Snow Cream.

There's something I think, that goes along with a 'vintage' way of life.  A desire to find purpose in the discarded, to reuse what was once loved...to see beauty in chips and rust and imperfections.

I would not call it frugality, though I believe in being frugal--and right now, have no choice but to be.

I think, perhaps, it's a longing for simplicity...

When I was a child, we used to make 'snow cream' an ice cream like concoction made from the fresh fallen white stuff.  Then came all the concerns about pollutants, and even acid in rain and snow.  Our snow cream days were over--even our childhood joy of catching flakes on our tongues was carefully monitored.  It was sad, and somehow felt like an era was past.

Today, I am writing this as big puffy snowflakes travel in an earthbound spiral past my window.  They add them selves to the plethora--and I mean plethora of snow already on the ground.  And I am thinking of snow cream.

I have Googled the safety of it, and found that the scientific snow eating experts say it's OK in moderation unless you live in a large city.

I live next to a corn field.

I have decided to embrace my inner child, do a little 'vintage' eating, and have some snow cream.

Snow Cream Recipe

Mix together 1/2 cup of whipping cream or cream of choice, 1 TBS sugar and 2-3 drops vanilla.  Slowly stir in 1-3 cups of clean snow, a little at a time, till it’s the right consistency.  You can adjust ingredients to suit your taste and experiment with flavors like cinnamon, butterscotch, lemon extract and eggnog.

So...the Superbowl causes heart attacks?

I was watching CBS tonight and there was an 'Eye on Your Health' report siting that Superbowl losses are now a cause of increase in cardiac attacks.

Are you kidding me?!

I appreciate the warning to aviod getting too stressed, and to watch certain beverage intakes and fatty foods (ok, ok...I'll stick by the token carrot stix)...but really?

This is sign to me that

1. Our nation Might just take sports too seriously...if the 'statistics' are true and not skewed.

2.  If the Superbowl is causing heart attacks, maybe we should pull out of, say, the Olympics...imagine how stressful it would be for your country to lose, not just your team.

3.  Fox is showing the Superbowl and CBS is 'jealous'.

4.  It's always easy to blame someone else for not taking good care of ourselves as a nation. (I understand that some people can take excellent care of themselves, and still have coronary issues.  My Dad is a cardiac patient.)

The study that this is based on was done in LA in the 1980s...and it's just coming out now.

Now that Fox has the Superbowl.  Wow, thanks CBS for the update.



Hmmm......





Here's an interesting blog on the topic

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/49411/the-super-bowl-may-cause-heart-attacks-oh-really/

Obsessed with Tiffany Silver Color

As my readers know, I often re-paint furniture.  Lately I have become obsessed with finding the perfect silver paint to mimic Tiffany...and the pictures below.  I am still on the hunt.  If you know of any paint colors that give that almost ethereal tone of silver--let me know!!  I know I could mix one and I might have to...but oh, for this particular shade of silver!!!

When I find the way to achieve this --I will blog about it, with pictures so you can do it to!! 

 If anyone can give me a color that matches these found at www.crownfrenchfurniture.com--I will share it with everyone.  I promise!! :)

Have I Discovered the Secret to Etsy's Front Page?!

  

Only time will tell that, I may very well be doing something that many others have done before me.  

I have created a 'formula' from Etsy's front page.

I am pretty new to Etsy, even newer to making treasuries and have 'the bug' --you know, the one that bites you when people say 'good job' or 'wow' on the Treasury comments.  

I have had only a few of these comments and now I am like a gator snagged up on some chicken put out by the Swamp People in the Bijou.  

Anyway, I started writing down what I saw on the front page and realized that the treasuries are chosen not only because of fabulous pictures, original merchandise and attractive models.  

It seems they also share a common pattern.

I started using this pattern in my treasuries recently, and love the result!  This may not get your curating skills to the front page--but I like to think it may help you make a more successful treasury.

-Front Page Treasuries usually have between two and three stronger colors, with other colors much more muted and in the background.

-Pay attention to your pictures background, many front page treasuries have neutral backgrounds with tones that are varying shades of the same neutral.

-Tell an abstract story, or use an idea that carries through.  Entire collections of one kind of item, like fuzzy slippers, are not typically featured.



Box #1



Box #2



Box #3



Try this out for fun, and see what you think (it's my secret formula)
1st Box Something funny, close up words--a pillow, card, sign...ect

2nd Box Close-up texture, fills screen

3rd Box Edibles or Geekery...Specialty object, usually a pop of color

4th Box Haute Couture, or a strong neutral image--has a classier feel

5th Box Close up art print, or something that feels like it could be a close up graphic image

6th Box Farther away words, person, or object

7th Box Vertical, Angular, Narrow Image

8th Box Stronger graphic color...often vertical again

9th Box Artwork, or close up of a person

10th Box Texture, metallic or industrial...rounded

11th Box Object in image faces either a stronger right or left

12th Box Art print...often black and white or neutral

Here's one of mine I used 'the Formula' for 

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d499fb623e48eefee5251fd/the-way-we-communicateits-like?ref=pr_treasury

Of course, now that I have written this...it'll all change.  

I think though that what the eye likes, it likes.  

Happy Treasury Hunting!!!

A Little Something Shabby

Today is New Year's Day!!  Happy 2011!  My sincere hope is that this will be a year of strengthening for everyone. Strengthening our faith, our families, ourselves, our nation...

