lulu redstar

Road Trip...Second Chapter...Winners of Mystery Place

2011-02-11T11:33:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I am safely in New York City! I am happy to report I had NO run-ins with any other car, police system or UFOs. BUT, I, as I indicated in my last posting, I was going to a lulu-esque Nirvana....

Joint Expeditionary Base-Little Creek

Virginia Beach, VA

wait

for

HOME OF THE U.S. NAVY SEALS!!!!!!

HOO-YAH

Do you get it....BEACH....MEN in UNIFORM???

So, technically no one really got the answer correct, HOWEVER, I am a fair-minded woman ,and two contestants got within spitting distance of my clues:

White Trash York (of course, she ALWAYS wins)

Malissa 'Penthouse Pent-up' Pet (she has a good win record too)

So, I am going to put both names in a hat and draw for a winner.

Later. ha.

Oh yes, the photo of moi. One of my oldest and dearest friends from high school, Lt. Carl, is the X.O (not of the SEALS though. Little Creek Base is also home to the US Naval Band.) of the School/HQ. Basically, the base is home to the Jocks and the Bandies!!!!!

Don't be all jealous of me quite yet. He had to nerve to give me a tour AT NIGHT! So, not only was I unable to photograph our fine fighting men in skintight wetsuits(dammit), but also I didn't even get to meet any of them.

You know what this means...I shall return in a month...in daylight...locked and loaded!

Carl plays a mean trumpet. He has played since before I knew him. He toured with the band Phish in 1991. He's traveled the world and all three children were born on different continents. His wife Mary is a doll and a half!

He knows how much I love to play dress up and obliged me with this photo op in his office. There is nothing like a visit with an old friend to make you laugh so hard your martini comes out of your nose!

OKAY, Trasherella and Mal...I'll get back to you...I promise the earbobs will be worth the wait/weight.

xo, (Not XO)

lulu

Pit Stop....Charlotte, NC and Adventure Giveaway!

2011-02-07T09:21:00.001-05:00

Whew...made it to Charlotte. No weather issues...no law enforcement entanglements...no problem!

Took in the Metrolina Antique Show. Scored some serious bling!

and these

and these little gems

I love old metal fringe and luggage tags...

and these adorable 1930s fasteners...

Treasure jackpot! 10' nun's rosary. French c. 1840

love the skull detail above and below the back side of the cross. Inlaid wood and lovely metal findings detail

I love when I find another piece of 'Eastern Star' jewelry. This is a shoe clip!

But the Cherry on my Bling Sundae....

Whew! I was worn out after all that power shopping!

Luckily, they had room at the Inn...

Life is good!

I am now planning my next pit stop. Here's a hint:

What is my favorite kind of place?

What is my favorite kind of man?

Leave me your guesses! If you correctly guess you win a pair of lulu redstar earbobs! Pass it along!

xoxo lulu

lulu's EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

2011-02-03T10:43:00.000-05:00

Greetings Blogistan and Bloggers!
Happy February!

I am poised to begin a brand new journey....destination New York City! I'm taking a sabbatical for 4 weeks.
I plan on:

going to as many museums* as I can find
seeing as many interesting movies as possible
meeting as many people as I want
sitting in cafes watching the street life
being inspired to create even more exciting jewelry
putting (fingers crossed) lulu redstar into boutiques
eating a pretzel on a sidewalk in Manhattan
ice skating at Rockefeller Center
going to the top of the Empire State Building (again)
reuniting with old friends in the area
laughing with my sister
going to indoor Flea in Brooklyn with my hipster nephew
eating something crazy at a restaurant in Chinatown
going to off-Broadway theater
start living a new and more creative life.

WHEW! I am so excited. I hope to pass along things that inspire, shock, provoke and amuse. I invite you to come with me. Let me know what you think.

'let's get it staaaarted...'
Ready......Set.........Here I go!Wish me luck!
OH AND I AM DRIVING! so I will post from my first destination: Charlotte NC!

*google has created a fabulous new way to 'visit' some of the world's most wonderful museums. You can even create your own 'art collection'. check it out here
So, when I go to the Met you can come with me!
xoxox lulu, Road Warrior

The Ride That Almost Was...

2010-12-06T10:55:00.000-05:00

Last night in downtown Alpharetta the annual tree lighting ceremony took place. Gallery 35, where I sell my bling, is right in the middle of the action. The Mayor was present as were cute little kids doing singing and dancing, blah blah blah. Santa was to arrive via a FIRE ENGINE. This was my destiny...

A little background: I did a reconn of the vicinity before dusk to see where the Firemen were hanging out. If I were blind I could sniff out a fire engine! Yes, after a bit of eyelash flickering, sashay-ing and good old fashioned sweet talk I was about to close the deal to get a ride! I wasn't allowed to ride with Santa; something about Mrs. Clause, blah blah blah. I wasn't sure how committed Captain Matt was to my cause so I threw in an offer of cookies. He said they needed to stay fit so I offered boxes of clementines. SCORE!

The plan was to meet up after Santa got dropped off.

I was there.

Santa was there. The Engine was there.

The photos are not great because my heart was doing a salsa beat, my hands were shaking with excitement and I really couldn't see straight.

Captain Matt offered to ride me down the street and drop me off in front of the gallery. I had my 'people' lined up and ready for my JOY RIDE photo opp of a lifetime.

In retrospect, I should have known those little children would be my downfall. As if they've never seen a fireman or a fire truck up close. They took sooooo long to look inside ~~my truck~~ the cab and all the gear and shiny valves and buttons. Criminy they are always doing field trips to the stations or having Fire Safety Day during the school year WITH MY TAX DOLLARS.

FINALLY, Captain Matt was getting ready to ~~kick out the little rug rats~~--tell the parents that time was up. I was applying my new red lipstick and just about to step inside when I heard...

'beeeee baaaaaaaaaaw beeeeeeeenk' and all the beepers starting squawking...oh nononononononono...please no...I AM

THIS CLOSE

TO MY DREAM COMING TRUE.

THE DRIVER YELLS "..WE GOTTA 5315...LET'S ROLL"

AND JUST LIKE THAT MY DREAM EVAPORATES INTO THE NIGHT LIKE A CANDLE IN THE WIND...

Later, after much consolation with a good Oregon Pinot Noir I remembered the promise of clementines..

"Oh my darlin'

Oh my darlin'

Oh my dar-lin' clementines

A couple box-es just might get me

Riding 'shotgun' on Engine 9... "

stay tuned...this ain't over

xo lulu

GREAT SHOPPING AHEAD!!!!

2010-11-02T14:47:00.000-04:00

COME ON OUT AND HAVE A GREAT TIME SHOPPING!

VILLAGE MARKET AT PAPER MILL

this is a new venue for me!

my buddy, Angela, runs this indoor/outdoor market on weekends!

all handmade, vintage and antique dealers. Many are from the Scott's Antique Market.

it's going to be chilly here but I AM INSIDE!

come and see new bling just in time for holiday shopping as well as vintage Christmas and whatnot!

xoxox

lulu

TRUNK SHOW!

2010-10-13T08:53:00.000-04:00

saturday, october 16th

2:00 pm

felicity gifts

326 sandy springs circle

sandy springs, ga 30328

404-843-6456

come out and say hi! shop for the holidays or just for your own special self!

lulu

STORM WARNING FOR THE NE COAST OF FLORIDA!!!!!

2010-09-29T10:06:00.000-04:00

THIS GRAPHIC SHOT SHOWS THE REMAINS OF SOME POOR UNSUSPECTING BEACHCOMBER WHO IGNORED THE WARNINGS LAST AUTUMN!

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

State of Florida BE ADVISED! IT IS COMING! BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES! HIDE YOUR VALUABLES (LIQUOR) AND STAY AWAY FROM THE BEACH...DANGEROUS WHIRLING SAND! EVACUATE!!!!

