tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30380792090965304062024-02-07T13:39:49.539-08:00just abby and meMona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-24029999744691746162012-03-25T18:17:00.001-07:002012-03-26T05:54:41.446-07:00The bossy chair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfwPXmwetLin1k_yLSWc2XxShUsdf5WHXbchu4qbC_9sLSai827YHR3Pnd8YLDtK9U2XAQjQssfwjqJxki6xuGaxVsgPuW7J_a1JYXCfcCOJWn49zRJhr61WpR7uDoS3G7Uix20O_YKg/s320/100_0409.jpg" width="240" /></div>I've been wanting to try painting a design on a piece of painted furniture for a while. It always looks so cool when other people do it, so I thought this little yard-sale chair would be perfect. I saw something similar somewhere on the Internet, so I apologize to whoever I'm copying here; I can't remember where I saw it.<br />
I printed out the word 'sit' in a font I thought would look good and found a pointing finger from <a href="http://www.graphicsfairy.com/">www.graphicsfairy.com</a>. I sized them, printed them out and used transfer paper to copy the outlines. I tried using a paint pen to draw over the lines but it globbed up pretty quickly, so I finished the job with black Sharpie markers, one fine and one ultra fine. I sprayed them with a matte fixative when I was done.<br />
I love the finished project. It makes me smile.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6r6n3WObEM6pQEMQDOXPHBpmSIuvAR2wfvivstAsHWr5Oj5ngjutq_AwWsw_M_DXnl20jL-ZDEjM5xTCbzeiVWiL8CMLtlP30BGjrhw47RCr-ifb31AACWHZAnpEMICPR2YfJe2UmZg/s1600/100_0410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6r6n3WObEM6pQEMQDOXPHBpmSIuvAR2wfvivstAsHWr5Oj5ngjutq_AwWsw_M_DXnl20jL-ZDEjM5xTCbzeiVWiL8CMLtlP30BGjrhw47RCr-ifb31AACWHZAnpEMICPR2YfJe2UmZg/s200/100_0410.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-81073130808583221262011-04-11T07:35:00.000-07:002011-04-11T12:33:26.287-07:00Before and afterIt always feels good when you finally get around to a project you've been meaning to get around to for a long time. I bought this little shopping cart a year ago at a yard sale for a whopping 50 cents and planned to sew a cute liner for it, like ones I'd seen online and in magazines.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A6muRIFot41Q0zAvSplTWQgWFY6Vt2dEZXYD9wgWUTYONsoDbbvg9NZrIBKqsLzWRPW96C1VRBbXx2WAWwQF731VZUopobMrNjfzE6YJNIHubxZV_AcwVApRm5UBW_b0zi7weel-lh0/s1600/cart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A6muRIFot41Q0zAvSplTWQgWFY6Vt2dEZXYD9wgWUTYONsoDbbvg9NZrIBKqsLzWRPW96C1VRBbXx2WAWwQF731VZUopobMrNjfzE6YJNIHubxZV_AcwVApRm5UBW_b0zi7weel-lh0/s200/cart.JPG" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 50-cent cart.</td></tr>
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So finally this weekend, I got around to making it. I used some old ticking I originally bought to make drapes (another project I didn't get around to) and added a border from fabric that looks vintage but really isn't. It was pretty easy, just a question of measuring the sides and bottom, cutting the pieces and sewing them together. It didn't take long at all.<br />
<br />
I found a little grommet kit at the hardware store with everything you need to add the grommets. I even added two pockets on the back panel, and sized one so it would hold a water bottle. I covered up rust on the top of the handle by gluing on matching fabric. I put new plastic caps on the front feet and oiled the rusty wheels.<br />
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I'm going to put it in my booth at Capt. Scrap's Attic for $35. Even if no one buys it, it will look cute sitting there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3JhNkBCJLNFMb_2wnplQa6gxZaDh3GqrUTd65sG6TheD7rwWbb2pzucnexgMshlkzkLEIHWP26INxIoPrErG0VwQIn8N6GvkNaU3Y8ewd4NMR4neBEhi-eFNMAlzjnsh4mX7P7bUpwg/s1600/newcart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3JhNkBCJLNFMb_2wnplQa6gxZaDh3GqrUTd65sG6TheD7rwWbb2pzucnexgMshlkzkLEIHWP26INxIoPrErG0VwQIn8N6GvkNaU3Y8ewd4NMR4neBEhi-eFNMAlzjnsh4mX7P7bUpwg/s400/newcart.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The $35 oh-so-trendy and cute vintage flea-market cart.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlMuuiyPgaefkuCiXE-F0uTqzRTExzIsP9vUWeMww0etOtuiKcrnihNvXBF3a4QtyopR99wT8zq2j4X4f_AiwyJ4VXbY8JTeU9g3fKQ8-oDS5Olnd26qhyphenhyphenMcG062yDPmScIFA4AAXXxg/s1600/2newcart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlMuuiyPgaefkuCiXE-F0uTqzRTExzIsP9vUWeMww0etOtuiKcrnihNvXBF3a4QtyopR99wT8zq2j4X4f_AiwyJ4VXbY8JTeU9g3fKQ8-oDS5Olnd26qhyphenhyphenMcG062yDPmScIFA4AAXXxg/s320/2newcart.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the water-bottle pocket? There's a flat pocket next to it, good for tucking away small purchases.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-gcq4Gee64tJk4ve5kx8LgyD2K58gEg4qe20lnGew-pRtUEXMsDs8Bv-qcUuse25L5yU4pBgWq1pZWRwKCPNK_Hv6UN72G9cB5yBhuXhFt4bVlumjs9aWCyPmRfTp1-PD6dTncas8hc/s1600/1april11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-gcq4Gee64tJk4ve5kx8LgyD2K58gEg4qe20lnGew-pRtUEXMsDs8Bv-qcUuse25L5yU4pBgWq1pZWRwKCPNK_Hv6UN72G9cB5yBhuXhFt4bVlumjs9aWCyPmRfTp1-PD6dTncas8hc/s400/1april11.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</tbody></table>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-49217724051011427662011-04-03T14:15:00.000-07:002011-04-03T14:15:12.071-07:00What I bought today ...<div style="color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxHgrpSLouzGUQ0nZx-eB49qQAp9cC8cgBSC4zFcW5RSvp911ayzy0SVVrC8z1Pj4orH96OolPI9tKHTF3G2dh5Ov26h1R1nCYReq2SaLE7fgzsXj_Q7rk8uTmb1LUX5V86Syozn6fKs/s1600/junk1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxHgrpSLouzGUQ0nZx-eB49qQAp9cC8cgBSC4zFcW5RSvp911ayzy0SVVrC8z1Pj4orH96OolPI9tKHTF3G2dh5Ov26h1R1nCYReq2SaLE7fgzsXj_Q7rk8uTmb1LUX5V86Syozn6fKs/s400/junk1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div>... at an old junk shop that is going out of business:<br />
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-GI Joe puzzle, no price marked<br />
-old Bingo game, never used, marked $5<br />
-two license plates, no price<br />
-Santa zip bag, $5<br />
-3 pretty old china plates, marked $1 ea. <br />
-old salt shaker marked $1.50<br />
-two Gruber's Soda bottles, marked $6 ea.<br />
-bunch of crafting junk, relig. medals, broken jewelry, etc.<br />
-celluloid chick, marked set of three for $5 but I couldn't find the other two anywhere<br />
-old handmade pillowcase with crocheted edging<br />
