every little thing

In Jean We Trust

 

More vintage supplies on Etsy today!  Mostly buttons.  I have SO many buttons.  Really, it's just silly.  Hopefully I can get rid of a few.  There is an awesome Antique/junk store called "Country Boy" only three blocks from our house.  This place is so unbelievable, let me tell you.  It's very rustic; piles of junk everywhere, very dark and cluttered, hard to navigate.  But, it consistently has the coolest stuff.  The prices are right-on; he ain't giving anything away, but since I've been a frequent buyer, country boy is beginning to let me barter a bit!  Anyway, he is my vintage button supplier.  Somewhat unreliable...."I'll have more buttons Saturday" can be translated to "I might have a few jars in three weeks if you constantly bug me about it every day."  Anyway, even taking out the buttons I, my mom and sister  really want, there are loads leftover.  I hope they go to a better place.

Recent thrifting adventures have padded my old-school craft book collection with these beauties....

So much inspiration, I don't even know where to begin!!!  Wait, that's not true, I DO know where to begin, and it's right here:

I'd like everyone to meat Jean Wilkinson, my new hero.  She wrote this book with these super cool craft projects I'm just dying to try!  I'm so excited about it, I can't stand it!  I already went out and bought tons of supplies, without even doing a "test" sample.  (This is typical of my crafting technique, but I would not recommend it.)  Everything will either turn out amazing, or GO DOWN IN FLAMES.  Either way, it will be an adventure.  And I'm not to proud to share my dismal failures, oh no.  But to keep thinks fun, I'll not reveal all the details now, just a few teaser images.

What could THIS mean?!?!

This is the yummy fabric. I shouldn't have bought so much, but how often is the exact thing you need on sale at JoAnn's for 60% off exactly when you need it?!  It's like the planets are aligning.....  It's woven suede....(that's code for fake, polyester blend.)  But, Jean has assured me that synthetic fabrics work better than the real thing (this book is from the 70's remember.) And just look at her face.  How could I not trust her?  Seated in her wicker chair, leaning in cozily, baring her teeth in an open and welcoming way, saying "You can do this Amanda, I have faith in your ability."  OK, Mrs. Wilkinson....let's do this.

Ring Out the Old...

Well, it's time to clean out the studio.  A bit early for spring cleaning, I know, but I'm really excited to put some of this stuff up for sale.  I'm not excited to get rid of it, oh no.  It will be hard to let go, but I really want this stuff to be USED and enjoyed.  I've held onto it for too long.  I just haven't done much collage, paper-crafting these days.  Aren't these flash cards adorable?  And look at these great pictures:

These are all part of a large scrapbook I bought about three years ago.  They are so beautiful.  From what I can tell, it was a very well-to-do Greek family that lived in the Coastal Virginia area, maybe around the 1930's and up.  I had to buy it, I'm half Greek, these are my people!  But years later.....I've done nothing with it.  And I've seen so many lovely pendants, magnets, collages, cards and more out there.....I hope these vintage goodies go to a better place!  They are available now at my etsy shop, www.abelstudio.etsy.com  (The flash cards and MORE stuff is up too, go check it out.)  I am really trying to have bunches of new, handmade things ready to list on January 5th.  I also hope to include some Guest Crafters (family) in the shop as well.  I hope everyone has fun and exciting New Years plans.  We are going to Great Wolf Lodge, a giant, indoor waterpark-hotel-amusement-extravaganza (thanks dad!)  It sounds like a strange place, but we are SO STOKED!!! (Crap, this means I'm going to have to shave my legs....)

*Also, I'm shakin' up my weblog layout.  I didn't like all the empty space in the side bars, and I STILL can't get my banner right.  I hope you all don't find this too annoying, as I will probably change things all the time.  It's a compulsion.  I re-arrange our furniture about twice a month.  (My husband especially loves it when I do that!)

Yay! It's almost Christmas!!!

