A "Link" to My Past

Not very long ago I was searching for some pictures of early oil wells in Oklahoma, and in particular, near my hometown.  I sifted through lots of images, but one really caught my eye.  It was a picture of my mother, the baton twirler, marching with the Drumright High School  Band in their Christmas Parade....probably around 1953-1954.
I sent the picture to my mom and she couldn't believe that it was floating around "out there".  She wasn't even positive that the twirler that I thought was her WAS her (the one on the far left by the brown car), but I blew the picture up and am 99.9% sure that it's her!

  I love finding treasures like old photos of my family....it put a huge smile on my face and opened a whole new book of stories for her to share with me.  It was so much fun.....

Letting You in on One of My Favs - Betsy Martin of Reign Denver

I haven't met Betsy personally, but she seems to be the "Girl in the Know" for Denver.  She sends out a weekly blog with the latest and greatest goings-on locally, so I thought I would share it with all my Denver Buds.  Here's her latest post....enjoy:

 http://www.denverreign.com/

   

Old Favorites

Admit it, ladies. You watch shows like Pan Am and Mad Men and daydream about the costumes. You throw in your Audrey Hepburn DVD collection only to covet her orange Givenchy overcoat and mink hat. You, sweet fashionista, are an old soul. You prefer a little story behind your wardrobe, and a bit of history in your home. And you get giddy as a schoolgirl when you stumble upon hidden gems like South Broadway’s Chic Antiques. Proprietress and Vintage expert Sabine McCurry scours the scene, giving Denver women a chance to step back in time and dress in authentic clothing from 1890 to 1980. Each piece is hand selected for authenticity, quality, condition and style, so that your nod to Jackie O is one of which the icon would undoubtedly approve. Located in the heart of Antique Row, Chic Antiques also offers unbridled goodness by way of luxury bath goods with vintage-inspired packaging, accessories (McCurry’s hat collection is hovering around 1,000) and furnishings that would make any glamour puss go gaga. We loved the 1940s vanity chair that looked like it would be just as charming in our boudoir as it would the bathroom. While there, check out the metallic French wallpaper that adorns the plush dressing area. It’s tres chic. Chic Antiques, 1487 South Broadway, Ring 303.325.5108

Champagne Bubble Clutch

Just sold one of my favorite clutches on Etsy!

   The bride needed a green clutch and was so excited about finding it!

Hope it fits her wedding colors and is more than she expected....I always LOVE to hear something I designed is even better in person!

Many hours were spent hand-sewing the various-sized, ivory pearls

on to liken it to champagne bubbles.....

I think I may have even been drinking a glass a champagne

when I was making it....don't you dare tell!

Twenty Years Ago Today!

I can't believe it!

Twenty years may have gone by, 

but a million memories were created.

Here's to the next twenty, my Love.....

Fall Table Centerpiece

I love fall! The colors are so rich and beautiful, the leaves shimmer and shake like jewels, and the cool, crisp air is just perfect for bundling up in your favorite sweater and scarf....or next to your hubby/boyfriend. And decorating for fall is just as much fun as decorating for Christmas....well, almost.

Several women at my church take turns bringing two centerpieces to decorate the alter at the front of the sanctuary. I don't actually do it as often as other women do because my assigned Sunday is the fifth one, which only comes around five times a year. This year October has five Sundays, so I will be bringing the flowers for our October 30 service.

I wanted to find something creative to take because I'm among so many talented floral designers....they set the bar pretty high sometimes! So I turned to Youtube and found something that I think will be perfect! So perfect, in fact, that I wanted to share it with you for your fall table decorations.

One side note....it would probably be a good idea if you actually knew the neighbor whose yard you are plucking your pieces from!

Day Tripper

I haven't blogged in ages, but definitely DO check in on all my favorite bloggers.  You keep me going....helping me remember that there is a whole world out there of creative people, writers, designers, crazies just like me,....I love you all and thank you for your inspiration!!!!

We took a trip to the mountains this weekend to see the aspens turn (something all Coloradans do just becuz....). but by the time we got to Conifer, my youngest had a 102.5 fever.  How does this happen ONLY on days we are leaving for a trip????  All I can say is that it must be innate.   Bless her heart, she was not giving in and asking us to go home though....she took some pain medicine and put on a happy face so she wouldn't miss a thing!

The aspen trees were gorgeous!  They appeared to be ablaze with fire until you got right up to them.

Then, when you stood next to them, their tiny, heart-shaped leaves shook like little sparkly jewels in the wind, giving them their nickname "Quakies". 

  

Luckily, kids are resilient and we ended up having a wonderful day even with her feeling "under the weather".  She didn't miss one drop of God's sunshine, rain, lightening, wind, and even snow! that was provided for today's viewing pleasure!

