Create Beauty

Pretty Treasures

2012-02-16T19:15:00.000-08:00

Pool Water Splashing ~ 60's Music ~ Hot Summer Days

~ The Scent of Chlorine ~

... and flowered swimming caps ...

Oooooh, this really stopped me in my tracks

Red glass and crystals

adorning the base of this lamp

~ Violets on china always gets my attention ~

A D O R A B L E !!!

... and vintage poodles make me smile ...

(this one was on a metal tray, and not actually pink)

Sculpture of a white horse galloping

OH YES!!!

~ And be still my heart ~

These treasures only came home with me in my camera

while perusing an antique shop with a friend last week.

but oh my, I could find a place in my home for each one!

(except maybe not the bassinet!)

~ What fun to spend time with a friend, admiring treasures ~

All You Need is LOVE {and glitter}

2012-02-13T21:53:00.000-08:00

A Valentine made from a paper napkin collaged onto watercolor paper

and a sprinkling of G L I T T E R of course

{To M. P. from V. S.}

Tissue paper collaged onto embossed wallpaper and cut into hearts

{will be given to B.P.'s school friends}

And a white glittered heart from embossed decorative paper

glued onto heavy watercolor paper, with pearl embellishments

{to A. R. from V. S.}

And thoughts of love,

sprinkled like glitter

to all who happen upon my blog this week

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

~ Violet ~

LOVE week.....

2012-02-12T07:41:00.000-08:00

Wishing You Blessings of Friendship and Love

for

V A L E N T I N E S

week!

~ Encourage one anothers hearts with words of love ~

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another

to acts of love and good works"

{ the Bible ~ Hebrews 10:24}

~ Violet ~

New Bouquets

2012-02-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

I love all the flowers that are available

~ even though it is February ~

...I've replaced my bouquets shown a couple posts back...

This one is in the dining room

on the buffet in front of the window

Oh how I love all the

C O L O R

This bouquet adorns the kitchen island

{after being photographed outside}

And upstairs in the hallway

more sunflowers to go with my painting

And these flowers won't wilt

... like my previous bouquets did ...

I created them with silk flowers and greenery

trying to replicate the look of the fresh flower

B O U Q U E T S

from a couple of weeks ago!

Although I prefer fresh flowers,

this time of year I have none growing in my yard

and needed some lasting beauty

to brighten winters longing to become spring

{ ... and I see buds appearing, so it won't be long ...}

~ My Six Poodles ~

2012-02-03T07:47:00.000-08:00

Love that face!

~ Here are more of my dog figurine collection ~

These are called "Spaghetti Poodles" ... you can guess why

I think this pale blue one is my favorite

~ with her darling hat ~

and her attitude reminds me of our Afghan Hound Dazzle

In the back is a white poodle with a metal 'spring-like' back

that I use for a business card holder.

The smallest ones in front are made of pewter

~ They Amuse Me ~

and only 1-1/2 inches tall

Soon I will show the rest of my doggy figurine collection.

Can you believe I don't have a single Afghan Hound figurine?!?

( I know! That needs to be remedied. )

... harder to find ...

Bouquets

2012-01-29T22:02:00.000-08:00

Feeling a need for colorful flowers!

Created a vignette with sunflowers

to go with my painting

And a large bouquet for the kitchen

Nice to get some color into the house

and the joy of flowers ... as the winter cold

refuses to give way to

S P R I N G

I made these bouquets with flowers from

the grocery store... brightens up our home

~ and my heart! ~

May your week be blessed with moments of colorful beauty!

~ Spring is just around the corner! ~

the SHADOWLANDS

2012-01-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

Shadows Can Be Larger Than Life

(Fortunately he wasn't aware of the monster following along side)

Dramatic lighting on our walk yesterday

as the sun was shining and creating beautiful light and shadow

On your journey of life

Don't let the shadows frighten you

They only appear larger than life

And the LIGHT magnifies them

but shadows wouldn't even be seen without the

~ I L L U M I N A T I O N ~

C.S.Lewis wrote of the shadowlands as what we experience here on earth.

Our real life is beyond the shadowlands

and heaven will be the reality as we look back upon

our former life of walking here in the shadows

How can we be assured that heaven will be our future home?

~ C.S. Lewis came to believe the Bible had the answers ~

I love the book of John in the new testament

-It illuminates the shadows in our lives

and opens doors into the light of mercy and grace

Tossing out a seed today that I hope will find itself planted in a heart

and grow into a beautiful plant of faith and hope

... because living in a land of shadows can be so dark until the light breaks forth ...

Doggy Vignettes

2012-01-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

These little figurines always make me smile

These sit upon my desk

~ They seem to be happy now that they are in a pack ~

I gathered them and set upon this white carved wooden tray

and think they look so much better together

than they did scattered here and there

on my bookcase

Winged Headboard

2012-01-20T08:06:00.000-08:00

A Little Girl Will Feel

TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL

sleeping in a bed with wings as a headboard

{we will see how those feathers hold up when a little one sleeps here tonight!}

I had a few other photos I was working on for this post

but the power flickered off twice this morning and my computer restarted

and I lost what I was working on, so this is it for today!

~ At least we have not lost power like so many have in this snow stormy week ~

(Hows your weather?)

{ Brrrrr..... } Waiting for Spring in Narnia....

