Blissful Birthday

Birthdays to me are ususally, like whatever, no big deal.

But I had the nicest most low key b-day yesterday, I thought I'd share.

While being served coffee in bed by my Honey, I was greeted to birthday hugs and kisses from my daughter Emily.  She made me a treasure!

I wonder who inspired this creation in her?

A tiny teacup is filled with aqua crystals.

Then we headed out to breakfast at a local Mom & Pop eatery called Corkys.

There is always a line there, especially on a Sunday morning.

I asked the manager how many eggs they go through in one week and she said between two restaurants, her last count was 69,000 eggs in one week.

Can you believe that?

Then we were off to the Nursery and Pond store.

I got this beautiful water lily and two new fish for my pond.

There is one of them, the spotted guy!

Emily helped me garden, until she got bored and went to play with friends.

My sweet Dusty Dog helped though.  He is my shadow.

So, I cranked up the tunes and gardened all afternoon.

Isn't this the coolest Zinnia?

Rob bought me a Fuschia.  I LOVE fuschias and do have a pretty good green thumb, but always seem to kill these.  I hope this one lives.  Such a whimsical flower!

I made this sign forever ago, like 15 years ago.

Still love it as Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of my favorite poets.

They had such pretty pots at the nursery for sale, full of mixes of flowers.  So, I made my own mixed flower pots and added little statues, birds, etc.

These are the neighbor girl Pixies, oh except for the guy in the middle...LOL.

They came and brought me some hand made gifts...so sweet.

As my kids have always said, "Mom, you are everyone's Mom."

and I am.

As tiring as parenting can be, I adore my kids and overall like kids 

and animals more than many adults.

Sweet art by three of my favorite little girls!

What a better way to end a b-day than to be sitting enjoying a glass of wine, 

while watching your Man cook you dinner.

After all, isn't that a Man's place, in the kitchen???

Thank you everyone that called, emailed or Facebooked me Happy b-day wishes.

It was a lovely day!

Thrill of the Hunt!

Last Memorial my Man and I on a whim and a promising Pennysaver ad, headed up into the local mountains to Crestline to hit a Garage sale that had oodles of vintage treasures.

Unbeknownst to us, the entire mountain range pulls out all the stops Memorial and Labor Day weekends, with Yard Sales, Flea markets set up in parking lots, every antique store has sales.

It is GOOD!

So, yesterday, up the hill we went again, in search of not so buried treasures.

I am amazed at my blogger friends who take gazillions of pictures, I however am a dork and forget, but I did shoot a few yesterday...here they are!

Steve was the nicest guy, he has an Antique store adjoining his Nursery.

Hello???  Can you say Dreamy???

On Consignment and Collectibles

23762 Manzanita Dr.

Crestline/Lake Gregory

His number is 909 338-7766

Beautiful stuff and what a gem!

Then you have to cross the street to 

Lake Gregory Coffee.

An old Gas station turned into coffee house and bakery.

Everything is baked there daily.

The owner is (darn, I can't find his card)

Everything is so yummy there, we stopped twice.

Once in the morning and once in the afternoon before we headed down the mountain.

The one thing Emily, Rob and I all noticed yesterday was the wonderful sense of community everyone had.  Each business refers you to other businesses, everyone waves and everyone smiles.

Must be the mountain air and it is so beautiful, how could you not be happy in a world devoid of pollution, pretention and traffic????

Becky of The Shabby Chateau is a ANGEL and so talented.

I bought a ton from her last year and did again this year.

She mentioned wanting to sell at the Urban Barn or Chateau De Fleurs, so I gave her their numbers.

Her stuff rocks ladies and if she comes to one of those shows, bring your wallet and truck!

Or head up the mountain and pay her a visit!

So, the rest of the day, I dropped the ball on pics, but the following are treasures I scored at Yard sales and mostly antique stores.

We have been needing a patio seating set...4 pieces for $141.  Not bad, eh?

When you can get a chandelier like this for $45, is it a bad thing?

Baubles, books, some clothes...Yummy.

Old floor lamps that will be used for any number of uses...

at least a dozen vintage glass lamps for me to use for my upcoming Bling Baby classes to be held at Guilding the Lily in Fullerton and The Urban Barn in Escondido.

Also, planning a road trip to Arizona to hang with my gal pal Tricia http://vintagebliss.typepad.com/vintagebliss/ and new friend Maija http://www.maigirlz.typepad.com/ 

to teach some classes to the AZ gals!

More info to come on class schedules!

Happy Sunny Memorial weekend to you all!

XO

What a Weekend!

I think I am finally recouperated from one of the most amazing weekends ever!

First my Bling Babies and I headed out to Glitterfest in Santa Ana...

http://glitterfest.com/

The Babies were a hit and many found new homes that day...

One of my favorites is the sweet one in the middle with the mask...

I was sad to see him leave!

The Pink baby went home with a lovely lady also named Lisa!

Bling Babies, for your Bling...Babey!

This sweet girl went home with my good friend Sharon Benson who sells at Country Roads and Tea Leaf Cottage in Orange.

I got so busy after this last shot that I had to put my camera away, only I left it on by accident and the batteries died, so no more pictures until Monday.

Then Sunday I headed to The Mermaid's Mercantile in Solan Beach and my good friend Debi Beard's store...http://themermaidsmercantile.blogspot.com/

It was a beautiful day at the Mercantile too!

