Let's get organized!

I've always had a weakness for vintage laces and trims

and pretty much most anything romantic.

Over the years I have amassed a fun collection that I treasure 

and am always looking for the perfect pieces for embellishing.

While digging through baggies and boxes 

looking for a specific lovely I came across this bamboo box

that was meant for the kitchen drawer and decided to use it

as a better way to organize the vintage treasures.

I love how that worked out!

 I can even add a few more and store them stacked 

or hanging on a wall.

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Happy Hearts to All

Happy Hearts to All!...

Creating heart Valentines with cookie cutters and clay!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hand Dyed Lace

This one is my favorite, probably because of all the texture.

Paris Scarf

It had been a long anticipated rendezvous with my lover in Paris,

and it was after enjoying a lovely meal while strolling Rue Saint-Louise,

a charming street lined with adorable boutiques one more tempting than the next

that I discovered the shop with an amazing array of scarves.

Altering Paris fashion seems crazy,

yet I found myself adding bits of vintage lace to the raw edges

of this sweet little scarf upon my return home.

It is an all-time favorite that I wear most often and of course

it carries treasured memories as it was a gift from my lover

during our adventure in Paris together.

It's all in the details

I spied the tunic length Zone Bleue design

in a charming little clothing boutique

on Forest Avenue in Laguna Beach named Duet

that specializes in unique and often hand made pieces

from all over the world.

I was drawn to the feminine ruched collar

and asymmetrical design.

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It fit beautifully,

but the color of the top was not flattering for my skin tone,

it being a grey/beige hue

There was enough cotton in the fabric contents

that I believed it could be dyed to a warm beige color.

Upon returning home with the new acquisition

I filled the kitchen sink with warm water

to wet the entire garment

then drained most of the water and added in the contents

of a pot of coffee that had been sitting for half of the day.

I let it soak for about 15 minutes before gently rinsing

and hanging the garment to dry,

fortunately the color came out exactly as envisioned.

As I was pressing the piece I wondered why

the designer had chosen to leave so much of

the over lock stitching exposed on the edges

of the ruffles.

Was it a conscious decision to meet a certain price point?

Maybe I've been watching too much of the show "All on the line"

on the Sundance channel with Joe Zee.

Either way, in my world I couldn't seem to let this charming

design just be as it was created,

something inside me causes me to tweak it and make it my own.

Possibly it is the possessing of a cachet of delicate delights

needing to be seen and not tucked away any longer.

I felt it needed a little more and began foraging through my

cluttered studio to find the perfect vintage laces and trims to add

to the top covering the exposed seam edges.

I chose to also dye the lace pieces selected

for embellishing in coffee

before attaching them to the garment

and pieced several laces

together for additional detail

on the diagonal seam of the back of the tunic.

The lace you see at the collar of this sweet piece

was originally going to be an underskirt on the garment

but after pinning it in place

I realized it was adding too much bulk along the bottom

and found instead the lace was the perfect embellishment

to add along the bottom of the ruched collar

and included it on the sweet tie at the collar

and then recreating the tie into a rosette.

supplies needed...

miscellaneous laces and trims
needles, scissors, thread, sewing machine optional
pot of coffee
a creative imagination...

Sweet and feminine apron design

I have a collection of aprons.

I use them while gardening,

painting, playing with clay

as well as cooking.

I tend to be a messy artist

some of us just "are".

For me it seems the more creative I am

the messier I am.

Here is my sweet new apron design...

girly, feminine & simple.

The fabric reminds me of burlap

but is soft and washable.

I used a vintage button for the closure at the collar

in place of ties at the neck,

and vintage lace with thin satin ribbon threaded through

for gather details at the sweetheart neckline

and on the pockets.

I cut long wide ties for a big fat bow in the back

and lined it for extra durability and body.

And even though it was made with scraps

found about the studio,

I see it more for puttering or cooking

than being abused with wet clay or charcoal from drawings,

at least for a while.



Grateful to have it shared in Apronology Magazine!

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Published in Altered Couture

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read more about the top here

and a second article on page 135

fun embellishing of a little wool hat with vintage lace edging

with a removable magnetic flower pin

GRATEFUL TO BE INCLUDED !

Pink confections

.Pink confections created with clay

just in time for Valentines Day !

just having fun with ceramic clay

still time to decoupage, embellish

and continue to play

and it all started when my friend Cheryl came to visit Summerland Cottage

and gifted me with a set of Fiskars fun paper edger scissors

Thank you Cheryl !

♥.HAPPY HEART'S DAY . ♥

Creative Organization

a wooden box intended for ornaments

becomes the perfect home for a collection of vintage laces and trims

Fifty plus buttons later...

Simple and sweet little ruffled t-shirt found at the Loft

along with a camel colored cardigan,

and my vintage fabric covered button box full of gems

becomes my creative amusement

as I curl up into the cozy sofa and watch the latest Hallmark movie.

Fifty plus buttons later et Voila !

This may be called having your cake and eating it too.

It's so fun to find a new home for the tiny treasures,

where they are allowed to come out and be enjoyed by others.

Grateful to share it in Belle Armoire Magazine !