(SOMEWHAT) RECENTLY THRIFTED

1// American Airlines California travel magazine from 1965

2// stencil set from 1918 

3// framed silhouette

4// stars (forever a sucker for old packaged office supplies)

(all from estate sales)

I haven't been going to thrift stores and estate sales that much lately, but I have picked up a few really cool things. On my birthday there was an amazing sale in Chesapeake that I got to right as it opened. It was one of the best sales I've ever been to, and I didn't even buy that much. It was just amazing to look at. 

The man who owned the house was an incredible stained glass artist and his workshop was unbelievable. It was packed with every tool for woodworking, welding, printmaking, and glass working imaginable. On top of other things I had no idea what they were for. I found this stencil set under a pile of wood and immediately knew it was one of my best finds ever. It is a complete set with two sizes of numbers and letters and the original brush and ink. I think the box is my favorite part though. This is my favorite type of thing to find. 

CRAFTED: NORFOLK

This past Saturday was the first Crafted Indie Arts and Crafts show in Norfolk. It was O'Connor, the new brewery in Norfolk, so the atmosphere was awesome and people were just hanging out, looking around. I've done a show called Spring Bada Bing in Richmond the past two years, which is also at a brewery, and is one of the best shows I've ever done. So I was very excited to have something similar right up the street from home - and it was an amazing day. People were so excited to be there, and it was really crowded all day, from 11-5.

This was also an exciting day because I had a lot of new things to show for the first time. I designed a new wristlet with hand printed dots and leather detailing- and also offered the clip-on straps separately, so people could add them to any bag. I have started making vintage fabric buttons out of my scraps, which is something I've wanted to do since I was in high school. And I changed up my display to be simpler and more cohesive. Which is a big deal for me. I was getting really unhappy with how my display had gotten.

So overall this was a hugely successful show. Now I'm getting ready and working towards the holidays, applying for December shows. It will be here so soon, and I need to get a head start. The end of this year is going to absolutely insane for us. In the most exciting way.

BROOKLYN FOR A DAY

Last week I took a crazy thirty-hour trip to Brooklyn with my friend Kim. We took a bus Tuesday night at midnight, got into the city right before six in the morning, took the train to Brooklyn and started our day. Kim lived in Brooklyn for two years, so she took me to some really cool places - we did so much in one day. We really covered some ground. 

We walked around different parts of Brooklyn and looked at the gorgeous buildings, street art, and gardens. I had the most amazing dulche de leche doughnut at Dough. We made our way to the Brooklyn Art Museum to see the Swoon exhibit. I had some time to explore Williamsburg by myself. I wandered into a few shops, took a break at a cafe (it was unbearably hot at times), made my way to Bushwick Park to see the Manhattan skyline, but mostly walked and looked around. The whole trip was such a whirlwind that I'd just stop at times and think to myself, wow, I'm really here right now.

When we met back up we went over to Dumbo. I wasn't familiar with that part of town, so I was delighted when I saw where we were and Kim told me the name stood for "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass". It was really neat there.

We rode Jane's Carousel, ate dinner, then headed back to Manhattan to walk The High Line. That was another thing I didn't know about before this trip. And I think it was my favorite thing that we did. It was so neat to be able to walk and see the city without worrying about crosswalks and cars. It was getting dark by the time we were walking it, and a storm came through. We waited it out and by the time we started walking again most everyone had left. It was a really perfect way to end the day.

Here are a handful of photos from the Swoon exhibit at the Brooklyn Art Museum. It was really affecting and gorgeous. These pictures don't even come close to doing it justice. The tree in the middle was so big, and everything was just placed around it so perfectly. 

By the time we had to get back on the bus at midnight, I was maybe the most tired I have ever been. And I couldn't believe the amount of things we managed to fit into eighteen hours. I'm really, really happy that I agreed to come along on this crazy trip when my friend first asked me. It was a little bit out of my comfort zone - or a lot. I am no good without sleep. So the idea of riding a bus for six hours through the night before having a full, busy day in New York City concerned me a little. But I really wanted to do it. Because when else am I gonna do something like this? 

IN PROGRESS

I've always really liked seeing the photos people take while they're making something, and I really like taking those photos, too. So I thought this would be a fun little series to do every once in awhile. These don't show the best progression since a big storm came through the day I was making these, and it was so dark I couldn't take photos. So these are more before and after shots, the fabric cut out then made into bags. But they're still fun anyway. These little coin pouches are currently on their way to Tin Top Art and Handmade in Winchester, VA - one of the shops I began selling at earlier this year.

RECENTLY THRIFTED: TOBACCO FACTORY BINS

These bins are the only thing I got at the Porstmouth Flea last weekend. The woman selling them told me they were old bins from a tobacco factory. The primary colors are what got me, but I also really love the metal detail on the edges. I don't know what I'm going to put in them yet, but I'm hoping I'll work them into my show display sometime.

PORTSMOUTH FLEA AND FARMERS MARKET

This past weekend I went to Portsmouth for the flea market held on the first Saturday of every month. It was the first time I had been in a while. There's a good mix of stuff there - a lot of people know they have valuable stuff and definitely mark things up. But a lot of people are really there to just get rid of things and make money. I've gotten some pretty good deals the handful of times I've gone.

I also stopped by the farmers market. It was really nice. The only think I got though was some handmade vanilla mint rose lip balm. Going to farmers markets makes me really excited for Douglas to get home so I can cook for him again. I really miss that. Has anyone been going to farmers markets so far this summer? There's a bigger one in Virginia Beach I want to get out to soon.

PLANTS

I've always loved the idea of having plants around the house but didn't want to bring something home and kill it. I bought some succulents (in the first and sixth photo) at a plant sale here in Norfolk last year and kept them alive for a whole year and counting. And they actually grow and look happy. So I wanted some more for windowsills and on the balcony and have ended up with these. I'm really enjoying learning about them and watching them grow. They have been a nice distraction to keep up with lately.