Patina White

christmas {GREETINGS}!

hello there friends!  i wanted to pop by & extend a quick holiday greeting your way! i know this will find many of you traveling & deep in preparation for gatherings of friends & family. so...from our home to yours...

 

 

i hope you have yourself a WONDERFUL holiday in the company of your loved ones...and (2) those of mine that i can't be with @ this time. love & miss you much!

 

as we are hosting CHRISTMAS*eve @ our home...i best get busy. though i have to be honest when i say i am taking the easy route this year. i was tickled when the family put in requests for simple comfort foods. i was happy to oblige w/ a visit to our local take & bake pizza shoppe where i stocked up on our favorite pies + tubs of cookie dough to prepare for the grand finale!

and upon arriving home i found in my mailbox yet another AMAZING gift that arrived just intime for the holiday. the envelope was so beautifully detailed i had to snap a pic of it...w/ what looks like our chrismtas color-coordinated pizza {below}! :)

 

 

wishing you these next days to be full of sweet surprises & happiness! 

 

so again...a very HAPPY*HOLIDAY to you...

 

a day of {AMAZEMENT}

greetings everyone! this week i entered into another year of life. ok. that's just a fancy way of saying it was my birthday. and what a birthday it was i might add! in reflection...it was full of so many thoughtful gestures it's hard to recount them all. but i had to highlight those i could visually convey. 

remember my mention of my new friend, laurie, from the past post? well she brought me to tears when very early that morning i checked my computer as part of a morning ritual and saw this jaw dropping work she created {below}. AMAZING. 

 

 

of course the 1st thing i saw was a chalk likeness to yours truly. i had to stare long & hard before i really began to process what i was seeing. "how in the world?!" i exclaimed...again...nobody listening. then i start picking up on other things. hey! those words...oh so faint as they are to the right...they are the "names" i've been referring to my jewelry designs on facebook. and is that my little chalkboard? the BIRD! that means something too! {last post will clarify}. it became like one of those puzzles you have to look @ to spot the hiding objects. please take a 2nd look. do you seen anything else?? i put together a collage below of the items she saw from various facebook postings that she integrated.

 

 

"chalkART" is very much the rage right now. but this girl. she made something that is so incredibly fabulous there are no words i can say to describe. i will never forget this act of kindness that someone i never met yet i have become fast friends w/ did for me!  

then i walk into my bathroom to THIS greeting {below}. you've got to love my hubby for his "almost" mispelled greeting...A+ for effort! :)

 

 

off to the races i went to run errands. i got a call from UPS that there was a box of flowers waiting for me to pick up. that REALLY got me wondering. so i stopped by & grabbed my package discovering a very sweet friend of mine had sent me the most beautiful arrangement of flowers in an earthy wood crate. {below} AMAZING. 

 

 

then there was a bag of all my favorite treats from another friend. and she took the time to cover my gift bag with a whole lotta B's {seen below}. vintage one's mind you she searched pinterest for. can't even fathom how much time THAT took. AMAZING!

 

i received so many wonderful gifts + gestures that i am forever grateful for...my family & friends made this a day i will never forget. thanks to my mom & dad for giving me the ulitmate gift of life. thanks to my in-laws for knowing that fruit is one of my favorite things & the gift basket full waiting. thanks to vi for the cool purse insert & for picking up on me going on about how much i loved yours. THANK*YOU everyone! 

i would like to mention that this day wasn't really about the gifts i could see...though i have to say the one that surprised me the most was from my hubby. he had it waiting for me on the kitchen counter when i returned from errands. i spotted the most touching thing i think he has done in our 20 years together. it was neatly spread across the hand drawn card i have come to not only adore...but look forward to.

for days he has heard me talking about the {SUNSHINE} necklace i was trying to keep up with creating. and he joked he was going to start making & selling them. i giggled @ the idea til i saw his first attempt of jewelry fabrication {below}

 

 

i blinked back more tears for the day! in my shock and awe...i thought..."how the HECK did he know how to muddle thru my supplies to pull this off!?" and then i thought..."man...i better have him sign a no compete clause cause this thing was BEAUTIFUL". not to mention he never stamped, domed or patina'd jewelry before. which led me to the final wonder..."what exactly DID he do to get that cool finish?" so there i was...thanking...hugging...then drilling him on his tecnique! AMAZING for sure! 

