Gabrielle Messina Just a Girl

Passion for Purple?

 

  If you were to ask me what my favorite color was, I indeed would not say purple. Most likely pink or cream, gold and shades of yellow would be my response. However, lately I have noticed violets, lovely lilacs, lavenders, and pretty plums are making their way into our home. Blame it on the Spring perhaps. Or on the beautiful purple Hyacinths growing outside my door. This color may be here to stay!

I have been crafting with it. A pretty paper cake I made with velvety lavender blossoms picked from a new old hat I was very attracted to.

I was fortunate enough to scoop up this lavender hat with velvet berries at a favorite antique store downtown.

Oh those lovely clusters of velvety berries. Just love them. These hats are my all time favorite. And in my new hue too!

Some beautiful trim I found! I couldn't say no. Yup, three yards of this will satisfy my new violet craving.

And a super pale lavender egg with little violets painted on it. Just perfect for the upcoming Easter holiday. I'm sitting this on my buffet with the rest of my Springy decor. That about sums up my newly acquired vintage finds in the purple department, be back soon with some other vintage finds. But now it's time to go play outside and enjoy the beautiful weather we're having! Yes, beautiful today but yesterday we were hit with major hail!

Meet Trixie

This is Trixie, my gilded girl! She's a vintage lamp.I have mentioned before I have a small obsession with lighting. Right?  Have you ever seen anything like this? She's the only one of her I have ever seen. Some may think she's odd or even tacky. She is all gold. All but  her pretty little face and cute little arms. Nope not me I think she's lovely! 

 

Here she is almost entirely. I just adore her tiny little waist ,her bloomers(don't know what else to call them, I'm sure there's a proper name), and her very elongated very broken fingers. They have been glued many a times before I bought her. Flaws and all, she's my prized possession. 

We went quite a long ways to be together(yes, I do realize I'm talking about a light here).

I was visiting Las Vegas about eight years ago. While walking into a Jeanne Lottie store in the Desert Passage(now Planet Hollywood casino), my eyes immediately went to her, not the hundreds of purses that surrounded her. I asked the gentleman behind the counter, very doubtfully if she was for sale. "She's not." He replied. We talked a little about her but, I left empty handed. Well, back home, about a month had passed. I could not get her out of my head. So, on a whim I called the store and spoke with the same clerk. I asked the same question. "Would she happen to be for sale?" Well let me tell you persistence paid off. He replied "Well, we are actually closing the store. And everything must go." Oh my I could not believe my ears! She was going to be mine...right after I paid the hefty price tag they put upon her head! But, alas she was mine. Now, at this same time my then fiance and I were saving for our wedding and home and everything else that goes with starting a life together. He was not happy in the least that I bought her. But, in my defense, it was my money I was spending here. Money I worked for. I say my money then but after marriage it becomes our money. Love her as much today as I did when I first saw her!

Oh, thought I should show you the chandelier part too! Since, she really does have a function!

xoxo Have a wonderful weekend!

An Easter Makeover

A few weeks ago, I began to pull out my Easter decorations and came across my egg topiaries. I had purchased these from Target about three years ago. (I'm going to profess my love for Target now. Love it. I know there are many girlies out there that do too!) Well, the topiaries  just weren't cutting it this year. Too Plain Jane. They were in need of some vintage flair. 

Here it is in it's original form. Cute right? But it's a little run of the mill and could benefit from a small makeover. I simply tucked in some freshly picked flowers from a vintage hat. And there you have it! A much better, much prettier version. 

Yup, prettier indeed! 

And while we're on the subject of pretty...these pretty nesting eggs from Nicol Sayre. Got them last year. Love 'em. I have already seen these popping up on a few blogs this year. So, I'm gonna share mine too. Unfortunately, Nicol Sayre has no spring line out this year. But Bethany Lowe has some really cute things like these and these. Oh, and these. Decisions, decisions. I think I like the "chocolate bunnies the best. The other eggs in the basket are nesting eggs too. Seasons of Cannon Falls. Found them at T.J. Maxx for a real bargain! They are paper mache and have pretty white Dresden borders on too. Ok, I'm rambling. Time to go clean the kitchen.

