Maminka Girl Studio

Sewing for Myself

2012-02-09T12:02:00.004-05:00

I have not done any sewing for myself in ages. I needed a new dress and this polka-dot fabric was on sale at JoAnn's for cheap so I whipped up a dress and this belt made from scraps of vintage fabrics from the forties and fifties. I picked up the buckle at the Brimfield Fair last fall.

Someone gave me these scraps that had been carefully cut into squares and saved in individual envelopes perhaps for a quilt that never got made? They are very retro and remind me of necktie fabric. Very fun to work with.

Pickity Place

2012-02-02T15:28:00.001-05:00

I had a delightful day with girl friends at a favorite lunch spot called Pickity Place. Located in Mason, New Hampshire, this quaint little restaurant is surrounded by beautiful herb gardens now quietly sleeping under a thin snow cover. Each month the restaurant features a different menu with five courses revolving around locally grown herbs. I used to live just few miles from this restaurant and would go frequently but had not been in several years. I was glad to see few changes and the food was as wonderful as ever. If you ever have the chance to get there, don't miss it. Especially when the gardens are in bloom.

The house dates back to the 1700's and was used as inspiration for Elizabeth Orton Jones' illustrations of Little Red Riding Hood. Part of the house is set up with lots of Red Riding Hood memorabilia and of course the Big Bad Wolf disguised as grandmother. My kids were always fascinated and slightly freaked out by this. The restaurant has a special lunch served in a picnic basket for little ones.

I've had a mind to make a Red Riding Hood doll ever since one of my fellow artisans brought in a scary wolf sculpture to the gallery. I had lots of inspiration here. There are so many versions of the fairy tale.

These guys know where to hang out on a cold winter's day- right over the radiator!

This is my favorite part of the grounds. I love this cozy little herb drying shed.

Dessert was especially delicious this month: White chocolate mousse in a chocolate tart cup with raspberries and kiwi puree. Yummy!

What did I make today?

2012-01-24T14:29:00.000-05:00

In keeping with my work with lace, here is a good use for left over pieces that came from the wire and lace heart projects. I used a balloon and mod podge to make lace spheres. I found you have to really REALLY let them dry out totally before you pop the balloon. Being the impatient person I am and always wanting immediate gratification I popped one too soon and it sort of collapsed but I cut it half and made these cute little bowls which I really like! The lace spheres are still being worked on and I will share them at another time.

I am using up the pine needles I bought at holiday time from the local farmer's market. These sachets are making the whole gallery smell fresh and piney.

Wire and Lace

2012-01-23T14:05:00.000-05:00

I have been making these wire and lace hearts from patched up pieces of old lace. Here is a large one with a vintage antique chandelier crystal hanging from it's tip. They really look lovely hanging in the window catching the light but we haven't had much light these past few days.

Loving Crepe Paper

2012-01-21T21:07:00.000-05:00

I am having fun dying crepe paper with glimmer mist and various paints and dyes. It's sort of addictive to see what colors turn out. I love the crinkly edges. I might have gotten carried away with the brown at times. My studio has been overtaken with streams of crepe paper garlands drying in the breeze. Why don't I do these things in the summer??

Here is a little hand stamped cloth ribbon. Getting in the mood for Valentine's Day. I love making all things Valentine-y.

And here are some award ribbons I made using my crepe paper, glitter and old letters and fabric. They are delicate but so much fun to make!

I edited these using Picnik which I just discovered is going away! I am so bummed because I really like using that photo editing software. It is so much easier and cheaper than photoshop and it has so many more features than Picasa. Does anyone know of an easy to use photo editing software that is comparable?? If so, I would love to hear about it.

Snow and Light Under Glass

2012-01-14T12:18:00.001-05:00

Here are my finished Snow and Light Assemblage Boxes inspired by taking Terri Brushs' on-line workshop. These were so much fun to create. I love obsessing over each detail. They look so beautiful lit up but my photography skills for this kind of work is very wanting.

A little Valentine Snow Box

This one is tiny, just 2 1/2 square inches.

Work in Progress

2011-12-28T16:10:00.000-05:00

I am taking a delightful on-line workshop from Terri Brush. These little guys will be living in their own special little worlds eventually. I love taking workshops because you always learn new things even if you have been doing similar work.

A little Valentine Snowman

Corsages and Gnomes

2011-12-21T15:18:00.001-05:00

It all began with finding this amazing vintage holiday corsage at the church bazaar. I had a tip-off from a friend who helps organize the fair that there would be something there that should come home with me (nice to have friends in high places). I got there early and found this great corsage which had been mounted on an amazing image of this lady from the 1960's? posing with the same corsage and a really cool Christmas tree hat. And all this was mine for $2.00?!

Now I just have to make the hat and you can be sure that I will for next year.

But this year I saw this corsage designed by Kay Whitt who wrote the book Sew Serendipity. The corsage was featured in the premier issue of a new magazine called Stitch. Craft. Create. I just loved the pin and the technique she used to get all the scrunchy woolen petals. And it was just lucky that I had the exact same hand-dyed silk ribbon in my stash that a friend has sent me several years ago. In addition, I actually had some over-dyed wool very similar to the wool that was used in the example. So I made one of these wonderful corsages for myself and have worn it every chance I get. It's over the top but I feel so very festive wearing it with my favorite white coat.

Here is a little of my obsession with gnomes and a little gnome display that I put together for the holidays. Lighting is a little weird and the best I can do with my nine year old digital camera (that's practically vintage in camera years!). This gnome village is a happy little place.

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

2011-12-08T21:29:00.000-05:00

My daughter had a request this year for a crazy tacky Christmas sweater. There are some very cool ones out there on e-bay but incredibly expensive so off to the Thrift Store I go. I found this nice red cardigan for $5.00... all wool too. A bonus.

After some sewing and scrounging for tacky, jingling and sparkly embellishments I came up with this:

You gotta love the pom poms. I think everyone should wear more pom poms don't you? Have a festive holiday season!

12 Days of Joyfulness

2011-12-02T10:29:00.001-05:00

Are you looking for something crafty to do this holiday season? Check out Dottie Angel's 12 Days of Joyfulness. I am sure it will be lots of fun. She has a great vintage-y crafty style that I love. Happy Holidays!

Corners of my Home

2011-11-27T13:52:00.000-05:00

Just a peek into my home decorations for Thanksgiving. These decorations are not up for long though as Christmas is coming soon. Does anyone else wish for more time between holidays? I would like to have more time to enjoy my most favorite holiday of Thanksgiving but Christmas sure is pushy!

I did this little turkey painting on a tiny canvas that I had lying around. Not a masterpiece but colorful!

Here is a little witch that was just given to me by a dear friend. She knows it's not Halloween but sneaked in among the pumpkins anyway.

The peace orb made by my potter friend Sharyn Tullar finds its way into all my vignettes. I just love it!

Hope your Thanksgiving celebrations were joyous.

Two New Girls

2011-11-15T15:43:00.000-05:00

Introducing Mimosa, one of my series of dolls titled "Les Fleurs" She has a beehive hair-do with acorn embellishments.

And here is Violet who wears her copious head of hair in a snood.

They are all the best of friends.

For sale at the Walpole Artisans Cooperative or if interested, email me.

Introductions: les Fleurs

2011-11-12T12:55:00.000-05:00

I have been working on a series of new "sitter" dolls with a flower theme. I have some amazing pieces of floral vintage fabric that serve as the inspiration. Two more in the works but they had to have a little plastic surgery tweaking. The middle "Rosie" looks like she has a bit of an attitude but she has been well behaved in my workshop.

Not sure where the pink hair came from but "Valerian" definitely has a wild side.

Dahlia is tall and thin and fancies herself a bit of a flapper. She is proud of the vintage shell embellishment on her cap.

This and That

2011-11-05T13:51:00.001-04:00

I know I am a bit late for Halloween but I thought I would share my decorated front entrance. We had a cold and raw night for Halloween here in New England and I had to shovel the walkway earlier in the day for the trick or treaters. We had a few hundred despite the cold weather. Tough Yankee kids too...some just wearing sandals and no coats to show off their costumes.

Same photo with Picnik's cool spooky textures which I love!

I didn't have any carved jack-o-lanterns this year (gasp!) because I waited to long too to get my pumpkins and I think the snow storm ruined them all. I had bought these beautiful gourds earlier. The little ones in front are called "Turks Turban". I love the varieties of all the different gourds available.

Again, some cool and creepy textures.

And for something more cheerful and upbeat, here is some WIP. I am making a series of flower dolls inspired in part by Elsa Beskow's wonderful illustrations. I will share more later.