I would like to wish everyone a VERY Happy Holidays!!! May they be filled with gigantically lavish, sweet-smelling presents, triple scoops of cranberry-studded stuffing, fountains of velvety spiked eggnog.....(and Peace, enlightenment, and joy to all mankind, of course.)

Much Love,

Amanda

The Apartment, and other non-traditional Holiday flicks

(This is the best picture I could find.)  But I LOVE this movie.  I consider it my favorite holiday movie, even though it doesn't have much to do with Christmas, all the events take place around that time.  Incidentally, it probably  ranks pretty high in my "overall" favorite movie list too.  (Rushmore being a steady number one for a long time now.)  I recently saw the movie The Baxter, which is very cute, and I couldn't help but wonder if the whole "Baxter" theory in the movie was based on this character, C.C. Baxter, from The Apartment.  I'm usually slow catching onto things, so if this is a "duh, Amanda" moment, then I apologize.  If anyone is hip to this theory, please enlighten me.  Of course, I also love all the good-old, traditional Holiday flicks too (I'll always have a soft spot for Ralphie, and this year I have watched the Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation twice: with and without commentary!) but I was wondering if anyone else had any non-typical, obscure  Christmas movies that they'd like to recommend?  I'd just love some suggestions!

The Big Show...

It's Max's Broadway debut today........well, really it's his first pre-school Christmas Pageant, but I couldn't be more excited!  I can't even think about it without crying, I'm going to be such a mess!  The "firsts" are always so amazing!  First school program.....time has really flown by.  Sigh.  Well, not much else to report, aside from yesterdays mini-drama, which, if it had been any other time of the month, I would have shrugged off (if you know what I'm sayin.)  I deleted all of it, it was so silly.  Also, all of the birds are gone now, I'm mailing them today...Thanks everybody!

The 2nd Annual Cookie Exchange at my Grandma's was lots of fun!

I thought my labels were cute, but I always want to do more than my computer skills will allow.  I think it's time my sister shows me how to use illustrator.  After fighting with Adobe for an hour, I couldn't even figure out how to insert a simple border!  Ugh! Computers....  I thought these marshmallow labels at Small Object were SOOO cute.  I made those marshmallows last year, and they are very good, worth the trouble.  I got my recipe from Epicurious (There is a link on my right sidebar.)

I wrapped ONE present.  I wish I had stamped more of this paper, it looks pretty nice with the lace hem facing for a tie.  My husband found a huge roll of raffle-like tickets on the side of the road a while back, so I'm using those for gift tags.  Not a very coordinated look, but I guess it's whimsical.  For much more put-together wrapping, I'd recommend Ellie's technique. 

I planned to have these bunnys on the etsy site last week, but I thought they could wait (spring, bunnies,  Easter....)  I think they're just so sweet!  They're signed and numbered (I think there are 20.)  And I love the giant rivet at the top. 

Guess I better go wake up the "star",  he should warm up his voice in preparation for his rendition of "Go Tell it on the Mountain."

Also:  The shop is closed for the Holidays!  It's just getting too hectic, and too late to buy ornaments and stockings and such.  I'll be back around the first with cute, new things!

Happy 5-Days-Till-Christmas!

I'm in the mood to give stuff away....

 

I have three of my little kitschy-bird ornaments left, and I want to give them to the first three people to email me with their address (my email link is on the left sidebar.)   I know it's late and they probably won't make it until after Christmas, but it seemed like fun.  (My  family is excluded because most of them have, or are getting one.)  I will mail them out today or tomorrow, as soon as they are taken.  (I just can't get enough of the post office, it is so fun this time of year!!!)  But now I must go , I promised my little dude some Chuck E. Cheese action.  Bye!

Sandy Christmas Stockings

First, I put on my favorite vintage apron to make cornbread for the potluck.  I decided to wear my cozy tights, despite the balmy weather.  Little did I know that later.....

...we would be walking on the beach!  It was so revitalizing.  There is just something about the salty,sea air.  Fills you with renewed vigor.  It also fills your pockets with these:

I had heard that there was an unusual amount of shells washing up lately, but WOW.  There were so many, and were pretty too.  Like miniature conchs.  My mum has a bunch now for more mosaic stars. 