Childhood Comfort

  So, all morning and into the late afternoon my favorite seamstress (the same one that made my big girls spread and awning) and her husband were here measuring, making templates, and hanging. She has finally had the time to come over and hang my little girl's awning in her bedroom. While she was here I picked out fabric and types of shades for my kitchen, family room, bedroom, powder room  and my little man's nursery. His crib is still in our room, so we are trying to tie up a few loose ends for his room. The house was a wreck, with swatches, patterns, tools and and everything else that hanging draperies entails. So, I figured why not add to it. My kids were partially entertained anyhow.They just love visitors. I decided to make some soup. Yes, it's spring. But around here, it's still quite chilly. Soup is one of my very favorite things to make. It was my mom's too. When we were little, there was always soup in the house. I always make a big batch too, that way there's plenty to eat throughout the week. Soup always tastes best the day or days  after you make it. It's had time for the flavor to really set in. I decided to make chicken rice today. I must have been in the rice mood because I also made these...

Rice Krispie Treats. It's been so long since I've had them. And while I was at the supermarket yesterday I walked by a big display of marshmallows. The fluffy, white confection called out to me. It was a yummy scent. I just had to put a few bags in my cart. Could not resist. I didn't even try. So made a big batch of these tasty treats. I always double up on the marshmallow, so their extra gooey! It's not gourmet, but sometimes a treat that makes you feel like your 5 again it much better than gourmet!

You should also know...

After reading the last couple of posts, my husband, not too happily pointed out that I failed to mention we have a son. "It sounds like we have 2 little girls....and that's's it." He said. So, seeing his point I'm going to fix this now. We have three children, our youngest being a little boy. He's 7 months old. Currently his first little tooth is popping up.  The picture above picture is his christening picture. It was taken he was 3 months old. The suit he is wearing is his big cousins. My mother-in-law and Father-in-law purchased it while visiting relatives in Montreal. Many shops in Montreal have amazing selections of traditional and non traditional christening attire. My daughter's wore my christening gown for the ceremony itself. Then changed to a beautiful hand beaded and embroidered silk gown for the reception. But alas, this post is about my little guy. So the below picture is one of my most treasured, and favorite gifts I received following his birth.

 

A vintage Anri stork, designed by Juan Ferrandiz of  Barcelona, Spain and hand carved in Northern Italy by master wood carvers at Anri. 

The small one stands only 3 inches tall! Imagine carving such intricate details on something so small! Truly an art. I also have 2 pink storks, my mom gave me one after the birth of each of my girls. And two for my sweet bambino!  She's the Anri queen... she's amassed quite a collection over the years. Something to treasure forever for certain. 

Ok, now that little problem is cleared up... moving on!  Here's to you my sweet boy. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Happy Spring! xoxo

My Big Girl's Bakery Bedroom

"Bakery" custom  awning, custom made full size bedspread pillows and pillow shams are for sale please email me gabriellemessina@gmail.com  for more information.  All in good condition. 

 

 

So, not straying too far from the my girls, birthdays and yummy sweet treats, here's my oldest daughters bedroom. One of my very favorite rooms in the entire house. This room was inspired by a room I saw in a magazine(I forget the publication, sorry!) several years ago. The pale pink chenille bedspread was custom made by a wonderfully talented woman who has been making my family's custom draperies for moons.  Above the bed is a collage I created for her room. It was in the above post also. I used it as a party decoration! Why fill up the landfills and waste money on throw away party decorations when I can use what I already have.

There are twelve of these cupcakes, some with piped "frosting", some with individual "non perils" sewed on, and others with "sugar flowers". And each in a striped liner with ric rac on top! See now why I brought in a professional? Way beyond this seamstress' skills, not to mention patience.

Her dresser filled with some vintage, some new but all pink accessories!

One of my very favorite things in here a vintage Ensco little girlie with a cupcake hat and the sweetest little dress I've seen. Of course the oh so popular suitcases with a knitted cupcake on top and a little pink glass jar to hold jewelry and other what nots.

A cute little cake on a depression glass cake stand. Yummy! And here's a favorite lamp, found at Urban Outfitters from my pre baby days! I have a passion for lamps and chandeliers... sure to do a post about them one of these days! 

