A Real Steal... With A Side of Guilt!

This past weekend was my favorite Rummage Sale in Ocean Grove. It's put on by the Ladies of the Auditorium Ushers and it's a doozy. People line up an hour before and as soon as the local church bells chime 10 o'clock... well, it's a free-for-all. Part of the reason why is that the prices are so freaking awesome! For example, I got this box of 25 never used Cray Pas oil pastels for 50¢! The woman actually told me 25¢ but I felt so guilty... I gave her the 50¢ instead (it's for a good cause)!

I quickly ran over to the toys table to see if there were any good board games available, but none this time. However... I found all these awesome doll books. Some are actual paper dolls, some are flip books and I even got a box of Dolls Across The Sea with stand up dolls and outfits from around the world. The funniest/creepiest book I bought is that Let's Play Dolls... it's a glossy book of 3 dolls and the story of their day of shopping, picnicking, baking and such. But it's so weird because... well... because they're dolls! And their expressions never change! Love it.

Over to the fabric and linen tables I'm always searching for fun vintage fabrics to repurpose into new creations like rag dolls and such. I love using dish towels and cloth napkins, sheets and drapes, and all kinds of castaway textiles. This lovely chenille bedspread caught my eye and the price was right at a mere $2!

Heading back to the craft table (they're always putting out new stuff when they sell a bunch of things) and I found these 2 amazingly detailed, folk art style, embroidered scenes. I had no idea what I was actually going to do with them, but the amount of work that went into the pieces and their whimsical nature simply captured my heart. When I asked how much they were, the woman said.... a dollar for both. And now they're mine.

I purchased some other odds and ends as well... vintage kitchen utencils to use as doll arms and legs, vintage Santa ornaments just because they were so awesome, a circus girl figurine, an antique frame and some metal funnel thing that looked like it could be a stand-up doll body. All-in-all I spent $12 and am extremely pleased with my finds. So what's your favorite summertime flea market or rummage sale and what did you find?

Flea Market Weekend...

This weekend was Ocean Grove's annual Giant Flea Market... and giant it is! With over 300 vendors showing their wares, it takes me several hours to peruse all those wonderful pieces of vintage goodness.

You never know what you'll find at this particular mart... like this vintage gypsy wagon serving cart here. That was a first!

And of course there's always those items of rusty goodness that are a little out of my budget... like this antique kiddie car from an old amusement park. Loving it!

I typically shop for things to repurpose into jewelry, collage, assemblage, dolls, and mixed media art pieces... however, I didn't buy too much this time out. My brain kept saying, " you already have something just like that and you haven't used it yet!" And although my brain says that a lot... this time I had to agree with it. I do have lots of awesome finds that I need to upcycle. Guess I know what I'll be doing this summer!

The Fun Starts Tomorrow!

So excited that this weekend marks the kickoff of Creativity By-the-Sea — the Ocean Grove, NJ art retreat weekend event! I'll be teaching on Sunday, but also wanted to mention that we are having an Art Vendor Fair on Saturday evening. You'll be able to purchase original art, jewelry, wearables, home decor items and more made by the retreat's very own instructors (including me) — who are all extremely talented artists themselves! If you're around, come on down... it's free to look!

Creativity By-the-Sea Art Vendor Fair  
Saturday, March 24, 2012
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Youth Temple (Lower Level)
22 Pilgrim Pathway, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756

P.S. Bring a copy of the flyer above and you'll receive a free Creativity By-the-Sea backpack-style souvenir bag!

Join Me At Creativity By-the-Sea...

Boardwalk Memories: Folk Art Assemblage Workshop

Sunday, March 25th

Creativity By-the-Sea, Ocean Grove, NJ

Take a stroll with me down to the boardwalk... or the circus.... or the carnival.... as you learn how to age and everyday items like wood, plastic, clay, fabric, paper and more. Bring back memories of those fun arcade games as you create a whimsical, folk art style, dimensional shadowbox from the ground up using vintage and everyday items. Starting with an unfinished wood box that you'll paint and decorate — you'll learn easy techniques for making new things look old. These are methods that you'll be able to use time and time again on your own future projects.

For information and registration, check out the Creativity By-the-Sea website and sign up to come play with me! Or choose from some of the 2 dozen classes offered at this art retreat on the Atlantic Ocean... we'd love to have you!

New Year's Revolutions...

So often before the new year, we think about things we'd like to accomplish. But do we think about why we want to accomplish them? Especially those resolutions that start out with a bang and end up fizzling out after a few months, weeks, or even days! I know I'm guilty. So one day I sat down and thought... what is it that I really want? Forget about the next year... what is my life goal. It was a daunting exercise, but about 13 pages and just as many days later... I figured it out. Wanna know what it is?

To no longer be bound by the constraints of time.

Okay, I know... I know... sounds like something out of an H.G. Wells novel, right? But really it's more simple than that. If I had everything I needed to make a good living... I would be free. Money, success, friends, family, travel, a beach house, cool clothes, a giant art studio... none of these things are worth anything without time. If you don't have time to enjoy them... what good are they? Not much. But, oh... if I could find a way to enjoy these things in a leisurely fashion.... now that's what success means to me.

I wouldn't have to rush around trying to get more done than one person actually can. I could hire people and delegate tasks. I wouldn't have to compromise on a creative project, trying to meet a deadline. I could take my time and re-do or re-work anything I wanted. I could play, experiment, have fun. I'd have more time for family and travel and hanging out with my friends. I wouldn't even own a watch because time wouldn't matter!

And so that's what I'm after. No matter who, what, where, when or how I can attain this... I have no preconceived notions. You never know how your dream will be delivered, but you definitely need to have one. So... what's your New Year's Revloution?

Oh, and Happy New Year!
xoxo