Patina White

thrift store {war}

greetings show & tell! well...my big sis and niece were home-bound this week...back to the big metro of kansas city. but i sure got me some fond memories. and still giggle @ the recount of them! 

enter in one hot saturday & some time to kill. when in doubt hit the thrift! we all agreed we couldn't think of a better place to go. how can you argue the comfort of air conditioning + one big treasure hunt?! and the hunt became an all out "family feud" due in part that the {3} of us have nearly identical tastes! 

so...we decided to meet there. i arrived late {big surprise} which gave them an early start on the pickins. i spotted sis trying on boots. hold everything! i was missing the action! she held up a pair {seen below}

 

 

& said she was getting them. i begged to slip them on....just "to try". time for the big guns cause i loved them. felt it was appropriate to whine a little lot. she gave in. stating that there were more to peruse. really? well let's just see 'bout that! turns out she wasn't kidding. the staff was stocking the shelves with boots {check out a few below} & hats on this occasion. getting ready for the hoopla of the country musical festival, we fest, to come to town.  

 

 

did i mention hats? all's fair in love in war when you're dealing with {2} cowgirls and one poser. {that'd be me...i used to do my share of riding but now it's all about the look}. so when a fresh cart of 'em came out...my sis and i accoussted the poor gal like a lion making the kill.

it's still unclear who saw it first...but one thing's for sure. and that would be that i am the proud owner of {1} fine looking chocolate leather hat. {below}

 

 

now before you pass me off as spoiled {though the baby of the family often is labeled as such}...i did share a cooler than cool crocodile dundee"ish" number that i really loved. because i can't hog it all. {that combined with the fact it was too tight}. and sis was delighted! so much so that she ran off with it and i haven't seen it since... which explains the lack of photo!

other finds...a silky scarf that i used layered with a tooled leather belt + giant rodeo buckle {yep. both thrift store finds AGES ago.}

 

that reminds me. leather belts. another favorite thing i'm always on the lookout for. i use those that fit & admire those that don't. perhaps someday i'll find a repurpose other than rolling up another on the stack {below}

 

it wasn't just about the accessories. i did find a couple apparel items that thrilled me. i've decided i am going to make a movement to bring acid washed denim back to the area. i might be the only one of the bandwagon but i feel pretty good about the idea of running 'round in my men's oversized jean jacket {below}

 

 

i know. let the 80's rest already! well...i knew when i saw the 1969 tag {below}

 

 

that this was actually a GAP jacket. and surely a great value @ price of $4.95 {proof is in the puddin' below}

 

i lost sis when i pulled out a boldly printed jacket + feather detailed wool hat. but she didn't doubt me. infact she said i was the only person she knew that could pull it off.

by looking @ the happy gathering of my finds {below} it appears i have a good start to my fall wardrobe!

 

so with the family visit over...i guess there won't be anymore "war" raging in the local thrift. til i spot some unsuspecting cowboy trying on a pair of boots and i decide i must make them mine! i wonder if he'd give in to a little whine? better save that one for the family who knows & loves {tolerates} me! 

have yourself a wonderful day and talk @ ya soon!

 

all mixed up...

hey friends! i know! it's been a little while since i have thrown out some of my ramblings @ ya! well...as my last post indicated...my sis and niece have been visiting. and since we had {2} years of catch up to do... the days have been zipping by @ an even faster than usual pace. 

so it's been a wee bit mixed up around here. not that a reasonable amount of deviation from my routine is such a bad thing. infact i have really been enlightened in many aspects of livin'. take for instance seeing things differently from my talented niece's standpoint. she was hard @ work with the minimal amount of training i provided on metal stamping here {below}

 

 

she stamped out a number of fun things to give to friends as gifts. i even enlisted her talents to create some designs for patinaWHITE! a small peek @ those {below}. isn't the clock face amazing?? her idea 110%. brilliant girl!