THE OUTER BANDS OF THE PICKLED HENS OF PONTE VEDRA ARE ESTIMATED TO HIT PVB SOMETIME AROUND NOON EST THURSDAY SEPTMEBER 30TH

LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN ON ALERT SINCE A STATEWIDE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. THOSE EXPECTING UNUSUALLY HIGH DEPLETIONS OF STOCK INCLUDE GARY'S SEAFOOD & LOCAL LIQUOR STORES WITHIN 2 MILES OF CORONA AND PVB BOULEVARD

A SMALL CRAFT WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR BUTLER BLVD from 2 -4 PM AS A SECOND SURGE IS EXPECTED TO HEAD IN FROM THE WEST ON I-10 WITH WINDSPEEDS BETWEEN 75-85 mph

BEACH EVACUATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR A 4 MILE SWATH SOUTHWARD FROM THE INN DOWN TO SAWGRASS VILLAGE AS THIS IS THE ESTIMATED STORM PATH FOR HENS, according to CAPTAIN RICHARD S. LONG of the COAST GUARD. HE ALSO CAUTIONED FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ON ALERT FOR POSSIBLE COAST GUARD IMPERSONATORS wearing badges and bikinis!

IF ANYONE SEES THESE 'PERSONS OF INTEREST'

PLEASE CALL 1-800-BCHRESQ SO WE MAY FLY A HELICOPTER TO THE LOCATION AND 'EXTRACT' THEM FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE PURPOSES

STAY TUNED TO THIS BLOG FOR MORE UPDATES!

THIS IS GUEST BLOGGER & CABANA BOY JIM CANTORI, WEARING A SPEEDO AND SHOUTING INTO THE WIND, FOR lulu redstar!

I Love a Man in a Uniform

2010-09-22T08:54:00.000-04:00

Or more precisely I like the BADGES! I scored some fab-0 'pieces of heat' at last month's Scott show. This Sheriff badge is old and heavy...

This one seems like a good idea...SPECIAL AGENT...I like that action...

This bad boy is divine in part because of it's shape. I image Huey Long had many men running around pulling theirs out! ha!

Personally, I really love this speciMEN. The center part actually spins...just like the rotors on the helicopters...as in exactly like the helicopters that the Coast Guard patrols l-o-w over Ponte Vedra Beach when the Pickled Hens and I are 'in residence'. I am going to wear this one on my bathing suit next week when we convene for our annual Beached, Blanked and Bling-oed! Look out. I carry a badge!

xoxo Lt. lulu

The Little Mermaid

2010-08-16T08:04:00.001-04:00

So I'm at the beach with one of the Hens, 'GRACE', her husband, in-laws and THE EMPRESS aka my Goddaughter Tweetie Anne Tyler Smith. TYLER for short..whew!

She is about to turn 6. Going on 26. Precocious is an understatment. I road tripped 5 hours (usually takes almost 6...that is another story all in itself). I said my 'heys' and went about my usual routine: pop open a cold one and unpack. Tyler sat outside my closed door Here is the exchange: (programming note: I am her FAIRY Godmother hence EVERYONE in the family calls me 'Fairy'). go figure.

Tyler: FAAAAIIIRREEEEEEE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Me: Baby, I am unpacking.

Tyler: FAAAAIREEEE I AM READY TO GO TO THE BEACH!

Me: Well, then I guess I am going to the beach now. Quit yelling and come inside.

Tyler: I didn't want to intrude. I thought you were undressed. (no lie)

Me: No, baby come on in. Let me get my stuff and we'll go.

Tyler: Fairy, I put on my polka-dotted bikini so we could sort of match. I have hot pink polka dots like your pink bikini.

Me: Outstanding!

Tyler: FAIRY....I lost all my front teeth! (shows me non-pearly whites)

Me: Did the Tooth Fairy pay you a visit?

Tyler: Of course! Twice last week!

****

After she lost tooth #1 I informed her that I was the Tooth Fairy's best friend. I have, apparently, got MAJOR street Cred with her now. So I got THAT goin' for me...

Later on the beach we are holding hands walking in the surf and later 'baking cakes' in the sand. She has on her blue "Blues Brothers" shades (prior to losing them in the surf) and having the time of her life. She told me a secret...she's actually a mermaid...don't let her know I told you.

Being alone with her on the beach gave me clarity of who and what really matters in my life. If those moments are the only thing I am able to do the entire week then that 5 hour drive was so worth it! Since I don't have a little one she is the closest manifestation of raising a child I will ever know.

Pretty Damn Fabulous.

ox Fairy lulu

Bogged Down...Blogger MIA

2010-08-11T11:39:00.000-04:00

So, it's been a whole 4 weeks since my last post. I honestly don't know why I can't be consistent. Maybe it's that I am swamped in bling...

It must be that!

A close encounter with a world famous Junker...Vintage Rescue Squad SUE...YES I KNOW I promised to blog about a visiting celeb to my booth at Scott's last month but I was distracted!

Maybe I have been just so busy getting my website 'just so'.My Jewelry Box is being visited a good bit, according to my web-mistress...so thanks for taking a gander. I am updating it with new material at least once a month. I appreciate everyone who hase dropped me a line, ordered (!!) or just thought to browse. I had 8000 hits the very first week! WOW. I think that is pretty cool considering it's just little ol' lulu.

I hope to be more consistent in blogging and stopping by your blogs. Don't count me out!

I'll be at Scott's this weekend but packing out SATURDAY so come early. I HAVE TO go to the beach, again. sigh.

love love love you all!

I'M GOING GLOBAL NOT POSTAL

2010-07-10T07:36:00.001-04:00

I AM KINDA BUSY...BUT JUST FYI....

http://www.luluredstar.com/ IS UP AND RUNNING!!!!!

HAD A COUPLE OF CELEBS IN MY BOOTH YESTERDAY WHICH I WILL POST ABOUT SOON...
LOVE YOU ALL...
AND A HUGE 'THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU' TO MY WEB MISTRESS...MS. HEATHER! YOU ROCK!
XO

THE 'Y CHROMOSOME FACTOR'

2010-06-20T11:25:00.000-04:00

i Know...it's Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to all the mens to whom it applies. Being that it is so male-centric today I thought I would offer up a THEORY about the male species. Yes---they are a species unto themselves. How many of you disagree? see?

Okay. It's simple...Women have XX chromosomes. Mens have XY chromosomes...THEREIN LIES THE MADNESS....

I have determined from a 17 year study on one particular Male and several ancillary unsuspecting ~~victims~~ participants in said study that the Y chromosome is responsible for an action or nonaction and a REACTION. To wit:

First Example:
Male walks into room wearing old, ratty "I'm With Stupid " t-shirt, gross jeans and flipflops in preparation to celebrate FEMALE's birthday dinner which SHE is making.
FEMALE then poses the following : WHY are you wearing that to my birthday dinner? WHY am I making my own dinner?

Second Example:
Male says to Female: "You left that hat outside after YOU mowed the 3 acres. It has dirt all over it. I put it on the wrought iron chair."
Female to Male: WHY didn't you just bring it in? WHY was it necessary to speak of this? WHY don't you pick up your $^&$#( newspapers each day?

Third Example:
Male says to Female: "I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?"
Female to Male: WHY don't you open up the fridge and look for something.
Male:  "I did. I didn't see anything.
FEMALE: WHY DON"T YOU OPEN THE SNACK COMPARTMENT AND LOOK IN THERE.
Male: 'oh...I didn't think to do that..."

FOURTH EXAMPLE:
Male and Female driving on trip
MALE:  'Gee, we're almost out of gas.'   *Says this as they drive by exit with 15 gasoline stations*
FEMALE: WHY didn't you get off of that last exit for gas?"
MALE": 'oh, I didn't see the signs."

