New Years Resolutons,Inspirations and Goals 2011

So.....on this last day of this first month of the year...I am feeling compelled to set a few goals and resolves. I am sharing with the hopes that everything I list becomes a real and tangible part of 2011.
Here goes......
*Building terrariums
I really want to create a magical little fairy garden with my Wee Petal( who is not that wee anymore!).


*Herb Gardening
While I am coaxing green things to grow I think I would like to try my hand at herb gardening to enhance the flavor of everyday meals and perhaps make these clever and eco friendly "pots".



*Commit to make homemade soup once a month
The hubs and I especially love soup and I received a new beautiful crock-pot with which to cook up some savory comfort.




*Continued health and fitness
Leading up to 2010 I had several months of personal sadness and challenges.
I lost my father ...and had my house on the market ....and moved to a new home right after I lost him. When my life has chaos I lose my grip on fitness and nutrition. I spent 2010 regaining my dedication to one of these pursuits.I discovered the good ol' stair-master was no longer working for me at the gym and added hour long cardio classes each day of the work week to cross train and challenge myself.The good news is I lost about 15 pounds in the process...the bad news.... I tend to be very hard on myself body-wise and would STILL like to be 5-10 pounds less.In 2011 I want to continue my NOW cardio addiction....and regain my good nutrition habits that were once almost 2nd nature.


*More time in Bloglandia
Hangin' in my little cyber corner of the world has been so fulfilling to me....I am uncertain why I have had such a polka-dotted existence these past couple of years...then again see explanation in above goal.

*Participating in inspiring online challenges such as Elsie's, Project Restyle!
This sort of restyle thang seems to be the sort of crafty fun I tend to relish anyway...I think I need to just jump on in on this one.


*Sewing... at Make Studio
I would like to have a groovy little spot to go and refresh my meager sewing skills.
This Bishop Arts District studio may be the perfect place.




*Re-launching my Etsy shop
It is long overdue for a re-launch on my kids clothing shop...and I have so many fun ideas brewing!

*Maybe opening a new Etsy shop.
While 1st things 1st .....re-open my original shop.....I am envisioning an on-line boutique for the grownup girls...rooted firmly in my own crazy aesthetic.
I'm thinking of naming it "Tooled Leather and Lace".




*Thrift with a purpose:
I always try to have a mental "to be thrifted list" in my head...but this year I think I will actually WRITE OUT that list and do my best to stick to it!
Who am I kidding? It is impossible to limit myself at the thrift store,but maybe it might be fun to challenge myself for a couple of months to stick to a list!
*buy above thrift print here*

I already know milk glass is on that list....yeah I m totally late to the game on the luscious-ness of milk glass...but hey...I've always been a late bloomer...that's just how I roll!




*Paper Snowfalkes!
Next holiday season....I wish to craft with my girls a bit more....I think the three of us could handle some paper snowflake curtains.Just a little somethin' to get all three of us to sit down and spend creative time together. My girls are almost 7 years apart...and getting them on the same page can be challenging. I saw this at the end of the holiday season and thought maybe if I have a whole year to plan for it....it MIGHT happen!


So there you have it!!! My big plans for the cyber pagoda here in 2011. I shall devote a post to conquering each goal
and wish for the new year!
Happiest of 2011 to ya!

Holiday Thriftventure Booty !!

Angels......angels ...angels!!!!Each darling Seraphim at under 1 dollar!

A Dickensian trio in the most fabulous of muted colors!

More traditionally colorful tiny figures....again NOTHING over a buck!


Vintage Santa cups,snack trays and VERA napkins(4 total).....and a lone stocking....again,each item thrifted at under 1 dollar!

This one cost 4.95 (not the toothless wonder....the advent calendar!).Each numbered pocket has a beautiful handmade ornie for the tree!!! This is my fave thrifted item for the season and I found it last week!!!!!!! I have wanted a beautiful vintage advent calendar FOREVER!!!!

....and the trees up(not decorated and not thrifted , but inherited)...and I'm just gettin' started!!!!

Thanxgiving table-scaping!

Sooooo...I totally love doing a little holiday "floofing" for the big T-Day!!!
I found last years Thanksgiving table-scape hard to compete with.....and perhaps I over thought this years a bit.I thought the plastic toy Native Americans would be clever vase-filler (ala marbles or lemons etc....)
I did not count on the tiny plastic toys flipping up-side down(you may click on the image to enlarge) in the water.Somehow it looks as if the women folk just decided to drown the men folk.
Well truthfully it makes me giggle. I just wish the dollar store carried plastic Pilgrims too!



Can you see the die-cut turkeys in my case?



Even the little petal got her table-scape on with Mommies left overs!
It has just got chilly here in North Texas so I will be back next week with
My Own Vintage Clothing Fashion Magazine's 2010 Fall edition!

Halloween Decor and a room re-do!

