd like to see more lace? Ooookaaaay:

WHEW! Thanks for sharing this with me! I feel like I need a nap, now....

BLOG-A-VERSARY!!!!!

2009-05-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

I cant BELIEVE I let this almost slip by! May is my blog-a-versary month! Wahoo!!! You know what that means, right?
Yep....
GIVEAWAY!!!!
I have stuff to give to one lucky person. It is alot of the same stuff I gave away for my birthday, namely:
3 mini rolls of vintage wallpaper
1 mini roll of vintage crepe paper
2 packages vintage seambinding
1 bundle vintage chenille pipe cleaners
1 bunch white lily of the valley
3 vintage German scrap with silver glass glitter
1 yard of my fabric measuring tape
3 house shaped chipboard pieces
10 vintage french flash cards
5 vintage record keeping papers
a little tin with pink mercury glass balls and pink game pieces
and a tag, handmade by moi.
So, come join the party! Leave a comment on this post, and I will draw a winner on June 1st. Make sure you leave me with a way to contact you, should you be the winner!

When I was growing up, every morning, as my brother and I would get out of the car to go to school, my mother would say "Be kind and sweet to everyone". I always took it as the best kind of advice. She lived that way. I never saw her acting unkindly to anyone, and everyone loved her. I tried really hard to live up to that example.

For Mother's Day, this year, I made her a collage, honoring that peice of advice. it is a picture of her, when she was very little, maybe 2? The caption says "She never forgot her mother's advice {be kind and sweet to everyone}.

What words of advice did you grow up hearing from your loved ones? Any pearls of wisdom? I think I'd like to do a series of collages based on this idea.

Thanks for visiting!

xoxo,

Tammy

Still My Heart Has Wings Collage now for sale

2009-05-12T12:53:00.001-07:00

Still My Heart Has Wings Collage, originally uploaded by littlejunkshop.

I wish I could hang on to everything I create, but I live in a very small house...things get kinda cluttered, so, I'm selling this cutie in my Etsy shop.
I'll miss it when it's gone...sigh...

More new collages

2009-05-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have had so much fun lately making collages! I made this one with an old picture as the canvas...kind of a new concept for me, but I love how it turned out! It says "Fifi realized she was a tad bit over dressed for the Pentacostal ladies Missionary guild meeting"

Another Damsel in Distress Collage, this one for a friend. This one has the same caption as the last one : "then she decided to rescue herself". I hope you love it, Kathy, and I hope she reminds you to make your own happiness!

Thanks for looking!!!

Have a wonderful day!

More New collages

2009-04-27T16:49:00.000-07:00

Todays new collages:

"Where will you go? Away, Away"

This one is a bit of a departure from my usual ...

"Why, yes, I really AM the center of the universe"

The queen B herself:

Funky Junkin' 101

2009-04-23T16:25:00.001-07:00

1. Find out if your city has a bulk pick up trash day. MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDAR AND PLAN THE REST OF YOUR DAYS AROUND IT.

2. Go out rain or shine, or sleet as was the case for me this year (crazy Seattle weather!!!) , and go out multiple times, but especially the night before the pick up day.

3. if you see something interesting...check it out. Don't be shy, or you may lose something fabulous to the next junker that comes along. Take it home...if you decide it doesn't float your boat,(or if your husband looks like he's about to have a grande mal seizure) put it out with all your bulk item crap.

4. You may want to practice your swerving technique before hand. It helps to be a confident and well-insured driver. If you see something fabulous, employ the swerve, grab and stuff that criminals in white panel vans on TV use when kidnapping people. Swerve to the side of the road (squealing your brakes is not really necessary, but adds seriousness to what we know is a very serious operation), jump out, grab the goods and stuff it into your car (try borrowing a panel van if you know someone who has one!). Jump back in, chortling happily, and zip off (again, squealing brakes are optional).

5. Depending on how successful your junkin day was, you may NOT be able to hide it all from your husband. I suggest leaning heavily on the phrase "But, it was FREE, dear!"

6. Gloating about your finds is an integral part of this whole thing...you must let other people what fabulous stuff you found so they caan be envious...I MEAN...they can learn from your experiences. Remember...junkin is saving the earth one cool find at a time! We are just doing our part to keep it out of the landfills, people!!!

Yes, this is the best find of the year...an AMAZING beadboard cabinet in the most beautiful green. Someone was going to throw this away!!!!!!
***This is where the gloating comes in****

Plus, I also found the cute old bike, the banged up toolbox and the fountain (which doesn't work, but is still cute as a birdbath/cat water dish.
Oh, and don't forget that cute dresser from a few posts back...ALL FOR FREE and saved from the landfill. Defintely a FABULOUS junkin time this year!

A few new collages

2009-04-21T15:12:00.000-07:00

Here is the first: The name of the boat (Kismet) is the name of my friend's boat, I love it! Sounds so romantic.

"He sailed into her life on a boat called Kismet"

This one was inspired my the ultra talented Shelley Massey and this gorgeous collage. Hers is funnier, I think.

Mine says "the little girl wants to fly like a bird or butterfly but- she does not want the boys to look under her dress. What will she do?"

Remember her? My little damsel in distress has given up on waiting...

"then she decided to rescue herself" You go, girl!

Wanna play house?

Thanks for looking!

Found my new love on the side of the road...

2009-04-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, on the side of the road, standing in the rain...(actually lying on it's side in the mud), no umbrella, no coat. My new love waited for me...and I found it, rescued it and LOVE it!!!! It has seen better days, but that's okay. I love it's chippy, peeling beauty. I would NEVER trade it in for a newer, sleeker model...Plus, it was FREE. Yes, my friends, free. We have an annual bulk item pick up day in our town. Once a year, we can haul out as much crap as we can find and put it on the curb and Waste Management picks it up for free. (free is a GOOD word, no?) Well, someone mistook it for trash, cuz there it was...waiting for me!!!
Here's my loot I found at an Estate sale today:

2009-04-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

The Salvage Studio girls are giving away a copy of this FABULOUS book for Earthday (April 22). It is probably the BEST book I've read on Salvage style, and has THE best projects...I loved every one of them, really! Go check it out!

