Sandicast Dog Sculptures

Sandicast Dog Sculptures

These little darlings are so finely crafted it is hard to tell a real puppy from the Sandicast.  I began my collection years ago with a life-size Sheltie puppy that I found at an antique shop for $18.

Reese could not take it, the Sheltie getting all the attention!   So she ran in front of the camera!!!

Sandicast, Inc. is located in San Diego, California. It was started in 1981 by artist Sandy Brue, whose artistic gift captures the personality and inner spirit of each animal with great realism.  I first got introduced to Sandicast sculptures when a friend of mine purchased a life-size Golden Retriever for $300.  Immediately, I was struck by the details and realism of the sculpture.

Sandicast sculptures are hand-casted. Each hair is etched individually from an oil based clay that never hardens. Finally, each animal is fitted with glass eyes specific to the breed, which makes the sculpture come to life.  This allows for the fine details that make her sculptures so lifelike.  Sandra carves her name into each piece before the clay is casted.  Sandicast also creates several animals, including cats and other wildlife as well.  Sandicast and Sandra Brue are registered trademarks of Sandicast, Inc.

Bichon Frise

Border Collie

Brittany

Cocker Spaniel

Fox Terrier

Maltese

Shar-Pei

Shih Tzu

Welsh Corgi

Yorkshire Terrier

Oops! That's Coco!

Siamese Kitten

This is my collection.  Most of them I found at antique stores, garage sales, and resale stores.  I was able to find them for around $5 each.

Here is a signed piece.

For the love of dogs,

Nancy

Covered Bridge Festival

Parke County Indiana Covered Bridge Festival
October 11-20, 2013

Hey, everybody!  It's that time of year again for the Covered Bridge Festival in Rockville, Indiana.  I'll be going on October 12th, and I will be taking pictures of my favorite events.  Check back here to see the highlights of my trip!

I'm excited , and anticipating the explosion of fall colors!

Happy fall, y'all!
Nancy

Fall in September

I love fall!!!  It's my favorite time of the year!  The colors of September, all the beautiful yellows and golds.  Sunflowers and Goldenrod blooming, and then all those bees (time to harvest all of that honey)!  How I delight in the subtle changes that begin in September!  The farmer's corn stalks, soy beans, hay, and wheat fields all ending their cycle in various shades of saffron.

Sincerely Yours in September,

Nancy

Brass

Have you ever considered brass as an outdoor decoration?  One of my favorite uses for brass is outdoors.  It can withstand all climates.  I especially  enjoy brass in the winter landscape when the snow collects and outlines each piece.  They also are interesting in an ice storm. Brass glistens in the sun.  It also gets a beautiful patina as it ages.  You can purchase brass relatively inexpensively at antique and resale stores. The ballerina was priced at $75.  I was only able to get 10 percent off.  I paid $67.50 for her.  She is approximately 33" tall.

Eagle
The eagle measures18" tall.
I purchased it at an upscale resale for $18.00

Mouse
The mouse I purchased at an antique store.It measures 8.5"H.
I paid $6.99.

Reindeer

I'm always tempted to put a dog collar on them;  I think they look like little Chihuahuas!  The tallest stands 22"H. The pair was purchased at an upscale resale for $18.00.

Happy Fall!

Nancy

Before and After

Before

Here is my newest project.  I picked the shadow box up at an upscale resale store. They were asking $28.  I got them down to $20.  It measures 22"Hx18"Wx2.5"D.  This is going to be taken apart. I'm going to repaint it.  Of course, I'm making it into a Snowy Owl with birch trees in the background for the white on white bedroom that I am currently decorating.  Continue reading this blog for the "after"  reveal.

Steps taken to the reveal:

Step 1.  I had to pry off the backboard by removing 36 staples.  The staples were very tiny (about 1/8th of an inch), so I used a tiny screwdriver from an eyeglass repair kit and some needle nose pliers to remove the staples.

Step 2.  Remove owl and branch from the backboard.  It was attached with 3 screws.

Step 3.  Prepare background board by scraping and lightly sanding.  Here is where my project made a turn.  I started thinking of my birch tree wallpaper I had hanging in my kitchen and how the frame on the picture matched the same tone as my cabinets.  So I decided to turn my project into a picture for the kitchen and to use the birch tree wallpaper for the background.

