Score! Black Friday Finds

I love a day at home puttering, cleaning and just hanging out - drinking coffee; alternating between naps, crafting and cleaning out cupboards - doing that deep cleaning that you don't get a chance to do during the week.  But after a while its time to get out and do something = shop.  I headed out Friday around 4 and found all/most of what I've been looking for.  My first stop was Texas Art Asylum, which is a fun, funky place on the edge of downtown.  Ramona and Jennifer opened this place a little over a year ago and its so much fun to sift through all of the odd junk they collect.  It's a place for artists and they have a good eye on finding just the little bits you'll need - now and later for stash.  And the supply constantly changes, which is fun.  Right now everything under $5 is 50% off - which was everything I bought - the rulers, black bolt of thread, little bottles (the real deal, not a Tim Holtz repro).  I'm going to use the thread as a photo holder and I've looked all over for a pic of Jenni Bowlin's sample... can't find it.  Oh well.  One of the rulers says A Housewife will go out of her way for a yardstick.  Wah?  My last pic from there were to the two casters/wheels.  Take a look at my Pinterest board - Mamie Jane did something awesome with them.  She is my latest inspiration (all over my pinterest) - awesomesauce that girl.

Whenever I go to TAA, I usually stop at Salvation Army on Washington, which is where I found the Setwell pant hangers for $1.50.  Yes, Setwell are  vintage finest.  Yeah!  I can hang my piano paper collages and Charlotte Lyon's banner.  Oh, wait.  I have to finish them!  Next I made my way down Yale with one stop at RF Antiques and then over to Heights Blvd. for August Antiques.  I have a secret crush on the owner, shhhh - don't tell anyone.  They have book room(s) and religious room(s) that are like no other.  Seriously.  And I finally found my scoop!  back in the back of the second shop in a corner, covered by farm utensils.  I was so happy with finding it and then the price - $10 (including a black door knob). It is going to be the background for a vinette (inside).  When H and I went to Waco a couple weeks ago, they were marked $30 at an antique store along the way - and the guy would not negotiate even though we had our arms full of stuff.

Another project - creating the photo holders shown on the current Somerset Life issue.  RF sold me the door knobs for $2 each (not $25/2 at Adkins Architecture.  I was so pissed when she told me the price at AA, I left them on the counter.  Tacky, I know but I couldn't help it.  They had BINS of them upstairs - bins - in bad condition - $25/2 - givemeabreak.)  RF is having a sale til 12/31 - 50% off everything and she showed me her back garage with has a ton of furniture.  I also got the two little candy dishes - they will look cool holding white buttons or tidbits.

A couple of Saturdays ago, I made my way in time to The Guild on Dunlavy and found three things in the Half-Off Room.  I found a Pottery Barn candlestick with nice lines, a cutting board and ah, something else that I can't remember now...The candlestick was gunked out with wax but after a good cleaning and a bit of sanding, here is how I'm going to use it.  I was planning on spray painting with hammered or pewter color but I may leave it.  I bought a ton of cake pans at Junk Bonanza in September - all different sizes for $4 each. 

And then finally, here is a sneak of a current project, that is going to be a wedding gift.  It is so yummy - I am having fun working on it but I will say, it is alot of work!  So many cool buttons in my stash - I love looking at them.  Oops, I see a hole!  I'm going to use the ivory tone/tone ribbon I got at Crafty Scrapper around the edges - yummy!  How can I get back there to get more?

Two last bits.  You know about Pinterest, I assume?  But of course.  If you don't, its such a great inspiration place just remember to pin what inspires you!  I forgot and wasted good time looking for it.  And secondly, Shopgoodwill.com.  I think I've told you about it before - I've found all kinds of goodies on there.  Mostly quilts - for $5 plus $15 or so shipping.  Yummy, beautiful soft quilts that a grandma has made and her family has dumped off at goodwill.  She'll be happy to know you're enjoying it. 

A Memory without a Photo?

I read this post this morning at Cathy Zielski's blog and immediately reminded me of a scenario I have been playing over in my head the past few days.  I'm trying to learn to let go (still) on several levels of taking care of my mother and also of pressuring my siblings to help out.  It all started a few weeks ago, when my fabulous former neighbor, H stood in my foyer and told me how she realized her parents had to write the last chapter in their lives, that it wasn't up to her to script it as she saw fit.  Those words hit me right between the eyes, as a year after placing my Mom into a nursing home has come to pass.  There's alot of pride and self-worth received from taking care of someone.  Sorry, I digress.

