Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Year, New Beginnings...


I'd like to invite you to visit my new blog: Simple Joys, no more, no less...

This will not have my ramblings posted, but will be a place for me to simply share photos and verse that inspire, comfort, remind, bless, touch, encourage, and more.
Happy New Year!!!
God Bless,
Lana

End of Year SALE... everything under $10!


I am in the mood to clear out my old stock and make room for 2009 creations, so I have gone through and listed several items on eBay. All of them begin at $9.99, much less than my retail prices. Some of the items were listed last night, and at least 9 more are scheduled to begin tonight at 7pm central. You may see my auctions here: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZhoneysucklelane
Thanks for the wonderful comments and blog posts in 2008. I look forward to visiting with all of my blogger friends in 2009.
Have a Happy & Blessed New Year!!!
Lana
of
Honeysuckle Lane
~*~

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Crochet experts?

While taking a break from my craft work, I still had to keep my hands busy, so I decided to crochet myself a hat and scarf. I haven't crocheted in a few years, but the scarf turned out fairly well. I have started the hat, and for some reason can not get past row 1!
If any of you know what I'm doing wrong, please let me know. Here is the pattern: http://www.coatsandclark.com/NR/rdonlyres/EB93AD9A-2CDE-4CD8-856A-957848A778C8/56626/SB300007.pdf

It's supposed to be easy, but for some reason, I can't get it right.
On the hat pattern, I have completed Row 1, but when I turn and begin Row 2, my rows aren't joined and it doesn't tell me to join with a slip stitch or anything. I'm sure I'm missing something very simple...


I appreciate any help ~ thanks!

Friday, December 19, 2008

New Items, Holiday Sale Prices, and more...

I found time a week or so ago to do more painting. When painting several pieces, I tend to have a theme going, whether it be color or subject. This time it was both. I hand mixed brown, celery green, and shades of aqua to paint whimsical baskets of flowers. The watercolors, pictured above, are inspired by the frakturs of the late 1700s and early 1800s. They are available for purchase here.

I have recently added new make-do pincushions on my website. I have both PLAIN & FANCY, so you have different styles to choose from. Some have already sold, but there are a few remaining if you'd like to take a peek... here.




I also have new note cards to offer, see below. These are made from my latest fraktur watercolors featuring birds and baskets and vases... all done in hand mixed shades of sepia and blue. Sorry, but the original watercolors have already been sold.




To make room for next year's creations, I have marked many items on sale for the holidays. Every page with sale items will have SALE near the top of the page in red. All sale prices are also marked in red. You may start shopping here.




Thanks for dropping by!




Lana

of

Honeysuckle Lane

~*~


Thursday, December 18, 2008

Now where did that turkey go...?

Hmmm, I suppose you think I disappeared along with Tweedle Dum! Sorry 'bout that. I meant to come back and share some recent photos of him and completely forgot with all the holiday preparations going on.
As you can see, he fared very well during Thanksgiving, so he's a happy bird!
As usual, when I have my workroom door open, he can hear me and he usually comes by to see what I'm up to. Some days he just peeks up over the porch to peer through the screen, and other days, he's curious enough to come up on the porch and cluck at me while he eats Sam's cat food.
If I loaded the correctly, you should be able to click on each photo to see a larger more detailed view of this eastern wild turkey. The feathers are gorgeous when the sun hits them just right. And can you see his spurs in the 2nd photo?
That's it for now... I have some more things to blog about... soon as I get my photos ready.




Sunday, December 7, 2008

Childhood whimsies



While working on paper wreath orders, I happened to think of the children's books that I have collected. Many are old and worn, torn and tattered, but I couldn't resist buying them after seeing all the sweet graphics in them. Over the weekend I made one from an old Alice and Jerry book. I call this wreath Little Goat (see the center medallion). Too bad there's no one in my family having a baby soon or I could give this for a baby shower gift! You may read all the details about it in my etsy shop here.
I'm going to take a break for a few hours... then will be back tonight with turkey pics!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Thank you!


Thanks for the votes ~ JOY the Snow Angel finished 9th out of 60!http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?room_id=24
And then they put the top 21 in one of etsy's Gift Guides:
I will be making more paper wreaths like the one shown a few posts down, some with particular themes, and will list them next week.
Have a blesed weekend!
Lana
~*~

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Decisions, Decisions...







Before I forget to mention it (I was here twice already and forgot so I am having to add to this post) ~ I have some Vintage Holiday Houses for sale on my website, here. They are about 1/ way down the page. I painted them silver, then coated them with loads of clear German glass glitter for LOTS of *S*P*A*R*K*L*E*!




If you've been here the last few days, you've seen blue, black, cream, brown, tan, black and cream again..... I can't seem to get my blog colors the way I want them. At first I wanted all ivory, brown, and black... then I thought no, I want some icy blue for a wintry feel, but then it didn't seem to look right. Maybe when I have more time to play around with the colors I will finally decide upon something. Of course then it will be Valentine's Day and I'll have to switch to red, pink, and white, lol!




Stephanie, over at Primitive Folk Art, has brought me good news, twice, in a week or so!

