Vintage Flair

a little break

I am traveling for business all week (M-F) and I just wanted to let you all know I am not going to be around this week.  I have never been away a full week from my family and I am NOT looking forward to this trip.  I guess I need to think of a positive aspect, I will be able to finish my book that I started a while ago (These Three Remain, A novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman by Pamela Aidan).  I will be back soon enough.

Take care, Lori

Oh....today, I was trying to get organized in my little craft closet and I made a ribbon bulletin board on the wall to serve as inspiration for all of my little bits of this and that.

Kentucky derby swap

Today is the big Kentucky derby hat swap hosted by Bristol.  When I originally signed up for the swap I thought it would be interesting to try and make a hat.  Well, it is a lot harder that what originally I thought...so after much deliberation, here is what I ended up sending to my partner Kathy. 

It is really hard to take a photo of a hat....It sounds simple but it isn't.  I wanted to make a flapper type hat with floppy feathers and big millinery flowers on the front.  I used an old hat as my form and I cut off the actual hat part and just used the band that went around your head.  I embellished the front of the hat and I used vintage sewing patterns and then created ruffles to cover the original straw hat.  Here is a photo of the side.  Kathy I hopoe you like it....

Here is a photo of the hat Bristol made for me.  My daughter loves it and needed to model it ASAP.

Sweet card for a special little girl

My girlfriend's daughter, Ava turns six on Friday and I made her a birthday card from her Auntie Lori.  For special people in my life I usually try and make something handmade....It makes it more special.  Don't you think?  I love the image of the dancer (it is from Sandra Evertson book, Fanciful Paper Projects)  and I thought it would be perfect to put on her card.  I like how her feet dangle right off the card.  Lets hope that it doesn't get crushed in the box that I sent.   I am off to sew a little mermaid costume for the big ice skating competition on Saturday. 

I love Spring....

I love Spring, it is one of my favorite seasons.  All of the tress and flowers are blooming, it just makes you happy to be outside.  Since it has been so warm here, I planted some flowers and herbs.  In Michigan, I wouldn't plant anything g until Memorial Day but here in Arkansas, the weather is so much warmer so you are able to plant earlier.  Here are a few photos of some of my flowers (I thought I should document them while they are still pretty and living.  I am not quite sure what will happen in a couple of weeks).  I am loving my pink carnations that I planted in an urn on the deck.  I can see them from the kitchen window every time I walk past them.  I have been cutting the stems and putting them in my favorite McCoy vase on the kitchen counter.

Look....one of my basil plants has already died, not a good sign!

Sorry....This is going to be short because I am babysitting  friends children tonight and I need to go check on the girls and bring them their popcorn for their movie. 

Hankey panky

I knew these dresses I made for my daughter were going to be featured in Altered Couture at some point but I totally forgot about it and I received a nice surprise in the mail.

I like how they titled the article hanky panky...very cute.  The first dress still fits my daughter and I try and put it on her as much as possible.  I just love it.  Unfortunately, the other two don't fit anymore but I am still going to keep them because some of my favorite memories of my girls are when they had them on.  My husband tells me I need to get rid of stuff, I just can't seem to part with some things.  I am going to spend the afternoon planting flowers in my window boxes, it is so nice here today in NW Arkansas. I also have to pack for a couple days for a business trip for work in Dallas.  Have a great Sunday and I will be back Thursday.

A special place for my little ladies

I bought this wonderful vintage photo album quite some time ago and never quite knew what to do with it.  I have a passion for paper dolls and I thought I needed a special place to store my little ladies.  I added some vintage millinery, scraps of silk fabric and lace and I love how it turned out.  My favorite part is the tobacco satin ribbon I added to the front and back cover to secures it shut.

Here is a close up of the cover.

Look at the inside cover, I love the lettering. Why don't we make things now a days to look like this?

Here are a few of the paper dolls that I made.

I plan on adding more paper dolls...when I get more time.  Hopefully it will be sooner than later.

My swap goodies from Heather

I have to say, Heather really spoiled me and I loved every minute of it!  When I say I loved everything she gave me, I really mean it.  Oh my goodness...everything was so perfect and wonderful.   OK...enough, I know you want to see the photos.  Here you go....

I haven't opened up the wallpaper rolls, I just can't bring myself to mess them up...they look so pretty.

I love the image on the rick rack packaging and look how sweet the La Petite matchbox is.

Look at this fabulous button card...these are my favorite.  Heather gave me chocolate brown velvet ribbon wrapped around a tea stained tag (chocolate brown is one of my favorite colors).

I love the silhouette and the pink glass glitter.

Look how pretty my name is written on the floral card.  Oh, look at the image of the beautiful woman...I love her eyes.

She also gave me a very generous piece of this fabulous floral bark-cloth fabric.  I am going to cut the flowers and sew them onto a tee shirt for me.  I love everything about this fabric.

Heather thanks again.....I LOVE it all.

A quick hello

I just wanted to say hello really quick.   I had one of those days that I just need to sit down and catch my breath.  My daughters big day turned out really nice and I was so proud of her.  Here are a few photos.

Both of my girls slept in curlers so they would have a head full of curls.  They are so girlie.....I love it!

I am off to open my package from Heather....I will post all of my goodies tomorrow.

Take care, Lori

A little sad....

My mom was suppose to visit this weekend for the big communion celebration but American Airlines CANCELED her flight.  I was so looking forward to seeing her (I haven't seen her since Christmas) and it will now have to wait until next month when we travel back home to MI.  It is just so sad they cancel your flight and DO NOT help you get where you need to go via another airline.  I was on hold with them for over 40 minutes and no luck getting through to a customer service representative.  I tried again after I got to work and my phone calls were automatically disconnected.  I guess there are many people doing the same thing as me.  My mom tried to rebook through another airline but the tickets tripled in price (NW AR airport is a regional airport and it is one of the most expensive airports to fly in and out of).  OK...I am done complaining....It is just a bit sad when your child has a big event in their life and you have no family around.  I called some of our catholic neighbors and we are going to have a little party for her after all.  It is just not the same with out family.

I took today off (to hang out with my Mom) and I decided to go ahead and take the day and hang out with just myself and craft all day.  That is just what I did and it was a very relaxing day. I will show you some of my projects later.

I was very happy to see my junk in the trunk swap partner Heather received my package and it arrived safe.  I can't believe she didn't mention that I wrapped her package twice.  I originally wrapped it with the black and white paper I posted about a couple of days ago.  I made the bow out of paper and I didn't want to put her goodies in the box that way because I thought it might get bent or crushed.  I then decided to wrap some blue tissue paper around it to protect the black and white wrapping.  Well, I just can't wrap it with tissue paper and leave it that way...It looked so plain.   I added some lace, seam-binding and the glitter H and it was ready to go into the box.  I laughed at myself because I had to write Heather a note saying, I hope you don't think I am crazy for wrapping it twice. 

I know Heather likes dolls and I didn't think she had any cupie dolls.  I love her eyes...are they not the sweetest?

Inside the tin, I tried to wrap some of the goodies with some TLC.

 

Can you tell that I am pretty care free today with nothing to do on my Friday agenda?  I say that because I just kept rambling on.....Thanks for listening and I will be around all weekend.

Take care, Lori

Little break...

I am taking a little break from blogging because my mom is visiting and she arrives tomorrow for the big communion celebration.  I will be back before any of you will even miss me!

P.S.  This is one of my favorite photos and I really hate to publish a post without a photo.