Thoughts from Alice W.

a little more press and a show...

I hope you will forgive me if I indulge in a little more bragging...

If you are an avid reader of Romantic Homes, you may have already seen it, but if not...

I am so excited to share that my blog has been featured in the September issue!

This is such an honor for me {and thank you Allison for alerting me that the issue was out. Lately, I seem to be the last one to find out about my features!}.

For the past couple of weeks, I have been preparing for a local show that I was invited to participate in.

Joshua and my mother decided to join in with me to combine our efforts, creations and offerings...

If you recall my last experience with a show, I typically have not had great success with these ventures, and unfortunately, this one was no different. All three of us barely broke even with what we had invested, but we did enjoy spending the day together, meeting some nice people, and getting lots of compliments on our 'vintage inspired' booth.

I took several photos and thought you might enjoy seeing them even though the show was less than a success for us...{makes me all the more appreciate the great online market!}

My mother and I combined our items in the majority of the booth...

We had lots of vintage items, antiques, and vintage inspired home decor...

{I have started receiving requests for the Toy Land Nesting Canisters featured above. I still have about 4-5 sets left, so for those interested, they are $12 for the set of 3. Just send me an email with your location and I can give you a quote on shipping and send you the link where you can pay through Paypal. And if you see anything else in this post that you are interested in just let me know. Thank you!}

I also included my photography and some handmade pieces...

as well as Halloween creations...

 

My mother also had her charming handmade wreaths...

This adorable retro Christmas wreath was my favorite...

We had a vast selection of jewelry {which is where the sales eventually came for Joshua and me}...

Joshua's jewelry received so many compliments and the most interest.

Most of the visitors had never seen anything like it....

I think from now on I will think a bit longer and harder before committing to do a show - they are exhausting! I am sure they can be worth it, if you make a good profit, but I just haven't yet had very good luck with that. Perhaps it was the location, the economy or any number of factors, but I think I will stick with what I know and appreciate that all the more ;)

Till next time...

The Watch Recyclers Wife

One day, I asked Joshua a simple question...

Have you ever heard of steampunk?

He hadn't. I barely had either, but had seen it around blogs and Etsy and wasn't exactly fond of it at the time.

I started to show him what it was...knowing his interest in pulling things apart and working with small pieces.

{He had previously begged me to let him pull apart our very old typewriter so he could 'make things' with it. That was a firm no.}

But after he got a good handle on what steampunk was...now he wanted to take apart all of my old pocket watches. Again the answer was...No. No. No.

I started to wonder why I had even wanted to spark his interest in this 'steampunk thing'?

He was certainly going to ruin all of my old things that I loved and collected.

So he was on his own...to get his own pieces...and grow his own collection...

and that he did...

It was very hard for me at first, to watch him take these things and use them to make new things {I tend to like to keep them around just to look at them...Josh is more practical, however, and enjoys turning them into something that can go to another}...

But once I started to see the beautiful things that he could do with them...

I became a fan. His biggest fan, in fact.

It's so inspiring how can take these...

and some of these...

and create these stunning pieces... 
 

He has made almost anything you can think of by now...rings, necklaces, cuff links, tie tacks, bracelets...and my personal favorite...his line of Remnants of Time earrings...

He uses crystals and pearls...

And is even branching out on a new line that I dubbed Reclaimed Relics {yes, I am the creative force behind the names of his collections and pieces}....to create vintage necklaces mixed with old finds...

And the answer to his question of whether he could use my small collection of vintage religious medals for these pieces? NO. Absolutely not.

So what did he do?

Went and got himself all of these...

Sigh. Maybe I can start hiding them one by one so he can't use them...{just kidding my love. I would never. Or would I? ~grin~}

But I suppose I only have myself to blame for all this. I did ask him that simple question that got the ball rolling.  

Just goes to show you never know where one little question can lead...
 

If you are interested in his work, I highly encourage you to take time to browse his Etsy shop. You might just find something that strikes your fancy. {But then again maybe I hope you don't so I can keep them all ;) }

Till next time...

{Jewelry photos courtesy Joshua Wingerden}
 

Been Creating...

For the past couple of weeks I have been busy.