Pretty White Stuff

2011-10-30T11:21:00.000-04:00

Waking up this morning to this beautiful sight. Although I was running around like a maniac yesterday trying to get all the pots inside, hoses rolled up, leaves raked and garage cleaned out (so we could park inside!), I am enjoying the lovely albeit very early wintery wonderland.

I love that pale weak sunshine of winter.

Luna protests that this is a bit early and couldn't we please shovel her a path? She is a bit of a Diva.

And in keeping with white here are some new creations in my favorite color (or non color)...

This wreath is the second I have created using old muslin sheets (hundreds hand-tied) and various old ivory laces and vintage millinery. I am donating this to our local school endowment auction and hoping it fetches a pretty penny.

And a couple of linen and lace pillows for the shop.

Blue Peacock

2011-10-21T16:15:00.000-04:00

Finished work on a new peacock this time in blues and greens. I worked on the face to make him look a bit more realistic and am very pleased with the results.

A little vintage bling for his chest

I love the way his tail looks among the colorful foliage

This was made for a fellow artisan swap. I am getting a lovely quilt. She is getting this peacock and some vintage fabric garlands. Hope she likes him!

Production

2011-10-15T10:23:00.001-04:00

I have been in production of goods for the shop since this is our busy season for leaf peeping tourists. Here are some cute wooly pom pom flowers I made with some wool I had in fallish colors attached to natural sticks from the surrounding woods. I attached little flags of vintage wallpaper for an added touch.

These are some of the "tiny book" cards I sell in the shop. They are printed from original collage artwork that I make. They are unique because I make little pouches of vintage fabric to contain each one and then they are mailed in a regular envelope. I have made them for all sorts of holidays and my customers seem to really like them. They are such fun to create.

These are another fun thing for the shop. These garlands are everywhere these days but people don't seem to tire of them. They make a nice simple gift for a friend or perhaps a graduate?

Thought you might like to see a picture I took the other day of our local artisan shop/gallery where I sell most of my work in Walpole, New Hampshire.

If you are ever in New Hampshire, stop by and get some handmade chocolate across the street at the famous Burdick's and check out our shop! And if there is ever anything I post about here that tickles your fancy and you cannot make it to the shop, please email me. I am happy to sell on-line too.

Peacock Pride

2011-10-10T10:38:00.001-04:00

Here is the latest from my bird phase. I am having fun with the patterns in Abby Glassenberg's The Artful Bird. I have certainly gotten my use from this enormous beautifully embroidered tablecloth. It had a big hole in the center so I didn't feel guilty cutting it up. Can you spot it here?

Some more peacock pictures....

Portrait of a Crow

2011-10-08T15:26:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted. I have had a busy summer and early fall but am back home and getting a bit of studio time. Here is a tiny crow that I appliqued from 100 year old black woolen shawl material. I have always been fascinated by crows for some reason.

We Are Neighbors

2011-08-04T13:25:00.001-04:00

We do not live in a terribly transient neighborhood. People tend to stick around here. So it is unusual that in the past month, I have gotten two new neighbors on either side. I thought I would welcome them with a loaf of my moist Pumpkin Orange Tea Bread wrapped carefully in white paper and topped with a handmade tag. I had this brainstorm for a cool tag when saw my old first grade reader lying about. I just love the graphics in this old book and thought the cover would make an excellent tag. Here is the image for you to use in case you have new neighbors to welcome.

And here is the recipe for a wonderfully moist pumpkin orange tea bread. I love that it make two loaves one for you and one to share..unless you have two neighbors moving in at once!

Incredibly Moist Pumpkin Orange Tea Bread from Loribeth’s Kitchen

Makes 2 loaves

Beat these ingredients in the mixer:

3 eggs 1 15 oz can pumpkin

¾ cup canola oil ½ cup water

1-3/4 cups sugar

1 whole orange processed in the food processor (skin and all) until it is soft pulp

Sift these ingredients together and add to the above mixture:

2-1/2 cups flour 1-1/2 tsp baking soda

1-1/4 tsp salt ¾ tsp nutmeg

¾ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp ground cloves

½ tsp ground ginger

Pour into 2 well greased and floured loaf pans. Bake about 55 minutes at 350 degrees or until toothpick comes clean in center. Cool completely and wrap up in saran. These always taste better after they have aged overnight if you can wait that long. The secret is that ground up orange!

Dolly Hospital

2011-08-02T08:47:00.002-04:00

When I make a doll it is not like anything else I make. I really do feel an attachment to each and every one and have mixed feelings about seeing them fly the nest...just like a mother. It is not often they come back to me. But this poor little lady suffered a traumatic house flood caused by a broken pipe and had the ceiling come in on her as she sat minding her own business.

After a bit of time in dolly hospital she is practically as good as new with a tale to tell. Even though she was only created in 2006, she's already had her first big adventure. Every doll has a tale to tell if it lives long enough. Just like Hitty, one of my all time favorite books.

Getting intensive stain removal

The indignities of being in hospital!

All healed with a new paper tag and looking better with just a few minor blemishes but that merely adds to her patina.

Maggi, if you are reading this your little lady is ready to come home!

Royal Sighting

2011-07-04T13:47:00.000-04:00

Look who we bumped into on the 4th of July!

I have to say it was exciting to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds and they are a cute couple but I was just as excited to see these guys!

Mounties!!! I have always loved the uniform.

Big doings here today on PEI.

Respite

2011-07-02T07:46:00.000-04:00

A little clue to where I am recharging my batteries and healing from some medical issues that have been plaguing me for the past months.

True Love

2011-06-12T14:57:00.001-04:00

They say swans mate for life and I like monogamy in a creature....so romantic in the natural world. I have been on my theme of making birds from the book The Artful Bird and here are my latest creations.

Obviously I couldn't just make one swan. That would defeat the point. So I made a lovely couple using vintage cotton pique and layered their wings with some old ruffled eyelet embroidered curtains that had seen better days. Their beaks are sewn from scraps of wonderful old quilt pieces.

I think in the natural world the male is a little larger but I gave him a smart bow tie so there would be no questions.

And the female got a little swatch of old lace.

Mr. and Mrs. Swan

A Strange Sighting in NH

2011-05-16T12:55:00.001-04:00

This is not something you see everyday in New Hampshire. A pink flamingo (not plastic) in my garden. This is the mystery solved from the last post. I have been working on some birds from Abigail Glassenberg's wonderful book The Artful Bird. I had such fun putting together the pieces of the pattern and seeing this bird come to life. I had envisioned something really cool for this load of hand dyed cheesecloth I picked up at a flea market.

I love the way the looped winged turned out. I hand painted linen to make the body and beak so that I could get just the right variations of pink. A little bit of vintage feedsack fabric was used for the gussets.

Now on to the swans!

Pink

2011-05-08T15:20:00.000-04:00

Something fun I am working on... can you guess?

What did I make today? More Cards

2011-05-04T15:33:00.001-04:00

I've spent a peaceful rainy afternoon making crepe paper flowers tucked into paper vases. This would make a lovely card for almost any occasion. For sale in my etsy shop. Happy Springtime to you!

Playing with Paper

2011-04-26T10:34:00.002-04:00

I have been playing with paper again and have made some unique wedding cards and favors from vintage paper and images from an old french paper doll. I love the little groom with his stiff posture. He looks slightly terrified! I have decided to list these on Etsy instead of putting them here in my local gallery. If you know of anyone getting married these would make a unique keepsake.

Uncle Claude's Chair

2011-04-16T15:52:00.000-04:00

I have had this chair for ages. It belonged to my Auntie Florence and Uncle Bob (who were brother and sister living together as they used to do in those days). Auntie Florence had a "boyfriend" who we called Uncle Claude. He was the whitest palest human I've ever known with deathly pale skin and pure white hair, but he was always very well dressed and groomed. He wore sweater vests and little bow ties. He worked as a haberdasher in a very swanky (for our town) men's clothing shop so I imagine he had a thing for nice clothes. He used to sit in this chair and nod off during most family get togethers. He was always there on the fringe of things. Very nice man but very sleepy as I recall. All of us kids descending on my aunt and uncle's house probably gave him a massive headache. Anyway I inherited the chair and it was due for a make-over.

