Vintage finds turn into vintage keepsake

Good Morning in Blogland!

I couldn't wait to make this post. A few posts back I listed some vintage finds I made at the antique mall. Here's a reminder:

It wasn't completed in time for Valentine's, but that's okay, She's has more of an anniversary/wedding theme or as a birthday Angel. I had to finish embroidering the leaves on the 1940's hankie. I only did one corner. I didn't want to take a chance on the piece shredding. The doll needed a little work too. Her hair needed to be coiffed a little better and her hand-crocheted dress had some.... revealing holes. For almost 70 years old these vintage finds fixed up and came together nicely.

This is an Everlasting Love Angel.

Her 'wings' were created by using a 1930-40 tam of net, silk, and velvet haberdashery flowers and foliage's. The flowers actually create a crown for her hair. The satin and velvet ribbon of the tam makes a nice bustle for the back. For a little surprise she stands atop a 1960's glass amber globe, making her taller so that her skirt flows. A small battery powered votive is placed inside the globe (very low wattage) and she has become a nightlight. Sorry I can't show the glow my flash won't turn off.

This is the close up of her copper and rhinestone heart charm. Her wings have a larger copper filigree heart accenting her wings and bustle.

Here's her close-up. I love the face. I didn't have to touch-up her 'make-up' at all. She's all original. If you look closely she has a necklace of amber Sworovski crystals around her neck.

The bottom of her 'skirt' sports more Sworovski crystals. In this pic you can see how the hand-embroidery gives a little more texture to the hankie.

I just love it when a design comes together.

Oh, remember the 1950's flower hat in the same post back in Jan.,( Susan of Black-eyed Susan's Kitchen reminded me that that hat was very similar to one worn by Mrs. C on Happy Days! ) well I'm almost finished with that angel. I can't wait to show you this one.

It's Time For Spring!!

I don't know about you all, but I am definitely ready for some spring! Since I'm also a Master Floral Designer, I thought it high time I share some of my garden beauties to brighten your day. This is a photo of just everyday French carnations, Peruvuian lilies, Viking mums, chrysanthemums, heather, and liatris, in a little, colorful, french country Mille Fleur design. The butterfly just makes me wish my gardens outside were in full bloom, but no such luck it's still cold and drab outside.

This is really spring. It's our Prairie Basket. We take grapevine and weave amongst the flowers with ivy then add 'wildflowers' with accents of dried blossoms and leaves. The tulips pushing up past the dried leaves really signals spring. A little tidbit of info. Ever wonder why when you get an arrangement with tulips in it and you wake up the next morning and they seem to be out of place from the design, kind of sticking out of line? The first thing you think is the cat or dog have been batting at it. Don't blame them. A fresh tulip will continue to grow once it's been taken from the mother plant..it can grow up to an inch longer for a few days, then the bloom will open. If you place an open tulip in the cold...33-38* it'll close back up to reopen again.

There is so much misinformation about flowers out there. A fresh flower--rose, carnations, daisy mum, carnation, and many more varieties--can last for 2 weeks when taken care of properly, but the key word is fresh and proper care.. For example: When we receive tulips from the grower. They aren't showing color, they are green. We place in warm water with a hydrating solution, makes water wetter, it's a chemical thing, anyway, it can take a couple of days before they show color. Then they are ready to use, but they are tight and will take time to fully open. Fresh flowers they should just be breaking open and to do that they have to be processed with hydrating chemicals and preservatives. And, don't get me started on the different grades of flowers. Did you know a rose is not rose, is not a rose. There are at least 8 different grades in roses alone. Enough right now of standing on my 'flower box'

I love being able to come in and open boxes of flowers. The fragrance is delish..pungent carnations, sweet waxflower, aromatic roses...they chase all the winter blue away. I wish we had a smellaputer. The fragrances would just waft through your screen and surround you.

Sorry, but it beats Calgon taking you away any day.

