A Blondie Day

Latest Love

I always have a current obsession.  And like most obsessions, I go a little nutty.

Lately, it has been all bout doll heads - vintage and antique ones.  And the more I find the more I want.

Many people find them a bit creepy, but I find them completely enchanting - sweet even, and no creepiness factor at all.

Just like most vintage and old things, the more worn they are, the more I love them.

 

 

 

It's easy to look at them and see the months and years that they have been loved.

 

 

Once upon a time, they were part of a complete doll that was held and hugged and dressed and kissed.

 

 

 

I look at them and wonder the confidences that they have kept all these years, the secrets that they've been told, the girls that once held them and grew into women and perhaps gave them to their daughters.

 

 

 

 

 

It's always wonderful to remember the little girl that still lives inside of us.

 

No, I don't think they're creepy at all.

 

XO Helena

 

Positively Pretty Jars

Oh I know, you've probably been jarred to death.  I have too.  Jars, and every which way to recycle them, have been all over the crafty world forever and we just can't seem to let go of them. Browsing through the bookstore the other day however, I came upon a creative little book entitled DIY Mason Jars by Melissa Averinos.  Paging through I spotted an idea for just about the prettiest jars I've seen yet, and just had to try my hand at them.

The jars she made were modeled after the vintage red cross symbol, which I love.  She had done her jar in the traditional red and white, which looked smashing, but I thought it might be fun to try other colors.

So I did.

 

And I was pleased as punch at how they came out.

So pleased, that I have to keep wandering back into the livingroom so I can admire them.  Again and again.  Everytime I walk back into the room, my poor confused Gretel lifts her head up and stares at me as if to say "Really?"

 

 

And THEN I thought (since I was doing a lot of thinking) why stop at just the cross...why not try other patterns?

 

So I did!

 

 

Polka dots and hearts.

And I loved them too!!

 

 

 

These are a snap to make and truly are a great way to recycle and re-use old glass jars.

If you want to give them a try, pick up a copy of this fun book.  Lots of other projects in there as well.

 

 

Have a happy, happy weekend sweeties!!!!

 

XO Helena

 

 

 

Now That It's Over...

I survived my first craft fair!

And although I know I have already posted pictures of my mock up booth in every which way possible 'til you are all about to scream, I just NEED (yes, need) to post one more pic (I promise) of my actual booth all set up at the fair...

 

 

It was hot and humid and I never worked harder in my life, but I loved it.

My next fair will be a Holiday Boutique in November...more info to come.

 

And now that the fair is over, I can move on!

So back to my little shop..

 

New wares in the shop today!

 

 

Blu Eyes - vintage eyeglass cases...

 

 

 

New postcards...

 

 

 

 

Folklore Keychains...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Yardstick Crosses...

 

 

 

 

 

...and more to come later in the week!

 

 

 

My little blue house's decor has suffered greatly in the last weeks, so I tried to make amends yesterday with a little bit of sprucing up.  MUCH more to do.

 

 

Much love and many thanks for all the good wishes and vibes sent my way.

 

XO Helena

 

Ready Freddy

 

Still so busy and excited...

 

 

 

 

...getting ready...

 

 

 

 

 

...for my first craft fair on July 27th...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and working on my business plan...

 

 

 

 

...for my brick and mortar shop...

while still enjoying summer and having My Girl home,

that I'm afraid I've been ingnoring my little blog.

But visit me, if you can, at my Facebook Page, where I am almost daily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would be so happy to see you there.

 

XO

 

 

 

A Few Pretties and a Great Find

A few new pretties in the shop today.

 

Today's Blu Plate Special...

 

 

 

... and a pretty teapot in a coat of blue...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and a quick moment to share with you one of my most beautiful thrift shop vintage embroidery finds EVER!

 

 

 

As I walked across the shop when first I spotted it, I thought for sure it was a print, which would have been pretty as well.  But no - it was real silk embroidery and very, very lovely.  I could not believe my good fortune as I walked it up to the register - heart slightly pounding.

 

 

 

I'm not sure why the Thrifting Fairy likes me so much lately after she appeared to not care too much for me for quite some time... but I'm not questioning it.

 

XO Helena

 

 

 

 

Potions and Elixirs - Cleaning Up My Act

When I was about 10 or 11, I got my first migraine.  No one at the time called them that, but knowing what I know now, that's what they certainly were.  A 2 or 3 day affair of intense pain on one side of my head, together with nausea and sensitivity to light.  

That sounds like a migraine to me.

At that time, in the 70's, I think all that my mom would have given me was aspirin or possibly Tylenol - which maybe slightly took the edge off or basically did nothing at all.  It was such fun.

When I hit my late 20's, I was given an added bonus of delights...double vision, flashing lights and an off-balance feeling. Woo hoo.  Could it possibly get any better?

Well, yes it could.  In my mid-30's, migraine related vertigo entered the scene.  And by vertigo I mean anything from a few brief seconds of spinning to a fall-down-on-the-ground whirling that causes me to throw up.  Yay!