I have never attempted reupholstery and now I know why. It's a lot harder than it would seem. I was careful to take off the old fake leather and million plus nails and take lots of digital photos lest I forget how it was put together. But I still totally screwed it up and under cut one of my pieces plus I underestimated the yardage so I bit my lip and went back to the fabric store and bought three more yards of the sale fabric which was still $12.99 a yard. This time I found my upholstery guardian angel "Chris" on YouTube. He is an expert and has put together a 13 part video series on redoing a chair very similar to mine. I watched the series multiple times. I feel like Chris and I are old friends and I hope he would be proud of my efforts. I think it came out pretty good considering I don't have Chris' snazzy staple gun (which I am totally saving up for if I ever do a project like this again!) I went old school and used a tack hammer and tacks. Chris was right, those electric staplers do not work. Check it out:

This is a departure from my usual floral choices but the drapes that are coming for the bedroom are floral and I wanted a more tailored complimentary look. This almost looks like menswear (a fitting tribute to Uncle Claude as it turns out) but I like it. I made the pillow last night because it needed a little something soft. I like the contrast between the wool and lace.

Good Swap

2011-04-09T22:34:00.001-04:00

Part of being part of a great local artisan group is the opportunity to swap with some of the other talented artists. I recently made a swap with my dear friend Sharyn who is a potter and avid gardener. Here is what I made for her:

She grows the most gorgeous dahlias and I made her one out of vintage silks and taffetas. She also loves sunflowers and features them on many of her pots so I made one from felted wool.

And here is what I got in return. A beautiful and useful little pitcher with a clever little built in whisk. I use it nearly every day for my scrambled eggs or salad dressing. Thanks Sharyn!

My New Etsy Shop

2011-04-01T11:01:00.000-04:00

Time to clean out and do a reality check about how much fabric and other supplies I really need. I am always overly optimistic about how much I can really do in one lifetime! I will be adding goods each day. There are bargains to be had!

Back in the Studio

2011-03-28T15:28:00.001-04:00

It's so nice to be done with my project (very nearly) and have time to get back in the studio for some sewing projects. I made this tea cosy from cute vintage kitchen fabric for a dear friend's birthday. She loves vintage as much as I do and is a real tea lover so I thought this would be appreciated.

And then because our bedroom is nicely painted and all spiffed up I thought I would make a new dog bed cover for one of the shabby dog beds. This is old Waverly fabric that I've had for at least 25 years and I still like it. It was called "rosemary". BTW, notice those lovely refinished floors!

I am getting interested in improving my slipcover making skills. I have made several slipcovers in the past but they never felt up to my usual standards of quality. I recently purchased a most excellent video on slipcover making from Slipcovers by Shelley. This is so helpful to watch and she makes it look SOOO easy which I know it is not! Her work is really first rate. Be careful because after watching her work, you are going to want to run right out and get an industrial sewing machine. Oh the way she zings right along on that thing! I think some slipcovers are in my future and a good way to use up some of that fabric.

Back to the dog bed...looks like someone approves.

Showing Off the Master Bath

2011-03-25T22:12:00.001-04:00

Come up the stairs and have a peek at the new Master Bath...

You may remember seeing it like this the last time.

What do you think? Big improvement I would say.

We switched the tub to the other end of this narrow space and put the sink and vanity in its place. I like having all the natural light in the morning!

This sink vanity was definitely the big splurge of the project but also makes the bathroom quite beautiful and functional with all that storage space.

A great improvement over the old sink!

This little bench has great sentiment for my mom. It was her mother's and she remembers sitting on it with her while she got ready to go out. My mom's mother died when I was very young so I don't really remember her. It am happy to have this little seat and I love the new bright cushion that I made for it. It just fits perfectly in this spot.

My new bath and shower. It is so exciting to actually have a bathtub again. We have only has shower facilities for the past ten years. Time to stock up on bubble bath and all sorts of other nice bath time amenities.

Hope you enjoyed the tour.

Details:

Wall Paint: Ben Moore "Winter White"

Ceiling : Ben Moore "Silver Cloud"

Trim & Beadboard: Ben Moore Super White

Marble Subway Tile and Marble Mosaic Floor Tile: Home Depot

Bathtub and Toilet Fixtures: American Standard

Tub/Shower Plumbing Fixtures: Delta

Tub Grab Bars: Home Depot

Glass Shower Screen: Ark Showers

Sink and Vanity: Pottery Barn

Medicine Cabinet/Mirror: Pottery Barn

Sink Faucet: Symmons

Sconce Lights and Hooks: Pottery Barn

Overhead Hanging Light: Rejuvenation Lighting with Vintage Globe

Curtain: Vintage

Upholstery Fabric on Cushion: Premier Prints

The Big Reveal..Dressing Room

2011-03-22T10:18:00.003-04:00

Just to refresh your memory...this was the room before.

New closet built along the wall using four old doors that were found around the house. We put them on two sliding tracks.

Old closet was removed when we took down this wall to make room for the larger master bathroom which I will show later.

I use this glass door cupboard to store my non hanging clothing and other accessories. I like being able to see what I have at a glance.

Large mirror with a lot of natural light... a little too much to be honest. I haven't seen myself this big in natural light in a while and I must confess it's a little scary!

A peek into the insides of the closets. I am so organized now that I can hardly stand it. It is a joy to put away clothes!

I realize that when you see closets in most magazines that they don't usually have someone's "real" wardrobe hanging there. It is always carefully edited and color coordinated. And I wasn't about to toss all of my perfectly good hangars to get ones that are all matching as those closet organizers say you should. Let's get real...this is perfectly acceptable to me even with non-matching hangars!

These drawers are particularly useful because they make use of every inch of space available.

Some details from inside my cupboard.

My ribbon lady collection hanging on the wall. I love these ladies. I only have these five as they are quite hard to find these days.

Hope you enjoyed my make-over. It is so nice to have it finally finished and thank you for all the kind comments. I will show the bathroom and master bedroom/ hallways soon as I can. I am still putting on the finishing details- the fun part!

Wall paint: Behr "River Rock" satin

Closet Door: Behr "Sterling" semi-gloss

Trim: Ben Moore "Super White" semi-gloss

Mirror: Ikea

Closet interiors: Ikea

Glass Door Cupboard: Ikea

Light Fixture: Home Depot (online)

Drapes: Vintage

Drapery Hardware: Canopy from Wal-mart

Doll Town

2011-03-12T22:28:00.000-05:00

Check out this new online marketplace for some wonderful handmade dolls!

You can find my dolls for purchase right here.

A Little Spring Crafty Day

2011-03-08T14:04:00.000-05:00

I actually cleaned up part of my studio today and so was inspired by the sunshine (even though it's still COLD!) to do a little spring crafting. I was inspired by some cardboard packaging that came with some new drapery rods I just purchased. They seemed just too good to throw away- these little corrugated squares.

If you don't have these and I don't imagine many of you save these sorts of things, look for some inspiration at your local recycling center. The next time you take apart packaging, think of what you can do to reuse these little gems. Some of the other materials I used were:

Cheap plastic easter eggs...very available this time of year.

Tear some old book pages into very tiny pieces. They must be tiny so that they can fit around the curves of the egg. Use white glue and completely cover your egg with book pieces. To further embellish, wrap strips of cheese cloth, lace, and torn strips of onasburg cotton.

Cut the centers out of fancy cupcake liners and/or paper lace doilies. Ruffle up with your fingers and use hot glue to adhere this edging to the top of your cardboard base. This will create a little "nest" for your egg to rest. You might want to add a little shredded paper or excelsior for further cushion.

Arrange torn strips of cheesecloth and lace around the base of your egg and fix with hot glue. Embellish with sweet flowers, buttons or other pretty bits. Find some spring words in a book and glue to your egg for the final touch. Enjoy your sweet handmade Eastery spring creation!

Oh yes, It's coming!

Almost There

2011-03-07T21:59:00.000-05:00

The painting is done! The floor sanders are here this morning and hopefully we will be moved into our new master suite by next week. Here is a peek into the newly painted rooms. The wallpaper just a distant memory. The new bath came out lovely and I will show all the details during the big reveal just like on HGTV.

Dressing Room

New master closet which was the most exciting part of this project because if you own an old house you know what the closets usually look like. We used old doors that were hanging around the attic from previous renovations and had them hung on a track. I will show the fabulous insides next time.

I had shelves built in this narrow old closet because I find them more useful than poles for hanging clothes.

I used this time waiting for the floor folks to hang drapery hardware. I wish I didn't have to have any curtains at all..not a big fan, but our house is right on the town square so it's a bit of a fishbowl.

New Linen Closet.

Next time I hope to share the mostly finished rooms in all their glory.

Light at the end of the Tunnel

2011-02-15T20:04:00.000-05:00

I am getting closer to finishing up my project. All of the lighting is now installed. I took a lot of time finding just the right light for each room. This deco style globe was found years ago by my Mom at a yard sale and I have displayed it on a shelf for ages. It fits perfectly in the new bathroom.

This is the dressing room light. I wanted something kind of glamourous and was thinking of a chandelier but I like the idea of a shaded fixture. It really isn't quite as shimmery as the picture suggests.

