Let me start off by saying... I am typing with 2 Chihuahuas and a cat on my lap... I need longer arms...

I worked at Treasures from Paradise today... I really enjoy it! People who shop in antique shops are shop interesting... at least I think so. Business is picking up... even I sold lots of treasures from my booth! yippee!!! for me!!! I am sad to say I have decided to close my booth at the end of the year though, because I need to concentrate on moving down to southern California... even though the move probably will not happen before June. John is flying to Switzerland to visit his sister in April... a trip planned a long time ago... so it is pointless to move before that and for him to start a new job and ask for time off... I was hoping to move sooner but that is the way things go sometimes.

I am just ready to move on... we miss the ocean; I want to sell at flea markets and the ones around here are terrible; I will be closer to family; John and I don't relate to people here... we do love our home though... I had to look at 34 places before I found this place. I was shocked at how the rentals are kept around here... the excuse is the college students will mess it up so why maintain the property. There was one place I looked at that I thought was a crime scene! The college students are used as a scapegoat for alot of things in Chico like the low wages, but if you ask me I think the business owners are just cheap! I read that 60% of the jobs here pay below $10.00 an hour! How can anyone live on that?

I learned a valuable lesson though for the next move... research median income and use the demographics and stats page on Google! When we moved here it was at the end of the hot housing market and everything within 200 miles of San Francisco was priced crazy! We liked the environment... hey they had two health food stores and Trader Joes was on it's way... great parks and hiking trails... it's a college town so it must be pretty liberal right? Wrong! I'm not knocking Chico but it is far away from family and the nearest airport is 90 minutes away... John and I are just ready to go. We think that Chico is great if you have alot of money and are retired but we have some years left in us and the business ideas we have will not work here.

So I will use my time learning new job skills, researching places to live (any suggestions you have are welcomed), crafting, playing with my furbabies, working in that crazy restaurant, etc. Oh, and surfing the web...

I snooped through etsy today and found www.ohmybuttons.etsy.com/ Another fun and fabulous shop! She has terrific gifts to get you ready for the holidays. I especially like the ornaments made from silverware. The owner has one son and 11 kitties!!! I think her 4 legged friends also work as models for alot of the artwork she makes! I am sure you will find the perfect gift for you or that special animal lover in your life in Oh My Buttons Shop.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend. Don't forget to laugh outloud!

Inge

This is how I have been spending my days lately!

I found this graph floating around the internet and thought it fit perfectly with my life!

Oh, the fun adventures of menopause!

It feels like Spring around here

and I am enjoying it! Fall is definitely my favorite time of year...my favorite author Leo Buscaglia...I have all his books www.buscaglia.com/about.htm is a big fan of fall too... namely the falling leaves part... he has written a book ""The Fall of Freddie the Leaf"... a children's book to cope with the death of a loved one...oops I'm rattling on... there is something wonderful walking through freshly fallen leaves... I can't explain it very well at the moment...just go out and try it!

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is so close! John and I do not celebrate it anymore since we usually work that day so other's can spend time fighting ... I mean enjoying their family's company. We like the food alright but I would rather see James and Anna without the pressure of a holiday.

I bet Vermont is gorgeous this time of year... I lived in Asheville, N.C. in the late 70s and loved the fall trees... they don't call it the Smokey Mountains for nothing! If you have never been back east during the fall, I highly recommend the trip! Speaking about Vermont, there is a watercolor artist who has a shop www.amberalexander.etsy.com who paint nature and animals that are whimsical and fun!

Her work is lovely... my furbabies give her a 4 paws up!
She says she generally paint with watercolors, but you'll find the occasional acrylic painting here as well. She lives in Vermont with her husband and two crazy poodles., and is always interested in hearing from people, so drop her a line... or tell her if there's something you'd like to see in her shop!

Well, gotta run for now... don't forget to walk around in some leaves today... and don't forget to laugh out loud!
Inge

I like Keepsake Boxes

and I found beautiful ones at www.thehouseofedward.etsy.com/ I have never seen such unique keepsake boxes than the ones Pamela makes and sells in her etsy shop.

She writes that she has always been enamored of the keepsake box, the reliquary, the chinese box that only she knew the secret way to open. In the spirit of treasures and secrets, She has been making Keepsake Boxes for clients and friends for several years. She enjoys creating them so much that she is now making a few available through The Shoppe at The House of Edward. Each one unique, these boxes feature vintage and antique items and are embellished with various florals and German glass glitters. And, each one comes with an autographed photo of Edward himself!

I think her shop name is great too... so sophisticated and quirky! These keepsake boxes will make a great Christmas gift by itself or to put something fabulous in for you or that special someone! Oh...be sure to visit her blog http://www.fromthehouseofedward.blogspot.com/

Happy Monday and don't forget to laugh out loud today!

Inge

Junque Art Tre Magnifique!