well. as i type this i recount all the activities...moments...notes...messages...EVERYTHING that has me feeling like one VERY special girl. my heart was...is and will continue to be...filled with love everytime i think about it. the holiday is nearly upon us. remember to relish in those moments of utter {AMAZEMENT}. now i better go work on my legal documents to keep hubby from taking over the jewelry end of my business! :)

as always...a continued wish for a holiday filled with happiness and peace.

let {HEAVEN} & nature sing!

hello there {show&tell} friends! today's post is quite lengthy. please read on if you like, with that disclaimer in mind! :)

i have to be honest. monday found me restless & awake early. i usually get up before the crack of dawn anyway...but today my mind was moving in overdrive before my feet even touched the ground. i was dwelling on the tasks @ hand. my to do list was growing from a couple pages to many...w/ overflow falling on post it notes now stuck in & around the kitchen. and try as i might...i am not always the best about keeping it all straight. 

so...there i was...wiping the sleep outta my eyes trying to field the last minute inflow of customer requests and kind notes begging for my help in gift matters. prioritizing if you will. mail this. make that. email him. text her. good grief. "my blog"! popped to mind. i have been neglectful here but this of all places isn't where i like to rush things. i can't tell you how many times in the last week i have come up with, what i consider, fun and lively topics. and then tabled them for one reason or another. 

then i proclaim..."blog it is". before anything else. {with no one listening i might add}. so. i decided today i would show some holiday touches...i'll save too many details in hopes of maybe sharing yet THIS year. but the short of it was...i needed branches. and evergreen boughs. a big pinecone couldn't hurt either. outside i treked. grabbed the earthy elements. back upstairs i ran. spinning in circles i forgot my phone aka camera.

back downstairs. grabbed phone...back upstairs. pretty sure when i swallowed i could feel my heart in my throat. i have a tendency to get pretty worked up over the small stuff. was just about ready to take a quick picture when i heard something that stopped me in my tracks. the warbling sound of a song bird. oh so faintly thru our bedroom window. why so special you might wonder? well...because...it's northern minnesota and pretty darn cold. and there is little left in terms of song birds. and since there was a song bird...what did he/she deem worthy of singing about this early on a cold minnesota morning?

i walked to the window flinging it up and stood silently...listening. yep. definitely a song bird. and quite a happy one @ that! something happened at that moment. i suddenly had a feeling of calmness. i whistled back to it...and whether it was replying to me or just making a joyful noise...we continued our sing song for a good minute. and then he/she flew right by my head poked out the second story window. 

immediately i wanted to tell someone my story. but it was pretty early. i then decided i would reach out to a new "friend" i have become to enjoy the correspondence with via facebook. our paths crossed when she found patinaWHITE's page and was drawn in by some of my creations. anywho...her name is laurie and i clicked away a fast note telling her what happened and how cool i thought it was that god is always expressing himself...whether or not we take the time to stop & listen is up to us. 

she promptly sent a thoughtful reply as always + this image {below}.  (not laurie's work i might add...but do read on for the source info).

 

 

i wasn't familiar w/ this artist, annie, or her works but am sure glad to make that connection now. i encourage you to visit her etsy shoppe / BEsmallSTUDIOS for more beautiful creations by clicking {HERE}. 

knowing that when a moment of inspiration hits...i ran with it deciding to draw from that artwork...recalling some stock elements i had in my bauble brigade. i wove them together and came up with this little combination {below}

 

 

 

though this picture {below} was suppose to fall into a decorating post...it seems appropriate now given the story about nature to show it today! i do believe the multiple attempts & running around came together "harmoniously" in my nature inspired vignette.

 

 

and really just because i think it's pretty and wanted some more eye candy to throw out there today...here is my usually rusty + trusty window grouping...with the mere addition of a tiny glittered...yep...stag! {below}

 

 

hmmm. where was i going with this? well. as random and piecey as my thoughts are today...i did want to check in and tell you hello. and maybe just ramble a little bit in self preservation. now onward i go...there is a post-it or two...likely ten...in my midst that i need to get to. i hope this finds you enjoying some well deserved YOU time amidst the hustle & bustle of the season. and take a moment to listen when {HEAVEN} & nature sings!

and repeat the sounding joy!

sharin' comfort

hello friends! i had plans for a different posting today. but somehow it doesn't seem pertinent @ this moment. and because sometimes i express myself better in the way i create...and not always so much in words...i put together a little collage in hope of sharin' some... 

 

 

please keep others in your thoughts & prayers. and hug those you love.

talk again soon...

