White Pears

The bottom pic are the ones I made.

White pears are becoming very popular in home decor especially if you like vintage,cottage or french country.

I have been experimenting with making some white pears for my shop on etsy.

Southern touches will soon have the bottom pic listed and they are stark white pears upcycled from vintage pears that have a natural stem look and rustic white coated paper mache outer layers.

I first put three layers of torn white paper over vintage plastic pears and dried 24 hrs. Then I gave them 3 coats of stark white acrylic craft paint and let dry in between coats.  Using fine steel wool I gave them a brushing all over thinning in random spots.

I think they turned out nicely for a small bowl or basket display.

Renewed Kitchen

My kitchen is getting a facelift. The colors for so many years waere beige and primary colors.  I have painted the cabinets stark white enamel  with a beige wainscot around the walls and added black and white vintage adornments.  All white dishes and lots and lots of milkglass. I even painted the cabinet pulls metal parts black.

Still have a cabinet to transform but have not decided where it will be black or white.  I'm leaning towards black. 

Now I am collecting white china of any and every style.

Most of the color splashes  comes from my collection of dogwood blossom vintage dishes and nic nacs.

Everything seems to suit for the time being.

Coming to Etsy Shops

From vintage to primitive you will be able to select your favorites by visiting all three etsy shops.
http://www.dogwoodflowerdesigns.etsy.com
http://www.vintagetreasureanew.etsy.com
http://www.southerntouches.etsy.com

Southerntouches will be closing from all handmade items and become a shop of renewed home decor and usable items.  Most items will be upcycled to weathered white or rustic.  Hope you will stop by in the near future for the grand opening.

Vintage hats has become a passion for my daughter who has a shop at http://nocarnations.etsy.com.  I have been looking around lately to see what I could find and why she is so fascinated with them.  I think she could talk for hours about what she has learned about vintage hats and millinery items.

Taking a look at just some of the hats I found, I can see why she loves them so much.

A lady in a hat is so glamourous and chic.

Vintage Lace Gowns

I have been working with vintage lace the last few days and just got caught up in all the pics of vintage gowns.   I try to buy all the lace I can afford and even if the piece is soiled or torn you can usually get enough saved for earring,cuffs,slips or even hats.    Seems to be a coming attraction for me .

Coming Attractions

Just a few of my spring and summer style earrings that will be appearing in http://vintagetreasureanew.etsy.com/. shop.

Making earrings for gifts,friends and of course myself is a great delight in my crafting time.  Experimenting with shapes,sizes,and textures is satisfying and sometimes they just click.

Vintage Treasures

All these pieces of mink were being crafted by someone into brooches and hairpieces.  Found in box was the mink collar fastened to large grosgrain ribbon. Genuine mink leather.  Thought I might finish them and put them on my http://southerntouches.etsy.com/. shop to see who might be interested in these adorable creations.  There is enough mink to continue making about 10-15 brooches and pins.  

Let me know what everyone thinks about this project. I can't just let this find waist away.