All Dressed Up..

Here is my submission to Mind Wide Open. I liked working with a 'real' piece, instead of a digital one this time. It reminds me of a shabby chic Christmas ornament, 'all dressed up' ready to be displayed! It measures 6 1/2" wide and 7 1/2" long.

I used an embroidery hoop as the frame and the 'canvas' is a piece of linen that I sewed antique lace, the picture frame, ribbon and the buttons to. It hangs from a loop of vintage pink ribbon and is embellished with a brass knob at the top and an architectural piece at the bottom. The back is covered in a lovely piece of vintage wallpaper. I think perhaps I'll list it for sale in my Etsy Shop. Thank you Gail for the inspiration! and thank you, ladies, for all of the eye candy you create each month! I can't wait to see what everyone else does.

Remember, voting starts tomorrow! Please leave a comment for your favorite piece!

The Ancient Music of Water

This is a digital collage I just finished. Most of my work has been heavy, with dark saturated colors and I wanted to try something more liquid and ethereal. Hence, The Ancient Music of Water.
I have also lightened up my blog. A lot. Trying to unclutter and organize my life and I needed to do it here too. Hope you like the 'lighter' look, all my favs are still here, just as words instead.

xoxo~
Abbie

New bits added to my shop..

Damsel Designs at Etsy

The Vintage Moth!!

I have opened a new store front at CafePress. As I work out the kinks, stop by and let me know what you think! There is only one design so far, but plenty more in the works. My favorite is the tote bag!

New Box of Goodies, Soon to be available.

thank you!!

I just found out that my La Aurora Cigar Collage Box was featured in A Storybook Life! How neat is that?? Thank you so much Pearl! Please stop by and check out her site! It is just filled with lovely images, great ideas and fabulous thoughts for lovely living!

An addition to my shop...

Fabric Egg Pattern

I spent days trying to find a pattern that was free to make fabric eggs. I love the look of them, and have had some very unsuccessful attempts at their construction.. you would think it would be a simple pattern to create. For some, who are adept at that sort thing well, more power to ya! For me.. not so much. The only thing I could find was a description of how to make a pattern. You take an egg from your fridge, mark it all up with lines, and from that make a pattern. Uhh? Well, I did it, and it worked!! So.. to prevent you from either having to pay a fortune for a pattern or from having to mark up all your eggs, I made it and put it on paper for you. Just click it, copy it and print. You may need to adjust for print size, (the original page was 8 1/2" x 11") but the pattern size doesn't really matter here. What matters are the proportions. I hope it works for you.. Now I do not profess to be a professional or have any clue as to what I am doing! :) You do need to have basic sewing skills, and as far as making neat points go.. well perhaps Annie, Rosie, or Kathy can help us with those! another thing I found, the sewing doesn't have to be to neat, as when you stuff it FULL (I mean full 'til the seams are tight!) it rounds itself out into a lovely egg shape. Pound it on the counter, squeeze the top and Voila! You just made an egg! For me, I loved playing with different color combos.. the red and white is my favorite thus far! They are quick and easy (relatively..) and it is 'sew' much nicer to make something for your home than buy it!

Enjoy!

 

♥ Don't forget to enter for my Spring Giveaway below! ♥

Tada! It's open and I'm going green! Well, sort of..

Well, I have opened my Etsy Shop again! I'm not sure if I can handle it or not, but what the heck! It is pure fun for me and I need the pressure of it being open to light a fire under my rear. Perhaps now I'll work to find the time to put goodies together.

My lone listing right now is antique wallpaper, which if you look, you can find more on Etsy as well. It is so much to work with. It is instant history and patina in your art, crafts or scrapbooks. It obviously is not acid free, but I spoke with a woman at Stamping Memories, and she mentioned that there is a spray that will seal your antique papers and thus, make them acid free. So, if you would like your memories preserved for an eternity, (just too long for my liking..) there are options out there to use up what humanity has already made, without using more toner, printers, copiers, paper, ink, etc.. That is why I love to use vintage and antique items so much. (and why I offer them in my shop) There is more history and spirit in them, than in the new, reproduction products mass produced.

'A Common Sense Woman'

This piece was made with entirely antique and vintage items.

Another of my goals for this year is to become more aware of the environment around me and how I impact it. My global footprint so to speak.. I have decided to join the Living Green Challenge at Better Homes and Gardens. Once I can get logged in, that is. :) It is slower than molasses in winter right now.. I'll keep you updated..

Enjoy your day, stay warm! Oh! I forgot to mention, this morning it was -4 degrees outside. Yes, that is MINUS 4! Damn! It's cold.

New Beginnings.. Part II..

New space. I have a blank slate waiting for me on the third floor. Since my nice neat closet has been reassigned, I have decided to take over one of the empty rooms upstairs. As to when I will actually get the time to make that change, now that's another 'story'. (hehehe.. excuse the pun..) Right now all my shop items, crafty goodies, bits and pieces are being 'stored' above the garage. I could transform that space back into my studio (it was before Baby A was born) but I don't get much opportunity to venture up there and it's heated separately from the house. I am hoping once the room on the 3rd floor is fixed up, I can go up there and work once the kids are all sleeping. OK, I know it's a stretch, but I have to find hope that I can work again somehow, right?

So, right now, my shop at Etsy will be very limited. (it is not reopened yet) Just a select few items will be for sale, listed and shipped when time and family life allows. I do have a few rolls of antique and vintage wallpaper that I will be posting for a steal, so that I don't have to store them, move them, sort them, etc..

Now.. on to the paint color!! Yes, I am in search of the perfect color for the room. It has a skylight, and a window, so plenty of natural light steams in. I am looking for a Robin's Egg blue. Close to a grey, but pale. Hmm.. time to check out paint websites..