Cottages, Flowers, Tutus and Jewelry

This post is a little off from what I usually post but one I think you'll enjoy.

I recently was looking for beautiful images of...well, just about anything beautiful or exotic or red or pink, you get the idea. I came upon a website that held my interest for hours. This woman had ball gowns, shoes, jewelry, scenery, vignettes, flowers or any and all kinds—just gorgeous stuff. I loved it. The colors were every color in the paint store! It was true eye candy—lush, vibrant colors, photos of all kinds. Wonderful!

I don't do a lot of fashion or couture postings because it just doesn't interest me. Jewelry is the same way. I have some jewelry and like it but I'm not a jewelry person and certainly don't lust after it. I have a huge gold band with diamonds and I lost one of the diamonds and just haven't ever had it replaced. I just don't care. I prefer other things much more than a diamond.

But these things intrigued me and I'm going to share some of them with you today. Ooooh, there are lots more to come, but be patient. I can't show you everything at once.

These lovely hollyhocks caught my eyes. I don't think I've seen any quite this pink and pretty.

A small mannequin done up in diamond jewelry, roses and PARIS.

I knew you'd want to see more English cottages also, so here is one you'll love.

Also, another small camper caught my eye. Hubs is still fixing up our pop-up tent camper. It sustained some major water damage this past winter with the heavy rains we had. I'm not urging him on to finish this project as I normally would because that would mean he'd want to go camping and it's just not going to happen this year with a problem I've having that is requiring some surgery plus the sciatica I'm experiencing. As the new readers of my blog will learn: I hate camping!!!

This photo reminds me greatly of a favorite Mexican restaurant we used to eat at in San Diego. I loved it. We'd sit outside under banana trees and eat some of the best food in the area. Reminds me of Mexico also. I love Puerto Vallarta best of all the places we've been to in Mexico.

An exquisite drop down desk with the roses I'd want on it if I had one. Beautiful.

I'd love to have one of these bags but I can't remember what they're called at the moment or even who might sell them.

A lovely ballerina outfit. Wouldn't you love to have this little stand somewhere in your home? Oooooh, I would.

Have you ever seen nails done so prettily? These are definitely a stunner. I'm sure this woman doesn't keyboard. ;-)

A ring I just had to show you. It looks huge, but gorgeous.

A pretty diamond comb for your hair.

The colors of these earrings just struck me as unusual.

The most extraordinary cuff I've seen. Magnificent.

If I could duplicate this lamp, I would. Nothing like it that I've seen.

And last but certainly not the least is this beautiful table setting and magnificent cupcake.

~*~

Gifts for New Great Granddaughter

I'm somewhat—but not compulsive—about the things of my forefathers and foremothers. I mean if I have something my grandmother gave me, I cherish it, but I certainly would never, ever fight my siblings over something. It just isn't worth the time, trouble or negative feelings you get from those disputations with family.

My parents were divorced after about 38 years of marriage and each remarried. They're both deceased now but my father had a pocket watch from my mother's father. It never stated in any will that it was his—my brother's—so it went to his widow. My brother laments to this day over a pocket watch our grandfather told him would be his. It's been 40 years! I inherited nothing from either parent and I have never, ever—not for one second—given it any thought. Those are just "things" and I have wonderful memories. Those I can hold and savor and take with me to the next life. But my brother has let it wear him down for all these years over things that "could have been." I don't think I've ever done that.

I have a corduroy quilt my grandmother made for me. (That's it in the pictures below.) She made it out of scraps from jumpers she made me when I was a young child. She gave it to me when I got married almost 49 years ago. I used to snuggle under it when I was very cold because it is heavy. When you get under it you'd better be in the position you want because it is so heavy you can't move once it's on top of you! But that quilt will go to Washington state with us next week to be in our great granddaughter's room, and she'll know it came from her great great great grandmother. It sounds so ancient when put that way but it's only 60+ years old.


Our granddaughter and her hubby haven't decided on a name yet but so far they've liked the name Violet or Anastasia. Mandy's favorite colors are lavender, violet and purple and I think she likes pink but her house isn't decorated in those colors. Mostly she used beiges and darker colors but her office has lavender walls. She was going to put the baby in the office and work there when she wasn't at her office at Microsoft. Her hubby's office is downstairs in a big room but since he has so much computer equipment in there it wouldn't hold her office equipment. He does a lot of work at home also since he works for MS XBox as a designer and...well, you can just imagine what that room looks like. But guess what?! All her office stuff has been moved out and it is now officially a little girls room! Gee, what being pregnant can do to a professional chick. *Wink* She's told us we can do lavender, pink and soft greens.