FIFTH EXAMPLE:
Same Male and Femal driving on trip. Get off at remote EXIT for GAS...Male drives and takes a left.  goes 6 miles and finds gas station.  Sees signage for State Road which he SAW exit sign for 5 miles back on hwy.
INSTEAD OF going back the way they came...MALE takes STATE ROAD BECAUSE.....
"Well, I'm sure it will run right into the Highway. (MALE AND FEMALE have NEVER been to this spot-EVER)
FEMALE to Male after driving 30 minutes:   WHY DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING? WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK DIRECTIONS BACK AT THE 'BAIT, TACKLE, GUN,BEER & BAIL BONDSMAN JOINT?
WHY?

I would love to have other SCIENTIFIC feedback and commentary on a world-wide pandemic I feel we are facing! It is critical to our survival!
xo
Professor lulu

Booth Shots from last weekend

2010-06-18T09:10:00.000-04:00

Love those old beaded purses...some are french and they are all WONDERFUL!

Below is my newest addition 'LUCY'. She is sporting a vintage silk and ostrich feather pocketbook! How about those plaster twig lamps! The floor lamp is stunning in my bedroom! Someone had the good sense to buy the great table lamp.

Love the old lanterns...they went quickety-quick!

It was a great show although we all had to work for each and every sale....geesh.

*******

On a programming note.......my website SHOULD be up and running in conjunction with the July Scott's Show (July 9th)

keep your fingers crossed!

Boy, It's Hot outside

2010-06-15T14:00:00.000-04:00

Since Memorial Day weekend I have been to Chicago, the Beach, set up at the Scott show. This week I am the DOMESTICATED lulu. ugh.

The heat index hovers near 100 with the sun shining. So, I am mopping my floors, vacuumning the carpets and rugs and cleaning tile. What a life!

While I'm waiting for the floors to dry allow me to present.... My latest Fashion Frock ...I bought it in Chicago...it was a hit on Saturday. This dress is indeed an original from the '60s. I was channeling Jackie O. Or Phyllis Diller...I also bought a swim cap from that era...but that is for another post...it's a hoot.

Th-th-th-th-th-th-th-that's all folks! It's time to churn the butter. ox lulu

Chicago, Chicago...It's a Heck of a Town!

2010-06-02T08:17:00.000-04:00

Well here are just a few shots of our booth at Chicago Antique Market. The weather was HOT! 90 degrees! Holy Cow..this is Chicago..cold..not so much last weekend.

Jeanne and I had a great time together. The trip was well worth it! Sometimes it's not about what you sell that but what transpires during a roadtrip that resonants long after the money is counted. This trip was just that way....so glad I went.

but still the goods were good...

Can you STAND that gorgeous French blue enamel fish poacher! It didn't last long! The fountain of the little boy is bronze...signed by the French artist..oooh la la

The big honkin' blue heart is a bracelet titled 'Titanic'...it sold quickly! Just love that heart.

Stay tuned for my FAB finds I HAD TO BUY...you won't be disappointed!

With Honors....

2010-05-25T07:59:00.001-04:00

My Adorable Nephew, Angus, graduated with HONORS from Wesleyan University on Sunday. Although circumstances kept me from seeing him walk I am nonetheless PROUD as a PEACOCK! The boy studied architecture, drama, philosophy, physics, beer and other important disciplines these last four years! Time is flying waaaaay too fast!
You can see what he's up to on the right side of my blog under "BRAGGING BOARD". He is so excellent. He is EVEN making noises of going to Austin, Texas for a bit to 'check it out'. Until then he'll be splitting his time in residence in Brooklyn honing his considerable acting skills and in Vermont defending his Park House Croquet Championship, with his Papa, while continuing to whittle down his golf handicap as well as being a gentleman farmer under my sister's careful eye and loving encouragement! He's such an underachiever...

Here's to you, Fang! ILY xo

Road Trippin'

2010-05-20T08:28:00.000-04:00

I am going to Chicago, nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah. Actually, it is over Memorial Day weekend! This is totally throwing caution to the wind! Driving up with a fab friend, Jeanne Tardiff of Creekside Ferns Antiques from Roswell GA and other dealers that I do not know! This show is new for everyone going up, I think. The Show is outdoors (pray for sun) and two days only. It's been mentioned on Oprah (I guess that's a good thing) and looks very good. So, wish me luck as I prepare for a crazy trip just a week away!

If anyone has been to the show or knows more....do tell. I've never been to Chicago so I KNOW THERE WILL NOT BE ANY ISSUES OF ME CROSSING OVER THE STATE LINE INTO ILLINOIS. but THERE is that little issue in Tennessee. oh.l dear.
ox

My Inspiration for the moment...

2010-05-18T11:06:00.000-04:00

I just love this color...aqua with a touch of robin's egg blue plus the shimmer of rhinestones and aurora borealis beads...and that beautiful ribbon from Grograin Annies. I love the big Bee pin and how it makes this latest necklace 'pop'.

Any way, just wanted to share. What is inspiring you today????

Ear Ye Ear Ye

2010-05-12T16:20:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day........

2010-05-09T08:36:00.000-04:00

This is a photo of my Mom, Betty Jane, from the early 70s. She wasn't a gardener but she could make a mean spaghetti sauce!!! That's our dog Cha-Cha with her.

This HAM is my maternal grandmother. OMG. I see where I come from, partly...She gardened, crocheted and made macaroni encrusted baskets which she spraypainted GOLD! and sold them. OMG. Her name was Helen Kunegunda Schultheiss Mitrione.

I cannot upload the photo of my paternal grandmother. Her name was Ruth Johnson Zinn. I think I am going to look like her as I age...think Betty White...OMG

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women in the world who actually had the guts to get big as a house, suffer edema, varicose veins, LABOR, LABOR PAINS, BIRTHING, changing diapers, laundering diapers, making bottles, breast feeding, going without sleep for days on end and still loving us all through thick and thin.

Thank you Mom for being so creative and kind, loving and sweet. I wish we could do things together now that I am making my creative way. I know you love to look at my jewelry. I hope somewhere inside of you you understand that I appreciate everything you did for me. Sometimes I think I am not a very good daughter because I don't see you every day. But I know when we see each other it makes me happy and you too. I wish you could come to the antique show each month. You would love it so much. I am thankful you were a collector of primitives and found objects waaaay back when it wasn't fashionable. OMG. I know where I come from !!!!!

I love you!

And The Winner Is...................

2010-05-02T11:05:00.000-04:00

For those who entered my little contest to see what the 'mystery component' in "MINT CHIP" there was a correct answer!

Yes, the sparkly item next to the chain is in fact A PIPE CLEANER (hand dyed by the diva Jo Ann. The smarty-smart who guessed it is the lovely Susan Broyles.

BOLO Ms. Susan! It goes in the mail tomorrow!

And Speaking of crafted in the US of A...the Handmade Market at the Paisley Farmhouse was wonderful! We DID not have weather issues! The reason...I rented a big-ass 10'x10' tent with big-ass 75lb weights!

I met so many wonderful people and customers who own my jewelry!! yay. And people were buying!

The week ahead is busy busy busy. I move my stuff into the The Artisans' Emporium Tuesday and then go to the Scott's show Thursday. Any last minute gift items for Mother's Day can be had! Come and see me either THURSDAY evening at the Emporium for GIRLS NIGHT OUT 6pm-9pm

THURSDAY-SUNDAY at Scott's!

whew! I think I need another vacation...hee hee hee

ox lulu

p.s. I am repurposing EAR BOBS...and they are cuuuuuuuute!

This Little Hen went to Ponte Vedra...

2010-04-30T09:26:00.002-04:00

This is the setting for 'Happy Hour Beachside'. The weather was perfect. Kimberly's house is WOW! I met so many wonderful people. The drinks flowed and the jewelry sold! I have been invited back in a couple of months to bring new stuff!!!! I have a lot of things simmering as a result of this. I guess I better get my website up and running. Yikes.

I just love it here. I stayed until this past Monday!!!!

table shot

Happy customer in Bijoux

More happy customers! Thanks Theresa, Carole and Lana! xo

This is the lovely hostess next to her glass and wooden stairway !

