Slowly but Surely

I finally got the etsy shop open. I'm hoping to list a few things at a time. Yesterday I listed some vintage wrapping paper that I've been hoarding for a few years. I never used it so I figured it was time to pass it on to someone who appreciates vintage graphics and may even have a great project to use it for. Here are some pictures of these 1960's wrapping papers. I have one sheet of each of these designs - then they are gone.

Hoping to list some more today (and the next day and the next day...). I also have some fun handmade items in the works that will be listed soon.

For the month of March I am offering the readers of my blog 15% off of your entire purchase in my etsy shop - KayteeJane (discount not on shipping). Use coupon code: KJHBLOG15 at checkout to receive your discount. Use it from now until the end of March 2013.

Click here to go directly to the shop KayteeJane

I hope you will stop by!
Have a great day!
KayteeJane

ramblings about Instagram, waffles and eye glasses

Warning, long winded post to follow! I guess I am feeling chatty today. Here in PA it is a very gray and cold day - with "Winter Storm Advisory" being announced. I'm sitting at my computer thinking about all of the things that I have to do today. It is hard to get going some days - especially in the dead of winter. At least it is for me. I've been busy doing this and that. Here are some highlights....

One of my goals this year was to open my etsy shop again. A few years ago I opened an etsy shop and I attempted to sell some of my crafts. I didn't sell anything and let the shop become inactive. Now that some time has passed I want to try again. This time I am going to try and sell vintage goods as well as my handmade items. Each day I wake up with the intention to begin - but for one reason or the next I don't get it accomplished. In addition to the vintage stuff I am considering selling hair bows too. I started making hair bows for my daughters and have sold a few to friends. I enjoy doing it and it is a fun way to make some "kicking around money". Here is a pic of my latest ribbon purchase - all waiting to be fashioned into bows/hair accessories:































 After buying all of this ribbon I woke up in the middle of the night yesterday in a panic suffering from buyer's remorse. What the hell was I thinking buying all this ribbon and spending money I don't really have on craft supplies? UGH! Have you ever done that - followed an instinct or dream and later worried that you had made the wrong decision? Since I am not working right now at a "job", money is tight so that is where I was coming from. Life lesson - stay the heck out of the craft store when you are broke! That place is the money pit! Oh well - today is a new day. Now that I have spent the money - I will use that as the driving force behind getting the etsy shop open. No excuses! I've got to earn my money back! Now to figure out how to be heard over all of the other dreamers/creators out there vying for your attention on the internet.

Here is a picture taken before Valentine's day showing Gaby wearing some bows.

Speaking of selling stuff online, I am hooked on Instagram right now. It started as a fun way to take pictures and share them with the world. Turns out there are many people selling vintage on Instagram. Rebels I call them! Who needs ebay and etsy when you can Instagram? If you use Instagram search the hashtags #igsale or #instasale or #forsale. The way that it works is a seller will announce that he/she is having a sale and the time that it will take place. Show up to Instagram at that time. The seller then posts pictures of items & the prices. It then becomes like an auction of sorts. The first person to comment on the picture of the item they are interested in buys it.
Here is a picture of a Pyrex butter dish that was for sale on Instagram - I'm actually on the hunt for one of these.
I've been selling some things on ebay lately. Hubby has been too and does much better than I do. His stuff just seems to sell better. Lately he has been selling camping stuff and trains - guy stuff. My vintage dishes and sorts just aren't selling right now. Here is a pile of goodies waiting to be sold - either on etsy, ebay or saved for a yard sale. I am even listing stuff on Craigslist. That isn't too bad for fast cash. I just feel like cleaning out right now. I am itching to sell some junk! I may just have to try an Instasale - who knows!

Being on ebay a lot has resulted in some purchases too - oh my am I bad about not buying stuff! Hubby found this vintage waffle maker sold at Montgomery Ward. It has never been used. We wanted a waffle maker for Saturday morning breakfast and this one was very affordable - probably because nobody buys old appliances but us. It arrived yesterday. It is pretty cute. We are going to give it a go this weekend. I am excited.

I also bought these 1950's or 1960's eye glasses. I have been wanting to find a pair of vintage frames to have my prescription put into - so that I could actually wear them as glasses. It was a gamble buying these online without trying them on. I received them yesterday and at first when I put them on I was like "yuck - I look horrible!". But they actually grew on me. I think I will keep them. I posted a picture of myself wearing them on Facebook. It was funny to see the comments I got. One lady told me I was too cute to wear them. I guess that is sort of a compliment? Not sure. My daughter avoided the question of "what do you think?" - which is a dead giveaway that she thought they were ugly. Overall the response has been negative - I guess people aren't feeling the retro style. That is ok. I am still going to wear them. I like 1960's style. It may be "ugly" to some but I think it is cool.