-old rusty cast iron ship thing, looks like part of a door stop or something, marked $100, yeah, I know that's ridiculous, but that's what the tag said.<br />
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What I paid for all of the above: $5.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br />
How much fun I had: priceless.</div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6t7GNaFVc4i_IO-bEt-qlLH0nuAFwL6TGNmrm_RBBJyaNMhK6ZBXpP0EfF16-YTWhIUN1MVM7M6UfxPDVkzkHFCy4jkSAXyps6L38cy9iJd4Bstwlmi02rJ1qfqyA6ax_S7Sr2bVvwwc/s1600/junk1c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6t7GNaFVc4i_IO-bEt-qlLH0nuAFwL6TGNmrm_RBBJyaNMhK6ZBXpP0EfF16-YTWhIUN1MVM7M6UfxPDVkzkHFCy4jkSAXyps6L38cy9iJd4Bstwlmi02rJ1qfqyA6ax_S7Sr2bVvwwc/s320/junk1c.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEhR6iTv9iZsb8Qx44x1-rktdmd6YqaBa9SMXKZ03tt5RaMHuhvllNJQ1q3SHUwg7Yr7C-lpWKothV3HckbhyuvYmzVselr4wMsO_Qo-ydkHnjTuPC6HSXEHm4S4cFkQ_rCZO-VlQwgQ/s1600/junk1b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEhR6iTv9iZsb8Qx44x1-rktdmd6YqaBa9SMXKZ03tt5RaMHuhvllNJQ1q3SHUwg7Yr7C-lpWKothV3HckbhyuvYmzVselr4wMsO_Qo-ydkHnjTuPC6HSXEHm4S4cFkQ_rCZO-VlQwgQ/s320/junk1b.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0gugjbtTSIX7zj8rjl2qWKg-z7BpJhtiIUel9R61nX6CYyA0CyZWNj96-8O_mUTySBFwkGSs9_ica-RWSE7_7J-CjcaMjoBHuZCly7Mwxy_E5xAFcLKTM0B8mJ-UExnSo_o5vwNEj34/s1600/junk1a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0gugjbtTSIX7zj8rjl2qWKg-z7BpJhtiIUel9R61nX6CYyA0CyZWNj96-8O_mUTySBFwkGSs9_ica-RWSE7_7J-CjcaMjoBHuZCly7Mwxy_E5xAFcLKTM0B8mJ-UExnSo_o5vwNEj34/s400/junk1a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div></div>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-43441196731335242222011-03-19T12:56:00.000-07:002011-03-19T12:56:39.658-07:00A work in progress<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAqGcunSuVPatN3pk7qDm3aC0Hi0XBtk3HoBqtPfHdiZ-GjqsyzjRCftlD0oPfeMOrHYhmjCI3A0B-LnNFYTKwM8b2vtMZoAJblhM064ef-QSpObP1e0wL-uIaroywP7j-BE9jSwcMN0/s1600/shopfront.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAqGcunSuVPatN3pk7qDm3aC0Hi0XBtk3HoBqtPfHdiZ-GjqsyzjRCftlD0oPfeMOrHYhmjCI3A0B-LnNFYTKwM8b2vtMZoAJblhM064ef-QSpObP1e0wL-uIaroywP7j-BE9jSwcMN0/s400/shopfront.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The booth continues to evolve. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>In the past few days, I've rearranged the furniture and added some textiles including a little rug borrowed from home just to soften things up.<br />
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I hung a line on the wall that will be used for displays that I'll change every few weeks. Right now it's Easter postcards. In the future it might be doilies, hankies, old photos, whatever ...<br />
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I also made and hung a sign with the name of the business: Blue Moon Antiques and Crafts.<br />
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Best of all, I've even sold a few small items.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-15887300615986825652011-03-14T17:25:00.000-07:002011-03-14T17:34:29.149-07:00Playing store<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCaeFx6r69lJCt8NhhwUEFiytGLud_1IEU2vg_qWDAwJk5mgHR-d5hDlmydaBMZp_A6Pt6kTEvewxT2rysi-fvm6zbbjyisDHdW3aentUmIN_NGiGcRH5ErIQptVYFYbmyqL64Ofai7A/s1600/before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCaeFx6r69lJCt8NhhwUEFiytGLud_1IEU2vg_qWDAwJk5mgHR-d5hDlmydaBMZp_A6Pt6kTEvewxT2rysi-fvm6zbbjyisDHdW3aentUmIN_NGiGcRH5ErIQptVYFYbmyqL64Ofai7A/s400/before.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: Store manager Kathleen had already primered the paneling and borrowed bookcases for me when I got there on Thursday.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbh37DossJsWdIwWXc-ZgEBf8G2Bi840h_qziqpJS97lkS0VTKPPlpCjLP52L5B-7PRd5bM3tYzBzabf5GrlJ6IaAlOrJWgiqpPKweOTCmLqHNuA7FTHYwl_5esVCELzkMvFeRt1U7Pw/s1600/shop1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbh37DossJsWdIwWXc-ZgEBf8G2Bi840h_qziqpJS97lkS0VTKPPlpCjLP52L5B-7PRd5bM3tYzBzabf5GrlJ6IaAlOrJWgiqpPKweOTCmLqHNuA7FTHYwl_5esVCELzkMvFeRt1U7Pw/s400/shop1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: Painted and at least partly filled, with a little help from my friends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Something I've always wanted to do is have a little space in an antique mall, just a little corner all my own.<br />
So when I found out that an antique mall maybe two minutes from my house had changed hands and spaces were up for grabs, I didn't waste much time.<br />
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I rented the smallest, cheapest space in the place and starting scrounging up things that had been sitting around my house taking up space -- the gorgeous 1930s art deco wall cabinet that never seemed to fit anywhere, the cow jumped over the moon clock that used to hang in the dining room, the old oak desk chair no one ever sits on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1fXYmTbQ5-nNi86-_B_HrUEYowfh0ujhFCFZe5b45YzIOLK85UslpOlRzxmXSHfKyt3Fub1CDyJKXge8aLMRFo-q3TkcgCm_vHHf-5iW4u0gfof8K5n0pPatNiS8pDITZljeMsJgRk4/s1600/shop3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1fXYmTbQ5-nNi86-_B_HrUEYowfh0ujhFCFZe5b45YzIOLK85UslpOlRzxmXSHfKyt3Fub1CDyJKXge8aLMRFo-q3TkcgCm_vHHf-5iW4u0gfof8K5n0pPatNiS8pDITZljeMsJgRk4/s400/shop3.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaX_q4MxjQXKMqUUaILyYdc8zUj5olu0rAOKvRyXu36-5kIoTP1p55UfHMIJkKSbnnAOBi1p-kE_rntIdYu_7vz4bLVcZ0ScDoM9bh_lwKhvscP1K4I8A3RniHpSqCs9-Bhnxa554GWE/s1600/shop4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaX_q4MxjQXKMqUUaILyYdc8zUj5olu0rAOKvRyXu36-5kIoTP1p55UfHMIJkKSbnnAOBi1p-kE_rntIdYu_7vz4bLVcZ0ScDoM9bh_lwKhvscP1K4I8A3RniHpSqCs9-Bhnxa554GWE/s400/shop4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</a></div>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-58762904932494493982011-02-18T06:36:00.000-08:002011-02-18T06:36:15.474-08:00Angels among us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY6pPxi9XtukqfR6hLC5j8jmonmQLEwBtz7DgKWAbE4D3jrKr3yBVsBmz6HO1eMO-2NIZHrRhKZddTo6UnhMUcM0Xuofr4ssgcyGVUDOcF1C9nyN_MMVAGq-M_7L9PnEiw-H1Ia8xtiQ/s1600/wilddollheads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY6pPxi9XtukqfR6hLC5j8jmonmQLEwBtz7DgKWAbE4D3jrKr3yBVsBmz6HO1eMO-2NIZHrRhKZddTo6UnhMUcM0Xuofr4ssgcyGVUDOcF1C9nyN_MMVAGq-M_7L9PnEiw-H1Ia8xtiQ/s320/wilddollheads.