2012-01-15T13:38:00.000-08:00

In the wardrobe a fur coat was found

and we stepped through the woods into a land filled with snow

(the C.S. Lewis story could have had an Afghan Hound in it don't you think?)

Oh Aslan, how we need you to come!

Winters snow has covered our footprints

like the grace of God our errors

and the stain shall be erased ... made white as winters snow

when we place our trust in the One who made it all

Soon, the winter will be past

the rains over and gone

and the sound

of birds

will

break forth in singing over Narnia!

Reflections

2012-01-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

~ Procrastinating in the organizing this morning ~

walking around the house taking photos of the decor that

R E F L E C T S L I G H T and S P A R K L E S

{now back to work!}

I'm realizing I have a thing for glass, mirrors, crystals,

and silver that shines!

What makes your heart skip a beat?

A Touch of Aqua

2012-01-09T07:28:00.000-08:00

Makes me Happy

{ My Queens Chair Deserved a Tiara }

~ thank you Anita! ~

Aqua Beaded Pillow From a Vintage Shop

I spray painted the metal on this thrift store dish

I found this cabinet at a thrift store recently,

it makes a nice home for my little bird collection

We got a lot accomplished this weekend.

Took a load of stuff from the garage and donated it to a thrift store,

It feels so much better to 'let go' than to hoard!

Must repeat this to myself when I go through my art supplies,

I tend not to believe it in my studio!

(By the way, I kept the giant cake)

It is a daunting task going through everything we own

and deciding what to keep as we prepare for our new adventure

of selling our house, building a new one, and moving to an apartment inbetween.

I was feeling frozen in place until I began.

Which is the key to getting anything accomplished

{BEGIN }

Pondering Cake

2012-01-05T20:05:00.000-08:00

The Royal Wedding Cake

I made for a party this past year in honor of William and Kate

(and a fun excuse to have the girls over to party all day

as we watched the Royal Wedding)

Has been adorning my studio ever since

(minus their photo)

I wrapped hat boxes with white embossed wallpaper

and hot glued all those flowers on.

It stands 40" tall to the top of the crown to the base of the cake stand,

and is 18" in diameter

I have been pondering it the past 2 days,

as I begin the process of packing up items to go into storage.

Oh, wait, let me back up!

We face two moves this year.

Shortly we will be putting our less than 5 year old house on the market,

and building another. As much fun as it is to design a new dwelling,

this whole packing up and moving thing has me overwhelmed.

When this house sells we will move into an apartment

with much of our stuff in storage until the new house is completed.

Which is why I stare at things like that giant cake

with these thoughts going through my mind,

"Should I disassemble it? But I LIKE it, it's pretty

and I could use it for all my parties, royal or not!"

"Yes, that's true, but do you really want to store a giant cake?"

"Should I find a giant box to put it in?"

And it's not just the cake

It's looking at every item I own as I question if it's worth storing

and moving to another home. There is so much

T H I N K I N G

involved, and besides this giant paper cake,

I have 2 art rooms (Yes 2, I took over another room)

filled to the brim with art supplies,

craft supplies, things I will need for when I make _____ and _____,

and OH! I could use this for ___________,

and

REALLY

I need someone to give me a kick and help me let go of things.

(except for my glitter collection, not that!)

I've even prayed about it.

I so don't want to cling to things

(...cake or no cake, cake or no cake...)

"A womans life does not consist in the abundance of the things she possesses"

(paraphrased from scripture)

By this last move we'll make this year we will have moved 12 times

in our married life (5 times into homes we built)

With all this experience, I should be good at this

~ Packing, Unpacking, Saying Goodbye and Hello to Homes ~

(The saying hello is great, once the unpacking is done!)

It's just all the W O R K that gets to me!

{now, please excuse me while I go kick myself

and get back to work}

~ Do you have a task this year that you are dreading all the work involved? ~

(Remember, we can only eat that elephant one bite at a time.)

Crowned

2011-12-31T22:33:00.000-08:00

Crowned With Lovingkindness

And wearing the beautiful crown of friendship

that has been bestowed upon me this past year by so many.

Thank you dear hearts

For taking the time to communicate by stopping by with sweet comments,

I look forward to this new year and getting to know you better.

~ Violet ~

Poodle Skirt

2011-12-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

Poodle from Felted Wool

and fabric stabilizer

glued onto a skirt made from a felted (aka:shrunken) sweater

For this sweet "Madame Alexander" doll

I found at a vintage shop

for a precious little girl for Christmas

...Who also didn't have any shoes....

So, with some more felted wool and glitter of course.

I made my first ever pair of shoes!

The only sewing on the skirt

was the elastic sewn into the waistband.

(and I also sewed the glued on ribbon)

When wool has been shrunk,

the fibers meld together and becomes heavy felt.

The edges can be cut with no need for sewing.

I used the neck through raglan sleeve upper part

of the sweater to make the skirt.

My first expereince of shrinking a sweater was not so pretty.

When I was a little girl, my dear Aunt knitted me a beautiful sweater

and my mother accidentally

washed it in hot water.

Ruined!

My aunt was not pleased.

I realize now I could not have worn it anyway,

as wool makes me itch.

Who knew shrinking sweaters would become a craft?!?

And I have to show you another crafty girl

who loves to alter and create things with

paper

Her technique: She first tears and rips the paper just so

and then enjoys the work of her paws.

