perched on a thin branch

another sunny day to photograph new work

2012-02-13T16:51:00.000-05:00

You can purchased these guys at Second Seed!

new foundlings

2012-02-10T11:49:00.003-05:00

sunshine and open windows

2012-02-01T11:38:00.002-05:00

vintage items

2012-01-30T22:25:00.003-05:00

I was so slow at posting vintage items to second seed today...

I kept playing around with filters in photoshop. But I did manage to post four items today. Buy them if you love them.

Thread

2012-01-29T11:52:00.004-05:00

Here is a picture of the seventeen bunnies I made for Thread. They will be in the Spring Catalogue and I will be making many more, every day, so even thought they are not for sale in the store or online yet, you can always request one from me. The papas (large) are $40, The mamas (medium) are $35 and the babies are $35.
Below is a picture of a lamp and shade that I made earlier in the Fall. A long Tine ago, I created the branches in the suitcase, they have felted rose buds on them. I have never tired of that piece.
And on this wall are the plaid art works I made last fall. I really love these and am trying to figure out how to redecorate the computer room to have them in my life. There is also another lamp and shade that I made (with a bird on it - Portlandia was so very correct).

More Vintage

2012-01-23T09:54:00.002-05:00

got to www.secondseed.etsy to purchase these amazing items!

Uploading Etsy Vintage

2012-01-22T11:04:00.001-05:00

Check these out at www.secondseed.etsy.com

It is so cold and too bright!

2012-01-21T16:42:00.001-05:00

Valentine Foundling

2012-01-20T20:37:00.001-05:00

Sewing so fast

2012-01-14T14:55:00.002-05:00

I am getting speedy at making these owls, although the foundlings take a little longer. I am going to send the first six owls to hopefully get an article published in Stuffed Magazine about the possibilities of variety in one basic design, e.g.. eyes, size of beak, fringe or no fringe...

And the two red owls and the foundling (who is carrying a valentine for her secret love), are going to Thread, get them before they are gone.

Family photos

2012-01-13T20:15:00.003-05:00

I found a box of slides in my parents basement and Allen Scanned them for me - they look like they were taken yesterday. Above is mom looking so very vogue. Below is my brother and our dad all are circa 1960, I think at Sag harbor.

one more

2012-01-09T19:42:00.002-05:00

new foundlings

2012-01-07T18:51:00.001-05:00

Check out the three new foundlings I just posted on Etsy!

red cupboard

2011-12-29T12:47:00.001-05:00

I got this little red cupboard at the estate sale that i mentioned in the last post. I am so happy because I have been searching for the right bedside table and now I have it!

Super Duper Estate Sale

2011-12-27T16:20:00.005-05:00

This Estate is being demolished and a Hampton Inn will be built in its place. Go visit before it is gone. The house/church is bigger than it looks, and there are three out buildings, and all the contents are for sale, including gorgeous doors, windows and fixtures.

It is at 280 Clay Road off Jefferson Road in Henrietta

(right behind the Bugaboo Creek Steak House).

12/27/2011 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Tuesday)
12/28/2011 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Wednesday)
12/29/2011 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Thursday)

This is a hand built cement fountain, it cries and the water gets sucked back into the mouth...

only $300 if you can get it off the property!

She Can Draw

2011-12-12T09:29:00.003-05:00

Kitchen Wallpaper

2011-12-05T19:37:00.002-05:00

It only took 3 hours!

Red Deer not Red Drum

2011-12-04T19:17:00.002-05:00

The Holiday window at Thread looks spectacular. I made the lampshades and I covered this wire form deer with felted, wool, red sweaters. Mike spray painted the branches and Sandy made snow falling from the sky. I great collaboration if I do say so myself.

Sale Tomorrow!

2011-11-26T16:56:00.002-05:00

Shop Local and Handmade at the

Holiday HeART Bazaar

Sunday, November 27th

12:00 - 5:00

at Starry Nites Cafe

696 University Avenue

missing making art

2011-11-09T15:40:00.003-05:00

I have a thousand plans for when I get home. I am helping out as a secretary at my brother's office, mostly answering the phone and talking to people about my dad. But I am surfing the web a lot too. I love this piece by Yellena James.

Dad

2011-11-08T08:59:00.004-05:00

My dad died on Sunday. I feel so empty, tired, actually I don't really feel anything at all.

He was beyond amazing. A musician, an athlete, an artist, a scientist and healer (he practiced dentistry for 50 years). A patient today told me, "you know you expect your doctor to take care of you, but he went far beyond that." He was a leader for the Boy Scout Troop, a regular church goer, he raised money and gave money to so many charitable organizations (too many to list), he was a world traveler and naturalist (he insisted on being the first on the water on his 47 canoe trips to Algonquin park, because he wanted to see the wildlife before they got spooked by the rest of the scouts). He just loved to help people, he loved everything about life.

don't lose today

2011-11-03T10:03:00.006-04:00

Today I have been reading old posts of this blog. I am having a hard time believing I wrote any of those words.

In a birthday reflection in 2009 I posted this quote -

“If you dread tomorrow, it’s

because you don’t know how to build the present, and when you don’t know how to build the present, you tell yourself you can deal with it tomorrow, and it’s lost because tomorrow always ends up becoming today.”

