Patina White

my {miniEVENT} is near...BRACE yourself!

hello there all! had (2) check-in today to give you the last teasers of some {miniEVENT} goodies on the horizon. have you "braced" yourself?? well my metal pony is ready w/ a couple wire wrapped relic bracelets making their premier appearance this weekend. they are artsy...adjustable & just down right FABULOUS!

 

 

also excited to say that the timing of this "event" fell so that i was able to bring in fresh boxwood BUNDLES + a tiny handful of WREATHS yet once again! my shipment just arrived last night so i will be busy getting it all ready for you to grab-n-go! i popped a wreath up in excitement. and it looks MARVELOUS with my {1} and only pine-cone reindeer taking "center stage" below.

 

 

can't wait to see all your familiar happy faces! do you recognize the one {below} hiding behind a couple of the cute cluster necklaces i paired up for your gift giving needs?!

 

 

i was able to sneak in a last few patinaWHITE exclusive jewelry designs...this one with an always favorite quote...{love you to the moon} below.

 

 

also pretty excited how these necklaces came about! they are stamped front AND back w/ some sweet messages. they are tatty + tarnished...wouldn't have it any other way! and these are TRUE one-of-a-kinds. they really are (2) keys to {LOVE}.

 

 

you will see influences from my love of things INDUSTRIAL. so...it only seem fit that i have the mini version of the always favorite chunky + funky large "sparkle" necklace {seen below}. w/ just enough corrugated metal to "junk" it up.

 

 

and yes...there will be some of those SUPER cool pipe fittings {see a peek below}. i {HEART} heavy metal...decor that is! 

 

 

i am nicely stocked up and ready w/ my junkWREATH forms! a sweet customer sent me a picture of her handiwork inspired by seeing my display @ the {dog&ponySHOW} in early november. i had to share with you all to show yet another variation in COLOR! she used her grandma's precious ornaments. and i LOVE the texture she gave her wreath with the burlap ribbon & whimsy w/ the fabric tape measurer. well done erin! it's GORGEOUS {below}.

 

well my friends...my clock on a rope {below} is telling me it's time...to get back to work! TICK*TOCK...TICK*TOCK...

 

 

hope you are as excited as i! and for {1} final time...just incase you need a little more info and or details on the WHO...WHAT...WHEN...WHERE... please see my "chalkboard" below...or click {NEXT EVENT...} on the right sidebar of my blog here.

 

 

THANKS {4} making this all possible with your continued excitement about patinaWHITE and the ramblings from my corner of the world! i'll be back to update sometime next week. and remember to LIKE me on facebook for quickie photos til showtime & throughout!

happy*happy start to your holiday season!

the {PUTTER} post

hey there show & tell friends! often times when asked what i am working on...my mind 1st races trying to pin-point {1} important task i've accomplished. and if i come up blank in that department my fail safe reply is "oh...just been puttering". that pretty well covered it all i figured. then in collecting ideas for this post...i thought i'd just see what the definition of a day spent "puttering" meant in the dictionary minded community. this is what i saw {below}...

put•ter

Pronunciation: (put'ur), 
—v.i. 
1. to busy or occupy oneself in a leisurely, casual, or ineffective manner:

the last words i disagree with entirely. because despite sometimes (often) being causal, yes. i feel that a few days spent puttering can be quite productive. 

"where is this going, beth??". i can hear your thoughts right now as you read. well...because as the time draws near for patinaWHITE's upcoming {miniEVENT} - i have found balance "puttering" my way thru the days. for instance. i was in the studio. getting displays "fluffed". (another favorite term. i have yet to look up the official meaning but i'm sure when i do that will lead into another post). here's the results of some of my "fluffing" as seen {below}.

 

 

then not realizing how many folks the following song has touched...

 

 

...i created quite a stir @ my little corner of the FACEBOOK world when i posted a necklace {PRIZE} encouraging the sharing of the love of my fairly new page. have you visited it? well let this teaser photo {below} motivate you.

 

 

you still have til the morning of november 28th to enter! click ***HERE*** to check it out! and please be sure to look for that very same photo shown above for details. good luck (2) you should you decide to enter. and incase you're wondering...i will have {SUNSHINE} available in limited numbers @ my event on december 1st & 2nd too!

back to working on that balance thing i mentioned...i decided that it is important to stick to some traditions no matter what's on the horizon. meaning. even with upcoming {miniEVENT} i still wanted to fit in our annual christmas tree hunt. so on sunday we hopped in the truck & we were off! bring on THE tree!

