Why Do I Become Obsessed With Old Things?

Do you ever find something really cool and then look for it obsessively on ebay or etsy or at antique stores? Buttons, skeleton keys, ledger pages, seam binding, old tickets and other vintage items with a past. Here is a picture of one of my newest obsessions, old tickets. I got these in the mail today. I already have many ideas for using some, altering, stamping, collaging, the possibilities are endless.

I will be going out of town for a few days so everyone take care, have a great weekend, and I will be back next week. I hope that you find something really cool that you are obsessed with during your next treasure hunt!

Great Storage Item

I am sure that many of you can relate to this. As a crafter, I can never have enough room to store all of my many materials. As you can see from the pictures below, I have about four projects going on right now, which is not unusual. I find that I mostly work on the floor. As soon as you walk in the door to my craft room, you can hardly move. There is an area where my big butt is placed, and all around me are the materials that I am usuing.

I am not trying to advertise for any stores, but I had to share what I found. While on one of my many adventures in Walgreens, I found a great item. Right where you can find sewing supplies, bathroom and wall hangers, etc. I found this three pack of folding cubes. They are made of fabric and only cost $5.00. They have them in brown and white and I just love them.

I wasn't sure if I would use them at first, but then I had to buy another package of them. I have seen similar ones in other stores to put into a storage shelf with cubes that cost a lot more.

These mesure about 8 1/2 square for the small, medium is about 9 inches, and the larger one is about 12 inches. It is nice to have them to put similar items in for different projects, to store items I am done using to put away, etc. etc. I have my Etsy packaging, business cards, bags, etc. in one and was able to just grab it to take to my mother's home to show her the items I use in my shop (she just opened one of her own). These are very durable and can be folded up when you are done with it.

Just seemed like a great, inexpensive item that many of you could find useful as well. Hope this helps someone in blog land with their organization!

Thoughtfulness

I am so blessed. I have such loving, wonderful people in my life. Yesterday, I went to my parent's house to help my mother with her new Etsy shop, LynniputionCrafts.etsy.com. We have been talking for some time about setting it up. My mom has always been a very talented artists. I remember when I was little, she would paint pictures that I thought, and still think, are amazing. She has this special way that she signs her art, a swirl with an S and an L.

I remember her being obsessed with Georgia O'Keeffe and going to local schools and teaching about her and art in general. She also had a shop when I was little, I would go there on the weekends and hang out. She made jewelry, beautiful leather goods and more. I was always so proud of my mom's talent, and unfortunately it just occurred to me that I don't think I ever told her how proud I was.

Now, as an artists myself (well, I don't think I really call myself that, but you know what I mean) to have my mom tell me that she loves something that I have made just means so much to me.

So, yesterday, she was really excited about giving me something that she had made for me. My dad told me it was going to blow me away, and he was so right, and by the way, he is a really good artist himself. He would never say that because he is a very anal engineer, but his pencil drawings and watercolor work is really amazing. He gets every little detail. When we were in Paris, we drew the Eiffel Tower together. It drove me crazy because he had to have every detail just right. I was done long before him and ready to venture on. When we drew the Arc de Triomphe, I told him we had 30 minutes, and that was it. Do you know he still works on those drawings, even though they are perfect in my eyes, and that was over ten years ago.

So, back to my mom. She is a pro at aging things to make them appear to be older then they really are. She has always loved her cup of tea (you would think she was a Brit, the way she drinks so many hot cups per day). She uses her tea leaves to make a perfect aged effect.

This is what I unwrapped yesterday...

She had found this picture of the Eiffel Tower in a book, taken during the Paris Exhibition in 1900. She enlarged it on acid free paper and aged it to the beautiful color it is now. She also found this old frame, and made it gold to frame it in.

I really thought it was an old picture she found. I can't believe it isn't authentic, and very old. I absolutely love this picture. I could just look at it all day.

I just cried and cried when she gave it to me. My mom is so good at reading me, and knows when I need a pick me up. She had made this for me as a Mother's Day gift, but couldn't wait to give it to me. She was very proud of how it came out, and proud I am as well.

To have a person be thoughtful, to think of you and to take the time to make something so special, just for you, it is a great gift in itself. My mom is really good about doing that. She is amazing, as is my father, and they are two of my best friends.

The back of the picture has some info about the Exhibition, as well as a yummy recipe for Parfait au Chocolat. She even took the time to age this page as well.

So, I just had to share this special gift I received. Thank you so much mom! As usual, you make me feel so special and your love for me is so clear. You're the best, and so are you dad!

I have decided that it is time to move some of my Eiffel Tower items from my craft room to the mantle. Do you know it is still bare since removing all of my Christmas Santas. I have got to get on the ball with putting stuff away, and putting stuff back.

This is a tapestry that I recently found. I want to frame and mat it and hang it over the fireplace. I am also going to put my new gift there as well.

