FABRIC DOLLS - US DOLLS AND A EARRING CARD

Fabric Dolls - Us Dolls 

And a 

Earring Card

Us Dolls

A couple of weeks ago I made the cutest fabric doll from a vintage paper doll.  I made her to go into my jewelry box and to hold a few special vintage brooches that I own.  You can see her here: Once Upon A Paper Doll. I really love how she turned out and making her made me think of other ways I could use printer fabric and so I had this idea that I could make US DOLLS.

 I wanted to make fabric dolls of myself and my girls.  I started by first selecting photos to use and I put them in a photo editor and worked on them until I had something resembling a paper doll of each of us.  Once I got them just the way I wanted them I put them into one image and made a sheet of three dolls.  I printed them out to make sure they looked good and then printed them on to fabric paper.  Once I did this, I layered them with 2 layers of batting and a canvas fabric backing.  I stitched around them (single stitch) and then I cut them out.  Once I had them cut out I zigzag stitched around them and then I went to work adding all sorts of the details to them.  

Us Dolls

Now when my husband comes home, I intend to make an Eric doll to go with our US dolls.  Every girl needs her Prince. 

Here are some more photos of our Us Dolls. 

These would be great Christmas tree decorations.  You could take photos of your family members, especially the children, each year and add them to your tree.  You could even print on the canvas fabric on the back and put the name and year.  These would be great gifts as well.  The possibilities are endless, just imagine....

You can add any embellishments you like to these and make them your own.  I added a pink bow, teacup and crown to me.  Then for Tiffany I used a glass owl and a bow in her hair and a rhinestone heart button for sparkle.  June got a kawaii (that's Japanese for the cuteness) deer and a bow and of course a rhinestone heart button as well.  

Just let your imagination take over and think what you could do with this idea.  I LOVE technology and the ability to manufacture things from home. 

Earring Card

So while I was working on this project, I had something else on my mind.  I love The Graphics Fairy and recently she posted an adorable perfume label and I so wanted to use it for something.  I am still working on my jewelry box; it has become a labor of love.  I needed something to put my earrings on and I thought this label was perfect. 

Here is the label and a link to The Graphics Fairy's fabulous, awesome, stupendous, treasure trove of a website, if ever there was one. 

The Graphics Fairy

Please please don't use this image.  Simply click on The Graphics Fairy to go to her site and please give her credit if you decide to use this image for any projects.  I just wanted you to see the graphic.  

To make my earring card, I simply printed out the image and ironed it on to a plastic grid (these can be found in the craft section) and added a bow.  The print fabric was the iron on type so this worked great.  Also, you have to be careful not to melt the plastic grid.  I used a small towel over the fabric and grid to make sure I did not melt it.  You can punch holes through the plastic grid in the openings. 

Here is my new earring card with my earrings on it.  I love how it turned out and I made 2 more graphics so that I will have them for future earrings. 

Earring Card Featured at
Le Chateau Des Fleur

Thank you Isabelle for such a wonderful compliment.

Want to see how I made the bird earrings and the rose earrings?  Visit my post about them here:
Antique Porcelain Upcycled Jewelry
and 
Goodies That Sparkle And To Wear

Here are my Us Dolls and my Earrings Card at home in my Jewelry Box!!!

I had a lot of fun making both the dolls and the earring holder.  Next I will be making some Coconut Ice.  Be sure to come back and visit us here at Tea Cottage Pretties. 

Happy Crafting, 

Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

MY FIBROMYALGIA (FIBRO) SOAPBOX

My Fibromyalgia (Fibro) Soapbox

I saw this on Pinterest and to me it said something other than what I think it was meant to say.  This is exactly how I feel about fibro,  I never know if it is killing me or making me stronger.  I do know that I live with it everyday and no one that has never experienced fibro will ever understand what it is like to have fibro.  Oh yes, occasionally I run into someone and they get it.  I met a lady recently at physical therapy and she said, "I don't have fibro, so I don't feel the way you do.  I don't experience pain the way you do because I am not as sensitive to pain as you are".  I almost passed out because even though she does not have fibro, she gets it.  That's right, she gets it......

This is a very rare thing to happen most people including Doctors, don't get it.  They can never know how I experience pain and to what degree I experience pain.  I have found over the years that most Doctors just kind of listen to you and pretty much blow you off.  You can try to explain your pain and your struggle to be better but they can be very dismissive.  I know and I have know that there are some folks that say things like well you should exercise more, work harder, pick yourself up, eat better foods, your lazy, nonproductive and IT'S YOUR FAULT you are sick.....  

Well I am here to tell you, IT IS NOT MY FAULT that I am sick, I have Fibromyalgia.  Let me say this again, I have Fibromyalgia and again, I have FIBROMYALGIA.  I have been saying this for 16 years and I am still saying it and I still struggling and I still need answers.   I don't need or want to be dismissed and treated as something other than what I am, a human being that is sick.  I need understanding, care and help because my body is sick.  

