The Heat Is On

Well the exciting news of yesterday in South Florida was that Wade and Bosh both signed with The Heat and today we find out about Lebron James.  So today's Etsy Treasury is in honor of all things heat related.

This Fire Show Resin Necklace by Sweet Stella is very cool. It reminds me of the lines created by a sparkler. 

Too cute! I love these little basketball hair clips by Murals with Love. 

Brings a whole new meaning to "Hot Heads".  Fire on Fire is an original art piece by Kinsella Art.

The burlesque lover in me is coveting this Fire Faerie Headdress by Solstice Art. 

I don't normally post a lot of products for men, but these cuff links by Southern Living 26 were just too fun not to mention. 

Avid blog readers know how much I love gnomes and this Heat Map Gnome photo by Created by the 3 Maries makes me love them even more.

And finally.....

 

Anyone with the talent to use these just amazes me. I definitely don't have the coordination to do this, but if you do - check out the Collapsible Fire Hoops by Bitter End. 

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Signed, Sealed, Delivered

It is no secret that I love paper. I collect books, magazines, quotations scribbled on millions of little scraps, greeting cards and even notebooks, post-it notes and office supplies. I used to count down the days until I could do shopping for new school supplies. I still love the smell of the library. Most of all - I love mail. Obviously not bills and spam, but letters and postcards are all too rare in this digital age and unexpected treats to find in the post box. 

I have boxes of postcards - vintage, touristy, handmade, photographic, advertisements and more. I seek them out at garage sales and flea markets and friends and family have taken to sending them to me when they are on vacation.  Here are some of my favorite postcards and postcard related finds:

I love vintage postcards like this one.

(Photo courtesy of Collectors Quest)

This is definitely on my list of crafty projects. A diy postcard pillow!

Great Tutorial from Shelter Pop on Manhattan Cleaning.

Retro postcards and travel postcards are so much fun. You can find a great selection at your local kitschy tourist trap.  I also love collage art and this postcard by Juliet Blaxland is a great mix.

Love letters are a lost art but a simple I Love You written on a beautiful postcard is easy enough to come back into style. I love the simplicity of this necklace by Fifty Acorns on Etsy.

If you have never visited Post Secret, you have no idea what you are missing. This popular site features postcards sent in anonymously with other's secrets written on them. It is strangely addicting. 

It's no secret how much I love burlesque and the Metropolitan Postcard Club of New York has an incredible collection of burlesque postcards featuring the original beauties of burly-q and vaudeville.

 

This one by Scarlett Beautiful just makes me laugh.

And finally....

In Chicago in 2007 Threadbare created the Postcard Machine at the Renegade Craft Fair. Check out their YouTube Video to see how it works!

My Art-Full Life - Home Decor

I love decorating and I love being crafty. Sometimes the two combine.  In honor of Friday's Living the Art-Full Life posts, I thought I would share with you some of the artsy-crafty goodness that I have been working on in our house:

This was a dark wood, vintage credenza style record player that was all busted up, but the player still worked.  Got it at a garage sale for $20 and created this:
 

Guitar Picks cover the two outer panels

Still working on the side piece. Not quite sure what I plan to do yet!

I also worked on creating a stained glass looking creation on my TV stand.  It is actually just black paint on the outside glass and colored glass painted inside to create the stained glass effect.

An old IKEA lamp became the perfect place to use all the leftover glass bead pieces I have been making over the years.

And below is what may become the newest addition to my site http://www.prettyusefulstuff.com/.  Just need to finish it and decide if I like it as a card or a print:

Are YOU living the Art-Full Life? Tell us all about it - we'd love to feature you and your work!

I'm Right On Top of That, Rose!

Years ago I was an Administrative Assistant and while I don't miss the paperwork or the incessant phone ringing, I do miss Administrative Professionals Day. The day when lunches were paid for, flowers were sent to the office and everyone stopped by to say "Thank you."

Now, I truly feel we should thank our co-workers daily, but just in case you have some making up to do this year, here are some unique secretary / administrative assistant gifts for that special someone in your office life:

From Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Mad Men Perfect PinUp Office Art by Vanguard Gallery  $48.95,  Hello Kitty USB Flash Drives  $34,  Stapleless Stapler  $9, Vintage Style Typewriter Necklace by Luna Shine Shine $24, Fuzzy Wuzzy Flocked Pencils $10.95, Secretary Bird Collage by Catwalk $35.00, "BookCup" Notebook $47.05,  USB Heated Slippers $25, Sassy Secretary Bracelet by t8designs $38

It's Treasury Thursday Tax Day!

Did you ever notice that when you put the words "The" and "IRS" together, it spells "THEIRS?" ~Author Unknown

Happy April 15th everyone. Last year Playboy model turned crafter Britt Savage created this dress out of shredded tax forms:

Today's Etsy Treasury Thursday features some of this year's awesome tax inspired pieces:

Calculator Wrist Pincushion by Chrissypootwo $22

Glass Pendant Necklace by Ruth Miko $36

Party Paying Taxes Collage by Justabrenda $16

Felt Plush Burning Dollar and Wooden Dollar by Felted Chicken $60 each

Tax Time Folded Greeting Card by up up creative $3

Vintage 1950 Tax Reminder Glass Altered Art Necklace by Kimari Jewelry $18.98

Money Cufflinks by Little Angels Jewelry $11.99

The Accountant Illustrated Moleskin Notebook by noulu illustrations $25

Good luck on your taxes and take advantage of some of the great Tax Day Deals going on today.

 (list courtesy of Yahoo! Money).