Holiday Preview

12 Days of Christmas Cones

We're having a Holiday Preview Party over at the French Cupboard blog this weekend! Starting Friday morning we will be sharing some of the holiday items that we've been working on.

Tophat Tree Topper

Come on over and join us!

Paperie Party

A couple months ago Rebecca at Vintage Living sent me one of her Word Birds and it inspired me to create a few birds of my own.

This one has vintage rosy giftwrap so she was named Rosy.

And this one has part of an old sewing pattern for her wings.

This was my first attempt at a paper shoe. I sorta cheated though. My daughters new shoes had a plastic form in them so I papered over the form.
Have you made any paper projects lately?

Come on over and show us!

Barn Chick

Generally speaking, most people who know me would say that I'm old fashioned, Victorian, into girly lacy stuff. And generally speaking, they would right. But, as I've mentioned recently, I have discovered that I have a bit of Barn Chick in me!

So I was very delighted when I was asked to be part of the Barn Chick party at Brayton Homestead Interiors. We're all posting pictures of our favorite barns.

This is one that I just had to share... Our family passes this odd barn every July on our trip up to Door County but we have never come to a consensus on who would put their house on top of the silo - and why. It appears to be abandoned now but once upon a time, some creative person had an awesome view of the sunrise.
We had a barn when I was growing up and I suppose that might have influenced my love of old barns. But truth be told, my favorite barns are the ones that have big ol barn sales!
How about you? Do you have a favorite barn?
Pop on over and check out the other Barn Chicks...

Altered Party

A couple years ago I bought some little rag "church dolls" to photograph for a blog banner that I was creating for someone. I don't remember the website that I bought them from (if they're yours, please email me and I'll add your link in the post) but I came across them again in my overflowing storage area recently and thought they might make a fun project for the Altered Party.

I took some inspiration from my most favorite designer. Have you seen the Magnolia Pearl dolls?? Truly, truly unique pieces of art!

I used some old lace & crochet bits to make little vests and skirts for the tiny 6" dolls.

Talk about alterations!

A vintage cameo earring made for a perfect brooch.
And some crinkle ribbon to make their hair as crazy as my own wild curls.

Overall, it was a fun project!

What are you repurposing or upcycling these days?

Come on over and show us! Or just take a moment to see what everyone else is altering.

Alterations

I'm making alterations this week... in preparation for the Altered Party!

If you're an upcycler or repurposer, you should join us. Any kind of altered creation is welcome. Click here for more info.

Rosette Party

I think I could live happily surrounded by tattered lace and rosettes. Which is why I'm so delighted that we're having a Rosette Party over at French Cupboard! I'm excited to see what everyone else does with their rosettes.

Over the last couple weeks, it seems like all my creative dreams have had a rosette in them somewhere.

I love adding them to my Magnolia Pearl bag!

Of course, her things are perfect all by themselves but I love the tea-dyed taffeta with this huge backpack.

Even worn simply, they can transform.

How are you using your rosettes? Come on over and show us!

Rosette Party Tomorrow!

Happy White Wednesday!

Does tea-dyed count as white??

It seems that I always have a bucket of tea in the kitchen for one project or another. But this week I've been busy working on rosettes for our Rosette Party TOMORROW!

You've got to go see the tutorial that Gypsy Brocante posted for creating these Parisian Inspired Rosettes! You still have time to make one and show it off tomorrow!! Just put pictures of your rosette(s) on your blog tomorrow and then go to French Cupboard and link up with everyone so we can see your rosette creations.
Return to White Wednesday

Where Blogger's Create

It's all about the good junk!

Some of you might remember my studio in the trees...

We call it the Servant's Quarters because 100 years ago it was an actual third floor servant's quarters. I'm incredibly humbled to have this space where so many other women have worked and I'm delighted that I get to share it with you.

I'll start from the entry...

Entry from the second floor

Going up the stairs

Work area (please ignore the dust on the rusty bin - it's fresh from a barn sale). Lots of people commented last year about our rough old barn board floors. They have been splattered with paint and who knows what in the last 100 years. The general consensus was to keep the floors as-is so that's just what we did!
Ribbons! And also my makeshift desk. It's the perfect size for a laptop.

I added some Button Drawers.

(The brick chimney is a great backdrop for rustic pictures.)

And a few trays for organizing the lace and millinery items for making cuffs.

My sewing area - It's a little messy so just a peek =)

Mom found a fireplace surround curbside so this year we have an actual fireplace instead of just a hole in the bricks. We still haven't had a real fire but we fill it with candles!

Because we use the other side of the attic as our homeschool classroom, this part of the room is my favorite. In the cold Winter months, it's such a joy to sit here and read to the kids.

Even though the room has it's own walk-in closet, this old steamer trunk is great for storage. Like most attic spaces, the closet is not insulated well so it's cold in the Winter and Hot in the Summer and nobody likes to go in there (except one or two wasps that always seem to creep in every year). The steamer truck is the "on the way to the closet" storage area.

And finally, the multi-purpose chalkboard from Hobby Lobby. It gets used for everything from reminders and school work to menus at barn sales.

Thank you so much, Karen, for hosting this amazing event!

Return to Where Blogger's Create

Mad As a Hatter

I have been DYING to dress up this tattered old thing and French Cupboard's Alice Blog Party gave me the perfect opportunity!

It started with this vintage pop-up tophat that I found on ebay. Mr. Blessing was not nearly as enthusiastic as I was when I won the auction. I was envisioning all kinds of projects but he didn't quite see the potential.

I love the wrinkles and tears! And my 2Chippys necklace was the perfect adornment for this particular party.

Today it's my Mad Hatter hat. Tomorrow - who knows.

And when I found a mini tophat in a box of toys at a thrift shop, I thought I'd make one for you!

You can win it by stopping over to the French Cupboard's Alice Party and leaving a comment.
See you there...

Cameo Peacock Feathers

I've been gathering some pieces for the Alice Party. I can't reveal my project just yet. Ok, I can't reveal it because I haven't completed it... but I love the cameo peacock feather! Although I love the purples and greens of a typical peacock, I thought I'd go with a shimmery lacy version for my project.

Yes, there really are natural colored peacocks. Who knew?!

The Alice party is on May 1st and Miss Gypsy Fish is going to be our hostess at the French Cupboard blog. I've seen pictures of some of the giveaway items coming in and they are lovely! I can't wait. It's going to be so much fun to see what everyone creates. I hope you'll join us! Just grab the button and link up at French Cupboard on May 1st.