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Two years ago, on a whim, I bought a batch of broken doll heads from Germany. They weren't cheap, but I knew I could make them into something wonderful. Well, like I said, that was two years ago. Recently, however, some of them have come out of the box and my friend Denise and I have been turning them into Christmas angels. (Yes, I know it's February, but we're planning ahead this year.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMfjUqv0TYGbyj3wIHfIt_aebN7dTLjX2BOrI1qumyIqD1mEGwMTDozGPvcfxn9BYExNAqwEfWkf5m996LpS1M15m-kBf4Jm_S_EMr0OC0GHNdwiD9LjtW7Lsyep9XsRCLNKnYZIgfo0/s1600/angel1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMfjUqv0TYGbyj3wIHfIt_aebN7dTLjX2BOrI1qumyIqD1mEGwMTDozGPvcfxn9BYExNAqwEfWkf5m996LpS1M15m-kBf4Jm_S_EMr0OC0GHNdwiD9LjtW7Lsyep9XsRCLNKnYZIgfo0/s400/angel1a.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraL6blVUGy72U-LdDn-CWklkyujHuA2qUm5C7TJqE9VXhj4yiwQ-oiNWhyphenhyphenQjeWrFNbR1HwKFjQwlbwjlkwt8318Hb8YOxXwUS5lWA9lcLVn0w8ziMhfj4280-91JaQN251M-kA5MZOpk/s1600/tassels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraL6blVUGy72U-LdDn-CWklkyujHuA2qUm5C7TJqE9VXhj4yiwQ-oiNWhyphenhyphenQjeWrFNbR1HwKFjQwlbwjlkwt8318Hb8YOxXwUS5lWA9lcLVn0w8ziMhfj4280-91JaQN251M-kA5MZOpk/s400/tassels.JPG" width="400" /></a>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-31206979029532836492010-08-12T08:15:00.000-07:002010-08-12T08:15:35.277-07:00The spooky sisters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-VSyr4QunYK_jXvxWHzMp-sektxcMxyzK9D2DxIBl8TGG6Xm92GlUbl8hwDvZSarxJU0mn7w6cHGXTUwzAeDu0TfSKZCuYqSb6u4776AZhASNnF9htRQIKObuYWSh1mL-5PP9tZq_uo/s1600/spooky1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-VSyr4QunYK_jXvxWHzMp-sektxcMxyzK9D2DxIBl8TGG6Xm92GlUbl8hwDvZSarxJU0mn7w6cHGXTUwzAeDu0TfSKZCuYqSb6u4776AZhASNnF9htRQIKObuYWSh1mL-5PP9tZq_uo/s400/spooky1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
When I buy old photos and cabinet cards, I try to get them cheap, like maybe a dollar for a cabinet card, certainly not more than $2. But when I saw this photo of two scary sisters on etsy, I knew it was perfect for Halloween projects and I had to have it.<br />
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I think I paid $5 (plus shipping) but it makes me smile every time I look at it. Were they just nervous about having their photo taken (as the baby on the right appears to be)? Or were they putting a curse on the photographer? Either way, they are a really spooky pair. I wouldn't want to mess with them on the playground, that's for sure.<br />
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I've just scanned in a bunch of old cabinet cards and will be posting them every day or so in groups of two, so check back often if you're looking for free images. Also check my older posts; there are some scattered through there, too.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-57914150674753045432010-06-29T12:40:00.000-07:002010-06-29T12:40:51.849-07:00Old photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXCzmqL68h4uMTHT22i-547MPvYFo1JTQ8jiXpr02Jc-P2lpFk7JI8ZH8uQNWTxc8_0jR64kcx835sX1pftTLijKOuJoSoh9bCKnNJb22n_0xAVBDjj1r306xgENrQquGAl7K8ZKNrWs/s1600/twowomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXCzmqL68h4uMTHT22i-547MPvYFo1JTQ8jiXpr02Jc-P2lpFk7JI8ZH8uQNWTxc8_0jR64kcx835sX1pftTLijKOuJoSoh9bCKnNJb22n_0xAVBDjj1r306xgENrQquGAl7K8ZKNrWs/s400/twowomen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The only thing better than old photos are old photos that have something written on them that gives you some insight into the people in the picture.<br />
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I've been working on a project that's going to involve cutting up some of the cabinet cards I've picked up at flea markets and yard sales over the years, so I'm trying to make sure I have copies of them in the computer so they won't be lost forever.<br />
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But I could never cut up the two shown here. "Aunt Clare" is written in pencil below the woman on the left. At the top of the photo it says "Good old days. Them days are gone, but not forgotten." I like to think Aunt Clare wrote that herself when she was an old woman, looking back on how lovely and happy she was in her youth. I think she probably had a happy life.<br />
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The woman on the right? I'm not so sure. We do know she was a hard worker. Here's what it says on the back of the photo: "Maid to the children Minnie Zwetch. 45 years in the family. Tetzlaff family." Think about that for a moment: not a nanny, not a babysitter, but a MAID to the children ...<br />
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Sometimes I buy cabinet cards more for the artwork on the backs than on the fronts. Here are the backs of those two cards.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTnbR9ltAP6JLsEqyPNNkplsmQGXVtw0NYBNQm8LjP4OWDWOpN0ELhBHyETsZoFCuDHo6Ee7mgenVARsUCmU8E4G7AATQPq6aJP5KRxVYbuR62uZhS_3z-47dUhUYpi1TVSqfF1VIXCQ/s1600/cabcards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTnbR9ltAP6JLsEqyPNNkplsmQGXVtw0NYBNQm8LjP4OWDWOpN0ELhBHyETsZoFCuDHo6Ee7mgenVARsUCmU8E4G7AATQPq6aJP5KRxVYbuR62uZhS_3z-47dUhUYpi1TVSqfF1VIXCQ/s400/cabcards.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-89845764409676625702010-04-12T16:20:00.000-07:002010-04-12T16:20:26.264-07:00Mothers and children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jMlIRBSb_7M9iweE4g9C58v7hs8r2XWe5hp7XmxZIgPG936Y5g0pILMOIJCiyabBteu42o_PW65aTBRNfhixge1qt6ocsWfXid05oobbM9QgszSRoQonAs5qd4r8tWaaFI72CZ-9p7s/s1600/grandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jMlIRBSb_7M9iweE4g9C58v7hs8r2XWe5hp7XmxZIgPG936Y5g0pILMOIJCiyabBteu42o_PW65aTBRNfhixge1qt6ocsWfXid05oobbM9QgszSRoQonAs5qd4r8tWaaFI72CZ-9p7s/s400/grandma.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br />
With Mother's Day not too far off, here's a 1921 photo of a somewhat weary looking mother with the three youngest of her five children. She was my grandmother, Ida Ellen Bennington Huffman, of Pine Bank, Pa. Her youngest is my mother, Katherine, born May 9, 1920. The other children are Eva, 6, and Jacob, 4.<br />