That had to be the last of the issues joining the party, right? 

Well, no.  After having my daughter, a new joy emerged.  The smells of certain chemicals and perfumes set off a hodgepodge of migraine symptoms - leaving me never to know when I may accidentally inhale a scent while I am out and about trying to live life, and then have to immediately head home, pull down the shades and bury my head under a blanket.

I kinda got the feeling my body was trying to tell me something. And while I cannot control what I may accidentally breath in while I am out in the world, I could control what was in my home. 

So I'm making changes - one little thing at a time.

And I'm starting with what I clean my home with.  I'm kind of a little bit nutty with constantly using a spray cleaner.  I use it everywhere in the house, so I thought that's a great place to start.  

So I've made my very first spray cleaner, and I am loving it so much, I wanted to share the recipe with you.

 

 

This recipe is from The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier.

 I have to admit I was a little nervous with the thought of replacing my beloved Mr. Clean or Fantastik (which both leave me a little nauseous every time I use them, but really do clean well) but I was so delightfully surprised!  So here goes...

 

 

Lemon Blast Cleaner

 

1 teaspoon liquid castile soap

1/8 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 cups water

6 drops citrus seed extract

4 drops lemon, lime, orange or eucalyptus essental oil (I used lime)

1 teaspoon borax

 

Combine all ingredients in a plastic spray bottle.  Shake well before each use.

(I used an old spray bottle that once held another cleaner.  If you do this, just make sure you thoroughly clean it first.  I let this bottle have a good run in the dishwasher to make sure none of the old cleaner was left.)

As I am a bit nutty, I had to decorate the bottle with decals, which, because the bottle is green, ended up having a very faded, transparent quality.  Not entirely bad.

 

 

Spray generously on appliance or counter top surfaces and wipe with a damp cloth or sponge.

 

 

And guess what - it works beautifully with a very, very soft scent that does not make me nauseous in the least!  This positive experience may very well set off a whole array of homemade cleaning products in this house.  I will keep you posted.

 

While I was shopping for the liquid castile soap, my eyes fell upon this...

 

 

Oh, my dear Witch Hazel - how you bring back memories.  Witch Hazel was a magic elixir in my home growing up.  It was my mother's answer to just about anything that ailed you.  

Mosquito bite?  Witch Hazel.  Blemish on your face?  Witch Hazel.  A bruise?  Witch Hazel.  A rash?  Why, Witch Hazel of course!

It made me smile and think of my Mom, not to mention that it had a fabulous label.  It's all natural and it does not make me nauseous.  So home it came.

 

So that is 2 little changes in my quest for a more natural and healthy way of living.

 

I will be sure to share more discoveries with you!

 

XO Helena

 

Blondie Blu and a One Year Plan

One of the reasons I've set up an office outside of my home (besides the need to get away from the distraction of dirty dishes and piles of laundry) is to work on a specific plan, of the business kind.  I've been taking on line courses to help make me a little bit wiser in the ways of business.  And there is a goal to that.

My parents gave me many, many things during their lives - most important of which was complete unconditional love and support, together with being the best kinds of teachers - the ones that teach by example.  They taught me well.  And one of the gifts that they have given me in their passing, is the means by which to make one of my dreams come true.  A catch-22, in that I would love nothing more than for them to be here and share this dream with me.  But then I wouldn't be able to make the dream come true right now, would I.  

I believe with all my heart that they are here to share it with me anyway, and I know they would not only be proud, but be glad that they were able to help my dream become a reality.

And that dream is a brick and mortar shop.

If my business plan goes accordingly, then one year from this fall I will be opening my very first Real Live Brick and Mortar Shop. Yessiree...hopefully right here in the village of my hometown (if the right shop becomes available - keeping fingers crossed).  Downtown Bay Shore has become a lovely town, filled with boutiques, little bistros and restaurants, coffee shops, a concert theater, and a pretty park with a gazebo where they have outside concerts all summer.  It's a perfect spot.  Not to mention that it is around the corner from my Little Blue House.

I won't go into the boring details of the actual business plan, but part of it is to spend the next year building up an inventory and also getting some experience and exposure by doing local craft shows.  On Long Island we have many of those all year long - some of which are quite large and draw great crowds of people.  I must start small at first, of course, but by next spring and summer I should be able to participate in some of the larger ones.  

OK, so I won't burden you with more info than I've already given, so I will switch over to the fun stuff.  But I wanted to share that with you, because within the sharing comes the reality of it.

 

Here is what I'm loving right now - lovely, breezy, silky, colorful vintage scarves, lots of 'em...

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a special project in mind for some of those pretties.

 

 

In prepping for my first craft show in July, I've dressed up a little thrifted shelf...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And made keychains from my precious ribbon stash and vintage buttons.

