Sweet tooth...

Here is my zero calorie offering. I've been finding some fun vintage sweet-related items lately that I thought I'd share. These two vintage candy boxes make me smile. Happy Moments chocolates. Cute!

She's just plain sweet, don't ya think?!

Then I came across this Wilton cake decorating year book. I love it! Paging through it I thought of the recent trend in these blog "circles" of vintage cupcake picks, ballerinas and other party goods. I thought it was really fun to see how these items were used 30 years ago.



Couldn't resist showing you these yummy looking fabric chairs from the Brocade design blog. Don't they look like they're frosted?! Have a delectable day!

Hope your Mother's Day weekend was joyous!

We thoroughly enjoyed the gorgeous spring weather we've been having. We had lots of fun playing outside, mowing the lawn, going to the park and enjoying delicious strawberry pie:)

Since last Monday I posted some inspiration, I thought I'd continue with the trend. Today I have some exciting news that the first vol. of JunkMama Journals is live! Thanks for all your wonderful input via the interviews I sent out. I will be including bits and pieces of those in my column each month.

Read JunkMama Journals here!

I'd love to hear your input. Please leave comments here or on the post. I want this column to be interactive, fun and interesting. Thanks!

Like Mother, Like Daughter: Decorating

One of the (many) things I love about working at the library is I get a heads up on when the book sales will take place. Last night I was working during the sale, so during my break I took a peek. I found these really great decorating books for only $1 a piece. I love to look at these types of books as I lay in bed at night, filling my head with eye candy inspiration before I doze off to sleep.

In honor of mothers day weekend, I wanted to ask you a question. Do you have similar decorating tastes as your mother? My mom and I love to go to estate sales together, but usually end up buying quite different things. She loves oriental pieces and I'm usually looking for supplies for my art. However, when working on my new column JunkMama Journals yesterday, I was at my parents house looking through old pictures. I came across this photo (below) of the area above our kitchen table in my childhood home. We both giggled with delight, because we had never thought about it, but here my mom displayed many family treasures and antiques in a similar way as I do today. She chose the kitchen wall as an area of inspiration. I have shared on this blog over and over the ever-changing wall in my kitchen today where I display my various creations and curiosities. Like mother, like daughter. I love you mom! How apropos- check out the domino magazine home page for more discussion of this.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!

Breaking ground...

The weather is finally staying pretty warm and we've had quite a bit of rain, so things are really greening up. That means time to get out the gardening tools and get busy! The green shovel below is the one that I had as a child working in the huge backyard garden we had. The pink is Chloe's new cultivator. Like grandmother, like mother, like daughter. Chloe and I broke ground today in our backyard. We are making a very small children's garden for the kids to participate in the process of starting seeds, planting, caring for and harvesting. Should be fun! I found this great web site with lots of resources and ideas for gardening with children.
Lots of hard work moving grass and dirt around.
Next we will start to ammend and work the soil.
Thanks for all the responses to the interview questions I sent out to those interested in participating in my new column JunkMama Journals for the wishstudio blogzine. If you have an interest in thrifting, I'd love to hear from you. Send me an email at artsy_mama@hotmail.com and I'll send you the questions. Thanks!

Speaking of which, this cute little pair is one of my favorite thrifty finds of late.

Monday morning inspiration...

Monday morning and we're off and running. I wanted to share a few things to start off the week. I found it wonderfully relaxing to wrap up my weekend by working on pages in my inspiration journal last night. I am such a visual person. Looking through magazines for images that speak to me in some way, whether it be the subject matter, the colors or the textures is wonderfully satisfying. I love to see how the composition turns out and what mood it projects. How do you like to "fill the well"?


I have some fun projects coming up that I'm excited to tell you more about. I will be contributing a monthly column on thrifting and art for the wishstudio blogzine. I will let you know when it first appears. I would love to interview some of you that like to use thrifted materials in your art. Let me know if that is something you are interested in. Thanks!
I found this fabulous lantern at Home Goods made in India out of recycled metal. Love it!
Hope you had a great weekend. Happy Monday!

Freaky Friday...

Thanks so much for the etsy love. Glad I continue to find and make things that appeal to you. That's always my hope. Especially when today I realized how truly far gone I am when I got super excited to find these vintage plastic clothes pins at an estate sale. Look at the sherbert colors!! The pale peach one in front is made in Denmark. I had actually been looking for these and viola...they appeared. Wouldn't they be great for an inspiration board, or hanging my kids art work...or even in a shadow box. The possibilities are endless. Hehe.. love it! I knew you guys would get it.

Also found this pretty plate. Love her! They had a whole set of collectible Wizard of Oz plates.

Have a great weekend!

Shop update!

Spring has sprung in the ArtsyMama household. My shop update is complete and there are vintage treasures abound!!!
It's all there....ENJOY!

Happy May Day...

Let's have some May Day fun! Mizz Scrappy Jessi has encouraged us to share our favorite childhood toys today. She's having a party over on her blog. I couldn't pass this up, since my toys were so near and dear to my heart and I am still a HUGE fan of vintage children's toys today. Thanks for hosting, Jessi!

Hands down Snoopy was my favorite toy. I looooved my Snoopy doll and took it everywhere! Now it is in Lowell's bedroom on a shelf. I also loved my blankie (also seen in above photograph). That resides in Chloe's room now.

Do you remember Master Mind? I loved that game:)

How about Merlin?

I also enjoyed the board game Clue.

Stuffed animals were far and away my favorite toys. Have you seen this book Dirty Wow Wow? It's about our most loved childhood plush. There is le Mutt on the cover. I had one that looked just like it. Here was a contest for people to show their own "dirty wow wow's"!!

Can't wait to see your favorite toys!