Tulips and Buckets and Feedsacks, Oh My

Even though we have loads and loads of snow on the ground, I can feel Spring in the air. I sure got my money's worth with my $6 tulips purchase. I'm in Spring mode BIG TIME!

 

 

I've spent the last two days working on getting tax information together to send off to our accountant. Every year is the same....I finally get tired of hearing my husband ask if they're done until I just drop everything and do them.

It seems like whenever I'm working on a task that feels more like a chore, I find excuses to do something else....clean a closet, scrub the faucet with a toothbrush, haul out a bunch of stuff and take pictures. Ha!

 

 

I almost forgot that I had these feedsacks. I love them. The weathered wood planter was from an estate sale.

 

 

 

I really need to go put stuff away before my husband gets home. Of course, he'll be so happy that the taxes are ready to mail off he won't complain if there are linens piled where he likes to sit. 

 

I've made a resolution to keep better records beginning now. Next year I hope to have everything in a spreadsheet and with a keystroke I'll be all set. I'll let ya know how that goes.

 

~Diane

 

 

 

 







Can We Talk (Photography)?

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

 

Hope the sun is shining where you're at, and if it isn't, hope you're warm and cozy.

 

Yesterday I stopped at our local Goodwill store and bought three bags of crocheted doilies. Some were older, some had stains, and a couple had 'issues.' They were stuffed into three gallon size storage bags and were priced at .99 cents each. How could I not buy them? Or as our daughter says, "I couldn't afford NOT to buy them."

Anyway, how many women do you know who get in the mood (at least for taking pics) after spending three bucks? Guess I'm a cheap date.

But what I really want to talk about is how you stage your photo shoots.

I have a few places in my house where the light is good at certain times of the day. The brightest room hands down is the living area. Unfortunately, it isn't a room that I can easily set up and leave as a 'studio-like' space.

So, when I take pictures there, either for this blog or for Etsy or eBay, I have to stage an area.

I'm almost embarrassed to show you this; our dumpy, little farmhouse isn't much, but it sits on a gorgeous piece of property. That's a whole nother post.

OK, what the heck....if I can't be myself and learn something from this blog, then what's the point of blogging?

So here goes.....

Welcome to the mess behind the scenes!

You can see some of the newly washed doilies drying on towels on the back of the sofa and my makeshift backdrop (a piece of vintage wallpaper) taped onto the open door. If you look real close you'll see the table leg is propped up on an old cellphone battery to level it. I picked up that shabby little octagon, wicker table at the Salvation Army for $7.99 and use it all the time.

Why am I telling you all this? Because I'm curious to know how you set up for your photos, and also to clear up any misconceptions you might have about mine, such as that somewhere in my house I have a pretty, vintage wallpapered bedroom. :-)

So tell me, do you have a studio or dedicated space or do you shoot on the fly? What kind of camera do you use? Are you shooting on manual or automatic? Do you usually use a tripod? Do you have a favorite lens? That sort of thing....

I am so hoping to learn some of the tricks of the trade. Who better to ask than my real live blogger friends?

Still thinking Spring!

~Diane

Where the H-E DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS is Spring?

 

Answer: not anywhere near here. We've had another 18 inches of snow in the past couple of days.

 

{Sigh}

 

I have never been so anxious for Spring and warm weather....actually, we'll need many days of warm weather to melt all this snow.
 

I need to go from this (taken this morning).....

 

 

 

and this (taken yesterday afternoon)....

 

to this....

 

 

 

and then this....

For now, the closest thing to bouquets and gardens is this....

 

Guess I'll just have to make do until the real thing comes along.

~Diane

 

Ladies of the Copper Country - Vintage Photographs

Hello....

Well I hope you're surviving the winter....there can't be too many more months of it, right?

I haven't posted since Valentine's Day, mostly because my less than a year old computer's operating system crashed. After spending what seems like countless hours on the phone with tech support, I'm finally back up and running.