The last two photos are the foyer and the GUEST ROOM SHOWER! yes, that is bronzed glass shower moment. Makes me want to put on one of my 'Wonder Woman' cuffs and save the world! Please notice the tiny lights built into the ceiling in the foyer. And don't you love the chain sculpture? Look closely at the chandelier. It is more than just an armed one....WOW!

I can't wait for my next trip down!

Ribbons and ribbons and ribbons

2010-04-19T21:33:00.000-04:00

I had a great time Sunday at Grosgrain Annie's! Jo Ann and her lovely Mama, Annie, hold court at Lakewood 400 which is north of Atlanta. Jo Ann hand dyes vintage rayon, velvet, French silk, millinery accroutrements, handmade tags and other textiles and fibers. She also sells vintage and antique yarn skeins, thread spools and the odd ribbon. I have bought vintage metal fringes and trims used in my jewelry as well as laces and silks used to make tassles. Her mama mans the cashier register and makes sure no one leaves without a great big smile due to her very dry and witty humor. I did not photograph a lot but I have her new

blog address. Ribbonemporium.blogspot.com

The piece above, Crystal Ball, is using two-tone hand dyed vintage rayon in gray and creamy yellow as bridges from the vintage Indian silver chain, aurora borealis crystals and costume chain with the clasp.

This piece, MINT CHIP, uses an old grungy chain with an Art Deco inspired vintage pin....wonderful green velvet and one secret component. Can you guess? First one who can correctly identify the sparkly 'thing' woven among the chain and ribbon wins a piece of bling! Spread the word. This ends April 30th!

and then there was the singularly ridiculous "CLOWN AID"

Thanks, Jo Ann and Annie!

oxox

BOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!

2010-04-15T15:06:00.000-04:00

One black French Poodle named Floyd will be wearing this in his mama's wedding on the Amalfi Coast in Italy this summer! Even canines know lulu redstar is THE BEST in BLING!

And discerning dogs in from Cambridge, MA to Mobile, AL to Bluffton SC, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Atlanta are sporting them too!

woof!

Scott's Antique Show Last Weekend!

2010-04-13T10:10:00.000-04:00

Above, don't you just love that chip-rust-texture of the garden dining set? And those little flower planters are actually candle holders I repurposed!

Lots of pink china, paint-by-numbers and azaleas I forced prior to the show!

I love the wind gizzy (technical term). I call it the Jiffy Pop Popcorn Hat. And yes, I did attempt to wear it around.

This photo below is a bottomless drawer I made into a planter. Strawberry plant, parsley, basil and euphorbia 'Hip Hop'. There are little berries on the plant too!

It was a GREAT SHOW! The buyers were back! Yay!

Check back tomorrow....wait until you see my latest bling creation! I am in high gear getting ready for my trunk show down in Ponte Vedra Beach, FLorida....can't wait!

oxoxox

lulu

It's my Birthday, na na na na na!

2010-04-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

So, here are some of my 'gifts'. Spring has sprung at Greenjeans!

We may not have Bluebonnets but we have Virginia Bluebells and Spanish Bluebells. Ole Ya'll!

This is my favorite bush. Stachyurus praecox. Yeah, say that 10 times fast after a cocktail. As far as I know it doesn't have a common name other than Stachyurus. I just called it 'the acid yella praecox'. oookay.

Oh, these fleurs are my one of my new pieces from Spring lulu Collection. My model, Grace of the Pickled Hens of Ponte Vedra fame, wore it to a soiree over the weekend. Merci Grace!

This is me on Birthday # 6. Wearin' a hoodie (pink!) back in the day! Check out the Buster Brown RED shoes! I cannot stand it! My mother is the reason I am a style maven! My grandmother is responsible for those 'weiner' curls..ugh...she used to wrap my hair in white cotton rags! She is the reason I have a therapist! ;)

Speaking of style....the Birthday Suit!

What a Buddha!

Thanks, mom, for having me at age 35, two weeks late, 9 lbs 2 oz, edema so bad your wedding rings had to be cut off, with no epidural...Now that's love!

Thanks for letting share some of my gifts! xooxox lulu

Latest Project

2010-02-18T09:15:00.000-05:00

These piles of undersea-looking life are part of a huge score of jewelry findings. They are copper from the 1950s. Never seen the light of day until my little chicken claws got a'holt of them.

So this is the project I am currently working on. Actually, one of many.
I will post when I finish it. Just wanted to share....

They also look good strewn out on a table. This instance on a table top

inside of an old gilded frame with old books and Vogue patterns and other fav things.

Isn't Baby adorable? She resides in her own sterling cup on top of a base. She was my Valentine. She gave me these:

Actually, my sister gave me these years ago. She hand sewed buttons from our mom's collection onto a piece of velvet and then attached them to an empty box of chocolates (I am quite sure SHE ATE THOSE)

I have my trunk show in Ponte Vedra, FL two weeks from today!!!!! So I need to get back to the chaos upstairs!

ox lulu and Baby

Scott's Antique Show

2010-02-16T11:55:00.000-05:00

Okay. January show we had 'weather'. Not good. February show we had 'weather' again. Really not good.

Thank heavens for other dealers! They are the only ones who were buying. I swear. The folks just come to the show and walk around. It must be entertainment. No one has money, but they manage to pay $5 to come inside. Why not just go to the mall. It's free to enter! Ok. I've vented my spleen.

Two bright spots.
1. I DID NOT LOSE THE KEY TO THE VAN! We like Budget. They are nice.
2. I found a friend from Texas who actually lives in Baton Rouge!

MS TINA BORDELON and her new enterprise VINTAGE REVISITED. yay Look at the fab photos of her booth and the adorable brooches she makes! It was not a great inaugural show for her to be at BUT no one did well. No one. If they did they sure didn't talk about it. She'll be back next month. Enjoy. ox

Guest Blogger!

2010-02-15T13:23:00.000-05:00

HEY! It's me, PATSY! lulu is knee deep in unloading and reorganizing from the show. So, grab a cocktail or three, sit down and put on your peepers. This is the TELL-ALL about Ms. lulu-priss at PONTE VEDRA. When she says Pickled Hens she really is talking about herself...

So, I have been ~~sneaking a peak at lulu's diary~~ interviewing the Hens. Mimi Macrame told me about her first time to the beach and seeing lulu in action. Lawd. Some things should never be witnessed...
Mimi and BLondie arrive late one Friday. Apparently, lulu and Nina Xena Montana were out on the beach having their annual 'hippie nippie run'. No moon was out..in the sky that is...You could hear lulu yelling 'I"M FREE....I'M FREEE before you saw this Coppertone fanny running down the beach. oh brother. THis is when someone should've rounded her up like a runaway cow on a cattle drive. Nina wasn't screaming anything as she probably wanted to keep all her teeth in her head...pass me a drink. hic hic

After the FREEDOM runners were corralled everyone decided to go next door to the 'COCONUT HUT' to see what was happening. The CC is a members-only beach club. A lot of those guys there look like they still wear a Members Only jacket. So, there wasn't much going on at 11:00pm UNTIL the Hens waddle in. It's empty. PAR FOR THE COURSE lulu says "LET"S GO SWIMMING!" and proceeds to take off her bathing suit and jump in the pool. There they are...lulu, Nina and Grace: The Dysynchronized Swim Team! It looked like 6 fried eggs floating on top of the water. Idaho was RUNNING BY THE POOL(!) yelling Idaho, Idaho! hee hee hee Idaho Idaho Idaho...Somebody call Lifetime Channel and get a movie crew!

After the mermaids are hauled out of the water and marched back to the house...Blondie and Mimi blurt out
'Gee, I wonder if the security cameras were on?'......Oh. Dear.   Mimi says she's never heard such silence from the Pickled Hens EVER! lulu runs to the freezer, pulls out the tequila bottle and starts lining up shot glasses. "IF we don't remember, then it DID NOT HAPPEN, RIGHT?" she asks with that smarty-pants look she always pulls out when she thinks she's is THE cleverest (this happens so often that usually they ignore her). HOWEVER this was one time she was probably on to something. Bombs away...and boy did they ever...

