French Flea Market

Last year, my husband took me to Paris so when I read on Margo's blog that she was going to join the Red Shed Antiques French flea market tour, I had to check it out. Lucky for me, Valarie from Red Shed Antiques had a generous giveaway on her blog that I won!! Yeah, me!! My favorite item has to be the ledger page. It's handwritten with pen and ink, notarized and embossed. I plan to use this on a digital collage I have running around in my mind right now. I can't wait to wear the ginormous Mona Lisa watch. How did she know that I enjoy Mona so much? I love, love the postcards. They are handwritten in French and one is dated June 1, 1919. That's really, really old! There is also 5 pages from an old French novel, a notebook with Paris illustrations, a page from a 1800's book that is suitable for framing. Gorgeous! There are several pages from a French storybook and French music pages from 1931. She even included a nice necklace with bling and the Eiffel tower on it.

But wait! There's more . . .

She added lots and lots of Paris pretties. When I first opened the package, I could smell the lovely lavendar sachet. I don't know why, but that smell always takes me back to a historical park somewhere in Georgia that I visited as a little girl. The treasures include pages from a really old French prayer book, a tag with beautiful vintage lace wrapped around and around it, 4 French dinner napkins, a yummy box of butter cookies with milk chocolate (not destined to last long. I aready ate a couple of them) and a handwritten letter from April of 1918. Whew! That's quite a stash!

If you ever want to go on a shopping trip to Paris or Provence, you can join the Red Shed Tours and go with a bunch of ladies on a trip of a lifetime. They do trips twice a year; one in the Spring and one in the Fall.
 

Cherry Tree Tea Room

I was super excited when Amanda Cherry invited to be a vendor at the Cherry Tree Tea Room. I will be featuring my new digital art calendars there. I showed her one (it is the one with the beach theme) and she told me that she would like to display 5 of them. Five of the same would be a bit much so I spent the next 10 days working up 4 more. (without my son's computer help, I might add! He has taught me well)

These calendars are behind glass so you can write all over them with a Sharpie and erase with a little alcohol.

This morning, I went with my camera to photograph how they were displayed and learned that I had already sold one! Yes, I am doing a happy dance.

The Cherry Tree Tea Room is located in historical downtown Kingsville. Their chicken salads and desserts are to die for.

Right outside the tea room is the brick that has my husband's name engraved on it. How special is that?? He shares his brick with a bunch of Yaklins.

Goliad, Texas

Photo courtesy of Julie Stewart

I had always wanted to explore Goliad so when my friend, Julie said that she would be staying there for a few days, I saw that as a wonderful opportunity to check it out. Several years ago, Julie and her husband moved to Tennessee so we haven't seen them very much since then. Her husband is working in Goliad for a few months and she came down to see him for a few days.

 Photo courtesy of Julie Stewart

We met at Whataburger, then drove over to Courthouse Square.

 Photo courtesy of Julie Stewart

Julie treated me to a very nice lunch. I had a chicken fried ribeye and she had some chicken and dumplings.

 Photo courtesy of Julie Stewart

There was a very old piano sitting out on the sidewalk. It was one of those nice cabinet grands with a beautiful, deep sound. It seemed a shame that such a treasure would be out in the elements..

 Photo courtesy of Julie Stewart

A couple of the keys were sticking, but I am sure that they could be repaired.

One of the shops had a bea - u - ti - ful chandelier.

It's nice that friends can pick up again right where they left off. I hope that she can make another trip down here before her husband's job sends him back home; we have more catching up to do.

Photo courtesy of Julie Stewart

Gimme back my bullets

I needed more .38 shells so my husband took me out to the club to see if we could get more. Since it was cold AND the day before Christmas Eve, no one was out kerplunking. We found buckets of shells but very few .38's. I use the .38's to make my Pray for our Troops necklaces. I listed several shells in my Attic Rat Etsy shop since I won't live long enough to use all the shells I hauled home

Here are some clever ways people use spent bullets. Very creative:

'Gimme back my bullets' by cedarjunction

Clever ways to use bullets in jewelry

Best Seller - Large Aqu... TheJasmineGall... $70.00	Bullet Earrings - .22 C... HighImpactDesi... $25.00
Bullet Necklace Winches... lizzybleu $20.00	Silver Bullet Casing Be... RockStarFeathe... $9.99
Target Practice - upcyc... thevintagevani... $20.00	Green Malachite Brass B... TrashAndTrinke... $38.00
Steampunk Bumblebee Bul... ArmageddonArt $65.00	Circular Logic girls ne... Dazzlez $17.00
Bullet Necklace with a ... ReneeLoughlinD... $34.00	Aqua Aura Quartz Crysta... ShadowsandSpir... $50.00
SALE holiday break SALE... PrairieFairyDe... $34.00	bullet casing necklace ... emilyuts $18.00
Cobaltium Calcite Cryst... bashfulowl $20.00	Short Quartz Crystal Po... AutumnCrocus $25.00
Purple Glass Bullet Ear... KristinCosta $20.00	Brass bullet cartridge ... argent1na $12.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Texas Renaissance Festival

 I did not want a big party for my 50th. I just want it to quietly go by. No fanfare, no ticker tape parade. Just let it slip on by. Instead of a party, I thought it would be fun to go to the Texas Ren Faire. The weather was perfect. We've been there when it was pouring down rain. I will not go in the rain, ever again.

 There are people who are paid to be part of the festivities. This one wore a really nice costume.

 There is a huge parade that is lots of fun to watch.

 Must keep things tidy. LOL

These really tall costumes are my favorite. They would be tricky to walk around in. I would fall flat on my face if I were to try it. If I hadn't hurt my toe, I would have dressed up as a fairy. It is so much fun to go dressed up.

Rivet Gun 101

 I picked up some cute one-gallon cans at Warrenton last week so that I could convert them into some sweet birdhouses. In the past, I connected the tin using screws. Today, my husband was home so I grabbed a quick lesson on the use of a rivet gun. OMG! They are so, so simple to use. I had absolutely no idea.

 This is what I accomplished after only 1 lesson!

 Our rivet gun belongs in a museum, but it still functions like it did when it was new.

To use the gun, simply drill an 1/8 inch hole in the pieces you wish to connect. Load an 1/8 inch rivet in the gun like the picture above. Stick the little peg in the hole you drilled, making sure that it rests snug against your project. Squeeze the handle several times until it "pops". Since they are aluminum, you could have the grip of an 80-year old and still manage it.


I am off to see what else I can rivet . . . 

Old window re-do

I've already sold a few Paris windows so I thought it would be fun to change it up a bit. Since this window had a little green paint on it, I decided that would make a wonderful garden themed window. I just love the late 19th century graphics. For the background, I used pages from an old book that I picked up at the recycling center. I know that I'm cheap resourceful. I admit it.