Patina White

a tree by me...{funnel vision}

happy holidays! 

this time of the year evokes memories of me sitting @ my grandma's making felt ornaments + other crafty crafts. here i am some 30 years later still donning my elf cap and creating! grandma kroeger would be so proud! or perhaps perplexed @ today's project! 

enter my love of trees. the smell of fresh cut pine. twiggy towers lining my drive in lights. with that notion...i am going to start a lil' christmas category of some trees that came about by my own hand. fittingly dubbed...a tree by me.

i had to chuckle @ hubby's greeting when he saw me "playing" last night. exact words..."whatcha doing tin man?" and the pile of "rubbish" leading up to that remark?? {see below}

i have collected funnels for quite awhile. not really intending on a specific use. just fond of metal + rust. so while scouring for some items for my event...the stack of funnels caught my eye. "that looks just like a tree" i thought...and for those of you wondering...the ruffly "implement" {above} is part of a cast-off tree stand!

ok. so now i have a tree...well a tree needs a stump, no?? not a problem in my land. where boxes of salvage wood bits {below} sit quietly waiting to be enlisted into action. time to get a "leg up"...

and what christmas tree would be complete without a tree top? surely an opportunity to make a star will not get passed by me! off to another corner {this time hubby's shop} where a pile 'o tin is tucked between snowmobiles & harley parts. {share & share alike...no space on our property isn't touched by an influx of "treasure"}. 

back to the project...a few fell cuts with the tin snips and a length of wire glued to the back landed me a quirky + cute lil topper {below}.

saving the best for last...funnels and salvage and tin...OH MY! i hope i did the tin man proud with my creation {below}! 

now i am off...not to see the wizard but to continue on with projects*orders*decorating* that await. sure could use me a pair of those sparklin' ruby slippers. i guess my cowgirl boots will do...probably better for kicking up dust on the yellow brick road anyway!

thanks for stopping * make it a great day!

cyber MONDAY prize winner!

hello show & tell! while many businesses are out there luring folks in with the best bargains online...i am happy to announce that on this cyber monday {1} of my lucky readers is in for one heck of a deal! FREE i say...beat that best buy & walmart! and who is the lucky person you ask? well please take a look @ my prize ribbon {below} to find out!

so miss becca b...your "thankful" story really made me smile {heck...they all did...wish i had a set for each and every one of you} and luck was on your side as you were randomly selected as the recipient of my collage card set! so give me a shout out via email so we can iron out the details to get this little package off your direction...would that be antarctica, new zealand or south carolina?? {that girl gets around!} 

and for the rest of you...i sure do appreciate the heartfelt notes + emails...in these busy times it was refreshing to hear your stories! we all have some much to be thankful for...be it large or small! 

for those of you hitting the online shopping circuit...enjoy your cyber monday. me?? i am looking forward to what occasion tomorrow may bring. i guess around here it would be taco tuesday! 

have a GRAND start to your week! !

RAINBOW friday

hey show & tell friends! hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving! mine was a day filled w/ family gatherings and enough food from the gobble to make this girl wobble! 

but today i awoke w/ a spring in my step! not because i was heading to battle the crowds @ the mall...but because i was excited that the creative forces of buggy wheel antiques were having an open house! now that is my kind of shopping! 

i'd pass on the mall any day to peruse the goodies thoughtfully arranged in their farmhouse and adjoining barn. and i am so very glad i did because i landed some fabulous wares {below} unlike any 'ol pallet full of TVs! so heck with mall...it's time to deck the hall! 

i suppose i should explain today's post's title. well...i'm not really a fan of the term "black friday". though i dressed the part {what i wore coming soon!}...i think it sounds rather sinister! so i am dubbing my excursion "rainbow friday" as a more colorful and lighthearted take on the busiest shopping day of the year!

the color began with the score of scores...the victorian era rose themed oil painting. as i type this i have already removed it from it's frame to expose the simple charm of the stretched canvas. i didn't think the window was too shabby either...or the unique half round wood whatchamacallit. {see all above}.

moving on....time to go to my favorite greenhouse, bergen's...where miss deb z. is as delightful as the plants they sell! she had been saving a giant wreath to replace the one i parted with @ my event. and like always i found myself wandering in a state of awe at the colorful surroundings!

fitting for RAiNBOW friday...wouldn't you say {below}?

and a sea of poinsettias {below} stopped me dead in my tracks.

so...next order of today's business...picking up our christmas tree!

my {3} C's for the perfect tannenbaum...

COLOR...blue spruce to be exact! and it fits into that rainbow theme...

CUT...that'd be fresh cut. 

