All Things Pretty...

Regal beauties....

Several recent projects have included crowns and queens....  I noticed, as I was putting together this post, that I've been using more and more of the faded creams, ecru, and soft grays and tans tones in my projects.  

In the BlissfullARTSwaps Group, we made ATC's for  the theme "Where's My Crown?" 

 I used Shakespeare's female characters as my muse.

(images are courtesy of The Graphics Fairy)

 

 

 

 

Also for the BlissfullARTSwaps Group (make sure to check out the work of all the amazing artists in this group)....  I joined the "altered Pierrot paperdoll" swap...  

The Pierrot doll image is from The Graphics Fairy...we were to alter/dress our doll using any medium/materials we desired.

 

I had all these divine laces I've been saving for a special project,

so I decided to use them for my doll's gown.  

 

 

The bodice of the gown is made from a scrap of very, very old silk (1800's dress). 

Oh, how I wish I had seen the actual dress back in it's day - I guarantee is was magificent!

 

of course, every royal beauty needs her jewels... 

 

The original doll had a traditional Pierrot hat which didn't quite work with my "beaute royale" look, so off it came.... and in its place, a beautiful crown.

 

I am quite pleased with how she turned out... and she is enroute to her rightful owner: my swap partner, Janet.

(this is actually the second Pierrot doll I've made for Janet, as the first one never made it to its final destination!  Thanks to delivery confirmation; we were able to identify where it went... seems like my first beauty is "stuck" somewhere in the St. Paul, Minnesota USPS routing center).

 

So there they are.... my regal beauties.

Thanks for letting me share them with you!

 

A bit of vintage....

Happy Saturday to you!

Today I'm sharing some of last weekend's finds...   from an estate sale that I almost missed!  

 

A sweet container that one had a lid...  I fell in love with the delicate pink spray of flowers (sigh) and knew it was perfect for displaying my fresh-cut roses

(since the roses in my own garden are not yet blooming, some silks are filling in for the moment)

 

 

This particular estate sale had thousands of silk florals!   Stems of every color, size, material...  wreaths, bouquets (lots of bridals!)  

I came home with a very large box of  silk roses.

Tucked away underneath a pile of stems, I found this little cherub.

Gold-toned, with fine details, and carrying a basket on his back.

isn't he divine?

 

I also came home with several dozen of these little bouquets, in a variety of colors.  

The delicate little flowers are perfect for all types of projects... and it seems that they (the flowers) are getting harder and harder to find at local craft stores, so I was delighted to find this stash.

I love it when you find pretty treasures in unexpected places...don't you?

 

(linking to Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound)

 

Spools, threads, tatting...

Has the simplest display, or maybe even a single item sitting in an antique booth chockful of "stuff" ever caught your eye?  

You are instantly drawn to it... not quite sure why.  Oh yes, we've all had those "oohhh" moments when something truly beautiful makes us stop in our tracks.  But I'm not referring to those items, the obvious one.  I'm referring to the ones that don't scream "look at me!"

That happened to me recently while visiting one of my favorite occasional sales at How Quaint, in Shakopee.  I walked into a booth full of lovelies and spotted a bowl that contained these...

 

 

..simple little spools with unfinished pieces  of lace/tatting wound around them...

I picked up each one gingerly...

attracted to their color, texture, even their smell 

 

Of course, I had to buy them... and as soon as I got home, whipped out my camera and proceeded to take ((many)) photos...

 

...the tones of the spools look beautiful when paired with vintage millinery and silks...   

 And a few of my estate sales pieces also came out to join the photo shoot...

Once the photo shoot was done... they were put into a crystal bowl in The Sunshine Room... where they will sit for awhile until I decide if I (ever) want to unwind the pieces to see them in their entirety.

Thanks for letting me share my little spools!  

(I'm also sharing with the White Wednesday party over at the Faded Charm)

What great little finds have you brought home recently?

Love the glove...

I had very good intentions when I wrote my last post... I was going to try to post several times this week because there was (is) so much I need to share...  but Monday came/went, then Tuesday, and next thing I knew - it is Friday!  

Where did the week go?!?

 I've recently noticed that the days get shorter as I get older (funny, nobody warned me about that!)

(So I still have tons of estate sale finds to share at a later date and since I'm attending a few more this weekend, I may never catch up!) 

 So today, dear friends, the topic of this post is gloves... vintage gloves, to be specific.  

I was born on a year that is right at the end of the Baby Boomers generation, so by the time I was old enough to wear "adult" clothes, we were in the late 70's/early 80's... and no gloves were worn by the ladies.  But oh, I do sometimes wish that I had "turned of age" in the 40's or 50's!    

