Happy Fall, Y'all!

Summer winds down quickly here in Texas.  

We seemingly go from 98 degrees down to 50 degrees overnight, but that is just Texas.  

I have to admit I am ready for fall...for  pumpkins, cool weather, and the upcoming holiday season. 

 But I also hate to see my colorful yard become brown and dry. 

 Oh, well.  you can't have it all.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

There is Just Something About Vintage Lace......Nettie Jane Designs

There is just something about the hum of my sewing machine that closes out the rest of the world and takes me to a more peaceful place........and in this world can't we all use such a distraction!

For me it's not only the escape, but the creative process that goes into each garment I make.  Even I don't always know what the end result will be as I combine fabrics, garments, and laces for my crochet tops and altered couture pieces, I know it will be something girlie for sure.

Each item is one of a kind, and I doubt I could duplicate something if I tried as the same materials are just not available.  Everything has a Nettie Jane label sewn on the outer back.

You can find many more of my creations on my website where there is not only clothing, but also accessories, home decor, handbags, and jewelry.  I just never know where the creative process will take me, but I do know how fortunate I am that it does .

Stop by for a visit when you can.....I'd love to show you around.

A Very Special Cross........

My goal each year is to try to create at least one special memory for my daughter.  Sometimes it's a garment or handbag I made her out of special fabrics from her childhood and other times it consists of a sign with a saying that is unique to the two of us.  

This year I was inspired to create a very special cross for her wall of crosses she started last year.  This piece is very special because it uses old belts from her Papa George.  Although he was not my daddy, he is the only grandfather my baby knew, so very special in that regard.

I shared this finished piece on Facebook, and much to my surprise, it went viral.  After over 1,000 shares and 150,000 likes, I realized I had touched on something.  Whether it was creating something out of nothing or the fact you could make the cross so special by using a special person's belts, people loved it.

You can see I never expected anything like this because I shared it laying on junk from my studio and with the rubber bands still in place.......but still, it was a hit.  

I hope you love it as much as other's have!!

YOU & ME and Altered Couture

Canton First Monday is this coming weekend,

so I have to be ready for the next upcoming holiday....

Which, of course, is the day of love....

VALENTINES

I didn't have the time to do much,

but was able to get these sweet pillows made before

my sewing machine just decided to go wacky on me...

I also received my artist copy of the February 

Altered Couture magazine.....and it cheered me up a bit.

I'm excited since I am published again.

I just love it when that happens.

It can happen for you, too....

Just meet their requirements and send it in.

It won't happen unless you make it happen.

Try it.....it feels good :)

Thanks for stopping by....I love it when you come!

2015.....It's On Like Donkey Kong

I love the thought of a new year.....

what is it about a "day" that makes us feel that

we can just start over....

Repairing old relationships,

Changing our lifelong habits,

or

Feeling as though we can conquer the year?

I have no idea, I just know I'm right there with you.

I have incredible plans and goals for the year.....

as I always do :)

Some are met, some go by the wayside,

but I always end the year by feeling better about 

what I have done,

and isn't that the point?

This year my goals and desires are quite ambitious....

Even I know that.

However, if you don't plan, if you don't dream, or if you don't try,

then they surely won't come to fruition.

This year I want:

To take my website to success, to have my Shoppe published in a magazine.....

or three :) or four.

I want recognition within my City.....not awards or anything, just to

see Downtown Arlington come into it's own and be thriving....

or at least appreciated in being here while we are waiting.

I want a successful Etsy shop selling very select items I make to wholesale customers. 

I want to be published again and again in Somerset for my creations....

pick one of their publications....any one of them, or all of them.

I want to restart blogging with "how to" projects and take it to the level of my Facebook, 

and 

I want Facebook to be bigger for me.

I want Moments to explode and have parties booked to the end of the year

and will find a way to make that happen through self promotion.

I will teach many classes throughout the year.

I will spend a lot of time determining what is best for me.

I will depend on no one for my happiness or financial security.

I will be, above everything else.....happy. 

and it all depends of me.

2015......it's on like donkey kong!

And this is New Year's Eve.....

Today I am meeting a customer at

the Shoppe so she can pick up some items....

