It's starting to look ALOT like Christmas!!!!

As you can see from the photos, we really "do" Christmas around my house!!!
Many of the figures in the two pics above are handmade, ones we have collected thru the years. And this is not all of the collection, we have lots more scattered throughout the house....including a three-foot high stuffed elf.....
This last picture is just a little "vignette" I set up each year.....the snowflake was painted by my friend Pam, and I created the wooden candle set many years ago out of landscape timbers.

Had a wonderful, hilarious time with my painting friends on Wednesday night. Our Christmas party is the highlite of the year, and we had some fabulous gifts this time!!!! I really wanted that plate Lisbeth painted.......but I am very happy with my snowmen....they will soon be joining one of the groups pictured above!!-

Now that Santa Cops is over, I can get back to my life and painting!!! Look for some photos of new projects in the coming days. Also will be updating the sadly out of date calendar......

Happy Holidays

Cyndy

Lovin' the snowman!!

Finally back with a new piece!!!

This is an awesome snowman pattern by Debbie Cotton....love the vintage look to it!!

Would be great to stash your Christmas cards in, or hanging on the wall with some greens or pine cones.

Haven't been painting as much as I have been kind of wrapped up with Santa Cops. Tough times economically, our donations are way way down this year. But Mom and I are going shopping tomorrow for food and toys :)

Will probably be several days before I post again, but I am finishing up a few more holiday pieces. Look for those in the next week or so

Cyndy

Gotta check out Funky Junk Sisters!!!

You gotta check out the awesome "12 Days of Christmas" giveaways the Funky Junk Sisters are doing right now....giving away lots of fab goodies. Already on day 6 (I'm a little tardy....) but still lots of great things to be given away.

End of craft show season.......

Today was the end of craft show season.....it's been exhausting, but so much fun!! Get to spend time with my daughter and my friends, meet new people, shop for goodies and sell sell sell!!!

Pictures today of a few final things I painted for my last show, Winterfest at Peninsula High School in Purdy. Sandi Malich puts on a wonderful show, and everyone there is so nice!!!

First pic is an old cupboard door painted with my version of an old Sue Allemand pattern......a kind of funky little snowman dude.

Second picture is from a Kim Klassen pattern.....had an extra rusty tin pocket, so I decided this pattern would look nice on it.....I think it turned out well. I am disappointed that Kim isn't designing anymore....I will miss her unique sign patterns!!

Last picture is adapted from a Barb Jones "SnowJobs" pattern.......this started off as an old Liberace album, and ended as a really cute winter accent. The old albums are pretty easy to paint on, but erasing any mistakes is pretty difficult!!

That's all for today. Will post pictures in the next few days from the Winterfest show. For now, I'm off to veg out on the couch......

Cyndy

Snow day!!!

Brrrrrrr, it is cold outside!!!!!



No work today, so I am staying home to paint and play in the snow!!

"Snow Place Like Home"

Brrrrrr, it is cold outside today!!!!! And that fluffy white stuff is falling from the sky!!!

So, this picture seems says it all. I am really grateful to be home and warm on this cold winter day!!



Next two pictures are of my booth at the Renton Community Center "Hassle Free Holiday Bazaar". Great show as always, Shirley and her crew are awesome.

Space was small, but we made it work. Plus, the show always has a great mix of vendors.

One more show to go, then time to relax....kind of!! The charity I work with, Santa Cops, is gathering presents and food for distribution in December. We always have plenty of work to do wrapping presents and sorting food....I'm sure I will keep busy!!

Working on some new stuff.....so hope to have new pics in a day or two.

Cyndy

Snowmen on parade!!!

Snowmen pictures seemed appropriate given the forecast for the next few days!!!!!


I love snowmen!!! I don't care if it is June or December, I am always in the mood to paint snowmen!!!


(Now, that does NOT mean I want to actually see snow on the road or anything like that, I just like the little fairy-tale creatures!!!

The first picture is the first of an army of what I call "Jamie" snowmen....all take-offs of a Jamie Mills-Price snowman pattern. The smallest is 1 inch high, the tallest is 6 inches.

The second shows a little rusty tin shovel with a cute prim snowman. Very simple, but he turned out so cute!!

