Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Sleepless near Chicago~ Or what I do when I can't sleep.

Saturday night or, rather, early Sunday morning, between the two days of this weekend's antiques show I couldn't get back to sleep so...

I did a little dusting. I haven't taken this display apart and dusted the top of this blue blanket chest for YEARS. Scary.

So when I couldn't sleep, I took everything apart, dusted and rearranged.



Since we bloggers photograph just about everything I took pictures of this now {and briefly} dust-free vignette to share with you.




These are some of the rolls of seam binding from my visit to the Seamstress Sisters Estate Sale sitting on a broken piece of marble.




Two birdies, some kind of carving tools, and a nudie all under glass.




In the background are part of a set of early encyclopedias and a phrenology head.




And a whole old ironstone compote filled with early clay marbles and a few tiny silvered Christmas ornaments.

Usually I blog or read in the middle of the night. I must have been really hyper and wired to have been dusting in the middle of the night. Do you have any middle of the night wakefulness rituals?

25 comments:

  1. Yes, reading blogs about not being able to sleep. :-)
    I usually read, although I've been known to fold clothes or worse yet, eat...which just makes you more awake...not good. Love your collections. Now I am off to Google "phenology" to see what that is. :-)
    Susan

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  2. I'm with Susan ~ I for Some Reason, can't sleep, funny how the first blog I decide to read, is about what you do when you Can't Sleep ~ so for Tonight, I am reading all your Archives ~ I hope I stay Awake for Hours! Tomorrow I Shall Sleep.....

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  3. Oh my, I really need to dust on top of things way up high:) I am 5foot tall and have to get a stool to do much of anything! I just tend to stay in the bed when I can't sleep and pray! Hugs to you dear friend1

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  4. There must be something in the air other then pollen as I had the same urge to clean only it wss my beading drawers. LOL I love these pretty little vignettes that you have created. Can't wait to see what you create the next time you can't sleep. Sea witch

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  5. I wake up several times a night. I have a small radio with an earphone (I just need one ear since I lie on the other side)lest I disturb my husband's sleep. I listen to BBC on NPR. Those droning voices going on about God knows what puts me right back to sleep. The radio has a 30 minute Sleep feature but I'm asleep in 5 minutes or less anyway.

    Dusting would be the last thing I'd feel like doing. Next time, have your insomnia at my house.

    I love your cloches!

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  6. oh those photos are terrific. So many wonderful little items. Makes me want to dust and tinker.
    Because I have too many sleepless nights, I have medication which allows me to sleep - otherwise I would never ever sleep. Sad, but true.

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  7. Sorry you couldn't sleep but delighted that you had the urge to dust and show us your charming arrangements!
    Take a nap! :)

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  8. I hate those sleepless nights but fortunately they are few and far between for me. If I do have a sleepless night I have to admit you won't find me dusting...I usually turn on the TV and find an old movie to watch. That usually puts me back to sleep.
    I love all the displays....great stuff!
    Jane

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  9. sorry you lost sleep~but way to make extra time for those nagging chores that usually keep us awake!
    cute vignettes, love the little birds & the nudie:)

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  10. Wonderful photos, Joan! Great to talk to you at Grayslake. Your booth looked beautiful -- so spring-y. Those WASP photos were amazing. Thanks for sharing. We won't be at Wheaton this time; off to Ohio instead. But we'll see you soon, I'm sure. xo

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  11. Dusting would be the very last thing I would do if I couldn't sleep. I'm severely allergic to dust, and have to wear a mask when I do it! Instead, I will read a little, or try to find something really boring to watch on TV, like CSPAN!
    That little vignette of cloches is really stunning!

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  12. We just never know what we find under all that dust. I understand.

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  13. Your booth was amazing! It was great to meet you and I love my photos & seam binding. (Wish I'd bought more...if you still have some bring it to Elkhorn!)

    Sadly, I'm a pretty good sleeper so seldom get anything accomplished during the night. On the rare occasions that I wake up I figure it's because someone I know needs prayer at that moment - and fall back asleep praying. :)

    I love everything you have and the way you put it together.

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  14. Hey Joan, Thanks so much for your visit...I am new to blogging..enjoying it so much...Yes I do hope to go to Elkhorn and was hoping to hook up with some ladies. I love that show and also go to Cedarburg...My family is up in Oshkosh so I normally fly into Milwaukee, get a car, a room near Elkhorn and get up early to get to the show...(oh boy I can just taste those creampuffs now...we don't have em that good here)..are you in Chicago area...?? Don't have time to read your whole blog right now..wow 800 something followers!! so talk soon...thanks again for taking the time out...Looking for any Wisconsin gals out there (or Illnois!!) Cynthia Wolff

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  15. Ha you crack me up... no dusting for me at 2 am! If I wake up I turn over and over and over and then I start making stuff in my head but I can't seem to get my lazy but out of bed.
    Blessings
    Rebecca

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  16. I love phrenology heads - they just appeal to me - couldn't say why....

    A friend of mine from school had one in her living room...they also had a dentist's chair in the basement...

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  17. I think your vignettes would even have looked good dusty!! By the way, I love your blog--found you through Jeanine at chippy-shabby! Happy 2 am dusting!! Julie

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  18. I have a lot of sleepless nights so I rearrange all the furniture and accessories while Hubby sleeps. He will never go downstairs without turning the light on because he never knows where I have moved the furniture.
    Love the clay marbles!

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  19. Oh, I know those kinds of nights too well... first it was because the kids were young and now its because they are teens, I always feels like I have to have sleep one eye open. And when I cant sleep, reading blogs, read, paint and yes, clean are some of the few things I come up with... Husband told me as long as I dont vacuum, its okay... gee thanks love. Love your set-up, the old birds are my favourite *so cute*

    I hope you got a good sleep after, cheers

    Mari

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  20. Hey Joan, at least you are constructive when you can't sleep! I see you found "Yellow Bird" x 2. Glad you could locate them by you.Did you see all their friends in red, blue and orange too! Have a fun day!
    Donna...the 3rd sister

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  21. Great vignettes and during your sleepless night, great job! I am one of those that has a hard time sleeping too!

    Nancy

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  22. Oh I do love all of your cloches and your vignettes are so pretty. You have some of the most awesome things displayed. Love it. Thanks so much for joining the party. Hugs, Marty

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  23. I too am sorry that you couldn't sleep, but not too much if that's why you showed us your lovely collection! I LOVE the marbles and carving tools. Very very cool! I also love your little brushes. I'm just getting into those myself. Like I need something else.
    Have a great day!
    Karen

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  24. I find myself sleepless many nights. One particular night of lunacy involved book art. I fold every page of three old books (with great red cloth)in various ways to produce three dimensional works of art. I put them in a niche with some other treasures and finally fell asleep at 3:30 A.M. That niche had driven me crazy as nothing seemed right in it...until that sleepless night!

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  25. Having one of those nights now, but hey I have been perusing your lovely blog for at least an hour. Love it! I like your displays and love the marble fruit. I have thought about starting a collection. I can't remember if it was this blog or your marketplace blog but you did a write up on the marble fruit. It was very informative and interesting. Thank you! Now, I'm off to dust or rearrange furniture or maybe read some more of your posts!
    Hope you are sleeping tonight! ;-)

    Nancy

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