The Elegance of the

Hedgehog p. 128

I have been living in the present moment as much as it is possible these days, simultaneously wishing I could just jump ahead to a future where healing has already taken place. So what am I doing reading posts I wrote in 2009? And to confuse you more, here is a picture of my wonderful family from 1970.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T09:15:00.000-04:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Kitchen changes

2011-10-24T11:34:00.005-04:00

First I have to explain a 2008 installation piece by Zoe Leonard. (Detail pictured below.)
The Leonard work consists of thousands of vintage postcards depicting Niagara Falls, arranged in several groupings of cards that are printed with exactly the same image. The identical picture is repeated, over and over again, but with the subtle gradations of tone as a major subject: the ink is sometimes yellowed, due to age and wear and tear, or due to press differences. Now I know who was bidding against me on postcards of Niagara, a place I visited to make pictures a few years ago. I learned that the Falls are a man-made tourist destination, not really a true "natural wonder" at all anymore, due to our efforts in harnessing of the water's power for electricity. The Falls get turned "off" over the winter, and we were there when the flip got switched to get it flowing again, just in time for the thaw and upcoming tourist season. Read more about the manufactured sublime in Ginger Strand's book, "Inventing Niagara," and see some of her own postcard collection here: http://www.gingerstrand.com/niagara_lost.htm Leonard's work explores the idea of mass-market tourism and the shaping of a location for that purpose and the idea of the souvenir and the photographic landscape tradition. Her postcards span the half-century from 1900-1950, and, according to the exhibition's curator: "... there is little evidence in Leonard’s ensemble of the far-reaching physical changes that the site underwent during this same period: inter alia, the amount of water flowing over the falls was reduced and regulated daily; certain outcroppings of rock, deemed dangerous, were blasted away; and erosion radically redrew the profile of the Horseshoe Falls. While the icon requires constancy to maintain its status as icon, the suppression in these reproductions of the site’s physical permutations contributes to the elision of the icon into cliché."

So in an attempt to re-decorate the kitchen wall, Allen and I started our own installation of vintage architectural postcards. Nothing theoretical here - we just like the look of them.

But on Sunday we purchased this amazing vintage yellow table and chairs for the kitchen - Now I am thinking about a wall paper I purchased on sale at Anthropologie for the wall. I hung the roll up and photoshopped the rest of the wall in...

I think I love it, but I am nervous that my family will not. I will update after everyone returns home.

vintage items

2011-10-14T21:55:00.005-04:00

Check out my Etsy shop if you want to own any of these amazing vintage items!

6 large television tubes (pictured above)

8 small television tubes (below)

velveteen baby slippers

and

leather boy's school/work shoes

Repurposed wool sweater pumpkins

2011-10-12T13:02:00.002-04:00

I have two more shows coming up- The Victor Craft Show on Saturday and The Syracuse Salt City Market the following Saturday. I have been collecting orange sweaters all year to make these fun pumpkins. I only have 9 of them (as orange sweaters are not so easy to come by), so come early or contact me if you want one.

Fiber Festival

2011-09-22T11:14:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday I went to Fiber Festival in Hemlock. I bought twelve skeins of hand spun yarn that I can't wait to get my needles in. I also took lots of pics.

Classes

2011-09-01T18:56:00.003-04:00

This Fall, I will be teaching needle felting and embroidering felted wool.

Please consider registering for one of my classes at

The Weaver’s Guild of Rochester

located in Piano Works Mall, East Rochester

Studio 1940 349 W. Commercial St.

585-377-2955

http://www.weaversguildofrochester.org

Artful Fiber Gifts

Make numerous simple gifts for Holiday gift giving! You will create unique greeting cards using embroidery and felting techniques and make small felted ornaments, jewelry (pins, hair clips, earrings), and various art objects. No prior experience required. AGE: 13 and up. MATERIALS FEE: $8.00 paid to instructor for blank cards, embroidery thread, felt, roving and tools for use during class.

Instructor Nancy Topolski

1367

Tuesday, 10/4

6:00-8:30 PM

$35

1368

Friday, 12/2,

10:00-12:30

$35

Creative Needle Felting & Embroidery

Learn a variety of needle felting and embroidery techniques. Wet and dry wool felting techniques will be covered: needle felting on recycled wool, Nepal wool felt and 3-D projects using roving. Embroidery is a lovely complement to felted wool designs, and you will practice some basic stitches. Information on how to proceed independently will be available. No experience required. AGE: 13 and up. MATERIALS FEE: $7 paid to instructor for 1 felting needle, unlimited felted sweater pieces, 1 piece Nepal felt, foam piece & roving.

Instructor Nancy Topolski

1370

Friday, 10/21

10:00-12:30

$35

1371

Tuesday, 11/8

6:00-8:30 PM

$35

New work

2011-08-25T12:46:00.002-04:00

Busy Weekend

2011-08-21T12:24:00.006-04:00

Started out Saturday morning going to the Public Market to have our weekly tacos only to be told that the mexican restaurant is closing; next week is their last week. I am devastated. I love this small family business that makes the freshest, tastiest most wonderful tacos in the entire world. They moved locations once before - so I am hope the Market will embrace this amazing vendor and find them a new space.

