STEPHANIE BROUWERS.........artist

and my friend...........

Yesterday this came in the mail from my dear blog friend

Stephanie Brouwers.

I was and still am speechless ! We were supposed to be

doing a bit of a swap from our stashs'......I had 

no idea she would be sending one of her amazing jewelry creations

along with some really fun things for me to "play" with.

My photo is not very good and in no way does this

piece justice, but if you would like to see it better here is a link 

to the  post  she did when she made the necklace.

That's right....she's a skilled photographer as well!!!!!

(Hope you don't mind Steph...)

If you haven't made it to her blog yet, it's

listed on my sidebar.......vlaDtHeBaTs' aTTic.

Be sure to check out her jewelry.......... her art......... her thoughts.  

Thank you dear Steph , for everything you sent!!

I will be so proud to wear this!!

(: so glad you're in my tribe!!! :)

                                                      

A bit of inspiration........

Afghanistan?.......................

Found at a little antique..and...bits and pieces shop.....

Back....

Found together........but different

Both have additions and repairs

I think these are old...............but I am not sure,

Lately it seems my old radar is a bit  wonky..................

any idea???

You can enlarge the photo to see better.

                                                            

Antique Crazy Quilt ....again!

YES ANOTHER ONE....I COULDN'T RESIST!!

This ol' crazy is dated 1908 and was found in Virginia.

(according to seller)

Lots of birds on this quilt, lots of stitching....

The usual shattered silk, but somehow I don't mind

Early brocades and velvets

Most dry cleaners won't touch these old girls, so bear that in mind if

you get a yearning to own one.

And.... they most likely wouldn't stand up to any kind of machine washing.

I am not buying these for bedding , but still want them to be somewhat clean and fresh.

(If you are buying online remember your idea of musty and the sellers may differ!!)

I wanted these for art projects. 

No, not to cut up, they are too important in their own right for that.

I am going to put rings in the top so they can be used as curtains ,

(for across doors)

and then I am going to make "critters" that live in them.......

I am not sure what these "critters" are going to look like.....

won't know that until I start the process........

but I will show as I go.............

I am just going to tuck the "critters" here and there in the more fragile parts of the quilt,

I may have to use pockets or slings.........

Again, I will figure it out as I go............

But ....they still have to undergo a process before they can come into the house or studio

(where these are eventually headed for)

First I air them in the sun, usually over the porch railing.

Sometimes for a few days.

Second......any spot cleaning they might need,

and good ol Fabreeze !!

And lastly, and maybe most important..........

they get a stint in the freezer, rolled up in a bag.

Most of these ol' girls have a bit or more of wool in them.

and I have toooooo many old Pendletons,

rugs, and other moth candy in this house

to not take precautions.

So into the freezer for a few weeks to make sure any

nasties or their eggs are long gone.

Trust me.....it's necessary.

Losing one of your favorite vintage beaded sweaters

to moths teaches patience real fast!!!

Two ol' crazies...".taking the air"

Can you picture my project? What do ya think?

I promise (almost) no more crazies!!

Other going ons................

I have developed a fondness for these little canning jars....

filling them with summer!!

(raspberry/rhubarb jam)

There are "new fliers" everywhere around here.....

AND their neurotic moms.........

There were several smaller owl feathers here and there in yard and garden

yesterday...........I think from a newbie........

I hope it's alright.

(by the way.....feathers get the freezer treatment as well)

I wish I could send some of you people that are burning/drying  up some of our rain, 

cuz guess what......it's raining like a maniac here today.

(again, still, always)  

                                                                

                                 

                                                                       

Turquoise and Fossil

FIRE OPAL AMMONITE.............

I love these........

Fire Opal Cleoniceras Ammonite .

So smooth, like glass ......and iridescent like an opal.

But these were once alive and became extinct with the dinosaurs.

Now a fossil.

Big chunky turquoise beads with lots of brown,

More of those antique agate beads,

I only have a few left, I love the color varigations.

I need to find more of them!

On one side a piece of a trade bead, still nice even though broke,

on the other a bead with similar color.

I put the closure on the side and made it so it is adjustable.

It can be worn as a choker, with extra chain hanging down

or longer if you wanted to wear it with other pieces.

  

Turquoise and Fossils.........two of my favorite things!

                                                         

Blueberry Chutney

SOOOOOO GOOOOODDDD!!!!!

I saw this recipe for Blueberry Chutney 

on Deryn Mentocks blog, Something Sublime.

It sounded so good I knew I was going to try it.  

I was SO NOT DISAPPOINTED!!!!

Yes, it's that good!

It's meant to go on meat, but I don't always want to eat meat 

and tried it on a cracker. (I would probably eat it from a spoon)

It is very savory, very yummy. You can adjust some of the ingredients to your tastes I would think.

If you would like to try it, here's the link to her blog.

I would add this: for me the recipe only made 4  4 oz jars,

plus a spoon or two  :)

I am going to make more and going to try doubling the recipe this next time.

I also have a few bags of blueberries left in the freezer that I need to 

use before I go pick again  this year,

so I am going to try using frozen instead of fresh. 

Does anybody know of a reason why that shouldn't work?  

(I did use fresh this time)

Thanks Deryn, at our house we are loving this!!

                                                     

STILL CRAZY...after all these years!!

Tattered and in shreds.........

But this old girl had my name on it......................

Literally...........!!!

This quilt is dated 1894 and has many initials on it,

but the stitching all looks the same so I wonder if it was done by one person?

Lots of stitching inspiration......

The fabric over the date square has long since shredded, but the

date, tattered ,still remains.

I have a project in mind for this, I'll keep ya posted!

IN THE GARDEN.........................................................................................................................

First black poppy................

So pretty, but don't last very long.......wish I had "oodles" of them!!!

Maybe if  I shake the pods over the bed I will get more?

ALSO.....one of the longest garder snake skins I have ever seen....

I am sparing you a pic of that!!

This particular snake has been sunning himself daily along my watering hose

basking in the warmth! (scaring the heck out of me over and over)

I am hoping he shed his skin and left town!!!!!

                                                                              

KIng GeorgeV and Queen Mary

King of United Kingdom and the British Dominions,
Emperor of India , etc. (1910-1936)
                             

The same day I went junking at Bernies I also stopped by Bayside Antiques.

I found this old royal commemorative pin featuring King George V and Queen Mary.

Having just bought the saber tooth at Bernies, my mind started playing around

with the idea of the British Empire.

When George V was king (1910-1936)

The Empire included South Africa among many other countries and continents.

So thinking along those lines, using some of the new things I had picked up,

this is what I came up with: 

This started out much different, but as usual lots of editing happens during the actual construction.

I had to make changes in order to get it to hang right.

I really like the way it turned out.

When you are wearing it it stays nicely balanced and has a great

feel with a very slight sense of movement.

Components: Vintage commemorative pin (back removed and flattened)

Mammoth tusk

Bone beads

Jasper beads

African trade beads 

Saber tooth

Roman Catholic medal-St. Ghislain

(with what seems to be a protective eye on it?)

Strangely enough, I don't seem to have any earrings

that go with this, LOL,

Guess that's next?

What do you think? Would you wear this?

Well, if I never have an occasion to wear it, I think

it looks good on this dress form. :)