Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Front Door Decor

A friend of mine gave me these dried seeds/wild flowers about a year ago and I never did anything with them until now.  I was forced to because my husband was cleaning the garage and was going to throw them away!  I added some sheer pale pink with gold trim ribbon and I think they make a cute little swag decoration for my front door.  Happy creating!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Lace Covered Sketch Journals

 I found some small sketch books at Hobby Lobby yesterday, added some vintage lace, vintage shell buttons, a jute tie and a hand-typed word with the scripture inspiration glued inside.

PRECIOUS--brown cover
"You are precious and honored in my sight."
Isaiah 43:4
FLOWERS--red cover (not shown)
"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard....
Song of Solomon 2:12

KIND--green cover
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other....
Ephesians 4:32

Monday, August 29, 2011

Fun Felt

Do you know how difficult it is to adjust early morning blue light?  Anyway, here are a couple of cute felt flower clips.  Hopefully, they are going to Relics today.  I showed my grouping to my friend and she picked one like you see on the right before I was able to get to Relics.  I just sat down and made a couple more to fill out my bouquet.  It takes about 15 minutes from start to glue.  I've used an old metal shank button on the right and some gleaned beads from a yard sale bracelet on the left.  Too cute.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Fun Feather Dangles


I bought a bag of feathers at an estate sale as part of a box of lures. My grandpa used to make his own and I guess this person had, too. I'm happy, though when I first purchased them I didn't know what I would do with them until now. Feather hair extensions seem to be the rage.
      These three are going in my Etsy shop over the next three days. (Click on photo to see close-up).


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These six are going to Relics.  The ones I had there have sold and she needs more.

Friday, August 26, 2011

More Zipper Headbands

I gleaned these colorful zippers from some shirts and pants I purchased at Salvation Army.  I paid less for the clothing that I would for the colored zippers at a fabric shop.  The black ones have been selling so I thought I'd try these.  I think they are cute and if I were much younger, I'd be wearing them.  So, to S'more Couture they go.  I borrowed this idea from someone who made Christmas ornaments from zippers--pretty cute idea.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

A Hawk?


YEP

He must have been hungry to pose on our blackberry trellis at the edge of our lot.  He was very intent on something for a very long time and it didn't seem to bother him when my husband left for work out the back door.  I haven't seen him for a couple of days so he probably got what he was after.  I've noticed that the wildlife around here this summer has been desperate for food.  What's up?

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

New Diagonal Skirt

 I cut a vintage table cloth on the diagonal,
hemmed the raw top edge, pleated the side and added a ruffle.
 I added twill ties and a snap in the side opening and made a flower of the same color fabric with scraps of the mesh used at the bottom and sewed the flower over the snap closure.
I have to add a couple more snaps to secure the side opening for security when sitting.  It turned out ok and I hope Amy likes it.  She had the table cloth and idea and I executed her idea.  Again--something new from old.

Monday, August 22, 2011

New Baby

Our daughter is expecting her third in March.  We're excited to add another little grandchild, making it 14 for us.  We're going to have to rent the local meeting hall for our family celebrations but we're ok with that.  It's a good thing we're all flexible and able to sleep on the floor because that's what we have to do when we all get together.

I noticed today that my aloe plant, given to me by my daughter and son-in-law, has a little baby, too.  It was looking pretty dried out and scrawny two weeks ago but now it's thriving.  I haven't watered it in two weeks, holding myself back because it's a succulent and look at the results!  I may be able to grow this kind of plant.  All of my others seem to bite the dust in no time.  Life is great.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Down Day

My friend's husband died last Sunday--a long time with Parkinson's, one month only in a nursing home (big decision for his wife), two weeks in the hospital, and only four days at home in Hospice care before his death.  It's been stressful and I've been busy on the other side of caring for M, my friend, trying to complete projects.  I tried to work on the "table cloth skirt" today but I just don't have it in me.  I need today to recuperate.  Today we found out my husband's aunt died and Bill's to do the funeral--a three-hour trip away--this week.  No rest for the wicked, er, uh, weary.  Hope you are able to have down time this weekend.

