Monday, August 10, 2009

Roadtrip...Demented Toy Parts!!!

On the road again...singing that song!

We've been trying for two months to take a road trip and on Friday we finally made it! My friend, Jackie, loves thrift shops and flea markets and the Barn....so do I! So on August 7 we hit the road for Temecula, CA. We started at La Maison Rustique Barn Sale. I found doll heads. I'm so excited! Just what I've been trying to find. Jack found a tin tile to use for a journal cover. Great treasures.

After spending about an hour and a half shopping and visiting, and with our tresures in hand, we were off to Escondido. Our next stop was lunch and a quick burger.

Then we headed for the AmVet's Thrift Store. It was huge!!! If this is heaven....then we've arrived! Jack spotted a vintage crinoline, I found a childs doll stuffing toy, we looked at books, gadgets, and toys. Jack found a wheel chair (no not that kind!), a childs toy! I found another doll and some porcelain knobs (great for feet on box projects). We scored!!!

My stuffing machine!

Next stop was another smaller, thrift store and then a little antique junque shop. Winding down the day, we decided it was time to head for home. We had a great time and we'll try again another day for some more treasures. They're out there....just waiting for us!!!

~~~
NOTE: Stay tuned to see what we make with our parts!
~~~

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Happy, Happy, Birthday to You!

~~~

Today is July 14, Bastile Day,
and my beautiful, daughter's birthday!

You are special in so many ways:
Thoughtful, Giving, Caring, Loving, I think I could go on and on.
Need I say more? YES!

"Happy Birthday,
My Sweet Daughter, Deborah"
This poem is my gift to you:

You arrived on the scene
In a whirlwind of commotion
And from the very start
You were always in motion!

No holding you back
On stage at every chance
You entertained all of us
With singing and dance.

Born on July 14, 1962
A day of joy; in a wink
You entered our lives
a gift, beautiful and pink!

You are talented and funny
Always the life of the party,
merriment and joy in your heart
and a laugh, oh so hearty!

Those who call you a friend
Feel very special indeed
To know you is to love you
In all things you succeed.

My daughter, my friend
I couldn't ask for more
I'm so proud of you
It's you I adore!

Hugs and Kisses,
Have the Best Birthday Ever!
Mom

~~~

Sunday, June 28, 2009

A Great Recipe...Fry Bread!

Well, it all started innocently enough with a suggestion from Dale Anne Potter! She was thinking of making some fry bread in her old iron skillet! (It was a SLOW NEWS day!)

Sugar and Cinnamon Dessert Fry Bread

We caught wind of her plan on Facebook! It didn't take long before we were all drooling and dreaming of hot fry bread....slathered with, well you name it!

So many ways to enjoy it! And it is called so many different things by different cultures and nations. I started seaching on google for Fry Bread. Lots of great recipes!

Navajo Taco

"Gran Mere's" French Fry Bread

Are you drooling yet?

To be Continued on another day when Dale Anne has more frozen bread
dough and gets the idea for some Fry Bread!!!!

~~~

Thursday, June 25, 2009

So Sad...He's gone!

Michael Jackson, the King of Pop

The news today was so sad. Michael Jackson has died of cardiac arrest. He was only 50 years old!

1958-2009

"Thriller" was one of my favorite albums. I remember it like it was yesterday, along with Billy Jean and the "Moon Walk". He left us with so much great music, and a sad life of troubles ever since he was a little boy.

Rest in Peace, Michael.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Paper Dollies

Today we're playing with paper dolls!

Memories of years gone by.....as a young girl, I would spend hours dressing paper dolls and making up stories for each doll. When I tired of the clothes I had for them, I would design new dresses and accessories. I loved to draw and it was only natural that I would make their clothes with pencil, crayons and paper!

Today, when the girls get together, we'll make paper dolls and clothes for them out of some of the most unusual things!!! We no longer draw, we recycle! Old magazines, bits and pieces of ephemera, ticket stubs, tags, lace, rhinestones, whatever looks like it will make our doll special. My favorite thing to do is to use a picture of myself when I was young and make a doll to dress. Or to use a vintage photo of a child for the doll, then make a costume connected with a holiday.

I'm getting ready to teach the class, preparing a dolly to share with the girls before we begin.

Everyone will have a different idea while perusing the same pile of collected items and O magazines being used for the dolls. I can't wait to see what today will bring....what dolls the girls will create!

Stay tuned for pictures this afternoon............And here they are!!!

I used a copy of a Dolly Dingle Paper Doll (in her slip) for the body.
She is mounted on heavy chip board.

My little Cupcake Dolly

The cupcake used for her dress (found in a food magazine), is adorned with a
marshmallow flower and sprinkles, same as her flower hat! .

Her dress is trimmed with dingle ball fringe and
I gave her shiny, patent leather shoes with a glaze pen!

Everyone was cutting and pasting and busy scurrying around for a piece of this and a piece of that from the stash Jackie had collected. She always has just what you need!!! And is so nice to open up her studio for us to play. Check out her blog at Art Meet Up for more info on the classes which are held once a month...you're all invited to attend!

For my second doll I used a copy of my head from a 1973 photo!!! I wanted to make a retro doll and found this great leopard jacket. But I couldn't find any "hot pants"!!! Seems like I wore them a lot in the 70's!!!