Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!

 

Happy Birthday Lily!

We recently celebrated my daughter Lily's 3rd Birthday.  She wanted her birthday to be all about "puppies".  That is her latest obsession, puppies, puppies, puppies, and the color blue.  Everything has to be "blue".  So, for her birthday, I spent a small fortune at Party City, and bought her the whole Party Pups collection.  That wasn't enough, though, she needed one of Anne's adorable crowns.  Anne made her the cutest blue crown, with what else, puppies.  I just wanted to share a picture of the birthday girl in her crown. 

 
 

Tattered Tiques wishes you a very Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Card Memory Book

We recently did a show at a scrapbooking store called "Defining Moments."   I've never been a scrapbooker, but I was so inspired by all the fun crafty scrapbooks that the store had on display.  I decided I would try one.  Well, every Christmas, I send out a christmas card photo of my three boys.  I love the cards, but after Christmas, what to do with them????    I just figured out the perfect place for them!

 
Here is my new Christmas Card book!

 

Each page, including the inside cover, is covered with scrapbook paper.  This is a picture of the front inside cover and my Christmas card from 2005.

 

The album and pages are made of chipboard. I chose a binder album, so the pages are removable.  These are years 2006, 2008, and 2009.  I'm going to add a gift tag to each page with the year on it.

 

 
This is what it looks like opened.  This is years 2006 and 2007.

 

This is the back cover. 

I think it turned so cute! I'm so excited that I have a way to display my Christmas cards every year and see how much the kids have grown.  I'm thinking I may do the same thing with my kids birthday invitations.

Thanks to Jocelyn and Sammy at Defining Moments in Wilmette for the inspiration. I'm SO happy I have found a new hobby!

 

 

Bottles and Books

We have already started thinking about getting ready for the flea markets.  During the winter when we are at home, we really don't participate in shows that often, but are usually busy at home getting ready for the spring and summer shows to come.  Mom has already started playing with some old books and sheet music.  She has used these two materials before and always turns out amazing things, this was her latest.  I think it turned out great!  

 

We also love working with old and new bottles.  Mom recreated a wintery bottle she had seen done. In my opinion, anything with a bottle brush tree on it is adorable!  Anne and I have given her some ideas for Valentine's Day and Easter to use with these two crafts.  Can't wait to see what she comes up with. 

Wonderland Express

 

If you live in the Chicagoland area, a winter visit to the Chicago Botanical Gardens is a must.  From November 26th to January 2nd, the Wonderland Express is open.  This magical experience features "a 10,000-square-foot exhibition of miniature trains winding over bridges, under trestles, past waterfalls, and through more than 80 mini-replicas of Chicago's favorite landmarks. All buildings are handcrafted from natural materials like leaves, bark, and moss."  Not just for children, this is truly something everyone should see. I cannot recommend this enough.

Augie walks under one of the 4 trestle bridges.

The Shedd Aquarium

 

The Chicago Theater

They have a mini-Chicago skyline featuring Navy Pier, the Sears Tower, and Marina City.  It even snows over the skyline!

Buckingham Fountain

Picasso on Daley Plaza

Obama Family House in Chicago

They even have the Crate and Barrel store on Michigan.  

The Stanley cup (made from baby coconut husk, eucalyptus pod, sea grass rope, burr oak, acorn caps, turkey tail mushroom, sponge mushroom, and cork bark) is new this year!  Duh-di-duh, Duh-di-duh, Duh-di-duh-di-duh-di-duh!!!!

The gallery just outside the Wonderland Express Exhibit is transformed into an English country train platform with another miniture train garden running the length of the gallery.  

The faux train platform is decorated adorably. There are packages, suitcases, and a ticket booth!

On your way out, check out the outdoor grounds as well.  Their Christmas lights are beautifully done.

 Every inch of their trees are covered in lights. It is amazing!!

Check out the Botanical Gardens website for more info- http://www.chicagobotanic.org/wonderland/about.php

This is a must see!

 

Defining Moments

A couple weekends ago, we had the honor of selling our wares at a wonderful Holiday Bazaar.  We would like to thank Jocelyn Tobias and her daughter Sammy for hosting the Bazaar at their adorable scrapbooking shop "Defining Moments" in Wilmette at 1111 Central Street.  Anne and I pretty much shopped the entire time we were there! 

At the Bazaar were beautiful tiles, and really cute purses.  We also met Mary Felish from Premier Designs Jewerly who sells a beautiful line of jewelry.  Mary was a riot, and had such an enthusiastic spirit.   Making her debut was Sara from Chicago Sweets and Treats.  She makes delicious baked goods, which of course we had to sample some of each.   Sara has started her own blog which you have to check out.  http://chicagosweetsandtreats.wordpress.com  Follow her along on her baking journey.