The very miniature cakes were purchased by my brother for me. Did I mention he was about 5 and I was about 7 when he made the purchase! How adorable is that? They have been one of my very favorite treasures to this day.

Here's her bakery case. With freshly knitted baked goods on display, some of these were a gift from my brother. The little cat in the very top right is handmade. I have had it since I was little. The case itself was all gold and I smeared pink paint on it.(with my fingers shhh...) I have a hard time leaving well enough alone. You will soon come to find that out. And simply strung some glittery letters on some vintage ric rac.

The most adorable pink retro stove...I'd love to have a real one like this! I'm sure I'm not alone on that thought with all the pink loving girls out there! Her sis and her bake up yummy pretend treats on this!

 

A shot of the bakery's awning. Custom made by my favorite seamstress!

Her armoire, with a vintage collection of Steiff animals, some vintage inspired tins, a ceramic cupcake her daddy a I painted while dating and her piggy bank.

Forgot to mention the GIGANTIC, HUGE, COLOSSAL, teacup too!

Some of Jenny and Aaron's  work from Everyday is a Holiday. There is more too but I did have to limit the pictures. 

 

A friendly little spot for a spot of tea with a favorite dolly! The table was mine when I was little. My hubby had it powder coated, I spray painted it prior, but It didn't take the abuse.

A favorite sweater of her's and mine alike! And this is unrelated to the sweater, but my very patient husband painted the walls. The stripes are a little more than halfway up the walls then he scalloped them! Love that man!

This picture is making me sleepy... I have been on the computer long enough. Time to take a little walk before giving the kiddos a bath! This room will be featured onThe Baby Gardner Bloggie. Be sure to check out Deanna's blog and store. It's filled with all kinds of cute vintage inspired baby goods!

Two Very Happy Little Girls & A Party!

Last week we celebrated my two little girls' birthdays. There was plenty of fun to be had if you were 3 or 5 or any age for that matter!

There were festive decorations!

 

  

The framed collage above usually hangs over my big girls bed. I made it a couple years ago after stumbling upon a vintage card at an antique store.Since then I have found the same image on 2 different styles of cards in another antique shop. They must have been popular, I can see why. Aren't they darling? 

  

A closer look along with the loving cup favors I embellished. For good little girls of course!

  

A little wand nestled in a basket of other pretties. 

A vintage urn filled with sewing pattern flowers and some sweet little girls tucked inside adds a festive touch.

Cupcakes. Papered, glittered and swinging from a chandelier! (Found the cupcakes on clearance at Target 3 for $.25 I covered them in pretty paper and frosted with clear glass glitter.)

Still more loving cups. We had lots of good little girls!

Waiting ever so patiently for presents.

Is that a look of envy I see?

A huge cupcake I made for the celebration!

And these little ditties here I baked. My girls have a sweet tooth(who am I kidding I have one too!), in fact the entire guest list had a sweet tooth I believe. I made dozens of these and they were all gone!! Who could pass up a cupcake? Not I. I assure you.

We lit the candles, we sang "Happy Birthday" and then this happened...   

The poor little thing was frightened by the candles!

It was nothing her big sis(wearing her favorite Birthday gift already!) couldn't fix!

And a new Minnie Mouse toy couldn't hurt either!!

Although I did make both girls a party hat and totally forgot to put it on them during the party...not even one picture of them wearing it!

Oh well, they loved their party and that's what counts.

A Wonderful party for two wonderful girls!

Hello There...

Well hello, so glad you stopped by. This is my very first blog post. I have been debating whether or not to begin blogging for quite some time. And today is the day. Didn't even get fresh flowers for the picture. The inspiration was here so I acted on it. So, here goes nothing. Over the past year and a half I have been captivated and inspired by some wonderful women out there in the blogging community. They capture their everyday life and share it with the rest of us. Sometimes the everyday is ordinary sometimes extraordinary but always beautiful, always intriguing. I have discovered there is vintage loving, super crafty and extremely friendly women out there. As I see it, blogging creates friendships you wouldn't have otherwise. So that is my purpose here. To create friendships and share my life. I do hope you'll come along for the ride!