Stick a fork in it, or

better yet, put a mini painting or an old photo "on" it. Items that are re-purposed into pretty little other uses have long been a favorite of mine. A few weeks ago, a talented antique selling friend, from Vintage Village, was making these neat little easels from vintage (4-tined & silverplated) forks to display her old cabinet photos on.

I fell in love with these mini easels and wanted to share how she made them with you. When you see how simple they are to make you will be seeking out old forks to create these yourself. The older the fork, I find, the easier it is to bend and shape with a jewelery or needle nose pliers.

Remember, it must be a 4-tined fork. You bend back the two outer tines and bend forward the two inner tines. Spread the inner times like a set of open skies and be sure to turn the tips up to hold the photo or picture in place.

Closer look at what position the bent tines should be. Notice the front (inner) tines have the tips turned up like skis to support a photo or picture.

This is a 5 x 7 tin type that was over painted with a still life signed and painted in oils. You can see the end of the fork at the top of the little painting which makes a decorative support. I wanted to share this nifty way to make instant easels for your vintage displays and personal decorating. Please feel free to share with your blog visitors and friends.

Blog Fits, FITZ and more Fits

Okay, if you have been stopping by you have seen some creative changes to my blog. Some good, some not so good. Still trying to fit a square background/header peg in a round blog template hole. For those who know me well, you are already laughing at my attempts to "personalize" my blog space.For those who don't, well then welcome to my "I'm gonna do it my way even if it kills me world." So, over the next few days as I try and correct spacing problems, font changes, margin issues and anything else that seems to pop up after I find the solution to one concern, please forgive me...or at least join me in seeing what other silly surprises appear. The frustrated Sea Witch.

Can I BE more blonde?

This foolish sea witch has been following a delightful blog called Enchanted Revelry for months now. http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com/

I have enjoyed the postings by Tristan and had even added Enchanted Revelry to my favorites list. Well, last week-- as I drilled deeper into Tristan's profile -- I realized that this wonderful blog is offered by a male blogger. I know, I know, you can say it...having ignored the piercing eyes of Tristan's photo and the obvious fact that this is a man for as many months...can I be more blonde...I don't think, so.

First things first, I changed my favorites header from "Where the Wild Women Are" to "Where the Wild Bloggers Are." (I know there are male bloggers out there, but they have been few and far between. So I followed the assumption that bloggers must be women as we are pre-disposed to find any venue to converse. I beg for your forgiveness for not recognizing you...and I assume you will accept my apology as men seem to like it when women beg.) I immediately shot off an email of mea culpa to Tristan and asked if I could make Enchanted Revelry a featured posting. Tristan very kindly invited me to swipe away photos and feature him in all his glory on my blog. Thank you Tristan for your understanding the subtle nuances of being blonde and for the use of your smashing quilt photos.

If you visit Enchanted Revelry, you cannot escape the sheer delight

Tristan offers through his blog.

Looking like a biker with tats and 'tude and with a joy for theater and wide friendships, this is a man for all seasons. Among his many talents, Tristan is passionate for color. He doesn't just revel in it, he exhausts its spectrum in his amazing quilts.

A juried quilt artist and a multiple exhibition prize winner, a visit to his website will only wet your appetite for these pieces. You gotta love the name of his website as well: http://www.manmadequilts.com/.

My favorite is this prize winner named "Real Men Don't Make Quilts". What fun and an amazing use of color with different traditional piecing patterns.

I adore traditional canvas work known as bargello...something about those visual optical illusions just delight me or maybe it is just my old hippie days that come to memory. Tristan must have been a mad man cutting all of those tiny, thin strips in an palette of colors and patterns to produce this series. Extraordinary.

Love the name - Wonky Log Cabin. Another traditional American technique that Tristan took on a roller coaster ride of color use.

Country Scrappy Stars - understated use of color married with traditional piecing techniques. Lovely.

How much fun is this memory quilt made to resemble a monopoly game board? It is full of photos and places that this family traveled to. Tristan will produce commissioned memory quilts geared especially to your wants and needs. Lots of joy and love in a quilt like this.

