Alecia's Bracelet

Yesterday was my beautiful

daughter-in-law's birthday and

as promised,

Here are pictures of the piece

I created just for her.

This is a unique and beautiful piece

that matches my

daughter-in-law perfectly.

It's one of a kind and will never be

duplicated.

It's 2 1/2 inches wide,

designed on a vintage muted satin

with vintage lace and

embellished using all black glass

buttons and beads.

Hugs to all,

Kathleen

Tea on Tuesday

Today is my very first post for

Tea on Tuesday

Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons

is the organizer of Tea on Tuesday so

make sure you stop by and

visit her.

It's a gloomy, overcast Tuesday in

Colorado

so I thought it called for a hearty

English Breakfast Tea

It's just what I need to finish

projects in my studio.

I have a gorgeous

bracelet to finish for my lovely

daughter-in-law.

A gift for her birthday.

I'd show you, but it's a surprise.

I'll post after tomorrow.

So for now, enjoy your cup of tea and

I will see you next Tuesday for Tea.

Kathleen



Mother's Day

I had a beautiful Mother's Day.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous,

so we decided to go to one of my favorite cities in Colorado,

Boulder.

Pearl Street is unlike any other street so

I thought I would invite you to come along.

Walking out of the parking garage, we were

greeted by this gentleman on the back of

someone's shop.

Walking down Pearl Street there were flowers everywhere!

I did discover though, that one of my favorite stores

is closing its doors, Paper Doll. This little lady has been

outside their door for many years.

I sure hope someone buys her

and a few of her friends.

More flowers.

I found a couple of new favorite places.

This shop was an absolute visual delight:

And still more flowers:

A beautiful shop filled with chandeliers from Europe:

Finally, no post about Boulder would be complete without

 a few photos of the entertainment:

Everywhere I looked, I couldn't help but smile.

Thanks for coming along with me.



Etsy shop

I have finally started my

Etsy shop.

Traditions 1949

The 1949 of course is the

year I was born.

As I've said before, I love

the 20s, 30s and 40s. 

And I LOVE

Tradition.

My goal is to keep the tradition

of hand sewing and vintage

things alive.

I absolutely adore

buttons,

beads,

ribbons,

textiles

and

trims.

This is my first piece that I have

listed and there will be lots

more to come.

I just had to share my

success at getting

an item listed.

It seems the older I

get the broader the learning

curve becomes.



Operation Rescrap

We did a show this past weekend called

"Operation Rescrap"

It was the first of what I hope will be many more shows.

This beautiful display that greeted you as you entered the show

was created by the very talented ladies at

"Cozy Cottage" at Centerra and Flatirons

Our booth

We were very well received and I was very encouraged.

The show was a unique combination of consignment, craft, furniture and

handmade items .  I LOVE the concept.

A few more artisans:

We had a great time and have plans to this show again

and hopefully many others.  It's the perfect time in our lives to do this and

my husband Jerry is, hands down, the best person to

do a show with.  I couldn't and wouldn't want to, do it by myself.

So thank you honey, for  being the best part of me.

"Pink"

"I love the color pink.

The softest blush of pink,

baby girl pink

bubblegum pink of the 1930s

hot pink of the 60s.

For me, pink represents calmness, sweetness, softness, whimsy,

all things girly and the persevering strength

of women."

These words are written on the inside cover of my altered book

titled "Pink"  pictured above.

I collect things that are pink.

Inside the pink drawer of the button box:

And I have a thing for the 1930s and 40s.  I was born in 1949

and somehow those eras became part of my heart

and soul.

Pink makes me feel pretty.

When I was about 12, I had a pair of pink ballet flats

that I wore until they fell off my feet. 

I put cardboard on the inside when the holes in the

soles appeared and painted them with pink

shoe polish so the cracks in the leather

didn't show as badly.

I'm on a mission to find another pair.

One day my mother gave me a pink and black dress that she had

worn, I'm sure to play dress-up in, and to her horror

I wore it to the park wearing it with my pink ballet flats.

A boy I went to school with looked at me and said,

"Why are you wearing such an old-fashioned dress?"

I looked down at my dress and said

"Because it makes me feel pretty."

It still does.

The Magic Garden

My Grandmother had a magic garden.

No, really.

It was filled with pansies, daisies,

Pink Lady Slippers, hollyhocks and

the most gorgeous apricot-colored climbing roses

you've ever seen.

It was the same garden my mother grew up in.  Even though she

was more inclined to be swinging in the trees playing Tarzan

when she was a child,

it is here that she and my grandmother taught me to

make flower ladies. 

Flower Ladies with big Pink Lady Slipper dresses and

hollyhock hats.  And they could dance and dance

and dance.

My latest designs were inspired by "The Garden."

I spent hours and hours there in the shade

of a great big tree creating my

"magic" friends, wearing my

daisy chain crown that my mother taught me how to make.

I can't tell you how many daisy chains wilted

on my head in the warm California summer sun.

I created this design with a nod to my french grandmother

in whose garden I spent so many

enchanted hours.

Merci

Beading Bliss

One of my favorite ways to create is to take a piece of ribbon and turn it into something even more beautiful.  I'm inspired by the beautiful work of Helen Gibb, ribbon work designer extraordinaire!
  This one has a base of vintage ribbon, silk trims, vintage button, glass leaves and lots and lots of beads.
 In my next post I'll share my creative process. 

Have a lovely, creative day.