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On Mother's Day this year, my mother will turn 90. Exactly a week later, on the 16th, my father turns 94. He's thinking he might finally give up driving this year, but can't figure out how he will get to the VFW on poker night.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-65919948102201633532010-04-10T13:37:00.000-07:002010-04-10T13:37:26.942-07:00Oh, yes, we are sale-ing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXFiL5s9GGucWdODcgS-i8UrTLph8WMYIt8Wb7lMgDsSUtEg2GVVaNOJSHP2GP3ITMojaKMYjAcYlPdRDKJpsuwahK79VVe-YVK5osrWKpuGsp61lT5G9jEgwsPSehYLxbl_BoTKgN5g/s1600/haul2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXFiL5s9GGucWdODcgS-i8UrTLph8WMYIt8Wb7lMgDsSUtEg2GVVaNOJSHP2GP3ITMojaKMYjAcYlPdRDKJpsuwahK79VVe-YVK5osrWKpuGsp61lT5G9jEgwsPSehYLxbl_BoTKgN5g/s400/haul2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Sometimes I hate yard sales; some days I come home empty handed. Today was not one of those days.<br />
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I went to one sale that sounded good in the newspaper ad since it said it included old tins, which I collect. I also needed some I could cut up for a class I'll be taking at Art and Soul, making tin collages.<br />
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The sellers turned out to be a nice older couple who had cleaned out their attic. They said they had already sold a hundred or more tins but there were still some left.<br />
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Most of the pre-1966 tins were $1 and anything newer was 10 cents or a quarter. Why 1966? Because, according to the owner, that's when bar codes came into existence, so it was an easy way to tell which ones were newer reproductions.<br />
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He also had a lot of antique bottles (25 cents each) and I cleaned up on those, since I had just used up all my old bottles in a craft project. I had a whole box full of stuff ($5 total), so I drove away happy.<br />
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</div>Until I got a couple miles down the road and remembered the folding wire shopping cart I had seen and meant to ask about. I shrugged and kept going, but I kept remembering the cute altered carts with fabric liners I've been seeing photos of in magazines or on people's blogs. That darn cart just kept calling my name. How much could it be? When would I ever find another one? So I turned around and went back.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUGUvd1VAVF45KoGH6mIODbQDDfU2ZJaYJHIqquQZA12NuomGu1WSyIzNj0LMYVIJ_D1FRcbBaLHLol_w998kVLph5cF6Jd2Lpgwqsar1ZOi3rR-SUdYFsENIyrZDalv9QB8tZVQw_a4/s1600/cart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUGUvd1VAVF45KoGH6mIODbQDDfU2ZJaYJHIqquQZA12NuomGu1WSyIzNj0LMYVIJ_D1FRcbBaLHLol_w998kVLph5cF6Jd2Lpgwqsar1ZOi3rR-SUdYFsENIyrZDalv9QB8tZVQw_a4/s200/cart.JPG" width="146" /></a></div><br />
"I forgot to ask how much you wanted for this," I said, dragging the poor rusty thing over to the old man.<br />
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"Oh, 50 cents," he said.<br />
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Sometimes I love yard sales.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1oDHMNKGIMY7IzFO0vzdfAcWqaMbAH3lK31AQAZimnJNL-CqAHkX-2gz2KMJ8bvd2NqG8x1ZcHYh0gZ1IndORCZi5Z8OH5Gy477lN_trdUbAblHII5yhZAgt0JFFDqwLMszqx5PuYck/s1600/cartcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1oDHMNKGIMY7IzFO0vzdfAcWqaMbAH3lK31AQAZimnJNL-CqAHkX-2gz2KMJ8bvd2NqG8x1ZcHYh0gZ1IndORCZi5Z8OH5Gy477lN_trdUbAblHII5yhZAgt0JFFDqwLMszqx5PuYck/s320/cartcover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here's one from Flea Market Style magazine. The liner is made from a burlap coffee sack with a border of feedsack fabric and tied on with grommets and cord. You can buy the liners at www.junkrevolution.com. But I remember seeing photos of a pretty flowered shabby chic one that had flaps that folded down over the top edge and they were made from old doilies or something. I think it might have had an extra pocket on the outside, too. I don't think it will be hard to make.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-89977339028939093022010-03-29T05:21:00.000-07:002010-03-29T05:21:50.942-07:00Almost Garden Party time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvTNW9F4_L1OIRx7q_jeDri4HdjsL8_saE0aWlhhjDRJ8ke7L1j2Su2dbs25QVufrX6J-opVhP__y2NRibovgxAMSkgksCOcWZ_oB7viybjFDG9qp5SJww0VIrxHGm3GPaRaAGUGinQc/s1600/compilation+pic+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvTNW9F4_L1OIRx7q_jeDri4HdjsL8_saE0aWlhhjDRJ8ke7L1j2Su2dbs25QVufrX6J-opVhP__y2NRibovgxAMSkgksCOcWZ_oB7viybjFDG9qp5SJww0VIrxHGm3GPaRaAGUGinQc/s400/compilation+pic+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Garden Party Artist Class is coming soon. The brainchild of Mary Green at Green Paper, it runs throughout the month of April with a dozen pretty spring projects by a dozen different artists. I took the February class and it was a lot of fun. This time I'm back as one of the instructors! You can see details of all the projects <a href="http://artistclass.typepad.com/">here.</a><br />
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One of the fun aspects of the class is all the little freebie projects that are sprinkled in on the days when you don't have a regular project. Last time we got free clip art, instructions for mini projects, information about art-related web sites and much more.<br />
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You won't have time to do all the projects but they can be printed out and saved.<br />
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Check out the details and if you want to sign up, you can save $10 on the $49 fee by using my code: just abby and me.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-85391738098878130392010-03-27T13:39:00.000-07:002010-03-27T13:50:56.904-07:00The Easter Blog HopToday's the Blog Hop, where you can see other people's vintage Easter decorations and maybe pick up some free Easter images just by visiting the participating blogs.<br />
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You can check it out at:<br />
<a href="http://thepottingshed-anythinggoeshere.blogspot.com/2010/03/welcome-to-vintage-easter-blog-hop.html">http://thepottingshed-anythinggoeshere.blogspot.com/2010/03/welcome-to-vintage-easter-blog-hop.html</a><br />
