My Heirloom Boutique Treasure Box is finished!

By doing a little bit each day since Carol Wingert's Heirloom Boutique event last Saturday, Oct. 20.  I just finished it up today and took the pictures to share with you.  Here we go!

 I finished the wreath on the cover by adding the buttons.

 When you open the metal case, these tags are there held in place with rusty magnets.  Great!

My own flower created long ago was added to this large pocket for tags and notes.

 The "NOteS" file at the bottom unties and there are several pages sewn inside to jot down notes or ideas.

 Love the birdie holding the string to his cage!  Another nice pocket for mementos.

 Just waiting for a nice picture of a memorable event.  Perhaps Thanksgiving??

 I have a "thing" for Paris even though I have never been there.  I can add other pictures of Paris settings when I find some.

 Here I glued an old page from a small pocket atlas and topped it with an envelop and tag.

 This flower was so easy to make that I will be making more of them for gift bags, etc.  You can tuck notes or pictures into the envelope or behind it in the pocket there.

A nice accordion book is tied with jute ribbon and tucked into a burlap pocket.

 Another nice pocket with a dragonfly on it.

This canvas pocket unfolds to reveal the contents.  I love the bead trim sewn onto the gold ribbon.

 A nice inked pocked decorated with an old key.  Really like the white fabric in the background.

 A nice page ready for small photos of a trip.

Thanks for taking a look at this wonderful Treasure Box.  I love it!  Will be putting more goodies in it later.

Heirloom workshop with Carol Wingert last Saturday

Carol Wingert's Heirloom workshops are not to be missed!  I had a fabulous time last Saturday at the all day event!  As I walked to the front door last Saturday, I could smell fresh coffee brewing, I heard the laughter of old friends, and I was greeted by Carol herself with a warm hug.  

We started out the day on Carol's lovely back patio area in the cool air and shade.  Here's what we found at our places at each table.

Each basket had a metal flower with our name on it.

This is what each basket looked like!  It was actually a "chicken" basket.  None of us there seemed to know just exactly what a "chicken" basket was used for or why it was called a chicken basket.  There were ideas out there but none seemed to fit the description!

Also at each place was this darling pin cushion made by Carol herself.  Isn't this just the cutest gift!  I am definitely going to use mine and sell my others in my booth at Merchant Square.  None of those are nearly as nice as this one nor as special!

Here was the breakfast buffet!  Ashley did a fabulous job, as usual!!  There was Ham, Cheese & Potato Casserole, Spinach-Mushroom Strata, Cinnamon Scones, Pumpkin Scones and a fresh fruit salad.

 Here is the lunch buffet.  Roasted Pork Loin with Plum Sauce, Chicken with Bitter Orange Sauce, Orzo with Caramelized Fall Vegetables, Butternut Squash Tian, and salad with Italian dressing.

Late in the afternoon we were then treated to dessert!  These are Mini Rum Cupcakes with Rum Buttercream!  Delish!!

Mini Apple-Pies-in-a-Jar!  Scrumptious and good to the last bite!

Chocolate "Snow Tire" Cookies, Snickerdoodles, and fresh Berries with Fresh Whipped Cream!

This is the finished cover to my "Treasured Memories" box.  I will share the inside pages with you in a few days.  I have just a couple pages left to finish.  Check back to see the finished box.

The last few pages of my workshop project

Here are the rest of the pages of the completed book from "Under the Tuscan Sun" workshop with Carol Wingert.

More pages with pockets for collections from the trip!

Loved spraying the canvas fabric with walnut ink and Glimmermist using masks to get the pretty pattern.

Tags for pictures and more pockets.  The right page is the other half of the parchment bag.  This is the open end of the bag where you can tuck more souvenirs from the trip.

The page on the left is the other side of the parchment bag.  On the left is the back of the book which is the inside of another artists canvas.

This project was a lot of fun and I learned several new techniques throughout the workshop.  Thanks again to Carol and her family for creating a wonderful day for the 14 of us who attended the workshop!

The finished project!

I finally finished my mixed media book from Carol Wingert's "Under the Tuscan Sun" workshop.  And here is the first half of my book.

