Inspiration Source: VINTAGE SHOPS

Vintage shops have always sparked wondrous creativity, imagination and fun for me. Their random, fabulous, quirky offerings fill my creative well with exciting images and ideas.

You don't even have to leave your computer!

Check out this site for The Best in Vintage Online.

 

My favorite "bricks and mortar" vintage shop is The Mill Property Antiques in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, the heart of picturesque Amish Country. The very first time my husband and I found ourselves there while on an adventurous Sunday drive, we snagged a booth of our own where we now sell our vintage treasures.

The love of vintage things can quickly lead to a house overflowing, so collectors like us often turn to selling. By participating in a vintage co-op, we became part of a community of dealers who have been generous with helpful advice. We get to spend quality time every month communing with fabulous old stuff without having to bring it all home.

It's Time for a Tea Perty! um Party!

I actually mistyped "perty" for "party" - but I left it that way because this Hazel Atlas glassware sure is purty!

 

The instant I set eyes on this fabulous aqua set I wished I had a magical cottage where I could gather my friends for fairy tea parties. (Alas,  my household is not delicate-dish-friendly!)

 

This set consists of four complete place settings, 24 pieces in all. It is currently residing at my favorite vintage co-op store, The Mill Property Antiques, although not in the particular corner spot where I display my things.

 

I love-love-love being part of a vintage co-op because every time I stop in to fluff up my section or to work on the sales floor, I am delighted by interesting and beautiful "new" items like this. I can visit and admire them without taking them all home. My home is already full to overflowing, which is why I have this friendly spot to sell my treasures.

THE PROCESS: New Designs with Vintage Jewelry Findings

Here are a locket necklace and dangly earrings I designed, created and photographed during this past week. I want to tell you a bit about the process.

 

 

The fabulous locket with Aurora Borealis (AB) rhinestones inspired this piece. I removed the locket from its plain-Jane-chain and browsed through my stash to find harmonious pieces.

 

The vintage flower finding with clear rhinestones appealed to me because each petal had a pierced section, making it perfect for multiple connections. I completed the design with an AB crystal-studded chain I removed from a flashy Monet necklace.

 

Photographing the piece was challenging because I just started working with a fabric light box and I am learning how to set up displays. I used fabric and lace from my stash and a pink vintage hat that happened to be sitting on my sewing machine.

 

 

 

My collection of vintage dangles and connectors inspires me to create designs. Lately I am entranced by this color of aqua blue, so I started with the aqua dangles.

 

My studio shelves are loaded with beads in little bottles, organized by color on small glass trays. I pulled out the blue and gold beads and perused them for possible components to go with the dangles.

 

For a week or so I played with the aqua blue and gold combination when I went into the studio.  I kept several pairs of possible components for these beads in a little porcelain tray and recombined them every once in a while until the design came together. Once I decided to use the large aqua and gold beads, I could choose the accent beads and findings to complete the design.

 

In the photograph, the earrings hang from a vintage necklace. The base of the display is a couple of small lidded oval basket stacked on top of each other. To allow dangle space for the earrings, I placed the top basket so that it overlapped the edge of the bottom one. 

 

After covering the baskets with lace fabric from my stash. I fastened the catch of the "hanger" necklace and draped it around the top basket. I then hung the earrings on the necklace, allowing the earrings to lay against the fabric to keep the dangles still for their closeup.     

 

 *   *   *

~ NEWS FLASH ! ~

My husband taught me how to use tripods today! I look forward to much more productive photography sessions, with a lower number of shots required, a higher percentage of usable photos and a lower level of hand and back pain after the sessions.

Cheers!
 

 

It's Official! I'm volunteering at Lancaster Creative Reuse!

Today I scheduled my training and volunteer time at Lancaster Creative Reuse!

 I'll be there one Saturday a month, among the myriad creative supplies and inspiring objects, serving customers and organizing wares.

They have a crafting table area for kids, with lots of supplies children can use. Children go on a roll there with creative expression using such a variety of materials. Today a girl focused on making a frame using fabulous textile trims on a fabric-covered panel.

 

Here are some of my favorite things:

 

 Do you have a favorite Creative Reuse Center or crafty spot you visit for inspiration? If not, I hope this inspires you to find one!

Is there a Creative Reuse Center Near You?

Check out this burgeoning Directory of Creative Reuse Centers.

If you can't find one near you, maybe you can find some support for starting one within your community.

Sorta like this: Start a SCRAP

I ♥ Creative Reuse Centers!

Artists of All Stripes must visit Creative Reuse Centers!

A Creative Reuse Center is ten times more fun than an arts and crafts store. The stuff for sale is random and quirky. Some is old, some is new. The prices are super low, often pennies!

It is inspiring to browse around among the colorful, bountiful supplies and objects people donate for others to reuse. Something will call your name and you will take it home. For me, last Saturday, it was this:

I had a satisfying, serendipitous Artist Date at Lancaster Creative Reuse. Ten seconds after I walked into their treasure trove of creative goodies, inspiration struck: I invited them to be featured here!

Also, it looks like I will be volunteering there one Saturday a month. I simply loved helping people find what they were looking for while I was there. Not everyone realizes how many rooms there are, packed with everything from lace to stencils to sewing patterns to book jackets!

Stay tuned for more photos!

I've been hanging out at Planet SARK.....not to be confused with The Isle of Sark

I've been hanging out at Planet SARK.....

Welcome to Planet SARK, Your Home for Dreaming, Daring and Doing!

.......not to be confused with The Isle of Sark......

Welcome to the Isle of Sark, Channel Islands

"Seriously, though".....

I'm in SARK's current WINS program ("Write it New with SARK"), designed to spark creativity over three months. Having a great time, wish you were here!

Lynda Barry, creator of "Ernie Pook's Comeek"

Did you ever read "Ernie Pook's Comeek" by Lynda Barry? When I lived in New York City I read it every week in The Village Voice. Here's what Lynda Barry is up to these days:
Cartoonist Lynda Barry Will Make You Believe in Yourself

"You say 'Dilettante' like it's a bad thing."

The word "dilettante" comes from the Italian "to delight."
Take delight in whatever creativity catches your fancy!
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dilettante

Welcome to Artists of All Stripes!

Artists of all stripes are welcome here! There is no need to label or categorize ourselves if we love producing various forms of creativity. Why create limits in our minds?