Daily Courage

Finally there is a little fall chill in the air here in Southern California. I’m going to get my first real taste of fall when I head up the coast this weekend to Remnants of the Past, October 10th in Nipomo. I remember when this event was just a dream Judy Watkins had. It has been wonderful to watch her bring it to life. Down a country road you enter the Dana Powers property and step into a delightful world far from the hustle and bustle of everyday. This one day event has hosted some amazing guests. This time around, my friend April Cornell is the featured VIP. She will have loads of her signature linens and a smattering of the soft romantic women’s and girl’s clothing she is known for. This is the first time April has done a show like this. It’s a lot of hard work getting there and getting set up. But I am confident that once she feels the energy and warmth of the people who are drawn to this delightful event, we’ll all feel it was worth it. So, being as the glamour never stops, I am off to Home Depot to pick up a few things we need to set up the booth. If you are in the area, I really hope you will stop by!

My daughter and I put a twist on our egg dyeing tradition today by deciding to use glitter rather than dye. I have been enamored with glitter ever since I met Barbara Trombley, owner of Art Institute Glitter, at the Craft & Hobby Show (CHA) some years ago. Barbara is the Queen of Glitter, and the author of Glitter Artistry.  She manufactures the most beautiful sparkle in nearly 100 colors. I think I own nearly every color she makes. I’m partial to the superfine glitter, and use it for many projects, but this is the first time I have glittered eggs.

I picked up the new Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts at Costco the other day. There is a short section about glitter, and it gave me the nudge I needed to get the shiny stuff out and add a little glitz to Easter. 

We made a drying board just as the book recommends by pushing straight pins into a piece of foam core. It worked great. I had picked up about two dozen paper mache eggs to glitter.  But I  also wanted to try using real eggshells. I needed eggs for some baking I was doing today, so I blew them rather than cracking them. My mother taught me how to poke a pinhole in either end and blow like the dickens to empty out the white and yolk. I remember laughing at her while watching her face turn red from blowing so hard.  Sarah did the same looking at me today. Surprisingly, the paper eggs worked much better for this project. The real eggs didn’t hold the glue nearly as well and tended to “scratch” the glitter off when they touched anything. 

I made “nests” from raffia and wood shavings. I arranged them atop tarnished silver dishes and stands I bought at Alameda Flea Market last time I was there. I have a collection of cloches, and decided to cover a few of the nests, and placed them in groups to create little tabletop vignettes.

Superfine glitter scatters easily and I have ended up with a sparkly face-just like Barbara Trombley has every time I see her. If I can’t get it off tonight, it will give new meaning to waking up with a bright shiny face!

We have long been fans of author Kaari Meng and her wonderful store and product line – French General. Kaari and her husband Jon are a dynamic team and have a very rare gift for creating and expressing an aesthetic that few can match. Kaari will be at Remnants of the Past on April 25th in the central California coast town of Nipomo. She’ll be signing her wonderful books that also includes her wonderful new sewing book with Chronicle. 

It’s sure to be a fabulous spring day, and is a great opportunity to escape from the worries of world and wander among treasures gathered and offered by some of the most interesting dealers you will ever find. 

Shutting down the national news and getting out into the fresh air in a beautiful setting needs to be part of each of our personal stimulus package. Nourishing the creative spirit is part of survival these days. It’s off a long country road in a darling barn and pasture surrounded be rolling hills. Hope to see you there!

Artist Anna Corba showed her array of work at Remnants of the Past last spring.

A basket full of treasure.

Vintage glitter beautifully bottled.

Years ago when the team at Red Lips 4 Courage was with Romantic Homes magazine, I had the good fortune to meet Judy Watkins at the San Francisco Gift Market. At the time, Judy and a partner owned a small shop in Shell Beach, CA named “Well La De Da!” Since then Judy has had several successful retail stores in the San Luis Obispo area. She has become a dear friend. 

Judy is now producing a little gem of a show, Remnants of the Past  twice a year in a wonderful barn and pasture in Nipomo, CA. It is the best thing this side of Round Top and Marburger. The spring show is April 25th. If you are anywhere within driving distance, give yourself a treat.