It's been a busy day

I've made three sales in three days. It's strange what seems to sell. The things I love aren't the big hits I think they'll be.

However, I knew I spotted some winners when I picked up these items. I guess it was only natural that these little chickens just flew off my virtual store shelf.
Birds seem to be hot in Etsyland, because this tin went flew too.

When I worked in the newspaper industry it was always a joke that dogs land you on the front page.

But they are man's best friends and these two little pooches will be headed to a new home soon.

I can only hope some of my older listings will find new homes soon too. Now I have room to find a few more contenders! Jack and I will have to hit our haunts after Christmas.

Holiday Home Tour

Hello, welcome the the Wheaton House. This is our first Christmas in this house and I was very excited to decorate it. We use to live in a condo, which had a lot of guidelines for decorating. Boy, am I glad I no longer have to answer to a condo board.

From our front door, you may gather that we are a sporting family. We aren't. I just love the looks of these old sporting goods. I especially love the little children's skis I found at our local resale shop.

I think my Christmas plates fit well with my vintage pottery.

I love this little nook in our house and I decorate it seasonally. An old magazine cover provides plenty of Christmas cheer.

I collect vintage glass ornaments. However, this year I discovered that my whirling dervish of a son and the glass ornaments didn't make a good combination. Most are now packed safely away. Next Christmas he'll be almost 3 and hopefully he'll get the concept... "Don't touch."

These are high enough that he can't reach them.

One day, I'd like to find a mantel for our fireplace, but this year I think it looks pretty nice without one. I'm not sure where I'll put the stocking yet, right now they are hidden under the poinsettias.

We do have a Christmas tree up but I didn't take a picture of it because it looks kind of silly with bulbs only on the top of tree. What's a mom to do?

Merry Christmas and may God's Grace and Love shine on you during this special time of year and during the year to come!

How do you put a price on Precious?

I first started my shop because I wanted to do whimsical pet portraits, but since I have a huge love of vintage I started selling that too.

I knew it would be hard to put a price on things I make ... a lot of myself goes into the things I make.

I didn't realize how hard it would be to price some of the vintage gems I find.

Isn't this lamp just so precious. How do I put a price on it?
And, lots of work going into "saving" vintage items... Generally, I have my son with me and I can't tell you how many times my heart skips a beat as he toddles off toward a shelf filled with glass goods.

If I didn't already have a fabulous vintage Donald Duck lamp in Jack's room, you bet this would be in his room, but he doesn't need two lamps.

I hope someone else will find it in my shop and love it as much as I do... I wish for it the same thing I wish for the things I make ... a happy home.

Feeling Squirrely!

So my aunt loves squirrels. And I've found I have quite an affection for them too ... even though they destroyed my decorative pumpkins in the fall, but that's another story.

Anyway, I decided to make my aunt a "snowman" squirrell and I am tinkled pink with how the little guy turned out. I put him underglass, which is a little hard to photograph, but I left her the option of displaying it however she might like.

It was suppose to be a Christmas gift, but I'm seeing her today and I can't wait to give it to her. I just know she'll love it. If she doesn't, I know she fake it ... but I know she'll love it because I love it and we are so much alike!

It's been awhile!

I feel like I haven't blogged for ages. It's been a busy couple of weeks in our household. My Etsy shop has been keeping me busy and of course I'm trying to finish my Christmas shopping. I've done a lot of my shopping on Etsy.

It's a rewarding feeling shopping on etsy and I feel like I'm unwrapping my own gift everytime a package comes. This year it will be a little hard giving those gifts, they are so nice I want to keep them for myself.

I've just added items to my shop. Here are some of my favorites:

Present toppers featured on blogozine

My little present toppers were featured on the blogozine http://fierceandnerdy.com/?p=3291 along with some other great Etsy shop. Check out the cute article.

So I'm not a skier...

That doesn't mean I can't use some great skis for decorating my front stoop. A while back I found some great bamboo ski poles for a whole $1. I went back to St. Vincent DePaul and kept checking on the skis (I was going purely on looks) and found this fantastic red pair. They cost me $4.

