Thursday, August 7, 2008

"The Bike"

I'm sure most of you have seen pictures of "the bike". It happened like this,(as I was driving down the city street in my trusty black pickup):


Me- "Do you see what someone threw away?"
Pink Girl- "you've got to be kidding, no mom, NO!"
Me- "it's an amazing vintage bike"
Pink Girl- "isn't it illegal to steal someone's trash"?
ME-"I have to have that bike and they don't want it. It's in the middle of their trash pile".
Pink Girl has now retired to the floor of the pickup and is trying to crawl under the seat.
Friend from back seat- "do you need help"?.

This was the beginning of my beloved life with "the bike". It stands proudly on the porch of my shop/studio/old church building. I change the flowers in the basket according to season. It makes me smile.

DREAM KEYS (new in my shop)





Keys have long been the symbol for success, or dreams. To me, it's more then that. The "key" is letting someone in (opening the door), or someoneone else letting you in. The key is not linked to a monitary item, but of sharing emotion; sympathy, empathy, happiness, compassion, joy and even sadness. So dream. Dream that you may truly benefit those around you. Open the door.

50 comments:

Connie said...

Ele!!!!!! I'm over in the group alone, sweetpea!!! Just saw your post. Terrific, terrific idea, honey! You have such talent.......

Pink girl??? Hah, what does she know......vintage bicycles are hard to come by.......

Smoochies,
Connie

Lori said...

hee hee, i love the story of how you came to own your vintage bike Ele:)

what you did with those keys is so beautiful!!! the seam binding, the velvet, the baubles? perfection!!!

Tara said...

Ele

Glad you snagged your beloved bike!

Cottage Way of Life said...

It's amazing the things people get rid of!!

-Sarah

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness Ele - the bike is so sweet!

Ans I love the keys. LOVE THEM!

Joy
:)

Farmchick said...

Hi~

Yes--mornings & evenings have been wonderful. What do you mean you are thinking about the barn??? as in getting a booth? If so...let me know...you can get two and I will pay you for one!

Shirl said...

Cute post Ele, and you did a beautiful job with those keys. Very pretty!
Blessings, Shirl
Shirls ROse Cottage

Susan Tuttle said...

A girl after my own heart -- what a fabulous bike!!

I love the key!

Thank you so much for your kind comment regarding the article.

Warmly,
Susan

suze said...

Oh,I would have to have that bike too! I just traded in my Mustang to have a vehicle that I can pick stuff up in.
suze...from pinkcrayonstudio

roseroomnz.com said...

I would have grabbed the bike also!!! The keys are wonderful! Rachaelxo

Myrna said...

Love the keys and love your sentiment about them...so lovely, so true...

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Love the bike story!! And my teens can empathize with your daughter! I want to be a trash girl in my next life!

I love old keys! One of these days I'm going to use my little ones as fringe for a lampshade.
Becky

www.angelinascards.com said...

Hi! I love the bike!! What a great find!! Angelina

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

I love the bike, I love the basket on the bike, and even better, I love the flowers in the basket on the bike. It's perfect!

The keys are pretty awesome, too.

Jillian

Lori said...

Ele, Hi friend! i've missed you alot!! Hope to get well soon to visit more often! Love and hugs,Lori

Sandy said...

I love your summary of the key! Your blog certainly is full of inspiration and a key to creativity, thanks for sharing.

Kai said...

Proof positive of that old saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure!" Great bike! Great USE for it, too! And those keys are delicious! What a lovely idea and what a symbolic gift they would make. You never fail to blow me away, Ele!

Unknown said...

That is an awesome bike. The keys are so lovely the way you've embellished them. You're so talented in decorating and embellishing I love what you do!

The Vintage Vagablonde said...

I wish I could find one of those bikes...Free is the best!
Your keys are great..I have some plastic wall hanging keys that I have painted and they are hanging in my entry....There is something mystical about keys.

Donna Gotlib said...

What a fun story. That bike NEEDED love and was waiting for you! Now it has a wonderful new life. Oh, I love this type of thing. It's so much nicer than something like "old bike goes to landfill..."

You're a good kid!

Cookie

vickie said...

LOVE the bike, great story. Your key creations are so pretty. Sigh.

HippieDog said...

Oh Ele! I love the keys.....they are very beautiful :) Also that is the funniest story about the bike.....my Aaron would have done the same thing......lol :) Thanks for making me smile today! xo

Michele said...

Ele...omg, I love the bike...it looks awesome!

Love the key and dream idea!

Hugz,
Michele

Diane Mars said...

