Thursday Sparks - Feathers

I've always fancied feathers. I have saved them for years. I'd find a bluejay feather in the yard and just couldn't let it go, it was too beautiful to let go to waste, so I save them.

I've used them on scrapbook pages, but mainly, they just sit in a little baggy in my scrapbook room waiting for the right moment.

This weekend, Gene and I will be attending our local hospital's Gala. The theme is the Kentucky Derby which is right up my alley. I love me some horses, and I love big hats.

Not that I can wear hats and not look a fool.

I finally decided that a good compromise will be a hairpiece, a fascinator full of feathers.

(swoon)

Here's some beautiful and reasonable priced headpieces on etsy. But really, if you go on etsy, you'll see thousands of feathery goodness.

I loved her earrings. Amber didn't agree with me. Amber is a stick in the mud.
Hi Amber!
Love you, you big stick in the mud.


I'm actually going to make my own! It will have an antique brooch, some bridal veil lace, peacock feathers and... CHICKEN FEATHERS. Can't be a Cease Fire Ranch girl, without some chicken feathers. I'll take photos and report my findings.

This could get interesting.

What a difference a year.... and a day ... makes

Case in point:

Feb 19, 2010

Feb 23, 2011

Feb 24 (!!), 2011

That's it. Winter is no longer fashionable. It's last years skinny jeans.

Not that I've ever worn skinny jeans. There's something the world has no interest in.

... all day long, you'll have good luck

I've had a lucky streak! No really

• Several serious bridal inquiries this week. I solidly expect to book at least one. Woot. I am at the point that if I don't book any more, I'm ok. I'm also a couple weddings away from a rate increase. (woot again)
• It's almost spring, which means lots of late seniors. LOL Why does everyone put this off? No really.
• Not really "luck" but I got my new Lightroom 3 program. My life suddenly got easier.
• Selling multiple paint by number paintings off of my etsy, which is great because I have a HUGE STACK that needs homes. I think I'm going to try to find a way to better store these. It might mean taking the bed out of my guest room. I've not broke this news to Gene yet.
• And lastly, yesterday, I found a $50 bill laying on the GROUND. Yeah buddy. I thought it was a fiver, still worth getting out of the car for. As I bent down to pick it up I prayed no one would jump out and go "Oh that was mine!" Photography fund it is. I'll take dirty $50 all day long!

PS. For some reason, Gene could not understand why I was so fascinated by the penny in the rain puddled with a dome of water. He's weird. I've had good luck all day since!

A cat by any other name... still smells like a cat.

I was thinking the other day, about the funny nicknames that we seem to pile onto others against their will over the years. Some brief, some more popular than others, some loathed, some tolerated, all unrelenting.

For example:
Gene: I've called him "Baby" pretty much forever, really to the point of embarassing myself in public. "HEY BABY!" across a crowded room. LOL. In fact, for a long time it felt weird to even say his name out loud. Yeah, that much.

Seth: Seff, Seffie, Sefferton, Sug (short for sugar) and DAMMIT SETH! But my favorite was when he was little. I called him Binky for years and years. I slipped a couple times after the age of 11 and that didn't go over very well.

Tanner: Tanny, Tanman, Tanmannerton, Mannerton, Tanner T-top, and Buddy. ("Buddy the elf, what's your favorite color?") My favorite is probably Manny (derived from Tan-man). I like it to the point of wishing at times I'd named him Manny. I think that's a handsome name with lots of character. It also reminds me of Almanzo from "Little house on the Prairie" which were some of my favorite books as a child.

I randomly call other people's kids "honey, hun, sug, sweetie" including all of Gene's granddaughters. I'm sure that all these kids think I'm some crazy lady. Which I am. Someday I'll wear too much lipstick and it will bleed into my mustache like Aunt Genie (not my husband.. no really), but people will just laugh and say 'Oh crazy old Aunt Lana, but she calls me sweetie!" (Psst.. speaking of which 3 new layouts of the girls over on the scrapbook side!)

The chickens: Well, I only call them chick chick, chickie and QUIT POOPING ON MY DECK!

The most creative though, are for these guys:


Mack: He was named after Mark McGwire. I don't care, I still think Big Mac is hot. Anyway, Mack is also known as Mackey, Macklin, Puddy, and Puddypud. He'll only answer though, to "Mack". He's kind of a diva that way.

Jingles: Pringles (it was obvious), Jiggly-puff (this actually refers to his loosey goosey abs. Yep, i have them too!) Jiggles, Jiggly, Rotten, and Wotten. He responds best to: MOVE and LAY DOWN.


Wouldn't it be more fun, to give your kids pet names. I think I'd prefer to call Seth "Midnight" and Tanner "Snowball". Seems more fitting doesn't it?

Anyone? Tanner?

hello?

Do you need to fly?

"Sometimes life gives us no other option, but to spread our wings and ....
Fly."

~~ Me.

The redneck mother land - have you visited?

First question... are you a redneck girl from the midwest?
No?

