Indulge Your Shelf

I had two of you respond that you'd like to swap valentines with me, so I sent two and got two back.  I made a few more that I sent out to friends and relatives, too! Here are the gifts I got in return for the swaps: Wendy sent me all this!  She knows how I feel about vintage, so the valentine she created was in that style: I love the pink fabric in the background; it looks like a mini chenille print, but is actually embroidered.  Thank you so much, Wendy! Lynette sent this valentine's card with a greeting and this sweet heart: Front - look at that detail  Reverse - she's so creative with ephemera And some chocolate!  Thank you so much, Lynette! I picked up this bag of hearts at a thrift shop after all my valentines were made...so they will have to wait until next year!  I'm still working on my heart creations for the swap I'm doing with my FB group; here's a sneak peek of the "base" before embellishment: The...

I think Valentine's Day may be my favorite theme to create around, and it's coming up!  The other day I went with a friend to an antique store and they had a big box of valentines from the 1950s.  I almost didn't buy it, but at the last minute I couldn't resist. They were obviously from the collection of a teacher back in the day, so most were "teacher" valentines. Still with the wonderful graphics that make you smile! There were also some more "formal" greeting cards that were valentines to teachers:  I kep a few for myself, especially the ones I had many duplicates of, but otherwise I have listed all of the above teacher valentines in my Etsy shop already, in two different listings here and here .  These were the ones I kept to use for crafts and just plain enjoyment! I think this Hallmark one, very traditional, is my very favorite.  There was also a felt heart in the lot that was attached to a hair clip. As a bonu...

I don't know about you, but I can get on a roll with creating with a certain color scheme.  Right now, it happens to be...neutrals!   I pieced this together at work using leftover fabrics from that class quilt block I'm doing, and from my wool stash. I added tattered lace, and buttons.  I added a strip of lace to the bottom, and then filled the pocket with little rolls of sheet music paper that I tied with twine, and vintage millinery flowers. Then I made a fabric heart tag, just for something different!  More tattered lace for the tie, and one of my favorite vintage buttons.  It's painted wood.  In the background is a little basket piled with hearts I made for other Valentines days, in other years! But not EVERYthing I've been doing is neutral.  I've been playing with canvas and paper and Deco Pauge again -- the one on the far left, underneath, is just a collage of papers on canvas without embellishment...

Here's what's been on my work table:  Remember those Zentangles I started?  Well..I decided I needed a carrying case for them. And when looking through my fabrics, I came across a needlebook kit I received from Charlotte Lyons . I didn't need another needlebook -- but it was just right for making a book to hold my Zentangle squares and writing implements. The outside is this beautiful red and green vintage quilt piece; I edged in in some matching thread and tied it with a piece of cloth ribbon that was also included in the kit.  I just love it! More little hearts... I was going to decorate them more, but decided they looked adorable with some bright pink seam binding, crinkled and tied around each one. This is a Valentine I made the other day for my dear husband. Don't worry, he never reads my blog so it won't ruin the surprise! I used an old cabinet card with a nice looking guy on it.  He reminded me of my husband. He clutches a cane ...