May Bulletin 2019

Strong ladies, treasures, and ornamentalism

Pansy Print

The latest acquisition for my growing collection gallery wall of vintage floral prints: $3 from the Restore.

Wallace Hall

I just spent the weekend swing dancing in the John Deutsch University Centre at Queen's University in Kingston for the Queen's Swing Dance Club's 20th Anniversary. Very conveniently, I have a Vera scarf that resembles Queen's blue, yellow, and red flag so that made a perfectly festive headscarf. The music by Gordon Webster and band was mind-blowing as always, and I thoroughly enjoying swinging out amidst the beautiful wooden panelling, lofty ceiling, and grand portraits of intellectual individuals!

Multifaceted Lady

I have a growing collection of intriguing lady portraits, and just acquired this print for $8 from Value Village. I adore the 1900 to 1930s styling of it, the beauty of the woman, the rich colours, and the faceted gold frame splashed with the colours of her dress.

Fab Eyes

My Fab Eyes design is up for voting in Spoonflower's 1950s design challenge!

Frankenstein Cat Eye

I have been looking for gold cat eye frames for a looong time. While trying on my other new pair of glasses at the local glasses shop I was lamenting that fact, and the ingenius optician proceeded to dig out three boxes of vintage glasses parts. Creative people unite! We rummaged through the boxes and found two arms, the body, and the tips to create my dream pair of pearly and golden tones. I affectionately call them my Frankensteins. 

While putting the tips on the frame there was an accidental hole punched, so we filled it with a rhinestone. Nothing like covering up a mistake with a little sparkle!

Pssst! You may have noticed that the arms cross in a funny way. That's because they are actually two of the same side of arm! A little bending fixed that problem, and now the glasses have some (inconspicuous) quirk.

I'm so thankful for this fellow outside-the-box thinker! Ta-da!

Strawberry Stuff

This is a pile of 3 generations' worth of strawberry themed goodness. My grandma's signature icon was a strawberry (she was a painter and had a strawberry on her business card), my mom has followed suit in collecting strawberry themed items, and I am also in love with the cheery summer fruit! 

This is one of those fluke enduring cheer paintings...I painted it on a whim in an afternoon in 2009 and it still makes me smile. It shall be the new heirloom. Keep your eyes peeled for more strawberry stories...

Spool Palette

Behold these lustrous hues of vintage mercerized cotton thread on wooden spools. Which is your favourite?

Old Lace

I love the intricacy of lace and doilies. They are elegant, ethereal, and versatile. They can be used as a myriad of embellishments...patches on jeans, sewed into a tablecloth, starched into a pendant fixture...the list goes on...

Those Hours With You

Oh what a dreamer's delight! I found this sweet illustrated poem at Value Village for $1.99, bundled with 3 other tiny frames--bonus! The 1700s themed illustration, gilded details, and reflective verses thrill my soul. It looks like framed Maurine Hathaway prints were a popular piece of 1920s décor.

Grandma's Ship

 My grandma painted this delightfully nautical scene when she was a teenager.

 The sunlit sails and the texture of the waves and clouds are so summery.

Best of all--here's a snapshot my grandpa took of it as a brand new creation!

Watercolour Paradise

These framed vintage Nicolas Markovitch, a.k.a. Marc watercolour prints are likely from the 1920s to 1940s. They left their Value Village lodgings and now radiate summery paradise sitting on my shelf!

Green Thumb

I was inspired by Ron Isaacs' Sprout, and created this shadow box with linen, cardstock, and a vintage glove.

Rose Needlepoint

I found this rose needlepoint at Value Village for a few dollars. The palette and distressed frame are so sweet.  

My goal is to gather a whole gallery wall of rescued floral oil paintings, watercolours, and needlepoints!

Sun and Daisies

My friend Tabytha made this lovely collage of a Katie Daisy quote. It's so cheery I had to frame it!

Cat Eye Glasses

I found these fabulous cat eye frames at Value Village for (wait for it) $3, had my prescription lenses put in them, and may have also taken a brush full of gold paint to the tips...hello, bespectacled '50s secretary joy!

New Artisan Designs in Shop

These new designs celebrate elegant craftsmanship! They are available in my shop as fabric, wallpaper, gift wrap, cut-and-sew patterns, and homewares! Here's Old Masters

Mother of Pearl

Bobbin Lace

The Eternal Mind

"A book is a portion of the eternal mind caught in its progress through the world stamped in an instant, and preserved for eternity." --Lord Houghton (1809--1885)

Praise Frame

I love vintage Christian prints! They have fabulous typography, gilding, and an encouraging message!

Vintage Church Print

I found this gorgeous framed church print at Value Village for $6.99! 

It's godly, vintage, black and white, architectural, detailed, distressed, and French, therefore it will be prominently hanging on my walls for the rest of my life!

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19