Is it possible to be so tired and still alive?

Do you ever wonder if you've actually died and no one has told you? Just so tired at the mo and as I walk around I feel as if I'm having an out-of-body experience. Weird eh? 
Well the craft shows have been and gone, I've stitched and boiled and cut like never before, glad it's over yet at the same time want to say bring it on! Will happily do it again, always nice to make some money, but for now am taking a well deserved rest. Have a lovely Christmas, I know there'll be little chance to update this blog until the new year so 'til then...

Busy times ahead

Now that the Christmas selling season has started I suspect there'll be less time for blogging. This is the time to really promote the business so I'll be busy making and creating things. I've booked myself in for two Craft fairs. Just the push I need to finish a lot of projects already started and to finally get other ideas crystalised.
The first one is the WI Christmas Craft Market, at Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff on Sea in early November and the second - Leigh Vintage and Handmade Fair, at Leigh Community Centre, Elm Road, Leigh, Essex on the 27th November. I'll reconfirm those dates and full addresses shortly. 
Tootbageye would love to see you if you're in the neighbourhood.

Collecting JAJ Pyrex and others

Although I buy to sell I also buy to keep. One of my largest collections is of JAJ/Pyrex glassware and other brands. Such inexpensive and useful everyday items, it is heartening to know there are loads of other people collecting it as well. To see some amazing collections you really must look at Flickr. One group, Pyrex Love, has [to date] 1,597 members showing 16,128 photographs of covetable colourful printed and non printed glassware. Yum. All now of course sublimely retro. I am a member and I'll post one of my images just as soon as my computer lets me :o(

The small world of vinyl

In one of many coincidences, just a few days after posting on here about album covers and the desire to frame them I got talking to another mother in the school playground and it turns out her hubby and his friend actually designed and produce an LP/12" size frame that attaches to the wall. It can then be opened so that you can not only display your album but remove the record to play and easily change your choice of cover. I'd seen this product for sale on the web but what a coincidence eh!
If you are interested in buying/seeing this frame go to http://www.artvinyl.com

p.s. as my eldest child once asked "What's a record mummy?" I'd better point out that we're talking 'vinyl' records here, not your modern day compact disc nonsense.

A hard days night

It can be a long slog starting up a business. Especially when you're not as forthcoming as myself. I'm just getting the hang of networking. The hardest part is opening myself up. As a designer I'm used to criticism or rather just being told NO. But under the cover of a team that cannot be taken personally.

But this now is all mine and much like having an ugly baby [I haven't, both my kids are beautiful] you present something to the world and as much as you are full of pride you wait and are aware that people are looking but not sure what to say. What I'm getting at here is that I'd like feedback. If you're reading and agree or don't agree let me know - I can take it. If you see the site let me know what you really think, don't hold back, trust me no one else in my life ever has. I've the skin of a rhinoceros. But possibly the genetic make up of an elephant*[jest].

@ Wisegeek.com:  *Elephants, which are sensitive and highly intelligent animals with an evolved social structure, have been observed "crying." Charles Darwin was told by the keepers of Indian elephants at the London zoo that the animals shed tears from sorrow.

To be inspired

I've come to realise that my life is consumed with the need to be creative. Ok, maybe just 90% of the time. The other ten percent is spent dreaming and doing practical things like housework and raising my children. Always hoping to be inspired enough to do something so wowwee and wonderful that I'll have some sort of legacy to leave behind. My kids should be able to say "my mum wrote that; my mum invented that or my mum designed that". I feel what I've done so far is lacking ... as an interior designer everything that once I could show and point out has been knocked down/replaced. As a magazine designer the magazines, with few newsstand exceptions, have been let's say... lacklustre.

At least with my dad I can walk over Waterloo Bridge and know that he played a part in its construction. Similarly I can look over at the National Theatre and know that he played his part as a construction foreman to see it built. And those are just a few of his lasting legacies, not to mention the crazy paving front gardens I have to walk past everytime I visit his road. He seems to have done quite of few of those ummm, but they are still not as embarassing as some of the titles my name is printed within. As I reminisced with an old colleague the other weekend ... All About Cats anyone ... oh well.

graphic album covers

Old graphic album cover

Hank Locklin detail -
check out those hearts

One of the things I love is the use of bold graphics. These old album covers got my attention not least because they were a combination of yellow/black/red - for some reason this colour combination always catches my eye. Wouldn't dream of having it as an interior decor scheme but... anyway they were bought about 9 months apart from each other and I now have plans to frame them, where to hang them is another matter. I might rifle through my [redundant] vinyl album and 12inch collection to see if this was something that has always been with me. But suspect my eclectic taste in music prevailed over style. Am remembering that a lot of my 7inch singles used to come in picture covers though. Going to have to hunt down a turntable just to play them again. Sorry about the crap photos, should've used the scanner. Oh and no I haven't actually listened to these albums.

