Archive for the ‘vintage’ Category

Surfing the net, I found this web site which I thought was cute and quirky. It’s called Sense & Sensibility Patterns as it sells dress patterns from by gone days… If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to wear one of these dresses out a Jane Austen’s novel, here’s your chance! How cool is that!

Ok, you will not believe what happened….(see post below for part 1) I was happily getting ready for that wedding on saturday afternoon : put on my makeup, put the dress on, got Dylan ready. My favorite part is when you put the final touch on, the accessories. I was really looking forward to dress up with my lovely dress. So I  just bent down to pick up something on the floor and squooooooooooooooeeeek. The zip was w i d e  o p e n . OMG! What am I going to do?!

After a lot of  efforts, my husband David managed to put the zip back together. But really, if it happened once, could I ever trust this evil zipper again?? Imagine it happened during the ceremony…I had these horrid visions of my dress opening up for everyone to see :O

 Anyway, as it stayed in place and knowing that I had a trench coat on ‘just in case’ I got in the car. Not even out of the drive way, the zip failed me again. That was it! Had to get changed (fortunately, I had brought another dress with me). Guted, so I was. But all accessories matched the other dress. Which was real comfy and in the end, it all worked out.

Still a bit annoyed I couldn’t wear my dress. But eh! I can get it fixed and wear it again some day.

Here are the accessories I made :

Swarovski crystal rondelles in 3 different sizes set in sterling silver with sterling silver. (sold)

My cute satin turquoise bow on headband. I made it all myself and was so proud to wear it. Forgot to take pics on the day though!

My fanciful fascinator…first one I’ve ever made, using scraps from my dress, felt, tulle and swarovski crystals on a tiny comb. It was an option B so in the end I didn’t wear it. Still had a great time making it!

Bracelet made with the beads I got from the petite bead box swap a few weeks back. The colours were absolutely perfect for the dress.

This is my first ever clutch using satin. Just used an A3 sheet as a template for an enveloppe style handbag. Added a flat ruffle and a handle. Looks dead easy like that by as I had never done anything like this  before, it took me ages. There’s even a poket in the lining woohoo!

David, Dylan and I on the day

Here’s the fabulous victorian cuff I received from my partner Angela. It arrived on Monday, but I’m experiencing all sorts of problems with

Hostesses: Natalie from HUNGRY HIPPIE BLOG and Shelley from HONEYLAMB & I

This is the new swap I’ve joined, what am I getting myself into, I’ve never made a wrist cuff before!! But then neither did I alter a box before right?!

And you never know if it works for me, couldn’t I widen out my jewellery creations with wrist cuffs? Let’s see what I can come up with first shall we LoL.

My bead Partner is Angela fromwww.mousehousetales.blogspot.com . Pop over, she’s got the most exquisite items and lives just around the corner in the UK.

I’m really looking forward to creating this cuff, and already getting inspiration and ideas. Obviously, it’s not just a simple wrist cuff, there must be a victorian twist to it…Can’t wait to get started. As soon as my ATCs and little gifts  are finished, I get down to business ^_^

Actually in TWO boxes. As promised, I managed to take a couple of pictures of the Petite Bead boxes I received. We all had to handmake the box or get a vintage box. The content would include a selection of beads with a focal, 5 unique beads and 20  matching beads no smaller than 4mm…Basically, unique beads you wouldn’t come accross in your local craft shop. Here they are and don’t forget to look at the PREVIOUS POST to look at the boxes I made …

From Cassandra www.myartfuladventures.blogspot.com :

and from Bryanna www.thecanaryscupcake.blogspot.com :

Thank you to the 2 lovely ladies I swaped with and Thank you for looking ^_^

I’m just back from France where I’ve spent 2 weeks with my family. It was great and I must say I’m a bit homesick at the minute but I’m sure it’ll pass . Dylan has started to  walk over there and he’s not 12 months yet!! Walking, crawling with his bum up lol by the end of next week he’ll be walking like a pro. Unfortunately, Dylan got back home with a cold and a rash…We thought he had developed chicken pox or roseola but the GP said it could be just a simple rash and cold…this morning we discovered more spots…But then, the teething, difference in temperature between ireland and France and different routine/food/travelling….Could be it.

So all that to say that I haven’t been able to take photos of the two boxes I received from Cassandra and Bryanna…I’ll try to post pics of them tomorrow if Baby’s better…But I already had taken pics of the boxes I sent, so without wasting anymore time, first a big thank you to you two girls and especially Cassandra for organizing the whole swap. I definitely have a taste for it now! If you (dear reader) know of a cute swap happening soon please let me know ^_^

Anyway, so here they are, first for Bryanna : Marie-Antoinette theme

I absolutely loved making these 2 boxes  using new collage and resin encasing techniques…They are my very first altered boxes! I’m a beginner you know…

I wanted to go for different handmade beads that I usually go for. (As you probably know, I mostly work with high quality artisan lampwork beads) So that was a challenge for me and I opted for  handcrocheted beads… They match fabulously the handmade and silver Rose pendant I got from www.dottyral.etsy.com She’s a brillant artist!

I handmade the card (oups forgot to take a pic) to match the box and sent it out lovingly packaged!

And then for Cassandra : A ‘Chic Parisienne’ theme

I simply went for black, silver and sparkly crystal…So hard to catch with the camera! I promise it looks even better in reality

Vintage crysal brooch and vintage chandelier crystals are the components…With mini handcrafted pink see through lampwork beads and big silver cotton handcrocheted beads. All handmade or vintage!

Card made by me to match and off the package went to Cassandra. You can go to her page here to see what the other participants have made…

Also, if you’d like to swap boxes or ATC with me or know of an other challenging swap, please let me know!

I’m actually organising an ATC swap, reveal first week of September…

Thanks for looking and hope you enjoy the blog , ^_^, Virginie

My latest adventure: Joining the Petite Bead Box Swap hosted by talented Cassandra (www.myartfuladventures.blogspot.com)

The point of this swap is to gather collections of unique beads to show off and share. So no cheap plastic, wood, or resin beads that can be picked up at a hobby store. I will be sending to my 2 bead partners:

1. One focal piece such as: cameo, cabochon, pendent, vintage jewelry piece.
2. At least 5 unique beads in coordinating colors. Examples of unique beads: multicolored, patterned, handmade, lampwork, etc.
3. 25 high quality beads in coordinating colors no smaller than 4mm

 And that’s not all. To accompany nicely these lovelies, we will send them in a decorated or vintage carton box…That’s the part I’m looking forward to getting into! As my beads are already selected and bought. At first, I was quite nervous as I wanted to go down the vintage road (something new for me really). But after a bit of patience and net surfing, I sourced a few interesting beads…vintage,crystal and handmade…

I’m chuffed! Even though when buying online, you never really know how well your goodies will match…I’m pretty confident though ^_^

My 2 bead buddies are Cassandra and Bryanna from www.thecanaryscupcake.blogspot.com (check out these 2 blogs, they’re gorgeous)

Will be updating you with the boxes deco soon…