I absolutely love to collect junk and turn it into something fabulous or keep it in it's original form and love it just the way it is. I used to to think I was maybe a bit strange... no different... stopping at junk piles alongside the road and sifting through someone's throw aways or stopping at a dumpster sitting in front of a house under going a remodel to maybe find that perfect something.

Thanks to this wonderful world of the internet I am introduced to so many kindred spirits... people who are not afraid to be labled "dumpster divers"... in fact they wear the title as a badge of honor! I found another kindred spirit who has an online shop at

scarletfields.etsy.com / ... she takes junk and makes fabulous works of art with it. In fact Scarlet was influenced by some pretty creative women when she was a girl, her grandmother taught her to sew, taught her not to waste and that there were many treasures to be found at a Goodwill Store. Her third grade teacher, Mrs. Rush, taught her that a bar of soap could really be a turtle, and her aunt taught her the joy of a "craft closet". "I love finding and putting found objects togather to create an art piece with a story to tell. My art is whimsical, playful and most always funny in a tongue in cheek sort of way. I strive to make art that is affordable and will almost always be a conversation piece."

Her blog is full of quirky pictures and musings http://www.scarletfields.blogspot.com/

Cheers!

and don't forget to laugh out loud today!

Inge

These are a few of my favorite things...

that I found in some etsy shops. For the month of November and December I will snoop through etsy.com and tell you about some of my favorite finds... like Christmas decor, gift giving, andf plain old fabulous goodies a Diva like myself can't live without!

I found Mr. Filthy Rotten while I was surfing the vintage etsy section... as I mentioned before, I am all about vintage! Not only does Mr. Filthy Rotten have fun and kitschy stuff, he has a fun, kitschy personality... check out his profile:

"I'm a wild and crazy person. I love old things. I like oddball things. Kitschy stuff. Fun stuff. I try to prove there's a buyer for everything lol! I love to make things and hope to put up some of my off-the-wall creations soon.I love to cook. Italian food! I love my panini maker. I couldn't live without it. I love everything and everyone! I love bananas. I drive people bananas at times. Especially my brother. I love him too. Check out my items.

Smoochies for everyone who stops by!"

Now that's a guy I could go junking with! Check out his shop and get some fun stuff for the holidays!!! MrFilthyRotten.etsy.com

Now go out and have some Fun!!!!

Inge

Yes We Can and Tonight We Did!

I am so happy to live in such exciting and historic times!

Tomorrow is the Day!!!!

To get out and VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two more days to go!

The Chico Democratic Headquarters went ahead and had their march and rally yesterday... I was surprised how many turned out even with the pouring down rain! I am taking the day off from work Tuesday to drive people to the voting polls. I figured I will not be able to focus at work anyway. I did not take my camera to the rally because I was afraid my camera would get ruined in the rain, so I'm sorry there aren't any photos of this event.

John and I visited James and Anna last weekend and spent as much time as we could at Huntington Dog Beach (we brought our furbabies on this trip). John has not been to the ocean in two years which is an eternity for him because when we lived in San Francisco he went daily to watch the sunset... I think we will be much happier in Southern California for many reasons, which seem to be growing almost daily... I don't like to complain (contrary to what some people might think) but since the Presidential race has heated up, there has been an increasing amount of racist comments coming from people who I never would have thought would talk or think like that! Most of these people are eating in the restaurant I work at so I am limited as to what I can say back to them.. they are lucky... if it were my establishment I would kick them out! In the 70s I lived in Asheville North Carolina and I had to listen to that small minded, ignorant, racist garbage... but that was over 30 years ago and after all, I am in California! I thought we were better than that! I really have to put myself in a "happy place" before I go to work these days! Wew! So glad I got that off my chest... now to happier topics!

As I was saying earlier John and I visited the kids... and James bought the Chihuahuas matching Halloween costumes... we took them to Petco in Anaheim for the costume contest and family photo. The employees at this store seem to really like their work and James told me they always have fun events for their customers! I wonder if I can get a job with them?

Oh, I almost forgot... do you read Romantic Country Magazine? Check out the latest issue... Fall 2008, go to page 18... I found her shop, Cottage White, accidently... I was driving on Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach, and I saw this cute shop and circled the block so I could take a look around... and as I was paying for an adorable Baby sign, the sales assistant, mentioned her shop was featured in Romantic Country magazine and I remembered seeing it! We had a lovely conversation about living in So Cal ( I mentioned we are moving to the area) and the benefits of living close to the beach... the pictures in the magazine are nice but the store is more beautiful in person! If you find yourself in Sunset Beach, you must stop in and visit Cottage White, located at 14th and P.C.H. and treat yourself to some true Romantic Shabby Decor!

I better get going on my craft work, I only have a little over three weeks before the Diva Designs annual Christmas Fair! Enjoy the rest of your weekend and don't forget to vote on Tuesday! Inge