25 More Days until Christmas!

Wow! I can't believe where the time went in 2008! Do you have your Christmas shopping done? As of this weekend I'm done!
I have alot of good memories of Christmas - and I sure miss those Christmas mornings watching the kids excitement when they saw how much and what Santa put under the tree while they were asleep. Some of my family now live too far away so we cannot be together during the festive season. It's sure not like it used to be...and that makes me :-( For the first time I will not have my mom with me at Christmas and that will be extremely :-(

But I need to think positive here (my daughter always reminds me of this) - and go on........everyone's healthy and that's what counts. Soon it will be summer and I can spend alot of time with my grandkids!

Check out: Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas Handbag that I have in my Etsy Store.

Christmas Shopping?

I've been busy packing parcels - 'Tis the Season! Need something UNIQUE for the "hard to buy for" person? Check out my shops...I'm sure you'll find something. Don't wait - it could be gone tomorrow! I have something for HIM or HER.

Vintage Fisher Price Toys

I'm back..........due to my mother's illness and death I've been out of touch for awhile. No words can explain my feelings inside and the emptiness and hurt in my heart. Everywhere I turn there are memories of her. I need to just remind myself that she's in no pain now and is in a better place.

Christmas is fast approaching.....................and

The Vintage Fisher Price toys makes great gifts for young children today! My grandchildren can spend hours playing with them. Check out the Play Family House I have on http://www.retroclassics.etsy.com/ plus many more Vintage Fisher Price toys.

What Stocks to Place your money?? Why not in this Stock Ticker Purse!

This would be a safe place to put your $$ in today - A Stock Ticker Board Game Purse! I've made alot of Record Purses and decided to use the same method and use a Board Game. Stock Ticker is a classic family board game that we played alot of when the kids lived at home. With todays market I thought this would be an appropriate purse to make. What are your thoughts?

Busy September

Fall is here - the leaves look awesome...but I don't look forward to winter! I hate the cold. I've been busy creating new book purses this month. Getting ready for the busy Christmas season. "There's a Wocket in My Pocket" by Dr. Seuss is my latest creation. I love this one!

I'm Back!

Wow! How time flys when you're having fun! I've had a wonderful summer with my grandkids and now it's back to work. Summer is definately TOO SHORT where I live.
I've started to create more book and record purses to get ready for the busy season ahead. Check out my new creations at retrograndma.etsy.com and I've listed more Vintage items on retroclassics.etsy.com.

BUY HANDMADE & RECYCLE

Handmade items have a real character and charm over mass-produced items. Today many people are going back to buying handmade - it's great to give and receive a UNIQUE handmade item compared to receiving something mass produced from a department store.

Recycling items and creating a one-of-a-kind item is even better! My store is exactly this - recycled books and records.

Happy Mother's Day!

She was there at the beginning
When the world was new to you -
She was there to turn to happy times
Those when, you were hurt or blue.
She was there to listen to your thoughts
And when you asked, to give advice -
She was there to tell you, "Those don't match!"
Or, "Hon, you sure look nice.
"She was there with you at nighttime
She was there to tell you, "It's alright.
"When you had a dream that scares.
She was there at morning time
To get you up and out of bed -
She was there when you didn't feel good (or did)
To say, "You'd best stay home, instead.
"She was there when you were hungry
And when you had those dirty clothes
She was there when you needed her
(How she knew? Only heaven knows.)
She was there at the beginning
And she'll be there your whole life through -
She'll be there in your mind and heart
Just like a mother is supposed to do

A Blast From the Past!

Toys from the past are still a favourite at Grandma's house! My children's toys are now being played with by my grandchildren. And they love them! The Fisher Price Toys seem to last forever! Little People and accessories are their favourites. They could spending hours with them. I do have some listed in my Retroclassics Store because I (grandma) needs to downsize. ha! But don't worry, my basement will still be set up with a Fisher price city for the grandkids to play with.

OPENING A NEW STORE @ Buy It Sell It

Need to get caught up in my blogging here. I'm in the process of opening up a new store at BUYITSELLIT. Buy the way if you're interested in anything from my other stores feel free to ask me to list it at BISI - looks like a great new place to sell. Been reading reviews on it and sounds good. I'm still also creating new recycled items. Check out Elvis Presley - Blue Hawaii Record Purse. This would be an awesome purse to take to the beach! Also how about NATURAL HOME REMEDIES Book Purse? I'm sure we all carry our own little remedies in our bags!

Altered Book Purses - Nancy Drew - Clue of the Dancing Puppet by Carolyn Keene

I'm back at it again! Had a week's holiday trip (to see the grandkids and kids of course) and then I don't know where last week went. Since I sold a few of my Nancy Drew purses I created another called The Clue of the Dancing Puppet by Carolyn Keene. Copyright of this book is 1990 and it has a gloss hardcover. The older versions do not. There's a photo of a ballerina and the colours of the hardcover really appealed to me. I did not know that there were alot of Nancy Drew fans out there - they're my most popular sellers!

APRIL FOOLS!

Wow! April is already here. Hope the snow leaves us here soon :-) I've been away during Easter and have just returned from a wonderful trip to see my grandkids and children. Now I have to get back to reality - work! I've got some projects on the go here and it's very difficult to get back to my routine again.