Then I went to my favorite local resale shop called "Encore" (all their proceeds go to support Jackson Christian Schools, so that's nice) and found these great skates for $2. Don't they look awesome on my wreath?


I also got these greens from St. Vincent DePaul for a whole 49 cents.
So, I may not ski or skate, but my favorite sport - thrifting- sure did pay off!
I think I got a whole lot of look for $7.50.

Thanks for participating.

I just want to thank everyone that participated in my first-ever give away. The winner was Shelley, so make sure you get with me about your address.

I had fun reading every one's favorite Holiday movies. Anyone who knows me knows that "Its a Wonderful Life" is my favorite Christmas movie. I adore Jimmy Stewart and I think he did some of his finest work in that movie.

I also want to give a shout out to Graceful Moments about her favorite movie "The Bishop's Wife." I happen to catch it on TMC the other day and agree that it is a wonderful movie, thanks for the suggestion.

It's been busy the last few days. We put up our Christmas tree and my son has been busy destroying it ever since. I'm already down three bulbs ... two of which were Irish in them... it appears the 'Luck of the Irish' is no match for a 18-month little boy.

Also I just learned that something from my shop will be featured on the site www.fierceandnerdy.com tomorrow, I can't wait to see it. I never pictured myself being fierce or nerdy, but I'm excited to learn I maybe be both...I think nerds are HOT!

Santa Giveaway!

Since every great Blog must have a giveaway and since Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming and someone should get some free stuff on those days, I decided I'd give away this little fella.

I also thought he'd be good for a giveaway because he was impossible to photograph. He's cuter than he appears in this photos. His tree lights up. I call this piece "Light the Christmas Tree" and it is made up of items found at the thrift store.

How to enter:
Visit my store at http://www.paddywackdesigns.etsy.com/ and come back here and leave a comment, telling me the item you like the best in my shop. Also, tell me your favorite Holiday movie.
(I couldn't decide which I wanted to do and since it's my giveaway, I thought I'd do both.)
The prize winner will be selected at random next Tuesday!
Be sure to include your email address.
Have a great Thanksgiving.

Truly broken now!

I'm not sure what this snowman has against life, but I dropped him again and now he is truly broken. ): Luckily the snowman himself is fine, he just wrecked his ride. I thought I'd share some of the process of creating these little fellas.
The process really starts when I'm at an antique or thrift store and I spot items that my little crew can hold or items I can use to decorate them, like old buttons. Sometimes I don't know how I'm going to use an item. For instance, I picked up a couple old felt stockings that were in very rough shape, but they were too precious to leave behind. I was able to cut them up and salvage them. Part of one stocking is pictured above with the "Noel" banner the snowman on the very left is holding.

...

These are some of the guys in progress. First I make a figure and then I cover them in paper clay. I've been experimenting with what I can make their figures out of and I found egg cartons work well.


This picture was from a 2004 Country Living. I draw some inspiration from it, while still trying to maintain my own vision. Many times the look of my snowguys, just evolves as a I make them.

Don't they just make you smile?
I've always wanted to find an vintage example, to the ones pictured above, but have never had much luck. The other day, at an antique store, I did find an affordable, cute snowman. He had a pine cone body and a little cloth head. So cute, but the mother in me just wouldn't let me buy him.
Why not? The little guy was smoking!

You're so cute, but must you eat my decorations!

I had know idea that squirrels would just start snacking on my pumpkins! I've never seen this happen before...


I was hoping they would last until Thanksgiving, but it looks like someone started the feast early!

In its new home

I got this great piece at a yard sale this summer and some friends were recently able to transport it to me. I still need to get some shelves made for it, but I think it fits perfectly in our new dining room.

...

I didn't measure it, when I bought it. I had hoped it would fit between two windows in our dining room and sure enough it did. I would probably never get that lucky again. (: Note to self, always measure!

...

Do you think the chair looks okay, there?