 

 

another thing that was refreshing was having someone around me while collecting and creating wares for my lil business. usually time spent solo...having my sister around provided what we dubbed BOL moments. which is short for BURST OUT LOUD since our identically "bursts" of laughter would scare the pants off resting babies.

ty was snapping shots of me working {below}...oblivious to the silly antics of my big sis doing her take on "photobombing". if this term is new to you as it was to me...do a google search on "photobomb images"...you'll be BOL'ing before you know it. 

 

 

some of the fruits of my labor after the rounds of BOL {here below}...

 

 

i plumped up my tags & initial inventory due in-part to the recent necklace creation that came about from one of my customers. {below}

 

it was a combo that wasn't intentional. she wanted a custom mommy cluster but i was lacking in selection of all the initials i offer. so she paired up a mis-match of letters & then used my new spacers to make one of my favorite customer creations to date! so much so that i replicated it for inspiration @ my cottage! 

by the time this coming sunday rolls around & intime for another day @ the hollow...i hope to have my variety of baubles {below} filled & ready for your shopping pleasure!

 

 

visitors to my cottage will also spy another fun cluster i did using some of my usual key components in an unusual way. working that mixed up feeling into a new way of thinking! i love the casual, almost unplanned appearance that just "works"! {below}

 

 

there you have it! i hope you have enjoyed the mixed up creations that came about from inspirations from family and customers alike! so i am off to see where the mix up takes me next! who knows...maybe i will be photobombing some unsuspecting someone's picture taking! BOL! :)

make it a great day!

thru {TY'S} eyes

hey there everyone! isn't is amazing how quickly the time zips by??  this was my niece, tyler, 14 years ago..

 

 

and this is her today...with her cousin lou...

 

i can't hardly believe my "mini me" {as my sis calls her} is now taller than me. AND she's giving me a run for the money in other areas. take for instance the other day when to pass some time i handed her my iphone. i have this great photo effects program that i seldom use. but may have to explore more often now seeing how ty turned everyday objects and views into works of art! 

 

just have yourself a gander {below and beyond!}

our mantle {below} w/ my created clock focal point.

 

a view of our kitchen {below}. i pass this stove everyday. never once thought it was all that picture worthy...til now! good thing photo enhancements hide the fingerprints!

 

this is the one and only "contemporary" lamp {below} in our home. by that i mean bought @ a "store". with wiring that didn't require me stripping it out and starting over fresh. but i love the glint of the glass balls and clean lines of the modern shade. and ty's take on it makes it even more special! and of course the rusty truck isn't bad either!

the bloomin' window box {below} on the front of our home...which reminds me it needs water!

 different angle on my favorite perch...

 

so cool how just changing the angle on something changes it entirely! this is "bessie". our GIANT cupboard. her lip is home to my collection of...not so functional...but oh so fabulous...alarm clocks! {below}

again...with ty in the corner she captured this snapshot of my metal dental cabinet! love it even more than the day i drug it home!

 

this is still part of the same room {below}. imagine now ty is nearly sitting on the floor...oh well she's young and can spring back up quickly!

 

and lastly a peek @ a corner of my cottage at shady hollow. a view of of my manni's {below} all decked out in an array of patinaWHITE baubles...

 

and if her photography skills didn't impress me....then her metal working creations sure as heck did! seems in her high school they offer a jewelry making class. and ty fabricated these masterpieces thru sawing + soldering of sheet metals. both techniques i have wanted to learn! guess i'm going to have her to have her teach ME!

 

i told you she was talented! i would love to keep her around to help me forge some some creations! i see a brilliant...beautiful & talented young lady coming into her own! and since their time here is short...i best run & make the most of it! and to all of you...

happy day!

the {hills} are calling

hey there everyone! a spur of the moment trip took hubby and i away to one of our favorite destinations this week. and that would be the beautiful black hills of south dakota! 

it is truly a marvel when you visit the area. and as such...we squeezed alot of seeing + doing into just a few short days! it's hard for me to edit out any photos...so let's get going!

lime green fields of grain...a larger than life gear {love me some jolly green giant-sized industrial junk}...and a roadside metal sculpture were some of my favorite sightings {below}.