Busy as a Bee

Phew! I have been as busy as a bee getting ready for Valentines Day, completing some unfinished projects and starting some new ones. One of the projects I just completed was 10 glass plates embellished or hand-painted to be sold as part of a fund raiser for a gentleman that was diagnosed with lung and brain cancers. Those snow days were really a Godsend last week or I wouldn't have gotten them done. (Put us way behind at the shop, but we'll catch up..we always do.) I was one of five local artists asked to donate our creativity. They could be done any way we wanted in any medium we chose. Here are mine.

The plate was painted a chocolate brown and I added a square of 1960's plaid wool and frayed the edges. The center is a 1940's hand-crocheted flowers accented with a vintage button stack

I wanted something a little modern so I painted this plate black and added a heart made of 1960's floral rayon and 1960's plaid wool. The center is a new heart button. I placed some batting behind the floral print so it stands away from the plate .

This Plate is all hand-painted . I gave the plate a brown base coat then added a black flecked finish. When it dried I I added a late fall garden scene . It reminds me of a place Hillsboro, Ohio where it's a bird and wildlife wetlands sanctuary with ponds where people can fish. I think Ducks Unlimited has taken it over. It's a quite place just

to sit.

I wanted a plate that was, simplicity. I left the glass clear and added a vintage 1960's round of calico and edged it with a complimentary rickrack. The center is a large daisy button.

This was a fun plate to create. I base coated it with white then added the greens for foliage's and the forget-me-not's. I framed the center with a blue monochromatic hand-crocheted rickrack to make it pop.

I used the reverse painting technique on this plate. I started by applying the lightest colors first and let them dry. I then repeated the process in varying saturations of color. When it all dried I coated the back of the plate in white. I then added a frame of vintage hand-crocheted rickrack to add some texture. The roses look like they're floating on the glass.

This is my Americanna/Monet-esque rendition. I hand-painted the farmhouse scene and accented by framing it with buttons. I didn't realize it until it was all done, but the farmhouse reminds me of my Great-Grandmother's farm, and, the painted gardens could be a picture of my Great-Aunt's carefully tended blooms in her back yard. Hope the people like it..I can smell the roses.

I again added a base coat of brown to the plate with black flecks. I dyed the 1950's doily a litter brown and added a raised medallion covered in natural cotton batting with an applique I created by taking a 1940's hankie and hand-embroidered a sunflower bouquet that was on it and carefully cut it out. This took a while to finish, but I think it was worth it.

This plate is folk art/country. The brown base coat makes the sunset coutryside stand out and the red gingham ruffle adds a little charm.

Now the paint has a to cure a little so it won't chip so easily, and, it's off to the fundraiser later this week. I get so nervous when I do things like this. I can't wait to see what the others did. I think I'll add these to my gallery page of my website. They'll give good examples for customer designs.

As a treat Sunday, since I've been stuck inside working so much, Jim took me on a ride. We went up to Columbus. I'll have some pics late of our excursion and vintage finds.

vintage finds

After my last post I thought I'd show some of my recent vintage finds from my recent travels.














These two pretty vintage hats were in great condition. The one on the bottom is from the late 1930's- early 40's. The haberdashery flowers are a luscious satin and velvet mix of taupes and muaves. The bright, springy piece on the top is from the 1950's-60s and it to contains velvet and silk flowers. I cannot bring myself to tear these apart, so I'll have to think how to repurpose them.

A several days later and a few more excursions I found this cute 1940's doll. Her cheeks are so rosy and lips a little red bow. When her eyes are open they are a deep blue with long painted lashes. I will have to fix her crocheted dress. Her hairdo will definitely need attention too! The over sized hankie is from the 30's, as you can see, has already begun being highlighted with embroidery around the leaves. I think I found my inspiration for this angel. Combine all this with the vintage hat as wings and voile'. It's not a traditional valentine color scheme, very monochromatic, but with the copper hearts and some other embellishments, she'll say 'Love'. I'll post a pic when she's completed.
Alas, the other hat will have to wait. I still have to find an inspiration for it. I'm thinking maybe flower fairyish? Have to cut it for wings...can't bring myself to put a scissor to it. Maybe as a topper of some kind with the doll..( still to be found) ....standing in the center? It's just pipecleaner and net frame..it's wouldn't support much. Getting ahead of myself. I still have to find a vintage doll and fabric to match the hat...I'm off!

