Saturday, January 19, 2013

Growing ......

Hello Weekend!
and 
Hello visitors! 
My name is Pam
 and
I'm so happy to be participating in the
party
hosted by
at 2 Bags Full
For those of you who are visiting for the first time today
I thought I'd share a bit about myself and my blog...
The more I thought about it...
it truly was difficult to narrow down all the things I'd love to share...
so grab a cup
and browse a bit!
A few years ago I started blogging because I found
that as a new mother I was VERY lacking
in time for my SELF.
I have always been a watercolorist/craft dabbler/thriftstore and flea market
junkie...
I was so starved for time to do what I loved
that the world
of blogging allowed me to visit with others
who had the same loves
 even when I could not get out...
Then I decided to take a leap and become a blogger myself...
and thus
thefinderskeeper
was born.

It is my little space I use 
when I can't pull out the paintbrushes and get messy,
 when I want to share my thoughts or experiences
and the things that I find beautiful...
What exactly will you find here?
I love to share my thrifty finds and post them weekly...
Here are a few of my favorites from over the last few years...
Love Putz Christmas houses!
Started collecting back in college...
Vintage Camera collecting!
I love finding them at yardsales and flea markets
The little greenie is my favorite find ever!

So cute vintage paper dolls!
Tins, dishes, and LOTS of jewelry...
I love to repurpose the jewelry into one of a kind pieces...
 Kitsch...like this chalkware witch...
and photos...
I have a photography passion!
It is one thing I have  had a long
time love for....
What do I like to photograph?
Everyday life , travels, you name it..
This past year I especially took it to a new level for myself in trying to take
one photo at least each day to make into a book...
I  use a DSLR and am obsessed with all the APPS out there available for the Iphone.
I try to post my Iphone collages weekly
but am changing things up a bit this year.
Here are just a few of my favorites 
from my manual and Iphone Cameras....
This is my "Little Keeper" a few years ago....


My first trip to Italy this year
which has been a long time dream...
 
Poppies at Pompeii...
Beaches of Caprii...
 Gelato...
 Fishing Villages...
Rome...

 Beauty...




 There is so much more of Italy it was hard to choose!
I also enjoy being able to share some of the finished 
pieces of my artwork as I complete them...


ATC's
Ornaments...

Lots of mixed media projects...



 I frequently participate in swaps like the one above
which was an altered Altoid Tin that was later filled with buttons for my partner..

I feel like creativity seeps into every part of my life...
 thus
the
adventures in Life, Love, Art and Junking....

Cooking ...
Family and Friends...

(myself and all the lovely ladies from Ignite Italy -plus one handsome movie star)


Projects
(one of my soldered shrines)
and
JUNK!


I hope you have enjoyed a peek at my blog
and will continue to return
and become

one of the gang!

Please take lots of looks through the other
blogs at
2 Bags Full 
Thanks so much...

Stay Creative and always be true!

50 comments:

  1. Wow, a trip to Italy! Your crafts are nice, too. I like the Christmas ornaments. I'm visiting from the Grow Your Blog. Please visit me, too.

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    1. Deb Thanks so much and let me know which blog is yours. Trying to visit them all, but it takes time ;) When I click your icon it goes just to your photo!

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  2. Lovely post, Pam! I'm glad to be among your faithful followers!

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    1. BIG hugs to Laurie! I'm so happy to have found you those few years ago! You are such an inspiration!

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  3. Hi Pam, wow a trip to Italy and the poppies, oh how I would have loved to have layed in the field with my camera! lol And I love all your little vintage sparkly Christmas houses, they bring back fond memories of playing with my grandmothers collection under her tree!

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    1. Kim as soon as I saw the opener of your blog I knew you would love my Italian Poppies. Looking forward to seeing more of your work this year! Thanks for visiting!

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  4. Wow, the poppies weren't blooming when I was at Pompeii. What a fabulous place, though. And the Gelato!!!! My favorite is the chocolate chip which they have a really cool name for that I can't pronounce. Loved your vintage finds. I have NEVER seen such cool cameras at thrift stores. I also love your Christmas ornaments, adorable!

