Can't get enough!!

I love, just love my vintage necktie cloche/flapper hats! Seriously... I can't get enough. Even after I spend a couple of days making only these hats, I still get excited when one is completed and I try it on. So, so cute!!!!!!!

I make a lot of things out of neckties (scarves, headbands, necklaces, bracelets etc.), and I encountered a first the other day while making a hat. Check out this little gem...

A zipper!! A hidden surprise at the end of the necktie! I couldn't believe I'd never found a secret zipper pouch before. I knew what had to be done...

It needed to belong on a hat. Needed it. There really was no other option. Love it!!!

I'm amazed at how flattering this hat style looks on just about every woman who tries it on. I'm serious. If you don't believe me, try one on! (Hee Hee). They have gone over really well at the past 2 shows that I've brought them to...

The style on the far left are my newsboy style hats made out of upholstery samples from a furniture store. I'll save those for another day...

From Start to Finish

Inhale... exhale... repeat. This is how I feel now that the holiday craft show frenzy has quieted down. While I certainly enjoyed the months of focus and creating my products for each show, it is nice to not have a deadline... or at least it was nice for the 1 week in between my last show and getting a number of wholesale orders. But, I digress...

During my time "in between" as I like to call it, I was able to paint a 4-piece wall art set that my friend commissioned from me back in September. She wanted a sports theme for her son - baseball, hockey, golf and football. Either in earth tones, or bright, bright, bright!! I went with the former. 

Oh, and I'm so proud of myself... I actually remembered to take photos of the process!! 

Part 1: I found 4 used canvases at the thrift store and covered them with gesso... or rather, had a willing helper to do the gesso part.

Part 2: Covered each canvas with scrapbook pages that I found at a garage sale using Mod Podge (which I bought secondhand off craigslist). Once it was dry, I sanded the paper off around the border to get the paper flush to the edge of the canvas and to also create a rough looking edge. 

Part 3: Added paint! I used a brayer to add some brown, blue and green hues... ya know... earthy-ish. 

Part 4: Trace the outline of the desired shapes (baseball and hockey puck seen here) and fill the inside with gesso.

Part 5: Paint, shade and add detail!!

I chose to go old-school with the baseball and football (seen below). 

Part 6: Paint the edges of the canvas (still working on this part). 

Here they are! The final 4 pieces!!!! Ooo la la... me likey!

I'm really happy with the way they turned out. Like just about every painting, I'm not quite sure or confident at what the end result will be, but it always comes out right in the end.

OHHH!!! I forgot to mention the best part! Each scrapbook page has letters on it that I mostly covered with paint, BUT... each picture has 1 letter that is clearly visible. When put in the correct order, it spells the boy's name - Jack. It's not overtly obvious... just one of those nice little details that I know is there. 

Yay! That was fun. Now I need to get back to those wholesale orders and sew, sew, sew!! 

Holly House Boutique

It's time for the 32nd annual Holly House Boutique! It opens today and runs the next 3 weekends through Sunday, November 18. This is a great seasonal boutique that gathers artisans from all over to sell their goods in one location. There are a number of new artisans there this year, which is super exciting.

I have taken a new approach to selling my items there this year (this is my 3rd year), and I have high hopes! The past 2 years I've had various women's accessories available for purchase. I still have some accessories there, such as the pidge scarves, ear warmers/head wraps, zipper rings, hair clips and ponytail holders, but I am mainly focused on my new home decor items. Let me show ya what I've got!

Vintage Book Paper Wreaths

Vintage Book Picture Frames

And now, my lovelies, I am going to share with you what I am most excited about. I have ventured into the world of mixed media art, and I am in love! Love, love, love!! I have my original artwork and prints available at the Holly House Boutique. I will share with you more detailed pictures of the work I've done thus far in a future post, but for now I will show you the set-up.

Original mixed media art (painted on secondhand materials of course).

Prints of my art, printed on 100% recycled photo paper (hooray!!) and mounted onto vintage book covers (double hooray!!)

So if you have the chance, try to stop by this seasonal boutique. Like I said, there are new artisans there that and they are adding a more "vintage" look to the shop. Really neat stuff with items at all price points, so go shop, shop, shop!!!