yeah yeah I know......

A work in progress.....

I haven't been posting like I should... just so busy and so much going on in my personal life... things should be calming down in 3 weeks or so.. I won't have shows every weekend, and hopefully family members won't be in the hospital or dying on me.

This weekend is probably my biggest show of the year... ArtFest Midwest at the fairgrounds.  If you are in Des Moines this weekend, you absolutely cannot miss it!! It's free, parking is free, and they run shuttles back and forth between this art show and the big downtown one. 

And it's in the building with the piping hot, fresh from the oven mini- chocolate chip cookies.  Yum!!

Sat hours are 10-6pm, Sunday 10-5pm.

Seriously, get your butts down to the fairgrounds this weekend!!

Sewing Machine cabinets.....

Normally we buy old sewing machines loose... but a couple of weeks ago we scored 3 old treadle machines still in the table.  They were in rough shape, and after researching the machines, one was from 1905, one from 1908  (see pic above) and  the white machine was from 1918-1920. 

wow.

That's pretty old.

So we put them on craigslist. 

wow again.  I've never had so many people interested in a posting before... by day 3 I had 7 different people wanting one or all 3 of them.

I'm glad to report they went to the home of a fellow artist and craftsman who makes the cabinets into high-end tables.  

So this is a happy recycling story from end to end!!

remember that big box of watches I was waiting for?

wrapped up in old cigar boxes, nice touch!

 I got it the very next day after I blogged about it here but things have been so chaotic I didn't get a chance to share ... and it was a AMAZING box! It had over 25 complete, gorgeous pocket watch movements in it, probably as many "bad" ( the movements aren't really pretty but they have cogs and gears to salvage from them), a ton of empty cases (some of which I've put up on etsy here ) lots of misc parts, even a couple clocks parts & faces.

I've pulled a few items for my inspiration pile, and I've given Jerry some of them to dismantle for the parts.  I just love buying big piles of Junk and finding treasure!!

I'll post a sneak peak on my facebook later this week, just in time for MacNider Arts Fest in Mason City this Sat , 9-5pm

This is MOST of it spread out.  I put the "good" ones out in rows of 5....

But nothing was truly bad!

Note  -- I even got a few little tin boxes! total bonus!!

OMAHA WENT GREAT!!

vintage pocket watch face, vintage key, painted wings, brass stampings and chain.  Oh.. on small pink crystal cause I can.

but now i'm sooooooo tired.

Goodnight!

SAD

vintage crystal, and vintage crystal shoe bucket.  It's hard to see in the photo, but this baby is beveled on the edges and oh so sparkly

Poss passed away peacefully on Tues afternoon.  May that wonderful, feisty lady, the grandma of my heart!  -- rest easy.   Jerry and I will be in Omaha this weekend for the Omaha show.  I may not be my normal outgoing self, but I'll try not to burst into tears at odd moments.  (at least not where anyone can see me)

Poss would be happy I'm out selling my jewelry, she loved jewelry and she loved mine... I gave her many pieces as gifts, and she bought from me for both herself and friends. 

She also loved teddy bears.  I'm  really thinking I will have to do something with a teddy bear in her honor.....

Ribbon, vintage key and bucket as a necklace....