New Items and More

Dear Peeps,

Happy Monday! It is very cold here today but I have my coffee. Love my coffee! I might as well say first that I am going to start adding items to my blog that are for sale. Yay!

I scanned more old photos over the weekend. They are awesome. I am trying to scan everything and record any personal messages from each old photo before I sell it. I think it is important for people who are researching their family history.

Notice the striped pants. I don't think this photo needs any explanation.

And this lovely girl!! I think summer outfits looked so much prettier when they had some modesty about them. This is definitely classy but pretty sizzling, don't you think?

This lady is adorable! I love her eyebrows. Notice the New Jersey maps behind her.

And this sassy girl has some tights that I would like to have.

In other news, I now have one of the seashell lamps in the shop. It is very pretty. Just a clear glass base filled with wonderful seashells and an older but clean white lampshade. The lamp is about 18 inches tall, 28 inches tall with the shade.

I might as well include my daily outfit post today.

Lace skirt, two long T-shirts layered, and a short sweater that ties in front. Leather boots Steve madden.

Enjoy this day!

Lynn

The Coolest Rain Boots Ever and Painting A Mirror

Dear Peeps,

Today's post is partly a daily outfit post and partly a tutorial.

Recently purchased this plaid dress -- new, the fuzzy vest -- new, and some gently used boots that are absolutely awesome!

I love that there are so many wonderful stores for clothes shopping around here! The dress, from Rue 21, was 5 dollars on clearance. We have an outlet mall close to where I live, and they have some great sales. I don't get there frequently, but every once in a while I go and always find something cool.

The boots? Be still my heart! Rain boots shaped like cowboy boots. They are covered in sugar skulls. Brand is Blazin' Roxx.

Guess I look more hippie today than gypsy.

Now, about that tutorial. I love to fix up mirrors and give them an antique look. It is very easy to do.

Use painter's tape to keep the mirror part safe from paint. Spray paint the frame with paint plus primer in a black color.

Once that layer of paint is dry, take a bar of soap and rub the frame in some high points where the frame would get natural wear. You can look at my pictures for example.

Spray paint next with antique white spray paint plus primer, all in one can. After the frame is completely dry, take a utility cloth or paper towels and rub hard enough to take the white paint off where you placed the soap. It should come off fairly easily in those places and leave the black paint showing underneath.

I love it!

Dinner out this evening so gotta run. I am glad it is Friday!!

Enjoy this day!

Lynn

Having Children is for the Young (at Heart)

Dear Peeps,

First of all, if anyone cruises by because of the title, I am all for a 50-something person having a baby. Heck, I have thought about myself, but after keeping my grandsons Friday night so their parents could get out for a much-needed dinner alone, I remember the energy it takes to keep up with young kids.

Not sure how many times they tried on my reading glasses or how many pictures we took. Over the course of four hours we did a lot. I am not complaining because I actually rarely see them. My son works full time (and sometimes an additional part time job) and my daughter-in-law is a stay-at-home mom who keeps an immaculate house, so they definitely have their family thing going on. I try to stay involved while maintaining my own life and letting them maintain their own lives.

We read books. We watched the first 15 minutes of one movie about four times. We played with tinker toys. We tried on reading glasses. We ate dinner. We played hide and seek in a way that I am not used to. (You go ahead and tell the seeker where you will be hiding.) We ate dinner. And the list goes on.

When the parents returned home from a relaxing dinner and with some weekly groceries, you'd think they all hadn't seen each other in weeks! But I remember that sweet feeling of opening the door after a rare night out and soaking up my babies' faces all over again. Ahhh. Young motherhood. Speaking of which, my daughter-in-law looks great to be expecting a daughter in just four weeks. She has been faithful in working out the whole pregnancy.

Just had to giggle when he told me he was a genius. What a fun night.

In other news I recently found this beautiful solid wood lamp base. It is awesome!

And this antique (what is left of it) scale. It makes a great jewelry holder.

Finally, outfit of the day includes one of my altered linen jackets and a striped linen skirt.

Guess what?

Enjoy this day.

Lynn

Jealous Kitty, Wandering Kitty

Dear Peeps,

I am sitting in the apartment with one of my babies.

Lucy is enjoying some snuggle time.

Brother Vladimir might be jealous, but that's okay. It is usually Vladimir seeking the attention while Lucy is quiet!

While my kitties are snuggly warm, I can't help but think of the fluffy gray kitty that lives somewhere close to my shop. Often he comes out from under the caboose to look at me, but he seems too afraid to come close to me. Sometimes I look out the shop window while I am working and I see him on top of the tin roof on the building next to me.

Today I saw Mr. Gray Kitty. He stopped, looked at me, scratched and went on his way.

Let's hope Mr. Gray Kitty is okay. Actually it could be MRS. Gray Kitty. Hmmmm. If I find out I will let you know!

Layers and lace make me happy.

A beautiful lamp purchased for the shop. Actually there are two of them. Cleaned up and waiting on the perfect shades.

Enjoy this day!

Lynn

Cold Toes, Warm Heart

Brrrrrrrrr. We woke up to 20-something degrees. Ugh. I do not like it this cold! No. I am not going to pretend like I do. Now, I love tights and sweaters and such, but peeps. The caboose gets SO COLD in this. My toes have been talking to me all day! "I'm cold!" But take a small wooden structure set up off the ground, consider there is no insulation, and there you go. I am okay, though. I bought a small space heater for my feet and the window heating/air unit works quickly to knock the chill off.

Additionally, I have my leather Steve Maddens and some pale pink wool hunting socks.

Clothed in layers.

Altered lace T over thermal gray over white lace cami.

Yesterday I was actually out spray painting the metal bed frame that I found last week.

Thinking this thing will really show her best personality come spring. Be still my heart. There will be flowers.

Very large handmade grape vine wreath hangs on the platform at one end of the caboose. I love to look out over the tin roof next door. Do you know there are kitty cats that get up there and walk around? (Part of the Meowfia!)

Finally, today's scanned photo is this great shot of a lady standing in front of a couple of old cars. What year would you guess? 1920s or 1930s?

Okay. Break's over for now.

Enjoy this day!

Lynn

In The Spirit of Buffalo Bill

The most recent altered creation is this Buffalo Bill, lace trimmed tee shirt.

The flower is hand made from the same fabric as the added side panels. I learn a little more every time I make one. I have seen fabric flowers at times and thought "that looks so easy to make!" But not so. There is an art to making a really pretty fabric flower. Maybe time is the trick. Hard to make one that's worth anything if you don't spend a bit of time. Hmmm.

I love old ironstone. I love pink. I love crazing in old pottery, and old pottery in general.

One of my recent finds is this most excellent and absoluteLy working GE clock. Love!

Bought it not knowing if it would keep time but hoping that it would. Score!

Soft soft pink J Jill shirt.

Wonderful gypsy-esque skirt.

Inventory in the store consists of the same kinds of things I love to wear myself.

A sweet mushroom pin hangs in the shop. (Thank you, sweet Pam!)

Sidetracked has been so healing for me. So empowering. Honestly, in the past I have been discouraged from being myself. There was always a reason I could not take a risk. Always a reason something would not work. Friends, with that kind of relationship, my life was nearly consumed!! I mean, I completely understand that as parents we have to sacrifice, but in our 40s and 50s and still being convinced that we cannot do something? Let me just say that those who really love you will WANT you to do the things that help you grow and make you better and happier.

That's all.

Enjoy this day,

Lynn