CHARACTER...i seek out trees that haven't been "manicured". i want 'em to be raw &natural. with lanky branches providing lots of spots for drapey tinsel + old ornaments.

and these criteria were met with a peek @ the top of our find {below}. be watching for a bigger view soon!

somewhere over the rainbow my day is far from over. there is a thrift store revival involving a fabulous found coat + glinty glass buttons. {thrift reinventions coming up!} and then dinner plans out with hubby. {incase i didn't "gobble and wobble" enough yesterday}! 

i hope your "black" friday was colorful too...now off to the black thread i go!

ps - don't forget there are a few more days to share your THANKFUL comments in my card giveaway ... check out the last post for details! i sure love hearing from you all!

are these cards for sale??

happy monday everyone! 

i think my calling cards are a reflection of me + my business. and can be described in {1} word. unconventional. while trying to update them a couple years back i knew i wanted something different. and a square card @ the time was very new to market. in-fact they still catch many of my customers off-guard. i often quip that if they decide they no longer need them for their intended purpose they sure make a good impromptu coaster. 

so my "unconventional" cards sometimes have people asking if it's alright to take them. and of course i chime in...YES please do so! but a huge smile was brought to my face when just a couple weeks back a sheepish gal asked if they were FOR SALE! now that's something to think this sweet customer thought they special enough to command a price. not bad for a cocktail napkin! 

i decided then to add a little sign to my card catcher {below} to encourage others to help themselves...

i know...gettin' lengthy...but keep reading my friends...you'll be glad you did!

now you can about imagine finding a case to hold my square cards has been a challenge. but without even looking i happened on something that proved to fill that void. two + years later and i can't even take credit for it! 

enter tooled leather former cigarette case. {below}

it was just begging to go home with me. belt buckle? trinket holder? then the proprietary mistress of the spot in the antique mall mentioned..."i thought it would be a good business card holder!". HELLOOOO beth...wake up & smell the smoke for gosh sakes! my cards are SQUARE. and here sits the perfect solution to my dilemma! i just about did a cart wheel from all the excitement. i am pretty sure that if i were a bit more nimble i would have!

again...i've said it before...takes very little to excite me! but really....how can you not love my smokin' cool case put to use {below}?!

did i mention you'd be glad to still be reading @ this point? please continue on...

i just so happen to offer some fun cards that are for sale thru patinaWHITE. you may have picked up on the fact i like to dabble in paper crafting on occasion so i am about to show you those created by my very own hand. and not only show them to you but offer a set of {12} {below} to one of my blog readers as a little thank you for your continued interest in my ramblings and the wares often associated with such. 

yep. it's time for a patinaWHITE PRIZE offering. and given the current season...all i ask is that you send a shout out my way on something you are thankful for! a comment posted @ the end of this post is just dandy. or for those of you preferring to send a different shout of sorts may email me by click {HERE}!

i will start first. i am thankful for YOU. and a hubby, family + circle of friends who "get" me. or @ least they are the great pretenders. plus a warm house with lots of feather blankets to keep me comfy this minnesota winter. and a healthy mind {up for question} + body that let's me continue to unearth and create the little works of whimsy i am so very passionate about. {but somehow doesn't allow for any back bending gymnastics moves. still working on that cartwheel...}

you can be as long winded or brief as you like. you have {1} week to think about it if you so desire. because i will announce the winner of my card collection november 28th. and once again...this is a time when the cards are FREE!

what are your THANKFUL for?? with many of you very well thinking you are thankful i am finally DONE! {for now} 

{57} varieties of ketchup

hey there everyone! how you all doing?? me? well today's title pretty well sums up my little corner of the world. i'm playing "ketchup"...{57} ways!

i couldn't help but pick up the "limited edition" bottle of heinz {below} the other day. it was on clearance and i liked the glass bottle + label. so now i am officially a ketchup "collector" {add to that the growing list}.

a collection requires more than one object to be just that...so i nabbed me a bottle of jalapeno ketchup {above} given the opportunity. this time because i LOVE all things spicy. just ask anyone who has witnessed me pulling a bottle of crushed red pepper out of my purse to spice up a lunch out. did i really just admit that to the whole world?? moving on...

alrighty...here's a variety of my plans to "ketchup". 

first...i'd like to send yet another big THANK YOU to everyone for stopping by patinaWHITE's studio event...round {2}! the 2nd weekend was just as much fun as the 1st. the weather held up as did the endurance of my wonderful helpers. thanks to my girls for sticking with me! not sure i would do the same in their shoes! but a little homemade chili & puddin' cups go a long way! just ask my ma!

another item i mentioned wanting to show you all were pictures of the studio ... these snapshots paint a pretty picture of what awaited on the opening eve! enjoy!

home sweet home...

signs with special sentiments...

see the giant clock {below}?? one of my favorite p.white creations. first thing to sell @ the show? said clock...good thing i have one just like it already gracing my mantle. though mine doesn't actually function as this one did!

there were baubles...

and baubles...

upon layers + layers of MORE baubles...

whimsies for every nook...

and cranny!

there were signs to direct traffic...

plus those to send out subliminal messages...

or in this case {below}...play a few games!

not to mention gifts for every good boy & girl...

and perhaps a sweet pet or two!

we were all feeling quite MERRY...and those stare lantern were quite BRIGHT

and beginning w/ the very 1st eve, everyone seemed to have a good night!

now...i must play a bit of a balancing act...

