Off-Duty For Now

I am currently set up with bursitis of the elbow, so no new crafty things or blog posts for now. I had some really good ones too: DIIP updates, flow magazine, smencils and a garden update.

Well, at least I have some great books to keep me company while I recover! 

Steampunk Pumpkins

   On a trip to Hannah's today to pick up some of their fantastic Halloween scrapbooking paper (more to come on those crafts later!) I noticed that they had some quirky Steampunk-ish pumpkins in with their Halloween decor.

   I think a trip to the hardware store is in order! Oh, like I need an excuse to go to Lowe's......

I'm thinking of whipping a couple of these up to bring to the craft show in September, what do you think??

Bowling for Bunnies Game

I always love all of the strange and unusual items I come across when I go to antique shows. I especially love the items that are vintage that I have never seen before.

Case and point...This children's board game called 'Bowling for Bunnies".

This is a "classic" game where you try and knock down the bunny bowling pins with cabbage balls. Now, there are multiple bunnies in the backyard that I would love to throw something at so they would stop trying to eat all the vegetables.....I should have opened this up to see exactly how bunny-like the pins were.

  I couldn't help thinking that after many days of bowling abuse that these bunny pins would come to life one night to seek their revenge!

Etsy Halloween Shop (Again)

Not to brag....but....A while back I found this rad vintage Bingo cards. The are black and white and are printed on a thick card stock; so thick that the back resembles a leather bound book. I combined them with my love of Shrinky Dinks and vintage Halloween and I created some one of a kind wall hangers.
   Gaze upon what will be in the Mink Couture shop this weekend!

Enjoy the Halloween Dance! A couple dances around a giant pumpkin. A clock and fan charm ad some dimension and the "31" is highlighted in orange glitter....right, like we would forget Halloween???

Feeling a bit more mysterious? A lady with a most unusual hat has a secret...maybe the goblins know???

Keep your eyes open for these and more on the store! 

Musical Animals at the Fair

A squirrel band

A frog band 

Mastering the Art of French Cooking

   I just finished reading "As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis Devoto" Edited by Joan Reardon.  Most of you should know by now that I love a good book of other people's letters. Its not the voyeurism part; it the history and the nostalgia. It's why I joined Postcrossing and LWA, why I did Letter Writing Month. Its so that someday I can find that perfect pen pal friendship that blossoms. And, for purely selfish reasons so that when I am a big and famous whatever my letters will be published in a book as well.
   Who wants to read the e-mails of President Obama or the tweets of Damien Hirst? Boring reading if you ask me. Nothing personal about that.
   I have decided to try a once a week book feature that ties in with an Etsy treasury. So here is this week's.



Julia and Avis Master the Art of French Cooking

I hope you enjoy!