The Next Day...a brood of towel-draped, sunglassed, muu-muu sporting females set up far far far away from the Coconut Club. After about an hour sweating in their Hawaiian Tropic get ups the Glimmer Twins (Blondie and Mimi) start guffawing and snickering. Apparently, there are NOT ANY CAMERAs at the CC. But all of a sudden they stopped their party-of-two when they saw some rather official looking men in JACKETS walking through the throngs of CC members. The men were not looking not at faces but at, well, you know...so Mimi 'casually' walks over as if she is the Girl from Ipenema (more likely the girl from Ipecac) and hears the overhead speaker requesting ''...Ms. Ida Ho. Miss Ida Ho. Please report to the office. Miss Ida Ho, Miss Ida Ho please report to the office."

It was at that moment the little brood of hens decides to go inside and play cards...until dark..and they could do it all over again.

The next story of lulu at the beach is a doozie. I suggest anyone who invites lulu to the beach to seriously think twice after you read this Believe-It-Or-Not weekend.

2004. A year that will live in Infamy. How they actually remember this is beyond me.  lulu really shouldn't keep a journal. Especially when I know where she hides (top drawer under the black underwear).

Turning 40 the prior year did something to lulu therefore it also took hold of The Hens. lulu always books the rental car and drives from the airport to the grocery store etc then beach and then back to the airport. SHE NEVER, EVER LEAVES the house/beach once they arrive in PV. EVER. She also never does Jack SH$*.  It is a point of Pride she fiercely protects. And lives up to. She doesn't cook, clean, make drinks. Nada. She just presides over the festivities. She does not wear shoes or underwear because she is always in her bikini. Yes. She has to wear a string bikini. and annoy everyone. because she CAN wear a string bikini. Bitch. Are you getting the picture of MS Wonderful? Well go ahead multiply that behavior by 100 for this chapter.

She sets up her beach chair first thing in the morning (after her daily EmergenC and coffee)
Grabs one book (SHE READS OVER a book/day. How she can do THAT and hold a cocktail and see straight are beyond laws of physics), and
Waits for the COAST GUARD to fly low over the waterline (you know how much she LOVES men in uniform, right?) so she can salute them by FLASHING HER EGGS at them! It is a good thing she isn't someone's mother.
Then goes sashaying down the beach looking for shark's teeth and making sure her Coppertone Moment happens at least once!

AND SHE IS SOBER. Every day this happens at PV. This particular year she never made it outside one day...
Backstory: The Thursday they (Grace, Idaho and lulu) arrived they did the normal routine of going to the grocery store, liquor store, Seafood Store and Home. NinaXena wasn't coming until Friday as she had a funeral to attend Friday morning and was coming down early evening Friday. The Glimmer Twins were coming down Friday after lunch and rented their own car.

Thursday the three little hens started early and hard. Why not, they were all ready at the beach with sunshine and 82 degrees and NO TROUBLES! During the cocktail hour (the Official one before dinner if you're confused as there are many C Hs) they decide to call Nina! Stupidly Nina answers her cell phone. The 3 hyenas start screaming and laughing...announcing that's it's 7 pm and does she know where her teeth are?etc. Nina is in the backseat of a car with her mother and father. They are coming home after the visitation of the dearly departed (I think an aging great uncle(?). Nina, mortified that they are having fun and she isn't, hisses into the phone..".you better not drink all the vodka! " Nevermind that her parents can hear the caterwauling and howling. They continued to call her all night.

FRIDAY: Three little hens aren't feeling so well. But routine is comfort so lulu does her thing. Grace does hers (runs 5 miles barefoot in a sarong) and Idaho does her beachwalk to Miami and back). BECAUSE NINA is flying in at 7:00 pm and BECAUSE lulu is always the driver and BECAUSE she lost in rock paper scissors lulu has to remain sober. all. day. So, The Twins arrive around 2. The blender starts whirring and frozen drink hour begins. Around 6 they assemble a portable bar for the drive to the airport. Nina has to have her Vo'ka and grapefruit juice. It's no wonder her tooth falls out with all that acid and vodka!

Idaho rides shotgun with lulu. She's sipping on her cocktail. lulu's driving...fast... because she thinks the DTs will go away the faster she drives (?) They called Nina and told her NOT TO CHECK A BAG as she will delay their return to the beach. lulu drives up to the Arriving Passengers and slows down to 3mph and Nina jumps into the car and they resume normal speed.

IT IS NOW 11:00pm The vodka bottle is almost gone (1/2 gallon ) the tequila bottle is empty (1/2 gallon) and 8 empty wine bottles are in a heap on the trash pile. Feathers are everywhere. lulu decides she has to go out onto the beach.

IT IS NOW 11:30pm. lulu returns to the house. uh oh. beach door is locked. uh oh. front door is locked. uh oh. no one hears the beating, cussing and banging of little hands on thick doors as everyone must have their heads stuck inside their pillows. dammit.

IT IS NOW????? lulu wakes up on the cement steps outside of the locked porch door. owow. neck is in an unnatural position. She stumbles out back and looks up the 5 feet to the bottom of the very large sliding door screens. Good news! No one locked the screen doors!!!~she pushes them open just enough to fit in. With a vertical jump of 3 inches it is a miracle she was able to grab hold of the iron railing and pulls her sand-clad body up up up and over the railing and inside.

IT IS NOW 11:30 AM Saturday lulu wakes up. whoa. wha happened. she hears voices coming from the kitchen. oh dear. feel. like. crap. what is in the bed? sand. lots of sand. oh. dear.

IT IS NOW NOON lulu manages to stumble into kitchen. Grace is there all chipper. Asking lulu if she's been out on the beach all ready? blah blah blah blah blah

lulu manages to bark that she was LOCKED OUT and had to spend some time sleeping on the stairs! and who-in-the-hell locked the freakin' doors??? oh the room starts spinning....

Grace giggles: "oops I guess I locked you out. I though you were all ready in bed. One minute you were here and then next you were gone. "Idaho said you passed out...

lulu and Idaho share the big king size bed in the Master bedroom Neither of them ever move so it's like sleeping alone. BUT STILL, How could she not see lulu wasn't in the bed. Or maybe that is a possiblity with Idaho...it was a pretty rough night. grrrrr

lulu was at near death all daaaaaay. All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put lulu back together again. UNTIL, Nina came to the rescue with ALka-Seltzer at 5:00pm. It will take you either high or low but you will have an outcome to your hangover. Luckily, lulu went high and kept her wits, ahem, inside her gut. She lay in the big bed (and listened to her cherished friends laugh their keisters off over Ms. Thing sleeping outside like a skid row bum and wasn't it sooo funny that Grace locked the doors (And bolted them) because,you know, We NEVER lock the doors. and wasn't it hilarious that lulu brought in most of the beach into the bed and Idaho didn't even notice. And what about how ridiculous it all was that lulu actually climbed up the railing and got inside and no one heard a thing? All the while they are running up and flashing lulu by pressing their eggs smack dab on the glass. Quality. nothing but quality. Of course lulu made Nina go to the store and buy chicken noodle soup, Kraft macaroni&cheese, saltines and chocolate milk. AND bring it to her in bed on a tray.

IT IS NOW SUNDAY. lulu finally found the beach. She comes out and solemnly declares" I AM GOING TO AA when we get home. I AM NEVER GOING TO DRINK AGAIN!". And this time I mean it.

IT IS NOW 30 minutes after lulu's self-intervention. lulu honey, do you want a strawberry or a peach daiquiri?
lulu: "Oh, peach please! " Yay. We don't have to fly home until 5:00pm on Monday! Who is going to the liquor store? You know it's not gonna be me. Hey, get me a pack of smokes, too while you're there..."