I got allot of bang for my buck(9 bux to be exact!) at Big Lots by purchasing this large scale lawn art scully and lighting it up inside.

You will also note my Halloweenie tree from last year!

I love how the white frame of the scully blends completely with my fireplace and makes the skull merely glow!

My strange little "do I love it or hate it" architectural nook filled with vintage albums and movie monsters.

I think I kind of love it these days.


The littlest Princess in the house got a room re-do.



I painted the room orange.
Let me tell you it takes courage to brush on that first bold stroke.I liked it so much I also painted the Lamps orange.


The art work truly pops!
This shade of orange is quite delish and rather tangerine...though it was hard to capture in these pics.


Can you believe these adorable embroidered darlings were snapped up at the thrift for almost nothing?

I kinda ran with the 60's and 70's art theme it just went with the orange. You may click and enlarge any image.


The groovy girls!

Frankie Stein sez' "Sceery"!


A close up of the Halloweenie tree.


....but wait..... whats that.....Amanda Button has done it again with her amazing annual Halloween mix CD!

....among the deliciosity that defines an Amanda mix CD ....you can even hear Gladys Kravitz singing "The Invisible Man"!
Thank You lovely and creative Amanda.




What are you most looking forward too this Halloween?
For me after the candy has been gathered ...I MUST watch AMC's new series The Walking Dead based on the graphic novel of the same name.
Delicious candy AND zombies? I'm in!

Climbing Out of the Cyber Rabbit Hole

Where have I been? Lets grab some ice coffee and chat. Shall we?
So what have I been up to?



A little thespian-age (rhymes with espionage).Here I am givin' it my best Leslie Gore in "Beehive the Sixties Musical". The piece explored the evolution of womens music in the powder-keg 60's. I even got to be an Ike-ette!



I had a little extra time for a new creation......for...



........my beautiful Goddaughter Finnley(note a sweaty JDP coming straight from her show to a welcome to the world party)!


I have had plenty of time to perfect a recipe or two...how 'bout some Sweet Potato soup?
Perfect Autumn fare.
Easy-peasy instructions......chop 3 large-ish sweet potato's ,chop 2 large-ish onions....grab the chicken broth(veggie broth would also work),salt and pepper to taste.



Pour it all in a crock pot and let it simmer most of the day.

Puree everything and add a little fat-free half and half.

Delicious ,filling ,and healthy too!

With all the time I saved on dinner prep....I had time to read my favorite author Francesca Lia Block's new children's book,The House of Dolls.It is magical and ethereal as is the authors style and you and your little girl will love reading about the lives of 3 wonderful dolls:Wildflower, Rockstar, and Miss Selene.
Francesca has a beautiful blog now too, Love in the Time of Global Warming.


...and what would a visit to JDP's place be without a report on my latest thrift-ventures?
You know how I do adore vintage sweaters.
....and just in time for fall.... 2 new cozy lovelies.

...and finally..... one of my many vintage collecting passions are old glass-ware. Preferably of the kitsch-licious variety! These 3 circus High Balls fit the bill to perfection,and only 45 cents each!
Can you tell I'm gettin' my spooky-ookie on at the Pagoda?
I plan to come back and share more next week.
Wonderful to catch up even in the smallest way!

New Years Tales!

So 20 days into 2010 I sign back on to wish everyone a happy new decade!!!
....and I already feel like the perplexed vintage New Years Eve hubs in the above pic!!
How did my laundry room get so out of control???!!!??
At the Cliff May home I didn't even HAVE a laundry room...I had a laundry chair.
It was located in a little corner right by the closet that contained the stacked washer/dryer unit.I almost always had a nice (somewhat neat) stack of washed clothes waiting to be folded and put away. Honestly I could NEVER get ahead of this unsightly pile of clean clothes ready to be folded and put away! I dreamed of a future time when I would not have to grab this pile of clothes and hide them in the trunk of my car when company came!!!
Believe me ....the several month time span the house spent on the market.... many was the time I had to run to the car to find a particular recently laundered item!
So just how did I let THIS happen????
I have spent today tidying and flattening holiday boxes that were to be recycled and generally ....just DOING ...EVEN MORE laundry!!
Ya know there is only 4 of us but Laundry is just a time consuming,never let it get more than a couple of days ahead of you,perpetual BEAST!!!
Perhaps I will edit this post and show you a more cleaned up version...but I have not yet even decorated this space so maybe you will just take my word for it.
Such a pleasure to be able to SHUT the door!!!!
Maybe I was just too busy choreographing 4 little 6 year old "Dancing Queens" for the talent show(note Wee Petal on the bottom row!)!
Thats right ...the baby of the family finally entered the "family biz". She and 3 other little Diva-ettes went into a recording studio laid down some Abba trax and then sang and danced to their own sweet voices last Friday.
Hope your 2010 is going well...resolutions for me include doing a better job with the laundry room!