She has been known to do this to items she finds

while counter-surfing, such as bills, cards, letters,

she is not choosy. But wrapping paper has a

distinct flavor and is so easy to rip,

and makes a fancy sound

that delights

her ears.

Vintage Glam and Sparkling Friendships

2011-12-21T08:12:00.000-08:00

Black Velvet Shoes with Rhinestones

{Shoes, $14 at thrift store. Shoe brooch, broken clip-on earring attached with ribbon}

~ On my happy feet ~

And worn here yesterday at a Christmas luncheon at a dear friends

G O R G E O U S H O M E !

'Hospitality' is this southern girls middle name

There is so much fun to be had in

PLAYING DRESS-UP

~ and putting on some VINTAGE GLAM for a day with girlfriends ~

My sequined silk dress, $12 from a vintage shop.

Mrs. Sparkles duponi silk dress, a mere $7 at a thrift store.

Can you believe I had to pay $5 more and there's not one bit of fur on mine?!?

Added a bit of tulle off to the side

{and some feathers on my thrift store vintage black velvet and fur trimmed hat}

I am so thankful this Christmas for the gift of sparkling

F R I E N D S H I P

and someone to play dress-up with

(as my husband will not even wear a tie)

I hope that once in a while you too will throw caution to the wind

and wear something that is glamourous and fabulous

just because it is so

FUN

(I wonder what the women thought who were there and don't know us though,

as my usual wardrobe is jeans ~ and Mrs. Sparkles wears clothes she can clean the barn in)

Wishing all my SPARKLING blogging friends

very

Merry Christmas

filled with light and hope,

may you hear the angels halelujuahs

that have rung out through the centuries

from the night they announced our Lord's birth

to the shepherds

with their sheep.

Glory to God

in the highest!

and peace on earth, goodwill to all!

Ummmmm..... Santa?

2011-12-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

A Girl Can't Have too Many Chandeliers

... S I G H ...

my husband always regrets asking me what I want for Christmas

~ and I usually don't get what's on my list ~

.... but a girl can dream ....

(what are you dreaming of???)

Let it Glow {and Sparkle!}

2011-12-08T21:20:00.000-08:00

the sparkling lights

are my favorite decor of Christmas

...the glow, the sparkle, the glimmer...

and then add a bit of vintage style

and dress up the mantle

tree branches sprayed white and glittered

(by my daughter, so fun!)

with these gold balls create some sparkle in the dining room

a silver trophy dripping with pearls

... and a portrait of my husband and I to finish it off ...

Okay so you probably didn't believe that last one.

It's actually a pencil drawing inspired by Cary Grant and Grace Kelly

available in my Gilded Sparrow Etsy shop as a print

and as a tag

"For a Classy Couple"

All this decorating can wear a girl out

Merry Merry Christmas Season!

Rejoicing in the birth of our Savior

~ Violet

She Who Wins

2011-12-05T22:26:00.000-08:00

I would like to present this trophy to....

the winner of my blog give-away

C L A U D I E

of the blog

French, Pink, Poodles, and Pearls

The only problem is that it is a trophy won at a dog show

and is owned by my friend Sandy

(who kindly let me borrow it for a photo-shoot)

But Claudie, you will receive the Gilded Sparrow glitter-embellished

birdie print in P I N K that you chose

as a favorite in my Etsy shop,

although I'd love to give you a big (pink) trophy as a most

~ FABULOUS WOMAN ~

xoxoxo,

Violet

Dreaming of White Ice Skates (and a Give-Away!)

2011-12-02T20:42:00.000-08:00

Vintage White Ice Skates

In a Vignette of Whites and Creams

There is such G R A C E and B E A U T Y in the gliding

~ across the glistening ice ~

Oh how I wanted to be one of those girls

who twirled and danced and swirled

upon the frozen pond.

Those who do it well

appear to make no effort,

but it must take hours and hours and hours

of practice to have it look so natural.

I actually only tried it once or twice at a rink.

I could roller skate

So wouldn't I be able to ice skate too?

(apparently not)

I could not even stand up without my feet sliding out from under me.

Perhaps if I'd tried more

or had lessons... it could have happened.

Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates

was one of my favorite childhood books,

and in the movie, was it Danny Kaye who played Hans?

The Romance of Ice Skating

has always stayed in my heart.

So when I came upon these vintage skates

I knew they would be wonderful winter decor.

And one day I was inspired to set up a still life

and photograph these nostalgic skates

After printing them

they get a touch of glitter and a jewel.

They are available in my new Etsy shop

Gilded Sparrow

I would like to give one of these prints

"Ice Skates and Grace"

to one of my blog readers

The winner can choose this print

or another item in my shop.

Just go take a peek and leave a comment on this post

telling me of your two favorite items there

Become a follower too if you want,

but it's not a requirement!

The winner will be randomly chosen on Monday morning.

(This will be a short entry time so I can get the item mailed this coming week)

If you order something from the shop,

you may choose another 'free' item should you be the winner.

And I'd love to hear if you know how (and enjoy) ice skating!!!

the image above is a link to the shop

R E J O I C E!

Christmas Joy Abounds!!!

~ Violet

Gift Ideas

2011-11-29T07:33:00.000-08:00

I'm Planning a Give-Away on Friday evening!

Please Come Back to Win an Item From my Etsy Shop,

... some new things are now up ...