Now, I do not plan on spoiling that girl; I'll leave it to her grandmother, my daughter. That's a grandmother's prerogative. I'm talking about clothes, nursery furniture, etc. But I do plan on making her as much frilly and froufrou-y stuff as I can. The birdhouse below is the first thing I've actually made since learning of her imminent birth and confirmation of her gender. I have a box full of stuff that is going over to Washington with us and so far I have a lamp I made, a crown, the quilt, another doll quilt my grandmother made that I think she'll enjoy having knowing its sentimental value and various other things I think Mandy might want from me. I've already given her my original wedding rings and some jewelry. I think she should enjoy them now and not wait until I'm dead! I want to see the sparkle in her eyes when she is wearing something that came from me.


These pictures were before I finished it with the bow, added a few minor touches and Love Bunny put the screwy thing on top so it can be hung from the ceiling.

This little crown I made last year and was for sale on my selling blog. She'll love this in her bedroom. Fit for a princess, which she is.

In her later years my grandmother had to live in a nursing home but she made these little doll quilts to keep her hands busy and to give to indigent families. This one came to me. She always thought of me and told me I was her favorite granddaughter. I believe it to this day. I think I was.

Another little lamp I made but never sold. It's hers now also. I'm glad it didn't sell. ;-)

I made this a few months ago and it was meant to be a giveaway. It will now go to her and I'll do another one for a giveaway soon.

~*~

Making Up My Mind on a Project

I have this vision in my head of what I want to do with this little dress form but just not ready to start it yet. (Do any of you have this same problem: trying to figure out what to do creatively with something?) Working on another project at the moment. Is there ever enough time to do what we want to do? Right now my house is a shambles from the holidays and it's driving me nuts because I had to "store" some tables from the living room in my craft/sewing room to be able to put up the tree. For an OCD chick, this is torture! Love Bunny does NOT understand. I may have to shoot him!

Okay, I took a break for several days and this is what I think I want to do with it. It is all pinned on at the moment but I like it.


It would make a sweet valentine gift for a friend I think—a froufrou chick, maybe. Hmmmmm.........
~*~

My 2nd Marie Antoinette Doll

Chicks, I have to tell you: you do NOT want to miss tomorrow's Pink Saturday post. It's darling! Would this face lie to you?!?! Hmmmm?????
~*~

My 2nd Marie Antoinette doll was just as much fun as the first, but the final outcome was different from my vision. (Could it be that I'm a frustrated "gown designer"?!) I can't say exactly why but it just is. I'm not displeased with it. But when first I started I wanted it elegant so ended up using this "out-of-print" ribbon embroidered fabric hence I just used a small amount on the bottom. It doesn't seem to "drape" as I had thought it would. I also wanted BOLD colors and decided on red.

Originally, I had this bit of faux pearl trim around the waist but it added girth to the dress form so I took it off as you'll see in other photos.

See what I mean about the waistline? It's much wider than Marie would have actually had although it looks very pretty on the form. But I wanted a tiny waist effect.

I also used ribbon for the underskirt.

See how much better it looks with the trim removed. Just a vintage seam binding ribbon and a rose.

The bottom skirt also has a feathered stitch for interest. My understanding of Marie is that she was very extravagant in her wardrobe. She would have like this.

This red fabric is one I've been waiting to use on an apron I make but decided to snip off a piece and use for the bodice. I'll be making a pretty apron out of it and other fabrics very soon.

Here she is finished. She is now displayed on my family room coffee table. Probably soon to be put on my mantel if I can find some room there. ;-)

I already have a vision for my 3rd Marie gown.
~*~

I'm also joining in with the 30 days of blessings over at this blog. Each time I post I'll state that for which I am thankful.

I'm grateful for each of my children and grandchildren. They all bring joy to me and hubby each time we visit them. They are all very good to us also. I can remember when each one of them was born and the joy we felt at being able to welcome them into our family. "Children are an heritage unto the Lord."
~*~

Introducing My 1st Marie Antoinette Doll

Recently while participating in Natasha's "It's All About Me" party I thought of all the Marie Antoinette dolls and dress forms that had been froufrou-ed up and have admired them for ever so long—not Marie Antoinette especially but the decadence of the gowns. I've wanted to do one for a couple of years now but never seemed to find the time, forms(!) or the creativity in my head to do one. Since I participated in the party I then thought enough time has passed to do one and started on it recently.

As will happen in cases like this I've become addicted to making these little dress forms froufrou-y and am going to do a few more but this is the first of them.

I used some vintage lace and some Laura Ashley trellis fabric for her skirt. The bodice is pink and white polka dots and rick rack with a rose on the top. I sewed on faux pearls to the skirt, added some lovely embroidered lace around her waist and let it drape over the open skirt and topped it with a ribbon. I think Marie would be proud to wear it...maybe. I love it!

~*~