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Pearls and Lace, My Favorites!

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Newest Lace Book Completed!

Here is the finished Lace Book, (previous post shows the start),
And I completed it within One Week!
Can you believe it's finished so quickly?
I couldn't, so now I'm a fan of GLUE!
Yes, hot glue.  The new way I am going to use to make some of my lace books!

Now, don't get me wrong, I still stitch quite a few elements:
The base of the book, small embellishments, etc.

But for the most part, this one is put together using hot glue!
So here it is:


Cover



First inside pages
page one:


page 2:


pages 3 and 4:





pages 5 and 6:





above, the back cover and below, the spine





All of the images used were found on Pinterest.  Many thanks to those of you who contribute such lovely things for us to love and use!

Wishing you all a blessed end of 2015, and blessed 2016!
Love,
Doni



Tuesday, December 22, 2015

A New Lace Book

Sometimes you just have to make something.  That drive hits you when you can't put it off, can't let it pass, and you just HAVE to get crafty.

A few weeks ago I decided that instead of trying to get the house work done, it was time to make something.  So I started a Lace Book.
Now don't complain about me not finishing one I've already started...this one is for a friend who is battling cancer.  Please pray for her.


I've only started it, just getting the front cover and the edges worked on.
I must say, I am having trouble figuring out the best order to make the pages!
You'd think after watching endless hours of lace book tutorials and shares that I'd be ready to make
one of these, but the process is sometimes difficult.
Especially when you are trying to get everything perfect!


I have utilized Pinterest and my board of Bible Verses which you can find here.
I think these will work beautifully!





I've started by printing out the pictures on to plain muslin, using the freezer paper method which works well for me.  Just have to remember to NOT get these wet or I might risk smearing the print.


I am actually doing something I never thought I'd ever do...use a hot glue gun...to make this book with.  Time is important, to us all, and I finally decided after seeing so many of y'all using glue to make your beautiful books that I could do so as well.  I have to say, it's a LOT faster!!


I printed out 4 large pictures and 9 smaller pics, and then sandwiched them with a layer of felt in between the muslin layers, then zigzag stitched around them.
I am gluing tiny lace trims around them, but I have to finish them before I get them into the book pages.




I've recently become entranced with wedding dress appliques and trims to the point of purchasing some to use.  They are so much fun!


When I get the next stages of the book done, I will take more pictures.  It should be an exciting part, where I get to get all the bling out and decorate the details!!


Blessings,
Doni


Wednesday, December 9, 2015

I Figured Out Why I Love Old Stuff!

At least for me.  
It's something to do with my heritage.

I love old photos, those images of long ago people with stoic looks on their faces, hair that grew all their lives all curled or stacked up on their heads, dresses that were full of fancy laces and ruffles, hats that were stunning!  Those faces and eyes held many stories, many loves, many pains.
And yet, they were REAL people.  They lived, breathed, had lives that meant something.

My great great grandparents and great grsndmother


As many of you who have read my blog before are aware, I was adopted.
I didn't HAVE a heritage as I grew up.  I didn't look like them, act like them, think like them.
And for those reasons, I was the outcast, black sheep of the 'famly'.
But at age 30, God allowed me to find my birth mother!
I HAVE A HERITAGE!

You can read my Adoption story here.

My Birth Mother as a Baby

Me as a Baby

As I got to know my birth mother better over the years, I asked many questions.
She shared generously all she knew, and I met and talked with many of my older relatives too.
Photos and stories were shared with me, precious memories and love.
Acceptance.  

To know that I'm not just a stick added to someone's family tree, then erased, is awesome.
KNOWING is freedom for me!

My Birth Mother

So, why do I love old stuff?  It's because all the old stuff was around when my ancestors were alive.
Perhaps I find a little old piece of lace that was used on a dress way back in the 1800's.
Well, someone made that lace, someone wore that lace, and someone took care of it over the years so that it is now in my possession.  That meant a lot to them, and it means a lot to me.

As the years go by, I hope that the pieces I have been entrusted with will be owned by others who see it for the beauty and history and nostalgia that it inspires in me.  They are all so unique, just like we are.  As I look at your blogs, your You Tube videos, your artwork, I see so many beautiful ladies who love similar things that I do.  You ladies are going to be the ones that future girls look to as their ancestors, their history, their inspiration!

So, thank you, each of you, who inspire me, who love things that are old, who see the value of caring and using and making beauty where you are.  Thank you for sharing your lives with us, for teaching us what you know, for being a part of my life and my history.  Some day, our grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc. will look back and say,
"Did you see all those laces that lady had way back in the 2000's?  I want a collection just like that!"

Those old black and white or sepia photos that are cracked and sometimes torn?  Well, I have a few of those now that are MY OWN ANCESTORS!!!
WOW...what a gift!  I'll NEVER give those up.  To see faces that were my own relatives is priceless, and unless you've never gazed at a face that belongs to you, you may not understand.

My Birth Mother

"The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup:
 thou maintainest my lot.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places;
yea, I have a goodly heritage."
Psalm 16:5-6

And if you have someone you love who doesn't know, who doesn't have that, please try to understand them.  Don't try to fit them into your own mold, don't try to direct their lives to be what you want it to be.  Let them be themselves!  It's NOT WRONG if they don't think like you do.
They are going to be different than you!!!
And it's those differences that God can use to make YOU a better person, just like those differences in you can make them a better person.
And may I just add one more word about it.
Acceptance.

Blessings,
Doni

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Rhinestone Buttons and Ribbon Lace

Hello everyone!
I hope you are all doing well and having a lovely week.

Today I wanted to get busy and make something pretty, and then these gorgeous buttons caught my eye.  I had them in an old pickle jar!  Yuk!  Out into a beautiful pink dish they had to go.
I have collected a number of inexpensive yard sale and thrift store finds of small bowls, plates, and trays.  They make beautiful display pieces for my collections!


As I was trying to get some good photos, I realized that if I blurred the camera ON PURPOSE for the buttons, they had that gorgeous blur of shine and color.  But if I tried to catch a piece of watered  silk and get the focus sharp, it looked BLURRED!!  So, here it is.


Don't those buttons look lovely all blurred that way? (below)


This lovely bunch of pink and cream is a new Ebay find.  I fell in love with all the variations of the cream, and the pink velvet ribbon intertwined!




Praying for peace,
Doni

Monday, November 9, 2015

Bling, Sparkle, and Dazzle!

It speaks for itself.
  The Brilliance of wedding lace, appliques and buttons.
Hope you enjoy!












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Joining the Parties at

 http://appleapricot.blogspot.com/

and



Blessings,
Doni

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