Monday, December 31, 2007

Thoughts at Midnight...


It's New Year's Eve and I had been out on the back porch, looking at the sparkling stars before they are hidden behind wintry clouds, listening to the wind blowing through the trees, feeling the cold on my face, waiting for the dusting of snow that is on its way tomorrow, or so they say. I came back in to the warmth of my home, to drink a cup of hot tea, and to look through some of the old 1800s books that I have in my collection ~ just enjoying the night ~ waiting for the New Year. While sitting here, I happened upon this poem in a book from 1853.


Thoughts at Midnight
The midnight winds are breathing now
A soft and gentle pray’r,
That floats like angel whisperings
Upon the silent air;
And flow’rs are weeping dewy tears,
And stars smile down in glee;
And now my thoughts will fondly turn
To thee, dear one --- to thee!

Earth’s weary ones now rest in peace,
And calmly, sweetly sleep;
While o’er the orphan angels bend,
And holy vigils keep:
The world is purer, better now,
And oh! I feel its pow’r
Steal o’er my heart in the deep hush
Of this calm, gentle hour.

Ah! wither do thy thoughts now roam?
Doest gaze on that fair star,
That twinkles in its azure home,
And think of one afar
Do straying zephyrs waft to thee
A whisper’d word or tone,
That thrills thy heart with gentle dreams,
And music, all its own?

But midnight o’er the sleeping world,
Hath toll’d its iron bell,
And thou, perchance, art resting too,
Beneath its holy spell:
Oh! may thy dreams be pure and sweet,
With innocence and glee;
While I bow down beneath the stars,
And breathe a pray’r for thee.


by Clarence May ca.1853


While the entire poem is beautiful, the last 2 lines stayed in my thoughts:

"While I bow down beneath the stars,

And breathe a pray’r for thee."


Tonight, while out on the back porch, in the night air, before I came in the house and read this poem, I was thinking of all the wonderful, kind, thoughtful, gracious, caring, selfless, inspiring, loving souls that I have met over the past year. And while I stood out there alone, I thanked God for all of you. I thanked Him for sending someone to touch my life and my heart, especially during this past year. You may have become a dear, sweet friend, or you may have only passed by once and left a kind comment on my blog or by email. Whether I met you in person or online, I am so thankful for your friendship, your kind comments, your words of encouragement.


God Bless

&

Happy New Year!

Lana

of

Honeysuckle Lane

~*~

Friday, December 14, 2007

Christmas Sale!


As Christmas fast approaches, many people are frantically trying to buy last minute gifts.
I am discounting several handmade items by 20%. To help you with your shopping, I will also gift wrap items and mail them directly to the recipient if you wish.



I have early style make-do pincushions and a lovely hand tied French Toile Be'be' Quilt on the SALE page. You may visit the sale HERE.

You may see soldered glass charms HERE and Christmas Whimsies HERE.

You may also see more of my handmade items at these online markets. They will update late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Visit TDIPT Mercantile for Ribbon Roses


Visit Simply Primitives for a Silk Gore Pincushion, Antique Engraving Cards, and a soldered charm necklace for the PRIMITIVE lover. (Look for Honeysuckle Lane in the 15th of the Month Release column).



Thanks for stopping by... and for your patience. I will try to share more non-business things with you now that I am through working for the rest of the year.

~*~




Monday, December 10, 2007

Vintage Adornments & A Birthday Remembered




I have loved things of bygone days as long as I can remember. I'm sure my Mama had something to do with it. Daddy had an interest in old things, he even bought and sold junk and scrap metal the last few years of his life, but Mama was fascinated with every little piece of history she came across. She loved imagining who owned the pincushion she found at the junk store and what sort of clothes they were making or mending when they stuck pins in it. She wondered about the little pressed flower tucked between the pages of a book ~ did a child pick it for its Mother or was it a token of love from a beau? Today would have been Mama's 80th birthday. Sometimes on her birthday I'd call her and ask if she wanted to go to a junk store ~ yep, that was part of her birthday present! She LOVED to go prowling around at junk stores and was always ready and willing when I asked if she wanted to go with me. So, today I went to our favorite junk store. I couldn't help but think of her the entire time I was there. So many things I would have shown her and she would have loved to have seen.

