Dining Room Reveal!

Okay, I know I haven't really been talking about this here, so it isn't really something you all have been anxiously awaiting. But, I have been waiting for it for literally months. Last summer I won two free gallons of paint from Dutch Boy. Two months or so later I finally got the paint. In October, my mom and I took the wallpaper off the walls. Early this year I bought the paint for the top half of the walls, plus the spackle and various other items needed to make it happen, and still it wasn't done.

This weekend my hubby promised me he would make it happen. And he took three nights and a day, and make it happen he did! I love him.

Wanna see what took so long?

Don't you think it's a huge improvement? The wall paper was there when we moved in. I didn't love it, but it was not SOOO gaudy that I couldn't live with it. There were other things that needed more immediate attention. (Like the bright neon green kitchen with gray cabinets in the kitchen. Eek.)

What I liked less was the color, or rather non-color, on the bottom half of the wall. So I am loving the dark gray that is there now. It defines the room. It's current and modern.

I love the warm cream on the top.

We had to buy a new light fixture last year when the old brass one literally fell out of the ceiling. This modern silver one was on clearance and it was just what I was looking for. I was so happy to find it.

I scaled down the folk art in here and replaced it with this antique mirror that my sister bought in Gettysburg. Her husband felt it was too fussy for their home. Personally, I am glad about that!

This was a Christmas present from my hubby's folks. We love it.

And we kept a few folk items. Firstly, I think a well design room has multiple styles woven into it, for depth and character. Secondly, these two are special. The pic on top was bought for us by my mother in Gettysburg because she said it reminder her of our family. And the red mirror on the bottom was an anniversary present from my husband the year we went to Hannibal, MO. There's a delightful story attached to it that I know we both think of when we look at it.

And even more "rules" from my best friend for Christmas. Couldn't be more perfect.

So overall, what do you think?

What's Old is New Again

I can't believe I own not one but two pieces of vintage feedsack. Thank you Country Living Fair!

Deborah just had knee surgery, so I am hoping these will bring her some cheer while she is recuperating.

She likes bright cheerful colors, and I was so glad when she picked this one. I have been itching to use it since I bought it in September.

Finding the right flower combination was challenging, but I think it worked out nicely. I hope she loves them!

Wild Again

I love it when a pair of shoes turns out better than I had hoped. I picked up this remnant of fabric last summer, thinking they would make a very fun pair of shoes if someone was brave enough to give it a try. Luckily, I have just such a customer.

Going into making these I hadn't nailed down exactly what I was going to do for an embellishment. All I knew was that my customer preferred a flower. This happens sometimes. Occasionally, I wait until the shoe is made and see what inspiration strikes. I planned to do that with this pair, but I honestly had no idea where I was even going to start.

I chose a couple of different brown fabrics to see which I liked better with the shoes, but then I wondered how it would be if I used them both. And I have to say, I loved the effect.

I don't know if you can see it, but the shoe's fabric is a gold toned taffeta with a dark brown velveteen zebra strip. So I loved how the two different flower fabrics mimicked the multi-textures in the shoes.

Not your Average Vintage Shoes

These were so fun to make. I bought this vintage feedcloth at the Country Living Fair knowing they would make a darling pair of shoes. And I felt so lucky finding it.

The little old woman I bought it from told me her mother used to pick out her feed based solely on the fabric of the bag because she made dresses from them. How fabulous is that? And how honored I am to be able to continue the tradition in a way.

This particular pair of shoes were made for the winner of The Lucky Elephant's giveaway.

Tracy appears to be an eternally patient person. Since these were a free prize, they continually got pushed back after paid for and deadlined orders. But, they are now on their way to Canada and I hope she enjoys them!

For the Love of Boots

I know that spring is around the corner, but I really enjoyed making these boots for my friend Laura of Simply Paperie. I say friend even though we have never met because a) she's a fellow Artisan Group Member b) she's a returning customer c) I have ordered from her before and love her products and d) we have a Columbia, Mo connection having both lived there at one time. Laura is so talented, sweet and supportive. These were a joy to make for her.

I love the pale purple with the black lace...

And at the end, I wrote to Laura and begged her to let me put black velvet bows on the backs of them...

I am so happy she agreed to let me. They were the perfect finishing touch! Thank you, Laura!

Shoes for Suri Cruise...Holy Smokes!

If I've said it once, I've said it a zillion times: I am afforded some incredible opportunities as a member of The Artisan Group. This current opportunity is huge! The Artisan Group will be gifting handmade items aplenty to the Tom Cruise family and I was lucky enough to get a spot on that list!

Now, apparently, six year old Suri's shoe collection is famous in its own right. So, with such a passion in the family, of course we all know, shoes are what she'll be getting from me!

Oh the sweet agony of coming up with this design. My first inclination was something very girly. But, then this is a six year old who is wearing gold heels, so maybe more sophisticated was the way to go...

I knew six months ago that this navy silk would make an incredible pair of shoes. (By the way, it used to be a pair of pants.)

And I thought, peep toe might be the way to go, since they were extra special.

And in the middle of this process, I received my Good Little Things Ribbon from The Lonely Heart. My first officially tagged shoe!

I spent almost an entire night's worth of work trying to figure out the embellishment. I knew I wanted it to be this salmon silk (what was once a shirt) but, I had real trouble coming up with a bow or similar thing that I was completely satisfied with. I didn't want the shoes I had worked so hard on to seem "crafty" by topping them off with something that looked cheap. I am totally thrilled with how they turned out. They look like origami bows.

I was so nervous making these. I mean, Suri has custom couture shoes in her closet. I didn't want my shoes to look too meanly beside them. I hope that she likes them! And now comes the waiting!