(no time to post it now!!! I've got a Christmas program to go see!)

Vintage - Inspired Art and Gift Tags

Gifts for Girl Friends

Vintage Photo Gift Card Holders for Men and Women

Starbucks Cards are given away like candy this time of year,

why not use fun COFFEE card holders

to give as a gift or to insert in a Christmas card

(or let it be your Christmas card!)

Coffee Gift Card Holders For Women and Men

And Gift Card (or cash) Holders for Men and Women

On the back is a pocket to insert your gift card

Several choices of tags for WINE gifts

are also available

Manly ones for Men

and

GLITTERED and SPARKLY for Women

I've opened an Etsy shop with these creations and more to come.

Here is the link if you want to visit!!!

Gilded Sparrow

Wishing You a Season of Sparkle and Joy!

~ Violet

Snowy Polar Bears and Sparkle Joy

2011-11-27T07:36:00.000-08:00

The Season of Beauty and Sparkle is upon us!

(even the animals rejoice! )

the sphere that was in darkness

Has Seen a Great

L I G H T

~ and our hearts are filled with hope ~

(photos taken at a local shop that goes all out for Christmas!)

FiFi la Fleur

2011-11-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

BONJOUR!!! ... I must interrupt the holiday posts for this...

Meet FiFi la Fleur

Dazzle's New BFF

....Oh Dazzle, now you know how Drifter felt when you joined our family....

Oh FiFi .... Oh La La !!!!

Found at an antique store for $4

How could I pass her by???

Dreaming of a GOLDEN Christmas

2011-11-16T22:00:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Vignette in Gold, White, and Brown

One little area of Christmas in our home

~ to begin the holiday decorating ~

A friend was here this morning and we listened to

Christmas music

as we created gift tags sprinkled with golden

G L I T T E R

... 'tis the season ...

You've Got a Friend

2011-11-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

Girlfriends, what a GIFT!

"But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,

All losses are restored and sorrows end"

~ William Shakespeare ~

Songs of friendship are timeless

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other"

~ Audrey Hepburn ~

"A good friend is cheaper than therapy"

... And so much can be said about the friendship of our dear pets ...

"The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend"

~ Aristotle ~

So thankful for the friendships that grace my life!

~ and that includes wonderful blogging friends ~

t h a n k y o u

~ Violet

(P.S. I only kept the music up for a few days, the song playing was

James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend"

Framing a Landscape

2011-11-03T20:59:00.000-07:00

I m a g i n e

The Bubble Bath Joy

With This Amazing View!

And that bathtub looks so comfy!

My friend Elizebeth and her husband have built a house,

and with these FRAMED landscapes,

who needs art on the walls?!?

(yikes! I'm an artist, what am I saying?!?)

This is the view from their closet

YES I SAID CLOSET!

Every room in their house looks out upon

The Work of the Master Artist

Gorgeous Skies

~ mountains and water off in the distance ~

And L I G H T fills every room

They worked with my husband in the design of the home.

He listened to what they wanted and drew the plans

and Elizebeth envisioned

W I N D O W S

to frame the landscapes

The Chandy and the Cloche

2011-10-26T08:11:00.000-07:00

The Dining Room Chandelier

has some Autumn Bling going on now

Twinkle Lights in the Center

are so pretty at night.

(Battery operated ~ I just wish I didn't have to climb on a chair to turn them off and on)

The dining room cloche with a sparkly pumpkin

~ Delightfully Welcoming Fall ~

Beach Cottages

2011-10-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

Some photos I took on our beach cottage walk

while on vacation last week.

Striking, that pumpkin in the basket of the rusty blue bike

At the cottage with the bright green window trim

These cottage dwellers are most likely glad that most tourists

stay on the main road in town,

perusing the shops, bakeries, galleries and cafes

but oh what we would have missed

had we not taken to the alley-ways and back roads

not striving toward a destination

but just enjoying the adventure of the journey

I take photos of the same cottages every time we visit,

but, each time the light is a bit different,

the flowers always beautiful

In our home town I often overlook the beauty

of a window box or porch decor

as I breeze by in my car heading to my destination

but in leisurely walking the same route

often there are treasures of beauty to observe

There is an old garage in an alley,

once painted blue but now completely weathered.

Everytime I pass it I enjoy its texture and peeling paint,

the grey wood exposed

~ back to the beach cottages ~

Gorgeous weathered wood

A favorite color

The purple trim on this cottage

always creates a smile in my heart and on my face

The hounds enjoy the cottage walk

but prefer the sand and ocean view

Yes, our beach has AQUA sand dollars !!!

(with chocolate inside, the best!)

I just know Anita is smiling at this.

te-heeee!!!

Chandeliers, Shop Vignettes, Vacation

2011-10-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

I collect chandeliers

... photos of them that is...

Here are some beauties from shops I visited

while on vacation at the beach last week

... This one was through a shop window in the evening ...

Bottles in a window always delight me

And white decor gathered on a table

And anything under a cloche

And anything that

S P A R K L E S

And although this photo doesn't go with my theme,

I just had to show you the cousins posing on the beach!

(our Afghans and our daughters Shelties)

I hope you have a relaxing weekend!

