Today is my birthday. If I could I would invite all my blogland friends to spend the day with me. I would have no trouble finding an invitation to send out for the event.
No emails or texting...perhaps a good old fashioned birthday phone call.
Perhaps if I light my birthday candle and make a wish..invitations would arrive and we could have quite a party!
Maybe if we all wished together...happy day!
You know me and how much I like my collections. Kristal of Rikrak Studio writes a column for Etsy called "The Collectors" that features a person and their collection. Today they featured ME and my vintage eyeglass collection! You can read about me here on Etsy. You can also check out the same post on Kristal's darling blog - Rikrak Studio. Thanks Kristal...bringing a smile to my day!
I have two reasons to smile. ONE is this darling squeaky Pinocchio that I found at the Plucky Maidens sale in my friend Janet's booth.
Number TWO is a super sweet post that my friend Pam from One Gal's Trash did about little old me.
Pam came over the other day and hung out with her camera in my studio. For those of you who want to see my studio thru her eyes, check out her blog.
I really like the shot of all my spun heads.
Two reasons to smile. Happy Day.
Taking a deep breath and playing catch-up after my trip to San Francisco. I hit some shops that were truly amazing and inspiring. The Alameda Flea Market was a trip highlight as well. Posts will be coming...
My favorite treasure from the Alameda Flea Market was this 1930's double nodder.
I have never bought a nodder before, but this gal was just smiling at me from a booth. She is called a double nodder, because not only does her head nod side to side, but her whole body does as well. Every time I pass by her I give her a little jiggle. Her original paint is in terrific shape and she is about 10 inches tall. She made it home safely packed in my ice chest and I truly love her.
I also returned to a nice surprise in blogland. My blog has made the list of the "10 Best Junk Collector Blogs" on Blogs.com. I was nominated by Diane at Kitsch 'n Stuff. This totally made my day as I catch-up on laundry, grocery shopping and those other mundane tasks! Thank you so much Diane...I'm grinning ear to ear! WOW!
Detective Magpie Ethel here again with a few vintage clues about the significance of today. Here are your clues.
Two vintage spun head figures ready for a celebration.
A vintage metal cake plate top.
A special birthday record. The flip side of the 45 plays "Open Your Gifts".
Old paper plates for a birthday celebration with a darling bird theme.
An assortment of plastic cake decorations.
A party book on how to throw themed parties...this is the page for birthday party ideas. (book was a give away from Staley's Syrups and Cream Corn Starch...can't find a publish date) A vintage birthday candle box from my collection. You may remember this post from last year with my birthday candle collection.
Some vintage birthday wrapping paper in very cheerful colors.
A couple of old metal pins to wear on the big day...altho I passed the age of seven quite awhile ago.
A spool of old "Happy Birthday" printed ribbon for that special gift.
A old flashcard.
A old party loot bag to bring home those goodies from a birthday party.
I am sure your detective skills have been put to the test. And yes, it is my birthday today! Happy Birthday to me! If you really had your detective cap on you would have noticed that one of the photos also contains my age...and it isn't 7. Thanks for playing along on my birthday.
A high school friend of ours, Meg, is taking a photography class. One of her assignments was to capture a person in an environment that reflects them. Meg asked if we would be interested in helping her with the project. It was really fun and she got some great shots that I think spoke about each of us and our interests.
KATE. Almost 16 and a typical teen. Loves fashion, her cell phone and her laptop. I posted an earlier picture of Kate with her Archie collection that Meg took. Here is Kate in her groovy room.
The graphic flowers on the wall are 17 yards of fabric from IKEA that I stapled to the wall. (It covers a great floral wallpaper that I couldn't bear to paint or take down)
I love this shot of Kate with a pair of old mickey mouse ears and her polka dot rain boots.
My husband TOM was a good sport and agreed to a short but sweet photo shoot with his collection of pharmacy antiques. (he is a pharmacist)
Yes, this is an old book full of vintage prescriptions...they used to save them all in a record book.
My son BEN is 17 and brainy. He loves science, math, reading and Rubik's cubes.
Ben and his Pez collection...he also collects vintage globes, old science kits, Rubik's cubes, bugs and super-balls.
Ben has loved Albert Einstein since he was small. The great piece of art in the back was done by a friend.
You can see Ben's super-ball collection in the clear tube near the window. He also has a couple of vintage skeleton teaching tools that I got from our old elementary school that hang on the wall. He has two stuffed snakes that hang from his ceiling.
And last but not least me. I don't love having my photo taken, but it was fun to play around and come up with shots.
I am also in love with my vintage O'Keefe and Merritt stove, so we had to do some kitchen shots.
What fun. Thank you Meg for a great experience and some amazing photos. I will not be giving up my crafting for a modeling career, but it certainly was a wonderful time. Meg, I hope you realize all your dreams with your photography!
I fall asleep about 11 p.m. and if I have alot on my mind I wake up about 2 a.m. and lay there for at least a couple of hours...my mind whirling with all the things I need to do or crafts I need to make.
Last night I lay there for over two hours...I thought up four new blog posts. I would love it if I could figure out a way to just switch off my brain..stop thinking about things and fall asleep. A nice deep sleep. ZZZZZZ
If I had such a switch, of course it would have to have a cute vintage switch-plate.