My love of all things old is why I enjoy making these Vintage Adornments: Ribbon Rose Corsages. A few materials and a little time and you have a beautiful rose to pin on your jacket, a decorative pillow, or on your drapery tieback.... wherever you'd like a bit of vintage beauty.

This Ribbon Rose is made from 1 1/2" wide wired ribbon, velvet millinery leaves, and vintage stamens. The colors are perfect for winter... a deep iridescent reddish burgundy with a hint of black on the ribbon and matching burgundy velvet leaves. The vintage stamens are wired and are white dipped in red. The back of the pin is finished with a backing fabric and a silver pin back is firmly attached. The entire piece is approximately 5" - 6" in diameter including the leaves. Please note: it isn't quite as black as it looks in the photo.

I have 3 available of this color. Please email me (honeysucklelane@hotmail.com) if you'd like to purchase one or more of these Vintage Adornments.

They are $12 each plus shipping.

~*~

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Snowman Confection


Finally ~ I didn't think I'd ever finish! I worked all morning on this last piece so I could take some good photos before the light faded this evening. Snowman Confection, the name I gave it, is a favorite of mine. I LOVE the milk chocolate & French vanilla colors! German glass glitter, crepe paper rosettes, antique mother of pearl buttons, ribbons, and velvet millinery leaves.... all are things that I love. It will be hard to part with, but I will have it listed on eBay Sunday night at 9pm central. Sign up on my mailing list to be notified when it begins, or just keep watching my auction page and you'll eventually see him in all his finery.


Thanks for stopping by!

~*~

Friday, December 7, 2007

Last Dolls of the Season...

Update: The Cottage Santa pictured above will be going up for auction on eBay tonight at 8pm central. This will be a short 3 day auction. You may see more photos and read the description on my eBay page when it is time.
~*~



I am finishing up another Cottage Santa & a Vintage Holidays Snowman today and will have them ready to show tonight or tomorrow morning. These will be my last dolls this year. I would have stopped before now, but I had started them some time ago and needed to finish them and find each one a new home. The one pictured in all white and holding a mother of pearl wreath is a special order and is already on his way to a new home this week. I know he will be sooooo happy with his new friend ~ she is such a sweet lady.

I usually send out an email when I have a few new items for sale. If you'd like to be one of the first to see them, be sure to sign up on my mailing list by emailing me. My address is in my profile and on my website.

Thanks for checking in!

~*~

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Remembrance Charms


Hi everyone! I've just added a few 2007 Remembrance Charms to my Simple Joys Soldered Charms collection. The Remembrance charms have reprints of my antique children photographs. The back of each charm commemorates the current year of 2007 and are made from textured paper and old school number cards. These would be thoughtful gifts for children or parents of children born this year, or for those who collect a charm or ornament for each year.


I have also added a Vintage charm to the collection ~ "simply charming". Visit here to see more photos, descriptions, and prices.

Thank you for visiting!

~*~

Thursday, November 29, 2007

A Sneak Peek...


These items will be offered December 1st on The Primitive Gathering. For the month of December, all of the PG artists will do their updates on the 1st, then everyone will update again on January 15th. We will resume our bi-monthly schedule in February. Sometimes our webmistress is able to update on the eve of the scheduled date. So, you may want to check late Friday night to see if things are uploaded yet.


Thank you for visiting!

~*~

Monday, November 26, 2007

Charms, Charms, and MORE Charms!




The Christmas Craft Fair continues (see my previous post) and I have made Christmas themed ornaments for my ebay auctions. Some of them have actual vintage Christmas wrapping papers for the artwork. I only have a couple of sets listed today, but will have several more listed tonight by 8:30 pm central time. You may see my auctions here.
Thanks for stopping by!
~*~

Friday, November 23, 2007

CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR TODAY!

Simple Joys Soldered Charms ~ $17 each plus shipping

(to purchase email me at honeysucklelane@hotmail.com)

To see larger photos click here.