Vintage Alphabet

Since this is the beginning of a new year I would like to thanks all those Bloggers and Typepad typists who have visited my website/etsy site/blog in 2008, and (who have become fast friends) for adding me to their Blog Lists and/or linked us together through their websites. I didn't think when I began a blog in November of 08 that anyone would be interested in my thoughts, etc. but you all have given me such encouragement. Again a BIG thank you

Now onto my post..........

Since this is January I thought that I'd do some blogs that contained a little vintage alphabet. So, since this is the first month the corresponding letter should be

A for apron. That quintessential hostess staple of the 30's-60's. I suppose with the arrival of Women's Lib in the 70's this little piece of material was synonymous with tying women to the kitchen, thus the ties that bind must be broke. Fast forward 30 years and several stained and grease spattered frocks later, the apron is back and gaining popularity. Just type a search for

a-p-r-o-n and view the myriad of offerings, clubs, and blogs dedicated to the lowly fashion accent.

Here are a few of my fav examples,

This frilly 50's find was just a plain cotton jane, but I hand-embroidered the pocket motif and added a couple of fluttery butterflies. Also included with this apron is a 1950 Cookie Book published by the Culinary Arts Institute. The cook book fits perfectly in the pocket.

Don't you just love the graphics of the vintage books?

My next choice is a little appluscious find. A 1940's apron with apple applique pockets that were placed over a hand-embroidered brick wall. I added hand-embroidered blossoms covering over small stains making this find just like new. In the pocket I added a 1950's Pies and Pastries Cook Book. There are a lot of interesting recipes like Alphabet Pie using Alphabet noodles or Cottage Cheese pie. You should be able to enlarge a pic to view the recipe. I have some new ideas on the worktable that I will have on my site soon. Now, Do you have a fav apron that you own or that is on your website for sale. Let's see your finds!

Happy New Year

Hope everyone had a very Happy New Year!

What a great vacation we had. Didn't go far from home, but made little jaunts to area antique malls and rides through the area countryside. It was warm on several different days, so these rides were quite pretty. Creeks were tinged with ice, trees were bear to see hawks, deer, trails not usually visible. Some trees already have buds formed, which is quite early for here. Keep a watch I'll have pics of some of the wonderful antique places we stopped. I'll also have pics of some of my finds and there will also be pics of new projects.

Back at work today. Changing displays....cleaning.....really wish it was like a website, click a button...buckets clean, click a button...christmas tree is gone,

click a button...window is changed to valentines.

(sigh) My first New Year wish did not come true..the clicker is broke.

Did you do something different for the new year, make a new year wish on the first star of 2009?

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year From

Brown Gingham Creations!

My studio and Etsy shop are closed now until Jan. 5th

In the last post I showed you what we've been working on here at the flower shop. http://www.aandjsfloralboutique.com/

I began at our main display window outside and then inside at the front entryway.

(See previous post)

Today our tour our tour takes us into the main showroom (there are 3 showrooms/main showroom/sunporch/kitchen-sales area, a design studio and display case for fresh botanicals, and a separate workroom where the bulk of creating occurs.)
As we enter the room this is a turn-of -the-century buffet that is the perfect spot to display reprodution vintage Santas. They depict Santa at different time periods and countries. My favorite is the patriotic Santa in the far left corner. Standing next to him is a Victorian style patriotic Christmas tree. Flags, bunting, dried carnations, decorations...all sealed under glass. Any one of these would be a great gift for the collector.
In the center of the room is a wonderful turn-of-the-century violin-leg library table filled with holiday fare. We display not only permanent botanicals designs in this room, but fresh too. Like this delightful fresh, fragrant mix in a vintage 1930-40's Mill with waterwheel ceramic planter. We also love to take vintage items and create tabletop vinettes, like the 1950's sewing box accented by matching roses, greenery, and special finds that were inside the box such as wooden spools of thread, buttons, packs of needles, etc. Perfect keepsake for the needlecrafter or seamstress.
As you come to the front of the table an antique Berea chair sits on top with a swag of faux greens and pinecones cascading over the chair back. The seat is filled with basket filled


