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Now that some ground work has been laid out it's finally time to start an actual project for the class. I have learned much in just a few weeks and it's time to get rid of fear and just jump.

All morning Tuesday I looked through many old vintage nude photos and I'm addicted. As bad as that sounds, they're gorgeous and full of great lighting. I look forward to creating from the images I found, and more. They truly inspire me. I searched mainly through DeviantArt.com.

My piece is taken from one of the photos, and like much of everything else, this project meshes with my desire to do stories from the Bible. I spend A LOT of time on Rahab, but I'm beginning to wonder if I over thought it. Who knows where its' going to go, but this could be it. Not as grand, but the emotion is there.

Sometimes I wonder if it's best to just create and plan little. Life is like this...you don't know what the next moment will bring you, so just be. :)

The challenge and advice that Melinda gave was to use a warm color palette for the skin instead of my traditional cool tones. This is to give me a more well rounded understanding of skin tones, and to become more comfortable using tones I may not adore but are definitely necessary....especially for Biblical figures!

What's even more great is I already had some magazine tear outs in my reference files for the warmer tones. National Geographic is a great source for reference. Always!

pomme de jour is a vintage website based in france that sells quirky french vintage, 1970's wallpapers, fabrics, and kitchenalia, and more - all with worldwide shipping. its also a great place to browse the fabulous vintage designs which have been lovingly collated and photographed by pomme de jour's owner tanya. its also well worth checking out the pomme de jour etsy shop and ebay listings all

belgian based company ricobel have just opened a new etsy shop selling a mix of marvellous vintage wallpapers and cute japanese fabrics. here are my pick the retro wallpaper patterns currently in stock.

Here are some fun characters by a mysterious "Greenwald R." They're from Pageant Magazine, a smaller, "digest" size magazine for the "gentleman." Bordering on the cheesecake from time to time, the magazine actually has an interesting connection to Mad Magazine. Well, I wish I knew more about "Greenwald R." I've seen similar work done by this artist, but never have been able to find anything more about him/her.

When Andrea & I vacationed in Italy back in 1999, we checked out this cool flea market in Rome with lots of fun old stuff. Found this 45 record (above) in a record bin. Love the design. I've always cherished it. One of these days I'm gonna listen to this record. It's imperative that I do.

vintage store 'winter's moon' have recently listed some beautiful sunflower pieces by thomas of germany. i love these beautiful graphic flowers which was produced in other colourways too. as seen online here.

HarperCollins has appointed Katrina Troy, currently head of commercial affairs for Vintage and Mainstream Publishing, as commercial director for its fiction division.

Troy will join in January 2012 and report to group commercial director Tom Fussell. She will work with fiction publisher Kate Elton and be involved in acquisitions, budgets and forecasting.

read more

I finished a scarflette.  Don’t you love the color?

If you follow along on Facebook you probably know that I got a treadle sewing machine.  Singer model 115, 1921.  Bought it from the original owner (I even have the old, hand-written receipt).   Wonderful condition.  I scrubbed down the parlor cabinet which is why I took the head (machine) out and left it on the built-in in the breakfast nook.  Looks nice there though.  Check out the mermaid details.  Now I just need to learn how to use it.

I’m onto making a cardigan.   My carpal tunnel and tendonitis issues have not really gotten in the way of my knitting, even though I’ve been working up a storm (on the computer).  I’m not going to question it, just accept it and be grateful.  I mean, look how far along I am!  I’m changing up the pattern a bit: 2×2 rib instead of cables, half or 3/4 sleeves instead of short, and adding a mustard-gold stripe or two running through the cuffs and waist ribbing.  I’m looking forward to making the button band as I’ve never made one before.   The main color is “Squirrel Heather,” isn’t that cute?  Both are Knit Picks Swish DK.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season so far!  I haven’t been a very good blogger lately and posting has been sporadic the last month or two, even for me.  In a nutshell life has been unusually hectic except for this week which has been gloriously slow-paced; I no longer feel like I’m constantly on the verge of having an anxiety attack.  I’ve also been considering re-thinking my blog, its purpose, etc., and haven’t had a lot to say or was feeling too lazy to write, snap photos and the like.   (I’m still in this mode actually.  These photos were taken with my phone and I didn’t even bother to open Photoshop to edit them, ha.)

Anyway, I hosted Thanksgiving for my parents which was nice especially now that we’ve got a real grown-up table, perfectly rustic and charming.  Out came Grandma and Granpa’s wedding china, their Wedgewood candlesticks (that you can see are still there because they look so festive), and a big leafy bowl to show off persimmons from Mom’s garden (she said she left the stems on because she knows I like that sort of thing).

Now it’s onto Christmas.  I HAD to share this darling old-time kitty that came in a set I bought on Etsy.  Isn’t it sweet?  I favorited another item from this shop months ago but at the time I thought it was actually vintage, I had no idea there was such a wonderful variety of these newly crafted ornaments until I spotted them on the Design is Mine blog.

Do you have any plans for this weekend?  For one thing I am NOT working!  I have to say I’m looking forward to catching up on some sewing.