The Fabric of Sweet Repose

The divorce house...

2012-03-02T06:56:00.000-06:00

My divorce house...

Lorie(The Junk Asylum)sent me this article

from Huffington Post on married women's

fantasies about their dream homes...

my situation was typical of many women,

an alcoholic husband that made most of our

20 year marriage a train wreck!

My lil' pink shack was bought to
house my antique biz,

which it did for several years.
It was my getaway from the
problems at home.

I lingered here constantly, not wanting
to go home to that...soooooo...

The divorce house was in the making!

I started planting my dream gardens,
planting trees where no man
would plant,

dragging stuff from home, giving it
permanent residence in my dream scape.

I started fencing in a new life without

his presence or knowledge...
when the day came,

he was shocked at my bravery
and confidence, though inside I was
totally freaked about finances

I was still grooming full time,
but was needing to retire...
but my will to set out on my own

was far greater than my will to leave
well enough alone...

I totally began to bloom,

letting go of 20 years of history,

don't get me wrong, there were lots of good

times too, but the uncertainty of alcoholism

made it a crap shoot EVERY DAY!!!

But I was in paradise, building my new life

untethered...my lifestyle and my surroundings

are built on that freedom called free will...

and I will never have to hear that remark,

now where do you think
you're gonna put that...

My mantra...

sure, my lifestyle isn't for everyone,

it's a daily struggle living alone, you
have to learn to do it ALL by yourself
or just plain and simple live without.

But when I look around at my lil' pink
shack and see my accomplishments
and the home I've built on my
6 acres of paradise,

I've never looked back and regretted...

and NO, I never get lonely,
I stay busy and own a terrier...nuff said!

I own me, I'm not an extension of him...

I am woman,

HEAR ME ROAR!!!

Play it again Sam...

2012-02-28T18:24:00.003-06:00

The desire to own an instrument you

can't even play (or lift)...sigh...!

Inspire me...

2012-02-25T08:09:00.000-06:00

Inspire me...

...and a special birthday wish for me Mum...

Happy B-day Mom!!!

I heart clutter...and imperfection...

2012-02-20T20:45:00.002-06:00

How 'bout you...

is it here yet...

2012-02-19T08:01:00.002-06:00

March will soon be upon us...

and I don't know about you,

but I'm gettin' itchy garden fingers...

I'm dieing to start planting my medicinal herb garden

over by my studio...

my most favoritest new toy is my post hole digger...

I'm planning a picket fence around my shop

to keep my girls outta the gardens...

Odd Fellows...you got that right...

2012-02-16T07:08:00.001-06:00

Visited my antiquing buds, Manleys

and found some great stuff...

this Odd Fellow flag, probably for a vehicle

in a funeral...

What is it about funeral pics that draw us to them?

Memories and one last glance of the beloved...

More Odd Fellows goodies...

I spotted this baby when I first walked in,

told Dave it had my name written all over it.

A sweet lil' footstool,

what is it about them that I love,

the fabric perhaps or it's worn state...

MINE!!!

And it'll work perfectly fine right next

to my new chair

that has won it's place in my heart!

My newest skull incense burner...

more in the works for today, a blue bottle...

GOT BRAINS...

Zombie brains that is, I found this great

glass pendant on etsy, gonna make a necklace

with it...

SWEET, huh!!!

New stuff and experimenting...

2012-02-15T05:50:00.000-06:00

Talk about Gothic...

this is that old chair that me dad and I

dragged out of his friend's basement...

I was gonna take it to the shop, but...

looking at it here, I think I may work it

in at home...of course, you'll be the

first to know...

My prototype...

I'm recycling old wine bottles into

cool incense burners.

You drill a quarter inch hole in the back

for air draw, put a key ring on the top

to hold the incense stick, the ash falls

to the bottom and the smoke swirls inside...

cool huh, then I add my personal touch

to the outside,

hand-painted skulls, my first attempt...

the BONE series...

Happy V-day...

2012-02-14T05:49:00.002-06:00

Oh yes and cake...

and attitude...LOL!

Lories' been playin'...

2012-02-13T07:05:00.001-06:00

This is what happens when a girl plays in her store...

a whole new effect takes over.

Transitions are made style is shaped...

I remember well when I was Lorie's age,

staying at the shop into the wee hours redoing

the rooms, the next morning was simply magical!

Great job kid, now I'm in the mood...

see ya soon!!!

The Junk Asylum

Eldredge, Iowa

Delivery day...

2012-02-10T19:59:00.001-06:00

A trip to Sisters' is always a welcome day trip...
new white frames, a newly painted potting table
and of course new soaps.

Honeysuckle, Freesia and...

Fiddle Fern...ahhh, the fresh green scent of Nature.

More Spring greens...yummm, farm style!

What is it about great old Victorian dressers...

Now that's a wall of bubbles...

Architectural...mmmm and cupcakes,
thanks Barb, the wine was yummmy too...
a 13 year celebration since Bloom was built, I
can't believe it's been that long, I remember when
Barb first told me about it and now 13 years later
and I'm still dragging stuff in
and out and up and down!

Is this not the coolest, whatever it is...
TO DIE FOR!!!

Sparkling with white, white paint and
prisms galore, just try to take it all in...

and then you spot another jem...why do I love those
cute lil' chests and that fireplace surround...sigh...

Sister's Garden and Bloom

IOWA

My work is never done...

2012-02-09T14:06:00.001-06:00

Ok...I been playing again right...when you're in the biz,

you're always moving stuff from one location to the other,

like display pieces...and if you don't have room in the store,

you drag them home, but not being able to afford the book shelves

I really want, I just paint these cheapies black, remove the back

so I can see the wallpaper behind...then fill...easy peasy,

plus I added an old piece of trim at the top...ready to fill!

Again, I'm just starting to fill this one, I stuck it behind my couch

and have yet had the time to get back to it and play...

Speaking of playing, yummy valentine soap heading to Sisters'
the wonderful scent of Honeysuckle...bunches of pink
scented soap will be part of my new vignettes.

And meanwhile, home on the range...Louis guards his girls from up above...
he loves perching high to get that panoramic view...
a day in the life for a wild thing...!

