Ok, stop everything and please click here! It's urgent! I miss Mary! I miss her Home Companion! If we join together we can bring it back!!! This magazine has been such a source of inspiration for me for the past 12 years. It went under 3 years ago but I honestly look through my 9 years of back issues atleast twice a week. They never get old and they never cease to inspire me!
Last month I blogged about the Alice in Wonderland Halloween party that I am planning. I am so excited to show you the top hat that I made to wear to the party! I sort of used the Better Homes and Gardens's tutorial for a mini top hat but tweaked it a little. I use glue instead of sewing it and instead of wire in the brim, I used cardboard (actually a cereal box). I used a velvet like material to cover the hat form and embellished it with vintage lace, braided trim, seam binding, vintage millinery and velvet and glittered leaves. I am going to attach it to a headband like this before I wear it :)
I am getting into the "Wonderland" spirit by reading "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" to Lilly. I bought her this pink leather bound edition (photographed with the hat) from Barnes and Noble a couple of weeks ago. We are now on the last chapter. She has loved it! She goes around the house pretending she is Alice. She eats litte sweet tarts and tries to open doors with my vintage skeleton keys. It is so adorable! This weekend we are actually going to a croquet party and she asked if we were going to be playing with flamingos and hedge hogs ;) xoxo Molly
After tea Cassandra got out loads of decorative papers and we all just sat around and visited and created whatever we felt like. I made a little hanging collage for my daughter Lilly's room. I imagined a little shop of sweet delights run by a fairy. Lilly loved it and named her fairy "Ella".
xoxo, Molly
I know it is early to talk about Christmas and I am not one to rush into the holidays but I just couldn't wait to show you a sneak peak at a project I have been working on for Amy Powers Christmas issue of "Inspired Ideas". I submitted my photos of the project this morning along with a tutorial. I will keep you posted and let you know as soon as the new issue comes out!...
I love my girl! xoxo, Molly
A couple of weeks ago I was checking out at the grocery store and happened to see the Better Homes and Gardens Halloween publication. I was flipping through the pages and saw this...
I was freaking out! I fell in love with this wonderland party. I decided then and there that I must host a wonderland inspired Halloween party for my art group "Pretty and Vintage Things" . I can't wait!
I started right away thinking of a project that we could make together at the gathering. I came up with the idea of an altered cookbook. It will be filled with whimsical collages and delightful recipes of treats one might eat at a the Mad Hatter's tea party. I began my sample cookbook last week and it is coming along nicely...
I made the cover by painting, distressing and drilling holes into a bare wood picture frame.
(this idea was inspired by a project seen in Lisa Kettell's book "Altered Circus")
binding detail
a pocket on the inside of the front cover to tuck in recipe cards and tags
decorated pages
I am beyond thrilled that Karen Hillman has invited me to be an instructor at her upcoming art event "Queen of Art" in Plantation, Florida. I will be teaching a class on how to make this "Royal Sweetheart Wreath"...
It is made with tea dyed coffee filters, vintage lace, silk roses, millinery, luxurious ribbons and lots of glitter! Click here to read more about my project :)
