Red Shoes blog

Savor the seasons.....

 I may be comitting retail suicide, but I refuse to put out my Christmas decor right now. 

I want to enjoy fall!!!

Life goes by fast enough, why rush things?  In fact seeing Christmas stuff out right now in stores just makes me nervous, so I won't do it.  I refuse.

This is one of the prettiest times of the year and I want to savor it. The colors are on fire

the sun shines a little warmer and mellower...

which inspires me.....

it's such a beautiful time of year so I hate to let it pass so quickly in favor of the red and green.

I want to be surrounded by the lush oranges and browns,

the fall palette is one of my most favorite ever!

i love working with wools and felted sweaters.....turning cast offs into

new cozy things.

and speaking of cozy.....I just love the colors in the new blankets that just arrived......

rich greens....

gorgeous jewel tones.....

and a crop of little ones in yummy colors for the pint sized set as well...

we also just received a wonderful new line of frames....with perfect weathered wood and gorgeous rustic colors.

because I love me some rustic!

it's just in my blood I suppose.....

got a little of that cowboy gene in me ;)

isn't my dad so cute?  :)

(and kinda wild how much I look like my grandmother)

anyways......we also have some wonderful new charm necklaces in stock and uploaded to the website for sale.......

fun fun things!

and not even remotely holiday stuff at all...nope, not one bit!

because like I said before,  I love this time of year......and I'm going to soak up every last ounce of Fall goodness that I can....

In fact I made a little video about Fall right here.....

 

because I for one do not want to rush a thing,

just taking it one day at a time, easy peasy.

hope you are too! :)

XOXOXO

Fairy doors fa la la la la.........

 Many of you know about our fairy door at the shop......

it's one of those 'Famous Ones' that this friend of mine

talks about.....he's brilliant, and such an amazing artist......it's no wonder the fairies would want to set up shop and have doors magically appear all over our city.....thankfully we have Jonathan to help us to seek the elusive fairies out....he's a true researcher in that field.  :)

 Well we have SOOOOO many people come to our shop everyday in search of the doors. they come from literally ALL over the world to see it.  I'm not kidding.

 Many people asked us if we could get them a fairy door like ours, and the answer is sadly NO.

 These doors aren't special ordered, you can't buy them online, they just magically "appear" at several local businesses downtown that are lucky enough to have one.  (evidently fairies are very particular about where they move in..... So thankfully we made the cut...phew! :)

They also are miniature versions of the shop's actual door....right down to the tiniest of details!

my personal favorite one is the one located at Peaceable Kingdom downtown, inside it has a tiny little replica of the shop itself, with shelves filled with teeny tiny merchandise.  So cute!!!

 So even though you can't get one like ours or even one like theirs.....

we do have some special little uniques ones for sale that we have made for just for you.......

one of a kind fairy doors, each unique, hand painted and only a limited amount....

tiny little details in each

with little special papers and shades.....

you can check them out here.......

but just like the fairies themselves, you might want to hurry....... they won't be around long.....one minute you'll see them, then the next they'll be gone.....

and you just don't know when they might appear next  :)

XOXOXO

Mileage.....

 I hate to admit that at times I have a little hoarding problem.

I save WAY too much stuff. 

in my defense there are some things that I just can't bear to throw away, things that I know at some point in time my brain will come up with an idea for.

but there are also things that I cannot let go of from when my children were little.

things that were special, and oh so cute.

like this sweater for example from my friend Margaret's fabulous boutique

Oliebollen

it was one of the very first things I bought for my little girl. purchased before she was even out of the womb,  because I think all children should have some red and white polkadots in their lives. 

we've gotten some SERIOUS mileage out of this one.

from baby to toddler.........and then some...... flash forward to

present day.......7 years later.

transformed now into one cute little cropped sweater and still going the distance....

which just goes to show you, that it's not always that bad to save everything...

because when this phase is done,  I'll probably transform it into a pillow.... and I think that would be pretty cute too   :)

Oh how I love Halloween......

I just love this time of year,  when the leaves get crispy,

the nights become cooler,  the skies a little grayer, and all the spooky stuff comes out.

I just love everything about Halloween don't you?

fun to play with decorations,  pulling out the vintage style stuff...

in fact some of my things just stay out all year long.....I kind of have a thing for skeletons....

in fact I just love scary stuff period.

love to watch spooky movies,

listen to ghost stories,

i just don't want to personally SEE anything for real ;)

 

 Another reason I love this time of year is because they have all sorts of Halloween swaps happening on several art blogs.

I have only done one swap before,  mostly because I just don't have time to do those things because I like to kind of go all out on them....but this time I decided to go for it.

I finished wrapping up all of my little goodies today and shipped it off.

I had so much fun!

I packed it full of little treats,

even the packaging looks kind of ghostly doesn't it?

I made them a tiny little ghostly fairy door too.

I hope they like it.

So on that note,  I am on to my next Halloween project which is making a costume for this little clown

she would like to be a queen of hearts..... i'm more than happy to oblige.

in fact I couldn't be more thrilled that she actually WANTS me to make her a costume instead of a store bought one.

