"Shams" And Shades" .....And Shut UP! Warm and sunny Weather???

Okay,,,,,Which hurts worse? A Glue Gun Burn or a Needle in the Finger? And come on! Am I the only one that never gets a manicure anymore, because it just isn't Worth IT?

I've been working on some Pillows (Shams) and Shades the last couple of days.

I stipped these mini shades and wrapped in Tulle and "Scrunched" creme seam binding.......two more to go, but I ran out of Tulle,,,,,,,,,Trip to the Fabric Store tomorrow! Fun for a Mini Chandelier, or some wall sconces........

I've also been making pillows,,,,, a few are still in the works. And I'm not sure that I'm quite done with any of these! I may add a BIT more lace/ tulle/etc.

Oh, This is definetly a GOOD "tease" photo! (HA! ONE way to compensate for my poor photographic skills!) But I'll have several Neutral and Black pillows for sale at  the "Ruffles and Rust" event next month!

I'm using muslins, heirloom and vintage laces, a bit of black velveteen and old buttons and ribbons.....Still have several Shams and Shades to make for the Event............

So,,,I'm going to talk weather for a moment! OH MY! I cannot believe what Ya'll are enduring in the South!
Both Coasts! CA in the 100's??? Rain in the South??????? And HEAT in the NE? We're supposed to have a couple of WARM but nice days in Washington State! Thank HEAVENS! But my heart and thoughts go OUT to all of you suffering from Flooding/Storms and record HEAT!

Wowza! What a September! Stay Cool/Dry, Happy and let us all HOPE that October brings a BIT of normalcy!!

(Happy Belated to Lisa, my dear blog friend,  of  "The Davies Dialoges", and to my friend "Jenn" of "My Three Graces" -her gorgeous blog photos can be found on my Sidebar AND  Special thoughts and Prayers to Lynn Stevens of "Trash to Treasures Art" that she's "UP and At 'Em soon!,,,,,,,,,and Mark your Calender for Lulu's Birthday,,,,,,,of Coastal Sisters,,,,My BBFF,,,,,,,and although she WOULDN'T come out and TELL ME! Ackkk! I THINK is the 3rd or 4th of October!!!!)

Love and Hugs to you ALL,,,,,,,you Truly mean the World to ME! I cannot imagine my life without ALL my Blog Friends!!! I know I've been busy and can't respond as often as I'd like to.......but I think and worry, laugh and Pray and rejoice in my friendships with ALL of you!!!

Shell

Heads up onmy Dear Blog Friend Lynn! And a Postscript on Vintage Cars and Trucks!

If you've followed or read my Blog for a while, you may be familiarized with the incredible Lynn Stevens. She's my Uber talented Blog friend, whom I've grown to know and love, living in Idaho.  She's been in Sommerset Magazines, showing her Cards, paper and Mixed Media creations more times than I can tell you. If you've checked out my Sidebar from time to time,, as in RIGHT NOW,,I do tout her talents,,,,because yes, she's amazingly creative,,,but she's also a sweetie!

Lynn's Hubby, God Bless him, posted today on HER Blog   http://trashtotreasureart.blogspot.com/ that she's been hospitalized for an "Emergency and  she will be there for 5-7 days........"

5-7 Days? What's happened? "Nonya" as my son would say. Translated to "None of your Business."
Okay, it isn't. But I also started thinking about the whole EBC -Emergency Blog Contact that I started a while back. And, also, maybe WHY it was so important for ME to KNOW about those Blog friends I've come to love and care about..........

You may or may not know, I was widowed in 1994, suddenly. My husband was a pilot, and aerial photographer, but ironically, he died as the result of a car accident on his way home on the highway, from a photo shoot.  So, I guess, as a result, no, I KNOW as a result, it's always been VERY important to me to KNOW where the people I loved and cared about were. IF they were safe. And frankly, it frustrates the daylights out of me NOT to know!

So, then, as a result of blogging, and YES coming to know, care and LOVE  many of my blog friends and finding them MIA,,,,,,,I decided to do the whole "EBC", or if you will, Emergency Blog Contact Button. Because, if you get right down to it, I felt a personal need to KNOW where and what was going on with those I'd gotten close to,,,,,and I thought, if I feel that way,,,,,,all of YOU would want to know about your blog friends as well. Well, maybe a little more emotionally near and dear to ME, but when you get attached to people, no matter the miles,,,,,,,you want to KNOW!

That said, thankfully at LEAST Lynn's hubby has let us know what, to a degree is going on! Pop over to her blog (link above) and leave her a message if you'd like! I'm sure she'd appreciate it!