Last night I was hit by a sudden burst of energy and inspiration regarding a vintage suitcase I picked up months ago...to 'do something with'.

I know this idea has been done before, but I was really happy with the results...a huge shout out to The Graphics Fairy, who has one of the most wonderful sites on the internet for paper ephemera...check it out, click on her sponsors--support her!  She's doing a big favor to all of us that love beautiful vintage paper art.

Here's the results of my labors...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65068145/romantic-french-vintage-luggage-

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d1f90c457936d91d179da98/making-post-holiday-travel-plans

I am happy with it!

The Joy of Briwax

For anyone who hand paints furniture or signage and loves an aged and distressed look--Briwax is Amazing!  I no longer have to take out my glazing medium every-time I want to accentuate chippy paint and surface scratches.  Now I grab my trusty rag and can of Briwax and let er rip!

This has been a fairly recent discovery for me, I love to frequent a primitives store called Apple Valley in Piqua Ohio with my Mom.

The shop owner makes the yummiest oils for candles and really lovely sewn primitives and all that...One day I was chatting with her and she asked me if I had ever used Briwax.  Since I had no clue, the answer was a no, and I left with it that day in my bag, as an experiment.

I have used it many different ways, from getting a yellowed aged feel for primitive furniture, to all out aged water stains on my French Shabby pieces.

I am honestly not trying to sound like a commercial here, but it has really helped me out--it also protects a piece--and for those of you who hand paint furniture, I encourage you to give it a go.

Get a Loupe!

This is my journey to Loupe-dom.  The tale of the over-complicated process of obtaining a simple jeweler's loupe for scrutinizing my vintage costume jewelry.  Really, it was way more difficult than it needed to be.  I am writing this in the hopes of helping other poor souls that just want to see their jewelry better.

I began with research, (which is probably what you are doing right now), and found lots on Amazon under the review section for each loupe.  The issue for me was...I know nothing about these things--and I am not someone who needed to study bacteria growth on the old Chinese food in my fridge.  Yup--lots of people use high powered loupes as a sort of portable microscope. Although that is extremely cool...and gross...but the kind of gross you Might want to see, if you haven't eaten yet for the day....there was very little written by people like me.  Folks that just want to see if it is indeed a rare piece of Danecraft.

So I went to those sites, wonderful sites, like Illusion Jewels and Morning Glory Jewels and there were in fact several helpful articles on purchasing a loupe.  However, these collectors take their jewels VERY seriously, and although I do to...I cowered beneath the weight of information and terminology.  I read admonition  upon admonition to be careful in your loupe purchase...that some loupes that say they are loupes are not really the best loupe or loupes at all.  I felt loupey.  All I really wanted to know is--what power level is good for seeing signatures on vintage costume jewelry.  Never having held a loupe or used one, it all seemed just out of the realm of my meager self to grasp.

Doom started to engulf me...buying a loupe was a bigger deal than I thought.  This was do right or die trying...

So I started to call around to local jewelers.  Logical right?!  If anybody knows jeweler's loupes--it's the jewelers.  Maybe I could get a closer look at one, and some sound proven advice--maybe I could even Buy one from a jeweler.  Things were looking up!  Over twenty-five jewelers later I discovered that most jewelers don't call it a loupe, they call it an eye...or a huh?

Let's just say if I ever am able to afford that diamond necklace, there are probably only three places in a fifty mile radius of my home in Ohio I would buy from.  It was scary how little the people I spoke with knew about something I would think was essential to their trade.  However, I did get propositioned when  I dialed a wrong number trying to reach a store, so you know...I guess my phone voice 'still has it'.  LOL.

In the end I bought my loupe and a 10X at Hobby Lobby in the Stamp Section.

Here's what I learned:
1.  Go with your gut as far as quality goes.  Mine was not in a leather case, but it has held up nicely.  (I get the joy of making a snazzy bag for it...think Disco Funky meets Vera Bradley in 1940.)

2.  30X is too much power.  Think 20X.  The jewelers I spoke with that really knew their stuff, and are well respected for making custom jewelry only use 20X for most applications.  --I bought a 16X and (apart from the whole cross eyed look for fifteen seconds after I use it)--it's perfect.

3.  Don't pay too much.  I ended up paying fifteen dollars for my 16X, and ten dollars for my 10X.  Those prices are higher than what you might pay on Amazon for comparable or a little better.  I paid more because I knew less, and needed to see it to understand it better.  If you order them from a jeweler...they seem to be more pricey.  Again, you are not buying a house or a dog.  Your investment and commitment as you learn is not so great that you can't just get a different one once you learn exactly what you need.

4.  Don't get frustrated when you start to use your new loupe.  After what I had read, I thought--Oh My Goodness--All my vintage jewelry is signed...I just can't see it.  Nope.  Some has been signed, though...and I am looking forward to finding more.

5.  LIGHT.  You will need lots of it and a neutral background behind your jewelry.  I took my first look in a moving vehicle with a heavily patterned coat under my jewelry.  Don't do it.

Have fun on your journey and realize that there are not as many rules as their seem to be.  Do research, and be willing to change your loupe as your needs change...I highly recommend a 16X.  But really...after reading all of this...I am not sure I would trust me either.
Happy Hunting!!!