Rolled Roses Headbands

These five headbands went to re- today.  The shop owner was on vacation and it seems that every third time I'm there she's gone.  Her shop must be doing well and I hope it continues to do so.  I think these headbands turned out cute and I hope they continue to sell there.  Here you see fabric from linen, shoe laces, negligees, t-shirts, blouses, a scarf, a remnant and a dance outfit.  I've used mostly vintage buttons and beads with a few newer ones gleaned from necklaces or bracelets.  One bead comes from some I bought in Africa last Fall.  I love using old things and making them new again.

These headbands went to Relics.  She's down to three of my headbands from the 15 I've put in since the first of the year.  The fabrics I used are like that above except these also include a flower from a wedding gown, lace and a swatch of a beaded suit.  I'm not "big time" but I'm pleased that they are selling, especially since the small business markets are doing so poorly in this neck of the woods.  She also took my Fluffed Bible and four of my little journals.  She liked one enough to buy it herself and suggested I make more like it.  You'll be seeing them in a couple of weeks after I take some time off with my family.  I'll also have a dress for S'more Couture to show you.  Hope you're keeping cool.

Books, Flowers and Necklaces




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   These are some of the little notebooks I decorated the last few days.  the first two are small purse-sized books and the other is a larger journal-sized book with green edged pages and colored lines. 

I used a rusty flat key purchased at Relics last week, old lace, scrapbook paper and I wrote the word "unlock" on a piece of colored paper to give the book a name.




The inspiration comes from Matthew 7:7--
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.


On this next book I drew pictures of the same tree in the four different seasons.  The scripture I used for inspiration is from Genesis 8:22:

As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”



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  A friend loves at all times--Proverbs 17:17
I entitled this book "Brighten".  The many times my friends have brightened my life is endless. 
I look forward to seeing my friends at church and in the world and get great joy from visiting with them.  This book is a large bound journal with a preexisting bracket for a label.  I found an old photo of some obvious friends, adhered it, put the word on some German fraktur print and put it in the bracket, then added some lace to the green border and a green rhinestone once-upon-a-time earring.

 I was given a felt flower to reproduce so I looked at how it was made, drew and cut out a template of the pieces, cut them from felt I had in my stash and added beads, pearls or buttons to their centers.  The first three (not pictured) I took to Relics, she liked them and asked if I would make some in Fall colors--thus, the flower hair clips you see above.  They make a cute wreath.  Maybe a wreath will be next....


muti colored sold

 Finally, from my super-creative last few days, I was able to make two more crocheted necklace/bracelets.  Two had sold in the shop and she requested replacements.  I love when my things sell (insert deep sigh and smile here).

Mixed Media Revived

 I've had a productive morning--creative-wise. I added some hair clips to some felt flowers (photos tomorrow), sewed some rolled flowers for potential headbands and revived my mixed media art.


 I used half of an old book cover I've been saving--I guess for this, added a tin type photograph of a well-dressed and warm-looking girl, raised it up with some glued together pages of an old book,

and added a ruffle from a very old piece of wedding veil given to me by Deb at Relics, and some old buttons dangling by waxed linen thread with a couple of matching buttons used to hold the hanger.  I added the word "winter" from an old dictionary by gluing it on some burlap.  Measuring 8" total from top to bottom and 3" wide, it would make a good Christmas ornament.  I know, it's anything but Christmas but I couldn't resist.
I also decorated a book that I'll show you tomorrow as well.  What fun!

Caught Red Handed

We knew that there was one squirrel stealing our corn but now I see he has an accomplice.  I had to take this photo from my house about 75 feet away and crop it.  They are unabashedly on the top of the raspberry stakes where everyone can see them.  They don't care.  "Just give me your hard-earned labor.  I deserve it."  Sounds a little red henish to me.  My husband is not averse to putting one or two of these in our freezer for winter but he's not here now.  They seem to know when he is gone and know they're safe with me.  All I can do is scare them off but they will finish their dinners later when I leave.  Survival of the fittest is the name.  I guess because of lack of rain for weeks (until yesterday) they have been without food in their neighborhood.  They do what they have to do, I guess.  Hope your life is not that desperate.  Mine's not so I'm thankful we got half a crop for ourselves and that's a small plastic sack full.  They can't go to the store in the winter and we can.  Go for it, little ones!

Back to the Books

 ...and I don't mean school.  I decided to make little scripture-inspired books again.  I bought two little brown paper-backed books a while ago and decided (in the middle of the night) to use scripture throughout the book--word-by-word or in groups, randomly placed but in order with the reference at the end.  I've used the King James Version since it is considered public domain having been first published in the 1700's
I love this piece of old lace and the brown paper shows through.  The scripture used is from Philippians 4:8:

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 This is the other brown paper-backed book.  I've added felt pieces and old lace to it as well.  The first few words of the scripture are used on the front and the rest are dispersed throughout.  It reads:

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Matthew 24:35

This is a little coptic book purchased cheaply at a discount store.  I've added scrapbook paper, old lace, a mother of pearl button (I think) in a rounded cross shape.  I've added the word, beauty.  The inspiration comes from Proverbs 31:30:

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:

but a woman that feareth the Lord,

 she shall be praised.



