Forgotten, but not lost...

So, my Mother has been trying to go through the house and dig through everything, sorting what she wants from what she wants to give to Goodwill. You know, in case we end up moving, to make it a bit easier. She's going through an overhead storage space in the laundry room the other day and imagine my surprise when she finds a box of crafty goods that she had since seriously before I was born. Now, if you know my Mother, she always claims to not have the slightest craftiest bone in her body...that I got all the creative genes. She's a bakery manager and does decorate beautiful cakes at work (she this graduation cake), so I've always thought that her lack of creativity was more a figment of her imagination than anything. She'll deny this. But with the discovery of the box, it proves my point a bit more. She'll deny this too.

Everything in the box was seriously very early 80s...bits of Christmas fabric, Easter picks, fabric ribbon, faux flowers, wooden bits. So cool. And as defined by Etsy...VINTAGE! Ooh, how I love vintage! So, I've kept everything I think I could possibly use and as for the rest, I just can't throw it out because it's so fabulous, so I've put a couple things up for sale in my Etsy shop, like this lot of Westrim kitchen-themed craft stuff...and this BakeACraft Pineapple Stained Glass suncatcher kit...
I also have this Santa BakeACraft Stained Glass suncatcher kit, but he won't be up for sale till closer to Christmas time.And this is definitely not vintage, but a few months back when I was in the running for Project Fashionista over @ SIStv, I had made this upcycled toilet paper roll garland for the project round. I have no space for it now and if we do move, I really don't want to try to transport it, so it's also up for sale.PS., forgive the creased fabric background above. I'm not domesticated and I can't iron. :)

Before I go, check out this beautiful birthday card I received from the lovely and talented Cindy Ellen Russell. Her style is like no other. I just adore it! Thank you for brightening my day, Cindy! :)Until next time,
-Lindsay

Oh boy.

My actual birthday didn't go so hot. I woke up to find that I had started...you know. Unexpectedly too. Then I wanted Chinese food for lunch. We ordered it from a place in town that's been there since I can remember...been there sooo many times and it's always been really good. So, I'm eating and I'm almost done. Getting really full, but I'm plugging through my spring roll. I go to take another bite and I see something that looks greatly like a bug. I freak out and throw the spring roll on my plate. My Mom picks it up to inspect it and doesn't see anything. Then I notice it in a flower arrangement on the table. It must have been ejected when I threw it. Sure enough, it was a large dead fly. That I almost ate! So, I'm already emotional because...you know and that just set me over the edge because at the time I just felt like, of course, I would get a fly in my spring roll on my birthday. So, I cried for a while. I managed to compose myself after brushing my teeth and gargling lots of mouthwash, but I still felt a little shitty.

when we get to New Hampshire, and right before we get there, I'm talking to my Grandmother on the phone and she tells me that her landlady left her a note saying that she rents to mySo, a couple hours later we get ready to go pick up Tim and head to Boston for the show. I'm still feeling emotional, like I could cry at the drop of the hat, but we get on the highway anyways and as we get on the highway, it starts pouring and thundering. I'm one who gets nervous about driving long distances, especially at night anyways and so now I'm just like great. Is this going to end or is it going to keep up all night? Also, there's been a lot of accidents on the highways here lately from people going the wrong way, so I'm really nervous now. We decide to see how it is Grandmother only and that she can't have anyone else parking in her driveway and that I'm going to have to move my car or she's going to start charging me, which is completely ridiculous. I've been leaving my car there when I'm going somewhere with my Mother or Tim for fear of what will happen if I leave it here unattended again, but it's on my Grandmother's side of the driveway and not in the way at all and it's not like I'm living there or leaving it there all the time, so in my eyes she's being difficult just for the pure sake of being difficult. This really sets me off and I begin to bawl. At this point, it just feels like I can't win. I just want to be able to live somewhere I can feel safe and not on edge all the time and be able to leave my car if I want to go with Tim or my Mom. I just want to be able to have some sort of peace of mind at some point, you know?

So, now I'm just such a wreck and in no fit social state, that we turn around, which makes me feel horrible and guilty I'm going to miss Chad's show. It's such an important show for him and I was so looking forward to it, that it just tears me up inside not to go. And we have to move my car. Luckily, Tim's parents let me leave it at their house in the next town over for the rest of the weekend. I ended up spending the rest of the night like that...a complete wreck. Happy birthday to me.