If you've never seen Colorado's "turning of the aspens", you must set aside time to experience it.  It's something you'll never forget...... 

Depending on the end-of-summer weather, the best times to go are September 15 though October 6 or so.  You really must......

Flutter By Butterfly....

My daughters and I love butterflies and thought we would share some butterfly inspiration with you....

Can you imagine floating down a staircase in this gown?

By Luly Yang

 Or dancing the night away in these lovelies?

 

Or......or I don't know what!  I'll let you fill in the blanks for this little doozy.....but everyone should have one, don't you think?

And we have Alexander McQueen, Phillip Treacy and Luly Yang to thank for it!

Enjoy.......

Sue

Isabelle's First Kiss....

I work on a laptop computer and lately it's gotten SO slow!  I cleaned up my "desktop"....which wasn't easy....had pics and folders everywhere!  It still didn't help very much though.  So I asked my husband to take a look and he asked how many pictures I had in my iPhoto file.  "I don't know....le'me take a look...."  

O...M...G...

Would you believe I have over 10,000 pictures????!!!!  Needless to say I'll be cleaning that puppy up over the next few months!   Aaarrrggh!  I'd rather reorganize my underwear drawer....
But I have to share one of my treasured finds with you.....

"Oooooww!  It looks like a catepillar!!!  Will it tickle???"

 ".....this is gonna be yucky....I just know it!"

"Sch-mack!!!!!

"Yuck!!! (pppth, pppth!) I knew it would be prickly!"

Awwwww....aren't Daddy's little girls just the BEST!!!

 

My Mother's Home Sweet Home....Our Home Away from Home

Visits to my mother's home are always a visit to "another land".  She decorates her home seasonally....and oh! to have that luxury!  It has been well earned by her though and did not come easily....working mother of three in the 60's through the 90's, lots of remodeling, and years of collecting all that stuff (okay, your're right....this was probably more fun than work!!).  But I digress....

While her rooms are decorated beautifully, it's the vignettes in their own special nooks and crannies that always catch my eye....and my daughters'.  I can always find one of them standing near her grand piano....staring at vintage pictures of her when she was a child....or gently touching a feather that has been laid near a bird's nest in a bookcase....

And speaking of birds, she definitely has an affinity for our dear feathered friends......

 

and robin's egg blue....she's always loved that color!  What a treat it is for us to get to stay with her!  It's like visiting a completely different home every time we go....and we love it! 

Heart Number Seven...is Time on the Wing! Does Yours Fly By as Fast as Mine?

Because my mother loves birds so much, this heart sachet came together easily, too.  I've wire-wrapped a vintage brooch that had a bird on it, then laid it over the feather "ribbon" that was diagonally sewn across the heart.  The ribbon is a vintage piece from my grandmother's old sewing trims and is attached to the brown dupioni silk heart at the top center.  Last, but not least, is a bird egg dangling at the bottom.

as;dlkfja;slfjas;dlfjk

Heart Number Six Sings a Song of Love...

This is one of my favorite heart sachets....simple, but still sings a song.  I have a couple of bolts of this fabric because I flipped over it when I saw it.  I bought a couple of yards to begin with, then I went back and bought it all!  And when a new bolt of it came in, I bought it, too!  Sick, isn't it???   Don't tell anyone.....

Heart Number Five....is just Heart Number Five!

This heart sachet is made from a yummy iridescent hot pink and red dupioni silk fabric which I ALWAYS keep in stock.  I've used it for linings of handbags, trims on dresses and headpieces, and as the decorative outside fabric for clutches....I just love it.  The beaded lace was made from hot pink iridescent beads and other yellow gold and hot pink beads.  Hanging from the bottom of the heart is a handmade heart-shaped charm painted pink with a tiny little cherub lying under a rounded blog of glas to magnify the cherub.  This little charm was the inspiration for the whole design!  I have affixed a vintage earring with iridescent rhinestones to the top center as its focal point. 

Heart Number Four....and, yes! There are more.....

I love hot pink and when I held it against this honey gold taffeta, it popped....and in a good way!  The little vintage velvet flowers were on an old earring that one of my VERY best friends gave to me (yes, Lisa from KC!).....it had been her mother's earring in its previous life.

I love how the beaded "lace" outlined the edge of this Valentine, too.  The bugle beads are matte-finished which I also adore.

And I still don't have any ideas for this year's heart....any suggestions?  I'm thinking metallic charcoal gray taffeta....I'll look for a piece of cool jewelry to be the focal point tomorrow when I drop by my studio.  But I'm all  ears for suggestions, Girlfriends!!!

Take care and have a wonderful weekend, Bloggirls.....

Luv,

Sue

PS....Check out the holes in the Morning Glory leaves.....isn't nature cool?

Heart Number Three, Sweet As Can Be....