Saturday afternoon, Donna and Michael flew into Canandaigua airport on/in their new Cessna to have lunch at the Rio Tomatlan for a late Mexican lunch. Yes, Allen's sister's husband has his own airplane and he also has spontaneity. They left Selinsgrove, PA at noon, had lunch in Canandaigua, and and arrived home by 7:00.

I am still learning my new i-phone and I took many videos before I was told by Aster that I was taking videos not photos...

Today is a full day too... I feel overwhelmed by the amount of work that is not getting accomplished. But I know I will enjoy the fun day ahead.

Bee's Nest

2011-08-19T14:26:00.003-04:00

I went to photograph some Etsy items on the deck and found a great swarm of bees living under one of the benches. We are going to wait until it is dark when they are all at home and then kill them, but I photograph a few things with them swarming around me. I usually am happy to live and let live, but this is where we eat... sorry beautiful bees.

Here are some of the etsy itmes coming up for sale in my shop.

392 Scrabble tiles (Aster counted them for me - isn't she the best?!)
A very old Brownie camera - marked 2A with patent pending. And the little baby felt bonnet below might have been my mother's I have to ask her...
A German victorian embroidered purse with silver handle.

FUA Krew BBYO BBQ

2011-08-07T11:09:00.002-04:00

We went to an awesome Graffiti festival on Saturday held by the FUA Krew. you can see the finished art athttp://fua-krew.org/

Four new Owls

2011-08-04T11:18:00.001-04:00

I also completed this little pillow - I am trying to make more of these. I really like having a larger blank canvas to design

new living room instead

2011-07-24T16:40:00.003-04:00

We are not happy with the repurposed windows in the kitchen - so they are now hanging above the red couch in the living room. We are happy now and there is a plan in place for the kitchen wall...

cats

2011-07-23T12:42:00.001-04:00

new(ish ) Kitchen

2011-07-22T20:16:00.004-04:00

This week I had the desire to change up the kitchen...

OLD KITCHEN

New Kitchen

The new kitchen does not look very dramatic, but I was in need of some sophistication and calm. I had tried with all my might in the past to make at least part of this house feel mid-century modern, (i.e. the Saarien tulip table), but I have have come to realize it just simply will never be that stylish of a house. Since we love the old school house lights that we (Allen) put in, it seemed inevitable that the room would become more shabby than chic....

The wall is now a lovely, simple, rich, mocha and I found the crusty old window that is on the wall at House Parts for around $100. The iron pedestal table was purchased long ago at a yard sale and has had different tops through out the years for our changing needs.

It is the perfect size, we just have to re-surface the pink ...

and find some matching interesting old chairs...

and get hand crafted kitchen cabinets from Misha....

Cape May

2011-07-10T13:08:00.006-04:00

This is my favorite pic of the week, Kathryn is laughing hysterically at me.

The gulls were so amazing to photograph.

Above is Sunset Beach. The Horse Shoe Crabs come here to mate, as the female buries herself in the sand she lays the eggs in the sand the male fertilizes them. Then the seagulls eat the fertilized eggs.

Below is a a gorgeous Jelly. The area is full of them, so swimming is not something I do. But others don't mind stings. The life guards even have a special spray (vinegar and water) at the stand for swimmers who get stung. These big Moon Jellies don't sting though.

Gage

Aster

These two pictures were a fluke, my camera and the sun got together to make some magic.

That's Aster on the Right - the rest are my nieces. And below is a bunch of mussels.

I posted a lot more on face book if you want to see more...

krrb it

2011-07-06T08:33:00.006-04:00

Krrb (pronounced curb) is this terrific new site that is like Craig's List, but so much better, unbelievable better! It is stylish and super user friendly. You can see one of my posts here - http://krrb.com/posts/3038-15-plus-1-drawer-pulls-hinged-green-metal.

And it has this amazing function created for Etsy sellers. It's called the 'Krrb It' button. It allows you to create Krrb posts from your Etsy profile in seconds. This way, when you post to Etsy you can instantly double your audience by using the 'Krrb It' button. All you have to do is sign up for Krrb, drag the button to your bookmark bar and then you press two buttons and your etsy post is published on Krrb

And it's so easy!

First, login to Krrb.com.

Then, go here: http://krrb.com/krrb-it

It's easy, it's free, why not?

Now, you got Etsy and Krrb working for you in the time it takes to post to just one! The button will also work with Craigslist and eBay posts, too.

Einstein was pretty smart

2011-06-20T12:10:00.002-04:00

The last exam is tomorrow!

foundlings

2011-06-18T15:44:00.002-04:00

Here are three new foundlings. The one pictured below is made from a vintage tea towel that has a map of England printed on it. You can see LONDON right below his little arm.I consider this one my Zen Foundling. His back side is jadeite green silk fabric. I really like the simplicity of him.

Tagged!

2011-06-13T09:30:00.004-04:00

Last night someone tagged my car while it was in my own driveway! (I actually know the artist - and gave her permission). She wouldn't let me take her picture while she was spray painting, usually Aster just loves to have her picture taken...

vintage items

2011-06-09T09:14:00.002-04:00

My Esty shop is filling up...

Foundlings

2011-06-06T11:22:00.003-04:00

I have finally finished something! I feel like I work and work and never accomplish anything. But here are four new foundlings. I am not listing them on Etsy, so if you fall in love with one, just contact me and I will get it to you.