Well, you're probably missing out then on a pretty awesome place to visit. It's like Disneyland for hunters and fishermen. It's Bass Pro shops! Now, you might have been at one of their stores in one of dozens of locations around the country, but we're not talking about those. We're talking about the mack daddy of Bass Pros. *the* Bass Pro - Springfield, MO.

This place is pretty cool and almost a museum. There's so much to see, you could easily spend an entire day there and not see it all.

There's lots of taxidermy, to the point that they've worked it into their display racks. Think nothing of buying thermal socks as a coyote stares at you.

There's even a "shooting gallery" there, where you can fake shoot at targets. I took a photo of this couple because it just made me chuckle, the boots, the cut off t-shirt, the ball cap... very "redneck guy, with his redneck girl" (said in a loving way).

Many areas also have murals on the ceiling, which is new, I haven't seen them since the last time I went years and years ago. They are painted like you're inside of a pond, or from a totally new perspective. You'll see fishing boats from the bottom, guys reaching into the water, ducks swimming with some decoys, etc.

Yep, you saw that right, a price tag for $43,999 for *one* gun. LOL. We spent some time in the specialty collectible gun section as we have a piece we're looking to sell - but it's not $44k. yow.

We only stayed about an hour, as we were waiting for an antique store to open, but we had a lot of fun in that short time frame.

How did I convert my manly man to a girly antique lovin man? LOL.

Don't answer that.

Good night Missouri

{The moon, yesterday, rising above my neighbor's house. No editing other than a boost. Yep, the moon is that big}

Thursday Sparks - Props

(forgot to post this last night! oops!)

I've been inspired by props lately. Props are a mainstay from most photographers. It gives the subject something to "do". Sadly I forget to drag along my bag of props most of the time, and then when I do, I forget to drag them out. DOH.

Click on the photo to see more by these photgraphers.


Balloons:

And these photos actually by me:

Maybe a few hats and crowns:

Even a piece of candy can be a prop:

and everyone has a basket:

an older one by me:

So if you're at a loss of how to take a photos, look around and see what you have that could be used for a prop.


Now, if I could JUST get someone.. anyone... to let me use a chicken as a prop.
Hmmm.

{I love you Tanner, but this is your punishment for not letting me take a proper photo of you. LOL. Complain and you're grounded. That is all.}

Red Velvet Trip - Springfield MO

There's this cute little shop in Springfield called "Red Velvet" It's operated by a pair of sisters - Emma and Elsie. Now, Elsie used to be a scrapbooker (and she still does sometimes I think), but her focus a few years ago turned from scrapbooking to indie art and then vintage clothing and accessories. I've read Elsie's blog, pretty much since I started reading blogs - around 4 years now (?). I couldn't resist that I was going to Springfield, I dig antiques, am working on some vintage clothing of my own, and there is this cute little shop.

I'm not sure what they made of me, since I have a tendancy to babble (no. really. wipe that shocked look off your face). I also am what, 9 times older than them? OK, maybe just 7. But the fact of the matter remains, that I've been influenced by Elsie's blog. I get all swiggly over vintagy goodness. I opened my own little etsy shop "I can has kitsch" about a year ago and add cool things as I find them - with some pretty good success.

I don't wear vintage clothes, but I looooove them and pick out entire outfits for other people. LOL. I guarantee you, girls were skinnier back then. The sizing was just different. Anyway, we finally made it to the shop (we'd been shopping all day) and I was surprised that Emma and Elsie were actually there tapping away on their macs. Elsie's fiance Jeremy even came in, which was even weirder. lol. It's was slightly surreal for me, talking to someone that I knew a lot about, but had no idea who I was.

*I've had that happen to me a few times* It's weird. (probably moreso because for the life of me, I can't remember a darn face/name... even ppl that I've lived in the same town with and "known" for 20 years! dude... I'm getting old, cut me some slack!)

They nicely let me take pics of anything I wanted and well, that makes them pretty cool in my book. Sadly I didn't get any pictures of the cupcake shop that's there too! I was "having a moment" sorry.

I probably could have taken about 900 more photos, but there was a grumpy old man out in the car ready for dinner. I ended up taking home a paint by number that I'm keeping (I posted it earlier today). It had cows. I was sold.

Before my husband pushed me out the door, the girls let me take their pic in front of their teepee. Pretty cute girls eh? Do you think Gene would let me set up a teepee in our bedroom? We could camp out and read story books and eat crackers in bed.

yeah... I didn't think so either.

**************
Red Velvet is located at
211 E. Commercial
Springfield Mo. 65803
Shop hours are Tuesday-Saturday 12-7 PM.

If you are here looking for their phone number, they don't have one.

Buy it? Don't buy it? Buy it? Don't buy it?

Every little antique trip is fraught with decisions. Buy or don't buy? Do I love it? do I need it? Can I sell it and make a million dollars?

So, I bring you my latest installment of... Buy it or don't buy it!?

