Thursday, July 30, 2009

Confessions of an Ebayholic

Ok I confess I am an Ebayholic. There is nothing I cannot find on this site... whether I need or not. No I am not talking clothes, shoes and belts (although I have been know to do that as well on occasion as longs as the tags are attached) but rather antique and vintage treasures that find their way to my "atelier" and wait to be re-purposed and if you ask be turned into beautiful pieces of art. What kind of treasures? Well my recent purchases have included, mercury glass beads, antique ornaments; antique silver, green and faded gold will do, tinsel garlands, cellulise deers, flocked deers, velvet ribbons in warm and unique huges and much more. Not to say that I do not love hunting for those things at Brimfiels, Todd's Farm (local Flea Market) or even the Flea Market in Paris but I love coming home at night from a very long and often hard day at work to find a box with my latest purchase. Sellers usually are very nice, include a note and wish teh item good luck in its new home. I go to my basement where my "atelier" and immediately come up with a projec that will include the new purchase. I know for some poeple they first create and draft then look for raw materials. Not for me I find something that makes my heart sing , I get it then when I look at what I have the project will start. No two pieces are ever the same but they rock!
All of my creations are done with special people in mind and events, friends, collegues, birthdays, holidays, few are made without someone in mind to give it to...So once the creations are gone the cycle starts again and I look for new materials. Where do I go to find them? http://www.ebay.com/

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

I did not find time last nigh to sit down and write. The weather was so nice ....temptations took me to the garden instead. My garden is still a mess in the back. Although we finsihed our rennovation almost ayear ago we have not done much to clean up. Let's face it what for? the crew was back again installing gutters... leaving scraps, boxes and much more behind. I am, I believe growing nails now. But I know that everything comes in due time. How do I cope you ask? Simple: I dare to dream. I Organize, design, color for hours. It is actually a great exercise, one that soothes my mind and makes my heart sing.
One of the looks I am looking at (not set yet) is wicker in some parts of the garden...But will not look like my grandmother's garden. I am going for a more modern up to date look. One company seems to fit that bill www.kokmaison.com. They offer a lot of choices from the colorful to the very natural. I am going for the natural but there entire lines are fabulous!
Enjoy

Monday, July 27, 2009

vintage and reindeers

Well it has been a while since my last blog.  It is hard to find time to write while at the same time holding a full time job (yes I am lucky I know), welcoming guests, furnishing our house and traveling to Europe. The only blogging has been in my head and although it was quite good it just does not fit the bill ! So I am finally back. I have changed my home page and would love to hear your feedback. You can ask why reindeers ? Well you will soon discover that when it comes to creating , "mon atelier" is very much about the holidays, glitter, antique or vintage scraps, natural materials, anything goes. You give me something and I get creative, nothing cute, lacy or weird... I guess as child, growing up in Europe my parents rarely went out of their way to celebrate and decorate. No complaints they were busy and used to send us away skiing most of the time in Switzerland. It made me long for nicely decorated homes where poeple gathered and getting together was more important than what you received as a gift. So here I am now leaving in the US and since my kids were little I have been dedicated every year to make the holidays special.  A little bit of antique, always some shades of green, silver and whatever else we can put our hands on..and yes reindeers, plenty of them....I always look for supplies and ways to create beautiful things even in the middle of the summer. While on my recent trip to Germany I came accross www.germancorner.com , placed an order and received gorgeous glass glitter and other materials, I will start creating over the week end...Maybe it will provide well needed cooling.

Friday, July 3, 2009

A free day

A free day ahead of the 4th of July, such a nice and welcomed break. Spent some time learning on blogging as I want to share some of my favorite sites with you. Along the way I found this site that list all of the blogs out there on decoration and creation for the home. Some are local, some as far a Europe and Australia. So many passionate people it really makes me want to spend some more time reading and sharing...Take a look at www.blogcatalog.com you will be amazed!
Talk to you tomorrow.