Chairs + Ginger Jars = A fun project with Anne Harwell

I have met the most amazing, talented people this year.  The blogosphere is a world all to itself.   Anne Harwell from Annechovie is one of these people.  Visit her blog and see what I am talking about.  She is an artist and  paints all different types of things, but her chairs are one my favorites.  I sent a tissue box with her chairs on it as a thank you for a wonderful post she did on me.

I was in the shower thinking (I do my best thinking there) about projects for the fall and winter.  Anne’s artwork popped in my head, I thought how wonderful to collaborate with her.  Put her art on my art.  A new twist.  I work mostly with vintage images and I am finding that there are so many artists work that would look great on what I do.

So, here is the first of what I hope to be many fun projects.  The tissue box and matches will be done in limited quantities.

Enjoy.

Susan

Grateful!!!!

Shandell’s will be starting it 6th year in Millerton this Friday.  I would like to say thank you to all who have helped me get here and those who I have not met, only know through the world of blogging, Twitter and Facebook.

I was at a party a couple of years ago, a group of us was sitting and enjoying a great bottle of wine.  There was a woman talking abut being grateful and the conversation headed that way. One of the woman said, “Everyone can be grateful, but I am down on my knees grateful” I remember that every day, sometimes it is hard.

That pretty much sums up my feelings.  I am so grateful for all who have been in my life this year.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, eat lots of goodies and be Grateful.

This picture is of Scottish Highland’s, they live in Sheffield, Ma.  I see them every time I go to Great Barrington to do food shopping. I think they are just amazing.  The Highland breed has lived for centuries in the rugged remote Scottish Highlands. The extremely harsh conditions created a process of natural selection, where only the fittest and most adaptable animals survived to carry on the breed. There beauty and grace intrigues me.

Susan

An army of night lights.

As the elves at Shandell’s (me) have been getting ready for the Holiday Season, night lights are always top of the list.  Recently I have found some amazing new papers, just calling to be made into a night light. I could not resist this picture of them waiting to be bagged and ready for giving.

They look like an army, all in line waiting for there new homes.

Something everyone needs a night light, young and old.  Making them into a piece of wall art is part of the fun. Inspiration comes from my vast collection of vintage imagery and hand made papers.  Making a decision as to which paper or image to use next, is my biggest problem.

There is a night light for everyone on your Holiday list, the horse lover, nature enthusiast, graphic artist, addicts of vintage anything, feathers, hand made paper and lots more. Enjoy finding your perfect light for the middle of the night.

Susan

Horsing around, jump start the season.

It seems like Halloween just finished, most of the leaves are gone and the Holiday season is knocking on our doors.  The elves at Shandell’s have been working over time getting lots of things ready to make you smile.

Tissue boxes have been on the list lately, as the weather has changed, cold and flu season is here.  As I was going through all of my vintage images I came across this wonderful Steeplechase image.  The detail is wonderful as well as the color. I immediately made a tissue box with this image.

As you are getting to know me, horses , dogs and animals are a big part of my life and work.  I love the 18th and 19th century images of them and put them on just about everything I make. I started putting some of my favorite quotes on matchboxes, along with some of the most beautiful vintage horse images.  What wonderful gifts these will make this holiday season.

So if you are in the area, stop by or visit my online shop.

A project with Eddie Ross

I am very fortunate to live in a small town, Millerton, NY 100 miles north of New York City,  also to have a great neighbor and friend, Eddie Ross and his partner Jaithan Kochar.  Eddie called one day saying he had found an amazing 19th century apothecary jar and would like to have it made into a lamp.  I so love to get interesting pieces to make into lamps.  Most days I look at just about anything for a lamp, a bottle, carved table leg. old pieces of metal in any form.  I get so excited when I get these type of projects, Eddie had the same enthusiasm about it.

Once the lamp is done, we were only half way there.  The next part is the shade, picking the right shape and material to accent the lamp.  Eddie wanted a barrel shaped shade, I suggested we use a wonderful seagrass paper to offset the sleek glass. Visit Eddie’s blog to read all about this great project.

I hope this inspires you to look at every day objects, treasures you find and family heirlooms  in a whole new way.  The simple gracefulness of this bottle will be enjoyed for years and surely make Eddie and Jaithan smile.