Vintage finds and retro handmade--a sweet mix I know you'll love.

This is my blog. To visit my stores, click the Etsy or Artfire links above, or the product images on the right column of the screen.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Vintage Holiday Sale: Travel Memorabilia

I've been extremely busy filling poodle ornament orders the last few weeks, but I wanted to pop in here  today and talk about my holiday sale in my other shop.  If you are looking for Christmas or New Year's party gifts or decor, you might want to check my Artfire shop, where I'll be making discount coupons available throughout the rest of the month.  Visit often!

Today, the discount is over the travel section of my shop.  This section contains a fairly large selection of vintage map trays, travel plates, and other memorabilia.  Pictured here is the "Colorado" themed map tray.  These trays feature major cities, tourist sites, and a large color lithograph of the state flower.  I have several different states to choose from, and I must say, they are a wonderful way to commemorate a vacation or memorable place.

Take 15% off each item you order from this section, from December 7 through December 11, using the coupon code "TRAVELLOVERS2011."

I'll have another coupon available in a few days.  Meanwhile, Merry Christmas and happy shopping!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Cyber Monday Sale

For Cyber Monday only, select items on Artfire will have free shipping, plus orders over $25 will also receive an additional 20% off!  Please drop by my shop and let the savings pile up!

SAVE 20% Off Select Studio Items
Use Coupon Code:
during checkout.
Here is a teaser glimpse of just a few of the things I have available that fall under one or both discounts:



Handmade Gifts

Have a wonderful holiday everyone, and happy shopping!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas!

In 1953, a girl named Gayla Peevey recorded the lesser-known Christmas classic, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas."  A nickle and dime campaign across the U.S. followed, and thousands of children donated their small change to buy a hippopotamus for Christmas.  In fact, they were successful in purchasing the first hippos to live on display in the Oklahoma City Zoo.  I think it's an interesting story, and I love the song.

 Here's the original song recording:


Edited: I just found this video of an adorable little girl singing along with Gayla Peevey at a recent event at the Oklahoma City Zoo:


I found this friendly hippo the other day, and thought of Gayla.  It turns out it's actually a collectible print by the palette knife painter and collage artist Edna Vierra, who made these cute pieces of art throughout the 50s and 60s.  This one is circa 1969.  Just listed it today.  Don't you think it would be really fun in a nursery? 
This print can be found here
The popularity of the poodle Christmas ornaments (over 40 sold, and more sales are still coming) makes me think about trying more animals, perhaps inspired by Vierra's playful take on them.

By the way, I have marked a good deal of my vintage to free shipping on Artfire with more deals planned, and I've also expanded my stock of poodle ornament colors (only available on Etsy).

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Vintage Dishes for Your Holiday Table!

It's getting closer to Thanksgiving.  I've stocked my shop with tons of holiday and party dinnerware.  It includes everything from gravy boats to chip and dip bowls.  I can ship them in time for you to use them for your special event, but only if you order soon.  Most of them ship parcel post, which can take over a week to arrive.  Here's a small selection of what I have available.


Friday, November 4, 2011

The Cutest Handmade Christmas Ornaments!

I popped over here to my blog this morning and realized that I hadn't updated you on my Christmas ornament stock.  I have another couple of designs in the works as we speak, but meanwhile, I wanted to show all the pictures of my creations here, for your enjoyment.

Pic is Clickable
This embroidered ornament was made from a kit, but I have all the materials to make more of them, and I can add a date or other short commemorative inscription to the edges.  It is currently available on Artfire in this form, but custom orders are welcome--just make them soon!

 The poodles are now available for purchase on both my Etsy and Artfire shops.  Follow the links to see closer images and pricing.  Since they've been selling so well, several of them are currently made-to-order (the ones I had on hand have sold).


Pic is Clickable
 I also have several Christmas elves, which I've sold several years in a row, in my Artfire shop only.  I am not planning to make more elves, because the pattern I invented is very complex, and defies simplification, making them too time-consuming to make much of a profit.  But, enough of the business person talk!  I still have several sets to choose from, including one all-female set of three, and the traffic is picking up on them.  Better hurry!

Pic is Clickable
Next up, my Christmas mice couples. They are handmade, too, down to the black whiskers made out of buttonhole twist, the hand-braided white tails, and the hand-sewn skirt and other elements in their outfits.  You'll have to check out my Artfire shop to find these, too.

Pic is Clickable
Last but not least, I have just recently made available a felt mushroom ornament in my Etsy shop.  The white spots are all hand-cut and applied to the cap, the red felt is hand-stitched to the white felt, and it all hangs by a wire loop I inserted through the cap.  This is one of my first forays into the 70s era in the design.  The mushroom appeared on everything from dishes to clothing during that decade.

By the way, if you're eying any of these and thinking, "I probably can't afford it," you might be surprised to know that each of these ornaments, individually and in sets, are available for less than $10 USD!  Shipping is low, as well, since they are small and designed to be lightweight.

There is a surge in international sales going on right now, because it takes much longer for people in places like Australia, Canada, and Great Britain to receive packages in time for the holidays.  I've mailed two international packages in the past week.  Whether or not you are a United States resident, I'd like to hear from you.  Come and visit!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Get Ready for Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow is the first day of November.  We're about to swan dive into the holiday season.  Are you ready?  I am, with a stock of vintage dishes and a really cool Thanksgiving cornucopia centerpiece for your holiday table.

If you are also looking for some really nice, one-of-a-kind pieces of autumn and Thanksgiving decor, you might check out this thread in the Artfire forums, called "Thanksgiving Collections." Each collection of items is linked to sixteen different shops, selling everything from place cards to hand-crocheted table runners.  Go handmade, and support small shops and artisans this holiday season, and go vintage to go green!  It's all good.

I also wanted to inform you that I have all of the poodle ornaments, in pink, yellow, blue, green, white, and purple, available in my Etsy shop now.  If you are not a US resident, I very strongly encourage you to make your orders this week, so your package can have some chance of arriving before Christmas.  International shipping is notoriously slow, especially with some recent anti-terrorist measures some countries are taking concerning international mail.  Ideally it should take 10-14 days, but I've seen it take longer.  It's best not to get too close to the cutoff point!