ma vie trouvée

My cards at the Chick's Pick show ......

 

 

 

This quote is so true and something that has become a reality for me in the last few months.

I am selling my cards at Chick's Picks this weekend! 

It is a new design I have been working on using batik fabrics from "my collection".

 

 

 

The image below is the advertisement for the show (not my art). 

If you are in the local area - please stop in for a visit!

 

 

  

Hillary (the owner of Chick's Picks) does an amazing job with the display and set up.  Really with EVERYTHING!

This time the show is in a barn with a big brewery right next door to drop off your husband!  See... I told you she does an amazing job with everything!

 

 

 

 

oui oui Paris!!

 

The hubby had business in Paris, so of course I said OUI - YES when he invited me to go!

Whenever I am in Paris on Sunday I have to hit the Vanves flea market.  Many of the vendors really take the time to set up their goods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The prices were high.  I only bought a few postcards (1 euro each) and a small book (2 euro).  I have so many ladies and little girls in my collection but very few little boys.

 

 

 

 

I thought these with airplanes were different.

 

 

 

The little girls holding hands were so sweet and I always buy swings when I see them.

 

 

 

The cover to the book was torn off, but I take them apart anyway so I did not mind. 

 

 

 

Tomorrow we take the train to Brussels (more meetings) so I will hit their Daily flea market.  It is a messy one where you have to dig through boxes... but you can find treasures at cheap prices, so I actually prefer it.

 

Can you guess what these are?

 

I was at the Pearl Market in Beijing, China when I saw these little ceramic Asian ladies in a shop.  They are around 5 inches long. 

What were they used for? 

 

 

 

 

It was late in the day and a co-worker of D was giving us a tour of the market, so I had to select fast... something I am not good at doing.   Each lady had a personality, a different outfit, a look on their face...

 

 

 

 

 

I picked six of them... thinking I could use them as chopstick holders for a special dinner.

 

 

 

 

Did you have a guess at what they originally were used for?

 

The shop keeper told me they are ribbon holders used in sewing factory in Xian,Tianjin.  She said they were around 40 years old.  I would have thought older.  They are quite fragile, so it is interesting they were used as an everyday object in a factory. 

Can you image hundreds of these with ribbon wound around them?

 

 

 

 

Of course when I got home I wished I would have bought more... the story of my life  :   )   

 

 

FF: afghanistan vintage fabric

 

 

 

There are several little shops in my favorite mall in Bangkok,  Palladium World Shopping Mall (formerly the Pratunam Centre), that sells old artifacts, jewelry, beads, and fabrics from Afghanistan.

 

(front and back)

 

 

I always have to buy a few pieces that call me.  The mall recently revamped itself and my little shops have increased in price, so I did not buy as many as I usually do.

 

 

 

 

 

I also picked up a wooden stamp for my collection, from Afghanistan.

 

 

 

And for the record... I did create a collage with the fabric I bought in India a few years ago.  I have it hung in the middle of the room so there is very little natural light on the frame and it is hard to photograph with the glass - but you get the idea.  I am really happy with it.

 

 

 

 

The framer recommended the burlap background, which I think adds great texture to the piece.

 

 

 

What are you sharing today?

 

ff: my new hat

 

Bought in a tiny shop in Bangkok.

650 Thai Baht.  I got her down to 500 ($15 usd) as I was the first sale of the day.  In Asia, vendors are anxious to make the first sale of the day - it is thought to bring good luck for the rest of the day.  It is good for the buyer, as the vendor will drop the price to make the sale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where will I wear it?  A tea party?  A wedding?  To create art?

So beautiful - all the textures and colors.  I liked that the colors were a bit spring but could also be worn in the fall.

I asked the young woman in the shop if she made it and she said no her boss did.  I asked if her boss was male or female... she hesitated and said, "male, but like female"     :    )    Most likely a lady boy (Thai term that refers to a third gender in Thailand - an effeminate gay male who dresses as a woman.  They can be quite beautiful and very talented!)

 

 Sharing with the Friday Finds gang at Kim's!

 

ff: fun finds from jakarta and sydney

 

 

 

It has been awhile since I have shared my shopping finds, so here is a batch from Jakarta, Indonesia and Sydney, Australia.  I am going into panic mode as we move back to the states in August.   BOO HOO!!!!

 

 

 

From Jakarta

This necklace is a bit bling-bling - but....it was a perfect match with the dress I bought.  How could I resist?  I am in love with batik fabrics and thought this pattern was particularity lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

And the sweetest little elephant beads in bright colors.  I did not try to match these to my dress.... it just happened.  Must have been my colors of the day!

 

 

 

 

These are vintage bridal hair combs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A pretty belt buckle - I could turn it into a necklace with resin in the middle.

 

 

 

 

From Australia

The rhinestone jewelry is from Australia - I found at a flea market.

 

 

 

 

 

I also found this is Australia.  I have no idea what to do with it.  

I bet Amy @ four corners would know!

 

 

 

 

Off to Bangkok on Saturday - THE BEST PLACE for shopping!!  All kinds of goodies can be found.  One of my favorite places to shop is the Chatuchak weekend market - probably the best market I have ever been to!