This was my great find on ebay. It is an antique acorn style light and is rather large and ornate. The hand painted globe is so beautiful when lit. The picture doesn't do it justice. There was no canopy for it so I took a new one and aged it to match the other parts of the fixture. Love it!

Here is another yard sale globe that has stood on a pedestal cake stand for years. I think I will miss it in my dining room but am glad to be able to use it as purposed. As you can see, I am still playing with plaster and paint downstairs but there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Tin Cup Valentines

2011-02-09T20:00:00.000-05:00

Took a little time out from construction to do a little Valentine crafting. I found these sweet little enameled tin cups from Sweden at a thrift store recently and thought these little hearts made from vintage linen and wool would look just right tucked inside.

Some Valentine cards made from recycled wallpaper torn off my walls during this part of my project!

And this is how persistent my little construction buddy is. He keeps getting kicked out since I am picking stray dog hair from wet paint but he will not be denied. He crawled up the stairs and camped out under the scaffold like a troll under the bridge.

I don't know how he can be comfortable sleeping on one narrow stair but he will do anything just to be near me.

Such devotion only comes from a dog!

The Final Frontier

2011-01-28T15:34:00.003-05:00

I am happy to say that I am on my last job of wallpaper removal for this home. This is our south hallway. The house was originally a two family home so we have two completely separate hallways and staircases. It's nice to have two sets of stairs but also a large waste of space too. Luckily the plaster and ceiling is in very good shape on this side of the house which is the "newer" side.When I removed the paper here I uncovered an old doorway which leads to the older side of the house. I am not sure how the rooms were configured long ago or even when the newer side was built. They plugged up the doorway with my favorite "beaver board". I am glad I only have that small section to deal with.
Here is my working platform to reach the walls above the stairwell. I try not to imagine catastrophe as I cling to dear life against the wall while I am working and remember not to step back or look down! I will finish this section quickly so that I can be on firmer ground once more.

My Assistant

2011-01-26T16:17:00.002-05:00

Continuing to make progress with my painting and no matter how many times I kick him out Flynn seems to find a way to sneak back into my work space. I will probably be picking hairs out of wet paint but I don't have the heart to make him move. Who can argue with such devotion?

Finally settled on a color called "clay beige" from Behr. I always seem to gravitate to the neutrals no matter how much I try for color. I really am more of a textile person and prefer to get my color and texture through my choices there. By the way, I love that Behr paint! I think I am a convert from my old friend Benjamin Moore. It spreads so nicely and seems to cover better too. Sorry Ben.

Never Paint your Radiators in January

2011-01-22T11:58:00.003-05:00

My old house is blessed with steam heat and old cast iron radiators. This is a lovely (but unfortunately more expensive) way to heat. We love the occasional clanking of the pipes and the comforting hissing sound that makes you feel all warm and cozy. Although our heating bill does not make us feel warm and cosy at all!

I am happy to say I am down to my last radiator to paint! They are a challenge in the nicest of weather. The small ones can be dragged outside and cleaned and painted in the fresh air but the large ones are so ungodly heavy that you really have to do them inside unless you are willing to pay some very beefy helpers to do the lugging.

Painting in January is crazy. I have to warm up the cold cast iron radiators and room with a space heater then spray paint them whilst enduring the fumes. Even a mask doesn't help much. Then open all the windows and turn on the fan. This exercise is repeated several times until all surfaces are coated. I'm sure my neighbors think I've flipped my lid seeing our new energy efficient windows wide open in single digit weather when heating oil is over $3.00 per gallon.

The look pretty nice all painted. It will be great to have them hooked back up when the floors are finished and get heat back in the room again. Of course it may be Spring by then..ha!

Peeling Back the Layers

2011-01-20T21:05:00.005-05:00

I have been a time traveler in my own house this week. I started out by finding this forties or maybe fifties rose print which had sadly been painted over with a bubblegum pink paint. I am thinking very evil thoughts about past residents who paint over wallpaper. They create a hellish task for future house renovators! On top of that there is this sweet ticking and floral stripe that looks early 1960's to me.

Then I found a groovy seventies floral print.

This wonderful old print was in the spare room which will become the dressing room. I wish it was intact because I might have kept this one.

This eighties mauve and colonial blue border print was the most recent and the last (top) layer.

Here you can see how I had to chip away inch by inch through all the layers which required multiple soakings. The lovely pink paint splintered into millions of tiny chips which I had to wash down off the walls. I still need to sand to get rid of them all before the walls are ready to paint.

Three days and a bottle of Advil later. Voila! Beautiful plaster walls which look pretty good as is to me but I don't think my husband would appreciate this look. He doesn't get that shabby thing that I like.

As a side note, look at these vicious looking icicles we have hanging off of our roof right now. I feel like I am living in an ice palace.

More to come later....

A Peek at my Project

2011-01-18T19:07:00.005-05:00

We have an old house that was built in 1849. This is just one example of the bad renovations this poor old house has suffered. We are down to our last few rooms and our last major bathroom renovation, thank goodness! Here is a shot of me trying to get a good vantage point in this tiny bathroom by standing in the non-functioning tub. How do you like the eighties wallpaper and faux woodgrain vanity with the big balls for lighting. They have seen their day.

These two rooms were serving as my husband's office and my storage (or junk collecting) rooms. They will become a lovely master bedroom and dressing room/closet with an adjoining new bathroom.

Cleaning out is sometimes the hardest part of getting started on a project like this. Thank goodness for our local rummage sale. They got some large bags of donations this year!

Construction began the first week after Thanksgiving.

Wall has been torn out between new dressing room and old bathroom to make the bathroom larger. It will be long and narrow (5 x 13 ft) but still the biggest bathroom in the house.

Those old cast iron pipes will get replaced with new plumbing all the way down to the basement. Everytime we tear a room apart we are faced with this reality. Also notice the lack of insulation... at least our bathroom will be nicely insulated and we got replacement windows for the rest of the house so we are slowly closing some of the heating gaps.

Tearing out is the fast part. I will post some more later about the rebuilding part of the project!

2010 Creatively

2011-01-16T19:17:00.003-05:00

I created a little mosaic of some of my 2010 projects. It does make me feel a bit more productive to see a sampling of them gathered together.

Still working on home renovations and not getting much studio or blog time lately. I will post pictures of the project but I've been so busy working! It is coming out great but I am going to bed each night with sore wrists and arms from all the painting and sanding.

What did I make today? J&J Puppet Theater

2010-12-31T20:01:00.002-05:00

Just a quick little post in between painting and caulking. I made this cute little puppet theater set for my niece's two little boys (Justin and Josh) after buying this little irresistible package of finger puppets at Ikea. This was so much fun because I used to make things like this all the time for my two kids who now only want video games and ipods.

I just love all the little characters in this collection, especially the little scuba diver and the chef.

Happy 2011! I will post pictures of my renovation project very soon. Lots of "before" pictures but not enough "afters" right now.

Construction Break

2010-12-14T22:09:00.002-05:00

I will be taking a break for a while so I can work on a big home improvement project. I will post photos when I can.....

I've got my work cut out for me. Happy Holidays to you all!

Turning the Tables

2010-11-30T21:11:00.003-05:00

It's deer hunting season in New Hampshire and although I am not a vegetarian by any means, I love to pull out this old postcard. It always gives me a laugh to imagine the deer in the driver's seat!

Inspiration

2010-11-15T09:11:00.004-05:00

Have you seen this wonderful e-zine from Amy Powers at Inspire Co? It is packed full of great ideas for the holidays and is totally free! I like that. Here is my version of Charlotte Lyons' beautiful wreath which going nicely with my white theme for Christmas. This is a great way to use up those bits of lace, wool, paper and twigs that are lying around your studio.

Out of Practice

2010-11-14T10:04:00.003-05:00

It's been awhile since I've made any kind of a garment for myself and I am really out of practice! I made this seemingly easy little swim cover-up recently and it was amazing how many mistakes I made and had to correct on this thing. Here is a little detail I added to try and give it some personality.

Just a little linen caftan-y thing with funny sleeves. I sewed in one section backwards and had to take the whole top apart and start over. Guess I better start sewing something other than doll clothes to keep up my skills. In the end, it turned out okay but good thing I had extra fabric!

Guess Who's Coming to Town?

2010-11-01T14:01:00.003-04:00

It's getting to be that time of year. I finally made a couple of Santa dolls that please me. I actually used a Brenda Gervais pattern as a starting point and then added my own touches. These were fun and much more my style than others I have tried in the past which turned out too weird or primitive looking. I think it's all the facial hair that threw me off but I was able to get this wonderful wool locally from Maple Frost Farm in Langdon, NH. It is from Leicester Longwool sheep and nicely curly.

