YAPPING CAT STUDIO

Book Cover Redo and things Italian

All day long I've thought it was Wednesday, and its Thursday.  Which has kinda thrown me off kilter.  But I did enjoy Monday off with the Sweet Hub, so I guess it was worth the confusion for today. 

Above is after, before, after.  LOL.  Somehow I ended up with a pile of old Reader's Digest Condensed Book single covers.  I've taken some time today to alter them with paint, ink and more. 

This one has been sanded, inked, painted over, sanded some more and re inked.  I added some coffee dyed and inked scrim, along with an old calendar picure, that was also sanded and inked, and a couple of broken, vintage frame pieces. 

As you can see on the right hand side, the before cover is altered quite a bit.  I've really gotten into the whole "layering" thing.  I find it really fun to continue to build and build upon layers to get the finish that I want.  I even used an old doily to layer some inks, so that there were areas of gradiation. 

The last cover has been sanded, and painted and the edge taped down and sanded, but I've not yet started to apply the inks yet.  When I'm finished this will be an "Italian" Memory book.  Not sure how its going to end up, but I'm going to try and use all vintage goodies inside. 

Its actually not going to be to terribly hard to use all vintage things, as Dad and I hit a great Estate Sale a few weeks back.  The home owners must had traveled to Italy several times, as they had many numerous items from there.

Post cards.

Calendars.

Books and more.  Love this tray and I might just keep this for myself.

Loved this book of Opera.  Its in excellent condition, I really don't have the heart to cut it up when its in good shape. 

But my favorite find where these:

These are little calligraphy pen nibs.  They are bronze.  But the coolest part is,

that they are shaped like little pointing fingers.  I love it.  I put some in my Etsy shop along with some of he other Italian items. 

Most want to go to Paris, but I have an earthier destination in mind.  Warm sun, great food, wine…I want to go to Italy.  Perhaps one day.

-c

 

I'm having an affair.  Wtih old things.  I can't stop.

Each Estate sale, each flea market, each antique mall calls my name and beckons.  And what is it that has me in its clutches?  It is the thrill of the hunt. 

Its rounding the corner and seeing that thing that makes your heart go pitter pat.  Or seeing a table full of junk and playing eye spy with that one tiny treasure that gleams above the others.

Old books, old letters, and more are piling up in all the corners of The Studio. 

And I'm trying to add them to Etsy shop as fast as I can. 

Will the madness stop?  Hopefully never.

-c

No computer means more creative time

Yay.  Sort of.  First I had to get over my compulsion to run into the other room and see who was on Facebook or see what Pamela had just pinned.  Once I got past that, I was able to sit down and catch up on some things I had been meaning to do, mainly craft.

I had found some cool metal goods the last time that Hobby Lobby had the sale on, well, metal things.  Should have taken before pics, but i forgot.  But here they are after I added to or changed the decorative elements on them.

I added a nest to this little metal picture, as well as ribbon and some vintage buttons.

I changed the decorative design on this bird cage.  LOVED this image. Petticoate Junction Etsy has some of the coolest images and I fell in love with several things that she has offered. 

Some of them I used on the metal decorative items and some I used to re-cover some comp books.

Changed another metal thing.  And I did remember to take a before pic of this one.  I'll show you tomorrow just how easy it is to change these out.

Added more pages to my ever growing funky journal.

I really am going to try making some of these for my Etsy shop.  And speaking of Etsy, what do you think of my new shop look?  I'm changing some things around, freshening up a bit.  I've added the comp books there, and hope to add the metal decorative items next week.  And I've got TONS of new vintage to add. 

Dad and I hit two awesome Estate Sales in the past several weeks.  I just need to shoot photo's and such. 

Well, off to feed the real "yapping cats". 

-c

One of my art teachers back in college had a theory, that went something like this.  If you can take one piece of art and make it do different things, than you have done a good thing.  For instance, he painted a picture of people in a dance hall for a particular customer.  That picture copy was later purchased for use on a telephone book cover.  And then copied for a restaurant menu.  One piece, three fab uses.

I am still playing with inking/stencils and various things on jouranl pages.  I created this for my funky little book.

But I liked it so much, I thought it would make a great page for my personal jouranl.  So I copied it.

After I copied it, I thought the bottom half was much more interesting than the top half and that these might make great note cards.  So I used the copies to make note cards.

One piece of art, with three different uses.  I love it.

I'm having way to much fun copying my own art.  LOL.

And the page I did last week, I used a copy to cover some comp books.

I guess my college professor was a pretty smart guy after all!  :) 

 

-c

 

PS...these are on my Etsy if you are interested.

Vintage? I can hook you up.

Shabby Cream Plates

Beautiful Woven tea towel

Sweet little creamer.

Vintage reader.

Ceramic Doggie (which is actually a decanter).

And more. 

All on my Etsy.

-c

Cottage.  Sorta.  In my house.

But its more of a "dark cottage", rather than an airy and bright cottage look. 

Not that there is anything wrong with that.  I just tend to gravitate towards the darker colors rather than the lighter.  I love pink.  But it only shows up a wee bit in my decor.

This is my entry way.  I've not really done anything new, except I did buy that really cool nest at Canton.  Then, naturally, we got em in at work.  I need to take the camera to work and take some pics, we've got tons of new stuff.  Really cool stuff.