........just like the good old days when we were kids and made our own costumes....coming up with original ideas.

because to me Halloween is kind of about being creative.

using your imagination,

pretending your something different for the day

and that is kind of nice too

:)

Skateboard style

This whole post started because I walked into my son's room and saw this chair that he's been working on that he got from me........

an old vintage molded plastic school chair......(I have a ton of them in my basement for sale if you'd like one) Anyways.......he asked me if he could have one,  so of course I said yes,  and this is what he started to do with it,  I think it's looking pretty cool.....

in fact it got me to thinking about the whole skateboarding scene in general.

how far the sport has come in recent years, and how mainstream it's becoming.  When I was in Highschool it was considered pretty alternative, and most people looked down their noses at kids who did it.

sad really because it's an Art form in itself.

I mean the way artist's and boarders design their own boards is pretty amazing....

I love to look at all the designs,  because trust me,  we've gone through quite a few of them......

they are works of art that are meant to be used.....

in fact my boy is so into it that he is always out there with his friends skating as much as he possibly can....

 He's completely immersed in the whole culture of it.....

how many shoes do we have?   oye.....

don't even get me started on the clutter......

oh,  it's all good........

even my husband humors him at times......

with a delicious skateboard shaped pancake....heeee heeeee.....:)

besides all that,  not only is it a cool sport,  that is very physical.....

but it has spiralled off into other creative aspects for him.  He loves to film his own videos.

Filming his friends doing tricks, adding music and editing his works has become a passion for him.

you can see some of his films here

in fact,  half the time my son and his buddies have to travel far, far away to different towns in order to DO their sport.

we have NO skatepark in this town...isn't that sad?

They have to travel sometimes up to 2 hours away to persue a sport that is actually really FUN for kids.

I mean,  isn't it a great thing to have your kids outside getting some exercise and having fun while they're at it?

Why wouldn't our town want to encourage that?

it keeps kids busy and out of trouble.

so if you'd like to learn more about the skatepark click here

or click on this link here.....to actually donate to help build it.....it's really worth it for our kids.

because if you see a kid with a skateboard,  don't just assume they're punks or troublemakers just because they look different

They're really not, they are just kids that are trying to do their own thing with a sport that is still evolving.

and it would be really great to give them a place all their own where they can do things that are actually healthy for them in the long run.

I mean look at all the creative things that can come from it all.

and for me I am all about Art in it's many forms :)

XOXOXO

 

home........and stuff.

 For Me,  life seems to be all about home and all the things that go with it.  

I am just a natural nest builder so my art always seems to go with that theme....

I am going to try and do some different things that I have rolling around in my head,  but for now I just finished a piece that still defaults to that topic....and I'm pretty happy with it,  actually I am just happy that I actually FINISHED it! ;)

it's kind of big,  larger than I usually work,  so it took FOR ever....

lots of detail, even though it seems simple,

layers of paper, glue, and paints......

the cute little number 2 is from my very talented friend Angie......she had her work shipped to me so perfectly packaged with the numbers on top that I didn't have the heart to just throw them away,  so here they are,  glued on forever.......don't you just love to recycle?  :)

 

little eyeballs, and cherries......
I wish I could learn to work faster, but details take time I suppose....

(oh,and a nice dose of A.D.D. on my end, thankyouverymuch)  oye!

but I guess that's just.....

hee heee heeeeee........things somehow get finished one way or another....with little stops in between.....

anyways,  this big ole painting is now for sale at the shop.......

along with other goodies that I have been making......

like my crooked table runner.....hey,  i'm not perfect,  so naturally my art isn't either ;)

but it does help to make your table look nice and fall like!  yippee!

speaking of which,  I did a little article in the local paper about making simple inexpensive table top placecards and markers using materials found around your home, 

you can read about it here.

.... I will admit that in reality I very rarely set a table properly...so don't think I am all that .......  it's nice to pretend though ;)

o.k.,  so on that note,  I am racing off to work....gonna start some new projects that I have rolling around in my head....

one of them is this idea....

do you think some of my photography would make nice prints???

it was an idea I had and just thought I'd ask your opinion.....  :)

cuz you know I have a ton!

and they would be all about interesting images...not my family,  though they do make good subjects :)

cheese!!!!    hee heee heeee

o.k.,  can ya tell i've had WAAAAYYYY too much coffee?

i'm going now :)

thanks for checking in!

XOXOXOXOXO

The Artful Cottage......

  The great thing about my shop is that I get to meet some of the most interesting people.

  All sorts of folks walk through my doors....wealthy folks, poor folks,  students, kids, oddballs, and the regular old average joe. 

 I've never been impressed by status, or money, in fact I feel more comfortable with the regular average joes.   So when I meet people that are pretty well off but are so down to earth and humble about it that you wouldn't know it,  I am always impressed by that.

  So when my Friend saw that I was headed up North to pick up my son from Camp,  she invited me to come and stay for a few relaxing days at her "cottage" before I went to get him.

