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Showing posts with label antique lace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label antique lace. Show all posts

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Special Gifts

On Tuesday I received the most special gifts from my friend Marcie.
The package itself was so beautifully perfect that it seemed a shame to take it all apart.
Inside was this gorgeous handmade book
made of fabric, antique lace and
old buttons
The attention to detail
is over the top.
A stack of beautiful vintage embroidered Japanese pillows was in the box as well.
And I can't forget about this lovely trim wrapped around an embellished wooden spool.
So much thought, time and work went into all of this and I will treasure these forever.
Thank you so very much Dear Marcie!
Love and Hugs
karen ann

Monday, July 22, 2013

Handmade Romance

As promised, I made more of the little tart tin magnets.
Inspired by a love story.
Romantic as tattered lace.
Sparkling like bits of vintage bling.
Drawn to each other.
Clinging.
So beautiful.

karen

Sunday, February 12, 2012

THOUGHTS the final pages

I've been working on my art journal a little last week and a lot over the weekend.
I've found that my style changes each day depending on how I am feeling that particular day.
This tells me that journaling is very therapeutic for my well being.
That being said...here are the final pages to my journal.

HOME
No place like it.


BEAUTIFUL
YOU are beautiful!

There is beauty in all of us.

CREATE
Use your hands and make something.

WORTH IT

Buy yourself flowers.  You're worth it.

THINK

REFLECT


Photo by June Cochlin

FIND

 Look around and see the beauty.
ALL

 All the pages of my journal.
THE BACK

Not the end, just the back.
I'll have one more post of my THOUGHTS journal.
Till then...hope I made you think good thoughts : )
Karen


Believe With All Your Heart

Look WITHIN and BELIEVE in what you find there.

WITHIN

BELIEVE

I continue to lose myself in the joy of expression through creating.

Express yourself!

Karen


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Tattered Hearts

Tattered Is My Heart
You've Torn It All Apart
So I Picked Up All The Pieces
Smoothed Out All The Creases
Stitched It Back Together
But It's Tattered Now Forever



Hearts are one of my favorite things to make.
They're simple and sweet and there are so many different ways to make them.
With Valentine's Day approaching, I have a good excuse for making and displaying them.

Last night I ventured down to my sewing room, gathered the most tattered bits of lace and fabric that I could find, and set out to make a few hearts.

I wanted this to be a relaxing project, so there were no patterns involved.
I cut the hearts into different sizes and imperfect shapes.
The bits of lace and trim were very old antique adornments that were easily torn into random pieces.

The more tattered they were, the more I liked them.

I was caught up in the joy of creating and thinking of how we've lost so much beauty in this world for the sake of convenience.

These pretty silver hooks once adorned the cuff of a beautiful lace gown.
In todays world hooks have been replaced by velcro.

Where has the romance gone?
Handmade lace and delicate silk have been replaced by manmade synthetics.

As I sat there stitching I realized that my love of everything old comes down to romance.
Not the huggy kissy kind of romance, but the comfort that I find in the softness of a worn quilt or the faded fabric of an antique dress.

Even this old chippy door from an antique armoire has that feeling of romance to me.
I'm sure there must have been a pretty dress with lots of ruffles behind that door years ago.
The mirror where someone once admired their relection is no longer there.
I've replaced it with some rusty chicken wire and it seems the perfect place for my tattered hearts.

May you find some romance in your world today.
Love
Karen

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Gathering & Making Supplies

All summer long I've been gathering supplies for creating and decorating.
Winter seems to last forever here and I wanted to make sure I have enough things to keep myself busy without having to venture out into the cold and snow.
I'm always inspired by antique lace and happened to find a real bargain on this bunch while in New England last week.

I'm always looking for unique buttons and beads for my projects and handmade ones are my favorite.
My brother had given me a box of antlers a few months ago and my sweet son-in-law was kind enough to turn them into buttons and beads for me. Some of them were made into handles for my jute baskets as well.


I've been crocheting flowers to use in some projects too.
These ones are quite large and are made from cotton and jute.

In the upcoming weeks you will see these supplies again in finished projects.
I am so inspired by the blogs I visit and I'm always searching for more.
I hope some of my ideas will inspire you as well.
Have a wonderful day.
Karen

Friday, July 1, 2011

Not Forgotten

Remembering a day long ago.
Playing on the beach while mom sat nearby.
Small bits of lace and buttons from her sundress and yours.
Some torn linen from the tablecloth where you had your picnic together.
Freshwater pearls from the shop on the boardwalk.
Time goes by so quickly.
It seems like only yesterday.









Hand stitched bits of antique linen and lace.
Antique and vintage buttons.
Freshwater pearls.
A vintage watch case altered to hold a little girls picture and a free moving pearl.

Remembering special moments.
They are Not Forgotten.

This one of a kind art wear necklace will be available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Thanks for stopping by.
Please take a minute to say hi while you're here.

Happy 4th of July weekend to you all.

Karen