Gets me in trouble. 

Oh well.  Such is life.

Do you like my bird garland?  I thought it was fun.  'Cept there were "structural" issues.  As in for some reason, some of the birds "won't fly right".  LOL.  Actually, I thought it was kinda funny to have some upside down. 

ha!

-c

ps there is one bird garland in my etsy shop.

If I only had TWO Kitchens

 
Have you ever seen the movie, "Prince of Tides"?  At the end, Nick Nolte ponders why we are each not given two lives.  And while that concept is interesting in and of itself, the one I really want to ponder is, why can't I have two kitchens?

What I have now is a French Country kitchen.  Lots of black, creams, touches of red and gold.  Pretty, but a little dark.   And don't get me wrong, I do like my kitchen.  It compliments my living room nicely. 

But sometimes what I really long for......is white eyelet cotton, pots of geraniums, lots of cheery, cottage cuteness.  Simple and sweet.

I'm sure if I had this kitchen instead, I would whip up pound cakes, home-made bread and always have a pot of fresh beans simmering on the back burner.  The smell of fresh brewed coffee would be positively heady.  With a sweet, clean breeze blowing through the back screen door.

Chickens and a great big garden would sit right outside that back screen door.  Yep...if only I had two ktichens.  :)  Dreaming on a Monday...that's me.  How about you? 

-c

PS...new Etsy stuff in stock!  I'll be loading new stuff all this week.  TONS to put in! 

Ketchup

Seeing the sun today was absolutely wonderful!  I had all the shades thrown open to catch every golden ray that I could. 

I finally feel like I'm beginning to catch up.  I actually took a class on Saturday, I'll have to post pics so you can see.  Today, I spent half the day today working on my poor Etsy and the other half working on Paper Cowgirl.  Its been a busy day.

I did coffee dye some more ribbon...that's so much fun! 

Hmmm, see a common thread here....seems to be a "pink" one. 

I do like pink. 

I even coffee dyed some birds.

These were my last favorite flea find...are they not the cutest?

And I put a few more Victoria's in too!  So glad to have the little Etsy a little more fuller!

And for those that are interested, Paper Cowgirl Teacher's are now listed, if you want to go over and take a gander! We have some really great classes lined up for this June.

I am going to hit the hay...its been a long day.  See ya!

-c

What a Week!

What a week its been.  Winter certainly came roaring back in with a venegance and bitter cold was the name of the game.  We Texans are not only not used to this kind of cold, but ill equipped to deal with the ice and snow that followed.  Let's just say..its been a fun (sarcasm!) week.  The most sought thing in our household this week...the heating pad. 

But I did manage to get a few new items made and placed in my Etsy shop.  Poor neglected little thing.  Here are some of the things I added tonight.

Paper Bird Cut outs...by hand, by me.  Not punched.  :) 

Tied up cutely with a hand-written tag!

Coffee dyed ribbon.

Packaged on a sweet paper bird. 

And while I tried to stick to a neutral color palette...well, color just kept sneaking in.  So I added a sweet little embellishment kit too.

Punched medallions and those great coffee dyed velvet flowers.

Even though the week has been bitterly cold, we've stayed in and stayed as warm as we could.  We were lucky in that, we did not have to suffer any of the rolling black outs or power outtages that some did.  Sweet Hub worked here from the house this week.  Which was nice.  No puter time for me, which meant I was forced actually got some things done, hence the new items in my Etsy.  So all in all, its been a good week...but I'm really ready for some 60 degrees and above. 

Have a great weekend.  The Stupor Bowl craziness will be in full swing tomorrow I'm sure.

-c

Gearing Up for the Big BRRRRRRRR

Yep.  Once again we Texans are gearing up for nasty, Winter weather.  Something we really don't get to much of.  But with sleet in the forcast, temps in the teens and wind chills at below zero, this is one gal that is brrrrrrracing for the worse.

So, the possibility of the next few days being iced in looms large. 

But if I am truthful, that idea does not dissappoint.  Actually, it sounds really  good.  Cups of hot tea, a chance to play (and finish cleaning in the Studio) and to catch up sound delightful.  Can I get some painting done?  Naps with kitties?  Final decisions on Paper Cowgirl submissions?  Ohhhhhh, the possibilities!   

I'm trying to get a new series of goodies ready for my Etsy.  And while shooting conditions might be tough, hopefully it can be done.  I'm thinking cream, or fleurette.  Perhaps "the cat will get the cream". 

 
But back to the looming ice age, the only downfall to my evil plan is this...if Sweet Hub can't make the 55 mile trek to the other side of the world to go to work, he will be here.  And if that happens, I will have no computer time.  But then again, maybe that is a good thing as well.

And speaking of Sweet Hub, the "icing on the cake" would be that I could play with this adorably, sweet Valentine kit that I got from EvaLiscious.  Can't wait to place with this and put my own stamp on it.  Literally.

She does the basics for you, putting the pages together, having them sewn and ready.  Even putting all the tidbits and lovelies together...all you have to do is play.  I'm really looking forward to it.  Hey, "Ice Day 2011" is looking better and better. 

Well, I guess we shall wait and see!  Here's hoping where ever you are, you are warm as toast!

-c