Under a blue moon

Well is this not the perfect skull or what?

It's from Pottery Barn and it's COVERED in German glass glitter!  My kind of skull. 

I've been in a Halloween preparation mood.  It started out with this rubber stamp from Tim Holz - It's going to be incorporated into the Halloween Party invitation (hey family - is it okay that I have completely taken over the whole invitation business?  It's not like we discussed it or anything). I'm going for a Victorian/Goth/Haunted Mansion kind of feel:

 

I'm trying to find a ghostly image to put behind it.

The mornings are getting cooler - when I wake up in the morning I can hear the wind in the trees and the wind chimes gently tinkling.  Even though we will have a good month or two of hot weather during the days I can definitely feel Fall trying to make a presence.  That's probably what is making me think of Halloween.

Speaking of chandeliers I think this would make a great Halloween Party decoration:

We always have the party outside and have a big long buffet table under the eaves.  I think this would be great hanging over that table.  It's a bit pricy for Halloween decoration but so in line with my Haunted Mansion theme.  It's from Gumps.  Who knew they were getting into the Halloween business?

!!Last day of my birthday month...

Wicker pet basket

I think Sara needs one of these for Remy, don't you?

I have been looking on-line for wicker bike baskets.  Now that the weather is getting lovely I want to ride my bike on my shorter errands - like to the library (which I go to every Thursday) or to the grocery store when I just need a few things. 

This, in an effort to be more green and to kind of trick myself into a little bit of exercise since it appears that willingly exercising just doesn't come naturally to me.

Of course those big, ugly, rear mounted bike baskets would probably be more practical but if this trickery is going to work the basket is going to have to be charming. 

In other happy news - the folks at Urban Outfitters, Inc. (Anthropologie) are opening a garden center type store called Terrain.  Go check out Oh Joy! for pictures.  We just have to hope it catches on and they open other centers around the country.  Like here.

(Note:  Picture above has nothing to do with Terrain.  I just needed something to liven up the post so I threw in a picture of my old planter.  But who knows - Terrain MIGHT carry stuff like this.)

Hope everyone is having a happy Wednesday.  I need to go find a party hat since it's the very last day of my birthday month.

Feeling Japanese

Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto.  I'm totally dating myself, aren't I?

I hit up the local Japanese dollar store (only it's a $1.50 store, really), Daiso yesterday.  I wanted to get some small cupcake holders and just browse.  It's a cheap thrill, what can I say.   

For $13.99 I got two Good Luck beckoning handkerchiefs (although I always thought the cat was a Chinese symbol...), two little packets of cards (to be used as scratch paper), food cup holders (to be used as decorative cupcake holders), a bento box (that I will likely never use as intended since I don't go anywhere for lunch - so I'm thinking little, portable sewing kit), a wicker basket (that I painted white - more on that in a second) and a packet of strawberry chews not pictured because I ate them already.

I don't know what it is about Japanese products that is so appealing.  Because everything is so cheerfully decorated?

I bought the wicker basket to use as a bread basket.  Man is painting wicker a pain.  My hat is off to anyone that has painted anything bigger than a bread basket - like furniture.  I suppose it is probably more efficient to spray paint it.  I used an ENTIRE craft size bottle of paint on that little basket.  And it still needs another coat. 

Finally something to use my bread basket liners in.

Since Daiso is right near JoAnns I popped in for some floss.  I've been craving pale, delicate colors.  I don't have a project in mind yet but I'm thinking monograms.   Loopy, florally monograms.

Goose girl

I hit up a little antique store yesterday and found a collection of paper goods.  I love paper second only to shiny, sparkly things.  I can't resist.

This particular vendor had a number of postcards, promotional pictures/advertisements, prints taken out of old books, etc.  There were a number that caught my eye and except for one all were just a little, well, weird.

