Mary Jane Shoes...

Remember last month when I joined an April challenge for Letter Writing Month? We were assigned one special Blog Pal to correspond with. Well, I was super lucky and my special Blog Pal was exactly that...SPECIAL. I still have yet to meet this wonderful lady but I am thrilled to call her friend just from our correspondence. This Mary Jane Shoes scrappy book is something she made and sent to me on the final days of April.

I actually had tears when I opened the package and look through this wonderful handmade book. For someone I have yet to meet to take the time to view my entire blog and realize I am infatuated with Mary Jane shoes and then to honor me with this treasure is quite overwhelming. She took the time to print out the numerous photos I had posted showing Mary Jane shoes. I didn't even realize how many I had shown. These are my green suede ones.

This photo on the left is my newest black pair. The little red Mary Jane is my daughter's from when she was little and I still have this shoe. My grandma had the other one and it sadly has gotten lost through the passage of time and lives.

These two pages of the book show my Mary Jane stamp I am in love with. My wonderful Blog Pal took the time to embellish each page with so many happy and cheerful things like hearts, flowers, lace and buttons. I love them all.

She even took the time to research the history of Mary Jane shoes and include that with the photos. I am truly amazed at how much effort, time and care she put into this book of mine.

Fortunately my wonderful Blog Pal signed this treasure and I shall keep it close to me forever.

Hopefully we will get to meet in person as she does not live too far from me.

Thank you so much for your time and talents and thoughtfulness Miss Blog Pal. I am eternally grateful.

New Comfort Dolls...

Comfort dolls ready for mailing to Brenda.
I had been feeling neglectful because I had not made any for a couple of months. Inspiration had not come to me and I try to make new styles each time. The two in the middle back are similar to the previous bunch I made and donated.
Ahhh...thank you inspiration as I made the new heart shaped angels and are very pleased with how they turned out. A soft floral fabric cut and sewn into a heart and stuffed with super soft polyfill. The face is a wooden painted disk and I surrounded it with vintage pearls handstitched to the heart. Then I handstitched a ribbon bow on the back as the angel's wings.
Sew simple and sweet. I will definitely be making lots more of these.
Safe travels to your new homes. Comfort those who will be your new companions.
There are far too many battered women in shelters and I pray some day we will not need such shelters.
If you would like more information please click on the title to visit the Comfort Doll site.

Omiyage...

This is a book titled Omiyage and I have owned it for several years. The author is Kumiko Sudo. She is also the extremely talented artist who makes the lovely fabric gifts. I have always been fascinated with small things that are handmade and on the intricate yet simple note.

This butterfly is one that I made several years ago. Beautiful fabrics cut into shapes and then sewn by hand. Each butterfly has hundreds of tiny little stitches holding it together. I tried to do my best tiny stitching even though none of it shows in the finished butterfly. However I know my stitches are beautiful. The green ties are to hold a small pocket closed. I have a glass heart in this pocket for good luck. Since butterflies are the bearers of 10,000 happinesses I made these and gave them to my sisters one year. I doubt they realize how much time and love went into making each and every one of them.

This is a fabric origami bird that is made with simple shapes and handstitched. Once again I made each tiny stitch as perfect as I possibly could just because. These small birds are so simple and elegant when complete. I placed each bird I made in a lovely little nest (purchased) and then gave them to my dear friends and sisters.

I have many more little fabric items I wish to make from this amazing book. The days of traveling and working on small hand projects while captive on a plane are long gone. I have had numerous little scissors, needles and pins confiscated merely because I never even thought of my lovely hand sewing projects being anything related to terrorism or causing harm to anyone. How sad. So now all those hours are spent mindlessly watching some idiot tv or listening to some music or reading until my eyes are too blurry to see through. I miss my tiny little stitches and the amazing finished fabric gifts. When I am home there never seems to be the time to sit and stitch as so many chores always need to be tended to. Yes, I hear the dryer calling me now to have me fold a load of clothes. Oh joy!

How do you like to spend your travel time when you are captive on a plane?

Simple bookmarks...

A new month and a new week.

The days are getting super busy.

The weather is finally nice and people and events are awakening from hibernation.

So much to do and so much to see.

Time must be managed carefully so all can get done.

Here are a few bookmarks I managed to complete.

Scraps of cardboard.

Trusty glue sticks.

Ivy themed wrapping paper.

Music paper.

Tape transfers.

Corner rounders and hole punch.

Butterfly stickers of course.

Pretty ribbon.

Done.

I like to have these on hand for the little tuck in gift to send with a card.

What is your favorite go to item when a small gift of thank you or hello or feel better is needed?

Blushing Pinks Choker-Lampwork and Lace

Blushing Pinks Choker - Lampwork and Lace. This is my newest creation. Burgundy grosgrain ribbons with Italian lace ribbon and green leaf ribbon all hand stitched together. The lampwork button focal piece is artisan made by Carol Rose. I purchased it a few years ago at our local artisan boutique held Thanksgiving weekend not knowing what I wanted to do with such a special piece. The obvious was to use it as a button on a sweater or something but that never really interested me as I hardly ever wear sweaters. Then one day the choker vision came to me and I really like how it is the focal piece.

I like to hand stitch my pieces together as I believe it is so much more hand created than mass produced. This choker has a lot of dimension with the Italian lace ribbon that is ruffled and stitched atop the leaf ribbon. I also hand stitched some lovely 6.0 seed beads to add interest and dimension. The choker ties in back with soft grosgrain 1/2" ribbon so the size is adjustable.

This is listed in my etsy shop and I would love to have you pop over and take a look for yourselves.

I am so pleased with how this turned out. From my vision to a finished piece.

I see this being worn with everything from Prom dresses to bridesmaid dresses to sundresses to tank tops and of course with elegant Victorian costumes.

What would you wear this with?