I am and have always been a very hard working, intelligent and capable person.  I know when my body is telling me something.  I can hear my Fibro loud and clear.  I always tell people it is like my body at hums at about a 2 or 3 level pain and then it starts screaming at me at a 7, 8. 9.  It never quite gets to 10 and I would only give this level to childbirth but still my body screams.  I fight every second, every minute of everyday to be the best person I can be.  I fight to struggle through the hard things and the things I need to do. Then occasionally, I have a good day.  Think about that for one moment, occasionally I have a good day.  What if you had to say, "occasionally I have a good day".  

It isn't just the pain, it is the exhaustion.  Before my Fibromyagia and Pernicious Anemia, I thought I knew what exhaustion was, I had no idea.  Now I know,  when you can not even sit up in a chair to eat from a plate, that is exhaustion at it's ugliest.  So I live with severe pain, discomfort and exhaustion.  Imagine a life like that, everyday and always. Then add to that health care workers that either can't or won't help you, that dismiss you.  Then the things people say to you and the fact that everyone keeps looking at you, as if you did something to cause this terrible thing to happen to yourself. 

Every time I describe my pain and my struggle to someone I get, "but you look great".....  But I look great, sorry but looking great doesn't tell the story of what goes on inside my body.  My body is sick and it has been sick for a very long time.  This isn't because I am getting older, or because I don't exercise (by the way,  I do exercise) nor is it my fault.  This is something that happened to me and I am sick and I hope one day someone will actually be able to help me.  

For all of us that live in constant pain, help us find a cure.....

Living With Fibromyalgia....

End of Fibromyalgia Soapbox 

For Now.....

Gentle Hugs To All My 

Fibromyalgia Friends

for we are

Fibro Warriors and Survivors

and one day.....

Graphics by Beverly 
Living With Fibromyalgia Pinterest Board

ANTIQUE PORCELAIN UPCYLCLED JEWELRY

Antique Porcelain Upcycled Jewelry

See the above brooch at the end of this post. 

Earrings

I love Limoges and other hard paste porcelains and I am particularly fond of hand painted pieces from the late 1800's and early 1900's.  I have a small collection of porcelain buttons and brooches and various other porcelain wearable things.  However, being antiques they do not always translate very well into our wearable art of today.  With that thought in mind, after many years of displaying some of my pieces, I have decided to incorporate them into my jewelry collection so that I can actually wear them.  I will have to be very careful with them but I do want the option to be able to wear them and show them off.  

The first project I tackled was to make a beautiful pair of earrings into pierced earrings so that I can wear them.  The earrings were on brass findings and they were screw on earrings.  Can you even imagine wearing something like that, yes it hurts, I tried it.   So having purchased a pair of porcelain cabochons recently and using a 2 part epoxy to make earrings, I thought maybe I should do this to my antique earrings.  I know others may say never do this but it is not for the monetary value that I have these beautiful things, so I took the plunge and I made myself an upcycled pair of earrings.  

Here is what I did to make them wearable. 

I will of course save the brass backings and should I ever need to, I can convert them back to the way I found them. 

I think they are lovely and I can't wait to wear them. 

Necklace

I also wanted to upcycle my antique shank buttons however, I in no way wanted to alter them.  So I had to come up with a way to make wearable art out them that would not damage them.  I wanted them to remain in their original state. Having shanks on them makes it easy to "button" them on to things, so I decided I could make a necklace and a brooch that would allow them to be "buttoned" on and off.  

Here are some of my hand painted antique porcelain button shanks. 

My favorite ones are the one's with the pink and red roses on them.  These are just the most beautiful tiny pieces of art. 

Here they are paired with the flower assortment that I used in my necklace. 

Here is what I did.....

And here is my new Button Shank Necklace

I can wear it with any of my button shanks and should I collect more in the future, they will work as well. 

Brooch

My next project was a Brooch.  I made this using lace, elastic and a pin back.  At first I was going to use a large pin back but then I realized, I needed a small one so that I could push the button through the opening in the elastic. 

And here is my new brooch all finished.  I added a pink ribbon to it and this helps to hold the button shank on more securely. 

Here is is with a Bavarian hard paste porcelain hand painted tea pot. 

Now I have some beautiful pieces of jewelry that I can use with my antique hand painted hard paste porcelain items and I am a happy girl!!!

See you soon with some new fabric doll ideas.
 Until then happy crafting. 

Hugs, Beverly
Tea Cottage Pretties

HANDBAGS ON PARADE PART 2

Handbags On Parade 

Part 2

This is a short post to share more of my vintage handbags.

  These will also be added to my original post

VINTAGE HANDBAGS ON PARADE

Today I have three handbags I would like to share.

First, my vintage pink pearlized and textured handbag.  This is a Kelly style handbag in like new condition.  It is one of my larger Kelly styled handbags. 

Isn't she lovely?

Next, is my vintage navy blue fabric handbag.  This is a small handbag with a coin purse attached inside.  My girls have carried this in the past because it is small and oh so girly.  

Last I wanted to share my vintage bone colored handbag.  This handbag appears to have never been used at all and I am waiting to use it myself. I love how it is styled. 

