Vintage Flair

So long for a bit

I am off for a week on vacation and I am headed back to Michigan to see my family and spend a little time alone with my husband.  I am so excited to be alone with just him. It seems like we never have any alone time...I know you all can relate. We have a couple spa package planned, dinner, he is going to play golf while I drive the golf cart and antiquing (I haven't told him that part yet).  We will be going to the beach for some fun with the kids, eat frickles and most importantly see family.  (A frickle is a dill pickle wrapped in a won ton wrapper stuffed with cheese, sounds weird but with a beer they are delicious)

I can't do a post without some photos so I will leave you with a few of my own favorite photos from Flicker.  I had a Flicker account months before thought of a blog and there are some photos that I have never posted on my blog.  The first photo is my all time favorite.  I will be back before you will notice I am gone! 

Yet another one....

I bought the worlds ugliest plus size 80's bridesmaids dress the other day...but look what I turned it into.

 
Just look at these wonderful ruffles.  This little beauty is now in the girls bathroom and it cast a warm shade of pink when it is on.  I love it!  I have a quite a bit of this fabric and if any of you are interested in a lamp shade kit with this fabric let me know and I can whip some up for you.  I was thinking that I would make two or three.  I just don't want to cut the fabric and make them and have them sit it my Etsy shop.

Brilliant Strokes

I was asked to donate artwork for a wonderful cause, Brilliant Strokes.  The live and silent auction is a charity for the United Cerebral Palsy and it benefits the children of CENA.  At the event will be paintings by CENA children as well as works donated by local and regional artists.  If you live in Northwest Arkansas (not many of you do), please email me and I can give you further information.  I  told my girlfriend who is on the board that I am not an artist nor do I paint....I really hope the someone will buy my art.  Do you think they will get it?  I told my hubby that if nobody bids on them, he will be.  He just smiled and said yes dear. 

 

Harvest

My girlfriend gave me this sign the other day and I just love it.  I had no clue where to hang it and I put it on the front door (facing inside) just to hang it and get it out of the way until I decided what to do with it.  Well...I decided to keep it there and I added some vintage millinery flowers, tattered velvet ribbon from an old hat, a vintage monthly report card and some buttons.  I think vintage millinery flowers makes everything better!

What do you do with the kids when it rains?

 
You make crafts!  While it rained the girls and I made these adorable little houses.  I tend to be on the opinionated side (others tell me....I try and not think I am bossy but if I call myself opinionated it makes me feel better) so when I craft with my little ones, I lay out all of the supplies and let them get their creative juices flowing.  They like to do everything by themselves and if they ask for help I do other wise, it is all up to them.  At Christmas time we have two trees, one for Mommy to decorate and one for the girls decorate all themselves.  It is fun for the girls to see all of there crafts they have made over the years on their own Christmas tree.  I am going to put these little master pieces on their tree this year. I bought these houses at Hobby Lobby for $3.99 and I am going to buy more decorate with silver glitter.  They came with a twine loop on the top and I cut that off and added pink trim and secured it with a corsage pin.

   

 

I was going to sell this one but....

I made this lampshade last night and I used my daughter's lamp as a form to see how it would look.  My plan was to put it in my Etsy shop but my daughter talked me out of it.  She loves it in her room and I know one day she will probably not like the same things as me when she gets older.  So, when my daughter smiles and me and gives me hug and says Momma, it is so pretty!  My heart skips a beat.  I think it turned out great.  I just love the ruffles and a little peek a boo lace on the bottom. 

All dolled up

Lately, I have been a little side tracked with paper dolls.  I know, I am a bit old...but I have to say I just love them!  I have a couple of vintage magazines with some great images of women.  I wanted to do something special with the images so I thought to myself why not get them all dressed up.  My girlfriend gave me a goodie bag with this beautiful turquoise crepe paper and I knew I needed to use it in a project immediately.  Here is a photo of what my little lady looked like before she got all dolled up.

Here is what she looks like now.  I used the crepe paper for her skirt and I made a top out of lace scraps.  She was pretty before but now, she is ready for a night on the town.  Look at her shoes, aren't they great?

 

  

By Momma....

I can't believe my girls are already back to school.  It seems like summer vacation just started.  My oldest, Olivia is in 2nd grade and Lily-Grace is in Montessori.  Both of my daughters dressed themselves and wanted no in put from their Momma.  So sad....I miss the days that I could lay out what I wanted them to wear and that was it.  I know I should be happy they are becoming their own little selves...finding their own way in life.   I told my daughter this morning that she isn't going to need me one day because she is getting so big and she said Momma, I will always need you.  Such a wonderful thing to say to a Momma.  I love them more than words can say.

Sweet little girls

Don't these little girls look so sweet?  Can you believe that I found this adorable photo in an antique shop?  It is so sad that people do not keep old photos of their ancestors.  Now these adorable little girls have a safe happy home! 

A fancy party hat

I hope Chloe will love this sweet little party hat I made her for her birthday.  I thought her birthday was next month but it is in October.  Oh well...at least I am now ahead of the schedule. Instead of tucking it away, my daughter thought it should sit on top of her bunny until we give it to Chloe.  I think it looks cute.