My Creative Space...

This week I thought I would start off by giving another preview my wedding dress, since I've received so many nice inquiries about it from various readers...

{Vintage crocheted lace, silk gauze, dotted swiss, vintage lace, muslin}

Above is the palette of the different fabrics I'll be incorporating into the design.

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And here is a sort of virtual inspiration board that I created...

{Claire Pettibone, Stewart + Brown, Antique Dress from 1910's from MyNoble on Ebay}

I nearly was the owner of the dress on the far right, but alas, was outbid at the last moment on Ebay!

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And here is the sketch of my dress...

It's one part Regency style, and one part Edwardian, two of my favorite fashion time periods...

This weekend my mother will be helping me with sewing and fitting, so I should have some more pics soon!

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And speaking of weddings, here is a new design that I've  just added to my Etsy shop as part of my Bridal Collection...

Sirena Earrings:

They have a slightly organic feel to them, like something a mermaid might wear--hence the name "Sirena" which comes from the Italian for mermaid. 

They feature my signature hand-made lace in real gold thread, with lots of mauve colored freshwater pearls. I experimented with chains in this design, which I think swag quite gracefully...the crocheted cabochon setting for the pearls in the center of the lace was a new technique as well. What do you think?

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To see what other artists are working on in their Creative Spaces this week, be sure to pop over to Kootooyoo's blog!

My Creative Space...

This week, My Creative Space has shifted out of the studio, and into the kitchen.

I've temporarily traded in making little flowers of silk and crystals for crystallizing real ones...

{Johnny Jump-ups, Sweet Basil and Edible Marigolds}

Last weekend I went to the Farmer's Market and picked up several flats of organically-grown, edible flowers from Singing Cedar Farm. I've been spending some time preserving them to use as decoration on my wedding cake.

With just a mixture of egg whites lightly applied and a dusting of sparkling sugar, these little flowers will crystallize into beautiful, edible, and natural garnishes...

To see what other artists are  working on in their Creative Spaces this week, be sure to check out this link...

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And I'll close this post with a photo I took just minutes ago...

Two beautiful rainbows arching across the sky, right outside our front door!

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Hope everyone has a 

Happy Fourth of July!

Shall I compare thee to a Summer's Day?

A new Treasury that I put together on Etsy with some of my favorite wedding selections. The title was inspired by the famous Shakespearean sonnet, which I thought fit the dreamy, romantic mood of this sunlit collection--

Shall I compare thee...

It features the lovely work of :

PatrickIrlaDesigns, AutumnRussell, Middleburg

EmilyGrayJewels, FussJewelry, LittleGoat,

StellaPesci, TimelessVixenVintage, AliciaBock

RoyalBuffet, KarmaRox, EmmaLamb

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La Rose Blanche Earrings...

I also wanted to share the finished results of the earrings I was working on last week in the My Creative Space post--a new wedding design in my Etsy shop. A variation on my Robin's Egg Earrings, these feature cream-colored silk medallions, embellished with delicate roses of silver thread. The freshwater pearl drops are garlanded with bead caps of silver lace, giving it all an Elizabethan air...

Thanks to everyone who left such sweet comments earlier in the week about the works in progress (both my wedding dress and the earrings)!

Shopping List Saturday...

I just joined the blogging meme "Shopping List Saturday" which I found via Charlotte of FancyPicnic. On Saturdays, I will now be spotlighting some of my favorite Etsy artists :)

For my first edition I've chosen:

* Lovebirds by Aymujer

(cheerful hand-cut tissue paper banners)

*Frida Hoop Earrings by Kerin Rose

(colorful Mexican style hoop earrings with semi precious stones)

* Muy Muy Festive, Muy Muy Romantic by JenniferMorrisBeads

(intricate polymer clay earrings)

* Tallulah by DuBuhDuDesigns

(incredible hand made doll )

A list of other Shopping List Saturday participants can be viewed here.

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Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!

My Creative Space...

This week, I have a couple of projects going on in my studio. The biggest by far is designing my wedding dress. I visited my mother last week and went through her wonderful stash of vintage laces and textiles looking for pieces to incorporate into the design...here are just a few!

I am also working on a new pair of earrings-- they can just be seen nestled among the pearls and various threads on my vintage trays. For this pair, I am working with cream colored silk and silver thread, with accents of vintage beads and freshwater pearls...I should have them finished in the next day or so!

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And tying in color scheme-wise is this wonderful Treasury I stumbled upon this morning by KarmaRox...

Modern Day Marie:

My Dauphine Necklace is in the center of the third row, surrounded by some very sumptuous selections of which I think Marie Antoinette would approve...

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To see what other creative bloggers are working on this week in their Creative Spaces, be sure to visit this link!

Gold and Pearls...

I received some exciting news earlier this month that I wanted to share with you--my Eugenie Bracelet is currently featured in the Etsy Gift Guides under the "Pearls in June" section! This is the first time a piece of my jewelry has been selected for a Guide, so I am thrilled...

(there I am, in the bottom left hand corner!)

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And while we're on the theme of gold and pearls--here is a stunning Treasury created by ElenaMakesThings and inspired by La Serenissima... I love Elena's opulent selections in ivories and golds.  My Paloma Earrings are in the center of the third row...

Golden Venice:

And continuing the theme just a little bit further--a new pair of earrings in my Etsy shop!

The Contessa Earrings:

They feature my hand-made lace, lots and lots of vintage seed beads, as well as vintage rhinestones and vintage glass pearls...

Catching up...

Gosh, I can't believe it's been so long since my last blog post--time has been flying by lately! In addition, I've felt the effects of a lingering head cold recently that has kept me away from the computer more than usual.

But, without further ado, here is a brief recap of what I've been up to since I last wrote...

First, here are the earrings that I mentioned I was finishing up in my post from a few weeks ago--

the Paloma Earrings:

They're another exploration in contrasting my delicate hand-made lace, with my more substantial silk and cotton hand-made flowers--I think the results turned out nicely! They have sort of a Spanish flamenco dancer flavor, with a dash of Moorish influence...

Then, my mother and I got together and did a photoshoot a few weeks ago--she took the photos and I modeled. I think the results turned out really well--here is an example of one of her gorgeous hand-crafted corsages--she makes every single petal, leaf and berry from scratch...

And here I am, modeling my Isobel Necklace--

And here is another pair  of earrings that I just listed in my Etsy shop--

the Océane Earrings:

As the name suggests, these were inspired by sea shells--and of course, Baroque jewelry. I like to think they're one part Aphrodite, one part Marie Antoinette, with the shell pink freshwater pearls and the glittering silver lace dotted with dozens of vintage seed beads. As you can see, I did something different for the ear wires, embellishing them with teeny tiny hand-made lace rosettes. 

Both the Paloma Earrings and the Océane Earrings are part of my Bridal collection

in my Etsy shop...

And speaking of brides, did I mention that I am getting married?--to this handsome gentleman! We've been planning our August wedding, so that explains partially why I've been pre-occupied...! 

I am going to be making my own wedding dress (with probably much help and guidance from my mother), so have been sketching and picking out a pattern and fabrics and trims! I'll post a few pics as it progresses...