White Owl (No Not Cigars)

So whooooo (sorry, just had to type it that way) among you remembers this somewhat tacky owl plaque that was thrust upon me at a garage sale earlier this year? See a post about it here. I had it on Etsy for awhile, but there wasn't much interest there. A little too kitschy perhaps? Anyway, since painting my living room and dining room and adding more white, I had an idea.

Yep, follow this trend of painting old pieces all one color. I must say I'm not a proponent of that. After all, you're altering some crafter's work, etc., but in some cases, like this one, I think it might just be for the better. What do you think?

Here it is in its new home high atop my living room doorway. I thought an owl might like it up there.

Thanks for looking!

Monday's Muster #36

Since I showcased my 45 records a few "musters" ago, I decided to show my LP collection too. I don't have a ton-- about 85. Most were bought when new, but I do have a few that I bought second hand. I keep them in an old fruit crate.

This was my very first record purchase with birthday money the same year I received a stereo.

I even have some LPs from my pre-stereo days.

Here are a couple of my soundtrack albums.

The bulk of my records are classic rock.

Here's a rare one.

How about this cover?

Do you still have any LPs?

Have a good day!

Estate Sale Books, Etc.

I was just thinking my Etsy book offerings have not been very plentiful lately. It has been awhile since I found any interesting books to buy. A recent estate sale offered some help.

The novel on the far left is from the 1920s, the brown book in the center is The Marble Faun by Nathaniel Hawthorne from 1902!

A 1980s release of Rikk Tikki Tavi on the far left. A 1908 embroidery book (how do these things survive?). Next is a poetry book by Carl Sanburg-- nice cover art too. The book on the far right is about a dog.

There are several old ads in the embroidery book.

Here is the "etc." part of this post. The deer planter my daughter had to have-- it is cute, and the little Deco style dog I added to my dog collection. The rabbit is a vase-- the carrot is the vase part; a yellow and blue carrot?

The above house is actually nesting houses. Pretty neat. I saw one of these on Etsy that stated it's from the 1960s.

Not a bad haul. Thanks for stopping by!

Shower Curtain Art?

This is one of the more clever themes I've seen in years-- "Shower Time." Shopping Our Stash wants crafters and artists to use their shower curtain as inspiration. Kind of fun, no? I actually feel a little guilty because my shower curtain, believe it or not, is sort of collagey and arty. Sorry this picture isn't any better-- my bathroom is so narrow, this was the best I could manage without taking it down.

So here is my project: a tag that doesn't look as good as the original, but it was still fun to make.

Have a great day!

Movie ATCs

Another challenge entry (or two) today. Think Monday, Think ATC has a theme this week that I could not pass up: Film, Movie. I wanted to make one with Buster Keaton and decided on his short, silent film The Boat. Well, I goofed and goofed with it which is pretty unusual for me. I'm still not thrilled with it so I decided to redeem myself by making a second one. 

So here is the "I'm not too thrilled with it" ATC. By the way, their serious expressions might give you the wrong impression about this movie if you've never seen it (and I'd wager you have not). It's slapstick all the way. The actress is Sybil Seely, my favorite Buster leading lady. Incidentally, the boat's name is Damfino which is where the Buster Keaton fan club, The Damfinos, get their name.

And here is my second attempt which I like better. Probably the best scene in the whole movie.

Have a Batastic weekend!!

Ultra Mini Books

My latest creative endeavor is making these very mini blank books. Aren't they sort of cute?

They are 2" x 1 3/4". Just the right size to use an old postage stamp or sticker to adorn the covers.

I am using a stitched binding which is very easy on something this small. I have a lot of postage stamps in my stash so I see more of these in my future.

And what about an even smaller book to fit inside a matchbox? Say, oh, like a decorated matchbox that never sold in my Etsy shop... yes, that will do nicely.

Just in case you're thinking I'm way too clever for my own good, let me stop you right there. I got these mini book ideas from, what else, a book.

As Inspiration Avenue is hosting a "Show and Tell" week. I thought I'd add to their link since showing and telling is exactly what I'm doing. If you like the old Dick and Jane type school readers, pop over and look and their examples-- really cute!

Thanks for reading!

