Monday, January 18, 2010

Kreativ Blogger Award



Omg! Was I ever shocked to open the mail telling me that Julie Dembowski (click the to go visit her informative blog) had picked me to recieve a Kreativ Blogger Award. She's one of my favorite Astrologers and lovely twitter friend! Thank you so much Julie...I appreciate your encouragement and this award! xo

I put some goals down on paper (to make them manifest more powerfully) during the New Moon/Eclipse on Friday. Wish #2 was promote more and find ways to promote others. On Friday I was suprised by a nice write up in Riddle blog. Then on Saturday I was featured in Finding Charm blog..another neat suprise. I was chatting with Sarah on twitter and I told her I was looking for ways to promote others and that she had inspired me. I wasn't quite sure what or how I was going to promote, so I had been thinking about it on and off, and on Sunday I was given this fabulous award by Julie. I thought about it and *bingo* I knew this would be the gift that allowed me to pay it forward! How's that for manifestation? Thank you Universe ♥

There are some rules that go along with this award. They are as follows

1. Copy/paste the Kreativ Blogger Award picture onto your blog
2. Thank the person who awarded it to you and post a link to her/his blog
3. Write 7 things about yourself we might not know
4. Choose 7 other bloggers to award
5. Link to them
6. Notify your 7 bloggers of their award

Here are 7 things you may not know about me (and if you do......shhhhhh!)

1. When I was 21 my best friend and I sold all our stuff (except our extensive record collections) packed two ridiculously large backpacks and moved to Manchester, England. We didn't know anyone or even have hotel reservations.

2. I am an empath.

3. The best thing I ever sold on ebay was a silver haired 'american girl' barbie doll head. just the head...went for $437.00. That was 10 years ago, I wonder what she'd fetch today.

4. My favorite tarot deck is the Aliester Crowley Thoth deck. It never lies to me!

5. I've been in two arson fires. One in a hotel in Vancouver, B.C., the other in a one bedroom flat in Salford, (Manchester) England. The hotel one was two floors above me. The apartment one put me (my best friend & her new husband) 5 minutes from death. They never caught the guy who did it, but we think he was the one who told the newspapers he single handedly rescued us all. Total liar and psychopath.

6. I'm totally nerdy and obsessive about old supermarkets, restaurants, drug & clothing stores. But only ones from @1930-1980.

7. I once sold a pair of 1950s silky granny panties ( white & frilly...with tags, never worn...large size) to a high ranking officer in the Navy. He asked that I declare the contents of the package 'clothing' and not leave feedback.


The 7 Blogs I choose (in no particular order)


1. Finding Charm

2. Crafty as Hell

3. Charm City Couture

4. Funk Astrology

5. myvintagevogue

6. selloholicmom

7. Thriftgoddess!

Just click the name to go there ♥

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Item of the week.....

This 1930s goldtone filigree, colorful enamel & purple rhinestones coat/dress clip is springtime in jewelry form.



It's so bright, colorful and cute....and if you didn't like it as a clip, it would make a wonderful centerpiece for a necklace.

Available in my Artfire studio right now. If you tell me you saw it on here, I'll give you free shipping. Click the heart to go there

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Chebe cinnamon rolls make me happy!

Since going gluten free a few years ago (2.5 to be exact) due to Crohn's disease, there are still some foods I am sorely missing. I can now cross cinnamon rolls off that list! I realize that these may be old hat to some of you, but the store I go to finally started carrying Chebe mixes. I love the Chebe pizza crust, so I was very excited to try the cinnamon roll mix. I made a batch of 12 mini rolls this morning. The ingredients list could not be easier, applesauce, oil, one large egg & some rice milk, and of course the Chebe mix.



Just mix it with a fork & knead it with your hands. Roll it out into long strings & coil it up...



