Happy Halloween!

I didn't dress up, but I did dress Millie (my mannequin) up. She got to try on lots of pretties. I haven't told her yet she doesn't get to keep them because they are going in my Vintage market!

In other BIG BIG news: The Jolie Paquet Blog is OPEN! And its starting with a give away! I can not wait to see all the kits and tutorials. Its going to be so much fun!

Dreams Come True

When I started this Artful adventure a year and a half ago I had no idea how much it would change my life. I felt I was a lost soul searching for my place and my path. When this "new" life came to me I KNEW it was the right path for me to take. I knew this with all my heart because everything just fell into place. My goals and dreams were met. I still can't believe it but I am in the Winter issue of Artful Blogging. To see my words, name, and photos on the pages of an amazing magazine is proof to me I am doing what I was meant to do. I am absolutely blown away that I would be included with such a group of wonderful women. I am so thankful to my "blogging community" and to Stampington & Company who never ceases to amazing me with all their gorgeous publications.

Little Peek

As promised here is a little peek of what I have been working on this week. I CAN'T wait to list everything in my shop!!! I have been having so much fun. I really lucked our at a flea market this past weekend.

Cupcake Torture!

Me: Don't touch those cupcakes until I blog about them!!!!

Family: Awww Man!

Refresh and Renew

Wasn't yesterdays show and tell fun! I loved seeing everyone's art bits!

The pretty roses in the above pictures were from my sweet hubby for our anniversary. I just adore the faded look they have.

Right now my plate is so very full. I really want everything I do to be my very best. So I am closing my shop for a week. It will be closed this Friday 10/24 and reopen 11/01. This will give me a week to make lots of new items that have been floating around in my head, finish my Joli Paquet kits, list all those vintage goodies, and some other things that I can't tell you about yet;)

I plan on adding holiday supplies, new tag kits, lots of handmade ornaments, trees, wreathes, post cards, and so much more! I am also changing my packaging. Phew! I hope I can get this all done! I will still be blogging (I hope) and if anyone really needs something from my shop they can e-mail me.

Oh and I almost forgot! Im having a pretty good sale this week. My Halloween stuff is marked down a lot.

Show and Tell

Its show and tell Sunday again! This weeks theme is Art Bits. Ya know all those little baubles, and pieces of all kinds you just love to hoard away. Little treasures! I adore finding extra special ways to store them. And I LOVE to color coordinate them too. When you display them by theme or color I think they make great inspiration. So grab some coffee or tea and go visiting! Your sure to find beauty in the small things. For a list of blogs participating go to Little Pink Studio.

Just Stuff

I had to tell you about my new local friend Mary's new etsy shop. She is just the sweetest gal and is really talented. You can visit her shop HERE.

In other news I will be excitedly participating in this Sundays Show and Tell. This weeks theme is Vintage Bits. Everyone is showing there extra special vintage bits and what nots and how they store them. You can read about it on Cerri's blog.

I have been slaving away on my Joli Paquet kits. I can't wait to show you!

I thought I would show you this spooky picture of these little girls. I just KNOW they had to be witches. So cute!

Vintage Market

We had a lovely time on our trip. The weather was just perfect. I went shopping of course and picked up a lot of great stuff for Christmas. I also found this tray that kept letters for newspaper printing in it. It was in pretty bad shape but I painted it pink and lined the bottom with lots of old papers. I liked the way it turned out. I needed something BIG to hold all my embellishments because if I can't see it, I forget I have it. I have also been collecting some extra special vintage items I have not show you yet. I am going to open a section in my etsy shop called Vintage Market. It will have things like vintage baby clothes, frilly vintage clothes, books, big metal letters, and ,sewing boxes. I just don't know when to start listing them. Before or after Christmas? I'm super busy right now but, I wonder if people would like to buy this type of stuff for Christmas? If y'all have any thoughts I would love to hear it!

And the winner is................