New Remake

This dress started as a mid-calf paisley slip with beige lace on the bottom.  I took off the lace, removed the elastic at the waist, added a tank top, zig-zagged the elastic back on, cut off the extra tank bottom, shortened the skirt and added a ruffle to the shoulder from the strip removed from the bottom of the slip. I chain-stitched three belt loops and added themand the lace became the belt.  I've used a vintage mother-of-pearl buckle that I really like.   I think it turned out cute and Amy liked it so it should sell.

Fun and Flirty Feathers

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 Aren't peacocks some of the coolest of God's creations?  I wish my photo could have captured the wonderful iridescence of these feathers that I made into earrings.

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Four of these craft feathers have touches of natural blue.  I don't know from what birds they came but they are beautiful--just a little package found in the craft aisle.  All have dangles but you can't see the first one.  I was in a hurry to take these photos.  These are like the hair extensions you find today--one of the newest crazes and fun to make.  You can find these at Relics.

On To The Next One



yellow sold

  I made this bouquet of Baby Beautiful Flower Headbands for Relics last week.  It's difficult finding the right easy-stretch lace but they had some at Hobby Lobby.  These were a request from the shop owner.  She said people come in asking if she had them--now she does.  Amy at Smore Couture also requested some so I'll make them differently for her.  I bought the flowers for the SC ones Sat.

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Relics also has more beaded crocheted necklace/bracelets.  I enjoy making these beauties.  I even made two for myself.  They are light weight, simple and very feminine.  Have a good day of creating something beautiful from whatever you do.

Some Days Are Not Meant For Sewing

 It was just a little bite of skin but it was deep enough I couldn't pull it loose.  That was a bad day. 

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At least I finished this lovely hair clip (that also looked gorgeous on this tank top) but not without much work.  Why are some days like that?

Pearl Bracelets/Necklaces



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I made some crocheted bracelets/necklaces last Sun/Mon for Relics. 

Cream pearls

Pink Pearls

Multi-colored Beads

Still very busy and must shop for extra supplies to complete some pending projects.  If you saw my stash, you would laugh at that last statement and ask, "You mean you don't have that here?"  Nope, gotta have exactly something particular to that project.  Never a dull moment here.

Bridal Accessories



She chose the top two and I sold the bottom one at Relics.



 She chose the upper two--the left will be her garter and the right will be the tossed one, a two-for-one price.

 Two flowers for two bridesmaids with added tulle

Sister liked  it.

Metal headband for her sister--we're hoping she will like it enough to wear it

Two bracelets for two bridesmaids, two large vintage rhinestone pins set in old gold to add to the necklaces she already had (not shown)

The Bride 2 B liked all these things and I am very pleased.  She even gave me a tip for being so available and said she would be glad to recommend me to her friends.  I think they all turned out well.  Yesterday I was able to create some bracelets--to be seen tomorrow, if all goes well.

Smiley Strawberry

My grandson told his Daddy, "Daddy, this strawberry has a face."  Sure enough, it did.  Isn't that cute?

Fly With Me

 I've been experimenting on the popular feather trend and made these earrings for a young friend's birthday.  I even like them on me but I'm too scared to wear them.  Not being a "dangly girl" very long, I find they are a bit much but I hope she likes them enough to wear them.

 The feather hair extensions are the thing now so I though I'd try a few.  The clips are attached.  You just hide the clip in your hair and let the feather and beads dangle.

 I love this one.  The feather tips are a beautiful irridescent blue and the beads match.

The last three I gave to two missionary girls (10 & 16) and their mother but they all wound up on the 10-yr-old.

Of course I had to make a pink one.

Lots of fun and I intend to make more...in time.  I have some commissions to complete and then I start work on filling the shops with Fall goodies--yes, already.  As a matter of fact, I'm late.

Sweet Remains

 A snickerdoodle cupcake left by The Cupcake Queen (more commonly known as My daughter) was my breakfast today.  Hmmmm.  A sweet reminder of these two sweeties...

playing with Grandma's "breakables" on our bed.  What fun we had!

What a Wild Past Few Weeks

VBS, Church Mission Trip and family visit over the 4th--all back to back.  I don't believe I've ever had such consistent things to do before.  Whole week, plus--ramped up VBS study and practice; VBS--5 days, left the next day for Mission Trip; Mission Trip--gone 7 days, next day family came to visit for Independence Day; today, nothing--slammed into nothing....No, I don't want to clean bathrooms, wash sheets and towels, reorganize the kitchen, put away toys, start projects that are long overdue....I think I'll just stop, drink my coffee and smell the empatiens...a while.

LOVED EVERY MINUTE!

Thank you, Lord, for the time and ability to do these wonderful things.