The Creative Process is a Wonderful Thing......

I am so excited to finally be in the production stages for my special line of altered couture clothing "Heart & Soul". Having created a sweater for myself and having such an incredible response to it in customers wanting one what else could I do but start my own line! They are sold under the "Heart & Soul by Jana Holland" label and consist of the most delicious of my antique laces, trims, and buttons. If I had to put them in a category, I would call them Bohemian Victorian. They look divine with long velvet or lacey skirts or with blue jeans. There are no two alike as each is an individual creation depending on what I have available....the problem is deciding which one you like the most. I have several customers that buy a couple as they just can't choose. I personally create and sew each one, so inventory remains low as they seem to sell as soon as they are hung on the rack. I also have a vision for altering denim skirts as shown and they look beautiful with the sweaters as well........I absolutely love the creative process and hope to be full scale within the next month offering them on my website as well.......

The Best Chandelier Lampshades Made Easy!

Want the very latest in gorgeous mini lampshades at a fraction of their designer cost? It's as easy as a pair of chandelier lampshades, a blouse from your local thrift store, and any ribbons, trims, buttons or jewelry you will to use for embellishment.....

Sound too outlandish to work....well, it's actually very simple.

Choose a blouse with long sleeves that is preferably made of a fabric that has some stretch to it. If the ends of the sleeves are frilly, then alot of your work is already done for you. Follow the simple directions below and see how beautiful it can become.

1) Cut the sleeves at a straight angle at the bottom of the armhole.

2) Slide the arm piece down over the shade with the cuff at the bottom of the shade. If there is not enough "give" to the fabric, simply turn it upside down to have more fabric to work with.

3) Glue the edge of the fabric around the bottom of the shade not allowing the fabric to turn to inside of the shade....neatness does count here!

4) At the point, decide if you are going to use the remaining fabric for a "scrunch" effect or if you want a more tailored look. If you are scrunching, work the fabric down onto the shade until you can glue the top edge at the top of the shade....again, neatness counts. If you want a more tailored look, cut the excess fabric and proceed with the gluing process as stated.

5) Decide what embellishment you desire....fringe, lace, flowers, buttons, crochet edges, etc. and the sky is the limit.

Who wouldn't know these shades didn't come from a high end designer's shop.....they are little pieces of art!

I'm Ready to Blog........

I have been working on customizing my blog for what seems likes months now....never finding the time to give it the time it truly deserves, but always enjoying reading what other's write.

I am finally here, yet I don't know where to start. Maybe just to tell you what I want to do as time goes by. I hope to share the events of my wonderful retail store in Arlington, Texas......it's challenges and it's growing pains so as to encourage other women that they can have their very own business, both online and storefront. The incredible treasures I find along the way....and the journey in finding them as well. I hope to share my successes whether they be personal or professional, as I find they are really the same, aren't they?

You will find my love of animals outshines my love of antiques, and my love of family outshines them all. My only child has married this month for the very first time and she hopes to start a family right away so there will be many changes in our lives before too long.

I hope to share my creative ventures with you as my head is so full of ideas I think it will sometimes burst. I, like others, struggle with time constraints of doing all I want and am afraid I will run out of time before I run out of ideas. Perhaps by simply sharing what I want to do it will somehow feel as though I have completed that project and can move on to others. I have long believed you do not have to spend a lot of money to live beautifully.....simply to see the beauty in those things around you and know where to shop!

I will leave you with one of my very favorite quotes from someone I'm sure was very profound, I just don't know who.

"Give without remembering and take without forgetting"