I've become a junking junkie

I've even got Mark in the act.  As well as him, I've snagged along a friend or two, a sister and anyone else who will follow as I take my little red cart off searching for my treasured finds.  These lovelies will become the bases for many an altered project. Spring is the beginning of the season for the markets, so I've been dragging out at 4:30AM so I can drive around the state and make it back home in time for my duties.  Is that dedication or just nuts?  Now you know why I have to grab a changing line up of partners as no one wants to do it all with me.

76 trombones in the big parade

                                              

Settling into the new digs...

Wow, what a month it has been getting everything repainted, redecorated and restocked.  There is still much to do, hang crystals on the chandelier, signs hung, files sorted and so much more, but some of that will always be a work in progress.  This is how Mrs. O'Leary's ~ Isabel Marie's is shaping up.

Many of you are familiar with Mrs. O'Leary's as we are in our 19th year.  But let me introduce you to Isabel Marie's.

Those of you that have been coming to the store for many a year will remember my mother, Isabel Marie or as many of you called her Issy.  We lost my mother 5 years ago to Alzheimer's, but until that time she would sit behind the concession stand serving up our treats or perhaps sorting and packaging in the workroom.   My mother had become such a presence in my daily life that I failed to recognize how special she really was.  After her passing my friends would tell me how wonderful she was.  But it was especially those childhood friends that told me what an elegant woman she was remembered to be.  ???  What my mother?  She was just my mother, but maybe she was more...  Much More.  I started to remember myself the little ways she always brushed her hair or wouldn't be seen even going to answer the door without a touch of lipstick for a bit of color.  Putting her face on she would say.    I recall when I was very young, being tagged along to one of her friends "Come as You are" party.  My mother paid the $2 (a hefty fee back in the late 50's) to be allowed to fix herself up.  She wouldn't even let me go as I was.  That is the essence of who she was - always a lady.

Parouse the shelves filled with vintage finds and recal a story told to you at the knee of your favorite uncle.  Laugh out loud with your sister as you remember getting in sooooo much trouble lighting firecrackers in the garge next to the gas can.  See, these things are not just "things" or bits of junk, but a chance to stop and smell the roses or perhaps call that cousin who you haven't talked to in years.
Isabel Marie's is a remembrance or a dedication to those ladies that have made us who we are today.   My precious mother in-law Betty who used to work along side me and Jeralyn's mother Mary who we are lucky to have stopping in to give us some much needed help.  Our father's too.  A time to reflect on a simpler time and the sweet memories of our youth.  Now my own daughter Faron is continuing the story as she is starting her own line of art and adornments called "My Mother's Daughter".

So come on the adventure with us as we sit on the porch watching the sights and sounds of Old Town or in the Boudior Reading Roon listening to the scratchy Victrola records paying Maud Murray's "Isle of Love" or Harry Von Titzer's "The Little Good For Nothing's Good For Something After All. 

 

There's  quite a store behind this dress.  Come here the beginnings of  Isabel Marie's.

 

Olivia's Garden

Metal Tools

My Great Grandfather's cash register that he used in a general store in Riverside.

Candy drawers, Eye candy that is.

Ribbons and fibers and trinkets oh my!

Our friends Kathy and Joe Lenart from Ohio (Rubber Stamp Cottage), stopped in for a short visit yesterday as they were on their way to Denver to show at a stamp convention.  Our time together is always too short, but  it's great to see them.  They emailed from the road and ran into a tornado and now headed into snow.  The midwest isn't being very hospitable.

I did want to send some info out to everyone about some upcoming classes I'll be offered at home and around the country.

First off we will be putting on our annual art retreat right here in our own river city.  "Art Unplugged 3"
 June 23-26   -   the classes are nearly sold out, but there are a few spots left in most of the classes.  It's such a fun time and we'd love to have friends new and old join us.  Mrs. O'Leary's  -  126 N. Mead  -Wichita, KS  -  316-262-0600  -  mrussell48@cox.net

Thursday June 23  6-9  ~  Twigs and Tassels 

Friday June 24  10-2  ~  Haute Hardware Bangle               

Friday June 24  4-10  ~   Ladder Links Bracelet

Saturday June 25  9-1 ~  Woman in White Canvas

Saturday June 25  3-9  ~  Nautilus Book  SOLD OUT

Sunday  June 26 11:30-4 ~ Bottle Transformation  

July 7-10 I'll be heading to St. Louis, For Keep Sake.  I'll be teach a series of classes on altered jewelry and bookmaking.   These gals are a great bunch and I'm really looking forward to working with those attending the classes.  I'll also be taking a trunk show with me and we'll have a meet and greet, show and tell Thursday evening.  Check out out this link if you want to learn more.
http://forkeepssake.typepad.com/Art%20Unplugged%20St.%20Louis%20Style.pdf
For those of you that have contacted me about wanting the "Altered Charm Sampler Necklace" that is sold out in Cincinnati, it will be taught here as well, all 3 parts.  http://www.forkeepssakescrapbook.com/

Two weeks later July 22-24 I'll be teaching classes at My Heart's Fancy in Oklahoma City.  We don't have the schedule totally set yet, but you can check in with them in a couple of weeks for more info.   http://myheartsfancystampinnews.blogspot.com/

Back home again we'll be repeating the Nautilus Book on July 16th and the Altered Charm Sampler Necklace on July 30.  316-262-0600

August 11th I'll be teaching the Altered Charm Sampler Necklace in Cincinnati, Ohio at Stampaway.  SOLD OUT   http://www.stampawayusa.com/home/
http://www.stampawayusa.com/home/sa_classes.html

To see the sample of the necklace, go to Feb. 22, 2011 posting on this blog.

