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

A Daughter's Valentine's Day Tradition

A few years back I made my mother a small heart-shaped sachet for Valentine's Day.  It was red duipioni silk with a double row of "lace" that I created from seed beads and I hand embroidered her initial "P" on the front in metallic gold thread.  While I sat working on it I thought about my childhood days that she had filled with love and the warmth of her touch.  I enjoyed filling the time it took to make every tiny hand stitch with those wonderful memories!  It turned out so lovely that I made one the next year....and the next year....and the next....

I think I have missed one of the last 9 years in making them, but I did get another one made for her this year.  Blue is not really one of her favorite colors, but I am running out of new colors to use!....hope the turquoise duipioni charms her eye!

I do have one rule to follow when I design her hearts:  It must be created from things I already have at my home and my studio...nothing purchased specifically for it.  

Sometime I will take pictures of them all and share them with you....

ON A ROLL.....

What is it about the new year that makes us feel an emergence of sorts?  And for those who do not get that feeling, a promise or resolution to ourselves somehow makes up for it.   
Mine has come in the form of creativity, and I am bursting at the seams with new ideas for jewelry, handbags and clothes.  My only hindrance.....what do I begin working on first?  
For inspiration, I sat in my studio opening box after box of fabrics, patterns, jewelry, beads, ribbons, and laces....all of which are vintage....some of which are even antique.  My imagination ran wild with thoughts of their experiences in previous lives, conversations they overheard, and places they had visited.

While perusing these treasures, I came across a vintage straw hat that had the most beautiful silk roses completely encircling it....and they were the most gorgeous color of rose pink.  A few minutes earlier I had been holding a pink pearl necklace and a pink rhinestone necklace in my hands, and the idea came to me....a statement necklace with the pearls, rhinestones and silk flowers!  I hope you like it......more pics are available for viewing at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38123522.

MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

The Thanksgiving and Christmas season were a blur for me.  I remember working long hours and spending lots of time away from my family.  Well, actually I was sitting three feet from them, but my face was buried in my laptop.  I tried to tell myself I was spending time with them, but the lack of conversation and activities revealed the truth....they didn't even know I was in the house...
My New Year's resolution?  Have all my holiday items for Etsy and holiday shows completed by October 31, so when the holidays roll around, I will get to share them with my family.  I'm already working on it, too!

At left is a picture of my latest statement necklace, MISS BALMAIN....second in a series of necklaces that feature a vintage, miniature bottle of perfume among other wonderful and unusual vintage pieces of jewelry.  The first one, called FANTASIA, can be viewed on my Feb. 17, 2010 post about Michelle Roark, entrepreneur and Olympic skier....it is pink and gold and I LOVED! the name of the perfume in that one!  Both were very fun to make!  You may see more pics of MISS BALMAIN here:  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37947622.