This is Santa with the Green Velvet Coat

And this is Santa with the White Woolen Coat which I embroidered with a light green chain stitch. I found the most perfect woolen blanket at a thrift sale this year. It is just the perfect shade of white and the perfect thickness and texture. I almost couldn't bear to cut it up but then that is why I got it!

Details....

Little Princesses and Fabric Reincarnation

2010-10-25T19:49:00.010-04:00

The taffeta, lace and jeweled trim have been flying around my studio this week as I just finished up two princess dolls for a special order. I was asked to make them extra fancy with plenty of "bling". These are a definite departure from my usual style of doll making as I now almost exclusively use vintage fabrics. However, it sure was fun to go digging around in my old costume fabrics. It brought back some memories of Halloweens past.

Recognize this pink sparkly number? It helped to dress the most glamorous movie star in the neighborhood quite a few years ago.

And the gold trim I used for this little swashbuckler sure came in handy too! The purple sparkle dot taffeta was left over from a wizard cape but I couldn't find a photo for that. It really reminds me how grown up my kids are now. I do miss doing it up big for Halloween.

So it was so much fun to create these little princesses and it proves once again.... hang on to that fabric! You never know when you will need taffeta and gold braid.

What did I make today? Autumn Vignettes

2010-10-20T20:09:00.002-04:00

Pumpkin Moonshine

Autumn Joy

Mariposa

2010-10-16T11:31:00.004-04:00

Introducing my latest doll which was a special order: Mariposa, a ladye of quality. She is a painted cloth doll with a beautiful vintage silk and organza gown.

Mariposa is spanish for "butterfly" so this was the perfect hair fascinator. I made it from an old jewelry finding and painted crepe paper.

Sometimes they turn out a little pigeon-toed!

Overskirt detail

My new business cards!

2010-10-13T13:35:00.003-04:00

Remember that old Steve Martin movie where he runs around yelling "the new phone books are here!" ? Well, I was excited to get my new business cards today although I didn't run around waving them. I designed them using a scanned image of vintage fabric that came from an old worn apron. There is something lovely and faded about this old print and it scanned in nicely. I then layered the text right over...easy.

The best part is I found just the right little holder in an antiques store today for 2 bucks. It is old and the bottom says it was "made in Germany". I love it when I find just the right thing.

Spooky Mirror Before and After

2010-10-07T20:14:00.004-04:00

Here is a little mirror that I got at the Saxton's River Auction for $5.00. It was in pretty bad shape but look at that crazy spidery crazing. It is real and NOT a faux finish. I had a vision.

A bit of sanding with a medium grit sandpaper.

Some repair work was needed to glue down some veneer that had lifted.

One of the block pedestals was missing a chunk so I removed them both and glued these dowel caps on for new feet. These can be found in the wood craft section at Micheals.

I used Rustoleum satin black spray paint. A few thin coats was sufficient.

Next I sanded away some of the edges to give it a lightly distressed look.

I also added a coat of Bri-Wax to smooth out the finish and replaced the mirror back in the frame.

To finish off the back, I covered it with some vintage wallpaper.

Voila! Spooky mirror all set up on the mantle ready for Halloween. I'm way ahead of the game this year. Last year I think I was rushing around decorating the house on the 31st.

Prims

2010-10-05T18:37:00.003-04:00

I am very excited to announce that my dolly Charlotte and her Velvet Shoes was recently featured in the new issue of Prims.

I have to be honest and say that somehow the shoes were lost and were not returned with the doll. I am still hoping they will turn up but at least I have some good photos to remember them by! Looks like when I have the time, Charlotte will have to be fitted for some new shoes. Can't have her barefoot with her new found fame :)

White on White

2010-10-04T10:57:00.004-04:00

My daughter likes to kid me that I can't move beyond white when choosing colors. I have to admit I love all shades of white and usually revert to them without even thinking about it. I was thrilled when I saw this wonderful wreath on this lovely blog and knew I had to try making my own. It is very labor intensive tearing all those sheets and tying endlessly but the results are so worth it. I just love the way this turned out and will use it for all seasons!

I had this old millinery flower which I have been saving for something special.

More Mouse Gathering

2010-10-02T09:04:00.003-04:00

This is Sylvester. He likes to sleep.

And meet Ramona. She always thought quite highly of herself.

I am having way too much fun making these little guys. When I am finished, their personalities just shine through!

Auction/Thrift Booty

2010-09-28T17:28:00.003-04:00

Just a few of the goodies I found at the mother of all thrift sales this past week. I love this purse but it does look kind of grandmother-ish. It was just in such beautiful condition and the inside is a lovely green moire taffeta with a matching change purse! Couldn't resist.

These hankies were picked up at an auction... a whole big box of them for $7.50. I think I will make some garlands from some of them since I have accumulated quite a stash. I just love the way they look blowing in the breeze. Washing and ironing them is the best part for me. After soaking in oxyclean overnight they brightened right up.

This heavily beaded peasant blouse was in the costume section for $3.00! It is so heavy and in perfect condition except for one little spot on the back (another job for oxyclean). I think if I shed a few more pounds, I can fit into it. It would be lovely with a brown woolen skirt for the holidays.

I was on an adrenaline high after finding these goodies but my husband said it was like a cat dragging home a mouse to the doorstep: the cat is very proud but the owner not so pleased. Really though, where can you have this much fun for so little money...I ask you.

Miss Mouse

2010-09-20T15:09:00.003-04:00

When you really love something, which is in my case old fabrics, it is amazing how that very thing comes to you from sources you barely know or could even imagine. Such was the case of meeting a lovely lady who makes soap in her very own kitchen. Wonderful handmade soap that smells heavenly. This is Judy Lidie of Grace and Miss Mouse Soaps. Admiring and smelling her soaps at a craft show, we somehow began discussing old fabrics and she casually said that she had some old stuff and could I use any? I am not one to pass up old fabrics so of course I said YES!

Here is some of the sweet bounty that came my way. Each one is delicious and lovely and just right amount of faded and sweet (as a side note, they all smelled so good no doubt the result of being around all that marvelous soap!). The patterns are endless and there are so many quilt pieces lovingly hand sewn together with tiny perfect stitches that sadly never made their way into an actual quilt.

I am always honored when someone thinks enough of me that they would pass these treasures along. I will do my best to find special projects for these wonderful pieces.

As a small thank you, I thought that Judy could use a real Miss Mouse to accompany her to all her craft shows. This little lady was made from some old boucle wool and some of Judy's own fabrics and trims.

And then, being that I am getting into a little Harvest/Halloween mood, I made a little Harvest Moon Miss Mouse too.

Happy Autumn!

The Tale of a Table, a Yard Sale and a Funny Story about Moving Furniture

2010-09-08T12:22:00.007-04:00

We are in the midst of a big re-arrange around here. Maybe it's the change of seasons but I think I have moved every piece of furniture in my house in the last several weeks. We have a nice "formal" dining room. Problem is no one but me wants to hike the seven extra steps to eat in there. The kids don't like the room... says it gives them bad vibes. This house was built in 1849 and there was a doctor's office in there at one time so who knows? Anyway, I am tired of eating at the kitchen island on hard stools. Plus we have a long rectangular farmer's table which is beautiful but we don't use most of it so I got it into my head that I wanted a round pedestal table with leaves so that you are using just the amount of table you need but can make it bigger on demand. I began to lust for this table. I thought about it all the time but oh... the price. A bit hard to swallow and since we have a perfectly good table it did seem an unnecessary extravagance.

So, I decided to participate in a yard sale with a friend. I hadn't done a clean-out in a while and there are certainly lots of things cluttering up the garage that we no longer use and projects that I will never get to (very difficult to admit that to myself...thus the hoarding). Well, it was a resounding success! I made over $400 but still not enough for my dream table. Someone suggested Craig's List. I had never looked before and was amazed by the amount of stuff available for reasonable prices! I found a great table..oak, pedestal, cheap price. I couldn't get down to see it right away and alas it was sold right out from under my nose. I was despondent for a few days but all the more determined to find a table. I was on a mission.

My husband suggested I look at a couple of antique shops around here and voila! Right across the river in Vermont I found it. Just the table for my spot. It even had leaves and was right in my price range. I loaded it up and took it home, excited that we would be able to have dinner on it that very evening!

My plan was to move the sofa and chairs from the sitting room adjacent to the kitchen into the old dining room and make this sitting area our new dining area. Well, it turns out this old house has very narrow doorways. There was no way that sofa was going into that dining room. In fact, there was no way that sofa was going anywhere without a major upheaval, including disconnecting some plumbing! The way we got it in is still a mystery but I think our new refrigerator sticks out more than the old one and the sofa was literally trapped. It was either get out the chainsaw or learn to deal with it.

