Monthly Archives: September 2015

Birthday Gift

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Hello, hello, hello.. I’m not sure if I should be feeling excited or miserable.  I’ve got mixed feelings… I guess you’re wondering why?? Well, by the time you read this.. I just reached my 50th Plateau!

uggghhhh.. mind you I’m always happy and very thankful to see another birthday, but good-gosh do they have to come so quickly ??? Yikes  🙁   where did the time go…  But Ok… enough of the pity-party – Yes- I’m happy-  It’s my birthday and  guess what?? Some lucky reader will get a gift too! (I wish I could give each of you a gift) but unfortunately, only one lucky reader this time.

Now let me tell you about my birthday gift.  Last year I went to the Gullah Festival in Charleston, SC.  I came upon an artist name Patricia, I saw her work and adored it.  Her use of vibrant colors and bold strokes caught my eye.  When I actually took the time to speak with Patricia, she was one of the most pleasant ladies I’d met. Patricia and her daughter, Faridah established Sabree’sArt Gallery, and they are truly a pair of warm and friendly people.  Honestly speaking, that was partly the reason I decided to buy her art. Here are some of the pieces I loved by her:

 

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I had to come home with one… and this is the painting I chose.. (although it didn’t technically come home with me that day..Thankfully, she had a payment plan and I jumped on it..)   🙂  

This painting is called “Version of Self” and I’m the proud owner of the original painting :-).  This was my 50th Birthday gift from me to me.  🙂 .  One splurge per decade I think is allowable (right??)

“A Version of Self”-  Thy self has chosen to experience all versions. May she be a conscious witness of herself, who is highlighted amongst this reality. Life’s own music elevated her here. May she collect the notes of her own album. Her previous foot steps recommends her return. To have thought to see just how the water glistens like pearls… To have guessed that the waves awaken by thy presence… To have misunderstood the palms’ distractions made it clear to see all of self’s relation to the source.
After reading that…I felt that was perfect for me.
And this my dear friends is the gift to the lucky winner!  A signed 12×18 print of “Test the Waters”

“Test the Waters”  – How many times have we sat on the shoreline watching our lives drift pass us much like pebbles floating precariously across the sand? In the piece entitled, “Test the Waters,” a beautiful graceful young woman is contemplating taking a chance on following her dreams, but in the back of her mind she has fears of failure. Coming to the waters is her favorite spot due to its serenity. However, as long as she stays planted on the shoreline, she may never know how far her dreams will take her. To take a chance on living one’s dreams is a beautiful thing, yet most of us go through life day after day living our nightmares, instead of living our dreams. At the end of one’s life, the biggest risk is the one we don’t take.

And I chose this one because, I’m so glad I decided to “Test the Waters” of blogging.  I decided to not just be a blog reader and wondering if anyone will read mine or follow me, but instead I took the plunge and created VivaLaVintage.  It was one of the best decisions I made, and through my blog I’ve met so many wonderful people.  So, I’m sharing a piece of me to you through this piece of art.  So hopefully, whoever wins it, will think of me.   Click over to my Facebook page to enter the contest – and Good Luck!!

Time for me to go have cake!!  Yayyyy I get another Carvel Ice Cream Cake (I LOOOOOVE THOSE!!)

If you enjoyed her art, by all means, view the entire gallery here.. and let her know Jamala sent you 🙂

SMOOCHES!!!!

 

 

 

The $1.00 Frame

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Good morning and Happy Thursday! For those who watch- it’s the season premier of Scandal – so Gladiators get ready  🙂  wooohoooo!!!  So I’m keeping this short and sweet.. I’m so satisfied with my $1.00 frame from The Big Grab last week and I wanted to share my art that I framed in it.

A few months ago I found this original watercolor painting on Chairish and purchased it.  The artist painted it on hot press watercolor paper and I simply fell in love with the soft hues, gentle strokes and not to mention, the sheer beauty of the woman she painted.  I have to admit, lately I’ve been eyeing watercolor art  and I was very pleased when I found this piece.  (Isn’t it amazing how our taste changes as we get older)…

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On the reverse side of this particular painting are tile patterns inspired by the Azulejo ceramic tiles the artist fell in love with on a trip to Lisbon, Portugal. So it’s like I got two paintings for the price of one.

