The Lille Collection

All this week we are giving you a preview of some of our favorite things 7gypsies is coming out with at CHA in a couple of weeks.  

We thought we would start with:

The Lille Collection 

...inspired by the city of Lille in northern France. 

We love the attention to detail in this paper.  A wonderful collage of images and print.  Be sure to note the little hand sketches and writings that are included in these pages.  The backs of the paper are just as fun and a great compliment to enhance these beautiful papers.

Here are some of the other fabulous items that are in this collection:

paperclip dangles

 Chipboard letters

Paper Tape

Collection Tags

The 7gypsies design team has made some fabulous projects to show off this collection

Page layout - by Mou Saha

Check out the details on this page...

Page layout - by Kerry Lynn Yeary

 Wall hanging - by Paula Cheney

Paula used the Lille papers and mini ephemera to create this wall hanging.

 the details...

We thought it would be fun to give out a few prizes this week, so you can enjoy a bit of the newest gypsy fun.  We will give a set of the new Lille papers and a few other gypsy items to a lucky winner.  Just comment on this post to enter, we will chose a winner on Wednesday.  

If you don't find the items we've shown at your local scrapbook store, you can find them here.

Check back on Wednesday to see more of our favorites and another opportunity to win.

Please Note:  The lucky winners this week will receive their goodies after we get back from CHA.

No. 1 - Good Junk

Well, if you scanned the pictures in the last post you may have spotted the large wooden sorter laying in the back end of my car after the Three Speckled Hens show I went to back in October.  Can you see it?

We paid the early entrance fee to get in and spotted this piece in the very first booth.  Not only were the cubby holes a draw, but the color of blue (under A LOT of dirt and spiderwebs) was exceptional.  It was marked $125 which may seem like a lot, but no so much for California.  The funny thing was, I said I liked it and the dealer said, I could do $100 on that piece. I just looked at her and said, I'll take it.   The dealer looked to be about 9 1/2 months pregnant so I think it was get rid of every thing day....which of course led to my LUCKY day at the show.

Here is how it looked in the booth and then me carrying it out...it's heavy!

After a lot of elbow grease and almost an entire roll of paper towels...
Here it is today, in my work space.
In love.

I have it set up as a mailing center with note cards, paper tape, stamps, return address labels, etc.  Really just all the things I need to write a quick note or package a box and drop in the mail box.  I picked up the large vintage flash card from a dealer at the Remnants of the Past show.  At first I was going to put it in a frame but never could find one long enough, so this seemed like a perfect solution (and reminder).
Here are some up close photos:

Vintage millinery berries in silver

Glass glitter 7G made from wooden type, an gift from my friend Laura.  My favorite black and creme May Arts ribbon and a vintage Eiffel tower.  I love how the person who owned this sorter hand wrote the numbers in both pen and pencil below each cubby.

gift tags ready to go, a silver baby cup for small rubber stamp storage.

If you have purchased items from the Etsy shop, you may recognize these tags or the pages from an old desk top calendar that I often include in the package.  I love having everything at hand rather than spending my time digging around looking for something to write a note on.

Pre-stamped address tags for quick packaging...custom address stamp created by Trial By Cupcakes.

a bottle of old pearls, small envelopes and tags.

a roll of tinsel, a picture of my mom when she was 14 or so in an old flower frog and some words of wisdom I cut from an old book.

paper tape...there is always a need for paper tape.

a lucky horse shoe pin I picked up in Pine, AZ from a roadside vendor.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the first post on Good Junk.  We are hoping to bring you a couple of these posts a month just to keep you inspired about collecting, junking and re-purposing what you have.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Oops!  I almost forgot, 7gypsies new collection sneak peaks start on Monday and of course we'll have a give away!

Good Junk

Deb and I thought we would begin a new series for 2011 about how we use the junk or antiques we find...where we found it, how much we paid, why we bought it and how were going to use it.  We thought though that we might start with some tips and hints to get you started.  If you are a seasoned junker, feel free to add your own tips in the comments section.

Remnants of the Past Show: Nipomo, CA

Here are some questions to think about when shopping for deals:
What state? 
When buying something old I always consider what state I am in (meaning state of the union, not state of mind) because antiques in California are much harder to come by than in Texas or Minnesota or Ohio where prices usually are more competitive. 

Austin, TX

Am I willing to pay what they are asking?