 

 

tt: teapot lids

 

 

 

 

I was shopping in Chinatown the other day where a little teashop was selling mismatched teapot lids.  I stopped to look and thought who would buy this? 

 

 

 

 

Then it hit me - what a great collage they would make.  I bought 11 of them @ 1.00 each (.74 cents usd).  I was thinking about framing them in a circle pattern but then laid them out in a line on my antique Asian chest and I really liked this.  I am still considering framing them and hanging them horizontally.  

 

 

 

 

I had so much fun photographing them, focusing on different lids...

 

 

 

 

I am more of a life photographer vs still-life set ups so this was very different for me.  I feel like I was able to capture the "blur" that I love in so many of Kim's images and friends who share on Kim's blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that the little hole in the tops is used to stop the tea from coming out of the spout?  Just put your finger over it and it and the tea will stop pouring.

 

 

 

 

To get all of the lids in the photo I had to lift the camera way above my head so I could not see what was on the screen.  I have a mirror leaning on the cabinet and it caught the reflection - I really liked this.

 

 

 

 

Behind the scenes - this one was way off the mark, but I thought it was funny with me standing on a stool!

 

 

 

 

Sharing with Kim and my friends over at Texture Tuesday....

I used the texture "edith" today - one of my favorites.

What did you create today?

 

 

ff: a dragon kiln

 

A visit to the Thow Kwang Dragon Kiln in Singapore

 

 

 

 

Dragon kilns are brick-built kilns shaped like a dragon.  What makes them unique is they are heated by wood and fire, where modern kilns primarily use electricity.  Created and first used in China, they date back 3000 years.

Early Chinese settlers brought the dragon kiln firing technology to Singapore at the turn of the 20th century.  In the 1930s, Singapore had more than 20 dragon kilns in operation.  Today, there are only two left and only the Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle is active.

 

 

 

 

The current owner’s grandfather built Thow Kwang's homemade dragon kiln. This year they are having their 50th birthday along with Singapore! 

After a long period of nonuse; in 2001, Singapore recognized their historical value and deemed the dragon kilns part of Singapore's national heritage.  There was a big campaign to "awaken the dragon".

 

 

 

 

The structure consists of a front firing chamber (the firebox), the main chamber where ceramic pieces are fired, and a chimney at the tail where smoke and hot air are released.  The brick exterior is covered with dirt to help trap heat inside (see photo above).

 

 

(graphics courtesy of Thow Kwang Pottery) 

 

The kiln is 118 feet (36 meters) long and 6.5 feet (2 meters wide).  We were allowed to walk inside as is was not being used at the time. 
 

 

 

 

It has 17 eyes (stroke holes) used to feed the firewood and to check on the progression of the baking.

 

 

 

The structure is long and slopped downwards to help with the heat flow.  Hot air rises, therefore fficiently maximizing the heat produced within the kiln. When the entire kiln is fired up it flames, smokes, and hisses, hence the name “dragon kiln”.

 

(graphics courtesy of Thow Kwang Pottery)

 

It can fire up to 5000 ceramic pieces at one time.   Regardless of the size you are firing, it takes up to 30 hours at above 1,400 degree Celsius to fire the pieces.  The pieces below are waiting to be fired.  Due to the high cost, they only fire up the kiln two times a year.

 

 

Below are ready-made pieces for purchase.

 

 

 

I liked the small Buddhist shrine at the front of the Dragon Kiln.  The owner told us it is there to bring good luck to the firing process.

 

 

 

They offer pottery classes for all ages.

 

 

 

 

Fun fact - Martha Stewart visited Thow Kwang in May 2010 as part of her SE Asian tour.

 

 

 

What fun things are you sharing today?

 

 

 

merry christmas to me - published in Somerset Studio!!

 

It is always a thrill to be published in the fabulous mixed media magazine Somerset Studio! 

It was like a little Christmas present to me.

 

 

 

My Nov/Dec issue of Somerset Studio magazine FINALLY arrived yesterday.  I was very anxious to receive it as I have an article published on "the last page".  There was no artwork, just a little article about the love of my first rubber stamp and how it started a life long hobby obsession for me.

I love the little note the editor put at the bottom of the article...

 

They ask that we not share the full article....of course they hope you will go out and buy the magazine  :  )   But - this issue is packed with inspiration and eye candy.  Not mention, the cover is beautiful... so you may want to pick up a copy.

 

 

I hope you get an extra special gift this year too!

 

 

 

Texture Tuesday - the snowmen

 

 

 

I am in love with my little snowmen.  Aren't they adorable?  I bought them at Chick's Picks, a FABULOUS pop up boutique store in Northern Virginia (she is on-line too).  Hillary, the owner of Chick's Picks, supports local artists by selling their creations at her home shows.  She is super talented too!  

The Snowmen were created by Trina Lucido, the very creative owner of the The Paper Flea Market.  And I see she still has a few more snowmen for sale!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I gave three of them away as gifts and  kept the little one below - loved his vintage hat and key.  Maybe I should have kept them all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope they give you a smile today....

Enjoy the little things that the holiday season brings.

 

 

 

Sharing with my friends at Texture Tuesday. 

I used Kim's texture on the first image.