Camp Whimsy

A Magpie 4th of July

 

I decked out the shelf in my dining room with a little help from my favorite magpie. Laurie crafted some really great things for the fourth of July and listed them in her etsy shop (I think they have mostly been bought up by now, but be sure to check her shop regularly, she lists items for most holidays and her vintage creations are a super way to decorate for special occasions).

 

Oh, Miss Liberty! She was just too cute to resist! Just look at how she waves the grand old flag!

 

A little flag garland was just what the shelf needed!

 

The vintage newspaper "FIREWORKS" flag just makes me happy, and because Laurie is so incredibly cool she sent me a few extra goodies to complete my display. Don't you love the little card with "HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY" inside the bottle cap?

 

Look at the fabulous cone she made, and the vintage German curly paper was just perfect to bring the whole display together! Thanks Laurie, my holiday displays have never looked so good! I love decorating a shelf, table, wall or cupboard for a holiday, it just makes every month seem special to have an ever-changing display of celebration in my home.

Farm Chicks Show 2009 Part 5: Treasures I Found

 

Besides the wonderful things you see and the great people you meet, the best thing about the Farm Chicks Show is the treasures you will bring home. I like to spread everything I find out on the hotel bed and take a picture. Since I traveled to the show on a plane I wasn't able to purchase large items. This poses a problem and next year I think I may just have to borrow my dad's Ford and road trip it to the show! So here's a peek at what I brought home...

 

cute vintage button hair pins from the girls at Gossamer Designs, 

  

a pink sofa for the girls from Kathy and Jennifer at Unexpected Necessities, 

   

this lovely little ring from Beth Quinn which I can't stop wearing, 

  

these useful (and charming!) tags from the Farm Chicks ,

 

a fine pendant necklace from Elaine depicting an old ship setting sail on one side...

 

and a happy couple on the other. I'm giving this to a very special girl who is getting married this month.

 

Stacey found this great vintage feed sign we bought to give to our hog farmer dad for father's day. (That's right Pam, I just called my dad a hog farmer!)  Luckily we found a Fed Ex open on Sunday.

 

This old Spokane street sign from Celeste's Chaps booth which now hangs happily on my garden fence, 

 

an Amy Butler skirt pattern from the Top Stitch, can't wait to try this one!

  

Two lovely little vessels from Farmer Julie which I was happy to fill with a few of my first dahlias of the season, 

  

a vintage birthday cake topper which I will use for my daughter's cake this year,

 

these awesome old sign letters. At first I purchased just the letters to spell "CAFE". After some thought I went back and purchased "AU LAIT", in honor of my favorite place to visit-New Orleans. (You can read my posts on my last trip starting right over here). The letters are big and I'm thinking I will paint and distress a large board and mount them to it. I will hang the sign in my dining room, over my shelf that has my other new letters from the Farm Chicks on it...

and my "new" old blue chippy piece of moulding that I picked up at Celeste's booth...

 

I'm a sucker for anything in this shade of blue, my house is covered in it.

 

Do you think the new Cafe Au Lait sign will look good up here by my shelf and sea fan shadow boxes? And what color do you think I should paint the background for the sign? I was thinking a teal/aqua color but then I thought I might just get crazy and paint it red for a nice pop of color in my otherwise light blue/tan house.

  

I also picked up this vintage green metal cubby from Sue at Bella Shabby.  I used it to organize this messy area...

 

...where we deposit our keys, change, pens, random bits when we come home.

 

Since it is magnetic it is perfect for my little Cath Kidston note pad holder and a few fruity magnets to hold notes. Inside I placed my mason jar change holders, (one for pennies and one for silver change), a baking powder tin to hold pens and a vintage berry basket to hold random bits such as rubber bands.

