I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Monday, December 5, 2011

Flea Market Finds and Other Treasures

Hi! The flea market has been fabulous,
so fun, busy, festive!




But before I tell abut this week's goodies I have to tell you about my lost camera...so sad. I lost my beloved little point and shoot in the neoprene bag, like a wetsuit. It went to the beach with me every day and took the most amazing pix for me. Remember it fell in the quicksand that time? And survived? On the day after Thanksgiving, it disappeared. I was heartbroken, finally bought a new Nikon, aka the camera from hell.

Tonight, after almost 10 days lost, my camera came home! A neighbor, walking his dog found it. Actually , his little French bulldog found the camera, near the street edge! And my neighbor looked at the pix and figured out they were taken from my house. How he could tell, I have no idea...black night sunrise shots. Oh it made my day!
Thank you, my friend!

Anyway. Flea market finds!
The weather is awesome, sunny and 60-ish. Not every Christmas-y but who cares. Perfect for the markets and this is the time to stock up on things for crafts, especially holiday crafts. Maybe next year, at the rate I'm going...but Real Good Stuff.
Like...this velvet scarf. I bought it for the velvet, to make Valentine hearts.


But isn't it pretty? Can I fix it and...wear it? Not sure it is ready to be cut up.


What do you think? With a jean jacket and cargoes, boots?


Little creche sheep...




...for my Noah's Ark , maybe? Aren't they so cute!


...or for a Santa's bag of goodies...like this one:



To be filled with tiny toys....




A wire garland of small tin stars, for an angel to hold in her hands or it could be wound tight to be her halo?


A dear little bird, for my winter twig tree, or to sit on an angel's hand?...




A bag of tiny silver heart ornaments. These will go in my hurricane cylinder with a red candle. They also can be de-silvered and filled with sand & tiny shells, sea glass, for charming necklace pendants [I'll show you in a few days!]....



a stack of red and white dishtowels, one vintage, 100% linen, the rest 100% cotton. All useful...


Here's a stocking, NOT made by me...from eBay. See how the old textiles can be reused, re-purposed...here


And the tiny black velvet clutch from a few weeks ago. Perfect for my winter wristie bag, w/ jeans...or yes, okay. I may sell it. Mint, never used!



More wonderful children and chic flapper ladies.... 




And when I got home, just so ready for an apple and a hot cup of tea...here is what awaits me. My work table: "Finish us, mom! We want to go on Christmas trees! We want to be pretty and loved!" And so, back to work!



More to show you, real soon! Big Christmas expedition tomorrow, yay! So excited...

Have a wonderful week!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....




photo in the runaway camera!
sunrise, looking south southeast-
late November, 6 AM
 

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Best Sunset of the Year....


Hello! Yes it is December now...how quickly the year[s] goes by.

These are photos of just one sunset, taken this November, last week, the day after Thanksgiving. It was spectacular show that lasted all of maybe two hours!
The heavens making up for the suddenly long, very dark nights?
enjoy...


















sunset, looking east!


again, eastern horizon..
more for sunrise
than this sunset pink!












and the following day...a rare, for me, sunrise..also beautiful.



love

lizzy,

gone to the beach......

wind corrugations

mermaids' purses and driftwood

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

These Babies Won't Melt




Hi everyone! I wanted to show you my Christmas "icicle" and "snowflake'' ornaments....
You remember? All those hot flea market days, collecting little bags of cast off vintage treasures....



Vintage chandelier crystals....


and drops....




Rhinestone bitsies.....


Old keys....


And vintage postcards and sepia photos of other peoples' relatives...


Here is the result...my Crystal Icicles and Snowflakes for your /their/ whoevers' Christmas Tree!



some are diamond drops...

sold


These are large prisms with reverse decoupage scenes (I love these!)...

 















'Real' icicles. I choose the crystals that are carved within the glass shank, for extra sparkle and charm...
  
sold



A rare star...with an unusual Lucite bead....
   
sold


Amber and amethyst drop....




Rhinestone 'snowflake'...



Another snowflake with a wonderful round magic crystal ball drop!

sold



Yet another snowflake and diamond...
 
sold


Huge cut crystal faceted ball, rare treasure that can be a sun catcher year round. It will send rainbows into your home...
 
sold


Shabby chic, urban decay skeleton keys with vintage bauble snowflake tops.....


All have neat "S" wire loops carefully aged and distressed by me in a concoction of who knows what! Nice patina though, in the end result...
A rhinestone frame ans sepia child's portrait.[I also make these custom with clients' own pix]...
  


Aren't the tiny glass encased scenes, just...magic!?



These are tiny Victorian images of Pugs!


And this is my Christmas label, courtesy of my friend Lisa who allows me to rummage through her family archives. Her pix are just the best! Colorized by me, and then hand stamped "Gone to the Beach" of course. Santa is smiling cos he knows where he's headed....


Merry Christma! Gone to the beach.....
ho ho ho....


enjoy!





love

              lizzy

gone to the beach.....

         



PS More crystals and Holiday hearts in the next week or so....come visit!