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My contribution is some freebie art, including a couple of unusual postcards I found when I went antiquing earlier this week, including these funny bunnies in a rowboat:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbXgx2YeZNZ5-OGbv6JX3Z7zeEcnEm8_FkVSDCLNehYux8mxydsZ7CsvAMkJVvoI2wVgQwJ7PvXLPzCsZAxlFbpwsP8xmh61s6vbxd3Ghgo0YBSdULrdpnVFUSYwI7h0haIvJVmoh37k/s1600/easterhop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbXgx2YeZNZ5-OGbv6JX3Z7zeEcnEm8_FkVSDCLNehYux8mxydsZ7CsvAMkJVvoI2wVgQwJ7PvXLPzCsZAxlFbpwsP8xmh61s6vbxd3Ghgo0YBSdULrdpnVFUSYwI7h0haIvJVmoh37k/s400/easterhop1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And for something really different, how about these girls in a weird eggshell swing:<br />
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I paid $1 for this 1933 pamphlet made of tissue thin paper, so thin that the type from the back side of each page shows through. I wonder how it survived all these years.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ2naS2cBWHXlj0V65dLcZAH52Fk4CwSpQqqpuJY8ZK8KQce196BmnGy4_ERe3LZQ2WKbpoV__48FTcKoI8GdoBqAVntLzsIaIgvuhsZ9OLUA3OdOPQOL74KsiA-Ga_rRI0JXd7HEZJo/s1600/easterservice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ2naS2cBWHXlj0V65dLcZAH52Fk4CwSpQqqpuJY8ZK8KQce196BmnGy4_ERe3LZQ2WKbpoV__48FTcKoI8GdoBqAVntLzsIaIgvuhsZ9OLUA3OdOPQOL74KsiA-Ga_rRI0JXd7HEZJo/s400/easterservice.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
Here are two pages from the pamphlet with Easter songs. I thought these would be good backgrounds for an Easter collage:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP700cedeRhVmMSWFAr_ddXlw82qUMynq4qs8u8sSRiddwM3vvEAq7qJ2Tr8P0vPlS8Dn3inELu9V9ut5bfY-3MTOcdwiNm_qx0Tt7TXA-AUocTXuBS2hsniAS1-ukXglAbVgxUyefF4/s1600/2eastersongs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP700cedeRhVmMSWFAr_ddXlw82qUMynq4qs8u8sSRiddwM3vvEAq7qJ2Tr8P0vPlS8Dn3inELu9V9ut5bfY-3MTOcdwiNm_qx0Tt7TXA-AUocTXuBS2hsniAS1-ukXglAbVgxUyefF4/s400/2eastersongs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-77833779307721581932010-03-26T10:02:00.000-07:002010-03-26T10:05:21.460-07:00Some old-fashioned boysCollage artists seem to love collecting old photos of children, especially little girls. Since we are mostly women, I guess we see ourselves reflected in them somehow. Lately I've been making an effort to add some boys to the mix. Not sure how I'll use them, but I found these two dapper fellows when I went antiquing Wednesday. Feel free to copy them if you like.<br />
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The boy with the bow and the ruffles remains nameless but his photo was taken in Jersey City as you can see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUxB7fJcyUwSv2eUXGmbC-jWyj8w9QzKjcU_jC57Pdr0f5XJxXbZEvKOIW7De_LDCw1xucHvk7pKCzAz_OenA9FrDAxMTVcW2Xo5Zma8xy2PTGuVvbsslxZ10pen6YS7sjz7bdQ7i8Wo/s1600/littleboy101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUxB7fJcyUwSv2eUXGmbC-jWyj8w9QzKjcU_jC57Pdr0f5XJxXbZEvKOIW7De_LDCw1xucHvk7pKCzAz_OenA9FrDAxMTVcW2Xo5Zma8xy2PTGuVvbsslxZ10pen6YS7sjz7bdQ7i8Wo/s400/littleboy101.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlJFWJ6-vmjOy5eSQM0AdB5ml6iQ2akUWdmXFfqoT-0lhK_EqN1fWBFRIvZI2OKqh0Osi0U57cDEOUXVF7NkyCck6MToRnpbPHSMUu7ZEhBP6fKkxcum-3lbsAmw4yNHwhUgMbBjphHY/s1600/littleboy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>This little fellow has a big name: James Garwood (or possibly Harwood) Closson 3rd, age 2 years. The photo was taken in Philadelphia, June 18, 1899.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlJFWJ6-vmjOy5eSQM0AdB5ml6iQ2akUWdmXFfqoT-0lhK_EqN1fWBFRIvZI2OKqh0Osi0U57cDEOUXVF7NkyCck6MToRnpbPHSMUu7ZEhBP6fKkxcum-3lbsAmw4yNHwhUgMbBjphHY/s1600/littleboy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlJFWJ6-vmjOy5eSQM0AdB5ml6iQ2akUWdmXFfqoT-0lhK_EqN1fWBFRIvZI2OKqh0Osi0U57cDEOUXVF7NkyCck6MToRnpbPHSMUu7ZEhBP6fKkxcum-3lbsAmw4yNHwhUgMbBjphHY/s400/littleboy1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-79362346339733482882010-03-21T18:26:00.000-07:002010-03-26T10:08:23.448-07:00A fun jewelry class<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnoK4Hf0hib15Chvbo4t33n8iLpUeKFj-NNu93iEV4IjPbMkr4oW5lJ9l_c0f5ZahDhuJebhteeWhSzAb1bYtPVZNBeE9zUEBu-1AVk8F3iKKEqvSaupM-gn4-NhSpPIqUkSeItBTwsk/s1600-h/filigree+class1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnoK4Hf0hib15Chvbo4t33n8iLpUeKFj-NNu93iEV4IjPbMkr4oW5lJ9l_c0f5ZahDhuJebhteeWhSzAb1bYtPVZNBeE9zUEBu-1AVk8F3iKKEqvSaupM-gn4-NhSpPIqUkSeItBTwsk/s400/filigree+class1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We had a great time on Saturday making pendants at Kecia DeVeney's home/studio in Wall Township, NJ. It was an hour and a half away for me, but it was such a gorgeous day I didn't mind the drive at all. We made pendants using old tintype photos, brass findings, old rhinestones and chandelier crystals and put it all together with solder, glue and resin. What fun!<br />
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My pendant is the heart-shaped guy, second row, far right.<br />
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It was also fun to see Kecia's home and her artwork, which I'd only seen photos of before. I'll tell you one thing, that girl knows how to work a flea market...<br />
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More info on Kecia's classes:<br />
<div><span family="SANSSERIF" style="font-family: Beach; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.lemoncholys.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1269220546_0">www.lemoncholys.blogspot.com</span></a><u><br />
<a href="http://www.lemoncholys.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1269220546_1">www.lemoncholys.com</span></a><u><a href="http://www.keeshagirl4.etsy.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1269220546_2"><br />