Couldn't resist using one of my Great Aunt Opal's vintage buttons because of the tall, skinny heart on it.  It was the inspiration that guided this heart's design.....

 The button is probably from the 40's and is made of a composite wood-like substance.  And if I had more time I could go into a whole spiel about buttons, but I'll spare you and do it another time...just don't let me forget!

Feeling a Little Blue? No Worries....I Have a Quick Fix

One of my favoritest all-time books is Revealed by Carlyn Quartermaine.  

 I've reached for this book dozens of times....and for every excuse I can think of, too!

In the mood to paint?  It contains colors galore!

  

  Feeling a little blue, but don't know exactly which shade of blue you are feeling?

Yup!  It's in there....promise! 

 Her splashes of color cover almost every page of the book from beginning to end. 

 Don't you adore her fabric designs?  I mean....who could resist them?

I'm thinking this pair of pink chairs 

will fit in my daughter's bedroom beautifully....don't you?

You just gotta have this book.....WAY better than any "mommy's little helper"!

Heart number two, more purple than blue....

I think I may have forgotten to mention the "rules" that I must follow to make these sweet little sachets.  They are simply this:  I may buy nothing.  Everything must be found in my studio or jewelry box....everything!  (Okay....I guess there is one exception--I always use newly purchased dried lavender inside.)
If you're a designer, and especially if you collect vintage items to use in your creations, this is really not such a challenge. 

 

You only need to begin with one item such as a piece of ribbon or a piece of jewelry that you plan to use....everything else just falls into place!

Have a wonderful weekend, and thank the good Lord for the gift of yet another day.  Rain, sleet or snow....there's still so much to appreciate.

Sneaky Holiday, that Valentine's.....

I just looked at the calender with my "Where are we in the year?" frame of mind instead of "What do I have scheduled today?" frame of mind.  And, yes.....I cannot believe that Valentine's Day is on it's way!  That lovely little holiday ALWAYS sneaks up on me.....do you feel the same way????


Every Valentine's Day (and I use the term "every" quite loosely here), I make a heart-shaped lavender sachet for my wonderful friend and sweet mother, and it's time to begin thinking about what I'm going to create for her this year.  Any ideas?.....I'm desperate!


In years past, I've made her a heart in pink, or red, or purple, or even gold!....too many to remember them all.  (Well, actually I do....I have a list.....I'm a little obsessive in that way.  But, trust me, that's as far as my "organizational" obsession goes....just ask my hubby!)  I'm just not sure what this year's heart is going to look like.  But I do remember that last year I shared the one that I made for her with all of you, 

and I promised that I would share some of the ones that I had made  "next" Valentine's Day, which, of course, would be now.  So in the next few days, I'll be posting some of my fun little heart-shaped creations that I've made for my mom.   Hope you enjoy them!

Here's the first one that I made for her:

I remember it all began with a vintage pattern book that my mother gave me.  And, uh huh, it did indeed come from my grandmother as you may have guessed...chock full of curvy initial transfers...completely irresistable!  I embroidered the "P" out of gold metallic thread, and I loved how it turned out.  The outside "lace" trim is created from two layers of seed beads sewn into the seams.....very simple to do!  Try it....

The Lure of Red

Vintage Dior

A simple red dress....made of nothing but the finest of fabrics...silk, of course!   Only because it swishes...it crunches....and it has amazing shadows between its folds.  Doesn't get any better than that....except if it's vintage....then it screams!

www.memphisvintage.com

That simple red dress exudes confidence.  It demands attention.  It lures every eye...and begs it to linger.  You know what I'm talking about....the gaze from a guy while his girlfriend is poking his side and pulling his arm....yea, that's the one.  Oh, and the one from the girl sitting at the table next to you who's longing to be in your shoes....uh huh....

www.thefashionlist.com

I can't put my finger on it, but the thought of that simple red dress has gotten me out of many a tearful situation.  I must confess that I tear up way too easily....especially at church (the choir's special music always makes my eyes well) and while watching movies (I totally embarrass my daughters when they are with me!).  But if I must hold back tears for any reason, my mind does this automatic fast forward to my red "dream" dress.  It always gets my mind off of the situation at hand...even if it's only for a few seconds.  Those fleeting moments give me just enough time to regain my composure....works every time....try it!

An Homage to Valentino

I used to think that I could never wear red....that it just wasn't my color.  But now I believe that EVERY woman can wear red.  You just have to find the perfect shade that compliments you.  Through trial and error I have learned that "cherry" red is my perfect shade.  What's yours?  Please do share....and tell me what makes it work for you! 


PS....For those of you who prefer to carry your "pop!" of color in lieu of wearing it.....try one of these:

Valentine

www.suejack.etsy.com

(I know.....audacious of me to add one of my bags among Valentino's beauties!!)

Valentino

Valentino