And, we just couldn't go home without stopping at Family Thrift:

Look!  It matches the aforementioned dish!  And it was 25 cents.  I also bought a lovely set of mugs and saucers because I really was running out of mugs...really, no really, I did need more....I did.   And aren't they pretty?:

There was also a sweater to felt (and yes, I really did NEED to felt another sweater...) and some fabric scraps and my mom found lots of dishes to smash for more mosaic bits.  It was a satisfy thrift, I dare say.

When we got home there were two mystery boxes under the tree!  Ooooo... I just love the mystery boxes!  From the wrapping job and lack of labels or tags, I can assume it is the work of daddy-elf. 

I just had to throw in this picture of Max.  Did all this cuteness really come out of  me?  It's hard to believe.  Those eyes.....he's gonna break hearts, you know.....

Whew, the Etsy site is up and running, and I'm pretty darn happy how it turned out!  Thanks (again) to all for the kind words and support!  I kept this pink mantle swag for myself, even though it sort of clashes with my "natural" decorations and red couch.....oh well.  I also have one that says JOY in the pink and gray, then I have a couple left in red and green.   They look so sporty to me, like "Yay!  Go....CHRISTMAS!"  (I could use a holiday cheerleader right now, you know?)  I just thought it was getting too late to put them on the etsy site, Christmas is hard upon our heels, make haste!  (Where did that come from?  Must have been watching Pride and Prej. again...)   I plan to do new and improved holiday banners for next year.  I hope everyone has a productive and festive weekend!  (I know I have a lot to do!) 

(P.S. I just saw these little angel kits over at Little Pink Studio, and they are just so pretty!  Wanted to share..)

Grand Opening!

Well, the shop is finally open!  It's taking much longer to get everything up there than I thought it would, learning curve and all.  But, I will be finishing up throughout the day, and by this evening everything should be good to go!  Thanks too everyone who reads, comments on and supports my weblog and new shop.  I appreciate it greatly!  I've found this on-line crafting community to be so welcoming and gracious.  Thank-you.   

Much love,                                       

Amanda Isabel Krueger

A. Bel  Studio                                                                                                   

One door opens....

Ok, so it's really Christmas time now.  I can't deny it anymore.  It's time to put the pedal to the metal, and get the ball rolling and all that jazz.  So....I am backing out of this last craft show I'd planned to do on Saturday.  I feel bad about it, but it's really the sensible thing to do.  I'm WAY low on inventory (which is a good thing, really) and I just couldn't make anymore tote bags this week.  I was bagged-out.  I tried last night, but it just wasn't happening.  Also, this was a really tiny show....they aren't mad that I dropped out, and I just didn't want to go with so little merchandise.  BUT, I have got my etsy site (yay!) almost ready and I am planning to have a last-minute-free shipping-leftover-closeout-sale starting by, let's say, midnight tonight (Virginia time.)  ***ACK!  My camera and computer have turned against me!  Technical difficulties are pushing back the Grand Opening to tomorrow, Friday the 15th, at 12 noon eastern time.  Sorry for the delay!***  By then I will have the link to my shop here on the blog (hopefully!).  I can't say exactly what will be up for grabs, but there will definitely be a few small tote bags, some of my mothers lovely stars, maybe a few quilt stockings, perhaps a bunny card or two.  You'll just have to wait and see!  All US shipping will be free for the rest of the year, and all seasonal items will be shipped immediately.  It's close, but there's still time before the big day....

I like this picture of our front door.  It's sort of like me opening the doors to my first on-line shop!  I am very excited.  I hope everyone likes it!  I'm already getting dreamy about spring items I want to work on, and these lovely scarves I've been wanting to make....(by the way, it's 70 degrees here today....hard to think about wool scarves.....)  I hope everyone is having tons of holiday fun and excitement!  Happy Thursday!