The Handmade Pledge

Have you taken the pledge to buy handmade?

Etsy, Ebay and many other internet based shops now make it possible for little traders from around the world to share their crafts with the whole wide world.

My family has a tradition of making presents but if you are running out of time to whip something up yourself, we now live in an amazing era that allows us to shop from home in our comfy slippers from homespun artists creating special unique gifts with their own hands.

Want more reasons to shop for handmade?

· no crowded parking lots
· satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter
· one-of-a-kind gifts with a level of detail that mass manufacturers could not touch
· buying handmade helps us reconnect with the process of creating
· environmental effects of mass production are a cause of global warming

Did you need any more excuses to shop?

PS Speaking of family - I am off visiting mine in Canada the next two weeks, blogging will be scattered an occassional from all kinds of places - St Lawrence Market, One Of A Kind, and if the snow holds off St Jacobs.

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Debut - beginnings of an Altered Book

“Paris is the greatest temple ever built to material joys and the lust of the eyes.” Henry James

That must explain it, much more expensive than the usual 50cent book but how could you walk past that dust jacket, better yet the beautifully detailed cover.


Picked it up and put it down a few times
much too expensive for just a pretty cover
certainly not suitable for a good AB - it is not stitched
the story did not hold the attention
only one little picture of use on the pages inside

Decisions, decisions, decisions and here we are at home with book in hand trying to decide on a theme and should we split the spine to make it a chunky over embellished fat book or try to keep it in tact for a few polite petite pretty pages…………..

Got any suggestions ? If you are not familiar with my altered books here’s a link to the Garden Gate book from earlier this year.

Open to trades or swaps for ephemera, had to promise myself that we would not ebay anything to finish this book as it cost enough by itself. See how long I last on that promise :)

Virtual Vintage Prom

Over the next few days I will keep adding to this post for the Virtual Vintage Prom that Natasha is hosting. Not sure what that does for your google feed and blogger updates but you can always come back over the next few days to see the new additions below.

What about a little party starter
Frangipani Dreams

Drop a thick dollop of crushed mango at the bottom of a cocktail glass

¾ cup pineapple juice
¼ cup coconut milk
& if you are of legal age
1 shot of coconut liquor
½ shot of white rum
wizzed in the blender till frothy and pour

A girl needs a bit of fuel to keep up with this virtual vintage partying, may I suggest an old favourite, shrimp cocktail with a modern twist?

This is an easy fix summer salad that keeps your protein level up without getting to ‘bogged’ down.



grill shrimp/prawns with a little sweet chilli glaze or cajun spice
while you are waiting for them to get crunchy & crispy
chop tropical fruits of the season, mango, star fruit, melons, the sweeter the better and place in lettuce lined goblets or cups, sprinkle with a thinly sliced pepper for a quick and easy light meal

A wrist corsage and freshly starched hanky

The dress……..
As you can see, did not have access to a dress, instead we enlisted the assistance of a little frangipani fairy to show off her finest vintage party frock.

“We ought to dance with rapture that we might be alive” D.H. Lawrence

Post Party

This picture and quote are from the 1906 edition of The Lady's Realm

Had do share as it appears we may not have come as far as we think?

" The tendency of the modern woman in a large town is towards perpetual motion. Her meals are taken hastily, and immediately after them she is off in quests of pleasure or business. Ten minutes quite rest in the midst of all this whirl is practically an unknown luxury to her and when indulged in is often considered a frightful waste of time. Yet the value of the interlude is inestimable. "




Thank you for playing in the virtual vintage prom or visiting with us, hope you had as much fun as we did.

Random Little Acts of Sweetness

Lori of Faerie Window has posted this little button recently to celebrate the joy of finding new friends in blogland, the gifts of time and encouragement that is openly shared along with the tangible treasures that arrive in mailboxes to brighten the day.

Recently sent out some secret seasonal gifts to friends in the spirit of random acts of kindness. It felt so good to be able to send some goodness someone else’s way. How about you? Want to post Lori’s button and toss treasures around?

Searching For Sheet Music

Have got an idea for next year’s Christmas cards and hostess gifts that calls for sheet music background for songs like “Home for the Holidays”. If any one has something they could part with, drop us a line for a swap or paypal or what ever. You know how pedantic I am about the whole theme concepts and it just has to be ‘home & hearts’

Fashion

“Fashion fades, only style remains the same. “Coco Chanel

If you are joining in Natasha’s Virtual Vintage Prom, you might like to add this little image to your party pack or at it might help to springboard some ideas. Should be a clickable image for you to play with, let us know what you got up to with it. Can anyone tell me how to right click protect images for future posts?