My husband had surgery on his shoulder this morning

(torn rotator cuff) and is doing well

(pain pills are a good thing)

Autumn White

2011-10-05T19:48:00.000-07:00

Welcoming Autumn

with decor ~ in white

Perhaps because I am not fond of orange,

it takes until mid-October for pumpkins to appeal to me

unless they are white that is!

How about a white pumpkin in a birdcage?

with a crowned bird on top of course

And a fairy to welcome all

I spray painted this rusty old birdcage white

and it sits on a table by the front door to

W e l c o m e A u t u m n

... Inside, more white pumpkins ...

... and a nest of white shells ...

thus far my only ode to Autumn

Oh Lovely White!!!

With One Quart of Paint

2011-09-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

I kept painting til I ran out of paint

Here's all my Paris Grey Chalk Paint Projects

Below is this little sewing cabinet

and its beginning, adding paper to the drawers

Then I added gold paint

but it wasn't the look I was after...

It now goes with all the other grey in my studio

Loving Aqua and Grey!

The jewelry box after adding some aqua

Bookcase

Little table, previously yellow

Oh my the BLING looks good with all these colors!

Tiered Basket

Grey Transformation!

To see more of these view my previous chalk paint posts!

Whew! I'm done painting furniture for a while

Autumn Skies

2011-09-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

An adventure .... viewing nature

through a car window

Stick your head out the window and

take in the beauty of autumn

Look up at the sky

and

D R E A M

I want to paint some of these sky images,

they were so glorious this day

as we made a trip to visit friends.

All taken through my window in the passenger seat,

while zooming down the freeway.

"The heavens declare the Glory of God!"

The artistry of God fills my senses

and praise rises from my heart

as I am wrapped warmly in the beauty of

S K Y

Jewelry Box Transformation

2011-09-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

Like this Jewelry Box

(as I have not run out of my quart of Chalk Paint yet!)

I have undergone a transformation

That which appeared of no value

discarded and left sitting in a thrift shop

~ no one seeing the beauty that Someone else beheld ~

when viewed with eyes of

Transforming Love

With the opening of doors

my heart now flies free

And others can now behold the beauty

that was seen by the One

who made the transformation

and gave

j e w e l s

where before nothing sparkled

and time worn scratches and loss hid what could be

And made into something of beauty once again

et d'apporter à ceux qui, dans Sion, sont endeuillés, la splendeur au lieu de la cendre,

pour mettre sur leur tête l'huile de l'allégresse au lieu du deuil, et pour les vêtir d'habits de louange au lieu d'un esprit abattu, afin qu'on les appelle: Les chênes de justice, la plantation de l'Eternel qui manifestent sa splendeur.

Isaiah 61:3

Grey Lace Scarf

2011-09-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

Oooooh, looks good on the Paris Grey coffee table!

~ When I'm not wearing it that is ~

Scarves are everywhere! Such a pretty accessory.

~ around a neck or on a table ~

A friend and I went to a mall yesterday

to celebrate her birthday.

We had lunch and then browsed the shops.

I found the scarf...

Not at Chico's or White Shop Black Market

Or Nordstroms or Macy's,

(where it would have cost more than the $12.99)

but at a shop where mostly teenagers shop.

I love the vintage styles, the romance, the ruffles that are in...

and at these shops for teenagers, the prices are so good...

and really, anyone can find something there to wear

if you look past the short shorts ('Autumn Wear' apparently

if one wears them with a scarf or boots, who knew?!?)

Loud LOUD loud music pounds the ears and heart

"YOU GOT THE BEAT!"

"YOU GOT THE BEAT!!"

"YOU GOT THE BEAT!!!"

And, um, oooooh, that girl who sold me the scarf,

I didn't want to stare.

But was she holding a bent paper clip in her mouth.

or was that attached?

(...as I said to self, stop staring, look down, oh what's that in my wallet..)

(...ooooh, it's pointing straight out, does that hurt? can you kiss with that...)

(...okay, it's gotta be a paper clip, right?...)

The adventures in finding a bargain

Have you found anything fabulous at these shops?

Leopard Boots

2011-09-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

Some of you could wear these

without raised eyebrows

pointed

in your direction.

~ I only took them home in my camera ~

What I'd really like is that hat box!

Can you spot the small change

I made in the top photo

that works much better for the subject of

Leopard Boots?

Oh my I should have made it a contest.

No contest, no prizes, just the satisfaction of finding

"What is different in this photo?"

(because as you can tell, I am easily amused)

Chalk Paint. Paris Grey. Audrey.

2011-09-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

~ Paris Grey ~

(i love you)

I painted the oak coffee table

I found at a flea market for $20 in this Chalk Paint pale grey color.

What a transformation!

After painting the coffee table, a large tray, a suitcase and a frame

there is still over half a quart left

(for more projects I'm working on...)

I've applied some coats of wax

I saw on another blog someone used

Johnson's Paste Wax instead of the more expensive chalk paint wax.

On the tray I experimented with adding some dark grey wood stain

mixed into the last layer of wax.

I still need to do the distressing, sanding, chipping the paint.

It's hard for me to get past the thought of 'ruining' a good paint job!

... but I love the look when others do it, so I'm going to do it.

really. soon. maybe.

I was hesitant to buy this paint which costs $39 for a quart.

But I'm glad I did, it covers so nicely in just one coat

and requires no sanding or priming!

I found this tray (formerly a table I think) at a yard sale for $3.

