Snippets of loveliness ~

The other day I pulled out a blank canvas wanting to make something new.

It was a simple 11 x 14 canvas that I simply layered with

snippets of loveliness!

I started by gluing on a piece of vintage linen to the base.

Raw edges were exposed, it didn't matter either.

I wanted it to have more of a loose feel.

Then I began layering things.

I ripped pieces of a gorgeous Ralph Lauren sheet that I love.

(That is the vintage roses fabric you see peeking through the lace!)

I cut the bottom off of a precious old baby dress.

The scallops and embroidery were perfect!

Plus the pale pink shade was beautiful with the colors

in the ripped sheet pieces.

At first I don't glue a thing.

Well, except for the base fabric covering the canvas.

But after that I begin playing.

Put this on, look at it...remove it and try something else.

I keep doing this until I love what I see.

Of course it helps to have a gorgeous image

as the focal point in the center!!!

Below is a photo of my work in progress ~

And finally, when I KNOW it's right, I glue everything into place!

Below is my finished piece.

I happened to show a work-in-progress photo on my Facebook page

and it sold right away before it was finished.

After the photo below was taken,

I added about five mother of pearl buttons to the pretty piece

of pink ribbon and lace across the bottom.

Sometimes it just needs one more beautiful element!

I have to share some recent thrift store finds with you!!

Both of the chairs that I've placed in front of our fireplace

were found for only 15.00 each!!!

Now that Spring has arrived, the fireplace is out of commission

so why not pile in a few more chairs for extra seating?

This past month on March 21st, my sweet husband and I celebrated

our 35th wedding anniversary!

I created a sweet collage of us and our precious sons...

We celebrated the day with our son Brad and

had lunch at a classic Atlanta restaurant,
Mary Mac's Tea Room
(ohmygoodness, SO DELICIOUS!)
#marymacstearoom #marymacs

and then we had an afternoon of touring

a beautiful Atlanta cemetery

and enjoyed a little bit of antiquing and junkin!!!

It really was such a fun day!!!

I've got to share this photo of the wisteria that 

grows wild near our old farmhouse ~

Spring has definitely arrived here in Georgia!!!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend

precious friends!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Altered inspiration!

I ran across this photo today on Facebook ~

You know how it will share your old posts and memories with you?

This was from a year ago today and I love it!

The morning light was streaming in across a door in my studio

where I've hung pretty little treasures that inspire me ~

I love seeing and displaying wonderful things that make me smile!

Surround yourself with what you love

and you truly WILL be inspired!

I finally finished my altered treasure box!

Yes, I used a favorite graphic of mine and I know you've seen it before

but I can't help myself...

I love it!

The box was primed, painted and lightly antiqued.

Then I added the graphic to the top and began embellishing.

Trying to decide what lace or trim to use is always the fun part.

It has to work perfectly with the color, size and scale of my project.

Finally I had to finish up with a pretty seam binding bundle and rhinestone bauble.

It sold quickly right from my Facebook page as I tend to share

my artwork in progress there.

I lined the inside the most beautiful antiqued gold paper

and then added a lace band in the lid

so old photographs or other ephemera could be tucked in and held safely.

By the way, here is a little "before" shot.

It was pretty to begin with but I knew I could elevate it just a bit!

I actually got out the other day and went antiquing too!!!

It was 65 degrees and sunny here in Georgia so it was perfect.

As I pulled into the parking lot of a local antique mall,

look at what I saw!!!!

Isn't it wonderful???

It even has fun little curtains hanging inside.

It's a 1977 Volkswagen Van in gorgeous condition!

This one's a little blurry but I loved this gorgeous piece.

I'm not sure what it is but it was beautiful.

Yes, one of those tails came home with me. I love the weirdest things!

My little pile of treasures! Not much but carefully chosen.

Now to start a new project ~

What to do, what to do...

Thank you always for stopping by to see what I'm up to!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Making these sweet pockets a little more special!

I decided that my new pocket creations do not need to be naked!

SO...I've stuffed each and every one with some of my favorite treasures.

They've been filled with antique ephemera, antique photographs, vintage baby shoes,

 vintage jewelry bits and more.

They really do look so beautiful stuffed full!

So here are photos of these babies now!

Now you can truly see their full potential!

You can find them all in my Etsy store now ~

Happy weekend angels!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Forgotten lace, old buttons and humble fabrics ~

I'd been wanting to get back into the studio and

put together a single treasure pocket similar to my large ones...

and I FINALLY did!