If you've made it this far then I thank you for letting me ramble on.

Until next time.
KayteeJane

Abraham Lincoln

In honor of President's Day I wanted to share this wonderful antique children's book that I picked up a year or so ago called Abraham Lincoln.

It was printed in 1939. Illustrations and writing by Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire. Artwork is done by lithograph. I took some pictures of some of the illustrations.

I also have this vintage glass bank made by Lincoln Food Inc. of Lawrence Massachusetts. I picked this up at a yard sale for 10 cents.

 

Apparently Lincoln is America's most popular U.S. President. I don't own any thing else with a president on it - so I guess this proves true in my house as well.

Happy President's Day
KayteeJane

The Pink Parade continues...

More Pink love is coming your way!

Canisters - I bought these at a church rummage sale a few years ago. I love them very much and have thought about selling them a few times but always change my mind. Something about the farm decals and the pink color just keeps me loving them.

Sewing Supplies - I also love vintage sewing stuff.

Baby shoe planters - another collection. In fact I love vintage baby anything and have a nice little collection that I hope to show on here some day. Even though I don't have babies anymore I am still drawn to these.

Pinking shears - in a nice pink box. Take that Alanis Morrisette!

Pink flash cards

A pink scrap quilt

Some vintage tablecloths

I guess it is pretty evident by now...I love PINK!

KayteeJane

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

 

Love,
KayteeJane

Crocheted Heart Necklace

I recently taught myself to crochet. Well I taught myself to do some of the stitches that is. I went on You Tube and watched some tutorials. I am a visual learner and find it so much easier to learn by watching and doing rather than looking in a book and trying to learn that way. I found a tutorial for crocheted hearts and gave it a try. After practicing several times I was able to make a few hearts that were pretty enough to actually use. I ended up making a few necklaces with them. Here is the finished result on Hannah.

Here is how I did it.

First I crocheted a few hearts. I found the bright pink yarn at Walmart for under $3.

If you don't know how to make a heart do a search on You Tube. There are many tutorials on there to choose from. HERE is the tutorial that I used.

 
You will also need a chain link necklace that you aren't using anymore. I happened to find a few very inexpensive ones at a dollar store. I bet you could also find some cheap ones at the thrift store. I chose necklaces that had clasps on them because I didn't want the necklace to be very long.

I used a pair of wire cutters and cut the chain so that you have two equal pieces of chain hanging from the clasp. This is where you are going to attach the heart. If you want your necklace to sit closer to your throat, take off more links on each side.

You will also need 2 jump rings to attach the heart to the chain. These can be purchased at Walmart or the craft store.

Using a pair of pliers, carefully open a jump ring and loop one end of the chain onto it. You will also loop a strand of yarn from one side of the heart onto it as well. Close the ring. Repeat this for the other side of the heart.

This is it. The necklace is finished. I love how it turned out - and very simple.

Since I had a few extra hearts lying around I also attached one to the center of a hair bow. Shown here on Gaby.

KayteeJane

Valentine's Decorations

Here are some of the Valentine's Day decorations I have on display right now. I didn't put everything out this year. I have a very large collection of vintage valentines that didn't make it out of the box - nor did my antique wedding photos - but that is ok.

I have a few vintage heart-shaped candy boxes. I love these. I don't see them very often so my collection is fairly small. This yellow one sits nicely with my yellow pottery collection.

 This doll was my mother's when she was a child. I believe these were called Storybook dolls.

 These were found at a yard sale. They were part of a large set of plastic shapes that were used in a preschool classroom. 

I love this glass bowl.

A vintage Valentine - the only one that is out this year.

I received this in the mail as part of a Valentine's swap I participated in last year. I think it is so cute. Love the felt candy.

I found this embroidered runner packed away in my fabric stash and decided to bring it out and enjoy it. I love the crocheted border and the thread colors used on the flowers. Although this is vintage it is very much in style today as I see many bloggers doing crochet and hand embroidery.

I made these scrabble signs using some red and white tiles that I found this past year. They are going for sale on Etsy soon. If you are interested in purchasing one please email me.

KayteeJane

Pretty in Pink

Here are some pink things I've collected over the years. Pink is one of my favorite colors.

Pink Pottery

Glassware

Antique Cups

I Love Pink!

KayteeJane