...sorting thru my pages of requests, notes & inquiries. please don't fret none if you don't hear from me right away. i am but a {1} woman circus...even though a close friend exclaimed "it's a mini beth!" when she saw the decked out manni {below}.

all silliness aside...again...many many thanks for making the BIG 1 a wonderful event! i so appreciate the excitement + support of all you kind & sweet folks...especially those bearing cappuccinos! {em...bev...you know who you are!}

so what of the remaining 55 varieties of ketchup i must tend to?? well...i think i will spare you the details of the laundry...dishes + sadly neglected hubby that require a bit of my attention. but know that this bona fide ketchup collector is on it! and will be tending to business as soon as the dust settles a bit. 

thanks for peeking...popping in and all your continued interest + support! it sure does this ringmaster girl's heart some good!

time and time AGAIN!

hey there everyone! ok...i know...get a different theme beth...'nuff clocks already! but with the arrival of some new baubles & my never dying love of all things tick-tock tick-tock...call me a broken record...but it's 'bout that time AGAIN!  

the story line may not be all that fresh...but the merchandise sure is for 'round {2} of patinaWHITE's holiday event! with a revamp here...addition here...i even pulled out all the tricks bringing in my beloved black metal cabinet {below} i greedily want in my home. but that would require a sizeable addition since it's nearly bursting @ the seams already! *sigh*...

other treasures?? a pair of chunky 'ol corbels...with the addition of more glass battery jars since the first batch flew off the shelves...i mean cupboard!

and of course MORE jewelry will be making a premier appearance. little black dress anyone?? {below}

so...incase you're wondering here's the hours i will be here for your shopping pleasures...

and here's a treasure map to find me...

so grab your things...your friends...your family! you don't even have to kick your shoes off as my guest! but incase you feel like you want to...i've even got the perfect spot {below} for that too! 

and no...the sock monkey slippers + boots are not for sale. hubby's oxfords...well...those could be up for negotiating! all's fair in love and junk! 

thanks for peeking and i sure hope to see you in my neighborhood soon!

keep calm & carry on...

hey everyone! with the initial weekend of patinaWHITE's studio event behind me i have a few things to share with you all today! 

#1. THANK YOU! truly from the bottom of my heart it was a wild but wonderful first showing. without the excitement & support of my fabulous customers i would not be where i am today.

#2. that being said...with growth comes growing pains. and that pain has a name...flash mob! which has me feelin' @ times i may be outgrowing my "party pants"! but busy is good...actually...busy is GREAT...so i will ...

heck...i remember a time with a mailing list of 75 i opened my doors for my first event. and wondered if i would be able to keep the "doors open". well here i am nearly a decade later wondering how i can stop the door from blowing off the hinges! a good "problem" to have it would seem!

for future visits to my studio and/or cottage... there are off times that are not nearly as crazy...and i will do my best to give you and idea of when that may be. and for those of you who endured the long check-out lines and had the patience of a saint...many many thanks.

i would like to mention that yes...it's part of my business...the grab it of miss it mindset...but sometimes there's alot to be said for a visit later on saturday...or perhaps sunday that will make for a busy but more maintainable shopping environment. the second weekend finds me open for {3} full days too! that's why i started the {2} weekends originally with the hope of spreading the fun 'round.

here's a another tidbit incase you worry that you will miss all the "good stuff"...

#3. PLEASE KNOW THIS. that when i say i am restocking & refreshing my "goodies" i sure mean it. i worked until the wee hours of saturday morning with just shy of two hours of shut eye. thank goodness for adrenaline & caffeine as i am certain those two chemicals carried me thru! i plumped it back up for sunday and of course with a second 'round in the ring i have my wonder woman cape on and am hitting it once again! 

i want you to leave my show feeling thrilled with not only your treasures but happy with the whole shopping experience! my business was started w/ the idea that inspiring others is my passion...customers are my priority and i don't intend on swinging my way off the "dance floor" any other way! or maybe i just need an excuse for those "party pants" being tight other than the doughnut holes & tootsie rolls that supplemented my recent diet! 

check back soon...with some glimpses of what was and what will be in-store!

keep'n calm and carry'n on...

STUDIO EVENT! to wet your whistle...

hey everyone! it's just about time!

...for patinaWHITE's annual holiday...

Holy cow...you won't believe the treasure trove that awaits...

w/ jewels & whimsies to make you feel like a queen...

you won't want to miss all the lovelies that...

with an array of baubles...

plus fabulous gift ideas for your family no matter how large or small...

i know you will have a ball 

{peek below...those "flowers" started out life being pitched...batter up!}

even the resident wildlife is ready and waiting...

so grab your friends and trekk out to my country studio...

use the "treaure" map below to guide your way! 

i hope you can make it out {1} of the weekends. maybe you can come for both!

should you not be able to attend the very first eve...have faith...

because i will be restocking each day plus bringing in a whole other round of goodies to make the 2nd weekend just as much fun! 

i am ready for all you "chicks" to save me from myself and TAKE the candy away! because that jar {below} was full to the top just a few days ago!

is your whistle wet?? i hope this teaser has you excited for the festivities as much as i am! 

see you all very soon!