When a dump is not just a dump!

I know, just the word 'dump' doesn't normally conjure up much excitement, unless................you happen to be lucky enough to live out in the country where you might have a very old dump on your property or on that of an understanding neighbor! Many a craft project has come to life in our house spurred on from a 'find' in an old dump. I once found an old buggy hub and turned it into a very nice lamp base. The handles off old kerosene cans, make great rustic hangers for picture frames. For me, the old country dump is a wonderful source of treasures!

Its All Good....for something!!!

We may not even know it....yet.... but there is a use for just about anything. Take this piece of standalone lace I made on our new embroidery machine (well we have had it since last October so it still qualifies for new), it was just to see how the whole thing worked but I am sure it will have another life as part of some project. Inspiration comes in so many forms and random thoughts, to me at least - and to my three wonderful sisters as well - I may be just taking a walk and something will just pop into my head and launch a creative process. I see things in nature on a daily basis that inspire me to create. Beautiful flowers, odd cloud formations, gorgious sunsets and/or sunrises, quirky trees with oddly bent branches or a particularily brilliant color - all make me happy and all have me wanting to capture their beauty for eternity some how.

As for this piece of lace..... i think i will try it again with silk thread and see if it softens up a bit.

I keep watching at the local thrift store and online at places like ebay for vintage trims, buttons, whatevers that can only add fun to our projects and in turn inspire more projects. Happy crafting, whatever form it takes. It is my sincere belief that creativty is essential to a healthy mind, keeping it very active and also allowing us to share our joy with others.

As I was cleaning...

Yes, I do that once in awhile....cleaning in my new sewing/craft room, that is! I still have much to put away in cupboards drawers and other hiding places. At the local grocery store, I found little flat bottomes, square baskets, 2 for a dollar. Then later, at another store in the clearance department, bigger matching ones, 2 for a dollar. Of course, I bought some and am finding them quite handy for sorting and storing all those nifty little (some not so little) craft items I have so many of! I have all kinds of necklaces made from wooden, metal, and plastic beads and have already torn them apart for various uses. One of the smaller baskets is working well to store them in. I often look at the second hand stores in the costume jewlery for charm bracelets (you remember the old kind that actually had hanging down charms?). Taken apart, they make wonderful accent pieces for scrapbooking and many other projects. Speaking of jewelry, have you seen the new shoe clips? Just saw in some magazine and thought, heck could make them out of old clip on earings. Way cheaper then the $25 a pr. they advertised for in magazine. Okay, before you panic, no, I do not wear the kind of nice shoes they were clipping these things on, but many of you actually do dress nicely and they might be cool. Not so grand looking on my cowboy boots........but then again................. :) :) I might start a new trend and clip on some old western clip on earings down on the last laces by the kilties and be 'stylin'!!! Back to my sorting!

What could you use that for?

Plain old trash is usually just that......plain old trash. However, junk may be treasure. Recently my sister was wondering about where she could find a snap deal that would slide on a strap. I told her "I don't know what they are called but I have some, brand new, in a coffee can." "You DO??" "Yep, got them at that big yard sale last summer in a box of stuff." Well now, on the one hand, none of us 4 sisters should be surprised at the 'treasures' any of the rest of us have rescued and kept. The only problem can be finding that item you have squirreled away! Moral of the story? Not only collect your own treasures but have a network of family and friends who can't help but collect them too. It helps with projects, keeps the creative ideas flowing and often improves them. Now if we only had time to organize that collection..........................