Portrait Rustique...

My second workshop was with Kim Kwan and it was called Portrait Rustique.  Leave it to Kim to make us leave the safety of paper and glue, and make us wear work gloves and use power tools!  We distressed old picture frames, cut mat board and wrapped it with burlap and chicken wire, and embellished away...

Everyone brought a stash of their favorite vintage items from home to use in their class projects.  I took a box filled with vintage paper:wallpaper, calling cards, postcards, ledger paper, photos...I also took a box filled with ribbon and lace, buttons, millinery, jewelry, game pieces etc.  All of these items added a personal touch to our creations and made them unique and original.

I was SO happy with the way every one of my class projects turned out this year.  Some of us were talking in class one day about how we like to hoard and collect this vintage stuff, but sometimes we hesitate to use it, because we are saving it for the right project.  Something worthy. We decided to just start using our vintage finds because it makes your projects even more special, and best of all...gives you an excuse to go buy more!  

Comments

[thrifty_misspriss]

I LOVE the way this turned out! I'm a hoarder too and NOW is always the RIGHT time to use our stuff! Besides if you don't use it you won't find it......so the more you use the more you'll find! I hope next year I can be a bella too! *sigh*
Robin

[traci]

that is amazing. i bet you can't take your eyes off it. great job.

[Cindy (Junque Art)]

That is just great! Love it!

[Heidi Woodruff]

Beautiful, Suzanne! All the classes were great! I loved meeting you in person!
Hugs... Heidi

[Grace]

how pretty! I am a "saver" also..but definately have to start using my pretties! Grace

[debbie]

Love the chicken wire :D Thanks for the inspiration to us hoarders! Now I have this mantra in my head, "Just use it!"

[Belinda]

Oh, wow! How beautiful! I'd say you definitely found a worthy project for some of your treasured stash of vintage trinkets. :-) And you are so right...we really should use and enjoy our finds instead of hoarding them. Its sometimes really hard to put them to use though, isn't it? I usually figure I'll completely ruin some lovely little hard to find gem and it will be forever lost. But its wonderful to see pretty things given a new life, as you've shown here. :-)

[Deb]

Sounds like a wonderful, creative time! I love your picture frame of memories - especially the chicken wire backdrop!

[Joanna {sweet finds}]

True that! Any excuse to buy more. :) I love the way your creation turned out. I still need to finish mine... along with the 4 projects. If I go to Bella next year, I really need to learn how to work faster.

You have some great embellishments. I love the lace, skeleton key & cabinet card. xoxo, Joanna

[Jocelyn O'Gorman]

What a fun project...You did a beautiful job!

[hope ellington]

Hello Suzanne,
Your projects are beautiful and so are you. I loved getting to know you at Silver Bella and look forward to getting together in the futer. You are a blessing!
Love,
Hope

[elle630]

Hi Suzanne :)
I just found your little moo card and here I am. I stuffed it into my abyss, er, purse on the plane when you gave it to me and it was lost for a few days. Sheesh you projects are drool worthy! Would love to have sat next to you and had you for inspiration. You seem like such a fun, down to Earth kind of gal, I wish we lived closer. You and Jenn should get together.
I'll stop by again to see how you're doing flower.
With love,
Linda

[Jana]

Your projects all turned out GREAT!! It was awesome seeing you again this year and I'm happy we had the opportunity to chat more this time!