~~Free Giveaway~~ Sharing Some of my Recent Scores~~

My good friend Pam gifted me so many things in the past several weeks, I have decided to "share the wealth" and give my blog readers a chance to benefit from Pam's generoisty as well. Listed are some photos showing what I will split up into 2 or 3 seperate lots of things, each lot will be a great selection of the photos, books, ledger etc. you see here. All you need to do is leave a comment to this post and on April 14th (hubby's b-day!) I will draw either 2 or 3 names to win! I may even throw a few extras in that I have had on hand (book pages, ledger pages, lace scraps, etc). Good luck!

Pictured here you will find:
* tiny red leather photo album filled with old military photos
*brown suede family photo album with many pages blank, but many pages have assorted old photos on them.
*another small phto book with assorted old photos inside
*a small book published in 1895 "The Story of the Other Wise Man"
*Practical Child Rearing book, published in 1917
*An adorable old 1947 Farmer's Pocket Ledger, well used
*Prehistoric Relics book, published in 1905
*Many and assorted old photos, ranging from late 1800's to World War II era
*Large framed photo of a man working in his garden
*more!!!

~~Papier Mache' Birds of Wisdom~~

I think each of these papier mache' birds offers some sage advice on life and living.  Available in my Etsy Shop , I have been having fun covering these in vintage papers,  paints and "words of wisdom"!

~~Sharing a Few Images~~

                   Can you see what this man has in his little wagon? 

    Notice this old woman wearing snowshoes, and holding a pistol!

                    This little girl has the sweetest expression on her face

Besides some old ledgers, tiny photo albums, souvenier books, a few poem books and the wonderful ambrotype I featured in the artwork last posting,  my friend Pam handed me a box full of these wonderful images.  Feel free to use any of them !  The box also included a Fourth Grade Reader and a 1908 copy of A Christmas Carol.   I feel so lucky to have a friend who thought of me when she had no use for these things. 

~~Victorian Assemblage, Courtesy of My Good Friend~~

Several weeks ago you may remember me writing about my good friend, Pam,  who had given me a huge supply of antique finds her family had no use for. Well she came through again, and I couldn't be more thrilled!  This truly is a testament that one woman's trash is another one's  treasure!!  I will be sharing some old images with you  in the week to come,  but last night I put together this assemblage out of the ambrotype, ( or daguerreotype, I'm not sure which), an old ledger cover, ledger paper, a verse from a fourth grade reader and more.  I threw in a few pieces I had on hand, and THIS is what transpired from it.  It is one of those pieces I will have a hard time parting with, and may even later decide to keep it for myself.  For now it is in my Etsy shop .  Pam, again, thank you from the bottom of this old musty antique find loving heart!! 

~~Tutorial on the Way~~

Thank you everyone who has expressed an interest in the gold leaf plates tutorial.  It promises to be a busy weekend so at the latest, next week I will have it posterd here on my blog.  Plus I have to go out and get more glass plates!  Happy Spring everyone, it finally feels like it has arrived in Michigan.  I hate to say, though, that next week they are predicint snow :o

~~Gold Leaf Plates~~

I've been fascinated lately with gold leaf.  I'd never tried it, it was always on my creation  "to-do"  list, but we all know how long that list can get, and how high priority things may soon take back seat to new interests and brainstorms.  But  this time gold leafing took front seat, and soon I will be creating even more of these plates for my shop, and for a show I do every summer.  If there is enough interest in a tutroial,  I will write one up and post it here within the next week, so please, if you are interested,  leave a comment and I will work on the instructions and photos and get it on my blog as soon as possible. 

 

~~Anchors Aweigh~~

Summer reminds me of the water... here in Michigan we are surrounded by the Great Lakes and a multitude of inland lakes as well.  I've always loved anything nautical; being near or better yet, being on the water, enjoying the cool breeze it offers on a warm summer day, or my favorite, walking a deserted beach late into the night.  And lighthouses.... Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state in the US.  One of my favorite things to do is visit each one, learn it's history, it's ghosts, and just imagine how many old ships have used the beacon during rough waters and treacherous storms. Yes I love old things nautical, and here are some vintage style mixed media collages made similar to the way I made the White Christmas shadowboxes several months ago.  I can almost feel the lake breeze, smell the fresh air it brings in, and hear the lonely wail of the seagulls. One can dream!