Maybe something like this would help! Hope I have sweet dreams tonight.
I can't believe it is the 200th post.
I have so enjoyed doing my blog....meeting new people and sharing things that are near and dear to me. In celebration it is time for a give away. I have gathered some goodies destined for that lucky someone....
An old black and rose covered apron (left corner), a floral glove box full of fun stuff like rick-rack and old ornaments. A couple of my hand dyed bottlebrush Christmas trees in those fun colors. A tussie mussie made with an old cardboard thread spool, covered in vintage wrapping paper and then embellished with old millinery. The book "French General Home Sewn" - it has great projects and includes pattern sheets. (I have two copies - perfect to share one.) And last but not least, a small vintage party hat to help with the celebration.
And I had to include a special spun head gal. This one is holding an old red doll clothespin and is sporting a polka dot skirt.
When leaving a comment, tell me what your favorite thing to collect is. I'm going to leave the giveaway celebration open for a week and will draw a name on Tuesday the 12th. Good luck and thanks for checking in with this Magpie Ethel gal. You guys make me happy :)
Wow 100 posts! (actually 104) I can't believe I have posted that many times! I have really enjoyed meeting new people and connecting with others in a way I never expected. So in honor of my 100th post I believe a giveaway is in order!
But first...a true life story honoring the number 100!
When I was in kindergarten we lived in a teeny tiny town called Montesano, Washington. I used to walk a couple of miles to school each day. We were busy learning our numbers and our teacher had assigned us to bring in 100 of something. I have always liked the quirky and oddball...so I brought in 100 pancakes!
My mom and I made them together...they looked so fun all stacked up tidy on a cookie sheet. I was so proud of my 100 pancakes! No one else had 100 pancakes, only me! My classmates were impressed by the teetering stacks! As I strolled home that afternoon giddy with the success of my day I ate cold pancakes. One after another, happy as a five year old can be! (I did not eat them all either!)
So in honor of my 100th post I promise NOT to give away 100 pancakes...but these goodies.
Let me describe this incredible prize!
A tiny floral tin tray in honor of my tray collection in my studio.
A Gurley brand vintage angel candle - an Estate Sale Friday find.
A wonderful pink Christmas corsage (I like to wear them during the holidays).
One of the flags that I make and sell bearing the greeting "Merry Christmas". The newspaper is from 1936. I stick these flags in cupcakes, attach to a bottle of wine as a gift etc etc. Endless possibilities.
5 vintage bookplates with great graphic of some friends in a rowboat
2 old floral handkerchiefs.
Adorable little figure I created using one of my found heads. She is perched on an chair created from an old tin mold and a toy plate. One of a kind and sure to bring a smile as she sits on your windowsill or shelf.
Some shiny vintage holiday doo-dads in honor of the magpie in me.
One of my Halloween cones I make. Perfect to add to your haunted Halloween decor!
And also please note my new and improved banner. My sister in law created it for me. Totally perfect timing to gussy up my blog for my 100th post!
Recently I received an award from Jodi of Simply This, That and the Other. She awarded me the "I love your blog" honor. I really enjoy doing my blog so is nice to know that people "get" what I post about and enjoy it. Thanks so much Jodi.
Pam from One Gals Trash tagged me with this doozy. Share 7 random things about me. Hmmmmm...here we go.
1.Speaking of seven I like odd numbers. I prefer to get out of bed when the last digit on my alarm clock is odd...weird huh?
2, I moved a ton as a kid. I never lived in a spot longer than three years. (No, my dad was not military but worked for an international construction company) I have lived in Utah, Washington, Alaska, California, Oregon and South Africa. When I lived in South Africa it was from 7th thru 10th grade and I went to an all girls boarding school for part of the time there. We would get hit at school for missing spelling words etc.
3.I have had the exciting experience of being published in a couple of magazines. I was in the March 2006 issue of Country Sampler Decorating Ideas...they featured my studio and it was on the cover as well as an 8 page spread. I was also in the February 2007 issue of Better Homes and Gardens. They did a feature on my tray collection in my studio. This is why I have the covers of these magazines in my sidebar. It was a really fun experience.
4. I have never dyed my hair or permed it.
5. I like routine. A lot. I eat the same thing for breakfast everyday. Kashi cereal, a banana (must be the perfect yellow/green) and coffee. I only drink coffee in the a.m. I have a diet Dr. Pepper with lunch and I only drink milk at dinner. I drink water throughout the day. I always grocery shop on Mondays. I vacuum my car every other week. The list goes on and on...
6. I love the color pink and my bedroom is pink. It is okay with my husband.
7. I really like the band Oingo Boingo. In the 90's when I worked downtown I saw the lead singer Danny Elfman. I asked him for an autograph on the only piece of paper I had - my brown paper lunch sack. I am so cool. I also saw the band in concert numerous times. Once (when I was in high school) I was right at the stage and held onto his leg for quite awhile. He finally looked down at me and kinda shook his leg...I guess I had held on long enough and I let go.
Thanks for checking in....happy Thursday to you all.