~ And then the suitcase ~

(see previous post)

Oh AUDREY!!!

Painted Suitcase

2011-09-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

Aqua and Pale Grey

Are Fabulous Together!

After getting out my quart of ASCP in Paris Grey

(Annie Sloan Chalk Paint)

to paint my flea market coffee table

(mentioned in a previous post)

I decided to begin with this old suitcase

to practice on

After painting it all grey

I mixed some bright aqua craft paint into the grey

for the leather trim

Wait 'til you see the 'before' pic!

This is too much fun!

... today ~ the coffee table! ...

Fabric Banners. And Nasturtiums are Taking Over

2011-09-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

I made this 12 foot long fabric banner today.

(Two of them actually)

For a special little girl's birthday party tomorrow

The beasts wanted to pose with it for you.

I ironed the fabric onto fusible heavyweight stabilizer

and then cut out the triangles with pinking shears,

then sewed them to the ribbon.

Then I thought some torn fabric strips would be fun

so went to a thrift store and found just what I needed,

a bright pink sheet and a shimmery bright green curtain.

Tearing fabric into strips is fun

~ But threads are everywhere now ~

An okay price to pay for creativity surges!

Now, about those nasturtiums!

I planted two small plants in this little garden area behind this fence,

where last year everything died that was planted there.

Apparently, nasturtiums are what was needed!

They have decided they don't want to be fenced in

and have proceeded to move into the yard.

That's okay, I love nasturtiums!

As for my coffee table project,

I bought the "Paris Grey" Chalk Paint,

so hopefully this weekend I can get to it!

What projects are you hoping to accomplish?

Latest Project

2011-09-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

If I show this to you

I will have to finish it.

Right?

Solid oak coffee table ... cost: $20.
... projects are more fun with my helper...

I'm thinking Chalk Paint in a pale grey

and then shabbying it up a bit.

What do you think?

I am open to all fabulous suggestions!
-
-
P.S. I've added a link to the post below
if you'd like to see the stages of
my watercolor painting of
Carson the Afghan Hound.

When Dogs go to School

2011-09-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Sandy has an Afghan Hound named Carson.

This sweet friendly BEAUTIFUL dog is a registered therapy dog,

and Sandy works with him in a wonderful program called

"READING WITH ROVER"

These are watercolor paintings I did of him this past week

Dogs who have gone through the training process

(and are of the right temperament)

are taken to school classrooms,

bookstores, and other events,

and children come and sit with a dog

AND READ TO THEM!

Studies have shown that a dogs calming effect

and friendship and non-judgemental listening skills

help to increase a child's reading abilities.

Sandy took Carson this summer to a weekly reading group

at an elementary school, with several other

Reading With Rover dogs.

This year he will also participate in a program with

developmentally challenged children who will walk with him

~ and be loved and encouraged by his sweet personality ~

If you would like to learn more about this program,

here is a link to the Reading With Rover website.

The photo I worked from,

taken as we sat outside of a coffee shop

Here's the sweet boy as a puppy with his buddy

If you'd like to see the stages of my watercolor painting,

you may click this link to the page on my website:

"The Progression of a Watercolor Painting"

Summer Birds and Bouquets

2011-08-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

High up in the trees

they behold a different view

than I who sit upon my porch and

w o n d e r

Suddenly at once they burst forth

from the trees into the night sky

As I look up amazed

at hundreds of flying birds

(...And try not to think about a certain movie....)

filling the trees and the sky ~ a wonder to see

~ but I'm glad they aren't around all the time in such quantity! ~

The next morning, in my yard

bursts forth other creations that fill me with

D E L I G H T

The GLORIOUS colors of SUMMER

Oh how I will miss you when the days turn cold

and winters chill fills the air!

But for now I will let you fill my heart

~ beautiful delights of the summer garden ~

Lingering Glow of Summer

2011-08-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

Let us Dance

In the Lingering Glow of Summer's Warmth

And May We Still See Fairies in the Garden

~ no matter our age ~

If I am honest

I have to tell you

I still read fairy-tales

and I like them best of all.

~ Audrey Hepburn ~

Bottle LOVE

2011-08-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

Transparent Aqua-Blue Vintage

Displayed with shells and jewels

Bottles, what is it about them that speaks to our summer hearts?

First two photos taken at my house,

these purple ones at an antique store

Are you also displaying bottles in your decor?

Flower Fairies Sightings!

2011-08-06T12:22:00.000-07:00

She has glittery sparkling wings and wears an

aqua tutu!

And apparently she is not afraid of

Afghan Hounds

~ who are very gentle with flower fairies of course ~

Here is actual video coverage!!!

Click on the arrow to play

Have you seen any flower fairies in your garden lately?

~ Ours was quite a bit larger than the Hummingbird who visits daily ~

We've named the tiny bird "Flutter"

The flower fairies name is

"WONDER"

: )

Shimmer and Sheer Joy

2011-08-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

Ruffled Pillow

Current Favorite Color

Shimmery and Feminine

Summery Beauty

A Perfect Find for My Studio Settee

(and only $12 at a local discount shop : )

Have you planted a tutu tree?

~ See how mine has grown both a ballet pink and an aqua ~

(... Just pick when they've reached the right size ...)

Shimmer and Sheer Joy!!!

