Spreading My Wings

I've admired them on blogs and Pinterest..

even purchased a couple on etsy..

told myself probably a hundred times..

"you really need to try making one yourself."

 

I've had a love affair with fabric books

for some time now.

Told myself for a couple of years now

that I'm not a seamstress.

(And that part is true. I can't tell you how many

times I stuck myself with the needle

and how many attempts it took

just to thread it!!!)

So when I saw a needle book swap posted in the

Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group

I knew it was time to

spread my wings and work out of

my comfort zone.

Plus it was a great opportunity to

use the "good stuff".

 

I had some amazing vintage textiles in my stash..

and it was an enjoyable process

layering and putting them all together

to create this one of a kind gift.

 

Ta da!

Here is my finished needle book. 

 exterior of opened book

front cover

back cover 



inside cover

interior view



interior pocket page

interior view

closure

This book is en route to my swap partner.

 Now that it's not so scary after all

the next one is for me!

 

I hope you've been inspired to

spread your wings.

I am linked to
Blissful White Wednesdays.





Playing Valentine Tag & Bingo

I made this fabric tag

for a swap in our

Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group...

using very old

textiles, laces and trims.

The only element that is faux vintage

is the brass heart charm.

All pieces are hand-sewn.

 

Over at

An Altered Place

we swapped altered vintage bingo cards

for Valentine's Day. 

I made this valentine

by lightly streaking the bingo card with gesso,

then layering a paper heart doily

and that sweet image.

I highlighted with liquid pearls

and created a head piece of

lace, pearls and a flower.

Two absolutely gorgeous lace trims

are layered to complete the piece.

It has a vintage seam binding hanger.

 

Here are some vintage image freebies for you

 to take and use

as we officially begin Valentine's week.

 

 Will return with more soon.

Have a wonderful week!

 

 



Valentine Candy with Zero Calories !?!?

Calorie free & fat free

when you're talking eye candy!

And there's an abundance

this Valentine's season in the

Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group.

 

I was thrilled to be partnered with

Marti

for our altered heart-shaped

candy box swap.

 

This is the gorgeous creation I received from Marti...

(I borrowed the pictures from Marti's blog

as she takes wonderful photographs.)

 

She put all the luscious goodies

and trinkets

in little paper cups.

So sweet!

I love everything about it!

Merci Marti!

 

This is the box I sent...

 Lots of flowers, pearls and embellishments

 and a pleated trim for the side.

 

Here's a full view of the box

loaded with

 all the French-themed

vintage gifties

I could fit!

 

Thanks for stopping by.

A lot more valentines to come.....



Boo!

My spoolie doll

swapped in the

Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group.

 

In celebration of another

Haunted Humpday

here's a few fun vintage images for you!

 



A Little Something Even the Non Halloween Lovers Can Appreciate

I realize not all of you are into

the creepy and ghoulie Halloween stuff....

so I'm sharing a coffin, lol!

 

Created for Melanie

in the

Coffin of Goodies Swap

in the

Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group.

 

(it really is a pretty coffin, honest.)

 

And of course it was packed with goodies!

 

 



French Envelopes

I always enjoy a collaborative swap...

each participant creating

a page

or tag

 or even an envelope,

that will become an integral part of the completed project.

In the

 Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group

we are swapping handmade envelope pages

that will be bound into a book.

We made our envelopes from Jolee's line

of beautiful French General papers.

Tucked inside my envies

are French General tags wrapped in seam binding.

I'm sure it will be one of those books

you just can't put down!

 



Corky Charlottes

In the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group

we are swapping

Corky Charlottes.

A corky Charlotte is a doll

whose body is a wine or champagne cork

and whose head is an antique

 German bisque doll head.

This is my doll for

Terri. 

 

And this is the beautiful little lady

I received from her.



 

Aren't they the sweetest?

These are so much fun to make

and I'm certain this won't

be my last!

 

Hope you're all having a

wonderful weekend!



The Girls

The girls are actually altered salt and pepper shaker dolls

I made for a swap in our

Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group.

Their heads are from antique porcelain dolls who lost their bodies

a long, long time ago in Germany.

 I've given them crowns (the tall blonde has a fleur de lis crown!) and dressed them in some lovely vintage fabrics and adorned them with

assorted bits and baubles.

The girls will be traveling to their new homes tomorrow...

both of my swap partners happen to live in

Knoxville

so perhaps they'll get to visit

each other again.

Enjoy your Sunday!



Sushi (?) Antoinette

This is the image Kris gave us to create

a diary-like chipboard page

for a book collaborative in the

Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group. 

I certainly couldn't pass on such a

whimsical project! 

 

After envisioning Sushi in many different roles and outfits..



I opted for a career as a can-can dancer

in a Gay Paris revue.

(Look closely, that's Sushi on the left.)

 

When she's not performing,

Sushi loves to play..



The back of my page is Sushi

enjoying a day

at the fair!

I can't wait to see what my fellow collaborators have done

with Sushi

&

I'll be sure to share the finished diary with you.

Wishing each of you a wonderful week!

 



Marie Easter Eggs

We swapped Easter Egg ATCs in the

Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group.

I used a lovely muted lavender patterned paper for the background..

 on top of that I added lavender Russian bridal veil...

 then edged the egg with a wonderful vintage lavender and green trim.

I embellished each Easter bonnet a little differently

but every Marie sported a lavender dotted guinea feather!



More Springtime Greetings

These little side by side matchbox chests

 are quite addictive....

...particularly this time of year

with an abundance of sweet springtime images.

This is one of my absolute favorites!