DID YOU KNOW?

DID YOU KNOW? is a new feature in our blog 
                                that's full of trivia tidbits!

• Hawaii imports 90% of its food.
•  In 1866, 1,186 varieties of fruits and vegetables were produced in California. Today, California's farms produce only 350 commercial crops.
• A typical carrot has to travel 1,838 miles to reach your dinner table.
• In the U.S., a wheat farmer can expect to receive about six cents of each dollar spent on a loaf of bread—approximately the cost of the wrapping.
• Farmers' markets enable farmers to keep 80 to 90 cents of each dollar spent by the consumer.
• About 1/3 of all U.S. farms are located within metropolitan areas, comprising 18% of total U.S. farmland.

Vintage Asian Figurines

Hand-painted porcelain, 6" tall x 2-1/2". Great attention to detail...traditional design, expressive faces & superb coloring. A creation of Ardalt Lenwile Verithin, same as "Lenwile" from the 40's.

For further info: http://www.etsy.com/listing/72606119/vintage-chinese-figurines-pair-porcelain

North Lake Tahoe!

http://www.gotahoenorth.com

Here's a GREAT link that will get you thinking about the Sierra Nevadas and beautiful LAKE TAHOE.  We  heart the North side of the Lake, a small community called INCLINE VILLAGE.  This eastern North Shore enclave features some of Tahoe’s most striking boulder beaches.   Scenic drives through the mountains to the Lake are filled with sweet smelling pines.  Pine cones can grow 8" tall around Incline...the ground is thick with them!

Vintage St. Jude Statue

St Jude is well known as the patron of things despaired, lost causes, hopeless cases.  Close to mint condition for a mid 1900s piece, this chalk ware statue measures about 12.25" tall. The base is marked St Jude and hand painted.  Colors are strong and shows St Jude in his later years. This is a wonderful classic to add to your altar or collection. 

See etsy.com's moXieantiques for sale information: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78824130/vintage-nuns-convent-saint-jude-chalk

           

           

Wee Vintage Madonna Figurine

Here's a small vintage porcelain bust of the Madonna.   High gloss porcelain, stands 4-1/2" high x 1-3/4"  It's nice to have a religious icon that's small enough to be personal, one you can carry even when traveling.  See http://www.etsy.com/listing/69765747/vintage-small-madonna-head-figurine for specifics!

Vintage Puppy Dog Figurines!

Vintage black & white puppy dog figurines! Cute as can be, the porcelain pair can easily be displayed interacting with each other. Great detail in their expressions and fur coats. The standing pup is 3-3/4" tall, the other 3-1/4" long.  Well cared for over the years & not played with, both were 'shelf sitters' ~ part of a personal collection.

See http://www.etsy.com/listing/78231401/vintage-puppy-dog-figurines-porcelain for further information!

Welcome to Vancouver!

Vancouver, BC, Canada is truly one of the world's most beautiful cities and one of the healthiest places to visit or live. It is a sophisticated, vibrant, fun loving, outdoor living city.

 

 Don't miss the harbour - you can watch float planes take off and land in the Burrard Inlet, cruise ships arriving and departing in summer and boats and ships sailing, rowing or motoring back and forth year round. Vancouver's Convention Centre is so green it has six acres of grass growing on the roof. From its windows, you can see Stanley Park and the North Shore Mountains in one direction and downtown Vancouver in the other.  And, you are 120 km from Whistler, a spectacular winter ski resorts and summer playground.

 
One tenth of Vancouver's nearly 600,000 inhabitants live downtown, most in innovative, high rise apartment buildings that feature glass and more glass showcasing the city's light and views.  Moreover, Vancouver has one of the most diverse populations in North America and with that diversity comes all the benefits: great new ideas, an embracing, cooperative spirit, ethnic food, shops, customs and celebrations.  

"Spice It Up" Centerpiece

This 8 x 12" woven basket is chock full of fine-quality faux veggies artistically arranged (and secured) to look 'fresh from the farm.' Its got everything you'd need for a (pretend) bowl of homemade salsa outside of the cilantro! See etsy's Expressions123 for specifics: http://www.etsy.com/listing/33271645/centerpiece-spice-it-up-veggie-table

BRAIN GYM "visualize with me"

 Brain Gym's® concept is...'moving with intention' leads to optimal learning.  It brings about dramatic improvements in areas of concentration, focus & memory plus the all-important attitude & self-responsibility. We had family  experience with the program, it's an excellent tool. 

For a personal contact, Aimee Edwards, Licensed Brain Gym Instructor from River Forest, IL (suburban Chicago) will be happy to explain the technique & work with you.  She's very approachable...the Mom of young adult sons, Aimee is in the Education field as an ESL Teacher with a Montessori background.

http://www.visualizewithme.com
visualizewithme@ymail.com

Vintage Cat Figurine

Cute vintage white ceramic cat with a super expressive face in pristine condition.  Ready for gift giving if you don't keep it yourself! Substantial size, 7" tall. 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72947750/vintage-cat-figurine-ceramic-white

OKTOBERFEST, facts about...

