Early yesterday afternoon, I took a quick run over to my friend, Melody's, fabulous antique consignment shop. It's been a while since I've visited with her and the shop is one of those places I gravitate toward when I need a little pick-me-up. Mel had gotten some terrific new things in and was trying to find room in her cozy retail space. One of the things she no longer had need for was this terrific cupboard, with oodles of compartments, so I took it off her hands for a song! A few months ago, I had bought 5 rolls of beautiful black & white drawer liner paper (on the clearance rack, at T J Max, for $1/ each) and decided I would line the back of each compartment with the paper. Of course, I couldn't stop there once I saw how great it looked. I did the sides of the piece as well and was so pleased with the final outcome. Picture #1 shows the beginning, picture #2 shows the finished project and picture #3 shows...WAIT...#3 looks the same as #1??? How can that be? Well, for some unknown reason, the wallpaper paste didn't hold the paper to the cabinet. One by one, the squares I had painstakingly measured, cut & pasted in each cubby, began to peel off. So, for now, this piece stays "as is". UGH!
***I apologize for the eye strain the color of the (above) font may have caused. As soon as I published the post, I realized it was too light. I spent 1/2 hour trying to change the color, but I must be experiencing the return of the Blogger poltergeist. I tried, every way I could think of, to switch it and have finally given up. I'll steer clear of that lovely aqua blue from now on!
Spring surely must be right around the corner, because I have that distinctive itch to organize & de-clutter. Even after my wonderful swap, with Monica, I have more bits & pieces of beautiful jewelry than one person needs or can use for crafty projects. So ladies, you know the routine: please leave a comment, if you are interested in being entered, and I will have my son pick the winner on Tuesday, March 3. The photograph contains just a portion of what the give-away package will include...I'm still sorting :-)
I hope she won't mind, but I am borrowing an idea from Theresa (Time Worn Interiors). If you are thoughtful enough to mention my give-away, on your blog, your name will be entered twice.
On a daily basis, I'm amazed at the impact this community is having on my life: in both significant and not-so-significant ways :-) For example, one of the bloggers I follow (and I can't, for the life of me, remember who it is at the moment), has featured unique decorating ideas with cloche(s???) she has collected. Before I began blogging, I couldn't tell you what a cloche was...let alone what would do/ use it for. Today, I had to drop off some clothing at Sally's (a.k.a. Salvation Army), so I took a few minutes to peruse their housewares section. Lo and behold, what should I come across, but a small cloche. It was sitting alone, but for $.50, I figured I must have a stand/ plate upon which to rest it. I did and one of the lovely roses, from my swap with Monica, is the perfect trinket to display inside. It looks very pretty perched on a vintage lace tablecloth from my mom, surrounded by black & white family photographs.
I hope Nancy (Fete et Fleur) doesn't mind that I borrowed her post title from a few days ago, with an addendum. Her post reminded me to be creative with some of the lovely treasures I have hidden away because they aren't items I would use on a daily basis. If I love them, though, why should they be tucked in a drawer and brought out only once or twice a year. She inspired me to 1.) do a bit of digging/ organizing and 2.) think outside the box for ways to display various pieces. Thank you Nancy!
My digging also made me realize how many beautiful trinkets I have, that simply go unnoticed...because they've become part of the scenery. It's kind of like the background noise, of the t.v....right now that would be "SpongeBob SquarePants" and my kids left for school 1/2 hour ago :-)
There I go...off on another tangent. Nancy's post prompted me to practice my photography skills on some of my most loved treasures. My Nana used to collect Rose Medallion, Chinese porcelain. Growing up, I never paid much attention to anything my Nana collected, as it was all so "old". Fortunately, when she passed away, my mom dividing up some of Nana's Rose Medallion pieces and put it away for my sister-in-law and myself. After my former boss started my collection of (mostly English) porcelain, my mom gave me the Rose Medallion. I have since added bits and pieces, to the family heirlooms, and they are all housed in a corner cupboard I found, abandoned on the side of the road. After adding some side moulding & corner pieces and repainting the cupboard, it was the perfect place for my Rose Medallion!
Thank you to everyone who has been encouraging me to continue practicing my photography skills. I've received so many helpful hints, the best of which seems to be: take advantage of natural light. It truly makes all the difference in the world. I was practicing, first thing this morning, with some of my favorite pieces of jewelry. That was another great tip: focus on things you love :-) The individual pictures came out much better, but I really love using Picasa to make collages. Maybe it's cheating...just a bit....but at least the subject matter is more recognizable that my first attempts. I love the combination of turquoise & bronze and white, cream & rhinestones are always so elegant!