I love the "Stop the Car" good trash typical of us junk to treasure gals. If no one understands us I am sure our Blog friends will (: You go girl!
Hugs, Diane

Alison Gibbs said...

Loving your keys - so sweet.
Oh what a fun story picking up the bike!!
Alison

Miss Rhea said...

You did good !! My friend, I would have gladly help you haul the bike back to the truck and over the side. :) Oh gosh, the keys are PRETTY !! :)

Unknown said...

OH I love that bike and the keys! Hope to see you soon over at my place!
Hugs,
Robyn

Sugar Bear said...

I would have grabbed the bike too!
Karla

Cathy said...

Ele, I LOVE that bike. I have no room for one in my yard or I would have a totally pink one blinged out and full of flowers in the basket.

Love it!!!!!

xo Cath

Rose Garden Romantic said...

Love the keys!! So pretty!!
Michelle

Catty Wampus said...

I love the bike story; my family does the same thing to me; I don't care, I do it anyway; as I pointed out to my daughter; trash is public property once placed on the curb. LOL! You have a beautiful blog!
Merrie

Unknown said...

thanks for stopping by and saying hello I always love seeing you there!
Hugs,
Robyn

Sharon said...

...and just what does Pink Girl think of your bike now? Love your keys Ele.

Unknown said...

Hi Ele! I love your keys!! Those are so pretty!

Hope everything is going greatfor you and your family! How is your son doing? I hope he is all better :)

Love ya,
Amy

Betty said...

Wait...I want to hear. Do you ride the bike? I have been seriously dreaming of an aqua blue beach bike at the bike shop. I saw it when I bought my son's bike. I just love vintage bikes! I would have helped you load it in the truck and then played rock, paper, scissors to see who took it home!

Niesz Vintage Home said...

Oh yes, Great bike!
I would have been right there with you in the garbage. You can't let something that good go to the dump...that just wouldn't be right.

Lovely key, too.

Kimberly :)

Pinkie Denise said...

Hello Ele,
Love that post so dreamy...What fun Pinkie

~Becca~Bluebird Rose said...

Love the bike!! I have my childhood "big bike" that I got when I was eight years old, complete with front basket. I have thought of putting it outdoors with flowers in it; I wonder how it would hold up?
:)

Catty Wampus said...

Ele; thank you for visiting my blog! I think what you were referring to was the grungy snowballs? They are just bowl fillers, but a grungy candle would be so great! They have the scent of coffee,vanilla and cinnamon as do the jars. I have to get around to updating my links so others can find you and I can get back to visit often! I love pink; and your positive nature is so wonderful; I love reading the posts; Merrie

Bertie said...

Finally got a moment to stop by. I wondered how you came upon that treasured bike! I've loved it from the start!

What great keys!!

I finally posted to my blog. Come by and see me.

Bertie
Aunt May's Cottage

Charmingdesigns said...

It was so nice catching up on your blog!! Love your bike, I love how kids get so embarrassed, she'll get over that when she gets older.lol
Laurie

Unknown said...

Hi Ele! You and your family have been in my thoughts. I am so sorry Luke is still having so much pain. I feel so awful for him. I hope it gets better very soon. I will be praying for him and your family.

I am so dreading school starting:( This summer has just gone by too fast! My boys go back the week of Labor Day :( I cant believe some kids have already started!!!

Love ya,
Amy

ROSE VINE COTTAGE said...

Oh I love the bike! Wish I could luck up and find one in the garbage! You lucky girl. I was looking through your posts and I love the first baby nursery you have posted! I'd like that for me, love all the cottage colors. Thanks for the visit and your sweet comments you left me!
Hugs~Kelly

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

Cute story about your bike! My family would have crawled low in the car, too! hahaha!!

Lovely keys! You are so creative!!

xo
Becky

Jennifer said...

Ele Your bike is so sweet.Your daughter sounds like all 3 of my boys they hate when I go dumpster diving or thrift shopping they hide on the floor too!LOL

Your pin cushions are darling to!Love Ya,Jen

w00ts up said...

I love your bike! It's amazing the great stuff people throw away.

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Lovely keys!! And I've always adored your bike. Funny, but H. sounds just like me, trying to hide in the floorboard with my daddy!!

Thanks for the giggles!

Love you,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Robin said...

oh my gosh! I think I would have made tire sounds stopping the car! I've never dug through anyones curbside stuff but I would have stopped in a heartbeat! Love those keys too-beauty!

One Shabby Old House said...

I love the keys, I love the pin cushions, I love the bike, I love the idea of having an old church as a studio.
I love your blog.
Thanks for visiting me.
Becky
Laceandlures.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Well said.