Once again, I was despondent. Here I had my table...what to do? I pulled the sofa out from the wall and pulled the table up to it to think. My husband said, "Hey I kind of like the way that looks. Kind of like a coffee house". Well, he is a good salesman because it grew on me and I think I like it better all the time! Of course you have to sit on a pillow when you are on the sofa because it's a little low down but it works. And we didn't have to use a chainsaw..thankfully.

My daughter and I ran around the house playing HGTV and "staging" it with stuff we had. That was so much fun.

And then of course to celebrate we made a nice dessert to go with the corn chowder I made for dinner. This is a fruit kuchen and was made for me by a wonderful lady named Edith when I visited her home in Switzerland many years ago. I usually make it with apricot halves but you can use any fresh moist fruit. It is wonderful. Enjoy the recipe below.

Swiss Kuchen with Fruit

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp lemon extract

1 7/8 cups flour*

2 tsp baking powder

dash of salt

3 Tbsp heavy cream

Fresh fruit such as apricot halves, raspberries, strawberries, peach slices....

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter and flour an 8-inch spring form pan.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy; add eggs and beat well. Add lemon extract. Mix dry ingredients and add slowly to the creamy mixture while beating. Add cream and beat batter until smooth. Batter will be stiff but have no fear because the moisture from the fruit will seep in and you will end up with a nice moist cake!

Spread batter in the spring form pan and arrange fruit (artfully of course) on top. Keep in mind that you want each slice to contain fruit. Bake 35-40 minutes until done but not overdone.

This is just the right size for afternoon tea with the ladies. It is best eaten that day or the day after but usually gets gobbled right up around here. Serve it on a pretty cake plate with a doily and sprinkle with powdered sugar. If you really want to go crazy, you could whip some cream.

* (I know this is weird but this was translated from the Swiss recipe which was in grams. I just measure 2 cups of flour and then take 1/8 cup away)

In the Pink

2010-09-03T20:45:00.011-04:00

I haven't blogged in a whole month. I have been challenged this month with medical issues and blogging has not been on my mind. But I am feeling well now. As a matter of fact, I am "in the pink". I must be because I have been drawn to pink these days.

A little of this...

Sprayed on a cool little thrift store find

Yields a very pink tiered table that will be a handy of display for all sorts of goodies. I picture cupcakes or flower brooches.

Here is my find of the year! I found this pristine wool coat in a vintage shop in Northampton. It is the most luscious shade of peachy pink. I wore it a couple of times last spring but can't wait to break it out when the weather turns colder.

Doesn't it remind you of Marlo Thomas in "That Girl"? I need to find my white gloves.

Lovely back detail. The lining was so crisp that I don't think it was ever really worn. It was probably saved just for Easter. And it was only $15.00!

A recent purchase from Kohl's at 70% off... I love the colors. It reminds me of Peter Max who was a favorite of mine when I was a teen.

Hope you are feeling in the pink.

Cube Decoration

2010-08-01T09:04:00.005-04:00

What is it? A toaster cover? No...

Well, I have this really cute car on the outside.

And now it is cuter on the inside too. Who says car interiors have to be boring? It's bad enough there are no beautiful colors being made in the new cars. Where are the pinks, salmons and sea foam greens of the fifties and early sixties? I really think the car manufacturers are missing the mark. At least we can do something to perk up the inside a little.

You have to love anything with pom-poms.

More Stones

2010-07-21T11:01:00.002-04:00

Look they're multiplying. I found some finer pearl cotton in a seafoam green color that I used to make these two. I like the finer thread much better and these make more sense in a grouping. Having fun with these.

Island Projects

2010-07-20T08:13:00.002-04:00

I have been dying to make these ever since I saw them on the very inspiring blog Resurrection Fern. When I saw this tutorial, I couldn't resist. One of things I wanted to do over vacation was teach myself to crochet. I vaguely remember being able to make granny squares in high school but have not crocheted since. It is supposed to be easier than knitting which I can do but I have to tell you, it was frustrating at first but I am slowly getting the hang of it. These turned out pretty good. The round one especially. The oval one I sort of made up the pattern to go with the shape of the stones so that is why it is a little wonky. It's true what they say in the tutorial: You can't make just one! When my husband saw these he just asked "why?".... sometimes he doesn't get it but he loves me anyway.

I thought I would share my find. This little bench made of recycled chairs and wood was just perfect for my clothesline. Now I really do have a little haven out there!

Off to gather more stones!

Sea Shells by the Sea Shore

2010-07-17T08:46:00.006-04:00

My parents are spending some time with us at our cottage on PEI. My mother and daughter spent some precious time together making these lovelies. I have dibs on this one! First these sea shell necklaces (rummage and tag sale finds) were taken apart which was a tedious process. I was only a spectator but it looked tedious.

And then the sorting began. Both my mom and daughter really get into this. They LOVE the sorting process. It was fun to see all the tiny different shells and imagine that they each once held a tiny little creature. Amazing.

Time out for one of these. Must have sustenance for this kind of work.

The assembly process: Very delicate work involving tweezers and super glue. (Then there was a google search on how to remove super glue from table tops and fingers!)

Another break for some of these which are in season right now.

And voila! The beautiful finished pieces. As I said, I have dibs on the this one.

But I love the simplicity of this one that my daughter made too....so hard to choose!

The Pleasures of Tea and Clotheslines

2010-07-04T10:36:00.006-04:00

Oh how I wish I liked tea. I have tried very hard to like it but I just don't care for it and it does not make sense to force myself to like something when I already like and obsess about so many other things to eat and drink. But my family likes tea. A lot. My daughter especially and when we come to Prince Edward Island we always make a couple of trips to the PEI Preserve Company in New Glasgow where we have a sumptuous lunch (try their Island Potato Pie and Raspberry Cream Cheese Pie!) and sample tea. This year it was Victoria Garden: a blend of lavender, rose petals and vanilla. Doesn't that just sound wonderful? I tried it again but I could still taste the bitterness of the tea although it was tempered by that wonderful vanilla-y aroma. My daughter loved it though. This year my husband suggested we get her a special teapot that we can keep right here at the cottage and this one seemed to fit the bill. Isn't it cute with it's own cup and saucer built right in? That's what I love about tea. All the accoutrement! The teapots, tea cups, saucers, tea cozies, teaspoons and linens. Not to mention the wonderful baked goodies that accompany a proper tea time. I like the idea of tea. So I sit and take it all in but drink my water instead.

My daughter recommends "Cavendish Sunset" which is a lovely fruity tea.

The "Prince Albert" strainer with a little cup to set it in so it doesn't drip. Love that.

Okay...here is something I really love. I know that I am slightly obsessed with my clothesline but I thought I would share with you this vintage clothespin bag that my mom found at a yard sale. It is well made from decorator cotton and galvanized hardware with a swivel hook. It works great because it holds a ton of clothespins, is easy to get your hand into and out of and slides nicely along the line so no stooping! I am going to try and make one of my own for back home I like it so much.

Foggy Morning Walk

2010-06-29T16:45:00.006-04:00

I thought I would share my morning walk here on PEI. I hit the red dirt road early. It looked to be a foggy misty day. This is why we drive 12 hours to spend our time here! Nobody on the beach but me. Such solitude and quiet....well it is just priceless to me.

We get to enjoy lupin twice (also native strawberries). Once in New Hampshire and again in PEI. They grow with abandon by the sides of the road.

Here is Darnley Lighthouse in the fog with neat rows of potatoes planted in the field adjacent.

Last night we saw a big fox with a beautiful bushy tail coming back from the hunt. He was successful because he was carrying what looked like an unlucky mouse in his mouth. There are lots of fox here on the island and they all look quite well fed- not straggly at all. They are just like the ones in the Beatrix Potter stories. I am carrying my camera with me more often in the hopes of getting a photo op.

Journal for Olde Lovely

2010-06-28T16:09:00.004-04:00

We made it to PEI and this is one of the projects I made before we left to bestow upon one of the friendliest islanders I have met. Cyndy who owns the little shop "Olde Lovely" here on Prince Edward Island was so kind last year to give me a bag of old linens and lace.
I thought she would appreciate a handmade journal made with old linens and lace. If you are visiting the island, check out her beautiful shop set in the Burlington countryside with a beautiful salt marsh view.

Hope she likes it!

Sneak Peak

2010-06-24T20:42:00.005-04:00

I am excited to announce that I am collaborating with two amazing artists to teach this very unique workshop. Here is a sneak peak....more details to come soon!

