Pink Roses

Hodge Podge Journal…

My fourth class at Silver Bella was the “Hodge Podge Journal”, taught by Rebecca Sower.

We made the journal from scratch, and then filled it with wonderful vintage papers…

I added a few damaged cabinet cards, and scraps of vintage wallpaper (glued to watercolor paper for stability)

more wallpaper…inserted into an old photo holder…

I will continue to add to this, and yes, USE it!

The crowning touch is the velvet strawberry given to me by my friend and classmate Andrea Singarella.

I love the chunky messy texture of the side view…another amazing class!

Vintage Charm Bracelet…

 

I have been wanting to learn the basics of jewelry making, and was excited to take this class from Kaari Meng of French General fame.

I finished the bracelet in class, and have since made a second row of rosary style beads that are now attached to this bracelet.

Kaari sells these kits on her website, and they include everything shown here.

I bought this cute little vintage jewelry box at an antique store in Omaha…I was so excited when I saw my name on it! 

It is the perfect home for my new bracelet!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!  

Cigar Box Assemblage…

My third class at Silver Bella was taught by Rebecca Sower, and I really don’t have the right words to tell you how wonderful she is.  She is gracious and charming and real and just amazing.

She brought a journal to class and asked US, her students, to sign it, and then thanked US for signing it.  You can read about it on her blog.

Her classes are so well thought out and organized, and she is so calm and thoughtful.  She’s a great teacher.

This collage assemblage used a cigar box as the base, and we wrapped and collaged 12 one inch wooden blocks as our centerpiece.

Another great class…thank you Rebecca!

Lineage of Love…

My first class at Silver Bella was taught by Pam Garrison, and was entitled Lineage of Love…

 

Pam’s example used family photos, and was embellished with a Christmas theme…

 

I didn’t have any family photos, but as I was looking through my collection of cabinet cards I noticed that I seem to buy photos of babies with white eyelet dresses…who knew? 

I wanted to use the photos I had, so I decided on a baby theme…

I gathered some vintage trims…that little doll shoe I photographed recently…

and a little eyelet doll dress to go in the middle…

I kept my cabinet cards in their original shape, and attached them at the top corners with wire and ribbon…

 

…and buttons and charms and crystals and a tiny frozen charlotte!

I dyed some tiny pink and white mini muffin papers in tea and coffee, and took them with me to class.  I wanted to string them with pearls as a tribute to Pam for the wonderful garlands she was making this past spring and summer out of coffee filters and paper.  When Pam saw this, she loved it…they are so tiny!

 

Here are some of the other projects by the talented women at my table…Lori Oles used wedding photos of her grandparents for a wedding theme…gorgeous!

and Karla Nathan used photos of her adorable granddaughter Sugarwings…

and can you take a wild guess who this is ?

My beautiful friend Jennifer Hayslip of course!

Everyone had their own personality reflected in this project, and it was great seeing all the finished work…I just wish I had taken more photos! 

almost there…

Hi everyone!  I know it’s been forever and a day since I’ve posted, but when I returned from Silver Bella last week and tried to download my photos, well, my computer finally died.  I tried having it fixed, to no avail, and ended up buying a new one.  I have spent the past few days transferring files (8675 photos from the past 2 years!), and setting up the new computer.  I’m almost there, and hope to post later tonight.  I won’t bore you with details about Silver Bella…you’ve probably read enough about it on everyone else’s blog, but it was fun, and I had a great time with my friends, old and new.   I will show you my projects, because the classes were great!  Talk to you soon!  xo suzanne

gathering...

Once a year I gather all of my favorite vintage supplies... ribbons, buttons, paper, millinery...all the things I collect all year but don't always use because they're "too good"...I gather them and take them to Omaha, Nebraska for the magical event called Silver Bella.  I have been gathering and packing this past week, and am almost done.  So hard to cram an entire studio in one suitcase!  I spend more time packing craft supplies than clothes...some jeans and sweaters will do, but you gotta have the right ribbon!! 

With all the shopping and food and classes and projects, I have to tell you, that the best part of Silver Bella is the people...awesome, amazing, talented, creative, NICE women who make this one of the highlights of my whole year!  The whole event is just like a big, giant HUG!  I come home so inspired and just full of love :) I can't wait to see all of you Bella's in a few days!! xo

stuck in my head...

I've had this dress stuck in my head for a year now.  You know...the dress I didn't buy when I was in Texas at the Antique show last year?  Yeah, that one.  Anyway...I haven't been able to get rhinestone buckles out of my head, so I started collecting them, all shapes and sizes...

I'm going to use them with this vintage pink silk ribbon as napkin rings on my dining room table this Christmas.  Funny how something inspires you and just gets stuck in your head, and then reappears later.  Do things get stuck in your head?  Silly question, of course they do...that's why we're friends!