HOLIDAY GIVE AWAY AND SHOPPE UPDATE...

(Winter "WISH" Shadow Box)

Well, this has been an interesting week to say the least. It started out with a bum wrist for me and an injured shoulder for Handy Hubby so between us we had two good arms, which has seemed to work out OK. We had a piece of bad news that we are handling remarkably well so, that's OK too. Here is what is not OK, my computer up and died. Why is it that we can handle a health crisis or a possible life changing piece of news and we are resilient enough to move on but the trivial things trip us up?(Paper Clay Snowman Treat Box)

I have pushed through the pain and the anxiety this week but when my computer quit I felt I could not function. Luckily everything was backed up and the hard drive is OK, so, my high tech son will retrieve my stuff and save it to an external drive and move it to the mini computer I am now using. Handy Hubby generously let me use his little bitty hard to see even harder to type on one that he uses for work.(Aqua and Silver Vintage Paper Snowflake Ornament)

I am still trying to acclimate myself to this new machine, startling news, and one handed hunt and peck typing method. I sure could use a little good news today! Does anybody remember the old Helen Ready song that crooned that line? I have vague memories of hearing my mother play a record with that song on there.(Silver and Cream Vintage Paper Snowflake)

Well, how about I share a little good news with you today? I think in honor of the opening of my new shop I should host a holiday give away! Giving always makes me cheerful. Here is how to participate, simply visit my new shoppe, Quill Cottage Curiosity Shoppe, browse through the items listed, come back and leave a comment on what is your one favorite item AND tell me something wonderful that is happening in your life at the moment, because I sure could use a little good news today. That's it, you don't have to have a blog, you don't have to be a follower, and you don't have to live in the US! Everyone is welcome to join in.(Mini Mitten Gift Tag and Ornament)

Now, for the prize, one lucky winner will get to pick the item of their choice from my shoppe! Sign up begins today and comments will be closed on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 10:00 PM CST. The winner will be announced on Friday, December 18, 2009.(Silver, Gold, and Cream Vintage Paper Snowflake Ornament)

Peppered throughout this post are the new items I have just listed in the shop. These will be my last listings until after the holidays.

Now, I'd really better get on the decorating, it seems I have upset the elves...Thank you for sharing your blessings with me!

Happy Holidays,

Miss Sandy

Flea Market Finds and Fun...

I just wanted to pop in and let you know that I am busy being a little elf in the Quill Cottage Curiosity Shoppe today as well as getting some decorating done. I hope to have some new listings by the end of the day or at the latest in the morning. The elves are jumping with joy over the prospect of decorating!OK, I have a confession to make, I seriously wanted to use the same decorating idea I had for autumn, one big hand carved bowl of potpourri. Yesterday, my friend Pam and I went flea marketing. I saw a huge bag of Christmas potpourri and joked with her that I should just switch out the bowl contents and be done with the holiday decor thing. We laughed but she did not know that I was kind of serious, in fact, I took a closer look at all that chunky monkey scented stuff and was tempted to buy it.

I am not sure what has happened to me, the person who always had her handmade Christmas cards (horror of horrors, I bought mine at the Target this year, but they are still in the box) in the mail the day after Thanksgiving, put the tree up the same weekend, and decorated the whole entire house, inside and out, yes, even the bathroom, decorated, (see decor here and here) and most of the shopping done by the first week in December. I can't seem to muster up the energy to do any of it. I think I have lost my holiday spirit. Giving makes me cheerful so, it is time for a give away! Tomorrow I will be posting all the details on a HOLIDAY GIVE AWAY right here at the Quill so I hope you will come and join me in the fun.

Would you like to see what I got at the flea market? It was not my day to score good finds, the flea market fairy was resting on my friend's shoulder and magically blessing her with great bargains. I can't complain, I just did not find much to peak my interest. I treated myself to this tin...I just adore the little bunnies and birds on it and look inside...It still has it's little key. The tin was made in England by the George W. Horner & Co. LTD, Chester-Le-Street, County of Durham. Does anyone know what this tin might have been used for? Perhaps tea, biscuits, or candy? No matter, I just loved its sweet cheerfulness.

I found a green fabric covered box, to satisfy my box obsession, for a $1.00...Some junk jewels that I want to cut apart for the beads, $3.00 for all...And a small old shorthand dictionary, to satisfy my all things printed obsession, for fifty cents...My grand total was less than $10.00 and a priceless day with a friend!

I hope your day is merry, your heart is cheerful, and your countenance is bright, have a great weekend!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

This & That...

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air."
~W.T. Ellis~

Hi Sweet Friends,
I am sorry I have been MIA for a couple of days, I have had an old injury flair up and it is making typing very painful and difficult. If there are a lot of mistakes please ignore them and if I don't quickly respond to comments I am not ignoring you. I will get to them as soon as I can. Posting may be sparse too, so I may just show you photos without a lot of comment.

Thank you all for such a warm response to my new shop. Your feedback was very positive and helpful. I hope to finish up a few items to add as soon as my wrist allows it. In the meantime, I am up to a little of this and a little of that, savoring the scent of Christmas in the air.

I have a forest of tiny bleached bottle brush trees waiting to be decorated and turned into a part of a holiday center piece for our big farm table...A couple of paper clay snowman on boxes are waiting for their hats and scarves...A host of little glittered mittens are waiting to have loops sewn on them so they can be buttoned to tags that will top packages...A nature journal for my new shop is waiting for some finishing touches and an inverted collage star is just waiting for a little scene to be added so I can use it to top a small tree...But first, I need to pack up my Autumn decor...Yep, that's it, one large hand carved heart shaped bowl of potpourri. Pathetic, I know, but it was all I could manage and we were not entertaining here this year so I skipped out on the festive decor.