 

 

and find our tree we did! we immediately trimmed her down to fit into my giant old urn so as to clear the ceiling. w/ not even an inch to spare she's up. and even in her "bare" state...is still a "looker" as you'll see {below}

 

 

i really had wanted to get our beauty decorated right away. but then a squirrel moment came over me and i decided i needed to "putter" in my {MAKE} room on jewelry. (see my make space below)

 

 

so in lieu of ornaments...i hung up one of my creations on our tree's empty branches {below} (oh. LOVEyouMORE will be available @ my event too!) 

 

 

after recounting my days spent "puttering"...i've decided that doing it, despite the definition, can certainly be effective. so i need to spend some more time doing just that! there is a studio that needs more "fluffing". and more jewelys to be made. and some branches that are begging to be adorned. though that last one may have to wait til next week. when i can putter in a bit more "leisurely fashion". 

until then...i will see what i can putter my way thru & be back intouch (1) more time before showtime this coming weekend! words cannot express my continued gratitude for your notes, comments & the kind words they contain. that necklace {PRIZE} really does say it all. YOU make me happy to be here doing what i do best. to which i will proudly say is PUTTERing! 

 

happy day til next we meet!

  

black {BOARD} friday.

GREETINGS! amazing how one holiday comes & goes so quickly. w/ ThanksGiving behind us...many of you are onto the next order of business. and that may mean a little blackFRIDAY shopping. the days find me plucking away @ getting things together for my {miniEVENT}. it's coming up quickly!

for a good long time...i've been a fan of chalkboards. got me a nice collection of old slates from the early years when school-kids used them to do their lessons. WAY before ipads + computers became the norm. but old fashion charm reigns yet again w/ chalkboard art sweeping the creative world by storm. i found myself inspired by the movement when i created the black{BOARD}-like art {below}. 

 

 

showed ya a little tickler above. now time for a little teaser below. i wanted to give you a glimpse @ some of the goodies you might expect should you venture over to my neck*of*the*woods. 

of course i'm excited to have a great selection of my

a-la-carte baubles

for your necklace building pleasure.

 

 

plus a wonderful variety of my thoughtfully collected {some here}...

 

 

...and created {like this below} artisan jewelry pieces. each made by hand and always a little work of art unique in nature. many with a special sentiment that will make you {HAPPY}.

 

 

and though i'm calling this a miniEVENT due to it's smaller scale. i am pulling out some bigGUNS in home decor as well. with a couple large scale pieces that will WOW you. like the 6" tall conservatory-like window that is not only an impressive sight...but also retains ALL of it's original glass panes. take a little gander {below}

 

 

and the larger than life gilt mirror w/ ghostly beveled mirror. it sits atop a patinaWHITE exclusive furniture design...my cottage locker storage {below}

 

 

i'd like to invite you to pack up your car. with your excitement + a friend or two & make the trek out to my studio. if you need driving directions or a few more details...then click {HERE} to find out all you need to know to join me for my {miniEVENT} sure to be bigFUN!

 

 

i look so forward to seeing your happy faces soon! and will continue to share some peeks on my blog + facebook {click HERE for my FB page}

 

until then...have yourself a HAPPY*day!

an attitude of gratitude

hello there everyone!  with thanksgiving nearly upon us...i had to take a quick moment to express something very important to me. and that is my {THANK}FULLNESS for the likes of YOU! because knowing that you pop by...my cottage, blog, events, facebook....or maybe ALL of the outlets i use for my creative expression...is what really keeps me going and {4}ever thankful.

i've said it a hundred time & will say it again. it is truly my passion to inspire. and being able to do so on so many levels makes me very {GRATEFUL}. not too long ago...i created this necklace recently as a reflection of that gratitude. 