First, she told me my Vintage Ivory Paper Wreath was on the frontpage of etsy for a while! I didn't get to see it, but did see a snapshot of it later on Flicker.

Then she emailed me again to tell me that my little snow angel, JOY, is in a contest at etsy! If you'd like to vote for her, follow this link, sign in at etsy, and then vote. Voting ends tomorrow sometime...




I'm busy with orders, but have managed to take some photos of Tweedle Dum. Yes, for those of you wondering, he made it through Thanksgiving and is a very thankful turkey! I'll do a separate blog post about the animals and my day at Rugby. hopefully I'll have time to post it tomorrow.




Lastly, I bought a necklace display thing ~ I think it helps with my jewelry pics. It shows how the necklace will hang on a person instead of being flat on a table. I would love to find an old fabric covered dressmaker's dummy / mannequin, but this will have to do until I strike it lucky!




Thanks for visiting!


Lana

of

Honeysuckle Lane

~*~






Monday, November 24, 2008

Join us for TEA! ~ updated & updated again


Thank you for your response! More snowfolk have sold and I've taken orders for Vintage Ivory Wreaths and Glittered Parchment Cones ~ but there is an angelic choir and a Wee Lit'l snowman remaining.

~*~



Update ~ Both of my items at The Eclectic Artisans have SOLD, but I do have a few more Snow Folk on my website. Just click on the Snow Folk photo above to see what's left.



Thanks for visiting!


~*~




The Eclectic Artisans' fourth and final web show this year is now open! You may see all our winter wares here.




My Snow Angel has already sold this morning, but I have a Snow Man still available at TEA and a few more on the DOLLS page of my website. I hope to have photos of them up by noon. We had a tinsel shortage and are waiting for the mailman to save the day, lol!



Friday, November 21, 2008

Brrrr~ It's soooo cold!


It's sooo c-c-c-old that my little candle has icicles on it! See in the pic above?
Ok, I know many of you bloggers are laughing ~ it's not THAT cold here in TN compared to where you live. But all of a sudden, here on the plateau, we are having night time temps in the teens and day time temps in the 30s and I'm freezing! We keep the heat set at 68, but have a ventless gas fireplace that stays on to keep it a little warmer in the house. I used to wear shorts or capris and a T and go barefoot all year long here at home, but this fall I've been wearing my flannel jammies, sweats, socks, fuzzy houseshoes, and I'm still cold! I think it's old age, after all I am forty one. No, I'm not ashamed of my age, but it just seems old now, especially when it physically hurts, lol! My fingers and toes are so cold that they hurt, my joints ache and pop when I move around... maybe I need to move where it's warm all year long... my daughter would love that! All right, I'm through complaining. I could live where it's below zero ~ then I really would be cold!




I suppose the cold weather does have it's advantages ~ it has put me in the mood to make some of my snowfolk for the next TEA webshow! hosted by The Eclectic Artisans! I will have 2 items on TEA, but hope to have a few more on my website the same day. I have a link on my sidebar, but you may visit using this link too.




If you like sweet little vintage Christmas ornaments made from spun cotton, sequins and beads, chenille, etc., you may want to check out my eBay auctions. I have one set there now, but hope to add a few more in the next week or so. I am deciding whether to put more on eBay, or just sell for a set price on etsy. I'll let you know when and where.

If you are near the Victorian village of Rugby, TN on November 28th, stop by and see me! I will be set up in the Commissary (upstairs) selling my handmade wares. Follow this link to read about it, get directions, etc.
Thanks for stopping by, and come again soon!
And stay WARM!!!
Take Care & God Bless,
Lana of Honeysuckle Lane

~*~

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Is it mid-November already???

Boy time sure flies when you're having fun.... or when you need to get a gazillion things done in 3 days! The latter seems to be the case once Thanksgiving and Christmas are on the horizon.
I have been working feverishly to get all my handmade items ready for the online markets of which I am a member, and to list everything and then some on my website and in my etsy shop.
The first photo is of my offerings at TDIPT Mercantile. The theme is "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" and everyone made at least one item in shades of white, ivory, or cream. The wreath and cones have already sold and all that remain in this set are the silk ribbon embroidered Snowdrop pillows.
The next photo is of my offering at The Primitive Gathering. I chose to do a Victorian Christmas theme there. I made another paper wreath, this time from vintage Christmas sheet music, sheet music cones, and Victorian stockings made from vintage fabric.


The last Christmas set is at Simply Primitives and is an Americana Christmas theme. I have made 2 sets of ticking stockings, embellished with wool pennies and antique buttons, and an Americana Belsnickel. The Belsnickel sold last night.

I have also been making vintage assemblage jewelry! I LOVE doing this! I have collected all sorts of trinkets and treasures over the years ~ I'm still collecting them ~ and have spent the last few weeks putting pieces together for my website and for my etsy shop. They are listed on both (or will be soon ~ I running a little behind), but if something should sell on etsy, I will mark it sold on my website, and vice versa.
First is a piece I adore and won't be disappointed if it doesn't sell. It's called Sea Glass Serenade. I have used a vintage French perfume bottle, antique and vintage glass beads, handmade chian links, and lots more! Visit my website to see all the detailed photos.

