Made ~ Boho Tool Belt

I stumbled across an old carpenter apron at one of the local antique stores and had to have it.  For one, it was from one of the local hardware stores in town and two, it had the word "bird" on it.  I  love birds, especially bluebirds.  Also, the price was less than $5 so the apron found it's way home to my house.

I have amassed a considerable stash of vintage lace over the years and knew I had the perfect one to accent the apron.  The lace has a darling strip of blue ribbon running through it which complemented the blue in the apron.  I added a doily, some seam binding and a handmade flower that has a vintage earring center.  I also added a flower petal with the word "dream" on it from Jenn Hayslip's Once Upon A Dream event, a rhinestone clip and a silver sequin shoe clip.  It took me less than an hour to throw it together and I am in love with my boho tool belt.  I can't wait to wear it to my next art workshop/event.  Since it was so easy to make, I may have to make some more to sell.  Anyone interested?

 

Made ~ French Macarons

I was so inspired by the latest Paper Source catalog.  It featured my second favorite dessert, French macarons.  (Cupcakes are my first.)  Yum-e!   I created this mixed media collage using an image from the cover of the Paper Source catalog.  A paper doily, a page from a vintage recipe book and some washi tape was also used.  It's fun and quirky and will complement my collection of Everyday is a Holiday pieces perfectly.  I don't know about you but their artwork makes me so happy.

Made ~ Hair Pins

Over a year ago, I decided to participate in an arts and crafts show at a local church.  I spent hours making hair accessories, jewelry and digital prints for the show.  I spent hours on designing the right displays and marketing materials.  I spent 10 hours the day of the show setting up, manning the booth and taking it down.  I had put so much effort into the show and made less than $80.  I was bummed to say the least.  I packed up everything and went home.  

The hair accessories stayed in my garage in a box for at least a year.  Then one night I had a dream of a little African girl dressed in a plain sackcloth type dress wearing one of the hair pins in her hair.  She had the biggest smile on her face.  Why?  Regardless of her dire circumstances (abject poverty), this little girl felt beautiful because she was wearing a hair pin I had created.  That's why she was smiling.

When I awoke the next morning, I retrieved the box from the garage and took it to one of my co-workers who participates in Operation Christmas Child.  I gave her all of those hair accessories, nearly a hundred of them, to put in the shoeboxes for little girls all over the world.  When I told my co-worker the history of the hair bows, she said something very profound.  She said, "Marian, you realize these hair bows were never meant to be sold at that craft fair?  They were meant for little girls like you saw in your dream.  God had a different purpose for these hair bows."  Wow.  I hadn't thought of it that way.  

Made ~ Thirty-One Bag Makeover

For my 40th birthday a friend of mine gave me a gift certificate to Thirty-One.  It took me for-ev-er to decide on which bag I wanted.  Finally (after a couple three months) I ordered a monogrammed dark denim cross body for me to take on my junking adventures.  Once I received it, of course, I could not leave well enough alone.  The bag was a little too plain Jane for moi.  

So, I added some vintage lace and crochet trim as well as a handmade floral pin to give the bag a little more personality. What do you think?  Personally, I cannot wait to use it!

Made ~ Tulips

Before kids I used to paint quite often.  Life happened and now I don't really have the time to focus on my oil paintings.  I miss painting but I have found solace in mixed media for now.  Mixed media is faster in a way.  I can also stop and start as needed which I could not do as easily as with painting.  Here is one of my favorite paintings.

 

Made ~ Hope Springs Eternal

I fell in love with the image of this cherub from an old Happy New Year postcard.  I adore how the fabric flows around and down.  To emphasize the blue of the sash, a blue velvet ribbon was placed down the left side of the canvas.  Then the ribbon was overlaid with a length of lace and accented with pearls.  Pale pink paper roses are held in the cherub's hand to accent the other pale pink flowers in the piece.  A crowned bird flies away in the lower right of the canvas while the word "hope" is highlighted in the background.  Another one of my favorite creations.
 

Made ~ Mon Coeur Always

At my work, employees adopt families at Christmas.  We raise money year round by have hot dog or spaghetti lunches, a motorcycle run, raffles and more.  Our biggest fundraiser by far is the online auction we have right before Thanksgiving.  Our company has a lot of talented bakers so desserts are usually the most bid on items.  This year I decided to offer a custom mixed media collage to the winner.    The winner would have a one-on-one consultation with me before I began work on the collage.  Debra's only specification was to use angels in the piece.  Otherwise, I had carte blanche in creating the rest.  Below is what I came up with.  The image of the three angels really inspired me and was the basis of the whole piece.  Debra was so thrilled with the collage that she showed it off to nearly everyone in the office and proudly displays it in her workspace.  

Custom mixed media collage are available upon request.  Just message me.  Thanks for dropping by! 
 

