Velvet Millinery Trimming

I have been drooling over some vintage and repro velvet millinery flowers and leaves for a while now. This week I decided to get some. They are just gorgeous.
I have some projects in mind for these, and will probably post pictures in the future ;)

Deepest Red

These are so pretty.
I have no idea what they will become.
I will save them for something interesting.

Spectators

I love spectators.
Unfortunately, the vintage ones are usually too small, or there is some other problem with them.
When hunting for new spectators that look like the old ones I'm apt to find super-high heels or ones that are too shiny etc.
Not really everyday or vintage repro types of shoes.
I was looking around and found these specimens--which I loved.
Soooo, why not get one of each color?
I think that these will be well-worn. :)

Thilie's Flowers

I have had these pretties on display in the "studio" for a bit now. :)
Lovely flowers from Thiliblooms.etsy
{thank you~I love them ;)}

Plum Inspiration Board

I have been in the mood for dark jewel tones, such as this lovely plum color...

Perfectly+Orange

This is one of my favorite oranges.

Some Vintage Buttons...

I regularly collect vintage buttons from antique shoppes.
Here are some from a favorite button bin and a few pink ones that were a gift.

Roses+Love

Little+Sepia

creative+read

This is one of many stacks of books full of happy thoughts and projects waiting to happen. I make hats and scarves every fall, and am plotting "holiday" things.
I really love the holidays. I use that term broadly. Most (at least 80%) of the birthdays in this family are in winter, just before or after Christmas. And some friends are who moved a long way across the country are moving back into this area, that is a good reason to party too. I have been sifting through lots of recipes, attempting to make up my mind which ones to make.
And I have some vintage fabric to make into a handbag, a craft fair to plan for, new shoppe goods to wrap up, and about a zillion million other things to do...
:)

Create Fan Garland: a tutorial

Originally, I was just going to post pictures of this garland, however, I thought I show you how to make it too...



I made this to hang in the gilded bee "studio".



SUPPLIES:
* 1 yard twine/string

* hot glue gun and glue

* white craft glue

* Six--11 x 1 inch strips of cardstock

* 1" circle punch or 1 inch circle to use to trace

* sheet of 8.5 x 11 inch white cardstock/ printed with your "create" clip-art letters

* decorative scissors

* glitter




Step 1. Punch or trace circles over your printed letters

Step 2. Using your decorative scissors, trim along one of the sides (lengthwise) of each of your 11 x 1 cardstock strips, then fold, accordian-style (about 1/2 inch pleats)

Step 3. {I spaced all of my "flags" about 1 cm. apart, all are equal distances from the center of my string} apply a bead of hot glue to the end pleat of the cardstock, insert twine into the fold and press down to secure, repeat with the other end of the strip.

Repeat with the other 5 strips.





Step 4. The strips will form springy loops, press them down, and gather them towards the string, apply a dot of hot glue and hold for at least 10 seconds so that it will hold its 1/2 circle fan shape.

Step 5. apply a dot of hot glue onto the back of your "C" letter and adhere to the first fan on the left end of the garland.

Repeat with your other letters.






Step 6.

As a final touch I smudged a little white craft glue to the edges of the fans and dipped them into some glitter (allow to dry, if the glue is slow drying, lay the garland out on some wax paper to dry before hanging)




{be sure to click to enlarge/to print clip art}



happy creating! ;)

Organic Chocolate+Love

Organic chocolate has become a household "fad".
This one is so good.
I didn't know that I liked ginger so well.



Between the four of us this bar vanished very quickly. :)

Brickyard

This week we got the first batch of apples from our local orchard.
I thought they were so pretty I'd take some photo's ;)
I have grown up going to this orchard every fall, and am always excited to get the first crisp fruits.
Now...what to make? Pie, tart, sauce, butter, salad???



I love these bags.
One year I used them for Christmas wrapping. :):):)

so fine

I love markers. :)
I just got a large box of lovely extra fine sharpies.

..Almonds+Ginger & Dark, Dark Chocolate..

I adore chocolate, esp. dark chocolate.
Today's chocolate ration was supplied through this lovely flourless cake that I made.
I added a little ginger, some cinnamon and cocoa...



And some dried apricots, currants and sliced almonds...



And about 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate...



The mixture is similar to brownies, only it has even more chocolate, since you use cocoa in place of the flour.



Halfway through the baking of the cake, I added a "topping" of more sliced almonds, chocolate, and a leeetle bit of organic raw sugar.



the finished {rich! a little piece of this stuff is so filling} goods.