Bristol of Honey Bend Vintage! Congrats! Thank you all so much for your kind, inspiring comments! Well I am off to go camping for the weekend! No computer, no phone, no kids. Yippee!

Have a great weekend y'all!

Find Your Passions

After selling on ETSY for a year and a half and over 1000 sales there is something I am absolutely sure of. Create what you love and are passionate about and you will be successful. These banners are an example. One afternoon a while back I found I actually had some me time! So I created a wish banner using chipboard letters and my very favorite vintage supplies. I hung it in my studio. Later I decided to make one to sell in my shop. Now they are my biggest hit! I really LOVE creating them. It is a little hard using all my favorites stash however. But, when I run out it just means I get to go out and hunt for more. And I LOVE treasure hunting! So go out and find your passion! And don't ever let it go!

In other news today is my 4 year anniversary! I love you honey! Thank you for always acting interested in my arts and crafts. Your the bestest guy ever! (please don't kill me for posting this pic. he he)

I will announce my blog giveaway tomorrow morning.

Weekend Finds

First of all thank all y'all so much for your enthusiasm about he Joli Paquet! I know we will all have tons of fun!

I have not been "junkin" much at all in the last few months and this weekend I got so awesome finds. All of the photos were in a bag for.....get ready....$1.50! Can you believe it! I got a huge stack of early 1900's reader books, and some other great antique books for a great price. I really have never liked dolls but I saw this one on top of a pile of old junk. She just seemed to call to me. So not knowing anything about dolls I asked the lady about her. She said she had belonged to her grandmother then her mother. And her mother passed away at age 92! So I bought her and through research and all the helpful info from flickr friends I found out she was made around 1890! Can you believe the daughter could just sell her for a very small price? I mean an 118 year old doll that was SO loved she is still in almost perfect condition? Kind of sad...but she has a new home next to Millie my dress form! What a great find indeed!

I thought I would share some of my Halloween/Fall decor. I just put this 6 foot salvaged shelf up above my love seat. Don't you just love it? I did nothing to it but a little cleaning. I haven't quite decided what to keep on it.

Well, don't forget about my giveaway! I will be announcing a winner this Friday!

Joli Paquet!

Oh the glitter, the velvet, the vintage, the paper, the holidays, and the fun! I am so super excited to be included in the very talented, sweet group of ladies this year! We will be making extra magical kits to cure all your holiday craft cravings! And if that itself wasn't enough we will have a blog with tips, tutorials, and other holiday goodness. Check the Joli Paquet blog starting in October for updates. Here are the wonderful ladies that will be participating:

Cerri Campbell from Little Pink Studio

Cindy at Junque Art
Beth Quinn from Beth Quinn Designs
Donna Layton from Under the Red Roof
Lori Karla from Faerie Window
Jeanne Szewczyk from Dream Create Inspire

So I leave you with a tiny peek of my holiday theme!

Growing Right Before My Eyes

I feel like my little Shop is growing so fast! I have had over 1000 sales! I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love and still be there for my family.

My Halloween kits were featured in a cool magazine called Today's Vintage. Its full of some great ideas on decorating with vintage things and has some fabulous shops in it. They were sweet enough to send me two copies and since I know so many of you would also love it I am giving one away. And in celebration of my 1000th sale I am also giving away a spooky skeleton guy, and a Halloween tag kit! I will announce the lucky winner Friday October the 10th! All you have to do is leave a comment on any post between now and then and I will draw a winner.

I still have some VERY fun news I will be announcing soon too! So see you soon!

Postcards

I LOVE postcards and collect them. I have been wanting to make my own for my etsy shop for a long time. This is my first set. I saw a antique Victorian furniture catalog and just fell in love with the sepia tones. I am obsessed with ivory and black right now. I would love to have a whole room with nothing but those colors. Move over aqua...I may have a new favorite color!

This weekend I will be announcing some really fun news that I think you will like so check back soon!

Aqua Cream Pink-Vintage Embellishment Paper Pocket