... so many styles, colors and textures to choose from....some with embroidery, others have the tiniest button... all the options!   

 My most recent swap for the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group was the "altered vintage glove" swap; where we started out with a vintage glove and used vintage laces and materials to embellish and alter it.

This is the glove I sent to my swap partner, Melanie.

...it started out as the softest pink glove, and I added a beautiful piece of lace and pearls.... some pieces of vintage lace.... ribbon.... and made a rosette in the same peachy/pink hue using several layers of materials...

 

A gorgeous vintage earring (I had hoarded this one for a few years) was the highlight...

...it turned out with a bit of a "bridal" feel to it...

(I think all the wedding planning going on in my life right now is influencing every aspect of my creations....)


We were to "fill" our glove with little gifts for our partner.  

Melanie likes soft pinks and creams; so I hope the glove and gifts were to her liking!

For my glove, she went with a very vintage feel, in tones of ecru, cream, sepia.

Just look at the beautiful glove I received...

Melanie added so many gorgeous details that I see something new every time I pick it up.

...and as much as I love this glove, I have to admit that my heart skipped a beat when I saw one of the gifts she included...

It is a button brooch which she made especially for me! Isn't it fabulous?!?  The MAMA group recently held a swap, whereby the ladies made and exchanged these brooches.... I was fairly new to the group and did not join the swap (okay, I admit it, I was a tad intimidated)... and later had deep regrets about not participating when I saw all the amazing creations.  (this is one talented group of ladies!)

Thus, when I opened the little chocolate pouch and saw the brooch... well, it was instant love.

Melanie was very generous with her gifts.

 Lucky me!  I'm still smiling...

 

linking up to:

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Happy colors...

Are there colors that just bring a smile to your face?  For me, it's always been pink... and over the past couple of years, my palette has expanded to include the softest shades of blues, turquoise, lavender, gray (I call it "silver lining" gray), creams/ivories (melting vanilla ice cream).

During this time of year, after all the white and blah dreariness of Winter, I am especially happy to see the yellows, pinks, and other sorbet colors springing up everywhere.  I have been known to stop the car in front of a complete stranger's house, get out to admire their garden (and maybe snap a photo or two)....  it is a bit scary for my husband, as he thinks I am trespassing and infringing on people's privacy.   But I promise, I stay on the street (never even setting foot on their actual lawn) and never ever look into windows!  I could be called a "bloom stalker."

Anyway, I digress.  What I really wanted to share with you today were these blooms I purchased at the local grocery store.

 

Yes, I know that some of them are not naturally this color and they have had a bit of assistance from the Dye Fairy.... but nonetheless, I could not resist them!

They were inexpensive, colorful... and last forever!  

(I brought them home over 10 days ago and they are still looking pretty!)

 

(pardon the crooked labels on these... not sure what happened, since they looked fine before posting... urgh!)

And while we are on the subject of "happy colors," I'd also like to share the April tag I made for The Altered Paper's "Tag-a-Month Swap."

The bunny is holding his very own Easter basket...

and is surrounded by lilacs and other Spring flowers.

 

(one of my favorite color combinations:  lavender and teal)

This was actually the second tag I made for my partner, Tina, due to the fact that we experienced a mishap with the first one.  My partner patiently waited for me to make another tag to send.

The sweet tag Tina made for me....

Miss Molly Cottontail is adorable!  She brought a smile to my face, and will be a lovely addition to my tag book... thank you so much, Lisa!

 (Linking up to Show & Tell Friday over at My Romantic Home)

Six...or half a dozen...

Just when I thought I had embellished, altered, glued, decoupaged and blinged just about any item you could think of.... along came a new challenge:  turn an egg carton into an Easter basket.

So off I went to purchase the organic, cage-free eggs - aka "the healthier eggs" - because these come packaged in the containers I needed (the gray paper-mache looking ones).

After some ghesso, a sweet coat of pink (for one swap partner who loves pink) and mint green (for the other swap partner)...  the fun part began!  

For the top of the "basket", I decided to create a Spring garden in bloom, along with a bunny, some eggs and maybe a butterfly or two.

The blooms consisted of new and vintage silk flowers, in addition to handmade ribbon and fabric roses....   

... the inside of the "basket" was filled with Easter treats and vintage goodies...

 

The second egg basket also featured a garden... this one in bloom with pinks

and whites... featuring a sweet white bunny hiding among the flowers...

 

...a butterfly perched on the edge of the garden...

 

...lots of pretty little things inside... 

(the hardest part was getting the carton/basket to close!)

