Up-cycled Furniture!

A passion of mine is saving old discarded furniture and giving it an up-do or what is now labeled: Up-cycle. Before I opened Piddlestixs my task was trying to find in-expensive furniture to fill the store with, but now a days even thrift stores and Good Will Stores are raising their prices on items due to dealers, which hurts those of us who really could use a good bargain. However with some extreme treasure hunting you can find some good deals for instance this 1970's style china cabinet I purchased for $10. Loved the frame but hated the wood color, so I picked up discount paint for $5 a gallon, a primer and paint in one, the color, Shabby Bubblegum. Then I bought a creamy white enamel paint on sale for $1.25 to fill in the hard ware and accents.

Here is the piece in its original state:

Here is the piece sanded and getting painted:

Here it is painted:

Now with the accents painted:

This next piece was a child's bed headboard/hutch which was an ugly 60s'/70s' brown, which I painted with more of the bargain paints:


The following piece was again an ugly cheap wood color, which I sanded and painted w/more bargain paint in a pastel Robin's egg blue color:



Stay tuned for more painted pieces!
xoxo
Lisa!

The Cupcake Topper Revolution!

Cupcakes, cupcakes and more cupcakes, know matter where you go, cupcakes are taking over, in a trend I have labeled: Cupcake Chic, a term you have been hearing me say for the past 4 years, which is what I use to describe pastel, Kawaii, bakery and sweet shoppe styles and colors.


As a child I always loved cupcakes, waiting for the school and church bake sales to get those special handmade ones with the creamy frosting and sprinkles. Trips to the local bakery would be even more special because you could also get a cute cupcake topper or pick with your cupcake, birthdays and holidays would bring out the unusual in these sweet hand held treats, and their infamous toppers. Today vintage toppers can be quite valuable to collectors and sugar craft enthusiasts. Vintage artists use the toppers in projects or re-create them in a variety of sizes and styles.

To me and many others the idea of collecting Vintage Sugar Craft Accoutrements is a MAGICAL privilege, these rare sweet items can open up a world of PURE IMAGINATION. However finding these wares is hard and ones which fit in your budget, can be even harder to come by, this is what led me to re-create my own versions of vintage sugar craft items with my own twist.

In my Etsy store: Moonfaires World and in my Store front: Piddlestixs, you will find sugary sweet and unusual handmade finds, such as my variety of cupcake and cake toppers/picks.

My newest cupcake toppers are the Carnival Follies, Mer-Kewpies, Sugar Plum Kewpies and Marie's Soiree. I currently working on the expansion of the Carnival Follies, Wonderland and Side Show.


Last night the amazing Sadie Lou created a fabulous treasury on Etsy showcasing the theme of cupcakes, my Marie's Soiree was included in the treasury:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c648ee3ec2c6d914359b776/cuppie-cake

The New Boxes on the Block!

Lately I have been drawn to decorated boxes, ones with cute assemblages on each box top. After searching and searching for the right components for the boxes, I found some of the items were too cute to use only on one box, so once again I hand molded my items and poured some of them with paper mache, others pressed with my handmade clay and others with a blend of paper clay and apoxie clay.

The first of these new boxes are:
-Blue Bear's Party
-Lady Primrose's Tea Party


Blue Bear is on his way to a party in Pink Valley at Sammy Petalsmith's house located at the tip of Pinksby Mountain, where Sammy has set up a Pink Wonderland filled with sweets and treats!


Lady Primrose is on her way to a Garden Tea Party at Abigail Brewster's Arboretum in Sunnyvale. The Tea Party begins at 12noon inside the Climbing Roses Gazebo which will be glowing with Oriental lanterns and twinkling lights laced between layers of roses and vines.



Both were made from my molds and a paper mache mix, then sanded, hand painted and decorated, not to mention loads of glitter. Blue Bear's Party has vintage multi tinsel glitter I had from Woolworth's and Lady Primrose's Tea Party has fine German glitter from Art Glitter.

Hope you enjoy them!
Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

Paper Cow Girl's: A Wicked Tea
October is just around the corner and so is Paper Cow Girl's: A Wicked Tea! Come learn from teachers: Ann-Denise Anderson, Lisa McIlvain, Cindy Mayfield and Lesley Venable in the quaint town of Waxahachie, Texas.