The obsession continues...

2009-04-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

So, it appears that I AM the kind of girl who plays with dolls. All right already...I'll admit it! I like dolls!!! Especially if they look like this:

or this:

and especially this:

How cute! The kewpie type doll images are the ones I've been using lately from Retrocafeart. I'm still in love with these cuties! The dresses are from ARTRchix Studio (as is the whole doll 3 pics up). LOVE LOVE LOVE these!!! The flowers are vintage scrap. My favorite girl is the last one: the Damsel in Distress. I love how she's advertising that fact with a little flag! My kinda girl...When all else fails...advertise your issues. Ummm, hello?... Damsel in distress here?...hello? any princes around?

Here are some magnents I also made (but, I canNOT remember where I got the images...yikes!) The magnents themselves were from the Target dollar spot a couple of years ago. The paper under the transparencies is a handwritten hymn. LOVE the handwriting and the brown ink!
My favorite is the top one...it's hard to see, but across her chin, the writing says "I'm found". I love that! And I didn't even plan it!

And lastly, some necklaces that will go into my shop soon:

The images are ARTchix, again. Go check that place out!

Grownup Doll lovers unite!

A new collage

2009-04-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a new collage I made on Monday. (sorry about the photo quality! I cannot get a good picture of this baby!) The doll image is from the fabulous Kristin at Retrocafeart. So CUTE, no? The little girl is me, of course. The bird and roses are from beautiful sheets of German Scrap I got from Lisa Cook . Gorgeous!

I know it's hard to read, but the words say "indulging in hope" which is what I'm trying to do these days...

Have a lovely day and thanks for looking!

2009-04-02T15:51:00.000-07:00

Here is my doll all , well, dolled up! I finished decorating her yesterday, but the weather's been so hideous, there wasn't enough light to take pictures of her til today. I love how she turned out. I ended up cutting off her stand, so she lays flat on the bottom of her skirt. Since I'm accident, prone, I figured this just may save her life!

This is the bottle I altered for her insides. It has a little charlotte image inside it from retrocafeart. So cute! It says "staying at home".

This is that wee little house charm I made from retrocafeart, too. Kristin's stuff is FABULOUS--- go check her out!

Here is Miss dolly's back side, with a doily for a train.

I LOVE these little tiny tubes of photo tinting paints...

Thanks for looking!

Also, I wanted to share some of my recent finds, but, I'm pulling my hair out with blogspot right now! Any blogspot bloggers out there, HELP! I used to be able to upload photos and then move them around to place them into the dialog that I had already written. Now, once I upload them I can't move them around at all, except to put spaces between them, and write there. Does that make sense? Please help, or let me know if you are having similar issues. Or, maybe I am just a complete doofus....

Thanks!

2009-03-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

Yeah, um.....I guess I did my giveaway one WHOLE day early, right???

oopsie!

I used to have a brain...then I had kids....

The big day...

2009-03-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody!! I hope you all are doing well! Before we get to the fun stuff, I wanted to Thank you for all the well wishes for my birthday. You girls are soooo sweet! It really made my week to know I get to give back a little to you!!! Kinda like party favors! I hope you are ready!

THE WINNER IS:::

MICHELLE at ROSE GARDEN ROMANTIC!!!!! YAY, Michelle!!! Email me ( littlejunkshop@yahoo.com )and give me your addy, so I can send off your goodies! Congrats to you!

I wish you all could have won... :(

Now that that business is done, would you like to see what I've been working on? It's not done, so keep that in mind. I started with this wire dress form:

I cut the bodice part off with wire snips. Then I took these old leaves:

I added paint, glitter and words cut from an old book and altered those leaves. Some more wire, mercury glass beads, posies:

The top is a 6" reproduction doll head I had in my etsy. It didn't sell ( I was so glad!), so I knew I had to make something special with her:

I love her!

Also, here is a look at a wonderful assortment of goodies I got from Kathy. Ske is one of the sweetest, most giving people I know and she apoiled me! She also gave me a big ol' herkin' cupcake with, probably a half pound of frosting, no lie! I. unfortunately, don't have a picture of that beautiful cupcake...cuz...ummmm...OKAY FINE! I SCARFFED IT DOWN like PIG!!!!

Well, there was no WAY on God's green earth I was gonna bring it home and have to SHARE it with 4 other people! DUH!

It was yummy. Thanks, Kathy!!! here's the loot I got from her:

Thanks for visiting my Little Junk Shop!!!! Have a great day, girls!

xoxo,

Tammy

One last chance to throw your name in the hat!!!

2009-03-24T15:59:00.000-07:00

Okay the drawing is tomorrow for my Birthday giveaway...you definitely do NOT want to miss it! A box full of fun and yummy stuff! If you haven't done it already, leave a comment on the giveaway post and I'll add you to the pot!
Love,
Tammy

BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-03-19T17:41:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday! I'm now...ahem...39! I can't believe I'm gonna be 40 next year. I'm trying to decide if I'm gonna be O.K. with that or not. I mean, what can ya do, right? Just gotta roll with it...

Well, I'll tell you one thing I CAN do...

HAVE A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, leave a comment on THIS post anytime in the next 7 days, and I will pick one winner on Thursday the 26th.

Included in this box o'yumminess is vintage wallpaper and crepe paper, lily of the valley, chenille pipe cleaners, french flash cards, german scrap, S&H stamps, mercury glass beads, papers....Most of it is vintage, and all of it yummy!

I keep adding to it, so, it'll really end up being a big surprise! Good luck!

Tammy

Mommy Makes Mosaics!!!

2009-03-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

I used to do broken china mosaics, years ago. I don't really know why I stopped, although it may have something to do with not having a place to set up my stuff and leave it there...a complaint I know many of you share...But, a friend asked me to teach her, and that started the ball rolling again...

