Crouse Hinds Lights with Spun Aluminum Bases

Some Crouse Hinds explosion proof lights...

Adapted to make standing lamps which now sit on our mantle...

We bought some edison style light bulbs to put in them...

These are a little short...but they are ridiculously expensive so maybe next time we'll go with the taller ones...

They look really cool lit up at night....

My husband made these spun aluminum bases for them...

First you make a wood mold (he used hard maple) in the shape you want.  The aluminum starts out as a flat sheet (.050 or 50 thousandths).  Both are attached to the lathe and a steel rod is used to press the aluminum down and around the mold to create the same shape in the metal.
Here's a link to a youtube video if you're interested in seeing it done. 
FYI the video is not my husband...

These turned out really well...the bases are well suited to the style of the light.

Some red cloth cord from Sundial Wire with in line switches from Vintage Wire & Supply...

He added a small, black rubber grommet to protect the cord going into the base...

Some vintage style plugs also from Sundial...

Industrial lighting at it's finest...

I'm sure these will travel all around our house the longer we have them....

Peddler's Mall Booth ready to go!

So we went from the above to the below. 

The ultimate "Before and After" photos

My husband & I spent the whole day working on setting everything up.  

Pricing everything and labeling all of it...

Then relisting it all in our own log...

I still can't believe that we have a booth space!  

We have forever said that it would be so much fun to shop for a booth---

to be able to buy things that we'd have to pass up because we don't have space or can't really use it.

And this is one of the only places were we could do both vintage items and the things that we'd like to hand make....

But our rule is always the same...

We buy what we like.

And so far that has served us well....

Industrial and vintage...

Alot of fun odds and ends....

We feel so blessed to have the opportunity and now we're holding our breath to see what God has planned for us from here....

After all He owns the cattle on a thousand hills...

Painting with Stain

Things are a bit nutty around here right now...as usual.  I have 4 blog posts I'm waiting to post since it's gift items people haven't "given" yet--

I decided to make this small rack to use some hand forged coat hooks my husband made awhile back.  It will be in our booth.

I used this flower template I made up for a dresser I painted last year.

Traced 3 of them out with chalk (since I had 3 hooks to add)

Then painted the stain on with small paint brushes...

I added some blue acrylic "Martha Stewart" craft paint to the smaller petal shapes....
then wiped the chalk off with paper towel once it was dry...

finished it all up with some Tung Oil to seal it.

Added the hooks and she 's ready to go!

We're headed over tomorrow to start setting up and I'm getting excited.  I had some things out Tuesday to start labeling and pricing....

Hopefully I'll have some photos to share soon...

Hand Stitched Leather Card Wallet

 Our newest leather good--a small card wallet.

We are also excited to announce the opening of our new Etsy store!

You can visit us via the link on the right.

 We are offering this new wallet along with our other leather items, my hand stamped jewelry, and our green lined and unlined chalk pads...

I am adding things as I can so keep watching!  

 I think it will be good to have everything in one place-- 

And to have the option to purchase online.

 This wallet holds 3-4 cards...in natural (we also have a tan and dark brown) 

Then finished with the Fiebing's Leather conditioner.

We have some fun things for our booth space too.  I will be able to get into the mall this week to start setting up so I want to try to do some photos of those things to share as well....

Pretty exciting for us just to see what God has planned....

Lined Green Writing Chalk Boards

And some with lines! 

I shared the blank doodling ones (on the bottom in the photo) here the other day...

These are 11"x7"x 3/8" too.   

I love these...I have to admit that I just randomly pick them up and write on them...

 I have always loved writing with chalk...even when I was little.

Then I became a teacher and did it all the time!  

 Now we have one getting ready to start school so I thought having the lines would be a good "fun" way to practice....

I like the green color...the black is nice too but the green just takes me back to school

---which I loved once I figured out how to stop daydreaming so much...
Funny how now the daydreaming is what keeps me coming up with all these ideas....
Still working furiously on our Etsy shop!  I hope to have that open here soon and attempt to have a link here on the blog.

Green Chalkboard Doodlepads

 A few posts ago I mentioned having a new idea for our chalkboard notepads...

 And this is one of them...

(still working on the second idea....)

I love the green color...

 These are 11"wide x7 tall"x3/8" thick and they are perfect "kid" size to doodle on...
The back is sealed with several coats of Tung Oil

Love these!

We're getting really close to opening day for our booth space.  But I've also been working on setting up an Etsy store...

Our smaller, handmade items won't really be appropriate for our booth space, and we've been trying to decide how to be able to continue to make and sell those things too....

Wedding Gift Bracelet

 We spent this past week end in Atlanta, GA for a wedding...

My husband's cousin had a very beautiful, simple outdoor wedding...

 So I made her this simple, thin, leather wrap bracelet with their initials in hammered copper and sterling silver....
I have been messing around with this thin style bracelet and have a few more ideas I'll be sharing here soon....

A nice magnetic closure at the back.  

Which is great for getting it on by yourself--when the ends get close to each other they snap together on their own.

Vintage Graphics

 We are getting really excited about the new Peddler's Mall opening right down the road from us....
One of my favorite things about "vintage" goods is the labeling and graphics so that's what I decided to share... 

 Our very first go at selling things on our own!  We have been making and gathering in anticipation of setting up our space which is now only a couple of weeks away.

So I just wanted to give a little taste of what we'll have for sale....

there is so much more but right now it's scattered wherever we can find a space.
As we get closer to opening day we'll post more photos.

Soft Pretzel Recipe

I made these today and they are so good I thought I'd repost and share again....

 Find the recipe HERE...
Without a doubt the best soft pretzel recipe I've ever tried.  
They taste like Auntie Anne's pretzels....so don't say I didn't warn you!!!

They are good with Kosher salt too.   
I usually do some salty and some sweet...a great treat on a snowy March day...