Spend a wickedly sweet day with Paper Cowgirl, as they dine on wickedly, delicious goodies, and collaborate creatively with delightfully, haunting classes.

This will be an intense, one day workshop, with the cost of the workshop including all four great classes presented by Ann-Denise Anderson, Lisa McIlvain, Cindy Mayfield and Lesley Venable. The price of the workshop is $220 which also includes:

-breakfast nibbles, coffee, lunch (see menu below), a decadent goodie bar, four great classes, fabulous goodie bags and more.

The class location for the event is the charming, pink Cottage (on Water Street) in Waxahachie, Texas. This delightful, pink "doll-house for big girls" will be bedecked and bedazzled with spooky splendor to get us all in the "spirit", visit the Paper Cow Girl Blog/site for more spooky details and to sign up:
http://www.papercowgirlregistration.blogspot.com/

Here is a sneak peak at AnnDenise's fabulous workshop:




Visit AnnDenise's Blog for more pictures and info:
http://whimandfancydesigns.blogspot.com/2010/08/wicked-tea-registration-is-now-open.html

Lesley's Workshop Sneak Peak:

Doll Land Inside Piddlestixs!

Since I was a little girl I was always excited to get a doll whether it was old or new, a doll always allowed my imagination to soar. Dolls have inspired me to write, draw and create, its this childhood fantasy that I carried over into my adult world which allows me to keep the magic inside me and to see things differently then others.

An old doll in a grungy condition might be turned away from some, but to me, its a doll waiting to be given life again. I might turn that doll into a new one, mold it, add to an assemblage, draw it, tell a story about it or comprise it of other parts to become something new such as a wand, jar topper or embellishment.


At Piddlestixs I wanted to dedicate a whole section for the whimsy of childhood, complete with dolls and toys, a blend of vintage, modern, broken and artful, a place I call Doll Land and the Circus Follies. There is a magic hidden in these items which can bring back our childhood spirit.

Many of these dolls sit in the hand painted pink glass cabinet, which I created especially for them. Along side is a pink child's storybook hutch, white shelves filled w/vignettes, 2 castle like pillars and doll house curtains. Everyday I plan to add to the collection with furniture, toys and more dolls.

When you visit Piddlestixs in Historic Lafayette, NJ, you will escape to a world of magic. Come stay and play for a while, take a class and make a doll, buy enchanted goodies to bring some magic to your day!

See you at the store!
12 Morris Farm Rd, Historic Lafayette, NJ 07848

When: Saturday October 16, 2010 Time: 12pm-8pm Where: Piddlestixs Address: 12 Morris Farm Road, Lafayette, NJ 07848 (Historic Lafayette) Seats Limited: 15 Students What: A Witches Tea Party, Workshop, Ghost Walk and Party!

Come escape to a secret world filled with magic and mayhem, where folk tales of ghosts and goblins come to life.

Itinerary of Events from 12pm-8pm
-12pm: Start off with some light food, Autumn inspired treats, & receive your goodie bags.
-12:30pm: Workshop begins. Receive your project kit, get a brief insight into the true meaning behind the witches hat aka Welsh Hat, who constructed it and what its original purpose was. Then we will create our own version using a sturdy satin witches hat base which each student will lavishly decorate using a variety of artful supplies from millinery and tinsel to fabrics and jewels.
-3:45pm: Students are encouraged to now wear their hats and begin the shopping extravaganza until 5pm inside Piddlestixs, at the Lafayette Antiques Center, and neighboring stores.
-5:15pm: Enjoy an Addams Family Style Dinner complete with lights, music, jack o'lanterns, not to mentions some sweet treats and pumpkin spice tea from Piddlestixs own blend.
-6:45pm: We begin our Spellbinding Ghost walk complete with glowing lanterns. We'll make our way down the stairs to the old barn/gazebo positioned over the river stream, where our glowing lanterns, hot cider and first ghost story await.(Your lantern is another gift for you!)
-7:00pm: We will make our way through historic Lafayette listing to tales of an eerie past, walking with our hats and lanterns to the home of David Messineo, Publisher/Executive Editor of Sensations Magazine and The Six Centuries Club, who recently received a 2009 New Jersey State Jefferson Award for Public Service. He will finish the night with tales of a dark history filled w/witches and more.
-8:00pm: Arrive back at the store for departure or stay a little longer and chat.