 

And finally, something I sure would have liked to bring home to treasure, this vintage French night gown. Boy would I have liked to bring this home and wear it to a picnic or church. Really sweet, but more than I could afford to spend. (Did you see all of the stuff I bought above? Note to self-save even more pennies for next year's show so you can buy a vintage French night gown if you really want one.) Thank you for coming along with me and allowing me to share my Farm Chicks journey. I look forward to this show all year long, it is by far the highlight of my year and such a positive experience to be among so many talented, delightful women who appreciate the same things I do in my own everyday life and home. If you have never been to a Farm Chicks show I encourage you to put next year's show on your calendar now and start saving and planning for your trip. You won't be disappointed. And I will love meeting you there! Blessings, Kim

My Old Blue Chair

 

I simply adore this old blue chair. I picked a pair of them up for five bucks at a yard sale about five years ago when I lived in Chico, CA. I sold the other chair at my grandma's antique shop but kept this one. It has layers of chippy red, green, blue and aqua paint. It's a bit shaky to sit in now, but I don't mind. I love looking out on my back patio and seeing my chair. I imagine myself sitting in it on a beach in the Caribbean with a cool drink in one hand and a good book in the other. Heaven imagined, right here from my back patio.

A New Du Buh Du doll: Meet Sylvie

 

I was very fortunate to bring home another of Christine's  Du Buh Du dolls from her latest Etsy shop update. Welcome Sylvie!! I really liked the doll named Arden from this update as well, but decided on Sylvie because I loved the way Christine painted Sylvie's face. Her face is much different than the previous dolls I purchased, Athena and Anja and Elena.

 

 

 

 

I appreciate the way Christine is always trying new techniques to take her doll making to the next level. I am happy to own several of her dolls and can't wait to see what she does in the future. For now my dolls are on a shelf in my studio where they are safe from the reach of Audrey and Strauss. I'm hoping to find a cabinet to display them in at some point. 

  

From left to right: Anja, Elena, Sylvie and Athena.  Thank you Christine for your beautiful dolls, they always bring a smile to my face and I love having them in my home.

Vintage Party Noise Makers

 

Who doesn't like the junk labeled bric-a-brac at the Salvation Army? I picked up two vintage noise makers a few weeks ago.  This maker has a 1930's harlequin looking fellow and pretty gal.

 

It is marked Kirchhof, "Life of the Party" Products. And is stamped U.S.A on the end.

 

This bell noise maker features a bunch of musicians, entertainers and dancers having a swell time at a party.

 

The party bell also has several chinese lanterns pictured. I am a sucker for chinese lanterns. Five dollar bric-a-brac equals a lifetime of great noise makers at my parties.

You Meet The Nicest People...

 

Gretchen loves this new little glitter house my friend Lynne Hoffman made for her. In this community of blogging you meet the nicest people. I first "met" Lynne through the last round of Club Little House.  We were in the same group, she received a set of my little glitter houses and I received a lovely table complete with tablecloths, journal and pencil she made ( see this post for a picture).  I was delighted to receive an email from Lynne last month telling me she was going to be coming up and visiting my shop, Maxwell General.  I was able to meet Lynne and her family and found them to be completely charming. I am so happy to have made a new friend in Lynne.     

Lynne brought the girls a special gift, this lovely mini glitter house she made. It fits just perfect in their flat. Lynne doesn't blog (yet!) but I am able to connect with her via email and am hoping to see her in Sacramento on May 3rd for the annual miniature flea market at the Elegant Dollhouse. I love blogging...I meet the nicest people! 

More Cheesy Souvenirs

 

You know I love collecting cheesy souvenirs when I travel. My Mom and Dad recently drove from their farm here in Northern California to visit hog farms back in Illinois and the midwest. Mom was sure to pick up some cheesy treasures at the truck stops and diners along the way...

  

...like this sweet little jackalope. Everyone should have a jackalope of their own...

 

...this snow globe from Nebraska depicts a lovely scene of a wagon pulled by oxen...

 

...I bet after seeing this Nebraska bell you will want your own bell complete with a chief and Nebraska buffalo emblem...I think I shall use it at my bedside to ring when I require a snack or refreshment...I may have to ring for quite a while...

 

...this globe is sure to become a classic...

 

...this thimble from Iowa is the first thimble in my collection...(actually it's not "from" Iowa at all, it has a sticker inside from China, but it does contain the word Iowa and it depicts corn and a farm in the background and Mom purchased it in Iowa so for my collections' sake I will say it is from Iowa)...

 

...and just look at these tiny spoons. My favorite is the Nebraska spoon with the wagon (in the middle of the picture).  Thank you dear Mom for bringing me all of these cheesy travel souvenirs from your road trip to the midwest. Next time I will send you with a sketchbook and watercolor pencils so you can bring me back a lovely handmade souvenir sketch . I think a sketch of a real live jackalope would be just perfect.

