search...stash...share!

For a long time, probably eight years or so, I had been in the mode of searching and stashing, hunting and gathering, putting away for a rainy day (which could be a long time in Arizona :)) and just generally collecting some very cool bits, baubles and doodads.  Several years ago, I started sharing things from my collections...in Heirloom kits, in pieces of art, and most recently, in special one of a kind projects I've created especially for you!

Some of you have asked how I can part with my treasures.  I have to be honest with you...at first it was a bit tough.  You know how it is...there are things that can't be found again, those one of a kinds, scrapbook products that are no longer available, vintage items that I picked up in antique malls and flea markets that I'd probably never see again...all great reasons to hang onto the treasures and never let them go :).

There was something that happened when I started letting go of some of the bits and baubles.  I started discovering bigger and better things, finding great deals on items in bulk, discovering new sources for vintage stuff and get this, the ideas for new projects just started flowing like crazy.  What an amazing outcome, isn't it?  Since that time, I've found it easier and easier to share from my bountiful collection...the blessings just keep coming back, not just in more stuff, but in hearing back from you about how thrilled you are with what I've sent and how excited you are to create with new and different things.  Can't beat that!!!!

Today, I've got three more one of a kind pieces of art to share...I'm so excited about them...and, truth be told, it's been a teensy, weensy bit hard to part with them.  They are really right up my alley, so to speak, and soooo much my style...I was definitely in my "sweet spot" when I was creating them.  Here's what's new from the creatologie studio today!!!!!

AUTUMN SHIMMER (aka METAL MANIA!):

I absolutely LOVE this book!  It's a hand created hard back book with three interior signatures and 38 interior surfaces.  The inside pages are textured ivory cardstock, as well as textured ivory cardstock that has been glazed in a flourish pattern (perfect for inking).  The cover is built with a number of layers...background paint and metallic glaze on the book, paint and metallic glaze on the heavy textured paper, distressed and aged chipboard and hand aged, stamped and embossed copper metal.  Check out the detail on the copper...all done by hand...by moi!  And, you know what's so cool?  You can create your own title by stamping or writing in the index plate on the cover.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the spine...once you see it, you'll have to agree that it's definitely metal mania!!!!

Whoa, Baby!  Can you believe all of those charms?  There are actually 21 of them, each attached with a jump ring to a chain which is connected to the spine.  Some of the charms are quite old...a rusty key, an old copper flower, a token, a vintage glass pearl, vintage MOP buttons...and others are new with a vintage look.  You will love the look...and the feel...and the sound :).

If you were to make this one from scratch, I'd venture to guess that creating the structure, aging and embossing the copper, adding the other cover details, and attaching all of the charms would be a class that would take the better part of a day...i.e., lots of cool details!

There's more with this package!

I'm including a rusty trunk (the rust is sealed so that it won't rub off on your hands or on things inside) that is super cool.  It's 12" wide by 8" deep by 5 1/2" high...large enough to store a lot of treasures.

Inside the trunk, you will find some gorgeous coordinating fabrics (the color on a couple is showing purple but in fact it's a gorgeous, rich tobacco brown), 12" of copper mesh tubing (soft metal mesh that you can use to create little tubes or bags), velvet leaves and organza roses.  I'v also included some copper pieces...one piece that's aged, one that's not, plus two pieces of stampable mesh, one in copper and one in bronze.  You'll also receive some manila envelopes, library pockets and other envelopes, plus some 7 gypsies rub-ons to add to your pages.

There are 12 pieces of Florentine metallic papers (8 1/2 x 11) that are made in Italy which will be perfect for the inside pages of this book...you will LOVE them.

I've also included a collection of metal bits and bobs...all wonderful additions to decorate your pages.

All of this...the hand created book, the trunk, fabrics, paper goods and metal bits...can be yours for just $147, plus shipping (within the US, sales tax included in shipping for AZ residents).  Just click on the buy now button below and I'll ship out your "metal mania" goodies in a few days.

SOLD.  THANK YOU.

Next up:

BLESSINGS!

We are in the season of the harvest...and the season of giving thanks for our many blessings.  What better way than to put your thoughts, stories and pictures into one very special, very vintage, shabby and fall looking book.  I've called it "Blessings" but because the index plate is left open, you can title it whatever you want!