Coming Soon...Puzzle Portraits Weekend: Three artists + three media + three days = nine interlocking parts that form three complete and unique assemblages with their own hanging display. A unique, 3-day workshop of Felt, Fabric and Found Objects in scenic New Hampshire. September 24, 25, & 26...the onset of leaf peeping season ...join instructors Janette Schuster (found objects), Nicole Chazaud Telaar (felt), and Loribeth Robare (fabric and polymer clay). Stay tuned to our blogs and websites for more details. Reserve your spot today! Call or e-mail Nicole at (603) 835-2247 or nicole@festivefibers.com

What did I make today? Little pocket note cards

2010-06-16T21:53:00.002-04:00

Here are some little pocket note cards made with old and new paper and vintage ephemera.

A fun way to send a little note to someone special!

A Snippet of Sun

2010-06-14T20:02:00.004-04:00

There was just a snippet of sun today but enough to get these beauties out on the line. I went to an auction this weekend. I haven't been to an auction in many many years and oohh... they are fun! Here are a few of my spoils....

What did I make today? More shoes!

2010-06-03T09:04:00.004-04:00

What can I say? These little paper shoes are extremely addictive. I've got paper scraps and glitter from one end of my studio to the other. Here is a little trio of wedding shoes.

I made the pom pom with those cool shredding scissors.

I call these Mermaid Shoes for when a mermaid needs to walk on land.

Sunshine Shoes

Polka dots and Butterflies

Little Mini Makeover

2010-05-25T15:33:00.004-04:00

I don't know if I am going through a phase but suddenly I can't stand to look at some of things hanging on my walls, especially the living room. My least favorite room in the house because of its awkward shape, impossible lay-out and plethora of doors leading nowhere. Not to mention the huge brick hearth left over from a giant wood stove we removed but didn't have the good sense to remove the hearth as well. It provides all of us with plenty of toe stubbing opportunities and excuses to use an "expanded" vocabulary.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I just took every dusty picture down and stacked them against the wall. Better to look at nothing I thought. But last night I had a notion to hang up a garland of vintage wool pennants that I have been saving for years. The kids nixed that and said it looked like a dorm room and why didn't I start a collection of beer cans while I was at it. I have to agree that it didn't turn out the way I had envisioned.

So I looked around and what do I have the most of? Actually stacks of? Vintage fabric...oh yes. Out came my trusty staple gun and some blank art store canvas (I ran up to Job Lots to pick up two more right before they closed because once I get started on an idea I need to do it right then!).

Easy as pie to create new "art" and a splash of color. The hardest part of this project was clearing off a space in my studio to lay it out!

The room doesn't look half bad in this shot. You can't tell that you have to pass through it to get to all other rooms in the house.

The rug was given to me by a friend who had it in her barn ready for the discard pile. It is awkwardly positioned because one section of sofa kept moving and bunching up the whole thing. I think it happens at night when my daughter is wrestling with the dogs. I am hoping it will stay put now.

Not bad for one evening and I love the challenge of using what I have. I kind of like this room again.

Little Japanese Treasures

2010-05-23T13:12:00.003-04:00

Take a look at these cuties. I got them from Yozo Craft which is a on-line store with the most darling little items. Not sure what I will do with these just yet. Maybe they will make their way into one of my journals. For now, I am enjoying their quiet little parade.

I couldn't resist this little notepad. I have an idea for some fairy tale boxes and Red Riding Hood will definitely make an appearance.

And these little rubber stamps look like my Maminka dolls. I love them! Oh, the internet is a wonderous and addictive place. Even when you think you are at home minding your own business, these little temptations cross your screen of vision and voila.... the next thing you know the postman has a package and your paypal account is a little thinner.

Have a happy day.

Mother and Me Class

2010-05-16T10:52:00.003-04:00

I am teaching a Mother and Me Class along with Racheal Scott at the Walpole Artisans Cooperative on Sunday May 23rd. We will be making this sweet little felted mother bird and her basket of eggs. There will only be a charge for materials ($10 per couple) so call and register and then come on in for a fine afternoon of arts and crafts.

Shoe Fetish

2010-05-14T16:24:00.003-04:00

I stumbled across this tutorial on a lovely blog called Artful Affirmations. So I had to make some of course. These are so much fun and quite addictive- like real shoes!

I think this would make a lovely addition to a wedding or shower gift!

Get out the glitter, paper and lace and go make some pretty shoes of your own!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T09:07:00.002-04:00

I thought I would share one of my favorite photos of my mother taken when she was just a young women in the fifties. Even though she doesn't read my blog (no computer)...Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Days of Wine and Mothers

2010-05-06T14:59:00.003-04:00

Here are some lovely Sunny Lavender pillows that I created for the gallery for Mother's Day. My whole studio smells soooo good! I love lavender. It really does soothe. The fabric is a very special vintage natural linen with embroidered daisies. I have avoided cutting into it but life is short. I can't take it with me.

Our local artisan group, The Walpole Artisans, is having a fundraiser called "Wine, Women and Song". It consists of wine tasting, education, appetizers and live entertainment. We needed to create centerpieces for some of the tables and here are my offerings: Wine Lover's Journals
I stamped some fabric and used vintage linen and lace to sew the cover. The inside is filled with wonderful Crane stock in two signatures and hand bound with a simple pamphlet stitch. The whole thing ties together with a wine cork and seam binding. Not being much of a wine drinker, I was quite proud to come up with something. Apparently there are people out there who record their wine tastings. It makes sense if you love wine. Perhaps I should be keeping a cookie journal!

Rummage Sale Treasures

2010-04-27T12:14:00.008-04:00

Our semi-annual church rummage sale was this past weekend and it did not disappoint. I found a vintage suitcase with a lovely linen lining that was in very good shape.

Some nice old linens..can't resist these.

I just liked the cover of this book. Those cute little Bobbsey Twins.

An old fan from New Brunswick, one of my favorite places.

And the piece de resistance: An old perfectly working typewriter. And here's a funny little story. My teenage daughter was quite interested in how this "thing" worked. She cracked up when she heard the bell and you actually had to push the carriage return. She typed a little and realized how much finger strength was needed. She said, "This is nice Mom but where is the delete key?" These kids have it so easy.

Back from Washington

2010-04-24T19:54:00.009-04:00

Back from our "get-away"...just the two of us. We took a train from Bellows Falls, Vermont to Union Station in Washington DC. The Amtrack "Vermonter" runs from St. Albans, VT to Washington once per day. Our segment took 10 1/2 hours. We sat in Business Class and had lots of room. It was fun, like going back in time. Flying is not much fun these days with all the intense security and tight seating so this was definitely different. Sit back and read and nap. I packed us a picnic lunch.

This little station in Bellows Falls (or BF as we call it) is right across the river from Walpole, NH where we live. It is a gem with all the original old benches, lighting and old suitcases stacked up in the corner. I would love to see train travel come back as a popular means of travel. It is a much gentler form of transportation to me.
I love the sound of the train whistle. We hear it all the time at our home and it is the best sound late at night when the freight train comes through. It's a lonely sound I think.
Now, for Washington where neither of us have ever been. I did not have high expectations because I am not a real city person. I was just delighted with this city! It was just beautiful and so packed with cultural activities (mostly free) that my head was spinning! The sidewalks are wide and walkable and there are so many nice places to sit and rest and look around. The museums left me speechless. And the architecture was stunning. I will definitely go back and try to see all the things that I couldn't squeeze in. I ran my husband into the ground and he "surrendered" after the third day with throbbing legs and "museum overload". I think it happened in Natural History while looking at meterorites.

We never did get in to see the treasures inside this building but the architecture outside is fabulous...next time, I guess.
This was the view from our room on Pennsylvania Avenue. At night with all the monuments lit up, it is quite memorable.
We didn't get into the White House (I guess you need like a year's notice to get tickets) but I peeked as best I could. You can actually get up pretty close on the north side near Lafayette Park. I tried to get a glimpse of something....maybe Bo the White House dog frolicking in the yard or the kids playing on the swing set but no luck.

We had a wonderful time at our nation's capitol. I must say I felt like I got my money's worth out of my tax dollars this week!

Signs of Spring

2010-04-09T14:21:00.011-04:00

Spring is here and the birds are nesting. Here is a little necklace I made from palest blue freshwater pearls, golden wire and vintage taffeta ribbon in the perfect shade of robin's egg blue.

I found the sweetest wooden boxes at the craft store and decoupaged images of birds from a vintage bird guide book.

Flowers are blooming too...here is a way to create them in fabric and wear them all year long.

Even the fish are jumping (and the cotton is high? a little too early for that I think). The little fishes made from vintage ticking stripe and cottons are filled with sweet smelling lavender buds that I picked up at the Boston Flower Show.