Baby Brother's Room

 

Here's a peek into baby brother's room. We do occasionally call him by his name, though for the most part we call him baby brother, baby bro, brother or even brother monster (credit for that last name goes to big sister).  I used the same paint I have in the rest of my house to paint brother's room. The gray/tan color is the color in my living room and hallway. The blue stripes are the blue in my dining room and kitchen. We taped off the stripes using a level, measuring tape and painter's tape. I was really happy with the result. I chose a sailing theme for his room.

 

I filled this ledge shelf with old tin globe banks and little souvenir sailboats I had saved from when I was a young girl.

 

The books Nana brought back from her trip were a perfect addition to the shelf.

 

 

I found these old jelly jars at the Farm Chicks Antique Show in 2006.  I filled them with a collection of marbles I've had since my childhood and my Gumby and Pokey toys. Who can resist Gumby, Pokey, Prickle and even the Blockheads?  I know I sure can't!

 

 

I found this hat rack on clearance at Pottery Barn when I was still pregnant...

 

...and baby brother's Aunt and Uncle from Montana sent him the matching buoys hanging over his dresser. The print of the sail boats is one my husband silk screened in high school. We love playing in baby brother's room.  I know one day he will want to paint over the stripes, put up posters and take down the vintage toys and books. But for now it suits him just fine.

Jack and Jill

 

I found Jack and Jill from Sweet Lilly Studio's Etsy shop. They were the perfect addition for my studio.  

 

Here is Jack with his pink pail of water. The Irmi company manufactured a variety of lamps, mobiles, nightlights and switchplates that were commonly used to decorate nurseries.Check out Sweet Lily Studio for a nice selection of vintage Irmi goods.

 

Jack and Jill are quite happy in their new home next to our craft aprons.

Little Miss Dutch, Gaurdian of the Studio and Several Dwarves

 

I have a small collection of vintage chalkware plaques. The little Dutch girl pictured above is by far my favorite. I love her bright cheerful colors, the sweet dress she wears and the abundant tulips she carries in her baskets. I picked her up on ebay several years ago. She's been hanging out in my kitchen but just the other day she was longing for a change of scenery so I stuck her on the wall above my cubby shelf in the studio. 

   

I've appointed Little Miss Dutch the new guardian of my studio. She is keeping watch over all aspects of studio life. And she's keeping a close eye on the newbies that just arrived, Miss White and four of her little dwarf friends.

 

I picked Miss White and her dwarf companions up from Kate's  new Etsy shop. Thanks Kate, I think they are really happy living life in the studio with Little Miss Dutch watching over them. It's Friday, which always makes me feel good and the sun came out, yesterday and today, so I am feeling much better. Nothing like a bit of sunshine to brighten your life!

(Cheesy) Souvenirs & Travel Stories

 

My favorite thing to bring back from my travels is cheesy souvenirs, especially miniature replicas of famous landmarks and really cheesy snowglobes. I keep most of my little treasures on a shelf in my studio. So here are some shots of my collection (and some un-asked for travel tips that you may or may not find helpful) for your enjoyment!

   

I brought this little globe back from my visit to Pisa, which is quite possibly the cheesiest tourist attraction I've ever been to. It reminds me of my encounter with three very aggressive gypsies who tried to pick pocket us as we made our way back to our bus. We succeeded in getting away from them but not before one of the nasty ladies pinched me good and hard after she realized she was not going to be successful in her robbery attempt. I was quite upset by her pinching assault and called her the only Italian bad word I knew, "stronzzo," which is defined as a "turd" in my Italian/English dictionary. (travel tip: it's good to know a bad word or two when traveling in foreign countries. You never know when you may be attacked by gypsies and will need to express yourself verbally in their native language)

 

Ah, New Orleans, my favorite city in the world. I LOVE this city and am so excited to be going back again, I will share my trip with you next week! (travel tip: you must, must, must visit New Orleans in your lifetime)

 

Florence, Italy, home of the famous duomo, markets full of Italian leather and all you can eat gelato. I had gelato about 3 or 4 times a day in Italy. Yum.