And we did this why...(men)...

2012-02-07T07:47:00.000-06:00

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY...

I finally have my new laptop

and have been playing all day and night...

OMG...

and why didn't I do this sooner...$$$$$$$!

Now, what am I going to do with all my spare time...

well I guess I'll have to plan

The Zombie Walk

Shopping...at last!!!!!

2012-02-05T10:07:00.000-06:00

Wonderful old frame huh, but as much as I love

the decrepitude of it, they won't sell as is...

soooo...I take the pic outta the frame and paint

the frame white and sell the canvas separate.

These prints are on canvas, giving them an original

oil painting look, but out of the frame, the prints still

look really cool in a vignette because of their old patina,

I never pass them up, even in this state of disrepair.

Love the brown frame, it's been stripped, great patina,

as well as the oval frame, however, I will touch up the

chipped area because it's gouged way too deep.

The large metal frame spoke to me as well,

even as crumbled as it is, it still has appeal...

as does the small gilded frame.

And the project of the day...the swamp...

I'm going to clean and rearrange my computer table,

I'm getting a new laptop, so the tower must go!

As Craigsmith 'Timeworn Interiors' commented...

my coal-fired, steam engined computer has to go,

I fondly refer to it as mouse-powered...!

Some days it takes literally 45 minutes to download stuff,

like my blog posts...ARGH!!!

My lil' 'catch-all table will get a redo as well,

this is where I put together jewelry pieces or

WHATEVER...

while Scratch sits at her post waiting to bark at

anything, but that's OK, cause she always let's me know when

the UPS truck is here, she HATES brown truck!

So yes Craigsmith, a Sony Vaio is on it's way...

Good Lord, what will I do with all that spare time???

Far out man...

2012-02-02T17:44:00.000-06:00

Is this not to die for, a little blurry, but

you get the idea...the hippie house...

We had our first 'pads' back in the 60's,

a place to call home, to raise a few plants(hmmmm),

to worry if your draft number was up...

we wondered about our futures with the war

in Vietnam and questioned our love

of the red, white and blue...

We partied hard and played harder,

did you have a hippie van...we did.

This soooo reminds me of Iowa City(university) in the 60's,

it was the best place to go partying, dancin' to reggae

or the Doors and Janis...

buying great hippie clothes at Things and Things...

and all the head shops!!!

(right Cathie Conz...)

Admit it, you had moccasins too, huh...

Those were crazy days for us in our 60's...

I still cry at the mention of Vietnam

and the senseless tragedies...m-m-my generation...

'The Who'

People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

Just because we g-g-get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

But my hippie, gypsy, free-spirited soul

will never forget growing up in the 60's...

PEACE DUDE!!!

I still have my raggedy ol' red, white and blue...

and the memories...

(I never inhaled)

Appealing...

2012-01-30T07:04:00.003-06:00

Now with all the whites and naturals that are so appealing

to everyone these days, this is what I'm all about!

Dusty old books and velvets,

bookshelves and table throws...

and classical music.

Tons of pictures of beautiful places I'll never see...

Persian carpets and palm trees

and old wall paper...

old chairs and tassels, btw,

that door tassel is exactly like the one

in my parlor window...

did I mention I love parlor tables...

Yes, the Victorian era was the age of discovery

and opulence...knowledge was the key,

taking it all in and studying all the details...

this is me and my true love style!

Just wait till you see the old ratty chair

I'm dragging home from someones basement...

heh heh heh...!

The rest of the story...

2012-01-27T08:12:00.000-06:00

...and while shopping at Sisters' the other day,

you know when you walk into an antique shop

and something catches your eye

and you are smitten...well...

this is that piece...

Barb and I did a little horse tradin' again...

I have always wanted a fireplace mantle,

but the prices for them are way out of my budget.

but this shelf was right inside the door of the shop

and stopped me dead in my tracks...

and who knows, maybe someday I'll find the

right boards to match and make my own mantle.

But isn't it funny how one lil' piece will completely

transform the look of a room, very cottagy

and right outta Country Living magazine, huh!

Another piece I'll never part with,

is this beautiful structure, the backsplash

from an old buffet, it makes a perfect display piece...

But adding the chicken to the setting

was the icing on the cake...

it TOTALLY made the room look like a cottage

of old, my home sweet home...

the lil' pink shack!

Playing at Sisters'...

2012-01-26T08:04:00.000-06:00

Moving stuff around,

trying to catch a theme,

vignettes, that's what it's all about

at Sister's Garden!

Country is kinda my love, the ol' farmsteads,

the homey furniture,

fresh made soaps(Absinthe and English Ivy)...

and hay on the floor(ah choo)...

and fun!

You can do anything with a little imagination...

just set yourself free,

think outta the box...

and go for it...

we're starting to gear up for Spring,

though we know it's a ways away,

but it seems to lift our spirits,

planning for the gardens,

reshaping the old

bringing in the new

making it all work in sync...yup, us antiquers

never say never...

what do you mean you don't have anymore room...

HA HA HA HA...

The funky chicken...and friends...

2012-01-25T08:13:00.000-06:00

Who says ya can't have fun in this biz...

well...when I asked my good friends Mark and Liz

to find me some strange, they knew exactly what to get...

Delightfully decrepit...

oh yeah, dem bones, dem dry bones...

Gonna be a lotta people beg me for these babies,

can you say MINE...!

Salesman sample crypts...

The wall mount pheasant will stay on my wall as well,

hey, ya can't sell it all...right!!!

Well, at least not yet anyway...

thanks Mark n Liz...your soap will be at CV

Saturday morning...you guys ROCK!!!

This is for Mom and Bill...

who always expected to see chickens on the table

when they came to visit...love ya...heehee!

aka...Ma Kettle

Horse traders in decrepit decay...

2012-01-24T11:41:00.000-06:00

I love that term...right...

Lorie and I traded goods the other day,

I had a sweet pair of white chippy shutters,

well she snagged on them before I could get a picture...

hey, that's what it's all about, right!

Sweet huh...

gotta love this old stuff, huh...

the mix of elegant Victorian turned ugly.

