All Things Pretty...

A fairy pink Halloween...

A few posts back, I joked about seeking a change from the traditional Halloween orange/black theme...  "how about a pink and black Halloween?"

Someone heard me!  

I was delighted to see a lovely pink Halloween surprise when I opened the package from my swap partner,   Mary (Thyme to Spare).  We both participated in the Speckled Egg's petite inspiration matchbox swap enitled "curiosities."  Heather always has such a great turnout for her "petite inspiration" event and the creations are spectacular!  

 

 

...this lovely (but mischievious) pink fairy was featured on the cover of my box...

... the side reads "magic" and has a vintage earring as the "handle."

 

 

My petite box was packed with treasures!

Like these gorgeous beaded leaves...

 

...and some vintage bling...

 

The most adorable petitie frozen charlotte...

and check out the "curiosities" stamped good bag!

So many details by my generous swap partner!

 

 

... all my treasures... a great mix of traditional Halloween,

along with some beautiful pinks...

 

Thank you, THANK YOU, Thank you - Mary!

I love EVERYTHING :)

I'm sharing my pink fairy Halloween with Beverly and her  Pink Saturday party; stop on by for some lovely pink  (non-fattening) eye candy!

 

So much going on....

Are you as overwhelmed with Halloween swaps as I am?~!  

I signed up for 10  "ten" swaps this month...  for some of you it may not sound like much -I know you swap marathoners are out there :) - but for me, it's quite a lot!   

Being original with theme and colors becomes a bit more challenging during this time of year.... there is always that fear of being repetitive, boring, dull...   after all, I don't want my creation to look like a last-minute, bored attempt to complete a project that needs to be mailed by "x" date.  

I like to enjoy each project.... to learn about the receiver(s), to imagine their anticipation as they open my package... and hopefully, to put a smile on their face.  Don't get me wrong; I love receiving as well!  But the giving -- creating something special for a (sometimes) total stranger -- well, that fulfills a special need for me.

So today I'm sharing some recent swap projects....

Tee of Creations by Tee hosted a Halloween ATC Swap.  My swap partner was Wendy from Bliss Angels; an artist whose work I have tremendously admired since I started blogging.  

This is the ATC Wendy created for me.

Isn't it fabulous?  I especially loved that frog under her arm!

 

And this was the ATC I made for Wendy...

...I ventured a tad outside my comfort zone and went a bit Goth...

 

Another fun swap also hosted by Tee was an Altered Bottle swap.  This one was not a Halloween theme, so we could use any theme...

 

My partner was Kelly, and her altered bottle was gorgeous!  

 

... Kelly used melted wax to add texture... the wax brought out all the details of the lace and gave it an old, distressed look...

 

Her package also included lots of vintage ephemera I can use in future projects.

 

:::LOVE IT!  Thank you so much, Kelly!

 

And here's a preview of some of the other swap projects I've been working on... 

(I just love these little altered dominos!  It's an "instant gratification" project!)

("Bettina" and "Serina" the glamour witches... petite matchboxes)

 

I think I'll stop here.

More projects to finish; more photos to take; more boxes to ship!  

And in between that and work, I need to make time to decorate my home for Fall/Halloween.

Hope your week is going well.

 

Junk Bonanza....

The Creative Connection Event and Junk Bonanza both took place last weekend here in Minneapolis... the city was overflowing with creativity!

Unfortunately, I never made it out to CCE due to work schedule, but I did manage to spend most of Saturday at the Junk Bonanza!

Don't let the name fool you....   this is the good stuff! 

You were greeted by fun fall decor and fabulous vignettes...

 

It seems like the "it" projects, materials and medium of the moment in Blogland can be spotted throughout the event...

for example....   burlap

 

..this shade was fabulous!  It had a unique mix of textures....

 they used pearls and rusty iron knobs as accents.

 

...lots of tattered books without spines... beautifully embellished with fabric, buttons, buckles.

 

I spotted a few "new" ideas; like these mushrooms made from vintage laces and fabrics, their base/stem consist of old wood and/or knobs ...  they were so lovely!

 

...this may not be a new concept or idea...

but it was the first time I'd seen them in person.

...vintage buttons and pearls inside glass ornaments...

 

There were some amazing dressforms!   Old, torn, tattered, embellished....  these two were among my favorites.

 

 

...isn't the "black wings" idea cool?  Perfect for Halloween!

