hugs across the universe™

Restoration Project

I recently purchased this little tree because it was full of vintage spun cotton goodness...

...and because it was pretty cheap. My intention was to pilfer the goodies and chock the rest. But when I held it my hands I was impressed by the arrangement of the items and I had to admit in it's heyday it must have been pretty charming. The bottom of it was busted though and the top was not intact either and of course there were a lot of bald spots. Everything was held together by pins and by the chenille stems themselves so that was a blessing but that also meant it was not going to stay together for much longer. In fact, the bag it came in was already full of broken bits and pieces that had already fallen off. So I knew I had to dismantle it for it's own good.

I was right. It yielded a lot of treasure:

 

And I realized the plastic angel there on the right, fit into that long white prong that I pulled out of the top of the tree--too bad she's missing just the tiniest bits on the tips of her wings. But I sanded the gold base down flat on the bottom of the tree--and paired it with a styrofoam base I have on hand and seeing how the styrofoam is pretty dense; I decided I would try and restore this homage to vintage Japan.

This baby stands just over 17 inches tall. This may take a while.

Meanwhile, head on over to the shoppe for my Christmas Sale---50%-20% and 10% off select items now!

"Up the Square"

Once upon a time, you could go Christmas Shopping at places like this:

Just beautiful. My idea of what heaven looks like.

;-)

When I was a kid, we had a five and dime sorta like this "up the square" at my grandparent's house. My Nana would always send us "up the square" to pick up a loaf of bread or a carton of milk at the grocery store. She'd always let us keep the change and we always spent it at the five and dime on the corner. Most of that money went for comic books and candy--But I remember how much I loved that five and dime. How I wish it was still around.

I can also remember shopping at Woolworth's when I was a kid. My mom would give us all a few bucks and let us loose in the store for 20 minutes or so and we ran around like crazy and shopped for presents for our siblings, our parents and our grandparents. Most of the time we made them gifts from felt and sequins but I remember clearly one year picking out an ornament in flocking (no doubt made in japan) for my Grandmother. It was the old woman who lived in a shoe--and it was a big green velvet flocked boot with kid's heads sticking out the windows. I thought it was great. Still would if I ever saw it again.

Those were the days, boy.

These pics are from the National Christmas Center in Pennsylvania. There are more great pics of the exhibit on flickr. 

These days I go shopping at a place that is not exactly what I would call the five and dime, but sometimes it is just as fun and surprisingly full of treasures.

The Little Mini Christmas Update

No 2am update tonight; I'm waiting until tomorrow to list them in the shoppe so folks who didn't get a chance to get their hands on the Christmas goodies last time will have a better chance this time if I actually give a little heads up time. I guess that's progress, huh? Thank you for making that possible!!!!

I have to say, I'm very happy with these pieces. I think I'm evolving a bit--I'm trying to incorporate more vintage 2D bits into the 3D pieces. It sorta reminds me of pop-up books, especially these last two pieces I did. Enjoy!

This one is called "Silent Night" with a vintage christmas carol booklet which is propped open behind this angelic beauty.

And this piece is called "deck the halls" as this fine spun cotton lady is standing on a base with that selection of sheet music underfoot.  Her little kitties are a vintage holiday seal that really works well with this mini diorama in the round.

 

Then we have this pixie snowgirl and her snowy companion.

And with a cute spun cotton head like hers, how can she not make a simply adorable decoration?

And last but not least, vintage at it's best...

 Made in Japan and in the City of Angels.

They'll all be in the shoppe when I get up tomorrow and hurriedly get dressed for my son's field trip which I'll be going on. So, let's say 7:30am-ish Pacific Time, Friday, December 11th. When I get back, I expect them to be all gone--you hear?!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Hunting We Will Go

This weekend I was back at the monthly flea market hunting for vintage treasures. I now realize these trips can be very inspirational--a new bunch of materials can do wonders for the creativity factor!

When I come home I always lay everything out on my studio floor to oohh and aaaahhhh and then I need to organize it all & find space for it and that usually takes me another day to accomplish. It's like a day spent at the thrift shop only multiplied by 30! All this loot represents a lot of haggling and a lot of digging through vendor's booths/tables. The vendors that have it all spread out in holiday finery usually know they have something good and charge accordingly. You have to shop where the people don't know what they got--meaning usually they got a lot of something else and the odd piece of Christmas merchandise is not that important to them. BINGO! That's when I come in for the kill.

Here is the carnage...

One of my favorite finds of the day was all these vintage foil paper candy canes. It was late in the day too and I couldn't believe my luck that they were still around--each bundle was only 25cents! I scooped up the whole lot of 12--giving me 24 candy canes and laquer holly leaves. Yeehaw!

Two packs of Santa paper placemats I haggled for the price of one and the glass bead garlands were a very nice price as well. I do love me some new in the package spun cotton head pics as well as shiney brite putz houses.

 

I also now see the advantage of my monthly romps; these styrofoam made in Japan houses in the original boxes this vendor has had for months collecting dust--this was the third month I had seen them! Knowing this, I ended up getting them two for the price of one as well as the placemats above. I will do a makeover on them, adding some vintage bits and bobs--for next year I guess. Why does it all go by so quickly????

 

A whole pile of foil leaves and some vintage skinny tinsel garland--made in western germany--the way it ought to be.

 

Lots of santa heads and some very tiny deer for the putz houses.

And where would we be without pipecleaners? NO where!!!! I got this package for the great graphics--I feel like framing it and hanging it up in the studio. Not bad for a buck.

 

I got all this spun cotton goodness at the end of the day. How in the world could that be possible?

It seemed like every vendor had a stray corsage or two on their table. I collected all the ones I could get for a buck or less and came home with a box full.

This little lady is showing off her beaded figure and I'm taking notes.

 

Little gnomes on springs From the crabbiest woman vendor I had ever met--I won't be back. She's a mean one, Mrs. Grinch---and a big dirty spun cotton snowman from a kinder fellow.

 

Favorite Find of the day; these Snowman candy containers from Western Germany. I wish I could have made some for the shoppe this year--but it's definately on the list for next year--I vow to start early!!!!

 

And last but not least, Candy container paper mache boots and these plastic figures of Rudolf and a Snowman. I guess I'm collecting these now too. Heck, why not?

:-)

There's another flea market going on this weekend--ANd I'm thinking I might just need to get another fix in before the holiday season is over.

Meanwhile, I've got 4 new Christmas decorations going in the shoppe tomorrow or the next day.
I think they are pretty vintagey cool. Come back for a look!

Parting is such sweet sorrow

These guys are on their way to new homes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although we didn't get to spend too much time together, I shall miss them...but it's wonderful to know that I am creating something that people will cherish for years to come--becoming part of their traditions, part of their memories. That's priceless.

I am honored. Thanks for the support.

I hope to get a few more things in the shop before the Christmas Buzz is over but time is so hard to come by these days. I've been spending a lot of time in my son's school volunteering and doing book presentations, bonding with the kids. It's kinda nice.

;-)

I read them my SNOWBEAR sequel and realized it still needs a little work.
Amazing what happens when you read something in front of an audience. You can see where it just doesn't flow. I'm glad I didn't send it out yet.

Back to the think tank on that one. Come January, I'll also be working on some *hatu* art for the Panda Books. I'm working on a plan.

Enjoy the weekend! Tomorrow I go to the flea market! I know, I'm such a fickle beast. What are you going to do? I enjoy my time away on the hunt.