How to Make a Small Vintage Lace and Millinery Angel Christmas Ornament

I hope you are enjoying my YouTube Channel! This is my newest tutorial. XO

How to Make a Vintage Lace Standing Angel

This is my newest YouTube video - I hope you like it! XO

How to Make Christmas Ornaments from Pre-Cut Fabrics, Intro

I thought it would be nice to have an "introduction" to my YouTube series.  I'm getting faster!

How to Make a Ruffled Angel Ornament from Christmas Jelly Roll Fabric

My second YouTube video!  I am learning as I go...

Patchwork Bunny Doll

I received a charm pack as a bonus with a fabric order and challenged myself to make something!  Hope you like it!

Making Skirts from Handkerchiefs!

I have been collecting handkerchiefs since I was a girl.  

Sure, I make the famous "handkerchief angel" Christmas ornaments and even "handkerchief bunnies" for Spring, but still…..I have a LOT of handkerchiefs…

I had always wanted to try a skirt, but thought it was kind of extravagant.

Finally I had to ask, "What am I saving them for?"  

It did take quite a few handkerchiefs and was rather time-consuming, but really kind of fun.  I made three, but this is my favorite.  Hope you like it!

Dancing Angels 2013

Ella and Emily

Although I didn't know how many dancers would sign up - or their ages or sizes - I began working on the costumes early this year!

It turns out that we have TEN dancing angels in the "Lessons and Carols" program at St. Patrick's and they are aged 6 - 11.  PERFECT!

Each dancer has two costumes - the first is a lace coat (for the "Advent" song....) and then for the brilliant "Angelic" entrance, they have a flouncy bouncy skirt, wings, haloes, feathers and ribbon wands.

Kaitlin is the choreographer and it is going to be just beautiful!

Ella

Sweet Strawberry Dresses

Summer is here in Arizona - time to break out the seersucker.

I picked up McCall's 6730 and made it up in several fabric combinations.

It was fun to work on such cheerful designs.

Angel Skirt

I've been sewing angel costumes!  

This is my first skirt - a thrifted skirt embellished with vintage laces, buttons and trims.  

Deconstruct - Reconstruct, Part 2

Here is my second attempt at deconstructing and reconstructing a black velvet pencil skirt.

I went with an asymmetric hem, adding vertical strips of vintage black lace and tatting.  I also added a black silk ribbon and a vintage key.  I pinned it on with black safety pins for a little goth touch.  (Also this makes it easy to remove...you know...just in case you need to unlock an old door or something...)

Here is the opposite side.

Another view of the front without the black lace jacket.  The beaded piece in the center is a lovely vintage piece that I have been hoarding.  Finally found a way to use it.  I think it really makes the skirt special. What do you think?

Deconstruct - Reconstruct

 I've picked up several of these black velvet skirts at thrift shops - they usually start off like this:

And after some cutting, sewing and adding vintage laces, buttons and trims, they look like this:

I have quite a stash of vintage black laces that I've collected over the years.   It's about time I invented a use for them.  Of course the MOP buttons also found their way onto the skirt as well as this darling little bow...

I'm not totally happy with the design yet - I have incorporated the lining into the center tier of the skirt and the hems are raw.    I was going for a "tattered" look, which is a stretch for me.

Since it's hard to get the hem even, the next one will have a more deliberately asymmetric hem.  Also, I think I want more fullness in the ruffle.  

Please stay tuned...

Name That Sprite!

I've made a few more of these Vendor Aprons with my stash of vintage 80's character fabrics.  

Do you recognize these guys?  They are Rainbow Brite "Sprites."  

Years ago I made bags featuring these guys and sold them on eBay.

The inside of the apron has this super-secret pocket for all of the "Large Denomination" bills that you are sure to earn at the craft show!  

Vintage Vendor Aprons!

New zippered and pocketed aprons made from vintage linens, fabrics, and trims for craft show vendors! 

 What is the message that the bluebirds bring?

"Shop" of course!

What is that?  A frog and a mushroom?

 Yes.  Amazing!  I think this is my favorite.

This one is vintage barkcloth, an embroidered bird, cross-stitched roses and a daisy pincushion.

Vintage trims and patches.  I love the red and white cross-stitched waistband.

So much fun.  More to follow....

Vintage Red Wool Pincushion Heart

This design is so charming and so current, it's hard to believe that it is vintage!

I made my own version of a stuffed wool heart...



It was a kit from Bird Brain Design. Easy!

Random Vintage Valentine Sentiment:

You really are so very sweet,
So charming and so clever,
I hope you'll be my Valentine
And love me just forever.

Vintage Valentine Shadowbox

This project was a lot of fun. The background is gingham-print paper. Can you find the handkerchief? The little square item at the bottom right is a box of vintage valentine seals.

It was hard to get a good photo because of the glass (and the reflection!) but I hope you like it!

Happy February!

Random Vintage Valentine Sentiment:

Of course you may be bashful
But think how much t'would please me
If you would be my Valentine,
And try no more to tease me.

Happy Summer!

This yellow daisy necktie bag makes me smile!

Vintage Patchwork Bag

I purchased a bundle of patchwork at the Retro Indie Market. It was the very end of the day and our booth had slowed down considerably so I took some time to shop. When I asked how much for the fabric and heard "three dollars," I took it even though I wasn't sure what it was.

When I got home and unrolled the piece I discovered that it was probably a former curtain. Someone had cut into it and made perhaps a vest or a jacket. Rather than pinning the pattern to the fabric, "she" had traced around the pieces with a red marker. So what I had purchased was cut up and the pieces required for the jacket were obviously gone. Red marker was also evident.

But come on... THREE DOLLARS!



I took out the trusty seam ripper and removed the damaged pieces. With what remained I made two of these schoolbags, a handbag (below) and a zipper pouch. Not bad eh?

I used a vintage (damaged) tablecloth for the linings and altogether feel like a proud recycler. Only the magnets were new purchases.




By the way... I would LOVE to see that jacket!

Vintage Bag

I love books and magazines and I purchase plenty - especially sewing and decorating titles, but I rarely make any of the projects.

In fact, I recently challenged myself to recall even ONE project ever made from any of the hundreds of titles in my library and I couldn't identify a single one.

I do plenty of sewing of course. I just seem to prefer making "my own designs." I always have. So, why do I need all of these books and magazines?



A couple of months ago I told myself that I would make something from the next magazine I purchased. Otherwise, I wouldn't buy it. So, when I saw this title at my local Barnes & Noble I decided to try to purse on the cover. Isn't it cute?

I drafted the patterns and marked and cut out the fabrics carefully. It was a little tricky because the instructions are metric.

This was a good exercise for me.

After the project was done I thought, "Okay, there I've done it. A completed project from a magazine." It turned out pretty much like the design on the cover. Although it is nice, it doesn't really look like "me."

So I hung it on a drawer knob and forgot about it.

Later Kaitlin was over and she spotted it from the hall. MOM!!!! This is AMAZING!!!! Go figure. So now my precious daughter has a new bag.

I also concluded that there is nothing wrong with reading these books and magazines just for fun. My mom enjoyed reading cookbooks. Same thing, right?

I love a happy ending.

Red Necktie Handbag

Trying to keep a red/pink/purple theme going until Valentine's Day. Don't know if I can keep it up. OXOX

For a Special Girl....

...because nothing says "You are Special" like a custom designed backpack in your favorite colors and featuring your favorite characters.

And nothing goes together better than pink velveteen and red piping.