Our House, in the middle of...

I've held off mentioning anything about our recent house searching just because we were so excited last time and it resulted in such a let down when the credit union backed down.

But here we are again. We made an offer on a house and it was accepted last week. It's a cute, tiny house - two bedrooms, one bath, one car garage. And it's perfect.

We've moved away from dealing with our credit union, so things should go a bit more smoothly this time. Today we're meeting with the house inspector and if all goes well with that and the paperwork in the next few weeks we're scheduled to close on January 15th, 2010.

And then the moving work begins.

also - the bathroom is blue! Tub, sink, and all! And it's not all that tacky - in fact it's rather cute!

Thanksgiving break

I've been spending some of this downtime while the men are out hunting to redo the layout of my blog and work on Richard's Christmas present - both of which shall be revealed soon! Richard got a deer the first night we got here, but even though they went out almost every morning and evening during this break there wasn't another deer to be had. Nonetheless we should be set on venison for many a meal to come.

I have quite a bit more tweaking to do on the layout. It always takes me a bit longer than I expect it to and than it should.

On the other hand the present will get it's finishing touches on Monday when I have the day to myself at home.

We did take a quick shopping jaunt today and I found a few things at the two goodwill stores we stopped at - a handheld slide viewer, brownie bullseye camera, and a purse. Go ahead, guess which one I'm the most excited about.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posts have been delayed this week to make time for our holiday in Michigan with Grandma Lori and Grandpa Rex.

Happy Thanksgiving!


Cousins J.H. and Atlas

I am thankful for Richard, my family, and my many, many cousins.
I can't wait to see them down south this Christmas, and meet my newest little cousin.
(If I've counted correctly he's number 18!)

Etsy Art Discoveries no.3 - For the Birds

I was just too busy catching up with an old friend and watching after some little ones to remember to publish the Art Discoveries this week, but here it is, only a mere day late!

As always, if you have an item on etsy that you would like to be considered for a future Vintage, Handmade or Art Discoveries post leave a comment or shoot an email to suitcaseart@yahoo.com


Owl in Bathtub
by Lee Arthaus


Ducky
by Snap Click Tripod


Retro Owls
by Ferntree Studio


Sleepy Heads
by SherriConley

Honeymoon Photos

I finally got a couple rolls of film developed from our honeymoon, including one of my the first rolls I used in my holga and from one from the underwater camera. I can't wait to get prints made and fill up our new photo albums!

Etsy Handmade Discoveries no.2 - Rubber Ducky, you're the one!

Anyone who has ever been to my house knows I have a fondness for ducks. And now that I'm known as the "duck lady" I can't survive a single holiday or birthday without receiving at least one. These little handmade duckies are ones that I certainly wouldn't mind receiving!

As always, if you have an item on etsy that you would like to be considered for a future Vintage, Handmade or Art Discoveries post leave a comment or shoot an email to suitcaseart@yahoo.com


Onward Gocco Printed Card
from two guitars


Peeps the Little Yellow Duck
from MoontsyAndFloontsy


ducky hand carved stamp
from paperfruithair


Acrylic Duck Pendant
from La Canica

Etsy Vintage Discoveries no.5 - Going Somewhere

I'm not allowed to buy anymore suitcases until I do something with all the lovely vintage pieces I already own. But if I could, I'd buy every one of these.


Red as Apples
from HappyDayVintage


Vintage Biscayne Blue Samsonite Silhouette Luggage
from Retro Rox


Samsonite - Medium Suitcase - Brown
from Mystic Lily


Bright Blue train case
from Jupiter and Mars

Life so far...

We've been so busy just doing things and going places there hasn't been much said about how our lives are going.

I've started helping at the Photo Club at Richard's school with our favorite immersion school Librarian. Every Thursday I get to help wrangle a bunch of high school kids while simultaneously trying to teach them how to take a good photograph - so far it has been really fun, but I'm not sure how its going to get once it gets really cold and we can't take them on as many "photo walks." I guess that will be part of the challenge.