This is the cover.  The book is actually two artist's canvases hinged together.  I love the embossed copper map on the cover here and that great clock knob!

Inside the back of the cover (which is the back of the framed canvas) is an accordian book.

The page with the tree actually is four pockets in which to stuff ephemera, postcards, pics, etc.  The other page is a parchment bag that has been slit to hold postcards.

Plenty of time!  The pocket on the right would hold maps, brochures, etc. from a trip.

More pockets for tags.  You can journal on the tags or glue pictures on them.

This is the first half of the book.  I'll share more in a day or two!

Finished my Spool Story squares!

This morning I finished up the squares that will become the basic pieces in my Spool Story piece that I created in the Carol Wingert workshop last Saturday.  I am so glad they are all done!  I loved doing these small fabric collages.  Next project is to assemble and finish up the entire spool to share with all of you.

I so love the colors, the variety of fabrics, and the final finishes on these squares.

The square at the upper right is actually a pocket for photos, precious letters or notes, or whatever you want.  The technique for the clock square was new to me and I love it!  Hint:  ribbon and glimmer mist.

Since I love to sew, the top left square is one of my favorites!  All three of these have pockets and the one at the top right has a lacy tag to tuck in the pocket.

The square at the top left has beautiful trims on a small piece of fabric to form a pocket on this page as well. 

Please click on each picture here to get a closer view of the all the squares and the lovely fabrics, trims and techniques used on each. 

Bon Voyage Workshop

Carol and her family did a wonderful job with the Bon Voyage workshop on Saturday!  I had a great time!  My book isn't finished, but I will get it done shortly.  Will be sharing pages with you as I go along.  But for now, here are some pics of what all of us found when we met a Carol's house for the workshop.

Each one of us had our place settings at the tables set up inside for the workshop.  There was a packet of papers, paper for the book, a black tin carry all full of bits and bobs and wonderful things, a packet of fabrics, a small paper bag full of small bits to use in decorating our pages, and that cute mini clipboard decorated with a flower, tickets and our name!

We were inside instead of outdoors since the weather turned hot on us.  However, it wasn't so bad because Carol's back yard is full of plants, a fish pond and lots of trees.  Really nice to be able to eat outdoors!

Here's Carol explaining directions and showing her Bon Voyage travel book.

The first thing we did was have breakfast!  Two very tasty casserole dishes, coffee cake, scones, and plenty of coffee or tea.  Note the great decorations on the table!  Loved the pink rinucculas on the table and the tiny ferns in the numbered buckets.

The other half of the table decorations.

Lunch!!  Five cheese macaroni, pork roast, chicken cordon bleu, deviled eggs, Greek salad, Caesar salad and bread.  We did work on our travel books between these delicious meals!!!  Honestly!!!

Here's the group for a picture toward the end of the workshop day.  There was also a great dessert table for us towards the end of the day.  Pudding, fresh fruit with real whipped cream, and fat chocolate chip cookies.  The pond in front of the group had beautiful fish in it swimming around.  Lovely day!  Lovely workshop ladies!  And a great workshop!

Thanks Carol!  Thanks Ashley -- you're a great cook!  Loved every bite!!  Thanks Vern for sharing your home, telling me all about your huge fish tank and the fish that occupy it, and for taking pictures!!

Next Saturday . . . .

I will be attending a very special event/workshop led by Carol Wingert.  It is called "Bon Voyage An Heirloom Boutique Event/Workshop" to be held at her home.  This wonderful invitation came in the mail on Friday.

Artwork by Carol Wingert

I signed up for this event a couple of months ago after I had ran into Carol while she was shopping in my booth at Merchant Square.  She told me all about it.  And since the first workshop was filled, she decided to open a second one.  I knew right then I would sign up and attend.

Artwork by Carol Wingert

Tucked inside this Passport were all the details about the event, where it is located, what to wear because we will be inside and outdoors as well, what supplies to bring along, and special places to shop since a lot of attendees are coming from outside the area!  I am so excited!!

Photo and artwork by Carol Wingert

Please visit her Creatologie blog here to see more about this event.  Since the workshop is full, you can order a kit to make your very own Bon Voyage Heirloom Collection VII album.  Check it out!!