Take the picture above - I've cropped it but it had a number on the bottom, 70, so I assume it is an illustration from a children's book.  Page 70 to be exact.  Only what kind of children's story has a small child dancing around wearing the pelt of a skinned rabbit while surrounded by other rabbits?  Are they enthralled?  Planning to overpower the dancing rabbit impostor?  And what happened to the kid's shoe?

This next scrap was originally included with a loaf of bread.  I gather from the back of the picture that one could collect the series and even send away for a scrap book to store them in.  I'm hoping that this wasn't intended for children because if I saw this when I was little I think I would be terrified.

Actually it reminds me of a story - when I was about nine years old my family was traveling through Europe.  I forget where we were but we were staying at an inn that had a little working farm.  There was a young girl about my younger sister Trish and my age.  While she was showing us around her grandmother sent her on an errand.  She looked at us and said "Whatever you do - do NOT go into the goose pen.  They will get out."  So of course we went into the goose pen and the geese all escaped.  Trish and I ran all over the place, fruitlessly trying to round them up.  The girl was very cross with us when she got back and the next day I woke up with my eyes swollen shut because unbeknownst to me I was chasing them through a nettle patch. 

So I can actually kind of identify with the little girl in the picture.

I'm not sure where this next picture came from.  There is something vaguely sinister about the whole scene.  A cat playing the harp for giant rats?  And are the rats dancing or just steadying each other?  And what is with the little cranky cat sitting on top of the harp? 

I thought at first it was a prayer card because of the back:

But then I thought maybe these are testimonials from people that were cured of their ailments by some product rather than prayer.   What exactly is dyspepsia anyway?

Here's the not weird one:

It's smaller than shown here.  I bought a Mod Podge product that you brush onto prints that gives them a brush stroke appearance.  I think I'll find a little frame for it and it will look like a teeny oil painting.

The Finds

I have a predilection for bringing home glass, linens and paper when I travel.  This trip was no different.

After our morning walk by the river Cheryl took Sara and I to the 5th Street Public market for a little browsing.  5th Street started as a poultry business back in the 1920's.  It's had several re-incarnations and additions since then and now is a combination of shops and restaurants. 

We were more in a browsing mood, not quite warmed up to actual buying just yet but we did find several shops to happily poke around in.  Notable was Provisions, an offshoot of Marche'.  I didn't buy anything there but I did knock a stack of books off a display.  Twice.  Provisions sells specialty foods, books, linens, tableware and the like.  One thing I wish I did buy was the little kitty shaped truffle by Over the Moon Chocolates. 

We wandered into the the French Quarter linen shop and fondled things.  Linen stores always smell so good.  Must be the fancy french-milled soap they always seem to sell along side the 600 thread count sheets. 

I did actually buy something in Toko Asia - a store full of Balinese furniture and gifts.  And a really cute assortment of cards - I just thought these babies looked so happy and frolicky.

It's actually a copy of a Chinese propaganda poster showing the bright and rosy future in China - fat babies and big giant fruit.

Becca finally caught up with us, after a morning of graduate studies at UO.  We had our leisurely lunch at Marche' then headed over to Broadway and Pewter Rabbit Antiques. 

The prices at Pewter Rabbit seemed a little steep to me but I did find a basket of hankies that were all reasonably priced and a box of old photos to poke through so I was happy.   I ended up buying a delicate pale yellow hankie, a teeny pillow sham and a few photos.

We decided to end the day's shopping by stopping in at Savoure' - a teeny little tea purveyor in Eugene.  The shop has a little hanging wall shelf with small glass jars of all the teas they sell.  Sara and I parked ourselves in front of it, happily sniffing away.   She was much more adventuresome than I was - I settled on Irish Breakfast (because it's my tea drinking son's favorite) while Sara purchased more exotic blends like Evening in Paris and Dragon's Well (actually I have no idea what she bought - I just liked the names of those).

On Saturday after visiting the Lone Pine Farm we headed to a shop called Shamrock's that Sara has been talking about for years.  After stepping inside I knew why - it was like finding my people.  I could have happily browsed for hours.  This started the glass portion of the day.  I finally found my glass cloche.