</span></a></u></u></span></div>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-77851644935614150122010-03-21T11:25:00.000-07:002010-03-21T11:28:34.171-07:00It's a Garden Party...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4p40ffA5qAL9f-9j4AtD2JhGUbWlMSc8T4Ub2UezZXUiAzGnVkD4vwc_R9SmUWNPg8yOyOOQzmzyPd4L4K1LOi0JQa50QzWFNcdgFEO3kEowIav3tcQOvsCAux87m2gMRUtRSA9cfK_o/s1600-h/one.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4p40ffA5qAL9f-9j4AtD2JhGUbWlMSc8T4Ub2UezZXUiAzGnVkD4vwc_R9SmUWNPg8yOyOOQzmzyPd4L4K1LOi0JQa50QzWFNcdgFEO3kEowIav3tcQOvsCAux87m2gMRUtRSA9cfK_o/s400/one.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ySd7be1SHzBP3ygNrbi-w0ZMXw0k8QdFCScc8C3S8heZUB9Pp5xF5KowqfE6u69Gah02GuCfFYOXKDo2E2knduflmBNKVoDLmWvnPNJcV2-49AdVAdIvJHy5Te2FyYLxu9i3wTitiAY/s1600-h/bottles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ySd7be1SHzBP3ygNrbi-w0ZMXw0k8QdFCScc8C3S8heZUB9Pp5xF5KowqfE6u69Gah02GuCfFYOXKDo2E2knduflmBNKVoDLmWvnPNJcV2-49AdVAdIvJHy5Te2FyYLxu9i3wTitiAY/s320/bottles.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div></div><div>I had such a great time taking the February Artist Class run by Mary Green, which featured 12 projects by 12 different artists, that I couldn't resist proposing a project of my own. The new Artist Class, with a Garden Party theme, will run throughout the month of April. My project will be an altered antique bottle with pretty paper flowers. You can get $10 off the price by mentioning my code: justabbyandme<br />
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</div><div></div><div></div><div>For information, go to: <a href="http://artistclass.typepad.com/artist-class/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1269195355_0">http://artistclass.typepad.com/artist-class/</span></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>The direct link to register is <a href="http://www.e-junkie.com/artistclass/product/347271.php#Artist+Class+-+Garden+Party+April+2010" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1269195355_1">http://www.e-junkie.com/artistclass/product/347271.php#Artist+Class+-+Garden+Party+April+2010</span></a></div>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-57572333750087225732010-02-06T13:24:00.000-08:002010-02-06T13:24:02.501-08:00Enough already ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBoiDBPaK24dRDARYh3WRTE8oNf7J43zm16dpPVJrn-WuRrz_3aGWx6uGTBp1j6mRK4fmddQxIgkUL1BP8mrPyG-fNQJuFzTiXxzFZWp22Nir-boZO2sk0rmq1QPFSBgh3vTCT9AWNXc/s1600-h/wildwoods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBoiDBPaK24dRDARYh3WRTE8oNf7J43zm16dpPVJrn-WuRrz_3aGWx6uGTBp1j6mRK4fmddQxIgkUL1BP8mrPyG-fNQJuFzTiXxzFZWp22Nir-boZO2sk0rmq1QPFSBgh3vTCT9AWNXc/s400/wildwoods.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Love this photo, stolen today from the web site of my old employer, The Press of Atlantic City. This is the main entrance to Wildwood's beach and boardwalk, complete with numerous colorful concrete beach balls.<br />
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We had a lull for a couple hours this afternoon but the snow picked up around 3 p.m. and is coming down thick and fast again. It's expected to end around 8 or 9 tonight.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-68408261529500521712010-02-06T11:45:00.000-08:002010-02-06T11:45:16.205-08:00Art & Dolls Gone Wild<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywPoF1wsH3b8UkZKAsBPY4q0M0u_WORoc3eHy8brOA0-NW9FTxprsJ6bqsKauUZxJCpZTGl7GuNaG2snT6z57dPckuLSd9vnHUfvhYR8jT1gf48QJsfZooEgvPna0ya1fKVSPLrvDmnI/s1600-h/dollydoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywPoF1wsH3b8UkZKAsBPY4q0M0u_WORoc3eHy8brOA0-NW9FTxprsJ6bqsKauUZxJCpZTGl7GuNaG2snT6z57dPckuLSd9vnHUfvhYR8jT1gf48QJsfZooEgvPna0ya1fKVSPLrvDmnI/s400/dollydoll.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhlSwsaNerXzfBHCkmYXLXdNx3HPFIkbTyJ5ZvhCEXbmeLOEviDw7K-f3TKiuPjH9qmfYmyKkH1k75KAOvgE7gIep_l99SDf_-ZCz1L6A_BvRAuQ6n_WhQyCSKM2V5I92jdvemxdONos/s1600-h/blockhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhlSwsaNerXzfBHCkmYXLXdNx3HPFIkbTyJ5ZvhCEXbmeLOEviDw7K-f3TKiuPjH9qmfYmyKkH1k75KAOvgE7gIep_l99SDf_-ZCz1L6A_BvRAuQ6n_WhQyCSKM2V5I92jdvemxdONos/s200/blockhead.jpg" width="141" /></a>I belong to a private Facebook group called Art & Dolls Gone Wild. But if there's anything wild about this group, it's the <i>dollmakers </i>themselves. There are eight people in the group, and we divided into two groups of four for a collaborative art project, which we started a few months ago and are just finishing up.<br />
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Each of us made a doll head, then mailed it to the next person on the list. That person added a body and sent it to the next person, who added arms and legs. The fourth person added finishing touches and sent the completed doll back to the person who made the head.<br />
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My head was pretty basic -- an old wooden block, decoupaged with a photo of a really shabby old doll head, some rub-on letters, a bottle cap crown. The next person added a body made from a rusty old trowel. The next person added strips of metal for arms and a nutcracker for legs. Finishing touches included a skirt of pen points, some copper pennies with a green patina and polymer clay hands and feet. During her journey, she even acquired a name: Dolly.<br />
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Not all the dolls are finished yet, but we're already talking about our next project. What a fun, creative group of women.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-85890147747154222112010-02-04T17:42:00.000-08:002010-02-04T17:42:17.469-08:00And more on the way?<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was my back yard when I got up Thursday morning. Looking pretty and melting fast. The next storm is due to arrive Friday night and could be up to two feet, or so they say. This winter has been the snowiest in many years at the Jersey shore. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvPj-pxE53mjV6rP8wfJNgYsrdim3Lc3K2d_IEp-B7YHNYPv3hLhD6zGD-jLxYADzbVenPP3NnQsMZkgSjtU5vsrBj0eFnANtzpNoKajVG44KJqUBz-BmESTAbj07dvFae11ogjIkC8c/s1600-h/100_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvPj-pxE53mjV6rP8wfJNgYsrdim3Lc3K2d_IEp-B7YHNYPv3hLhD6zGD-jLxYADzbVenPP3NnQsMZkgSjtU5vsrBj0eFnANtzpNoKajVG44KJqUBz-BmESTAbj07dvFae11ogjIkC8c/s320/100_0119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-90637299196391003902010-01-31T08:56:00.000-08:002010-01-31T08:56:35.144-08:00Crafts on a snowy day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AffYJyTtyYcBOV7KFjgeuHVtkhCV70Q4ujrG-X-yPV5umE3hoSteY92yErr3KDdQp_kmX-k4LZwnBB7Ecw-VAZr51VPX-mHgWZxEiRH_dbF_WXnvpWO3Lu8Xyi_EltXYVdmFAfMegCM/s1600-h/journal1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuhjrBgiz9OUnP0NjOVsAeXubkf1WKTqKy9RDaIFhxk38Ib2yQHQBFiKZwpcY0mua2Q1A8q6Erdxw5QjWMFNbAYwqUsuHPdsgOkZy3tWcIaSev9Q-SP3qQ3XFlqkaO8n7PR0oizdYGBA/s1600-h/journal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuhjrBgiz9OUnP0NjOVsAeXubkf1WKTqKy9RDaIFhxk38Ib2yQHQBFiKZwpcY0mua2Q1A8q6Erdxw5QjWMFNbAYwqUsuHPdsgOkZy3tWcIaSev9Q-SP3qQ3XFlqkaO8n7PR0oizdYGBA/s200/journal2.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432944485499180034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AffYJyTtyYcBOV7KFjgeuHVtkhCV70Q4ujrG-X-yPV5umE3hoSteY92yErr3KDdQp_kmX-k4LZwnBB7Ecw-VAZr51VPX-mHgWZxEiRH_dbF_WXnvpWO3Lu8Xyi_EltXYVdmFAfMegCM/s200/journal1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 157px;" /><br />