 

 

 

 

I've been working feverishly in the garden, and giving it the boot.  A pink boot that is.  A pair of thrifted pink cowboy boots were waiting for me at the thrift shop.  Just sitting there waiting. I knew what I had to do.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a polka dotted one too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I have 2 new vintage "Swallow Finds"...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for listening to my grand dreams and for being part of my little world.  You bring me happiness and every day inspire me to let my little light glow.

 

As always

Much love,

 

XO Helena

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Little Garden and a Pair of Shoes

All the gardens in my yard are broken up into categories.  There's the Herb Garden, which has...you guessed it - herbs!  This year I have rosemary, flat leaf parsley, thyme, cilantro, dill, fennel, basil and cinnamon basil.  Then there's the Pond Garden, which is located by the pond.  Ah yes, that is a brilliant name for it, is it not?  That is where the Spot for Fairies resides.  Next would be the Butterfly Garden, which is, of course, a garden for not only attracting butterflies, but for feeding and breeding them.  This is a new project - more on that to come!

And then there is this little garden...The Tire Garden.

Oh, I had such fun with this.

Once upon a time, in the 1970's, my Mom was into tire planters.  She gave my father the task of finding old tires for her, which she then promptly spray painted and then proceeded to cut hundreds of triangle snips around the rim, which were then bent back like petals.  I remember her blistered hands, which she did not let hinder her from completing her appointed task.  

I wish I had pictures of my Mom's planters, but they looked something like these...

 

 

source 

 

Recently, tire planters have once again become all the rage, so I decided a few little ones in my garden would be sweet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did not snip them.

No I did not.

I am not as brave as my mother was, and I can do without blisters.

 

 

 

But I think they are pretty just the same.

And I think my Mom would approve.

 

 

 

 

This past week, I was on another mission as well.

I fell completely in love with the colorful and happy array of cloggy sandals that Swedish Hasbeens has out for spring and summer.  Oh, they are like candy.

But when I went searching for the perfect pair in the perfect color in the perfect size - ah, not so easy to find.

But in my search, I came upon these...

 

 

Oh, you pretty silvery things you!  In my size and on sale.

I love them - perfect for the summer and for showing off just a peek of color from a pedi.  And even perfect in the fall and winter with tights. And the silver goes with just about everything.

 

I am a happy girl.

 

XO

Helena

 

 

 

A Fairy Spot

A few years ago, I came upon an old colander at the thrift shop.  She was a little beat up, missing her handles and had some dents and bruises, but I saw the beauty in her nonetheless.

She came home with me and promptly became a pretty pot for a lovely lantana for the rest of the season.

 

 

 

The following year, however, overwhelmed with the sad task of cleaning out and selling my parents' home, Miss Colander stayed in the shed - empty and sad.

So, to make up for it this year, she has been given a very special duty.

She has become a Spot for Fairies.

 

 

My Girl and I lined her lovingly with a shredded coconut liner, filled her with potting soil and planted a few tiny succulents, including aloe which can be quite useful in the summer.

 

 

We added little chairs, a wee birdbath and some other little friends, together with pretty colored beach glass we thought the fairies would like.

 

 

 

 

And lo and behold, we think we created the perfect spot that any Fairy would gladly come to rest and ponder and think Fairy-thoughts.

 

 

 

May you find a restful, happy spot in which to ponder and dream as well.

 

XO Helena

 

 

 

 

New Happenings

We are moving along here in Blondie Blu Land.

My new office is taking shape, and it is becoming a nice little haven for me to escape to when I need to focus and do computer-ing for my shoppe, blog and website.

 

 

My office is in this lovely old colonial home, which has been converted to an office building - but the beauty of it has been kept.  I will share more pictures of the house itself soon, but for now here are little peeks at my office...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Needless to say, I need to bring my grown up camera with me to take real pictures, and I must share some of this home with you.  I know you will love it.  The house also has an interesting history, which I will share as well.

 

I have a new website!!

 

blondieblu.com

 

I have put it together myself, which is no small feat as I have exactly zero, zilch, nicht, nada HTML experience or knowledge, for that matter.  But it is not a bad start, and it will work well for me for now.  Come and visit if you have a moment.

 

I will be doing my very first ever Craft Show on July 27th, 2013.

I know, I must be crazy for my very first attempt to be in the middle of the hot Long Island summer, but I will pray for a cooler day and bring lots of cold drinks and perhaps do a cool, sunny weather dance the night before - you never know, it might work.

I will post more info on that right before the show, and if you are in the area, I would LOVE to see your friendly, smiling, supportive face there, as I will be nervous and slightly insecure.

 

On the homefront, my yard is shaping up.

 

 

I am finally ready to plant lots of yummy herbs and pretty flowers for the butterfly gardens, and perhaps some veggies too, although haven't decided that yet.  My tomatoes last year were a sad, sorry, pitiful lot, and I don't know if I want to put tomatoes through that again.  We shall see.

 

It is a warm, happy Thursday here, and we are enjoying it immensely.

 

A quick little thought for the day, and I am off...

 

 

Much love to you...

 

XO Helena