Before I start the "lace" portion of this post, I want to thank you all for your well wishes and congratulatory comments regarding the Artful Blogging and Portals Zine features. I really appreciate it, and it made my day to read them all! And now, without further ado, the lucky winner of the Artful Blogging drawing is.............CAROL! Hooray! Congratulations CAROL! I'll be emailing you to get your shipping address. {there were several Carols in the drawing. The winner's email address is jcdas@msn.com}.
I've got a thing for old lace. The more beige, the better. I'm always trying to think of new uses for things, to be creative in daily living, while still remaining functional. I filled this old canning jar with mother of pearl buttons, water and roses. Then, I just tied a bow around the neck of the jar and placed it on my kitchen table. So simple yet so pretty.
Here, I simply cut a length and tied it around a cloth napkin. I added the vintage brooch to finish it off. I recently purchased this ribbon from Heather's beautiful shop, Pretty Petals Boutique. Isn't this old lace gorgeous?
I think this gift got a whole lot prettier after this lace and mother of pearl buckle were added. Who wouldn't love to get this little parcel? I know I would.
My personal favorite is my keychain. I am forever losing my keys down in the depths of my quite large diaper bag/purse. This way, when I get out of the car, I leave the end of the lace hanging out of the bag a little bit and have no trouble finding my keys when it's time to go. I also sometimes hang it around my neck if my hands are full. Pretty & functional.
If you love lace too, you probably already know there are lots of great books on lace. I really like the one below, called Living with Lace by Bo Niles. Anyone know of any others they would recommend? 'Cause, you know, my bookshelves could always use another book..........
Congratulations Carol !!! I love cream and white together and old lace is perfect for that. Shades of beige, ivory, white, cream ect with a dash of the palest blush pink. Perfection. I have a mild version of that in my living room. But if I did not have a family it would be all shades of white. Have a yummy Monday Clarice
Posted by: clarice | July 23, 2007 at 03:01 PM
I love lace...your photos are so pretty, great eye candy! I def need to find that book, thanx for sharing!
Posted by: Sweet Remembrance | July 23, 2007 at 03:21 PM
Congrats to Carol!
I love lace too! I seem to be getting more and more lately. Ribbon as well.
Thanks so much for sharing. Yours is so pretty!
It really makes everything look more romantic.
Have a great day!
Rosemary
Posted by: Rosemary | July 23, 2007 at 04:10 PM
OOOOH!
I love the photo of the baby scale with the lace overflowing!!
A great idea to add mother of pearl buttons to a jar/vase of roses!!
Amy
Posted by: Amy | July 23, 2007 at 04:59 PM
Hi Andrea! Oh the lace looks so pretty tied around the napkin...so glad you liked it!
I have that lace book and LOVE it!!! If I could just take the rooms off the pages and place them in my home...ohh my.
Your keychain and package are soo cute! Heather
Posted by: Heather ~ Pretty Petals | July 23, 2007 at 06:50 PM
Your lace pictures are beautiful. Thanks for the ideas. When I get off the computer I'm going to tie a piece of old lace or ribbon to my key ring (really!). I recently bought a great box of old lace for $2 from a yard sale. I'd love to share some with you if you would like to email me your mailing address. Have a great week.
Wendy
Posted by: wendy | July 23, 2007 at 07:42 PM
Ohhh, I LOVE the napking idea. Gonna have to snatch that one up. But will give you credit of course!!!
Posted by: Jerusalem | July 23, 2007 at 10:19 PM
Oh Andrea that was so mean! My heart was just beating faster because for the spur of a moment I really thought for once I was a winner! Congrats to the other Carol though! Love that old lace and the idea to use it on a key chain is great! Carol(a) xox
Posted by: Bocwoodcottage | July 24, 2007 at 09:16 AM
Here is another person who LOVE's lace. Just recetly i have started to use it on my collages and now i can not keep my hand off from my lace baskets.
There is some lace which i would want to sent to you, as a thank you for being such a wonderful & inspiring lady!
Could you post your addy to me, thank you...
Delila
Posted by: Sepia Art Studio | July 24, 2007 at 01:06 PM
Ohhh! What lovely ideas for lace! I love the idea of using it for gift packaging!
Posted by: Bejeweled | July 24, 2007 at 04:15 PM
I love lace, too! If I can find it, I'm gonna be checkin' that book out at the bookstore tonite over my cup of coffee. Lovely, lacey inspiration!
Posted by: Sharon | July 24, 2007 at 04:25 PM
That's some great eye candy. The mother of pearl buckle with the blue lace is beautiful! I'd love to get a package like that. Wow.
Posted by: Laurie | July 24, 2007 at 10:59 PM
I love all your uses for your lovely lace, particularly the jar with buttons and the key chain. Thank you for the inspiration!
Congratulations to Carol!
Posted by: Lallee | July 25, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Your lace collection is gorgeous! I, too, try to make my pretty things functional. I add ribbons and lace to my everyday decor. But it never fails...my 5 year old son seems to have radar for this kind of thing...he comes along and messes up my pretty stuff! lol
Posted by: Kristin Baxter | July 25, 2007 at 10:30 AM
great ideas - the pics are wonderful as well - I now have uses for all my lace!
Posted by: gina | July 25, 2007 at 10:47 AM
Lovely lace uses!(and I want to see what is inside the gift!)
Posted by: karla nathan | July 25, 2007 at 07:12 PM
simply breathtaking....i'm gonna steal (i mean borrow) the key idea!!! lol, i'm always losing mine!!
Posted by: gebah | August 09, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Hallo andrea,
just to let you know how much I enjoyed browsing thru your blog....I wa looking for some lace inspiration, I am a tolepainter and wanted to paint some old lace in my project. your blog is beautiful!!
Fulvia
Posted by: Fulvia | March 31, 2009 at 06:20 PM