A box from the sea

Several years ago I was fortunate enough to go to Rarotonga for a scuba vacation with some friends. I had never heard of it before they told me to buy a ticket and pack my bags. Rarotonga is a tiny island way, way, WAY in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. While there, I collected all manner of shells and shards from the beach and I glued them onto the top of this cigar box (that I brought filled with a few art supplies). The paper fan came from Goodwill and the ceramic birds from...well, I have so many ceramic birds I've forgotten where these particular ones came from...but I love how they add to this little house vignette.

A Match Made in Heaven

I bought this delightful weathered metal trash can from the Salvage Studio when their retail store was open. At first I used it as an actual trash receptacle (imagine that!) until one day I needed an oversized vase for an enormous bunch of silk flowers. I went into that scary place in my head, where I start seeing ordinary objects off-kilter, that place where nothing is safe...(run kitties, run!)... when I had a brainstorm to use said trash can as said oversized vase:

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The flowers looked fabulous in it...and then when I placed the funky little ceramic bird in front of it...well, it was kizmet, fate, karma! They obviously belonged together forever and ever. Well, until I get a wild hair to redecorate, that is...

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