Luckily, Saturday turned out much better. We got up in the morning and went to the flea market, some yard sales, found a neat thrift shop, went out to lunch and then last night we went to see Pete Kilpatrick in Old Orchard Beach and they put on a really fun show.

Here are some of my thrift finds...Found this neat Knight statue at a random yard sale. He's missing his weapon, but at least it's not glaringly obvious. He was only 50 cents and upon further inspection, on the back it says "DEPOSE ITALY 70" with a spider mark. Upon further investigation, it appears to be by a prominent Italian company called Fontanini. This particular figured seems to be part of a series sculpted by Elio Simonetti, but other than that I can't find out any more information, as far as year or value or anything. Anyone out there know anything about him?I scored this bag of old greeting cards and letters for $5.00 at the flea market. They all appear to be from the same Danforth family from Unity and Troy, ME in the 1940s. Looked through it a little and found this old child's wallet, these particularly interesting greeting cards and strange, random news clipping. Can't help but wonder why this family saved this clipping. Wonder if they knew them. And I wonder why the lady disappeared for so many days...
I got these 2 tiny vintage Japan elf pixies for $6.00 (set). He wanted a lot more, but I was hesitant and he went down to $3.00 a piece. Love them though!Another flea market find. This neat little cameo-type wall plaque was on one lady's table. She estimated it was from the 1940s or 1950s. She wanted $8.00 for it, but I wasn't sure I wanted it that badly. I think I ended up getting it for $3.00 or $4.00.Love these odd little bits. They all came from one man's table and I got them all for $1.00. Love how they all look together!Found this little Walking Space Dog in it's original packaging on another table. My Mom loved it and said she had one when she was little. I really like the look of it in the packaging. And it was only $1.00, so I picked it up.Also, picked up these little buttons.
We found a neat little thrift shop along the way and I managed to score these little brass owls (the larger was $2 and the smaller was $1), along with this Dutch Hex sign for $1 and this neat bundle of lace (not pictured) for 25 cents!On the way back, we hit a benefit yard sale and I scored a bunch of lace for $2.50, which I don't have a picture of. We also hit a strawberry farm and picked up some fresh strawberries to make strawberry shortcake tonight. Took these photos on the farm and thought they were really neat...Oh, and I also added a new Heartfelt Wall Hanging to my Etsy shop. You can find it here.So, that's about it for today. Hoping to get some cleaning, sorting and crafting done today. Back to work tomorrow. Hope everyone had a good weekend!
-Lindsay

So...

Still feeling stressed from the neighborhood kids. Mom brought my car in for an estimate yesterday and it's going to be roughly $2,000 to get fixed. Isn't that lovely? But, I don't feel like talking about that right now, other than to say thank you to all who have commented and expressed concern about the situation. I know things could be way worse and some people have them way worse, so I am grateful for what I have and the wonderful people around me both in my personal life and in the greater scrapbooking/crafty/blog-lovin' community. It still just disturbs me so much that completely senseless and needless stuff like this happens to me and other people like me. I think as a society, we have enough to worry and concern ourselves about and this shouldn't be one of them. I have lots more thoughts on this, but as I said, I don't feel like talking about it right now because....

Tomorrow is my birthday. 23 years old. 23 is such an odd number. Like, I don't know, I just can't picture myself saying "I'm 23 years old". It makes me feel a little old, but I know it's not old. It's just weird, you know? haha

So, we're going to Boston and celebrating as all birthdays should be celebrated, with a knock-your-socks-off performance by my favorite, Chad Perrone. He's having his cd release show tomorrow, even though he released it about a month ago. I like to think he knew it was my birthday when the date was chosen. hehe ;)

In other news, I added 2 new items to my Etsy shop over the past few days.

Eye Candy Ephemera Trinket Box.Heartfelt Wall Hanging No. 1
I think I may turn the Heartfelt Wall Hangings into a mini-series. What do you think? Is it cute enough? I have a bad habit of second guessing my own work.

Did you see the sneak of the new Dozens kit??? Hello, lover. Dana actually revealed the full kit, which you can see on the blog. So stoked to play with this! Can't wait to start! Just look at those colors and the vintage children image. Oh my! Did you order yours yet? :)

You still have, oh, 2 more days to get your Amelie quote projects in @ Inspired By Amelie, so you'd better get cracking if you haven't done so already! Oh, and there's an awesome new-ish look to the blog thanks to the wonderfully fabulously talented Cindy Ellen Russell. And Fauve just recently posted pictures from her visit to Les Deux Moulins in Paris, the cafe where Amelie works in the movie. So wish I could go there!