Some dealers are more willing to negotiate with you than others, but some things to know are: 

1.  CASH will ALWAYS get you the best price. 

2.  Don't insult someone by offering too low of a price. "Is this your best price?" is one way to ask without insulting the dealer.

3.  The more you buy or the higher the price, the more of a discount you may get.

4.  Stay away from dealers or stores that love their junk even more than you do...they never bargain.  We all know that shop owner that is running a museum not a store.  An often heard comment after leaving this type of store, "They sure like their stuff". 

Antique shop or museum? You be the judge.

 What time of year? 
Heat of summer or rain in Winter can effect prices at outdoor events.  On a past trip to Round Top, in Texas, pouring rain led to some great deals.  Although I am not sure the trade off of having to use the port-a-potty while wearing a rain poncho was worth it.

Three Speckled Hens show: Paso Robles, CA

What time of day?
Late in the day at any show is the best time to get a good deal.  Dealers would rather sell it than pack it up and have to drive it home.  At every show we do a quick overview to find the best booths then go back around for a harder look in all booths.  But if you see something you like the first time around, you better grab it.

Blissfest: Mesa, AZ

Is it a show or a flea market?
You can usually get a better price at a flea market or a roadside stop rather than a show where there are overhead costs involved.  Although, keep in mind that even shows sometimes have outdoor areas where prices might be lower or more competitive. 

Remnants of the Past Show: Nipomo, CA

 How am I going to get this home?  
In other words, do I have to pay for shipping?  If shipping your item is more than the item costs then it may not be worth it.  If you are driving then know the measurements of your loading space or trunk. 

One time my sister and niece went to a show at Dallas Fair Park.  We had such a great time looking and buying.  We all purchased some things including two small hall tables that would easily fit in the truck of her Honda Accord.  Later in the day we picked up our purchases and walked to the car.  My sister put the key in and opened the truck...there in all it's glory, was my nephews TUBA!  We never checked the trunk before we left home and forgot he had put it in after school on Friday.  Major Oops!  After we got over the initial shock we all just stood there laughing.  We had to drive back to Fort Worth with tables on our laps...I was never so glad it was only an hour away.  Of course we still make jokes about the day with tuba in the trunk.
 What kind of shopper am I?  
Are you a person that likes to have everything curated for you?  or a digger that likes to get down and dig around in the stuff under the table, inside a box and underneath a big pile of newspapers?  If so, a flea market might suit you best. 

Three Speckled Hens show: Paso Robles, CA

Tips:

If the shop or booth is mostly man stuff, they might not value other items such as sewing supplies that don't appeal to them which in turn could mean a good deal for you.

Always carry a measuring tape and for furniture and larger pieces.  It can also be helpful to have your house plan with measurements so you know if a piece will fit in a specific area.

Look in the corners or bottom shelves where things are put that are of less value to the seller....some of the best deals you may have to "find" or dig for.

Also, keep in mind, if you have allergies you many need to pack medication or even avoid some shows since many shows and flea markets use hay as a display item or to cover wet ground in the winter.  I thought we were going to have to carry Deb out of Marburger Farms, TX on a stretcher. 

And lastly, take a friend, that way if you don't find anything, the time will be well spent in good company.

I hope you have found this helpful in your quest for good junk.  Since this post went on longer than expected I am going to wait to show you the first piece of Good Junk.  That's right...your gonna have to wait for Friday.  But I will give you a hint: it's in one of the pictures in this post.
See you then!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

We purposefully do not use this blog to inform you about our private lives, there are plenty of blogs out there that do that.  We wanted a blog about being creative, collecting and using what others think is junk, as well as a vehicle for our of love of all things paper.  So, with that being said, I hope Deb will forgive me for posting a few pictures from my trip to the aquarium.  It was just SO inspiring.  I wasn't expecting that, in fact I didn't even take a camera.  I ended up using my iPhone and then borrowed a few pictures from my niece that she had taken.  Way to be prepared, right?

I have been there a few times, including a few hours during my honeymoon about 100 years ago, and each time I go there is something new to see.  If you have not had the chance to visit this place, that hovers over the Monterey Bay, I highly recommend it...a great place for young and old alike to spend a few hours wandering the floors enjoying the wonder (and I really mean WONDER) of nature and the sea.

For me, this was the shot of the day...