On Monday I headed to Stampington to meet up with Editor Extraordinaire

Beth Livesay...http://coutureovercoffee.blogspot.com/

We had lunch, she picked through my trays of jewelry for possible submission to Jewelry Affaire.

I also left a few Bling Babies and Helping Hands with another editor for possible publication in Somerset Studio.

Beth is a wonderful young lady who at her tender age has and does an amazing job.

Her freshness and youth are inspiring and refreshing!  I truly appreciate her perspective.

  She has been a source of encouragement for me

and I just adore working with her.

I created the below piece just for her.

It is a compilation of all the things I know she loves.

A beautiful weekend, filled with fun and beautiful friends!

Love all of you AMAZING ladies!!!

Almost ready...

Helping Hands are packaged and ready...

Set of three for $12...What d'ya think???

My Gaggle of Bling Babies are almost ready too...

Time to Tag and Price them (my least favorite part is pricing)

2 more days until Glitterfest!!!

Helping Hands

Once upon a time I took a soldering class from a VERY talented lady named Robin Dudley-Howes....

http://robindudleyhowes.blogspot.com/

Included in her kit was a little clothes pin all grunged up with the word "Paris" stamped on it.
she recommended using it to hold things you were soldering, like another hand.

I use clothes Pins NON stop when E6000-ing brooches, bling and metal do-dads to bracelet and ring blanks, etc.

So, in my continuing quest to find creative ways to use every spare doll part, I came up with 

"Helping Hands"

Coming to a GLITTERFEST http://glitterfest.com/ near you...

in packages of "Two"...(both will have tiny hands, of course)

Tiny "Helping Hands" for soooo many purposes!!!

See you Saturday!!

Bling Babies for Glitterfest

Any of you that really know me, know that I LOVE PARTS!!!

Doll parts, mannequin parts, jewelry part, yes, even car parts.

One might think my favorite store is Michael's, the local thrift or Antique store, bin in reality...

I LOVE HARDWARE STORES!

The smell of the wood at Home Depot.  Axle Grease...Old cars at the Antique Car Swap meet....

weird, I know.

So here is mt current Gliitterfest Madness...

BLING BABIES!!!!

Other than taking my 4 legged children to the Vet today for shots...I have been BliSsFuLlY...ALONE.

My 2 legged kids are off with 

a) Grandma

b)Fiance,

c)Father

and 

d)an air show

My Man has been in his Man Cave all day working on his Jeep....

While I have been in my home studio...making a Creative MESS!!!!

Bling Babies...to hold you BLING....B-A-B-E-Y!!!!

Coming to GLITTERFEST next Saturday...see you all there!!!

Hugs,

Lisa

Don't Blink

Every Day is Mother's Day.

Seems like yesterday, now my sons are 24, 19 and 17.

This was Mother's Day 16 Years ago.

Emily is 9...this pic was Easter 7 years ago...

My Family Tree I have in my Home Studio...reminds me of why I do what I do.

Wish I could go back to my children being small, but I guess that is what my new Grandchild will give me the chance to do this coming October.

Like the Song by Kenny Chesney..."Don't Bllink"

Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster then you think
So Don't blink

Naw, don't blink
Life Goes Faster Than You Think

Happy Mother's Day everyone!!!

Countdown to GLITTERFEST...

Sheryl and Diane, sisters extraordinaire and Brain Mothers of Glitterfest LOVE

my doll art.  So, in honor of them and because there are so many darn women out there making jewelry, I am back at making Doll art...

  This was my table at Glitterfest Fall.

Boo baby was a hit...as were my hand sculpted Eyeball spiders...

"Eye see you."

Witch Pumpkin Fairy Diorama.

A piece of my Mannequin art...

For Glitterfest Spring, you will see FunKtional Doll pieces.

(Diane has already ordered 2)

and My newest Jewelry creations which will incorporate my painting...

Stay tuned for more!!!

Remember....Be inspired to CREATE!!!!

May 22nd...http://glitterfest.com/

Vintage Bling giveaway!

In conjunction with "The Mermaid's Mercantile" which is a once a month flea market and art event I participate in, each artist is having a giveaway.

The above necklace will be my giveaway item.  She is a tiny bronze dancer with enamel fairy wings dancing under stars and glitter.  Encased in resin with her are the tiniest vintage flowers and her backdrop is sheet music.  She dangles from an aqua blue glass beaded chain with a tiny bird and the word "create".

In order to win this lovely, you have to leave a comment on my blog and another comment under my bio here...http://themermaidsmercantile.blogspot.com/

The winner will be announced and you can pick up your prize at the Next Mercantile on May 23rd in Solana Beach.

Since we are limiting this only to people who can make it to the mercantile, I have decided to give away two of these darlings.  They might be a tad different, but very similar.  This way, any one who is out of state can have a chance too!

Good luck...24 days and counting...

Mother's Day Lockets

Beautiful Lockets for Mom.  Each with a tiny poem inside...

My Mother kept a Garden,

 a Garden of the heart.

She planted all the good things

that gave my life 

it's start. 

It is only a portion of a poem I found in a poetry book of mine.  Author unknown, I felt it went it goes well with the Heart locket embellished with Vintage Garden delights...

Each Locket is one of a kind and available for purchase.

$65. each

Happy Mother's Day