 

we stay in the area of an old mining town. the earth forever bears the mark {below} of where the precious metal, gold, was extracted. 

 

part of the historic mining operation is this old hydro electric plant {below}. hubby said it would be fun to restore as a home. i asked him when we could get started. always wanted my own castle with a "moat"!

 

you can take the girl away from the business...but you can't take the passion away from the girl! my mind is always "on" in regards to patinaWHITE. which is why within moments of our arrivial i was @ a favorite haunt {below}.

 

maybe i have a non-curable case of the antique pox?? this sign {below} sums it up! give the pic a click for a closer peek @ the quips!

 

then we hopped back on the harley and did our share of exploring the scenery {seen below}. the black hills are amazing...abundant w/ trickling streams and the rugged terrain that gives it it's namesake.

 

not only did we visit some favorite spaces...but also managed to get in some favorite places. {besides junk shoppes!}. and right up there is a magical place by the name of sanfords grub and pub. now, the food is awesome...but the surroundings...well...i'll let the photo below speak for itself! {i'm still trying to figure out how to make that clock mine!}

 

we always try and take in a cave when we visit. {another favorite space and place all in one!} and this trip was no exception!

we joined the tour where i felt like i was following indiana jones in his trusty hat {see below}. i followed the glow cast by the dim light-bulbs + "indiana's" camera flash. what you see in the shot {below} is the exactly that! because it was darker than night in most spots!

also seen was a bird nest @ the entrance door of the cave w/ little ones just hatching. and {1} of the many limestone rock formations.

 

in addition to favorite spaces & places...i thought i better mention some familiar faces! we did a fast drive by of the unmistakable monument of mount rushmore {below}. but with the {4th} holiday & plethora of tourists...we didn't stick around long.

 

did i mention l o n g?? phew! cause this post is starting to feel that way! told ya i had a hard time picking & choosing what pics to show! and believe you me...there are MORE. but i will spare you. that combined w/ the reality that my computer is nearly out of juice as i click away during the 9+ hour drive time!

so there ya go! the hills were calling and i must go. which we did. now i'm rested up and ready for the next special {2} day weekend ahead. guess you could say i'm...

 

be sure to stop by my cottage @ shady hollow if you're in the neighborhood. especially if you have yourself a raging case of antique pox like myself. i may not be able to offer you a cure but i might be able to put a band-aid on the situation w/ one {or more!} of my collected + created wares! 

and to the rest of my show & tell friends! be sure to pop by again for a visit into my corner of the world. you just never know where you might find me or what i might be doing next!

make the most of everyday!

  

show your patriotic spirit!

hello there! just a little blip today to wish you all a very...

hope your holiday is full of much funness!

stick a {fork} in me...

happy july show and tell friends! so today's post was inspired on a couple levels. firstly...i was able to rescue a lowly pitchfork from the metal scrap heap recently. not terribly exciting, no, on it's own. and the attendant @ the yard was really questioning my giddiness on the find {below}....

 

if he only knew how cool a pitchfork could be in the right environment! i like many of 'em piled together to make a backdrop to my fleurs in our front window box {seen below}

 

 

the nice thing about setting the "table" w/ these forks is you don't have to worry about what fork goes where and which one is the for the salad & which is for dinner. nope. in my world you simply grab whatever pronged implement is handy...then proceed to casually jab them into to random plants around our home as in the case with this ivy {below}.

 

 

as i mentioned...stick a {fork} in me seemed fitting for more than just my recent pitchfork aquistion. after a couple extremely warm days in the cottage...the thought of "stick a fork in me...i'm DONE" crossed my mind more than once.

but thru the sweltering heat came inspiration! the light bulb moment! or was that a hot flash? whatever it takes, right! well out came some of my collected silver-plated forks...and a little {alot} of hammering brought them back into commission as a wearable work of whimsy. check 'em out below! 

