Making Ribbon Flowers and Trimmings

I recently came across this wonderful book by Helen Gibb titled, "Ribbonwork, The Complete Guide."  It has been around a while, 2004, but has the detail and techniques for creating beautiful flowers that I want to learn for my art projects. 

The book is visually stunning and colorful.

The details of the techniques are graphically laid out well.

 At first, this book seemed intimidating, but after working with it for a while, it really is inspiring!  The price tag was a little shocking too, but this book is substantial in its construction and information.  Well worth the money.

Hopefully, my flower designs and trimmings will turn out as pretty as the ones in the pictures.

All my best,


Valerie

Using Antique and Vintage Jewelry In My Art Work

I have been collecting vintage and antique jewelry my whole life.  Each piece holds a fasination for me.  Who wore this?  Was it a gift from a loved one, or did they buy it for themselves?

The delicate nature of these pieces have lasted over time, and are still useful even in their worn state.   Re-purposing old jewelry into my art adds a vintage and antique deminsion to my work.

Did she feel like royality when she wore this crown pin?

This one is very worn and the patina is great.  The gold tone metal monogram is pitted and scratched.  The wood is still in good condition and adds to the weight of this piece.

This charm bracelet has a history to it.  The charms are delicate and meaningful to the previous owner.  A martini shaker, a chair, a bowling pin, random bits of someones life. 

Did the gentleman that owned this tie clasp use it regularly or just for special occassions?  Because of its petite size, did it belong to a woman?

Was this key representative of true love?  Did it promise that someone holds the key to their heart?

  These little treasures, from the past, will make a fine embellishment to my new art work. 

All my best,

Valerie

Wish You Were Here...Pecan Picking

It's that time of year again...pecans are everywhere...ready for picking.

The weather is cooperating, a light breeze, just enough to blow the pecans out of the tree.

This is my favorite type of picker.  It does a good job collecting up the nuts for me.

I have to be careful where I step so not to crush them.  There are so many under this tree.

Wish you were here!

All my best,

Valerie

Christmas Paper Cones with Webster's Pages

I couldn't resist making Christmas Paper Cones with Webster's Pages.  The Waiting For Santa Collection is,by far, the most beautiful papers around for the holidays.  These wonderful papers are getting harder to find.

A client wanted 40 pieces for a Christmas party she is going to have, and so I got busy making loads of paper cones.

I used the 12 x 12" sheets which provided me larger images to work with when cutting these cones.

Also, the fact that the sheets are two-sided make the inside of each cone as pretty as the outside.

The Waiting For Santa and Sweet Seasons paper collection include rich colors and fun images.  Flowers, Sheet Music, Santa, Christmas Trees, and Holly mix together to create a delightful scene on each sheet.

Each paper cone is lightly edged with vintage photo distressing ink for added vintage style.  I added a lovely 1/8" cranberry satin ribbon and Merry Christmas tag on each piece.  The tags are hand-stamped with a vintage border in sepia ink and edge with distressing ink as well. 

Need to gather all these little beauties up and get ready to ship them off.

All my best,

Valerie

Many Thank To Alice In Weddingland

Many thanks to UK's Alice In Weddingland for including my Paris Themed Table Number in her article titled Unique Table Numbers. 

http://www.aliceinweddingland.co.uk/

Take a look.

Valerie

I've Got Your Number

Some days, I kick back and play with making table numbers. The size of them allows for me to work with stamps, inks, and card stock, differently than making a card. 

I got a little carried away with this one.  The idea was to create a French Market theme.  It ended up more of a French collage with a shabby chic style mixed in.

This "Golden Chandelier" collection, I made for a client.  The base of the table number and matching escort card is navy blue with an ivory top sheet.  The inks are custom mixed dark blue.  The chandeliers are hand-stamped in ultra gold metallic ink.  I used two inks to create the aged effect around the cards.  These came out so beautiful.

This was some of my first botanical collection table numbers.  I did a two-tone effect inking part of the stamp in plum and part in green. 

This is one of the most popular tent number images.  It is a beautiful oak tree and the detail on it is amazing.  The numbers are in a deep russet red and the tree is hand-stamped in sepia ink onto ivory card stock.

This is another French themed table number.  This collage of images has a Paris theme.  I used six different images and four different colors on these pieces.  Gold, red, brown and black.

This was another "special" request from a client.  She liked the black damask pattern and wanted me to create a coordinating theme for her favor tag, escort cards and table numbers.  I used ivory card stock as the base and layered gold metallic paper.  These were labor intensive, but came out really nice.  I call this my "Luxe" collection. 

Moonlight and magnolias are very popular here in the South.  This botanical magnolia image is hand-stamped in sepia ink.

This was a quick table card I made for a client that was having a beach themed wedding.  She like my little starfish.  These little guys seem to be dancing across the bottom of the card.

Well, as you can see, I enjoy making these fun table numbers.  It's easy as 1, 2, 3!  Sorry, that was a little too easy..cheesy...to write.

For those in the States...Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Valerie

Hand-Stamped and Personal, Tags, Tags, Tags

It was never really my intent to do so many tags the past few months.

They just seem to be fun.  Some are hand-stamped, some are painted, some are embossed.  Personally, I like vintage.  But, my customers have different tastes and styles they like.  It requires me to work with all kinds of images and techniques.

This tag fits on a welcome bag for a destination wedding in Hawaii.  It is a large heavy-weight piece and has aqua and pale coral flowers and green leaves hand-stamped. I also made her a matching thank you card that will have her wedding picture on the cover.  Another customer liked it so much, she wanted some of these tags in mango and aqua for her wedding in Jamaica.

This sweet baby shower tag was made very personal by adding the baby's name at the bottom.  I just love this sleeping baby on the crescent moon.  The star is embellished with a silver rhinestone.  Pretty!

This large favor tag is bold and beautiful with the peacock strutting his full tail.  Peacock blue and green cardstock make this tag pop.

I just love this vintage wishing well image.  I couldn't help but make a wedding wish tag with it.  The bride and grooms names and wedding date personalize it.  I have also done a multitude of personalized favor tags for so many brides and grooms, with chandeliers, star fish, magnolias, damask patterns, and birds.

These are some of the matching escort cards I have done too.  The magnolia card is hand-pained with gold paint in the center of each flower.  The Golden Chandelier series I did has a gorgeous metallic gold chandelier and two tone vintage colors rubbed all along the edges.  Gold metallic paper highlights the Luxe series of black damask escort cards.  Beautiful!  Lots of seashells grace both sides on the beach escort cards with its aqua colored shimmer cardstock. 

I keep all my tags in a box next to my design station.  They help inspire me.

Talk with you soon.

Valerie