Some New Treasures.

First, thank you for your friendship and kind words, my blogging friends! They meant a lot!

Today I spent much time in bed (how annoying!) and treated myself to hot cocoa and yummy food (the only one I can stand enough to prepare!).

Now, I'd like to treat you to some wonderful new treasures that have enriched my collection lately.

This cutie pie and all the photos featured in this post come from Cape Cod Mercantile, on Etsy. Have a look if you're a treasure seeker! You will find stunning pieces to add to your collection at bargain prices!

You can find the precious white hearts made with antique linen and lace in my new shop. I think they are quite a stunning ensemble with these old fabulous cabinet photographs! What do you think?

I have also been given a precious 'love gift' from my dear sister friend these days. She sent me a parcel crammed with ephemera, antique and vintage lace, a vintage hat, many photographs and postcards, and more treasures! I want to share with you these letters from a sister to another, which truly brought tears to my eyes! Thank you! Love to you! xox

She also sent me this awesome lace collar, for a special Teddy Bear to wear!

The white Victorian lace, odd earring and brooches you can see in the below pictures were already part of my collection.

Even if I'd have hundreds of things to be done, my Christmas wrapping and parcels included (... they must hop on a plane next week!), I have not much on the agenda at the moment :(( 

Hope you are having a lovely week,

Monica.

Boiling Point Reached!

Since I've been working for about 14 hours a day for 6 months-weekend included, without a single day of rest or vacation and after I've lost about 15 kgs/33 lbs, yesterday I was about to faint at a friend's house! (... And before you ask, no babies are on the way! LOL).

Only after a glass of water with a generous spoonful of sugar, a croissant, a cup of tea and some fruit my friend kindly offered me, I was able to drive back home... but was STRICTLY ORDERED to *R*E*S*T*!!

Unfortunately I am one of those people who are not able being still. 'Be Still'  will be my New Year's resolution, as I truly feel I MUST learn!

My friends and affectionate readers from the very beginning know that I have a cozy coorner in the attic, crowded with 'furry friends' I made or I've been given or I purchased during my travels. This is the best place of the entire home to relax... with candles in lovely hurricane vases, spiced hot tea, a magazine, and Duke Ellington in the background!

It is so intimate and cozy up here...

I previously had my 'Ocean corner' here, but as I was in dire need of an emptier and simpler home, I only left my lighthouse and beachy photographs on the wall.

Kim absolutely loves this spot of the house, and always enjoys having a nap on my feet when I stay here. Oh, I soooo looove this!:))

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If you haven't already seen my just launched website, please enjoy having a look! I will be adding something new as soon as possible, as I really must rest at the moment.

As I like my sevice to be accurate and as swift as possible, please note that due to Christmas congestion in the postal service, I will be able to ship all orders by November, 26th, only. After that date, you'll be able to reserve items, but they won't be dispatched until January. Please see details on my home page.

Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Have a relaxing week everyone!

Monica.

... My Website, at Last!

This has been in my heart and mind for much time now, so I'm glad to finally be able to lauch my website today!

I'm so grateful to my hubby and to all my lovely genuine friends across the pond who helped me to step out of my 'comfort zone', I'll be forever grateful for your support and appreciation!

Enjoy the pictures and please have a look at the shop when you have some time!

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I take great pride in showing you my new bear doll pincushions, made of pure wool and German mohair, with movable jointed head and glass eyes. They are especially designed to be practical to use and grab while working, and they are a cute idea for a special gift or to treat yourself to something pretty this Christmas and all year round!

Each and every one is handmade with great love and care, and with the best materials.

In my website you'll find also some white hearts, in three different sizes, made with precious Italian, hand-woven linen (circa 1850) and antique or vintage lace.

Don't you just fall in love at first sight with this intricate antique lace? I did!

Or with these precious pieces of English Victorian petticoats?

And because Christmas is just around the corner, I enriched my catalogue with these cheery plaid hearts, to be enjoyed not only during the festivities, but all year round, as they have such a cozy cottage charm!

You'll find some of my patchwork totes too, which are fabulous to wear or as storage bags  for your beloved furry friend's accessories! He/She will love them just as you will (... Kim starts to laugh and waggle her tail when she sees I grab her tote!LOL).

And last but not least, my new line of book covers and notebooks, made of wool and finished off with stunning vintage or antique lace, ribbon and a silk/fabric handcrafted rosette. This is removable, so the cover can be hand-washed in lukewarm water as needed.

Hope you'll enjoy having a look and reading my feedback.

Monica.

Past Art.

I was looking through my archive to find some Christmas pictures to show here, when I bumped into these lovely brooches I painted on silk many moons ago (when I was in my early 20s), and thought to share them with you! 

I made many of these brooches, each one unique, which hopefully are still giving pleasure to someone... but fortunately my Mom and I kept the ones below, and I could take pictures. Without a digital camera it is difficult to keep record of everything, especially when you are such a prolific artist as I am ;))

I painted tiny landscapes on them, with love and patience.

Love this autumnal leaf with gold brushstrokes!

Hope you enjoyed having a look!

Monica.

Autumn Treat.