I had planned to try to get to Michael's on Saturday before the snow started, but I spent too much of the morning puttering around on the computer. I took a shower and got dressed and when I came downstairs, I found the snow was here and the ground was already covered.<br />
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So instead, I burrowed into my craft room and tried to finish a few projects. I recently read Anna Corba's "Vintage Paper Crafts." What an inspiration! She collages on everything: notebook covers, old bottles, glass candle holders.<br />
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Pictured here are two dollar-store notebooks I altered. One is one of those speckled black and white composition books -- you know the ones; it cost $1. The other is the same size but made of all recycled paper with a plainer paper cover; it was $1.50.<br />
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I stuck with the black and white theme for the composition book, but it was more work because it had so much type on the inside covers that needed to be covered up (class schedule blanks, and measurement tables). So I ended up collaging inside both covers, too, also with a French/Paris theme. But it was three times more work.<br />
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The inside of the other one was pretty clean; it just needed one small photo to cover up some type on the inside front cover. If I go back for more notebooks, I guess I'll spend the extra 50 cents.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-79779937770662955822010-01-26T17:12:00.000-08:002010-01-31T09:15:28.387-08:00Be my Valentine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPCvsw7tT_O0VtF5132ZmX-v4CkRXoygDto8clh1uMIMEuVKjCacwzdK8H62oW9zJau6VxjdiCtaciQgMeh5ZfoUkN1DouoRPqRos8HhZRXOx7gx1y90IRnfC8aq0eyoZEjOfm_HUf20/s1600-h/valnecklaces.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431222631046542178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPCvsw7tT_O0VtF5132ZmX-v4CkRXoygDto8clh1uMIMEuVKjCacwzdK8H62oW9zJau6VxjdiCtaciQgMeh5ZfoUkN1DouoRPqRos8HhZRXOx7gx1y90IRnfC8aq0eyoZEjOfm_HUf20/s200/valnecklaces.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 134px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLgPXui4ACCOrmnkivs1avylwu4eJIxR5XwYycOsvVnHhEa0xbwQ2udkDD8u64tjyJYzLAcVnjwYYYfm21Gxl6DCyfQj88hpsTkefo3vtDu-KX_dD3s-hy30CxFG2V3v7LnGaoowdlQ0/s1600-h/valpins.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431221549433447762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLgPXui4ACCOrmnkivs1avylwu4eJIxR5XwYycOsvVnHhEa0xbwQ2udkDD8u64tjyJYzLAcVnjwYYYfm21Gxl6DCyfQj88hpsTkefo3vtDu-KX_dD3s-hy30CxFG2V3v7LnGaoowdlQ0/s200/valpins.jpg" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 221px;" width="138" /></a>Red and pink, shiny silver, sparkly glitter, glass hearts. Valentine's Day is coming, and I've been scrambling to finish some jewelry for the store. Maybe I'll throw a few on my etsy site, too. My favorites are the small round glass pendants with a red heart and old text in the background. I have one I wear year-round.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-90081632198311874162010-01-13T17:27:00.000-08:002010-01-13T18:01:42.017-08:00New beginnings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfeCZ6qkxWhkABAVIPalD1uK5-heR4qYPXrypbaGDL-HYS-7bu3g1nCJPmbJePd08VR3wza84URt08Bur-5mNHWMkh22kMFZIWXXAteuS4lu0-3_fSBPULtpS4jflCh7ZcBjudZUKO1Y/s1600-h/rosies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfeCZ6qkxWhkABAVIPalD1uK5-heR4qYPXrypbaGDL-HYS-7bu3g1nCJPmbJePd08VR3wza84URt08Bur-5mNHWMkh22kMFZIWXXAteuS4lu0-3_fSBPULtpS4jflCh7ZcBjudZUKO1Y/s400/rosies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426408653428392594" border="0" /></a>Here's a photo, taken around this time last year, just inside the front door of the Maple Tree gift shop in Seaville, NJ. It is literally just around the corner from my house, and I often refer to it as my home away from home.<br /><br />The first time I called Rosie, the owner, to introduce myself, I told her, "You know, I can see your back door from my kitchen window." It just seemed like fate that I should get involved in this shop.<br /><br />Since it opened less than two years ago, Rosie and the Maple Tree have gradually become a bigger and bigger part of my life. When it opened, I was making crafts for three or four other stores. Most of my output now goes to the Maple Tree. (Those are my Queen of Hearts dolls in the photo.) I work there occasionally, I teach classes there, I stop by to say hi to Rosie if I'm driving by (I was going to say 'in the neighborhood,' but I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> in the neighborhood).<br /><br />So much can happen in two years. In that time, I lost my 'significant other,' Pete. Rosie found out she had cervical cancer; she just recently finished her treatment. On the business side, the economy took a nose dive. But through it all, the Maple Tree has continued to thrive.<br /><br />Today I stopped by to talk to Rosie about new classes and new crafts and new plans for the new year. She said she recently cleaned her craft room at home. She gave away some stuff and threw out tons more. It might be, she admitted, the most wasteful thing she's ever done, but also the most liberating. "I needed a new beginning," she said.<br /><br />That's the great thing about this time of year. You can throw out the old and plan for the new. We all need a new beginning.<br /><br />www.the-maple-tree.comMona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-72626889911014835372009-08-22T12:23:00.000-07:002009-08-22T12:30:28.885-07:00Cat nap<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICHeiGu-Emak6pbRfqmOb8Gcs1r3ctQmGKux9DIy6xigx2jZbkjR6LiizIvUpPglX8Mx5orCb2d3hq96x5Ppp7guPyOGnD3Z87swYckc5SXwBxgqNtosdeKqYDmNFzWK3LnpENCFfFsw/s1600-h/abbynap.