Fish

2011-06-05T09:25:00.002-04:00

I found these awesome fish at abowman. They will follow your mouse because they are hungry.

(The fish are at the top left of the blog).

more vintage

2011-06-03T09:44:00.002-04:00

It is so nice to photograph in the sun. The light gives true color and makes the work of posting so much easier. All of these items are for sale in my shop.

bed time

2011-05-31T10:36:00.003-04:00

I mostly work in my bedroom, in my bed. The animals like to be with me, and I like that. I wish I could sleep like they do.

Happy Memorial Day

2011-05-30T19:20:00.003-04:00

I have only the highest admiration for those who fight the fight from which so many of us run. This is not just an American holiday to me - I think of all the countries at war now and in the past and all the brave men, women and children who had to fight for their lives. I feel so fortunate and privileged to be safe in my home with unlocked doors. I am very lucky.

Obama spoke today at the tomb of the unknown soldier, he said,

"This day is about you and the fallen heroes you loved. It is their courage, their unselfishness, their devotion to duty that has sustained this country through all its trials and will sustain us through all our trials to come,"

"To those of you who mourn the loss of a loved one today, my heart breaks, goes out to you. I love my daughters more than anything in the world, and I cannot imagine losing them. I can't imagine losing a sister or brother or parent at war,"

"The grief so many of you carry in your hearts is a grief I cannot fully know," Obama said. "It's a day that has a meaning for all Americans."

Kodak Kodamatic

2011-05-29T11:24:00.004-04:00

This Camera is the best one I have found. It is a folding "pocket" camera.

The camera folded closed measures 7 1/4" X 3 1/4" x 1 1/2". Quite a large item to carry around waiting for that "Kodak moment".

The little Kodak emblem on the front opens and turns to be a kick stand and works as a tabletop tripod.

It is for sale on Etsy!

items of estates

2011-05-28T16:38:00.002-04:00

I don't usually sell dolls, but this one seemed interesting to me.

Above is a hand sewing machine - for hemming curtains and such

Below are a pile of metal embroidery hoops - I don't know why, but I just love these things.

I have not posted these yet - I am kind of sick of the formatting work in photoshop. Maybe I will be more motivated tomorrow.

6 X 6 coming soon

2011-05-26T09:59:00.002-04:00

The preview of all the 6 X 6 pieces is available now at RoCo's website.

Here are a few of my favorites...

vintage finds

2011-05-23T10:33:00.009-04:00

There was one awesome estate sale this past week. I also went to the Avon Flea and some antique/junk shops on Sunday. I found some wonderful items... Lots of thread including these gorgeous silk spools.

Below is a fantastic Irish linen Tea Towel with a mod 1960s illustration of The Owl and The Pussycat.

And here is a mint Polaroid Land Camera Model 210.A classic coral colored clam

shell filled with Singer Sewing Machine Button Hole attachment parts.And this amazing salesman's sample of a drafting table and chair. Everything is for sale in my Etsy Shop!

2 hours of Sunshine reaps two pictures

2011-05-19T12:16:00.002-04:00

In the garden this morning -

Above is a detail of the Royal typewriter I have rusting away in the garden. The pink tulip is the only tulip (in our garden any way) that bloomed this spring - I will no longer be feeding the squirrels expensive tulip bulbs.

Estate Sale Finds and losses

2011-05-18T11:34:00.004-04:00

I went early to a terrible sale today in order to possibly purchase this gorgeous Robert Marx oil painting. Alas, it was priced at $10, 000. As it turned out I didn't really like all that much any way (ha ha). I did find a few minor pieces to re-sell, so at least it wasn't a complete bust.

This pic is one of those random pictures on the sale's website, I do not know what these are but I love the image for image sake.

Happy Birthday to me!

2011-05-15T09:12:00.000-04:00

Nancy Topolski's Best Day Ever

2011-05-13T21:09:00.002-04:00

I had such a great day today!

I was treated to a birthday lunch at Max's at MAG by my two dearest friends, and that was followed by a super fun full needle felting class

and then a cupcake and wine at Chocolate and Vines!

I will never sleep tonight with so many wonderful conversations to mull around in my brain and the amazing free birthday chocolate! Thank you dearest friends for a great day!

Gizmodo and the sun

2011-05-09T10:54:00.003-04:00

Gizmo is in the dog's bed, getting every inch of his body warm. I has been so long since we have had a sunny weekend - we are all acting a bit crazy.

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T11:41:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's day - especially to my own wonderful mom, but also to any one who has enjoyed the blessing/burden of raising children!

Spring?

2011-04-27T22:29:00.008-04:00

It was not only the first nice Spring day we have had - but it was a taste of Summer with temperatures reaching 80 degrees and it being so balmy due to all the past rain. Eventually we did have a big storm and a lovely rainbow followed. I managed to get a little bit of gardening accomplished before it was wet again.

Is anyone else outraged?

2011-04-26T13:20:00.007-04:00

I am shocked that the royal family has made wearing animal parts fashionable. It being the birthday of the great James Audubon I feel I must voice my outrage, as it was the Audubon society that helped end this horrific style that was fashionable in the late 1800s. As feathered hats grew in popularity through the end of the nineteenth century, more and more birds were becoming endangered. The more rare a bird, the more valuable were its feathers, therefore giving the wearer greater social standing. During the height of this fashion trend whole birds were stuffed and mounted on hats. The American Ornithologist Union estimated in 1886 that five million North American birds were killed each year for millinery purposes.

