Gabrielle Messina Just a Girl

A Bell to Ring in the New Year!

 Last year, at about this same time, I began to make this bell covered entirely in pearls. I got to a point, about three quarters of the way to done and just stopped. I didn't even want to look at it anymore. I had orignially planned on making two of them and hanging them from the top of our Christmas tree. That plan seemed to fizzle when I realized that it took much, much longer than I expected. That, and the fact that I am pretty sure I had newborns that weighed less than this bell does..... It's a heavyweight and would topple the tree if it was paired with another at the very top! 

  I thought the bell would make a nice centerpiece for our New Year's table. It will be a day similar to last year's New Year's Eve. A night in with the kids in the early evening and the hubby and I later on... Oh, and a snazzy bottle of champagne too! These would be pretty to make in smaller sizes as ornaments... That's a project for next year!   I used a mix of old pearls from strands and necklaces that I tore apart along with new glass pearls; the pink and pale green ones.  I was finishing up the last few details on it today and happened to turn for about a half of a minute and when I looked back, lots more corsage pins were stuck into it! I had to laugh, that's my little guy! What a big helper! (I don't know what happened to this picture...)   To finish, I topped it off with a vintage cluster of millinery, ribbons and old and tarnished tinsel!   Well, I am going to wish you well now, as I know there will be lots to prepare come tomorrow!  Here's to you and your's this New Year's! Happy 2011, sweet friends!!!! Cheers! 

 

A Christmas of Old

I must say, this year my family really outdid themselves on their gift giving! I don't think I got one thing that was purchased at the mall, which was A- O.K. with me! When I unwrapped this tiny antique French antique perfume bottle, I almost cried! It was so, so beautiful. My mom found it in one of my favorite antiquing spots. There's so, so much detail and it's just exquisite. The way things were made way back when never ceases to amaze me. Just so you can see how small the bottle is, here it sits on top of an old compact case with a rhinestone barrette beside it.     I found it only fitting that I should display this thing of beauty in the miniature armoire that she also gifted me with over this past summer. It's up high, safe from curious little hands. I have to smile when I look at them. She knows me so well.This was another gift from her. It's an old crucifix. Positively stunning, it took my breath away! I have it displayed on my alter. It fits just perfectly there....The crucifix stands upright. This is the base of it. Once again, the detail on this piece is nothing short of amazing. This was a really sweet surprise from my husband.... We were doing a bit of shopping at an antique store a few weeks ago and I mentioned that I loved this table, but hadn't purchased it because I really didn't think I needed any more furniture. It's an old metal table with a thick glass top. Some of the flowers light up. It's a bit more modern than most than most of my other furniture pieces, but I loved how unique it was. It's just unlike anything I've ever seen.   The sweetest part, was how he surprised me. It was two days before Christmas, I was upstairs showering. He was sneaky and set it up in a corner of our dining area next to our settee. When I came downstairs from showering, the kitchen was all dark except a bit of light coming from one corner. It was the table! I remember saying "what the heck!?!"and then jumping on him(maybe that's why he's been complaining of a backache!). I wish I would have said something else, but that's what came out!!  Here's a close up of one of the flowers. I know there are most likely some out there that may think it's a bit tacky, flowers lighting up and all, but it's me.  I think it's pure perfection. Old and perfect! 

Gloria in Excelsis Deo

I want my children to know Christmas isn't all about a plump man in a red suit, a reindeer with a shiny red nose, or a stack of piled high presents. I want them to know the true meaning behind all this jubilee is one little Baby, that without this tiny Baby's birth, there would be no celebration. That the birth of the Newborn King, saved all of humanity. I also want my children to know how very, very blessed they are, which is why I'll be taking my girls to our local food bank with food we've been collecting. They need to see the real world, I want their eyes to be opened, as well as their hearts. They only know that if their hungry, all they have to do is open the refrigerator. They do not know that there are kids that have to wait in long lines to receive, whatever food is available. There is so much we can do to help others and I want to teach these values, the values of compassion, serving others and generosity at a young age.... 

I'm wishing for you and yours a very Merry, Merry Christmas!! 

Merry and Bright

 I know I must sound like a broken record, but where does the time go? I got a head start with decorating and shopping and even finished baking a bit earlier this year and I'm sure I have things that still need to be crossed off my list in the next day. I have so many things I want to share with you, my friends! If I could only run off of two hours of sleep, then, there'd be plenty of time in the day.... We're all caught up in the midst of the excitement Christmas day brings! My children are wound like tops and have been having a hard time settling before bed each night. I can't help but feel the same....

