Farmhouse Summer Swap reveal

 

A few weeks ago I joined Amy, Bumble Bee Lane's, Farmhouse Summer Swap. I have always admired the swaps she hosts and was lucky enough to get to join in. I had a fantastic partner, Theresa, DulaneyWoods Treasures. Theresa sent me the most amazing Prim Crow doll with baby and she smells yummy too.A few weeks ago I joined Amy, Bumble Bee Lane's, Farmhouse Summer Swap. I have always admired the swaps she hosts and was lucky enough to get to join in. I had a fantastic partner, Theresa, DulaneyWoods. Theresa sent me the most amazing Prim Crow doll with baby and she smells yummy too.

 

She also made me a vintage wall hanging with an old photo and vintage lace, Love It!!!

 

She made this fabric book and red and green tomatoes.  They are adorable. 

 

 

Theresa found out about my love for vintage china and she got me the cutest little set with tiny pink roses....so cool!

And she tucked in some old wooden spools and a vintage rhinestone brooch that is just beautiful!

Thanks Theresa and thanks Amy for hosting this great swap!  I will post what I sent to Theresa in a few days when I know she has received her package.  I was a little late in getting it in the mail to her.  Please come back... Becs

Fabric ATC's! who new they'd be so much fun.

Recently I participated in a fabric A T C swap with Kim Laws at Art Joy Stuff. Blog.http://www.artjoystuff.blogspot.com/  We each made 12 ATC'S out fabric that had to be nature inspired. we were not allowed to use any paper. I fell in love with making these little works of art.  The photo above is of the 12 I made and sent off.

                                               

I used burlap and canvas for the bases, then sewed lace, fabric and trims. I added a fabric printed image, millimetre, saying, ribbon and metal charms and some vintage buttons.


                                            


I chose the theme of Nature's wings and did birds, nests, bees and butterflies.  I also used some quotes that I love on some of them.

   

I received some beautiful cards back and will share them with you in a few days.  We are supposed to do some kind of creative display with them and I am still figuring that out.  Below is a group photo of the ones I received back.

@

From top left to right:  

Marsha Mees, Tattered Chick blog  http://www.tatteredchick.net/

Jewels Welsh, justtickety-boo blog justtickity-boo.blogspot.com

Maggie Raguse, the mag rag blog www.themagrag.com

From bottom left to right:  

Karla Jackson

Carolyn Huber

Liz Waring, lululizinlalaland blog lululizinlalaland.blogspot.com

From top right to lefth

Marlene, uniquely Ella blog uniquelyella.blogspot.com

Kimberly Laws, art joy stuff blog http://www.artjoystuff.blogspot.com/

From bottom right to left

Amy Bauer flickr.com/photos/7866304@N08

Terri Heinz, artful affirmations blog artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com

Thanks Kim and the ladies listed, for an awesome swap.  Come back in a few days to see how display these beauties.  Kim will be hosting a reveal as well. 

Have a blessed week, Becs 

buttons, BuTtONs, BUTTONS!!!

I love buttons!  Old, new, glass, rhinestone, metal, pearl, plastic...I love them all.  I think its because my mother was an avid seamstress my whole life, until she got Alzheimers and could not remember how to sew anymore.  And she used to keep extras in a round cookie tin.

I also had the fortune of sharing button gathering with my Mother-in-law who had jars and jars of old buttons that her mother kept.  I use the term "gathering" because I don't know enough about them all to be a collector.  I have jars and jars full of old buttons from her and my mother in storage.  And becuase I can't get to them at this time without a great amount of effort and searching (LOL), I started "gathering" buttons again!

I find myself using buttons in almost everything I create.  I think they add such a special vintage touch to aprons, pillows, mixed media, doll making and even tucking them into swap items and stash boxes.






My button love was reignited when I started following the Button Floozies blog and did a swap with them.  I hope to be able to learn about collecting as I go. 

I find myself at antique shops digging through boxes and trays of buttons looking for those unusual or special buttons to add to my collection.




I found all these carded buttons in a wonderful shop up near Elk Grove, Ca.  I just love the pale pink ones above and the Marie Antoinette shaped one also.

The aqua buttons in the middle to the left are glass with an awesome dotted pattern on the backs.

Here are some photos.  If anyone knows about any of these, please share.  I would love to hear about them.  I have ordered a button collectors book but it has not come in yet.  I thought the metal ones were also very cool.

 I'll be posting again with another group of buttons I found recently in Cambria, Ca.  at an Antique Mall. 

This one is cone shaped and looks like "bakelite", although I don't know much about it.  I love the unusual shape and the stripes are fun. 

 This group is a bronze color and they are also glass.  Very pretty. 

And finally, a great set of clear glass buttons and some pretty pearls.

Spring Swaps ~ Refreshed and Renewed...

Easter Egg Carton Swap

A few weeks ago I participated in an Easter Egg Carton Swap that Cassie VanCuren, An Artful Adventure hosted.  We had to embellish and decorate a half dozen paper mache type egg carton and fill it with vintage goodies.  I did not know that Central California does not use these half dozen cartons.  I could not find one anywhere!!!   Then Cassie gave us a site to find them and of course they were all GONE!...This swap was turning out to be a difficult one.  Fortunately, Cassie was able to get some and mail them to me.  Thanks girl!

My partners were Heidi Meyer and Judy Stafford (sorry, but Judy does not have a blog).  I did one carton a pale green and the other a pale aqua mixed with gesso and tulle on the inside.  I added vintage Easter graphics and glittered them up. I filled the inside with ribbons, lace, vintage buttons, vintage jewlery pieces, pearls and crystals, German Glass glitter, and egg shaped soap, flowers, birds, vintage pages from Jane Austen and vintage flocked wall paper.  I also tucked a small Frozen Charlotte inside too.  I hope the girls enjoy their goodies!  Thanks Cassie for this wonderful swap!