So I'm trying to visit my Mom more out of desire than guilt or pressure or "because I should" or because if I don't, they won't take good care of her... (hello, where's your faith?) And in doing so, I can listen to her and she has basically lost most of her ability to think or reason.  Her mind is blank and yet, we can have the sweetest visits.  It usually involves getting her ready for bed and when you take her shirt off (she gets confused on how to do it), she fights like crazy and even slaps you a bit.  Last Sunday I felt so bad as I tugged on her head and neck while trying to remove it.  So I threw the shirt away because the damn neck was too small.  Once we get through the whole changing chore and sit back down on the bed is the sweet time. I bought her some uber soft pajamas with puppies on them and she loves them. seriously.  And so we spend a little time looking at some photos on the wall and go over (several times) who the people are.  One is of my puppy, Grace that my mother totally adored.  My mother has never liked dogs but Grace was her companion for the five years she lived with me.  She snuck food to her all day long and at night, Grace slept with Mom.  It was so cute.  Doesn't remember a thing about Grace.  I usually brush her hair a bit and she loves it and I rubbed her neck slow and smooth and she really enjoyed that.  It was so pure. And sometimes I lay on her bed and she brushes my hair with her hand and quietly I cry (with my face turned away).  I don't know why, I just do - the whole thing is so overwhelming.  And she screws her face up a bit and sort of cries and I soothe her and tell her it will all be okay.  She is so appreciative of the visit and tells me so.  several times.  And then we recite the Our Father and Hail Mary, sometimes twice and I think she likes that she can remember the words. I truly feel His presence in the room. And after several hugs and I love yous, I go back home.  to Grace. 

Without a picture, it is a very good memory that I want to keep for a long time.  I was never close to my mother and this time is so healing.  Thank you for sharing my memory with me. 

Urban Market

Want to see what I found last week at Urban Market?  When I saw this... I thought about it for a bit and then grabbed it!  Surveyors pole.  Half off.  Its like 15' long.  Wanted one, ever since I saw it on the cover of Holly Becker's book, Decor8.  I can say Holly Becker, like I know her because I met her at The Creative Connection and I know she totally remembers me.  out of the 2,000 people that came up to her there.  For reals.  Say hi to Junior, who's rocking the survey stick. 

And I saw these kissing dutch kids and went back to get them and couldn't find the booth.  How silly - the place (UM) is not very big but I just didn't see them.  I thought they were cute and I love all things Dutch, including my old company.

This lady always has cool ironstone and I loved this display.  

I did land at Kay's booth (again) -she has a shop at Memorial Antiques near the old Academy on Katy Freeway.  Last time I picked up some black globes and large acorns from her.  This time some 4" printers blocks.  And when I professed my love for them, she seemed to think they should all go home with me and not her.   And so for $30, they were mine.  There are tons... and the font is cool.  Looks like another mirror is in my future.  Did I tell you what happened to the last one?  In May I hauled it to Inspired in Charlotte, NC and when the sweet client gave me the cash, I put it in my pocket.  or so I thought.  It fell out.  Some wait staff at that hotel was very happy that weekend.  I wasn't.  Still haven't figured out my lesson... 

Several projects are in the hopper... I've finally figured out a project for all my hotel keys!  I hope I can pull it off - combination of this design and a few modifications in my head.  My dear friend, Cindy's husband, Greg made THAT board for me - is that too kind!  I was so thrilled.  Oheeee.  I've also been making banners out of piano roll paper.  I was trying to figure out what to do with it... I guess you could always cover something with it but I like using it as the foundation for a wall hanging.  I've made but not finished a Christmas hanging and a pink/girl hanging.  And then finally, I spotted this box at Goodwill for $3.  It screamed for maps and I used an 8x8 page of Lille from 7Gypsies along with several embellies, like a flinch card, lace, dennison label, slide negative (thanks to Cathe Holden's TCC class - very cute idea - you remove the negative and replace it with a mini vintage photo).

I hope you have a good Sunday and a great week!  Next week - can you say, ROAD TRIP...Waco for Debby Schuh's classes at Crop, Paper, Scissors and perhaps a stop in at The Craft Scrapper in Waxahachie.  Yes! I have seen these books (Grace Notes totally speaks to me) and they are faaaa-buuuuu-lous!