And,,,,,,if you DON'T have a hubby savvy enough to post on your blog, or if you'd like to add the EBC button from my sidebar with an emergency contact, and haven't yet.....Grab it, post it,,,,,,wherever, on your blog sidebar! As previously stated, "We Love You, We Worry." Who can we contact if your sick or injured?????????? (If you have any questions on HOW to DO this, leave a comment or Email me,,,,,,Shelly39WA@aol.com)

Okay, still worried about Lynn, but climbing off my soapbox. Let me know if you need further info on creating an EBC .....Because you DO have people that follow your blog,,YOU DO have people that care.......Who can WE,,,,,,your blog friends contact if you are not available?????????

That said,,,,,here's what happening tomorrow,,,,,,,,In Historic Snohomish!

So, Tomorrow? Is the Antique and Classic Car Show in Snohomish!
What Vehicle do YOU Covet????????? This is MY Dream Car.......What's YOUR'S???

I've always wanted a '56 or '57 Thunderbird,,,,,,,Pink or Aqua,,,,,,,,How FUN would THAT be????

But now,,,,,I'd  also kind of like an old Vintage Truck instead,,,,to fix and paint up to take around the US of A and visit ALL my blog friends... How FUN would THAT be???


Love and hugs to you all! Stay healthy and Happy! And,,,,,,,if you don't have a hubby like Lynn to at LEAST post something on your blog,,,,,,Grab the EBC button,,,,tell a friend/blogger, so we KNOW who to contact and WHAT the heck is going  on! And if so inclined,,,,leave a post regarding YOUR dream vehicle,,,maybe I'll see it tomorrow!

Shell

"We're gonna paint it WHITE!"

Okay,,,not WHITE per se,,,but "Heirloom White."  This is what I tried to conveyed to my son today......while he was sanding/stripping and he looked at me somewhat exasperated and said, "Mom, you DO realize if we PAINT this stuff, it loses it's value." 

This is NOT the first time I've heard this. And, if you like something kind of White/Chipppy, painted, rusty, well, you get a BIT defensive.....and I tried to explain it to my son, really, I did.....We LIKE it kind of destressed/light, altered! If we wanted a darned STAINED OAK piece,,,or dark Pine, or mahoganey,,,,well, we just would have gone out and bought it THAT WAY!

(Web Images)

I've got to admit, living in the great old Pacific Northwest, where we get more dark/drab/grey and YES WET days,,,,,I started buying BRIGHT furniture at a VERY early age.......My first furniture looked like it belonged in Miami,,,,,,,truly. Yellow Rattan with White and Green cushions.........and I mean a WHOLE room of it! Trust me when I say, I bought this at the most upscale furnishing's store at the time! And,,well, yes, it was GARISH, and BRIGHT,,,,,,but in retrospect, I think I was KIND of on track!

The Scandanahoovians and the Swiss have done it for decades! It makes SENSE! You have a lot of grey, wet, dark days and having LIGHT in your home is just appropro......

So,,,,eventually the Rattan went away,,,,I lived with Antiques for several years.....Light Oak (Gag)  and the likes.....and it felt contrived and harsh, even in this OLD house,,,,,it wasn't ME.

I found my comfort zone with the enlightenment, if you will, of the whole Shabby Chic explosion. But, I also found a love of Color, textures, metallics, and nostalgia.  This is my comfort zone. I LOVE adding the European pieces.  A bit of Dark, a bit of BLACK.

I guess, I just decorate for ME now........no rules, no agenda. If I find a color I love,,,,I use it!

So? Getting ready for Ruffles and Rust,,,,,,,and if that weren't the case, but some OTHER show...I'd STILL lean towards the Anitique,,,,,Creamy Whites- I love 'em and it just makes sense!.....Now to Convince my SON?

Enjoy your weekend! I'll be working at Joyworks and I trust we'll be BUSY! We have been Hopping as of late,,,,,,Like the OLD days! It appears, word is OUT that Joyworks is THE place to shop for clothes, accessories and home decor......or people have decided that it IS important to support smaller/local businesses,,,,,,,,because if you DO NOT,,,,,,,you will lose them! Working on our 31st year! Go TEAM! and I work with the best!

Hugs, love and a Bus on the Cheek!

Shell

I truly don't know WHAT THE HECK overcame me today!

Okay,,,,Mark it on your Calendar! I COOKED  and Baked today!  I mean really, I used to do this ALL the time! And,,,,I LOVE to prepare a nice meal for company, or make a special dish or dessert for a gathering,,,,but Cooking AND Baking anymore in the same day and it wasn't even a HOLIDAY? Not so much!

I think I "Channeled" My Inner June Cleaver!