Now that I have something to plug my camera's card reader into, I'm back to my old tricks. ;-)

There is something about old photographs....I never tire of looking at them and wondering about the lives of the people in them.

These photos came from local estates. They're one of those things that often don't sell. I can't bear to see them thrown away, which means I have lots of them.

The woman on the right is handsome, don't you think? She looks 'well-bred' and likely is from a family with money. She might even be college educated. So elegant!

The young lady on the left is probably an immigrant. When I zoomed in on her shoes they looked quite worn. Her pose is so relaxed.

She is a beautiful woman. I imagine with her hair unbraided she'd look like a nymph in the forest.

I love this image; it reminds me of National Velvet. This girl looks like a princess. Why do you suppose she's wearing a glove on her right hand?

Have you ever seen more perfect bangs? She too has that sweet look of innocence.

Thanks for looking!

Here's wishing you all a lovely day....Friday is the 1st of March. Hopefully, Spring is not far behind.

~ Diane

 

A New Man in My Life

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Just thought I'd share some photos of the new man who came into my life today. Actually, he's really just a boy.

 

He followed me home after I turned down our road this afternoon. We played a little game: I'd drive a few feet and he'd follow, when I stopped he'd lick the salt off my car. Repeat. This went on for about twenty minutes. When I pulled up to the house and opened the car door, I called to him and he walked right over then followed me around like a puppy while I filled the birdfeeders and fed the woodstove.

He waited at the door while I ran in to get my 35mm camera.

Yes, this is where you saw me get the sunflower seeds and no, you cannot go in.

What a sweet little guy.

 

I think he's one of the twins I have been feeding this winter along with mom. I'm sure they've been holed up in the cedar swamps since it's been so bitterly cold. I haven't seen them for a several weeks. Today was in the mid-twenties.

He's a little buck. He didn't mind me touching and petting him, but he flinched when I touched his antler nubs. They're probably tender because they're growing. 

If he comes back tomorrow we'll have carrots for a snack.

I hope everyone is having the sweetest time!

 

This has been the best Valentine's Day ever!

 

~Diane

And the Giveaway Winner is....

Drum roll, please.......

Jamie from Remnants { http://rem-nants.blogspot.com/ }

 

As soon as I have your address, Jamie, your package will be on its way.

 

Thanks so much to everyone who participated. And again, a special thanks to Vicki for cooking up this brilliant party. My blog went from 22 followers to 86. I also discovered many, wonderful blogs along the way that I am now following. I can't wait to do this again.

 

 

 

Stay warm and cozy. Spring is on its way (somewhere).

 

~Diane

 

 



 

Exquisitely Shabby Vintage Hats

Hello!

 

I hope the weather has warmed up wherever you're at. It was one chilly week here in the Copper Country. It was lovely being able to stay home and not have to brave the cold and wind and icy roads.

 

I'm already lovin' retirement!

These hats were from a partial estate that I purchased a couple of years ago. The gentleman I bought them from told me they belonged to his deceased mother who had been a milliner in Chicago for several large department stores.

I know what you're thinking....I'm sure few of us would sell things that belonged to our mother, especially if she had made them herself. Believe me, not everyone is sentimental.

The hats were stored in this fabulous, fabric covered, oval box with a pretty, paper illustration on the lid. Though I've already sold quite a few of the hats, I still have several, plus loads of trim and ones she never finished. I just love the soft faded colors, don't you?

In addition to hats, I also purchased vintage dresses, beaded purses, furs, vintage children's clothes, and several Victorian pieces that I think are museum-quality.

 



I will, as time permits, show you some of the other things that came from this estate. Of course, they will eventually all be sold. I must also make money (translate: I can't keep it all). It seems with most things--though there are a few exceptions--I am satisfied to enjoy these wonderful, old treasures for a bit and then let them go.

If you haven't entered my giveaway, please check out the previous post and leave a comment. I'll draw a winner on Feb 1st.

Stay warm.....

~Diane

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