Of course now I need something to put it on.  It's a tad gloomy today so you can't quite see the etching on it properly. 

Man it's hard to take a picture of shiny things without getting yourself in the picture.  I also bought a mercury glass looking finial thingie.  For the mantel, me thinks.

A little sign made it into my shopping basket as well. 

And finally just before we made it back to Cheryl's where we were going to exchange Mike for Cheryl we dashed into the brand new pottery barn.  Sales tax-free Oregon and all.

I bought bathroom accessories.  I actually had a budget in mind, when I entered Oregon.  And I did pretty well.   Maybe went over just a teeny bit.  But only because we went to Coburg which has a little stretch of adorable antique stores.  I had room for one more little purchase.

It's pink.  And it's pressed glass.  Who can resist? 

It was a really restful trip, even though it sounds like we were out shopping the entire time.  We did have plenty of time to just sit, relax and enjoy each other's company.   The next time I go (Ha!  Look I'm inviting myself back) I will do more scenery visiting.  I would love to take the coastal route from California and see the Oregon coastline.

The Plum Tree Antiques

Another quick one...

A few weeks back, gosh, who knows maybe a few months back - I'm not entirely sure where the Summer has gone - I was visiting Dawn's Feathered Nest blog and discovered she and her partner Cindy run a brick and mortar Antique Store called The Plum Tree Antiques in McDonough, Georgia.

I envy just about everyone that is east of Nevada because they seem to have MUCH better antique stores than we do here in California.  I think California's attics aren't old enough yet so the types of treasures I covet haven't made their way into the shops yet.   Or there are much more intrepid and swift shoppers that get to all the good stuff before I can get my head out of the clouds.

I'm wistfully looking at all the lovely things on the Plum Tree blog when I realize they ship!  Just about anywhere!  Woohoo Dawn and Cindy!

So the little, vintage toy cash register had to be mine.   And after a few quick emails, a teeny delay because I was out of town, and it was on its way to me. 

I can just imagine owning a little shop some day and having that little register behind the counter in a display.

Take a look at their website and if anything catches your eye shoot off an email to them.  It's practically like being there in person.

Recent finds

Here's the teapot the way it was intended to be.  At least in my mind.  I'm sure the yellow metal cozy worked for some people.  The colors are a little wonky in this picture because it's kind of dark in the house this morning.  The color of teapot is a pretty creamy yellow.

When I was on my Etsy bender a couple of weeks ago I bought a vintage hankie box from Beachy's Cape Cod Cupboard.  It arrived brimming with hankies, lacy and embroidered cocktail napkins, a lavender sachet, seashells and a bit of ephemera.  All tied up with a bit of pretty lace. 

Here it is with some of my collection already in place.

Well I should be packing - I'm heading to Seattle first thing tomorrow morning.  I'm going for work but I'm determined to see the Space Needle and Pike's Market and eat at fabulous restaurants while I'm there.

The customer I'm going to visit said they captured a bear in their parking lot last week.  So of course I keep dreaming that bears have gotten into my house.  Rick says to always have someone slower and tastier looking with me when walking around outdoors. 

Yikes.

Back online

Whew.  We lost our Internet connection yesterday and I've been in serious withdrawal.  I spent the last hour with a lovely gentlemen who pinpointed the issue and we are back in business.

Someone may have a bit of an Internet addiction....

I received one of my Etsy orders - I ordered two pairs of earrings from a lovely seller in England.  The beads are made from vintage glass beads.  I just love the colors.  Is that not the most delicious green?

And I have to admit it's a bit of a thrill to get a package with Royal Mail stamped on it.

About the picture logo - a month or so ago Pat from Back Porch Musings recommended a few free photo editing software programs.  I downloaded PhotoFiltre and it's easy as pie to add the logo.  Just open your picture in the editor - click on the T icon (T for text I suppose...) and you can add what ever you want, choose the font, size and color.  It places it smack in the middle of the picture but you can move it where ever you like.

