Kickin' Halloween into high gear.......

I've got so many ideas for Halloween goodies that sometimes I feel I'm spinning my wheels!

This is my latest creation....I'm really trying to work on using all elements of the paper items I find, in this case, books. So the covers can be used as either a matte board for a collage or re-use them for art journals. I don't throw anything away, so what to do with the book pages?

Well, even though this isn't my original idea (to crease the pages and fan them out this way) I find that this method makes a great and original "photo stand" for seasonal artwork.

This was so fun to make....
It will be listed in my Etsy shop soon.....along with some other Halloween goods.

Happy creating....don't you find it easier now that the weather has cooled down and we have a reason to stay inside? I'm loving it!!

Isn't it amazing how....

having an unorganized kitchen can halt forward motion? For me at least, this week at least....my kitchen has been giving me fits for a while now. It's a standard kitchen of the 80's with all of the inefficiency therein....the standard cabinets that are a pain in the rear to get into. So I'm just trying to be smarter than my cabinets....I think I'm winning!

Until we can afford new, updated, sleek cabinets, I'm stuck with what I have. Which means I have to be that much more organized...not always my forte but I'm trying...and I'm persistent.

And boy does it feel good to get rid of all the extra junk that we don't use anymore that's just been taking up valuable space!!!

Looks like a trip to St. Vinnie's is in my immediate future...yah!

Now I can feel free to get in my craft room and create some more Halloween goodies......stay tuned....

My flea pickings..........

Well, here they are, my HUGE haul from the flea yesterday :). Ok, I didn't get a lot, but what I did get I absolutely love! These two books are so awesome. The little one is leather bound with gorgeous endpapers inside. It's called Petits Sermons by Bertrand. It has the most perfectly aged pages within, all in French, mais oui!
The larger book is a giant! It was *gulp* $5! I grabbed it quick....it's all about Egypt, Greece, and Italy....history, etc. and has lots of steel plate engravings inside...just beautiful. According to a signature in pencil in the back of the book it belonged to a Miss Malia Bell in 1888.
The tin and a half were just cute, I'll try my hand at making something with them.

Thanks for checking in, I'll be listing new etsy items, hopefully today if my pictures came out ok.

Hope everyone has a great week, it's supposed to be in the 90's here for about the next 3 days.

Happy Fall!!!!

Went to the flea today.........

I only wish I had more money with me.....I took a $20 bill out of dh's wallet and set out...wish I had grabbed more!

I had to pass up two very lovely hat boxes for $15! AAcckkkkkk, that one hurt...oh well, that's one way to make sure you don't spend too much, right?

I'll post pics tomorrow of the four items I did buy.....the sun is out so I could have taken pics but it's so dang windy here and that always wreaks havoc with my photos....and trust me, I need all the help I can get in that department :). Oh well, can't be great at everything.....

I hope you all had a nice relaxing weekend, we went to a football game yesterday (our team lost) and today went out to lunch and then went on a nice walk to a local park where I proceeded to fill my pockets with acorns......love them!

I feel some Fall decorating coming on, how about you?

Some Colby Cottage love.....

It's open ladies, and it's gorgeous in all it's shabby, chippy, worn- in spendor.....that's right, I'm talking about Colby Cottage here in Eugene. And I was the first customer to walk through their doors on Tuesday! (Not that I was anxious or anything:))

They had their "soft open" on Tuesday and it was so fun walking in and seeing all the beautiful vignettes that Kathy is so known for....I purchased the beautiful pillow above (it's huge, about 22x20 and filled with the squishiest down insert), the "perfect shade of pink velvet" jewelry case, and the oh-so-cool old shoe form.

I love it all.....and I'll be back tomorrow for their GRAND OPENING at 10am sharp...with a friend of course, because friends tell other friends about Colby Cottage.

Kathy has so many beauties for sale and the prices are very reasonable...happy, happy, happy.

So do yourself a favor, go grab your calendar right now and find a time to come check out this beautiful new store, you'll be so glad you did.

(And no, I promise she hasn't hired me to be her new personal agent or anything like that!)

BTW, the pillow I purchased did not come with that flower, it's one I already owned and decided that my pillow needed it, not that it's not gorgeous on it's own....because clearly it is.

Trying to find my routine........

So two blogs in a row with no photos.......aaaaacccckkkkkkkkkk!!!!

Never thought I'd do that. So much going on..today is dh and my 14 year anniversary, dd's 1st day of 3rd grade....and Sunday is her 9th birthday. So just a bit going on. So what else is new?

Tonight we're going out as a family to a nice dinner to celebrate all the good (and let's face it, there's a lot of good :))

Friday I hope to get to Monticello since the former trip didn't work out (car troubles). Dying to see my bff, Melanie, just miss her to bits!

Wish me luck with this trip........I really need some shopping therapy, hasn't happened in quite a while.........

Is anything better than back to school time?

Tomorrow is our dd's first day of 3rd grade......where has the time gone? She's over-the-moon excited to go, today we visited classrooms, took pictures, etc., and she can't wait!

Me, I'm a little sad......excited for her but sad at the same time. This is what she needs to grow in every way, and I'm so happy for her in her excitement! I do remember what it was like, the anticipation, the smells, the nerves...all of it. The supplies, seeing old friends.

For me, the first few days are the hardest......it's really quiet around the house, all my activities are based around her pick-up time..........and I can't wait for that!

"How was your first day, what was for lunch, what did you do on the playground, who did you play with?"

Sigh........a new routine is beginning.....

The time is drawing near, and I can't wait!!!!!!

My darling daughter and I will be heading north on Friday morning to see Melanie at her darling shop, All My Favorite Things, then we'll all head over to Monticello for the big sale that starts on Friday morning....I'm beyond excited to have a great day with my daughter and my best friend both..... what could be better? 

I'll try to take lots of pictures for those of you who can't get to Monticello....it's superb! As is Melanie's shop, I'm making her a Halloween coffee filter banner to put in her window for the "wicked season".

Did I say "I can't wait" yet?

BTW, the pretty clock above was just listed in my Etsy today.....