Have a show at Renton Community Center this weekend, so will try to post pics of the booth tomorrow. Plus, I have a couple more projects in the works, so stand-by for new stuff!!!

Cyndy

Another one in the bag............

Another craft show done!!!

Spanaway Lake High School Holiday Bazaar was this weekend.....sales a bit slow, but we had fun!!

A few pics from the show......first one is my friends Lisbeth, Mert and Pam....all awesome painters!!!

Second and third pics just show my booth.....which was pretty wiped out by the end of the show!!! I will be painting like crazy the next few days to get ready for the next two shows....

If you are a customer who stopped by during the show, thanks for checking out my blog. Hope to have pics of new items by tomorrow.

Back soon!!

Cyndy

Just two more days........

Just two more days to the Spanaway Lake H.S. Holiday Bazaar!!!

I'm going to be in the small gym, space 149....back in the corner. Always lots of fun since several of my painting buddies are at the show too!!

Pictures today of a couple of new pieces I just finished....first is adapted from an older Kim Klassen pattern. Very sweet and simple.


Next picture is another Kim Klassen pattern, of a church and angels, done on a tin tile with a wood frame. I also painted a couple of matching tin tile ornaments.

If you are in the area and stop to shop at my booth this weekend, mention that you saw my blog and receive 15% off any item!!

Back on Friday or Saturday with pics of our booth and others!!

Just a quick post

Just a quick post tonite of two things I finished a few days ago. A couple of Christmas/winter scene on old books. Just something a little different...

Caught the crud from someone at work, so I'm feeling too yucky to do much today.

One week to the next craft show----Spanaway Lake High School Holiday Craft Fair. I am in booths 148 & 149, in the corner of the small gym. Hope to see you there!!

Cyndy

Back to Painting!!

The wedding is done, and I am ready to go back to painting!!!

These pics show some of the "tin tile" ornaments I have been working on for a while. Not quite finished yet, still need to add the ribbons, etc, but I think they turned out pretty cute.

The first set is a sheep, a couple of crows and a saltbox house, all painted on a burgundy background.

The second set has a sheep, a little white house and a darling church. They are done with a double layer background.....burgundy topped with ivory, then sanded back to reveal some of the burgundy. Very rustic and very cool. Mom has already been eying them for our tree, so I had to promise to paint another set for her.....

After the wedding yesterday, my brother Wayne helped me set up a Facebook account. I just mentioned that all my friends had one and I didn't, and next thing I know, I am sitting in front of my computer signing up.......and I already have "friends"!!!! Once Chrissie and Scott come back I will see if they can put a link from this blog to the Facebook page. I don't have much on there yet, but look forward to getting it set up.

Next show is in two weeks at Spanaway Lake High School. I am in booths 148/149. No electricity, which is a huge bummer. Am working on some ideas to get light into the space and on the Christmas tree. But for now, time to get back to painting. Back in a few days....

Gettin' back in the groove......

Finally finished all the wedding centerpieces this weekend, so I had a chance to paint!!!

This is adapted from a Barb Jones "Snow Jobs" pattern.....Not as primitive as some of my pieces but I love to find patterns that use unusual surfaces......painting on a boxing glove was a first for me!!! Unfortunately, my photography doesn't so it justice.....a little fuzzy!! The snowman is holding a sign that says "Snowball fight tonight!"

When I was "spattering" this piece, I managed to get paint all over myself, my clothes, glasses and every surface within a five foot radius....good thing I do this kind of stuff outside!!!

Funky Junk Sisters are at it again, and have another show planned for February!!! Unfortunately, I think I am going to skip it due to the distance and work commitments. But I will be at the next Puyallup show, whenever that may be!!!

Back in a few days with ornaments!!!

Getting ready for the wedding........

Wedding preparations are almost done!!!! These pictures show the very simple centerpieces I made for the tables at my daughter's reception. They picked a movie theme, and her colors are ocean blue (light teal), silver gray, and black.
















We started off shopping at IKEA for vases. These vases were originally a cream color, but with a few coats of Krylon spray paint, they are transformed. Add in some white flowers, silver leaves and "fillers" and some sticks found in the yard/garden painted black, and you have all the fixings for a nice arrangement.

