spring cleaning, one room at a time...

Ahhhhhh, it feels so good to have a day to do a 

thorough cleaning, and relax in a clean room.

Those cement legs on my makeshift door table may be my favorite thing in the whole room.

Well, except maybe my little collection of vintage bottles in that beautifully aged toolbox!

Oliver is as happy as the rest of us to have the windows open and let the fresh air inside,

and see how cozy Captain is as he ponders the meaning of life?  

In the photo with Captain, you can see that the sofa covers are on because, well... dogs.

I took them off as I cleaned the room, and sprinkled the sofas with our 

carpet freshener, because, well... dogs.

I left it on for a little while as I did other cleaning, and then vacuumed it up,

The sofas smell so much fresher, they just make the room feel like spring is in the house!

Now that I have one room in the house cleaned, :)

I'm  eager to get outside in the sunshine and put the patio back together.

This photo is from last summer, and I can't wait to get out there

to relax with the family.

Just in case you are thinking that my days are spent

just sprinkling lavender carpet freshener around my house, 

I thought I would give you a peek at one of my 

latest assemblage necklaces.  

you know, because, well, baubles...  :)

Happy Spring!

love,

t.xoxo

looking back... going forward...

time changes everything...

When I started this blog, we lived in a big old white house 

(just in case you ever wondered about the name of our business.)

 I was creating larger assemblage pieces, mixed media collages, 

and repurposing discarded treasures, whenever I found time, mostly for our home or for gifts.

I shared our home after moving a few things around...

(I really need to recreate these fenced platters in our new home!)

our hot chocolate sledding station

 This old dock table is still one of my very 

favorite creations, mostly because two of my favorite people helped us 

put it together!

and then there were the assemblages...

I was a stay at home mom with 5 babes still in my nest.

Now 3 of them have moved out, and lead great lives of their own, 

and my life has changed over these last few years.

because of this...

The Old White House

Since creating our line of natural lavender laundry and cleaning products,

 I am making products, sewing, making jewelry, answering emails,

 filling out show applications, going to a market a week, meeting so many fantastic people,

and juggling mom life, and although it can be overwhelming at times,

I can't think of anyone that I would want to change places with!

(Unless maybe they were doing all of this while staying organized, and having coffee with their friends!)

Creating my jewelry is really my 'art therapy', it makes me slow down, and lets my mind unwind. 

 It's my way of staying connected to the assemblage work that I love, but in tiny form.

I use vintage trinkets, and old costume jewelry, because I am 

drawn to the stories that they hold.  I use the stones that I do because of the organic

feel and look they give my pieces.

I use rhinestones, because, well ...their shiny of course! :)

I do custom work, when I have time, and sell my OOAK jewelry primarily at the Detroit Eastern Market, 

as well as local shows and markets.

Although I don't have them listed online, if you ever see anything

on any of my social media pages that you are interested in, 

please just send me a message and I would be happy put an invoice together for you.

I hope to see you at a market someday, 

and in the meantime, if you would like to see what I'm up to,

please check my Instagram acct. and FB page, 

where you can see pics on a more regular basis.

(because sometimes I still show how our home is decorated, and family life,

 along with the booth, and new creations!) 

like this picture of our new dining room...

Thanks for all the love you have shown me on this blog over the last few years!

t. xoxo

  

the weekend...

Popping in to say hello to all and then off to the sewing machine!

No time to really style the photos, 

more  'work'  wink wink

to be done...

I just wanted to share a few pieces from time at the table this weekend.

If I had to choose a favorite,

it would have to be the one with the 

tiny moccasins, an old souvenir from ???

along with more remnants of days gone by

that remind me of my heritage.

Happy Monday to all!

love,

t.xoxo

It's all in the details...

I have been spending most of my creating time making jewelry and I love it , but recently I used some of that time to create pretty packaging for the baubles!

Still a work in progress, but at least now I have an idea of the direction I want to go!

I have spring fever and it's not nearly spring around here yet.

I want to paint every room in the house and 

clean, clean, clean,

change things out, 

freshen things up,

and throw open the windows

(though that wouldn't be a good idea yet!)

I just need a few more minions around

 that can help me accomplish all of the tasks 

that need to be done around here!

Until they show up,

I need to get ready for another show,

so more baubles to be created

and more soap to be made!

My friends, Tammy and LeeAnn are having another

Soap'n House

on Tuesday the 19th @ 4:00

(for all of you local folks)

and have invited me to sell the goods!

They are the girls behind

Clawfoot Bathworks

and they make some really beautiful and luscious

soaps, scrubs and lotions for the whole family.

Click on the link to check out their FB page

for more info.

and to order your own.

(for all you far away folks)

:)

spring is around the corner

&

life is good.

Thanks for stopping by!

love, 

t.xoxo

whistle while you work...

Still working on new items for this Saturday's event

https://www.facebook.com/events/416099238474564/

Take a look at their FB page for more

wonderful artists that will be in attendance!

I made some new jewelry tags,

and created some ooak

assemblage pendants,

they feature soldered beach glass with a dark patina

adorned with everything from vintage religious medals

to birds all with a pink bead for the special occasion.

Lots more to do yet...

I hope that you are all having 

a fabulous day full of promise of good things to come!

Welcome to all of my new followers 

and thank you to everyone  for

your support and encouragement!

love,

Theresa 

xoxooxoxox

linking to 

Be Inspired Party

playing with treasures...

Do you hang on to treasures with the intention of using them somehow,

but when the moment comes you get cold feet?

"It's too precious,"

"what if I come up with another idea later,"

"I will never find another one like this..."

Yes, you have now been privy to the thoughts that ramble on in my noggin.

(lucky you.)

I have had this medallion forever.

Really, I can't even remember where I got it now.

Every time I put it in front of me to use,

I would talk myself out of it.

Until a couple of days ago, when I decided it 

was time to give it a new life and added it to bits of chain 

and freshwater pearls, some sandwiched between rhinestone rondelles.

I'm so glad that I did,

I think it looks better as a necklace

instead of another buried treasure on the worktable!

newly listed...

It's a snow day here,

it is a gorgeous winter wonderland outside the window...

So soup is on the menu

along with hot chocolate waiting for 

the sledders!

Stay warm!

love,

Theresa 

xoxooxo

linking to Debra's Be Inspired Party

newest listing...

the old white house

Happy Tuesday!

love, 

Theresa 

xoxoxox

whew! new listings...

 I made it a mission of mine to get my etsy up to 75 items this weekend and by golly I did it!

Here are a few of the newest listings in

The Old White House

 first up...

an anthro inspired necklace with a piece of vintage crocheted cotton doily that I have stiffened so that it will hold its shap under the rosette and also so that it would be able to be hung from jump rings and hold a soldered pendant that will be personalized for the buyer.

 here's another version...

 some new soldered pendants...

(front)

(back)

(front)

barkcloth encased in glass...
(all of the backs are the leaf pattern)



(back)

vintage embroidered granny hanky encased in glass.

plus some vintage finds....

instant collection of wind up clocks.

the cutest little wooden folding chair ~ petite childs chair, soooo cute!

O.k. I gotta go now, my family thinks I am permanently attached to the computer now so I have to prove them wrong!  I just wanted to share what I have been up to lately!

Thanks for stopping by,

I'll be back soon with even more goodies to show you!

love,

Theresa xoxo