 

... I almost dropped my camera when I spotted this one!

 The wings are wood - the metal tiles spell out "junk love"

 

A few santos dolls were in attendance...  I'm still searching for the right one to bring home;

they were all over $150, which is way over my budget...

so the search continues.

 

ISN"T SHE BEAUTIFUL?!  

This bust stole my heart!  I was ready to pull out the plastic and buy it, no matter the cost...but then I noticed the "NFS" tag ...  

don't you hate it when that happens?  

There should be a law against it!  Using pieces as props and getting us all worked up about them - only to find out we can't bring them home!

 

...these little girl dress/slips have been tea stained and embellished with tattered laces... so darling!

 

The booths were a destination themselves...  vendors went all out to make their wares look fabulous.  

This one was one of my favorites... the queens of posh ALWAYS go over the top with their displays...  you just sit there and drool a bit.

 

See what I mean?

 

I had a great time chatting with vendors, some of which are also bloggers.

The Etsy folks were also there and it was nice to actually meet and greet the "real" people behind this booming business.  We talked about one of my fears:  Etsy has gotten so successful that they will be gobbled up by a big fish... and then, our Etsy that we've come to love... will change.  Hopefully not anytime soon.

 

I hope you are having a nice week!

I'm joining these parties....

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

 

Angel of my heart...

Wow... I haven't posted in a week!  

It was a crazy first full week of Kindergarten and, as usually happens this time of year, I am physically and mentally exhausted!  Take the challenge of Kindergarten, add the stress of speaking only Spanish to them (I teach Spanish Immersion Kinder) and you have the perfect recipe for D.E.A.D.  T.I.R.E.D.  

I'm right in the middle of completing projects for several Halloween-themed swaps - plus I have photos of items I've already received (will share later this week!)...   but I did take time to make something pretty...

just for me :)  

and just because.

 

 

...this is LuzBella...  she is Cupid's cousin...

 

LuzBella likes to spread love and friendship...  

making everyone she touches feel special.

(...but I wonder if she has a cure for tiredness?)

Maybe that's a different cousin...

 

HAVE A LOVELY WEEK!  

(p.s. Our temps have been dropping here in Minnesota... have already had my heater on for several nights!  And it's not even officially "fall" yet.

Chippy chintz...

What is chintz porcelain?  

I recently sold a set of chintz plates on Etsy and the buyer asked me for a definition of "chintz."  It was then I realized that I myself didn't know much about chintz, or its history.

After a bit of online rearch, the best description and history I found was on Replacements Ltd. :

Floral chintz patterns date back to the early 17th century. English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian adventurers were busy exploring and searching for the new world. Many visitors who explored the East returned with treasures from the lands they had visited. Several explorers brought with them fantastically decorated fabrics from India. Generally, these fabrics were thickly woven and featured brightly colored floral and bird designs. The intricately decorated fabrics became popular throughout the European continent.

At the same time, a renaissance of sorts was occurring in the pottery and porcelain industry. Pottery producers were experimenting with new glazes and decorating techniques. Josiah Wedgwood, Josiah Spode, and John Doulton each experimented with new clays, glazes, and decorating techniques. The pottery industry witnessed a number of advances during this period thanks to the hard work of these entrepreneurs.

Several pottery manufacturers wanted to replicate the brightly colored Indian designs found on chintz fabric. However, there were a number of obstacles to overcome. At the time, a suitable technique for transferring intricate motifs had not been developed. China manufacturers found it equally difficult to reproduce colors that were true to the flowers they represented.

Two brothers, Sydney Richard and Leonard Lumsden Grimwade, were instrumental in the development of manufacturing processes that allowed for the production of chintz china. They acquired the Winton Porcelain factory and renamed it Grimwades, Ltd. Before opening his china factory, Leonard Lumsden Grimwade worked as a lithographer, or print maker. Drawing from his background in print making, Leonard Grimwade developed a method of decorating porcelain that is similar to printing images on paper. This method allowed for the brightly colored layered designs of Indian chintz fabric to be replicated on porcelain. The intricately detailed designs produced by the Grimwade brothers quickly won them the patronage of the English monarchy.

