Odds and Ends

Just a few things to share. I've been doing more blog "remodeling" and think will leave as is for awhile.

I received a really lovely wall hanging from Terri today - it is just beautiful and I'm looking for a place of honour to show it off.

I've been doing the "green" thing lately (code for thrifting). I've found an abundance of old atlases - these date between 1930-1945.
The colours are wonderful - lots to use for glue books.

I've also found a few pretty covered books - destined for altered art (I hope). However, I don't plan to take apart the flower book.
It has some wonderful prints that can be scanned and used.

And finally - time for another vintage tag!

For November I concentrated on the rich colours of Fall ...

Enjoy!
(p.s. Mondo was robbed, I say, robbed - seems like most folks agreed - Project Runway may just see a drop in viewers after this season!)

Blog Funk

Egads I'm feeling very down about my blog these days. Not blogging, or sharing with all of you. No it's more like going into your bathroom and thinking "I really need to remodel" (which actually I do but that's another story). You may have noticed how stripped down things are at the moment. Problem is I know what I want to do in my head, but finding the time to figure it out is a different matter. I hope you can bare with me as I try colour swatches and new fixtures (that is exactly how it feels). I keep reading I should "brand" myself and be consistent with my banner (sigh, sounds like an awful lot of work to me). Anyway, hopefully I will be out of my funk soon and you will all want to come and visit to check it out. Thanks in advance for your patience...

Jewels

It's Time

The coppery colours of Fall are quickly fading here at Maple Hill…

Hard to believe November is only a week away!
Which means it is time to put the garden to rest for the Winter months ahead (brrrrr)
Frosty mornings have taken their toll
There is still colour in the garden, but alas plants need to be pulled, chopped, composted
A few hardy stragglers want to hold on a little longer
Favorite garden pieces also need to be put away so they are “fresh” again next Spring
But some things do get left out –over the years they develop their own special patina.
Of course we will get to start again next April or May depending on what kind of winter we have.
Meanwhile there is a lull between now and the first snow fall – when I will decorate my garden with more wintry art…
Enjoy, Jewels

Mondo, Mondo, Mondo

Yes the season finale is finally here for Project Runway (another guilty pleasure). If your a fan (and if your not) here are the final 4:

Gretchen Jones (my LEAST favorite)

Michael Costello ( how on EARTH did he last this long!)
Andy South (he has to do more then WARRIOR WOMEN to win)
***Mondo Guerra (my FAVE to win) ***

So if you are a fan who are you cheering for? Finale Episode Part 1 Tonight.

Vintage Gluebook Update

The thing I really like about gluebooks are they are so simple to do - and yet you feel like you have satisfied your need to create.

I enjoy whimisical - this started wth the picture with the caption Don't you Dare - I wonder what they really are talking about. The backgrounds came from an old gardening book. The handwritten card is the back of an old postcard that had an image I just knew I would never use. The piece of farming equipment came from an old Norwegian pamphlet I picked up off the book sale shelf at the village library near our cottage.
This next spread started with the race results from an old newspaper that had been used for a sewing pattern – love the comment Track Sloppy (and that's what I've called it). The pictures of the horses were originally on the cover of an old issue of Scientific America (this is a copy). I actually like the Fall colours of the picture in the background.
This is one of my favorite pictures of a ballerina – I call this page Pretty in Pink. I used an old music book cover and a vintage scrap from a previous page…simple but effective.

Well off to look at other collage combinations – that’s both the most work and the most fun – after that it’s all cut and glue baby (my Sis will appreciate this - some where in the bowels of my parent's basement is one of my early collages - it was a class project on alcohol and drugs - amazing how many pictures of liquor and beer bottles you need to cover a piece of bristol board, LOL). If your interested, Mary is starting up a new class on the basics of collage (see my sidebar) – she does a great job and I highly recommend signing up! I've also got my November Vintage Tag figured out - can't believe thats just around the corner - what happeneded to 2010!? Cheers, Jewels (p.s. so far I’ve had suggestions for purple jewelry and a purple manicure to match my lovely cast – any other ideas?)

