Making New Friends

When I went out to check the mail this morning, there were two kittens playing in my flower boxes! I managed to keep ones attention long enough to find they were living in the empty lot next door, it’s like a mini forest. A bit later it began to pour and when I looked out my bedroom window, a little black kitten frozen in place in the pouring rain. I ran out in it, afraid they might be motherless and also a bit afraid it might hail. On the side of the house, little kitten was still frozen in place, but then I saw mama cat coming close. Poor skinny thing!

So I left them be and put out food near the fence where I kept seeing them and about an hour later came in my bedroom to find the whole family joined together for a meal! So sweet, I had to snag some pictures. I’ve been looking into places to take them, but for any in the area, looking for a new member of the family? ;)

The whole familyKitties!Hungry little one

It’s been too dark and rainy to list anything yet this week, but I got a few in at the end of last week. I’m making good use of the downtime, I have so many projects going on. The house has never looked better! Or the plants for that matter, they’re not complaining about the rain. Hope your keeping dry and well!

blackandwhitebeautyblog.jpgplumprettyblog.jpgsecretmemoryblog.jpg

Bows and other pretty girly things

I had intended to do a blog post on the popularity of bows this week, but the few I listed are almost all gone already! I suspected they would disappear fast. My 16 year old sister in law is one of the cool kids and I remembered she’d bought a couple of my things with bows. So when I saw her the other day with some very chic bow earrings on, I was inspired to dig through my bag of tricks and see what I could pull out.

A Formal AffairBashfulRibbon and Bones

But then I spent all week in a cleaning frenzy and lost track. I finally took a break long enough to list more today, but tomorrow it’s off to the laundromat for a day of watching curtains and slipcovers spin in place. I’ve got to utilize the little time I have help, the boy starts summer school in a week or so!

Vanilla GardenSpoonful of SugarDragonfly on Her Shoulder

We’re planning a trip to the Dallas Arboretum before he goes back and while we’re in town, breakfast at my favorite greasy spoon (hello beer biscuits!) so hopefully this week I’ll have something more entertaining for you than “My Trip to the Laundromat”. I shall strive to.

Happy Mother’s Day

State Fair

I was born the day before Mother’s Day and my mother, Kelly, always told me I was the best Mother’s Day present ever. She died of leukemia when I was 8 and now at 27, most of what I know about her is from stories others tell me, but I love hearing them and each one becomes like a real memory to me. My biggest source of pride is how much I know I am like her, and all my life, no compliment has meant more to me than how much I remind people of her.

But as much as I miss her, there are so many women who have made me who I am today and they all deserve thanks. My mom, her sister, who adopted and raised me as her own. And I see so much of my mommy in her too. My grandmother, my mimi, who is unbelievably strong and the heart of our family. And my aunt Teri Lee, who is the sweetest aunt you could possibly ask for.

When I got married, I really lucked out again. My mother in law is one of my favorite people in the world and one certain to read this blog, she really makes me feel like just another one of her children. We just got home from lunch with the boy’s father and step mother, and they brought me a peanut butter pie they made for my birthday! It was so thoughtful. And one of his sisters was there with her little ones. He has two older sisters with many young ones and they both seem to me a bit like supermom.

Thank you for allowing me to gush about some of the women I admire, Happy Mother’s Day to all momma’s!

Birthday Girl

My birthday was on Wednesday and it was fantastic! The boy managed to shock and awe me with a Playstation 3, we’ve been a little addicted the past two days, it’s crazy fun. And took me out for Mexican food. And that day I sold 12 things!!! I must have had some good birthday mojo going, I was thrilled. So I have shot past that 400 marker I was so looking forward to! Then last night, the boy’s cousin and his girlfriend took us out for sushi, something I love and rarely get to eat. So it’s been a great week.

WildwoodSummertime
I Beg Your PardonGolden Garden

But of course, it’s time to get back to work after all the rain we’ve had this week, I was finally able to do some listing again. After such a record sales birthday, my shop was starting to look a little barren. But fear not, my celebrating has not yet come to an end, there’s still dinner with the grandparents and Sunday lunch with the boy’s dad and step mom. Mmm…Italian food. A week of birthdaying sounds about right. I’m 27 now!! Although, I don’t think anyone believes it, we got carded buying a Playstation 3 game on my birthday!

I hope your weeks have gone equally well, enjoy the weekend!

Springing into Summer

How lucky I was to break my camera…one week before the warranty expired! It was fixed for free, what a relief that was. It’s back and I’m back in motion. Slow motion at first, but I’m picking up speed. And feeling great about it, I have so many cool new promotional plans for the Old but New experience and an overabundance of jewelry to share with you.

Sage and BasilCilantro, Chamomile and Chives

And I started a garden last week! A little herb garden in the front flower beds that are sadly hidden by large shrubs I have no control over so I’m working around that. It’s my first attempt and I’m quite proud and excited. And next week, after the boy’s finals are done we’ll be digging up a patch in the backyard to try our hand at a vegetable garden. He’ll have a short summer this year, he’s taking four summer classes, but we’re going to try and pack in all we can.

Aloe VeraCatnip and Mint

My birthday is Wednesday, the day of his last finals, so we will have much to celebrate! We’re planning to go to the Scarborough Renaissance Festival sometime over the weekend, he’s never been and I haven’t in years. It’s one of the biggest in the country and such fun. I’m giddy over it. And my grandparents are taking us out to dinner this weekend too. I love May!

