I have New Sisters....

I haven't devoted much time on this blog to a big part of my life these days. That is my eBay selling group (and more importantly my friends!), The Secret Society of Dirty Sisters. Now, no, not that kind of "dirty"- "dirty" as in primitive and grungy, vintage or well-worn (the "secret" part, however, is tongue-in-cheek). We all love vintage, primitive "junk" (an affectionate use of the word, trust me), and our hand made wares show it.

We recently welcomed a few new members into the fold and I would LOVE to share some of their "stuff" with you. Check 'em out, you won't be sorry!

* Deborah Gregg paints THE most adorable ACEO/ATC cards. She has such a whimsical, unique style...

And we have two more Canadian gals with us now also....

**Michelle, of wood-and-fabric, is a multi talented gal! She does it all....painting, needle punch and gorgeous altered items too....

***Michele Seraphim of Seraphim's Attic is a very talented stitcher. Her dolls are beautiful....

Back to the USA....

****Jennifer Less of Twinkle Hill Studio offers the coolest victorian inspired altered goodies...I LOVE her chenille ornaments and her projects were recently featured in the July 2007 issue of CardMaker Magazine....

These are some extremely talented artists, each with their own unique view. I am proud that I can now call them my "sisters".....

And if you like to check out ALL of the dirty sisters' offerings, we're just a click away....

New On the 'Bay....

Something new on Ebay! Click here to take a closer look....Also, got a few things ending in the next couple of days, low bids, check 'em out!

Break time....

OH MY Goodness!!

How cool is this?!? I found this on one of my favorite blogs, Thrifty Collage Artist, but she got it through another blog at blyberg.net. Check it out and while you're there, make your own!

FUN!!

Blog Chores!

Today is blog maintenance day for me....check my new links in "Blogs I LOVE"...added some great reading there....

Also...I am now selling my patterns at Pattern Mart! LOVE this site...if you don't do eBay or would just like to save me some fees (I can say that here on MY blog and eBay can't do a thing to me! Nanner, Nanner, eBay!), go check it out....

TONS of cool stuff on that site, a crafter's paradise!

Hope to be back to some real posts this week...off to paint now....

Have a wonderful, CREATIVE Day!!!

Busy, busy BUSY!

It's the last full week of school for my kids. And then there's the two hours on Monday morning tacked on- who came up with that? There must be no MOMS on that school board....

Anyway, been a very busy week going to awards ceremonies, last soccer games, parties, etc.

And now I am SO looking forward to summer vacation- NOT! It is, to say the least, an adjustment period for both me and the kids.

This is the time of year that my studio time goes down and my magazine budget goes WAY up. That's because I am spending many an hour sitting by the pool. Not a big swimmer, so I read....At least for about a month, until going to the pool gets old and they enter the "I'm BORED" phase of summer vacation. Even more fun!

At least we have a vacation to look forward to this summer....

So this is my mantra for the next few weeks: "LAUGH"! Isn't this garland just so sweet? I listed this last night....you can click HERE to check it out in more detail.

I was channeling my inner girlie girl yesterday with lots of bright fun color, polka dots, glass glitter and the cutest little baby picture.....was tempted to keep this one, but did I mention I am going on vacation this summer?

lol!

Summertime Blues...

I absolutely love it when an idea pops into my head and I can visualize and produce the whole thing in one day. Doesn't happen very often, but it did yesterday... In between trips to the orthodontist and grocery store I managed to paint these vintage barrel staves. Can you tell I was daydreaming about our upcoming summer vaction (not until August-boohoo!)? My sisters, their families and my step Mom are renting a house on the Texas Coast where we will build sandcastles and eat Jumbo Gulf Shrimp (not necessarily in that order-lol) for a whole entire week...I am so looking forward to it....

These signs are listed on eBay right now. Click here and here or HERE to check them out.....

Bits and Pieces....

Just a few random photos of....

More Ohio Junk, of course!

These vintage green glass canning jars filled to the brim with old buttons (four jars to the left) and spools (last jar on the right) were only $1 each....

CUTE little chalboard...I have the perfect little artist's easel to put this on in my studio...

