Yesterday's finished creations.

Yesterday I spent the day finishing several projects, redoing one, and getting things ready to take into my booth at Merchant Square.

Here is what I accomplished:

I finished another small canvas gift bag.  It's covered with vintage laces, fabric roses, a beautiful pearl pin, and a bow made from an old mother-of-pearl belt buckle.

An old coin purse given new life with a few bits and pieces.

This gift bag I redid.  Didn't like the original artwork on it.  Everything can be fixed with just a little thought, glue and new ideas!

Finally decided to part with this fancy necklace of gold chain, pearls and crystals.  I added the fancy feather piece to an old rayon purse from the '50's.  It is a nice purse, just needed a bit of bling!

I also tied up a couple of book bundles using burlap ribbon, lace, and trims.  An old book bundle always looks better when tied up nicely.  I am giving credit to Myko Bocek, a member of the Sweet Team at Sweet Salvage for this idea!  Thanks Myko!!  Also love the watercolor of a ketch on the sea.  Nicely done by an amateur probably on summer vacation at the beach!

More of my gift bags

I really enjoy making these little gift bags.  The first batch sold out right away from my booth in Merchant Square.  Here are the three that I took into my booth yesterday for sale.

Here the first Paris bag.  Cute dress form image surrounded by roses.  I added vintage laces, trims and rayon ribbons.  The bit in the corner is an old petit point earring on top of a bit of an old doily.

Here's a different dress form image.  On the top are vintage appliques, mother-of-pearl buttons and an old pearl earring.

Lastly is this bag with a "Costumer" image on it topped with lace, trim and a vintage pin.

All three are available in my booth at Merchant Square right now.

It's hot out! So I am inside doing artsy things!

I have been busy.  Am trying to get some things made for my booth as well as for my own curiosity as to what I could do with some items.

I have been collecting up tiny compacts, pill boxes and other small vintage containers.  Here are three that I have collected recently.  The little Estee Lauder compact on the bottom left was plain and simple.  I added the religious picture (actually an old lapel button) and encircled it with rhinestones.  The little blue box on the bottom right is a vintage Stratton pill box that has a shabby necklace clasp piece on it.

This is a vintage tin face powder refill box.  I covered the tattered paper lid and then added an old tintype and encircled it with rhinestones.  Sorry the tintype picture didn't turn out so well.  Tried several shots and this was the best one. 

I really enjoyed doing these.  Am still on the lookout for small containers that I can embellish.

Here are two small gift bags that I embellished this week.

This pretty little lady is an image from Paper Whimsy.  The owner, Gale Blair, had offered this image for free on Facebook and I took advantage of the offer.  Paper Whimsy's images are really beautifully done, sharp, clear and can be downloaded from their website immediately after purchasing any of them.

This is the second gift bag I put together yesterday.

I covered it with vintage bits of lace and trims, rose ribbon, a doily with pink and off white flowers.  Then I added an old key embellished with rhinestones and other trinkets.  Had fun doing this one!  Going to do more over the next few days.  Feels good to get back to creating!

Working on more gift bags

I made a couple of gift bags about a month ago and they flew out of my booth at Merchant Square.  So, I decided yesterday to make two more plus another, simpler one.

This was the first one I finished (approx. 8 1/2" x 11").  The lady in this image has the most beautiful dress and I love the long hair in the braid down her back tied with two big bows.  Lots of old lace bits, a velveteen fabric piece behind the image set the color scheme for this tote bag.

I finished this one this morning.  I kept the palette to whites and just added the pink ribbon for a bit of color.  This image is one of my favorites!

The inspiration for this one came from the most recent issue of Sew Somerset magazine.  I made this Paris tote bag (approx. 7" x 8 1/2" not including the strap) out of scraps from my stash and pieces from my Collage Camp creations.  It is really soft and  I think it would make a great hostess gift!  I'm on a roll today and will be making more this afternoon.  Right now it's lunch time!

This burlap bag was garnered from the produce department of my local grocery store.  I asked the department manager if he would save this bag for me after he used it in the display of chestnuts.  Earlier this week I collected this bag and asked to have any others saved for me.   I think these can be repurposed into something else!  Will be working on that for later.

Special things!

I have returned to my art work.  Want to share with you the gift bags I decorated this week.

This is the first one I decorated with laces, ribbons, a vintage earring and an old vintage image that was shared by Sherry Bamsey on Facebook recently.  Thanks, Sherry!!

This is the second gift bag decorated with vintage laces and trims, old ribbons, a pretty cameo pin, and a vintage image of a mother with her daughter at Christmas. 

This morning I was out searching through estate sales.  Found these wonderful crocheted white gloves circa 1950's.  And, guess what!  They are "Hand Crochet Made in France" according to the label in the gloves!  Wonderful!!

Aren't these just beautiful??

Lastly, I came across these two small cups or baking pans.  At least that's what I think they are.  On the bottom they are stamped "FRANCE" and "P C Plombieres".  Do you know what these two little pans (ramekins) were used for?  Custard baking?  They measure 4" across and about 2 1/2" deep with the cutest handles that look like hearts!  Just precious!

They are heavy and look like pewter, but I don't think they are.  Do you know??  If so, leave a comment here or on Facebook to let me know what you think they might be.