Published in Flea Market Style Magazine

I have some wonderful news to share with all my followers and friends…you know who you are…those of you who have been quietly buying my Hanky Dresses for many years, those of you who have complimented my work, sold my work in your shops, and encouraged me along the way. One of my framed dresses has been featured in the Flea Market Style Magazine.

I have been a fan of vintage and upcycled décor for many years; and, I am so pleased and grateful to have my work showcased by Flea Market Style Magazine. I have enjoyed this magazine from the first.

If you are not familiar with FMS, I urge you to have a look see.  The Winter Issue is available in stores now. There are many fun things in this issue. I particularly enjoyed two wonderful home décor articles. One is about a 1920’s Mississippi home with a love story behind it and the other is a colorful article (pun intended) entitled HUE Make Me Happy.

You can visit the FMS Blog here:  http://www.fleamarketstylemagazine.com

Thank You Flea Market Style Magazine, Ki Nassauer, and staff!

Here is a picture of the magazine cover and my feature page.

DIY Hanky Dress Pattern at Willow an Artisans Market

If you are not already familiar with Willow an Artisans Market in old downtown Littleton, you need to check it out. The Willow is all about Fun - Funky - and Functional Art. My original Hanky Dresses have been available here for many years. My new DIY Hanky Dress pattern is now available here as well.

Full size examples of each of the pattern designs are here for you to view and help you in making your selection. There are five different patterns containing two designs each. In addition there is one value priced pattern which includes all ten of my designs.



Helen Rice, Proprietor - Willow - at the corner of Prince and Main
in old downtown Littleton

Pattern Display

 

 



Shown here are examples of four of the designs available.

Remember - if you have a family member's hanky that you would like made into a dress, you can take it in to the Willow and Helen will coordinate with me for your special order.



 

Fun Making Hanky Dresses

 

These are just a few examples of the many variations of Hanky Dresses one can make from my five different do it yourself patterns. There are two dress designs in each pattern that can be used over and over. You decorate the bodice to coordinate with your hanky...then put the two together and you have your own one of a kind creation. The possibilities are virtually endless.

 

 

Two young friends of mine had seen my dresses and wanted to make their own. Shown here are Kodey and Adison with their finished dresses.  The big girls, their grandmother and I, had as much fun as the little girls.

 

You can use paint, pens, or pencils to get the look you want.

Kodey had a style that was definitely all her own. 

Meet Gus

This is Gus - my neighbor's new Newfoundland puppy. There is only one word to describe Gus and that is simply ADORABLE !!!

Gus and me

Mary and Kevin with Gus

Old Glory Antiques Fair - Littleton, Colorado

 

 

 

 

Once again this year I was fortunate to help out my friend Sonia in her booth pictured here at the Fair. Sonia is the talented proprietor of the Pine Needle Creek Shop. She is a regular exhibitor at the vintage and antique markets. If you're looking for great home décor and painted furniture, she's your gal.

 

In addition to my usual Hanky Dresses, I was pleased to be able to show two new items this year. My new Hanky Dress Bodice Patterns for displaying your own hankies and my new Hanky Cottage Pillow Covers. I use bits and pieces of damaged hankies to make these cottages.  I can't  bring myself to cut up a perfectly good hanky. Each cottage is unique and oh so charming!

Following are some things displayed by the other vendors at the show.



I just loved this vendor's furniture.



More lovely furniture and a simply precious angel.

I'm always a sucker for old linens!

Loved the flowers and loved those colorful rolling pins.

These antique quilts were simply wonderful!!!
Thanks so much Genna for bringing them.

This is what can happen to you if you don't pace yourself at Old Glory!
This lady just got plum tuckered out!

Another great show thanks to Old Glory Antiques
Thanks so much Holly.

Visit:  http://www.oldgloryantiquesinc.com
 

Bicycle Wheel Garden Art - Steel Magnolias

We recently had to do something with our overgrown fitzers on the corner of our front yard. We hired someone to bonsai them for us...unfortunately, we lost the one in the middle.  What to do now??? Well I love bicycle wheels and the thought came to mind that I could make giant flowers out of them. So I explained my idea to hubby, Ron, who put the mechanics to the idea and this is what we did.

So many people have stopped to take pictures and comment that we decided to make some to sell. They are now available for purchase at Vandel Antiques in downtown old Littleton.

It was a neighbor who came by and said, "Hey! I like your steel magnolias!"  So the credit for the names goes to him.

You can get them in many variations and colors.  Red, white and blue ones were available for the Fourth of July and Americana decorators. We also make sunflowers, which have been very popular. If you, don't see what color you have in mind, just tell Vandel's the color and size you want and we can make it special just for you.

My Steel Magnolias



Pink Posies at Vandel Antiques

Sunflowers

Now available for purchase at Vandel Antiques in old downtown Littleton

Baby Robins on my Front Porch

I want to share with you the robins I have enjoyed this summer that live on my front porch. We watched Mom built the nest in the crook of the gutter under the roof. A honeysuckle vine grows up around them.

 

 I was lucky enough to catch pictures of their departure. The scenario began at approximately 11:00 am. It took about an hour before the brother got brave enough to jump; unfortunately, I missed the actual jump. I had to run and do something and he was gone when I returned. His sister took until 7:00 pm that evening to take her leap - which wasn't very far. She landed just below the nest in a bush.  You can see her in the last picture where she held on for dear life all night long. I had so hoped she would not jump until the next morning. Both of them had very short stubby tail feathers which were not ready for true flight yet.

 

The next day we discovered that Mom and Dad had them climb up the trunks of our neighbor's evergreen shrubs and had them hide out there in the upper branches.

 

Long story short - brother and sister robin grew up and are fine. And - Mom and Dad are currently raising another brood of two in the same place.  We sit on the front porch, just a few feet away and watch them and talk to Mom and Dad.

Brother and sister in the nest.

 

Brother hops up on the edge.

 

Sister decides to try it too.



Brother made the leap - sister contemplating it all.



Lonely night in the bush.

Photos From the Spring Market

The Spring Market at The Oh So Charming Cottage was a great success this year. It was the debut of my new Hanky Dress Bodice patterns. You can see examples of the finished dresses along the upper edge of the photo here. (I'll write more about these in a future post.)

My husband, Ron, made little garden totes and benches especially for the sale and had several jewelry organizers there as well.

I had colorful bicycle wheels, vintage treasures, and lots of heirloom tomato plants....I sold bunches of my heirloom tomatoes!  So many - that I am now being referred to as the "Tomato Queen".



My booth at the Spring Market
 

Jewelry Organizers, Garden Totes and Benches, Wheels and Heirloom Tomato Plants
 

Spring Marketplace

The Spring Marketplace will be at the Oh So Charming Cottage this coming Saturday and I will be there with a special sale on vintage Hanky Dresses. I'm also a vintage addict so I will have lots of other vintage and upcycled items for your home as well. Several vendors will be set up all around the Cottage...so come and join the fun in the garden at the cottage.

It Was a Fun Time

Here are a few photos from my adventures at the Pine Needle Creek Spring Sale this past weekend.


 

Leaving town Thursday morning heading up the Hill on
Hwy 285.




Springtime in the Rockies



The welcoming committee was there to greet us as we turned the corner onto Woodside Drive.



View to the left of the barn door entrance.



View to the right of the barn door entrance.



Sampling of the home decor items offered including a burlap table runner that I made which is setting folded on the chair.



Just a few of my Hanky Dresses on display.
Look at the the great chandelier with different shades.



Here is one of my mini mannequins which I offered in pink, aqua and a natural color. 
The wire button art necklace is also one of my creations.



And...this is my new friend - isn't she sweet.