 

 

not sure which one i will wear. maybe all of them if the heat continues! that way i will be sure to have a fork for all courses {dessert too}!

please note patinaWHITE shoppers...w/ the holiday falling mid-week...the shady hollow market will be open both saturday + sunday this coming weekend! so i hope you will pop by if you're in the neighborhood. and if you have to endure a bit of a wait in my lil hot house...there will likely be a fork we can set you up with when you are "done"! 

happy start to your week everyone!

the TURQUOISE story

greetings everyone! i found me a book the other day that i didn't even have to look beyond the cover & knew i wanted it. now i can't even tell you the name of the last book i sat down & read. not that i don't like reading {unless we're talking directions...might as well forget that one!}. i just much prefer the visual side of things. which is why decorating magazines have always captivated my attention. they are full of eye candy!

anywho...this book was @ the thrift. which is where i pick up my "novels" exclusively. because i buy based on color. i know. seems odd. welcome to my world! but if a color is good i grab. and i consider it a bonus when it happens to have a title of something interesting. 

all right already. on with the show! so the book simply was called "the turquoise". well tickle me pink. or turquoise. just color me happy. i had plans for it before i got to the checkout! that would be to use as a prop for a blog post. so here you are. THAT book...combined w/ a recent arrival {below} to my patinaWHITE bauble line up made quite the power couple!

 

 

so why the excitement of one silly book with a simply stated title?? well. because turquoise has to rank up there on my favorite things list. maybe even in front of cheesecake!

i collect beads & objects in that color family to add some pop to my usual earthy influenced jewelry designs. {see some elements below}

 

 

the hue plays heavily into my jewelry selections both personally + professionally. personally my collection ranges from necklaces both collected & created *rings *belt buckles *and bracelets to name a few! i dug into my treasure chest to pull out all the big guns showing them off in a picture collage {below}.

 

 

it wouldn't be nice to throw all that loveliness out there and not share now would it?? which is why i'm excited to show off a most fabulous find i made this spring. a gal so wildly talented that the likes of free people have purchased her wares for their accessory line up! and i am tickled to have one of her trademark creations...a vegetable dyed leather cuff...hand tooled...hand embellished...and outfitted with the most treasured of stones {if you want my opinion}. yep. a turquoise. i've got a couple variations that only mother nature would provide! here's a peek @ them {below}

 

 

if you'd care to see 'em up close & in person...come see me this weekend @ my cottage on the grounds of shady hollow flea market. i'm geared up & ready for a pre-holiday celebration of good "junk"! there will be many goodies waiting! now i hope the forecasted uber warm weather doesn't melt me. my little cottage becomes quite the hot house on those type of days! you'll know if you see a pile of jewels on the ground behind the counter that that's all which remains of beth. now THAT would be a turquoise story!

have yourself a "colorful" day!

my way on the hallway...

hey there friends! confession time. i had a neglected space @ the top of our stairs. it was home to a wall that i stopped painting half way thru. a light that was left by the electrician to be "temporary". a linen closet that lacked a door. not to mention the "easy" curtain treatment i had envisioned for it. so for those of you with those seemingly endless to do lists...don't lose hope. it only took me {7} years to replace that temporary light! 

as the title indicates...this space was our hallway. a passage between the bedroom, bath and office. i wore blinders in this area. though it became increasingly harder to pass off the unfinished projects to guests as "work in progress" as each year passed. so rather than make one more excuse in regards to my lack of progress....i took charge and got to work! 

out came the paint. barely enough left from the first round to squeak by. but i made do. then i brought together elements already in my possession to create an eclectic vignette @ the top of our stairs. here's a peek @ that...

 

some of you may recall the chick brooder / now mirror {above}. it graced my cottage @ shady hollow one summer. then i tempted everyone by hanging it up @ my event a couple years ago. it always sported my "EYE CANDY...NOT FOR SALE" tag. because i just couldn't part with it. and then i realized i had the perfect spot the whole time! my empty "passage"!

and it looks right @ home surrounding by a random mix of "stuff"...such as...

the heavy ol' bugger that would be a cabinet of safety deposit drawers {up close below}. i didn't open the boxes until i got it home but was tickled to find that many of them housed the old name labels that formerly pronounced each owners box. and those that didn't have the name tag got a paper treatment w/ scraps also found within their confines. 