 

Who doesn't love the cheesy arch in Reno? I remember going to Reno as a young girl and seeing Bertha and Angel the elephants at John Ascuaga's Nugget. I have also taken trips there with my husband to see Willie Nelson and Dwight Yoakam. Dwight's show was great, I felt like I was in Bakersfield.

 

Geneva, Switzerland, home of superior milk chocolate and a large fountain that shoots out of the lake. Like visiting a fairy tale.

 

While on a trip to New York and Boston we spent a lovely day on Martha's Vineyard with my brother in law and sister in law. We rented bikes, ate at the Black Dog Tavern (a tavern with no alcohol), rode to a light house and encountered rain which left us in a taxi van, with our rented bikes and a cranky old man complaining over the taxi fares and his "bum leg." (travel tip: all but two of the town's on Martha's Vineyard are dry towns so bring a flask!)

 

Paris is nice for sure, I prefer the south of France though.

 

There's that crooked tower. (travel tip: watch out for gypsies!)

 

This is a vintage Notre Dame souvenir my mom found at a local antique shop. (travel tip: sometimes you have to go home and wait 10 years to find a good souvenir)

 

I loved seeing this famous clock, I was sure Peter Pan and Wendy were there somewhere. (travel tip: to avoid being hit by one of those big red double decker buses when crossing the street in London look the opposite way you normally do, apparently they drive on the wrong side over there. I had a few close calls!)

 

 

This is one of my favorite souvenirs. (travel tip: if you do make it to Paris you must bring home a little Eiffel Tower, even if you hate cheesy souvenirs you will always love your little tower)

 

I loved going to the top of the Empire State Building after having seen it in so many favorite movies. Is there a movie set in New York that doesn't have the Empire State Building in it? I think not.

 

The famous Arc de Triomphe. Very cool.

 

And of course one of the best souvenirs you can bring home is some foreign jingle. While traveling in foreign countries I was a very generous tipper. (Travel tip: foreign money is not "play" money, nor are British pounds like quarters). Next time I'll be more careful, then I can bring even more coins home! Hope you found this cheesy post on cheesy souvenirs enjoyable, informative and entertaining! Happy Travels!!!!!!

Little Valentines

 

It's almost February and that means...Valentines!!! I was lacking in the Valentine decor department so it was lucky  for me that Laurie created these sweeties and put them in her Etsy shop. 

    

These are quite possibly my most favorite of Laurie's creations I've collected. They certainly are the sweetest!

 

 

 

 

I made a banner out of paper, glittered "Love", and strung it together with sparkly pipe cleaners. Laurie sent me a few vintage valentines which you can see in the picture along with my new sweeties, standing on their pedestal. Laurie tucked in a special package for Gretchen, Franchesca and Beatrice, which I will share in my next post. Thanks Laurie, holiday decorating will forever be better at my house now that I've found you!!! 

My New Pets

 

A few months ago I found these delightful bird model kits on ebay. I was searching for something vintage with a magpie on it for my friend Laurie. I found Laurie's magpie from a seller who was auctioning a whole collection of the bird models in separate auctions. It's hard to not have a soft spot for birds (except for maybe those seagulls that steal your food right from your hands at Pier 39 in San Francisco). I bid on multiple birds and won a canary, Eastern bluebird and an English sparrow.

 

The boxes have their original price stickers, 10 cents from W.T. Grant Co. The boxes measure just over two inches long and one inch high.

 

The miniature model kits were made by the Marx toy company.

 

Each kit has a small "wooden" perch, unassembled bird wrapped in plastic bag and a card showing the type of bird on the front...

 

and a summary of the bird on the back.

 

These are quite possibly the easiest models to assemble in the world. Which is lucky for me since I am no whiz at assembling things!

 

And here he is. Eastern Bluebird. I always thought I might like to try having birds as pets. These will be a good start. And since all pets must have names I will be naming my birds. I shall name this bird, formerly known as Eastern Bluebird, Patrick.

 

Here is English Sparrow fresh from her package. After a few decades of being in there she couldn't wait to get out and see the world.

 

First some assembly was required.

 

And here is bird formerly known as English sparrow, now named Ariel.

