My Creative Source

Many (many) years ago, there was a little redheaded girl who loved to read.
LOVED. TO. READ.
Loved it SO much that she hid in her room reading all the time,

and her mom & grandma would literally kick her outside and close the door,

entreating her to 'Go Play!'.
Most of the time, I DID go play - bikes, barbies, kiddles, house, swimming, skating -

with my neighborhood friends, 

until dusk fell and the streetlights came on and Moms called their kids in to dinner.

Other times, I sneaked a book out of the house - under my tee shirt - 

 and climbed the tree in the yard to read hidden among the branches, undisturbed.

And there was this one book.....
the 'Make and Do' volume of the Childcraft 'How and Why' Library from World Book.

ah, the wonders it held inside!
Every page revealed creative ideas GALORE.
Pages dog-eared from being folded over for 'things I want to make'.

Cover sticky with remnants of paste and glitter and paint.

I made things for Christmas and holidays and birthdays and every days.

Oh, how I loved that book.
In later years, my mom gave me the whole World Book set for MY kids, 

and they loved it just as much as I did.

A week ago, I went into a thrift store and there was the whole set of the books. 
[ not MY actual set, mind you ]

I rifled through them in a split second, looking for the familiar cover...

and breathed a huge sigh of relief when I found it!
I bought it for the grand sum of FIFTY CENTS and brought it home.
I sat on the twin bed in my office, which is covered with a white matlasse spread - 

reminding me of my own childhood bed all those years ago.
On hot summer days back then, I lived for 'rest time' -
 I was too old for naps, but it helped my mom get my little brother to nap if I laid down, too -
but I never argued about it,
because THAT was when I could curl up on my bed with this book, 

and just devour its enticing and inspiring contents - page by page:

 So, when I came home the other day,

I did exactly that... devoured it from cover to cover.

And on one particular page,
I spied something that I realized had been embedded in my mind all of my life.
It brought a smile to my face as I read it,

because the formation of my homewardFOUND philosophy
of using what you have to make beautiful things

started right in this very book when I was a child:

Tin Cans? yep. Buttons? yep. Balloons? yep.

I've shared posts for craft and decor ideas using all of those elements - and many more.
(Sweaters aren't specifically mentioned here, but let's just go with the 'cloth' reference, shall we?!)

What a thrill to see something that inspired me so much as a child

and formed one of my most definitive design qualities: re-purposing everyday items into decor.

I didn't just find a treasured book last week...

I found another part of ME!

Flyin' My Flag

 Yesterday I made a stop at the Disney Cast Member outlet store.
Yes, that really does exist  ;)

End-of-line, out-of-season, slightly damaged and discontinued items are sent there
from retail shops on the resort property, along with old office supplies, and
decorative items no longer being used by the resort property enhancement department.

That includes used holiday decor.
smile.

So when I walked around a corner there and saw a bucket of American flags,
I eagerly grabbed one. One.
I was wondering where it had been used when another Cast Member grabbed a dozen of them,
and said she had heard that they were from the Main Street USA lamp post embellishments.
They would have looked like this when displayed there:

I still only took one.
Because that's one thing I've been learning lately...
SIMPLIFY.

I now have this beautiful, slightly worn flag
that came from a place I dearly love and have so many memories of
and it will become a part of my summer decor, every year.
The knowledge of the history of my little flag enhances its meaning for me. 
THAT is what is important to me now... not quantity.

Besides, there are thousands of other Cast Members who shop there
and they deserve to get one, too.

 I love flags!

I was a 'flag carrier' with the marching band in high school,
and have a great appreciation for the beauty of our National symbol.
My once huge collection of vintage US flags has been reduced to
 my favorite large one (from a boat) and this one.
Two flags, two histories - and many more memories to make...

I am perfectly happy with just a little bit of summer 
and a WHOLE lot of history and pride
in my HOMEWARDfoundDecor office.
Simple really IS better.

Raise the Stakes: Poker Chip Decor!

A few weeks ago I shared a buncha' uses for a metal plant stand
that I found at a local flea market.

Another treasure was unearthed that day, and I've been waiting to use it...

I snagged a HUGE bag of vintage plastic poker chips for FIVE BUCKS.
These are thick, heavy almost 'bakelite'/resin chips,

and as soon as I saw them I knew what I'd do with them:

Fill up clear glass apothecary jars!

One jar is totally filled with the chips (background).

The front jar has a glass vase hidden in the center, surrounded by the poker chips.

That glass is holding a candle, but could also hold fresh flowers  - 
red, white, and blue ones, of course :) 

This is a simple arrangement with patriotic summer style

for your entry, guest bath, or kitchen counter.

Speaking of the kitchen: 

vintage poker chips make GREAT fridge magnets, too!

Just glue a small round magnet to the back of the chip.
[ I did the same with a souvenir wooden coin, just because it fit the patriotic theme! ]

PS: the projects listed above in the photo are all past posts - 
find links in my sidebar under 'Top Projects'!

As long as you can keep the boys in the house from grabbing the chips for poker games, 
you're good all summer long! ;)

@ Liberty: Summer Ashore Decor!

Imagine, if you will, Lady Liberty... 
stepping down from her pedestal on Ellis Island to enjoy a summer yachting excursion.

That, in a nutshell, is the premise behind the summer theme
in my friend Liz's booth in an antique mall in San Diego!

Liz hired me to assist her in gaining some serious WOW factor in her booth,
which is in the WINDOW of the gorgeous shop.
She brought the goods, and I helped her with a design plan and styling services.

... and I think I can safely say that her booth is definitely a WOW!

These are simple yet stunning ideas
for combining Nautical, French, and Patriotic decor...

a vintage mannequin is dressed in a white petticoat and draped with a vintage flag.
Liz created her Lady Liberty crown out of tin!

a beautiful alabaster statue tips her crown to the colors

in a purely last-minute serendipitous combination,
a statuary head nestles in a silver yachting trophy, topped by a jaunty French beret 

Old Glory adds color to the sparkle of mirror and crystal in the corner

 a vintage French bed was rebuilt as a bench, then filled with nautical pillows and Old Glory
a life preserver forms a perfect halo above the mannequin
and a sailing ship is ready for the water

miniature Lady Liberties join in the fun!

.
Liz's business is 'My Little French Venue'
The store is Vignettes, in Ocean Beach, San Diego, California

shared online:
 
Practically Functional | Creativity Unleashed