Bottoms Up!

This Month at Scott's Antique Market

2010-02-12T19:48:00.000-05:00

This is for my friends in the Lone Star State! I hope you can see the oil well, longhorn and TEXAS on this adorable little sterling spoon. Sorry, but my 'purty toofes' ain't for sale!

This is an adorable canning cupboard painted green and gray with some old blue paint showing. And then all the fun pink/brown French ticking cover and bolster cover. And then there's that fab-o quilt. Hand stitched 8-10 spi. So so soft!

And then there's this little green METAL case with coral-pink interior. And all my doctor/Rx bottles

An 19th century bust amongst mirrors, bling and whatnot!

Dried roses from The Doctor look great in this tarnished teapot! More please!

The odd bits/pieces for sale....

These are a pair of English c.1900s benches from a chapel. The backs are wide plank and the width of the wood is almost 2". Wouldn't they be dee-viiiine in a breakfast nook, as a base to an arbor...? They were attached to walls on both sides in a hidden alcove. Can YOU STAND IT?

Okay. More from the really big shooe....tomorrow. Let's just hope the ice melts before 6:00pm!

oxoxxoxo lulu

Eye Candy

2010-02-02T10:22:00.001-05:00

I create in chaos. I used my 'time off'' this weekend and put that frustration into these. You can click on them to enlarge them.

I just love the little 'Valentine Candy' charm on this cutie.

One more for SPRING! I don't know if we have more winter coming. I am READY FOR SPRING!

As always, if you see something you cannot live without you know where to find me. xo

Why I didn't do Pride of Dixie

2010-02-01T10:15:00.002-05:00

A few years ago my old co-hort, Chippy, coined this term: lulu's Bermuda Triangle. Boy she wasn't kidding.

Thursday of last week I rented a van for the Pride of Dixie Show. I went about my business and started to make ready to pack. Prior to this I PURPOSELY left the key on the kitchen counter in plain sight. When I went to move the van up to the garage I couldn't find the key. Oh, it's probably out in the garage on top of the quilts or the canning cupboard. Or maybe in my pocket. Or maybe it fell on the floor. Or maybe...

FIVE HOURS LATER...I am sitting at our favorite bar/dinner spot. Frantically trying to locate a LOCKSMITH. But not just any old locksmith, but one who can make a ENCRYPTED KEY with a COMPUTER! I am on my second cocktail at this point. The Doctor is eyeing my glass nervously...if it the liquid gets below a certain level he has the Bartender start another one..STAT.

Did you know that u-haul alledges that they don't HAVE replacement keys for the vehicles? Isn't that so quirky? I have another adjective for it but I can't use it here. You see, I called the local joint where I rented the van. A very nice lady told me I could come and get a replacement key. She'd let the manager know. I RACE to the place before it closes. LARRY, DARRYL and DARRYL were behind the counter. Larry was working with a customer. Darryl 1 was busy ignoring me. And Darryl 2 was counting lint in his belly button.
When I finally get Darryl 1's attention (hereafter known as D1) I chirp my little sad story about the key and could I please pick up my replacement.  I am told RATHER sullenly that there 'ain't no replacement key....'
AS I START TO TELL HIM THAT I JUST CALLED HERE and the lady said I could come down an-

'It's a call center".
no, I called this number and-
'It's a call center...calls rollover to Phoenix'
But, wait, I called this local number and the lady said she'd tell the manager I was on my way"
"Call center's in Arizona. We don't have keys'.
**In the background during this the phones are ringing and ringing and rolling over right on out to PHOENIX ARIZONA because THAT MAKES SO MUCH FREAKIN" SENSE!**
At this point the 'manager' aka Larry pipes up:
'Nobody told the manager nuthin'.'
But I spoke to a woman named Sylvia and she said I could come on down.,

'WE DONT HAVE REPLACEMENT KEYS. You gotta call the 800 number for roadside assistance and have another key made. WE ONLY HAVE ONE KEY PER VEHICLE'

What? Why don't you have replacement keys? This is ridiculous....
D1 then says with such an attitude that I wanted to shove the bellybutton lint from D2 down D1's throat:

'It's in yer best interest to fiiind that key. It's encrypted. Gonna cost yew $150 to replace it.

'LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT: YOU RENT VANS. YOU ONLY HAVE ONE KEY PER VEHICLE? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?'

'LADY, I DEAL WITH THOUSANDS * OF VEE-HICKLES A YEAR. WE CAN'T POSSIBLY KEEP EXTRA KEYS...'
*It is here that I know this guy is soo full of it b/c the van I rented two months ago is the same van i have now...I still see the partial 'huff' written on the windshield from move-in at Scott's***
(YOU GUYS STILL WITH ME HERE? BECAUSE I AM ABOUT TO GO WILD.)

"what am I supposed to do now? "
Call the 800 number on the van. Roadside assistance has to git you another key. don't know why call center told you we had extra keys. NO ONE HAS EXTRA KEYS AT UHAUL. (I swear he said that with a straight face).
SO I STORM OUT. GET IN MY CAR. DRIVE. CALL GRACE and reverse our roles (see Post from Friday re: GRace and driving).

LONG HIDEOUS STORY SHORT:
Roadside assistance doesn't have anyone under contract WHO MAKES encrypted keys. REALLY? MORE TO THE POINT>>IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND A LOCKSMITH> NO ONE CAN HELP ME AT U-HAUL.      I HAVE MY THIRD COCKTAIL.

The next morning I call the 800 roadside # one more time. I finally get an ANGEL who actually seems to care. Later that day...MIRACLE OF MIRACLES...a nice man (CHARLIE) from the Atlanta Metro Service Shop for U-HAUL calls me and tells me,..ready...

HE IS HOLDING THE REPLACEMENT KEY TO MY VAN IN HIS HAND. HE WILL SEND SOMEONE OVER TO MY HOUSE AND DROP IT OFF. NO CHARGE. SO SORRY FOR YOUR INCONVENIENCE.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I return the van to the u-haul joint The Doctor, who follows me in his car, comes inside. I think he is afraid of bloodshed and posting bail for me as a result of possible bloodshed. Larry is at the helm.
"I AM HERE TO RETURN MY VAN. THE NAME IS HUFF. AND I HAVE A REPLACEMENT KEY THAT THE GUY IN MARIETTA GAVE TO ME. NO CHARGE. but thanks to you I missed my show this weekend. "
"wow. you got a replacement key? that's good." hE SAID ALL SUGARY SWEET.

'WHY DO YOU RENT VANS WITH ONLY ONE KEY BUT DON'T TELL ANYONE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO REPLACE OR THAT YOUR OWN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CAN'T HELP?"
I AM NOT KIDDING ABOUT HIS REPLY.

'WHY WOULD I WANT TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT THE KEY AND ALL THAT? but, hey if you find that other key..."

it is at this point he gives me my receipt and The Doctor is firmly escorting me out of the building before I can kick over a display of packing boxes.

So this is why I didn't do the show this past weekend. I still haven't found that damn key. lulu's Bermuda Triangle has taken another victim. Stay tuned . I am sure going to be surprised one day if I do find it. I think I will put my number on a sticker on that VAN for the next unfortunate victim who loses a key.
lock 'n load!

p.s. The van is a FORD. I think all new Ford vans have encrypted keys directly from NASA.

Pickled Hens of Ponte Vedra....THE REST OF THE BROOD

2010-01-29T19:22:00.000-05:00

So, when I left off last time we met the following hens: Idaho, NinaZenaMontana and MimiMacrame.
Allow me to introduce to you...

GRACE.
Our girl is the spittin' image of Grace Kelly. Hence the nom de guerre. Yes. It is warfare here in the her little world. You see Grace is fighting her worst enemies. See below. I don't know who is worse off from the fallout: her, the driving public or me.

Grace is elegant, poised, extremely genteel, intelligent and a wonderful friend. She does not do the following well. at. all.

