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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A Birthday, Books, and a Box.....

"Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wings of time."
~Jean Paul Richter~
Last Tuesday I celebrated my birthday marking the beginning of my 46th year of life. I spent a pleasant day largely entertaining myself doing one of the things I love the most, browsing around in my favorite flea market, Through The Years.

One of my favorite booths is chock full of books. The volumes in this booth are not the heart stopping worn musty leather bound books I love to browse through but they are equally intriguing. All the publications are newer and arranged by subject: cooking, decorating, needle arts, quilting, painting, paper crafts, etc. I happened by one a lucky day when the booth owner had just stocked with some delightful titles that I had seen at Barnes & Noble. Here is what I purchased:

In This House, A collection of Altered Art Imagery and Collage Techniques by Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn. This volume has artwork by a host of talented artists. I can't wait to try out some of the techniques. The page shown below is part of a larger piece of art by Nina Bagley entitled 9A Firefly Lane. Mixed Media Collage, An Exploration of Contemporary Artists, Methods, and Materials by Holly Harrison. This one is not so much my style as it showcases contemporary art. I appreciate this style of art and see the beauty in it but I am not particularly drawn to it. What drew me to this book was the new techniques that I can incorporate into my own artwork. I love learning new applications for various media. I loved these fabric pieces entitled Blest Foreboding by Sharon McCartney.Fabric Memory Books, Techniques, Projects, Inspiration by Lesley Riley. I saw a fabric book made from old linens in a magazine and I was intrigued by the concept. This book features one such book plus a host of other ideas.Autumn Leaves presents THE FOOF-A-LIFE that shares, reflects, and shines with the warm and wonderful designs of Foof-a-La. Ten talented artists share their paper crafting inspirations in this dreamy book. Below is a Songbird Banner by Marilyn, so sweet!
These next two I bought as gifts. Let's Play Tag is a Leisure Arts publication that shows creative ideas and techniques for making tags. I have a friend who is just getting into paper arts and her favorite thing is making tags so I thought she might enjoy this. Paris, London, Rome tags by Anita Byers shown below.You're Invited to Tea Tag.Vintage Collage-Works by Mary Jo & Sunny Koch is full or artful ideas using antique ephemera. I already own this one and love it. I thought my friend might enjoy it also. I adore these little matchbox place cards, beautiful bottles, and songbird clips!
Oh, but my Birthday trip only got better, not only did I get books, books, marvelous books, I got a big beautiful box. After spending time in book heaven I meandered over to a booth that always has the most delicious primitive items. I still had my special $10.00 to spend and I needed to find something good.

For as long as I can remember my maternal grandmother gave me $10.00 for my birthday. She always told me to spend it on something pretty and never anything practical. She always wanted to see what I had bought. Of course when I was young it was a toy or candy of some sort bought at the local five and dime, Ben Franklin's. In my teen years it mostly went to buying 45 records. In my adult years I usually visited a flea market and found a trinket or treasure. This year was no exception of where I spent it, the only difference was that I would not be able to show her what I bought.

In honor of her memory I gave myself $10.00 to spend and in the same spirit of celebration I set out to find my special something. This year it was a box. Not just any old ordinary box but a beautiful rich patina time worn box. I saw it sitting on an old table, upended, and empty. As soon as my eyes rested on it my imagination filled it with possibilities.

Maybe I could use it to store my shoes:Possibly to provide my paints with a place to rest:Or to hold a few objects that feather my nest:
I had no idea where this old trunk box would go, I only knew it was going home with me! My grandmother would laugh over this purchase. I can here her exclaim, "They gee~eee, wha~ought kind of pretty did you find?" This box would tickle her because she would see it as trash but exclaim over it as if it were treasure. I would tell her of all the wonderful things I could do with such a box and she would later laugh whispering to the aunts how she had to fuss over my purchase.

Books a $125.00 value ~ all purchased for $21.00.

Battered old trunk box ~ $10.00.