I'm still trying to find a full time job, but since I've been playing around with both my etsy shop and my photography I've grown a bit more picky about the jobs that I'm going out for. Currently I'm only looking for nanny jobs because I want something that I really do love (since it isn't about the paycheck) and something that has close the the same schedule as Richard so I can have the same weekends and holidays. I'm also contemplating going back to college either to pursue photography further or in order to teach English at the high school level. We'll see which way I go.

We're making a trip out to see one set of Richard's grandparents (he has three!) during Thanksgiving and he and his grandpa will be out deer hunting so for grandma and me it should be plenty of relaxing time.

In rather unrelated news I took some film into the new "Super" Target that opened near us to be developed only to learn that they no longer develop in house. They send it out. And it takes up to SIX DAYS. It's not so much the time that is involved.... okay, it's the time that's involved, because really, I love Fuji labs and all but if my film is going to be sent out and I can't get it within 24 hours I would much rather take my film to a local camera shop. I really can't believe that we're going back to sending out film when there is the instantaneous delight of digital cameras, I guess it's one more nail in the coffin of film but I won't be stopping anytime soon.

One of the only reasons I always went to the Target Photo Labs is because I worked there. I know the workers are trained to be more competent than most drug store photo labs and the price is right. Who wants to recommend a good in house film developer in Milwaukee?

Etsy Art Discoveries no.2 - Atlas Love

I love maps, and that's all I have to say.


LITTLE ONES 11 - FLY BABY
from Reclaim2Fame


South for the Winter
from peanutbutterandyelly


Warm Heart
from selflesh


Documented Landscape Coachella
from CitySilhouettes

Etsy Handmade Discoveries no.1

And I present to you, something with absolutely no theme at all.


Ballerina Mini Notebook
from Piping Hot Papers


Upcycled - Little Chalkboard Magnet
from VintageTheory


Order Typeface Handmade Wilderness Project
from rubyslounge


Butterscotch Warm and Thick Dog Coat
from BeanTownHandmade

I really do want this coat for Daisy! Don't you think she'd look adorable this winter?

Etsy Vintage Discoveries no.4 - things I love (and "need")

Kodak Duaflex II with flash
from Pinguim
(is it bad that I already own two Duaflex cameras but still want this one?)


Vintage Orange Traincase
from ModishVintage


Vintage 1960s Dutchmaid Sleeveless Blouse w/Match Skirt
from Atomic Katz


Metal Serving Tray.. Deer in the Woods
from The Fancy Lamb



I found another fun Tuesday Etsy list from Verabelle so go check it out.

Etsy Art Discoveries no.1

I've been having so much fun getting my Etsy Vintage Discoveries together every Tuesday, that I've decided to expand to two more each week with new themes - Etsy Handmade Discoveries (Wednesdays) and Etsy Art Discoveries (Fridays).

If you have a shop you would like to have considered for an Etsy Discoveries feature leave a comment below.

To celebrate my first week working with the photo club at Richard's school this feature is all photography.


Swinging at Tibidabo
from bomobob



Sunshine Motel
from Roadside Photographs


Stalks in Blue
from Citrus Tree


Travel Light
from sfgirlbybay

Etsy Vintage Discoveries no.3 - ode to NaNoWriMo

This week, in an ode to National Novel Writing Month my etsy vintage discoveries focus on the craft of writing and the office supplies that you need to accomplish the crazy goal of 50,000 words in one month.... or just the really cute things you should keep around for inspiration

If you run a vintage shop on etsy and would like to be featured in a future Etsy Vintage Discovers leave a comment below.


VINTAGE retro 2 hole MUTUAL punch OFFICE supplies METAL
from Jenny Elkins


Library Drawer
from solsticehome vintage finds


Remington Streamliner Typewriter
from In My Nest


1936 Gregg Shorthand manual
from The Junkyard Dog