    Hugs,
    Karen

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    1. Karen I was so inspired and a little bit hungry when I left your blog! The Poppies were AH-MAZE-Ing when I was there! Gelato - dear lord-nothing like it...after i took that photo it declared it was the best scoop in all of Italy and several of us then went and bought a 2nd..Lemon and raspberry...My cameras have been collected over probably about a 15 year period..I am always hunting a good deal on them - flea markets and estate sales are the best...friends even give them to me now b/c they know I collect them! Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog and I am your newest follower. You are so right, we are a generation apart and yet kindred souls in the things we love. I look forward to reading your future posts!

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    1. Kathy I knew I recognized your smile...you and I have Laurie at Indulge Your Shelf in common. Now our loves make perfect sense! I'm looking forward spending time looking back through all your posts and future ones! How awesome is this?! Thanks for coming by!

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  6. Wow - what a wonderfully colourful and eclectic mix you have here! I was darting here and there looking at all the arty goodness! :-) (I wonder why so many of us craft-lovers find it hard to settle on just one option...!)

    This is a delightful blog - I shall be back to explore further! Thank you so much for sharing! (....and stirring up ideas of my own!)

    SueH The Knitting Assassin!
    Twitter – @Librarymaid

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    1. Thanks so much Sue...I have had that discussion with some other artistically inclined friends of mine - we decided we like to call it by several names "Craftsophrenic" "Art-o-holic" . Even if we aren't good at everything we try it leads us on the path to being great at something. We also felt like sometimes stepping out of your "box" with what you are comfortable with as far as your medium goes - that it can sometimes lead to a new way of thinking about that medium or a whole new inspiration! Thanks so much and I look forward to reading more of your adventures too!

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  7. I think the lil green vintage camera is my fav, too!
    How wonderful, you were able to take a trip to Italy, fantastic indeed.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog for a visit.
    I would like to come by here often so I have become a new follower.
    Michele

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    1. Thanks Michele! Living in Vermont plus being on an island sounds so wonderful! My husband and I talked about moving there once...but he thought he'd be too cold ;) Looking forward to reading more at your "Nook and Cranny"

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  8. Oh my goodness, your blog is so much fun! I'm so happy to be a new follower. Thank you so much for the comments you left when you visited me. I love so many of the things you love, this will be really great to get inspiration from you!

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    1. Thanks...It truly is wonderful to be able to gain inspiration from all my fellow bloggers..looking forward to doing the same through you!

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  9. aloha pam! OMG! i love your blog and when i read about you and saw all your good stuff i was never so excited to become a follower! we definately have all the same interests! i am so jealous you went to italy, also one of my dreams, i have only been to france but i know i love europe and will be back there one day, aloha for now, angi in hana

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    1. Angi so funny...we all think Hawaii is an ultimate destination and YOU live there! Your metal work is amazing...that is something that I have been shy about trying. Soldering and metal clay is as far as I have gone yet! Thanks for coming by.

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  10. Hi, Pam! So glad I found your blog at the blog party! When you're a creative person it's so hard to lay claim to just one medium and that's the fun... having lots of choices! Your soldered piece was amazing and your little Christmas boxes I dearly loved. So much to see and to get to know about you! I would love for you to drop by my blog, too, and see what I do. This party is so much fun, isn't it? BTW, I am going to become your latest follower! Thanks so much!

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    1. Already done! I stopped by your blog last night! I don't sew but want to learn and pieces like yours are very inspiring! That soldered shrine is one of my favorite pieces...I take a class w/ Sally Jean Alexander every year when she comes here!

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  11. hi! found you through the gyb party! can't wait to see more - i'm, ofcourse, a follower now. hoping you'll stop by and visit me as well. happy creating!

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    1. I definitely stopped at your blog. Your pages are wonderful and I swear you have the most organized space I have ever seen...I need your help in that department for sure ;) Thanks for stopping by!

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  12. Hello Pam,
    Thank you for visiting. Just became a follower and love all your art and your thirfting finds. Your Christmas ornaments are gorgeous.

    Jenny

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    1. Thanks so much. I really loved your Christmas items too...I'm going to have to make one of those trees!

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  13. Hey Pam! You are one creative lady!! I love the pieces you found. The camera is my favorite too!

    -Jade www.muffinteahouse.com
    (your new follower!)

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    1. You are so sweet. Can't wait to see more of you as your blog grows!