 

 

then we have a locker basket {below} propped on it's side with a what not book stack. and topped with my fun wood "skittles". 

 

 

and a treasured nebraska find...a salvaged plaster column cap {below} that presently is the base to a glass cloche. now what well dressed cloche would be without it's accessories such as a branchy specimen + vintage silver cross necklace?! no naked necks in my home!

 

 

back to the mirror again...it's refection would happen to be that of a couple all time favorite finds. 1st would be the giant creamy italian tole chandi i happened on years ago. early in the building process...i knew we would have a big open staircase that required a statement piece. and there she was at a large flea market outing just waiting to become part of our landscape!

well she makes quite a statement now w/ the mammoth sized framed map as her backdrop. and that favorite find was actual a hubby find! yep. the guys got an eye. though he wouldn't admit it...he has helped "fluff" the decor @ my cottage on more than one occasion! oh yeah...better show the pic of what i am rambling on about! here ya go...{below}.

 

 

and a little closer {below} so you can appreciate the colors that are much showier than my overall comes across...

 

 

then there was the matter of that "temporary" light. well i actually had an old rummage sale find to remedy that. a cool school light that needed a little rewire detail {did i mention i moonlight as an electrician??} and a good scrub. now it's happily @ home hanging above that closet which also got the "door" it needed. a created curtain to house it's contents! {below}

 

 

that created closet cover was again a combination of scrap i had around the house. cutoff pieces of canvas drop cloth from chair redo project...twill ribbon that my rug arrived bound with...then some neat old wood electric wire insulators became the "rings" that i hung it all from! take a gander @ the collage {below} for some close up peeks @ what i did!

 

 

so my neglected space got the much needed attention it deserved! i no longer require them there blinders to walk in this passage. actually i find myself stopping often to enjoy the view!

and what was the fate of that "temporary" light fixture you ask?? well i did show it a few posts back but now armed w/ today's knowledge it may {or may not!} make sense to you how it came about! me and my bright ideas! 

 

 

so there you have my way on the hallway! so if you show up on my doorstep i will happily take you on a tour! no excuses needed as to why that wall isn't finished in paint. sorry but...the chicken brooder is still only eye candy. and how incredibly sweet it is! 

i hope your day is equally as so!

friday's favorite!

hello hello! once upon a time i used to do a segment called "friday's favorite" where i'd feature an item that was either collected or created and struck my fancy. well...it's been awhile since i've done that. quite awhile actually so i thought no time like the present to rehash a former format. and since this week was full of favorites why no showcase more than one, right?  well...here goes...

 

{favorite newbie}

i welcomed this new kid on the block {below} with open arms. been waiting a long time for her to make her appearance! so i hope you will love this curly wire photo stand as much as i! and YES! i am happy to report that after much urging...i will be selling the FAMILY flashcards @ my cottage as well! just incase inquiring minds want to know!

{favorite moment/s}

how do you pick just one from seven packed days!? so i will narrow down to a couple that brought a smile to my face +  were good for my soul.

2 weeks ago today MJ, my "stray" duck {as my niece, jessi, says} came into my crazy world. he is growing fast & has provided much laughter + stories. (don't even ask about the night i dove into the woods...poison ivy & all....when he got spooked off by one jealous dalmatian). anywho...this was a tender moment {below} when he was nestled in by my big 'ol boots relaxing on the lawn. 

 

recently my last couple posts have gone on about "grey" days. well the rain has subsided and the sun was out in full force this morning while i was out on an early run. it seems the shades of grey have relented to the wonderful shades of blue {below}! 

 

 

{favorite W.I.P....that'd be WORK IN PROGRESS}

i don't think you can throw a stick @ pinterest these days and not see some sort of pallet or wood slatted inspired project. so i took me some of my stash of lath and got to experimenting. well...this is as far as i got {below} but maybe i should follow the quote in front of me...maybe all is need is love! i'll keep ya posted.