I am SOOOO having fun with this new trend!

Can you say ADDICTION...

can you imagine what my dog grooming customers

think when they walk in my front door...LOL!

can you say FUNKY...

Can you say LEAN IT AGAINST SUMTHIN...

or it'll fall over...

What is it with us junkers, we crave neglect,

we adore decrepit...

are we cracked in the head???

SWEET!

My space...

2012-01-22T21:19:00.000-06:00

More stuff up to the Asylum...

the soap cupboard is getting full...

I love the chamber pots filled with soaps...

love to paint white, looks great next to

chippy black and pink shelf...

baskets n bowls filled with goat milk soaps

top a new painted black chest...

to die for lavender shutters usher in Spring...

we hope...

funny how much crap...I mean great stuff

you can cram into a small space...

more coming next week!

Start your day off with a smile...

2012-01-21T07:57:00.001-06:00

It's on the house!!!

Have a great weekend,

we only got an inch of snow...

YIPPEE!!!

Awwwww...books...

2012-01-19T14:05:00.003-06:00

You never know where they'll take you...

Life is so ironic...

2012-01-17T07:17:00.001-06:00

It takes sadness to know what happiness is,

noise to appreciate silence

and absence

to value presence.

We all share in gift of the now

what you are,

what I am...

the presence of awe.

Childlike enthusiasm...

2012-01-15T09:40:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's this enthusiasm that keeps me in the now,

as I await another space at The Junk Asylum...

so, in the meantime, my shelves at home

will gather dust and crust,

wings and things,

all to take the trip to THE DARK SIDE...

and no, I'm not a devil worshiper,

don't even believe in the dude,

but what great toys to play with...

it's all about enjoying life, having some laughs

and some raised eyebrows...

Don't ya just love the lil' dudes teeth...ZOMBIE...

This is just the funniest EVER...visualize it...

heh heh heh...

What fresh hell is this...

2012-01-12T14:38:00.000-06:00

Excuse me, but wasn't it 56 degrees yesterday...

thanks Gayle for planting them damned peas!!!

16 degrees in Ioway...

Today I...

2012-01-10T21:21:00.001-06:00

Painted this cute lil' chest black...

what is with the baby poo brown they painted with,

back in the day...

Cute huh...!

Uh oh...yup, ripped me off some baby heads...

Lorie and Kurt were so kind to think of me,

having found this cool article in a vintage magazine,

Lorie framed it...

what are they trying to say...

A pair of flying pheasants found at the Junk Asylum...

Goin' to the Candle Shed...heh heh heh...

and your point!!!

Bear or Bare...

2012-01-09T15:01:00.000-06:00

Oops...I forgot to take the before shot, but Bear

was a fluffy furball, you couldn't see his eyes,

but this is the rough in before the bath...

Bear is getting a teddy bear haircut,

the reason I'm showing you this, is because this 3 month old

puppy is one of the best dogs I have EVER done...

this is a puppy, they FREAKOUT...

ALWAYS!!!!!!!!

This was his first clipping and he didn't move a muscle,

even under his eyes...that NEVER happens!!!

Is he not the cutest...

and you wanna know why he was so good,

Jamie, his Mom takes excellent care of her dogs,

she has two Shih tzu...she bathes often and brushes often...

this is how to train your pup...throw in some(lotsa)smooches too!

You wanna kiss him on the lips don'tcha...

the funny thing was, Jamie was worried about him,

cause he's a naughty puppy at home, she was

shocked, needless to say!

Bear...love!

BTW...

this is the new oak display case I just picked up,

isn't it the bomb...and both lights work. It doesn't

have a checkered bottom, it's a reflection, but it's missing

it's two sliding doors...no problemmo!

Are you not dieing to know what's going in it...heh heh!

LATER!!!

Back to reality...

2012-01-06T07:17:00.000-06:00

O.M.G.....

Thanks Steph for jogging me back to what I truly love,

G.O.T.H.I.C.

All of the white stuff is great, but I'm so over it,

but, throw in some black tapers and some black marble,

and the magic begins...

some funky steampunk, then,

let the games begin!!!

As trends again change, not for the weak at heart,

I'll be right there with my bones...

yet some shops will not turn to the dark side,

I could never pull this off at Sister's Garden and

wouldn't want to, Sisters' is great as is,

but my new space at The Junk Asylum,

will blend the two styles...be afraid Lorie...heh heh...

My studio will evolve as well, looking more like

the back room of a mortuary, love this look!

Grand pieces will evolve...

some funky shit will appear...

and I'll be ready with my shit-kickers polished

and ready to roll...let's have some fun with this...K...

A new booth...a new playground...

2012-01-04T07:09:00.000-06:00

Always the drifter, I've finally gotten a space at

The Junk Asylum

some of my gatherings to head that direction...

I've always sold my soaps up there, but have decided to

display them all in settings, so a booth

will be created...

To start, the soaps will all be done in beautiful spring pastels,

many displayed in crisp white chamber pots...

the rest will go into my big ol' cupboard

that everyone wants to buy, but when you find the

perfect display piece you hate to give it up,

me and that cupboard have history, I've dragged it all over

Iowa, but now it resides here...

Wish me luck, as another adventure for this

wild thing unfolds...

end results will be posted Friday!

G.R.E.E.N...

2012-01-02T14:35:00.000-06:00

My 'one word' for my new year's resolution...

'GREEN'

I'm going to do more, recycle more, protest more

and plant more...

I'm going to add more color into my world of earth tones...

live in a self induced world of purple haze.

I'm going to run with the wild herds

seeking the feral spaces in my heart...

and continue to sleep with dogs...

hold strong to my beliefs,

protect what I can,

rebuild what I can...

and continue to find the joy and the laughs

in each day of my life...it's a wee time ya know...

BUT...

plenty time enough to relocate that damned critter!!!

Time to find your own word for 2012

Holding my breath...

2011-12-31T08:55:00.000-06:00

Taking some much needed time away from the blogs,

as you may have noticed,

time to re-boot my style,

rethink n refresh this next year

in my blogs, my biz and my world...

relax...maybe, but in the meantime,

may we all look forward to peace and harmony

in the new year...

exhale into a brand new beginning!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Re-boot...