Step 4.  Wallpaper the background.  The paper was prepasted.  I placed the paper over the board, and ran my finger around the edges to form a crease.  I cut the crease with a pair of scissors. Then, using warm water, I dipped the wallpaper into the water and placed it on the board.

Step 5.  Next, coat the eyes with petroleum jelly to protect them from the paint, while transforming into the Snowy Owl.

Step 6.  Reattach the painted Snowy Owl to the background with a hot glue gun.  Then flip the board over to secure with staples using a staple gun.

Step 7.  Finally, place the shadow box face down, lay the backboard also face down into the shadow box.  Line up your frame and staple the background to the frame using the staple gun.

The Reveal!!!

After

Keep Creating!!!

Nancy

Hydrangeas Drying and Spray Painting

This is a beautiful example of a Limelight Hydrangea.

Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers. They are pretty easy to dry, if you time it right. Try to pick them as they are beginning to dry naturally on the branch, usually late August or September.  I prefer to keep the stem approximately 18 inches long.  When I decide what arrangement I'd like to put them in, then I trim the stems to fit my arrangement.  Place them in a vase with water, out of direct sunlight.  Eventually, the flower will begin to dry in its natural shape.  This process takes approximately two weeks.  If the hydrangea starts to wilt, it was picked too early.  Once the hydrangea is completely dry, you can use indoor matte spray paint and spray paint them any color you choose.  When you spray paint the flowers, use very light coats and keep 10-12 inches distance. You can use up to 3 different colors. It's best to start with the lightest color first, then graduate to the darkest color.

Here's the finished project!

Enjoy your flowers!

Nancy

Westmoreland Milk Glass

So here is the piece that started it all!  I spied this bird on a shelf in an antique shop for $22.  I actually did not know what I was looking at!  But, I had to have it!  As it turns out, It is Westmoreland milk glass.  And there is a whole collection of different animals on a nest.  This piece is "Robin on a Nest".  I have seen this piece priced as high as $165!!!  Its available in many colors;  blue, yellow, green, etc...

However, if you want to be sure it is Westmoreland Glass, check for the maker's mark. Here is what mine looks like. I brushed it with some eyeshadow so the WG (Westmoreland Glass) shows up. They have had a few marks over the years. Luckily, with smart phones we can look them up on the spot.

Here is the rest of my collection ...so far!

There are still many more to collect:  a dog, a cow, an eagle with eaglets, and many more!!!

This is how I display mine.

I bought these wire shelves at TJMaxx for $49.99.

It measures 3 feet high by 3 feet wide.

Whatever your quest may be, happy collecting!

Nancy

Rolled Guest Cloths

Rolled guest cloths are a great idea for your guest washroom.  Guests really appreciate the feeling of being pampered.  When they see this added touch, they feel special!  And an added benefit is how hygienic it is not having all your guests use the same hand towel.  It is a very inexpensive way to show you are a savvy host! And it's "green" too!  I often choose colors for the season and arrange my rolled washcloths in a basket or flower pot and place it on the sink.  I place an additional small basket with a note saying, "Please put your used cloths here."  These cloths were purchased at a dollar store an 8 pack for $5.50.

The instructions for rolling the hand cloths are simple.

Here is the finished product!

It looks like a basket of flowers!  And guests appreciate a clean cloth to dry their hands.

Enjoy the small things in life!

Nancy 

Orchids

Phalaenopsis and Lady Slipper Orchids are an easy houseplant to grow.  They need indirect light, an east or north window, and water once a week. Make sure your flower pots allow for the water to drain through. You can also buy fertilizer and potting soil especially for orchids.  The temperatures they like are the same that you would like in your home and if you turn your thermostat down at night they enjoy that too!

The Phalaenopsis Orchid is also called a "Moth Orchid" because of the resemblance.     

It comes in a variety of colors.  The price usually begins at $20.

 

The Lady Slipper Orchid is named for the bottom petal that looks like a ballet slipper.    

It also comes in a variety of colors and sizes.  Its price range is a little higher than the Phalaenopsis, ranging from $25 on up depending on how rare it is.

Coax your Bud to Bloom!

Nancy