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICHeiGu-Emak6pbRfqmOb8Gcs1r3ctQmGKux9DIy6xigx2jZbkjR6LiizIvUpPglX8Mx5orCb2d3hq96x5Ppp7guPyOGnD3Z87swYckc5SXwBxgqNtosdeKqYDmNFzWK3LnpENCFfFsw/s400/abbynap.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372871356338277234" border="0" /></a>There's something so peaceful about sleeping cats and sleeping babies. It makes you feel more relaxed just looking at them.<br /><br />Like most cats, Abby has first one favorite napping place and then another. On these hot summer afternoons, she likes to chill out in a nice cool porcelain sink.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-11783605202022116922009-04-19T06:47:00.000-07:002009-04-19T07:04:06.086-07:00A warm-weather day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Dxz11Po78_BmgR-dJqxOLlrmn1MhZg3EtZbkzXovOmy7P5v3rgIYKhalo1iP6-AGQq-M-D52VFH3MaRLFa1UZNhNfDM1XS0X3Z-e6O-4-5RjZoXD3GPHi7Yk_SJKutz-cZH_XagWvL4/s1600-h/100_0048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Dxz11Po78_BmgR-dJqxOLlrmn1MhZg3EtZbkzXovOmy7P5v3rgIYKhalo1iP6-AGQq-M-D52VFH3MaRLFa1UZNhNfDM1XS0X3Z-e6O-4-5RjZoXD3GPHi7Yk_SJKutz-cZH_XagWvL4/s400/100_0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326402329731647218" border="0" /></a><br />That long-awaited first warm weekend finally arrived in south Jersey. Friday I took a walk in Sea Isle City, where the beach was quiet and the air was clean and crisp.<br /><br />Here and there on the beach were a few hardy souls, warmly dressed but stretched out on the sand or dozing in their beach chairs. I wanted to take their pictures, but couldn't bear to disturb them since they looked so peaceful there.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-73039719777062715872009-04-15T17:33:00.000-07:002009-04-16T06:57:47.699-07:00Crazy old ladies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupL2MT4iBC6ootYLYy8GmQlvQci_ObjinL8Urzyd2HTvapRu0HXP9PZWlgvuelMGR8i0N5FNBPA4dc1S3Ghi_J4VRa5v4RuHIxGvduc6gH9HI9tklbCC009T2l3LB9qv70DKd5ulRAgI/s1600-h/roadkilljar.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupL2MT4iBC6ootYLYy8GmQlvQci_ObjinL8Urzyd2HTvapRu0HXP9PZWlgvuelMGR8i0N5FNBPA4dc1S3Ghi_J4VRa5v4RuHIxGvduc6gH9HI9tklbCC009T2l3LB9qv70DKd5ulRAgI/s200/roadkilljar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325287851375000674" border="0" /></a><br />A Yahoo group I recently joined is sponsoring an Earth Day charm swap, where the charms have to be made of something that otherwise would be thrown away. One of the participants made hers with items she's been picking up in parking lots and throwing in a jar, like old bottle caps that have been run over and are flat and rusty. She calls it her 'roadkill jar.'<br /><br />I had to laugh because I have a roadkill jar, too. I just never called it that.<br /><br />I love the whole found-object/altered art thing. But sometimes I think we are all turning into crazy old ladies, picking up junk off the sidewalk and trying to transform it into treasure.<br /><br />When I was a kid, we used to walk to church from my aunt's house a couple blocks away. On one corner, there was a big brick house and, next to the curb, a big maple tree. The old lady who lived in the house used to pick up bits and pieces of interesting trash -- a feather, a shiny gum wrapper, a piece of colored paper or a snippet of string -- and stick them in the crevices of the bark of the tree. My cousin and I were fascinated and always looked to see what new items had been added. We never saw the woman, but we were sure she was a crazy old lady.<br /><br />Now I think she was probably just ahead of her time. Just another artist making something interesting from other people's discards. And generously sharing it with anyone who happened to pass by.<br /><br />I think of that old lady every time I pick up a bluejay feather on my way to the mailbox, or a rusty old bottle cap in the mall parking lot.<br /><br />Maybe she wasn't so crazy after all.Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038079209096530406.post-42264401888126994952009-03-21T20:08:00.000-07:002009-03-23T07:24:26.592-07:00Making stuff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI3zq54G_qPRfaQok_65OnAbcbCi5-BTVnmdN49CoaseuMMaLr2Ak1jqNaxh2tCz4ofxpKJCsIIkWdaS6AFAqTyyoozXM63RRkXI2IVcgAl8jGEK599-M06u6av3eV3NGY9Wu4ldO7RA/s1600-h/bird3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI3zq54G_qPRfaQok_65OnAbcbCi5-BTVnmdN49CoaseuMMaLr2Ak1jqNaxh2tCz4ofxpKJCsIIkWdaS6AFAqTyyoozXM63RRkXI2IVcgAl8jGEK599-M06u6av3eV3NGY9Wu4ldO7RA/s200/bird3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315845572286369794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Now that I'm retired, all my friends keep asking me the same question: "What have you been doing?" As if they can't imagine how I'm filling all those empty hours.<br /><br />I usually have the same answer: "Making stuff."<br /><br />It's my sort-of, almost, kind of part-time job. I do know people who actually make a living from making stuff. And I know how they do it. They work at it. All the time. They are ALWAYS making stuff. And when they're not making stuff, they're selling what they've made. And when they're not making or selling, they are dreaming up new stuff to make.<br /><br />I approach it a little differently. I like to make things, but -- even though I'm retired -- I have other important things to do. I have to watch HGTV. I have to watch it a lot. OK, I've seen the one where the couple in Cincinnati picks house no. 3, but it can't hurt to watch it again. And I have to feed the cat and empty the dishwasher. But first I have to go get the mail and skim the newspaper. And before I can go get the mail, I have to take a shower and get dressed. And check my e-mail. And while I'm on the computer, I'll do the daily Sudoku puzzle and the daily Quiddler. By then it's lunchtime, and, well, you get the idea.<br /><br />I'm a procrastinator; I'll admit it. Sometimes I'm amazed I get anything done at all.<br /><br />I wish I could get up in the morning and get dressed and go to the craft room and work there all day and, at the end of the day, pile up all the things I've made. But that's not me. I feel pretty good if I can get in a couple of hours of work in a day. And if the pile of things I've made is more of a molehill than a mountain, well, at least I got a little bit done.<br /><br />I am retired, after all.<br /><br /><br /></span></span>Mona Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006212409061998909noreply@blogger.com0