Why estate sales rock.....

.....because seriously. The lady whose estate this was used to make jewelry & specifically at one point was very into enameling so there was an entire old tool box FULL of copper stampings!!!!!!



Man I scored the mother load! I also got a rack of old lace trim...I don't think I'll keep the rack. I don't have the space for it but whoah....all that copper would have set me back mucho dinero.



It isn't fair to horde it all to myself so I think I'll do a little giveaway in a few days to spread the love....


Aloha,
b.

Handmade Holiday Vol. 1

Handmade Holiday will be a bi-weekly feature through the Holidays giving you some fun easy thrifty ways to enjoy your holiday, the handmade way! Handmade Holiday will focus on packaging and simple gifting to make your holidays more meaningful, less stressful, and better for Mother Earth.

Simple tips to remember throughout the Handmade Holiday:

1} Use what you have. Don't have pretty baker's string? Use butcher's twine. No butcher's twine? Use yarn or embroidery floss. No, embroidery floss? What about dental floss? In college bookmaking we often used dental floss as a substitute for the waxed linen thread used in bookbinding. And if you want to get really creative, the scented kind already sort of smells like the holidays...

2} When giftwrapping, go on a hunt for all things of a similar color scheme. No red and green? All colors can become festive if you go with a single color scheme. Use that long forgotten orange stamp pad, that ugly orange ribbon you bought for some unbeknownst reason and a simple holiday stamp.

3} Just about anything can become wrapping paper. Newspaper, old grocery bags (paper & plastic), old fabric, leftover ugly wrapping paper turned inside out to show the white side.

Here's a simple pennant wrap idea I made using recycled kraft paper, a homemade rubber stamp, and some baker's string:

1} Cut a simple triangle shape out of an eraser. If you don't have an eraser, you could also use a wine cork, piece of foam, or makeup sponge.

2} Gather your stamp pads. I experimented using both several shades of green as well as just red and green. Yes, I've got that many stamp pads.....

3} Find your paper for your wrap and cut it to approximately the size needed to wrap your gift. Here, since my box was already nicely finished, I decided just to make a sleeve to wrap around it.

4} Stamp your triangle in a straight-ish line. Changing the angle around slightly will give it a presence that it's floating in air like a real pennant.

5} wrap your gift and tie with a thin string just above row of stamped pennants. You could also draw a petite line with a black pen for a cute look as well!

Tune in on Wednesday for some more fun ideas using die cut shapes!

the beginning....

Am very excited about what's coming up in the next couple weeks! I will be participating in a art and antique market on the Second Saturday in July. More details to come.... This entailed me going out this weekend and purchasing my first big white craft tent. Something I've been putting off for awhile. Since that big old tent required a generous expenditure of my meager funds, I thought it would be fun to construct all of my display fixtures from materials I already have....something that is totally feasible if I get off my rump and apply myself. So, this is the beginning of my display fixtures....a covering for the table.

I have a GIANT role of canvas that I think I've had since I graduated from SCAD. So, I decided I would paint a table covering that would resemble a very large, more subtle version of one of my paintings. This is the beginning of that and will look very different when its done, but I was enjoying it fluttering on the line, drying, and thought I would share a couple photos.....

I {heart] skirts.....

I {heart} skirts. I could wear and usually do wear skirts and flip flops everyday. I'm just not much for shorts. I find them exceedingly uncomfortable and unflattering.

These are a couple of my new scores. all thrifted or purchased at garage sales. yay! the louder and cheaper the better.

Better Swiffing with Trouble on Thrifty Thursday & a tutorial!

Meet Trouble the Dog. Trouble is a Border Collie, arguably one of the smartest breeds of dogs out there.....and he expels his hair all the time....all over....everyday.

Sometimes I think I could make another Border Collie everyday with the hair that is collected.

For this reason, I LOVE my little swiffer-type broom that whizzes around our terrazzo & tile floors and picks up another border collie's worth of hair off the floor. I have an Omop made by Method and sold at Target. I like it a lot better than a Swiffer. The head is larger and you have the option of disposable corn-based dusters or a reusable microfiber pad that you can use wet or dry. I really like the green aspects of the Omop as opposed to Swiffer's petroleum based cloths and cleansers. But I don't like the prices, so naturally I set out to find some diy alternatives.
First, I noticed the bottom was microfiber, backed by some sort of absorbent batting, then a felt back. It was quilted and had serged seams. Perfect, except I don't sew.....at least not well. So instead, I opted for a backup refill head and purchased 2 microfiber dishtowels. I actually bought those at the $1 store.
I took one of the disposable cloths measured and cut my microfiber cloths to size. I made four out out of two microfiber dishtowel size cloths for $2. Awesome!
Two clothes cut from one microfiber dishtowel.
The width of the towel was perfect so I only ended up with one side that is unfinished. I reasoned that I could attempt to finish that side if it frayed. After several washes, the cloth is not fraying so I plan to leave unfinished (rather than battle my arch nemesis, the sewing machine. Method also has some great cleaning products that come in good looking packaging but I can make my own for pennies on the dollar. The mop kit I purchased came with a sample of floor cleaner so I make enough to refill that bottle because I really like the nozzle. You could also use a plain spray bottle. I make a version similar to my counter spray that I posted last week. This is a much greener way to keep those floors tidy!

By the way, Trouble has his own website. Have a good day! Live Aloha!

clean and sparkly with Thrifty Thursday

these cleaning gloves from JulieMeyer just make me want to clean! would also make a cute hostess gift...
Keep that kitchen clean and sparkly with these tips. Hint: you might save enough money for some new pretty tea towels and a pretty kitchen rug.

Baking Soda: Baking soda makes a great scrubbing cleanser. Baking soda is a mild abrasive and absorbs odor. Simply sprinkle (a pretty glass container with a perforated top makes it nice!) and scrub with a cloth or scrubbing pad.

Distilled White Vinegar: Mix with water and soap to make a great surface spray recipe below. Buy it in the largest container available to save packaging and money!

A Good Concentrated Dish Soap: I like 7th Generation Lavender Eucalyptus or CalBen Pure Soap DishGlow. They both smell wonderful, contain no petroleum based detergents or synthetic fragrances and can be used in conjunction around the house for a host of cleaning efforts.

This is a great all purpose cleaner, great from washing sinks and showers to floors.
Vinegar helps prevent mildew and mineral buildup if you have hard water.

My favorite all-purpose cleanser:
1/4 c. liquid soap or detergent
1/2 c. white distilled vinegar
2 gal. water

mix together in pail. and rinse well.

aloha!

Saving Pennies.....

flowered pig coin bank by me pottery
Being a starving artist and all, I'm constantly looking for ways to save money and live within my means. And nowadays, with the way our world is going economically, it's more important to me than ever, to reevaluate the way I look at every penny.

Over the years, I've developed some strategies and tips for saving pennies and being thrifty and each Thursday, I will share some of these tips with you, along with my other passion, buying handmade.

I hope you will take the time to give them a read and if you like, a try.