Plus, while thrifting with Tiffany, I cam across this UGLY 1970's plastic molded mirror. It had an eagle on it, wings outstretched, right smack in the middle. But, it was a good size, and the shape, if I squinted your eyes so I couldn't see it's 1970's hideousness, was downright graceful. I could see it's potential. And potential it had, cuz here it is:

I put ledger paper over the mirror, cuz DANG! it's hard to take pictures of mirrors! Here's the top:

And the bottom:

The top details. Just look at her curviness!!!

Bottom detail:

Pretty much everything came from Thrift stores or yard sales. I love the porcelain roses, don't you? they were a boquet in a bowl I got at Goodwill for $6, I think. A hammer and a flathead screwdriver, and the popped right off! So did the leaves.

Here's another project. I started this one probably 5 or 6 years ago and finished it over the weekend, and i love it! Although, I may end up selling it:

It's a mailbox! And a teapot! I love the little red birds:

And the sweet brown spout:

On this one, I ran out of my grout, and when I went to get more, all Lowes had was white. WHITE-WHITE! Definitely not the color I was looking for, so I poured in a liitle brown acrylic paint. It turned more of a muddy lavendar, which isn't such a bad thing, but, again, not what I wanted. So, I stained it! With walnut ink! It worked pretty good. What do you think?

Thanks for looking!

An Playful Disposition

2009-03-04T14:23:00.001-08:00

A little altered book:

Just 3 1/2" wide and 4 1/4" tall.

With a {teeny} vintage doll hand, bead, vintage Dennison label, and vintage tissue paper fringe and coated in lovely beeswax:
Bound with vintage flocked wall paper and tied up with seam binding:
For sale here.

Brace yourselves...

2009-03-03T14:36:00.001-08:00

.....cuz there's gonna be TONS of pictures on this post! I'll try to keep the words to a minimum...so as not to distract you...Tiffany decided to go to Australia for her 15th wedding anniversary, not EVEN taking into account that she would be gone during my BIRTHDAY. So, to make up for it, we went to Portland over the weekend. Shopping was the goal, and, I must say, we are nothing if not dedicated to the achieving of our goals! We shopped. Spent as little as we could on trivial things such as food and shelter. Shopped some more. Laughed ALOT. Shopped. You get the idea...We had such fun! So, without any further ado, here's my loot:

Wallpaper:

Millinery:

Look at the size of this! Well, I guess you can't really see, but it is an awe-inspiring 10" across!

Some alterables:

Some miscellaneous stuff ( I can't wait to play with those test tubes!):

Stork Bingo, a whole set of French flashcards and vintage German scrap:

A beautiful Bible story book called The Peep of Day. (I know, strange name, right? I guess you were supposed to read it at the peep of dawn.)

Here's one of the GORGEOUS illustrations:

Dolls: ( I know...I'm NOT a doll person, but how could I resist?)

The little ones at the bottom right corner are kind of like game peices or Cracker Jacks toys. They have different styles of dress and they represent different Scandinavian countries and Early America. The large blonde doll head kind of looks like Sandra Bullock, don"t you think?

Look at this sweet couple...kind of a dutch Jack and Jill...

I am soooo pleased to say that I am FINALLY a member of the Creepy Baby Head Society. I have been on the lookout for a suitably creepy-but-not-so-creepy-as-to-give-my-children-nightmares doll head, and I do believe I did it. This little (actually big) one had just the right amount of crackling and wisps of what appeared to be human ( ick?) hair as to be truly creepy. I don't want to offend anyone, so I won't tell you the nickname Tiffany gave him...

A cool metal menu box, some pink (LOVE!) mecury glass beads, and some Christmas stuff:

Old tin, rhinestone jewelry, and a fabulous set of old typewriter keys:

an old baby gift box:

Prayer cards, postcards, medals and charms:

Some paper dolls:

And, finally, because it WAS, er...WILL BE my birthday, Tiffany made me this cute purse and gave me a few goodies, too:

Go check out her hilarious post about the purse here. Too funny! Thanks so much for my goodies and for the weekend...I had such a great time, Tiffany! I can't wait til we do it again!

Thanks for bearing with me, everyone! I'll be listing many of these goodies in the next few days (not ALL of them, though!). So, be sure to check my Etsy shop, and if you see anything you must have, email me (littlejunkshop@yahoo.com) and if it's something I'll be listing, you can have first dibs on it!

Also, since my birthday is coming up, check back because I'm going to be doing a GIVEAWAY of some of this fabulous stuff, and more! You will NOT want to miss this! I'll let you know as soon as I get stuff together...

I didn't think it was possible...

2009-02-24T21:23:00.000-08:00

...but apparently there IS a house smaller than mine!

This one measures a tiny 1/2"x 7/8"x 7/8".

I think I'm ready to downgrade.

Cute little tiny acrylic house charms from the awesome Kristin at Retro Cafe Art.

LOVE IT!!!!!

Fun finds and what I'm in love with...

2009-02-21T16:37:00.000-08:00

Oh, yeah, baby! A good yard sale weekend! Just a quick note to brag...I mean... share what I found. I signed up for Estatesales.net, and they let me know if there's any in my area. BRILLIANT, I say! So, I went to one yesterday and found these fun things:

Party hats, baby! Look at that yummy fringe...

Purple Candy box

Random Christmas decorations
Velvet ribbon (which is gonna have to be bleached) and the mirror half of a compact:
A couple of certificates:

Miscellaneous stuff: a cool binder with school notes very meticulously written in PURPLE ink (sooo cool!), a vintage box of pastels, chenille stems, vintage reinforcements, a cute little nut cup and a sweet little bird (LOVE this one!)

A Christmas carols songbook with beautiful pictures:

Two glove boxes (?). These would make cool shadowboxes, I think.

And my favorite find of the day...Awww, isn't she cute?

