January 20th, 2012
*Recycle
*Reclaim
*Reuse
*Remake
My latest creation is a 2 in 1- hand made leather vessel/bowl
Designed to be used either side for a different decorative look
A beautiful OOAK handmade vessel I created from soft leather scrap and reclaimed fabrics from vintage sources such as tableclothes and doilys. All moulded together with French 1950′s dressmakers ribbons.
I use mine to display my antique & vintage button collections, shells and French coins on shelves and tables.
Buy my leather bowls at Cottontail shop
January 9th, 2012
My latest listings at Ateleirinparis& Nostalgi
“Tutti Frutti” Drink Coasters
Fresh and modern punched up with bright colours to give a contemporary look to your apartment, loft or home.
Vintage Buttons Boutons – Petite French Inspired Decoupage Box
“Shabby Paris” – Recycled Crochet Medallions
Fabulous lot of vintage recycled crochet medallions.Beaut colours! Deep rose reds, pinks, khaki greens and apricot and pastels.
2012 Calendar - Cliche Paris - Wall Calendar
Vintage Willow Pattern Japanese Porcelain Teacups & Saucers – Made in Japan-1930′s
Dotty Trim
Vintage 1950s nylon trim. Stunning, delicate and ever so soft vintage dotted trim, white with black dots. Wound on a large antique industrial wooden textile spool (bobbin) from Old U.S. Mill.
Vintage Sharpen-M-All Rotary Stropper
Comes with it’s original box Original instructions and 3 holders. Made by Howard Specialties Co., Inc. New York
November 10th, 2011
I’ve been a follower of Beach Vintage for ages and now they have a sister site Fabrictraders where you can buy all their delicious, fabrics, ribbons and trims for your own sewing, home decor and craft projects.
My favorite fabric is an eye popper of a design“Flower Power Hot Pink” Hippy days of popstar, psychedelic , paisely and the Beatles.
November 8th, 2011
Merci beaucoup Valérie! …The gorgeous little parcel of vintage black & white goodies from France arrived today.
At first I didn’t want to touch anything as everything was so nicely arranged in the vintage DMC box
but then I slowly took out each item savouring each little thing.
Inside I found a wonderful collection of antique buttons, cottons , trims, black velvet ribbon,cotton trim. My favorite would have to be the bunch of wooden Art Nouveau buttons and the little pin holder
Oh and the stripey buttons…..
I may eventually use some in my wrist cuffs and handmade books but for now, I’ll just hoard, em to look at…
Thank you Valerie!
November 5th, 2011
Renaissance Bride Honorine
Two more textile cuff pieces I created from some of my vintage, rust dyed fabrics and other fabric from a bundle of pretty fabric scraps I received from Flaming Nora who makes costumes for stage and screen in the UK and as a by product of this has a HUGE stash of scraps and off cuts she gives away for free.
You can find this cuff and more French inspired creations at my shop Atelierinparis
Thanks Nora!
October 31st, 2011
Lately I’ve been experimenting with natural dyeing processes for fabrics and papers. I’m trying out rust dyeing at the moment. I want to build up a collection of natural and rust dyed fabrics and papers so when my next creative spurt comes around, I’ll have plenty to work with.
Over the years I have collected heaps of metal for my sculpture welding so I have plenty of bits hiding on my property just rusting away. The gathering of the metal objects, wrapping them with the fabric spraying with vinegar and binding with rope and wire is quite relaxing. I call it mummy wrapping.
It only takes a couple of hours for marks to appear but I like to keep mine for up to a week or two so I can get deeper impressions and colours. I discovered if I wrap fabric around old pieces of copper pipe the amazing teal green and red patinas are transferred to the fabric as well.
I’m happy with the end result and see connections to the abstract marks I create in my paintings. There are paintings in themselves
Go to my tutorial on Rust Dyeing here
October 7th, 2011
I’m so hooked on dyeing lately so here is my latest batch of cold water dyed fabrics and papers. I’ve had these dyes since the 70′s and they still worked really well. I was able to keep diluting the dye bath to get the very subtle tints. I’ve also been doing a bit of experimenting with rust dyeing and absolutely love it
On my other blog Outlook8studioI have a tutorial to share with you on rust dyeing
Have fun!
September 25th, 2011
Last weekend I finally took time off from my studio and computer work to browse a few garage sales in the neighborhood. I haven’t done this for ages.There is nothing like the adrenalin rush and excitement you when you see something at a sale, op shop or market,that you simply, just have to have.
Trying to keep calm and composed I slowly head over to the item (wanting run like a mad woman) with my heart beating and bursting with excitement . I then grab the item like there is no tomorrow before someone else does. Gathering all my finds together I take them home and display them on my table so I can admire and enjoy them.They usually stay there a week or so trying to sort out what I will do with it all.
Most of the things in this lot I will use in my installation work and list in my vintage shop Nostalgi
It never ceases to amaze me that the items I choose usually end up being connected to my artwork somehow and I use them in my installations, sculpture and as photo props.