More significance of the teapot from Monica:
My former boss got me hooked on collecting porcelain teacups, several years ago. Even for a Brit, her collection is vast and highly impressive. She gave me my first pieces: a gorgeous, vintage Aynsley cup & saucer. Slowly, I have been adding to my collection.
My daughter, who typically has no interest in "girly" things, has recently been begging me to have a proper tea party. We were all set to do so one day, but she called an abrupt halt and pointed out that I didn't have a "proper" teapot with which to have our soiree. Such a stickler for details, she refused to go forth until we had all of the necessary components.
Tonight, we were able to have our first Mommy/ daughter tea party, thanks to Monica! I only wish she could have joined us. I'm certain our fancy British accents would have tickled her to no end. The white bits you see, peaking out from under the teapot, is a "doily" my daughter made and insisted we use: a paper snowflake cut-out, actually. Clever girl!
I love Audrey Hepburn. It's that simple...I just love her! Her classic, yet unconventional beauty...her timeless grace...her quirky mannerisms...she just fascinates me. When I worked at "the shop", I would continually use Ms. Hepburn's style as an example of the basic foundation of a "good" wardrobe. Get back to the basics and work from there: a pair of black slacks (capris, wide-leg, Bermuda shorts...whatever suits your fancy & body type) paired with a black top (turtleneck, blouse, short-sleeved, tank). From there, anything goes in putting together a look that works for you.
~ballet flats & pearls...and you're off to a P.T.O. meeting.
~a chunky, brightly colored beaded necklace, an over-sized straw tote bag & a pair of funky sandals...lunch/ shopping with the girls.
~classic, black pumps, a tailored jacket & a lovely silk scarf...a day at the office or an important interview.
~the highest heels you dare to wear, huge dangle earrings, bright red lipstick & a handbag with a bit of bling...a night on the town.
~rhinestone accessories, a silver evening bag & strappy sandals...the company Christmas party.
~a baseball cap & comfy sneakers....soccer mom with a touch of class!
It's all about 1.) knowing your body & choosing clothes that fit properly, 2.) accepting your body as it is...not as it was (back in 1986) or how you wish it would be (after you "commit" to the fad diet du jour, 3.)building a wardrobe based on simple, classic foundation pieces (preferably ones that won't go in and & out of style by next year) and....4.) accessorizing! This is where your personality comes shining through. You don't have to spend a lot to completely change the look of a basic ensemble. Get creative...fasten a pair of vintage clip-on earrings to a pair of flats, use your favorite pin/ earring to hold a scarf in place, tie a silk scarf to the strap of your simple, black handbag, transform a brooch into a pendant by popping it on a simple gold/ silver chain. Have fun and think Audrey :-)
***"Your Couture" is the name of my small business that was an off-shoot of my experience working in retail. I go into women's home and help them sort through/ purge their existing wardrobes. From there, we work with what they have to rebuild & revamp.
Normally, I am very persistent when facing challenges, but I am on the brink of surrendering to, what is clearly, an inability to take decent pictures. In spite of my cute, new camera and the discovery of the Photobucket editing program, the pictures that land up on my computer monitor do not come close to those I've captured in my mind's eye. I will, for at least a bit longer, plug along and hope that I have one of those "AHA!" moments when everything "clicks". In the meantime, I trust that your wonderfully creative imaginations somehow transform my awkward attempts into something lovely. I was pouring through older pictures of my children and decided, perhaps, they (the pictures, not my beautiful kids) would look better in a collage. Worth a try!
***Lest it appear that I favor my daughter over my son, I offer this disclaimer: he has made it perfectly clear that he wants no part in my blog and has "forbidden" me from mentioning him. Does he forget that I brought him into this world..... My daughter, on the other hand, would happily star in each and every posting!
I will, undoubtedly, be inundating my blog with posts that refer to...or are primarily featuring...all of the amazing goodies from my friend, Monica. The plethora of treasures she sent me is overwhelming and I am still discovering hidden surprises! Everything she sent me is still sitting on my dresser, en masse. I can't make myself put things away just yet. It's a bit like Christmas morning: when you start the clean-up process, it's an indicator that the gift giving has reached an end.
