I've been working on a couple of projects that involve vintage laces, crochet pieces, millinery, pearls... pure heaven for someone who loves vintage textiles (smile).
There is something very soothing about small handsewn projects. For me, part of the fun is the almost instant gratification; how it comes together stitch by stitch.
One project was this mother/child altered cabinet card.
I thought this image was so sweet - perfect for Mother's Day!
I added a little "tag" with the perfect message...
You can see the joy in the babe's face and the mother's unconditional love and pride.
Just darling - don't you think?
This next project is a bit larger and complex.
It is a fabric collage , using layers and layers of textiles and a vintage image printed on canvas.
I was able to use some beautiful vintage pieces leftover from previous projects.
I cannot bear to throw out even a 1-inch piece of beautiful old lace ~ so you can only imagine the excessive amount of "leftovers" in my studio.
(smile)
Pretty flowers (both premade and handmade) add a soft, feminine touch.
A special message...
It is not quite finished, but I'm loving how it's turning out.
...just a few more details and a way to "hang" it, since it is about 8 1/2 x 11 inches and a bit heavy due to all the layers...
What about you? Any special projects you've enjoyed working on recently?
There is a boxful of vintage photos in my studio... a large box.
Every single photo has been purchased with the intent of using in a project of some sort. They all tell a story... whether it's a lovely lady gazing into the horizon, a new bride looking "not so in love," children with their mothers.
(I am especially fond of pretty and/or interesting hairstyles, hats, outfits)
I once had the idea of taking some of the photos and writing a story around them; wouldn't that be fun?
I haven't pursued that idea yet, but it's on my "to do someday" list.
Needless to say, I cannot pass up the opportunity to dig through hundreds of photos at antiques shops, sometimes estate sales... looking for those "special" ones. Of course, the price has to be right as well (I won't pay more than $1 apiece, not matter how pretty the image!).
I recently purchased these two beauties at Junk Bonanza.
Junk Bonanza is always a fun event. There is something for everyone...whether it is a large furniture piece you are looking for, garden art, true antiques, "junk" antiques, repurposed junk, handmade OOAK jewelry pieces... you name it, it's there!
For me, JB is all about the little things. I love to dig for diamonds...so to speak. I never come home with big pieces; my biggest purchase (size-wise) this year was a very unique birdhouse (photos later).
Some of my other finds this year:
I was instantly attracted to this box... loved the cameo-like image on the cover. Its color is a soft, faded peachy-cream.
The price tag read "scarf in a box, $2" and I was sold before even seeing the scarf.
It turns out, the scarf is okay, but it could have been the ugliest scarf on Earth and I would have still purchased the box.
I think I offended the dealer a tiny bit, when I mentioned this (my love of the box, not so much of the scarf).
I also found lots of pretty buttons for reasonable prices.
One of my favorite shops of all-time, Rose Mille in Stillwater, was there. Michelle has the prettiest booth ever~ with tons of millinery, ribbons, trim~ many of which she gets directly from France. They closed their bricks-n-mortar shop a few months back, but all of her merchandise is still available online and soon, via occasional sales.
Her "new" millinery looks and feels vintage, and I always end up purchasing a few sprigs to use for those special projects.
Another little find was this dainty berry bowl... I need another dainty bowl as much as I need a hole in my head, but I couldn't put it down!
What is it with me and little pink, delicate, flowery bowls?!?
Another sweet purchase was this little lady...
she stands all of 3 inches tall.
Isn't she sweet?
The hat, the dress, the dark hair...reminded me of "Gone with the Wind" ~ which is my all-time favorite movie. Of course I had to bring her home!
My studio has been a flurry of Spring creativity recently... now it is just a mess.
A beautiful mess.
I know I have to clean it up... but I love seeing the remnants of Spring creations.
It seems that just about every swap I was participating in called for a nest of some kind~~handmade nests, altered nests, store-bought nests (not my favorite). I experimented a bit, traveled outside my comfort zone, and it was quite the adventure.
These are a few of my favorites:
Okay, not really a nest.... more like a lace "basket" NESTING Springtime gifts.
This basket was put together for my partner in the Spring ribbon and flower swap I hosted at An Altered Place.
This next one IS a NEST.
A handmade nest sits in a pretty vintage glass compote.
The further I went along in putting it together, the more enamored I became with it.
I call it my "romantic nest" and it was hard to part with it... but I know that its new owner will enjoy it just as much.
My next nest was tiny... small enough to fit inside the smaller peat pots.
This little darling was made for another darling, my daughter, Bianca. She is a very busy law student who loves pretty things made by her mama. In fact, she almost expects some handmade little item each season... something to grace her apartment and remind her of Home (smile).
Another peat pot with nest to share with you ~ this one is enroute to Japan, where my swap partner resides.
Isn't that cool? I have to say it again, how much I love swapping these little pieces of "art" with like-minded friends all across the globe!
The little Spring fairy stands inside a nest, amongst the pretty flowers, eggs and even a pink chick. Isn't she darling?
Yet another Spring peat pot (hey, I guess this post is all about NESTS and PEAT POTS...) this one was created for JoAnne's "A tisket, a tasket, An Easter Altered Peat Pot Basket" event.
Instead of filling the altered peat pot with the Spring goodies, I decided to go with a topiary, featuring a handmade little bluebird (from felt). (The goodies, of course, were still included, but separately!)
I love the colors of this little piece ~ ultra soft peachy-pink, baby green, ecru, white.
The overall effect is soft and pretty.
...the greeting came directly from a 1940's Easter greeting card... which I cut (gasp! that was hard to do)... I tried to photocopy/scan and reprint, but didn't like how it looked. The original card was printed on this pretty peachy paper with a watermark, which the photocopy couldn't capture.
My partner was the sweet and talented Lorraine... which I am always thrilled to be partnered with because her creations are always breathtaking.
This one was no exception.
Isn't it beautiful?!?
Lorraine and I had similar inspiration for this swap, as we both ended up with birdie topiaries. Great minds think alike, right? lol
Thank you, Lorraine, for this precious little piece of Art!
Whew!
I think those are all the nests and peat pots for now... thanks for endulging me!
It's back to the studio for me - this time to do some cleanup.
(I'm sharing my Nests with Beverly and her Pink Saturday party!)