We forgot our camera, so we had to use our phones for pictures. They aren't the greatest, but our display looked great, so I wanted to show you a few pics. 

Julie found this vintage bird cage and Mom added the season greens and the copy cat tag.  It looked SO cheery!

This FABULOUS vintage aluminum tree is part of Julie's own collection.  We decorated it with our Christmas tags and ornaments that were for sale.

Speaking of tags...she made these out of old music sheet cards.

Coco(yes, we name our dress forms) held our Merry Christmas crown. At her feet was this great wreath mom made with felt and reindeer ornaments.  

We even had stuff oozing out from under the table.  Mom's Christmas pillows under a vintage "Merry Christmas" banner.

 

This vintage pie safe held our Christmas houses and ball jars.  The Christmas houses were a big hit this season.

The bags of snowballs are such a hit.  They look so whimsical when placed in a bowl.  Check out the "Regent" Christmas card pack.  It is filled with the original unused Christmas cards. It is so great.  Mom makes the little snowgirls using old glass bottles. They are like snowflakes, each one is a little different!  And don't forget about the old rulers, shape them into a star for a festive look!

Here's a full table shot.

Thanks again "Defining Moments!"  We had a blast!

Also- you can find most of our Christmas items at Mary's Greenhouse at 555 S. O'Plaine Road in Gurnee. Mary had a holiday show on the 4th, but will have most of our items till after Christmas. 

 

 

 

Winter Crafts

I thought I'd share some of the crafts we have been making for the last two shows we were in. 

 
These houses were a big hit at both shows.  I think they look like little row houses in this picture.

 
These snowballs look so cute gathered together in a bowl.

 
Mom made adorable felt Santa and Reindeer pillows. 

 
Muslin ribbon is always a big hit.  I made some for Christmas, which is cute used as garland on trees. 

 
The glittered gift tags turned out really cute!  We sold them in packs of 5.  GiGi, my alter ego, just had to do some French themed Christmas tags.  "Joyeux Noel".   Whatever is left, I will hang on my French themed Christmas tree in my bed room. 

 
This picture is actually from the last event we were at, at Defining Moments, in Wilmette.  Look how great these personalized bookmarks are that Anne made.  You can send her a picture and she will make a bookmark that peeks out the top of your book.  They are a huge hit!  Great for an inexpensive Christmas or Birthday gift.  I love the chicken one of her chicken Missy. I think Missy and I are kindred spirits, all we think about is food.  She is a total food monger of a chicken!

Anne also made her ever popular chicken wire cloches, and her fabulous crowns.  She made a Chirstmas crown, which was adorable, and not surprisingly, sold. 

 
Sorry about the quality of the picture, it was taken with my phone.  But you can still see how cute the crown turned out.

 We will post some pictures of the last event we were at next.  Until then, have a great "wintery" weekend!

 

 

The Tattered Terrier

We recently lost our adorable mascot Thatcher.  She was not only a beloved pet, but also the inspiration for our company name and image.  You see, Thatcher was a very "tattered" terrier.  She was a Wire Haired Fox Terrier who probably started life in a horrible puppy mill.  She was never the best representation of her breed as far as looks go, but she was irresistibly cute.  Little did she know, she would grow up to be a company mascot.  I'll never forget the day I met her.  I had come home and had just gotten out of the car and this tiny little thing came running around the corner of the house.  I could'nt believe how cute she was.  We had never had a small dog, so this was such a different kind of puppy.  I instantly fell in love with her.  She had all our hearts from that day on! We miss you Thatcher!

 

Holiday Bazaar and Open House this weekend!

We are so happy to of been asked to be in two special shows for December.   We have all been crafting away in preparation for this weekend. 

The first show is on Saturday, Dec 4th at Mary's Greenhouse in Gurnee.  The green house is located at 555 O'Plaine Road in Gurnee, IL.  60031.  Their telephone number is 847-336-5910.   It is a Holiday Open House.  

Please join us on Sunday, December 5th in Wilmette, at Defining Moments by Jocelyn Tobias.  Please bring a donation of either a cosmetic item for the NCJW women's shelter, or a non perishable food item for The Northfield Township Food Pantry.  There will be different vendors at the store for this event.  We hope you can make it, and please, bring a friend.  See information below.   Also, check out the store's website  http://definingmomentsbyjocelyntobias.com/