His first trip to the aquarium

He dug those goggles out of the toy box, a leftover from the summer.  I am not sure why he thought he might need them, but as soon as we all got out of the cars he put them on...we had not even left the parking lot.
If you have been to the aquarium you will recognize this as a glass tunnel you can walk though and every few minutes a wave comes and washes over the top of the glass.  The first time he jumped up and almost ran out.
The second time he sat and waited for it to come...just magic.

Just a few more shots

The room with the jelly fish is my personal favorite.
I would make the 3 hour drive again just to stand and watch them float in the water.

 love this one...

Note:  If you are going to visit the aquarium, there is construction going on in the Outer Bay exhibit which includes the jellies in the Drifters Gallery.  Please check the website since some exhibits will close during construction.

 

And another amazing animal...the Giant Pacific Octopus.  The last time I was here it was holed up in the corner not moving at all (maybe it was napping).  This time it was moving all over the glass wall.  When it's arms were outstretched, I would guess it was more than 4 feet wide.  Really mesmerizing...none of us could take our eyes off it.

Well, thanks for enduring stuff that has nothing to do with scrapbooking, paper, junk or collecting.   Deb and I are meeting up tomorrow in LA to start setting the 7gypsies booth for CHA (trade show) that will happen at the end of the month.  We have been working the past few weeks on gathering ideas to use our junk (because there is always junk involved) to make the booth it's best.  We have seen or worked with most of the new products being introduced at the show and we know you will like them because quite frankly, WE DO! The new papers are great...lots of ideas swirling around for classes this year.
Oh, and you won't want to miss Wednesday's post...a little trash to treasure beauty.

Tart Tin Pin Cushion

Deb asked if I would post how to create the pin cushion I made for a few friends.  I first saw the pin cushions made by artist Becky Schander in the July/Aug/Sept 2010 issue of Somerset Life magazine.  They were created in grey, which I loved, but I didn't have any grey wool that looked right.  So I opted for a hand dyed orange that has a mottled look when you see it in person and a pink houndstooth print. The article also explains how to age silver tart tins, but I found a set of six on Ebay that were the right color for my liking, no aging needed. 

Let's get started...
The circle needs to be the same as the opening of the tin.
I found a glass in my kitchen cupboard that looked to be the same size as the tin, so I used it to create a chipboard template for my pattern.

I keep all my templates in a file as I frequently need them a second time.

NOTES ON WOOL: 
I have been buying small pieces of wool for many years...mostly when I go to Texas to visit my sister.  We have a few favorite haunts that sell hand dye wool...my favorite was a little store (that is unfortunately not there anymore) in Argyle, TX.  If you don't have any wool scraps on hand you can check a local quilt store.  And if that is not an option...online retailer, Ram in the Thicket sells hand dyed wool in every color imaginable, in fact I am not sure how you would choose!  They also sell in small pieces, which is what you would need for this project.  The price is very reasonable as is the shipping.  You can find them here.

If your interested in my favorite, houndstooth wool you can find it here.

or a group of 6 x 8" pieces here

and from the same Etsy shop, Three Sheep Studio, a bigger check. 

Remember, no matter what wool you buy, you will need two circles approximately 3"+ across depending on the size of the tin.

Okay, back to the tutorial...
Cut out wool with a 3/8" edge for sewing (2 circles).

With right sides together, sew around circle leaving at least a 1 1/2" opening.

Turn circle right side out.

Stuff the pin cushion till you can't stuff it anymore (even though it's small, it takes a good amount of stuffing).

Stitch it closed with matching thread.

Now make sure it fits in the tin!

To make the tufting-
I tried to use a standard needle to create the tufting (the magazine did not give a size) but it wasn't long enough to go through the puff.  So I opted to use a long needle (the kind people use to make dolls and such) to make the tufting in the center of the cushion. I threaded heavy duty button and carpet thread through the needle.  Then starting from the bottom I sewed up through the pin cushion and back down, pulling tighter each time.  I went back and forth about 2-3 times.  The article says to thread the button onto the needle and then pull back toward the bottom but my needle was too big to go through the shank of the button so I finished off my thread and glued my button to the top later.

Once you are satisfied with the tufting, add glue to the bottom of the wool puff.

Place into tin and use your finger to hold down for a few minutes so the glue can dry a bit.

If you did not sew you button on, add some glue to the center and add a button.  I used some beautiful glass buttons I picked up at a favorite store in Texas.

Let dry and your done!

Unless you want to add a bit of embellishment...just a thought.

cheers!
paula