 

Finally, bird #3, little yellow canary whom I have named Jane. I like this business of naming pets.

 

Patrick, Ariel and Jane love being out of their boxes and seem to enjoy their new life as my pets. I am fortunate to have met Laurie while standing in line waiting to get into the Farm Chicks Antique Show in more ways than you can imagine. Laurie was just the inspiration I needed to finally get my blog started, has become a terrific friend and without her I would never have searched for magpie's on ebay and stumbled on my new pets Patrick, Ariel and Jane. Lucky for me these birds are plastic and will require no feeding or cleaning out of messy bird cages. Now if I can just get them to sing...

New Studio-Part 2

 

Here is part two of my new studio. I hung paper lanterns on a ribbon across the corner, very festive, Audrey walked in and said, "yeah, a birthday party!!" I have a few things to finish up for this corner of the room. I have a tall oak book shelf that I am going to paint white and put against the blue corner of the wall to hold all of the brown boxes (they contain images for the cards we make). I have a nice laundry sink which comes in very handy in a craft room!

 

I hung a hook for our craft aprons. I am thinking about making a skirt for the bottom of the sink with some of my leftover Heather Bailey Rose Bouquet fabric. I think it would be prettier than the plumbing. What do you think?

 

I hung my cuckoo clock I bought in Geneva, Switzerland (although it was made in Germany!) over the sink. I love my cheesy little cuckoo clock!

 

Here are the two new carts I filled with (some) craft supplies (I have a laundry room with cabinets. Very full cabinets.) The carts hold:

 

Ribbon

 

Supplies including cake decorations (the rose tin is full of ballerinas and little houses) I purchased from Honey Bend Vintage.

   

Office supplies

 

Scissors, clips, pliers and of course my Hello Kitty roll top desk I bought from Hallmark as a very little girl. It's full of more Hello Kitty childhood goodies.

 

Glitters, glues and boxes to decorate.

 

Stacks of stickers, mostly for scrapbooking.

 

Note pads, pencils, and some tins, jars and containers I am saving for future projects.

 

Paper. I sort my scrapbooking paper by themes and colors and put them in these nice heavy clear envelopes. It seems to help keep them wrinkle, smudge and dust free.

 

This is Audrey and Strauss's table for coloring and projects. I hung four magnet boards in a group above the table which makes a nice place for displaying their art work. I'm sure they will fill them up in no time!

 

Here is where the blogging magic happens! My computer and desk. I have plenty of pictures and little treasures surrounding me to keep me inspired and cheerful!

 

To the right of my desk is a picture waiting to be framed and this old metal hamper I found a few years back at Alameda. I use it to hide gifts in.

 

So that sums up part 2. Thanks for touring with me! Every creative woman needs a space all her own, even if it is a well organized closet. I am thrilled with my studio, it is relaxing and cheerful with all of my little treasures to keep me company. Audrey loves coming in with me and working on her coloring when baby brother takes a nap. I may be homeschooling when it comes time for school so it will also be a great room for that. And if company comes over I can just move over the table, blow up the air mattresses and voila! Guest Suite! (o.k, this room would have made a great guest room but considering we rarely have overnight guests I think the studio is a much better use!) The new year is a great time for a little organizing paired with inspiration. If you don't have a studio of your own consider making a corner or closet just for creating. You won''t be disappointed!

Vintage Readers

 

My mom has a great collection of vintage readers at the cabin. Most people are familiar with the classic Dick and Jane books, but there were quite a few other series produced from about the 1920's through the 1960's that are just as wonderful. My mom loves the Day In and Day Out series as well as the Down Our Way series. She remembers reading them as a little girl. My little sister was homeschooled as a young girl and when it came time to teach her to read my mom used the Cowboy Sam series of books. My little sister has always been fascinated with horses and dogs so it was a good way to get her excited about reading.

 

The readers at the cabin sit on this little bookshelf...

 

...next to this comfy chair, which makes for a nice place to sit and read them. I am looking forward to the day when I can sit with my little ones and listen to them read the words in these darling vintage readers. 

Josef International Collection

 

I adore vintage Josef Original figurines. I have been collecting them for several years. My favorite type of Josef's to collect are the little International girls, figurines depicting girls from various countries.

 

This is Austria, my newest Josef.