DRIVING: as in a car...anywhere...especially I-285 in Atlanta akaThe Perimeter. I routinely receive phone calls from the road. I cannot repeat the content as I would be shut down. (For the record, Idaho, a native Atlantan, NEVER went outside of 285 until she had to come to my house (free drinks!) 8 yrs ago. It is considered OTP and undesirable on certain internet match sites OTP=outside the perimeter). BUT I DIGRESS....

TRAFFIC. as in a car driving..anywhere...especially I-285, fashionable Dunwoody, Buckhead, her neighborhood. Grace too is native and continues to RANT about the time she rode her horse on Peachtree Dunwoody Road...blahblahblah. I receive even more irate calls on this subject. sigh.

OVEN CLEANING. I so wish I had been at her house when this happened. She was going to bake a poundcake and lots and lots of smoke starting coming out of the oven. So much smoke that she called 911.
weeelllllllll....2 battalions showed up at her hacienda, swarming all over it like ants on a dropped ho-ho. the CHIEF walked into the house. and alledgedly this is the way it went:

CHIEF: ma'am, where is the fire?
Grace:   ooh, it's in the oven. I can't open the door or the flames will shoot out!
Chief:   what were you doing?
Grace: I was trying to bake a lemon pound cake. All I did was turn on the oven and it started to flame!!!!
**at this point the CHIEF TURNS OFF THE OVEN(!!!!!), opens the door, looks inside and then says:
" Ma'am....have you EVER HEARD OF CLEANING YOUR OVEN???????"
Grace:  You have to clean them?!
***It took her 3 days to tell me and she was oh so casual '''oh did I tell you what happened last week?..."
HORMONES. This is a blog all on its own. Trust me. You will be rewarded for waiting. Promise.

AND now.....

BLONDIE. She is an adorable brunette with lovely reddish highlights. A MASTER OF HER UNIVERSE. But really should have been born blonde.
Blondie is married to Chester. He is a lifelong friend of Idaho. I met Chester way back when (again last century)and became friends. He wisely married Blondie. We have come to love her even though she comes to the party later (along with Mimi Macrame..they are un-joined cojoined twins). We refer to them as the GLIMMER TWINS. The tales will follow in another post.

BLondie is funny. She has a very high powered job, two lovely children, wonderful husband (Chester) and is a big hearted, warm and caring SWEetheart. She is very very wacky and very blond....
On one of her first visits to PV we had a 'rain event' which kept us indoors most of the time. Idaho kept the Weather Channel on 24hrs so as not to miss a moment's news.
Blondie comes in from the rain on the first day and hears the TV. It is the weather channel's computer-driven voice that used to give the Local weather (1990s technology). with MUCH SURPRISE IN HER VOICE SHE EXCLAIMS::::: "ooh, look they have the same Russian guy giving the weather like he does back in Atlanta..."                   ohhhhhh.............Idaho breaks out the blender and we get to work.

Blondie and her Sleeping Habits: she doesn't EVER GET UNDER THE COVERS. EVER. She is the perfect houseguest. No, don't bother with changing the sheets, I never even made it to pulling back the covers....has anyone seen my Excedrin?...." more on THAT later too.

BLondie is enthusiastic: Once, at a U2 concert she was singing and clapping and dancing. She poked the person in front of her on the back and urged them to .."get up, c'mon you guys, get up and dance..."
oooooohhhhh...she was standing in front of the HANDICAPPED, WHEELCHAIR-bound attendees...so glad it was dark and loud. we don't think anyone heard her. much.

I have more on BLondie and Grace.
Me you ask? Oh, I just go for the fellowship and good book reading. I pale in comparison to my very glamrous friends. No need to hear about me. Not. at. all.
Glad you stopped by.....xo

PROGRAMMING NOTE....

2010-01-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

DUE TO UNFORESEEN AND TOTALLY F&$($#)$)$ ridiculous u-haul company I will NOT BE at the PRIDE OF DIXIE SHOW THIS WEEKEND. It is such a clusterf#&$ THAT I cannot even really begin to blog about it. Needless to say I AM GLAD I HAVE MY shotgun app on my iphone. yay. grrrrrr.

Stay tuned for another installment of the Pickled Hens of Ponte Vedra...it's a doosey for sure.
ox lulu-the-loser-antique-dealer-who-hates-uhaul

Pickled Hens of Ponte Vedra

2010-01-27T15:36:00.002-05:00

So, Blogistas since I am now doing my own blog I want to introduce you to my posse. These ladies and I go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back into last century. really. I am that old.
Our annual beach trips started in our EARLY twenties for a bachelorette party. Boy have we gone through husbands, divorces, children, crises and GREAT TIMES. We are nearing our 20th anniversary, but as our name mildly implies, we can't precisely remember our inaugural trip year. We spend 5 days each year at one of the girls' beach joint. we've honed the entire operation with military precision. You will learn many things that will have you going...''no way...that couldn't possibly have happened..." It is all true, in some form or fashion.sorta kinda.maybe.

THE PICKLED HENS

lulu--that's me---junker, antique dealer, jewelry designer and maker, (the one without a REAL job ;))
Grace, a psychologist
Mimi, interior designer NOT DECORATOR!!!
Suzanne, a banker
Nina, a marketing guru
Blondie, attorney

**THE names have been changed to protect the ~~innocent~~ guilty. And to allow us to continue to fly Delta and be let into the State of Florida.

Let's start with Suzanne. It is her place we overrun annually. We call Suzanne 'Idaho'. She gave herself that nickname. This is true: Years ago (last century) Suzanne, Nina and I were out at a bar. Nina arrives last and informs us she is now going by an alias(!). Duh. If you knew this one, you'd get it.

"I am Montana", she declares and throws back her blond mane.

OH HERE WE GO. There is no end to her drama.

"Don't you think it fits me? I have always wanted to go out West."

Me too but I didn't think naming myself a state was part of the deal.

Suzanne, who got to the bar EARLY, swivels around and says

" Well, Idaho!"

Huh? What? Montana and I give each other a shrug. IDAHO?

"yes, Idaho. You know....you da ho' I da ho'"

oohhh dear. clearly The Great State of Montana and I needed to catch up. Any way that is how she got her nickname. She LOVES it. We do too. More on nicknames from this particular night later...

Our next chickie is Mimi the Interior DESIGNER. Not DECORATOR. I mean she went to school for her degree and by gum she is going to make sure everyone knows. Mimi is a renaissance chick of the needle arts. Cross stitch, embroidery, knitting etc. BUT, it was her 'macrame' phase that really pushed the limits.

One year she shows up with a new bikini. Made from Macrame. She strategically placed wooden thingies over certain parts. To be fair it was quite cute if you were in an ad from the '70s for Club Med! Okay so we are on the beach. We are feeling good. Looking cute. Mimi goes in for a swim. What happened next appeared in the local weekly paper. I am just thankful the photographer overexposed his film

A strange event happened on the beach this week. A local fisherman, surf fishing for blues, ended up reeling in more than he bargained for. It seems he hooked himself a mermaid. He ended up having to really work for his 'catch'. After 30 minutes of 'wrasslin' he finally gave one big heave and hauled up a female form all tangled up in what looked like a shrimpers net...

Oh yeah that's our girl! Note to Mimi. Heavy gauge hemp/rope chafes, is heavy when wet, doesn't maintain its shape, but it does hold a fishing hook pretty darn good. yay. She no longer makes her bikinis. Or stirrup covers. Yep. She whipped up some of those as a gift for her gynecologist. I still don't know how she ended up with a sprained toe during her 'exam' but we don't ask questions about it any more. She's still kinda touchy about the subject.

Next up is Nina. aka Montana or our preferred name: Xena, Redneck Princess Warrior. Yee HAW!

She is gorgeous with her million dollar smile and tall wonderful legs and beautiful blonde hair.

One year she came to the beach with a 'fake' tooth. She was waiting for the permanent one to arrive. It just happened to be one of her front pearlie whites.