OMG! "We have so much time and so little to do! Strike that! Reverse it!"

You might recognize these words from Gene Wilder starring Willy Wonka in the old Chocolate Factory ... I have so little to share and so much time!... Hehe...

I have just finished something I love to show you, in between Christmas creations!

This is Sophie (my hubby chose her name), I was inspired by Autumn colors to use remnants of tartan fabrics and old leather to make a sweet old looking Teddy. 

I gave this old and charming look to her face shaving and removing fur in the areas where antique bears show signs of wear... I always have problems when it is necessary to do that to a beautiful, new and expensive piece of mohair... but afterwards I am completely happy with the result!

She wears a fabulous English antique collar purchased from Niki and a necklace with rusty bells... jingle jingle!

Her paw/foot pads are made of old leather, and thanks to Paula's tutorial, she has the most perfect foot pads I have ever made! Thank you again, Paula!

I promised my hubby to make a sibling for her too... one of these days, when I manage to find some spare time!

...Bye bye! Enjoy your weekend!

Monica.

Bauble Wreath Tutorial.

This is my blue cheerful wreath I made last year!

If you want to give this a try, you'll need a wicker wreath and a hot glue gun, but be sure to have plenty of glue sticks and baubles... you'll need maaaany of them to make a medium size wreath!

The outcome is simply stunning!

I started gluing some medium size baubles around the inner circumference...

... then continued to attach them until I filled all the gaps. You will need a lot of different sized ornaments to achieve this look.

Here it is complete!

Last year I hung it over the bed in the master bedroom, and it really spread cheer around!

Happy crafting!

Monica.

Ready, Steady, Go with the Christmas Stuff!

WHOOO HOOO!!!...  Finally we can start with the C- stuff!  Isn't this fabulous?? If we don't consider the fact that another year is nearly over :(

I wanted to treat myself to something very special this Christmas!

I am pretty tired of mass- produced items... apart from being eccessively expensive, they are not nearly as nice as the handmade ones, and they are lacking in what most matters for me: I am in dire need of  a simpler emptier life, with 'sentimental objects' only! I must perceive love into them, or they end up having no value for me. Even the most expensive ones. I'm sure you know what I mean.

Soooo, I made this bauble wreath similar to the blue one I made last year, which is featured in my sidebar- unfortunately I had to remove all my 2008 posts from my blog (as a rookie, I posted GINORMOUS pictures :((!!), but if you are patient, I'll post a tutorial again in a couple of days, so you can give it a try and make your own special wreath this year!

Red is a MUST for me at Christmas, but I also have much white around my home...  so I opted to 'frame'  the wreath  with this old frame I painted white over the summer. The WOW factor is assured!

This is the very first decoration in my home this year, I know it is a little early, but please indulge me... I really needed it!

As you know I have a thing for candles and lanterns... and I love to curl up in front of the fire!

Those of you who read me from the very beginning might recognize this cup of flowers my DH gave me full of blue hyacinths last year... this is one of those deleted post, I'm afraid! I will post a 'revival' one of these days, so you can see.

I purchased a red cyclamen, so pretty, huh?

This is one of my absolute favorite Fall/Winter treats: hot cocoa with silver dragees in a Starbucks Christmassy mug purchased in London! 

And the wooden sign is one of my fave too, I painted it many moons ago, but still am in love with it!

Enjoy the run up to Christmas everyone!

Monica.

Happy Halloween!!

Wishing you 

all the treats

a day can hold,

all the smiles

your hearts can share,

all the fun

special friends 

like you

deserve!

Happy Halloween and Happy Autumn!

Monica and Kim.

Now I Can Show You Something!

As promised I'm showing you a couple of  the journals I made some time ago, now that they are safe and sound in the hands of the recipients! 

I made this with a Nantucket theme for a dear friend who has sweet memories about the Isle, as she was born there!

I used a net, a picture featuring two friends on the beach, shells and a vintage button to decorate the cover.

The inside...

All these pictures were taken in Nantucket... so very special, huh?

As you can spot I used old pages from an Italian book, just to add a special 'far away charm' to the journal!


I found almost all the pictures here, it is quite an interesting site about Nantucket/Vineyard. Enjoy having a look!

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I made this other journal for another friend, using matching fabrics in her favorite color combo. I'm afraid I forgot to take pictures of the inside (still cannot believe that, but life's really hectic these days!) before mailing it. I only can show you the cover and the very first page, on which I made a collage with pretty girls.

I added a 'special something' on the cover, an Italian tiny medal women used to sew on clothes for protection.

***

And this is the tag I made for Team Tina. 

Hope you enjoyed having a look!

Have a joyous rest of the week,

Monica.

Autumnal Birdcage.

I thought to use my gilded pumpkins for a lasting arrangement! I used some cream silk roses I had, pine cones, ribbons and raffia. No glue gun necessary, I simply tied raffia around each element.

The little hedgehog (made of hay and little branches) is a gift my DH gave me during one of our Austrian getaways some years ago. Love it!

Kim and I are preparing a Halloween surprise for you... stay tuned!

Have a great week, as for me I'd have loads of things to be laundered... alas, I have difficulty staying  focused!;))

Monica.