That same year, Frank Chapman, an avid birder, hiked from his uptown Manhattan office to the heart of the women’s fashion district on 14th Street. He tallied the stuffed birds on the hats of passing women. He identified wings, heads, tails or entire bodies of three bluebirds, two redheaded woodpeckers, nine Baltimore orioles, five blue jays, twenty-one common terns, a saw-whet owl and a prairie hen. In two afternoons he counted 174 birds and forty species in all. So in 1896, Mrs. Augustus Hemenway and her cousin Miss Minna Hall of Boston decided to organize their forces to end the slaughter of birds for hats. The two women invited prominent society women for afternoon teas where the cousins urged participants to boycott bird hats. This was the formation of the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Outraged Americans in state after state founded Audubon Societies to combat the feather trade and advocate bird protection. They waged the first truly modern conservation campaign. In 1900, just four years after the women hatched their strategy over tea, the U.S. Congress passed the Lacey Bird and Game Act. This legislation helped bring an end to the heedless slaughter of plumed birds in Florida and elsewhere.

Happy Birthday Birdman

2011-04-26T13:05:00.003-04:00

Jean-Jacques Audubon was born on April 26, 1785 in Les Cayes in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti)^[1] on his father's sugar plantation. When Audubon, at age 18, boarded ship for immigration to the United States in 1803, he changed his name to an anglicized form: John James Audubon.

Audubon developed his own methods for drawing birds. First, he killed them using fine shot. He then used wires to prop them into a natural position, unlike the common method of many ornithologists, who prepared and stuffed the specimens into a rigid pose. When working on a major specimen like an eagle, he would spend up to four 15-hour days, preparing, studying, and drawing it. His paintings of birds are set true-to-life in their natural habitat. He often portrayed them as if caught in motion, especially feeding or hunting. All species were drawn life size which accounts for the contorted poses of the larger birds as Audubon strove to fit them within the page size. Smaller species were usually placed on branches with berries, fruit, and flowers. He used several birds in a drawing to present all views of anatomy and wings. Larger birds were often placed in their ground habitat or perching on stumps. At times, as with woodpeckers, he combined several species on one page to offer contrasting features. He frequently depicted the birds' nests and eggs, and occasionally natural predators, such as snakes.

Walter Topolski 1933 -2011

2011-04-25T09:48:00.006-04:00

Allen's Dad passed away Sunday April 17th. We were in Pennsylvania for the funeral and family affairs. The picture above is from Christmas. Aster took the pictures below from the car on the way down, it was a gloomy, rainy, foggy morning.

But signs of Spring were to come.

Walter Topolski had nine grandchildren and two great grand children. The entire family was so happy to be together, but we really missed grandpa. There was a very competitive kick ball game (with only one injury). Aster and I spent a lot of time photographing her cousin's new St. Bernard puppy, Dexter. Allen's sister has four dogs, the german shepherd pitured is Lexi.

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T10:50:00.004-04:00

Easter, 1916 by William Butler Yeats (edited)

Hearts with one purpose alone

Through summer and winter seem

Enchanted to a stone

To trouble the living stream.

The horse that comes from the road.

The rider, the birds that range

From cloud to tumbling cloud,

Minute by minute they change;

A shadow of cloud on the stream

Changes minute by minute;

The stone's in the midst of all.

Too long a sacrifice

Can make a stone of the heart.

O when may it suffice?

That is Heaven's part, our part

To murmur name upon name,

As a mother names her child

When sleep at last has come

On limbs that had run wild.

Now and in time to be,

Wherever green is worn,

Are changed, changed utterly:

A terrible beauty is born.

Etsy Treasuries

2011-04-16T09:06:00.004-04:00

Etsy treasuries are created by anyone in the world. Then Etsy team members choose the best for the front page. If you get an item on the front page you get a lot of traffic, not necessarily a lot of sales. Still it is fun to have the honor. Maybe one will make it!

Spring Break Begins

2011-04-15T17:11:00.003-04:00

I almost did not go to Estate sales today as I have had not many sales this past week, but I awoke to two sales this morning and so I reminded myself that I won't sell anything if I don't post anything. Below are some lovely little vintage plastic flowers, an amazing Vera silk scarf and more cameras. You can read all about them on Etsy!

Hurry up and wait

2011-04-14T09:37:00.005-04:00

I am off to wait in line at two sales this morning. I have to hurry...

Here is what I got two weeks ago.

Brownie Duaflex II

and some photoshop fun...

Kodak Tourist

Kodak Hawkeye Flash Fun

Some of my 6 X 6s

2011-04-13T11:02:00.001-04:00

Rochester Contemporary's Fundraiser Global 6 X 6

is June 4 - July 10, 2011

Artworks are Due: May 1
Preview Hours: June 1, 2 & 3, 1-10pm
Opening Reception & Artwork Sale: June 4, 6-10pm

$5 opening night admission

7:30pm raffle for buyer positions 1-20

8:00pm all other buyers

Global Online Purchasing Begins: June 6 at 10am
Sold Out Artist Names Revealed to Public: July 1 *New!
Purchased Artwork Pick-Up: July 10, 11 & 12
Cash prizes: Awarded by popular vote. *New!

