The Book Owner

I opened an old book this wintry evening and found this lovely bookplate on the inside cover. 

Such a sense of pride of ownership to have a book.

Sharing a bit of book love tonight…

Ooooooo, Ahhhhhhhhh...

OOOooooooooooo…….

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh….

Fa…

La…

Laaaaaaaa!

Sparkly holiday wishes ~

from, Age Before Beauty!

I've been crafting… now it's time to get fancy!

I've been busy making things for the Craft and Fancy Show… 

It will be this Saturday, December 7, from 10 until 5 at Home ec., 

which is on Linn Street in Iowa City. 

I'll post some beauty shots here over the next few days. 

Here are some new earrings… 

from old industrial brass tacks, 

to buttons, 

charms,

 and pieces of history.

I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones! 

Enjoy the season, and thank you for supporting local vendors and independent artists!

Oh, and don't take any of those in the above picture…

A Gorey Friday the 13th

I looked over at my drawing board just now, and this is what I saw.

For many years I've been collecting antique photos. 

So, naturally, when I'm looking for inspiration for an upcoming picture book set in Victorian times I get to revisit my 'old' friends. 

Of course I need to take a stroll through the world of Edward Gorey, because no one captures the quirkiness of those times like he did! 

In the above picture you'll see a bit of a frontispiece that he did for Amphigorey Again. The copy inside the scroll reads,

"Frivolity, at the edge of a Moral Swamp hears Hymn Singing in the Distance and dons the Galoshes of Remorse."

  

Happy Friday the 13th! 

Wishing all of you an inspired day!

The Entomology Collection

The Entomology Collection, part one.

Making jewelry is such a relaxing outlet for me.It's a place where I can let my imagination out to play.

I found it inspiring and fun to combine science-y subject matter...

with rhinestones, gemstones and old shoe buttons.

With antique Paris bag handles,

  

and an ancient-looking measuring tape. 

I even sewed!

Mixing up things that shouldn't go together...

... things that are old ...

... and making them new.

I'm so excited about The Entomology Collection---

Listed soon at Age Before Beauty.

Patience

I am not a patient woman.

And so as I wait to hear back from the publisher, I made some things.

(also in an effort to procrastinate the laundry and cleaning.)

 I had a wonderful customer custom order 'a single earring' as she only wears one. I have a few other friends who like to mix and match their ear wear and so I've added 'single earrings' to Age Before Beauty's repertoire--- For those who enjoy the asymmetric :-)

What fun!

Thanks, Meshel, for the great idea. Now I'll be nice and busy while I work on my life lesson...

patience.