This one, below, is called Bottled Frost ~ I've filled the miniature apothecary jar with clear and silver German glass glitter.

Next, is Aged Ironstone. We live where an old homeplace was situated in the 1930s and every time it rains or we plow the garden, we find more glass and pottery shards.


This one is called Key to Past Times. It's not in this photo, but when you go to my website, you can see the antique key on the necklace.



Vintage Amber is next, because of the miniture amber apothecary jar and amber glass beads used, as well as the overall color of this unique piece.


And last, but not least, is C is for Cherish (or commitment, or Catherine, or Connie... you decide!)


Now you see why I haven't been blogging much lately. I enjoy visiting everyone and reading what you have been up to, but I have had a ton of work to do. I have another webshow coming up on the 24th and a local one day show at Rugby on the 28th, but I will do my best to get around to visiting soon.
Have a blessed day!
Lana
of
Honeysuckle Lane
~*~

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Looking for....


...back issues of Belle Armoire Jewelry. I'm a junk store / yard sale kinda gal and don't want to pay the near new prices for used issues I'm finding on ebay. I guess you could call me cheap... no, I don't like that.... thrifty maybe? lol!
If you have some that you're ready to pass on just email me, with your prices and issues, using the contact info in my profile.



I've been working on assemblage jewelry, putting to use all the trinkets and baubles I have collected over the years, thinking someday I'll use it. Guess what? Someday has finally arrived!!! I hope to have a small collection ready to show on the evening of the 14th, just in time for Christmas shopping.



Thanks for stopping by ~ I've had folks asking about the baby chick (she's not a baby anymore!) and Smokey and Tweedle Dum ~ I'll have something on my blog about them by the weekend.
Update ~ My cards are featured on Today's Primitive Home this week! Be sure to visit TPH!



Take Care & God Bless,

Lana of Honeysuckle Lane

~*~

Monday, October 27, 2008

The Poppets are being fitted...

and will be dressed for their debut the evening of November 1st!
Tatted trims, velvet and silk ribbons, dotted gauze, whatever I can find in my treasure boxes...


All of the girls will be wearing split pantalets, hand-sewn of white silk doupioni. One of them is modeling her divided drawers here, though modesty kept her face from being shown.

Their pantalets are embellished with various antique trims that I have found here and there at thrift shops and estate sales.




We do hope you will join us @ Poppets, Portraits, & Playthings of the Past on Saturday night!
Suzanne (Painter of the Past / Pear Tree Primitives) is finishing her 3rd portrait for the show this week. We are looking forward to your visit!
Please check back later in the week for more details... or visit either of our websites to sign up for our email updates.
~*~

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Puzzle Ball ~ a not-so-Simple-Joy!

I collect pincushions, the older the better; the more worn and torn, the more I am drawn to them.
Some are a bit puzzling, but with a little patience, you can make one for yourself. There are numerous patterns available for these wonderful whimsies...

These are all antiques that are in my collection.
See how the velvet on some of the pieces has worn off almost completely?
I wonder how many hands these have passed through. Have they held pins while a mother sewed her child's clothing? Or maybe a wife worked tirelessly by lamplight, patching her husband's farm clothes, time after time, taking a pin from the ball now and then to hold a patch of fabric as she stitched...
Such little joys to collect, but not so simple at first glance!

Perhaps they were worn out from use and were set aside, forgotten for many, many years; until one day, a curious soul opened a trunk of memories, letting years and years of bits and pieces of someone's life tumble on to the attic floor...


~*~

Monday, October 20, 2008

Fun & Funky Fall!

I've been making jewelry items for a few years now, mostly soldered charms and beaded pieces. Last week I decided to try something a little different, just for fun, to learn a few new techniques... after all... I have all the time in the world.... right??? LOL! I really should have been working on orders: dolls, valentines, Christmas cards, and a pumpkin... but I just HAVE to take a break now and then in between the "have tos" and do a "want to"... does that makes sense?
I combined beads from a few vintage necklaces, along with a few new items, made all the wire chains myself, and here's what I came up with:

It's a bit fun and funky looking, with loads of autumn hued beads:

There's a necklace and matching bracelet:



This autumn ensemble is on etsy right now if you are interested in it:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16341760

When I was taking pics outside, my batteries died. Snowflake (who is never snow white because she is always digging holes in the dirt), was watching me. I pointed at the birdhouse and jewelry and told her, "don't you dare bother this while I go get fresh batteries". She loves to scavenge lost and misplaced items and hoard them in her doghouse... shoes, gloves, turkey feathers that I have picked up and placed on the swing till I get ready to go inside, small hand gardening tools, a bouquet of flowers that I picked and put in the swing for just a couple of minutes, etc. I ran in the house, grabbed my batteries, and when I came back out, there she sat, guarding the jewelry, lol! She sat there till I took her photo and then she went back to lay down on the warm leaves in the sun. She's a good little girl... sometimes!





Now that I'm hooked on making my own chains and doing all the wire wrapping, I hope to make some unique pieces using many of the trinkets I've collected over the years while junking.

Stay tuned....