2011-12-27T08:24:00.000-06:00

Devastation...

annihilation...

but it's a good thing, empty shelves mean sales, right!!!

While waiting for the new wax melters to come in,

I redid the table with the new T's and purses,

then someone came in and FREAKED...

she bought the purple purse!!!

TOTALLY ruined my display...

not to worry, I have plenty to replace!

We had so many wonderful comments from locals that

didn't even no we existed...COME ON...12 years!!!

Maybe it's our new edgy look that has them gaga...

but who cares, we are who we are,

we move with the times...

BE AFRAID!!!

O.V.E.R.....

2011-12-26T07:32:00.001-06:00

Another beautiful unseasonal sunset,

as the holiday season is nearly over...

I am so excited for the new year, people came out

in support of shopping local in droves.

The Candle Shed had the best holiday sales this year,

for that fact, in our recorded 12 years of business.

Today I go in to inspect the damages and start the

process of reordering.

Even after being in the new location for a year and a half,

many people just found us...

it's a sign, RIGHT...

Here's hoping that this will set the stage for the

NEW YEAR to come!

THANKS EVERYONE!

A white Christmas???

2011-12-24T08:10:00.001-06:00

At least in Iowa anyway...

The sun is shining on Christmas Eve at

Sister's Garden...

The grass is still somewhat green,

though fields are barren and await

a long winter's sleep...

Winter's shadows are long, yet beautiful

and full of promise...

while it's cozy inside with holiday delights...

Merry Christmas to all around this beautiful globe,

may we pray for peace and good will!

W.A.L.L.S....

2011-12-21T12:18:00.002-06:00

SHadow Shot Sunday...Sister's Garden...

2011-12-17T07:57:00.000-06:00

Another gloomy, wintry day in Iowa...

as I try to squeeze a shadow from under Santa.

Sister's Garden is the antique store that I

have been selling out of for 16 years...

Barb, the owner, and I have developed the best of

friendships, through the hard times and the good,

WE HEART JUNK!

Are ya green with envy TOT...

these old tractor lugs are just screaming

INDUSTRIAL!!!

Vignettes are whassup at Sisters'...

Around every corner there's Iowa found gems...

and nothing goes to waste in our environment...

GOOD JUNK!!!

One day a week I take the 45 minute drive to 'Sisters',

as we all refer to it, truck loaded with goods and ready

to play with my toys and my friends, it's an

idealistic life and I'll think I'll do it till I drop...K...

New beginnings at Hey, Harriet today,

as we welcome our new SSS hosts...

let's go there huh...!

Bury me in knowledge...

2011-12-13T07:03:00.004-06:00

What is it about a wall cluttered with book shelves

and mementos that just appeal to the soul,

calming, nourishing, warming the cockles...

WHAT THE HECK'S A COCKLE ANYWAY???

Not sure, but I think I have some and they're telling me

that I must get started on that wall of shelves...

I'm also afflicted with flights of fancy,

what better way to start one's day...

DREAMIN'!!!

D.O.G.Z.....

2011-12-12T06:28:00.002-06:00

Where we goin' today Ma...

Shadow Shot Sunday...3 degrees...

2011-12-10T07:37:00.001-06:00

It's baaaack...

and at 3 degrees, this shot came from my

kitchen window...nuff said!

There is a reason I don't like working in the city...

winter colds, I picked one up from a passer-by,

someone that just couldn't stay home and convalesce...

no, they just had to spread the germs near and far and...

well, you know the rest of the story!

But tis the season to work 7 days a week in retail,

so, it is what it is!

Sorry if I don't get back to comment on your shadows,

but soon I'll have a new computer and all will be right

in the world again...well, faster anyway!

Have a great SSS friends,

go here!

Do be do be dooooo...

2011-12-08T06:38:00.001-06:00

Let's all sit back and take a chill pill...

Feel the allure of Morocco...

exotic...trance...

Bohemian...

the 60's...

carefree...make love not war...

vagabond lifestyle...

who says clutter ain't cool...

sigh...!

Girls gone wild...

2011-12-07T07:31:00.001-06:00

One of Chell's new purses...

yup, you guessed it...a coffin...

and why not I ask you???

Lorie, our resident glass cutter designed this outta sight

glass skull, 'Day of the Dead' style

TO DIE FOR!!!

(no pun intended)

Our skelly 'Al'...shows off another cool purse design...

My personal faves...HEART these backpacks,

they are so BOBO...

the flipside...

A Hippie statement with peace signs and the Om sign...

Piper's been sign making again...

and I've been in the head-hunter biz again...

Hey, our customers rock...

cool ride lil' buddy(Chucky)...

Winter...nest...snow day...

2011-12-06T12:45:00.001-06:00

Winter is definitely upon us today, so a dark mood

and a stirring is upon me, as I huddle inside with a good

magazine...PINTEREST...!

Pin after pin of decadent moods are added to my

virtual magazine, as they suggest fun decorating

styles to incorporate into my world...

I heart the chairs!!!

When I was a little girl, I always wanted an upstairs

bedroom, one that I could survey my kingdom from,

this is very similar to my own today, even

the bed is a copy of mine, though mine is old gold...

OMG...can you say MINE!!!

this is so me...

I love it when someone in the shop says,

"I just don't have any more room"...

HA......there is always room for one more chair,

one more table, one more book...

and let's not forget one more skull,

RIGHT...

Can you say SNOW DAY...

Not much yet when this pic was taken,

but it's been doing it all day, though they say

we won't get much, 1-2 inches, but it's quite cold out,

so the wet stuff underneath will freeze and form

slick spots on the road...

hey, it don't take much for me to come up with an

excuse to stay home...right, besides,

I groomed 4 dogs this morning...

that's work, right!!!

NUFF SAID...!

Shadow Shot Sunday...hmmmm...

2011-12-03T08:16:00.001-06:00

I tried...

an' tried...

an' tried...but to no avail...

a game of Shadow Shooting without the star attraction,

maybe they've all gone down under...

shall we!!!

S.T.U.F.F...

