Little Tokens of Love - Valentine Swap

Please join me in participating in the Valentine Swap hosted by Prim & Whimsy Girls! Last year was my first year being part of the swap and I just loved it. My gift or "little token of love" was completed this weekend, so I am anxious to find out where I will be sending it.

Happy New Year!

WE WISH YOU A VERY SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or simply "Santa"

Decorating for Christmas is as much fun as decorating for Halloween. Everything sparkles just a little more and we get to enjoy some cooler weather. We received our first mentionable snow last weekend and it just puts me in the holiday spirit.

I love collecting vintage Santas as well as beautifully handmade ones. You will probably recognize the work of some extremely talented artists. The tall Santa with the skeleton key is made by Cart Before the Horse. The gourd Santa was made by my friend, Janet McCarter. The whimsical Santa is by Johanna Parker. The Old World Santa dough bowl painting is by Kim Skeen. The carved Santa is by Johnny McGrew. The other items are part of my vintage Santa collection.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”

A Lovely Life, A Lovely Farm

We spent the weekend with our good friends, Shawn and Kelly. They have the most beautiful farm. Kelly and I could talk for hours about shopping (primitive antiques are our favorite), decorating, cooking and our love for animals. They just adopted a bird dog and named her Babe. She stays in complete "puppy mode" and can hardly be slowed down to get a little lovin'.

Our baby, Jack, had a nasal polyp which was surgically removed from our local animal hospital last week. He was starting to sound like my neighbor's pug...not a good look on a little orange kitty! His regular vet had him on antibotics and antihistamines for months. After determining the drugs were not making a difference, I decided to see if I could locate another reason for his symptoms on the internet. We visited a different vet and I discussed my internet findings with her. She was completely receptive and did an incredible job locating the polyp. She referred us to the animal hospital to have it removed. The surgery was successful! However, Horner's Syndrome is one of the many complication from this type of surgery and it causes him to pull to the right. It creates dizziness, so he stumbles and cannot walk straight...he walks in circles. Also, he is not able to close his right eye. We were told his problems are temporary, but it is certainly tough to watch him struggle during his recovery period. Once he has completely recovered, I will be back to my studio...I really miss it!

A Whole Month of Halloween Fun!

Rain, rain and more rain did not keep Kelly and I from antique shopping all day Saturday. We were in search of fun, festive, spooky goods to decorate our homes. Our search revealed some incredible finds, but the old marble-eyed, black tin cats are definitely my favorite. The shop owner was holding them behind the counter until Halloween. But, I was absolutely determined to take them home and start enjoying them immediately which is exactly what I did. They are displayed in the windows as a backdrop for the festive decor. The sun shines with such an eerie sparkle through their marble eyes. As usual, Lil wants to be part of the fun, so she made an appearance while I was snapping pics of the black cat lanterns!

The Mermaid

My good friend and very, very talented artist, Kim Skeen, gave me a wonderful idea on how to finish my Mermaid which I started many weeks ago. I wanted to add sequins to her tail, but I could not decide on the best technique. I was at Kim's house and she had some antique sequin pinned fruit she gave me since she knows how much I love antiques. When I saw them, I immediately knew it was the final inspiration I needed to complete my Mermaid doll!

The Mermaid Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Who would be A mermaid fair, Singing alone, Combing her hair Under the sea, In a golden curl With a comb of pearl, On a throne?
I would be a mermaid fair; I would sing to myself the whole of the day; With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair; And still as I comb'd I would sing and say, 'Who is it loves me? who loves not me?' I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall Low adown, low adown, From under my starry sea-bud crown Low adown and around, And I should look like a fountain of gold Springing alone With a shrill inner sound Over the throne In the midst of the hall; Till that great sea-snake under the sea From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps Would slowly trail himself sevenfold Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate With his large calm eyes for the love of me. And all the mermen under the sea Would feel their immortality Die in their hearts for the love of me.
But at night I would wander away, away, I would fling on each side my low-flowing locks, And lightly vault from the throne and play With the mermen in and out of the rocks; We would run to and fro, and hide and seek, On the broad sea-wolds in the crimson shells, Whose silvery spikes are nighest the sea. But if any came near I would call and shriek, And adown the steep like a wave I would leap From the diamond-ledges that jut from the dells; For I would not be kiss'd by all who would list Of the bold merry mermen under the sea. They would sue me, and woo me, and flatter me, In the purple twilights under the sea; But the king of them all would carry me, Woo me, and win me, and marry me, In the branching jaspers under the sea. Then all the dry-pied things that be In the hueless mosses under the sea Would curl round my silver feet silently, All looking up for the love of me. And if I should carol aloud, from aloft All things that are forked, and horned, and soft Would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea, All looking down for the love of me.

Hannah and Humphrey have a new home & friend, Phoebe!

I was the lucky winner on eBay of Tonya Renee's (Back Porch Pickins) first fully detailed dollie for Halloween, Hannah and her friend, Humphrey. I also ordered a little white pumpkin doll from Kaf at Olde Cape Primitives. They all seem to be getting along nicely and are looking forward to seeing their new friend, Newcomb Hollow!

Lil gets upset if she doesn't make my blog post, so she gave me her ususal pose in my bent willow apple basket!

We just got back from a great Virginia Highlands Antique Festival weekend in Abingdon, VA with some very good friends, Shawn and Kelly. I will post a few pictures of our recent finds in the coming days!