We set each of the vases on top of an arrangement of old movie reels, spray painted in black, silver and ocean blue, and added a votive candle. We also have movie theme picture frames that will be holding black and white baby photos of the bride and groom.

It cost less than $350 to create centerpieces for 17 tables (and the biggest share of that cost was for the movie reels); much of that can be recouped after the ceremony if we resell the reels and vases.

Very simple and easy enough for anyone to do!!!

Be sure and check out my show schedule. "Junk Salvation" is done, but still have three craft shows to go!! Next show in less than 1 month!!! Am planning to have lots of ornaments and other holiday pieces.

Haven't been able to paint much the past few days, but I hope to have another project finished by this weekend. Check back in a few days!!

Cyndy

A totally lazy day...........

So, today I did absolutely nothing but lounge around my house.......totally wiped out after the Junk Salvation show, but soooo totally worth it!!!

I did catch the footbal game (GO SEAHAWKS!!!!) but cheering for them was as energetic as I got today.....

Today's post is of pictures of the other vendors at the Junk Salvation show.

First pic is down the aisle directly across from me. Love the darling little pillows, and the little white cabinet with shutters was soooo cute!!!








Second picture is of Proctor Cottage's booth. Loved to watch all the shoppers trying on the cute vintage hats!!








There was such a great mix of vendors this time.....everyone had something a little different.....and several things found new homes with me. Plus the awesome baked goodies from Great Harvest Bread Company.









Third pic is of the Christmas tree in my friend Lisbeth's booth (Cottage Caboodle). She is so inventive and creative, an absolutely fabulous painter!!!! (She won the Grand Prize in tole painting at the Puyallup Fair this year.) Her oyster shell Santas are amazing!!

You should see what she can do with a saucepot lid.....


Another view of Lisbeth's booth. She was in a tiny space, but very well staged.


Unfortunately, a beautiful old bevelled dresser top mirror was broken during set-up.....but she promises to resurrect it as a chalkboard frame. Can't wait to see how it turns out.....


Last pic is of Lisbeth's booth backdrop. It is created from a bunch of old wooden doors and wood framed screens.

The chalkboard to the left was created from an old cupboard door, one of her favorite surfaces (mine too!!). Love the old wood folding chair....I think they are really comfortable, and fold up flatter than the new style.


Have to get working on the centerpieces for my daughter's wedding. It just takes a little imagination, a few visits to Michael's and/or Joann's, add in an IKEA visit or two, a little shopping on Craigslist, and you can have an awesome wedding on a reasonable budget. Check back in a day or two for the how-to and results.

Cyndy

Another Funky Junk sale in the bag!!

Another Funky Junk Sister's "Junk Salvation" show done!!! And what a fabulous time!!! If you had the chance to attend, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!!

Just a few pic's of my booth.....will be posting more pics tomorrow of some of the other vendors, including my friend Lisbeth of Cottage Caboodle.

First pic is of my Christmas tree and the ornaments I've hand-painted.......it is never too early for Christmas!!!
The tree also has one of my fabric rag swags on it, and another is hanging to the right. The swags are made from several yards of different homespun fabrics, individually knotted, and I will sometimes add wooden spools or rusty tin ornaments. They also look great wound in with some greens on a mantel, or wrapped up a stair rail.

Second picture shows the fabulous little "dough boy" table I had for sale. It was a great garage sale find earlier this year (I was so determined to buy it, I managed to fit it in the back end of my Nissan hatchback......)
On Friday nite I made the mistake of covering the table with all kinds of goodies, so no-one could see it very well.....so Saturday morning I relocated most of the excess stuff, and it wasn't long before it was noticed. It now has a new home with Krista and I know she loves it!!





Third pic is the interior of my booth......mostly stuff I have hand-painted....if you have been following the blog, you will probably recognize some of the pieces!!!

The cute little skate was an early sale, so I will be painted another one very soon........probably not the same pattern, will have to change it up some. I also have some child-size skates stashed away, and have fabulous planned for them......

View from another side of our space. I was lucky enough to have a pretty successful sale, so many of the things in the picture did not come home with me!!!!

The great old dome-top trunk found a new home with Nikki and I hope she loves it!!! It needs a lot of love, but you cannot beat the character of an old piece!!