There's garlands of white pine strung festively with tarnished beads of silver and pink, overflowing with frosty glass berries with velvet leaves and other vintage goodies in the dining room....A most treasured Victorian ornament hangs on flocked branches, high above others on our main tree in the family room. So delicate, yet it's seen over a hundred Christmases.  The tiniest of sequin ornaments made by my big girl.... I LOVE this!
It's all in the details. A small mirror decked in old chandelier crystals, mercury grapes, and glimmering branches.A beaded star ornament made by my little girl.... She's into sorting, patterns and order, so I did a row, then she repeated the pattern. She's begging to do more. I've been opening my supplies up to my girls, instead of buying them more of the typical, plastic,primary colored supplies aimed for children and the results have been so much more stunning!   You may already know I like to turn the men of Christmas into the women of Christmas, or at least less masculine. Enter Jack, now Jacquie. This is Frosty; maybe Frostina now. S/he was red and blue. I painted him/her with the lavender two years ago and then this year, added the scarf I made from wide pink velvet ribbon, that I covered in lace and added old pom- poms. Frosty/Frostina's buttons are so special to me. My grandma had a jewelery box filled with costume jewelry that my cousins and I used to play dress-up in. These were the pair I always wore. I added a corsage of velvet flowers upon velvet leaves to his/ her hat and some trim around the broom and gloves. Would you believe I've never before decorated our bedroom? The kids all have their trees and decorations on their doors, but none for mom and dad. On a side note, I'm not sure adding two sequin trees I made a few years ago would be called decorating, but their there on my dressing table in our bedroom adding a bit of festivity.I bit of an all over the place, bits and pieces post, but I hope you could still feel the beauty, excietment, anticipation and joy if the season! 

PS I'm linking up to La Vie Petite... stop by and check all the beautiful Christmas goodies out!

The Magic Tree

    Christmas ornaments are magical aren't they? Sure, there some rather meaningless ones that somehow make their way into our collection, but the really special ones, I believe, they hold something.... They can tell a story or bring you back to a moment in time.This year, I selected my very favorite ornaments and set up my feather tree in our kitchen. The ornaments were all chosen for a different reason. Some from memorable trips, some made by my daughter, some older and more delicate than others... these ornaments, for whatever reason were selected above others to be on this tiny but prominent tree in our home. There's no theme here, their sizes are completely different... which leads to a tree that's a bit willy nilly.... I have no problem with willy nilly...  The most fragile and petite acorn with the most perfect patina produced by time.A velvet carrot from a special trip with my husband. This isn't even an ornament, but becomes one with a bit of metallic string. It's much larger than the rest of the ornaments.... I ran out of the pink mercury glass garland just before I hit midway, so I stopped and embraced the beautiful imperfections of this special tree.... This year and those that follow, I'm embracing the perfect imperfections that life is made up of.... because surely, it is those imperfections that make up a perfect life! We made these little felt corsages a few weeks ago, and I can't get this little one to take it off! Remember to slow down... read bedtime stories, sit by the fire, watch a Christmas movie, play board games, craft, bake and enjoy every ounce of this beautiful season! 

Thank you for all of your sweet comments on the Snowkids in the previous post! I so loved reading each comment! xoxoxo You are the best! 

 

Messina Family Snowkids

 We have a tradition come Christmas time in our home. The same tradition a lot of families have I presume; to buy a new ornament for each child's tree each holiday season. This year though, in keeping with a promise I made to myself, a promise to give more handmade gifts, I created little snowchildren ornaments for my three kids and then one for my husband and myself too!  I thought about making little snowboys and snowgirls for them but wanted to make them more personal, so I added their little faces on each. Here's our snowy brood. The Messina clan, all clad in cotton batting, crepe paper skirts, vevlet ribbon belts and a bit of festive sparkle. Surely we're decked in our finest for any holiday party that comes our way!   There's Papa Snowkid(as a baby, not now...LOL)  Mama Snowkid.... And their three snowbabies  

  If you're interested in making a little snowkid of your own, here's the quick how to:

• start with two plastic ornaments: one smaller for the head and a larger for the body(you could also use styrofoam balls, but I had the ornaments on hand.
• You'll need pipe cleaners... cut in sizes appropriate for arms and legs.
• Tear your cotton batting in small strips and then cover them in a glue and waer mixture and place on ornament or balls. Do the same with the pipe-cleaners.
• While the snowkids are still tacky add your glitter or mica.
• Hot glue head onto belly and legs and arms onto snowkid.

Find an image you like and size it on your printer..... Cut in circle and surround the face with Lametta tinsel, glitter, or sparkly chenille stem. Decorate! Have fun!  I used a tiny vintage mint green leaf on most and a sparkly bit on all... The girls got crepe paper skirts. The boys; pipe cleaner candy canes.... And party hats, and a vintage ornaments for all! 

Vintage Lingerie Lovin' Ladies

 I know there are lots of vintage lingerie lovers out there who like to collect and display their pretty underthings.... The problem I've found, I am sure you have too is that they are all so incredibily small... I couldn't get them for love or money! Not just in the foundation department, but vintage clothing in general. I found this beautiful bustier top while shopping at Charlotte Russe the other day.... So yummy!
There's so, so much detail and it's *almost* as pretty an old one.... The price was right, I couldn't resist!I think I'll end up pairing mine with a granny cardigan and sweater chain or maybe the vintage tapesty print swing coat I have in my closet... 'Cause you know this alone would be a bit too risqué for me to wear on it's own... WhThis is completly unrelated, but while I was cleaning up the basement the other day, I found my old tiara in a dresser we no longer use. I wore it on my wedding day. I thought it was gone for good! So nice when things reapear after years... although not how it usually goes for me! I'll be back soon with more fesive posts!