About me....Let's see, where to start.... OK, I was born in Minnesota and am of Norwegian and Irish descent. I moved around a lot when I was growing up as my dad spent 22 years in the USMC. I had a wonderful childhood and was always encouraged by my parents to compete in sports, do well in school, and be creative. I was raised with 4 siblings and am the #2 daughter. In high school I was on the basketball team and was an art major in college... needless to say I liked art and sports better than algebra or chemistry! I have a son, granddaughter, and great grandson. And for those of you wondering about my name "Sandy Shores", I have to admit that's not my real name - I had to marry twice to get that last name! My maiden name is Sandy Troy.
I have lived in many different US states and traveled to other countries. I love the diversity of this world we live in and feel we can learn from other cultures. My home decor has a little bit of every state and country I've lived or visited, and my friends are as varied as my house! My favorite US cities are New Orleans (where the picture was taken) and San Francisco. My favorite countries are France and Italy. I live in Austin, Texas because of my job with IBM managing the deployment of eBusiness architects. I have always been artistic (I was even a street vendor selling my leather craft in New Orleans in my hippie days!). But found out early in life that a job with computers pays more. I recently retired from IBM and now I have time to do what I want - YEA!
My favorite animals are cats, I have two beautiful Persians - Love Bug and Peanut. I love all animals and they seem to be drawn to me too. My hobbies are swimming, any type of Art, gardening, and I spend a lot of time on genealogy research. Recently I got a a mountain bike and am being taken back to my youth biking all over! My kitties put up with sitting in the basket for a block or two but don't seem to like biking as much as I do. I am a collector... of just about everything... coins, stamps, Princess depression glass, Holt-Howard pixies, pinups, bathing beauties, Fiesta, Waterford, Arthur Court, Fitz & Floyd, Peter Max, Erte, and mermaids. I also collect Bordeaux, primarily first growths as I used to buy wine futures - my favorites are Margaux, Mouton and Pichon LaLande.
I get such enjoyment from collecting and creating vintage fantasy creatures, using colorful dinnerware, and having collectibles all over my walls and counters. I guess you could say I love to live in a fantasy world... it works for me! :) I am an avid collector of what I sell and am thankful for my loyal repeat customers as well as new customers. Some of my items are from my own personal collection, some have been purchased at auction/estate sales, some have been purchased from individual collectors. I have created comprehensive writings, with photos, of 1940's/1950's mermaids and sea creatures which has nothing for sale but just provides some great information! Do visit my MermaidMania webite and Holt Howard Pixie website when you have time.
My website is as diverse as my life! I have many categories to pick from... vintage dinner and colorware, face condiments and pixies, lipstick and vanity items, pinups and bathing beauties, mermaids and sea creatures. I am just getting into face mask wall hanging so you will see those offered shortly on my website. I sell the vintage items as well as create pinups and sea creatures from vintage molds for customers that want certain colors in a particular style. I start ed creating them in different colors for myself and one thing led to another, and here I am 10 years later selling them to customers all over the world!
The mermaids and pinups I design are made from my own comprehensive collection of over 300 of the 1940's/50's Fish, Seahorse, Mermaid, and Pinup molds I now have. Some are vintage ceramic molds and some are molds for chalkware. I use a chalkware similar to the vintage chalkware which is very dense (Hydrocal). I learned real quick you don't want to use the cheap plaster of paris as that is very fragile can break easily. On the wall you can't tell if they are made from Hydrocal or ceramic, and Hydrocal is very similar to ceramic in durability. I use professional quality materials and often buy vintage jewelry to use as head dressings: vintage earrings, necklaces, brooches typically made in the 1930s-50's. I also buy lots of vintage flowers and even vintage glitter when I can find it. This allows me to keep a vintage look to my pieces. On my site you will see designs I have made that are ready to ship today, and you will see sets that are offered to be custom designed in colors of your choice that take a couple weeks. My custom designs allow you to get a lovely mermaid set to match your bath colors, and even your hair and eye color. I have created Tips & Techniques page for those that buy reproduction mermaids.
And where do I get all this energy??? .... I'm a Gemini!
Favorite quote - Men are like wine, the best get better with age!
Motto - Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Pet Peeve - Slow drivers in the fast lane.
Philosophy on Life - Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WHO HOO - What a Ride!
Thanks for stopping by!