Birch Bark Press

when i was running last week, i found some birch trees in my neighborhood that had shed their bark.

i have this amazing and handy wood press that suze found for me at an estate sale. 

you can see that you can just layer in the birch bark, in between sheets of paper and cardboard, and then crank and turn the press down to hold it tight and secure.

i set the press aside for a week or so

and when i took out the birch bark pieces, they were dry and flat!

now i have a pile of flat dry birch bark for projects.

yeah!

i have been feeding some other dry birch bark i have into my typewriter (in the photo above)and typing little messages.  i tear these out and glue them, very carefully, to the birch branch "tree" i have in the shop.   it takes the place of a "carved" tree trunk and its fun to find the random messages all over it.

i also love using this flat bark paper to write notes on, love letters, and poetry.  watch out friends!  i have a whole pile of birch bark now!

what would you do with it?!

nursing my christmas cookie sugar coma,

xoxoxox

jennette

p.s. don't forget, the shop closes by 4pm on Sat. Dec. 24 and reopens Wed. Jan. 4 and noon!



Paper Mache Bee

i did some paper mache recently and thought i would share a nice way to give new life to old plastic crap!

like this plastic crap!  i found this at the thrift.  and as i am attracted to all things honey bee, i had to nab it.  but alas, i hate the plastic-ness of it!  so i figured i'd use it as a base and paper mache over it! 

smarty party much?!

just joking!

(kinda!)

since i have been "going gluten free" i have all this wheat flour in my kitchen i need to use up somehow.  so why not mache paste?  It turned out a bit bumpy and clumpy but it ended up ok with this extra texture.

working away

gettin somewhere

completely covered and starting to dry

after it dried i gave it a coat of thinned out white acrylic paint.  i wanted some of the print from the newspaper to show through like you see on Ann Wood's boats

a view from beneath

so the semi-opaque white honey bee is just hanging out in the shop.

not sure if i will try to add color or detail.

but i am happy to not being looking at the plastic-ness of it anymore!  it's been transformed, upcycled, and repurposed!

what are you all crafting lately?

gifts?

me too!

going home soon to play with boxes, wrapping paper and ribbon!

xoxox

jennette

p.s.

don't forget the shop will close at 4pm on Saturday December 24th and will reopen Wednesday January 4th at noon.

Thanks for all your support!

 

New & Noteworthy!

there are many new items in the store!

many  would make great gifts!

we have stocking stuffers too!

wood bookmarks!

new displays!

a vintage oak framed sheep print!

chalkware relics

religious icons

pewter hinged lid footed box

an amazing piece of embroidery!

a close-up of the embroidery.   is that a rabbit?!

an embellished footed velvet hinged lid box

check out the beaded lining!

a silk embellished crown of sorts!

i love these two items!

2 small painted mexican chairs!  adorable!

and another mary!  this one is heavy old pewter!

a reverse, painted on the inside of the glass, ship on the seas painting!  love these!

a sweet vintage framed jesus child print

and another!

hickory dickory dock embroidered piece

hey diddle diddle embroidered piece

several quilt pieces

and last, but not least, a vintage silk painted, made in France, "delicates" pouch.  just lovely!

i am still pricing items and putting them out in the store.  if you have any last minute shopping to do, come on by!  you are sure to find just the right, unique, thoughtful gift here at Smashing Rubbish! 

we will closed by 4pm on Saturday Dec. 24 and i am thinking about remaining closed from then until wednesday january 4, when we would reopen for the new year!  that means we would be closed 4 of the days we would normally be open.  we would be closed on the holidays anyhow.  i am hoping this short closure does not inconvenience any of my regular customers. 

thank you for your continued support of Smashing Rubbish!  it means a lot to me that you buy what i make, purchase the treasures i find, and tell your friends about the shop!  i wouldn't be here without your continued support and encouragement!  so thank you!  really! i am grateful and humbled!

pricing, wrapping, making,

xoxoxox

jennette