Enjoying the Holiday Weekend...

Hi everyone. I truly hope you all are enjoying the holiday weekend. I thought I would pop in for a moment tonight and show you a little bit of what my weekend is all about. Is this picture a vineyard in the south of France, or maybe in Italy? No, nothing quite that amazing, but it is a vineyard in the Finger Lakes of New York State. My hubby and I have been going to Keuka Lake now since our honeymoon (almost 27 years ago). We took our children there many summers for vacation. We celebrated many anniversaries there, and this is where we always go to start our summer. Love it and never get tired of it.

Here is a shot I took standing on the dock of our outdoor restaurant. We have a small motor boat too, but we didn't take it on this trip. It was fun watching everyone else on the lake. Soon, we will be able to get out there too (when it is a little warmer!)Ah, I did mention eating...we ate on the deck of one of our fav restaurants. There is nothing like fresh fish, seafood bisque, and bananas foster cheesecake to help celebrate the start of summer!

Tomorrow is picnic day with our family. I think it is going to be a great summer season. Hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day weekends!

New! Handpainted Art....

Here is my junk find that I showed you the other day all decked out in millinery flower hats and bunches of silk flowers. I just keep "playing house" with my find. I love the "shabbyness" of it against the antique flowers. I always use the flowers from the hats, but now I don't want to as much because I love the way the hats look on my dresser. Hmmmm...decisions...

It has been so gloomy outside here this week. I think that I have made a real effort to enjoy all the bright colors in my studio this week particularly. Aren't silk flowers wonderful?

In between all the rain, I run outside and take pictures for my website. I found a great way to do this. I simply have a tray where I display all my "props" that I plan to use in the photo. I put my collage or other art among the display, play with it inside until I get it just right, and then take the tray outside and snap a few pictures. I always try to take my pics outside. I just haven't been able to get better lighting no matter what I do. I hope this photography tip helps any of you with your photos. I plan to do this from now on...rain or shine.

I am adding a new category to my website...Handpainted Items.

These little paintings are just so much fun to make. Simple but romantic. My website is up and running now... just click the site link at the top left corner of my blog page. Its back to my paint now...a little sunshine on a dreary day for sure!

Working away...

Today is another gloomy day here in PA. I think it has rained for 5 days straight. In fact, yesterday we even had sleet mixed in. It was funny running in and out between rainstorms to take pictures for the new website. My house is basically an art studio right now. Isn't it funny how things move from one room into another, and before you know it, everything is everywhere?

I thought I would let you all know about the re-vamping of my Etsy site. I am now going to offer mixed mixed pins and necklaces. The bigger artwork will be saved for my website.

I have had so much fun making my artwork in miniature form. The best part of all, now I can wear my collages! These are just so cute.

Stop by and take a look at my Etsy store on my right sidebar. Isn't it fun making new things! Thank goodness for gloomy days and making art..

Isn't this cool?

Hi everyone! I thought I would come up for some air, so to speak, and show you something really cool that I got on the side of the road...for free! It has been an incredibly busy weekend with getting ready for the website opening, and I thought while I am into it, why not revamp totally my Etsy shop? It is going to be amazing...but there is only one of me to do all the work, so it is so busy right now. I totally need a "mini-me" to help out (at least with the boring stuff, like accounting!) LOL! I know you all know what I am saying..Anyway, I digress...Every year our town has a clean up day in the fall and spring. People throw old things out on the side of their driveways that they don't want anymore. Being a total addict of anything old that can be fixed up, of course, I am always there. This year I found this old antique dresser with mirror (beveled, I might add), and scrolly towel bar. It is very Shabby in various shades of yellow. For right now, I am really enjoying the extreme, almost Primitive, feel of it. I think I am going to put one of my crystal chandelier lamps on one side and store all my vintage items that I use for my art in the drawers and on top in a display. Don't you just love it...I love free antiques, don't you? :)

New Website...

After much thought and total excitement, I am so happy to announce that I will be opening a new website very soon with all of my handmade romantic items. I had a more Primitive website a few years ago that featured all my Primitive designed dolls, but now I am beyond excited about my new website that will feature all my collage art, petals cakes, banners, ACEO cards, bird's nests, and so much more. What a huge undertaking is all I can say, but it is something I have wanted to do for awhile now. I will let you all know more about this new chapter as it comes closer. Don't you just love new ventures? I cant' wait!

Once-a-year visit....

What a lovely weekend I had. Being Mother's Day, there was a lot of family around all weekend long. Friday I went out to dinner with my hubby, parents, son, and my sister and her husband. Just wonderful. The food was great. The company was even better!

Sunday my hubby and I along with our grown kids and son-in-law all met at our once-a-year restaurant, Taughannock Farms in Ithaca, NY. I say "once-a-year" because this place is probably my favorite restaurant in the whole world and it is something that we try not to do too often...it is much more special that way. The actual restaurant is in a Victorian summer mansion that overlooks Cayuga Lake. It is so beautiful on the hillside, and the views are spectacular!

There are many tables that are outside where you can sit with a drink and enjoy the scenery.

Look at that view! Gorgeous!

There were lots of lilac groves. Lilacs are my favorite flower , so I was in heaven.

The bleeding hearts were in bloom.

The inside of the restaurant was all done in a Victorian grand decor. It was pretty dark in there, so picture taking was a little difficult. All I can relay is that there were flowers and candles on the tables, and it was like you stepped into Grandma's summer mansion.I started my dinner with my fav, chilled strawberry soup. Don't you just love the little red hearts?

The turkey dinner was divine! Sometimes comfort food is just what hits the spot.

After a tossed garden salad and my main course, I topped everything off with a delicious peppermint chocolate ice cream cake. No diets today!

Another year, another great visit. Until next year...:)

Vintage Dreams.....

I love all things vintage, as I know a lot of you do too. I dream of antique stores and flea markets with all kinds of "girly girl" finds. I am totally into vintage linens, aprons, hats with loads of flowers, jewelry, and old clothing. Just love it. Last week I had a chance to go one of my fav antique stores. While I didn't find a lot of my most favorite finds on this trip, I still had a great time going through all the old vintage items.

I just can't get enough of old linens. I use them for aprons on the dolls I make and for lots of other things too. I even came across some beautiful tablecloths and aprons....so much fun!

Now here is a ultra feminine booth. Love all the clothing and jewelry.

With Mother's Day just around the corner, don't you just love this old vintage pin? So cool.

More buttons! Not today though. I have jars and jars at home.

I am always looking for affordable hats with loads of flowers so I can take them off and use them in my art. Pink is always the premium choice. No pink today, but I did buy the little purple flowered number in the upper left corner. So many vintage finds to discover... so little time. :)