2011-12-02T06:53:00.001-06:00

Is this not the cutest lil' poem...

love it, must keep for me,

right inside my front door to greet a passerby...

Yes, I went shoppin' yesterday whilst delivering my soaps

here and there...can you say SWEET...

can you also say MINE...!

Well, for a little while anyway, you know how it is

in the wonderful world of the dealer...

heh heh...

DARLING...and I have a pair of them...

Many people have said, 'why do they look so sad'...

take away all of your modern conveniences for a day,

wash your clothes by hand...for the 10 kids you had,

then go fetch the water from the pump...

before you take your morning shower...

oh yeah, I forgot you didn't have a shower

or a tub, better hope you had the fireplace a roarin',

and the wood stove hot for the hearty breakfast gruel...

and the kettle of water,

should I go on, or have ya got the picture!!!

Home Sweet Home...

Did I mention I collect windchimes...

is this not the coolest...

ever since I saw the movie 'The Big Easy',

I've been addicted, but what a sound in the winds of Iowa!

The goods...

random stuff going to THE SHED today,

I'm going to play with my toys today at the shop.

CAN'T WAIT...

The flocker...

2011-11-30T07:13:00.001-06:00

For those asking on the progress of 'the flock'...

My mini coop...

I've been winterizing the coop in anticipation

of what lies ahead...WINTER...

today the electric water heater gets plugged in!

The water is frozen totally, with 28 degree temps this AM,

I'll be collecting eggs more frequently...

The hen fruit...

and my harvest, bigger n better...YUMMM...

are ya green yet!!!

W.H.A.T.....

2011-11-28T07:06:00.001-06:00

Baby Grand...

one of my latest creations, a porcelain baby head

on a wall sconce...sweet huh!!!

and another set of eyeball earrings...

only for the brave...

We say it like we mean it...

the new T's and purses rock out loud!!!

The comments from the many new peeps to the shop

are like "we love the mix of antiques and new stuff".

The oddities and the traditional...

Now who ruined that perfect shot with a Micky D

sweet tea drink...

all at 'the Shed'...

Shadow Shot Sunday...shadows of...

2011-11-26T07:22:00.001-06:00

My chipped and gnarly world

dishpans...

original plaster walls...

well used kitchen cupboard...

my mantra...

vintage wallpaper at it's finest...

there is beauty all 'round...

if you ain't perfect

and us shadow shooters see it...

Hey, Harriet

COMING SOON...

2011-11-25T08:27:00.001-06:00

Yes it's true...

The Candle Shed will be selling our wonderful soy candles

and hot hunks in Eldridge, Iowa at

The Junk Asylum...SWEET HUH!!!

And of course, many of my soaps are already there

and people are really buying right now...

they found us fo sure!!!

Many candle scents will be in soap chunks as well...

candle hunks and soap chunks...

Coming next weekend at...yup you read it here...

THE JUNK ASYLUM

Be thankful...

2011-11-24T06:22:00.001-06:00

and glad you're not a turkey...

At 2:00 AM in the morning...

2011-11-23T07:19:00.001-06:00

This is what Scratchy sounds like...

This was peaking in my window...

on the second floor...

Put your fingernails here...

this is what claws on a metal roof sounds like,

at 2:00 AM in the morning...

OOPS...

did I wake you???

Well, how this young coon got on my porch roof

and peered in my winder,

ON THE SECOND FLOOR

amazes me...but all is still well at the Ranchos de Loco...

chickens are safe and accounted for,

as I strolled the grounds for the intruder...

did I mention

2:00 AM IN THE MORNING...!!!

F.U.N.K.....

2011-11-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

funk

"depression, ill-humor," 1743, probably originally Scottish and northern English, earlier as a verb, "panic, fail through panic," (1737), said to be 17c. Oxford University slang, perhaps from Flem. fonck "perturbation, agitation, distress," possibly related to O.Fr. funicle "wild, mad."

You just have the need to flee in a temporary sorta way...

Ever been in one of those moods...

I am...!

Shadow Shot Sunday...gimme dat back...

2011-11-19T06:47:00.001-06:00

Hey, Harriet...Shadow Shot Sunday...

Gimme back dat summertime...

dem hot summer breezes...

dem cicada a singing dat late summer song...

dem sweet smellin' clothes on the line...

and dem bare feets...

dem blue, blue skies...

dem leaf filled trees...

dat hot, dry air...

and gimme back my garden (not mine) (sigh)...

but mostly gimmee back dem long country drives...

gimmee dat feelin' of open road freedom...

gimmee back dat summertime

and the love of life!

It's a drab, cloudy, 45 degree, late Autumn day here in Iowa...

a good day to work inside at the shop,

but I can dream, right!!!

Country Style open house...

2011-11-17T11:55:00.001-06:00

Sister's Garden and Bloom...

the place to be this Friday and Saturday!

Help us celebrate the season of light and magic!

Is it time to smile...

2011-11-15T05:45:00.001-06:00

Toooo funny...

How peanutbutter is made...

It's a shitty world out there...

can't we all just be fwiends

and take the time to just be happy...

and smile!

I heart Pinterest!!!

Time on my hands...

2011-11-14T05:37:00.001-06:00

Piper and I worked yesterday, so in between customers

I put together some earrings...

I was going for a Bohemian kinda look,

with a touch of whimsy with the bone dice

and horn beads...approx.4 inches long.

I like making one earring just a tad different

than the other...guess I just want to see

if people are paying attention...

Some smaller $10.00 bone skull earrings

for the ones that've moved over

to the dark side...

the kids just wanna have fun

and they don't have the resources, so

I think $10.00 is a fair price!

Not a great shot, but I love these skull beads,

they are about nickel-size and are heavy stone,

with horn beads...but look awesome dangling...

a day in the shop!

Shadow Shot Sunday...on the bright side...

2011-11-12T06:36:00.001-06:00

Me and my cement Scratchy seeing a bright future

for our store The Shed...(Friend's Candle Shed)

we are in the process of changing our look, going more Gothic,

Rock-a-billy, vamp and more...

we're moving over to the dark side and it's working!

The word is getting out and we are finally getting the traffic!