I am sending in over 25 pieces this year - here is a sneak peak...

Monday

2011-04-11T10:20:00.008-04:00

We all had a busy and emotionally packed weekend. A mental health day seems necessary for all of us. I am trying to get back to work selling my vintage finds and get the house ready for spring parties, but I am moving slowly. I find myself playing with photoshop filters more than anything.

Vintage crazy

2011-04-08T09:45:00.003-04:00

I spent a very long time at an estate sale yesterday - I may go back today, it was jam packed, you needed a flashlight to see everything. I got some great vintage drinking glasses and a sewing box chock full of zippers, old containers and thread. Today there is another sale that I assume will be well attended, I am trying to decide if I go wait in line or go later...

I have a million items to post on Etsy, but my hand is falling asleep at the mouse. Listening to Dire Straits Making Movies is helping keep my spirits up - but I think I am going to give my wrist a rest and wait for my number to be called at the sale.

more vintage

2011-04-07T16:09:00.002-04:00

I really need to do some Spring cleaning of the sewing room, the felt piles are overwhelming. I am going to make 6 more foundlings and then it is on zippered bags, as well as some more bobsie dolls.

Foundlings

2011-04-05T11:18:00.003-04:00

Corduroy and cashmere...

more vintage

2011-04-03T16:41:00.005-04:00

I am wishing for a change in what I am making. So I have promised myself to finish the unfinished projects and then make flower pins with sparkly rhinestone centers. I have been enamored by rhinestones ever since Madonna made them hot (and pricey) in the 80's. They are not so expensive any more and I often pick up nice pieces at the estate sales. Here are a few of the recent items I have posted on Etsy...

Poland's Alternative orange movement

2011-03-28T14:13:00.006-04:00

Kitty Hubbard asked me to make a bunch of my bobsie dolls with orange hats and then she told me all about the Alternative Orange Movement in Poland.

Orange Alternative (Pomarańczowa Alternatywa) is a name for an underground protest movement which was started in Wrocław, a town in south-west Poland and led by Waldemar Fydrych (sometimes misspelled as Frydrych), commonly known as Major (Commander of the Festung Breslau) in the 1980s. Its main purpose was to offer a wider group of citizens an alternative way of opposition against the authoritarian regime by means of a peaceful protest that used absurd and nonsensical elements. By doing this, Poland's Artful Revolution participants could not be arrested by the police for opposition to the regime without the authorities becoming a laughing stock. Orange Alternative has been viewed as part of the broader Solidarity movement. Happenings took place all across Poland, and the numbers of supporters make for impressive reading – over 10,000 people attended the Revolution of Dwarves in Wrocław, while another saw a similar number attend a mock carnival beseeching the government for ‘more festivities, more games and more eggs’. With communism crumbling the protests grew, with one seeing thirteen Orange bods walk the streets with individual letters printed on their t-shirts. Lined up together their shirts announced ‘Precz z upałami’ (away with the heat), though whenever the police would turn their backs the chap wearing the letter ‘u’ would slip from view, the message therefore changing to ‘Precz z pałami’ (away with the truncheons).

Shopping in my basement

2011-03-28T10:57:00.003-04:00

I am still cleaning out the basement - we are planning to get a tread mill for down there and I also need to have some space to work. I am now in the jewelry corner. I have a full set up to work in silver, but I rarely do it anymore. So I am posting a lot of vintage jewelry finds on Etsy. My grandfather, Forrest Lenker was a silver smith and I often traveled with my parents to his craft shows. He had a portable set up so he could fix broken jewelry and work on silver pieces at the shows. It was amazing back then when everyone worked at their craft during the show. The weaver had her loom, someone was always spinning or throwing a pot. These beads were in my Grandfather's stuff. He didn't travel so I assume these were bought at a thrift store. (I know my Grandmother went to second hand shops a lot).

A Brownie, a pussy willow bloom and some thread

2011-03-27T09:28:00.004-04:00

In the early Spring, I always cut down most of the pussy willow in the yard and bring in the long stems with the little bunny blossoms. I am planning to replant them in the back by the stream. They root just in water, so they are super easy to propagate. But they produce pollen like crazy indoors, so I have to stay on top of removing the blossoms as they become filled with the yellow irritating bits. I was not on my game this week and they are heavy in their production of pollen.

I am always enamored by spools of thread, and luckily lots of other people are too! I have a lot of success selling the vintage wooden spools on Etsy. I also enjoy photographing the spools, this group has imprinted text on the ends instead of paper labels. So I played around in photoshop with trying to get the text more graphic...

I purchased numerous Brownie cameras at a sale on Friday. I am very excited as these seem to be hard to find collectibles overseas. Obviously Rochester is over flowing with them.

I hope they sell!

more vintage

2011-03-25T15:31:00.004-04:00

Vintage stuff

2011-03-25T09:13:00.007-04:00

So yesterday's estate sales were pretty good. I just adore the blue dot flash bulbs. The design of one time use for a flash bulb is so lovely, so sweet to think that a photograph is worth one of these little explosions. The typewriters I pictured yesterday cwere $40 each - so I may go back tomorrow and see if I can get them for a reasonable price, but even $20 is too high...