So, today, I stumbled on an Estate sale that was really more of a yard sale, because most of the stuff was new. That's kind of a pet peeve of mine. I think estate sale inplies vintage stuff, but, I guess, technically, it's just the stuff of people's lives. I don't know...does this bother you?

Any way, I found this:

I LOVE this thing! I have wanted a Vintage fan forever, so, I'm not sure I will be able to sell it. But, what do you think? Should I paint it, or leave it as is? I don't want to commit some kind of desecrating-the-vintage-fan-by-painting-it sin. What would you do?

This is my favorite find today:

How fabulously chippy is this beauty? {gasp} I'm in love with a chippy cherub...

Have a great weekend!

2009-02-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm NOT a doll person...really! I don't get women who collect dolls. I just don't get it! In fact, I think it's (no offense, now...) a tiny bit strange. But, lately, I have been finding dolls on my shopping excursions. Fist it was these:

These, I kind of get. They look so cute sitting in a little cabinet on my mantle. They are sooooo fun in altered art projects. I sold the white one to Raejean last month. I listed the other two in my Etsy shop today.

Then, I found this one:

She'a pretty cute, but, she's also for sale here.
Then, I found this little one:

She'a a vintage Madame Alexander. I have to admit, she's pretty darn cute. But, she's for sale, too. (Sold, thank you, Deborah!)

I don't think I'll ever be a collector, but I don't mind picking some up and passing them on to you! (even if I don't get it!).

Soul Journal Valentine Blog Party!!!!

2009-02-14T13:50:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!! I know I'm posting a little late...sorry! But, here we go...

This is a clooage I made this week in honor of Valentine's Day. It's 8x10 canvas board.

I lOVE the couple. The picture is a copy of a tintype taken pre-civil war. The back says the picture was taken before he went to war, and before they were married. They got married in 1866, so he made it back safe and sound. I like to think that his love carried him through...

I love a love story, don't you?

LOVE,
Tammy

Love book

2009-02-10T14:39:00.000-08:00

I got to work at Paper Muse 3 days last week!!! It was a looong week, but so much fun, as it always is when I work there.

When it was quiet in the store, I made this altered coin collectors book. Here's the Front, which needs a little something more...

Here's the back:

I found the book at an Estate sale 2 weekends ago, and couldn't wait to use it. I love that the circles are like little windows, each begging for a tiny collage inside.

So, the theme is love (ever so appropriate considering Valentine's day is coming up...). I made a collage on the left side, and on the right, filled the windows with tiny pictures, ephemera, glitter, pink pearls, posies and sweet, old-fashioned little phrases and words that relate to love.

I had a hard time reattatching the binding, and the tape got all covered with glitter, so I left it as is. Hope this gets you in the "mood". ..Er, for valentine's day, that is...

Also, here is the last of the 3 Petite Inspiration Boxes I got for the swap: This one is from Laurie. It is done in blues from the outside in... All the little embellies she added were in blue. My fave was the tiny matchbox of blue buttons...so sweet! Thanks, Laurie!

I LOVE doing swaps and so, I've decided to do one. Not yet, though. Stay tuned...(cue dramatic music and announcer with a deep, sexy voice) COMING SOON, TO A BLOG NEAR YOU (namely, mine!) ...a swap, AND a challenge!!!

I haven't ever done a blog challenge, so, I'm super excited to host one! Well, I guess I've hosted a swap before, either, so that makes me excited also...

Talk soon!

Tammy

Cuz Swaps rock, that's why!!!

2009-02-03T15:13:00.000-08:00

Heather does the BEST swaps! I think I've done 3 now. I love them! It's fun to meet the other participants, fun to put together your contributions and soooo much fun to get stuff from other creative people! Here is 2 of the 3 Petite Inspiration Boxes I've recieved.

The first is from Lonnie: I love the ceramic carnation on top...it's going to go in one of my mosaics, for sure!

Here's what was inside: Millinery, tickets, velvet ribbon, a small piece of vintage wallpaper, buttons, glitter, a T anagram, a mini cameo, watch crystals and optometrist lenses.

How cool are the watch crystals? I cant WAIT to use them! And I adore optometrist lenses...the make fabulous pendants. Thanks, Lonnie!

Yesterday, I got one from Jen: A darling little glittered bird, wearing a crown and sitting on a nest of fringed tissue. So adorable!

A swatch of old upholstery fabric, millinery, buttons, 2 buckles, flocked beads, lace, playing cards, tickets, scalloped wallpaper squares and pink mercury beads! YUM! Thanks, Jen!

My favorites:

Sigh...love!

2009-01-29T22:37:00.000-08:00

New stuff in the Etsy shop! Pretty vintage millinery:

A big roll of super cool measuring tape that isn't your standard 12 inches per foot type measure. Huh. Didn't know that was negotiable!

I finished decorating my 3 boxes for Speckled Eggs' Petite Inspiration Swap:I've stuffed them, but I'm holding off for a few more days because I'm going to Salvage Studio tomorrow and you never know what you'll find there! I might want to slip a little something more into those boxes...

I got one of my boxes in the mail today...but, I'll post those pics next time. Let me just say ..."WOWZA!!!". Too fun!

Doing something about it!

2009-01-27T11:15:00.001-08:00

Since we moved here to Washington 11 years ago, I have been so AMAZED (read: astonished, disgusted, baffled) at how many phone books we get. In Santa Cruz CA, where, I was born and raised we had ONE phone book. Granted, it was a way smaller town, but it's only 30 min from San Jose, which is huge. We never got phone books for San Jose.
Here? We get phone books for every city in a 100 mile radius. At any given time, I could have 6 or 7 current phone books.
I recycled 6 this weekend, probably the equivalent of a whole tree.
I was at http://www.thesalvagestudio.blogspot.com/ and they provided a link for getting off the phone book mailing list. I did it immediately. Any number I need, I can find online. And if I REALLY need a phone book, I can call to get one delivered. Or, I can go to the library and use theirs.
I encourage you to sign up for this, too! Here's the link: http://idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/hitting-the-phonebooks
Saving the world one (or six) phonebook at a time,
Tammy

Pretty little girls

2009-01-20T14:56:00.001-08:00

I thought you might like to meet my new little girls. I found them stuffed into a box of unfinished porcelain doll parts at the St. Vincents thrift store. Aren't they sweet. These are my first doll heads, and I have to say, I don't find these creepy at all! They remind me of those cool plaster busts.