I'm nothing if not accommodating :)

This afternoon I will  paint yet another piece

of my daughter's furniture....

The painting will continue into the year

as we paint everything in her house white.

She is my daughter, after all :)

This evening I will soak my black eyed peas for

easier cooking tomorrow....

We will enjoy our traditional dinner of

fried chicken, jalapeno black eyed peas, mashed potatoes,

and gravy....

I am a Texas girl, you know :)

Tonight will be a nice dinner

And grand babies, and a warm cozy fire, with all my furry babies...

Because I am so blessed.

Happy New Year...

You have the ability to change your life

in ways that will make

you happy.

Vintage Teacup Candelabra....It just doesn't get any easier than this!

I take on my share of big, difficult projects,

but just every once in a while

I like to do something that is

quick, easy, and has great impact for little effort.

The biggest challenge with this project is finding

just the right candelabra.

I keep my eyes open all the time for items to 

use at later dates so I can usually find something

like this in my "stash".

And this is as easy as it gets.....

Using Kiltz, I paint my candle holder.

After it is completely dry, I distress it just a little.

I use liquid nail in a small tube, and

I glue my saucers directly to the wooden

candle cups.

Allow it to dry overnight and put your cups in place.

These can be permanently glued, but I prefer to leave them

loose so I am able to easily clean them after

burning my candles.

It just doesn't get any easier than that, does it?

And it is gorgeous with small votive candles.

Sometimes the most obvious and the easiest

of creations are the most impressive.

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by, you know I love it when you come.

I must confess, I usually get through all the

festivities of Christmas before I start reflecting

on the past year or what the new one might hold.

This year, however, is different.

There have been many life changing events....

good and bad, that need to be acknowledged in my own mind, dealt with, 

and put away so I can start 2015 fresh and new,

as I already have great plans for new ventures. 

One of the wonderful things has been the fact my daughter

and I have opened a new business adjacent to

my vintage and antique store....

A Moment in Time

It is the most precious dress up party tea room for not only

little girls, but big girls as well.

I am so proud of this new venture and am my awesome daughter.

Score one for 2014.

We worked on revamping the space for three solid months

The construction was completed by my sweet man the day

before he had a really bad stroke on

March 17.

Needless to say, life has been different.

We are very blessed, however, that he is mobile,

has his speech capabilites, and we are only dealing with memory

loss.  He does remember all of his family

so that is enough for me.

We have a life that I call "a new normal".

and are settling into it quite well.

I had to close his business, but it was time anyway.

What was a big negative, turned into a wonderful positive.

God works in mysterious ways to give us what we want.

Score another one for 2014.

I continue to create and have been published several times throughout the year.

It is very validating and feeds my senses to be acknowledged

for my creativity and work.

Another point for 2014.

We helped my little Mama celebrate her 88th birthday.

Score an extra ten points for 2014.

I cannot imagine life without her.

Despite all of the downfalls, setbacks, and disappointments in 2014, I am blessed.

I have my family, my precious animals, my health, and I am loved.

I can rise above the petty people in this world that thrive on drama because of their

insecurities and inferiority complexes.

just by looking into the innocent eyes of a three and five year old,

or seeing the gratitude on my sweet man's face as I make all of this work.

I hope your life is as full as mine, and if it is that you find the strength to get through it all :)

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Gorgeous, Easy to Make Body Pillows.......

Lots of bang for your buck here!

These beautiful pillows are a snap to sew up, 

can be made from old draperies, linens, or 

fabric you have laying around.

I used an old silk drapery panel and 

made my pillows the length of a standard bed, 

That is the size pillow form that can be easily found

for $8.00 at Target, so it just made the whole process easier. 

Make your own pattern by adding two inches to the width 

and length of the pillow.  If you are wanting fringe cut at each end as I have on the beautiful crushed velvet pillow, then add six inches at each end, or a total of twelve inches longer than the pillow measurement.  

Sew the pillow, leaving one end open for the pillow insertion.

Close the end and add your trims, laces or leave plain as desired.

I've added different embellishments as shown, 

and each pillow has taken on a look all its own.