I got two pink singer button hole attachments at two different sales, one was $8 (Daisy Estate Sales) and one was $3 (the private sale with the typewriters) Who knows how these people figure out their pricing. I have multiple aqua ones, but the pink ones are pretty rare. I am trying to post vintage finds as fast as I can on Etsy. Check out my shop - you may see something you can't live without.

Okay

2011-03-24T07:07:00.002-04:00

Everything is okay - I am over it, I needed to blow off steam so I did, and I am leaving the post because I need to, but everything os okay. I am off to estate sales today to fill my life with stuff.

Better Days

2011-03-23T10:51:00.005-04:00

I am not actually having better days, today sucks and I am really just wishing it didn't. But I am as helpless as always. I am posting this because I want to have something that reminds me not to ever have expectations, to not ever think again that anything will ever change. It happens to be our 20th wedding anniversary. I knew Allen would be entertaining a candidate for a teaching position in his department, so yesterday I made a nice dinner including a three layered cake and a celebration banner. So much for yesterday - today I spent the morning plugging my ears from Aster and Allen screaming at each other, I finally break and tell them to stop and he tells me to shut up and slams the door as he leaves. Never again will I believe that anything matters. People are fighting for their lives, people in our family, and strangers are standing up against tyranny and living in poverty - nothing that happens in our home is so bad that someone has to scream at the top of their lungs or call people names or be so very miserable.

Goo Goo Dolls' Better Days Lyrics

You ask me what I want this year

And I try to make this kind and clear

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings

And desire and love and empty things

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

Welcome to a new kind of tension.

2011-03-22T10:26:00.004-04:00

I am having a crappy week - setting aside my personal woes, I am sick of these wars and government run (so called public) education problems. So I am going to hunker down at the computer and listen to Green Day all day! Welcome to a new kind of tension.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.

AMERICAN IDIOT LYRICS

Don't want to be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new media
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along to the age of paranoia.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

Don't want to be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information age of hysteria.
It's calling out to idiot America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue

bookhou at home

2011-03-21T13:02:00.007-04:00

A fellow Second Storie Crafter has gotten some great press this month. She was featured in Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Her wonderful bird tea towel (that I have myself) is in a Best Things grouping. And she also has a print in Dwell Magazine and her alphabet cutout in Marie Claire Ideas. I have to find out how to make this happen for my work...

Arounna is a toronto artist and I just love her work. You can see more of it at her Etsy Shop. She also has a blog.

Zine and Craft Fair

2011-03-19T19:17:00.000-04:00

tea tod toad

2011-03-14T19:14:00.006-04:00

Tea Tod Toad is a blog by a wonderful New Zealander Mom that I enjoy very much. It is the end of Summer there and I don't think I could get through a Rochester Winter with out her gorgeous images. She has three incredible children and they all together have amazing outings in the countryside that she photographs so beautifully. I know we would be friends if she didn't live half way around the world. She loves to photograph, go thrifting, sew with felt and vintage fabrics and play with her kids. She also has an Etsy Shop.

two sets of twins

2011-03-11T11:30:00.000-05:00

searching

2011-03-09T11:01:00.004-05:00

I am searching the never ending number of collage images I have in the computer for one in particular - not finding what I need - but certainly coming across interesting nostalgic art and such. I wonder if this image works on the blog - stare at the center of the image, are the circles moving?

owl 6 and new doll

2011-03-07T12:46:00.001-05:00

dolls?

2011-03-05T21:38:00.007-05:00

Looking for inspiration for new projects, I googled dolls and the internets spit out something called a ball jointed doll or BJD. I am now very enamored with them. A little like Blythe dolls, these are creepy adult looking dolls. Like a Blythe Barbie if anyone made one. I guess they are quite a phenonemon and adults dress them and photograph them. Sadly I can't make my own and more sadly I won't pay the $350 that they cost, and that is just for a naked doll, wig, undies and outfits cost more. You can also purchase a head alone - I assume people switch heads on their dolls' bodies instead of spending mega bucks for more dolls.

I found these dolls here.

Owls 4 and 5

2011-03-03T12:28:00.004-05:00

This was a triumph.
I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.
Aperture Science
We do what we must
because we can.
For the good of all of us.
Except the ones who are dead.
But there's no sense crying over every mistake.
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.

Owl 3

2011-03-02T10:34:00.002-05:00

Small Magagzine

2011-03-02T09:01:00.001-05:00

The winter issue of Small Magazine is amazing as always.

Great Snickerdoodle recipe on page 112.

white wedding

2011-03-01T18:49:00.009-05:00

There are a few of estate sales on Thursday and Friday, but not one of them looks very interesting. I guess I will save some money this week instead of spend it. These two pictures were posted here, as part of advertising one of the upcoming sales...