There isn't a date set yet, but for those of you south of us, you haven't been forgotten.  We'll head back to the Dallas area to teach some of my new Artful Bookshelf books later in the fall at Stamp Asylum, Plano Texas.

I hope to meet up with you somewhere along the road.  Artful Joni

Hammers, Saws, Paintbrushes and lots of late nights!

A bit of history.  Mrs. O'Leary's moved into this building in 1993.  

Over that time we have sublet different parts of the building to other businesses.  Over the last few years we have been fortunate to be growing our business even in this guarded economy.  When our last sublette decided to close her doors earlier this year, we decided to fill the space with our bulging stashes of trims, paper, stamps and excitement.  Wednesday morning March 30th  we started the task.  We have been working night and day since then and plan to have things mostly in place by this coming Saturday April 9th.  Over the coming weeks, we will be adding the treats to Bella's Bistro.  Our grand reopening 

will be the weekend of April 29-30.

Rebecca's ~ a treasure right in my own backyard

What a great weekend I had...  Several of my customers (friends) are very talented artists.  They are collaboratly a group called "From the Studio".  This go around, they were showing at a local store just down the street from Mrs. O'Leary's called Rebecca's.  I could have just stayed there all night it was so wonderful.

Spring Adventures featured artists
Rita Bunck - Clothing & Jewelry from Vintage sources
Carol Hill - Fiber Arts, Paper, Hand-painted Garments
Mary Jabara - Archeological Adornments
Claudette Pehde - Jewelry Extraordinaire
Lana Bennett - Crocheted Creations & Photography
Betty Richards - Silversmith & Author of "Ardis Heights"
Jon Roe - Paintings & Photography
Charlotte Janzen - Unique fiber, Paper & Wearable Art
Martha Sharp - Intricately Embroidered Cards
Joann Ryan - Metal People come to life
Laurie Mitchell - Opinionated Cards & Shirts
Sandy Hysom - Fabric Expressions by painting & rusting
Nancy Gordon - Vivid Purses, Pillows, Original Art
Lilaha Bolen - Chalkware by Lea
Pamela Lamont - Original Oil Paintings, Acrylics, Mixed Media
Nanetta Bananto - Jewelry, Fairies & Lantern Delights

When I'm in town, I never get beyond my own doors as there is so much work to always get done.  I've been missing out big time on this one.  Rebecca's is in Old Town, Wichita, Kansas, 300 N. Mead (316-866-2622).  Rebecca is a total delight and a talent not to be equaled.  What this lady can do with recycled remnants, a bucket of dye and a needle has to be seen to believe.  Her clothing is like wearing a beautiful artwork.  Heck, even looking at her wall of rolls of fabrics is a complete joy.  She graciously showed Jeralyn, Faron and I around her studio and shop.  Visiting with all the showing artists on their turf let me get a glimpse into who these amazing women really are.  This shop is a destination.  It is truly worth a day trip and if you are in the area, you can even stop by to see us at Mrs. O'Leary's and watch as our hibernating cocoon blossoms into a beautiful butterfly as we start on our remodel / expansion this week.

I'm coming home!

We've been on the road for the better part of the last 2 months.  I miss my family, pets and friends so much.    I can hardly wait to spend time again with them all.  The weather in Santa Fe was beautiful and the mountains are always so magnificent.

  

The boots keep coming...

This is just a glimpse of the beads I brought back for the store.

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Travels from the Lone Star State

Mark and I attended the Adorn Me Convention in Houston this past week.  It was great reconnecting with teachers from the past like Keith Lo Bue, Richard and Jane Salley, Sabra Sowell Lovejoy, Janice Berkebile, Susan Lenart Kazmer and her sister Cheri who is now working with her teaching glass castings.    I have also been in Texas enough the last couple of years that I'm making lots of friends with some fun gals and gents.  The classes were great and I learned a lot about glasswork, enameling, metal forming, soldering, tools and so much more.

We left Houston early Saturday morning and headed for Plano for Stamp Asylum where we taught 30 hours of classes in 3 days.  I ended off last evening with hardly a voice and definitely a bit road weary, but we had a late dinner with Monica and Melody that was a treat.  We heard all about their travels and plans and plotted to get together along the way the year.  Melody does great Copic work and we're working on lining up a time for her to come teach at Mrs. O'Leary's.

Again the day finds us in the truck heading down the road, but this time we're heading home.  It will be only for a 1 day stop over, but it will be nice to pet the puppies and switch out the suitcases.  Thursday morning we head off one more time this month for Santa Fe.  We will be attending the Beadfest show where I will take a couple more classes on enameling and lentil beads.  We will also be shopping the showroom for all the latest in tools, wonderful beads and antiquity tidbits

We made a quick stop in Oklahoma City to visit My Heart's Fancy - a great stamp store.  They just moved into a new beautiful location a couple of months ago.  I talked to Lisa about coming down and teaching some classes later this year.  So if you are in that part of the country, check in with them.