Reflect Sparkle Illuminate

2011-07-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

A Most Amazing Chandelier

captured my attention in a shop this week

The bronzy-pinkish crystals were fabulous!

This one was in an antique mall

Those purple crystals! Gasp!

And in another high-end antique shop

this huge one with PINK crystals really made my eyes light up!

A mere $25,000, should you be interested.

These lovely cloche's were in a shop. So sparkly!

... They sat upon a mirrored table, everything was so reflective...

This seashell filled crystal bowl sits upon my desk

The other morning as I was leaving the room

I looked back and the crystals were sparkling

so wondrously from the morning light, I had to grab my camera.

What could be more summery in accessories

than aqua, turquoise and sea green beads

with a golden rhinestone-studded

S T A R F I S H

as a necklace?

R E F L E C T

S P A R K L E

I L L U M I N A T E

~ In decor and in our lives ~

Oh yes!

What Bloggers Drive

2011-07-21T20:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, so there isn't actually a linky party called

What Bloggers Drive

But wouldn't that be fun?!?!

~ What Bloggers Wear ~

~ What Bloggers Eat ~

(while blogging)

... okay never mind about that...

But let me introduce you to my car Gracie Lou.

(What, you don't name your car?)

And, yes, I do decorate my car.

Why not?

(I did not do this for the photo-shoot, those who know me

would tell you they see this VW Beetle

about town just as it appears here : )

When you don't have to haul kids around anymore

There's all that space that says "embellish me"

either that or I'm just hearing it wrong.

Maybe it's really saying "wash me"

or "take me to the beach"

I hear

"I need some flowers and a chandelier!"

I keep the back seats folded down,

it's like a van back there!

Here's the bud vase

I am sad they aren't going to make this style Beetle anymore!

I've had this purple Beetle for several years,

and yes, it came this color!

I've only seen one other, but not very often,

so I feel like I have my own personalized car.

It has a opalescent paint that changes hues

and daily someone comments about the

C O L O R

(guys as often as women)

The chandy hanging from the rear-view mirror

(a Christmas ornament I use year-round)

and on the antennae is 3 colors of curled ribbon

that dances in the breeze as I drive.

So. The reason I named my car

GRACIE LOU ?

We once had a puppy with that name.

There was something about Gracie

that just made everyone SMILE.

( I suppose all puppies have that quality)

And this car has that same effect

Now, I don't tell most people my car has a name,

and I don't call her by it very often,

so that's just between us okay?

Sometimes the hounds just feel like going for a joy ride

The video below is only about 10 seconds long.

If you need a smile, click on the arrow.

Where I Create

2011-07-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my studio and workshop

as I join in the 2011 "Where Bloggers Create" party.

I have changed everything since last year's party

and now have a workroom for art

and a pretty room where I blog and display art.

First, come into my studio workshop

Bins and drawers for storage and organization

Here's some close ups of the stamps and glitter on the white shelf

I made the tiny faerie mannequin

...Ribbon...

on the wire dress form makes a lovely skirt

~ The Easel for Oil Painting ~

Why not use crystal to store brushes and supplies?

...These bottles are only 2 inches tall and store tiny beads...

I found these fabulous wooden trays at a craft store on sale,

they actually have 2 levels in each box

and I've organized all my broken jewelry pieces,

rhinestones, buttons and pearls for crafting

Below, are my two jewelers 'watch repair cabinets'.

One was my husbands fathers that he had built half a century ago.

I love all the drawers!

I made curtains to hide the bins where I keep beads and such

The drawers hold stamping pads, felt pens, punches, etc.

More ribbon and lace, flowers....

~ A painting I've started ~

... Jewels waiting to be repaired ...

Thank you for visiting the studio work room!

(one day I was sewing some repairs on this pink crinoline,

and threw it over the chair 'til I could get back to it.

Well, it was too cute to remove : )

Next, the decorative room!

My desk and computer where I am composing this blog post

... black feather boa hides the cords ...

The chair recently changed her tutu from pink to blue

Vignettes

Crystal reflects the light so beautifully!

Below, a shelf displaying some of the artwork and tags

my lovely friend Anita sent me from

Castles Crowns and Cottages

I found this pretty mirror-backed cabinet at a salvage store

This shelf holds 2 handmade books and another lovely gift by Anita

I found the framed print at an antique store and hung it inside a larger frame.

The silver glittered Eiffel Tower was brought back to me from Paris

from a friend who visited France last month.

Estate Sale Chandy ~ My Birthday Present!

... The settee for lounging and day dreaming ....

Most of my decor comes from flea market shops

and antique stores, often getting a touch of paint

or embellishing to get the look I desire.

Thank you for visiting, here is the link to find all of the other participants

in Karen Valentines "Where Bloggers Create 2011 Party"

View her lovely space, and scroll down to find

the list of participants on her right side bar.

I am excited to begin my tour!

~ Violet ~

* * * S P A R K L E * * *

2011-07-08T14:32:00.000-07:00

Is "SPARKLE" a decorating style?

~ Because I think it's mine ~

Perfume bottles on a mirrored tray

Crystals Crowns and Silver

Glisten Gleam Glow

Reflect Twinkle Illuminate

Glitter Shimmer

Glimmer and Glow

Dazzle and Shine

(Thank you Anita for sending me the lovely gift of this

rhinestone crown embellished with aqua tulle!!!)

... More Sparkle ....

