Weekend update...

Don and I set up for the Toy Collectible show at the Mansfield Fairgrounds on Saturday evening. While setting up, I somehow managed to get a nasty splinter in my right index finger. I thought that I had removed it safely, until I noticed how sore it was when we returne home yesterday...... and I attempted minor surgery, LOL! Hopefully, I managed to get it all out this time.

Yesterday, we left early to make the drive over and upon arriving, settled in. There were approx. 40-50 vendors at this show- the majority of the morning was dealers looking for bargains and a few people who had brought in items to sell to the vendors that were set up. We were the only vendors selling Matchbox die cast cars and a lot of the people attending didn't realize what the old Matchbox Yesteryears and Lledo's lines were. Don's collection definately drew a lot of attention, however we never sold the first item!

We did however have the opportunity to meet a lot of people, from all different walks of life, and it was interesting even to me to hear Don talk about how his collection originated. From what I gathered as I listened to him was in the early 1980's. Matchbox was originally founded by Leslie and Rodney Smith, who used a portion of the their first names to form Lesney. Jack Odell partnered with Lesney shortly thereafter and the Lledo {Jack's last name spelled backwards} line Models of Yesterday were born, then followed by the Days Gone By lines which were released in series. Don's personal collection consists of the Models of Yesteryear and the Series 1 and 2 Days Gone By die cast cars. I love this collection of diecasts myself, they are very vintage and definately reflect the era of yesteryear and days gone by. I, personally believe we would have had more success at a vintage sale than the Collectible Toy show we attended as there was a lot of newer, market flooded items there. Anyways, it was fun to do!

I think maybe I'll have to sort through his collection to find a diecast he has a duplicated of for use in a shadowbox assemblage. It could be fun doing a bit of research about the Model of the diecast car itself and adding in some photographs of the era of origin...

Paper Medallions --- and a tutorial!

I saw these on some matchbox slider boxes while at On Paper. It took me an entire day to figure out how to re-create them myself! Basically, you take a rectangle of paper, and fold it accordian style, then join the two cut ends which need to start and end with a valley fold.

These can be created any size desire as long as the length is 4 times the width. The large one is a 2"x8" rectangle. I first folded my paper in half, then brought the ends into the center fold and worked from there. This provided me with even spaces to work with. After the accordian is folded completely, fold the entire piece in half and crease well. Cut the banner from one strip of paper the desired width and length, and create two simple folds where desired. Notch the ends to resemble cut ribbon. I stacked popdots underneath to assure the center of ribbon wouldn't collapse and added a photo tab underneath the ends to adhere over the adhere edges of the medallion below. © 2006 Cathy Highland, owner of Partly Paper.

These could be added to gift bags, the top of the "in a jar" mixes for gift-giving. I used the Stampin' Up Label and Punch to add a decorative touch to mine, and they look fabulous glittered! Enjoy and happy creating!!!

My New Stationery Suitcase...

I worked for approximately an hour creating this. The suitcase was purchased on a trip to On Paper in Columbus a few weeks ago. I used very little of the specialty gift wrap from Peabody's Paper to create a topper for four writing pads, memo pads, and some of the banding around the envelopes. I also used the same paper to wrap two pencils to match. Added in my box of Cavallini "Oh Boy!" Labels and three small silver tins with toppers. One is filled with an emergency supply of postage stamps, the medium holds more of the Partly Paper stamped images, and the smallest holds some gold and silver fleur-de-lis wax seals. I cut some cardstock in hot pink and in the lime green to create some card bases to have handy as well. I'm thinking a stamped B&W image and piece of ribbon and an embellishment and my correspendence cards will be ready to send!

{This would make a wonderful gift for family and friends for others to create. All and all, I believe I have less than $25 in creating it.} 

My "Special" Order Item...

My personal stamp has arrived! And I am so happy with it. It says,
"FROM THE STUDIO OF" Partly Paper!

It is manufactured throught this site: http://www.psaessentials.com If you click on the list of stationery retailers and browse by state, I am certain you can find one near you. They also manufacture a cool embosser, some vintage die cuts and papers. I didn't happen to run into any of them, however, I can also continue to look for them. I am loving my stamp and couldn't resist stamping something with it as soon as I opened the package. So I quickly decided to decorate the flaps on twenty-five envelopes, decorate them with a strip of the decorative paper used to create a band to hold them together, and add them to my stationery suitcase. I think I will also stamp a pad of paper to match and use the image as a centered letterhead near the top for some of my artistic correspondence.

 

I wasn't able to get to Vicki's pages or create a sketch for Lianna's last night. Don arrived home shortly after my post and I got sidetracked. I did manage to get a few pieces of furniture back into the living room along with some of my favorite knick-knacks, as well as a few recently purchased. I attempted to put my computer amoire on an angle in one corner, however, I ran out of cable cord... urgh! The electronics layout in this room are my worst nightmare. It isn't that I don't have enough outlets, it is the cable lines that frustrate me. The computer amoire can go in a only spots within the space because either the cable line or the cable modem line interferes. Since we have two big pieces of furniture -- the amoire and the TV... it is hard to balance out the room visually. I'm certain that I will eventually figure something out. Once completed, I'll get some photographs uploaded to show you.

