Trick or Treat?

Why treat, of course!! But today only!! One name will be drawn at 11pm PST from all the notes posted today on this blog entry. Just for fun, name your favorite costume as a child!!

My favorite was Casper the Friendly Ghost. I don't know why really. Actually, I don't think it was my favorite. It's just one I remember the most. I really wanted to be Wendy the Witch but my mom came home with a Casper costume. (Insert haughty eyeroll here.) We had just headed out the door all ready for trick or treating and I tripped and fell, bashing my nose into the concrete. I swear, those eye holes never did match any childs eyes just right. Needless to say, Casper's ghostly white garb became spotted with red and I was crying hysterically. My mom ended the trick or treating right then and there. I'd barely made it out the front door!!! Now wasn't that a cheery Halloween memory? Hee!!

Favorite costume, or most memorable? Post it today and win a treat!!

Warmest Halloween bear hugs, Aleta

And the winner is: fribbles!!!!

Thank you everyone for posting on this Halloween 2007!! fribbles, I'll contact you in the morning. I'm off to slumberland. Good night.

A delightful weekend, indeed!

It started Friday afternoon when my mom called to ask if she could come for a weekend visit. Okay! We always have a great time when mom comes over. She's fun and silly and moves at lightening speed. One would never guess she's 66!!

Saturday Bill and I went to the Antique Expo. Mom went shopping. She likes to shop......for shoes. She bought three pairs of shoes. Bill and I bought a farm table, a cabinet with four lead glass windows, a dresser, two old painted cupboards, a sweet little round table, and other assorted pretties. I think we all had a magnificent time shopping for what we like best to shop for!!


I couldn't get a picture of all the furnishings quick enough. Bill already has them packed into the garage with cloth covers for safe keeping. Just know that all the furnishings are wonderfully shabby and chippy and they'll make their debut most likely in late spring. In the meantime, I did take a quick picture of the small items I bought over the weekend. Lovely antique dresses, soft old pillowcases, bits of millinery, a silver baby brush, two reams of old crepe paper, a fabulous wood frame......and other assorted delights!!

Did you know that if you click on the pictures I post, it makes them larger? I just discovered this little bit of information. You probably already knew, didn't you? I'm not always the brightest bulb in the chandelier!

Sunday Bill and I went to a party for our friends Linda and Ludmil Marcov, Willow Nest. Let me tell you, they really know how to throw a most wonderful party!! Their spirit is so welcoming and true. You feel it the moment you enter their beautiful home. They make you feel like the most important person on the planet when you're talking with them. Love, love, love them!!

As for today......I have a gallery opening in just a short bit!! The bear pictured above is just a little sneak peek of the four traditional bears being listed. Cross your fingers my website likes me today and posts everything without a hitch!!

Skipping off to make a pot of tea....

Warmest Monday bear hugs, Aleta

1350 Antique Booths!

....and my three cats are weary at the whole idea of it. Ha! Yep, today is Antique Expo weekend here in Portland. Wahoozer doozer!! It's the last big antique show of the year and I'm ready!! I have my walking shoes, my tracking device (that would be my cell phone in case I get lost in the throngs of people), and a cash machine (that would be dear husband, Bill). :o)

Oh, what delightful goodies await me on this weekend before Halloween? Lots of treats, I'm sure!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

P.S. The dainty little tabby on the left is Gracie. The orangecicle is Max. Mr. Fancypants birman on the right is Walker. Black, orange and white.....it's Halloween at my house all year long! ;o)

Putting things in a safe place.

While cleaning and rearranging my studio I found a packet of pictures I'd long forgotten about because I put them in a safe place. Well, I've just gone and done the same darned thing again!! I put the found packet in a safe place only to forget where the safe place is!!!

Please. Someone out there, tell me you've done the same thing.

Still looking for that packet of pictures......warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Shades of White

After our meeting with the real estate agent Saturday morning, Bill and I decided a little antique retail therapy was in order. Okay, maybe it was more of a me thing that a we thing. Ha! Hey, we'd just been handed a to-do list if we wanted top dollar in a sagging real estate market.

My next two months may be spent picking out granite, painting miles of 7 inch baseboard, and packing up the soul of my home. The reason I say "may" is that we don't have a sales figure yet. There are comps to run, which won't be an easy task because there haven't been any sales in this neighborhood in three years. Save for three families, one of which is us, most everyone who lives in this community has lived here since it was established almost 20 years ago. Anyway, all this yada yada yada isn't nearly as much fun to talk about as antique retail therapy!

White. I love shades of white. White goes with everything and can look quite modern or exceptionally soft and romantic. Of course, I go for the soft and romantic. The more ruffles and swirly details the better. These are just some of the lovely shades of white I found this weekend at Monticello Antique Marketplace and Stars Antiques. It's a calm pallete of pretties at a time when calm is most welcome and needed as my mind is racing a million miles per hour. With visions of my dream house, the holidays looming and the many projects that will need to be done......shades of calming white are most welcome.

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

My brilliant idea!

I had this brilliant idea to rearrange my studio. Well, several days later I'm still working on this brilliant idea. Moving one big cabinet full of stuff, led to moving another big cabinet full of stuff and so on and so forth. There is a method to this madness though. I will now have two separate desks. One for bear design and one for my paper, paint and glue projects!! Yippety Skippety!!

Keep in mind, the balance of this project needs to be completed by 10am tomorrow morning. A real estate agent will be coming to tell us how quickly, or not!, our house will sell and how much we should realistically expect. This in turn will be the deciding factor whether we proceed to buy our dreamhouse. But more on that later......

In the meantime, I wanted to share a little bit of autumn color at my house. In summer this little shrub is bright lime green with rosey red edges. Look at the spectacular color now!! Planted en masse they'd really be stunning!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

A most lovely surprise!

