The one with the doll factory molds

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world that these amazing beauties get to live in my shop for a little while until they find new homes. Direct from a doll factory in upstate New York, these copper molds are in untouched verdigris condition and still exactly how they were on the plates when they were pumped with latex for someone's new baby doll. There are only 2 racks, each with 9 heads.
Another great and very unique object d'art, 9 stages of the ovum, from 1941. Little sculptures of joy!

This is just one of the amazing light fixtures made from old rusty parts by Joe Romero, a local guy. These are so well thought out and every detail is perfect. Note the shadow this casts on the chest.

The dollhead is separate.









Below are beautifully painstakingly made spheres, and Saturn, made from the stays from old wine casks. Maurice Connolly, another local artist, even makes his own rivets to keep things in place. Hang inside or out, or just leave in the garden.

Hands have a story. The one is off of a statue in Israel, after someone decided the cartoony-mickey mouse like character should have only 3 fingers and a thumb, and it was replaced with such.

The glove molds are still on the original base that was used to dip into the rubber. The size of this art is awesome.









I have a pair of these lovely concrete lions with pedestals. The patina could not be more perfect.

The one with the Rae Dunn wordstones

Did you know that the wordstones are back? Rae put them on hold for a while to build up a longing for them and they are back bigger and better.
live, laugh, love, hope, adore, calm, dream, wish, peace $6.00 each

The one where I am inspired by artists at the New York international gift fair

I'm back from New York, the gift fair was pretty great. 3 whole days of 9 hours of shopping and I did not even finish looking. I blame it on the handmade section and all of the super creative and talented artists there. I spent way too much time studying every little detail that the collage artists, and other artists put into their work. Amazing. These photos are from all different artists. It's kinda like they raided my shop for all of the little vintage goodies used.

It was so inspiring, and I realized I need to take the shop in a different direction. Not away from what it is now, but more towards my original goal of handmade art and lots of my own art. I always have so many ideas bouncing around in my head, and lists of projects to work on, and I know I have all of the materials needed to incorporate into my designs. I have been amassing them forever, with stashes of paper and tidbits of fun that aren't much on their own, but will someday be a special work that hopefully will go to a good home and make someone happy every time they see it.

The above collage is by an artist in Fredericksburg named Joni Ulman Lewis. She had a great one titled "harold and the purple crayon" that I loved.
This "ladder" collage and the clock beneath it are by Debra Dressler, from Minnesota. She was so into her work, every little part had so much meaning to her, and every piece was like her child. The bingo clock and 3 other super cool clocks should be here in the next couple of weeks. Below is a wonderful collage by Clare Goddard, from Finland. I loved her work so much and she had hundreds of collages to look through. Sadly I had to step back and not take any, because I just couldn't shell out what they really were worth.
This page below is by Kim Smith, a San Francisco artist. I have some great collages and artwork in cute metal frames on ribbon by her coming in. She also wrote a book filled with pages just like this with the best stories. This chick is funny and a great writer.Below is a diorama by Christine originals. She makes many of the teeny tiny people and objects and mats and frames them beautifully. I only purchased one of these, so far, called "leaving home". It's black and white, with a young girl headed down a long road, and her dog by her side. I have no idea why it made my cry and I had to have it.

I am super stoked about this artist. She used to live in San Francisco and now resides in Vermont. I've ordered some amazing handmade dishes and vases and can't wait to get them in! You'll have to wait until they are here to see the artist, a good shopowner has to protect her sources :)

Last but not least another San Francisco artist who makes jewelry from recycled items, like bingo balls, guitar picks, and pocketwatch keys. Amy Pfaffman is super cool, and I'm excited about ordering some stuff from her, some for you, and some for me.

The one about the vintage wedding trunk show

a bright idea...

A customer and I (ok, mostly her) came up with a great idea after I found out she had amassed enough vintage linen tablecloths and napkins to use at her wedding for 200 guests. A trunk show! And because I'd like it to be a little more diverse I am inviting anyone who is so inclined to send me photos of your wedding-related stuff that you would like to sell. Jewelry, cake toppers, vintage or antique whatever. Of course I am extremely picky about what comes thru these doors so please bear with me. A vintage theme is the goal, but if it's handmade it does not have to be old. So here is the call, gather your crafty friends together and send me an email.

Update: The date is February 21, a Saturday, right after Valentines Day. Stacey Costello will be bringing her wonderful cake toppers, ring boxes, etc, made with vintage ribbon and such. Katie Baker will be making ring pillows and other beautiful gifts using vintage hankies and linens. I will definitely be making something, I have all sorts of creativity bouncing around my head right now :)

By the way I wish a very happy, healthy, prosperous new year full of good people to you!

The one with the excellent champagne punch recipe

goes something like this:

2 bottles of bubbly

2 liter of ginger ale

64 oz mango passion fruit juice or your favorite juice, fresh citrus if you like

citron vodka to taste (at least 1/2 of a fifth)

pour over ice

if you have a liquid dispenser just throw it in and let guests help themselves, it stays sparkly for days

The one with the picture of Bergdorf Goodmans holiday window

Ok I rarely do this, but Claudia at the Paris Apartment took some amazing pictures of the windows in NYC. To see more, click here, and here. Happy Holidays!