All of my charms have a high quality sepia print of an antique photograph from my collection of photos from the late 1800s and early 1900s. They have a word collage on the back, which includes vintage letter or word cards, old dictionary pages, snippets from vintage holiday wrapping paper, etc. The background behind the word collage is a decorative, textured cardstock.

Finishes: Some of the soldered charms have been given a blackened patina. Others have been left silver, but a black patina can be applied at no extra cost. A copper patina has been applied to #14 (but I could not get it to take on a ball chain).

Chains: You may choose a 24" ball chain, a coordinating ribbon, or a scrolled hanger to go with each charm. Ball chains and scrolled hangers are nickel plated, and may be aged with a black patina if desired. Ribbons vary, but you may choose one that you see in the examples as long as supplies last.

Sizes: #1 is 1 ½” square, all the rest are 1” x 3”

All are made with lead-free solder.

Use as a necklace, an ornament, a rear view mirror pendant, etc.

1. Harriet & Harry ~ SOLD, thank you!
2. Noel ~ vintage wrapping paper of gold embossed “N”, copy of old song sheet, black patina
3. Laurel ~ vintage wrapping paper of gold embossed L”, dictionary page, silver finish
4. Gambler ~ old dictionary page; black patina
5. Teacher ~ school word card, black patina
6. Bookish ~ old dictionary page, silver finish
7. Dapper Dan ~ school word card, dictionary page, silver finish
8. Dear Jane ~ school word cards, silver finish
9. Pensive Lady ~ old dictionary page, silver finish
10. Papa ~ school word card, dictionary page, silver finish
11. Our Love ~ school word cards, silver finish
12. Marriage ~ dictionary page, silver finish
13. Love ~ SOLD, thank you!
14. Daughter ~ SOLD, thank you!
15. Baby ~ school script letter cards, silver finish
16. Oh tiny Baby ~ school word cards, dictionary page, silver finish
17. Sweet Pea ~ SOLD, thank you!
18. Little Princess ~ gold embossed vintage wrapping paper (for crown), dictionary page, silver finish
19. Girl ~ school script letter cards, silver finish
20. Sweet William ~ dictionary page, silver finish
21. Boy ~ school script letters, silver finish
22. Little Prince ~ gold embossed vintage wrapping paper (for crown), dictionary page, silver finish
23. My Little Man ~ SOLD, thank you!
24. Dashing through the Snow ~ sheet music, silver finish
25. Frosty ~ SOLD, thank you!




Be sure to visit Shabby in the City for more participating bloggers.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Holiday Whimsies

Dreamy ~ Creamy Winter Whites
are what I offer you tonight!


When I showed my friend my new creations and told her they were cream instead of white (we were supposed to do a White Christmas theme), she called them “dreamy ~ creamy”!

I have whimsical, magical cones waiting for you on eBay:
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZhoneysucklelane

A few more fun & fancy whimsies will be added to my auctions over the next several days. If you’d like, add me to your favorite sellers list to be notified when I have something new on eBay.

I have sparkling parchment cones and sweet stockings with note cards to match at the Mercantile. These will upload late tonight and will definitely be there on the morning of the 15th:
http://www.tdiptmercantile.com/artists/honeysuckle.html

A little more prim, yet whimsical, are the vintage ticking stockings and tarnished tinsel cones at The Primitive Gathering. These, too, will upload late tonight or early Thursday morning:
http://www.theprimitivegathering.com/honeysucklelane.html

If by chance you should want something and can’t email me through either website, just contact me at honeysucklelane@hotmail.com.


Thanks for stopping by!

~*~

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Coming Soon...




A Happy Sunday to everyone! We woke up to 31 degrees and a beautiful sparkly frost here in Tennessee this morning. Chilly mornings with the ground and trees glistening like glass glitter really puts one in the holiday spirit.
The photos are of some things I've made for the two online markets that I participate in ~ they will be available November 15th. Please check back then for links to the updated webpages. Besides Christmas stockings, whimsy cones, and cards of antique baby photos, I will be offering more one of a kind designs to those on my mailing list. If you'd like to be notified when I have new items and be one of the first to see them, please email me (honeysucklelane@hotmail.com) and request to be added to my mailing list.
Thank you so much for visiting!
Take Care & God Bless,
Lana
~*~

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

A Little of This, A Little of That...