1) It's an annual 16-18 day Fest in Munich, Bavaria, Germany from late Sept. to the 1st weekend in October. 2) Only beer brewed within the city limits with a minimum of 13.5% Master Spice (the crucial measured variable when brewing beer) is allowed to be designated Oktoberfest Beer. 3) The traditional drinking vessel is a 1-Liter glass or clay stein. 4) The fest is in Sept. simply because the weather is better for an outdoors party...nights are warmer. 5) Others believe it was originally held to drink up the old stocks of beer to make room for the new brew that would be made after harvest.  6) The first Oktoberfest was celebrated in 1810 to honor of the marriage of a Crown Prince & his Princess Bride.  This 5-day gala ended with a horse race and 7) Others say it's simply a fun German festival celebrating their culture and society. 

Friendly Reminder Towels!

* AS SEEN IN AUGUST 2011 SHAPE MAGAZINE *

Beautifully embroidered spring green hand towels to hang in the bathroom to remind yourself how great you are! Check this etsy.com shop for more colors and the rest of the Friendly Reminder Towel sets! http://www.etsy.com/listing/78959957/friendly-reminder-towels-you-look-pretty

Stained Glass Round Panel

...a charming 11-1/2" handcrafted stained glass panel with a beveled border and light champagne colored background glass called waterglass.  For striking glass creations (such as hand-crafted stained glass panels, suncatchers, candle shelters, etc.) see etsy's barncatstudio.    http://www.etsy.com/shop/barncatstudio

Bakery Delight @ Whole Foods

Check out this awesome 'Back to School' cake created by the talented bakery artists at our local Whole Foods Market at 7245 Lake St. in  River Forest (Oak Park) IL. 708/366-1045. Whole Foods has stores nationwide in the U.S. plus Canada and the UK. 

Stained Glass/Wire Mobile

            

FiveSparrows (an etsy.com shop) created this cool stained glass mobile of 2 abstract suns or flowers that twirl as they hang in the window. Made from recycled repurposed glass jars.  See http://www.etsy.com/shop/FiveSparrows!

Wood Burning par excellence!

MADONNA - original Pyrography Burning

by Leighton Davies

http://www.etsy.com/shop/custompyrography

Remember wood burning kits as a kid?  This gentleman has gone well beyond!  He started burning wood (pyrography) just one year ago and has created Celebrity pieces you'd be more than proud to display. 

Small but pretty...

As always, think of using that small but pretty plate as a cache  for change, a sweets dish, fancy soap holder or simply an under-plate  to accent one of your decorative pieces...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78051765/vintage-green-square-cut-glass-plate

DOCTOR, DOCTOR...

I

If you're looking for something unique for the Doctor in your life, this may be it!
An 80's product of Country Artists (a firm well respected for life-like art) this vintage figurine is in excellent condition ... looks like Doc is waiting for the best time to shoot the shot!  To check it out, click on:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77289371/vintage-doctor-figurine-humorous-resin

Chicago Realism by ArtdeJoie

This Chicago painter brings 'The City' to us with gritty 'behind-the-scenes' as well as striking renditions of  Downtown and eclectic neighborhoods.







You can see ArtdeJoie's expressive work at:
 http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtdeJoie
or Facebook.com/ArtdeJoie

'The Great Outdoors' Note Card

The 'Great Outdoors' card will please anyone who's in love with Camping or Hiking.  4-1/4" x 5-1/2"  Individually hand-set ('scrapbooked') with care ... there are many elements of a great day (and night) outdoors!  Check out this etsy shop!  www.expressions123.etsy.com

Agate/Glass Candle Lantern

A unique, one-of-a-kind design that's reminiscent of the red rocks in the Southwest.  See http://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenhouseGlassworks for this and many other striking glass pieces.

Baskets extraordinaire!

This example of the fine weaving talents of (etsy.com) BASKETSBYROSE is perfect for a trip to your local farm market or for picking in your own garden. Brown reed is woven into the sides of this basket. It measures a generous 24" x 10" x 11 1/2" center of handle.  For other styles of practical but pretty handwoven baskets,
click http://www.etsy.com/shop/basketsbyrose

Have you tried SMILEBOX?

It's a WOW way to bring your photos and videos to life!  The application lets you quickly and easily create slideshows, invitations, greetings, collages, scrapbooks & photo albums right on your computer. With more than 1000 customizable templates to choose from, you'll find inspiration around every corner.   Here's an example of what you can do with SMILEBOX...isn't it the coolest thing? Get started at http://www.smilebox.com

Scrapbook design made with Smilebox

Classy Victorian Style Vase

An antique Victorian style vase with 22kt gilt on ceramic overlay. This striking piece can also be an urn because of its shape. Very striking, very beautiful at 8" tall. A tag places it sometime after the McKinley Tariff - 1900 to about 1920.  

See http://www.etsy.com/listing/77581208/antique-victorian-style-vase-22kt-gilt

A gift to my sister...I made it

with shells from Marco Island's (Florida) beaches and

a lot of hot glue.  The foo-foos on top were the

perfect touch, don't you think?

God's "Sleep Tight!"

A stunning Florida sunset

on Marco Island!

Unique Family keepsakes!

geneploss.etsy.com offers this 8x10 Classic Black Personalized Family Keepsake Print as a cool way to gift family & friends.  Names of your choice are used to create a one-of-a-kind design...something different from the usual types of personalization we see. These are professionally made, archival quality photographic prints.  Contact Gene at http://www.etsy.com/shop/geneploss

OVER A CUP OF JOE...

ahhhhhhh, a crackling campfire with a pot of Joe!  This handmade FRIDGE MAGNET from http://expressions123.etsy.com  caught my eye since our kids & their  families love camping ... I always tell them "Better you than me!" LOL

Expressions123 also offers cool handmade Note & Greeting cards!