Hello! There are some fun & exciting things on the horizon at the moment. Among them, I am in the midst of designing a new colleciton of Prize Ribbon Rosettes, and have marked the current collection down. They are only $6 now, originally $10. If there is a prized friend or birthday girl you know of who might just need a rosette, click here to shop.
Quantities are limited.
Thank you, as always, for your patronage of my humble little shoparella!
Pretty pastels are everywhere in the house today. It seems I have projects happening in every corner. Quite a mess, but a beautiful one I think! There are painted eggs with pearly patinas, ready to be embellished. They will be in the shop in the next few weeks. Is anyone else thrilled that Easter is late this year? It's nice to have a little more time for Springtime projects and decorating.
A pile of Bella Notte swatches I got from a shop that closed last year. The colors and fabrics are scrumptious....velvets and linens, laces and damasks. I can just picture a little doll sleeping on top of these, kind of like the Princess and the Pea!
I can't tell you how much inspiration I get from these vintage Chalkware children. The soft colors, the lines, the patina. Love love love. Chalkware is one of those fairly inexpensive collectibles that really adds a vintage feeling to an area or space. This piece has been all over the house, but now sits on the buffet.
More inspiration. An old handmade pin cushion with lovely details, embroidery and soft-as-silk ribbon laced through the edges.
This rhinestone piece came from a flea market, where the seller told me it was a component for a headpiece that was never finished. I thought that was interesting.
And what would a pastel post be without a rumpled gorgeous old rose?
Spring is upon us, and I can't wait! Are you feeling the same way?
Hello Friends!
I am very excited to let you know that registration is now under way for Once Upon a Dream! This is the destination art event that Jennifer Hayslip is hosting in beautiful Asheville, NC this October. It will be quite the fairytale, I have to say, right down to the tiniest beautiful detail.
For those who have attended one of Jennifer's previous events, you know that they are so much more than a group of women sitting at tables together hastily making an art project. It is truly a weekend retreat in a charming city, visiting beautiful venues, creating with kindred spirits, eating delicious meals {that you don't have to cook or wash the dishes from!}, complete with shopping, relaxing, endless girl talk and more laughter than you can imagine. To top it off, we will be creating together outdoors, under the sun in the fresh air. Doesn't it all sound incredibly wonderful? Like a dream!
Visit the Once Upon a Dream Blog to get the scoop on the workshops {one of which will be taught by yours truly), the breathtaking venues, and every last magical detail. Space is limited.
I cannot wait 'til October, and I am looking so forward to seeing old blog friends and meeting news ones as well!
Well, I couldn't sleep, so I came downstairs {it's 3:30 am} and thought I would tackle something on the mental to-do list I've been writing all week. Deadlines, things I need to do, things I want to do. You know. I have sort of come to terms with the fact that there are about 2 million things racing through my thoughts at any given time, and I can really only do one at a time. Which one should I start first?
I made a pot of coffee and had a heaping tablespoon of Nutella {I know}, and here I sit with not too much to say. Just wanted to say hello!
So, hello! I hope it's a lovely Saturday for you! I know it will be be for me. I am so HAPPY to have my husband back!
{Large glittered Gothic letters are from Wendy Addison, a few years ago. I think maybe you can still call her in her studio and order things the old-fashioned wonderful way. If not, you can also buy them by calling here.}
xo
Well hello and hooray for Friday!
This blog silently celebrated its 4 year anniversary earlier this month. It's hard to believe how different my life was just 4 years ago. At that time, I had only one child, I hadn't even opened my shop yet, and hadn't yet had the pleasure of meeting so many of the dear friends and acquaintences I know now. I have packed a lot of pink and cream into those 4 years! I hope you've enjoyed this blog half as much as I've enjoyed writing it and sharing it with you. I know there have been times of frequent blogging, and then other times of lengthy absences. Like everything in life, it ebbs and flows, and I just sort of hold on tight. And I know there are about a gazillion new blogs that have popped up in the last 4 years, and the face of blogging has changed quite a bit. So, if you're still reading this one, thank you. I'm so glad you're here!
I have wanted to do a little housekeeping here on the blog, and today I thought I would do just that. Just a few things I've been meaning to tell you and some frequent reader questions I thought I would answer here.....
* Thank you always for your lovely comments. I so love receving your sweet messages and emails. I wish I could respond to each comment personally, but please know that I appreciate them nonetheless.
* If you leave a question for me in your comment, I will always reply with an answer directly to you, not in the comments section. It may take a few days, but you will hear from me for certain. I will totally admit right here and now that I am not the world's best emailer, but I promise I will get back to you.
* Beyond comments, lots of emails from readers come my way as well. I always do my best to respond with answers to your questions about where I purchased certain items, how something was made, how I started my shop, tips on how to make jewelry, what defines my style, etc. I believe in passing on and sharing information, and have formed friendships through this very process.
* I tend to get lots of questions asking where I purchased something, even when I've included a link for the source in the body of the blog post. I think my colorful words may have made this a bit confusing, so hopefully this will help clarify. I sometimes add a little color to my blog posts when the mood strikes me. Something like this, this or this maybe. But those are not links, just fun colored text. So, I have recently begun underlining any words that are a link. In this watermelon color. It's the only time I'll underline, so you will know it's a link, and any other colorful words are just words. I think I worded that as clearly as mud.
* A blog, any blog, is only a thin slice of the author's life. Since this is Everyday Beauty, I share with you the pretty things, the things that make my heart sing or at least skip a beat. I do not generally share the ugly, messy, sad, frustrating moments. There are plenty of them. Even though I try everyday to think positive thoughts, fill myself with patience for my kids, smile at strangers and just be happy.... not everything is always sunshine and roses. I hope readers realize that my life is as crazy and real as anyone else's. Just last week I had to Google how to get poop out of carpet. That was fun.....but not really something I thought I would blog about. But, look, now I did!
