May Day

May this May Day bring you happy surprises and exciting new beginnings.

xo

The Ugly Tulips

Easter Sunday, dear Rosemary was helping me in the narthex as my daughter and I tried to figure out which flowers were ours to take home.

There was a mix-up on the sheet and, of course, I couldn't remember what I had ordered.







"You could have a mum, or a lily, or a tulip", Rosemary said reading from the list of options.

I looked at the breathtaking wall of colorful flowers and noticed a pot of shriveled brown tulips tucked to the side.

"I like those," I pointed to the odd, hidden flowers.

"You're kidding aren't you?" Rosemary gasped in disbelief. "We thought they were dead so we hid them in the back."

"They're interesting looking." I picked up the pot and looked at the puckered bulbs.

"I think they're called parrot tulips," Rosemary scrunched up her nose, "And you are more than welcome to take them!"

The wrinkled, brown buds opened into lacey yellow, flaming orange, and burnt red petals. 

Aren't they lovely? 

All these colors tightly closed together made a muddy brown. 

But as they opened... 

all this beauty was revealed!

Spring Hare

 

This wonderful Spring air, has inspired this Spring hare.

He hopped out of here today on my latest promotional mailer.

   

Happy Spring, everyone--- enjoy!

Summertime Flowers

Here are some soft, summertime flowers for your ears. 

The ones in my garden have wilted from this horrible heat.

I hope to refresh my neglected etsy shop this week. 

I've been pulled away from it by an illustration project, packing and unpacking for happy campers, and simply trying to survive the summer schedules of busy teens.

 It's too hot to be in my garden. So I'll just hold up in my studio. And make some pretty flowers for your ears instead!

Age Before Beauty

Grey Gardens

An old pot-metal trembler brooch from the 1930's and 40's.

Tiny little rhinestones wink from its soft, lavender-grey, petals.

Slightly dark.

 

Slightly mysterious.

Highly seductive...

Grey gardens, at Age Before Beauty.

It's A Pansy Day!

Pansies, to me, are a symbol of happiness. 

Not only are they rainbow-colored, smiley faced, harbingers of spring, but they have a history of good memories for me as well. 

Early each Spring, my mom would come home from the nursery utterly joyful. 

And she would dig in the dirt planting spots of color with a satisfied smile. 

Since moving to the Midwest, I have a very hard time finding pansies as early as my mom does. Now it has become a quest for me to seek out the earliest pansies in Iowa. 

I am a notorious daredevil eliciting, "You've planted your pansies already???? It's too early!!!!". 


But it's not. These dainty little posies are deceptively hardy. They are resilient even when frozen. 

I think they're smiling in their planters...

 

 Knowing how happy they make me...

Happy Pansy Day!

Deck your lobes...

Deck your lobes with lovely earwear. 

Fa la la la la, la la la laaaaaa,

I'm making some pretty blingy bits for your ears. All are sterling wire wrapped and boast sterling findings. 

Old religious medals, antique beads,

 fabulous Victorian buttons, creamy mother of pearl, 

 Edwardian purse clips, 

and lots of fun and festivity to boot.

I'll be at the Craft and Fancy Show this Saturday. 

And for all of you who also would like sparkling ear bling for the holidays, please check my etsy shop, Age Before Beauty.

Deck your lobes, and your neck,... who cares about the halls?

The Bell Jar

I have wanted a bell jar for a long time.

But not just any bell jar. 

An old bell jar.

A big bell jar.

I found it last week at Decorum in Iowa City. A chemist had it and kept a very old, very gorgeous microscope under it. 

I gathered some pods and rosehips from my garden and tucked them into an old metal flower frog. Then I added some moss. The curved, engraved, fabulous tray that it's on is from Artifacts.

 This amazing antique elf climbing a ladder was a Christmas present years ago from my Mom and Dad. I say Mom and Dad, but really more from Mom--- because I know she loved it and gave it to me instead of keeping it for herself.

Treasures... under my bell jar.