Indulge Your Shelf

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...

Have you tried your hand at pocket letters yet?  It's kind of addictive! I made this one for Tammy .  She'd sent me one for Christmas and I was so inspired that I could hardly wait to make one for her! While I was at it, I had to make one for Terri , too!  I love exchanging supplies and vintage goodness with her, and it's even more fun when I can surprise her! How much fun are they?  Like I said: addictive!  We should have a pocket letter swap for Spring.  If I hosted one, would you join in?  Let me know in the comments!