Birthday memories ~ priceless!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Belated Birthday Sandy. Oh what fun you must have had thumbing through all those books. What great bargains they were too. I love the box you bought yourself - do you have any tiny keepsakes/photos of your grandmother that you could make a memory box with?

Becky K. said...

The only thng I can think to say is that I loved this post...so much!!! Truly!

365 Letters said...

What delightful finds you made! Happy birthday!

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

Sounds like the best birthday ever! Books galore and special finds. I love that you gave yourself the $10 that your grandmother would have given you! Brought tears to my eyes because my mom always did the same thing. Thanks for sharing all your treasures found and those of the heart!

lorhen82 said...

Wow, what a great birthday you had! Happy birthday, by the way! I just love those bottles you got, and I enjoyed the sweet post about your grandmother. ~Lori

LiLi M. said...

Happy belated birthday Miss Sandy! Whow you had such a great time buying these super bargains, I can imagine you were thrilled! You probably felt like when you celebrated your ninth birthday, that feeling that almost always vanishes when one gets older. I would love those books, and I think that the foof-a-life isn't in the regular stores anymore. Lucky you!
That box is great too, I love it with the little shoes, oh to tell the truth I love it either way! I think buying a 10 dollar gift to yourself is honoring the memory of your grandmother, I love that too. Thanks for a wonderful post!

Lady Farmer said...

Oh, what a perfect (birth)day!
I, too, love books ~ and old things that most find useless! So glad you found a treasure and honoured your grandma!
Blessings!

Vee said...

Happy Birthday, Miss Sandy! You've made me grin and I know that your grandmother is grinning, too.

Artsy Fartsy Junkin Finds said...

Love the trunk tray!! Now I wish I would not have sold the one I had in my shop!! Blessings, Janna

Susie said...

What a wonderful post Sandy and late happy birthday. Sounds like you had a wonderful day and what bargains you found.

Andrea said...

How delightful! And Happy Birthday, dear friend!

I just had my 50th last Friday. And I spent it in a similar way. I, too, bought several books and a few vintage items. My dear husband took me to a tea room. It was so nice!

Many blessings to you. It's always a joy to visit.

In His Love,

Andrea

Cindy Is Crafty said...

$21.00!!!!!!!!! For all of that booky goodness????? Oh my! I couldn't even get them used on Amazon for that! What a great booky booth!

kathy said...

OH Sandy -- wonderful purchases I have several of those books myself -- books I ♥ them - Your box so sweet -- and all tied up with memories of your sweet Gran 1
Truly priceless - kathy - ga

Linda said...

Belated Birthday Blessings to you! I love the items you obtained and I love reading your blog.

You and I are just a year apart - I'll be 45 this November.

Linda in Illinois

Tina said...

Happy Birthday Sandy.
I love books too - your new books looks so great and your old box too. So many lovely idea for display.
Hugs, Tina

Catherine Holman said...

Happy birthday Sandy! You hit the jackpot. I would love to visit that book booth!
Hugs,
Cathie

bluemuf said...

Miss Sandy, I wish you a very Happy Belated Birthday. What a fun day you had buying all your special birthday treasures. I love the books you bought and at such good prices. But, your pretty box has so many beautiful possibilities.

Hugs Karen

Ragamuffin Gal said...

Happiest of Birthdays Sandy!
Your post was as always inspirational and educational, two of my most favorite of things! And NoW...

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! The lovely parsel arrived today and what a delight it is ~ The tag included was such a great gift in itself, but then... The Art Collage itself was bigger, more stunning and awesome in person! I am simply beside myself with its beauty and always have it up in a place where everyone who comes through the door will see it first thing! I am posting about it now as I leave you. You have blessed me tremendously! Gratefully Yours,
Katie

Decor To Adore said...

Happy belated birthday friend!

What a perfect day. I love the $10 treat.

You got some wonderful deals on the books. I have the Foof of Life book myself. It is wonderful eye candy.

Enjoy the year!

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