 

 

so i hope this finds you enjoying the start to the holidays. and if you're like me, taking a moment to reflect on those things that you are thankful for. awhile back i did a "grateful" list inspired by a conversation i overheard. so simply put. i am grateful for EVERYTHING. and i'm quite content with that being ENOUGH! how could you ask for more, right?

happy THANKSGIVING everyone! 

the lady of the {DECORATION}

hello there show&tell friends! as i prepare for patinaWHITE's {miniEVENT}... what's that you ask?? - please click {HERE} 4 info ...there has been a great deal of "decorating" going on the exterior our home. one of my favorite things is to go all out w/ seasonal accents to evoke an inviting holiday feel to our homestead. 

i started the other day by packing my bundled-up self, saw + determination into our little truck & driving into the depths of the woods. not exactly where i preferred to be w/ deer hunting going on. but i was hoping with my lime vest on i wouldn't be mistaken for a well fed doe. i kept going back for just "one more" branch & ended up with a truck full of evergreens, bright berries +  red dogwood branches. as seen {below}

 

 

we also rounded up our garlands from the always accommodating {BERGEN'S} greenhouse. they are so very good to me no matter what the season! we {hubby & i} got a nice start on a pleasant day. and worked into the eve due {2} shorter hours w/ the winter solstice rolling in. 

here was a peek @ the start of the annual garland hanging. which can be a challenge {for hubby that is putting up w/ his perfectionist wife asking for 1 tweak there & a tuck there}. 

 

 

the next day when i should have been back on task hitting the decorating detail...i made a stop on the way home from my cream & coffee run {yes. THAT order} @ our thrift. this is otherwise known as procrastination in my land. someone was sending me a message when i whisked by the book section and saw this {below}

 

 

"hey! that's me!" i thought. then i remembered where i should be & decided to go back home. not before i sprung the $1 for the book! it was just too appropriate. and had some fun inserts i thought i could use down the road. 

the garland came together beautifully on our home & studio {you can see the studio decked out in my last post}. and one very gorgeous blue skied day shortly after our first snowfall of the season....my childhood "friend", mr roger's, cheerful song of it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood rang thru my mind as i snapped the picture {below}.

 

 

last night. with the snow all but gone ...{hello nearly 50 degrees!}... i finally finished up being the "lady of the decoration {outside anyway} when i hung up my trusty not-as-glittered-as-before S and decked out the porch tree. it was quite magical to sit back and take in the full light spectacle. here's a little peek of my charlie brown tree {below}.

 

 

can't forget to show my window planter*box in it's winter cloak of the local greens & twigs. also popped in some GIANT sugar cones among the medley of junk. the final touch is my vintage star decor that i have treasured for years. 

 

 

so this "lady of the decoration" is onto the next order of business. and that is fluffing the inside of the studio for my miniEVENT. i hope those of you who are planning on popping by will enjoy perusing around this smallerSCALE, but bigFUN environment! i look oh*so*forward to seeing you of and i am tickled that things are coming together for me to be able to open up "shoppe" for a couple days on DECEMBER 1st & 2nd.

wishing you all a happy start to the holiday season! 

here we go {AGAIN}...miniEVENT time!

hello hello! so. after things started winding down for the summer season @ shady hollow, i made a decision...for the 1st time in {10} years not to have an EVENT from my home. to which i was met w/ fallen faces when i informed those anticipating it. ok. let's do a {DOG & PONY} show on the road. something a little smaller. more manageable. off to perham, mn i went last weekend. and had a FABULOUS time. like my old wooden wheel rack...i was on "roll".

 

 

thought i would settle into making some smaller items + jewelry. trying my best to accommodate the requests and emails i have received. then. the day after the {DOG & PONY} show i woke up to more emails. and calls. from those wonderful folks who were disappointed they couldn't even reach my display. much less grab the goodies they were after. 

i've always wanted more time in the day...which that extra hour we were granted on sunday provided. it sent my already "deep in thought" tendency into overdrive. the booth from the show is right there. ready to be unpacked. why not set it up in my studio?? and do a "miniEVENT". invite guests by word of mouth + online "sharing".  well...i'd like to extend that invitation {below}...

 

 

so those who were wishing...

 

 

...for a studio event {see my studio ready 4 holiday action below}

 

 

...could come out and get a taste of patinaWHITE wares one more time for the year. incase you were wondering...here's the address {below} for my home studio / miniEVENT location. and if you click the chalkboard...hang on - because you'll be whisked to mapquest where you can plan your route of action!

