Indulge Your Shelf

There's a long-standing blog party called Pink Saturday ; I haven't joined in for years , but today when I looked at the photos I'm about to publish, I knew that I just had to! One of my favorite films, Pretty in Pink , turns 30 this weekend.  I dragged my husband to a nostalgic screening of it at a local theater for Valentine's Day; what that man won't do for love! I have had this piece of a vintage beaded gown for years now; it was a gift from a fellow blogger, and I've kept it for just the right project. This week I auditioned it on the fabric collage I'm working on -- I haven't sewn it down yet but I think I will work a piece of it around at the bottom.  That's about all the creating that has been going on around here this week! A few months ago I sent my only doll to my niece in California.  The doll belonged to my mother; it's a Horseman doll that she got when she was about 8 years old.  I called it Dorrie when she handed it do...

Or, I guess what I mean is, Jane Austen is my heroine -- but that doesn't have quite the same "punch" as saying she's my hero.  She truly is, though.  I've read, re-read, and read some more each of her novels, seen every movie adaptation of them, and never tire of any of it.  Jane Austen makes me very happy. My valentine to myself this month was this book; I bought it used for a very low price from a seller on Amazon.  The book is difficult to find in America, and pricey when you do find it, so I was thrilled to get it.  As per the title, 'My Dear Cassandra' Jane Austen , the book is a selection of letters that Jane wrote to her sister throughout her life.  Through the letters, you get a glimpse of Jane's genius as well as a behind the scenes look at how and when she wrote her masterpieces. The book is simply full of the kinds of prints and illustrations from Jane's era that I just love and can't get enough of.  It also gives quite a bit ...

It's hearts and flowers day! The sun has been shining in Colorado, but it is still taking days and days to melt the snow from last week!  Just look at all that is left still in my front yard: The penguin doesn't mind.  I had the sweetest surprise in the mail the other day; it came from my friend Penny, who loves vintage and buttons, too!  It's a button posy she made! How adorable is it?  See the pretty charm string button in the middle?  It's glass.  I just love it!  And I adore the cute vintage cards she included -- they are just perfect! I received my button doll swap in the mail!  It's so much fun to do a swap, and to see how each artist interprets the theme!  Here is the fabulous box that my partner Kathie made for me:  So many different textures in the collages...  I love both the foil Dresden hearts and the metallic hearts she painted on!  My favorite side. Here's the doll herself: ...

I was excited to get in on this Valentine swap ; we were to create a ribbon doll, decorate a box to put her in, add a card/tag/atc, and mail it off with little gifts.  For this swap, I was paired with someone I've never "met" online before, Kathie, which is always interesting and different because you are not quite sure what their style is.  Happily, we both love vintage, and the theme of the swap was "romantic", so I looked for inspiration from among all my romantic supplies, and came up with this: The ribbon doll -- I used the photo of Winifred Barnes, that beauty from the 1920's who has been my muse lately, and gave her a ribbon skirt. She dangles a paper heart from a ribbon in front of her with the word, smitten. Along with ribbons and laces, I used frayed pieces of some of my favorite vintage fabrics, and a few new fabrics, too -- all in neutral tones and various shades of pink. back view I sewed the strips of fabric together onto pink tu...