That's all for now, I think. Hope everyone is well! :)
-Lindsay

It's really not cool to vandalize my car.

I posted this on SIStv, so most of you might already know by now, but for those who don't, Sunday morning my Mom and I went out to breakfast and came back to find that one of the stupid punk-ass neighborhood delinquents had vandalized my car. Scratched both sides, every panel. The whole neighborhood has been having problems with these destructive kids, who have moved into the area over the past few months. They're absolutely horrible and I hate them and they're lazy negligent parents. Sorry if this is harsh, but it's the truth. Now of course, without an actual witness, the police can do nothing. So, long story short (because at this point, I really don't feel like talking about it much more, it makes me literally sick), they did at least $1,200 worth of damage to my vehicle, I'm going to have to pay for their maliciousness when I've never even so much as said a word to them, both my Mother and I are now parking over 5 blocks away at my Grandmother's for fear of what else they'll do now that we've gotten the police involved. I feel like I'm living in a nightmare and I'm a prisoner in my own home, some place I've lived since I was 2 years old. We're now looking into moving, but of course, it's hard with the price of everything. It is not fair that I have to be punished and inconvenienced emotionally, financially, physically. And I hold firm in my belief that bad parenting is responsible for probably 85% of the world's problems. If we all raised our kids as they should be raised, with courtesy, consideration and respect for others and their belongings, so many people wouldn't have to suffer.

Anyways...in the meantime, both the new Mojo and Inspired by Amelie challenges are up, so I recommend checking both of those out!

Here's my Mojo layout...This was a fun one. All you have to do use Martha Stewart's catchphrase "It's a good thing" somewhere, somehow on your LO and use a stamp. So simple, right? Story of My Life is the sponsor (lucky who wins that!) and the fabulous Nathalie Kalbach is the Guest DT. Due by June 15th, so get cracking on those layouts! :)

Speaking of Mojo, I'd like to send a warm welcome to our new resident DT member, Marcia Hamelijnck-Brugmans! She rocks completely! Although I am going to miss Michelle C., I know she's going to be doing some fabulous things and I'm still in good company with her @ the Dozens.

Here's my Inspired by Amelie layout.I'm really pleased with the way this one came out. We had to use a quote from the movie. I chose "Times are hard for dreamers", which feels so true right now (even more so after this past weekend). Used an old napkin out of one of my Great-Grandmother's trunks for the background. I wanted to give it an eclectic, magical feel with somewhat raw journaling and I think that was achieved. I chose yellow and some fun embellies to give the feel of hope. Your layouts/projects are due June 21st (and henceforth, all new challenges will go up on the 7th with the due date being the 21st of the month unless otherwise noted) and the sponsor is Color Conspiracy, so you know you wanna play for that! hehe...

Oh, and I just want to say congratulations to my little cousin, Tyler, who just graduated from high school on Sunday! Makes me feel old, haha...Hope things are going better for everyone else out there than they are here...
-Lindsay

It's not cool to discard your gum on the groud.

No, it's really not. This is what happens to innocent passerby (namely me) who come along after you wearing their worn out Crocs and minding their own business, not expecting to have to look down at the ground every step of their way.
And let me tell you, it is not easy to get that stuff off the bottom of your Crocs. Not easy at all.

Aside from stepping in gum at the Old Port Festival the other day and getting a burnt forehead and right forearm (despite sunscreen), Tim and I had a good time. We stopped by my friend, Katie's tent where she was selling her jewelry (you can find her on Etsy, although her shop is currently closed because she's working on some festivals)...We ate kettle corn and crab/lobster rolls (not cheap) and spent most of the day at the rock stage seeing some of our favorite local Maine bands rock out, including Pete Kilpatrick, Paranoid Social Club and As Fast As...Also got to check out Matt Nathanson. I've had one of his cds for awhile, but had never seen him live. He was really good...very funny! I'd recommend checking him out if you ever get the chance.Last night I managed to make this Home Sweet Home wall hanging...
It's up in my Etsy shop now.

Speaking of the Etsy shop, I just added a bunch of cool items to the SALE section, so you might want to check that out. Here's a peek @ what I added:I hope everyone had a nice weekend!
-Lindsay