All Things Pretty...

Beauty in a box...and a few other things

 In my last post, I mentioned the "Paris Wall Pocket Swap" being hosted by my Marie Antoinette Mail Art group.  I also shared the gorgeous supplies my swap partner, Wanda, sent me.

 I've started working on my wall pocket and let me tell you, it was HARD deciding which supplies to use and where... they are all so beautiful; I have to be careful not to overdo things and make it look "junky."   My late mother-in-law, Bebe, and I would joke about both of us (or neither) never knowing when to just stop ("put the project down")... always wanting to add "one more pretty thing."  I've had to learn to edit - and that will always be a challenge for me, I think.

Today I'm sharing the supplies I sent Wanda for her wall pocket.

This recycled fabric box, tied with a vintage velvet ribbon and a handmade tag... contained fabrics and ribbons.

 Many of the supplies came from my stash of vintage fabrics and laces, but I did go on the hunt for some special pieces.

My search lead to me a wholesale fabric place about 32 miles from home...  a huge facility that caters to designs and crafters alike... their selection is incredible, and their pricing is competitive.

I was there for over two hours and still didn't see everything!

I have to admit that I was a bit derailed by the 50+ bins near the entrance.  They were labelled "European scaps."  And there I stayed for at least one full hour, digging through it all.  ((sigh))

 

Those of you who have swapped with me know that I love the presentation part of exchanging gifts....   I have been known to leave a pretty package unopened for a bit because I am reluctant to even undo a bow!   

 

 

A little vintage box filled with pink embellishments, silk ribbon and a handmade rosette.

 

 

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Some handmade ribbon and fabric flowers...  this was the most stressful part for me, as my very talented swap partner makes the MOST AMAZING silk flowers I've ever seen!  She sells them here...

I'm truly an amateur in this arena.  My flowers tend to be asymmetrical and not perfect; I love the scrunched and shabby look of them.

Ribbons and laces, both newer and vintage.

 

We were to include a couple of "Marie" images.

 These were printed on silk habotai.

 

Another peek inside the box... 

 

 I can't wait to see Wanda's Paris Wall Pocket; I know it will be extraordinaire!

 

(p.s. I'm sharing my pretty pink supplies with Beverly and her Pink Saturday party)

 

 

New group, new friends, new beauties...

I was recently invited to join the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group and quicker than you could say "all things pretty" I accepted!  For a while now, I have admired the gorgeous works of art these ladies have made, gifted and exchanged...  I would practically drool over some their creations!  

Soon after joining, I decided to jump right in with my first swap:  the Paris Wall Pocket Swap.   For this event, we were assigned partners and provided with a "shopping" list of supplies to purchase for our partner to create a magnificent Paris Wall Pocket.   Using our swap partners' likes and favorites, we were to gather the most beautiful materials we could find.  Then... off to package everything up as pretty as can be before shipping to our partner.   Our partner then has to create their wall pocket using the materials we've provided.  

 My swap partner is Wanda, who is also hosting the group.  The minute I saw her beautifully wrapped box, I had a glimpse of the treasures that awaited me...

 

 

 

...it was like Christmas and my Birthday all over again...

 

Wanda is known for her gorgeous, handmade silk flowers.  

These are miniature perfection!

 

 

 Lots and lots of silks... in the most French shades of lavenders and blues...

 

...and the laces!  Oh my!  

 

 

 

(I was drooling at this point...)

 

 

 

 

This amazing silk is the base fabric for my wall pocket... ((sigh)) It's so beautiful, that I could just frame it "as is" and be happy.

 

 

Wanda even collaged this piece, for me to use as the pocket itself.  

 

 

 Merci, Wanda!   J'adore tout!

 

(I'll share my supplies for Wanda in a future post)

I'm linking up to Sally's Blue Monday blog party and sharing all my lovely French supplies.

 

Flowers in bed...

If you are having trouble sleeping, you might watch television, read a book...   personally, I prefer to make something with my hands.   

