Happy 4th!!!

Red

White

Blue.......

Swingin' Egg

This 60's iron chair is so comfortable, 

that when I sit in it, I don't feel like doing any more work. Please come by and "set a spell". Have a great 4th!!!

Newly painted vintage concrete garland...

Here I go again...

I bought an old outdoor concrete garland and painted and distressed it.

This is so much fun. I used regular artist's acrylic paint. then I sanded the piece and finally, watered down some white paint with flat acrylic varnish and water. That's it.

You can , first, wet the  piece, then  the paint will bleed and soften,
like a  fresco.

I painted on dry  concrete,
 then sanded the whole garland.

Too bright for my taste.

Two coats of whitewash, using a brush and sponge to absorb  excess.

Santa Monica Pier, then and now...

       I used to go to the  pier once a week, during the summers. My dad would drive  , my sister, my little brother, and our  assortment of friends from the valley. We'd be sweltering  in the valley heat, (no air conditioning in the car) until we topped  the grade at Mulholland on the 405 and breathe a sigh of  cool relief.  My dad would park  right next to the  pier,  lay down his towel and turn on the ball game. Vin Scully would blare out of the transistor radio, while we put on Bain de Soleil.  The second  thing we'd do is  go to the Hot Dog on a Stick stand to get our  dogs and lemonades. I still have an addiction to those.
     After the required half hour (bogus) of waiting, we'd jump into the ocean, ride the waves, and play frisbee.
It wouldn't take long to get hungry again, so  we'd go to Daddy and get some money, then go up to the pier. Candy apples, cotton candy, sno cones were cheap, and we got our  change worth.
     My best friend, Linda, and I went to Madame Dorena to get our  fortunes told.  She was  wrong that day, but years later, I went back to her, with a friend, and she was right on.  The first time must have been a bad  vibe day for Mdm. Do.
    We were getting too old for the  merry go round, so we'd skip it, but secretly, I always wanted to ride.
    Now, the businesses are  different, and  Madame Dorena is no longer  there.  People  write your name on a grain of rice, churros instead of candy apples are for sale, and  the  Ferris wheel  is a light show. Not quite the same hominess, but still full of life and  candy for the eye.  People are still fishing off the end of the pier, and  the Arcade is filled with  kids screaming for toys.
    If you haven't  visited  Santa Monica Pier in a while,  go on, it's a kick!

Not such an old  photo. I saw the first  Cirque Du Soleil  next to the pier about 25 years ago.

I remember Sinbads.

Look at those long boards. I guess they are going back to the long boards now.

A little overdressed for the beach?!

This is kind of how I remember the  pier, back in 1960, but I think this photo is  older.

The vintage clothing booth is coming along...

I'd  really like this booth to become a true clothing and accessories "boutique".  I'm making  it user friendly with a double bench for sitting and trying on shoes, and a guest bathroom for the clothes, complete with a full length mirror and wall hooks for hanging.

I buy all sizes in dresses, skirts, shirts, lingerie and shoes

 My prices are vintage as well. You can get an Hawaiian sundress for as little as $36, 

and Prada shoes as little as $95. 

Come  check out the" Boutique" at the Agoura Antique Mart.

Also see what 50 other dealers have to offer, in home decor, books, collections,

Antique and vintage furniture, Art. 

And, a fabulous Body Care bar with the newest and

 hottest body care and candle lines in America.

Sundresses, sundresses, sundresses

Right now, shoe sizes range from 7-10
Many are designer labels; Prada, Ferragamo, Joan &
David, etc. Most lightly worn.

Purses for the summer , also lightweight hats.

I'm still combining some vintage 50's kitchen decor with the clothes.
I like the  mix.

Love fun colors.  Bright is better!

But, then  again, white and gold is always classic.

change...again

1800's family photos touched up with charcoal

Things are good. Stuff is selling. I'm "stoked"!

Custom blue painted desk set, with matching end table.
The 4 pieces are only $500

I love the twig mirror and large wheel.

Beverly Hills, The day of Obama's Visit...

Guy and I went to a cocktail party in honor of Les Paul, the late musician's auction. It happened  to  be scheduled on the same day as  Obama's visit to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, which is right across from the  auction house.  Well, of course, we got caught up in the  traffic jam which circled the whole of downtown BH.  Every main street was blocked off, but we got around it by going  the back way.

Anyway,  BH looked like a ghost town. You never see the streets this deserted. I walked down the middle of Wilshire Blvd. at Rodeo drive.  Anyway, here's what I saw...

The side of a building advertising Bvlgari Jewelers

Give me, give me

cool, huh?!

Add caption

nobody around, weird.

Just before they closed the  streets.
 We saw the helicopter  in which Obama was being delivered .

Aahh Cartier

Chanel

The Beverly Wilshitre Hotel

Mosaics in Montrose

Montrose is a small town above Glendale. It is precious.  

Every year they have a  craft fair. Mary has shown, there, for the last five years.   She does, as you can see, mosaics on;  furniture, mirrors, shelving, frames, letters, hearts.

 I sat, for most of the day,with her and Alyssa, her darling niece.

People love Mary. She is funny, outgoing, and so creative.

 Customers, came into the booth, gushing and hugging her and drooling over her stuff. 

In fact, they even bought things! It was a good day.

I asked for a smile, and this is what I got.
Oh well, next time maybe you'll listen to me, Mary.

This little girl would not get up. She stayed there for  a half hour.

Tea party

Gushing customers

Beautiful product!

Love the corner shelf!

The frames are perfect for  weddings.

The sewing cabinet had drawers. Never seen one like  that.

Mary does custom piecers. If you have
Granny's china and don't know what to do with it, have
Mary make a piece using it.