Friday, August 19, 2011

What to do with a full slip

 Amy gave me this very old and well-loved black slip with gorgeous brown, yes, brown, lace.  Now who would have thought?  I separated the bottom from the top at the length I wanted the skirt,...
 ...attached a black stretch camisole,...
 ...added a large flower from the slip fabric, the brown lace and a vintage crystals center--VOILE!, a cute and dressy outfit.  The slip had been ravaged by wear so I wound up sewing both seams and trimming little toots of threads everywhere.  I used the remaining lace from the bodice for the flower along with a strip of fabric from the slip below the bodice.  It was the perfect amount.

I think it turned out beautifully and so did Amy.  Now on to one more piece I have in my stash from Amy.  Tune in for a transformed table cloth.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

New Remade Outfit

 From this vintage 20's style grey-green silk dress with the inside falling apart, I came up with these looks.
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 I removed the ruffled skirt, shortening it about 7 rows down from the waist and removed the ruffles from each sleeve.  Made a flower from a row of ruffle adding pearls to the center and made a silk tie for the waist (a remnant purchased a couple of years ago.)
 The flower is glued to a clip/pin back so it can be versatile--worn either way shown or in the hair.
 Here the tie is tied in the front.
I also made a sequin stretch belt giving this a more fancy, dancy look.  Hoping it's purchased for Homecoming this year.  I'd love to have the money since it took about 8 hours for me to wrestle this.  My problem was a stretch waist and a cranky sewing machine.  I'm happy with the results so I guess it's worth it ... if it sells

Monday, August 15, 2011

Flowers Completed and Four Books


I completed the felt flowers that I mentioned in my last post.  These go to Relics.

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 I made four more inspirational little books using Bible verse themes:  Shadow of Wings, Quiet, Your Plans and Faith, Hope, Love.  If you know the Bible, you may recognize the verses from these titles.  I love how the old lace looks on the brown covers.  The verses follow:

God most High...,
I run to you for safety.
In the shadow of your wings,
 I seek protection.... 
Psalm 57:1

He will quiet you
with his love.
He will rejoice over you
with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

May he (God)
give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans
succeed.
Psalm 20:4

Now these three remain:
faith, hope, love.
But the greatest of these
is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

(All scripture verses taken from The New International Version)

Friday, August 12, 2011

Fall Felt Flowers

My friend has needed me this week; I've cooked for church and her family so I've not had a lot of creating  time.  Today I hand-enhanced (with Easter egg dyes) some felt and cut out flowers for hair clips.  It's a good thing I've been a thread monger.  I had every color I needed.  Off to bake my bread and visit my friend again.  Flowers later.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Three Remakes


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  This first one started as a zip-up-the-back bustier, probably 60's or 70's vintage with stretchy fabric and stays.  I added a black half slip and four tiers of tulle, 3 black and one silver, and made a matching tulle flower with an added grey and iridescent rhinestones brooch. 
 This little number began as the top only of a voile dotted swiss dress that had been cut off.  I added a short skirt with lycra (originally a skort), nylon chiffon overskirt in a bouffant style, surrounded the bottom with a black boa, added a grosgrain ribbon belt and a chiffon and feather flower with three pearls in the center. A while back I showed a photo of the back of the dress after I had paid to have a zipper sewn in.  The skirt and top were offset by about 3/4 inch.  I sewed the ribbon into the seam of the zipper on the back and made a loop (by chain stitching button/carpet thread) on the other side of the zipper.  Four other loops hold the ribbon firmly in place and the offset back does not show.  I thought long and hard about that one.   Finally, it is done. 
 This dowdy little half-calf length 50's dress with a cut-out and rhinestone studded neckline would get laughed off the floor at this generation's homecoming dance but...

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 this one won't!  I cute-ed it up a bit by removing the "flower" from the neckline and shortening the skirts.  The pink underskirt was under the original dress but I gave it a prominent place by allowing it to be about 1 1/2 inches lower than the top skirt.  I added a cummerbund from the left over pink fabric (taffeta) and a matching pink and black flower with a big rhinestone button in the middle.
As you see, I've been pretty busy the last day and a half since our return from vacation.  I think all of these turned out very cute and I hope they all sell.  Time will tell.  Now I need to rest.