Last pic is the final one. Just another view of the booth space, showing mostly painted items.

As always, the "Sisters" put on a wonderful show, and I consider myself so lucky to be part of this!!! It combines my love of "old junk" with my love of painting things (many of which are created from "old junk").

That's all for now, be back tomorrow with more from "Junk Salvation".

Cyndy

Ready for tmorrow!!!

My plan was to post pictures every day this week before the "Junk Salvation" show, but I didn't quite make it. I missed last night, so I am posting 2 pictures today!!



The first is a great little vintage folding chair with a fat old snowman on it. Found this great little chair at a garage sale earlier this year and I just knew it would look fabulous painted.....



I took inspiration from a Barb Jones autumn chair pattern and came up with a design to fit the space I had on the chair.......






The second picture is of a sweet little black strokework pitcher that was a recent class project. I had a minor varnish accident, and had to repaint the whole upper section, but fortunately the strokework was spared.

The Junk Salvation show starts tomorrow nite with the breast cancer "pink martini" fundraiser!! Come join us for what is sure to be a fabulous time!!

I will be back tomorrow with pictures of my booth and some of the vendors.

Cyndy

Just a couple more days.........

Wow, just a couple more days til the Funky Junk Sisters "Junk Salvation" show!!!! I am so excited to show off the new things I have been working on!!

This is one of my new "coney" friends. It is a small traffic cone (bought and paid for, not snatched from the roadside!!) painted up as a little penguin. Decided to do a pink scarf since October is breast cancer month.

I hope to have another "coney" finished by the show----a remake of last year's "corny cone"---a cone painted up as a candy corn. A few mores things to finish on it, so I better get at it!!!

Back tomorrow with more pics!!

Cyndy

A different kind of painting surface.......

This is a darling little Christmas pattern by Deb Richey painted on a vintage handbag.

Painting on this surface was a real challenge!! It is not very rigid, so it would move or squish down whenever I tried to add details or shading. If I do this again, I will definitely stuff the piece first........

I plan to wrap the handles with homespun fabric to finish it off. Would look really cute with some greenery peeking out of the top, or holding your Christmas cards!!

Still frantically trying to finish a couple more pieces before the show this weekend....not sure it will happen, they may have to wait for the show at Spanaway Lake!!

Back with more tomorrow!!

Cyndy

Americana!!

Another new project finished for the Funky Junk Sister's "Junk Salvation" Flea Market this weekend.

Just a little school desk I picked up at a garage sale last year. It was is pretty bad shape---the wood veneer cracked and missing in places, icky sticky stuff covering the back.......but with alot of sanding and some paint (matching the existing chippy paint on the metal legs), it cleans up pretty nice!!

As I posted before, mention you saw my blog, and receive 15% off any one item at the "Junk Salvation" show....make a purchase there, and receive a coupon for 15% off a future purchase at any of my other shows.

Have several other projects to post in the upcoming days.....a unique holiday piece, a painted suitcase, a penguin "coney" and others....check back each day to see what's new!!!

Cyndy

Funky Folk Art

The design on this watering can is an adaptation of a Shara Reiner design. Very cool and funky!!! Maybe a little out-of-season now, but cool none the less!!!

Finished a wonderful holiday piece today (a unique surface....), will post pics of that tomorrow or Monday. I'm still determined to finish several more pieces and post new pics each day before the start of the Junk Salvation show on Friday!!

Back to my paintbrushes!! back tomorrow!!

Cyndy

Spooky Time

This is the inside of a cute little black metal suitcase I finished painting this weekend. Love the saying....makes me think of my friend Pam, and her fear of spiders.....she really does NOT like the "long leggedy beasties"!!! The candle inside is battery operated, to give a nice little glow









This is the front of the suitcase......best of both worlds, a pumpkin and snowman together!!! Wouldn't this be fun to display all winter long, just change out the autumn berries for some holly!!


Just one week til the Funky Junk Sisters "Junk Salvation" show!!!! I am sooo excited!!! I have lots of goodies to show off (and hopefully sell a few too!!!) I am lucky to have my friend Lisbeth (of Cottage Caboodle) in the show this time. It is going to be such a fun time!!!