Cost for the day is: $100.00 and includes everything above (the food, treats, lanterns,extra project materials, David's time, etc.)

Goodie Bags and lanterns are your additional free items for you to enjoy.

Kit fee: $10 (covers the hat basics and materials), paid the day of the workshop.

To Register:
http://www.artoperanj.com/category_28/Witches-Tea-Party-Ghost-Walk-Project-Workshop.htm

There are so many talented artisans in this world, everyday I continue to get inspired by works that I see. Today I had to share with you some amazing Etsy Treasuries, Here is one I created called: "Summer Magic" Look at all the amazing artisans!


Here is a treasury I'm in created by NerdJerk on Etsy called:
"Colourful Carnival and Circus Candy"


Here is a treasury I'm in created by Three Chicks Vintage on Etsy called:
"Over the Rainbow"


Each of these artisans are extremely talented and inspiring, stop on by Etsy to visit their works and to see more!

Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

Fabulous Friends and Their New Adventures!

There is so much excitement buzzing all around NJ this summer, so much to see, so much to do, and so much to create! After years of wishing for their dream to come true, it finally came true for my dear friend Geralyn Grey with the opening of Greetings From Geralyn in the Arcade in Asbury Park, NJ.


Geralyn has dreamed of opening up her own store and now she has. Every nook and cranny of Greetings from Geralyn is filled with artful magic and eye candy, waiting for the customer to explore and at what better place inside the Asbury Park Arcade which is filled with other stores waiting to be explored.

If you live in the Asbury Park area or headed to the Jersey Shore, take a visit to the store and perhaps take a workshop or plan a day of fun. To read about the grand opening, learn about workshops and to get a sneak peak inside visit Geralyn's blog at:

http://greetingsfromgeralyn.blogspot.com



Who doesn't love Etsy? and all the Artists who sell on it! I find my favorite finds all the time on there and have met some amazing people, one of them is Andrea Cammarata the woman behind, Popalicious, which is a fabulous Etsy store filled with vintage and modern treasures. Everything that Andrea does is filled with magic, she pours her whole heart and soul into what she does and it shows. Her generosity is even more magical, her whole family is amazing. I am lucky that I can call her and her family dear friends now, that's a blessing all its own.

I'd like to share some exciting news, Andrea has opened her new etsy store:
The Cottage Market, which is filled with fabulous vintage wares, their motto for this store: "Adorable and Affordable"

One trip here thecottagemarket.etsy.com and you won't leave!

Andrea is also in charge of the Cottage Style Street Team on Etsy. You can also visit her other fabulous shops at:
popalicious.etsy.com
popalicioustoo.etsy.com
doxiedoodles.etsy.com

I hope you get inspired and have a magic filled day!
Lisa!

In House Workshops Schedule at: Piddlestixs, Purveyors of Curiosity!
Located at: 12 Morris Farm Road, Lafayette, NJ 07848

Click Here to sign up/purchase a workshop at Piddlestixs:
Piddlestix Workshop Sign-ups


Mid July Workshop Schedule
-Saturday July 24: Steampunk and Time Workshop 10:30-4:30pm
Instructor, Joan Kettell $75, kit fee $15

-Sunday July 25: Storybook Friends Workshop 11:30-5pm
Instructor, Lisa Kettell $35, kit fee $10

-Monday July 26: Fairyland ATC Trio Workshop 12pm-3pm
Instructor, Lisa Kettell $25 kit fee $5

-Tuesday July 27: Storybook Friends Workshop 11:30-5pm
Instructor, Lisa Kettell $35, kit fee $10

-Thursday July 29: Beading Journal Extravaganza Workshop Series
6pm-9pm on going til August 29. Instructor, Lisa Kettell
2 part class for a total of 6 hours, plus 10 hour studio time for a total of 14 working hours, $135, $25 kit fee.

-Friday July 30: Queen for the day Workshops All Day 10:30-8:30pm
-Regal Septor Workshop 1, 10:30-1:30pm, $40, Kit Fee, $10
-Royal Vintage Chic Banner Workshop 2, 2:00-5:00pm, $40, Kit Fee $10
-Enchanted Tiara Workshop 3, 5:30-8:30pm, $50, Kit Fee, $10

Special purchase all 3 Queen for a day Workshops:
-Pay one kit fee for all 2 classes for $20
-Save additional $5.00 off the 3 classes.