Oooh shiny things

I've been on a bit of an Etsy bender lately.  It all started because of the elephant bracelet.  I didn't read the very bold print that said to wait for revised receipt before paying because Etsy was being screwy with the shipping charges.  But I like to pay my bills promptly so I placed my order and immediately paid for it using PayPal.  Well the actual price was lower than initially calculated so the seller refunded my money and I repaid the correct amount.

Only the way PayPal works is instead of putting a refund back where it got the money (in this case a checking account) it instead leaves it as funds in your PayPal account.

So I figured I should do some more shopping to use up the funds.  It almost felt like free money - I suppose there is probably a way to get the money back but Etsy is way more fun.

I have a bit of a thing for sparkle - if the shoes above didn't tip you off.  They are like little tiaras for my feet.  So the shopping I've been doing has been mostly of the sparkly kind.  I've ordered two pairs of earrings, some jade-ite looking elephant charms and some flying swallow charms.  I'm going to add them to my "I have no idea what I'm going to do with them" pile.

Which reminds me I still need to work on my to do list for my sidebar.   It's a sad state of affairs when you have to add 'create to do list' to your to do list.

I'm not really wild about this but I've started adding a logo to my pictures.  I discovered that someone had taken some images from here and posted them on their own blog - I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they are just new to blogging and don't understand the etiquette of not using other's images without getting permission first.

This is my passive-aggressive way of asking that person to remove the pictures - I'm so not a confrontational person.

Bliss, continued...

On Saturday we woke up to the kind of weather that makes your heart sing ~ clear blue skies, mild temperatures, gentle breezes.   Spring has sprung kind of weather. 

Nicki and I left her house and headed to the Salinas farmer's market to admire the handwoven baskets and totes but the African man that is usually there selling them decided to take this fine day off.  I don't blame him.  Instead we stopped by the Russian baker's booth and bought an apple tea cake to share for our breakfast.  Big chunks of juicy apple in a firm, not too sweet cake.  Heaven.  He also let us sample a bite of a tomato, spinach and feta blintz that was just out of this world.  More heaven.

We hopped back in our car and zipped over to the coast to one of my all-time favorite places to shop and browse.  Wisteria & Aptos Gardens.  Two purveyors in the same location.  They have taken an old home in Soquel and turned the house and other outer buildings into an Antique and home decor store and the outside is left to Aptos Gardens where you can buy all manner of plants, fountains, antique wrought iron bits and pieces.   Anything you might need to turn your own garden into a romantic, magical place. 

I bought the pretty blue and yellow tray pictured above, a glass candle holder/vase (I'm going to put a candle in mine) and a sweet little pot of Lily of the Valley. 

After Wisteria we drove up Soquel Avenue towards Santa Cruz and hit a few antique stores where I picked up a few more handkerchiefs (this handkerchief business is becoming an issue.  I think there might be an intervention in the works.  My family members all stop talking when I walk in the room and look really uncomfortable...).  All up and down Soquel Avenue there are a ton of antique stores.  If you live in the Bay Area it's totally worth the drive over the hill to check them out.  I would start at the North end and work your way South, ending up at Wisteria/Aptos Gardens.  Then you can continue on and have lunch at Seascape Resort like we did.  This is the picture I took just sitting at our table. 

Honestly - it's hard to concentrate on eating when you have this to gaze out upon.  But eat we did - heuvos rancheros and bloody marys.  After lunch it was back into the car and we tooled our way further South to Monterey and Pacific Grove. 

Pacific Grove is a very picturesque little town.  The last time I was there the shops were all closed but not this time.  We went to The Wooden Nickel where I bought a glass dome with a faded pink velvet flower in it. 

My credit card was starting to make pitiful, surrendering kind of noises so we called it a day and went back to Nicki's for yet another fabulous dinner.  I'll blog about that tomorrow.   You must check out Nicki's blog to see her treasures and her pictures.  She is braver about taking pictures in shops than I am and she has some great pictures of Wisteria.