~*~Velvet Strawberry Goodness~*~

I LOVE velvet! Velvet fabric, velvet dresses, velvet jackets, velvet hats, velvet ribbon and velvet strawberries (to name just a few). 😉

I’ve been thinking a lot about velvet leaves and strawberries off and on……..as the urge for them comes and goes. One day I might be thinking about making a hat. And, “oh, velvet strawberries would look delicious on a hat!”. Or I might be searching Etsy and happen upon a vintage bag with velvet strawberries. “Oh, how pretty. I should make something like that.” So, recently I noticed these lovelies on Etsy at WispsGathering Beauty. I really, really love them, but I thought, “Why pay for these when I can make them myself?”

Enter my first attempt at velvet strawberry making!

I really love the way this one turned out. I used a piece of GORGEOUS (the prettiest I’ve seen) crushed pink velvet that I’d been hoarding for quite some time. I had originally gotten it to make a jacket for a doll, but since I’m more into little random oddities these days, I figured it would never end up as a jacket anyway.

The strawberry greens are made of wool felt, since I was afraid that green velvet might fray and look messy. Besides, felt is so easy to work with and I think it looks really nice paired with the velvet.

Most of the velvet strawberries I see out there have white seeds, but I prefer the black, as they’re closer to the color of the real thing. I am running very low on the black seed beads, though, so the following strawberries might have to conform to the trends. 😉

I hope you enjoyed viewing my lovely strawberry. 🙂 I enjoyed making it and love the outcome so much, that I’ve cut out 24+ more strawberries that will hopefully make their way to my shoppe in the near future. Wish me luck, as I never seem to finish what I start. 😉 This time will be different…………

ps. I’m still loving those vintage strawberries……….I may just crack………… 😉

Etsian of the Week — Roundtrip

I LOVE these handpainted vintage pieces by roundtrip. She only uses items that are in excellent condition, so you can actually use these suitcases and purses without feeling like they are shabby. Some of the pieces shown here are sold already, but be sure to check out her shoppe, as new items are added all of the time! The following 5 are my favorites:

I can’t believe these are painted free-hand!

GiveAway!!!

There’s a neat giveaway going on at TellLove&Chocolate

My good friend thegildedbee, and another neat Etsian (prettytape) are the sponsors. So head on over and check out their cute, cute, cute items………and enter to win!

My second apron order

I’d like to share my second apron order since the one I first made for myself several months ago. This one was designed around the vintage handkerchiefs given to me by the child’s mother. I was able to use pieces of the same hankies, both on the child’s apron and also on the matching American Girl apron. Aren’t they cute? And I think that I found the perfect fabric to match the handkerchiefs. When I bought the fabric at Hancock’s, I didn’t know if it would match or not……….but look how nice it turned out! I used handmade bias tape on the edges to give this apron a different look, and switched the placement of the pockets around. Another new thing for me was the creation of several yo-yo’s for each apron. Yo-yo’s have been my most hated embellishment in times past, but I have recently acquired a love for them via Etsy. 🙂 I think they add the perfect vibe to these retro aprons!
All of the buttons on both aprons are vintage, as are the hankies (supplied by the customer). Everything else was store-bought, but it all blends in quite nicely with the whole retro-vintage feel.
The photos don’t do these two justice, but……………
Thanks for taking a peek! 🙂
Click for larger photos!
Together:
Child’s Apron:


Doll’s Apron:


Tag:

Sweet September Etsy Treasury

I ran across this darling Etsy treasury today and I thought you all might like a peek. 🙂 I’d love to have the metal leaf necklace and the acorn bobby pins. Oh, and I can’t forget the striped dupioni dress!
Leave a comment and share which ones are your faves!

This treasury was created by Etsian Kellyisnice

Umbrella Ave. To Expand It’s Horizons

Just an update: I plan to open an Umbrella Ave. website in the near future. You’ll be able to view and buy all of the items that I currently have on Etsy ( my Etsy shoppe will still be up and running, though ). My blog will also be setting up residence there. I can’t wait to be free of blogspot download troubles!! Hurray!
Keep an eye out for the new Umbrella Ave. website…….coming to a computer near you. 🙂
Happy Sunday!

Mod Cloth Lovelies

Happy Sunday everyone!!
To start the week off, here are a few of my favorite new ModCloth dresses:
“Whittard Dress”

“Tulip Show Dress”
(I can see myself wearing this to work: fashion statement!)

“The Joan Dress In Party”
(strange name? / pretty pencil shape)

“The Antiquities Dress”
(I love this style…….now if only I could find the top that I set aside to make one)
“Spot On Dress”
(Absolute perfection!)
This one deserves a close-up
“Pieces of You Dress”
“Picture Day Jumper”
(This one must have been made for me. I’d love to wear it with a tank top and cozy orange sweater — very autumn-y and cozy.)
“Papyrus Dress”
(I have a pattern almost exactly like this, but a bit longer. Cute.)
“Merle Moquer Dress”
[I want to wear this to work! One of the cutest I’ve seen for a while. :-)]

“Matilda Dress”
(This one, too!)

On a side note: I really want these slouchy boots!

The brand is bamboo………grey+slouchy+huge buttons+ankle boots+flat heel= perfection

odds & ends

Just a few snippets of what’s been going on this week: some odds & ends that don’t fit anywhere!

The last package I wrapped up for Etsy: a single red rose.
Front of the tag —
Adorable bird cardstock – came from a scrapbook paper stack that I bought at work
Umbrella tag – handmade by me using my own stamp and Sculpey rubber clay
Bottom half of tag – snipped from a second-hand book

Back of the tag

A disgusting spider! If you’re shrinking back from the computer in horror, don’t worry…..I did the same thing when I first saw this photo! Somehow this spidey looks a lot worse on the computer, illuminated by the camera flash, than it did when I was kneeling a couple of inches from it in the dim evening light. There was a pane of glass between me and the spider, or else you would NEVER have caught me so close!

Last but not least: a lovely little treasury that was featured on Etsy today: Such sweet colors: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=67486
Happy Tuesday!

Etsian of the Week — Magdalinen

These gorgeous necklaces speak for themselves……. all made from linen thread and handsewn silk flowers. Very labor intensive, I’m sure………..and utterly Be-a-u-ti-ful!!!
View more fantastic pieces here: www.magdalinen.etsy.com
wow, wow, wow!

And one of my favorites………

Yummy Vintage-y Pillows

I LOVE these handmade pillows that I found on Etsy. They’re not actually for sale; just samples of what can be made with a scrap bag of vintage fabrics. (They do sell those! :-)) I think these are the neatest things…………they make me jealous and happy at the same time. 😉

LemonBlooms.etsy.com

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