I'm Not Gone

I've started up a new space. It's set to private right now and probably will be for a long time, if not for always. But, on the off-chance that I desire some company over there, please feel free to leave your email address in the comments here {or email it to me if you'd like it to stay private: themuseumcupboard@gmail.com}, and I will -- maybe one day soonish -- decide to invite my old friends over for a spot of tea and some conversation.

I miss you all and care for you immensely. I am amazed I have such lovely friends I've never formally met.

Heartstrings

A mini kit is in the works!

I'm working on four of them, as we speak.
They'll be available in the shop
on or before Wednesday.

Thought I'd give you a little peek ...

High Of Forty-Eight

Happy to have gifted myself with this treat {if you're interested, buy it from here, in the States, as shipping is quite a bit cheaper}, as I pine for a look at the premier issue.

* * *

One thing I love is traipsing over to a few of my favorite blogs and reading their autumn to winter archives, specifically the time between Halloween and New Year's. I love this. Maybe inordinately so. Please, do not howl or jeer at me, but I am so looking forward to a little snap and chill. Not because I don't love the now, this summer humidity and steamy overcastitude, and the fact that everything's looking its finest, still blooming and beautiful. But, because I just adore autumn and winter that much more. All of the making and sending off of little somethings that seems to get along so well with colder temperatures. I'm excited to craft straight on through these next five months. I'm excited to surprise people with carefully curated packages and hand-addressed envelopes, full of warm reminders. I'm excited to bake sweet things, wrap them up jovially, and then tell the postal worker that no, this package does not contain anything fragile, liquid, perishable, or potentially hazardous {are you supposed to lie when they ask that? I never do know}.

Anyway, I feel cozy when I read these archives, and I trick myself into thinking it's chilly outside, so it's okay that I'm still in my sleepy yoga pants and washed-soft tee shirt, as we near one p.m. That's what I'm doing this morning {er, early afternoon}, with a little red cup of coffee by my side, recovering from yesterday's long shift at work.

Sweets, Shoes, & Vacuum Cleaners

I have had a week-long sweet tooth.

Mr. Original laughs at me whenever I guiltily mumble something about having eaten another chocolate chocolate-chip cookie. Last night, we had caramel cone ice cream on the carpet {um, I bought it and sort of forced it into our floor date}. Mr. Original took a few spoonfuls and then reclined. I kept going. It's just that there were so many little chocolate chunks that needed to be pried out. Oh, dear.

So, the only thing sitting on my cake stand this weekend is FRUIT. Juicy nectarines, plums in two colors, and a bunch of bananas. That's it. Nothing with butter or cream inside. Nothing involving greasing a pan or preheating the oven. It's time to start thinking about a late summer trip to the swimming hole, and I do not want to feel like a pound cake in my polka-dot bikini.

I worked last evening and I'm working tonight. There appears to be the tiniest of dramas there, completely unrelated to me and of which I want no part. But still, I can sense it, and I'm trying to sidestep whenever it hovers near. Luckily, my shoes are quick and excellent at sidestepping {ah ha, you liked that little insertion of fashion, didn't you?!}. In other news, I think I might've broken the vacuum at work. Shhh. Don't ever tell a soul. I call him Nobles, because that's what's printed across his tubby body. He's a stout little guy, and he usually gets the job done. Last night, though, he just gave out. I accidentally {side}stepped on his hose, for the briefest of seconds {the shoes aren't perfect -- sometimes, they let me down}, and when I plugged him in again and went to fire him up, he wouldn't go on. It's electrical, that much I know. Can you affect the electrical business by stumbling over/onto the hose? I didn't think so, but maybe he took it personally. In any case, Nobles is busted and I fear it's my fault.

Okay, friends, that's all I've got for this Saturday, a half-sandwich after noon. Rest assured, I'll be back.

The Post Where I Reveal My Project To My Lovely And Faithful Readers, Who Have Waited Patiently

{I promise I didn't forget about you ... or about revealing my project to you. I was called in early to work, and the day just got away from me. My apologies for keeping you waiting, my pets.}

Ahem.

I am thrilled to announce the opening of another cupboard:

my very own, small and humble, Etsy shop.

