Friday, February 7, 2014

Ribbon Flowers Inspired by Nicholas Kniel

 
I travel quite a bit for my non-blogger "real" job. Occasionally, I get to indulge myself and hunt down cool places to visit on my travels. That's how I found Nicholas Kniel's awesome ribbon store in Atlanta. In fact, I think I may have just insulted him by calling it a ribbon store. The place is heaven.
 
 
 
There are spools and spools of wonderful fine ribbons and perfectly complementing embellishments. Many are vintage like the crab apples and leaves in the flower pin pictured.
 
Nicholas was working the day I visited and was a treat to meet. I picked up a couple of vintage embellishments I fell in love with and he helped pick matching ribbons that I probably wouldn't have had the eye or talent to select, but were, in fact perfect!
 
 
These velvet buds, vintage leaves, and vintage stamens are so elegant.

I took away a wonderful tip from Nicholas that I will share with you.

It is so obvious and so true.

His advice has resonated in my head while crafting ever since meeting him.

His ribbon's aren't inexpensive and I was a bit stunned at my total as my purchases were rung up and was debating not buying it all.

It may sound like salesmanship but I took his comment to heart. It was something close to, "if you use cheap ingredients you end up with a cheap looking product."

His ribbon and embellishments are so elegant that they take your breath away. And he was also right that I would be able to make a lot of flowers from what I purchased.

 

Try his advice for yourself.

Use the best products you can afford to use and you'll be amazed at the difference in the quality of what you produce.

These pins add a bit of spring to our big heavy winter coats we wear up here in Minnesota!
 
 
Shiny centers really make the pins complete!
 
Again, let me add my disclaimer that I am in no way compensated or associated with any of the products or stores I write about, but Nicholas has a new book and it is wonderful.
 
 

 

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Liberty of London Fabric-stashalish

My family took a week long vacation last spring to London. In addition to spending time on all the fabulous site seeing we squeezed in a bit of shopping.

I got a great tip from a Millinery shoppe owner to check out the fabric at Liberty of London.



I feel very fortunate that I asked her and that I was just down the block from Liberty, a historic haberdashery. A whole new world has opened to me.
The picture below is exactly what the building looks like today.
I was a bit overwhelmed at all the awesome choices. but I knew I had to buy at least one yard just to bring some of the wonderful stuff across the pond!



 
Thank goodness someone was buying this fabric and the bolt was still on the counter. It caught my eye and my choice was made.
 
It has been sitting in my sewing room and I was tempted to keep it as a treasured stash, but I bit the bullet and started cutting! Oh I am in love. I organized my purse with lovely new accessories.
 

Liberty of London Tana Lawn: Amy Jane

Liberty of London’s Spring/Summer 2013 Collection of Tana Lawn.

 

About the pattern, Amy Jane: “Intricate heart print composed of delicate flowers mingling with twisting vines, reminiscent of the exotic trees found in the Abbey Garden.”

 

 

 

Are you a Magpie? Shiny Objects in a Christmas Shadow Box

 
I am a Magpie. Magpies collect shiny objects; therefore, I am a Magpie.
I have boxes in my studio of shiny, rusty, dented, old, broken, perfect, soft, hard, lost and now found objects.
 
 
During Christmas vacation I made this shadow box filled with Christmas related finds. At garage and estate sales, do you buy little oddities, just because they speak to you somewhere in your soul? Do you look at something and say "that's cool"? Do you smile a secret smile and think to yourself "I can do something with that!" Well, you may be a magpie too.
 
 
 
What's in my shadow box? Rhinestones, glitter, antique plastic nativity pieces, antique ribbon, and vintage everything! I loaded up this shadow with all the pieces I love.
 
 
Let's play find the object:
  • Salt and Pepper shakers with awesome enameled tops.
  • A circle rhinestone belt bucket
  • Three gold angel figurines playing violin, trumpet, and bass
  • Three silver napkin rings
  • A sterling silver bell
  • A length of tatted lace