Once upon a time....

My daughter and business partner, Hope, is an excellent photographer. She had an inspired idea to have a photo shoot. It all started with a hat and a dream of a dress that she found on Etsy. The idea was to do a dawn photo shoot in the misty morning light of our pasture. That didn't work out so she decided to have one in the foggy bottom of our pasture one evening before her cousin Rose had to go back to Fla. Hope's favorite model is her little sister, oops younger sister Jennifer. We girls will use any excuse to dress up in dreamy clothes!

Isn't my baby girl lovely! Hope found this wonderful hat in an antique store in North Carolina for only six dollars. I'm sure the ladies who wrapped it in tissue paper so lovingly thought it would be put on a shelf somewhere, but Hope had other plans for it!!!! It reminds me of a hat Emma Thompson wore in Sense and Sensibility.

My niece Rose took part in the photo shoot as well. She is so gorgeous!

A closer look. You can see the cut work on the sleeve and all those tucks!

I just love my little women!

Lookee Here

Here are a few photographs from our Altered Apron Workshop. Enjoy.

Here are the ladies with their aprons! Great job everybody.

Today's the Day!!!!

For the apron-ology workshop inspired by Somerset !

Another apron . Creative chaos ! To make these... Look at that vintage pattern pom pom, thanks again Dawn!

Can't wait to see what the ladies create!

Aprons 101

Here are just a few of the vintage linen scraps used to embellish the aprons.

Now to the sewing machine! One of the apron bases modeled by, Toots, my vintage dress form.

Now to sew on the pockets. I just love rickrack!!!!!!

For some of the pockets I used vintage embroidered pieces. On others, I customized by using a trick I learned from Dawn Edmonson, yes "the Dawn from the Feathered Nest". To print an image onto fabric, iron the fabric to freezer paper then run it through your printer and voila, a personalized image on fabric. The possibilites are only limited by an eight by eleven piece of cloth! Here's another image copied onto fabric. Isn't see just the cutest!!!!!

Oh, and the packaging- altered hangers!!

Back to work! Instead of counting sheep to fall asleep, I will be counting aprons. One...two..three...

Busy Bees

Things have been buzzing along in the Hopelessly Romantic Art Studio as we get ready for our next workshop.

It all started with a bag full of tea stained flour sack towels.... and then grew into the idea for an altered apron; times eight!

All cut out. Now to the sewing machine!

More later :)

Another Look...

at that chunky cross. I just love all the textures in this piece. I tried several beads and findings with it but none would do. It called for something special. So on the hunt I went...looking....looking... for just the right things...and then you know it when you see it!!! Oh, what bliss! Turquoise stones and beads, with just the right shade of blue. Et Voila!!!!

The divine art charm is from The French Market, found on my trip to Savannah, the vintage findings from Etsy, and the other bobs from our stash. Just loved the blue in the charm and could't rest until I found the perfect stone to go with it. Funny how one piece or color can inspire!!!! One may wear it short or long. I just wanted to show the vintage findings used for the clasp!

Something to crow about.

This is the loan rooster on our little homestead. His name is General Tso. He's actually some kind of Chinese breed of chicken, whose name I can't pronounce. He's quite a looker, but confused about what time to crow. He can be heard morning, noon and evening. So far the neighbors haven't complained yet; just Mr. Romantic. I think his crowing is quite charming!

Just a little close up. I'm sure he is thinking, " you'd have this look on your face too if you had to put up with eleven hens." This is my niece Rose. For the past 4 years she has visited us for about amonth during the summer. She's great fun and has her Auntie G's love of the farm life and artistic flair...

And I couldn't have caught that rooster with out her!! The quintessential Farm Chick!!!!!!

Piles of Ruffles

Just look at this pile of ruffles I have going. I have been busy making the base aprons for an upcoming workshop! This month's project is inspired by the Somerset publication (apron~ ology). I'm making the basic apron and the ladies will embellish them to their heart's content.

And here is another pile of ruffles! Baked Lays cheddar ummmmm!!!! They are my absolute favorite munchie to eat while I'm busy in the studio.

What's your favorite snack to eat while creating?

Celebrate and....

Have a blessed and happy Fourth of July!

Let freedom ring!!!!!!!!!!