This special place will hold a very selective and neatly curated group of vintage goods {only those bits and bobs that I would very much like to keep for myself}, as well as an ongoing rotation of handmade, one-of-a-kind kits -- the Cupid Kit, among others.

Click on the mini banner above to see
what I have on my shelves right now.

And thank you for all of your support and excitement!

P.S. I will post here just before I add some kits to the shop {they're almost finished!}, which will happen this Friday, July 31st, by noon EST.

Illuminated Cupboard

This morning is off to a good start. Thank you so much for your kindnesses yesterday. Rough days are rough.

Today, my morning job was completed without trauma. I am home, post-coffee {cutting down because it seems to stimulate my anxiety ... um, duh}, and thinking about frying up an egg and setting out an English muffin to hug it. It is warm and sunny, and I think I might have a really good afternoon {as in, no visits from a Special Agent from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation ... sheesh}.

And, the project! The project ... I will announce on Monday. There! I've set a deadline! Thank you for your patience. Of course, now I'm going back on myself and thinking I've made such a big deal out of something that won't excite you all as I'd hoped it would ... feel free to reassure me.

No photos right now, but I'll have some bits to show you this weekend. Until then ...

Accounting

Hello. We have some catching up to do.

Yesterday was

: enjoying her archives {found through her ceaselessly inspiring blog}

: making this cake again, so as not to toss the last of the buttermilk

: a long stretch of quiet, inside time

: taking steps forward in a project I'll soon announce here


Today is

: an insatiable appetite for inspiration, and also a desire to turn it all off

: trying to figure out some changes I want to make

: coffee, then routine, followed by more coffee

: aching to have a copy of this {Issue 1}, though it's sold out

Rainy With A Certainty Of Disappointment

This morning was my first visit to traffic court, to see if I could finagle anything with regard to a speeding ticket. Nearly $200 later {wow, that probably makes you think I'm a bad driver ...}, I'm not exactly thrilled with the huge hole in my bank account where some saved up money once resided. So much for rolling those coins ...

I feel I'm on the verge of something, but I don't know what. A series of projects, maybe? A new way of looking at things? I'm not sure. Tell me if you have any ideas.

Surprise Giveaway Winner!

* * *
Congratulations, Erin of Perfect Sentiment!

You won my surprise giveaway!
Please email your address to
themuseumcupboard@gmail.com
and I will send you your surprise.

* * *
As for everyone else, thank you for entering.
Keep your eyes peeled
{I always thought that was the strangest expression}.
This is the first of many surprises.

P.S. Once Erin receives her package,
I'll post some photos of it here
to satisfy your curiosity :)

P.P.S. These are not photos of Erin's surprise.
This post just happens to look prettier
peppered with peeks of my ephemera collection.

Daddy - O

My dad is really charming.

He does not blog.
But, if he did, he'd read yours
and leave you the best comments,
some a touch silly,
others quite poignant and spot-on.
He would give you advice,
but only if you asked.
And he might tease you a little.
Okay, a lot.

Dad, I love you a whole bunch.

Spooning

I really like the simple design of these rusty spoon note cards

from Tea and Laundry.

* * *
Just a reminder:

So, don't forget to enter my surprise giveaway
by leaving a note in Thursday's comment section!

* * *

Well, All Right!

I LOVE this idea from found paper co. because -- you guessed it! -- it involves repurposing a vintage object. How fun and graphic to use a folding ruler as a display piece for postcards and paper bits. Pretty genius, if you ask me.

* * *

Just a reminder:

So, don't forget to enter my surprise giveaway
by leaving a note in Thursday's comment section!

* * *

P.S. The title of this post is something Mr. Original sometimes says {though he hasn't in a while ... Mr. Original, will you please say it again some time soon?} when I'm insistent on something -- as in, "Mr. Original, come here and kiss me!" His response? "Well, all right!"

A Surprise Giveaway!

I'm not saying what it is
{partly because I'm not sure yet},
but I can tell you that it will definitely be
all kinds of wonderful.

Leave a comment on this post,
and I'll randomly pick a winner Monday morning,
just to make the new week
a little sweeter.