 

it's {TREE} time!

hey there everyone! i am excited to say that this past weekend found me taking in a little holiday decorating...so it's TIME to share my tree of the season w/ you all! 

it's been ages since i've enlisted my collection of pocketWATCHES {below} (simply strung w/ jute) as quirky ornaments. i thought in my effort to simplify decking our "halls" this year i would use them once again! i love the array of colors and their vintage goodness!

 

 

now. i have ODDLES of vintage glass ornies collected thru the years. some are fancy. some are plain. they all fit within my palette of silvers, icy blue + faded aquas. but i only pulled out a handful of my collection. grabbing a couple boxes of simple small...and another few of simple large. and i also included two sizes of my silver beaded glass garlands. very clean "colors" + lines {seen below}

 

 

no tree is complete without an "anchor". and ours is a victorian era chippy urn {see him below}. "he" is not a new kid on the block...but a necessary one that looks GREAT while shouldering the weight of our fresh cut blue spruce.

i am often asked what i use to secure our tree in this "stand"...and it's an easy answer! rocks! straight from our driveway. ours are called "creek rock". they are rough & nice size in nature and it settles tightly to firmly "root" the tree in place! just don't forget to keep the water level high!

 

 

here's a peek again @ her "before" {below}. she has sat with nothing more than our trusty C7 clear lights and my newly "gifted" star topper for {2} weeks. still pretty even while she was "plain".

 

 

i showed ya the base...so know i am going to shoot to the top next. as i mentioned the star topper was a gift from a thoughtful friend who is keen to the fact that i {LOVE} all things in that shape. and it's earthy + organic feel was the inspiration for me to pull back the reigns oh*so*slightly on my embellishments this year. i did add a pointy tipped vintage clock face {see it below} to tie in the multiple pocketwatches that were hanging from her branches. 

 

 

 

well i've covered the base...touched on the top...now i will just highlight some of the other MERRY adornments! pretty glittered pinecones add one other touch of natural to her basic branches. tarnished tinsel gives just a glint of gold and even though they were not enlisted this year...i had to show you a gathering of some of my favorite "fancier" ornies {in the collage below}

 

 

and before i get too caught up in my ramblin' rant today...i better remember that it is {tree} time! so here she is in her simple glory {below}. i love how this year the "light-handed" decorating really let's the beauty of her old fashioned shape shine thru! 

 

 

i hope you have found some {HOLIDAY} inspiration by popping by today! i sure appreciate you doing so! and i look forward to sharing some other quick decorating touches i have used this year to give evoke a season of {simple} joy!

 

until next {TIME}...be MERRY!

2012 {miniEVENT} in review

greetings! well, i can't hardly believe it's been a week since my {miniEVENT} took place! as if the days don't go by fast enough on their own...throw in picking away @ customer orders...some holiday decorating...doing a little offering of baubles online thru facebook...& just taking time to BREATHE.

plus the fact that in the winter...i am hard "started" without the sunshine when days are gray (as they often are). never-mind that when we are lucky enough to have some sun...it only makes a brief appearance sneaking away around 5pm. 

but before yet another day passes...i am determined to give those of you a peek @ what some of the surroundings looked like before and throughout the couple days of the {miniEVENT}. so here goes!

the girls and i were ready for opening on saturday...and since my helpers and i never got in a photo opp...i will show my other groups of "gals". {below}

 

 

they were outfitted in unique layers of artisan pieces by my own hand as well as the creations of a few talented ladies i am blessed to know and collaborate with. here's a peek @ some lovelies {below}

 

 

and here's another grouping of one*of*a*kind handiworks...

 

my "helper" girls & i kept very busy restocking and replenishing as we could. both days we bundled boxwood & bundled some more. always a crowd favorite ... i was able to get just the last handful of stock my vendor had. here's my victorian plant stand doing it's job of holding stash of all the "green" {below}.

 

 

originally the idea of this {miniEVENT} was to keep it simple...but i found myself filling corners and tables w/ the usual patinaWHITE offering of created & collected treasures you and i both appreciate. i am into the "heavy metal" and it was obvious w/ the spattering of rusty accents throughout. i really {LOVE} these pipe fittings {below}

 

 

there wasn't a shortage of jewelry bits-n-pieces with trays of baubles available alacarte. the rhinestone studded initials sparkled in their usual glory...LETTERshine...

 

 

here's a peek @ one area fluffed and nearly ready for action...{below}

 

 

my "fawn"dness for deer came into play with this pinecone fella hanging out in the pretty boxwood wreaths that were fresh and fabulous...{below}

 

 

he didn't stick around long...so i continually filled the voids w/ stashes that were tucked away. my wall of "frame" was filled up and ready for the sunday crowd as seen {below}.