August Workshop Schedule
-Wednesday August 4: Steampunk and Time Workshop 10:30-4:30pm
Instructor, Joan Kettell $75, kit fee $15

-Thursday August 5: Dragonfly Princess Workshop 10:30-5:30pm
Instructor, Lisa Kettell $65, kit fee $10

-Friday August 6: Queen for the day Workshops All Day 10:30-8:30pm
-Regal Septor Workshop 1, 10:30-1:30pm, $40, Kit Fee, $10
-Royal Vintage Chic Banner Workshop 2, 2:00-5:00pm, $40, Kit Fee $10
-Enchanted Tiara Workshop 3, 5:30-8:30pm, $50, Kit Fee, $10

Special purchase all 3 Queen for a day Workshops:
-Pay one kit fee for all 2 classes for $20
-Save additional $5.00 off the 3 classes.

-Saturday August 7: Steampunk and Time Workshop 10:30-4:30pm
Instructor, Joan Kettell $75, kit fee $15

-Sunday August 8: Rhinestones and Vintage Charm Bracelet Workshop 10:30-4:30pm, Instructor, Joan Kettell $60, kit fee $15

September Workshop Schedule (coming soon)

Please Note:

-More workshops will be added to the August and September Schedule!

-There are also open workshops everyday at Piddlestixs in the section we call the:
The Piddlestixs Art Bar and Circle. Walk ins welcome.

-Stay tuned for fee demo days and nights, free make and takes, additional workshops from other instructors, special events, trunk shows, theme days and book signings.

Hours of operation:

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 10-6pm

Thursday 10-9pm
Friday 10-9pm

Saturday and Sunday 10-6pm

Hours subject to change, private parties, events and planned workshops might see earlier or later hours depending on ladies night, and night classes.

Mermaids and The Mer-Persimmons!

There are so many brilliant artists in this world, everyday each of us become inspired by what someone has created whether its a new recipe, painting, product or garden, everything around us brings us magic.

As many of you know I have been creating hand molded, handmade doll parts in a variety of styles for years, starting with vintage Charlotte heads and Crowns. Each week brings the new creation of additional doll parts and pieces, which artist can apply to their works from scrap booking, assemblage, jewelry design, doll making and more.

One personal favorite collection within my line are the Kewpies, Mer-Kewpies and Carnival Dolls, the possibilities are endless, all you need is a little imagination, just like Kim Geiser and her daughter. Kim is the owner and creator of Persimmons, which is an amazing shop/studio located at: 314 N 8th Street Downtown, Manitowoc, where she host classes and has fabulous wares.

Kim is amazing all around, when she purchased a few of the Mer-Kewpie and Carnival Mermaid Parts from my Etsy a few weeks ago, I was so excited, to see what she was going to do with them, then the anticipation was over when she sent me the final photos of what her daughter and her did with them, here is the results:
The Flapper Style Mer-Kewpie was created by Kim, while the Carnival Mermaid was made by her fabulous daughter! How amazing are they, beyond words adorable, these pictures brought so much happiness to my day, I had to write and share them with you!

To learn more about Kim and Persimmons visit her blog:
http://www.persimmonsgal54220.blogspot.com/

To purchase these doll parts or the others in my collection visit my etsy store at:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/moonfaires

Steampunk and Time Jewelry Workshop!


Steampunk and Time Jewelry Workshop When:
July 24 and August 7, 2010



Joan Kettell will be teaching the Steampunk and Time Jewelry Workshop
from 10:30-4:30pm ( if we all stay later that's okay too). She will be teaching
this workshop twice, So please pick which date (July 24 or August 7) works for you.

Workshop will include:

-Light breakfast of bagels, muffins, croissants, cupcakes, coffee, tea
-Use of tools, glues, and supplies.
-Everything needed to make your steampunk and time jewelry pendant and necklace.
( Note, after you finish your main project, If you have left overs from the
project, make a pin or earrings as well while you are there, you will be given a pin back and earring bases as well)

Workshop cost:$75

Kit Fee: $15 (includes the chain, findings, steam punk pieces, watch parts,etc.)