I did manage to get my scanner re-attached this a.m. Then, of course, I had to boot it up, check my email, post in a couple of groups, do a bit of surfing, LOL! So, here I sit.... not accomplishing too much! Oh well, I deserve a break! It was so nice waking up this morning and walking out into the living room and seeing the flooring completed in one half of the room. It makes it appear so much larger than the space actually is, and so much more cozy. Having finished it, I am so inspired to finish up all the other loose ends in our home --- like painting the back section of our kitchen, and re-arranging. I'd love to purchase a few new pieces of furniture but for now will make due with what we have. That doesn't mean that I cannot begin looking. Both Don and I are getting better about reducing the clutter in our home, well at least until we tackle a remodeling project such as this... but everything is beginning to fall into place. Gotta love that!!!
{SMILES}

Catching up and catching my breath!

Ahhh, yep! that is a big sigh of relief! Our flooring is finished!!! We didn't manage to get a thing moved back in but the floor is ready when we are! I'll probably work on re-arranging while Don is working tomorrow. I am a bit sore once again today and some muscle spasms in my back are telling me to stop. Trust me, I am listening.

I just came back in from the studio. Not desiring to start something that I wouldn't have time to finish up, I did manage to finish up the Variety Collage Swap packages. I am hopeful my recipient's will be happy with what I have put together. There is sheet music, pages from old Days Gone By magazines, pages from an old book, lots of images, plus the image CD's I burnt from off my computer that I have discovered online. All in all the paper measures approx. 1/4" to 1/2" and I filled two ziplock sandwich baggies with tags, metal rimmed tags, some sea glass, vintage watch crystals, playing cards, round coasters, beads, buttons, lace, fibers, game pieces, cancelled postage, bamboo beads, ect. Basically, if I felt it was something I'd like to receive, in it went. I'm certain that there is more than enough to fill a small Priority Mail box. The swap info said a 6x9 envy which I know I have more than surpassed in content! It has freed up some more of my stash of supplies --- Yippee!!! Now, I just have to check on the postal regulations for mailing overseas to London to determine how best to package one of the packages. Anyone has any helpful tips or websites to share, I'd appreciate it greatly.

Tomorrow's game plan is to get up bright and early and get woke up and jump right back in. After I finish moving a few pieces of furniture in the living room, I'm hoping to finish up with Lianne's deco and Vicki's Art Idea Journal so that it will mean one trip to the P.O. on Monday to mail off these 4 packages. That will free me up for a few before I have to focus my attention to the Postage stamp ATC's. It is for one full sleeve {9 participants} and a mail by date of Oct. 13th. I also have one Halloween ATC for a one on one swap to wrap up. I believe I just found my image earlier tonight.

Speaking of ATC's, I received two new ones from a swap with Anne Marie this week. The swap was for a one-on-one; however, she created two since she was a little late mailing it out. What a sweetie! and her ATC's are very well created.

Well, I'm off of here....... going to see if I can get to Vicki's pages that I've already completed so that I can set them aside. Who knows I may work to finish her's up tonight since I haven't that much to do. Lianne's deco is still taking me some thought, but I think I may have an idea for it. Off to sketch it out to see how it will appear on the pages....

Just a quick update...

What flooring we have managed to installed is simply beautiful! This side of our living room is beginning to come together just as I had envisioned it. {Don and I are installing it ourselves to save some $$$.} We worked on it late yesterday afternoon and managed to get it from the west wall over to the kitchen doorway where we will continue finishing it up today. We had to stop as Don had to work yesterday evening and I went to the Popcorn parade with Amber, Chris, and Alexxis. This was Alexxis' first time at a parade, and in a large group of people. She enjoyed herself immensely, laughing, cooing, and squealing with delight! Near the end of the parade, we left to go to the actual Popcorn Festival for some sandwiches and french fries. A wonderful time was had by all of us.

Today's agenda is to finish laying the flooring, then cleaning it thoroughly, moving furniture back into place, ect. We have yet to purchase new baseboards but since there isn't a lot of furniture to be moved out of the space, we will adding that in a later date. That shouldn't prove to be too difficult to do as there are only two corners and the walls tie in to two doorways --- one entering the kitchen and the other the front door. Once the furniture is moved, I'm thinking I will set out to re-arranging the opposite side of the room. I've been desiring to do that, just hate fighting with all the electrical components to the TV.

Tomorrow while Don is working, I can tie up more loose ends and in the evening we'll be heading to Mansfield to set up for the Antiques and Collectible show to be held on Sunday. Don is hopeful he will do well there. Like any show of this nature a lot depends upon the amount of people who show up and whether or not they are purchasing.

We've managed to keep up with the majority of the remaining housework as we've accomplished this so I should be able to dive right back in to my artful life near the beggining of next week. I am really inspired to get to working on a few things that have only been in my head for some time and actually get them out into the light of day. More to come soon, I promise.