Come visit my booth at the show (should be spaces 18 & 19) and mention you saw my blog, and receive 15% off any one item. Remember this is just at my booth, not any other vendors. Friday nite is our special breast cancer fundraising party, so come sip a martini and shop til you drop!!

I am going to try and post a pic of something new every day between now and the start of the show, so time to get to paintin'!!!! Back tomorrow!!

Cyndy

Three weeks to Funky Junk!!!!!!

Wow, just three weeks left til the Funky Junk Sisters "Junk Salvation" Flea Market!!!!!



I have been painting like crazy the last week, trying to get ready for the show (plus getting the centerpieces ready for my daughter's wedding.....).



The first pic shows three great little primitive pumpkin pins....I love seasonal pins!!!!! Plus the faces on these are great!!



Next pic is a fab old metal scale I found at a sale this summer. Cleaned it up and painted up with an adaptation of a Terrye French pattern....can easily be displayed year-round. Hmmmmm.....this may have to find a home in my kitchen..........



Next pic is of an old vintage skate painted with an adaptation of a Barb Jones "Snow Jobs" pattern. I changed up a few things, and added one of my favorite snowman sayings "My Family Is a Bunch of Flakes". I think it turned out great. Ooops, I just realized I posted this pic before.....oh well, it is still cute!!!



The last pic is our first class project of the year, and as usual my teacher Pam picked a winner!!!! This is from a Jamie Mills Price pattern, and her snowmen are always soooooo cute!!!!!

The colors on the "NOEL" letters are so soft and subtle, and the "Glamour Dust" just adds some extra oomph. Love this so much, I think I will try the same color palette on some other Christmas ornaments I have.


Had to go check out the Northwest Toleliners mini-convention in Seattle (SeaTac) on Friday. As usual, I spent lots of money, but got some really really cool surfaces. I have no idea what I am going to do with some of them.....anyone have any ideas for a framed piece of rusty corrugated tin???? It looked sooooo cool and was such a great price I couldn't resist, but I now I have to come up with something fabulous for it........



Only one day of vacation left, then it's back to regular work :( Was so so so much fun this past week and a half lounging around the house, painting all day long, just me and my fur-babies (Chewie and Little Bit, my dogs).

Back in a day or two!!

Cyndy

Mother Nature.........

So, I took vacation to try and get some things finished up for the Junk Salvation/Funky Junk Sisters sale, as well as Chrissie's wedding.......unfortunately, the weather is NOT co-operating!!
I had lots of things I wanted to prime and paint but Mother Nature keeps raining on my parade!!!! Argggghhh!!!!

So, I am restricted to inside, but that gave me the chance to finish painting up this vintage skate. It is a bit of a challenge painting on such an unusual surface, but the results are well worth the headaches. Have another skate left from this pair, but not sure what I want to do with it yet......any suggestions????

Less than a month til the Junk Salvation Vintage Flea Market put on by the Funky Junk Sisters. Over a hundred booths this time!!! WOW!!!! It is going to be an absolutely fabulous show!!!! Plus you add in martinis on Friday nite and we are gonna have a wonderful time!!! Mark your calendars for October 15 & 16!!!

So, I am gonna do a little promotion for this show.....mention that you saw my blog, and receive 15% off any one item, either vintage or hand-painted. (This is just for my booth, NOT any other vendors.) Plus I will be passing out some coupons for future shows. You gotta come check it out!!

Cyndy

It's been so long.........

I've been really neglectful about the blog lately----sorry!!! Work has been crazy, and Mom was sick, so I didn't get much of anything done. Did finish these cute little resin pieces from the Artist's Club. I love Santas and Snowmen!!!

Just over a month til the Funky Junk Sisters Junk Salvation show....wow!!! I have collected sooooo much stuff I think I am gonna have to rent a UHaul!!! Have a darling old "dough table", lots of chairs, cabinets and other fab old "things". Waaaay too much to fit in the mini-van.

Excited that my friend Lisbeth Stull will have a booth at the show. She is an exquisite painter.

Starting our painting classes again soon (tho' our painting teacher Pam has been letting us come over and "visit" on Wednesdays thru the summer....). She has got some great projects lined up.

Work is calling, back in a few days

Cyndy