Location:
Piddlestixs, Purveyors of Curiosity

Address:
12 Morris Farm Road, Lafayette, NJ 07848

Rt.80 to rt.15 (just past the famous Lafayette Village)

Class numbers limited!

To Sign Up click here:
http://www.artoperanj.com/category_19/Steampunk-and-Time-Jewelry-Workshop.htm


Directions to the Piddlestixs:
http://www.millantiques.com/directio.htm

Grand Opening of Piddlestixs is July 17 Weekend, Hope to see you there!

Hotels in the area:
-Holiday Inn Express Suites Newton
6 North Park Drive, Newton, NJ 07860
(Just off Rt.206 near the AcMoore, Applebees, TJMaxx area)
(5 miles from the Store)

Click on the links to enter the hotel and their directions!

Hotel Website:
http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/en/nwtnj/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=mdpr-_-YahooLocal-_-ex-_-nwtnj

Hotel Directions:
http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/en/newton/nwtnj/hoteldetail#Directions

-Econo Lodge Newton
448 Route 206, Newton, NJ 07860
(about 4 miles from the Store)
This hotel is small and cheap

Hotel Website
http://www.econolodge.com/hotel-newton-new_jersey-NJ163?promo=ylocal

Bed and Breakfast
Wooden Duck Inn
140 Goodale Road, Newton, NJ 07860 (Andover Township)
http://www.woodenduckinn.com/

Crossed Keys Inn
289 Pequest Road ~ Andover, New Jersey 07821
http://crossedkeys.com/

Directions:
http://www.crossedkeys.com/directions.htm

The Whistling Swan Inn

110 Main Street, Stanhope, NJ 07874

http://www.whistlingswaninn.com/

http://www.whistlingswaninn.com/directions.html
Directions above to Whistling Swan Inn

(This Inn is adorable but 17 miles from the Store)

Hi Everyone,
It has been over a month since I have blogged and shared my world with you! Its been a long month since Art Opera, with closing out Art Opera 2010, meeting artwork deadlines, sponsoring other events, website/shoppe orders, customs, 2 surgeries, workshops and a new store all within one month, its enough to make your head spin.

But now we are in the month of June and I'm ready for much happiness and enjoying a year of positive bliss. During this time I was able to reflex and find exactly who I am and what I am capable of, it has been my love of art that has saved me through the weeks and time after my surgeries, along with my faith in God and all your wonderful emails, posts, comments and most of all support, it has been much appreciated.

Now What does June mean? It means the start of Summer, the half way point of the year, summer vacations and holidays, graduations, ballooning festivals, the boardwalk, warm weather, seaside adventures, flea markets, walks in the park, outside dining and cafe's, bonfires and marshmallows, lakes, boats, lobster, and sunny evenings past 5pm.

To me it means closure, happiness, new products, new adventures, new workshops, and a new store, that's right a live store located in Historic Lafayette, NJ, located about 45 minutes outside NYC, 25 minutes from NY State, and PA, a store filled with all the magic and whimsy that I can create, filled w/vintage items and ephemera, old dolls and doll parts, books, artful magazines, vintage, modern, handmade jewelry, tiaras, septors, 1950's kitchy chic, 1920's storybook, Alice in Wonderland meets steampunk princesss meets Paris and Europe with a touch of oddity, a place for the curious seeker, that place is called: Piddlestixs, Purveyors of Curiosity opening July 2010.

Piddlestixs will have an everyday art party, where you can come in a create one of the weeks 5 or 10 projects, see guest artists works, shop and treasure hunt in the store and neighboring stores.

During this process, I have found who I am, and what I am capable of, I have begun new projects and seeing new ones come to life. Starting tomorrow I would like to invite you to visit the Creative Connection Blog and see my guest post on their site. Visit their blog to not only see my post, but to learn about the many other artists who make up the Creative Connection, the artists who contribute to them, the artists teaching at the Creative Connection and just how amazing this group is and how they can inspire you, like they inspire me.

See me, read my story and the many other fabulous artists featured artists on the site! www.thecreativeconnectionblog.com
You will leave inspired and filled with magic!

Stay tuned this week for pictures from the prom book workshop, birdcage workshop and the latest finds!

Have a wonderful night and see you tomorrow at the Creative Connection Blog!

xoxo