Cook at 375 for 20 minutes...* Smother with your favorite butter or butter substitute (I reccomend Earth Balance natural buttery spread)& add some frosting. I used Cherrybrook Farms gf frosting. It was good on the rolls, but it would be so annoyingly sweet on a cake. The texture is different from 'normal' rolls, but that is to be expected. These are very chewy on the inside and I happen to like that ♥



*The instructions claim you need to cook these for 30-35 minutes. Do not listen to those instructions. I don't know if it's because I have an older stove that cooks like crazy but after 20 minutes they were done and starting to burn! We took the grater to the bottoms and removed all the burned parts so they were perfectly fine and great tasting. phew....

Saturday, January 9, 2010

I have fried my brain with jewelry glue.....

.....and I'm pretty sure I may be permanently cross eyed. In an attempt to work on some of the things on my list from Wednesday, I started my massive jewelry repair campaign. (The light box is on hold until Monday, but it is still happening..) Due to my pack-rat/hoarder tendencies, I have managed to accumulate quite a stash of jewels in need of repair.
I'm sure it doesn't look like it, but I really did have a clean desk to begin with. (as clean as I can get anyways...) After adding the tools, some water & my tea, the vinegar, plates, tools, jewelry & donor parts boxes it got filled pretty fast. *sigh*



Here is about halfway through...



I learned that vinegar works wonders on verdigris. Just brush it on with a makeup or other small brush so you don't soak the piece and wipe it off with a kleenex or q-tip. Sometimes you have to apply it more than once. Make sure if you have a piece with foil back rhinestones or faux pearls that you don't get the vinegar on those parts. Make sure the jewelry dries completely or the verdigras will come back. That green stuff is so nasty and it can infect your other jewelry. Keep infected pieces out of your jewelry box! Usually I use E6000 for simple jewelry repairs, but that stuff is too messy for small pieces, and it stinks like no-ones business. I got some G-S Hypo Cement in the orange box. I love it, it's so much easier to use! The only gripe i have with it is that you need to put the pin back in the long applicator when not using it, and it is hard to see sometimes.



I was very productive today, but I only ended up repairing about 1/3 of what's needed. I guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow. I'm determined to get that done. I forget how time consuming repair is. I also have to go on the hunt for some clasps and hook closures. As you can see, there are going to be lots of rhinestone pieces for sale in the near future, and I'm pleased to report that red Vendome art glass & rhinestone demi parure is free of the dreaded verdigris!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

What I've been working on......

I have been sorta busy this week, even if it doesn't seem like it. I am currently dosing down on prednisone after my annual holiday Crohn's flare...getting ready to try 6-mp soon. The prednisone and current retrograde planets make me feel very unenergetic but I have forced myself to do some things.
So far this week:
I have cleaned out and organized my workspace (I'm too embarassed to post the before photos, but maybe I will do the afters).
I have made a list of all the things I need for building my photo light box and researched where to get the lights and materials. I will have it done this weekend :) I'm so excited about this!!
I have sorted out all the jewelry that needs repairs and stone replacements. I will begin repairing in the next few days.
I did list an early 1900s Arts & Crafts watch fob on Artfire. Its really very cool!
I also scanned and posted some new things to my flickr account tonight.
Now all I really want to do is eat candy and go vintage shopping............♥

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Friday, January 1, 2010

New Years Resolutions

Happy 2010! This year I have decided that I will try to give this blog some attention. Last year I had such high hopes, but I got quickly overwhelmed.
I'm not positive of the exact direction I'm going with it, but I think I want to make this blog a mix of all the things I love and live with on a day to day basis.
Can't wait to see where we are on Jan 1st 2011!

Top 5 New Year Goals
I'll say goals because they sound like less pressure than resolution.

1. Keep up on Blog...read above ;)

2. Learn to take better pictures. I need to make a light box and really learn my camera inside and out.

3. Work on my website. CapricornOneVintage I would like that to be fully functional in the next few months.

4. Be more organized. In my workspace and living space. I'm a terrible pack rat and clutter collector. Is it really that hard to throw it out or put it away? (yes)

5. Eat a bit healthier. I have crohn's disease and eat gluten free, potato free, soy free & mostly dairy free. There are so many good foods availiable that are pre packaged, but it would be in my best interest to learn some better recipes.

I hope if you have some goals or resolutions that you are able to meet them head on and make this a fantastic year and lovely start to a whole new decade!