I plan on putting them up for sale in my Etsy shop soon, but, I don't have any idea about pricing. I don't know if they are antique or not. They are in PERFECT condition.

This one is almost 6 inches tall! She is marked on the back : Germany 8, and it also says "rep" (whatever that means!). I did notice that she doesn't have the holes needed to thread her body onto her. The depressions are there, but they aren't punched through. Her face is so sweet.

These two are about 3 inches tall. They don't have any markings.

Pretty good find, huh?

Have a great day!

M.I.A.

2009-01-08T10:07:00.000-08:00

How did we ever survive without computers?
My husband (computer expert, of sorts) decided last week that our computer needed to be "wiped". Now, I'm not exactly sure what that means, but, having been a Mommy for so long, my first inclination was to think of potty images...apparently it doesn't have anything to do with that...apparently it has to do with completely erasing EVERYTHING (including my favorites lists :( .....) and it also has to do with NOT HAVING A COMPUTER FOR OVER A WEEK AND COUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm writing this post at Tiffany's. I hope to be back online SOON!!! ARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!

THIS IS ME ATEMPTING TO STAY CALM.....

A Day Late and a Dollar Short!

2008-12-16T11:33:00.000-08:00

Y'know, sometimes I worry myself....

It's kinda scary, really.

I know I'm a Grandma.

but...come ON!

I'm only 38. ONLY. 38.

I'm not old.

Not THAT old!!!!

but my memory....

Scatterbrained. That's me.

Well, anyways, I missed the Blog Party yesterday. I kept thinking it was on Tuesday. Then, it snowed, the kids went to school 2 hours late, my husband was home, I had to work at Paper Muse....excuses, I know. What it boils down to is simple: I FORGOT!!!! ...sigh...

Okay, enough. Better late than never, right?

So, first off, I want to share my favorite wreath. I wrote about it a little in my last post, if you read it. I found these deer, these lovely flocked deer at the Goodwill. They were .99!!!! Oh, how I love these deer! Add to that, a vintage bottlebrush wreath. Truly vintage, not just reproduction. Tiffant found it at an Estate sale we went to. She carried it around the whole time, but, at the last second, decided she didn't want it. She asked if I did, and I swear, I whimpered, I was so HAPPY! And it was only .50! Lovely aged white color.... It had ugly plastic pointsettias on it, so those had to go. I put some Shiny Brite ornaments in their place. These ornaments are the kind that have the indented starburst-like front. I found them at an antiques store. They were the loveliest colors, but the indent was broken on them. The lady at the counter said I could have them for free, if I had any use for them. {choke} Ummm, I think I could come up with something....

Here it is:

Next is a little village scene I made. I spray painted a wooden cake plate, added a little village of wooden houses, LOTS of glitter, fake snow and a few bottlebrush trees, a cake dome, and....

Well, I wanted to share my pink tree all decorated, but I don't have pictures yet, and I have three babies wanting lunch, so, I'll try to do it later.

That is, If I can remember!

2008-12-06T17:54:00.000-08:00

Oh, JOY!!! A blog party! I can't wait!!! Oh, but that means I have to decorate BEFORE the party! YIKES!!!!!

Lots of stuff to share...

2008-12-06T16:44:00.000-08:00

Hi, all!

I am finally getting into the Christmas spirit. I am a late bloomer, so to speak. It usually takes me until mid-December to get around to decorating, so, I'm actually ahead of the game this year. Okay, to be honest, I haven't ACTUALLY decorated yet, but I DID get a too, too cute pink flocked little tree at Michaels yesterday. It's PINK. AND flocked!!!! So cute...Oh, and it was 50% off!

And it has lights!!!! FUN!!! Now to decorate it...

I went thrifting with miss Tiffany this week. I got some GOOD stuff!!! A whole tub of yummy colored glass balls for $1.50. It did include some stinkers, and the lady at the thrift store wasn't interested in keeping them, even though I told her I would pay full price for the rest, so into the donate-to-the-thrift-store-pile they go!

Don't those colors make you happy? Although, the camera doesn't do them justice. The light, faded green ones are my favorite this year...

I also found another white cabinet to line with wallpaper for $3.99. Remember my $1 cabinet? I think this one will go to my mom for Christmas.

Here's a stack of yummy sheets and pillowcases...

I forgot to take a picture of my favorite find of the day...my flocked deer. OH. MY. GOSH. So adorable. It is now too late, there's no light whatsoever, so, I'll take one soon. And, I'll show you what I did with them. My favorite wreath evah!

I have been a busy little elf, crafting away making these out of old spice tins:

And last but not least, here's my finished calendar:

Whew! That's it for now. Have a lovely night!

My year long project

2008-11-26T20:23:00.000-08:00

I started a Magnetic Christmas calander last year-- y'know, a cookie sheet calendar, only it's not on a cookie sheet, it's on a music stand top. Anyways, I saw Teresa McFayden's cookie sheet calendar on her blog last year and FELL IN LOVE!!! Had to make one, dove in, totally unprepared for the magnitude of this project, got too busy...one year later, finally finished it. It WAS a big job, because each date is like a little mini collage. But, I'm proud of myself for finishing it! I didn't get the magnents on until it was dark, so I didn't get a picture of the whole thing, but here's a few peeks:

I'll take pictures of the whole thing soon! I also wanted to share this, one of my favorite finds (heck, one of my ONLY finds lately!). I got this fluffy pink funness at Today's Country Store in Sumner, WA.