There was a huge box of antique shaving and vanity items going cheap cheap cheap… my budget was very limited so I only grabbed a few.Antique cut throat razors (Underbelly types) with their original decorative boxes, hairdressing clippers,scissors and a couple of vintage fountain pens were inside the boxes. The antique glass bottle tops were another great find. There was also a few pieces of broken jewelry and a very blingy Dior hair slide.
A stack of wooden cigar boxes $1 ea. There were even a few cigars in one box.
2 gorgeous European glasses with amazing Renaissance style artwork
A very raw tribal and primitive wall hanging created from textiles . I love the ancientness of this little gem
I got everything for $20
What do you use your garage sale finds for?
Linking up to Thrift Share Monday
September 23rd, 2011
I have just listed in my shop“Atelierinparis Wearable Art – Textile Cuffs ” stunning one of a kind creations using vintage textiles, found objects embellishments and reclaimed jewelery bringing you a touch of 19th. Century French Bohemianism & romance.
“GYPSY BLOOD” wild seas tear us apart Oh! Gypsy Blood where are you …
ABOUT
Deep rose hand- dyed frayed cotton canvas topped with fragments of vintage black lace, twisted and stitched to decorate, vintage French brocade textile & shredded hand- dyed doily in deep rose, vintage olive green ribbon with hand stitched crosses in black tapestry thread and a vintage glass knotted button. All backed with aged cotton canvas and a torn piece of ribbon with Paris written, completed with a black elastic loop and vintage black button to fasten on your wrist for elegance and style.
SIZE
Cuff Length with loop – 8 inches – 20cm.
Cuff Width – 2 inches – 5 cm.
“You can buy “GYPSY BLOOD”
“TOINETTE”
“Chamber maids are more affluent wearing long loose jackets mantlets and pellisess. Decorative cuffs and muffs for winter were becoming common. The coif was still worn but was rivaled by headdresses and bonnets.” From The People of Paris: An Essay in Popular Culture in the 18th Century By Daniel Roche
ABOUT
Vintage tablecloth fabric dyed with acrylic tinctures with fragments of vintage French satin decor fringing , antique dyed lace, brocade textile. All topped with olive green ribbon and an old fabric covered button, decorative stitching of a cross and the words “I Am”next to a tiny dyed doily below a vintage glass button. All backed with aged cotton canvas and a torn piece of ribbon with word “Je t’aime” written, completed with a black elastic loop and vintage glass button to fasten on your wrist for elegance and style.
SIZE
Cuff Length with loop – 8 inches – 20cm.
Cuff Width – 2 inches – 5 cm.
“You can buy “TOINETTE”
September 18th, 2011
“MADEMOISELLE COLLETTE ”
A new collection of hand- made paper brooches
“Atelierinparis”
Over the years I have collected boxes of archival mount board offcuts from my artwork.The other day I had a bit of a play with them and came up with some French- inspired brooches. Each brooch has been fully made by hand even the cutting so there maybe some flaws which I think only add to their charm
On the front I have decoupaged some French paper with Mademoiselle’s wearing 1950’s “Mode Française” enclosed with my vintage hand- dyed doily scraps.On the reverse I’ve decoupaged some French word or words with a nickel free brooch pin. Each piece is fully waterproofed with liquid gloss resin on the front and several coats of acrylic sealant on the reverse.
Brooch size approx. 3’x 2.5” – 8 x 6cm.
Brooch pin nickel free.
Packaged in an elegant hand- made sachet with a jewel to adorn
You can buy my new brooches and other French- inspired goodies from my Etsy shop
Atelierinparis
CARING FOR A BROOCH
Each piece of archival board is hand-cut and sanded then sealed with liquid gloss resin and several coats of acrylic sealant on the reverse. Waterproofed, this will protect the piece for normal wear and moisture but still wear and handle with care as you would any hand-made item.
CREATIVE WAYS TO WEAR YOUR BROOCH
Pin a brooch onto an evening bag. This method looks best when the brooch is pinned onto a clutch or other small evening bag. Pick a brooch that matches a color or detail in your dress, and it will really help tie the bag into the look.
Want your outfit to have little French chic? Simply wrap a scarf around your neck and fasten it in place with a brooch. Very simple but effective. For a slightly more modern take on this look, place the scarf around your waist or hips instead to draw the eye downwards and accentuate your figure.
Another neat idea takes a bit more creativity. Use a brooch as a hairpin. Make a bun or french twist extra glamorous by pinning a brooch in your hair. This usually looks best in the back of your hair, but use your judgment depending on the style. You will need bobby pins for this technique, since brooches are decorative but aren’t great at holding hair in place by themselves.
Do you have a plain belt? Jazz it up with a brooch. You can either pin the brooch directly onto the belt, or for leather or delicate items, use a piece of ribbon to hang the brooch or tie it in place while protecting belt.