Wacky Pack Wednesday

Today's Wacky Pack might have you thinking "Leggo my Eggo" all day-- sorry about that. This sticker has a lot of funny quips; click on the image to bring it up larger.

Have a good one!

Dictionary Collage

Another inspiring challenge at Sunday Postcard Art this week: Dictionary. I have a couple old dictionaries I use in my work on occasion so I made the collage below.

Also in there is scrapbook paper, ribbon, and old paper reinforcers (the white rings).

Have a nice day!

Creative Blog Hop

In case you missed the news flash, I was "tagged" by the oh so nice Pat at Corn In My Coffee Pot to participate in the Creative Blog Hop. Thanks, Pat-- I'm honored you thought of me!

My job today is to answer the following four questions:

1. What am I working on right now? Right at this exact second, I'm making some random ATCs. By the time this post "airs," I will be on to something else. I work fairly quickly.

2. Why do I create what I do? Scrapbooking and card making came in to vogue just about the time I became a mother and was also dealing with chronic health issues. Paper art fit into limited time and energy. Up to that point, I was a "fine artist," drawing and painting. Collage type work seemed easier to me; I almost felt like I was cheating (I got over that), plus I really enjoy it. And it was a lot neater to leave a paper project to attend to an infant rather than paints and wet brushes.

3. How does my work differ from others in my genre? I think my work is sort of in between true collage and paper crafts, such as card making. I use a lot of scrapbook paper, unlike most collage, yet use vintage ephemera, unlike a lot of card making. I also work "flat," which is not true of most card and scrapbook projects. I have yet to get into the 3-D embellishments.

4. How does my creative process work? I work in a very simple start to finish manner and am good about finishing things before moving on to something else. Unless I'm making a single piece for a specific occasion or challenge, I make several ATCs, or cards, or tags, etc. at one time. I start with the main image, add a background, then little "extras" to the composition. Lastly, I usually add some sort of ribbon or trim. That can really pull a piece together or conceal a "not cut so straight" edge.

For any first time readers, check my sidebar to see how I came up with the name Lydia's Post. I've never shown the entire "Lydia" photo before. Here it is-- Lydia, the horse, my grandmother inside the wagon, and my great-grandfather (her dad). Wasn't it nice of Lydia to look at the camera?

In keeping with the Creative Blog Hop parameters, I am supposed to tag three more bloggers to follow up with their answers to these questions. Well, folks, I hate to disappoint, but no one I contacted was interested (don't tell the blog hop police on me!). I thought instead I'd share some links to other paper art blogs so you can "hop" over to these.

Tim Holtz Blog

Sunday Postcard Art

Inspiration Avenue

Collage Obsession

Scrapbook.com Gallery

Order of the Opus Gluei

So Artful Challenge

Eclectic Ellapu

Shopping Our Stash

Dragons Dream Tag It On

Thanks for reading today! A little long-winded from my usual posts.

Grandfather LO

The theme now running at Shopping Our Stash is "Who's Who." The idea is to have a person on your project. Since I just bought this sheet of scrapbook paper to make a layout of my grandfather, I hopped to it. He was a draftsman so I thought the design was perfect.

He also loved golf and played well into his 80s; as a matter-of-fact, he shot his age once.

Have a super-duper day out there!

Lastest Thrift Buys

I bought more than my usual pittance at the thrift store last week. I only had a twenty with me and knew the clerks would go into a panic trying to break it so I added a couple things I might have otherwise left behind. A sort of neat, sort of odd, cloth Cheshire Cat. A Disney Easter-themed tin box, and next to that a colorful pottery mug that is signed on the bottom, but so far, I haven't found this potter. The girl figurine was made in Norway.

I seldom find vintage cards at thrift stores but did luck into some that day. These, obviously, are wedding cards.

A couple "thinking of you" and get well cards,

Even the interiors were cuter back then.

I also carried home a 1968, double Barbie case in good condition. None of my Barbie cases survived.  Sort of fell apart on me. This one is pretty.

 And inside, the former owner left behind a few accessories.

By the way, the clerks still couldn't break my twenty!  I had to go to the post office, where I handed the clerk a twenty for a 70 cent stamp. Luckily he knows me, and we joked about it. Then I trotted back to the thrift store with acceptable currency.

Have a good, small bill day!