No, it's NOT Amy Powers' fabulous wig from Silver Bella...(which, I'm ashamed to admit I deeply covet)...it's pink angel hair! How fun! I can't wait to make something with it. Any ideas?

Happy Thanksgiving!

xo,

Tammy

Pillowcase shopping bag

2008-11-18T14:52:00.001-08:00

Pillowcase shopping bag
Originally uploaded by littlejunkshop

Look at this cute bag I made today...not only will I keep plastic bags out of the landfills, and not only did I "upcycle" by using a vintage pillowcase, but, dang, how cute will my groceries look in this bag??

A cute little interruption...

2008-11-13T13:50:00.000-08:00

So, there I was, trying to take pictures of my new calendar.

What? A new calendar? You mean, as in, TWO THOUSAND AND NINE??? Wait just a doggone minute here...What month is it?

NOVEMBER?????

Why yes, I did, in fact, make my 2009 calendar a full MONTH AND A HALF before I actually needed it! No moss is gonna grow on THIS rolling stone.

It is shocking, though. Especially for people who know me in "real" life. I dont really do things early. At least not THAT early!

Here it is:

Back to my story...

I was trying to take pictures of my new calendar, and, dang...something was getting in the way! It made the sound "heh-heh-heh" and kept pulling my camera away

HEY!!! Trying to take a picture here!!!

He says: yeah...OF ME!!! heh-heh-heh....

I mean...really...what's more important...????

How could I resist? What a cute little interruption!

Have a great day!!!

2008-11-06T21:11:00.000-08:00

I'm baa-aaack!!! I know, I know, you've been wondering where I've been, right? I know you've been on the edge of your seats, waiting for me to post...I know. You've missed me, right? Well, I've missed you, too. I've been gone for SUCH a long time. But, I have a good excuse. Two, really. Okay, the first is that I had a kidney infection. Oh, yeah. THAT was lots 'o fun. I won't bore you with too many details...let's just say high fevers and a particularly large kidney stone were involved. YUCK!!! So glad to be better!
Then, once I felt like I might live, I couldn't upload pictures from my camera to my computer. My hubby finally fixed that so....here's what I've been working on.
This is a large-ish record book that said CASH on the front. It has fun ledger paper in it, which I love. I wanted to make a book like Pam Garrison (that Craft Goddess!!!) makes in her workshops. I don't have any idea how to do the signatures and the binding, so for now, it's just a pretty decorated book. The first pic is the front. I titled it Her Hearts Content. The second pic is the side, with silk ribbon and a rhinestone earring, and the third is the back (not a very good pic, I don't know why!)

This is my latest piece. I am really excited about this one. Do you ever have an idea that takes up residence in your brain, and just stays? And it stays and knocks on your brain doors until you have to let it out? This is one of those. I am not Catholic. But I LOVE the old cathedrals and the stained glass and rosary beads. The statues of saints, the Marys. I have been on the look out for some religious ephemera for quite some time. I couldn't find any, but I did find a FABULOUS artist on flickr. Her name is Layla and her shop is http://www.dollfacedesign.etsy.com. She did an AMAZING collage called Virgin Mary Superstar. Anyway, I went to a super fun local store called the Salvage Studio with Tiffany and Kathy. They have a wonderful book out, also called the Salvage Studio- check it out! I bought a collage sheet of vintage 1930's French prayer cards there and this image just spoke to me. It's all about the love story between God and those who talk to Him in prayer.

That's it for now, peeps. I will try to be better at posting more often, so please don't give up on me! I'm off to scrounge up some chocolate....

Love,

Tammy

Ooops, forgot one little thing...

2008-10-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Oh, yeah, I forgot...Saturday was this little guy's big day. The big ONE. I dragged myself to the party, and ended up having a ball. Of course, I was bound and determined to be better for this special day, and I was. Until Sunday.

So here he is...my little man, Tyson. My grandson and favorite boy...

I managed to corral him for a few {short} minutes and take some pictures. I haven't had a chance to play with them yet, but, dang, that boy is cute, no?

Ugghhh!!! I hate being sick!

2008-10-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

YIKES!!! I know it's been a while since I posted. I was sooo sick last week. Raging fever... near delerium... hubby in charge of feeding the kids...(I know...SCARY!!).... practically on my death bed kind of sick. But, I'm better. Not quite back to normal, but better. Although, I can't seem to find the energy to create. I worked at Paper Muse yesterday, and didn't do a thing. And it was pretty quiet, too. It would have been a great opportunity to do some creating, but, I just couldn't dig down and find the energy to do anything but read Artful Blogging. Oh well. So, as a result, I have no pictures to share. I know, boring...but hopefully I can get it together soon. "Til then...
Here's hoping you're all healthy...
Tammy

New stuff on Etsy

2008-09-24T16:52:00.000-07:00

I'm supposed to be cooking dinner right now...

I just wanted to post a few new things I just listed in my shop.

A sweet Halloween House:

And Pink Milk Carton House Kits:

And Sepia Milk Carton House Kits:Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Oh, before I forget...did you know Martha has a BLOG??? I just discovered it! Very cool!

FUN<, FUN, FUN!!!!

2008-09-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

Oooohhh man, did we have some fun on our day trip to Portland!! Tiffany, Kathy and I hit a flea market in Chehalis (FABULOUS!!!), several estate sales, thrift stores, antique stores, Goodwill Outlet (The MOTHER of all thrift stores!!!) and the Barn Sale (AMAZING!!!!!). We shopped and shopped and came home with tons of treasures. It was soooo much FUN and I totally needed a day out like that!

Anyway, i have to get dinner going, so I can't get into detail right now, but here's some pics of some of the millinery I got, and have already listed them on my Etsy:

And a few that I'm keeping:

As you can see, I was the millinery queen! The blue flowers and the pink leaves came off a hat, so there were alot of them!

Sorry about the funky picture placement...I'm experimenting and didn't want to start all over :)

That's it for now... I'll post my other finds later. ciao!