The one with the recipe for the chocolate peppermint pretzel sticks

This actually is much prettier on the long rod type pretzels, but I wanted smaller treats for the shop candy dish.

pretzel rods

good chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli 60% cocoa)

candy canes

waxed paper

Crush the candy canes in a towel in their wrappers, or use a food processor. You want small bits rather than powder, put them in a dish with a spoon. Spread out a large piece of waxed paper. Melt the chocolate chips in a pyrex bowl in the microwave for 30 secs at a time. Take care not to melt completely, just get warm enough to cook them in their own heat. This way you don't have to temper the chocolate. Stir it a bit and then dip rods into it, rolling off excess on the side of the bowl. Spoon peppermint over the warm chocolate one at a time, and rest on the waxed paper. The chocolate will harden in the bowl with time and you might have to start with a fresh batch. Although, if you put hot milk in the hardened chocolate you can still enjoy some delicious cocoa. This is it! If you want more decadence you can repeat with the already covered sticks and put some sea salt on there to balance the sweetness. They look very pretty in a short glass, or you can wrap individually as favor or small gifts. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

The one with more pics from the Summit showcase house

More pictures taken by Raya Carlisle of my room at the Summit showcase house, I love this window so much, and these romans I did I think add just the right amount of softness without taking away from the fabulous architecture. They are done in one of my all time favorite fabrics, very soft cotton stitched with tall diamonds with stars inside of them.

I love this view through the looking glass. The topiaries looked so good that they get to live on the armoire now. Also love love the apple green silk ruffled bedskirts I did. Not my typical style but this room could certainly handle them and so they get to stay in the room too.

I found this great vintage church just in time to place it in the room. It's wooden with plaster paint and some of the plaster is coming off so it looks that much better. It's lit from within and has stained glass windows all around. It's for sale in the shop right now.

For more information on the homes and designers that were in the tour, check out this website - lookiloos. And last but not least, the whole reason for the homes for the holidays tour is to raise money for a good cause. I have heard from a little bird that it looks like about $125,000.00 was raised for PACE. That is such great news! I am so glad that so many people came out to take the tour. Thanks!

The one with some pics of the Summit League Homes for the Holidays Room

I have some photos of the "home for the holidays" showcase room from Raya, via flicker. The big files are on the way so I thought I would just tease you a little bit at a time with some of her pieces of art (her photography) of my pieces of art (my design). There are sooo many great photos. If you can't wait click here.
This room was very personal to me. I used the homeowners armoire, but I brought in the rest, much of it from my private collection like the teeny tiny antique bibles, family photos and toys. I absolutely love the way it turned out. Might be a bit old-fashioned but the room was titled "A childrens vintage Christmas", after all.

The little photo is my Uncle Craig on Santa's lap, beautiful cookies from the buttery.
My grandmothers gloves from when she was a wee baby. Monogrammed on the buttons, of course. Genevieve Cathleen Abels.

Ann, the homeowner, let me borrow some of her very well loved baby dolls.

This bunny has a home in the shop for now, but wouldn't you like to give her a forever home?

The one with my happy place

Now that the majority of the parties are attended and thrown, the christmas trees are decorated, and the showcases are over, I feel I can relax a little. Now that winter has finally arrived in Santa Cruz, (only 53 degrees at noon!), this is my current happy place where the mineral water is heated to 102 degrees http://www.indianspringscalistoga.com/ . Until I can get to Mexico.

I have many great things for sale and more on the way, so if you want to help the economy and my well being please come on in and see what you can find. I'm thinking about attending the New York International gift fair next month (because somebodys gotta spend some money), so I am gearing up for cold weather like I have never experienced in my life and never thought I would ever have to, or want to. Should be fun and I'm pretty excited about the great things I know I will find. If I can get to my happy place I'm thinking I can soak up enough warmth to get me through New York. I hope you are all keeping warm and cozy with happy holiday thoughts and you are certainly welcome to borrow my happy place.

FYI the white deer head has a new home, the life size paper mache Madonna fom mid 1800's is $1800.00.

The one with the sneak peek

I have been so hard at work on the Homes for the Holidays showcase. I absolutely love the room I did - the grandchildrens bedroom. Here is a sneak peek and soon I will post professionally taken pictures by Raya Carlisle. In the meantime click here and take a look at the amazing job my friend Stacey Costello did on her room across the hall.

The one with the fabulous gift ideas

Back with more gift ideas. My scarf supplier came in today with some fab things. These are all made with wool, or wool and silk, in India. They are hand washable or dry cleanable and super super soft and warm, not itchy I swear. This one above is so much fun, it's two scarves quilted together.

Nice big pashmina-type shawls in great colors.

Lightweight sheer-ish striped long scarves

Yummy colors in polka dot scarves

These are actually hemp, from a local company, and dyed with bilberry, oak leaves, and oregano
Did you know I carry the Match pewter line? I love the patina and scuffs that come naturally with even the new things. This is definitely a great gift for someone who has everything.
Juliska has a new line of white and burnished dishes. This is one of four designs on the to die for dessert plates.
These paper letters from an old game are great for gift tags.

A myriad of possibilities.

The must have scent of the season, Thymes Fraser Fir candles and soaps
Yummy Olivina candles and bath products in olive and fig

Framed vintage needlepoint dogs, so cute and warm

Framed antique bug prints on a lovely teal-y twill

Antique botanicals on linen mat
And just for fun, a super cute googly-eyed salamander that was in my plants outside!