 

 

are you excited? i am! i think perham was just what the doctor ordered to get a fire lit under me. i've got a few weeks to replenish those best sellers many are looking for. {please pass the spring wreaths!}. and maybe just maybe iron my wonder woman cape and get a few of my uniquely created jewelry creations not only miniEVENT ready but also stocked in a little etsy shoppe. i've been saying it for awhile but just when i think things might settle a little bit...i make another decision trying my best to keep everyone happy. while doing the same for myself! 

there you have it. and even though i am dubbing this my miniEVENT...i promise it to be BIGfun! 

thank you everyone for your excitement. it is what keeps me rolling in the right direction! which is where i best head off to now to get things together once again! of course i will be back with little snippets + tidbits to share. stay tuned! and have yourself...

...a happy day!

 

random thoughts

hello & happy day to you!  this post is a tribute to my little duck, MJ. if you're new to my corner of the world...that likely won't have much meaning. but if you dig a little bit back into my blog you will soon discover what an impact she had on me this summer.  

today marks exactly a month that she spread her wings & took {what we hope was} the flight south to warmer weather that northern minnesota doesn't offer in the winter months. 

now...jump back even FURTHER into my ramblings and you might remember the start of a project i was monkeying around with...

 

 

at the time i had been seeing alot of neat takes on recycled wood into signs. i had plenty of weathered wood myself & figured i could add another variation to my sign selection i already offered at patinaWHITE. well. despite having the wood + the inspiration...i didn't take {make} the time to follow thru on my creation. 

so it sat in the garage in a pile. once and awhile i would catch a glimpse @ the one & only painted slat and smile. because...i figured...love is ALL i need, right? and then i became distracted by something else that had come into my life around the time of this concept. my tiny ball of fuzz...a baby duck who i named MJ. do you remember what she looked like? adorable to say the least. here she is {below}...day 1!

 

 

i decided late summer to revisit the project motivated by the many random, inspiring quotes i had jotted down. plus at this stage of raising MJ, she was well into her routine of floating at her home away from home for hours on end. AND i wanted a form of creative expression while on the visits i made to her pond daily. MJ would climb up the bank when i arrived and play about while i painted. she made me laugh w/ her constant peeking @ what i was up to {like seen below}

 

 

painting the slats took quite awhile. it became an act of personal expression. i'd throw on my dickies...pack up my paint + brushes & walk across the fields thru the woods {almost sounds like a christmas carol!} w/ the sign tucked under my arm like a canvas. i'm sure if the neighbors saw me they would wonder just for a moment what the "eccentric" lady next door was up to.

as summer drew to a close...i was near the end of painting the quotes on the sign. and MJ had grown into the beautiful adult wood duck many of you enjoyed reading about. even a month later my eyes still are swelled over typing & show this {below}...one of the last photos i took of her.

 

 

i had originally planned on selling the sign. but found that as i painted...i became very attached to it on many levels. mostly because of the memories i hold when i look @ it. that & i think it just looks darn COOL! so i hung it in my kitchen. where i see if daily. and...if you ask me...whats neat about it not only the random thoughts...but ultimately how i decided against the perfect ends & straight lines. leaving it rough and all most unplanned in appearance {random again!}. you be the judge when you see it {below}

 

 

the date on my little calendar gives away the fact that i took this picture awhile ago. i meant to show it sometime back but had to stop due to the writer's block i faced. decided that today would be the day. 

and as long as i am on the topic of random thoughts + calendar dates...i am finishing up the little collage of art to announce the miniEVENT that i have decided to go forward w/ here in the very near future @ my home studio. i will be doing that this friday...so you all can mark your calendars! 

with that i am off. time to do some seasonal transformations on the outside of our home today. we have been granted a peek of sunshine & that always motivates me. that and the long term forecast calls for highs in the mid 20's. and unlike MJ i don't have any plans on flying south. so i will make the most of the onset of winter and whatever randomness the day may bring! 

and here's hoping you are enjoying yours!

the SNOWBALL effect~

hello show & tell friends! well the{DOG & PONY} show this past weekend was a whirlwind of excitement + fun! i have to tell you...seeing the crowd of ladies briskly moving toward my booth  {see a peek of the BEFORE} 

 

@ opening on saturday both made me giggle and then also made me nearly run away! but really...THANK*YOU everyone who trekked over. and i know that many of you who did couldn't get to me after multiple attempts. and those who did were not able to nab the items they were after intime. 

i call this post the snowball effect for a reason....

