A Blondie Day

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Time

Sometimes it is so difficult for us to remember to take time for ourselves - to even find time for ourselves - without feeling guilty for doing so. But it's so important. You need it to remind yourself of who you are and who you want to be. 

 

 

 

 

Fill the well up again, and in doing so, you will have so much more to give.

 

 

Helena  XO

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

 

 

 

 

Tea Totes

New pretties are in the shop!  Tea totes are here...

 

 

 

Pretty, vintage-y, repurposed and useful...all my favorite things.

 

 

 

And lots of styles, from cute to funky to pretty...

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have a moment, stop by and see them all.

 

Much love

and Light,

Helena

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty Find No. 2...

...sitting upon Pretty Find No. 3...

A lovely vintage tin and a beautiful woven vintage Mexican serape.  The colors and patterns have me doing a happy dance!  

 

 

I have plans for that serape IF I can possibly bring myself to cut it. OOh, I just don't know if I am that brave.

 

Also, coming soon to the shop...

 

 

And they are SO very cute and handy too, I must say.

 

Happy Day!

 

XO Helena

 

Pretty Find No. 1

Freshly back from a long weekend of treasure hunting in Virginia and Pennsylvania.  Such heaven!  I could lose myself in the aisles and booths of these vintage markets for hours and hours on end, and it would feel like only a moment had passed.

 

 

How I hoped upon hope I would find something with my beloved swallows upon it, which is not always an easy find.

And then, in a teeny tiny booth, stacked in a muddle of other various linens on a bottom shelf, there it was...

 

 

A pretty embroidery on a piece of broadcloth.

 

My heart sang!

It was mine.

 

There are a few stains here and there which I will attempt to soak out.

But really, I will love it any way.

 

 

XO Helena

 

 

 

New Thrift

The thrift shop has been nice to me lately, so I have some new findings to share with you.

First is this very handsome guy.

 

I couldn't believe my good fortune in finding him sitting there on the shelf, staring at me with an impatient gaze as if to say "well, it's about time you got here".  He is quite large and quite heavy, and has found a perfect home in my garden.  

 

And I love his blueness.

 

Also found were pretty glass flower shaped plates, which will also go in my garden as an edging.

To continue with the outdoor theme are these bright yellow daisy paper plate holders for BBQ's and such.

 

 

 

An old framed daisy watercolor and a funky green printed mug to take to my new office.

 

 

 

 

An old metal picture frame, pinkie peach plastic basket (always useful), some old upholstery fabric in a pleasing print and a New York World's Fair velvet pillow cover.

 

 

And lastly, an Aisian print metal tray - a little chippy and scratched, but pretty nontheless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Am I.

 

Hope the thrift shop is being nice to you as well.

 

 

XO Helena

 

 

 

 

 

Brand New Sparks

Sometimes I like to look about me and take stock of the things that I am most excited, motivated and inspired about - creatively that is.

Here are a few things that I am spending time with, soaking up the creative energy that it is giving me (it's better than eating chocolate, with little sleeveless sundress season coming and all)...

Small, pretty prints.  I am all about these right now.  I still love (and always will) nice large, flowery fabrics, but right now - little is nice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Sari fabric I recently, happily acquired.

Oh My.

I am so in love with these, and my head is spinning with anticipation of what I will make.

 

 

 

Yum.  The colors, textures and patterns are heavenly to me.

 

 

 

 

 

Next, vintage linen tea towels.

What more can I say?? They speak perfectly for themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Asian shop has just opened up near me, and this is one of the pretties I purchased there...

 

 

 

Colorful, patterned chopsticks - too lovely to be left in a drawer.

 

 

 

 

I picked up this printer's drawer at a yard sale for $1 about 2 years ago and have finally hung it up.  Procrastination, thy name is me.

 But better late then never.

 

 

Filled with little doodads and what-not, including My Girl's beloved Gromit, who looks like he is pondering something - like how to get off this shelf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And off I go to see if I have the courage to cut up my pretty Sari fabric.

 

Hoping sparks of inspiration are finding you today.

 

XO Helena

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today's Doings

Wings are growing here.  Spring is in the air, and although we have a forecast for snow tomorrow night, we are feeling optimistic.

I am working on my Etsy listings while listening to Motown on Pandora. The back door is propped open.  The sun is shining in and a warmish breeze is blowing.  Gretel is ecstatic with the open door and has gone in and out into the backyard too many times to count, poking her head inside now and then to make sure I am still here and that there aren't any tasty tidbits floating around that she should know about.

 

 

 

As excited as I am about the arrival of spring, I am also quite OK with a little more snow one more time.  I don't mind being warm and cozy inside while the cold wind and white stuff whips through the air outside, making me feel extra grateful to be warm, secure and loved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also wouldn't mind another day of school being closed.  Another bonus day of having My Girl home with me so we can make macaroni art and snuggle and watch The Smurf Movie for the 128th time.

 

 

 

But at the same time, I am excited about spring.  Excited about new beginnings and new possibilities.

 

My little Blondie Blu office will be up and running in April, and this is the lovely place in which it will be.

 

 

I am over the moon happy about The Little Spot That Will Be All Mine.  There is something to be said for working at home, and I will still have my sewing studio there.  But it is also nice to have a place away from home, out and about, that will give me a fresh perspective and a clean slate to start from.  I will be working on a different Blondie Blu project there, and I think it will be the perfect spot to do so.

 

At home, I have begun spring cleaning and spring brightening...

 

 

 

...while still making sure my snow shovel is near.

 

 

XO Helena