Awwww, Shoot, both of my sons are starting back to College this Qtr....the air is crisp (Thank the Lord, NO rain today!) And,,,,,,,I felt like being in the kitchen! Ackkk!

I made my "Semi" Famous White Chicken Chili,,,,,,which was actually written up in a publication for a Sailing Club,,,,HA!  I shared the recipe last year,,,,,,but many of you didn't follow my blog then,,,,so here it is:

(Feel free to take poetic liberty with ANY ingredients,,,,,,,it'll basically turn out fine anyway!)

Shell's "Semi-Famous" White Chicken Chili

Saute a A Diced Green Pepper , One Diced Onion, and Some Garlic (to taste,,,,,I use tons!)

Add:

3-4 Cups of cooked/cubed Chicken   (I cheat and buy a Deli Chicken, pre-cooked! Skin and de-bone this "Clucker"!)

About 3-4 cans of Great Northern Beans (don't drain,,,,your gonna toss them in as is)

One or two Cans of Garbanzo Beans (Drain these suckers, it's all water!)

An  itty bitty can of Diced Green Chilies

2 cans of Chicken Broth

Add a 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves (weird, but it works, trust me!)

A bit of Chili powder

1/4 teaspoon of Cumin IF you have it,,,but I never seem to...

Pepper,,,,yeah, yeah, white pepper IF you have it, otherwise the regular kind will work.....

Simmer for a couple of hours,,,,,,and THEN,,,,,,okay this makes it, and yes, it adds a bunch of FAT and Cholesterol, but COME ON,,,,,you KNOW you LOVE it!

Add 3 cups of  Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese just before serving!

If you want to be a BIT healthier,,,,,put it in a bowl on the side and let people add their own,,,,,,but it just takes all the fun out of it!

Fun to serve this soup with Corn Chips and a dallop of NON FAT (HA! Who are we kidding now? Sour Cream)

But wait, I didn't stop THERE! Paula Dean would be SO PROUD! I made a Cake too! Butter Cake with a Butter Creme Frosting............

And, I managed to get a FEW more Halloween hats done! Almost finished with Halloween stuff,,,,,looking forward to getting back to some "Basic" crafting ( I have some headband orders, a Custom Wedding Cake Topper and then the rest will be for "Ruffles and Rust" Event.....

Try the White Chili Recipe, I think your family and Friends will like it!

Back to the Studio/aka Dungeon in the Morning!

Hugs/Love and a Bus on the Cheek!

Shell

Pictures I'd like to be taking now and a new Camera???

Fall is usually my favorite time of year in Washington State. It's usually relatively dry and crisp during the days, although  with chilly enough in the mornings to warrant a sweater. THIS September,,,,we just seem to get RAIN, RAIN and MORE RAIN!  Not our usual, beautiful Fall. Trust me, IF and WHEN we get any of those days,,,I'll share some pics!

Ahhh, yes, Pictures!

I want to buy a new camera. I want to buy a GOOD camera! My little Kodak, just isn't cutting it. I need to learn to take better images (perhaps a class at the local college) and QUIT apologizing for the photos on my blog,,,but hopefully go even a step further,,,,,and create some fun images!

So,,,,My Dears,,,,,,any comments/advice/suggestions???Anne, Karen, Jenn, Deb, Melaine,,,so many of you take such beautiful images,,,,But, in general, I'd LOVE any input you guys have on buying a good camera! Let me know!  And,,,,if you know of  a lens that makes me look about 15 years younger, I'd give my left kidney! HA! Thanks, though, for any insight or tips on a camera!

I didn't make it "down" in the studio today. Just "plucked" a couple of lampshades to redo and  am ready to hit the ground in  the studio running! I miss my little "hobbit hole" of creativity! But I've missed catching up with all of YOU more,,,,catching up, albeit slowly!

Hugs/Love/ and a Bus on the Cheek!

Shell

Wow! Feels like I've been MIA for a while! and see below,,,,, linking "My Meissen" China to Vintage Inspiration Friday!

Today was "Garage Sale" Day here in my Old Garage with my friend Dana. We did pretty Well! But also had a fun time!

Things were FLYING out! Okay,,,,maybe more Dollars than Twenties!

But, we sold quite a bit and had fun visiting with friends and neighbors and members of the community we both knew! Shew! I think, last tally that Dana and I each made about $250 Bucks. So not a bad day!

And,,,,,,we learned a LOT about how to do it NEXT time!  The Soggy Washington weather held,,,,,and actually holding it in my Old double detached garage helped!

But shew! Glad it's over now, Lots of work and "Purging" in the process!