Angie's House

2008-09-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

I did a special order for Angie (peanutsmama on Etsy). I love this one even more than I did the last one I made. sigh...I love houses!!!
I'm off to spend the day with Tiffany. It's been waaaaaaayyyyyy too long! Good coffee, good talk, good shopping...Yep, should be a GREAT day! And tomorrow, Tiffany and I are headed to the Portland area for the Barn Sale with a new friend, Kathy OH MY GOSH. I'm so EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!
I hope your day is just as fabulous!!!

A pink house, perhaps?

2008-09-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is. It's bizarro. Backwards. I have two children I babysit for a friend 1 or 2 days a week. She is a teacher and only works Monday, Tuesday and every other Wednesday. Their Grandma watches them Mondays, so I get them the other days. Just for a little extra cash. Sometimes, like yesterday, I have my grandson, as well. So, her babies are 2 1/2 and 5 months. And Tyson is 11 months. Life can get Craaazzzyyyyyyy on those days! (like yesterday, when Tyson "kissed" baby Caleb with his teeth! Screaming % mo old, and heartbroken 11 mo old, because MiMi scolded him....).

Anyway, one would think that life slows down and focuses on JUST the surplus of little ones in my house, right? God only knows how I managed to get ANYTHING done when my own were little!!! But, no. Quite the opposite happens with me...I get creative. Seriously. I get into a zone. I accomplish more than I do on an ordinary just-Tyson-day. It's crazy. So, this is what I did yesterday and today:

This was a special order from Angie, through my Etsy shop. I also started on one to put up for sale soon. Thanks for looking!

Thrift store day!

2008-09-11T20:55:00.000-07:00

Today I had the WHOLE day to myself. I had plans to go out with Tiffany, but she had to cancel to take an impromptu day off with her hubby. I was tempted to just stay home and sulk, but, I sucked it up and headed out by myself. Holy Moly! A girl can get alot of thrifting done when there are no distractions! And by distractions, I certainly DON"T mean YOU, Tiffany! No, ma'am! I mean that I didn't linger. I had no one to say "Oo, Oo, hey! Look at this..." Y'know what I mean? I was focused. I had a goal: to cram in as much as I could in a 6 hour period of time.
And cram, I did! 7 thrift stores and 1 antique mall! Oh, yes, there was much cramming!

I got some good stuff, too! A cool old birdcage:

What do you think, should I leave it as is, or should I spray paint the cage part white? Leave me a comment with you opinion, if you can!

Next, these cool record keeping papers, which are the perfect size for folding in half and making cards that are oh-so adorable.

Also, this fun and funky crepe paper-like border from a bridal shower. The only reason I think it was for a bridal shower, is that there are little bells on the cut out side, I know it's kind of hard to see. Cu-ute!! I love the candy colors!

Now, these I LOVE!! They are TEENY tiny little Holy Bible book shaped charms. They are only 1/2" wide, 5/8" long and 3/8" deep. They say Holy bible on the front, back, and on the spine! I think the charms are actually plastic. They came with these little Holy Bible stickers and also The Lord is my shepherd stickers. They were probably a reward for memorizing scriptures in a Sunday School class. They are adorable!I also found lots of crepe paper in white, pink, baby blue and red/white/blue, but I didn't take pictures of those, cuz everyone's seen those.

Thanks for looking! Oh, BTW, these are all going up for sale in my etsy shop! CIAO, for now!

LOVE those posies!!!

2008-09-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

I just ordered these from Monica at Caramelos on Etsy. I can't even tell you how much I LOVE these! I can't wait to get them! I ordered 12 bunches, so I can make lots of fun things for MY Etsy shop. YAY!!! Oh, I also ordered clear glass glitter.

I got these cute little houses at Goodwill for $1.99 and I'm about to transform them into something oh-so-adorable for my shop. I'm thinking old book pages, paint wash, clear glitter...kind of like Amy's Sugarville houses at ispireco.

Also, I'm working on some kits for my shop. Little houses (again, with the houses, you might say?) Yeah, I know, it's a theme (or fixation...whatever...) with a cute bubble window surrounded by glitter. Inside, a charming vintage image. Pretty scrapbook papers on the outside, and vintage wallpaper on the roof. And, to finish it off, why, posies, of course! The'll be up soon, so check back!

These cute little elves are going up, too! I love the colors on these little guys. They were made in Japan, and all but one are either made of a pinecone or are sitting on a pinecone. I don't know why the roly ploy guy doesn't have his own pinecone, but he's got the cutest round red body!

Have a wonderful day!

My pretty white couch

2008-09-02T11:12:00.001-07:00

My pretty white couch
Originally uploaded by littlejunkshop

This is my pretty white couch. I had these couches with slipcovers that were pretty, but they were red. I got them about 12 years ago, and I love them, but, I was definitely ready for a change. Well, we can't afford true Shabby Chic couches (I mean, really, who can?), and I'm pretty handy with a sewing machine. Armed with a why-buy-it-if-you-can-make-it attitude, I priced fabric. Holy Moly! Fabric can be expensive! I checked out white denim (my first choice), and white duck, and it was still going to be a couple hundred dollars to slipcover both of my couches (they're REALLY big couches!!! Bought when we had a 2,600 sq ft house. Little did we know we would soon be living in a 1010sq ft house!).
Okay, so then I had a brainstorm. I wanted white. But, I have kids of all ages around here, so it had to be washable. And bleachable. Canvas and duck were too expensive, and I HATE those premade mail order slipcovers....so, I made them out of sheets!
Tiffany and I went to the Goodwill outlet in Seattle, as well as a few other thrift stores, and I gathered white sheets. My original plan was to use vintage, nut, I think I used mainly new, and I think they will hold up better. I found 3 full sized The Company Store sheets with a white-on-white floral pattern, and these were my main fabric. Then, I used a bed skirt for the ruffled skirt of the slipcover. Clever, eh? I ripped the skirt part off, and gathered it along the raw edge, and sewed it on. I didn't need to hem it, because it already was! LOVE that! That was the step I was dreading...the yards and yards of hemming! I must say, I was insanely pleased with myself on that one.
All told, this little slipcover cost me under $30.00. OH YEAH!!!!
I love how rumpled it looks and that I can whip it off and bleach the heck out of them should anyone smear jam on them. Not that I let them anywhere near my pretty white couch with food, but still, one can't watch them 100% of the time.
Oh, and I refer to it as My Pretty White Couch. As in..."Don't put your shoes on my Pretty White Couch", and "Come sit with me on my Pretty White Couch"... you get the idea. I'm sure I'll get over it...eventually.

