Flea Market Studio

Laugh..

 

I love to Laugh.. It is what gets me through everyday. Life can be rough.. but it can also very Easy depending on the Day. I work with children. They are little. When it rains, they are wild. And when you don't feel good... it is very rough. But what gets me through the Day is to Laugh. I find something at my work to laugh about Every single Day. It is the best job ever. Who can say that about their Job? I can. I am so Lucky. I made this simple garland with the word LAUGH because it is one of my favorite words and also with Artful Thursday's in mind. It is made with linen fabric, vintage book page, chipboard letters and vintage kite string. I made many and with conversation heart words like KISS. HUG ME, LOVE U  they are hanging all over the house... but changed my mind on using it for the Artful Thursday's project. I decided to give myself a little challenge. I do this from time to time. I either go to the Dollar Tree or 99 cent Store and find something to alter or supplies to make projects with...  So here is what I came up with.....

A little Vintage Valentine inspired nut cup. My plan is to hang them on my Valentine tree.. Most of these supplies were found at the 99Cent store I know it is not the most inspirational spot... but some of my favorite projects have come from there. 

I found a package of princess party favor boxes...

I also found a roll of red crepe paper, a gift bag with red flocked paper and tiny red velvet bows.

These are the other supplies that I used: vintage book page, tiny flower with a red brad (found Hiedi Grace pack at Big Lots  for a $1),  vintage kite string, vintage lace ribbon, red stickles and I printed words on vintage typewriter paper with a grunge typewriter font.  

Here are the Steps....

Step 1: cut the flaps of the boxes and also the handles

 

Step 2: cut the bag down and fit to size on the sides of the box then glue them down.

Step 3: punch  holes on the 2 opposite  sides of the cup and string the lace ribbon through and then tie them

Step 4: cut a heart shape out of the vintage page and glue onto chipboard (or if you do not have chipboard use the back board of packaging )

Step 5: put the red stickles around the Heart shape, Let it dry.. if you have not used stickles before, FYI it takes a while for it to dry.

Step 6: Make a crepe paper flower and cut it down to fit in the middle of the heart

Step 7: Add the tiny polka dot flower and brad to the crepe flower then glue onto the heart

  

Step 8: this is optional, cut out a small image to fit on the side of the heart

Step 9: Hot glue the heart onto the nut cup

Step 10: I like to stock up on  packages of tiny red velvet bows after Christmas for Valentines Day.. they come with cheap looking gold twist ties, I just take the ties off and tie them with my vintage kite string

 

The last step is to add the velvet bow to the top of the middle of the lace,  I print out Valentines words to vintage typing paper, paste it down to the top of the heart and there you have it! Fill them with pink moss or raffia and Red and white candies....

 I  also wanted to share some Valentines finds.. Vintage and new. Went thrift-ing and I found packages of antique lace, a vintage reproduction Valentine and beautiful red heart decorated with tulle and roses. I also found the red souffle cups at TJmaxx for 3.99... planning on making mini chocolate Lava cakes for Valentines Day.... with fresh homemade  whipped cream ohhhh my Favorite!

 There you have what I have been up to, but what I am the most excited is to be a Aunt to my Brother's baby Girl that is due to come into the World any day now..... Her name is going to be Simone.. Come into the World Simone... the water is fine xoxo Auntie Lilia

Artful Thursdays..

Julie, from Blue Girl XO and I have been online friends for over 3 years now. We both have a love of vintage and of handmade books, we have done many trades and Round Robin books together. Her style is impeccable. It is soft and beautiful and the attention to detail.. I am in awe... I can pick her work a mile away. She loves things so tiny and beautiful.. me on the other hand.. Big, messy and crazy. She created a group to make a piece of Art a week and post it every Thursday. Its called Artful Thursdays. Great idea, I love Deadlines.. I work better that way. It helps get rid of my hoarding of vintage supplies and gets me doing projects I have been putting off for ohh lets see, years now. You can do anything.. from sewing , scrapbooks, paper Arts.. anything. I love this idea so much! So last night as I was finishing my last episodes of Dexter.. I created something small. I know beautiful and Dexter.. dont sound like they go together.. they dont. Before I put up what I created.. I wanted to share the way I make a piece of Art. I start by cleaning out my Studio. Not sounding so fun, right? While I am organizing, I pick up things and put them in a basket. Things that catch my eye, need to be fixed, projects untouched or that are calling my name.. Thats how I roll. 

I made a mini twill book. I purchased this 3 inch twill many years ago. For what reason? I still dont know, but knew I had to use it. I thought about stamping images on it, making a belt.. I just love the cream color and the size. So I put these little things in my inspiration basket:

a small crotchet flower (I dont like hunter green, I knew right away that was getting torn off), a  white millinery leaf, printed text ribbon, cream trim , pink velvet ribbon and vintage pink thread.

After staring at these things for a while, couldnt take my eyes off of Dexter.. here is what I came up with:

yes another book. How did I make this silly book.. well here are the steps:

You need 36 inches of 3 inch cotton twill.  You will fold them back to back with  a larger piece on the bottom, heres what I am talking about:
Then with your sewing machine, ( I like to use brown thread for almost every project) sew down the right side of the book. This will be your spine. I also sew on the right side of each page. I used scalloped edge scissors and made a V, on the closure. I sewed the printed ribbon, pink velvet and cream pleated trim on the side of the book. Took the green leaves off the crotchet flower off and added the cut down to size white leaf. I sewed it to the front cover of the book. The flower is used as a button. I made a button hole on the V part of the closure. Then I stitched the printed text ribbon with the vintage pink thread. 