 

These were such a delight to make~ 

 

They are now enroute to their rightful owners... I'm hoping they will like them!

 

I'm off now - more Spring/Easter swaps to finish (whew~)

plus a menu to plan for Easter brunch (yes, I'm a last-minute planner).

p.s.  linking up to Beverly's Pink Saturday party and sharing my pinks...

Spring comes in many colors...

There is something magical, peaceful and refreshing about the colors of Spring...   

Mother Nature sure knows what she's doing when she showers us with the many hues of green, pink, violet, yellow, peach...  

as if to reward us for enduring the grays of Winter.

We bring the season's colors into our homes with flowers, bunnies, chicks, eggs... all things that are symbolic of Spring.

In my home, the rabbits definitely take center stage.

One can be spotted in every room; and they come in every size and color imaginable.

I have also been busy working on several Spring-inspired swaps... 

like these egg-shaped ATC's created for the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group.

 

... and the "Springtime in Paris" gothic arch swap 

The wonder of the season seems to inspire creativity; don't you think?

I can't wait to see what everyone's been up to at Beverly's Pink Saturday party - we are celebrating everything Spring this week...  

I've got babies on my mind...

I got married very young.

 I became a mother very young.  

As a result, my own mother became a "grandma" at age 43.   She loved babysitting and going out and about with my children (by age 45 she had two grandbabies) and having people think they were her babies!

 

(tag made for Tabitha upon the arrival of her baby girl, Gillian)  

 

I always thought I would become a young grandmother myself.  So last year, when I turned the big "50" and was asked (quite frequently) what I wanted for my birthday, I would respond "to be a grandma before I'm too old to enjoy it!"

Yes, I know that 50 is the "new 42" and all that... but I want to have enough energy left in me to run after and with the little ones....   to see them start Kindergarten, graduate from college, and maybe even attend a wedding or two.  

Is that too much to ask? (sigh)

I know I drive my kids crazy whenever I mention it.

Nobody in my family is surprised that I like to "ooh and ahh" over baby clothes when passing window displays.  Or that I am attracted to vintage baby items...

  Like this sweet little bonnet. 

 

 

 

Or this cute little girl's  hat and purse...

 

 

LOVE the millinery....

 

 

 

Can never resist baby gowns...

 

 

 

This one is homemade from dainty silk fabric....

So sweet!

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

 

Sunday pretties...

Now that the St. Patty's feast of green is over with...  we can focus on our next creative adventure:  Spring and Easter!   Definitely one of my favorites!

Today I'm sharing these lovely French plates found this weekend at an occassional sale.  They have a few dings, but did I care?!?   Vintage French plates are getting more and more difficult to find and when I run across them, I quickly snatch them up (as long as the price is right).

 

...the colors are wonderful...

..there are five in the set (three of which are in great shape!)...

 

Happy Sunday!

 

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.

 

 

.
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.

 

 

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.

* * *

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.

 

 

* * *

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.

 

Beauty in the sunlight....

Many of my favorite little shops around town were visited this weekend. Little things of beauty, both new and old, made their way home with me.

On Sunday morning, I couldn't help but notice the gorgeous sunlight streaming in through the bay window in my living room.  

I grabbed my camera and clicked away to my heart's content.  My newly acquired little treasures were the subjects.

 

The gorgeous "Paris" paper in the background is new and came in a scrumptious shade of peachy pink.

The tiny flowers on the top and the blue ribbon roses were removed from an ugly "mop doll" purchased at the thrift shoppe for 29 cents.

The peachy chenille came from my favorite needleshop....   I resisted the temptation to come home with 3 yds. in every shade (my purchase total would have surpassed $50 just for the chenille!)

The dainty creamer is also a thrift shoppe find.

 

Another precious creamer... this one in white (the visible damage on the inside did not deter me).  I have a weakness for white creamers.

The velvet violets spray is new but has the same look/feel of vintage millinery.  

 

A closer look at the tiny blue ribbon roses...

My heart was craving flowers....  can you tell?  

Most of the purchase I made this weekend were florals.

But then... that always seems to be the case...

 

This is what is left of my anniversary bouquet from last week (24 years).

There were some gorgeous Casablanca lilies (my favorite) which have wilted...what is left now are asters and mums.  Still pretty.

 

I'm sharing my pretties in the sunlight with White Wednesday party over

at the Faded Charm Cottage; stop on by for gorgeous white inspiration.

Belated THANK YOU...

I just realized that I had not shared a few of the Christmas and holiday gifts received...

Once again, my blog friends and swap partners amazed me with their generosity and creativity.  I thank each and every one for their friendship and look forward to a "2012" full of fun, sharing and creating!