   

Little Miss Spain. I love her glittery gold fan.

 

I think what I love most about the Josef figurines is their eyes and faces.

 

Miss Portugal, sorry about the glare. Josef's have a very glossy finish which makes their colors bright and beautiful but certainly makes it hard to photograph them!

 

Little Miss Sweden.

 

Greece. I love her soft colors, flowers on her apron and hair up in a pretty bun. So sweet!

 

This is Ireland, she also came in a green dress according to my Josef guide.

 

Little Miss France. She is my favorite.

 

See her funny blue bonnet and little capelet? Very sweet indeed.

 

And finally, this little Mystery girl. I have reason to suspect she is from the International girl series, but I can not find her in my guides. Do you know who she is?? Hope you enjoyed my little collection of Josef Original girls, I have many more on my list to collect, Holland, Hungary, Poland, Israel, but many of the Josef's I have yet to find are rarer and much more expensive so it will take time. I will share any new International girls in the future!

The Canine Themed Room at Camp Whimsy

 

My little sister's room upstairs at the cabin (a.k.a. Camp Whimsy) is very cozy for a lover of all things canine. Even her soft comfy sheets are covered in sweet little pooches.

 

Vintage paint by numbers with these regal looking fellas adorn the wall.

 

Doggy figurines and toys are gathered in a small cupboard.

 

A vintage framed embroidery featuring two little rascals, "Jock and Jakes".

 

Vintage puppy planters.

 

Good Dog! Guess that sums up this little peek of Camp Whimsy!

A Jolly Halloween Indeed!

 

Halloween fever has officially spread to homes all over our great nation! I caught a touch of it myself and put out my small collection of Halloween goodies on top of  the hutch that houses my oriental collection (see posts from August 2008 for the oriental collection). My humble display just gained some very special characters! When I saw Laurie from Magpie Ethel's collection of Halloween decor I was inspired (and a teeny bit jealous, in the nicest way).  So I headed over to her Etsy shop and look what I found:

   

None other than Halloween Skeleton Spooky Man!!!

This new addition to my Halloween collection surely took it to the next level!

To the next level indeed! And hand crafted from vintage materials by a master crafter to boot!

Can you tell I am excited about this?

Well, sit tight because you won't believe what's comin' next!

   

She sent me a bunch of goodies, including fabulous old masks, candy, cute little boo card...

 

...happy bump chenille Jack-O-Lantern Man...

 

...even a piece of this vintage owl crepe paper so I can frame it and hang it in my display, just like she did in her home...

 

...and this sweet little vintage Gurley witch candle.

Don't they look nice in my jolly Halloween display?

I can't say thank you enough Laurie! You made my day, possibly my month! I adore your vintage crafty goodness and cleverness pertaining to all things vintage and crafty! Your blog is my favorite blog to read, you were the first blogger I met (while in the rain waiting to get into the Farm Chicks !) and you were a great influence in helping me finally start my own blog. Aw, shucks, I just love ya Laurie! Can't wait to see your Etsy goodies for Christmas!

 

Indeed, this is the Jolliest Halloween my little oriental collection-holding hutch has ever seen!

GIRL'S NIGHT OUT

 

For all of the ladies in the area and those who would like to visit, thought I'd remind you of Girl's Night Out at Maxwell General! Thursday, October 16th from 5-8pm at Maxwell General in...you guessed it..Maxwell! This will be a fantastic evening featuring samples of our favorite Stonewall Kitchen and Barefoot Contessa products, as well as the fabulous new Apricot Jalapeno Jam we found for you! We will also be having a complimentary raffle featuring fabulous prizes! Our tiny shop is practically overflowing with new merchandise for fall and Christmas. New wooden toys, lovely gift items, gourmet food products, our beautiful jewelry we make ourselves...I could go on and on! Hope you are able to make it with a few of your best girlfriends! Love, Kim

Pleasant Little Sunflowers

 

My mom had a pair of these happy little sunflower pot holders hanging in our farmhouse kitchen when I was a little girl.  When she was decorating the laundry room at the cabin she found this pair on ebay and the rest is history! "Swap a Smile Trade Some Cheer" -"Let's be Happy While We're Here" Who wouldn't be happy doing laundry with these little sunflowers?