ScrapFX

Thank you Enna of the Scrapbook Room for these darling ScrapFX chipboard pieces. Enna’s been showing off the ScrapFX range on her blog for the last few weeks and kindly shared some of her’s with us. There are all kinds of words and shapes including all your Christmas needs in baubles and trees.

Do check out Enna’s samples on her blog all glittered up in their seasonal finest.

Aiming For Stars

Reach for the moon... even if you miss you'll land among the stars

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails." Mark Twain

Found the template for this star on the Jasco papercraft site. Bit fiddly to piece together but glad we stuck with it as it is quite nice now that we are done (with bits of glue and tape stuck to everything else including me).

Dancing for Joy

“To dance is to be out of yourself.
Larger, more beautiful, more powerful.
It is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking." Agnes De Mille

Our neighbour from the south, Natsha Burns is hosting a virtual vintage prom, yes another ball in the blog world, full of fabulous fashion, feasts, fancy footwear and fun fantasy fineries. Ran out of F words.

Not much time to get yourself organised if you want to play, check out Natasha’s site for more details, while I scurry off to see what we can whip up for the occasion. Mark the date in your diary Nov 19th when I will begin posting festive photos here.

Have got to love Etsy and all the little on line stores the crafters are opening there to share their many different types of creations. My Cherry Heart has a little offer going to celebrate the opening of her shop. Do check out her sweet little birdies, they are the cutest.

Scrapbook Lifestyle

This month there is a little post on the Scrapbook Lifestyle site about some of the projects we have worked on. If you have not seen their site before it is well worth checking the link as there is a bit there for everyone.

Some of the topics they cover are digital, techniques, tools, prompts, photography and much more. When I first got into Altered Art, there was little resources in my area and often went to card and scrapbook stores to find papers or trims. At the time Altered was very different from scrapbooking but the crafting world is changing and growing with many cross over products or tools which only add to the fun.

Sharing good finds with friends is the best fun, so pop in and see what Scrapbook Lifestyle is up to.

Joy

“There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Working on some samples for Magic Moments kits of Christmas shapes. There will be classes on these projects later in the month.

In keeping with the spirit of the season over on the Nature Trail Blog, there is a little give away for ‘old bags’ that just have to be seen as they are way too funny.

Objets d'art

Objets d'art : French, an object of artistic worth or curiosity, esp. a small object perfect description for what Sandra has going on in her blog space Sam I Am Creations with lots of little glass babbles and creations.

Do check them out as she is having a special giveaway this week.

Spirit of the Season

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." Calvin Coolidge

Cards needed to be completed early before we head off on holidays. Thought we would share them with you, a bit of stamping and a itty bitty star book.

Beachy’s Cape Cod Cupboard has an lucky prize draw happening on her blog for a vintage themed journal. Lots of good things to be found in her etsy shop to fill spots on your gift list.

Dreaming

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas……

Ok weeks too early I know, am busy planning the last of the details of our Double Up White Christmas this year.

Goodie packages are being prepared for a visit with family in Toronto, with hopes of a little sprinkle of white frosting. Suggestions on where to shop for altered, mixed media, shabby and vintage supplies while we are there is appreciated.

Then back to Australia for another Christmas celebration on this white sandy beach. How lucky can a girl be !

Speaking of goodies Jill of Bittersweet is hosting another round of a lucky raffle for her Christmas gift packs in the Velvet Spice range. Too much temptation in her little on line shop for those looking for the perfect gift for a special someone.

Blessings

Jamie of Starshyne Productions had a post on her blog today on this subject and it was too good not to share with our own little version

Make the world a better place.....

In the theme of if everyone had a really great day we would have a better chance for peace. Do your best to have a great day today and to make this a great day for someone else!

Leave each place you go a little bit nicer because you were there.

Smile at people.

Be your best self. The world needs all the wonderful parts of you.

Call your mom, mum, or nice older lady in your life.

Encourage people's dreams, including your own.

Cultivate great manners.

Tell someone you love them (preferably if it's true).

Reconcile with someone.

Create.

Remember to say thank you for the good that you see to the universe, angels, your maker or who ever you think is listening.

What would you add to the list?

Me, I am off to be creative

How about a little RAK action to make your day? Shirley at Reflections has a posted pics of cards using the new Rasberry Paper that are worth checking out {here is the link} along with some good tips on art on dominos.