Busy creating that is. 

I was contacted by a woman through Etsy about a local art show...called Art & Whimsy...for a "ladies night out" event showcasing woman artists and designers in the area.

I was thrilled. This will be my first big show...so I thought I would share what I have been working on for it...

More burlap pillows of course...I am going to have a hard time letting go of these ones...

Embellished with vintage jewels...

Burlap and linen rag balls...

Some paper posy creations {aka...coffee filters}...

 

My first topiary tree...

and some wreaths...

with some spring decorations...

including these collage eggs...

 

Some little Easter kits...

Lavender sachet cones...

And of course...lots of jewelry...

I even made a burlap skirt for the table...

The show is tonight 5-10pm...hope I won't be too nervous...but...I probably will ;)   I am excited though to expose my little Painted White to this small corner of the world...

Will hopefully get some photos at the show to share later on!

Till next time...

 

Today is the Day!

...the one I have been telling you about...

...getting excited about...

...and very nervous about too...I won't lie...

About a month ago, an admin from Etsy wrote telling me that they wanted to make my shop a featured seller. For those of you not big into Etsy...you might not understand what an honor and big deal it is...but it really  is! My first reaction was..."but...why me?" And I am still asking that question now... ;)

But I am there and you can read my interview by clicking here.

I have unveiled my Winter Collection over there instead of my website this month, so I do hope you will check out all I have been working.  Here is a sampling of what you will find...

Lots of holiday inspiration in my favorite white and neutral shades...

and many handmade linen and burlap items...

embellished vintage scarves...

as well as my photograph notecard originals {more coming soon!}...

and the shop is stocked full of vintage goods too...

and don't forget to head over to my other Etsy shop, Paradox, for my latest jewelry designs...

 

I hope that you enjoy my little offerings...I have poured my heart and soul into all of them...

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving! I know I have so much to be thankful for this year...including all of my wonderful friendships here...and all of the sweet words you  leave for me...

Till next time...

The Work of Her Hands...

Well, I have finally recovered...still a little congested...but much better than I was before. Thank you so much for all of the well wishes. They helped get me through ;)

I was thrilled to  be able to reopen the shop and get most of what I had hoped to accomplished. You will notice a fresh look {again}...perhaps I am addicted to change? I just cannot help myself...just like my home...I always have to "spice" things up a bit..

There is also a new layout. I hope that you find it easy to navigate. One of the struggles I have with my web host, is that I do not love 100% any of the layout options they offer for navigating - which is another reason that I am always changing things...trying to find the best one to help customers move around easily. I know that this new one is not perfect...but for now it works. The shop categories are now at the top and page links on the bottom. I also made all of the product thumbnails larger, which I hope you enjoy and that it makes for easier viewing.

I was delighted to have some of you stop by on opening day and take some things home with you already! For the rest of you, who haven't had a chance to head over, I thought I would share some of the new things that you will find. Today, I thought I would share some of the jewelry that I have worked on for the past several months that you can now find in our The Adorned Life collection under Bijoux...many of these pieces are created with vintage components and all have an air of vintage romance...

Vintage Romance Collection

Crystal Grandeur...

Crème et Noir...

Liaison in Lace...{Sold}

Quite Contrary...{Sold}

 

Blanc et Bleu...

Romantic Fleur...

Her Heart Flutters...

India 1942...

 

Ivory Fleur... {one of these is already heading to this sweet lady}

Morning Dew...{Sold, but we will restock soon}

Religious Relics Collections

My personal favorite of all of my recent pieces is this charm bracelet...filled with my absolute favorite vintage finds that I have saved for years for something special. {Many more Religious Relic pieces to come soon}

Lady of Fatima...{Sold}

There are two other Collections in our Bijoux category including our Eclectic Jardin and Remnants of Time {featuring Joshua's pieces}...I will share more from these later once I get more of the new pieces listed...

There are many more new items in the shop {over 50 have already been listed...and we aren't done yet!}...so I hope you will stop by and look around...

Every order placed, this month and next, receives a gift certificate for 25% off through the end of the year...perfect for holiday shopping!

Hope to have you stop by soon...

Till next time...