And lastly, the fairies are out and about and have woken up from the winter slumber. Here is a little quilted wall hanging that I created from some of my favorite worn old cottons, woolens, lace and velvet. It hangs from a little french laundry hanger.

More Bunny Luv

2010-03-21T19:43:00.003-04:00

More bunnies have been popping up in my studio but I guess that is what bunnies do when you are not looking.

A Taste of Springtime

2010-03-12T21:09:00.008-05:00

I had a wonderful taste of Springtime yesterday at my annual trip to the Smith College Bulb Show in Northampton, MA. It is a petite show. Just two old Victorian style greenhouses bursting with bulbs and color. I go for the sight but more for the smell. Rich and earthy with a hint of spice. So needed right now.

Here is a shot of the exterior of these wonderful old greenhouses. You can see what a gray day it was on the outside.....

Such a contrast on the inside! These were a favorite. I love the fringe because of course it reminds me of fabric or vintage paper millinery flowers.

This year we made time to check out a few of the unique thrift/vintage shops in town. This one is called Retro Genie and it was packed to the rafters with vintage clothing and accessories.

Like these fab prom dresses....look at those ruffles!

And this sweet little bride doll in the window.

This taste of spring will have to hold me until the Boston Flower Show at the end of the month and that will have to hold me until real spring comes for good.

Remains of the Day

2010-03-10T15:18:00.011-05:00

Can you guess what I'm doing? (besides making a colossal mess). This is me making a Remains of the Day journal. I had signed up for this wonderful on-line workshop by Mary Ann Moss and the idea of using all those little scraps to create unique journal pages really appealed to me because I have boxes of scrappy things that are too good to throw away but what do you do with them? Plus, I save every card/note that was ever sent to me. I thought it would be good to make this stuff into a thing of beauty.

Here is a peek at some of the completed signatures for the book. I used some cool old pages from American Home magazine (1934), old childrens book pages, etc.. Plus she teaches you how to do wonderful things with security envelopes. You will never look at your bills the same way again!

The cover for the journal is patched together from vintage fabric and trims. Here is the back cover.

Here is an inside pocket for collecting trivia.

Cover made from an old quilt square and an image cut from 1940's barkcloth.

Notice the detail of the rick-rack on the tie closure. I had one piece of this and had been saving it for something special. Can you imagine that someone took the time to crochet this edging around a piece of rick-rack? Amazing. I think it came off of an old pillowcase.
Remains of the Day journal all tied up and ready to go. I will take it with me on a trip to Washington DC (my first) and use it to journal about my experiences there. Can't wait.

I was a Winner!

2010-03-09T20:22:00.005-05:00

I recently received my winnings from the One World One Heart Blog event. I was lucky enough to win this beautiful decoupaged glove box from Susan of Black Eyed Susan's Kitchen. The box itself is lovely enough but she was so thoughtful to tuck some goodies inside!

A lovely pink heart theme: vintage hankie, handmade Valentine, gorgeous heart crystal, two heart pins and a china heart pomander. The edges of this wonderful box appear to be inlaid. Very beautiful. Thanks so much Susan!

A Boyfriend for Hilda

2010-03-06T10:53:00.007-05:00

Just finished a boy bunny complete with dapper bowtie. I managed to find a spot of ground without snow and it's a beautiful day to take photos..yea! Spring is coming!

Horace has a very large carrot that he must transport carefully in his tweed backpack. You can't tell from this photo but it is lined in sumptuous green Thai silk and adorned with lace and vintage china buttons.

Hilda Hare

2010-03-04T10:06:00.007-05:00

Bunnies are multiplying around here. I so wanted to photograph Hilda peeking out of some tall grass but sadly there is no grass to be found here in my corner of New Hampshire, just icy slush and mud. So I put some fake flowers around her courtesy of Picnik.

Her little woolen knapsack was cut from an old pink felted wool poncho that I found in a thrift shop.

The tag was copied from a favorite antique Easter card.

Her egg is being carefully transported in a bed of wooly fluff even though it is made from papier mache and won't break..but don't tell Hilda.

What did I make today?

2010-02-22T20:13:00.005-05:00

More pocket journals. I made one for shoe lovers....

And some vintage recipe journals

What did you make today?

Carroms and Vintage Finds

2010-02-21T20:25:00.002-05:00

I found this wonderful box of vintage game pieces for a game named "carroms". It was apparently played on a board (didn't come with that) and is similar to billards but you use your fingers to flick the rings on the board for points. There are little wooden bowling pins to play bowling carroms too. I just thought the colors were great. Will definitely do something with these down the road.

They were stored in this well worn but lovely vintage holiday box.

Found some beautiful flowered hankies. I cannot resist these even though I have quite a collection. They just seem like the ultimate bargain for such loveliness. I am going to make some pretty cards with these.

New Doll: Mother Nature

2010-02-18T21:18:00.004-05:00

This is a theater doll made from paper clay, wood, wool, crepe paper, wire, freshwater pearl beads, vintage book paper, lace, vintage wallpaper, acorn caps, scrim, acrylic paint and vintage elements such as the spun cotton mushroom and carved wooden bird.

Mother Nature was made for the Grafton Vermont Nature Museum exhibit and will be on display there from February 27 - April 23rd.

2010-02-15T09:19:00.002-05:00

One World One Heart Winner!

This little Irish lass is going to LemonyRenee of the blog Of Lemons and Honey. Check out her blog...the writing is fabulous and I am so glad she won. Hope she enjoys her.

Thanks to everyone who visited my blog over the past few weeks. I hope you make a return visit really soon. I enjoyed my magic carpet ride and discovered some wonderful new blogs. But I am going to roll up my carpet for a while. I'm pooped and the dust bunnies are taking over.

Little Sitters

2010-02-03T20:31:00.004-05:00

Here are some dolls I recently finished. They are weighted "sitter" dolls that I made after being inspired by some on the Gritty Jane workshop. They are more primitive than I usually do but were fun. I weighted them with little bags of PEI sand.

I like the way they can perch around the house in places where you would least expect them.

Teresa

and Margot

What did I make today?

2010-01-31T19:03:00.004-05:00

A sweet little heart booklet made with handmade pink fuzzy felt, a bit of cotton lace and a vintage button.

Open for a secret love note.

One World One Heart

2010-01-25T21:36:00.004-05:00

Welcome to Maminka Girl Studio where I make dolls and other little things with all that vintage fabric and paper I've been saving all these years. Last year I had so much fun visiting blogs all over the world that I vowed to participate with my own little give-away this year. This is a wee Irish lass handmade by me using all vintage materials. She has a hand painted face and stands just 5 inches tall.

If you would like a chance to win her, leave me a comment and be sure to leave your blog address. Best of luck to you and come visit me again soon!

Dreaming in Plaid

2010-01-13T14:08:00.009-05:00

It all started last weekend when my husband found this little series to watch on Netflix called Monarch of the Glen. It is really Scottish soap opera but delightfully funny and oh... the scenery of the Highlands is spectacular. The tweeds, the plaids and men in kilts...what could be better? It has been so frigid here in New England that building a fire and watching the whole first season seemed like the coziest thing to do. I was dreaming in Scottish accents (we really could have used subtitles a lot of the time!) and feeling very plaid-ish.

So I dug out this little sweetie. She is a Vogue Ginny doll dressed in her Scottish plaids that I have had since the 1960's when I started my doll collection as a young girl.

Started poking around the house for more plaid love and found this vintage cotton tablecloth that I always use at the holidays.

Warm scarves in the cloakroom...

My trusty plaid pressing ham

Look who sleeps on plaid!

Totally worn out plaid sneaks that my daughter cannot bear to throw away

Cozy up to some plaid...this wee lass is off to make some shortbread...this weekend we're on to Season Two.

Accomplishments

2010-01-02T21:04:00.002-05:00

The beginning of a new year, a new decade and always a time to reflect back. Instead of thinking about what I did not do or thought I would do, I made a visual report card for myself. Here is a sampling of some of my work for 2009.

Working outside my comfort zone with metal and wood on these found object icons

Having fun with whimsical pom pom creatures

Topsy Turvy Dolls

Workshop doll with Katie Estvold

Art Journaling this summer

Look forward to exploring further in 2010!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-24T09:50:00.004-05:00

Wishing you Happy Holidays from New Hampshire. Oh my... how my puppy has grown. That's Flynn on the left. Where has my puppy gone? Time flies in people and dog years so make the most of it!

Surprise Visitor

2009-12-05T16:22:00.005-05:00

Look who showed up on my doorstep yesterday. It is the handywork of my good friend Carol who makes the most beautiful holiday arrangements. I usually give the containers back for her to reuse the next year but I think this little doe is staying with me!