A Year Long Makeover

I've been trying and trying to not only clean my craft office, but to also define what it is I like to actually work on. Having been in employ with various craft companies, I've always had my job define my projects. Not that I don't love to rubber stamp cards, stencil clothing or make miniatures, I've been wanting to use this time to also figure out what I really enjoy making. And going through my stuff piece by piece has been helping me do that. I'm "throwing" out old artwork and samples, or actually just boxing them up and putting them in my barn. I think I need room for new creativity...So these pictures are a part of that process. Above is a shelf unit I've had, which has always housed things in transit. Artwork for sale, thrift finds just coming into the house..the like. Here's a picture of the cleaning after 2 months...

almost there..but still too many old canvases ad empty boxes..

found this crazy microscope kit from the 60's or 70's..love the shelving inside..for holding slides. But I'll be using it to hold my Conundrums...

the current top shelf, showcasing minis, dioramas, an occasional drawing or painting..and some hats. 

Love this jar, found it at the goodwill..this whole shelf is jars of things. Mushrooms, clips, plastic pendants, stuff and things and more stuff..

This is the shelf now..I just put the cigar boxes there. Loved the post from Cathe Holden, of course, on cigar box storage..I'll be labeling them next. 

next up..the other side of the room...

Rain on my Parade

A little bit of inspiration for a hump day...
turn it up and so you can sing along too, the lyrics:

FANNY BRICE;
Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter
Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade
Don't tell me not to fly, I simply got to
If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you
Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade
I'll march my band out, I'll beat my drum
And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn't fake it, hat, sir
I guess I didn't make it
But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection
A freckle on the nose of life's complexion
The Cinderella or the shine apple of its eye
I gotta fly once, I gotta try once,
Only can die once, right, sir?
Ooh, life is juicy, juicy and you see,
I gotta have my bite, sir.
Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer"
I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer
Don't bring around the cloud to rain on my parade,

I'm gonna live and live NOW!
Get what I want, I know how!
One roll for the whole shebang!
One throw that bell will go clang,
Eye on the target and wham,
One shot, one gun shot and bam!
Hey, Mr. Arnstein, here I am ...

I'll march my band out, I will beat my drum,
And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir,
At least I didn't fake it, hat, sir,
I guess I didn't make it
Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer"
I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer
Nobody, no, nobody, is gonna rain on my parade!

Toppers

The Lagunitas Beer Circus is this weekend and to prepare, a few friends and I dove head first into diy millinery. A few round pieces of cardboard, some old cigar labels from Melissa, and of course, some mini flora and fauna and glitter..and we were off!!

Topper o' the morning to you! This is the hat that matches my dress...

Kristine's beautiful bird's nest...such bella la vida beauty!

Sure Rite!

This past weekend, my friends Melissa and Kristine and I decided we needed a bit of fresh air and foraging. We found ourselves losing some time at the flea market...looking for nothing in particular, but loving the treasures we happened upon. It was almost time to go, as in "I'm hot and hungry and already scored", and we were at the last row of tables when my hand landed upon this neat old shipping box.

I looked down and saw the nameplate on this silver machine, reading Sure Rite Duplicating Machine from Amercian Stencil MFG. Stencil? Must have. I paid what I had left in my pocket and got the whole box. 

All of the parts are there, including the stylus in it's original plastic tube packaging. There are two bottles of bad ink, a used paintbrush, some stencil blanks and the original Instructions, which made me laugh out loud!

This is the first page of instruction and it basically tells you that if this machine isn't working correctly..it's your fault. ;}

and apparantly when using the original stencil blanks, you have to breathe fire to get them to work?

I'm not sure that I'll get this to work the way it was intended, which was for printing government postcards, so says the manual...but I'm itching to play and figure out how it can work for me. and for fun, check out this website of old office supplies...