Magpie Ethel

First Event of The Season. All Saints Holiday Show

Today was the my first show of the season at a local church.  I have done this show for a few years.  It seems early in November for a holiday show, but it is always my wake-up call to get things crafted, priced and props organized.

I was up at 5:30 and at the show with Starbucks in hand by 6:50.

My table ready for set up.

An hour and a half later.

It is always fun to set up the display and see all my creations come together in one magical happy spot.

A long day but a very good start to the holiday season.  One month to go until I have my next event.  I do hope to get holiday Etsy listed next week..tis the season.

Wiped out..I'm off to bed.

Deer in The Holiday Headlights

I often get a bit crazed this time of the year with crafting and my upcoming shows.  My first show is this Saturday and my living room, dining room and both of my kids rooms show evidence of this as they are full of props and inventory.  I may be in a bit of a tizzy, but those deer in the headlights will be quite plentiful at my shows.

I sell reindeer every year.  This year a huge herd has come my way. These are all plastic and rubber. The herd is much larger than this photo.

I  have some of the ceramic variety.

Some ceramic deer get a whole little holiday scene.

I found the most amazing rubber deer heads this year. I have never seen them before and of course they had to be crafted with.

I also have an assortment of vintage deer that have made their way into vintage tin mold cup ornaments.

Lots of glitter and sparkle to be reflected off those headlights!

Just and FYI, I will be dividing up all my holiday inventory between my shows.  Some will be headed to Etsy (crossing my fingers for next week).

If you are local my shows are listed on my sidebar.  If you do come by please give me a hello and a happy day!

 

Collection Challenge #179 - Vintage Christmas Glass Clip On Birds

I have a drawer in my studio that houses an assortment of the old glass clip on birds. Whenever I find one in estate sale land it goes into this drawer.  When I opened up the drawer the other day I realized I have quite the collection of them.

Let me also preface this post by saying that I can't bear to throw these birds away.  Thus I have a collection of misfit birds.  Some are missing tails or the clips on the bottom. Some have the tips of their beaks missing.  Some are in fine shape, but some have not weathered time well.

My drawer was quite full.

Some come in pink.

Some are quite small.

This pair came in the original box so they are in good shape with tails and clips intact.

Love the pastel birds.

Most of the birds are of the same shape.  These cockatoos and parrots a bit different.

This trio of birds look like hummingbirds to me. I like the wing (note a LONE wing) with the tip in color.

These are my favorite birds.  I have a thing for birds with long necks like storks and swans.  I also like they tiny crown on one of the heads.

Some of the clips have a double spring that looks like bird legs.

The birds that still have their spun glass tails seem to be quite proud of them.

I took pity on the birds that lacked tails and ordered some replacement ones.  I found some spun glass tails like they would have had originally from D. Blumchen & Company.  I think I may do some holiday crafting with some of these birds and get them out of that studio drawer.

If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of ___."  Time to get out to the studio and fix some tail-less birds!  Happy Day!

 

Happy Find

I was at a local antique mall the other day and saw a treasure that just made me smile. Silly smile. I had never seen anything like them before.  I wanted them, but they weren't inexpensive.  I left them behind. I thought about them all night. I went back the next day to visit them again.

I loved the pink color and the wear from use.

They were well made and had the original soles with a fun manufacturers mark.

I really was smitten and I knew I would never find another pair like them.

So I bought myself a present.  A present that makes me smile when I look at them. VINTAGE PINK CLOWN SHOES!

The laces that came with them were mismatched white plain jane ones.  I added some vintage pattered ones from my stash.

They really are huge.  This is my foot in comparison.

You know how some people have a pair of delicate ballet slippers dangling somewhere in their home as a decoration? Not me.  I have a big old pair of vintage pink clown shoes. Shoes that make me grin.

Hope the weekend brings you something to smile about.