Heeellloooo, Etsy!

2008-08-27T21:25:00.001-07:00

I did it. Finally. I opened my Etsy shop. YIKES!!!! In spite of being so, so crazy busy...(I have been babysitting my 10 mo. old grandson, as usual, AND a 2 year old AND her 5 mo. old brother. In addition to my own kids who are still not in school til Wednesday!!!!) I just thought: why not? Am I EVER going to feel 100% ready??? Probably not! So, I plunged. I listed 6 items, 5 of which are handmade artsy-type things. It's a little nerve wracking. Just puttin myself out there for all to critisize or ignore...YIKES...YIKES, I say!!!!

Anyway, here is a peek:

Thanks for looking girls...

Here's lookin at Wednesday....(school starts!)

Love,

Tammy

Paper Muse Heaven

2008-08-13T22:31:00.000-07:00

I spent three days last week filling in for the fabulous Camie at my favorite paper arts store, Paper Muse. She went camping with her family and I was soooooooo excited when she asked if I could help her out. Like, seriously...she actually PAID me to sit in her GORGEOUS store, talk to wonderful people and create art when it was slow. huh. Still trying to make sense of it. I do something I love, AND I get paid for it??? Puh-lease!!! It was AWESOME!!!

Well, I did have technical dificulties...not entirely out of character for me. I bumble along on the computer and usually someone ends up fixing it for me, or I spend HOURS trying to do it myself, and then stumvle on the answer and fee;l all proud of myself. That was definitely the case the first morning, but I got it worked out (with Tifany's help and only a few panicked calls to Camie)and the rest of the time was smoooooth. Here's a look:

A fun display of 7 Gypsies stuff hanging on 4 mismatched doors hinged together. Some of the doors have shelves on them to display stuff. I'm definitely doing this when I get a studio!!!

GORGEOUS glass glitter of many colors:

This is her beautiful bird, Piper, he sings so sweet! And he's orange!!! And he didn't peck me once! Love him!

Love, love, love this store!!! It's a little slice of paper artsy heaven!!! Thank you Camie for letting me play while you were gone...I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

p.s. Sorry, I know I put two of the same photo, but I just CANNOT figure out how to take it off once I upload it to my post...can anyone help???

Etsy banner!

2008-08-06T15:33:00.001-07:00

Whew! I have been trying to focus on getting my Etsy shop up and running, and I made this cute little image for my banner. I really wanted to make my own, but I don't have Photoshop yet (yikes, I know, I feel like a total dweeb. I keep telling my husband how much I NEED it, but...you know how it is...), and all the tutorials for making your own use Photoshop. So, I just decided I'd make my own on paper. Huh! Easier said than done!
I made this cute little guy, and then had to hack it up to get it to be the right size. Those Etsy people are soooo picky about that! It had to be 760 pixels wide by 100 pixels tall. After much fiddling and cropping, I finally did it. It is successfully uploaded! Yippee!
That MAJOR hurdle over, I'm giving myself 4-6 weeks to gather some more stuff and finish a few projects and get the store actually open. I can't wait!!!
How about a little feedback? What kind of stuff do you look for on Etsy? What makes you melt? Do you like kits, or one of a kind art? Supplies like seam binding, millinery, wallpaper? What about collage sheets? Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks girls! Have a wonderful day!!
Love,
Tammy

Show Me Your Form Party!!!!

2008-07-31T22:27:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to be a part of the super fun "Show Me your Form" party that Tiffany is hosting! I hope you actually read the post and the previous post about how her husband feels about her dress forms. It's hilarious! So, yeah, I have the twin to her Kitty...{gulp...THAT sounds a little weird!}

But, I DO have a wire dress form. And I DID but it at the same yard sale that Tiffany bought Kitty at. It was a hot summer day (okay, a warm day...we DO live outside Seattle! But, it was definitely mid to upper 80's for sure!) So, we had been yard sale-ing all day with quite a bit of good luck, had the van stuffed to the rafters with loot (including a concrete birdbath that may or may not have been by someone's trash can for pickup...) and we pulled up to JUST ONE MORE yard sale. And this one looks like a good one! We hop out and head in and BAM...I swear the clouds parted...angels started singing...the hand of God Himself reached down, pointed and said, "Look, my daughters, a dress form for each of you!". Seriously.

Oh, and the best part, Mine was $3.00. THREE DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!! Tiffany's had a cloth slipcover, so hers was $5.00. I had, like 2 bucks left so, she, being the sweet and wonderful friend she is, chipped in that extra dollar....sniff...I LOVE Tiffany!!!!!!!

But, what I love about my dress form is that she is expandable! She's no petite girl, my form, oh no! She's curvy and voluptuous and I love her that way!

She sits in my garden, with a green bowling ball on her feet, and a small purple clematis growing inside of her. I spite of the green bowling ball, which is intended to keep her steady, she was knocked over in one of the wicked windstorms we had earlier this year and lost all but one 12" vine. She and the clematis survived, and stand sweetly right outside my kitchen window where I can look at her as I do my dishes. Here she is:

These open up to the most beautiful little bell shaped flowers!

She doesn't have a name, though. I have to say I'm a little uncomfortable with the naming your dress form thing. Oh, and the naming your dolly thing...I don't know what it is...maybe I'm just a little weird...

Anywho, thanks for looking! Have fun! And thanks, Tiffany! Fun Party!

Love,

Tammy