Okay, now, this is silly, but it is another note about being thoughtful, and how amazing my husband is to me, all of the time.

After watching the movie, "A Kiss Before Dying" this morning with Robert Wagner, from 1956 (I love laying around watching an old movie while waking in the morning) I ventured down the stairs. My husband thought I had been asleep, but I never sleep while others are awake and my girls are playing, laughing, having fun. I am a very lite sleeper and any noise awakens me. He apologized for not bringing me a cup of coffee, not that I expect it, thinking I was still asleep, but just that he thought of it was great in my eyes.

I decided to have an english muffin with some butter. Actually, not butter, but I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. This is the spread I love to use. He would rather I use butter, for health reasons, but I really like my I Can't Believe.

I was completely out, and had put it on our grocery list. Another thing that my husband always does is the shopping. I love this, because I can't stand doing it. He even takes the girls with him, which is a task in itself. But they all have a merry adventure. He is an amazing Papa!

So, I thought to myself, "I wonder if he got me any ICB" knowing her really doesn't want me to put it into my body. I then thought, "well, even if he did, it will be frozen" because we keep it in the freezer until I need a new stick.

I open the freezer and this is what I see.....

A new box of ICB, that has been opened. I think, "now why would that be open when he doesn't even use ICB and doesn't want the girls to have it either".

I look in the refrigerator to see an unopened stick of ICB. Why is this something I am writing about you ask? Because, this was just so thoughtful of my husband. He actually took a stick out for me and put it in the fridge so that it would be ready to use when I needed it.

I think he thought I was being a smart a-- because I kept going on and on about how thoughtful he was. And I meant it.

My husband does this kind of stuff all of the time. He is very thoughtful about the littlest things, and it just means so much to me when he thinks of me.

He buys me cheesy magazines, puts milk in a waiting cup for my coffee when I am ready for it, just so many little things, that are just so thoughtful when he thinks of them. It means the world to me. Do you understand where I am coming from with this?

The ICBINB has now been opened....

And my muffin was perfect.

Thanks honey! Thanks mom, thanks dad!

I am so blessed!

Remember to be thankful for all of the little things today!

Sweet Heart Swap Sneak Peek

As you will notice on the left, I am taking part in Maria's Sweet Heart Swap at http://thejunkkdrawer.blogspot.com/ . I had so much fun putting this together for my partner, Tamy, at http://thejunkkdrawer.blogspot.com/. I had to tie my altered box with ribbon because it wouldn't shut. Keep your fingers crossed that she likes it!

I Suffer From Migraines - And It Really Sucks

Many of you know that I suffer from Migraines. In fact, I had another one today. This is something that I remember even as a child, although I didn't know they were migraines at that time. It was just horrible.

Years ago, while I was still teaching, my migraines had come to a point where I could not function AT ALL! Luckily, I had an assistant that was amazing and could help me. Problem was, they would last for days and nothing helped.

I couldn't stand light, most smells, was nauseous, and was in so much pain physically. I remember missing work, and just laying in my bedroom floor thinking, I hate to say, that I would rather die then to go on with this pain.

At that time, I was trying to find a neurologist that could see me, but most had a three month wait. Can you believe that? I was in agony! I needed to see someone NOW!

When the migraine finally started to subside, I went back to school and luckily had much support from not only the director but from my student's parents as well. I worked at an amazing private school, and was totally dedicated to my job. It was rare that I left to go home before 5:00/5:30. But I didn't mind. I wanted my students to have the best experience and learn in a fun environment. I left no stone unturned. But, I was also single at the time and only had my cats and dog to worry about.

One of my student's mom approached me about my condition. Her husband was in the medical field and they knew an amazing neurologist, gave me her name and number and had told her in advance about me. I was so relieved. Of course, I immediately called, and they immediately fit me in. I had lots of great connections when I taught.

So, here is my message to all of you. My neurologists, my angel sent from God (I am not kidding) told me to keep a journal of everything that I ate and smelled. Now, I am sure that many of you have been told this, and yes, it is a huge pain in the butt, but IT WORKS! And, I was so desperate that I didn't care too much.

For only one month, I kept track of everything, including my sleeping habits and other environmental things. I had a little notebook with me at all times so I wouldn't miss a thing. Now, I know that I can't eat peanut butter, Reece cups (and always eat on days I have to take my migraine medicine), which I love, milky way bars, salami, some types of black licorice, certain types of alcohol (believe it or not I get a worse hangover from beer then vodka, not that I drink that often). I also know the smell of hickory, cigars, pipes (which I love the smell of) and other things just trigger those migraines. Naturally, stress, lack of sleep, crying, and that wonderful time of month always bring a huge migraine.