I need some suggestions here please. I have boxes full of movie trailer films and am trying to think of what I can create with them. Lamp shades is one suggestion I was given - but is there anything else you can suggest? Anybody's comments would be greatly appreciated. I've listed some of my film on etsy as destash supplies if anyone is interested in purchasing.

SPRING IS COMING CLOSER!

Hopefully Spring is around the corner. With Easter so early this year we won't have tulips blooming where I live. Been kept busy with sales :-) and creating new items. Have you ever watched Unlawful Entry with Kurt Russell? I have an original laser disc of the movie and created a Tote out of the cover.

Busy with NEW Record Album Cover Handbags!

Well I've been sewing up a storm here these last few days. I had to replenish my SOLD purses. Here are a few more new additions to my Record Album Cover Handbags: The Go Gos, Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Elvis Presley. I would like to get as many made as I can now before gardening season is here. I can't wait to get my hands in the dirt!

My Book Purse FEATURED in ETSY

I'm excited! My Book Purse You and the Law has been featured in a Treasury on Etsy. I've sold one already & happened to have another book with the same title, so I made another. Thanks to ursastudio for featuring one of my book purses!
SOLD

SINGLE WHITE FEMALE

Are you a Single White Female???? Take this out and you will get alot of attention! Handbag made from the cover of a Laser Disc Movie SINGLE WHITE FEMALE, with Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

Recycled Record Holder

Well today I had a great idea!

Needed a break from the purses today....& decided to make a RECORD HOLDER. It can be used for your bills, in the bathroom or bedroom for your cosmetics or hair accessories, at the office, a napkin holder, for your remote controls...or whatever!

Cookbook Book Purse

I'm sitting here tonight on my computer & viewing the eclipse of the moon through my window as I work. It's just about half covered right now! My camera isn't that great, but I snapped it anyway.

My creation for today is a COOKBOOK BOOK PURSE. What a neat gift for that special cook!

Retro Fishnet Curtains

My great find at the thrift shop this weekend were some awesome retro daisy accented curtains - in like new condition. Of course anything I buy I need to alter! I couldn't resist them - perfect match to my dining room and I've been searching for something retro for a long time. I cut the top off which was pleated with the old 3-4 prong hooks and used that material for tabs - which gives it a touch of the modern look. Remember the fishnet curtains?? They came in all colours. I found a pair in their original packages! I've been redecorating my home with retro decor lately. I'll show you more photos later on of my findings - spaghetti swag, sphere-shaped pole lamp and matching floor lamp, couch and chair (in like new condition from the 1970's...the plastic was still on the bottom of the couch!) Check back soon...gotta go and craft now.

Nancy Drew Book Purse

I told you I was addicted! This is my latest Nancy Drew Book Purse. The Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene were first published in 1930 by Grosset and Dunlap. My Nancy Drew purses are of the 1960-70's series. The early Nancy Drew is smart, adventurous, flippant, and daring. She has captured our imagination and our spirit for mystery.

One of my customers response after receiving her book purse was: "this is an absolute darling :) i brought it out to the shops the moment i received in the mail n got many ooohs n aahs n admiring looks"

MORE BOOK PURSES

Happy Valentine's Day! For the last few days I've created a few more book purses: Beauty and the Beast and Black Beauty. I realized today that I do have an addiction to making these purses! I love making them - each is unique and one-of-a-kind. I can't wait to see the end result and then I can't wait to start another!


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Vintage CARE BEAR Recycled BOOK Purse

I live in Sunny Saskatchewan but this weekend was wicked! -50's with the windchill! Best place was to stay indoors and craft. This is my new creation today and listing on Etsy - A Vintage Care Bear Book Purse! I also finished a BEATLES Record Purse (look below for photo) Amazing what you can accomplish when you can't go out!

A Collectible Basement

I LOVE RETRO and have a passion for seeking out collectibles. Go back in time in My Ebay Store "A Collectible Basement" . I've been a member since 2004. I'm a trusted seller with 2172 positive feedbacks. I have a basement full of treasures that I'd like to share with you - which includes Toys, Dolls, Kitchen and Housewares, Retro Lamps and Swags, Clocks, Board Games, and MORE! Check it out!

The music, furnishings, clothing and life style of the 60's & 70's are the BEST!

A BLAST FROM THE PAST!

Handmade objects always have a story. They have a real character and charm over mass-produced items. Industrialization and mass-production are hurting our planet and all of us. As a culture we are so focused on rampant consumerism. Buying hand made is a basic building block to improving our world, a direct way to redistribute wealth, and sharing power through money is a great way to start changing the economy and the physical environment.

Nancy Drew Book Purse

Dr. Seuss Book Purse

My relaxation therapy is upcycling books and records and creating UNIQUE book purses, (MOST popular Nancy Drew purses) record purses, earring holders, hollow safe books, and clocks. Check out My Etsy Store to the left! Is there a favourite book or record you'd like upcycled? Feel free to ask as I do custom orders as well.

Walk down the street holding Elvis and watch heads turn! I had people stop me on the street so they could have a closer look at my handbag. Great way to meet people!

SOLD

The BEATLES! I remember their first appearance on Ed Sullivan on our black and white tv. It was quite an event! Something I will never forget. I used to play their 45's on my small phonograph over and over again! oops! Does this tell you my age? Well, that's why they call me RETROGRANDMA!

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