2nd Anniversary Photoshoot: Dresses and Butterflies

Kyle and I won a free photo shoot with our wedding photographer  (Sarah Knowlton [ now Mitchell!] of Sknow Photo and Design) that we used as an anniversary shoot, being we scheduled it for the day before our second wedding anniversary! We had a blast, and Sarah is amazing to work with. We just got the pics back and I wanted to share the dress that I made for the occasion, along with some butterfly and flower hairpins I made recently and wore for the shoot!

The butterfly pins were inspired by this photoshoot over on Once Wed: Butterfly Bride

For how to on how I did my hair, check out this post at Grosgrain - Heat Free Curls

I designed/made my dress using a combo of 3 patterns, 2 vintage ( top from Simplicity 7760, skirt from Simplicity 1235 ) and one altered sleeve pattern I found a tutorial for online (which I cannot currently locate).  The fabric is a flowery thrifted twin sized fitted sheet - I used pretty much every bit of fabric from the sheet in making this dress! I actually ran out of fabric for the binding and had to do a rolled edge from most of the finishing. 

I pulled the dress together in about a half a day - mostly an afternoon and an evening to finish. The wrap dress was super easy to adjust and add the fuller skirt to! I just had to add some width to accommodate the wrapping.

Simplicity patterns 7760 and 1235 . Images from Vintage Sewing Patterns Wiki

Photos by the super talented Sarah Knowlton Mitchell (on Facebook !)

Wood Chalkboard from Joann fabrics - whitewashed by me

Thank you for reading!!

Jewelry - 2 new pieces, now at Quirk gallery!

These two new necklaces are now available at Quirk Gallery!

Tell me what you think!

Project - Button Libraries and Quilted Jewelry Part 2

 

that just happened.

Last week I began the arduous and insane task of organizing my vast button collection. I got it into my head to make a sort of card catalog of all my buttons in empty cigar boxes so I could easily sort through and see what I have as needed. I spent 4 days just getting yellow, red and purple sewn onto cards (reusing our Christmas cards that never got sent out...oops) 

I have a long ways to go, as I have approximately 4 times the amount of these colors in white, brown and black buttons, not to mention all the metallics and random other bits. It's going to take forever! but it will look puuurty.

On another note, I'm participating in an auction benefit show called Lucky 21 being put on by 1708 Gallery in Richmond, VA that opens April 1, 2011, with an auction gala on April 9. The show will take place at the Try-Me art center on West Main Street.

Using some fabulous vintage quilt pieces my Mom gave me for my birthday this year, I made a second quilted necklace to put in the show this year, here are some progress shots and a taste of the final piece! I spent the last 3 days pulling 10 hours straight  each, embroidering till my fingers nearly fell off. Sorry the pics don't do it justice and the colors are off! The fabrics are not as pink as they look.

the Walter has claimed my workspace.

 

What do you think?

Thanks for reading!

Pennsylvania Adventures and Vintage Finds

As I mentioned in my last post, Kyle and I went to PA this past weekend and drove all over the Lehigh Valley/Allentown/ Delaware River area. We visited a dairy farm, took pictures of cows, got licked by some baby cows, visited my grandparents, went antiquing and had adventures all around! [To see some of the shots Kyle took, visit Kyle Foster Photography.] Here are some of my finds from the sweet shops we went to up there:

Some cheap dress patterns from the 60's / 70's

From Grisite's Antiques Mall in Riegelsville, PA and a local thrift shop up there

Some beautiful and unique looking antique/vintage quilt blocks 

(will be worked into my quilted jewelry series)

From Black Rose Antiques 

Gristie's Antiques Mall

I also wanted to post some of the quilt blocks/ fabric my mom gave me on my birthday this year that are just stunning!

1930's reproduction fabric

Flowers and stars

Thanks for reading!!

Squirrels on Bikes

I picked up this vintage fabric at a thrift store a few weeks back, and I just about about died. 

Squirrels on bikes, mice with umbrellas, rabbits playing soccer, I mean come on! 

So cute I can't even stand it. 

Walter likes to interrupt my ironing.

Etsy - Coming up...

I've started working on a collection of aprons, dishcloths and other lovely things to sell on Etsy, made primarily of vintage and up-cycled fabrics like sheets, bed skirts and curtains sourced from thrift stores and estate sales. here's a sneak peak at styles and fabrics you will be seeing these lovelies made of in the near future!