Doily and Lace Book, My first pages

 One of the recent Marie Antoinette Mail Art swaps I took part in was a Doily book supply swap.  My partner Rhonda outdid herself!

 There were two yahoo videos that I decided to model my book after.

and this one
Fabric/Lace/Doiley Book Part 1
The second video shows how I plan on combining all of my pages.  It is all the way at the end of the video.

 

I hand stitched each of the blue flowers to match the gorgeous appliqué (shown close up below) I found.  All the seam binding I used to make these flowers is on sale in my Etsy Shop

I turned one of the doily's into a pocket.  I'm planning on using this book as a needle book when it is all done so that pocket will most likely end up holding a book of needles.

I wanted to keep the adjoining pages very simple so that I could use them more for the needle storage.

But for this one I couldn't resist making this little French Ribbonwork rose.  I have some for sale in my shop.

 

I've already got one more page half done and plans for the third.  This is going to be the biggest project I have taken on knowing that I will keep it that I've ever done. 

Thanks for stopping by!



Cream Cloth Pumpkins

 Over at MAMA, Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group, Teri of Designs by Terri Gordon hosted a Cream Cloth Pumpkin Swap.

 My partner was Melanie of Artful Interludes (and wait till you see what she made me!).

I had this gorgeous key pin that I thought would be a perfect addition to the pumpkin but I was worried because of the aqua.  So I contacted Melanie to see if she would be okay with some color on her pumpkin.  She said yes and I was thrilled, so off to creating I went. 

The pumpkin is made out of a raw silk, I used tea stained bakers twine to make the shape. The stem is a luscious brown silk.  Along with the key pin I added some vintage lace, velvet leaves, a wonderful cream flower and some coordinating ribbons.  I really like how it turned out, I hope she does also. 

 I had so much fun creating for Melanie that I decided to make myself one.  I didn't get the shape on this one quite as good.

I went with autumn browns and kept to a French theme.  The pumpkin is made out of the same materials as Melanie's. 

I wish I could have created more, but alas I am out of the gorgeous cream fabric, I will have to find more. 

French Inspired Swatches

 A few weeks ago I shared the French Inspired Swatches that I made. 

 Well, the swap is back and I've put all my pieces together.

Now that I have it all together I think this very well may be my favorite swap this year!

French Inspired Swatches

 Recently I took part in a swap through Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group hosted by the fabulous Tabitha of Creative Wings

 We were to make 12 French inspired 4 x 3 swatches that could be sewn together into a large piece once everyone's were swapped out.

 I made one set with soft pinks and creams featuring lovely women.

 And added lots of vintage lace, flowers and buttons to them.

 For my second set I went with a soft blue vintage fabric my grandmother left to me.  She made a lovely dress for me out of it when I was little.

 Again I stuck with vintage laces but used seam binding and a floral appliqué to enhance them.

I have received the swapped out pieces and have a plan of how I am going to put them together, now I just have to find the time. 

This was a fun swap and I am so glad I took part.

Plexi Glass Eiffel Tower ~ MAMA Swap

One of the many projects I made this month for swaps is this Plexi Glass Eiffel Tower.  It is for a MAMA swap, we were asked to use a template of the Eiffel Tower, place it on a box and fill the box with goodies. 

Now of course I had to make it super hard on myself and not use paper.  I got this idea in my head that it would be great in glass, but then switched to plexi glass because I had some. 

I wanted to make each tear different and fun.  The top tear is very skinny and the butterflies I got a little too fat so they didn't go as high into the tower as I wanted.  I made the star from paper clay and painted it to match the top of the box, it has a gold sheen to it. 

For the middle tear I made a clay cupcake using a tutorial by Garden of Imagination and a crown using the concepts from  tutorial by Rook No. 17

The base I filled with clay flowers that I made.  I put together a tutorial for these about a year ago, you can view it HERE.  Make sure to check out my other tutorials, click the Tutorial tab under my banner.

I had to put each layer together separately, allow for them to completely dry and then add the next one.  I'm not 100% pleased with how the plexi glass sealant dried, it is clear but I can still see it. 

For the base of the box I decided to go with a "Spring in Paris" type feel.  I didn't want to put anything on the top of the box to detract from my tower. 

I used a floral fabric for the background, lots of flowers, small white picket fence (that I grunged up a bit), and butterflies (the same ones I used in the top of the tower).

I love the 3D aspect.  For the trim around the box I used 2 shades of seam binding and strung together some off white pearls. 

Filled it to the brim with goodies I hope my partner will like.  I visited her blog to see what colors she leans towards and it was creams and pinks.  So that is what I tried to give her.

I tossed in some other fun things, a French decorated soap bar and a large glittery crown. 

 

I learned a lot making this creation about my limits and how driven I am to get things to look the way I want them.  I love pushing the boundaries of what I know and what has been done and I think I did a good job with this creation, not great, but with some more practice maybe I can get it better.

The Final Entry by Sushi Antoinette

Meet sushi Antoinette, but don't fall in love with her because alas she won't be with us long. 

Over at the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group (MAMA) I joined in a Sushi Antoinette Diary Swap.  We were required to use the above image on a diary page.  What we said on the page was entirely up to us. 

To alter the image I added hair, lots and lots of doll hair.  I wanted it to look as close to the actual image as possible.

She is surrounded by Fish and Cupcakes.

This is her entry on the front of my diary page. 

I've had these cat and fish bead forever and at the last minute decided to add them.  The cupcake I made out of clay.

The back of Sushi's diary page is a little grim...

Her hair has been all bundled up in a bonnet,

and I printed a guillotine onto the decorative paper. 

Marie Antoinette is supposed to be an angel on this page, but I never gave her a halo.

And this is Sushi Antoinette's final diary entry. 

 

I can't wait to see what everyone else makes, there will be five pages in the diary including mine. 

Snips & Bits Returns

Last week I got great happy mail, alas I was so ill I couldn't fully enjoy it. 

So now I am!

If you recall I took part in a Snips & Bits Swap through MAMA, you can see what I sent Kris, my partner HERE

Well, Kris of Nostalgic Collage' outdid herself! 

These are all the goodies she sent me!

This is an image of everything outside of the box...but the box is so gorgeous too!

I am in awe (and embarrassed at the fabrics I sent) at the gorgeous fabrics she sent

And this sprig is out of this world, so me!

Check out all the ribbons, again so my colors

And the very special Vintage Rhinestone piece...drooollll

Lace lace and more lace...can you see the one at the top with the buttons, I think that on is my favorite.

And the flowers!  Oh my!

10 little treasures, well she sent more than 10 and I know I am going to end up having a hard time using them, because well, once they are used I can't use them again...I guess that means I covet and Cherish these little treasures!

She only had to send 5 French Themed Charmes...I am sooooooo spoiled!

Glass Beads

check out those pale pink hearts!

I told you she outdid herself, these are just extras she sent...OMG...

Buttons

Fabric and Lace and Charms...oh my!

I can't wait to get started!

Yet another fabulous MAMA swap.

Thank you Rhonda for hosting and Kris you outdid Marie herself on this one!