 

 

the deer theme continued with a super cool ANTLER coat-rack {below} that could only be "topped" by the recycled metal letters that proclaim their heritage. 

 

 

oh what the heck. just {1} more deer for your peeking pleasure and then i will move on. this guy...in his raw steel glory...was right @ home amidst the evergreens of my GIANT door wreath.

 

 

here's another corner that was merry and bright with color {below}

 

 

i have to giggle for two reasons @ this photo {below}. because 1st off...nobody likes a quitter which is why i found myself sneaking a chocolate energy "booster" often...AND because i couldn't say no when a gal wanted the galvanized chick feeder that housed said goodies even though it wasn't my intent on selling it. but i did and of course the candy stayed...

 

 

then like the wind {mill below}...the {miniEVENT} was over. 

 

 

i sure hope that those of you who ventured out & braved the crowds had a great time...(boy i miss my clock on a rope {seen below} already)

 

 

i know the turnout and your energy + excitement sent me...

 

 

...but i sure did find myself sleeping like a baby monday morning!

 

 

again...a great big THANK*YOU for your visit...notes...kind words + niceties you express. it wouldn't be any fun to have this passion and not be able to share it with others. i hope you will continue to pop by here @ my corner of the world the rest of 2012 plus into 2013 & beyond!

have yourself a wonderful weekend...

 

THANK*you.

hey there {SHOW&TELL} friends! is it really this many days later and i am just now thanking you here? it's not that i haven't been thinking about you. sometimes i get in my own way when i want my "ramblings" to be just so. which isn't always the case. especially when i have been playing a serious round of catch-up way before the {miniEVENT} even began!

ok. so. rewind a few days back. the {miniEVENT}2012 was exciting...crazy busy & full of fun! my heart is full of...

 

i know i sound like a broken record...but i am so overwhelmingly honored & touched by those of you who came by to join in on the good times. thank you to laurie, kim & diane for still holding title to being the 1st @ my door waiting for me (2) open...the girls who got up @ 4am & took a LOOONG road trip to my little studio in the country...those of you who stood in line that laughed, shopped & made new friends along the way....the many of you w/ the patience of saints for being packed together like little sardines & still staying put (like you had a choice). the girls who were NOT losing their sunshine pendants - guarding them w/ their lives & making me giggle so. ALL of you. for bearing with me the moments when i was dazed & confused. (which is most good days anyway...but especially so this past weekend). 

{THANK*YOU}. 

thanks for tagging along...thanks for spreading the word...thanks for the making the {miniEVENT} even possible. it does my heart good to know you are out there enjoying my blog...shows...flea market cottage and fb posts. THAT is ultimately what keeps me going.

now. monday found me w/ very little in terms of commitments. i woke early up w/ the best of intentions of getting back to my "routine". but i endeded up not even leaving my home until i met a friend for lunch. i dubbed this day {MOSEY}monday, because, as aimless @ it may have seemed...i really enjoyed moving around @ a leisurely pace. at first i had conflicted feelings of "i should be busy...but it's pretty nice not to worry...for today". 

like i mentioned...a quiet get together with a dear friend was all i really had "planned". and this sweet girlfriend knows my passion for stars. and gifted me a topper that i am thrilled came @ a time that finds me with still no decorations on my tree. but this natural beauty {below} has shown that decor doesn't have to be over*the*top to be fabulous. the tree has waited this long...i don't think it minds...so why should i, right?

 

 

so what else do one do when they are in {MOSEY}mode? well...in my land that almost always calls for a visit to my local thrifts. which i happily did. i scrounged around knowing i have told myself COUNTLESS times to watch the "stuff" intake...and i guess i watched myself end up with a little stash. found me an old gilt vanity mirror...metal spooled pink cotton curling ribbon and heck...throw a few baseballs in there why don't you. very random...yes...but they all seem to mingle well together. wouldn't you agree when you see the gathering {below}?

 

 

now i must run for {2}day. i know you're thinking..."WHAT?! that's all ya got for us?". i do wish i had more time to share this moment. but there is no moseying today. but i WILL return. with photos of {miniEVENT} i want to share and hopes of a tree that does get just a bit more embellishments.

but most importantly i really wanted to share my continued GRATITUDE for making this passion i call patinaWHITE possible. i aspire {2} inspire...and look forward to continuing to do so. no matter what the pace may be! 

 

make it a great day...until next we meet!

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!