Mikado detail

Teacup candles are on

Teacup candles

Here are the teacup candles I promised to make and show you. Didn't burn the house down. It was fun, though I had to remake some at first. Pictured are pink ones scented with a fruity floral note plus vanilla and the brown ones are nutmeg and vanilla, which smells divine. Using one [a reject] at the mo and it is such a warming aroma. Not sure when there will be time to make some more but watch this space.

Micro mosaic mandolin brooch

Micro mandolin brooch circa 1950s/60s

This little mosaic mandolin brooch caught my eye. I don't wear much daytime jewellery, preferring to pile it up on my rare [these days] nights out. But something about this caught my eye. Whether it was the bright colours or the graphic shape of the mandolin I broke my resolve to spend less and picked it up. I'm fascinated by it and have decided to wear it everyday. It just cheers me up. It is probably something your mother would wear but then isn't that what vintage is all about. I'm now looking out for more.


If you're interested in the history of these then start with this great guide on ebay about micro mosaics http://reviews.ebay.com/Micro-Mosaic-amp-Pietra-Dura-Vintage-Jewelry_W0QQugidZ10000000003872252

vintage musical jewellery boxes

Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Just had to show you two of my latest finds. Picked up these cute 60s jewellery boxes, made in Japan I believe. They both wind up and of course when you open them there is a ballerina figure twirling to the music, in this case to 'Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head' and 'Somewhere over the Rainbow'. The flower power folksy one caught my eye first and then when I heard the tune just had to buy, although initially thought they'd make great pressies, but nah!

I'd love to say I had one of these as a child but no such luck. Although I do wish I had somethings left over just as a reminder. All my toys have gone. Used to love playing with mechanical wind up tin toys things, with little cars and buses going round and round, my dolls [later] consisted of a Daisy doll [Mary Quant] and a GI Joe [yes I did ask for Barbie and Ken]. I'd spend a lot of my time making clothes for Daisy, and making furniture for her and little household items out of whatever I could find. Even remember rolling up plasticine into little sausages to put into a frying pan [bottle lid]. Anyway I digress, guess you cannot keep everything of your past.

Glass candlesticks

Vintage glass candlesticks. Displayed as a trio of differing styles

Another collection coming on nicely is that of my vintage glass candlesticks. Have amassed a good selection of pressed, moulded and crystal glass items.
Most of these were usually found in pairs as part of a dressing table set but in our less formal times use them as desired. IMHO they look best in groups of three in different heights with creamy white [or colour of your choice] candles. I use them in my bedroom [it gets pretty nippy in the winter], but suggest they would look great anywhere that you want to add some sparkle... bathroom, hallway, a dark corner. As always with candles don't light them near overhanging fabrics/curtains and don't leave them burning unattended. Has to be said. If you like the idea/look there's usually a selection on my website http://www.tootbageye.co.uk

Lame day

not a view from the road, taken months ago, but it's where we go sometimes

Didn't do anything I had planned. Just didn't. Think I need to re-organise my working space, getting a bit cluttered and that's not conducive to getting the creative juices flowing. 
Took a drive along the coast, love seeing beach huts and the tide out with the sun shimmering on the horizon. Usually we are walking but it is just as good a view when you drive.
On the plus side I did get to see some telly this evening, which makes a change. Perhaps that's what I needed – a day without thought.  

Could have kicked myself

Oh I am so annoyed with myself. Took a couple of bags of stuff to my fave charity shop which just happens to be next door to a secondhand furniture shop. Which today had two gorgeous Ercol armchairs outside for sale. With heavy bags in my hand decided to put them in first and come out to at least check the price. Okay, went in said charity shop and got carried away browsing as you do. By the time I came out I clocked a man carrying one armchair away and the price tag removed from the the remaining one. Yaaah! This man looked so smug.
Tomorrow I'm going back for a lovely vintage mirror, if it is still there of course.

What has taken me so long?

Just a small selection

Seems everyone is blogging, and as I'm going to have plenty [relatively speaking] of time in the near future, this is just what I need to occupy myself. Had already started one via my shop [www.tootbageye.co.uk] ... so to repeat myself here's one I posted earlier.
Of my many collections of old things I've built up quite a stash of tea cup and saucers. Have now decided to make them into teacup candles. Have never made candles before so watch this space and I'll let you know how it goes, assuming I don't burn the house down.