Have A Shabby Shriek Halloween!

Hello everyone! Welcome to my fashion show. Every October at Room With A Past the "Roomies", of which I am one, get our hands busy making a decorated witch hat to wear to the Thursday evening opening. It's the latest fashion statement for those who like to stand apart in a crowd, snag low hanging chandeliers, and scare small children.

And now without further ado, I'd like to present to you this year's hat:


It stands 14 inches tall, and is comprised mainly of (non-flammable) black sateen polyester. The cone is stuffed with tissue paper to retain it's fashionably rigid shape.


Here we see a skeleton crew of pink tutu'd, pom-pom bandeau topped skinny minis and their black arachnids pets. Such little angels aren't they...?

They sweetly hold a banner while hovering over a lovely garden of pink cabbage roses and fresh, spring daisies, which are bordered by a few vintage floral hankies affixed to the wide, black hat brim.

Please notice how their pearly popping eyeballs perfectly accentuate the sparkly pink glitter in their tibia bone-length garments. Thank you ladies...

The tippy top is embellished with a single pink, black widow-infested daisy, atop a frothy pink tule boutonnière medallion.

And now turning your attention to the back of the hat, you can see how the entire base is wrapped and anchored with more sparkly, tule confection and the trademark pink with black polka dot ribbon gathered up in a bow.

This concludes this year's showing. Please remember to pick up your free anti-venom kits on the way out the door, and we hope you've enjoyed the show!

Haul-A-Lujah!

I feel so lucky to have found two great estate sales last weekend that were virtually deserted so I had lots of time to nose around through all of the vintage finds! At the first one I found this great sewing basket with a few odds n ends inside,

a peach taffeta prom dress, some old kids records, kids school science book, a game, a cake decorator,

a doll's closet with two sliding doors and a drawer below, an old photo album with mat inserts, a hat box (from Capwell's!) with two vintage hats sill in their tissue packages, a blue tutu for my pal Carrie at Hip Chick,

an old toy cash register, a huge aluminum lazy susan with handles and a few bits of ephemera.

My second lucky stop was at a house that was built in 1816, and was the "country" home for the Weaver family from San Francisco. They were in real estate, as were the Bundy family who had a small house on the same property. I wish I had taken a picture of "the big house". It was a modest, two story house with fish scaled siding and was painted purple. Lots of arched windows with thick, white moulding surrounding them. My kind of house! There I picked up a huge vintage abacus, glass cake stands, a red & white quilt, some Victorian silver pieces (a bird-topped sugar bowl with 12 spoons, a bride "basket" and a huge silver handled tray), and a huge ceramic pitcher with roses on it. I didn't have room to store it all at home, so the second haul went straight into the shop, hence no photos of these lovelies! Guess you'll just have to come see them October 21 - 24th!

XOX 4 U

Been busy painting, hauling, arraigning and working the sale at Paris Flea Market, and getting ready for the sale at Room With A Past, so there's just enough time to blow you a kiss...


Talk soon!

Silhouette Painting 1.0

My Saturday started here in the quaint little town of Benicia, CA. as the owner of Hip Chick, Carrie and I met and started setting up for students who were on their way.



You can always expect an inviting welcome when Frances is stationed at the door!


When everyone had arrived and settled in, we got right down to work picking a customized pattern and learning the reverse painting techniques.

As we painted, the art become visible. Carrie C. chose a pattern with a tutu (no surprise there!) but didn't realize how her art was imitating a (still) life in the corner!

Taking a break to let the paint dry between coats gave us time to explore Hip Chick and shop a little, eat our snack of the day, and

form exciting epiphanies for other applications which the silhouette painting could be used!

Everyone went home with a finished project, a how-to/resource sheet, contact info for my favorite shop, Room With A Past, and lots of inspiration for the next silhouette painting they'll be making at home!

I had so much fun showing them all the tips and techniques. They all got so "in to it", that they were coming up with lots of ideas of their own which they couldn't wait to try out! It was like a party with friends in my own living room! Thanks so much for coming!

The graduates included:

Carrie and her shoes (clothes and shoes were on her brain as she is expanding a small closet in her new home!)

Rebekah, the bird lover, Jes the Raven fan, Carrie C. the tutu addict, and Joni, another bird fan!

Stay tuned for RSP 2.0!

It's The Little Things

I do love a sweet silhouette! Here's a vignette in my hallway of a few small ones I've collected:




I love this one best. It was done with ink (not by me!). Click on the picture to enlarge it.


I can't wait to teach how to make reverse silhouette paintings on glass tomorrow at Hip Chick Designs! I'll let you know how it goes!

Reverse Your Thinking And Learn Something!

How would you like to make your home a little sweeter and end your summer feeling like you learned something creative? Then you'll definitely want to sign up for a class I'm SO excited to be teaching on Reverse Silhouette Painting on Saturday, August 28th from 10AM - noon at the fun & funky location of Hip Chick Designs, in the beautiful little bay side town of Benicia, CA!


HIP CHICK DESIGNS--Owned by Carrie Clayden



In this two hour class you will learn hands-on skills and tips that will inspire you to paint your own future one-of-a-kind works of art & signs, from elegant to whimsical on framed glass, old windows and mirrors.


Reverse painting is an a very versatile, easy (really!) and forgiving art, with possibilities limited only by your imagination.


You'll complete a framed 5" x 7" project in the studio, then partake in shopping for unique treasures at Hip Chick Designs . Make a day of it by heading to nearby First Street in downtown Benicia for more shopping in lots of quaint little stores and a bite to eat in one of the many cafes and restaurants!

All supplies, and a resource sheet are included in the $25.oo fee. For more information and to sign up (by Wednesday, August 25th) contact me at mackely@astound.net.

Summer In The City

I like to decorate this sideboard in my house with a seasonal theme, and since I won't be hitting a beach anytime soon, I thought I'd make my own.

Here's where I'd like to be sitting (if I was 4 inches tall) and digging my toes into the warm sand.

I can hear the water lapping the shore and washing up lots of shells...

and I can see others enjoying it too!

There's my mom frolicking in the sand and my grandmother relaxing in her beach chair, too.

Oh hi, Uncle Jim and Aunt Jessie! Looks like Uncle Hank is fooling around there, too. There's my father's old boat near the marina.

When it gets late in the day, I'll have a little fire, (I LOVE these battery-operated tealights!) then pack it up,

and still have a little sand between my toes to remember it all by!