Fish schools - Odd Tuesday

Fishy ATC's side one

I'm in a fish mood.

Doodling and color trials on watercolor paper ATC's, yesterday, at our Odd Tuesday gathering.

(ATC's - Artist Trading Cards - think baseball card sized bits of art to trade with others)

Fishy ATC's side two

They're double-sided!

Each fish card has the same pattern with reversed coloring on the other side.

Do you make ATC's?

Want to trade??

Thanks for stopping by!

Simple Sunday

Key West Butterfly

Ahhhhh - vacation!

View from Seven Mile Bridge on way to Key West, FL

So lovely to have a get away with no agenda

Vintage style stamp dispenser

We had a long weekend staying in Key West, Florida at

the Southernmost Hotel at the quiet end of Duval Street.

(Walking distance to everything)

Fantastic tilework at Hemingway House

 I had ONE thing on my try-to-do list

 (no MUST do's this time around!): 

visit Hemingway House.

You can touch the cats - but don't pick them up!

Famous for the six-toed cats as well as the home & writing studio of author Ernest Hemingway.

Hemingway's wife Pauline had her collection of chandeliers installed throughout.

Below, I was fascinated by the ceiling medallion, 

and the aged piece of lace hiding the support chain.

Tall ceilings and large windows let in ample light despite the large balcony overhangs

 - perfect for steamy weather and good island breezes.

 I was drawn to details - here the deep baseboard trim and chalkpaint-like surfaces.

Gorgeous storage chest with decorative tile inserts!

The writing studio above  (what is now) the bookstore.

Clean and simple.

Yep - I think I'd visit here again!!

No problem.

Thanks for stopping by!

Under the Sea bag completed!

Starting with the canvas I'd painted last week and combining that with some purchased batik fabric for the interior lining, a colorful zipper and a bit of handmade Kumihimo braid for the handle.

I'm imperfectly perfecting the process for making little zippered bags.(I  like dyeing and creating images on fabric, but what can I DO with what I create in the end? Let's start with bags!)

Added a little pocket to the interior - spliced in a colorful swath of blue - and a bit of stitching!

And I can confess to multiple bouts of 'frog-stitching' on this pouch! (you know, rip-it, rip-it on an improper seam or two).

I managed to sew the zip in backwards. Then had the handle secured INSIDE the bag. Forgot to remove the fusible backing paper and had to unstitch the interior seam to reach it. Etc. Etc. Etc.

I am pleased with some new interfacing types I tried - firmed up the bag considerably.

And will work on less wonky zipper installation. Will I have to BASTE it in to get it even? Time will tell!

Also wondered what made me draw and paint little fishes and grasses. Well, the daughter has started up an aquarium this summer, and we've been peeking in at the reveal of Walt Disney World's new Art of Animation resort. That pool area is all ocean inspired!!


Thanks for stopping by!

Books and Thrift Share Monday

Golden books - The Circus is Coming

There seems to be a surge of carnival and circus themed products floating around lately. (Perhaps only on my travels? Or are they just what I'm drawn towards?)

I found this oversized Golden book from the '70's filled with fun illustrations, it's oh, so slightly shabby in condition - and that may also be why it drew me in.  Someone loved it and used it!

English Novelists, British Polar Explorers
(the covers and color plates sold me!)

A friend reminded me of a charity bookstore I had yet to explore - and a 50% off sale too.
Lovely goodies inside, the sweetest "vintage" volunteers manning the desk. (Okay - I'm completely ignoring hearing their mutterings of who was or was not 'pulling their weight', or medical explanations of why books were stacked on the floor rather than lifted to the top shelf. All this goes with the territory of living in an area of retirement condos.)

1950's Boy Scout Encyclopedia

 It was a very organized little shop - categorized offerings, older books and collectibles separated out, duplicates stored overhead. Truly a delight to wander through.

(love the color plate in the Boy Scout Encyclopedia too!)

Not exactly an old find - more late 80's, early 90's office gear. A promo style laser engraved business card holder. I have no idea what MDFC stood for - Mary Land Football Club? Mid Denver Farming Center?
Medical Department Financial Credit. Oh! I like the last one, I can just imagine - "YES" We can finance your cosmetic surgery through our MDFC center.

These shams are an OMG! moment. I spoke of the quilt on this bed here. It was my $15 bargain a few years ago. Now I have the matching shams for $3 total. Big grins for me!

This Persian souvenir tea caddy shaped box is a family piece from my husband's great aunt. The paint is very dark and chippy - and has intricate hand painted details.

I love the old hinges with the rough nails pounded in place, and the little label (#68!!) pasted inside.

It stores my Scrabble tiles - yep, I thrift shop the games and save the tiles paying at most $1 per game. (Anyone need an old game board? I have a few!)

The Caddy lid has even more detail than the sides - extremely dark in real life - photo editing helps bring out the  picture!

Simple thrifty goods overall - I found a few more useful things but nothing terribly photogenic! At least in this mornings light.

Thanks for stopping by - what have you found lately?

Apron Thrift Girl

Flea Market Finds

Simple Sunday

Color Games!

Carrying on with my sunprinted fabrics today

 (looking to make a couple more of the organizer bags)

I popped into Joann Fabrics and gathered a rainbow of fat quarters

(they'll be the insert accent stripe).

But which insert color works best?

(In real life every one of these choices works!)

I have plenty of zipper colors to choose from too!

(these from Etsy store zipit)

Lookee - there's a bag in use!

Stuffed full of Pitt pens and markers, that inner pocket keeps things in order.

(It traveled to our Odd Tuesday creative group gathering yesterday)

(Here's a sneak peek at a future bag with my 'under the sea' doodles.)

So, getting back to my fabric choices above,

Which would you use as an accent stripe?

Thanks for stopping by!