Artsy projects that I just finished

I have had several of these pieces that were "in progress" and over the last few days I finally finished them.  Let's start with the purse.

This vintage evening bag is made of black rayon, has a cute clasp that is missing one stone, and is in great condition.  And it is lined with a pretty tan satin fabric.  Have tried to sell it but no one seems to like it in this state.

So, I added this coffee dyed teacup doily and a flower I made out of pieces of old corsages.  I think it may find a new home soon!  I love this added bit to this bag.

I want to start digging into my stash and using the bits and pieces that I have collected for years.  Here is an old compact I decorated.  Used an old pin I bought years ago and added bits to it to add bling.

An old watch case that held watch parts that weren't working anymore.  So here is the nest I made with tiny pearls as eggs.

On an old spoon bowl I added this angel, the rhinestones and the gold medallion.  Nice!

An old pill box got a new look -- steam punk!!  Old watch parts added to the top.  You can put any little treasures inside for safe keeping!

Here are the four pieces together.  Tell me what you think.

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!

More projects finished

I worked on black slip dress and it is now finished.  Am happy with the end result and it will find it's way to my booth, dress form and all, this week.

Here is a close up of the top of the slip and a necklace I created.

I used a piece of vintage lace trim, dyed roses and corsage petals for the large corsage and tiny ones at the top.  The necklace was created using bits and pieces I have in my stash. 

Have also been working on necklaces made out of old keys, an old watch, and some Tim Holtz bits.  The earrings at the top of the form are out of my stash.  Click on the pictures to get a larger view in order to see detail of the slip dress and the necklaces.

This mannequin was made by Karen Lackey of Starshine Salon.  If you like this mannequin, you can find several for sale in her booth at Merchant Square.  The torso mannequins are well made and weighted so they stand up.  Check them out!

Etsy Cottage Style Color Party for June

Well, Etsy Cottage Color Party chose WHITE for this month's color party.  Think my last blog fit in with that and hope you will visit that blog post as well.  So, here are my pics of WHITE for the June color party:

I found these pretty ladies at an estate sale recently.  Mostly dressed in white and very pretty.  These pretty ladies are half dolls and recently decorated.  They are not old, but they are lovely!

An embellished off white bustier.  I used pretty lace trim and a vintage rhinestone necklace to decorate this for sale.

Another bustier that I embellished over a very pretty slip.  The lace on the top of the slip just peeks out of the top of the bustier.

I love this pretty white envelope I made on a whim from vintage flocked wallpaper.

This is a display piece to go into my antique booth at Merchant Square very soon.  A ceramic white hand and an embellished glove.

My DDHubby made this shelf for me many years ago.  It is in my bathroom.  The pictures are family pictures and the white vanity/toilet pieces are from a complete set I have that belonged to my grandparents.

In my bedroom I have this wonderful dress form that has on three white skirts, a white lace top and lots of necklaces.

Beside my bed is an antique washstand that belonged to my grandparents.  My grandmother is the lady in the vintage racetrack frame.  It belonged to her.  The little white dress form has lots of pretty rhinestone pins and single earrings on it.

Last, but not least are these white baby clothes and a doll dress in my antique booth.  I love white baby clothes!

Thanks for visiting today!  Be sure to check out the other blogs that are participating in the Etsy Cottage Style Color Party this month.

This was a great find yesterday

I hit a few thrift stores yesterday and came across this:

Someone lovingly and probably laboriously put this Christmas tree picture together by gluing down bits and pieces of vintage jewelry, vintage beads and lots of green glass shards.  It measures 16"x20".  Now I truly appreciate all the work that went into this.  But I bought it to take it apart.

It is so old that the glue had completely dried out and a flat blade screw driver pops most of them off easily and cleanly.  I bought it for the jewelry for my artwork.

It would take a very long time for me to find broken rhinestone pieces, beads and earrings.  This saved me a lot of time hunting -- especially for the rhinestones.  However, I still look for vintage jewelry to sell in my booth.



After I take all the bits off, I plan to take the background piece out and paint the frame white and sell it separately.  Will also bag up some of the beads and sell them separately as well.  Nice find! 

More Rhinestone Cowgirls

I just listed three more Rhinestone Cowgirl journals on my Etsy shop, Vintage Recycled.  Here they are.

On the left is Annie Oakley.  The two blue journals were covered with denim studded with rhinestones and silver studs along a seam that came from an old denim skirt -- BOTH BLUE JOURNALS JUST SOLD (JULY 4TH).  Great thrift store find!   The middle cowgirl is on red and white ticking.  Better pics of both the fronts and the backs are on Vintage Recycled.

Check it out!  These are one-of-a-kind!!  (OOAK)

Display idea

I tried the bit of mink in yesterday's blog as a display piece. Worked out OK.From left to right: lovely rhinestone earrings, pretty bow pin with purple and pink stones, rhinestone necklace and two old buttons covered in sparkly stones. I also acquired the lace runner in the photo over the weekend.

Vintage sweaters

I went to a presale last week at an estate sale. Couldn't believe how packed the house was. Unbelievable that there were racks of clothing extending the length of the master bedroom. About half still had the original price tags. And, the master closet was full, too!! Took a while to dig through things and I did find some treasures. This is a vintage pink wool sweater. The beading is beautiful and in perfect condition. Note that the beading runs around the bottom of the sweater as well as on the cuffs. It is lined so that the wool won't irritate your skin. It has one tiny issue -- a moth hole just to the left of the fourth button down. I don't know how to repair that. Any suggestions from anyone??

This is a close up of the beading and the tag. There is also beading across the shoulders on the back of the sweater. It was made in Hong Kong.

This wonderful white sweater is kitten soft! It is orlon! The trim is sequins with rhinestones. The stones are the dark spots you see -- the rhinestones are actually "dead stones." No sparkle left.

This is a close up of the beautiful trim. The sequins is multicolored clear -- does that make sense? These can be found in my booth at Merchant Square in the near future.