My Market Tote From Diane Lanford

As promised, This amazing market tote is what Diane, Cottage Wishes made for me.  I just adore it.  We have very similar tastes.  She used burlap (a feed sack I think) and vintage lace and rhinestone.  This cute bag is also lined with a small vintage looking print.  It is a perfect size with two handles and easy opening.  I am gonna try it out this weekend!  Woo Hoo!!!  Thanks Diane.  ALso if you want to see more amazing totes pop on over to Tatterd Chick and read the comments for links of others that participated. 

Button Floozies Christmas Ornie Swap

I know I am late. So sorry. But I did want to share the awesome ornies I received. Laurie hosted this button ornament swap a few weeks ago. My partners were Marsha, Donna and Deb. Here is a pic of the ornies sent to me by my partners Deb from Debs Vintage Soul Blog, Donna from Brynwood Needleworks and Marsha from the Oklahoma Button Society.

Deb made this wonderful round disc covered in ivory and cream buttons centered by a beautiful cameo.


Donna made the cutest little pillow ornie with a hand stitched tin solder adorned with buttons. The pillow has an old vintage lace piece also adorned with buttons.


And Marsha made a cute lil angel pixie made with an old spool painted pink, pipe cleaners, crepe paper and buttons. The hanger is also made with buttons. It's all pink and white. Marsha must have done her homework! Thanks ladies for the special ornies!


I made felted ornies that I hand drew and cut with felt and muslin. Then I used fabrics and old laces, glitter and of course buttons to adorn them. I made a Christmas Tree, a stocking and an owl.


Thank you ladies and thanks Laurie for hosting this swap which was totally out of my comfort zone working wih buttons. Be sure and stop by the Linky Party at Button Floozies and see all the amazing ornies everyone made. Merry Christmas! Becs

Fall In Love With Buttons Swap Linky Party! And Vintage Connections Creative Button Swap reveal

A few weeks ago I joined in the Button Floozies "Fall in Love with Buttons" Tin and button swap. My partner was DeeDee Johnson. I altered this Altoid tin and filled it with vintage, old and new buttons in fall colors and themes. The image on the tin is an altered one by me. I also used some script paper for the bottom of the tin. I painted the sides with chalk paint and embellished with buttons and flowers. I found some really nice old buttons for DeeDee.



This is the beautiful tin DeeDee made for me and all the wonderful buttons she included in it. She also made me a needle keep. It is lovely. I have never had one of these before and am so thankful she shared one with me. Thanks DeeDee!


I am learning about old buttons since I stumbled onto this group. Laurie, Tami and many other amazing women share tons of info and pictures on collecting and preserving old buttons. They also share some unique ways to display them as well. In fact, Laurie is doing a Linky party for this button swap at Button Floozies, so please drop on over and check out all the other blogs and the awesome tins that were swapped!



I also joined in Tami Hacker's Creative Button Swap. We were supposed to send a few buttons that our partner enjoyed and display them in a creative or unique way. My partner was Joni Reinhardt. Joni sent me this adorable pumpkin adorned with lace and buttons and a whimsical crow on top! I love it! The buttons were all so unusual and were placed on the pumpkin with pins so they are completely removable. What a clever idea. Thanks Joni!



Joni collects Picture buttons and China Stencil buttons. I was able to find a few of these and added a few of my favorites as well. I made a pocket pillow out of old linens and lace, then tacked the buttons onto the pillow. I also added some other goodies in the pocket pillow for Joni.

Grandma's Attic Match Box Swap 1 & 2

Part 1!

As some of you know, I took part in a "Grandma's Attic" match box swap this month hosted by JoAnne, over at Vintage Dragonfly. She hosts a cool matchbox swap every month. This next month is a halloween swap and there is still time to sign up! Just pop on over to her flickr group for details. Or click on the icon on my side bar>>>

As you can see, I received the cutest Grandma's Attic match box filled to the brim with goodies from Michele over at "Something Special" Blog. Michele did such an amazing job with the box. It is so vintage and I loved everything she sent! Here is the box with an old fan, postcard and notecard.


She sent me these lovely old buttons.


A hand crocheted pink lace square, porcelin salt shaker, vintage jewelry and jewelry bits, crystal chandy pieces, pearls...


Vintage ephemera and dresden pieces, a jeweled hair comb, metal charm frames, and a frozen Charlotte head


Thanks so much Michele!

Now for Part 2!

This is the match box I made for Laurie, Indulge Your Shelf. I used a flocked vintage wall paper with a damask pattern for the cover in a beautiful chartreuse green color. The drawer was covered in a coordinating flocked striped vintage wall paper with a vintage button closure. I made the rose on top with a piece of vintage trim.


I knew Laurie liked alot of the same things I did so I just pulled from my beloved collection...hoping she would enjoy them. The next few pictures are courtesy of Laurie who shared her pics with me as I did not get photos of all the goodies inside. Thanks Laurie! I packed everything in this cool vintage candie box.



A collection of laces and trims


Vintage cards, ephemera, and vintage wall papers


Trims, rhinestones, buttons, jewels, spools, ephemera, Frozen Charlotte, etc...


And this cute little tin I found at a local antique shop, perfect for tiny vintage buttons and bling!


I am so sorry it took so long for me to post about these gooides. I have been a little busy with school starting back up and then caught a cold the first day! I am so excited to make some things with my goodies soon! Take care! God Bless! Becs