I have a whole new line of greeting cards coming in,

more Universal, magical & metaphysical...

The enchanting art of Josephine Wall will be our new line,

plus a few others that inspire me...

Piper and I are also going to design our own greeting cards

and t-shirts...we are lucky to have a silk screening

shop right next door to us at the mall...

and they are long-time friends to boot!

Everyone is so excited and we are discovering that

we're not the only ones that think outta the box...

as 'Sweet Pea' greets all of our friends

and helps them move on over...

to the dark side of the moon...!

Have a great weekend all of my friends over yonder

at Hey Harriet...

and just know that I'm saving for a new computer

so I can comment back...

it's been a real pain in my dark side of the moon...nuff said!!!

SMILE!!!

Furball Friday...

2011-11-11T06:26:00.001-06:00

I posted this shot of a honey bee because of an article

I read this morning...

http://www.naturalnews.com/034123_honey_pollen.html

Natural News is one of my favorite sources for

investigative articles on health foods...

many store honeys are illegally imported from China,

many are just corn syrup with additives.

Cut and paste and read for yourself,

fascinating!

Couldn't resist...

Some of the new fridg magnets for the store...

TAH DAH...

we don't need no stinkin' cat...!

LUV black...

2011-11-10T06:23:00.000-06:00

I found this great cedar chest at the Salvation Army

store the other day and thought it a perfect candidate

for a black finish...it was pretty beat up, but hey, that's

how I roll...cute huh!

But the inside looks like it's never been used...

now that I think about it, my Grandmother had

one just like this that my Dad has...

hmmmmm...

The creature under the stairs,

the Scratchmeister...

she's after a mouse and will sit for hours waiting

for it to rear it's fuzzy head, then...

GOTCHA...

she is just the best mouser and totally

worth all the laughs she gives me!!!

Are any of you having a hard time getting your creative

mojo working...I can't even get inspired on Pinterest...

is it that crazy ol' full moon or what!!!

Crazy 'bout color...

2011-11-09T07:11:00.000-06:00

OMG...is this SWEET or what...

it should be mine!!!

Talk about Bohemian...aren't these just the bomb!!!

Oh those hippy dayz...

Day of the dead skulls,

oh my...!

Oh yeah, I got my Gypsy wanderlust on...

Would you...

2011-11-08T08:04:00.000-06:00

I can hear my mother now...

oh no, so un-lady-like,

you wouldn't would you...ohhhhhhhhhh....

I can hear my brother...(he's not handling 60 well

and losing a perfect image)...

why do people do that???

My dad would say pagan and devil worship...

My friends would say...it's so you...

My personal fave...the swan queen...from the movie...

Vintage Japanese...

and my daughter, the other wild thing,

would say...

RIGHT ON MOMMA...

when do we leave...

LOL

and yes I would!!!

Could you...

2011-11-07T06:37:00.000-06:00

Could you take your home on the open road...

Could you live in a teepee...by Ralph Lauren...

or like the Saami tribes...

Could you paint your world in a Matisse-like studio...

or share your roof with Nature...

Live in a cabin in the wilds with a man and his goat...

and see the beauty of a winter

in spite of it all...

Would you adopt a home

and love it in spite of it's faults...

Would you go feral

and throw caution to the wind...

I would...

Shadow Shot Sunday...the last bits of it...

2011-11-05T08:10:00.000-05:00

Itty bits of summer still linger in shadows,

as I drag in the remnants of the season

out of the winter's path...

Skeletal remains...

and shrubbery dragged into safe climes,

lucky Australia going into Spring...

well, you know the rest of the story,

it's Hey, Harriet time...

TGIF...Furball Friday...

2011-11-04T07:10:00.002-05:00

Time to get your awwwww on...

As someone that considers life a form of art,

I do consider myself an artist...

I am thinking constantly of the beauty of it,

how I can bring my vision to the world

and witness your smiles,

so every Friday I'm going to bring what I consider

beauty and art...

well, because I am SOOOO BORED

with the same ol' French, the same ol' white

same ol' granite counters and

same ol' same ol'...

so enjoy my furball friday

and smile...!

Oh crap...

2011-11-03T07:22:00.000-05:00

You want to share a dream...

but blogger just won't cooperate,

so you patiently await them to get their shit together...

In the meantime your dream sails on

to distant shores...

I posted a new post on Air Bohemia,

but it just won't post current on my other blogs

or anyone else's blog for that fact...

Blogger, blogger, blogger...

Uh oh...I feel an expedition coming on...

2011-11-02T07:21:00.001-05:00

Us hunter-gatherers are always on the lookout for some

great decorating ideas for our own cribs

and you know we're always getting the urge

either to purge or to add to it...right...

Well, I'm getting the urge to add to it...

as we redo the store, there are just too many cupboards

making the space a bit over-crowded...

soooo, I just have to bring one home...right...

I need to 'hoosh'...

the art of display in one's home and shop...

And I got the itch...

and I got the space, sooooo

the darkening of the parlor in 'the pink shack' continues...

as my expedition theme continues in my study lab

I call home...

I think I need one of these really cool old DARK buffets...

Happy All Hallows' Eve...

2011-10-31T07:02:00.001-05:00

Step into our parlor...

don't be afraid!!!

heh, heh, heh...

We are definitely making changes at

The Shed...

It's soooo time and since the times they are a changin',

so are we, our new inventory is called

'Shed Stock'...

as we delve into the world of the steam punk,

the macabe, the hippie and the bizarre...

'The Birds' have arrived, helping make each setting

a place of mystery, we'll have books by Edgar Allen Poe,

Wicca(Nature based religion), Voodoo(for fun)

and who knows what else will be served on a platter...

and our new skelly "Bones"

(I'm a Trekkie fo sure)

will welcome you to our nightmare...

he's also got a price tag...$199.00

if ya gotta have it!

More changes on the horizon...

don't be scared...a girls just gotta have fun!!!

Shadow Shot Sunday...late...

2011-10-29T18:20:00.003-05:00

Issues...I had issues...

my computer wouldn't let me sign in this morning,

so I'm a tad late with my shadow shot.

