Ironstone and Good Books

I am a big fan of Piers Anthony. I love his work and I think he may be a genius. Knowing how much I love books, you may surmise that I have much of his work. You would be correct. But I didn't have these ones.

The plate will be of use to me. I was going to break it up for a project, but I may hold on to it and use it as serveware instead.

And how could I resist anything Sherlock Holmes?

As-Is

These plates are just beautiful. The colors are rich, the patterns are rich and lovely. Why were they as-is? Weeeellll...You can barely see it from the photo, but the top plate has this line going across it. It's a crack. Not a little hairline one, a fairly significant one. So significant that I will be able to break it completely in half by putting very little pressure on it.

The one on the bottom isn't as bad. But it's close. Which is good, because I keep buying plates for projects and I can't bring myself to break them apart. These are already broken.

Linking up with Colorado Lady today!

A pale green

I was so happy to pick up more of these candle holders. I have almost 10 of them now I think.

The Bottles are wonderful, but I need a bottle brush to get the dust out of the bottoms of them! The not quite bottle like thing is actually a glass salt shaker. The top is glass as well. That is unusual, as they are usually plastic or metal.

The plate is so beautiful. The celery color is accented by gold detailing. I bought it to break up, but I might turn this one into a wall hanging. I've seen some good things done with modge podge and photos.

Giving yourself a hand

I am very proud of my treasures. The ones that I buy, the ones that I create and the life that my husband and I have made together. We are crafty people. But while he gains his inspiration musically and from media, I gather my ideas from stuff.

The stuff is a problem. I have a lot of stuff. My side of the craft room is filled with stuff. Some things I don't have a use for yet. Some things I have room for, but not in their finished states. I have crafted coffee filter flowers. They are beautiful and fun, and everyone loves them. But what could I do with them once I finish them? I don't have a store. I don't go to craft fairs right now, where do I put them until then? And will I end up having to dust them before I go?

At lease the supplies stack flat. 

And at lease the china stacks as well. Once cut up, it also takes up a lot less room.

The poppy creamer will retain it's form, and so will the cup with the red handle. One more blue one and I'll have a whole set.

The little bowl the hand is sitting on is destined to be a bracelet. The 3 pins are best put to use on my spring coat.

But the hand.

The hand is a reminder of how much we have. How much we have together. And how we should approach our crafting and our lives. With love.

Butter warmer

I think everyone needs a butter warmer in their lives. If it happens to be blue enamel, all the better.

The cheese grater will have a second life holding more of my earrings. The plate has a destiny in pieces. The book, is of course, to be read, and the Avon candle holder? I actually think that it will hold a picture.

A cork will go in the candle spot, a bit of added wire and Presto-Chango, I give you the perfect herald of spring.

 Okay. Half a cork.

Plate bonanza

I love pretty little vintage plates. The details, the colors. The way I'd break them if I ever tried to use them...

But it's okay. These are slated for a date with a hammer anyway. Jewelry can be cruel.

The candlesticks are going to another project. Need to find my glue. I have emails out. I'll know soon enough. And then you get to see finished projects.

Embroidery projects!

I have so many projects planned for these! I can't wait to get started. (But it will probably have to wait until I'm finished my other projects)

And I'm not sure where I should put this. Mostly because I really like my apartment. But it was just so interesting I couldn't resist!

Books and Flowers

This pretty little flower dish is holding some of my earrings right now. Occasionally it also holds change. It is one of the nicer plates I've been able to find.

The books here... Wow. Unseen Academicals is one of the more recent books in the series. They are expensive! But I do love them. Sometimes I will make an exception to my rule of only thrifting books and buy one every six months or so. They really are that good.

Will post some pictures this week of things I made for the Superbowl party this past weekend. I served them in thrifted dishes.

My House Plate

I was going to replace the cord on the back, but it's holding up pretty well. I just had to hang it up right when I got home.

I wasn't going to get this, but I ran back to pick it up from the shelf. I'm very pleased with my decision.

The Caged Bird

The caged bird would be singing if he had that cage to live in! It's so tiny and cute. The pyrex I really did not need, but I do love that size. It's perfect for cereal and all kinds of left overs. This is my fourth of this size.

The mini dishes are very sweet and very Japanese. I'm thinking of turning them into pendants. They would make unusual statement pieces.

The lighter needs some minor repair and a fill up. I always wanted to have a table top lighter. Even if this one seems to be maybe missing a cap.

Anthropomorphism in ceramic

Yeah. That is a fish plate. I know it's weird. But what can I say? It's just awesome!

On his belly are some more nice things. The little glass jar will hold spare earring backs, next to my pretty scarab bracelet and the copper necklace. I have been trying to find jewelry in all kinds of materials lately. I have a few things in brass, one or two in copper and most in silver. Gold doesn't exactly bring out the best in my coloring, so I try to avoid it. But copper and brass are okay. I just need to find earrings to match these things. Silver earrings just don't look very good with copper or brass necklaces.

And I don't know about you, I think Sir Duck is just cute as a bug. The Ikea oranaments are so nice. And so nice of them to still be in their box! I'll put them away in the Christmas bin for next year. But underneath is a small casserole dish from The Pampered Chef. They are the perfect size for a multitude of dips. And perfect for pie too. I just got a subscription to Vegetarian Times and want to try out some of their dishes. There is a mushroom pie that looks beautiful! Not that I'm a vegetarian, but throwing a few meatless meals into rotation aren't a bad thing.

Holiday Cards

I am always in need of more places to put my holiday cards. I thought that this picture holder would be a nice change from the front of the fridge.

And the glasses! It's a eyeglass holder. You are meant to hook your glasses through the chain so they are always at hand. I think I'll put it in my bedroom and hang my spares pair of glasses on it.

And aren't the blue plates dreamy? I don't know what to do with them, but I'll probably find some kind of hors d'oeuvres to serve on them at one party or another this year. I'll probably do a cheese ball of some kind. And serve it with that AWESOME pampered chef serving knife.

The brass cups are going to hold small bits on my craft table. I can never have too many compartments when it comes to that table. I use stuff, sort it into smaller categories, pour them into separate bowls and POOF! I'm out of bowls again.

And that serving fork. Very cool. I have some spoons and forks of the same pattern already cut apart for key chains, and jewelry. I am in need of a butane torch. But when I get it, that fork will become a bracelet in short order.