If you want be able to wash your pillow cover, leave one end open by

 adding buttons or a zipper for each insert removal.

And it's as easy as that!

If you can sew a straight line, you can make this pillow.

Thanks for stopping by today....

My blog promises to have tons of ideas along

with instructions throughout the coming weeks and months.

I hope you drop by again.

Coffee or Tea?

I have spent quite a bit of time

during the last three months trying to get organized....

I know you understand , 

as I am sure that plagues the majority of us....

unless, of course, you are my little Mama.

But that would be yet another post *sigh*

In this organizational effort,

I have completed projects with things that were

brought in literally years ago.

I am determined to clear my life of unnecessary clutter,

and if I can turn it into cash, well, 

it's that much better.

I started with all of those wonderful coffee and tea

urns that I just couldn't pass up because they

were just so beautiful.....

but then "what"....right?

We also drilled out and used an antique

Singer sewing machine for wiring as a lamp.

I have made several of these over the years,

and it is always one of my favorite ones to complete.

The urns are just the size to make just

the right size buffet or table lamp.

I love the squattiness of this one...

it's one of my favorites.

The Bakelite handles are beautiful  and remind

me of little ears :)

Then, of course, there is the standard coffee pot....

I always have to throw one of those into the mix.

Off to clear out other shelves, boxes, and storage rooms.....

can't wait to see what I find that I just had to have that I have no idea

I have now.....geez

I Think I'll Blog Again.........

Wow......I haven't blogged since November of last year...

I've been an avid Facebooker, but I have to admit I've missed it here.

So many things have happened that short time period.

I have been busy running the antique portion of my shoppe,

running my store at Canton's First Monday once a month,

creating when I can,

and loving on grand babies, dogs, and cats.

Because my new website is getting ready to go "live",

I felt compelled to document some of my activities and

creations as it is always fun to look at them all in one place.

This is an absolute favorite of mine,

and has been created from the most delicious antique and

vintage findings and embellishments.

I have only made three of this style bag

because of how time consuming they are to create...

still I adore them.

The jean jackets are most probably a "Texas thing"....

as we seem to love our denim.

Look for this jacket in the upcoming fall issue

of Somerset's Altered Couture.

I'm proud to have four items in the next issue.

Again, one of my very favorites and 

a style that just can't be duplicated.

I can be copied, but never will one look

like the next because of materials used.

And of course, all the crochet garments....

I see them all around now, but still can't get my fill

of creating new and different ones.

Then  there is our new baby....

Tucked inside the Shoppe utilizing 1,000 square feet is

my daughter's and mine new adventure/venture.

Yep, you guessed it.

It's a Princess party dress up tea room.

We book private birthday parties for 

little girls as well as big girls,

and host bridal and baby showers as well.

This officially opened in May of this year

and is just taking off for us.

I don't know whether I'm more excited about the business

or being IN business with my beautiful daughter.

The stage and all of the construction was

completed by my sweet man.

He had a stroke two weeks before the first party,

but we are getting through it.

It isn't all roses,

It isn't all easy,

It isn't all fun,

But it all has promise....

I am truly blessed.....and remind myself daily.

If you think you can......YOU CAN.

Thanks for stopping by after all this time...

I've missed you.

White Saturday Holiday Open House November 23, 2013

 

There's no 'black Friday' happening around here.

Because I will be at Canton during what society

has deemed to be the beginning of holiday shopping....

 

Collected Treasures is having their very own

"White Saturday"

 

 

 

Please join me this

Saturday, November 23, 2013

from 11-4pm for

champagne and sweet nibbles

while you browse the

new inventory brought in just

for this event.

 

 

 

The Shoppe is always 'full',

but this time it is

overly full....

 

 

 

But if you have ever met me,

you wouldn't expect anything less :)

 

 

There is a little bit of everything...

 

 

Including antique bed spring Christmas trees.

 

 

Lost lids...

 

 

and, of course,

 

Nettie Jane Designs...

 

 

Ribbons and trims...

 

 

With a few buttons thrown in...

 

 

 

I would love to see your smiling faces....

 

Come check me out!

 

Thanks for stopping by today,

you know I love it when you come!