There is so much goodness on the cover of this hand created book.  It's a repurposed hardback, approx. 7 1/2" x 9 1/2", with 16 interior surfaces on which to create.  This book has a flap at the back, which adds a cool dimension, and the pages are actually heavy water color paper.  OK, how cool is that?  You can use an ink wash (and guess what, you'll be getting a jar of walnut ink crystals, too!!!!) or watercolor paints to prep the backgrounds of your inside pages.  What a super fun art challenge!

But, back to the cover!  There are layers of paint, glaze, vintage style patterned papers, and dyed cheesecloth to form the background.  Then, there's a fabric covered vintage spool cone that spills out vintage lace, an old doily, hand dyed and hand made flowers, a vintage pearl chain, leaves, hand dyed ribbon and a metal framed cameo.  This would be a perfect book to display on an easel...a very beautiful and feminine piece of book art!

This is another one of those books that would probably take a six hour (or longer) class to put together.  Here's the spine...gathered hand-dyed fabric and a mother of pearl button chain...yum!

On the inside of the flap, I put together something fun...a great way to count your blessings!

There's a whole strip of these hand painted metal numbers...from 1 through 6.

And, I'm also including some coordinated products with this book.  

There are vintage appliques, vintage lace, old dress pattern tissue, a wire hanger and wire note holders, some fun stickers, a journaling card and wonderful, old pearl and mother of pearl embellishments.  As I mentioned earlier, you will also have a jar of walnut ink crystals to create a page wash or to dye fabrics, lace, or ribbons.

I've also included some coordinating trims and fabrics, envelopes, library pockets, single slide mailers and even a little brass framed title block which says "blessings"!

This amazing piece of art, along with the coordinating products is available today for just $97, plus shipping (within the US, sales tax for AZ residents included in shipping charge).  Just click on the buy now button and I'll happily (remember the blessings :)) ship out your book and products.  Can't wait to see what you do with your book!

SOLD.  THANK YOU!

Now for the third!

LA MAISON RUSTIQUE!

If you are a flea market junkie...or you love going to antique malls, you know how hard it is to find vintage ledger books, especially large ones.  Well, this one will blow your socks off!  The ledger book, which forms this piece of art, is huge!  It's 11x14 (approx) and actually has writing inside.  The first entries are from 1932 and while there are some missing pages, there are still a lot of pages included inside that have writing and others that are plain.

La Maison Rustique...the rustic house, in French (of course)...is the perfect name and the perfect cover for this vintage/antique fabulous find.

The cover is a combination of vintage/antique finds and newer product.  There's an old bottle, vintage tinsel garland, an old metal key, vintage pearls and mother of pearl buttons, very old berries and little silver balls, vintage, glittered leaves, old crystal buttons and a new shimmery little bird, nesting quite happily on the crystal topped bottle.  This is really such a cool project.  I wish you could feel the flocked velvet paper, the old lace, the the coolness of the mother of pearl "Lucky" buttons.  And, to finish it off, there's shimmery flaked mica applied to certain areas of la maison.  La maison also boasts vintage music paper, vintage crepe paper, an old letter and old ledger paper.  Very fun!

Here are some details and a picture of the first entry in the ledger book:

For those of you who would prefer not to alter the interior pages, this would make a perfect display piece on its own.  And, to help you accomplish that, I'm including a metal easel, perfect for holding this fabulous book and cover.  Wouldn't "La Maison Rustique" be a wonderful addition to your holiday home this year?

I'm offering this wonderful, shabby ledger book with a completed cover and metal easel for just $97 (plus shipping, sales tax for AZ residents including in shipping charge).  Those of you who have looked at ledger books know that this package is a really good deal, as some ledger books alone can cost almost this much :).  Just click on the Buy Now button below and it will be YOURS!

SOLD.  THANK YOU!

I searched...I stashed...and now, I've shared!  I can't wait to have you share with me what you've done with the books and products.

As always, thanks for reading, for your orders, and for your referrals to friends and family!

From my studio to yours,

Carol

Comments

[Heidi Mireles]

Very cool stuff.