Be sure to take a look at my other vintage handbags on 

VINTAGE HANDBAGS ON PARADE

Vintage Handbag Dreams,

Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

Drum Roll 
I now have 100 Followers!!!!!
And I appreciate each and everyone of you.
Thank you and Welcome.....

GOODIES THAT SPARKLE AND TO WEAR

Goodies That Sparkle and To Wear

This week I wanted to share some goodies with you that I recently found.  First my Hobby Lobby goodies.  I love brooches and you really can find some of the prettiest brooches in the jewelry making crafts for a lot less than you would pay in a department store.  This past week I found some lovely sparkle brooches and I wanted to show them off.  

Large Pink Sparkle Brooch

It is a little difficult to capture the sparkle of jewelry on camera but as you can imagine this piece sparkles so brilliantly.  It has AB stones in it so there are some beautiful colors in this brooch. This piece was only $6.00 because it was 50% off last week.  I love the 50% off sales at Hobby Lobby. 

Sparkle Crown Brooch

This brooch was very difficult to photograph. It is also quite large and was $3.00 with the 50% off.  

If you enjoy beautiful pieces of jewelry, check out crafts stores for great deals on beautiful things to wear. These are also great for projects, such as making handbags and other things.  Not to mention for the price you can keep a few on hand for gift giving.  You never know when a friend may just need that something special to lift their spirits. 

I also received a very special gift this week.  They are a lovely pair of vintage earrings featuring a Gold Bow, Diamonds and Pearls.  I love my pearls......

The next two pieces I have to show you were made using porcelain cabochons from  Designs By Shell. You can visit her shop on Etsy.  She makes beautiful things and you can even special order porcelain things from her using your images and words.  

These little blue birds are so sweet and I made them into earrings, aren't they adorable!  I purchased the backings for the earrings at Hobby Lobby.  They are Sterling Silver and I used a two part epoxy to glue then to the the porcelain.  

Also from Designs By Shell, I found a beautiful heart that I thought would make a lovely necklace.  I simply added a pretty pink cord necklace, simple..

Lastly, I wanted to share my new Spoon Brooch that I found on Etsy.  I wanted this so that when I am out of spoons, I would always have an extra one.  

Please read The Spoon Theory for more information.

My Spoon Brooch

For My Hard

Fibromyalgia Days. 

Brooch is approx. 2 inches long and reminds me of a salt spoon, so sweet! 

I was very busy this past week getting my girls ready for the start of a new school year and attending an Anime Convention.  We had a fabulous time and I was very impressed with the people at the convention.  It was very pleasant and everyone was incredibly kind and polite and just a joy to be around.  I was concerned having never attended anything like this before but my worries and concerns were wiped away by the lovely people we met this past weekend.  We met a lot of beautiful artist, crafts people and  many other people, we took a lot of special memories home with us.  

We also had several dentist appointments, doctors appointments and physical therapy this past week.  Therefore, I did not get to craft (with the exception of the earrings and necklace) or to make any special dishes in the kitchen but never fear, I have something really neat up my sleeve.  Be sure to come back soon to see what I am doing next.  

Have a wonderful week,

Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

ONCE UPON A PAPERDOLL.....

Once Upon A Paperdoll

Via Pinterest

Original Source for Image

I simply adore vintage paperdolls and some of my most precious childhood memories are of the paperdolls I played with as a child.   I loved those little scraps of paper printed in beautiful colors and all the beautiful outfits that came with my paperdolls.  My paperdolls could do anything and they always had the right outfit for any occasion.  As an adult I still love paperdolls and I actually do have a few sets to this day.  I love to be surrounded by the things in life that bring a smile to my face and bring back those precious memories of days gone by.  

I was thinking that I needed something to put my vintage brooches on, a way to display them.  Then I thought about a vintage paperdoll printed on fabric and sewn like a tiny pillow.  I have a crown brooch that I thought would look adorable on a pretty paperdoll.  So then I realized exactly what I wanted to do.  

Do you remember my jewelry box I made a few months ago? 

See original post about my upcycled nightstand 
turned  Jewelry Box  

And inside the little fabric pillows I made for bracelets and rings. These were made by printing vintage perfume labels on to fabric and then sewing them to make the perfect place for my bracelets and rings. 

With this thought in mind I needed something for my vintage brooches.  

Here is the pillow I made for bracelets. 

And here is the pillow I made for rings. 

So I first printed out my paperdoll image onto printer fabric,  then cut her out and her dresses.  I placed her on canvas fabric and put two layers of batting and then another piece of canvas fabric.  I stitched around her using a zigzag stitch and then I added a vintage blue binding ribbon to her.  I can tie her little dresses on her using the ribbon. 

Now you could add any embellishments to her that you might want and she is a perfect little doll to play with and any little girl would love her....

Pink Dress

Yellow Dress

But this big girl wanted to use her to hold vintage brooches. 

Doesn't she look so cute wearing my vintage seed pearl crown brooch...

This is a great idea to make for the little girl(s) in your life or for yourself.  

And finally she is home inside my jewelry box.....

I am very pleased with my Little Miss Alice....

See you next time

Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

My New Spoon....