I hope you understand my directions.. I kind of dont understand them myself. I am terrible at directions. I guess thats me not playing by the Art Rules. If there are any.

So there you have it, a piece.. I had not planned on. What will I use it for you ask? I think I might actually stamp little love notes for my Hubby with Staz-on ink.

Thats all I have for now, please check out Julie's blog there are more Artful Thursday's blogs on her sidebar to check out.. Wow, this is a first in a long time.. Posting on a Thursday. I am telling you, I am feeling so creative and inspired..... more Artful Thursday's to come! Ohh on a great note, I have raised $32o.oo for Haiti!!!!!!!!!!! YIPPPEEEEEEEE..... I hope it goes to the right hands.. American Red Cross please dont let the people of Haiti down......! Going to see a movie on a school night... AVATAR.. Hope its as good as everyone tells me. hugs-Lilia

Getting back to what created this Blog...and feeling Liberated and most of all Grateful.

 
Now that I put all that Drama past me, I feel liberated and Grateful.I can create and go back to the reason why I created this Blog in the first place. To create Art, to talk about what I love the most: MY FAMILY and to show the  treasures (Life and Thrift) I find along the way.

 When I was a little girl, my Mother had a friend that loved putting pretty package together . Nothing crazy, just simple. She would use buttons, scraps, ribbons and ephemera.. I would never want to open it because I didn't want to ruin the beautiful presentation. I remember thinking, its all about the giving and presentation. Unless I am in a hurry, I usually try to wrap a gift a certain way. I thank her for making me pay attention to detail. Thank you Mrs. Ruben.

I started scrap-booking 7 years ago when my Daughter was born. If it wasn't for a great on-line community like Two Peas in a bucket and all the Scrapbook Artists I would have never been so interested in Paper Arts like I am now. Thank you Two Peas and those amazing Scrapbook Artists that inspire me!

If it wasn't for my Family.. I wouldn't have a reason to want to create all of those Scrapbooks, Art Journals and those silly books I like to create. Thank you Sweet Family.

If it wasn't for Those amazing Art/Stamp/Scrapbook Stores and the beautiful ladies that own them, I would have never had the opportunity to Teach my crazy Art (Art family cannot understand).. Thank you Ladies from Frenzy Stamper, Stampotique, Mystic Paper, Paper Tales .

Also my On line Art friends that inspire me, do Art with me and love to Swap with me...... you  make it all so fun . Thank you! And to my Etsy customers... Thank you for your business... I am grateful. Really.

I wanted to share a couple of Valentines Art I have done.. Here  is one for my Living room and one that hangs in my Daughters room:

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  I also made a banner.. I am having a little Valentine Art making party at my House and this is my Project to teach.

  I also wanted to share what Darianne made.. a picture with Hearts Andy Warhol style.. Love it!

Thank you again for coming back, not just for the Drama and for your support!-hugs Lilia

What I have learned....

After these last couple of days trying to sort things out it my Head... Ive learned some new things.. and was reminded of some old..

*There are more important things in this World

*People love Drama.. it was pretty clear after 1,283 hits on my Blog yesterday (I would rather have no hits with happiness if you ask me)

*Regardless of what someone writes about me, I am a good person, I have known myself for 40 years to know that.

* There are really supportive and Amazing people out there!!!

*This is my Blog.. My Rules.. My Truths... My Arena

* I would rather be honest than put on my "pretend I like everyone and its ok to walk over me" Happy hat on

*Life is good! the good, the bad the ugly!

*Dont expect someone to take responsibility for their own actions.. even if it is clear as day... 

* I will still do my Art because I love it.. 

*Even though, it was my last resort, it feels good to get something out...not how it had to happen.. but so be it.

* I know people dont like to get involved , I get it.... (private emails).. I used to be like that.... 

*There are people that will listen

*confrontation sucks.. 

Thank you for your support.... Next post will be back to happiness... I promise and not the pretend kind!-Lilia Meredith

there are more important things in this world...

all my Valentines Day item's profits... will all go to Haiti....earthquake relief. thank you for listening.

When does inspiration turn into something else?

 

when someone takes your Art and sells it.. they take a little piece of you... Ive politely have asked her to stop a year ago and she denied it, I think the pictures speak for themselves.... Its not about just stitching and polka dots... its about a Piece of you...

A New Year..

A New Year. Many plans,  lots of cleaning of clutter of the mind and Home, lots of hopeful thoughts, A fresh new page. Don't you love what a New Year has to offer? I do. I am busy making a blueprint of  2010. But we all know, plans change in a heartbeat.  Enjoying the sunshine, yes it read 76 today. It is not right in the middle of Winter. I am not complaining, just feel bad for my Friends back East. 

I spent the day going to my favorite Japanese Market and working on my Art Books. Its been a while. I plan on eating more Fish and less red Meat.. so hard for me. Its time, did anyone see Food Inc. ? Why do I do that to myself? Very scary documentary. I bought a great cookbook on cooking Japanese food. Had poached Halibut and bok choy. Lets see how long this lasts. 

Here is a picture of my Christmas journal page for this year..

And here is our Home book, that I worked in..

 
 


I plan on working on my Art journals this year. I neglected them last year.  I am also getting some goodies ready for Valentines Day. I hope everyone had a Wonderful Holiday Season, heres to a Great Year of Art and Happiness! XOXO