I just love the attention to detail in the photos.

owl 2

2011-02-27T10:52:00.002-05:00

I did complete this owl yesterday and I think he has a sweeter disposition than the white one. These guys are made from one cashmere sweater. Front and back are the front and back of these sweater and then I get the wings out of the sleeves and the base from the bit left over at the neck of the back (if that makes any sense at all). I don't know if I will make too many of thes owls as they are kind of boring for me to make. The one sweater makes them quick and easy to make - but I miss mixing fabrics, patterns and colors.

snowed in

2011-02-25T13:32:00.002-05:00

It is rare that I won't drive in Rochester snow, but today is a true white out. I even canceled a doctor's appointment and am simply hunkering down, sewing, cleaning, sleeping. I did finish the first owl, I realized his eyes are too high on his head - so the next one will definitely look cuter. I also finished one more foundling - I may keep this one as he fits in our living room so nicely.

More of the Window

2011-02-24T18:30:00.002-05:00

I made some tweaks and am ready to live and let live...

Change

2011-02-23T10:54:00.004-05:00

When I began thinking about the window display for Thread - I was thinking mainly about Metamorphosis, which is Latin for a great change. I have used this theme a lot (too much maybe) in the past and I guess it is because I have rarely remained the same for long. I am always switching careers, making new, different work, going up in dress size and changing my eating habits (which coincides with the dress size).I do embrace change, but it makes for a rather undefined life. So now I am trying to get back to a goal on which I can focus.

In January when I tried to make a foundling a day, I was rather productive. So starting tomorrow (ha, ha) I am back to sewing and I want to make owls now, one a day, plus flower pins. I also will be selling at the Zine and Craft Fair at the Flying Squirrel on March 20th so I have a desire to create a new zine. Maybe I can use the bugs and cakes in it. Stay tuned...

Thread's Window is ready for viewing!

2011-02-21T19:56:00.006-05:00

I worked most of the day running back and forth from Thread to my house, as I had to run children around and return for forgotten window elements. I will go back tomorrow with some finishing touches, but it looks pretty fantastic if I do say so myself. Jen Burger's amazing pods and garlands are in the window and they are the touch it needed! Thanks Jen!

I love the image below. The camera caught the reflection of the street with the South Wedge signage and all. But you can see more in the pic below of what is actually going on in the window. Jen Burger's amazing pods and garlands are in the window and they are the touch it needed! Thanks Jen!

This is a collage that is sitting on the pretty pink chair on the left.

and below is a jar of slide bugs.

Then I went to the Presidential 50% off sale at the Am Vets

and snapped this shot of the parking lot snow hill.

Vintage Doll's Dress

2011-02-18T12:58:00.002-05:00

I found this at the Estate sale of Dorothy Placek up in West Irondequoit. Tomorrow is the last day and I am trying to decide if I should go back again for bargains. The prices were already reasonable - this dress was $4 and it is in mint condition. There was a lot of old art in old picture frames - great stuff for a collage artist!

Working on the Window

2011-02-17T13:09:00.005-05:00

I am very close to feeling ready to install at Thread. I still have to wall paper the wall that the cocoon will be attached, and I could use a few more "masculine" items. I can't decide if I should leave the picture frames empty or not. I think empty makes the most sense, but it is hard for me to present empty frames. I am worried the whole thing is too "pretty." But probably I just think bugs are pretty, and most people don't. The dining room has been my studio for the last two weeks and I know I will miss the work when it goes to Thread on Monday. But it is clearly time to move on to other things...

Treats

2011-02-15T11:47:00.002-05:00

Above is a picture of a fake cake that will be part of the installation I am creating for Thread's window. It is covered in bugs made from Kodak slides. Below is a picture of a real cupcake, one of many that I made for Valentines Day. I was so inspired by the wonderful little cupcakes available in New York city, I came home Sunday night and got right to baking my own!

three days in NYC

2011-02-14T11:51:00.008-05:00

We began with a 6 am flight,breakfast in a diner, a lovely walk through Central Park and then the Metropolitan Art Museum. It was beautiful, long, day.

We all slept 12 hours that night!

Day two, Friday - THE Mac Store (above) and FAO Schwarz (below).

Then we took a cab to SoHo, went shopping at Urban, lunch at Roccos and more shopping at Evolution, Free People and Pearl River. Then the U of R Alum reception and dinner with Jess, Rob, Summer and Zippy. And then some midnight shopping in Times Square.

Below is Aster's pic of preserved beetles for sale at Evolution. Above is a store window - I am not sure where Aster saw that amazing image!Saturday we took the subway to the Brooklyn Flea - the most amazing shopping experience ever! We purchased military pins, a gas mask, vintage wallpaper, jewelry, a cupcake and much more! Micheal and Katja met us and we went to their house for a short while and then back to the hotel to get ready for a night on Broadway!Above is Aster's shot of the subway swipe card entrance. And below is Gage in his gas mask.

Sadly we did not buy this three faced doll.That night we had an italian dinner at Daniella's and went to see Green Day's American Idiot.

It was so incredible - awesome performances, amazing sound and outrageous set and visuals.

There is nothing comparable to Times Square on a Saturday night!

Oh, by the way, Happy Valentines Day!

The Amazing Lucinda Storms

2011-02-08T12:54:00.004-05:00

Lucinda had a wonderful exhibit open on Friday at Record Archive!

Pieces were flying off the wall, I purchased a beautiful piece of pie. Go to Record Archive soon or there will be nothing left to see. I hope Lucinda will paint more desserts. I am in love with her bird cupcakes. Her style reminds me of another favorite artist of mine, Wayne Thiebold.