I spied these late bloomers sheltered from the frost

this morning...they won't be around long, but I'll enjoy

as long as I can!

BIRDS...

the crows and ravens have arrived at the shop,

so our continuation of the season moves forward...

Strange is good right...

well, we think so and sales have definitely picked up...

So Monday we set the stage for

Dio de los Muertos...

it will be an annual affair at The Shed...

but in the meantime it's Hey Harriet for shadow-time!

New, new and new...

2011-10-26T19:38:00.001-05:00

Is this not the coolest cupboard...just dragged it

home from Sisters Garden...it'll be perfect for the new

T's and purses coming in...love the one titlted shutter,

fits the theme perfectly!

My new cupboard that will be the Day of the Dead shrine,

it will hold the jewelry that I'm working on...

and other oddities...

I'm not going to repaint it, cause I kinda like it the way it is...

L-O-V-E the new posters that just arrived...

$14.99 unframed...

Do ya think we're havin' fun yet...!

Anti-decorating...Interior Alchemy...

2011-10-25T08:03:00.000-05:00

I love this new book I picked up the other day...

thanks Pandora...it's right up my alley...

as I pull in new ideas to the shop...a new chandelier...

I'm totally diggin' the curtain across the room

and the parlor table in front of the sofa...

Haven't you always wanted an old piano,

something so romantic about it...

OMG...

that long fringe on that lil' table...sooooo me...!

Feral furniture...I'm so in love...

Oh to have those high ceilings...sigh...

as I putter away at the new look of 'The Shed'

anti-decorating rules in my world...

now to find a picture of a vintage hearse for my

travel soap display...heh heh...!

Got brains...

2011-10-23T10:55:00.001-05:00

The new clear skulls are in...

YIPPEE...

for the pure at heart, these life size,clear resin skulls

will surely fill the bill...!

Oh yes, did someone say we got brains...

well, of course we've got brains,

we're blond...right...

A full 3 pound chunk of smarts.

You can easily cut off a slice when needed.

This scent is fresh linen, drizzled with strawberry,

but you can special order any scent.

Be the first on your block to get some brains...

told ya we were havin' fun!!!

Einsteins' Brain...$24.99

Shadow Shot Sunday...'tis the season...

2011-10-22T07:34:00.000-05:00

Did I mention smoking kills...

by now, all of my fellow SSS shooters know of

my taste for the strange...

my daughter and I are changing the profile of our shop,

we've come over to the dark side...

not just for the Halloween season, this will be

our lil' shop of horrors...

we're trying out a new niche in hopes of gathering

new clientele, since the old ones just aren't buying...

sooooooo...out with the old and in with the new!

Lots of funky, fun stuff coming in,

as you can see by my post below...

open minds are what we want, not the hecklers,

people who just want to have fun, that's what it's

all about anyway...right...

Hey, Harriet...she knows how to make fun happen!

Eeeeeee...

2011-10-20T19:13:00.000-05:00

Let the games begin...

isn't he magnificent, my very own skeleton!

and skulls...this one will get a wash of color...

or shall I say decay!!!

This skull is so lifelike, even on the inside...

oh yes, that a dried stingray to the right...what else!

I love these new Day of the Dead incense burners

and the new incense is wonderful!!!

Piper printed up the coolest labels for the incense for me...

love the glass w/skull burners.

Uh oh...mindless baby stuck in the lobster trap...

Whew, what a day...I'm pooped!!!

Enjoy!!!

And you think you're strange...

2011-10-20T08:27:00.000-05:00

In comes the taxidermy...

yes, I'll be bringing in some of my own stashes,

the things you sacrifice for your store!

Skulls under glass...everyone needs one right...

And of course, the mini-me nightlights will be here...

and our usual funky stuff...made in the USA...

Baskets of bones and rats for sure...

and what would my lil' shop of horrors be

without spider infested soap...SWEET!

We have the most macobe posters from

Madame Talbot coming as well...and t-shirts...

yes, the shop is on a new twist,

we're at the crossroad...be afraid!!!

Uh oh Lucy...

2011-10-18T21:52:00.000-05:00

Things they are a changing at Friend's Candle Shed...

we're moving over to the dark side...yup,

our little town just can't quite figger out what it likes,

soooo...

we're gonna hittum with the strange!

I'm painting the cupboards black, these will hold the

new incense I've ordered...Nag Champa, Patchouli, Opium...

those scents we loved back in our hippie days...

One of the soap cupboards has also been painted black,

and the soap jars will be altered, giving them the look of

laboratory jars...and more taxidermy as well...

a transformation is in the making, can't do it all at once,

but little by little, it'll be curiouser and curiouser...

the little shop of horrors...perhaps!

Piper has come up with this great idea too,

framing the lyrics of songs she loves

under a title of one word, like HURT...

(love the dog collar)

and KARMA...

and of course...body parts, my mindless babies...

they will all be there plus much, much more...

let's just say that the skeletons and skulls have been

ordered, thanks to Diane at Pandora's Parlor!

Let's see now...what about the shrunken heads

and Day of the Dead jewelry???

Before n after...

2011-10-17T03:21:00.000-05:00

Country charm in the little bedroom,

well, I'm over it...

The creamy yellow is gone...

The oak dresser is gone...

I can't believe I haven't painted this one yet!

The chaos is gone, as peace slumbers here...

this is the room in the front of the house,

tiny, but I'm trying to keep it simple and calm...

all of the pictures on the walls are gone, 'cept one,

only the bed in the middle of the room facing the sky,

so when I lay down at the end of the day

I fall asleep gazing at the stars.

while the dream catcher fulfills it's promise...

Next...the room in front of this one,

the sewing room/closet/storage, this is where all of my

lampshade supplies reside,

trying to make sense of an old room that has no closets,

which mean piles and racks of clothes...

which is why I separate it from the front room

where peace must reign...

today I start to paint and don't worry,

the before shots will be taken...BE AFRAID!

You can see more shots at Lil' Pink Houses...

Shadow Shot Sunday...Autumn & the river...

2011-10-15T06:06:00.000-05:00

The beautiful Kentucky creeper,

a vine that burns scarlet in the Fall,

not many leaves this year...drought!