* I do not use Twitter. I am poor, at best, at checking Facebook. It's just not my thing, girls. There are only so many hours in the day, and I don't spend too many of them on the computer. I'll be happy to add you as a friend if you friend me on FB, but my FB activity is pretty low and very boring! Oh, and I don't text either. My husband doesn't call me Grandma Singarella for nothing!
* I do not "follow" blogs, and I couldn't begin to tell you how to follow mine. I get emails asking me "how can I follow your blog?" My answer is "I have no idea.... Just stop by whenever you feel like it!" That's my old-fashioned blog-reading method. Using a "reader", you can't see the whole look of the blog, the banner, all the prettiness. That's part of what I love about visiting a blog.... the entire picture, like a room all decorated and wonderful and cozy. I know I am definitley the oddball when it comes to this, as nearly everyone else seems to love "readers". Maybe someday I will, who knows. But not for now.
I hope I have clarified a few things and answered questions some of you may have had. If not, please email me! I will be happy to get back to you as quickly as I am able.
I'm looking forward to a wonderful {Spring like!} weekend with my parents coming for a visit and my husband finally coming home next week after being gone for the better part of 4 months. Been a looooong winter, girls, and I am so ready for Spring! Aren't we all?!
Sending a hug to you this Valentine's Day
{and a little vintage style of course!}
So, I had this idea back in January that I would post something heart-related every day in February, and would have a whole month of hearts here on my blog. Since today is the 10th and this is my first heart post, you can see my plan didn't quite work out! ha! Good intentions.....
But I am here today, and wanted to share with you a little project I finished not too long ago. I have long loved hearts and the symbolism behind them, and I am especially fond of Immaculate Hearts. Here are a few of the Immaculate Hearts I have that inspired this project.
I started with a small styrofoam heart and wrapped it in velvet ribbon, for a sort of candy cane effect.
Then I began the process of covering it with sequins and beads. This takes so much longer than you would think! When I made my sequin-covered Christmas ornament, I actually found it to be calming and relaxing to create so repetitiously.
I used pink sequins, tiny aged pearls and gold pins.
Next I embroidered a fancy A and M on some linen and attached it to the back of the heart. These letters are a monogram for the Virgin Mary, are always found on Immaculate Hearts, and stand for Auspice Maria, which is Latin for "under the protection of Mary".
You can read more about The Immaculate Heart and the symbols associated with it here if you're interested. I think symbolism is completely fascinating. This particular monogram has been used since the medieval ages, and is still commonly found today on Catholic medals and other religious items.
I added 7 pins that traditionally represent the Seven Sorrows of Mary, and feathers and pieces of old jewelry to look like the flames at the top of the heart.
My version of The Immaculate Heart, feathers and all....lol....
Do you want to see what has been inspiring my sequin & pin art lately? These pretty vintage Easter eggs that I found at an antique mall in Williamsburg last summer. I l-o-v-e them! Love the colors, designs, everything about them. I've already started to make some eggs too....would love to have a basket-full by Easter!
Hopefully, I'll be back here at least once more before Valentine's Day to share some more heart love. See you then!
Ciao Bellas! It's me again. I'm 8 and a half months old already, and thought I would pop in and say a quick hello.{Please forgive my crusty little nose that mama wipes all day long.}
Well, I must scoot along now {literally} and see what kind of a mess I can get into! Last week I chewed a book to bits before mama realized it. I think today I'll try and eat something a little more tasty.....hopefully mama will put some pears in my lunch. I'm really over the green beans, I must say!
Enjoy your day!
xoxoxo Sofia Angelina
So, by now I'm sure you know about the retro-style striped paper straws that have swept the blogosphere and made taking a sip just a little bit cuter. They were inspired by the fun vintage paper straws, which you can find new in the box on ebay or etsy at times. That's where I found the pink and aqua ones {below} a year or so ago.
Two years ago when the new straws made their web debut, I bought the red & white striped ones for my boys' birthday party. {A Circus-themed party wouldn't be complete without red and white barber poles!} And the grey and white ones {above} are cool too. Grey being so trendy right now, I'm sure they are selling well. BUT....I have searched and searched for pink and white straws for months, and girls, I am happy to report that I have finally found them.
Thought I would share my exciting news and the link with you 'cause if you read this blog religiously, there's no doubt in my mind you like pink and white, at least a little bit.
They now sell many other colors as well. It's just fun. I've got a mason jar full of them on my kitchen table....and I've already put some aside for the Bambolina's birthday party.
Oh the simple things. Sip. Sip. Sip.....
and p.s. Thanks, girls, for the Buttercream Bracelet love. I had no idea it would cause such a flurry of questions and emails. It's such fun to share things with you....because you get it.
I have a slight cabochon addiction. There. I said it. It's just that cabs are so simple to create with. A little jewelry glue is all you need.
I was playing around with some of the cabs I have in my jewelry stash, and created this sugary sweet combination.
Inspired by the most delicious bakery pastels: buttercream and piped icing, cakes and puddings.
I think these would make such fun birthday party favors. I'll file that thought away for when Sofia is a little bigger. Though her first birthday will have no shortage of frosting or roses....!
Is this making anyone else hungry? Or is it just me? I've been trying to be good. Salads and veggies, fish and chicken galore. So, a spatula of buttercream sounds quite nice right about now.
All of the cabochons were found on etsy, and the ready-to-embellish silver bracelet is from Hobby Lobby.
Sure to delight girls ages 3 to 103!