I tested my art in the frame it was slightly smaller than the opening.. So it would need another matte.  However, I wasn’t prepared to take it to get a matte.  So I decided to spray the cardboard a glossy black to create the black matte.  I used two small pieces of double-sided scotch tape to adhere the picture to the board (I didn’t want to use glue just in case I want to switch it around) and here’s how it looks framed..

I think it looks pretty good in this frame with the color contrast

The picture really pops on the black backdrop.

One thing for sure, it doesn’t look like a frame you’ll get at the Dollar Store for $1.00 and it finishes off this area quite nicely.

Don’t you just love when good bargain works out perfectly – Now I wish I would have gotten a couple more.. Oh well.. I blew it.. But glad this one didn’t get away.

Now you all enjoy your day and have a wonderful evening.  See you back here in an few days!

Tah-tah lovies!

My Big Grabs

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This past weekend was The Big Grab Yard Sale and I had the most enjoyable time looking for bargains.  There were soooo many vendors – people selling sooooo many things.. OMG!  I was completely amazed at what I saw.  I’m not going to go on about the sale, but if you ever get a chance, it’s worth doing.  I will show you the goodie grabs I saw and the ones I came home with (as if I needed more.. good grief.. my husband is going to strangle me..lol.. we just cleaned out the garage – aye yai yai…  :-/

Ok.. first off.. this was my big score. I was totally, totally happy when my eyes spied this set.  

I’ve been wanting a wooden salad set but they’re so expensive..so I just gave up the desire, and made do with what I have..But NOW – I’m a salad making, salad eating happy camper.. If you remember, I lucked up and scored a salad spinner a few months back for $2.00 (Yippppeeee!) (and the best part, it was never used.. wow.) It was tagged for $15 but I got it for $12.00 (are you cheeesin’ like me?)

There was a vendor who had a box of frames with mattes and they were all $1.00, couldn’t let that pass me buy, so I got this one.

Mom got this one for her cruise picture.. (I put her picture in it for her – she couldn’t wait to get it in the frame 🙂 –  looks pretty darn good especially for $1.00

Next up.. I’ve been needing one of these too.. so for $5.00 – it came home with me.. (my next D.I.M.er – do it myselfer fixer upper – to make it pretty)

I need these like I need a hole in my head.. more music..but I couldn’t pass these up.. 7 cds for $10.00 (there were so many to choose from – so I had to narrow it down)

A good score I picked up for my brother – $15.00 ( YES!! $15.00).  He needed a TV stand so badly (I dare not even mention what he had his flat screen on – all I could imagine was it falling over.. yikes!!),  but again – way too expensive in the store.  So, this here baby was truly, truly a blessing for him.

This cute frame was being thrown away..Luckily I was standing there when the woman said toss it.. I couldn’t snatch it quick enough.. (could you imagine.. )  this will make a really cute mirror and it’s a perfect size to put in my office..

This one house had a few chairs out and I just walked up and was was looking at them.  They were tagged for $5.00 – not bad at all for 5 bucks.. but I didn’t need another chair to work on.. so as I began to walk away, the guy said.. listen.. take both of them – I told him naww.. I don’t need another chair..he said “no – I mean take them.. you can have them..!  I was like – WHAT!!  are you serious…he said yes.. I’ll help you load them. OMG.. I shook my head.. I mean- really?? can I get this lucky with the lottery as I am with junk..lol.. But anyway, I couldn’t get both in my SUV but I did get one.. this one..

I left this one behind… regretfully.. but oh well..- I feel like Ike in “What’s Love Got to Do With It”.. what I’mma do with one more chair..- lol

 

These pretty pink/green plates and napkins –  $3.00  –  they’ll come in handy for sure..

This planter was a whopping $0.50 cents.. How dare I walk away from this.. – unheard of

A lion’s head  – no way would I leave this behind.. yea it’s pretty beatup and rusted.. but so what..(that’s just a quick spray of paint for a new look)

And last but not least.. I spent my last $0.50 cents on this. The seller had a big collection of SL Cookbooks and was letting them go for  .50cents (I wanted them all but I did mention last $0.50 cents) lol… thank God for small favors..

S00000.. that’s all folks.. that sums up all my purchases for this fun event.. I can’t wait till next year..!

Now.. let me just show you a couple of good bargains I left behind..

