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

  

newest creations...

Happy Monday!

I've had the soldering iron going a lot lately,

and thought I would show how I finished the large (knocker) crazy quilt scrap pendants.

this is the same one, I left the stitching on the backside, the side that the 

quilter usually keeps hidden as the flipside because I think her work 

deserves the spotlight on both sides!

I then hung the pendants with a stack of the sweetest vintage 

cream and milkglass buttons.

The MIlove charms that I showed in the last post I have now added to rings as well.  

This was my instagram and FB page post letting

our customers know we were on the way to Detroit.  :)

When I find a stamp that I think will add a little fun to the sachets

I get a little giddy.... this one definitely did the trick!

So not only do they smell beautiful, but they are just as pretty

when you pull them out of your dryer.

Here's a group photo of the knockers and a few other pieces before I added the buttons and chains. 

See how much bigger they are than the quarter?  

I LOVE THAT!  

They have a great weight to them, and make a gorgeous necklace for layering.

I wore mind with a winter scarf at the market and I loved how it peaked out 

from the bottom of my infinity scarf.

I don't create my soldered pendants with vintage photos like I used to these days,

(unless I have a commissioned order)

but this boy has a hold on me and when I found the print on fabric that 

I made of him a couple of years ago he immediately was preserved under glass. 

 I will most likely be sporting him around my neck.

I just love his look of determination.

It's Monday and that usually puts me in a funk with less focus than usual, 

but today the iron will once again be hot with a few orders to get done.

So there you have it, a little update on what's on the worktable.

I cleared off the dining room table so that we could once again have meals together,

and have set up shop in the workroom where I belong.  

let's see how long this will last ;)

I want to add that if you ever see anything on my instagram page

the old white house

or my facebook page

the old white house

and have any questions or would like to purchase a special bauble please msg. me

and I will put up a reserve listing for you.

My etsy and website have all of our natural lavender laundry and cleaning products,

 but I haven't listed any of my jewelry in some time because by the time 

I get everything made I am packing up to go to a show or market.  

I of course would love to have my friends that do not live close by be able 

to wear a little somethin somethin that I've made also.

So please don't hesitate to contact me!

I hope you have a week full of grand adventures, love, and laughter! 

love, t.xoxo

pretty pics to take my mind off of the tax task at hand....

It's that time of year and I am sitting here

going through receipts and boring tax stuff.

ugh.

So to take my mind away from it for a bit,

I thought I would post some pretty pictures for you and me!

yes, I am procrastinating generous like that.

This was from one of our first shows of last year's season.

Along with gathering tax stuff I have also been

thinking about booth design and upcoming shows.

Plus making some new baubles for said shows.

yes, I realize I'm really really avoiding dreaded boring business stuff,

but look at this shiny object!

I've been playing with Ice Resin again, it's another way to create with mixed media.

This mother of pearl bead pendant has since been given a beautiful strand of 

semiprecious stone and vintage beads,

and as soon as the sun is just right I will take pics of it.

I have even managed to solder a few more shadowboxes!

I have a table full of projects right now.

Many pieces of jewelry on the way to the shop

and then I made these...

Hearts made from a vintage French linen toile tablecloth,

one that has seen many, many years of love.

It was beyond covering the table any longer, but makes 

the most beautiful hearts filled with organic lavender flowers.

given a little love note stamped onto cotton and 

freestitched onto the heart.

I added winter white seam binding attached with

a large vintage button.

These have been listed in the shop...

The Old White House

Well, I should really quit procrastinating and 

commit my full attention to the task at hand.

If I don't put this computer away, chances are that

Pinterest, or facebook, or instagram might call my name, 

and if I hear the call, well then all hope is lost!

Thank you for stopping by,and have a fabulous day!

love,

t.xoxo