Clever Inspiration ~ Now & Then

While visiting one of my favorite blogs today (Cafe Cartolina), I was drawn to Fiona's posting about Alexis Rom's Get Up Printing Set ~ it is such a clever idea ~ mix & match people and hairstyles for endless possibilities! Given that I am partial to rubber stamps, I was especially smitten!

The Get Up Printing Kit reminded me of something else I had seen long ago on two other blogs I visit frequently ~ Ullabenulla and Le Divan Fumoir ~ a 17th century Dutch handpainted miniature leather locket. The locket comes with multiple mica discs of handpainted disguises that the owner can change as desired ~ transforming the portrait ~ a very similar concept to the rubber stamp kit above. I find it so interesting that a theme or concept can be just as compelling today as it was hundreds of years ago.

{images from here}

New Magazine ~ Flea Market Style

Looking forward to a new magazine coming in Spring 2010 ~ Flea Market Style! Sounds like it will be a magazine close to my heart as it will be "144 pages, chock full of vintage-style decorating, projects, collecting tips, special features and more" ~ brought to you by fellow flea marketeers, Matthew Mead and Ki Nassauer. Hopefully, it will start filling the void left by all of the magazines that went away this last year or two.
For now, you can read more about Flea Market Style and learn more about the making of a magazine on their blog. Can't wait 'til Spring 2010!

1+1 Weekend Project

{finished birth announcement}

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am the WORST at estimating how long it will take for me to complete a project! Sometimes I think I underestimate the time to trick myself into thinking the project isn't as much work as it is ~ other times, I must think I am a much faster worker than I actually am. Most of the time, I'm sure I am just tired out from the paying job and don't have much extra energy for personal work ~ even though I look forward to and want to do such work.

This time around was a bit more challenging than usual ~ I thought about documenting some of the steps, but my cutting table/ironing board didn't make a good backdrop for photos! Since my lower back has been bothering me, I had to come up with a comfortable position to complete all of the cutting ~ my ironing board ended up working out perfectly! Since it was out, I got some clothes ironed as well!

I'm glad to have the announcements finished and checked off my list ~ even happier that my sister seems pretty happy with the results!

Weekend Project

No, I'm not babysitting for my cute little niece, Gwenn ~ I'll be working on her birth announcements this weekend! It was tough getting a good photo, but I think my sister did a good job. One more work day and on to the weekend ~ have a good one!

Step on a crack....

Step on a crack, break your mother's back. Step on a line, break your mother's spine. Superstitious sidewalk sayings dating back to 1905 ~ I remember carefully walking home from the bus stop avoiding all of the cracks and lines in the sidewalk so I wouldn't injure my mom. I think I skipped over the cracks when I roller skated, even though that was mostly to avoid skinned knees.

So, since I have no kids of my own, how is it that I have a broken back??!!! Well, maybe not broken (I exaggerate), but certainly injured! Sorry for the lame post (and pun) ~ there may be a few more depending on how long I am out of commission ~ hopefully I will be back to my normal self soon!

{image from here}