NOW, it's on to Crafting and getting things ready for  the Ruffles and Rust Event in October,,,,,and then getting ready for "Silver Bella" with Lulu in Nebraska in November!

I feel SO behind on SO many blogs and catching up with all of YOU right now! Ackkk! Packages, certificates, WILL go out next week!  Promise!!!

And, as It's also Friday, which means it's Debra's Vintage Event over at Common Ground!

http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/

I'd promised Debra a while back I'd take pictures of my Meissen China.

Meissen Teapot

If you are not familiar with Meissen China, in general, they are/ were so ornate/cherished unique that many European Kings/Queens and Aristocrats sought Meissen out. In fact, they STILL produce China in Germany and many works are one of a kind/priceless.

If you "Google" Meissen, much of what you will see is very ornate figurines and then, they too, also made a RELATIVELY common (although coveted) type of Blue Delph pattern....

What I have, my Grandfather bought piece by piece for my Grandmother DURING WWI and afterwards, in Germany, howevever long before WWII. ( My family left Germany for the US in 1929).

So,,,,the set that I have,,,is priceless in more ways than one! This is a really bad photo (sorry!) and yet....

IF you look closely, the cups AND the Teapot all have Swans Necks! My OMA (my DUTCH Grandmother) and my "Poppy", my German Grandfather met at an upscale Hotel on the Rhine, Aptly named, "Der Schwann"......or if you will "The Swan."

Again, if you look up Meissen, most of it is VERY ornate,,,,,,24k gold trimmings, complicated statuary commissioned and collected by royalty. ...

So the China I have? Is basically "everyday" Meissen......and it IS very valuable now, but even more important to ME is the sentiment! And part of a SMALL group of items that was shipped, to the US in 1929-30.  There is more, of course here than what I've photographed! And, I love it SO! They were together over 50 years,,,,,,,,"Karl and his Emm's." Quite the love story!

(Debra,,,,I promise to give a TEA soon, with friends and set the table with these gems! Life IS too short not to use and appreciate them!) And given that my "Oma," my wonderful, exotic, fun grandmother would want us to enjoy sweets! Oh MY, I must, and soon! )

Promise to catch up with you ALL this next week! Love you guys, miss you and can't wait to see what you've all been up to!!!

Hugs and love and a "Bus" on the Cheek!

Shell

Garage Sale,,,,,,,or What I have in Common with Oprah! Found great Pic of my Mom.......

I don't know if any of you caught it today,,wherever you live.....but I watched Oprah's (Last) Season opener this afternoon. Well, at the End, Paul Simon came on and sang a song about 25 years,,,,,and I thought, Jeebus, Oprah and I have something in common! I've been accumulating things in this old house for about 25 years!!!

Photo of a Street Sale in Paris.........

My oldest son Sean,  is helping me sort and organize. "Save," Toss, Give to Charity, etc. Oh my STARS, you should SEE the chaos!

This Friday,,,,,,ONE DAY ONLY, I'm having a Yard Sale, here at the house with my friend Dana Gilpin.....I've arranged Tents/canopies as it is supposed to rain LIGHTLY ....WHEN??? Yeah, well, even if we'd had one earlier this summer it would have either been 90 something degrees OR raining buckets,,,,there was NO in between......So 70ish,,,,and chance of rain,,not too bad!

I found this pretty pic of my mom,,,,while going through things. .she'll be "Gone two years in December"  I miss her SO! ...She was the "Bestest!" I shed quite a few tears today,,,finding pictures of family members, friends and even Wedding pics,,,,back in 1994 with my hubby Karl,,,,who is now, LONG gone, but certainly never, ever, forgotten.

In retrospect, I understand why I've saved boxes of photos, cartons or albums and framed images and haven't managed to plow through them all. My husband,My mother, a dear friend, my step dad, a favorite cousin.....are gone, but certainly NOT forgotten. Hard to go through, and yet I did laugh at many photos, relived fun and memorable times. . .

But? I have my two sons, young men, here, close by. What a treat! What a Joy! I know they'll both be off in different directions soon enough. But I'm SO thankful to have them here RIGHT now! And we, all three of us, are "tripping" down memory lane.....THIS is a GOOD time! One,,,I'm cherishing RIGHT now!

Okay,,,,,tomorrow, the Kitchen (not much) and UH OH! The Basement,,,,aka the storage area,,,,,,aka, EVERYTHING DOWN THERE that is NOT my STUDIO and has no other "HOME"! Ackk,,Wish us luck and if your local, stop by on Friday and buy some CR**,,,,errrrrrr Good Stuff!

Hugs and Love,
Shell
(I don't think I'll be posting any crafts this week,,,,,unless we get done ahead of schedule!)