A Glittered Angel

Highlights and Shadows and Sparkle

Are you a lover of sparkle?

Does glitter make your heart sing?

What is it about LIGHT that sparks hope in our souls?

The very first words whispered ~ or shouted with joy ~

by God over our world were these:

~ "Let There Be Light" ~

Genesis 1:3

(And it was GOOD)

... let it sparkle on in our homes and lives ...

(... and on our clothes and jewelry and art and hopefully on this weekend! )

Please come back next weekend for more studio photos

as I participate in the "Where Bloggers Create" link party

hosted by Karen Valentine.

Poetry in a Jar

2011-07-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

An Aqua Jar Boasting of Glorious Summer

The Colors of Poetry

And Morning Light and Shadow

(and Miss Fashionable wearing her snood,

which keeps her long hair out of her food when she eats)

Have a beautiful summery day

Shall we go outside and view Gods poetry?

See, hear, taste, smell, and touch

His intimate love poem to us ~ written in nature

Hats

2011-07-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

The Fashionable Girl

would like your opinion on her hats

She says the straw one has a lovely flavor,

a seemingly dry essence that one must learn to savor.

But the white wool felted one

tastes of an earthy nuance with a hint of

fiber optic sparkled tingle

~ and would be fun to pull yarn from ~

(Just kidding Linda, your knitted creativity will not be destroyed

by this mixed media/altered art canine)

The website of this fabulous hat artist can be found here:

Golden Goose Hats

I have FOUR of her hats so far

(including this purple one)

Have I mentioned I have a thing for hats???

To view some of my watercolor and oil paintings,

many featuring women and children wearing hats, click on this link:

~ Violet Skiles Art ~

Happy 4th of July weekend!

What are fun things are you up to?

... We are planting flowers today ...

Altered (and then) Embellished Shoes

2011-06-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

She may look quite innocent

But this girl has a thing for shoes

They do make great chew toys

And are oh so tasty!

This girl is not outgrowing her 'taste' for shoes

And she is into ALTERED ART

and her medium is shoes

(hats and furs also)

And even though these shoes

came from a thrift store and were on sale for 99 cents, well, they fit just right

and are such a lovely color

When not being worn by me they were studio decor,

matching the vintage tutu worn by my dress form "Audrey"

Therefore, easy access to a sneaky dog to tip-toe in

and steal ~ then quietly backing out of the room

to a comfy rug to do some chewing

The back of one shoe was destroyed in seconds.

( I didn't think to take a photo of the chewed part, but if you have dogs, you can picture it )

But now the shoes are lovlier than ever

thanks to my stash of lace, velvet leaves and jewels.

Ta Da!

( Now kept on a higher shelf : )

Do your dogs also enjoy creating altered 'art'?

~ Violet ~

Glitter Fabric Project

2011-06-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

Vintage (as in old, chipped, imperfect) frame...

that I bought an an estate sale for $8.

I painted over it here and there with more gold paint,

and left the imperfections.

Then a trip to the fabric store

~ Where I found this fabulous glittered design! ~

... I wish the photo showed the blue sparkle...

I covered a foam core board and VOILA!

AN INSPIRATION BOARD

for my desk wall

Where I hung some of my vintage-inspired art.

I am so loving the new creamy pale buttery walls and blue ceiling in here

The desk wall so far

... I know I probably need to paint that small cabinet white ...

~ another day ~

The inspiration board cost me a total of $17

for the frame and fabric. I had on hand the foam core board,

spray glue and duct tape

(not highly decorative, but I used duct tape to attach the fabric to the back)

I wasn't sure if foam core would work,

as usually cork board is used,

but I had it, so thought I'd give it a try.

Finally, a project that didn't take me hours and hours

more time and work than I estimated!

After I showed this to a friend, she sent me a link to a shop

in her town that had for sale a similar, but smaller magnetic board

with glittery fabric in a gold frame,

priced at $197.

Now I'm liking my project even more!!!

I am so loving glittery fabric!

~ There is just something so joyful about glitter ~

How are you incorporating glitter or sparkle into your life?

~ Violet ~

Vintage Aqua Tulle Gowns

2011-06-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

Simply Gorgeous!

... These are like enjoying art for me ...

As I browsed vintage tulle gowns on Etsy recently,

these are some that quickly became my favorites.

I love the third one, and even though I am including it in this "aqua" themed post,

it's another shade of blue, but isn't it amazing?!?

I'm thinking #4 is also one of my favorites.

Which ones make YOUR heart skip a beat?

~ hoping you enjoy a touch of aqua this weekend ~

Fashion Meets Decor

2011-06-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

Tulle is a most wondrous fabric!

A skirt of tulle

~ fabulous! ~

I have four tulle-skirted gowns ... flea market treasures

Two fun occassions involved the wearing of gowns so far,

but when not being worn or used in photo-shoots,

hiding away in a closet

is such a waste of

tulled-beauty

For a few months I used them in my studio as a skirt under a high shelf.

Underneath was hidden my printer cart and computer wires.

I re-did this area and am now contemplating where to display the gowns.

Here is a little writing/reading corner in my studio.

I didn't have a chair so brought in one of the metal outdoor ones.

But it needed 'something'...

The pink gown is a size quite small

and has a stain on the bodice

... what if ...

Oh Yes!

Tulle to the rescue!

Fashion Meets Decor