1. Cute little well done paint by number. It had cows. I have little impulse control. Bought it.
2. Little blue Marilyn Monroe dress. Will look good in our new vintage clothing online shop (did I tell you that?). Bought it.
3. Bust of David. My husband has been trolling for a bust for MONTHS. *no really* He keeps coming up with 30" tall monstrosities, made of marble, imported from europe for a whole lot of money. He keeps forgetting that my dining room is not a historic hotel lobby. This was a good compromise, and a reasonable compromise. Bought it.
4. Old buckle with filligree. Going to add some feathers and a clip for my hair. My new weakness. Bought it.

1. Sign with handmade rooster made out of license plates. Very impressive work, I kinda cringe at the thought of the sound cutting metal makes, would look awesome on the side of my chicken coop. Expensive. I have license plates. Didn't buy it.
2. I have a soft spot for glass bells. Also deer horns. Also birds. It's weird and I love it. I have some horns myself, but no bell. Maybe I should have bought it? Might be regretting this. Didn't buy it.
3. The pin that inspired the buckle above. Wanted it badly but it came with a mink stole. No thanks. Didn't buy it.
4. Be sure! (yes) Be safe! (yes yes) Be thrifty (oh dear god yes!) Feed Nutrena! with a rooster! I want! Oh suck, you're expensive. Didn't buy. *stomp*

5. Lil' turquoise deer. I lurve me some deer. Turquoise is the new pink. Hemmed and hawwed. Gene picked it up and took it to the counter. Guess I'm buying it.
6. 1940's white dress that can pass for a wedding dress. Very cute. Will look great in our selection of vintage wedding dresses. (more on this soon I promise). Bought it!
7. Enamel brooches. Everywhere I turn, I get all woozy. bought it.. again and again and again.
8. Lucite clutch purse. Steal of a deal. Will look great in my vintage shop. Bought it.
(Dear Amber, please come be my model soon. Love you!)

5. Some old carnival game dolls. Too creepy and in the *ACCCCKKKK* category. Didn't even consider it. Just wanted a picture to scare you. didn't buy it (thank god, because now I can sleep, those things would have eaten my face off in the middle of the night!)
6*. Royal Yoruba Headdress. With an astrisk, because *I almost bought it* Yep. Really. I sometimes find things and can see the history or the quality of work. Not because I want it for myself (well sometimes) but because it's so unusual, it must be worth something. Apparently these are worn by the Yoruba tribe shamen and kings. Apparently there must be a lot of those because after some research, I found some for as little as $75 online. Whew. Glad I didn't gamble. It was $285. Didn't buy it.
7*. Underwater helmet. Again, with an asterisk. This was a Gene thing, and he was interested in an investment. Again, found out they don't sell for much. Thank god because that thing was huge. Guess who'd be mailing it off? yeah her. Didn't buy it! (yes!!)
8. Bread sign. "let's be friends" (in a creepy non-single white female kinda way). I promise not to eat your face off. bwhahah. Didn't buy it. Didn't even consider it. Is it weird that I still think it's kinda cute?

9. The peace de resistance.... a chandelier made of spoons and tea cups. Oh how I want you pretty little chandeliermadeofspoonsandteacups. *sigh* Did anyone catch the price? Yeah, kinda the reason why I didn't buy it. Gene kinda looked at it with the "wtf" kinda face. I looked at it like this. The checkbook won, but mainly because I'm so darn cheap.. and I can find spoons 10 for a dollar every day. I want one to hang over my kitchen sink.

But daddy I want it NOW!

Love is patient, love is kind, love rarely makes me want to kick you in the head... or something

That boy... he did alright this year.

I'd told him I wasn't letting him off the hook this year. Almost always come February, something will come up and I'll let him off the hook and say "that can be your V-day gift" and he breathes a heavy sigh of relief and we go on about our winter.

However, this year I decided I wasn't letting him off the hook so easy. He was going to need to be creative. After deliberation, he finally picked something (but I figured it out because he's a horrible hinter! ugh).

Around Tuesday, I suggested we got to Springfield for the weekend. Don't get too excited, it's not like we jetted off to Italy for the weekend or anything or even Springfield, Mass. Nope, just good old Springfield, MO.

Why? Well, down south seems to be the antique epicenter of Missouri and you know we have absolutely no will power.

Long story short, we went, we had fun, we spent too much money - mostly on ourselves (oops) and man, did we have the worst motel bed ever.

(more on all the stuff we did some other time).

So on the way home, Gene starts telling me about getting my V-day gift (I bought him a movie), and I caved. I told him he was off the hook.

DAMMIT

(btw, that gift was a trip to a day spa)

DAMMIT.
:P

Instead, I let my gift be this:

No, not another fat cat. A cute vintage, turquoise chair for my craft room.

I could have had both!!
(Dammit)

So yesterday, it was a nice surprise when he showed up with flowers. Maybe flowers are a little "expected" but he did alright, they weren't roses. AND.. they go nicely with my new chair yes?

and just for good measure... DAMMIT!