That was the subject of an email I recently received from a dear friend and customer. She was thinning out her collection of linens and things and was sending me a few items. Well I was not prepared for the LARGE box that was delivered a few days later! There were scraps of old French sheets, exquisitely embroidered linens, tatted laces, everything was so beautiful and exactly the sort of things that I would have collected had I been the one to find them. I hope I conveyed to her just how happy I was to receive such a thoughtful and beautiful gift. Before long, I will share a few things I am making with some of the wonderful old pieces I was given. I'll give you a couple of hints: They are about 12" tall and wear lovely white dresses...
I'd like to share with you some artwork of another dear friend of mine, Suzanne Davis of Pear Tree Pimitives. I have more of her work, but this being Autumn, I thought I'd let you see a banner I recently got from her. It is perfect for my front door! If you'd like to see more of her wonderful paintings and dolls and such, please visit her current eBay auctions here, and visit her website here. She also sells on a couple of online markets and you will find those links on her website.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Autumn in the Cumberlands


This afternoon my husband saddled up Big John and went for a ride in the woods. I stayed behind but wandered around taking a few pictures of the colorful foliage and my big, beautiful cat, Sam. Check back in a day or two and I will try to have some photos of local historic sites.

Thanks for visiting!

~*~


Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Old Fashioned Santa


I'd like to invite you to my eBay auction tonight @ 9pm central to see my Old Fashioned Santa. My style is usually more cottage, vintage, and sometimes early, but this sweet guy needed a good old fashioned ageing, and ageing he got! There'll be lots more photos and a detailed description. The auction will run for 5 days, so come take a peek here when you have time.

I have been busy with special orders and getting ready for my first month of selling on a wonderful online market which has a menagerie of handmade items each month. I'll keep you updated on when and where as time approaches, and I'll be back in a few days with some photos of local scenery here on the Cumberland Plateau.


Take Care & God Bless!

Lana


~*~

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Pumpkins & Pincushions


Autumn is finally, really, and truly here! The leaves are changing, the air is crisper, the skies are clearer... it's nature's beauty at it's best!

~*~




I finally have some things on eBay again, pumpkins and make-do pinushions ~ all with an Autumn decor in mind, so please click here if you'd like to see and read about them. I will be listing pumpkins in a cornucopia tonight.

~*~


I was going to blog about a Cottage Santa that I had for sale, but he is already sold! Thank you dear customer! If you'd still like a peek, click here.
Take Care & God Bless,
Lana
~*~

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Whimsy Wednesday

This is something new for me. I was supposed to do it a few weeks ago and have just been so busy to participate. If you'd like to join in the fun, please sign up here.
For my Whimsy Wednesday, I'd like to share two lovely hand made / hand quilted pieces from my friend, Trevette.
The first one is a scalloped quilt and measures 11 inches square. Trevette has hand quilted a pineapple in the center and it is surrounded with a diagonal quilted grid.... the rows are just under 1/4" apart! Can you imagine such teeny tiny work?



The second quilt is 16 inches square and features a quilted bird in the center and in each corner is a baby bird in a nest. It also has a quilted grid with rows of stitching at 1/4" intervals. I love this one especially and have it in the room where I have other bird collectibles.


Thank you for visiting on Whimsy Wednesday. Perhaps you could participate next Wednesday? Just click on the link each Wednesday and sign up!
~*~

Sunday, October 7, 2007

When The Frost Is On The Punkin

For more Folk Art Fancies being offered tonight and in the week to follow,
please visit my website.
The following poem was the inspiration for my glass glittered pumpkins.
~*~

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here--
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock--
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries--kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below--the clover over-head!--
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin' 's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...
I don't know how to tell it--but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me--
I'd want to 'commodate 'em--all the whole-indurin' flock--
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)