Note to self for next Christmas:  do not join 10 swaps if you are planning to travel during holidays!

*********

I participated in JoAnne's Secret Santa Swap (read my post about it here), and received 25 little gifts, each individually wrapped and tagged.

Starting December 1st, I would awaken each morning and after grabbing my cup of espresso, would delicately open my gift for that day.

Each was a sweet surprise to open...  There is something extra special about opening little tiny gifts - don't you agree?  I love the thought and care that goes into selecting the items we send to our swap friends.  

My Secret Santa had put together a wonderful mix of new, vintage and handmade.

Of course, I didn't find out that my Secret Santa was Peace until January 2nd, when I returned from my holiday trip.

I had left the final little package to be opened upon my return.  This one would reveal (finally!) the identity of my Secret Santa.

I just love this ATC Peace made for me!

Thank you, dearest Peace, for making my December so special.

* * * * *

A very generous, sweet and creative friend I made this past year through blogland was Karla.  As we exchanged emails, ATC's, and swap gifts, we realized we both celebrated Three King's Day (or as we call it in Spanish, Dia de Reyes) on January 6th.

Sweet Karla sent me a boxful of lovely gifts, each individually wrapped.  One gift to be opened each day between December 25th and January 6th.

I took gifts for December 25-31st with me on my trip to Spain... it was so much fun to open one each morning while sipping espresso or chocolate a la taza in a sidewalk cafe... little did Karla know that some of her gifts would travel all the way to Barcelona and Mallorca Spain!

 Every item was beautiful, like this religious tag she made for me...

See the "crackle" effect?   It reminds me of the beautiful stained glass seen in all the churches we saw in Spain.  

Another day, I opened my little package to find this cube.

Karla also sent me a couple of assemblage ornaments created by artist Sandy Jackson (www.some-assembly-required.com).  I had never seen these before and was thrilled with the artistry and ingenuity behind them.  I can see getting addicted to either collecting or (yikes!) even attempting to make them!

Another handmade lovely by Karla.

 

Books, ornaments, a vintage bell... the fun continues!

Darling Karla outdid herself!   I am utterly spoiled and smiling.

Thank you, dear friend.

* * * * * 

And most recently, I received this ATC from Patti, for Wendy's Blissfull ATC Swap.

 

Patti creates beautiful digital art... and I've enjoyed browsing her blog for inspiration.  (My husband gifted me Adobe Photoshop for Christmas and I have quite a lot to learn about digital art!)

Thank you, Patti, for my lovely ATC!

 

The fun continues...

I can't believe a whole week has elapsed since my last post!  Is it my imagination, or are 24 hours turning into 23, 22, 21... they are never enough to get everything done!   Yikes!

In the middle of completing all my blog swaps, Christmas shopping and shipping, working, decorating, baking/cooking for the holidays....  I'm so far behind on photographing and sharing more gorgeous, thoughtful gifts I'm still receiving and a few projects of my own.

Also, my husband and I are are going to Spain for Christmas to visit our "baby girl" Bianca!  So there's lots of planning and packing to do as well...   We are so excited!   I truly admire her  accomplishments and independence; at 22 years of age, Bianca has graduated (with Honors) from a top academics university, travelled/studied in France, and now has a job teaching English in Spain (Palma Mallorca, to be exact).  Lucky girl!  She has worked hard for her opportunities and truly makes the best of each one.

She will be back in the States in June of 2012 and will be starting law school that Fall.

(not sure where yet... but I'm hoping somewhere fun to visit!)

You go, girl!

 

* * *

 

Okay, now for some catching up on the sharing...

 

I created this ATC for my swap partner, Karla, for the Winter/Christmas ATC Swap hosted by Tee at The Altered Paper.

I included some other little items for Karla...

 

These cuff bracelets are so much fun to make!   I got my inspiration from (a different) Karla's tutorial... they are relatively simple to make, and the options for creating a "one of a kind" cuff are unlimited!

 

We were sending to and receiving from different partners.  

This beautiful ATC came from Tina...  I just love the color scheme she used!

 

Tina was so sweet... she included lots of fun holiday treats in her package.  

Thank you, Tina!

 

***

Karla and I also swapped other creations...

She asked for this ATC which I had available for trade on Flickr:

 

... and in return, I received this wonderful altered domino!

 

... along with lots of other fabulous gifts!

Thank you so much, Karla, you have truly spoiled me.

 

* * *

Still more sharing to come...

Hope you are having a lovely week!

The gifts that keep on arriving...

Yes... more gifts in the mail.   (Are you sick of it yet?  I'm not!)  

