Once upon a Dream

Signed up last night for Jennifer Hayslip's Once Upon A Dream Art Event in Ashville, North Carolina. So excited to be attending. Can't wait!

Projects I am working on

There is a great thrift shop where I find so many wonderful things to use for my projects: Blue Chiffon, Pink Frills, Vintage Crochet Lace, Lace Gowns, Vintage Buttons. All purchased for under $10

Before Photo Above

Here is a Peek at some of the projects I am currently working on. I found these old sewing machine drawers at my local thrift shop for $2.00 . I cleaned them up, glued and nailed them back together. They are perfect storage boxes.

Published in Altered Couture Spring 2011

I've Been Published February 2011

Altered Couture Magazine

I found out last week that my Tulle Coat was selected to be published in the Feb 2011 Issue of Altered Couture Magazine. This is the first item I have ever submitted to a magazine and I was so excited when I found out that I was being published (and still am). I had been working on this coat and had some final touches I needed to make that I had been putting off. A few days before the entry deadline I was going to finish the coat and ship it, well one of my dear aunts had a heart attack and I completely forgot about the coat. I rushed to her side and remained there for 3 days. When I got home I remembered that I had not finished the coat. So I stayed up for hours completing it and shipped it overnight UPS. It was not cheap to ship but I had put so much detailed work into it that I wasn't about to not ship it. Anyway my aunt recovered and is doing well and my work was published. There is always a way:

Dreams and dedication are a powerful combination. -William Longgood

Altered Couture Magazine "Tulling Around" Challenge

Below is my BEFORE photo

Tulling Around Altered Couture Magazine Thrifty Ensembles Project

Well it's been a while since I last posted anything on my blog. I have been so busy starting a new business and working on so many projects. I waited until the last minute to submit this project to "Altered Couture" magazine and it cost me an unbelievable amount to ship, in fact it seems like UPS might have charged me the cost of a plane ticket for this package to arrive before the deadline of September 15, 2010. Well I guess that's what I get for not shipping it earlier. Anyway this was a fun project!

I purchased this gray vintage coat at my local thrift store for $10 along with a bag of sewing items including fabric, lace, tulle, trim and tons of other stuff for $7.00. They sold me the bag of sewing stuff so cheap because it was all tangled into one big mess and something red had spilled in the bag. I took it home cleaned everything and hung the coat up in my art room not knowing what I was going to do with it. Then I read about this Challenge in the May, June, July 2010 Altered Couture Magazine. I was so excited that I took the coat off of the rack and got to work designing, sewing, twisting, scrunching and tying. This is the first time I have ever submitted anything to a magazine and I sure would like to have my work published some day.

Sylvia Cruz Smith :)

Summer Vintage Vacation Swap 2010

Here are some photos of the beautiful things I received from My Swap Partner Marti in the Vintage Vacation Swap. This is the first time I have ever participated in a swap and I truly thank Marti for thoughfulness. She picked the perfect items and I loved everything!

Bloggerette Sorority Project

My Bloggerette Sorority Project using this lovely photo.

Decorated Paint Can

I have had this paint can just sitting in my art room filled with treasured junk. It needed some life so I decorated it using lace, ribbon, ephemera, glitter glue, and vintage sheet music. I guess I should have taken a before picture but as usual I forgot. The cute little postcard, cupcakes with roses, rose cutouts, Marie Antoinette card and some of the lace, I received in my gift pack from Cassi of Cassi's Creations at the Petticoats and Parasols Workshop/Art Event. She has the cutest stuff for sale and is so talented!

Candy Dish Pin Cushion

This is one of my lastest creations. A Pin cushion that I made out of an old candy dish.

Collage Book

Camera Case & Cosmetic Box draped in Pearls

This is an old Camera Case that I bought at the thrift store for $2.00

This is a an old Cosmetic Case that was pretty beat up.

Book Cover Collages

Here are a some Collages that I made earlier this year. I used old book covers, pink roses, old sheet music, stamps, scrapbook paper glitter glue, round metal edge tags, vintage paper dolls, vintage advertisements, maps, thin wooden sheets, canister lid, vintage buttons and other little items.

Things I bought at the Thrift Store

I shop regularly at this small thrift shop with wonderful things. Here are some of the items I purchase.

Future Vintage Things

Southern Belle Dress

Here is the beautiful dress that I purchased on Ebay. What a wonderful time I had in this dress at the Petticoats and Parasols Art Event in April. I thank the wonderful Ebay Seller that I purchased it from Dee from FiddleDeeDee Mercantile. If you need a dress look her up on Ebay she has many beautiful dresses!

Natalie's Wedding Flower Arrangement

I made this for my friends daughters wedding.

Teacher Gifts

These are the gifts that I made for our little Braden's teachers. These teachers are very speacial to us and I wanted to make them something special.