Friday, August 31, 2012

THE SKELETON KEY TO MY HEART & A BLUE MOON!


As many of you know, I lived with my grandparents on their farm when I was growing up. It was a magnificent farmhouse with two huge stained glass doors in the front and doors entering the kitchen from matching porches on either side.



It was the side doors you enter the house from. Every one of these huge doors had it's own skeleton key.



I loved the feel and the sound as you put the big, old skeleton key into the keyhole and turned. You could feel the weight of the lock tumblers as you slowly turned the key. There would be a lovely "thump" and then the loud "click" before the giant door magically opened.



The front doors, which were rarely opened, had a delicate skeleton key. It was very ornate and looked like you could break it if you turned too hard. It hung on a nail above the doors which were directly in front of the staircase. I saw it elegantly hanging there every time I came downstairs.


Being in the antiques business, my grandparents had skeletons keys on rings all over the house. Whenever she went to an auction or farm sale, my grandmother would buy all the old keys, you never knew when you might need one for a cupboard or a trunk.



I still have many of those old keys my grandfather kept on the big key rings. I have them hung around my old farmhouse and I keep one very special on hung on a nail, not above the door, but on the beam in my livingroom where I see it every day.


Oops, I almost forgot.


There is a Blue Moon tonight, our second full moon this month. The night will be charged with postivie energy so ladies get out there and grab some. It is a good night to start something new or repair something old. Whatever you decide to do don't forget to have a peek at this magnificent sight.

Images from PINTEREST.








Wednesday, August 29, 2012

DOING THE HAPPY DANCE!


As you all know I am having a GYPSY TEA & TAROT PARTY in my studio on Sept. 22.

I am just so thrilled today. Packages have started to arrive from all of the very generous women on Etsy and from this blog who are donating their art to help raise money for the Dogs. I am kicking up my heals and smiling ear to ear with the generousity of all of you beautiful women.

I will be doing a very large post after the party sharing all of the photos and giving a big Thank You all at once to everyone.


I could not do this without the loving support and kindess I have received from you wonderful ladies. The ticket sales have also started to take off so I am doubly blessed. You are helping to make a lot of pups very happy.

blessings & bliss
Sue

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

RECLAIMED CANDLESTICKS IN MY ETSY SHOP



I just finished working on some lovely reclaimed candlesticks for my Etsy Shop LUCYS GARDEN.

I just love these large ones. They are salvaged stair rails from a 150 year old farmhouse. I painted them in faded stripes and I just love the shape.



The white ones had such a nice worn patina I left them as they are while the others I painted again in the stripes. I do love stripes.



I made a couple of Halloween ones too. I just love to use reclaimed pieces of wood I think that is the ultimate in recycling. I have been going through the piles we have collected on the farm and we are going to be using all of it up on pieces for the shop. I have some really funky ideas for some things so stay tuned.

Monday, August 27, 2012

A LOVELY RAINY DAY IN THE STUDIO!


Finally we are getting some much needed rain today. Mind you this is the only day this week that calls for rain.


I have a lot of work to do in the studio today. A special Halloween order and finishing some really nice candlesticks for my shops WICKED FAERIE QUEEN and LUCYS GARDEN on ETSY.


I love working in the studio on a rainy day, just me, the dogs, and an old movie on the dvd player. Today it is the Thin Man series, Myrna Loy, William Powell and Atsa it doesn't get better than that!


Well, I must get back, just stopped by for a quick break and to say hello and happy Monday everyone. Hope you all had a lovely weekend and are having a fabulous day!







Saturday, August 25, 2012

A BOOTIFUL BUSY SATURDAY!


It is a gorgeous day here in Southern Ontario. Lovely morning with Rufus & Daisy, we shared my toast and tea, wasn't that generous of them? I am spending the day in the studio finishing up some Halloween signs for my Etsy Shop WICKED FAERIE QUEEN.




I painted these four on 100 year old boards from a salvaged cupboard. The last one sold, which was my favourite.





I made a bunch of smaller signs or shelf sitters, too. There is something for everyone. I love vintage Halloween, as you well know. Not that I am pushing away the summer but I do love to embrace every holiday. I am getting itchy fingers to open the Christmas cupboard too.

Have a lovely weekend,
hugs to you all,
Sue


Friday, August 24, 2012

LIVING IN WONDERLAND!


I love everything Alice. Alice in Wonderland that is. As you know if you have read my two summers ago we had a Mad Hatter's Tea Party Wedding Party for our son and his lovely bride.



The whole studio and farm became Wonderland for a weekend. I made all of the characters and loved them so much that the Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit now live in my studio while Alice and the Cheshire Cats ( I made two) greet me on the way into the studio.



I don't think there is anyone of any age who is not intrigued with Alice and her friends. I will have another Tea Party one day, not so elaborate but just as magical.





What a wonderful thing to do for your children or granchildren. A cake, cupcake or cookies some pretty tableclothes.



Serve drinks in teacups, even if it's not tea. Simple Queen of Heart cookies are fantastic too.


Put a little whimsy into the end of your summer. Have a Mad Hatter's Tea Party for your family and friends, believe me you will want to do it again and again because,








Wednesday, August 22, 2012

GLORIOUS GLADIOLA AND LUNCH THIEVES!


I stopped at the local Farmers Market (around the corner, which is so nice) for our weekly eggs and could not resist the buckets filled with a rainbow of Gladiolas.





They are just so beautiful. So tall and majestic yet so country looking too. They last a long time and are so colourful and cheerful.



Now, I would love to tell you that Daisy and Rufus were looking at my flowers but they could smell lunch on the table. Ours not theirs.



We have eaten outside all summer and most of the time we have these two guests at our feet. I do not feed our dogs table food just really good organic dry food from England and ground turkey, but every once in a while they get a little piece of toast or bread.



I tried to not give them any of our Tuna Melt but who could resist that face and the Little Miss under the table.


In the end they each got a little piece of roll and were quite happy.