This one was for my son, who just happens to be camping with his Dad and the Boy Scouts this weekend (notice I am here posting pictures and NOT camping-lol), dated June 1948. He was amazed at how "old" this book was and that Scouts had actually been around that long, not to mention the fact that things he does now as a Scout, his Grandfather did too...

"NO WAY!"

(I directly quote the eight year old)

These old handbooks also have some fantastic graphics and ads for Schwinn Bicycles, Kodak, Keds and Coca-Cola. Mom will be scanning those to add to her vintage collection for possible AA projects in the future....so many ideas, so little time....

Little Molly Sunshine...

This is my poochie, Molly, and can't you tell? She's just delighted to meet you....
Love this picture of my goofy Sheltie....captures her personality perfectly....

Tick Tock, a Folk Art Clock!

This time (let's see....how many times can she say "time" in this post?), it's a clock that actually tells the time (imagine that!)! I guess my junking adventures got me thinking about time in general and I remembered that I had a stash of these great clocks that I planned to paint when I got the time (allright- I'll stop).....so in my ongoing attempt to paint with an altered influence, I came up with this today....and if you REALLY like it, it goes on eBay tonight (should be up by 9pm ESTIME-ok- I'll uncross my fingers...), so take a look:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMESC%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190120985762&rd=1&rd=1

Shall we play a game?

Another post about the fantastic junking weekend I had with some girlfriends in Ohio a few weeks back....This is one of my favorite finds- a vintage game set with all of the small wooden pieces included (some of which I don't even know what game they are for but they are kewl!)...As I was lugging this set around the flea (because of course, I found it fairly early in the day), I even had one dealer ask me how much I wanted for it! Never had that happen with the junk I usually purchase....

Here's one side of the board....

And the other...can't decide which I like best -they are both wonderful. Also haven't decided exactly where it's going. My original plan was to hang the table top on the wall, but it also looks really good blocking the black hole that is a summertime fireplace, just the right size. So it may stay right there 'til Fall....

Peeled Paint and Shabby Shutters.......

Got a bee in my bonnet last night....decided I wanted to play with some big (5 3/4" x 3") plain white tags, and here's a novel idea, use some of those pretty inks and stamps I seem to be collecting lately. Isn't it funny how collections sometimes sneak up on you like that? You don't even realize you are collecting until your knee deep in the new object of your affection...

My main toys of choice last night were Tim Holtz's Distress Inks...after a major splurge a few weeks ago and I now have fifteen different shades and I think I love every single one of them! Such pretty colors, not to mention great names like "peeled paint" , "shabby shutters" and "worn lipstick"....what's not to love?

Anyway, I had so much fun playing with these inks and stamps (it was like digging into a brand new box of grown-up crayolas!), that I decided that this is my fun today (too hot and muggy for any outside fun)...planning to make up a few sets and list them on Etsy, so if you like, keep an eye open....

Hope you are having a wonderful first weekend of June!

Until next time,

Steph

Altered Folk Art....

Altered Art, hand painted, altered art, hand painted? Recently, I have been struglling with ways to include my love of painting with my new-found interest, altered art. It seems a good majority of altered items feature vintage photographs, which is a look that I love, it's what drew me to the altered universe (heehee) to begin with.....well that and my friend Kathi Robinaugh- she does the MOST awesome AA! Check out her blog:

http://www.outonawhimstudio.blogspot.com and see what I'm talking about. BUT I want to do BOTH! This special little crow is my first feeble attempt...what do ya think? For a first timer, I'd say it's not TOO shabby...

If you'd like a closer look, he's listed on Ebay this week also:http://tinyurl.com/2e3p6g

Lots of close up pictures and a detailed description when you click that link....

Long Time, No List.....

Finally! Some hand made items on eBay! Just listed this set of basket tie-ons painted on reproduction zinc canning lids. Check 'em out: http://tinyurl.com/2z8hmv




Also finished my Little Pink Houses....they're here: http://tinyurl.com/2gsy3g

Patterns are also available for these two projects. If you don't Ebay, you can contact me directly at sunshinenravioli@yahoo.com if you're interested....Or just drop me a line with comments, suggestions, etc. I'm like a little kid...I LOVE mail!