 

{favorite bauble}

some weeks i work more on wood related projects...others you'd catch me knee deep in metal working. well these last few days have been spent bringing some jewelry elements together. and tough as it is to pick a fav...i'd say these lovely butterfly wings {below} of another talented artisan's hand that i paired with my chains are right up there! you can "catch" them this sunday @ shady hollow where i'll be open for business.

 

so there you have some of my favorites from the past {7} days. which reminds me i best get about mine! and sure hope you enjoy your's!  

not to play "favorites"...but i do appreciate all of you taking the time to pop by & see what's going on in my little corner of the world!

not quite {50} shades of grey

hey there all! my last post mentioned a certain wildly popular book...and a necklace inspired by it. well...continuing on with the theme...i started snapping pictures the other day @ random & noticed that the first few had a common thread. the shade of grey! 

so i ran with it. and put together a handful of collages {starting below} to form a visually inspired "grey" day to share with you! and of course a little commentary after each because it wouldn't be right if i didn't do just a bit of rambling!

 

{above}top left corner...when i spy a length of old beadboard...wainscoting...weathered wood...kindling...whatever you might call it...my heart nearly stops. because it's not only getting increasingly harder to find...but it's been a key element in my designs since the early beginnings of patinaWHITE. so you can imagine the near need for a defibrillator when i came across a pile of planks in the perfect shades of greyish greenish perfection. 

moving clockwise...life is GOOD. as a printed canvas pillow exclaims. 

rocks. yep. just rocks. because they were right under my nose...or should i say feet. and were comprised of many shades of grey!

my 1st born. i made this necklace ages ago. my first attempt @ a sculpted metal design in which i incorporated a vintage rose pin. to this day i haven't been able to duplicate this look. guess that's what makes it a true one of a kind. and a permanent resident in my bauble collection. 

i've got ya covered. i love the silvery grey hue of this sprawling ground cover in our garden. 

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the grey day continues {above}. there's a whole lotta metal drawers in this stripped down...steely medical cabinet. an all time favorite find that i hauled back from a nebraska visit. 

i love you...i found this poem in a scrap book i picked up @ the local thrift shop for a mere couple quarters. it hangs under my shell encrusted stag horns in our bedroom.  the thoughtful penmanship is artful & sweet. 

a pair of my beloved boots features a random mix of metal studs. and the intentionally destroyed grey leather is the perfect backdrop to this texture sensation. i must say these boots were NOT made for walkin' though...they are quite heavy and more like a piece of work out equipment!

lastly in the quad of photos {above} is a close peek @ the weaving of my recycled newspaper basket that houses back-stock baubles. just don't ask for a translation. 

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i love oddities that are unique in nature + have the look. i think these reclaimed zinc corner trim pieces happen to work quite well as a frame. and when i came up dry for my vision of a white heart centerpiece... i ran up to the work shoppe & made one! even though it was a spur of the moment photo opp....i may have to make this a permanent creation! gee...i always say i'm here to inspire. even if it means inspiring myself!

the faded 1895 is found on the front of my trusty fatigued canvas tote. it hasn't existed quite that long but i plan on carrying it for a good number of years. 

these perforated chunks of mangled scrap were saved from the metal crusher. not exactly sure where i'm going w/ them besides the safe haven of my own personal stash. time will tell...

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lastly but certainly not leastly is my final gathering of grey goodness {above}. i'll start with the glass vials that rest happily on a scallop edged galvanized tray. and they are in good company w/ the tiny zinc pot that is home to a succulent specimen. 

oh sugar! old vessels of spices rest on my stove for easy reach. 

b is for beth! this was the necklace i was sporting as i scooted around on this photo "shoot". they are actually a collection of charms i have created for my wild wimen gathering @ our home during the holidays. they are made with the intent to mark everyone's wine glass. i keep adding them to a chain for a less than serious conglomeration.  

having a ball. the powdery aged finish on the lids of my large collection of ball jars will end the journey thru my "not quite {50} shades of grey".  

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i hope that despite being a "grey" day...i have brought a dose of visual inspiration your way! thank you for popping by and...

be sure to have yourself a fabulous day...no matter what the shade!