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!

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………… 😉

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:

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

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

If only, if only………………..

Etsian of the Week: paperhill

In honor of paperhill’s 2 year anniversary, each order will be refunded 15% of the total purchase price; limited time only! There are so many pretty finds here that I’m sure you won’t walk away empty-handed. 🙂
Reconstructed rings


Vintage flocked notecards

Pocket mirrors covered in vintage wallpaper

Vintage wallpaper notecards
Simply gorgeous cuffs!

(Top) Brooch made of tiny colored shells
(Middle) Clip-on earring with blue leaves
(Bottom) Clip-on earring – my favorite
Gold satin hat with veil and large bow. Lovely.



Cherry/burgandy velour hat with veil, ribbon and bead/button trims.Long white gloves – also vintage – button at wrist

Cream hat with black veil and vinyl bow
Vintage compact

Here are a couple of darling little umbrellas that I found on Modcloth. And you all know my weakness for umbrellas……………..*wink*

Vanilla Skies Parasol


Strawberry Shortcake Umbrella

Cute Little Dresses That I’d Like to Wear
These images all come to you curtesy of Modcloth.com


This is one of my favorites, even though I’m not usually a big fan of the nautical style.


This one would be easy enough to make……….

I have a thing for pencil dresses right now. *sigh*


Old fashioned, dressy-dress that reminds me of my Grandma. I like it. 🙂

Perfection. There’s nothing else to say.