I wanted to share my absolute favorite thing she sent me, a handpainted china bell. Ever since I fell in love with the movie "It's a Wonderful Life", I have a sweet soft spot for bells ("Teacher says 'every time a bell rings', Daddy, 'an angel is getting his wings'."). Again, this is something Monica did not know about me, yet she gifted me something I shall treasure always! Monica painted the most beautiful, intricate peach & lavender flowers on this particular bell. Since I have not an ounce of traditional artistic talent (painting, drawing, etc.), I am perpetually astounded by people who are talented in this arena. Monica is absolutely one of those fortunate people.
The bell is sitting right next to my computer, so I can gaze at it often. Every so often, I pick it up and give it a tiny shake...just in case Zuzu was right about ringing bells!
Just when I thought my day couldn't get any happier...
I have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of my package from Monica (from the swap we did). The transit time between Connecticut and Italy does not suit my impatient nature, but I have been held over by daily emails, from Monica, sharing the projects she has been working on with some of the vintage baubles I sent to her. It snowed (AGAIN) today, which meant that my mail carrier was running late. I kept looking out the window, for telltale signs of the mail truck's tracks in my driveway. Finally, shortly after 5:00 p.m., I saw that the mail had been delivered and there appeared to be a sizable parcel, somehow, attached to the front of my mailbox. I grabbed my coat, skated down my icy driveway and lo & behold, there was a package affixed to the box with a bundle of rubber bands. Suddenly, my impatience quieted down a bit and I wanted to savor every part of the unveiling....thus the pictures, beginning with one of the snow covered parcel. I emailed Monica immediately, to let her know her goodies had arrived. Of course, the 8 hour time difference means that she won't know that until tomorrow.
Inside of the box was a lovely Pannetone tin that, once opened, overflowed with the most wonderful treasures from my sweet Italian friend! There was a rainbow of assorted ribbons, in so many different colors & materials, which I had mentioned I was sorely lacking in my crafting supplies. Monica added bunches & bunches of beautiful silk flowers...of which I had none. In fact, I was wishing I had some pretty flowers to add to the tutus I was working on yesterday. I will surely be using them on the next tutu I make.
I will save the sharing for another post, as I need to get my daughter settled for the evening. Suffice it to say, I am thrilled beyond words at Monica's thoughtfulness and generosity. It is positively uncanny that everything she chose suits me to perfection. You are absolutely remarkable, Monica, and such an amazing blessing in my life!
I had to run to my local thrift shop, this afternoon, to drop off several bags of clothes. While I was there, I, naturally, had to take a quick peek around. As the ladies were gratefully beginning to sort through my donations, I spotted a gorgeous dressing table and bench by the door. Since I really didn't have room, in my house, for one more piece of furniture (not to mention the fact, that I need to be mindful of my budget, until I find a job), I wasn't even going to take a close look or ask the price. I looked around a bit and found a pretty topiary and a cute lamp and was ready to pay for my finds....curiosity got the better of me and I had to inquire about the dressing table. With a perplexing sigh of exasperation, the woman who runs the shop explained that it had just been dropped off and they had nowhere to put it. Hopefully, I asked what she was going to ask for it. She looked around, at the already crowded shop, and told me....since I was such a "generous patron of the shop"...I could have both pieces. "Have"...as in free, no charge, zero damage to my bank account!!! As quickly as possible, before she came to her senses, I snatched up the dressing table and bench and loaded them into the back of my car. The fabric on the bench is a little torn at the seam, which is an easy mend, but I may just make a new cover for the cushion. Although I love the fabric, I'm not a big fan of the "matchy-matchy" look. When I got home, I realized it should work beautifully as a computer table: it has storage drawers under the skirt, as well as room for my printer! I will give it a try and, I'm sure, will be posting an update shortly :-)
Here is the second tutu I made. This one has a touch of Hawaiian flair, don't you think?
What to do with leftover tulle (yards upon yards) from the baby shower...make tutus, of course! These were, perhaps, the easiest projects I have made to date and, if I do say so myself, they came out rather nicely. Now, if only I had a daughter who was a girly-girl, they might be put to good use. Instead, I will be putting them in my Etsy shop....if I ever get it up and running. Once again, I have found another use for Deb's fabulous, double ruffle ribbons! Please stop by her Etsy shop, Just Because Ribbons. She has the most wonderful assortment of colors, is wonderful to do business with and the ribbons are such fun to play with! An aside: I was placing yet another order with Deb, this weekend, and she was busily trying to figure out which colors I might like/ need, giving me such warm, personal attention via email. Meanwhile, her baby girl is healing from a finger-slammed-in-the-door episode. That is the kind of commitment and professionalism Deb exhibits with her small business! She also wins the "Mom of the Year" award for being such a fantastic nurse to her little one.