HushLuna RoseTears Shed in the Garden
Burnished BudsSpring HavenVisions of Sugarplums

I promised you jewelry! I couldn’t narrow it down, so just decided on a whole bunch of my favorites from the past few weeks. Lots of spring and summer and sun and beauty. I wish you all more of the same. And I’m just 1 sale away from the 400 marker on Etsy, so wish me luck!

Natural BeautyBirthday CakeGarden Girl
Rose DropsLily of the OrientSpringtime Memory

My Hero

I got an email from my grandfather this weekend saying he missed my blog updates and looked forward to the next. I am sorry to you all for the long wait on a new blog post, an online business has trouble thriving with a broken camera so I’ve felt rather paralyzed lately. I’ve sent it off for repairs and am trying to remain optimistic.

So when I got home today there was an email waiting for me saying to come over when I could to borrow his camera until mine is returned to me! I’m bringing him as much spagetti as I can fit in my car!!!

And do not think I have been totally stagnant, again, thanks to my grandfather, I’m learning new skills with my new soldering iron, a gift from him. I can’t think of another person who has supported or encouraged me more in my life. He really has always made me believe I can do anything and I wouldn’t be who I am without him. And of all the people in this world, I am most like him. I hope.

So much of me is from him. Old but New, my look, the books, the poems, almost all of them are mine passed on from him. We share a favorite poet, Ogden Nash, and you’ll find many of his works in my photographs. I also have a large collection of old history books, he’s always encouraged me to learn everything about anything that interests me and I try.

I think everyone that knows him feels lucky to have him in their life and I don’t think there’s anyone else like him. And you can actually expect more from Old but New in the very near future, thanks to him.

Dadave

Super Silly Fun

I recently heard tell of a fantastic website called StumbleUpon, an awesome time waster and way to find anything in the world. Through it, I stumbled upon a super silly and fun way to waste a little time. The HeroMachine! Now you too can be the role-playing character, super hero or evil villain you’ve always wanted to be! And if not, you can at least have a giggle at my expense. Just look at the sword!superherogirl.jpg

I said I was gonna do it and I did! My own little sword jab at Valentines Day, skulls and snakes and guns, oh my! I had a lot of fun putting together this little collection and hope you get a kick out of it. I’m back to my previously scheduled pretty girly designs and already have a few ready to be listed today.

blackgold.jpggoldenafternoon.jpgrestinpieces1.jpg
thesnakeandtheapple.jpgsixfeetunderground.jpgloopdiloo.jpg

Valentimes!

I hate to say it, but it’s coming! My whole life I campaigned against Valentines Day, ranting and raving about how it was a meaningless and consumer driven holiday. Then my first Valentines Day with the boy rolled around. He had taken my word for it and there was no gift, no celebration. His plans involved McDonald’s. I’m pretty sure there were tears. Poor guy and it served me right. I promised to never pretend that holidays don’t matter again. (We’ve since had many wonderful ones, last year he got me a guitar!)

herheartonhersleeveyellow.jpgpinklace.jpg
rosered.jpgsweetsomething.jpg

So in honor of my favorite meaningless, consumer driven holiday I’ve shifted gears and gone into overdrive creating all sorts of love worthy gifts. Lots of pinks and reds, hearts and roses, and all those other things we associate with romance.

chainsoflove.jpgforlove.jpg
gardenofglitter1.jpginnocence.jpg

Even still, I think tomorrow I need to list skulls or the like to balance things out…

Princess Aurora and the holiday that wouldn’t quit.

Anyone who’s paid any sort of attention to the constantly changing collection that is my Etsy favorites has probably noticed that I have a huge crush on thedreamygiraffe. So with handmade Etsy gift card in hand, I raced over to her shop as quickly as possible to claim the portrait that has captured my heart!

Princess Aurora and the Dubious Forrest

My first substantial art purchase, I could not be happier! It’s so much more beautiful even than I ever could have guessed, the colors and the textures and sparkles are just perfect. And I don’t think I could ever have found a painting more true to me. She and her key of protection now stand guard over my bed.

Now, I’m sorry about my sporadic postings of late, but I do promise I’ve been working as hard and as fast as possible and there are new listings just as often as I can manage. The holidays left me wiped out and finding the time to catch up hasn’t been easy, this being my first Christmas season, I didn’t know what I was in for! Also, having the boy home all day is bad for productivity. But fear not, he’ll be back to school in a week or so.

abaloneapple.jpgbrassraindrops.jpggoddessgirl.jpg
monarch.jpgloveintherosegarden.jpgloveatarmslength.jpg
pricklypears.jpgherheartonhersleeve.jpgwithflair.jpg

I still have an unbelievable amount of goodies left to share with you and promise to do so in a timely fashion, so do check back soon! Happy New Year, hope this one’s even better than last for us all.

Little Worker Elves

Taking another chapter from “What I did for my Christmas Vacation”, I wanted to share perhaps my favorite moments of the season. While the boy’s mother was here, one night the three of us were in the living room watching holiday movies and I was adding to my ever expanding collection of unlisted pieces when the boy asked if I would show him how to make something!

The boy’s earringsMy Mother in Law’s earrings

I was so excited I couldn’t believe it. So I spent the rest of the night holding an impromptu jewelry workshop and teaching them both to make earrings and I must say they are amazingly quick studies. The hummingbirds are the boy’s and the pearls his mother made. Both pairs left with her, he wanted her to have his for Christmas.

And as I said, I made lots. I mean, LOTS. So here are a ton of new listings and it will continue on like this for a while, I have some making up to do after taking the holiday off.

purplevictoria.jpgdragonflytears.jpglittlelilac.jpgflitteringfairy.jpgstarflowers.jpgrenewal.jpgshesparkles.jpgmyhomemypalace.jpgpearlescentmemories.jpg