It's funny how I drift away from making things for awhile but then

when I get back to it, I love is SO MUCH!

Here's the first one that I made...it's sold but I still wanted to

share it with you. I even stuffed it with a few of my own treasures too.

A roll of sheet music, antique baby photograph, rhinestone pin, an old baby shoe

and a teeny bundle of vanilla roses. It's simple really, but you get the idea.

I stuffed the bottom of the pocket with sewing pattern tissue

to lift the items up but it could easily just be filled with even

more goodies!

I'm also finishing up another Treasure Pocket Organizer.

These take time, just because I want each piece of lace, each button and

their placement to be just right (well, in my mind anyway!)

This one is sold as well but it's fun to see in-progress photos.

Sweet old lace, pressed and waiting for a new purpose...to be even more beautiful!

More lace stash...you really have to have a ton of stuff to make pretty things, I mean it!

You can't create without a wonderful supply to choose from.

And guess what else has been going on around here?

This precious girl...

this sweet baby, our granddaughter Clara started FIRST GRADE

this past Monday!!

She's so excited!! But I'm sure, since it's Friday and

this was her first week back, she'll be exhausted tonight.

And don't worry about our kids starting back so early ~

Every six weeks, they get a full week off AND two weeks at Christmas!

It's a great schedule and works out so well for the students and the teachers.

AND this goob...our sweet baby Noah...

now 17 years old, started his SENIOR year of high school!!!

And what's funny? This is a photo from last year.

He's growing his hair out and has a BEARD!!!

WHAT?

Someone at school told him yesterday, "Hey man, you look like Jesus"

HAHA! I told Noah, what a compliment!

Where has the time gone?

I hope you're having a wonderful summer and staying cool.

You realize we will blink and it will be Fall!

Thank you always, always for stopping by to see me ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

A few little pretties!

I've managed to finish several projects I've had waiting around here!

My sweet daughter-in-law requested one of my lace buntings so

I thought I would go ahead a make several to list in my shop as well!

These are created from wonderful, old pieces of lace and strung together

on a long piece of seam binding. I add pretty seam binding bundles on each end

plus add several vintage buttons on each flag!

Each one is different but that's how I love things to be.

I'm working on one last treasure organizer too!

I'll be sure to share photos soon ~

These have all be listed in my Etsy store if you'd like to take a peek!

Wouldn't it be pretty to hang two together, staggered???

I should have tried that!

So our short summer (time off from school) will soon be coming to an end

and Noah will begin his SENIOR YEAR!!!

Can you even believe this?

I know many of you have read my blog for awhile and watched

our youngest son grow up. And that he has!!

He's almost 18 years old and stands over 6 feet tall.

But he's still my baby!!!

School begins August 3rd here in Georgia in our county.

It's early but the positive thing is that every six weeks, they get a week off!

And of course 2 weeks off for Christmas.

It works out really well for the students and the teachers.

We'll be enjoying our lazy mornings for just a few more weeks around here...

Thank you always, always for stopping by to see what I'm up to!!

Happy Tuesday precious friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

A little something new ~

Today has been such a good day.

I've met so many precious friends in my blogging journey and

today I was able to speak to a dear friend who lives in France

and it. was. WONDERFUL!

Her life has been very busy and we haven't spoken in such a long time.

Sue has been on my mind lately and she can call my phone for free and

then just a few days ago she called to catch up!!!

I couldn't talk at that time but she called back today and we caught up

with each other's lives and all that is going on.

It's just beautiful what this blog has given me.

Friends near and far...some close by some on the other side of the world!

But we all have common threads and love the same things.

THAT is what bonds us together.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

I gathered some lace together today and decided to make a bunting!!

It is simply cut from a pattern that I found online and I cut the lace,

raw edges and all, to use on my bunting.

I folded over the top edge onto a long length of seam binding and sewed it down.

You could easily use fabric glue to do this though!

I tied a few seam binding bows on each end and accented the corners of each one

with pretty vintage buttons (just glued on with Fabri-tac!)

It sold quickly from my shop but I still wanted to share it with you here ~

I know many of you have the supplies around to make your own!!

I just love using old, forgotten lace pieces to make something pretty!!!!

Thank you always for stopping by to see me here ~

hugs and love,

Dawn