Now, Dusty does not quilt, but I'm sure Dusty has lots of input into what Tristan will do next. What a sweet baby. To view more pictures of the amazing quilts that Tristan produces and a look at his world, please visit his blog and website.

I've said it before, this bloggie world has been an adventure meeting so many talented "men" and women. I so enjoy reading about the lives everyone so willingly shares, to have a glimpse into the myriad of talents that you all have. Thank you for sharing so much of yourselves.

God Bless America

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Did you know that the United States of America is the only country that has declared the "pursuit of Happiness" an unalienable right? Wonderous!

On this day that honors the birth of our great Nation, I urge you to pursue your own happiness. Be joyful in your life and grateful for all that comes your way. Pay it forward to others whether you know them or not and I wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July.

Duets

Love is being stupid together. Paul Valery - French Poet, Essayist 1871-1945.

I like these words. They are pure in the description of joy in togetherness which had me thinking about duets in song as offered in my latest playlist.

My favorite couple second only to Alan and me.
He calls me his little chickadee and I invite him to come up and see me sometime...often.

The inimitable George and Gracie...who elevated

couples banter to an art form.

I've always said that my life is often like a cartoon and this power couple always seem to work things out no matter the obstacles. I hope you enjoy the duet music and in the words of the great philosophers, Bill & Ted, (another insightful couple)

Be Excellent To Each Other!

Extraordinary Pantene Commerical.

Powerful...beautiful.

(with apologizes to Ullabenulla for borrowing her post title)

I could not find better words to describe

this incredibly brilliant, advertising piece.

Go, find your passion,

and let no one stop you...especially yourself.

Sneak Peak - Great Majestic Sea Swap

I'm just finishing up my swap "swag" that I will be shipping to my swap partner located in Germany. This is the first swap that I participated in and nothing like a Majestic Sea theme to get me involved in these blog swaps.The Majestic Sea Swap was offered up by Gypsy Mermaid Life and outlined on her blog link: http://gypsymermaidlife.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-06-03T10%3A05%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=4

Here is a little sneak peak at some of the swag that will be on its way to Germany.

I hope my Majestic Sea Swap partner in Germany will enjoy the items as much as I had putting them together and I can't wait to see what arrives to my address from Germany!

Plant Lavender for luck and fall in love whenever you can.

This has been a crazy two weeks and doing mundane things like placing fresh, wind whipped sheets on the bed and sprinkling them with lavender powder has a way of setting things right in my world. The scent of fresh lavender is my favorite next to the scent of the sea and this time of the year is when lavender farms often bloom with spectacular color. Waves of purple as far as the eye can see, I want to fall into them,

lay down with the sun shining on my face,

and just rest in the arms of nature.

So in the words of Sally Owens, "Can love travel back in time and heal a broken heart? I'd like to think so. There are some things I know for certain. Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Plant lavender for luck.

And fall in love whenever you can."

I'm melting...

I'm melting, oh what a world, what a world. AAAAHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhh!

A lovely afternoon at the YMCA pool, we come home at 5:00 pm and walk in to a house that feels like a blast furnace. You guessed it, our A/C went out sometime during the day and on the hottest day of the year in HOTlanta, we show an indoor temp of 94 degrees. In the words of the great Elphaba...I'm melting or more accurately, my honey, my canine and me were melting. So, it's Father's Day Sunday, the A/C is broke and we are wearing ice packs...no chance of anyone coming to do an emergency repair so we will have to wait until tomorrow. In the meantime, we will watch an "Ice Road Truckers" marathon in hopes of feeling cool , drink lots of ice water and sit around in as little as possible with cold, damp wash cloths on our heads. NICE! LMAO!!!

But when all is said and done, we have each other and the kiddie pool outside is looking inviting again. Here's to tomorrow and an AC repairman. Stay cool!

Floating my weekend away!

It has been a long week and all I want to do is grab my man and my sister and run to the YMCA outdoor pool, drop my floatie raft in the water, and float Saturday away. I've got my sunscreen, my picnic hamper, and a good summer read and I won't come home until my tootsies are as pruney as the feet in this pic.

Life is good folks, have a wonderful weekend--the Sea Witch.