Recently, I brought my needle, threads, ribbons and a bagful of beautiful fabric scraps purchase for nearly nothing (39 to 79 cents)... oh yes, and my "cheaters!"... to bed with me for some late-nite creations.

So with hubby snoring softly at my side, our German-Shepherd puppy snuggled in her bed, I happily cut, twirled and sewed my way into midnight (actually, more like 1:30am).

 

 

There's something magical and peaceful about making beautiful things, late at nite while the entire household is sleeping...   I was having fun with the variety of textures and colors...

 

 

These are all still in their "raw" form;

lots of frays and bits of threads that will need trimming...

 

 

While I love experimenting with different shapes and types of flowers, the roses are always my favorite.

 

 

 

I like making them "scrunched" and inperfect...  

 

 

(the gorgeous cone is a gift from JoAnne)

(the antique box is available for sale here)

 

 

I was working on Spring colors...  the beautiful lavenders, pinks, yellows that we see crop up in the early days of Spring.

 

 

 

 

Next, I will be trimming threads and finishing each flower with pearls, beads and a little bling here and there.  Some will go to swap friends, others are embellishments on upcoming Spring and Easter creations...

 

Happy Saturday!

 

I am sharing my "roses at bedtime" with the pink-loving ladies at How Sweet the Sound.

 

 

Hearts, flowers, love....

As promised, an update with some of my swap gifts and creations!   

JoAnne hosted "Be My Valentine" matchbox swap.  Not just any ole matchbox, but the smaller ones, to be filled with three teensy ATC's (these were a true test of dexterity and vision!)

My swap partner was Kimberly, who created the sweetest confection for me...

 

 

 

 

I absolutely love these teeny ATC's!

She knows me so well!   Thank you, dear Kimberly, I love all my treasures!

This is the matchbox and ATC's I made for her.  Lots of pink-upon-pink ribbon roses in all shapes and sizes...

 

 

 

 

 

I also joined Wendy's "Heart and Flower" Valentine tin swap.  My wonderful partner, Michele, awed me with her magnificent altered tin...

 

 

She has a gift for mixing the unexpected... like these pink girly flowers with the touches of nature, rustic.   Don't you just love it?!?

 

 

At first glance, you can't even tell there's a tin in there somewhere... even the back has a pocket, which held a vintage card and sweet tag.

Thank you so much, Michele,  I love it!

 

I went a bit "out on a limb" for her tin and made a Valentine's garland using vintage tins.

 

 

 

I also included a few little Valentine's trinkets;

like this teeny tussie mussie made out of paper mache...

Another fun swap I joined was Tee's  "Tag a Month" Swap; here's the tag I made for my swap partner, Marcia.  Hope she likes it!

 

I'm sharing all my Valentine's lovelies with Beverly and her Pink Saturday party... don't forget to stop on by for the most beautiful pink eye candy ever!

 

 

Romantic notions...

Don't you love it when you are browsing Blogland, hopping from place to place, enjoying all the beauty and creativity... when, all of a sudden, you <click> on a link to some unknown site (because it looks interesting) and then...  

quite by accident, really...

 

 

You discover a new favorite.

 

 

This is my new "favorite" of the week.  Full of the most beautiful and diverse supplies a girl could ask for...  and the prices are reasonable; shipping is ultra fast, customer service is amazing!

 

 

When I received my order just 5 days after placing it and saw how gorgeous everything was, I immediately went to my computer and placed another order!

(I ask:  is that considered impulsive buying????)

 

So what exactly is this "new" discovery?

It's called FrostItPink and you can find it here.

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In between all the blog hopping, drooling and shopping, I did manage to finish a few of my Valentines swaps and other projects.

Everything was prettily packaged and is on its way to its recipient.

 

 

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Hope you are enjoying your week!

I have lots more to share with you... but need to wait a few days until deliveries arrive at their rightful destination so as not to spoil surprises.