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  14. Hi Pam, I just found you at the GYB party and I am now a follower. Didn't you love Pompeii? It was one of my favorite places in Italy. Hubby and I were married in Venice and spent our honeymoon in Italy.
    xx, Sherry

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    1. Pompeii was amazing...and I had a great Italian who'd been there a million times to show us all the neat things I would have otherwise missed! My hubby didn't go though...ALL girls and 1 artistically blessed priest...we definitely got noticed everywhere we went! Thanks so much for visiting!

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  15. OK, I'm totally jealous that you went to Italy!! My dream! Thanks for sharing a variety of fun things on your blog. Looking forward to your posts. So nice to "meet" you today. Nancy =)

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    1. Loving your blog too! It will be fun to see if we have a Camas Connection! You NEED to do Italy if it is a dream, you won't be disappointed!

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  16. Oh, my goodness. I'm so glad you stopped by my blog through the 2 Bags Full party! I have never met anybody else who knew about The Brave Girls and/or truth cards. Yay! I also love your projects--mixed media is one of my favorite things to do and I would love to beg my way into one of your swaps some time! ;) I need to know more about the soldered shrines too. I'll just have to keep coming back for more visits. :) Really glad to have 'virtually' met you. SMCbyDesign.com

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    1. Shannon I was reading your blog later and when I saw the post about BG Open House recently it was so funny...I'm pretty sure my Italy trip mate and BG Margaret is in one of your photos there! My friend Lara and Melody are great friends! BG is a wonderful experience if you can truly open up to the concepts and be honest with yourself. Great to find a fellow BG!

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  17. This has been fun so much to look at
    hope you visit
    laura

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    1. Yours too! I visited yesterday but forgot to say HI!

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  18. What a lovely blog you have, I'm really enjoying taking a tour of the blogs in the GYB party. Looking forward to following your adventures in the months to come

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    1. Thanks so much! I'm looking forward to seeing more of your part of the world!

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  19. Oh I am so happy to have visited today for the GYB party. And I will email you with my info, as I will be your partner for the (Valentine) Vintage Candy Box swap. Look for an email shortly. Thanks for participating in both the party and my swap. I think we could be great blogging friends.

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  20. I enjoyed your blog so much. I guess I am a junker too but you do wonderful things with yours! L-O-V-E the Altoid boxes.

    I'm here from Vicki's GYB party. If you have a chance, drop by
    nonniescedarchest.wordpress.com

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    1. YOU do wonderful things with fabric! Some of my favorite quilts I have seen are ones made from vintage sheets and clothes! A great way to fit in junking and sewing! Thanks for visiting and I did stop by your blog too!

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  21. Thanks so much! It has been great fun!

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  22. Pam,
    Oh my, I do love your blog!!! You are so creative :)
    You make the cutest creations.
    I too am a thrift store/yard sale junkie and my dream is to go to Italy. I am so glad you included some pics of your trip:)
    I am a new follower because I just have to come back to get filled with smiles and inspiration :)

    take care,
    ~Diane

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    1. Thanks so much for the sweet words! I can't say it enough to everyone..if you want to go to Italy or have a dream trip...YOU deserve it! Find a way to make it happen and just do it! It was probably the best thing I ever did for MYSELF! As women we need a chance to spend time with our own soul. Of course if you want to take your family or husband - go for it! I just feel as mothers and wives we often need time for ourselves in order to be the BEST mothers and wives we can be! Looking forward to future inspiration from you too!

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  23. I'm already following your lovely blog and loved getting to know you better through this post!

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    1. I follow you too. You have been with me for a while - I know. I love your finds!

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  24. visiting via Vicki's GYB Party and loved the photos of your trip to Italy! I'm Virginian as well, just tell people "southern by birth, Virginian by the grace of God"; that usually stops 'em for a moment. -grin-

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    1. What a great way of putting it! Thanks for stopping by!

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  25. Hi Pam - you have a very lovely Blog and I am glad to follow it. Your art photography is fun to see. Thanks for sharing and being in the Party with Vicki. Come visit me, too. Hugs from Alaska. Karen -
    www.alaskabluemoose.blogspot.com

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  26. Hello Pam, I am very happy to meet you : )
    This GYB party is fab! I am still making my way through the list.
    You have a fantastic blog, and already I have enjoyed my visit. It looks like we have a lot in common.
    I am your newest follower : )
    Hugs,
    Terri
    artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks so much...the GYB party has been absolutely wonderful. So many different mediums - but all such creative souls!

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