Made ~ All About Audrey

I created a couple of mixed media collages inspired by one of my favorite fashion icons Audrey Hepburn.  Let me know what you think.  Message me if you want to purchase.  I need to pay for my art supply addiction before the hubs kicks me to the curb ;)

Made ~ Marilyn's Best

A friend of mine requested I create a collage of Marilyn Monroe to give as a Christmas gift.  This is what I came up with.

This is the reaction of the gift recipient when she saw the collage for the first time.  I was so flattered by her reaction.  Thanks!

Made ~ Craft Queen Prize Ribbon

It's no lie that I love ribbons but I had never created a prize ribbon until now.  Michelle over at Creative Wings held a prize ribbon swap this past summer and I participated.  I had so much fun designing a prize ribbon for a "Craft Queen" using an old Jell-O tin for the center.  I thought it was whimsical, fun and oh so girly.  Using my favorite colors of aqua and pink made it that much more special.

Made ~ Dream Fairy Page

I created this page for a swap over at Karla's Cottage.  I love the little fairy.  It looks as if she is deep in thought.  I used an old book page, lace, velvet ribbon, dimensional Mod Podge and sparkle Mod Podge, not to mention a few other embellishments.  This is one of my favorite creations yet.

Made ~ Vintage Bluebird of Happiness Birthday Party

My little girl, Caleigh, celebrated her first birthday last month. I knew that I wanted a vintage feel for her party and to use her signature colors, aqua and pink. With it being spring, an idea flew into my head to center the party around the bluebird of happiness.  Caleigh is such a happy, little girl and loves music. It would be the perfect theme.  

I designed her invitation using a digital paper from the Ellah Rose Collection from hellolovetoo and with one of my favorite bluebird images.  Then I attached a strip of pink ribbon at the bottom of the invitation. 

The focal point of the party was the shabby chic bunting I created with fabrics from JoAnn, Wal-Mart and Hancock Fabrics.  The majority of the fabric was from Wal-Mart and cost a whopping $1.50 a yard!  I cut 3-inch wide strips x the length of the fabric.  Next, I tied the strip of fabric to a length of rope.  I hung the bunting from two Command hooks that I could remove later.

The candy bar was draped in a light pink ruffled sheet from the Simply Shabby Chic line from Target.  I wrapped my silverware cabinet in a remnant of aqua fabric from my fabric stash.  Then I placed white chocolate eggs wrapped in blue foil, plain M&Ms (aqua and pink) and chocolate dipped pretzels in apothecary jars. 

Peanut M&Ms in the signature colors were placed in a small birdbath type ceramic dish I found at Michael's for half off. 

The aqua and white swirl lollipops came from Oriental Trading.  I tied pink seam binding bows to the sticks and placed the lollipops in a pink wooden tray from Target's Dollar Spot. 

Blue Peeps were displayed in a bluebird accented plate (TJ Maxx) next to a vintage children's book.  Tiny bluebird ornaments from Pier One hung from the topiaries.

Pink lemonade was dispensed from a glass beverage dispenser (Belks, half off) that had a chalkboard necklace of sorts.  I attached a metal bird ornament (Hobby Lobby) using glue dots for easy removal later. 

Plastic milk bottles from Sweet Lulu were dressed up with strips of fabric from Fabric.com.  The pattern is called Spring Hill Birdy.  The blue version is shown but the fabric also comes in pink and white.  The pink polka dot paper straws from Cakes and Kids Too.

Since the party was mid-afternoon, I didn't have a lot of heavy food options for guests.  Chicken salad croissants and spinach dip were offered as well as yellow cupcakes with white chocolate cream cheese icing (tinted aqua), bird-shaped sugar cookies and candy pops, cake pops, bird nests and bluebird cookies.  The bluebird cookies were Nutter Butters dipped in blue Wilton candy melts.  Their eyes were mini chocolate chips and their beaks were a dot of yellow frosting.  Bottles of water were also wrapped in fabric and placed in an aqua metal tub that I found at Target's Dollar Spot.  (It also came in pink.)





The birthday cake was homemade and placed on one of my late mother's cake plates.  The cake was made of chocolate with white chocolate cream cheese icing. To continue the bluebird theme, I created a banner on card stock featuring bluebirds.  I cut the banner out and attached it to two lollipop sticks.  I added aqua and pink seam binding to soften the look.  One pink candle was all that was needed to make the perfect birthday cake for my little girl.

For party favors, I used aqua cupcake boxes that my late mother had a supply of.  Inside I placed a stuffed chick and a wooden bird whistle, both from Oriental Trading, and a carton of Whoppers shaped like robin's eggs. 

I wrapped the boxes with ribbon made from the white Spring Hill Birdy fabric and attached a gift tag that said, "It was TWEET of you to come."

To say the least, Caleigh's party was a hit.  Not to mention, is that I can use a lot of the party decorations in Caleigh's room.  The bunting will go on the wall over her bed.  The aqua and pink metal tub containers will hold hair bows and other accessories.  The wooden trays can help organize her dresser drawers and the bird accents can decorate her room. Essentially, I killed two birds with one stone.  No pun intended.  Thanks for stopping by!