Whirl and Weave: A Welcome to Midsummer's Eve

I'm standing at a beautiful dewy creek with spring blossoms and my mother-in-law Beverly's hand-crocheted "Maypole" scarf which can be admired further in her Etsy shop "Maddie's Trinkets and Bobbles".

Tis the last day of April, and yesterday evening my husband Joe and I were delighted by the sight of new duckling hatchlings swimming on our nearby pond...Oh, I love this time of year! Spring is filled with whimsy and wonder...As we welcome in May with flower-festooned Maypole traditions and June with the ancient European folk song and fertility dance customs of Midsummer's Eve, I would love to take a moment to share some beauties of spring as we embrace the new life that it breaths into our souls. Without further ado, here is a small collection inspired by the whirl and weave...grandmother's crochet and knitted crafts and the dancing celebration of new birth that it cuddles with warmth and love!

My precious niece Lydia, born in April she is our blessed little spring chick! Here are some photos of her in Beverly's darling crocheted creations...

"Alice Blue, Lavender, & Yellow Granny Square Afghan and Matching Baby Hat Set" in Beverly's charming "Maddie's Trinkets and Bobbles" Etsy Shop.

Baby Lydia in a "Pastel Granny Square Baby Afghan" found in Maddie's Trinkets and Bobbles.

"Mint Cream Crochet Baby Hat" modeled by Baby Lydia in Maddie's Trinket's and Bobbles.

Little Miss Lydia LOVES bears! She is often found carrying around a teddy bear and at 2 years old now her favorite television show is Little Bear. Here is a hand-crocheted 3D Teddy Bear with Balloons baby afghan created by our talented Aunt Mary Lynn that can be found in Lydia's mother's (my twin sister, Andrea) Etsy shop Storybook Artifact...It's a work-of-art!!!

Lastly, I encourage all lovers of crochet and knitted crafts to stop by one of my favorite Etsy shops filled with an eclectic assortment of beautiful yarns and craft patterns: Suzie's "Mom's Vintage Books"! Here are some treasures found in her Etsy shop...

"Leisure Arts Knit Lace & Leaves for Baby" found in Mom's Vintage Books...

...and this gorgeous heather grey yarn...I just love this airy neutral shade...also found in Mom's Vintage Books!

LaOohLaLa Boutique's Charitable Donation to NYC United Palace of Cultural Arts Broadway Film Showing "On the Town"

On behalf of LaOohLaLa Boutique, I'm pleased to announce our participation in the United Palace of Cultural Arts theatre's upcoming film showing of the classic 1949 movie "On the Town" starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly in the form of a donation of our vintage original 1945 Manhattan Shirts advertisement in their raffle of charitable items associated with the film.

We'll be joining other Etsy artisan sponsors who have donated unique handmade and vintage items from past classic film showings; including "King Kong (1933 film)" and one of my all-time favorite movies Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window"! I am honored that our charitable contribution will be credited in this non-profit theatre's program and social media sites as well as at the event. I love the movie themed Etsy contribution raffle items from past classic film showings...especially the vintage and handmade movie memorabilia for the Alfred Hitchcock Rear Window event, like this glamorous Grace Kelly Paper Doll from Etsy shop Paper Dolls by ER Miller!

 
The United Palace of Cultural Arts is a historic art deco architecture landmark in Washington Heights of New York City, New York...I can hear Frank Sinatra and the famous sailors singing ♩♪♫♬New York, New York, it's a wonderful town!♩♪♫♬ Along with the showing of the 1949 film "On the Town", members of the present Broadway cast will perform a concert of the score! This event takes place on the evening of Sunday May 3rd and admission is FREE to the public! The theatre provides work for the local Boy Scouts, and their goal is to raise enough funds so they can hire neighborhood youth to run the theatre which volunteers have been doing up to this point. This would provide great first jobs and a healthy source of pocket money. I'm happy to be able to provide a small contribution and support their efforts of bringing back art to a lower income neighborhood in desperate need.

As I mentioned, there will be actual Broadway performers reenacting this iconic American motion picture at this film showing...gathering their inspiration from legendary American dancer Vera-Ellen who stars in the film. In LaOohLaLa Boutique, we have a similar vintage original movie poster that also has Vera Ellen shown dancing, its from the 1945 musical Wonder Man in which she stars alongside Danny Kaye. Vera Ellen is best known for her starring roles in On the Town with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, and the 1954 film White Christmas with Danny Kaye whom she is cast with in Wonder Man...Vera Ellen is an adorable American sweetheart! Here is the 1945 Wonder Man movie poster in our LaOohLaLa Boutique Etsy shop!

Upcycled Art at Franklin Arts Center, The May 2015 Issue of Tulsa People Magazine, & Jessica White's Cranky Pickle Etsy Shop Feature!

Hooray!! The TulsaPeople Magazine feature spotlighting my Eco-Friendly Freckles Etsy art business in the May 2015 issue recently made its debut (an early release before the magazine will be available on local newsstands May 1st)! The article can be found on page 24; and the entire magazine can be viewed HERE! Along with my upcycled artwork, the two books that my art is featured in, Jen Karetnick's "Brie Season" and Julie Rawding's "The Upcycler's USA: 21 Eco Folks Who Made It" is also promoted! I'm so excited!!! My artwork can be seen in my Eco-Friendly Freckles Etsy shop section "Upcycled Decoupage Art" (my virtual online art gallery), however at this time this only includes my canister and tin art pieces since throughout the month of April all of my vinyl record artwork is on display in the "Art On Record" exhibit at the Franklin Arts Center | Resident Artists Gallery in Brainerd, Minnesota. 

If you happen to be visiting the area, please stop by and admire all of the upcycled masterpieces at this wonderful art gallery! 

In the gallery exhibit's promo photo above, my upcycled vinyl record art piece titled "Tintype of Love" is shown on the far left, in the middle is fellow Etsy artist Jessica White's vinyl record artwork titled "Nature Walks"...I love it's whimsical charm! I encourage everyone to stop by her Etsy shop Cranky Pickle and check out all of her delightfully quirky mixed media vinyl record art pieces! Two of my personal favorites from Jessica White's collection are...

"Woman Sitting on Henna"

...and "Lipstick Kisses":