On the second day there she loses the temp in the sand. Great. Can I just say that after the beers and frozen drinks we were well on our way to laughing our asses off at her toofy grin instead of looking for the tooth.

She finds it and goes inside. We continue to howl at her misfortune like GOOD FRIENDS DO. The drinks continue to flow and we continue to laugh. Nina comes down and annouces that the tooth isn't staying in place and does Idaho have any super glue? It is a sign of heaven that we couldn't find any that night. It is at this point that we find the tequila and start pouring shots for Xena. She really needs it. We really can't stop laughing.

An aside: First of all she needs to find a REAL dentist and not go to that 'guy who is studying vet dentistry and does it for free cuz he needs real practical hours'. Hello? UGA Vet School is only 75 miles from Atlanta...got horse teeth? need cleaning? call the Vet school!!!!! Second of all, we need to find a way to get that damn tooth back in her mouth so she doesn't spoil OUR GOOD TIMES! Priorities!

It is decided that in the morning we'll call around for a dentist who does Saturday hours. Good luck with that. It is then decided that I HAVE TO CALL because I am married to a doctor?!?! I'm not a doctor...but I am married to one... Nevermind that my husband isn't a dentist. Or a surgeon. Or that What Does It Matter Who Calls? Xena Montana was still sleeping off last night's activities. We felt bad that we laughed all night long. I'm pretty sure it was my brilliant idea that she wear a hot pink burka and white sunglasses outside so no one would see her tooth-less grin that put her over the top. But I digress. I make the call. I put on my best schmooze-y sounding voice and explain the predicament. He tells me to go buy super glue. GRRRRR. So we go buy it. It doesn't work. She used gum to keep it in place the rest of the trip. It is still funny to this day.

Allright....I know you can't wait for more but I have hand cramps. I promise I will return tomorrow or the next day with another installment of....

..........THE PICKLED HENS OF PONTE VEDRA

p.s. there are NO photographs as we banned all image-making devices years ago.

ox lulu

New Year's Resolutions After the Fact...

2010-01-21T09:21:00.000-05:00

Greetings, Blogistas! I know it's the 21st of January(it is, isn't it?)but I just needed to put this out there. I do not like resolutions. To me they say "oh c'mon, you don't really mean to stop cussing, drinking or save money?! And those of you who know me or of me just a bit understand my dilemma. It all started three weeks ago......(This is where the scene fades to black and ominous-sounding music pipes up.)

Monday, January 4th.
Dear Diary, Well today I woke up feeling much improved. My cold is almost gone. I felt so giddy that I decided to do LAUNDRY! YAY! Just like my mommy taught me I separated the darks, colors and whites. I was so excited to get started that I put all the darks in the basket and scurried downstairs to my destiny. I DID NOT STOP AND HAVE COFFEE. (scary music starts up again here).

10 minutes into my nirvana-esque morning I decide to call Anne on my cell phone. Hmmm, it isn't in the kitchen. It isn't in the bedroom or bathroom. So, calmly I retrace my steps.
...let's see, I separated clothes, loaded the darks in the basket, put my phone on top of clothes, went downstairs, loaded clothes, turned on washer...w-w-ait, put phone..on..top..of..clothes...

I am now in front of my fancy-pants washing machine. I hear a soft thud-thud-thud. I run back upstairs. no phone. I run back downstairs. Thud-thud-thud. uh oh. I call my phone. IT GOES DIRECTLY INTO VOICEMAIL. eeeeeeeillllllllllw.

BUT YOU ARE SAYING...lulu...just open the lid! CAAAAAAAAAAAAN'T. I just had to have a front end loader to save energy, water, efficiency. blah blah blah. The damn machine won't unlock that door for anybody, anything or national emergency. grrr.

Diary, at this point I calmly get dressed and go to the bank. Surely I am in a parallel universe. I wouldn't be so BLONDE as to wash my phone, would I and then just carry on?

20 minutes later I come home and the cycle is over. I cautiously open the door pulling out my running tights, socks and MY $%*&%$ phone! It is soooo clean. I see water inside of the screen. It won't turn on.
At least it was black and I washed it on the proper temperature setting....mom would be proud.

I look at my phone and shrug my shoulders. There is nothing in the world I can do. I put on my CLEAN running tights and suit up. I go to the gym (my new favorite place with my new favorite TRAINER. more on him later) and work out. I don't cry, I don't cuss, I don't attempt to kick a wall, I don't even try and run over anyone on the road. I just breathe.

After my 4 mile run I drive to the AT&T store. I calmly walk in and declare my phone is d-e-d, ded. When the clerk finally picks herself off of the floor from hysterical fits of laughter I quietly ask her if the SIM card is viable. It is RIGHT THERE AND THEN that I break a resolution from every year prior since I can remember.....I opted to BUY UP.
Can you say iPhone?? This is totally cool. I don't care (much) if someone steals my wallet and credit cards BUT I PITY THE FOOL WHO WOULD STEAL MY iPHONE. Do you know one can download a SHOTGUN app for free? You just shake it up/down to load and then point and shoot!!!! Don't get all righteous on me. It is very gratifying. IT HAS SOUND EFFECTS TOO just in case you didn't get my drift...keeeerPOWW

OKAY... so the first resoltion is to RESPOND NOT REACT. I think I did that very well, don't you? Actually, it is the only resolution I have. It lends itself to so many different scenarios. And I had so many situations last year which I could have RESPONDED instead of REACTED using my friend. So next time I do something bone-headed or someone annoys the vinegar out of me I will just get out my iPhone, shake it up and down and point! Problem solved! yay.
HAPPY NEW YEAR and yippeee Kai-aaay ox

New Bling

2010-01-15T10:25:00.000-05:00

Just a new bauble or two I have made (new to some of you since I just re-blogged). Enjoy. All pieces are available for sale-- US currency only...but no rolled coin, IOUs, confederate money, Monopoly money, bubblegum trading cards.

The first photos are a choker with hand-wired vintage beads, vintage hand-dyed velvet ribbon and a vintage brooch.

The turquoise Crown&Shield Necklace are two pins combined into one pendant, strung with vintage Japanese glass aurora-borealis beads, turquoise square a-b beads and a strand of vintage costume pearls.

Third piece is from my WONDER WOMAN series of cuff bracelets. This is hinged cuff bracelet with insets of vintage chandelier crystals and wire. Centerpiece is a crusty,(=most imperfect) vintage rhinestone pin.

The last necklace is a choker. Freshwater pearls are wired in and around a rose-goldtone chain. The centerpiece is a 'flower' made of rose quartz with center of a vintage enamel bird on a nest pin.

The rest of my winter collection can be viewed on Facebook

Not all pieces are still available. You will have a clearer idea what my pointy little head and little chicken feets has been doing. As always I take commissions of COM. Let's talk!

I would like to thank the following Bling-istas for being inspirations, hostessing my trunk shows, supplying me with goods, etc. Without your complete and total support I would not have been able to get to this point. There is still more to do. I love you all.

Anne, muse

Randolyn, muse

Kim & Leeeesah

Kimberlie (for my future Ponte Vedra Trunk Show)

James 'Lovey' Young, co-conspirator of bling

Pat, world's greatest jewelry picker and lovely friend

Everyone who has given me components, looked at, purchased and/or worn my stuff...thank you!!!!

Miz Scarlett I dunno nuthin' bout birthin' no lulu!

2010-01-13T18:36:00.000-05:00

Hey! I'm HOME!

yes, it's me it's me, ms. lulu redstar!

AS IF you thought I was going to curl up and face the wall? Puhleeze!

It's a new year and a whole new attitude!

Suffice it to say, I have missed all of you and I hope you will find your way back to moi!

I will be stopping by to say 'hello' and hope to get My version of the FBI's Most Wanted List (fav bloggers).
Dare to leave me a message if you care...
ox lulu
p.s. no, that's not me on the Header, it is....Patsy of course!