I really liked these bird pictures.  They were matted in a black lacquer bamboo frame.. He had a set of 3 for $40.00.  (I’ll regret I left them later)

This desk and chair set was $20.00  – perfect for a dorm room

This USA pottery planter was $8.00 (I’ll regret this one too)

3rd regret…. this Beehive Pitcher.. smh… lift foot- insert kick..

So there you have it.. MY BIG GRABS at THE BIG GRAB..  If you’re interested in attending it.. they have this event every year – first Friday and Sat in September –  and remember the I2I-49 Mile Yard Sale is the first Friday and Saturday in June.  Hope to see you at one of them!  In the meantime.. go hunt and find your next big grab and don’t forget to holla at your girl and keep me posted!    Smooches

Monday Makeover

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While most bloggers are gearing up for fall new looks and colors… I’m still holding on to summer like a kid kicking and screaming “Don’t go” – grabbing on his mommy’s leg when she’s leaving…lol..

I can’t help it.. I love summer..  So I’m sharing, I guess, my final makeover for the garden.  I found these mirrors at a yard sale for $5.00ea.  I had no idea what I was going to use them for when I bought them, but I figure, at $10.00 bucks – I’ll find something.  They were sturdy mirrors made of some type of hard plastic and quite heavy.  I left them outside for a few days (not intentionally – during heavy rainstorms and saw they withheld it) so that’s when it hit me… They could be my outdoor mirrors.  I’ve been wanting a mirror in the garden, but outdoor mirrors are so expensive (WHY?????)  Here are the pair of mirrors – I really liked the scrolling on top but the color…YIKES!! talk about ugly… blah….

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So with my trusty paint can in hand.. I gave them a new look…

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I know it’s not a fall color – but I don’t care.. I love the summer look.. and besides.. it’s still 90’s here and I’m loving it.. even though the leaves are beginning to fall.. (I’m dreading it..)… but anyway, I’m just going to enjoy my mirrors in the garden for the next few weeks..

For a whimsical touch, I used Martha Stewart’s gold paint to outline the scroll detail.

Pretty huh??

I may not keep it here, but I do like how it goes with the bistro set (and it blocks the view of the dead tree). I’ll worry more about that next summer, but at least I have my outdoor mirrors. ☺️

To see other mirrors in the garden inspiration .. Check out my Pinterest board and remember to follow along with me pinning away!  Until next time… Tah-tah.. Smooches

Road Tune

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I really wasn’t planning to post today, but I was traveling down the road (getting off the grind) and this came on the radio…and next thing I know.. I’m bopping my head, tapping my feet turning the volume up to listen to this song and loving this tune.  Now you know how much I love music and the old Motown classics are so fantastic.. the beat, the lyrics, the sound all makes for good listening music.  I’d not heard this and said to myself “WOW”.. I really like this .. and just wanted to share.

So while I’m cruising and enjoying this tune, thoughts of the sixties popped in my head.  The style of fashion, home decor and how life in the 60’s was like.  After posting about the whimsical beautiful Enid Collins bags, I’m kinda wanting another one, but I want to catch one at an estate sale rather than online.. and you know that’ll be just like trying to find “A Needle In a Haystack” lol.. I’m on the hunt for either of these two..  (because you know how much I love flowers)

and you know how slow I can be with things… heeeheeeheeee

Ok, so… , I’m just going to share a few sixties images that caught my eye for your perusing pleasure as you’re sitting there reading this, tapping your feet and bopping to the music. I’ve always loved the Supremes style of dressing – they were such a “class act”

Home decor back then had clean straight angles..  A classic mod-style and do you see the price of this entire set….Oh my goodness!!!! WOW!!! (and this style has made a great comeback – thanks to Madmen)

Here’s another cheerful living room that is absolutely mod-fab (I could definitely see me living here.. do you see those lamps and chairs!!)

Notice how this design style has made a comeback (the polka-dot walls)

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So can you imagine, listening to this song, wearing your mod outfit, headed to your glamorously decorated 1960’s ranch style home, riding down the highway in this..

with the top down  ..

We caught this guy riding in his car (the same day we were stepping out with our Enid Collins bag) and he was so nice to let us photograph his car.  Shouting out a big  “Thank you” to the nice gentlemen 🙂

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I hope you enjoyed my “Throwback to the Sixties” moment.. Until next time Lovies… smooches.!