Several more packages made it to my doorstep this week.

The ornaments I received from my third partner in Cassandra's Handmade Christmas Ornament Swap, Linda, are these incredibly beautiful stars...

There are layer-upon-layer of laces, tatting, crochet... ((sigh))  embellished with ribbons and buttons.

 I had admired Linda's work in her Etsy shoppe and had my fingers crossed that I would get one of her star ornaments in the swap; lucky me received three!

 

Thank you, Linda!  

Your handmade one-of-a-kind stars will forever shine in my home during the holidays!

***

I participated in another of Wendy's  fun swaps... 

 

I was delighted to find out my partner was Karla... she and I have traded ATC's but had never been swap partners before.  We have similar styles (pretty, whymsical, glittery) and truly admire each other's work, so I knew we were in for a great time! 

Karla's altered tin is a delight...

the inside is as beautiful as the outside... beautiful vintage images...

...and look at the clever "feet" she put on my tin!

As Karla and I have come to know each other, we learned that we have some common traditions for the holidays.  For example, we both grew up celebrating "El Dia de los Reyes Magos"  or "Three Kings Day" on January 6th.  

Karla sent me not only my gorgeous tin, but 12 others gifts!  One to be opened each day between December 25th and January 6th. Isn't that the sweetest thought?  

I started crying (happy tears) when I read her enclosed card and saw all her  gifts.

Karla, you've warmed by heart and soul with your thoughtfulness.

Thank you, friend.

***

Happy Saturday!

 I'm joining Beverly's party and sharing all my holiday gifts.

p.s.   I've started opening my "25 days ofChristmas" gifts...  will be sharing those on Sunday.  I'm also enjoying trying to sleuth out who my Secret Santa is (a few ideas).

I'm having a white and cream Christmas...

Prior to the Thanksgiving weekend, I received several more packages in the mail from swap partners.  

I was (once again) amazed by the creativity and sheer talent of my blog friends!  

We participated in Cassandra's*(see note below) Handmade Christmas Ornament Swap; which partnered us into groups of four.   The requirement was that we make a total of nine (9) Christmas ornaments; three (3) for each partner.  In turn, we each receive nine ornaments...   how fun is that?!?

The first package to arrive was from Erica; and just look at what she made for me!

(I'm loving the wee tag!)

(this "birdcage" ornament is so lovely!  See the teeny tiny tree?)

(the snowflake has a pretty lady as its main attraction)

 

 A couple of days later.... JoAnne's package arrived.  

I was lucky enough to be partnered with JoAnne for not one, but two swaps:  

 

Cassandra's

  

and the Bloggerette Sorority's 

 For the Bloggerette swap, we were to gift our partner with two ornaments; one handmade and the other store-bought (making both ornaments was optional).  Which means that I received a total of five ornaments from JoAnne!

 (I promise, this is not a Math quiz!)  

Lucky me!

Here is what I received from JoAnne:

(this image of the Victorian girls is so sweet... and the frame sets it off perfectly)

(I had been window shopping on Etsy for these... was debating whether I had time to make them, or just cave and purchase one...  JoAnne must have read my mind!)

(JoAnne's version of the snowflake; with another sweet image, surrounded by pearls)

(this bird looks ready to take flight...)

My jaw dropped a bit when I opened this one; I was in love.  Instantly.

The colors, textures, millinery...  everything about it captured my heart.

... I have a weakness for rosettes, and tulle...

 

...and my very own invitation to the Midnight Christmas Fairie Ball!

THANK YOU, ERICA AND JOANNE...  your gifts have warmed my heart and will soon grace my Christmas tree.  I will enjoy and treasure them for many years to come.

***********

My third partner's package got here today and is sitting (unopened) on my dining room table... I will be unveiling it tonight and will post pics in the next couple of days, along with the ornaments I made for my partners.

 ***********

  *By the way, have you seen this lady's blog and her creations?  All I can say is... wow!   Sheer beauty.  Her blog banner alone is enough to make me drool.  Cassandra recently had a giveway and guess who was the lucky winner?   Moi!  I was delighted to receive this pretty in the mail...

Thank you, Cassandra!

 I'm joining Faded Charm's White Wednesday party; please stop by for gorgeous white inspiration.

Here's to a wonderful first week of December...

Tattered, frayed, chippy...

Earlier this week I shared with you my recent multi-estate sale adventure...  

I'm still cleaning, examining, photographing my finds - and trying to decide on a case-by-case basis whether it's a "keeper" or a "seller". 

None are perfect or pristine.

 

 

Age has taken its toll...

 

..but how could I turn away from such loveliness?