Never did I imagine I would receive such a lovely surprise in my mail yesterday. It was a thank you gift carefully wrapped in pretty yellow tissue and tied with soft, pink fuzzy ribbon. I carefully unwrapped my gift and simply could not believe my eyes. A handmade tabletop quilt!!!! Yellow and pink with lace inserts and a sawtooth edge!!! Oh my!!! You could have knocked me over with a feather!! What a treasure.....and all mine!!

If only you could see the detail in this most marvelous quilt. Each corner exact. Each sawtooth, perfect. The textural element of the lace. All hand tied with pink floss. It's a work of art!!! Oh my gosh, you should see the itty bitty hand stitching on the back. It's simply stunning!! I'm absolutely over the moon!!

This most glorious gift given with such a generous spirit. For now, it is topping the desk in one of my guestrooms. It looks as if it were made just for this desk, doesn't it?!!

I believe there are Earth Angels. Theresa, you are one of them. Thank you so very, very much.

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Works in Progress

After just having spent the better part of an hour typing away about these works in progress, Internet Explorer decided there was an error on the page and deleted everything!! Ooooooh, that makes me crazy!! I'm beginning to think Halloween gremlins have invaded my computer. In reality though, it's probably operator error. I am, by no means, a computer whiz. It's amazing even to me, that I can even manage this blogging thing!!

Now about these works in progress....

The first picture is collage on canvas waiting for a good dollop of beeswax. I was really nervous about the whole idea of painting beeswax over my little masterpiece! *wink* That was until I found the recent issue of Somerset Workshop has a whole section on applying beeswax. How did they know? Those little mind readers over there at Stampington and Company!! Love them!!

The second picture shows six original collage charms waiting for soldering. These are the six gifts for the REALLY patient ladies who's names were drawn for my birthday celebration. Bless you ladies!!! I hope to have them finished and on their way this week. :o)

Have a lovely autumn weekend everyone! Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Lost Files!

There will be a one hour delay for the Halloween Spooktacular due to operator error. I lost, and I do mean lost, my picture files and had to re-photograph all the Halloween goodies. I think Halloween gremlins ate 'em! Anyway, I'm busily downloading and uploading pictures..... I'm terribly sorry for the delay!! The adjusted time will be 1pm Pacific.

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

The Great Pumpkin Caper!

One of my recent artistic journeys has led me to collect antique photographs and postcards of children with their teddy bears. I've amassed a goodly sum of them now and have been photocopying them for use in my mixed media/altered art projects. The picture to the right is one such project. The little girl reminds me of myself......determined to go the distance with her teddy bear in tow. My family will recognize the teddy bear as my husband Bill. Bless his heart!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

A beaming mom moment!

Allow me a little beaming mom moment, won't you? My sweet girl, Brittany, gave me her first knitted dolly!!!! How cool is that?!! I'm honored and thrilled and have already named her Molly Dolly. She's funky and colorful and sweet and wonderful just like my girl!! That's her first little felted purse pictured too. She didn't give me that one. I'm okay with it though. You see, I've already picked out some lovely pink wool yarn for her to make up a larger felted purse for me!! Yippity skippity!!!

As for the last few days, preparing for guests and getting ready for the bear show....I'm still sorting out my thoughts. Wildly fun. Overwhelming at times. A wee bit of disappointment thrown in for good measure. Life is all about balance, isn't it?

For today though....I'm doing laundry, stripping guest beds and getting last months giveaway goodies finished up and ready to ship. That bear show sure did get in the way of things didn't it? Oiy! I'll get back on track.....soon! Really!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

P.S. Didn't I mention a little Halloween giveaway? I'd better set a date for that!!

Halloween Art!

I'm down to just three more days before showtime!! Eeeeek! I've been in the studio since 6:15 this morning and am just now taking a much needed break before I start stitching noses. It seems like the perfect time to share a little Halloween art created by another fabulous artist!!

I've just recently stumbled across this artist on eBay while searching for Halloween dolls. Imagine my delight in finding this scrumptious dolly with her wide set eyes and curly red hair!! Absolutely funky cool!! Not your typical Halloween doll. Love, love, love her!!

I thought, "Okay. Let's see what else she does?" Oh, oh, oh!! Just look at the amazing canvas art!! And Halloween too!! It's not scary and the colors are perfect. Hippety skippety!! This gal has awesome style. She sells by the name Danita Art. I'll be adding a blog link under Artsy Mamas over there to the left. Be sure to peek in to see what other goodies she's creating!!

I suppose I'd better head off to the studio to stitch bear noses now. My little break is over. Perhaps I'll just step into the kitchen for a slice of peanut butter toast first! Now that's what I call a delicious idea!! ha!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Is it really October? Already?

I can't believe it! October? Really? I look out the window of the office. Yup, it's raining. October....and the leaves are beginning to show their autumn glory. Beautiful reds, oranges and golden hues dress the trees where once shades of leaf green ruled in the splendor of summer. (sigh)

Well, if it must be October, then let's roll out the pumpkins!!! It's time for apple cider, crackling fires, woolen blankets.....and Halloween!! Oh goodie!! Halloween is my second favorite decorating season!!

Mind you though, I don't do scary Halloween. No skulls and bones and gore for me. Ick. I like mysterious witches, funky old paper mache pumpkins and artist made Halloween lovelies. In the coming days, while I run around like a lunatic finalizing details for my show this weekend, I will post pictures of some of my favorite Halloween goodies.....old and artist made. You're in for a Halloween treat!!

Warmest autumn bear hugs, Aleta

P.S. A Jolly Halloween sign was made by Martha Kohley, Vintage Trifles. I have a link to her website over there to the left.