Friday, August 26, 2011

Pink Saturday Declaration: Mandatory End of Summer!

That’s right! You read it here first…Summer is over…Done…Finis…Kaput…No Mas. I’m declaring it Early Pre-season Fall…If Hobby Lobby can rush the seasons, why can’t I? Traditionally I start decorating for fall during Labor Day Weekend…September 1st…Back to School…unofficial fall. But not this year of Endless Unbearable Summer Heat! This year fall starts today! I’ve set out fall linens,  surrounded a big open sided urn with pomegranates in shades of deep burgundy pink…

Fall decorations early 001

added sparkling pumpkins…

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and deep pink velvet leaves…

Fall decorations early 004Now, that’s better! I’m starting to think cooler days and maybe even a rainy night pot of soup…

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I dragged out a fall centerpiece that was done by April Hiler Designs. I just love her work…she has a great Etsy shop. More pomegranates…

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The kitchen got a wreath and a garland…

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Out came a collection of fabric pumpkins…

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Now, I’m ready for a cup of tea and a visit to Beverly for Pink Saturday. Thanks for stopping by. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling cooler already…

Have a Pink Week.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Pink Saturday…Let’s Get This Party Started!

It’s my Birthday Week…My Birthday has an official sponsor…it’s  the American Cancer Society !             ! I celebrate my special day by scheduling my annual mammogram make sure “the girls” are still tumor free. We all  live in an amazing time when lives are being saved that would have been lost just a few decades ago. This is a perfect week to link to Kelee and the big plans she has for us this weekend.

I have a special announcement of my own…last week I showed a Pink Altered Book that I had made to celebrate being featured on Beverly’s How Sweet the Sound.

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I filled it with Pretty in pink tags…

Altered Pink Saturday Book 009

I offered it as a Blogland Door Prize to a Pink Saturday visitor… Since my birthday’s on the 17th, I decided that I would pick visitor number seventeen. I’m happy to announce that I’ll be sending the book to Pat, aka The Artful Diva. Her blog and her work is so  amazingly beautiful that if you have not visited her before, you will enjoy treating yourself to the adventure.

Hope your week is Pink…now Let’s Get this Party Started, Beverly and Kelee have lots of big plans for us.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Pink is now the Official Color of Saturdays

I’m so happy to be featured today…clever Beverly finding such a special way to help us know each other better. Read carefully, there’s a quiz at the end…noooo, just kidding,  there’s a “door” prize.

Mondays can have Blue, but without a doubt, Saturdays are Pink…it’s official. Beverly named it and claimed it and that’s the end of it! For those of us who love Pink, it couldn’t be more clear.

  For today’s Pink Saturday post, I’m showing another love of mine…Altered Books. The concept is simple: take a discarded book and repurpose it in some way to give it a new lease on life. I’ve made books to celebrate any number of Pink occasions: a friend’s recovery,  my many Blessings, friendships, travel, and any and all things pink…anything worth celebrating is worth celebrating in an altered book. I’ve featured several of them here at Riverside Studios over the years. My favorite way to alter books is to create a Pocket Book. Here is the outside of a little ticket themed book.

Ticket Altered book

When it is open, you can see the pockets…this book has four compartments…

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just perfect for four Happy Tags…

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And here is cover of another book…

ALTERE~1 - Copy

and the inside pockets of another…

altered book with bird tags-3

The tags and Art Trading Cards tucked inside cover the spectrum from words of wisdom and inspiration to clever quotes and jokes. The pockets are perfect for postcards and pictures with spaces to hold ticket stubs and wine bottle labels…they provide an easy-do alternative to the traditional scrapbook.    Here’s my newest, one that I started just to showcase on this Pink Saturday’s post.  I started with a little book that was badly water stained…

pink book

I folded it to create the pockets…

pink book 2

I gathered up  several old sheets of tissue, some estate sale gift wrap,and a few vintage pages of piano scores.

pink book supplies

I kept the materials limited to what was on hand. The resulting book shows hints of the original  cover  and words of “inspiration.

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Inside this book some of the words show through the pink tissue…The garlands of flowers are cut from the gift wrap…

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When the pockets are filled with tags and the book stands open, it looks like this…

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Vintage seam bindings and pretty pink fibers dress up the tags which have a Pink sentiment or two…

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I found these fun tickets at Paper Cowgirl vendor Night. And these tags really seem to belong to the spirit of the book.

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And there you have it, an altered pocket book. This one is being offered as a Giftaway for one of my visitors today. I’ll have hubby draw a number on Wednesday and I’ll contact the new owner of Inspirations for Living Pink  and  post the winner’s name next Saturday.

Thanks so much for stopping by…thanks again to Beverly for this fun experience and for the happy institution we call Pink Saturday. Now swing back by Beverly’s to see who else is posting this first weekend of the LAST MONTH of SUMMER…and Have a Pink Week from start to finish.



Limping Deer and the Twins

Limping Deer and the Twins
They are still spotted at this time.

Show and Tell Sunday June 15

Flea Market Finds...sounds like my whole house and yard...

Milk Glass Collection

Milk Glass Collection
Who knew that a 25 cent flea market find would unleash such a collecting frenzy? I never pay more than a dollar unless it's a really nice piece. They are great grouped with a single daisy in each.

These used to be inexpensive florist vases in the 50's and 60's. Everyone's Grandmother had bunches.

Mexicana Dishes

Mexicana Dishes
My sister found these for me at Bussy's Flea Market in San Antonio, Texas. I had seen pictures in her Fiesta reference book. Mexicana was also made by Homer Laughlin in the 30's. I had been looking for several years without ever finding even a single piece when she found the set...with a promise to hold it for us, she came running to find me and I bought the entire set...60+ pieces for $50.

Mexicana

Mexicana
I've added to the set over the years, but the price and experience will never match that first amazing find.

Vintage Kitchen Hutch

Vintage Kitchen Hutch
When my hubby found this hutch it was Pepto pink and I was not 100% sure about it. But with a new red back and fresh white paint and refurbished hardware, it became one of my favorite pieces.

Nancy made me save the vine

Nancy made me save the vine
The vine and flowers painted on the inside were in such bad shape that I was ready to remove it all. Nancy -My Crafty Little Page convinced me to keep it and after some touch-up work, I'm glad I listened to her. My husband restores vintage Cushman motorscooters and he tries to make everything "mint" condition again. The Shabby Chic movement came along just in time to keep me from making some terrible mistakes.