I have never been able to resist vintage shoes in cream or ivory,  so imagine my joy when I found these beauties...

 

 

...oh, the places they've been!...

...the stories they could tell!...

I would love to restore them.  They are made out of the softest calfskin... which has a bit of damage here/there, and the heels are crusted with years of dirt.  

Does anyone have suggestions on the best way to go about cleaning them?

*   *  *

 

And here we have my little bisque angel... in soft faded shades of yellow and pink.   A tiny pink rose in each hand. ((sigh))

 

 

(as of this posting, not much in the "selling" bin....  quite a lot in the "keeping")

 

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

 

I'm linking up to these fun, fabulous parties and sharing my estate sale finds:

White Wednesday at Faded Charm Cottage

Show and Tell Friday @ Romantic Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

Senorita bonita...

Last weekend, while feeling exhausted from the Halloween rush (and the actual day wasn't until Monday!) and missing my old haunts for antiquing and junking, I looked online to see if there was anything interesting going on in town.

I found an ad for a multi-estate sale being held at a warehouse downtown. The ad talked about 5 diverse estates, with lots of sporting goods, outdoor gear, vintage art, couture fashions, and miscellaneous collections. Although the only thing that appealed to me was the "miscellaneous", off I went. I had never attended a multi-estate event like this, so I figured it would be a bit of an adventure.

And indeed.... an adventure it was!

I walked into literally thousands of items for sale! I have to admit it was a bit overwhelming; but once I got the lay of the land, I zeroed in on the area that contained my miscellaneous "stuff." I received a wonderful surprise when i found out that all items were 50% off! yay!

So I went a tad bit crazy.... not tooooo much.... just a bit. I kept telling myself that all (well, maybe most) would be resold through my Etsy shoppe. I wasn't going to keep much (really). My justification knew no limits.

I loaded up the trunk of my Saab with several boxes, smiling the entire time. I drove all the way home (26 miles), still smiling. I got home and inspected my loot ((more smiles)). Then I decided I would start sorting items between "Keeping" and "Selling." WAIT!!! Keeping?!? Wasn't I supposed to be SELLING?

One of my favorite finds was a box full of vintage dolls, in various stages of disarray and disrepair. But oh, they looked so beautiful to me! I knew in my heart that there are many doll collectors out there (I'm not one of them) who would give them a new home.

Like these senoritas with their mantillas, frilly laces, abanicos (fans), and painted faces....

 

 

... this is Carmencita... she is wearing her Sunday best and has just come home from church...

 

... and her cousin Lucrezia... who is considered by many to be the pueblo's most beautiful widow.

Carmencita has the beautiful olive complexion from her Moros ancestry (papa's side) ... while Lucrezia has the porcelain white skin from mama's side.

The lovely cousins are a sight to behold!

 

* * *

And look at this little mid-century lovely... she is so cute!

Her dress is ivory silk and has such beautiful details.

 

 

This redhead is just darling! Of all the dolls I purchased, she is in the best shape overall; just a bit of dirt here and there. Maybe a little hair comb/brush... But just look at that gingham dress!

 

And let me not forget my little senorita... not quite as detailed in the face as the cousins, but still a little beauty in the making.

* * *

So you see why it's hard to "SELL" all?

 

I'm sharing my pink Senorita with Beverly at her Pink Saturday party... always a fun time! Stop on by if you are a lover of all things pink.

 

It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas...

We're not even done with October and I am already getting a bit antsy about the Christmas holidays... been thinking about decor for my trees (I change it up a bit each year) and seeking new"vintage" items to add to my collection(s).

Luckily for me, I found some lovely vintage Christmas pieces last weekend at an estate sale. I stopped by at the very last hour (literally) and there was not much left... you had to really rummage through tons of junk and moldy-smelling things (yes, it was one of those)... but I did manage to walk away with a few pieces.

 

This charming little handmade pink, glittery "egg" with an angel.

 

 

Another sweet angel, probably someone's home craft of the 50's or 60's...

 

Then I found a corner table with a pile, and I mean a PILE, of stained linens (some came home with me and are in the process of being restored), and underneath all that...

 

... I found a small box with some vintage jewelry!

Also, a band with some hand-sewn beads and rhinestones (this one was preserved nicely in a baggie) - must say, this piece was my absolute favorite find of the day!

 

A lovely vintage Christmas corsage/pick... a bit worn, but still beautiful and in my favorite holiday colors: silver and pink

 

 

And just look at this lovely little gal! Isn't she sweet? I was told there were tons of old photos at the sale, which of course, were all gone by then... but this little lady was hiding underneath some old books and magazines.