 Since I was driving up north for 4 hours BY MYSELF, it seemed like a really liberating thing to do,  so I accepted her gracious invitation........

needless to say I was blown away by her place.

this wasn't your average "cottage"

this was a LAKE house, and needs to be in a magazine!

so grab a cup of coffee,  or an ice cold drink, because I couldn't help but take a billion photographs........:)

come on in won't you?  just follow this path to paradise....

walk up the charming stairs to the cute little entry way...

then go down this hall to......

oh my WORD!

walls of windows overlooking the bay.....

everywhere I turn I am met with Art......

art I love!

vintage treasures.....

cool collections....

  inspiration starts to flow!  I am SO happy to be here in this amazing place......

Lucky really ;)

every where I turned......I was just so darn excited!

(even her fly swatter looks cute so artfully displayed)  :)

her cool table with her found vintage Jury chairs....Love them!

even washing the dishes in her kitchen sink is amazing because of the view from the window....

and the sunsets equally impressive....

I would retire for the night in my cute little room....

where I'd curl up and read a book!  I actually READ an entire book this summer!  something I hate to admit that I haven't done in YEARS, but was so thankful that I did.

I would wake up in the morning, and sneak out here to watch the sunrise and enjoy the solitude,  just me and my book....

spectacular views all around.....

sometimes I'd even have company........:)

best dog E.V.E.R.

Marley!!!

Portugese water dog,  amazing, loyal, mellow, and had the most expressive eyes ever.  so cute.  :)

(he liked me)  see?  he's smiling

such a happy place!

we'd spend time walking down to her beach....

for more lounging...... (it was so nice not to have the words

"mom!" yelled at me a million times a day,  where I could actually read, and gaze out into space in peace.)  :)

looking at rocks and driftwood.....

in fact her fireplace is made with a bunch of them.....along with other treasures

even her mantle piece is made from a piece of driftwood that  she and her husband dragged in from the water...it weighed a TON...but look how cool!

All in all it was an amazing time,  every nook and cranny made me feel like I was on an Artistic retreat.....

 

it was so relaxing, rejuvenating, and inspiring.....

So thankful that I have met such amazing people that are so generous and kind to me from all walks of life.

it makes me happy to do what I do.

:)

XOXOXO

p.s.

click on the photos to seem them in their full sized glory!

summer Postcards Pt. 2

Summer is just flying by,  so many things to do,  so many things we've done......what a wonderful time of year it is!

 

Swimming, lounging, Art fairs,  vintage shopping,  creating,  berry picking....oooooohhhhhh how I love summer,  next post I'll tell you all about my friends fantastic "cottage"  I stayed at for 2 days.....oh my word,  is all I have to say.  so amazing, and so inspiring,  I know you'll just love it!  :)

Kid Art

 Honestly, to me there is nothing better than Art produced by children.  Their spontaneity and freedom from all of the hangups that us adults have when we produce, seems vacant from their work.

They truly create from the heart and soul with wild abandon and I love it!

 Now when it comes to trying to GET them to produce,  as in mass production,  now that's another story,   my friend once said "it's like Herding cats" 

so true.

  So these past few months Fiona has been preparing for the Kid art show that is coming up on the 19th of July at the townie street party,  the pre-kickoff to the big Art fair here in town.

 Let me tell you,  it has not been easy to get my kid to get anything done.  she has mastered the art of procrastination,  just like her mother ....(I am a professional at that gig)

 But today,  the girl gave it her all,  and really buckled down and did it!  I am SO proud of her.

 So here is a sneak peek into some of what she will be selling at the fair on Monday the 19th,  a combination of Originals,  prints, and cards.  some will be framed,  and others will be packaged up in cards,  ALL of it will be FUN,  original,  and completely HER work.  I am super proud of my girl,  for a 7 year old,  I think she's pretty darn creative.  I am so happy that she now has a venue to share it with the world.

I hope you will come by and see us,  along with all of the other FANTASTIC creations from the other children participating,  trust me,  you will love it all,  I already have my eye on a couple of sock creatures this adorable little 10 year old boy made!

yay for kid art!  and Yay for summer festivals!

you can read all about it here! :)

my entire kitchen is taken over by ARt supplies......we love to work in disaster areas evidently :)

Even My husband Ian helped assemble her cards with us!

XOXOXOXO

Summer postcards pt. 1

 I saw a clever little idea on Charlotte's blog, A postcard series and thought that was SUCH a simple and cool thing to do,  to post little snippets of summer life.

  So I am taking her brilliant idea and posting little "postcards" of what we are up to this summer. Enjoying all the wonderful things that the season offers us...fresh air, fresh food, fresh ideas......ah summer,  hope you are having fun too with your summer so far!  :)

 Lot's happening around here with summer life,  this week I will be heading back up north by myself to visit a friend at her cottage before I pick up my boy at camp,  then it's home to work on a billion things before Art fair hits our town on the 21st of July!

it's SOOOOOO exciting!!

 My Fiona is even entered into the little Kids section of the art fair,  so I am busy getting her stuff prepared as well,  do you know how hard it is to get a 7 year old to produce? ;)

oye vay.......but how fun for a kid to get to have her own booth....so stop on by and see us if you can,  the Kid's Art fair is at the Townie Street party on Monday July 19th!!!

Should be a blast!

XOXOXOXO