The elves are tired of waiting for me to decide to put up the tree, they have fallen asleep in their box...
I did think I was going to take a shortcut this year and use a pre~lit small tree that darling daughter found left behind in her storage shed. The problem was, it only had three legs and won't stand up and it was a very close relative of the one Charlie Brown used in the cartoon, pretty pathetic. That seems to be the running theme of my holiday decor of late, pathetic.

I may take this theme to a whole new level by using these this year...A rusty old sleigh and pitiful tree that used to be white but has aged to perfection into a creamy dreamy color. I have an idea I have latched onto, my family thinks I have lost my mind, but I will show them.

Oh, and lastly, I did find something I can do with a bum wrist, this...
I found this cool tool in a bunch of old sewing stuff in a flea market for ten cents. It is called the Hero Crazy Daisy Winder and it is quick, easy, and fun, after you decipher the instructions. I am not very good at instructions. Here is my first try, well, all except the sewing the center part, it was hard to hold the loose ends, sew, and take a photo...My mind is whirling with what else I can wind around this thing. Maybe wire, thin ribbon, jute, twine, threads & fibers. I'd even like to try some beaded wire. I have some tiny glass beads that I could string. I have a couple of ideas of how I can use or alter these, we will see.

Well, the old wrist is starting to ache so I'll sign off for now. I hope your hearts are filled with holiday cheer as the celebration of the birth of the Savior draws near!

Blessings,

Miss Sandy

GRAND OPENING: QUILL COTTAGE CURIOSITY SHOPPE...

(Banner design by Kris Hurst of Blissful Elements)

I finally got a few things finished up and listed in my new shop, Quill Cottage Curiosity Shoppe, where you will find original design handmade art pieces as well as an assortment of unique odds and ends for your crafting needs.(Cinderella's Slipper Altered Shoe Art Kit)

A curio is an object that arouse interest because it is something unusual ~ perhaps something worthy of collecting. I hope that is what you will find in my new shoppe. Feel free to browse through my few meager offerings.(Snow Bird Winter Collage)

Should you have any questions, you can contact the proprietress of this establishment, Miss Sandy, through leaving a comment or via email. My email link is on my upper side bar. Thank you all for your loving encouragement and support of my blog and my art.(3D Collage Nature Inspired Christmas Star)

Since I am new to online selling, I hope I set everything up right. I have payments set up through PayPal, which is very secure and makes ordering very easy.(Stella's Sepia Slipper Altered Shoe Art Kit)

I would sincerely love to have some feedback on the set up of the site, the items listed, and even the pricing. This is vastly different from selling at shows or in a booth and there are extra costs to factor in. I am starting with a small inventory and will add to it a little at a time. I had a grand plan of working up a whole bunch of inventory but that did not work out so well.(Carmen's Cameo Slipper Altered Shoe Art Kit)

Mostly I will be selling one~of~a~kind pieces but to get myself started I did do a few duplicates. I have several items almost finished on the work table and hope to have them listed by the end of the week as well. I'll be listing some supplies in the near future also.(Brier Rose's Dancing Slipper Altered Shoe Art Kit)

Thank you for visiting.

Blessings,

Miss Sandy

Glitter, Glue, and an Announcement or Two...

A flock of glittery birds came flying by...Vintage paper collage stars are falling from the sky...Snow birds perch on frosty limbs...And MONDAY, Quill Cottage Curiosity Shoppe begins...Tongue In Cheek has gone antique...Corey has opened an online French Brocante where she will be listing small items and delicious French ephemera!

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Miss Sandy

Come Away (and play) With Me...

"Come Away With Me."

~Nora Jones ~

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain dancing on the roof. Snuggling deeper under the covers in the inky darkness I listened to the rat~a~tat~tat harmonic rhythm of rain mixed with the soft breathing of the one I love, enveloped in sleep and lying next to me. Nora Jones began to sing in my head, "Come away with me...I want to wake up with the rain falling on a tin roof...Come away with me." I pondered over all the delicious possibilities that the invitation of those four little words, "Come away with me.", held.

Perhaps they could be an invitation to spend some time away from hustle and bustle of real life with the one who is next to me. They could also be an invitation from the One from whom I seek daily guidance, to sit at His feet and learn from Him. They remind me of a Bible passage in Song of Solomon, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come (away) with me..." Who could resist either invitation? Only the latter is possible today, I'll accept.I think those words could also be my studio beckoning to me, "Come away (and play) with me..." I think over my short "to do" list for today. A short list, a rarity in my world, but, today it held an open invitation at its end. I'll accept. This is a perfect day for crafting.

I got a bit of head start last evening, yes, using some of that new paper stash, with two finished ornaments... And a third one in the design phase... I made elements for a fun set of birdcage tags, an idea that has been rattling around in my head for a bit now... and, I did some collage backgrounds for some other ornament designs...

It did not take me long to answer the call. I whooshed back the blankets greeting the chilly air doing a waltz twirl into my robe to the tune of Nora and the rain. I plan to dance through my day with a grateful heart for each ticking second I am given with the one I love, with a listening ear bent towards the One who guides me, and with delightful anticipation of the invitation to "Come away (and play) with me..." from my studio.

Below are a few scans of some of my new papers.
Please feel free to save them and use them in your art.

An 1875 receipt from a bookbinder...An 1898 canceled check...A BINGO checking chart...And I'd like to introduce you to Herbert Patrick Smrek, his real name written of the back of the photo, who looks like he is ready for some winter fun. Either that or he is ready to chunk the rock he is holding in his pocket at whom ever it was that made him wear that hat! Enjoy!

If you were given the invitation to "Come away with me...", who would it be from and what would you be doing?

Praying your day holds glorious things!

Blessings,

Miss Sandy