It was my first reupholster project and I don't have the heart to get rid of it, but I really don't have a great place for it anymore! The pets seem to like it and they do dictate a large amount of my decorating style as does my son. (i.e. Wow, love this delicate glass cake stand ... in one piece. I better put it in the cupboard and not use it as a centerpiece)

I'm I the only one that gets excited ...

By these...

Didn't I find a great stash when I was out with my friends antiquing? The Ziploc bag is future fodder for my snowmen (on sale right now at my etsy shop, www.paddywackdesigns.etsy.com )

The little bells and glass bead strands are all mine. (: I'm so excited to decorate my new house for Christmas. I'm a little nervous too. I don't think we have as many flat services for me to decorate, so I'm not sure where the nativity and the Christmas village will go.

Also this year, I will have an almost 2 year old and a new cat, so who knows what will happen to the tree. STILL, I'm excited. Day after Thanksgiving, let the decorating commence.

Favorite new item

Here's a new item that I just added to my shop. I used the "wagon" that my son's blocks came in to make a message-chalkboard.

I think it has some nice details with a little eraser, and a chalk pocket. It also comes with hooks on the back to affix it to the wall.

Of course the blocks, hearken back to it's former life.

While I'm normally go to the thrift store looking for things to recreate, it was kind of fun to find a candidate right in my house!

You won't see him in my shop!

Here's the little guy I dropped, breaking his sleigh!




Wasn't he oh-so-cute, He even has little toys in his sleigh. Luckily, the sleigh is pretty much intact from the front.

Whenever I create these little guys, I'm always tempted to keep them and in this case it looks like I'll have too. Oh well, I really like him, so it's not so bad.

I got the nicest surprise in the mail!

A dear college friend sent me a special little mini-scrapbook of my son in his Halloween costume. It was just so precious.

She also sent a beautiful hand-stamped card that said," The season of friendship lasts forever." I'm so glad that's true.

The little gift was so uplifting to me because I've really been struggling to get my etsy shop open.

It seems that just when I'm ready to start I feel like there's something else I have to figure out. This gift reminded me that handcrafting something ultimately isn't about making money (Although it would be nice if I could) it's about making people happy.

Today, I dropped one of more poor little snowmen I've been working on and I didn't get to upset about it...He's broken now, but I think he's salvagable for my own collection. (:

Go make someone happy!

I know I am....Thanks Heather.

"Studio" Space

I'm lucky enough to have a spare room in our house, so I've turned it into a studio of sorts. This Art Deco piece use to be in our dining room, but was too big for our new room. Instead of hosting china and crystal, now it's be relegated to craft supply hutch.Of course my "studio" has to play double duty and is also our dogs' bedroom.

I try to surround myself with bits of inspiration, including an adorable apron that is too small to actually help me in the kitchen, but I just can't part with it. Of course a favorite purse is always nice to gaze upon.

I also usually have to keep my son occupied, which is the toughest job of all. This room is never this neat between my creating and my son's destroying things do get messy.

It's been a week of thrifting!

It was a great day for thrifting yesterday. My son and I (poor little mister) popped into about three different shops. I was excited to find the St. Vincent De Paul across town much improved. I had almost given up on it. I found this cute Christmas Platter.

I hang my platters on the wall and I think when Christmas gets closer it will be fun to bring some holiday spirit to the kitchen.

I also got my son a Little Tykes "Cozy Coupe" for a whole $5. That's right, $5!

My greatest find though was an a Wild Turkey bottle from 1976. I have a little shelf in our entryway (came with the house, but I think it's cute) that I decorate for the seasons. I was so excited to find the Turkey Bottle and a little turkey to grace the corner and to pair with an old Turkey picture I had gotten from an old magazine cover ... Oh that reminds me... I have some turkey post cards I'll have to add to the mix.

I love decorating with old post cards and you can often find them for a song. Christmas and Easter are the easiest to find, but Thanksgiving ones are pretty prevalent too. I know a lot of people skip over Thanksgiving when it comes to decorating but it remains one of my favorite Holidays and I think Tom the Turkey deserves some attention!

I'll have to go find those post cards to make the vignette complete.