Christmas Reflections

First a reminder: This Saturday is the deadline for ordering the lolita t-shirts!  Please help us make this a success!

Also coincidentally, the "Neptune's Domain" line is being retired being retired on Saturday as well. 

Originally I had planned to do a post about Christmas during the 12 days of CHRISTMAS!!  I was apparently too busy messing about with presents and enjoying delicious goodies.  

Sooo each day of procrastinating makes this post that more silly.  That said, it's not Lent yet, so victory there!

Here's some pretties from this year's Christmas:

This was the first Christmas my family celebrated since I inherited my great grandmother's china and green stemmed crystal.   They were usually used for Christmas dinner when my Mom was young so I was very excited and nostalgic to be able to use them.  

They are so elegant and pretty.  The set is Floreal made by Noritake and is proably from the twenties.  I'm going to keep my eye out for more pieces; I have tons of saucers but sadly few tea cups!  

An artsy photo taken at the Hagley estate on St. Stephen's day (Boxing Day).  One of my presents was a very surprising DSLR camera from my parents.  I'm making an effort to make the transition from a basic point and shoot to understanding all the new advantages of the DSLR.  I'm very excited for taking photos of my future lines with it!

Of course the stark and very functional black/white/red strap the camera came with is not at all too my tastes. I'm in the midst of tatting a new one with some very sturdy cream cotton yarn.   The pattern you see will be mirrored when I'm done.

And finally some photos of a Coord I wore to a Christmas party.  I just love dancing in this dress!

This look on Lookbook

The Headpeice is actually the vintage Linser necklace that I got for my birthday this summer!  

I hope You all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying a good New Year so far!

Vintage Treasures

A while ago (quite a while ago) was my birthday, and some of my friends; knowing my love of vintage accessories so fit to generously shower me with some!

They are just so pretty and neat that I can't but share them here!

First is this beautiful blossom demi-parure that my Mom and I found at a Vintage shop in Philly.  I liked it so much that it ended up as an early birthday present!  

When I got home  I decided to check the makers mark and found out that it is a Lisner; a popular costume jewelry company from the 50's.  They are most famous for their "oak leaf" necklaces, but most of the pieces are fairly collectible.  The name sounded familiar so I check my other jewelry and found that the leaf pin I found a while ago is also a Lisner.

What really peaked my interest with the set was that with some careful pinning I could wear the necklace as a tiara of sorts!

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the earrings as I don't wear clips then they are a tad large for my tastes.  Either make them into posts or hair pins.

There is also a brooch to the set, so I'll just have to keep my eye out for it!

This crochet collar came to me through a friend from ebay.  It's just so dainty and pretty.  

Vintage collars are such a versatile accessory.  I've already worn it several times already.

This vintage hat is just ridiculously precious and sweet!  I don't have anything to wear it with yet, so I'll just have to make something!  I received this from Kristina of the impeccable taste!

One of the most delightful presents was a small shopping spree at some local antiques mall.  I just love poking around through there and seeing what is to be found!

Another hat!  I had actually seen this hat and tried it on several times before.  It's so cute and a really classic shape.  Since it's probably from the 80's or 90's judging by the tag inside I'm going to exchange the dark dark blue ribbon for a bit more of a brighter hue of navy; while still feeling guilt free!

I think these might have been the find of the trip!  Beautiful white kid gloves with exquisite cut-work embroidery.  That Fit My Hands!  I've wanted some vintage gloves for a while, but I have rather long fingers.  

And finally a little scrap of tatted lace.  Tatted lace is really hard to find any examples of so I was sure to snatch this up!  I'm guessing it's rather old as it's just rings connected with crochet (and embellished with some whitework "bullseyes" in the center).  

Not exactly sure what I'll do with this, it's just so interesting and pretty!

Look for some of these peices in some future coords of course!

Do any of you dear readers have a favorite vintage peice in your wardrobe?

Daily Outfits: Early Summer

Coord post!  Get ready for quite a few photos, I've been trying to get used to using my tripod for taking shots of outfits.

Another outfit with my "curtain" jumperskirt.  It's alsmost astonishing how versatile this dress is!  I think I need to make a few more fairly simple flower pattern and solid color pieces.  

It's just so hard to keep things simple and not add too many details!

This may be one of my favorite coordinates (so far)!  the layering just seemed to really come out well!  Something about the length and fullness of the skirt really reminds me of Tenniel's Alice illustrations.

This outfit on lookbook

I am wearing the teal cardigan and gold tone sweater guard I posted about a few days ago.

Hmm, a somewhat awkward expression, but I just am so delighted with twirling photos recently!

I made some brown tatted flower shoe clips a week or so ago.  I really like the addition to these rather plain brown shoes I bought when I was a Bridesmaid at my friend Thera's wedding.  

I used the brooch pattern I posted a while ago.  I just made the top two layers rather then the whole thing.

And finally, I just had to make this little amusing gif when I looked through all the photos I took.

Please enjoy watching my head move around as my parent's chickens walk by!

Intro to Tatting and Two Patterns

Doily made as a wedding present

I have to admit to putting off writing this post; it's a lot of material to cover.  But since I'm stuck at home with a spring cold; I figured I'd take advantage of it.

Tatting is a lacework technique that is done with a shuttle or sometimes a needle.  It's also somewhat of a dieing art: I've never actually met irl someone else who tats.

I have been tatting for a little over a year myself.  One of the things I love most about it is that you can make something beautiful and priceless that can be handed down for generations for literally a few dollars.  All it takes is a shuttle and some thread or yarn.

Here are some of my tatting tools: shuttles, yarn, thread, small scissors, shuttle for thick yarn, and crochet hook  for connecting picots (not shown, oops!).

You can find plenty of tutorials and video tutorials on how to tat online so I'll skip that part.  Heres a good one though.

This and Tat Tutorial

Here is the tutorial that I personally figured tatting out from.  Something about how the hands are drawn made it click for me.  Click on it to see it full sized (as usual).

From The Reader Digest's Guide to Needlework circa 1970s.

In an attempt to incite some interest: here is a tutorial for a matching daisy headdress and brooch perfect for country lolita, classic lolita, mori, otome, dolly-kei, or even gothic or sweet lolita (in the right yarn colors).