But a trip into the city yielded a surprise.

the Celebration Belle...

We can dream large when a sight like this floats by...ahhhh...

back in the day!

Hey, Harriet n the shadow shooters

I love the moon...

2011-10-14T08:20:00.000-05:00

...and the moon loves me...

however...

I was awakened the other night by Louis crowing

at 3:00 AM

and in the still of the night I could hear them calling...

yap yap yap yap yap yap!

maybe I should think one of these...

the coyote fence...sweet huh!

We all know about this huh...

...and this...

The beauty and the cunning will outlast us all,

as the wiley coyote still roams

in spite of man...!

This one's for you Dad!

Single handed...woman...

2011-10-13T07:20:00.000-05:00

Skylines Farm

Melissa Lines has followed her dream...

she bought the farm.

You have to learn that it takes a passion and strengths

that you thought you never had,

but you will...

if you follow your heart!

No chemicals and free range...

are we finally getting it...?

This is where I want to go on my summer vacation...

At age 60, Melissa conducts workshops on the farm,

farm immersion projects that you can attend,

no money changes hands, you share the load and learn...

I've always wanted a goat, for milk and cheeses...

don't worry Mom, it's still a dream...LOL!

If you're a farmer wannabe, read Mary Janes Farm...

the article is great and inspirational!

Have you had one of those dayz...

2011-10-12T07:36:00.000-05:00

Well, I was visiting Sassy Trash yesterday, left a comment

and went back to my blog...

and it was gone...lost...taken away!!!

All it said was 'blog was removed'...

by who, certainly not me!

Curiouser and curiouser!

But miraculously it cured itself and all is well...

happy dance!!!

Weathering storms is all part of the game

you can't change fate, but you can seek an alternative...

Have you joined Pinterest yet...

it's changing the course for me!

Sumthin' amiss...ouch...

2011-10-11T06:54:00.000-05:00

This is what greets me every afternoon...but...

somthin' is a fowl(no pun intended)

this egg is huge, must be a double yolker...no yolk!

My daughter is eating a lot of my eggs these days,

I'm gonna shock her with this one!

One of my hens is a biggen, this could be hers.

My 3 dogs cancelled yesterday,

coming in today...so I had the whole day to

frolic and follow my flock in their daily routine...

whilst I frolicked in mine...

the drought this summer yield tiny sprouts, but I managed

to fill a gallon bag of them for the freezer, I

love them in winter soups and such...

a day in the life, now to prepare for the 4 yorkies

coming today...argh...!

Uh Oh...

2011-10-10T07:07:00.003-05:00

I'm lucky to have friends that feed my inner soul...

they know what it is you crave

they know how you roll

another sicko perhaps...

thanks again Brandon

my favorite head-hunter...

I'm really diggin' these porcelain heads

you can really get a feel with them,

my next project!

I heart Etsy,

what great stuff to browse through!

Bride of Chuck perhaps...

I may have to use the whole doll for this project,

tis the season

to be afraid...

Shadow Shot Sunday...me n my shadow...

2011-10-08T07:26:00.001-05:00

Scratchy...the cute-meister...

she's my constant companion

the joy in my day

and the pain in my ass

but I wouldn't have her any other way!

Shadow Shot Sunday here...

Today I will...

2011-10-07T08:12:00.000-05:00

Groom four dogs...

make a gazillion batches of soap...

your lavender will be shipped tomorrow TOT...

watch my chickens free range...

and heart Autumn all day long...

life is good!

Sometimes, ya just gotta have fun...

2011-10-05T19:13:00.001-05:00

Like my new biz card holder...

hey, ya gotta have fun...right!!!

Thanks Brandon for the new toy...heehee...

you know what I like!

My Grandbaby and his new 2010 Corola...

and his first bank loan on his very own credit,

SWEET!

It's what keeps the economy going in spite of all the crap...

the rich will always be rich

and life goes on!

Sunrise and a day trip...

2011-10-03T07:16:00.000-05:00

Sun up, as me and the heathen back out of the drive

into our Autumn...

Frost on the pumpkins...

as the fog lifts over the bluff and the red wings fly...

Iowa...

Vague hints of frosting in the tree tops...

Barges and duck blinds dotting the Mighty Miss...

My truck waits at the ready as me and the heathen explore...

an Autumn Sunday in Iowa.

Shadow Shot Sunday...shadow on shadow...

2011-10-01T08:14:00.001-05:00

shadow

on shadow...

Now you must trek on down to Australia to see the rest of them,

have a great weekend friends!

Hey, Harriet

Chucky's cousin...Bob...

2011-09-29T07:21:00.001-05:00

Just when you thought it was safe...

There she is, making "Cracked in the Head" nightlights...

Isn't this head just 'the bomb'!!!

Thanks Brandon, I'm so glad you grabbed these babies!

And this great lamp base came from Sisters...where else!!!

The twins are finally ready...finding matching bases

for these lil' charmers was a real chore, but not to worry,

this crazy fool is always on the loose!

And as always, my words of wisdom...

BE AFRAID...!!!

White Witch...

2011-09-27T08:19:00.001-05:00

A gift from a friend is a treasure chest of promise...

Ingredients...

sterling silver, copper, pewter, bone, shell, ivory, African beads,

seed, glass, deer antler, buffalo tooth...

Welcome to my house Steph...BFF...

and thank you so much for the charms,

they will be loved!

Tapestry pillows...new chair...

2011-09-26T06:44:00.001-05:00

Well, not exactly a new chair, but new color...

black, I love it with the buckskin colored leather cushion!

This old mahogany chair has been with me a long time,

it's a big butt chair, so very roomy

and the new pillows look FABU on it!

Minstrel and dancer

Polar bears

Brown bears

Puppies and kittens


Zebra

These are the small tapestries that just don't sell in the shops

these days, but I love them, so decided to make pillows

out of them, but the last two, I just can't seem to do,

they are just too cool as tapestries and perfectly

fit the darker decor or my room now...

A bit blury, but hey, it's still dark outside...and foggy,

so it'll be awhile before I get good lighting...sooooo...

think I'll have another cup o java

and wait for the sun!