As always, I wondered about the photo's origins... and how anyone could part with her!

 

In the end, I was $3 poorer and in need of a deep hand washing,

but was happy to have stopped.

 

*********

The Christmas swaps and parties have already started to crop up over Blogland.

http://www.vintagedragonfly.blogspot.com/

http://anartfuladventure.typepad.com/

 

Stop on over and check them out; maybe join in?

*******

 

I'm sharing my Christmas pinks with Beverly and her Pink Saturday party.

 

Long overdue sharing...

My mailman has been busy these past few weeks!  He actually came up to my door recently, rang the doorbell, and asked if I was having a birthday soon!   I explained the whole blog swap idea and he seemed a bit perplexed (total strangers sending each other "stuff"??).   I don't think he quite got it -  especially the fact that we are not "total strangers" ...

 I have indeed received many packages full of splendid treats and gifts from my partners this season!  I apologize for being tardy in sharing; time has gotten away from me and before I knew it, I was behind posting about 5 swaps (eek!).

So here goes... are you ready?  Lots LOTS and lots of photos.

 

This altered matchbox came from Jennie, my other swap partner in the Speckled Egg's Petite Inspiration Box Swap - Curiosities Edition.

 

 

( I love this vintage Halloween photo!  Are you old enough to remember when Halloween masks looked like that?  What a hoot!)

 

All my treats!

Yummy black velvet ribbon, black roses and a darling key...

Thank you, Jennie, for all my goodies!

 Projects are planned for a few; others I'm hoarding.

 

***

 

Wendy from Bliss Angels hosted a Halloween altered tin swap and this is the amazing piece I received from my partner, Georgina.

 

 

I've named her Matilda... isn't she fabulous?!

 

She is totally different from anything I would have made - and that's exactly why she's so special!   
Muchas gracias, Georgina!   Matilda is lovin' her a new home.

***

 

Debi at The Bloggerette Sorority had a Something's Brewing Swap... we were to buy or make a Halloween bag and fill it with treats.

My amazing partner, Kim, really spoiled me!

 

..my purple and black bag had this hanging witchy tag "All my friends are witches"

 

Kim filled my bag to the max... lots of stickers, buttons, pins, vintage ephemera, bling, ribbon, chocolate!!, ATC making supplies, mini frame, a fabulous black/white skull towel (you'll see it used as a background in many of my Halloween photos)...

 

... a gorgeous vintage scarf in yummy fall colors...

 

Kim even made me an altered tin....  LOVE IT!

..inside the tin she had stashed a few goodies...  

I'm truly loving my altered domino!

Thank you, Kim, for being such a fun, creative and generous partner.

 

The Bloggerette Sorority is having their big reveal today from all the swap participants.  Stop on by for some fantastic Halloween inspiration...

 

***

 

 Whew!  We're almost there....  one more fantastic swap to share!

 

***

 

One of the funnest swaps was hosted by Jen at Altered Spirits; we were to create a mini spell book for our partners.

Wendy from Bliss Angels once again outdid herself... I received an awesome mini book from her... all wrapped up in another of her special envelopes

 

 

...this is the 2nd time I've had Wendy as a swap partner, and each time I've opened her package I say "ahh" when I see the lovely envelopes and wrapping.  She is truly gifted at spoiling her swap partners!

 

... the pages of my mini spell book are each unique and wonderful...  

Wendy has incorporated lots of details and tiny surprises.

 

This is the card she enclosed (smile)

Many thanks to Wendy for such a lovely book -

and once again bringing a smile to my face.

 

****

 

Oops!  One more!  Not a blog swap, but my very first ATC Swap.

 

"Autumn Splendor"

received from Karla.  

Karla's work is amazing; so I was thrilled when she wanted to swap.

 

***

Okay, now I think I'm done.

Except for the other two packages that just arrived yesterday!

 

...to be continued...

 

A lacy Halloween...

Happy Wednesday!

Do you love lace as much as I do? Does your heart beat faster when you are out rummaging and find a grab bag full of old laces? My favorite thing to do is to purchase it unopened (as long as the price is right)... then wait 'til I get hope to open and marvel over all the beauties inside. I have never been disappointed with my grab bag finds!

I like to incorporate vintage laces into my project, and am always seeking new ideas and ways to utilize the zillions of odd pieces I have in my stash. This Halloween season, several of my swap projects featured lace as the main attraction (or at least as the co-star).

(note: I'm not sharing complete details yet about the specific swap or who the recipients are, as they are still enroute to their owners and i don't want to give it all away!)

