Collage of Tea Cups and Saucers

Collage of Tea Cups and Saucers, originally uploaded by confections.

My collection of tea cups and saucers is constantly growing. This collage represents one afternoon's harvest from a local thrift store--orphan tea cups and saucers. No matched sets were found that day, yet somehow they all work together. There's even a saucer commemorating Queen Elizabeth's 1953 coronation!

I totally embrace this aspect of shabby chic living, especially when it comes to items for my tea table.

Spindle with Handspun Merino

Spindle with Handspun Merino, originally uploaded by confections.

Continuing my saga of spinning with new fiberarts tools, here is my latest handspun merino yarn which I created with my new kick spindle from Etsy.

It's a small skein--the singles yarn is shown here, but I did ply it back on itself. My supply of this yummy color of merino roving was very limited, but I have located more of it online. It is the softest baby blue.

This kick spindle is handy to have in the car along with a basket of roving. In the event of a spinning emergency, you will always be prepared. The meditative quality of handspinning and its benefits are great antidotes to the complications of modern 21st century life.

If you haven't already tried it, for a minimal investment you can join the happy ranks of spinners.

Vintage Family Wedding Reception, 1982

Vintage Family Wedding Reception, 1982, originally uploaded by confections.

My husband and I got married in December of 1981 in California. The following May my parents held a small family wedding reception for us at their home in Pennsylvania. The lilacs were in bloom and everything was exquisite.

Five years after this occasion, my youngest sister tied the knot, and our whole family created her handmade wedding. For all the details, see this article that I wrote for the Storque News on Etsy.com.

New Mother Marion Kick Spindle "Little Meggie"

 

 

 

 

Here is my first yarn spun on my new Mother Marion Kick Spindle "Little Meggie" made by Jan at Heavenly Handspinning on Etsy.com. I haven't plied it yet, but I had to photograph it on the spindle because it looked so yummy. It is made from continuous fabric strips that I bought at JoAnn's last summer and is a cousin to my Ragamuffin skeins on Etsy. Just had to share!

Green Tiger Press Vintage Ephemera Now Available

 

A few vintage Green Tiger Press postcards are available in my Etsy shop as of today. More of the above images will be coming during the week. Please drop by and check out the art yarns and needlefelted items as well.

On Friday, I got a new spinning tool from a fellow Etsy seller whose shop is called Heavenly Handspinning. It's the Mother Marion Kick Spindle, and I have a partially done skein of yarn on it right now. I'll post photos later on after the sun rises! It's a beautiful, functional spinning device, which would be great for kids and beginners who want to spin heavier yarns. It's also great for old hands like me who love to collect and use all kinds of spinning tools. If you want to get a glimpse of it, please see this listing in her Etsy shop.

Have a lovely Saturday doing what you love to do!

March Winds--Vintage Ephemera Coming Soon to My Etsy Shop

 

 

 

The first lovely vintage image shown above, entitled "March", comes from Kate Greenaway's 1890 Almanac. It was reproduced by the Green Tiger Press in the early 1980's as a postcard and is from my collection of vintage ephemera.

I worked for the legendary Green Tiger Press for a short time in 1980-81 and was an avid collector of their images from children's books. When the business was sold in 1986, I went to their huge sale and stocked up on books, notecards, bookplates, and postcards.

The second image is called "The Real Princess" and is an illustration by Dion Calthrop from The Guide to Fairyland. The third postcard (one of my all-time favorites) is "Poppy Picking Vegetables" by Florence Upton from The Vege-men's Revenge.

I have had these treasures in my archives for all these years and have enjoyed them, but I will be offering some of them to discerning collectors in my Etsy shop beginning this spring. As soon as they are listed, I will let you know.

Enjoy the last little bit of winter and have fun anticipating the arrival of the Easter bunny!

A Confectionery Video

Here's a little video of some of my Etsy shop products that I made at animoto.com. Enjoy!

My Photographs are Now Available on RedBubble!

Hello, blogger friends! I've been out of pocket due to the flu for way too long, but I'm back in my blogger seat once again.

Today I signed up with RedBubble to make my photographs available for sale on line. I have heard good things about this service, so I hereby invite you to take a look at my profile and portfolio there. You will recognize many of the photos as ones that have premiered here on Stelladanza and in my Etsy shop, which I maintain as my fiberarts sales site.

Thanks for dropping by! I'm looking forward to spring arriving and that blessed Daylight Savings Time!