with holly and one of my Christmas pillows. Next to is more of my hand-work, a bowl of fragrant fresh holiday greens and a wonderful mache
rocking horse in it's holiday floral finery. In the far corner of the room is a faux fireplace, ready for Santa to come down.
It was dry laid and the hand-carved roses on the mantle were done by me. This years color combination is rich reds, muaves, golds, browns, and greens. It seems retro earthtones are sneaking back.
As I said before our displays change daily. Can you pick out the difference between the two photos?.....
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The rose bouquet on the far right corner of the mantle is gone. Well, I'd better close for now and do up some replacement designs and orders that have to go out on the next sleigh.

What I've Been Working On

Thought I'd give you a peek at what we've been working on at the flower shop, A&J's Floral Boutique(R). This is our front display window. We love the oldtime window displays of 40's to the 60's with their holiday scenes and animation. Santa is new and he sings, but Mrs. Claus is an 'animatron' from the 60's and still works. She busily knits in her rocking chair nodding her head to the msuic. The feather tree is filled with vintage looking glass Waterford ornaments depicting Santa with a globe and is topped by one of my Angelic Inspirations. The elves have just finished the mache' train and firetruck just in time. They're filled with a feather tree and holiday boughs. As you follow the wrought iron fence around to the front door,

You are greeted by Frosty. This is out on our 'sunporch', which is filled with plants and gardeny gifts, so we've decorated it with babies breath, assorted blossoms, berries, gilded acorns with oak leaves, and frosted balls. If you look real close there are little chickadees nestled in the boughs. Throughout Christmas our displays change almost daily with sales of product, so tomorrow I'll give you another peek of a different area.

Christmas tree

It's finally beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Albers' house. We had our first snow fall ( of no accumulation predicted) of about 3 inches over the weekend, so I figured that would get Jim into mode....it did. (by the by for those of you who aren't familiar with Cincinnati weather. It was in the 20's- teens over the weekend, by tomorrow it's back up to the 50's) We store our tree, lights still on, upstairs so all he has to do is come down and place in the front room. Realllly keeps the light issues at a minimum if ya know what I mean. He then brings up all the ornament boxes from the basement. I love opening them up...it's like opening a time capsule.
My fav collectible is aluminum. (This is a subject for a future post) These aluminum reflectors were inherited from my grandma. They are placed over the light bulbs and the colors are so vibrant from the plastic centers. Especially on her aluminum tree! You can place the reflectors over the matching primary color light bulb of the plastic or place on a different color to create new colors..i.e., blue over red bulb =purple, red over yellow bulb=orange..you get the idea. I also use some larger ones and to put those on my window candles.

These are a few of the vintage ornaments I place on my tree. In the 60's when I was little these types of ornaments were always on our Christmas tree mixed with the newer ones of course. The plastic yellow one has an aluminum whirligig inside. When placed near a light bulb the whirligig spins from the heat generated. They work on the same principle as those German candle carousels you see..for the life of me I can't think of what they're called, If you can please tell me. The little bell is colored glass with mica flecks for snow on the top and bottom edge.

This last picture is a plastic ornament with plastic flowers inside. These too were on my Mom and Dad's tree at home, but as I said she still uses them.I was sooooo happy to find 6 of these at the Burlington Antique Flea Market in Kentucky last year in a box of ruined ornament. (they thought the openings were supposed to be filled with a colored film...children). I have many other vintage glass balls. Some with glittered landscapes scenes others with stenciled holiday icons, and still others with birds and fauna. I mix them with new solid colored glass balls to fill out the tree. When I purchase a 'new' vintage ball it replaces the solid one.This This is the picture of the completed tree. Jim still has to put the village and train under it though. (Pic to follow). Let me know what your fav vintage ornament is or share pics of your vintagey tree.

Oops! Here are a few more Ornaments I forgot to place. The hand-blown glass and celluloid is a German creation and very old. The other two are 1940's-50's glass balls