The Olde Curiosity Shop

I love  exploring  antique, thrift, "junque" stores...how every you describe them, nothing is better than  finding cool junk!  Those one time  discards become your wonderful treasure.

 The Graphic 45  "Olde Curiosity Shoppe" patterned paper reminds me of the wandering through the perfect antique store. How to use such a imaginative paper line, chip board die-cuts and of course  "Wild Honey" Distress Ink...?  

Create a antique store mini album!

The cover of the album is the "front window" of the Olde Curiosity Shop...with a glimpse of the fascinating bits and pieces waiting to be discovered.

Layered on the "window" is a pewter Bee...

Opening  the cover to  the first pages  shows some of the  fantastic oddities. Best of all...a flying pig!

 Stepping further into the shop we find butterflies and bees...and a mysterious lady with a copper key.

Turning the page we notice  a rare butterfly collection...

What clever oddities will we spy next? A peacock feather and a "flying" shoe!

We have poked in ever nook and cranny of the shop and now have come to the end...

There is always something fascinating to happen upon in the Olde Curiosity Shoppe

Recovering from Valentines Day

I have been recovering from Valentines Day and to help in my recovery Tucson Sister came up for a couple of days to visit. I helped her with the book she is making using the photos and poetry of her mother-in-law.

We worked on a few page techniques, she did some organizing and we stayed up way too late for me. I have taught TS well...she has now been taking a second look before she throws bits and pieces of ephemera away. She asks the question...can I use this in scrapbooking.

Our Flagstaff Sister came down for the day along with mom. The four of us met for lunch in Gilbert

at the Country Cottage Cafe...

then to Merchant Square antique mall in Chandler. We walked down all the aisle and looked at everything. I found some great old black and white photos and a couple of Easter postcards.

Our next stop was Mystic Paper (you can't come to the Valley and not go to Mystic) Kim and Jennifer had met mom at the brunch, this time they met the sisters. I completely forgot to take pictures.

We headed over to Treasures for the Past antique mall off McKellips...walked down all their aisles and looked at all their treasures. I have to admit I was antiqued out. Never thought I would every say something like that. Mom and FS drove back to Flagstaff, TS and I back to my house...I'm so glad I don't live in Flag.

Shiny Brite

I am hooked on Shiny Brite ornaments. It started out innocently enough.

Every year I would pick up one or two, here and there. Then I discovered the "mother load". There is a shop in Mesa called "Treasures from the Past Antiques".

I don't know why, but they always seem to have a larger selection then most other antique stores in the area. The weekend after Thanksgiving they have a sale.

So of course as long as they're on sale...I have to check out what they have and end up buying. Now I have a collection. What to do with all those ornaments?

Well my other collection is terrariums, so that's how all those Shiny Brites are displayed. This year the grand kids are not at the house all the time so I have a vase full of them on the coffee table.

The pink and green one, and the gold textured 1920's ornament are my latest finds.

I also found the glittery retro birds at the antique store, thought they were kind of cool,

so three of them came home with me.

Back to decorating...