Knowing these things helps me control the migraine instead of it controlling me. I also take preventative medicine on a daily basis and when I do get a migraine I have medicine I can take. The only one that has worked for me is Zomig. I can't live without it and it usually works within an hour. Granted, there are some crazy side effects, like my throat tightens, I get hot flashes, and my skin hurts (hard to explain) but I would much rather have these side effects then a migraine.

I also see my neurologists every few months. I have been seeing her now for, gosh, about ten years. I just love her. She really changed my life.

Now, for some of you, I know it is hard to get in with a neurologists, but you really should. You definitely need to keep a journal like I did. That in itself helped me a huge deal.

For some of you, like my sister, you haven't found an answer and you will remain in my prayers. I really suggest that you go to different specialists and try to find the culprit. If you know of something else that helps your migraines, please leave a comment on this post so others can take your advice.

I really feel bad, when I am able to pop this one pill and be cured. My sister has many medical problems and the doctors have just not been able to find an answer for her. She has had many illnesses, including chronic fatigue (which would really cause a migraine) and also has Lyme's disease among other major problems. Her name is Beth, so please keep her in your prayers. It is very hard, because she lives in North Carolina, and I am in Tennessee. My sister and I used to be together all of the time. I was devastated when she moved and so wish she could move closer so that we, her family, could help. I also miss hanging out with her though and wish she could be with my girls more. They just love their Aunt Beth. I am fortunate and live just minutes away from my parents. They are awesome and are just the most helpful wonderful people, and also dear friends to me that I actually like to hang out with. I wouldn't have said that in high school though. LOL! Love you mom and dad!

So, if this helps just one person out there, I have done my job. May you find peace and health, no matter what ails you.

Saturday Great Finds

This will be a quick post... freak'in migraine day! Saturday my mother and I went to our favorite spot with my oldest in tow. It was the first time we all went there, three generations. My daughter has been going with me lately, she is almost 6 and is fun to take along on my "me time" adventures. We must have been in the place for over three hours, and she was awesome! She also got some goodies of her own. I found some great goodies too!

European maps and pamphlets, mostly of France, and a cool radio log. It has many filled pages and some blank ones as well.

How cool! Tour book of Notre Dame and some postcards as well.

This map of France is huge!

My daughter found this one for me. It was only $1.99.

I saw the kit on the left the last time I was there. I had kicked myself for not getting it. It was fate!

A vintage piano roll, a pair of Russian nesting dolls, only two but still a great find. My grandmother loved nesting dolls and was also a big fan of Russia. Also, some unused World's Fair tickets. I thought that they would be cool for altered art. I am big into vintage tickets right now.

Need some work, but come on... these babies cost $1.00 each and then were 60% off of that.

I love how thick they are and the cool metal loop on top. I just now realized the loop is different on each one, but who cares!

I just love the design on the top of this old tin. The silhouette picture is just too neat, and the watch parts were each about $4.00 minus 70%. BINGO!

Now, who doesn't love vintage post cards. And the timing couldn't be better. I am doing two Valentine swaps and I have a vintage post card for each one. And best yet, notice the bottom card. Wait, could it be????

YES! My favorite little guys from the UK. I yelped with glee and almost gave the owner a heart attack. I yelled at my mom, "I can't wait to show this to Carolyn!"

Very dusty, kind of ugly to some, but beautiful to me. Once I clean it up, it will be precious. And can you believe it? It still works. With batteries it "tweets" when it is moved. I just love this little 50 cent jewel!

You can never have too many old glass containers!

Hope you enjoyed my new finds! Just took my migraine medicine and I am off for a nap. Keep your fingers crossed that it goes away, back to the depths of hell where it belongs!

My Banner For Erika

Here is the banner that I made for Erika. If you haven't already read my blog about her, please do so below.

I am really excited about getting this to her and plan on putting it in the mail tomorrow. I really hope that she likes it, and I have a feeling that she will.



I used paper in shades of pink and purple, different ribbons, images of fairies (her favorites), flowers and stars.

I also used some vintage sheet music, glittery letters and some dabs of liquid glitter here and there.

I have had this wonderful ribbon with little flowers and greenery for a couple of years now, never using it, waiting for just the right item. I know now why God had me hold onto it for all of this time. It works perfectly and my oldest picked it as well.

On the back, I put a simple sheet of toile paper to cover up any ribbon edges and it also makes the back pretty.

My oldest daughter helped me to pick several of the pieces for this banner. I told her all about Erika, and we are keeping her in our prayers.

Having this blog has been so wonderful for me. I have met great friends, I have learned a lot, and have been able to create items for others. I have always loved to create altered items. But they were just things that I had, and occasionally someone else, usually family or close friends. Now, I can create things for my new friends, make more from swaps, and learn about others who just need a smile on their face during a tough time. There can be no better satisfaction then that. If I can make someone smile today, then I have done a very good thing.

Please keep Erika and her family in your prayers and may God bless you and your loved ones!