1920s China Cabinet Project

Remember this thing I picked up on a whim a few weeks ago?

I decided that it was in good shape - good enough shape not to paint it and turn it into a "pie safe" type of farmhouse cabinet like I intended, when I purchased it.

The worst part about it was the pukey green painted interior and the broken door glass.

I took the door to have the glass replaced and slapped a new coat of antiquey white paint on the inside, added some new art deco style glass knobs, removed all the white paint smears and splatters with a razor knife, removed the ruined veneer from the top, covered the top in wood replace and painted it, and cleaned and oiled the whole thing.

I don't have an immediate use for another china cabinet. So, I am selling her. She is for sale. She is not perfect, and has her dents and dings, but she is still lovely. If you are local, and want to buy her, email me or leave me a message and we can get together for you to see it in person!

Salvage Necklaces

I made these  months ago but have just now decided to list them in the shop.

Top: I made this one from a clear glass "button" I found in that stash of buttons I bought at the flea market, and I later discovered that it is a part from one of those "hangy" doo-dads that hang down from antique chandeliers. The necklace part is silver tone chain. More info here

Middle: Another piece of scrap from the flea market buttons stash. This is a 2 inch long, 1 inch tall section of clear glass rhinestone trim for hats or dresses or some such thing. Attached to a silver tone chain necklace. More info here

Bottom: This is my first and, so far, only attempt at the textile bib necklace craze. I made this from two tiny cap sleeves off a antique infant dress I took apart. I used the rest of the dress to make my rag ball Christmas tree ornaments, and didn't want to throw away these tiny pin tucked things. So I sewed them into this necklace and added some vintage and antique buttons - and a tiny gold tone locket that actually opens. More info here

Just my experimental jewelry making results. Here is one of the rag ball ornaments I made from the baby dress I mentioned:

The whole thing was pin tucked..... and in complete tatters. I didn't want to throw it out so I made things with it, and gave it a whole new purpose. A pretty purpose.

:)

Photo Outtakes.

 I was truing to take photos of these earrings (avail. in my shop soon)  when my youngun',  Gator, barged in and plopped hismelf right down on top of them. He knows exactly how to get my attention.

On White & Wearing It After Labor Day

 Just a random old photo I found in some obscure file on my laptop.

Okay, Labor Day has come and gone, so it is officially time to quit wearing white shoes, my dear Southern Belles. Or white anything, really. Unless you're getting married. I think it is acceptable to wear white after Labor Day if you're wearing a white dress to get married in.

Lol. 

I don't know if it's a worldwide fashion law, or if I have just been stuck in the rural Old South for so long that I am just out of touch with the modern world - but I was raised believing that you started wearing white shoes, etc. on Easter and no earlier, and quit wearing white shoes, etc. at Labor day, and no longer.

It says so, in The Southern Belle Handbook.

And that goes for white, or linen, or straw bags, open toed shoes, sundresses, etc. 

I know a lot of people say that it doesn't matter anymore; that the whole "No white after Labor Day" rule is hogwash.

I still adhere to the "law" because I guess I have a deeply ingrained fear, drilled into me from girlhood, of being thought of or said to be "tacky". Nobody who was raised Southern wants to be tacky!

I wish my fear of tacky had been stronger in my teen years; because I was guilty of a lot of tacky in those days, unfortunately. 

 I really don't own many white things, come to think of it. I guess I figure if I just eliminate white from my wardrobe, that lessens my chances of accidentally venturing out the door sporting something white after the official cut off date.

So, it's time for me to do my big wardrobe switcheroo, and put away the white and such, and drag out some cardigans and long sleeve shirts and maybe a couple pairs of pjs suitable for chilly evenings.

It's time for me to have a pretty big wardrobe overhaul, too. Many of my long pants are "plumb woe out", (since we're discussing Southern-ness here) and my pjs are ratty and stained on the cuffs from feeding the chickens in them in the mornings because I am too lazy to get dressed till the last minute; my favorite casual flats actually have a hole in the toe; I have a total of two decent cardigans, and I threw out so many tops this past Spring -  I find I now have next to nothing to wear for chilly weather! So, yay for me, I get to do some shopping here very shortly.

But I won't be buying anything white, noooOOOOoooo. I wouldn't want the cashier at the store to think I was fixing to commit a desperate act of tacky. 

Have a lovely day, dears.

:)


PS - I do not think you're tacky if you wear white after Labor day. It is a personal choice; this post is in complete jest. Please take no offense, if you do wear white all year round.

Autumn Tapestry: My Newest Handbag

 

I bought this bag on an inventory purchase trip, and fully intended to list it in the shop. But like so many other things in my collection, once I got it home and really looked at it, I decided to keep it.  For now, anyway. 

It's so "autumn", with it's black background and gold, green and burgundy floral design. 

Vintage 60s. (Or maybe late 50s?)

It is really staring to feel like autumn around here! The nights get chilly and the mornings as well! I have had to pull out a few long sleeve tops, and we pulled out some "fuzzy" blankets for the cats in the evenings. (The leather sofa gets a bit chilly.)

I am really enjoying the cooler temps; this summer has been so brutal!

 

Shop Update: All New Dress Listings!

 

I am so excited about my new selection of dresses. This is only half of them!!

I was beyond thrilled when my friend Mary agreed to do some modeling for me recently. Mary is the author of a fantastic fashion blog "Farytale Blog" and I've admired her fashion sense and modeling ability ever since she started. She's done a fantastic job!

The other half of the new dress selection is being photographed this week and I'll update with those new dresses later this week or early next week.

For info on sizing/purchasing the dresses above:

1. 80s black lace sleeveless cocktail dress - a real show stopper!! (By Diamond's Run - Wayne Diamond, designer)
2. Pink sundress 70s - 80s
3. 1960s yellow cotton and lace sheath dress (My personal favorite; I love this thing!)
4. 1930s style print dress with peplum (70s)
5. 60s aqua dress
6. 80s bubble skirt cocktail dress - another showstopper!!