P.S. International friends, you can enter, too!

Savings

Most of you probably know that I'm trying to save money, now more than ever. I slip up sometimes {see tin and doily pictured above}, but largely stay focused on eliminating unnecessary expenses. I'm even keeping a thorough record of my finances in a little millimeter/milligram booklet I've had for a long time, but never used. {Don't click that link unless you want to be seriously tempted to spend some cash.}

Being this rigid about what I'm earning and spending is oddly great. I feel a lot less anxious when I enter a store because I walk in knowing I cannot and will not buy anything. I feel less guilty about staying home in my cupboard all day when I feel like it; not driving means I'm not using gas and also not finding my way to my favorite antique stores and card shops. Instead, I'm cooking, reading, getting laundry done before it becomes an insurmountable task, et cetera.

Today, I counted change. I'm betting that sounds pitiful. Really, I just wanted to see what I had lying around. Mr. Original always drops his loose change into my stained glass bowl to lighten his pockets. When my wallet gets heavy with coins, I empty it there, too. Fifteen dollars, turns out. That's not a lot, but it's not nothing. It's a few meals. More than half a tank of gas. A movie and popcorn.

Yet, it's not burning a hole in my pocket. I think I'll let it stay there for a while ...


P.S. This is my 200th post! I've got some big ideas for the coming months, so stay tuned.

Up To No Good

I have had many a run-in with deer. First, there was that time in college, when one trotted behind me, a little too fast and for a little too long. Yikes. I cried because no one believed me. Then, just over a year ago, one charged at my car. No, I do not mean to say I hit a deer; I mean to say a deer hit me. There's a dent on my car door as proof! Deer and I have a complicated relationship. This vintage flocked deer figurine would go along nicely with my stag salt and pepper shakers, letterpress stag coasters, and mounted cardboard deer head {all gifts from friends who find the whole thing very amusing}. I'd probably keep him on my bedside table, for protection, and wake up to the sound of him getting ready to charge ...

{Stag Figurine from efinegifts}

The Doily Made Me Do It

I spoke way too soon. I haven't bought anything in quite awhile, and I think I was feeling pretty smug, as if I'd reached some state of enlightenment and no longer wanted material possessions. Friends, that's apparently not the case. These two beauties are en route to yours truly:

from obscurio

from Gila Handmade

Now, I'm going to make myself sit in the corner and think long and hard about what I've done.

Small Scale Design

Forever a fan of leaving tiny surprise notes, I love how Small Square Design has turned the adored manila pouch {didn't your school nurse give you one when you lost a tooth?} into a miniature work of art.

If I Were You

... I would drop an old black and white snapshot into
every handwritten letter I mail out.

Why?
Why not, that's why!

{Vintage Cigar Box containing 36 Black and White Snapshots found here}

Something Else, Heartfelt

A book of love letters from over the centuries, personalized by me. I'll include glassine envelopes with notes to my friend and her husband-to-be, pressed flowers, and suggestions for special date nights. These bits will be tucked randomly throughout the book. For example, Lewis Carroll writes to May Mileham, "Thank you very much indeed for the peaches. They were delicious. Eating one was almost as nice as kissing you: of course not quite: I think, if I had to give the exact measurement, I should say 'three-quarters as nice.'" Tucked into this page, I might suggest: Buy a peach. A ripe one. Bite into it, chew, and swallow -- then offer the peach to your lover, and suggest he do the same. Kiss. Repeat bite-kiss procedure. Debate which is best ... ;)

A Hint of Pattern

My parents were in town this weekend, as were Mr. Original's parents. The parents met for the first time. It was exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. Now, it's quiet ... painfully quiet. I am alone in my cupboard, slurping my second cup of coffee, and wishing I knew where to begin today, and how.

The fabric above is a batik my parents bought for me some months ago in Curacao. It's actually Indonesian. And so gorgeous, I don't know if I can bear to turn it into anything else {because that would involve taking a scissors to it}. For now, I'll just unfold and refold it, and maybe trace the designs with my fingertips.

We'll chat about the bottom photo very soon, but first, I think I need to slurp a bit more.