 

 

sometimes i try to do things that seem a little smaller scale...more manageable. because the key to my creativity is balance. which is why i opted to do the bazaar this year in lieu of a "studio event". but then the bazaar happens. and the excitment continues in the form of requests...emails and inquiries. {hello SNOWBALL effect} and it's hard for me to say no. which does sometimes get me into trouble. i like to do my best to keep everyone happy...but also remembering that i need to work within the limits this {1} woman circus has. 

so. that all being said i put out a little tickler on facebook yesterday. i was still running on adrenaline i believe and the extra hour from daylight savings. i asked if you all would like it if i had a MINI event @ my home studio this year....

 

 

...that was met with very enthusiastic YES's. and also those of you wanting an online experience. i haven't brushed that aside...again i must mention that as honored as i am...there is only {1} of me {with a couple wonderful show helpers}

and i wear alot of hats. what does that mean exactly?? well...to give you an idea...i don't have one area of "speciality".  i make jewelry. i wear my dickies and do wood working. i do my share of metal fabrication. i like to do paper collage. and blog. and maintain my facebook pages. there is the time spent scouring for the cool junk and unique wares i sell. did i mention i really like to be with my family and friends? 

i am in no way complaining. or making it seem i work more or harder than the rest of you because i am still amazed at what others do like me and balance little ones plus another job. but i as i enter in my 10th year of patinaWHITE...i do know my strengths & weaknesses. {cheesecake is one of them}! 

phew! where is this going you are asking? gee. i am beginning to wonder myself. but here's where i am at. leaning toward a small scale mini event. the first part of december. at my HOME STUDIO. no official postcard mailing. i am just relying on your continued excitment and word of mouth to spread the news. it's actually been years since i have done a show this late in the year. some of you may remember our home in it's winter cloak...

 

 

and just like the weather...i am little unpredictable @ times. which is why some of you may think..."i wish she'd make up her mind"! to which i say...i will be intouch soon with more specifics. i just need to sort some details. so for those of you still wishing i would do a show @ my home studio. it looks like you may have cast that wish on the right star. it will be fun no matter what level of craziness i am ready for. i hope the excitment continues to snowball into a fun turn of events. thanks for tagging along...checking in and your notes. i am happy to continue on sharing my passion & inspiring others. no matter what the "weather" may bring. 

THANKS much for making this "circus" possible...back soon with more info!

packing the trunk 4 the {DOG & PONY} show

hello show&tell friends! just a little reminder that this saturday...november 3rd...patinaWHITE is packing up the trunk & hitting the road to perham, MN. i will be setting up "shoppe" as a vendor in the crowd @ the FOCUS bazaar. 

 

 

i'm sure excited to do so. i have exhibited there years past. it's a fun show and a great way to pick up some goodies in lieu of my actual "studio event". i'm all stocked up on some customer favorites like my exclusive JUNK WREATH (i sell them "blank"...this one {below} is dolled up w/ my favorite junk)!

 

and there will be a number of fresh collected + created treasures too! here's a peek @ some of the fabulous decor that awaits...

 

 

i've been working on some of my own new jewelry designs...here's a glimpse @ one of my favorites...

 

 

and another little spattering of some artful objects...

 

 

do you see the super cute little chair charm {above}? are ya feeling LUCKY? well if you are quick...and hop over to my facebook page {here} ... there are details to share & share alike {4} a prize of that sweetie.

and on the topic of facebook...thanks so much to those of you who stopped by and LIKED me there! it's been a fun way to give frequent quickie pictures and updates! hope you'll join in if you haven't already!

now. incase you're planning on attending the perham bazaar to see my {DOG & PONY show}...and want to get to my booth lickety split...please use this "treasure map" {below} as your guide! (click image for larger view)

 

 

alrighty then! i best get busy in these last bits of time to pack up the goods in order to hit the road. i can't wait to do a little mini showing of my wares for the season & look forward to seeing those of you planning on joining me. and i will be intouch sometime next week for the rest of you w/ updates in all things patinaWHITE + my little corner of the world. 

grab your map and let's get "hunting"! see you soon!