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

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

In my little corner of the world ~

I so hope you had a beautiful Mother's Day weekend!

I had a wonderful time celebrating at my sister-in-law's house

and we were even able to go swimming it was so warm.

All of our boys were there except our oldest Brent, Emily and

our grandbabies Clara and Murray.

They went to Emily's father's wedding in Florida and

Clara was the flower girl. She was so excited ~

Brent shared a few photos with me...

just look at our precious grandchildren!

Another wonderful thing going on around here is that this old farmhouse

got a fresh coat of paint and looks so beautiful!!

Even the metal roof is now sparkly silver!

Rockers on the ready for sweet tea in the evenings...

And guess what? I'm actually managing to keep my succulents alive!

I had to move them off the porch for a few days while it was being painted

and took this photo to share ~

And lastly, I finished two more treasure organizers for a couple of my friends.

By the time they are finished they ending up being really heavy!

I gathered a few goodies from around my studio

and stuffed them into the pockets

to show you how they look when full of keepsakes and treasures.

It's amazing what you can create using a simple drop cloth and old lace!

Wishing you a beautiful Monday dear friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

So where in the world have I been??

I promise I've not dropped off the face of the earth!

I've been working on a few more treasure organizers and

truthfully, I've been procrastinating about finishing them.

They are a TON of hard work and it's like a major accomplishment

when I finish one of these babies!

Here are a few photos of my "in progress" stages ~

I have to find the perfect lace for each and every pocket...

then I have to find the perfect button to adorn each one as well.

The buttons are of course all hand sewn on and then I add more vintage lace

to cover the bottoms of the pockets.

And the top of the organizer MUST have a beautiful lace as well.

I FINALLY finished one of the organizers I was working on...here is the photo of

the finished piece. I so hope my sweet customer loves it!

Also, I've got to share this....a must-have magazine I just bought!

You will love everything inside, I promise ~

And lastly, a few quilt scraps I found while antiquing a few days ago.

I'm ready to work on something small and these will be PERFECT

for some pretty needle books!!!

Please forgive my absence...I've been planting flowers, succulents and even rose bushes!!!

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Antique lace, vintage buttons & laundered dropcloth...it doesn't get much better than that!

And of course, some thread and a sewing machine are all it takes

to create a couple of wonderful treasure organizers!

WHEW!!! I procrastinated WAY too long on these two sweeties.

Every time I make one, I'm reminded how very difficult they are!

But I finally finished these for two sweet customers and so hope that

they are pleased with and love them.

The organizers are about 22" wide and about 46" long. Each pocket is lined

and pleated so each one can hold a multitude of treasures. You could display your

mother's strand of pearls draping out of one pocket with your favorite hankies

tucked inside as well. Use the top to display your beautiful pin collection.

Add treasured cards from loved ones to another pocket. Hang your grandmother's

wire rimmed glasses on one of the pockets and fill it with more goodies that remind

you of her. You get the idea, right? This organizer is to display your treasures

and hang where you can see it each and every day...and smile.

Pockets in progress...it takes me forever to choose just the perfect laces and buttons!

I also wanted to share a magazine that's coming out this month that

I know we will all love....Fifi's newest Prairie Style!!!!

Keep your eyes peeled, I know I am ~

I also wanted to show you what I found last week at my local Walmart!!

I've been wanting to try growing succulents and they had the

most wonderful variety pack for just 9.98!!!

I did buy some special potting soil that drains well too.

The other plants were lavender but I put those back...

I'll get them next trip!!!

PLUS...look what I found on an end cap in the craft department of Walmart...

Waverly Chalk Paint!!!

PLUS it's only 5.97 for an 8 oz. bottle. They also had some antiquing finishes

but I didn't buy any of those. I may go back for some though!!

The two colors I brought home were called "Plaster" and "Ballet Slipper"

How can you NOT buy a shade called "Ballet Slipper"???????

One last photo for you just because I love it so....

Don't you love this display? Hydrangeas are so gorgeous to me

and those doors are AMAZING!

I know I promised to share some photos of two magazines that I recently purchased

that I thought you would love but I just haven't taken the time to take the pics.

One is latest issue of Romantic Country Summer 2015....

And the other is Romantic Homes May issue ~

They are both just beautiful!!!

I'll try to take some photos to share because

I just know you will love them both.

Noah is out of school this week for Spring Break and it is ALWAYS

heavenly for me because I love staying up late and sleeping late as well.

My clock is weird but I just can't help it!

I hope you are having a wonderful week...

Spring has definitely arrived here!

We already need to cut our grass

for the second time.

Happy Wednesday precious friends and I thank you always for visiting me here!

hugs and love,

Dawn