One swap required that we create or alter a fabric bag, which is then to be filled with Halloween treats for our partner. I'm not sure if I've shared this with you before, but I am not much of a seamstress. Yes, I own a sewing machine... but my sewing schedules are rudimentary at best. Straight stitch all the way, baby! So obviously, sewing a bag from scratch was out of the question. I opted for the purchase of a canvas bag to be altered.

I found this fabulous ghouls and vampires digital art by Steam Dust Studios (http://steamduststudios.blogspot.com/) and thought they would be the perfect theme for my bag! I created burlap tags, embellished with tatting, crochet, bits and pieces of vintage lace...

 

(please excuse all my threads... photos were taken prior to "cleaning" up my work)

 

 

A while back, I found rolls of sterilized gauze bandages at a junk shop and purchased several rolls, hoping I would one day have a use for them. That day is here.... "rosettes" made from guaze were the perfect adornment for some of my tags.

 

I love the sassiness of these ladies!

 

The tags were then sewn onto the exterior of the canvas bag to create a collage effect... a photo of finished product will be shared next week, but I have to tell you that I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

 

Next, a paper-mache witches hat that has been decoupaged with vintage laces.

 

 

The rosette was made from vintage doilies, petals from a silk rose, tatted lace, and my favorite "fishnet" black lace.... a bit of charring on the edges with a candle... finished off with some vintage bling.

The black lace around the crown is from an old Spanish mantilla.... the black plume from a 1920's hat... the pearls are actually a double-strand necklace from the 1950's Vintage re-use at its best!

 

I hope you liked my lacy inspirations...

what have you been using this season for your creations?

 

Linking up to share with

White Wednesday at Faded Charm Cottage

Show and Tell Friday @ Romantic Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

 

Ghouls, witches and other visitors...

I'm feeling a bit ghoulish these days...have finished 7 of the 10 Halloween swaps I've signed up for... packages have been mailed and I'm up to date!  (for now...)

Playing with witches, ghosts, vampires, zombies and ghouls has been an adventure...  altering art to give it that extra spooky feel is fairly addictive. Although I must admit that I still cannot get myself to create an "ugly" witch; somehow they all turn out to be just a tad on the pretty side!   Even my ghouls and vampires have that certain look about them.

 

(front of altered domino book)

Today I'm sharing a glimpse of a couple of items created for a swap partner; these are still enroute, so I don't want to disclose who the recipient is... just hoping they will like them!

 

(inside of altered domino book)

 

(ATC titled "witches can't cry")

 

(cover of altered matchbox, titled "Anyone can be a Witch")

 

(not spooky, or scary.... just for fun!  

Altered bottle in shades of black and lavender...)

 

Hope your week is off to a good start!

 

I'm linking up to Wendy's Spooky Mondays party; stop on by for some boootiful Halloween inspiration!

Spooky Monday...

The Halloween fun continues!

I spent quite a bit of time this weekend in The Sunshine Room working on swap projects, a couple of which I'll be sharing with you and the Spooky Monday party being hosted by Wendy (have you seen her blog?!? ... if not, it's definitely worth a visit!).

 

I made my very first "altered Altoids" tin. (This swap is being hosted by another Wendy... this one resides at Bliss Angels.)

The hardest part was deciding on a theme, and whether I was going to just go with the traditional open/close box, create a hanging piece, a piece on a stand, or "other." And then there was my fabulous swap partner, Georgina. She loves the macabre and creates amazing, original pieces of art - see it here. I'm totally in love with her style (and the music on her blog!).

My cutesy, pretty, frilly style wasn't going to cut it. I wanted to go a bit more "Goth" or at the very least, "weird." ((insert a big laugh here)).

This is VERY hard for me to do (go without the pretty,cutesy, frilly).

VERY HARD, INDEED.

This is what I ended up with.

... it is a hanging bit of art... titled "Vampire Bride"

Lots of texturing techniques were used, including melted wax and singed tulle...

 

... the image below was edited a bit using Picnik...

it makes my vampire bride look at bit more edgy...

(Image used is from http://www.etsy.com/shop/keeperofthenest)

 

On the back of the tin, we find one of the Bride's victims...

certainly not her first, nor her last.

(image prior to Picnik editing)

My mailman also delivered a couple of packages on Saturday: another Petite Inspiration Box - Curiosities Edition (from my 2nd swap partner) and a large box from an unknown sender (!)... which turned out to be my "secret" partner for the Halloween Bag Swap being hosted by Debi at Bloggerette Sorority. ( Lots of boootiful Halloween goodies to share with you later this week.)

 

I must confess that I am feeling a tiny bit spoiled :) and loving it!