 In 1928, Grimwades, Ltd. released their first chintz pattern entitled Marguerite. The design for the “Marguerite” pattern came from a pillow that Leonard Grimwade’s wife was stitching. Mrs. Grimwade’s pillow was decorated with a replication of an Indian chintz fabric. “Marguerite” became an instant sales success. Two years following the release of this pattern, Grimwades, Ltd. changed their name to Royal Winton. Since that time, the Royal Winton name has been associated with fantastically designed chintz patterns. 

Following Royal Winton’s success, many other china manufacturers began reproducing the elegantly detailed chintz fabric designs. James Kent pottery released several chintz patterns, including Dubarry and Rosalynde. Johnson Brothers released Summer Chintz and Rose Chintz. Both patterns were immensely popular. Today, Minton China continues to produce their ever popular chintz line, Haddon Hall. Chintz remains immensely collectible throughout the world. Royal Winton’s original patterns are highly prized collectors items.

 Such a wonderful history!   So now we know friends, why those chintz pieces we spot at the antiques stores are so pricey...

I was fortunate enough to find my own little pieces of history recently; at a garage sale of all places!  

One is a small pot...  it has a few dings, but ask me if I care...

... this piece is so old that the markings have faded into oblivion...  I will be doing more research on chintz to see if I can identify the pattern and maker.

 

... isn't the pattern lovely?

 

The other piece I found appears to be either a small coffee or chocolate pot... maybe a creamer...  Equally lovely, but with a long vertical crack which has been glued.  I'm so happy someone took the time to repair it!  Again, no markings.

 

If there are any chintz experts and collectors out there, please feel free to email me with any information you may have on these pieces!  I'd love to hear from you; as I have so much to learn.

 

I'm linking (a bit late) my chintz finds to Beverly's Pink Saturday party.  Stop on by for an eyeful of pink deliciousness...

 

Summer's last hurrah...

As much as I love the Fall and everything it represents (the changing of the leaves, roasting marshmallows over a bonfire, picking apples at the orchard and baking fresh apple pie...) I'm always saddened by the waning of summer.

The days are getting shorter; the garden is looking tired.  Earlier this week, I started seeing the first golden, crinkled leaves of autumn on my lawn.

Over the years, I've learned to pick flowers up to the last moment - virtually the last bloom.  I know that with our Minnesota 6+ month winters, it will be a very long time before we see anything blooming again!

 

I appreciate every bloom, every branch, every leaf....

 

...like this white hosta bloom...  

they have a lovely scent that reminds me of gardenias.

 

 

 

... one of my favorites this time of year:  scallion blooms....  their dainty white flowers are a contradiction to their strong, heady scent.

 

 

Unusual and unexpected foliage can look beautiful in your bouquet... like this dogwood.

Today's bouquet consisted of:  hosta, scallion, dogwood and lamb's ears.  I don't think you would find a similar one at your local florist!

 

Using old, chipped containers (like this vintage teapot) adds charm and character.

 

 

I was pleasantly surprised to see that one of my rosebushes still had a few buds; which have been paired with clusters of sedum.

 

 

... hydrangeas which have naturally "dried" on the bush are always beautiful.

 

 

 

I hope you are enjoying your last few weeks/days of summer 2011.

 

I'm linking up to these great parties:

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Show and Tell Friday @ Romantic Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

 

Take the day off!

 

A little birdie told me....

 

...that it's 

                        

... so take the day off!

 

Spend it with the family!  Have fun, relax...

 

 

...sit and watch the birds....

the sun set....

the stars....

 

Enjoy your day!

( Linking up to Blue Monday @ Smiling' Sally)

 

Madonna and her pink rosary...

Lately, I've been finding (and buying) religious figures and artifact; mostly Madonna's.  It's not something I've been drawn to in the past... I don't know if that means I'm becoming a bit more spiritual as I age, or that I'm more cognizant of their beauty (for example, how the artist tries to capture the purity and holiness of her face)... or both.

My latest find was this lovely Madonna planter in very soft and faded tones; her gown was once pink.

 

 

Her right hand has been repaired,

but that didn't stop me from falling in instant love with her beauty.

 

Her face is so sweet and tranquil... and look at those eyelashes!  

I like how the photo captures the crazing.

 

On the same day, I also found this pink rosary.  

No fancy materials, just plastic and hemp; but still very beautiful.

 

How often do you find pink rosary beads?  

Wishing you and yours a safe and happy Labor Day weekend.

 

I'm joining Beverly's Pink Saturday party and sharing my pink finds.