Treasury West

Two new Treasuries added me in Treasury West over the weekend. I'm so happy that one is another Fall Treasury. I'm just bouncing that Fall is approaching!

Don't you wish that men dressed like this today?

This kind lady has posted some mouth-watering pictures on her livejournal page...for more glorious images, click here

Almost no one is that tall and skinny today, and they certainly weren't that tall then. These lovely clothes are modern interpretations by various couture designers...the info is in teeny tiny print at the bottom of each photo.

Favorite Books from Childhood Never Forgotten

For years I have had the barest memory of a picture book from my babyhood that I enjoyed having read to me, but I only knew the title, which was "Wynken, Blynken and Nod", the poem by Eugene Field. I can almost see the lovely pastel images, but not quite. Whenever I pass a bookstore selling old books, I have to see if it's there. When I was in Edinburgh, there was a bookshop on the Royal Mile down toward the Canongate that sells (or did in 2003) antique children's books - I had the strongest hope that it would be there. Alas.

I don't know why I never looked at online booksellers like Alibris or Abebooks until recently. Something motivated me to look on Ebay, and I had an almost physical reaction when I saw it...my old book! There are a number of picture books based on this poem, but this was it - the very vintage, almost 1920's-style illustrations by Helen Page, who I have not been successful finding information about. This was a 12" x 5" Tall Twin Book, and I remember playing with the red spiral binding, and admiring the blonde curls of the baby girl.

The book's opening bid was $99.95, and that's what it sold for. I saw that it was also available for around $175 elsewhere, so I suppose that $99.95 was a bargain purchase. Sadly, my current budget does not allow for this kind of spending, but now I know what to look for, at least. The book was published by Wilcox & Follett, Chicago, in 1945, so it would be amazing to find it casually in a used bookshop, but I'm hopeful that it will somehow come to me, as these kinds of dream purchases sometimes do. No doubt a classic, bought as a gift for me, now lost to time, and just one of my many childhood books that I wish that I still had.

Neighborhood Bright Spot

I was on an errand to the library after mailing out an order and happened to walk down the street opposite the elementary school. I haven't been there in awhile and luckily, had my camera with me so that I could take a picture of this newest addition. I love the 60's-era stylization of the rainbow swirls , the triangular flags that add so much to the festivities, and the stunning mural, depicting the kids playing on the street when it's closed to traffic during their recess. The full mural pic is a paste job of three photos.

It must be new as many people also stopped to look and admire it. I'm not always a fan of graffiti, but this is beautiful work!

If you click on the full mural picture, you'll see more of it. :)

Feels Like Fall

It's been September weather for virtually all of August - mild, in the 70s and low 80s F, and in the 60s at night. Anyone who knows me knows that I do not tolerate heat well, so summer is often a miserable time. I live on the top floor of my smallish apartment building, so on those dog days of summer, it can be unbearable. Anyway, enough about that, the weather this August has been glorious and I have been motivated to bring out the unsold autumn merch from last year as well as make some new pieces, which I did last night while watching Night 3 of the DNC.

The newest item is a bracelet chock full of all of my autumn-themed charms and some truly mouth-watering glass leaf beads. It's my favorite season and if I really let myself do it, I would decorate for Halloween all year long. Remember when orange wasn't a fashion color? Hell, it wasn't a color you saw anywhere except possibly children's clothing. Hard to believe now, when it's everywhere, but there was once a time when orange and bright green could not be found in the stores. Whenever I did a show that required a spectrum rainbow, it was tough, as orange and green clothing was never in the stores and had to be made.

I remember when Banana Republic first featured orange clothes, and rushed in to buy a boiled wool sweater and soft silk & wool scarf in that delicious color. Even though I grew up with an orange 70's kitchen, with severely orange formica counters, which you'd think would have put me off the color forever, with dark brown wood cabinets with textured orange glass windows, I have always loved the color and have to stop myself from buying orange and more orange come fall.

Treasury Bounty on Etsy

Front page very early this morning! :)





Second picture down...On The Spot, by Band Geek, was on the Front Page of Etsy in the wee hours this morning!

I woke up yesterday to the sight of new treasuries on Etsy that I was featured in, which is always a welcome marketing aid. I don't always sell what's featured, and was even on the Front Page of Etsy three times a week or so ago and didn't sell any of those items. I don't get on the FP that often, but I have always sold the piece, whatever it is. The view increase is amazing, though - one item went from 200-something to over 800 in the almost-hour that it was visible.

I'm always amazed that people can think up such interesting Treasury themes, day after day. I can't think of anything new to do anymore that hasn't been done already many times over, so when I snagged a Treasury West slot a month or so ago, I used it to thank the curators who featured me lately.

I'm an alternate in the last one, greyed-out little star and thus not visible to anyone but the Curator, but I though it was such a gorgeous and melancholy list that wanted to include it. The only thing I can think that she could choose from my shop are the mismatched key earrings.

Let's hear it for free advertising! You can click on the pictures for a larger view.

I Love These Internet Quizzes!

You Are the Innovator

You're the type of person who is always a step ahead of everyone else. You thrive when you're experimenting with new designs, ideas, and attitudes. You are a creative person with many talents. You have to have artistic outlets in your life. You need to create - whether it's writing furiously or redecorating your home. If not, your life becomes chaotic. You tire of doing the same thing every day. You change your job, friends, and personal style often. You are at your best when you have a focus. If not, you develop a flaky artist's temperament.

What Role Do You Play?

You See the World Through Blue Colored Glasses

You live your life with tranquility. You have faith that things will work themselves out with time. You judge all your interactions through the lens of hope. You try to get all the facts before forming your opinion. You face challenges with wisdom. You know that all bad things pass, and you have the confidence to see problems through. You see love as the utmost expression of trust. Your relationships tend to be peaceful and stable. At your worst, you can be cool, melancholy, and detached. You sometimes have to step back from emotionally charged situations. You are at your happiest when you are able to reflect and relax.

What Color Glasses Do You See the World Through?

Button Jewelry

My first ever blog and blog post! I've been thinking about creating a design/costume/business blog, not that I have much time for it, so as I find
my blog voice, I begin with a visual, a slide show for YouTube of all of the button jewelry that I've made since opening my little online store. I say "little", but it is actually huge, encroaching on my living area and slowly taking over the living room, AKA The Studio, not to mention hard drive space on my computer!

My favorite singer ever, Dame Shirley Bassey, elevates and energizes, as always.