The Colour Purple

I like the colour purple, I really do.

After all, my alma mater's colours are purple and white... (hubby's are purple and gold but that's a university we won't mention here, sniff)
I like purple in stuff I make...

But a cast - for four weeks! Good thing I like the colour (LOL)! Any and all sympathy messages are welcome :->...

Nightstand Report

It’s been awhile since I did a nightstand report so catching up. Let’s just say I’ve had more time for reading lately.
Looking at this picture it’s pretty clear what an eclectic reader I am! I’ll start with my “low brow” selections first.
I consider The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club and Needles and Pearls by Gil McNeil my equivalent of Harlequin novels. Boy does that bring back memories – my Mum went through a phase when she was addicted Harlequin and they were all around the house – I gobbled them up. Anyway, the main attraction for me with McNeil’s novels are they take place in England and I can relate to some of the references. Both books are about Jo Mackenzie, a sudden widow with two boys forced to leave her life in London and move to a small seaside village to takeover her Gran’s wool shop (sounds okay to me). Not masterpieces by any stretch. I give both 3 out of a possible 5 lampshades.
A.S Byatt is more challenging. I enjoyed Possession. The verdict is still out on The Children’s Book – struggling a bit to get into it – so no lampshades yet.
I always have either craft magazines or books by my bed. Beth over at Gathering Dust had recommended Amy Barickman’s Vintage Notions. It has all kinds of cool stuff in it and is inspired by Mary Brooks Picken of The Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences. 4 lampshades just for the pictures and graphics!
On the more academic side we have The Fourth Part of the World by Toby Lester. I had heard an interview of the author on the radio while at the cottage and thought it was very interesting. It is about medieval explorers and the discovery/naming of America. The main focus is on the Waldseemuller map of 1507 (don’t ask me to pronounce). Really fascinating for those of us who studied History at university (I’m such a snob). Anyway, I do recommend it and give it 4 lampshades.

I really like biographies. I had read about Lyndall Gordon’s Lives Like Loaded Guns: Emily Dickinson and Her Family’s Feuds in The Economist. Talk about scandals and secrets. I’m ashamed to admit I am not as familiar with all of Dickinson’s poetry. What is interesting is she was a recluse who was probably epileptic. The question has been how could she have written the kind of poetry she did based on her sheltered life. Well Gordon provides some amazing insights based on her research. Another 4 out of 5 lampshades (with the qualifier I probably am enjoying The Fourth Part a little more).

So what’s on your nightstand?

October Tag

I introduced my new exchange with Carol last month. I originally thought I would not get one done for this month. I had done a trial one and really did not like it.

However, browsing through magazines this weekend I was inspired with some new ideas that led to adjustments. I wanted to do something representative of October but not use halloween colours.

Came up with my Gothic lady who looks rather ghostly, don't you think? Fabrics are all vintage. I used a technique with polyester batting and Seam A Seam that seems to work well for my cobwebs... Enjoy

Just Brilliant

What can I say – it was a BRILLIANT weekend at so many levels…

The Maple Hill gang loaded up for a 2 and a bit hour trip to Beulah, MI. Friends allowed us to stay at their place on the escarpment above Crystal Lake.

It was a perfect Indian Summer weekend – these were the colours as the sun set while we ate dinner in Cadillac on the way up…
..hubby had Miss Gwendoline’s full attention (who cares if there is a view when food is around).
We visited our favorite spots like Glen Arbor (got my cherry coffee)

Stopped to take some pretty pictures (don’t do justice and there would have been more if I could get hubby to stop the car every five minutes).

Ate enough for an army at two very nice restaurants and the local bakery. Good thing we did A LOT of walking.
Enjoyed the view from our friend’s deck.
My birthday present was the first season of Glee (one of those guilty pleasures) and lots of kisses from both hubby and Miss Gwendoline for our anniversary (she really was a good girl despite her attempts to take down bigger dogs in Traverse City and two attack deer on the driveway (LOL)
One of those weekends that could not have been more perfect…sigh.