Gabrielle Messina Just a Girl

First Holy Communion: The Dress

First Holy Communions are a pretty big deal in this family. This year, I've already been to a few and my little lady's is coming up this weekend! She's been learning and growing in her faith and is so excited to take this next step. She's had Religious Education classes for the past few years, but this year, she seems to grasp it all.  There's lots of dresses out there that are really pretty, but I wanted hers to be a little different than those. It needed to have a special touch, one that was a little more personal. I wanted to create a dress, but since sewing up a dress from scratch is completely out of the question, I nixed that idea and nixed it fast!  What I could do though  was turn an ordinary dress into something special. I could do a bit of altering; takeing away a bit of this and adding a bit of that. 
I think God was shining down, because I found this dress on sale for $27.00!! It was the only one left and just happened to be a size seven! I snatched it up not having to think too long or hard on that one! The price tag was over $150.00 originally! I knew this was something I could work with. I removed the ties along the back(that I didn't happen to take a photo of) put them to the side. I could use them to make sort of a belt or sash and turn the dress into a one of a kind.  I dug deep into my lace stash knowing exactly which trim I was in search of. I had salvaged it from a shirt that I had stained years ago, knowing it would be perfect for something....  It's this beautiful delicate mesh with embroidered flowers. The trim hangs about six inches and I had at least a yard  to work with. I was able to sew it in tiers to so it would have a layered look on to the ties that I had removed and with a few hook and eye closures, had made a belt/sash/cumberbund.... not sure what you want to call it! 
I found a veil a few years ago at a flea market. It's delicate and falling apart. It's perfectly simple.I tied the dress with a pale pink silk ribbon and an old floppy flower. Now it's ready and awaiting her big day.

Now, I'm praying that my peonies will open by this weekend so I can make an arrangement for her big day...

Ol' Mr. Rabbit....

 With Spring in the air(finally!!) I thought we could really use another Mr. Rabbit around the house.... After two years, and never getting around to doing the original Christmas project, I used the same technique Heather taught in this tutorial for our newest Mr. Cottontail. He's all paper... lots and lots of it, actually with forget-me-not flower ears, Lametta tinsel eyes and whiskers and a bubblegum pink velvet bow-tie! I think he looks like something you could find in the five and dime forty or fifty years ago! It was a simple project that took up a few nights and he's adorning the playroom door. Adding a little festivity in that corner of the house today.   I think he might be in need of his Misses. I guess we'll have to wait and see if I get around to her before Easter comes!  The kids and their wardrobes are in need of a bit of freshening up! Is anyone else loving the D Signed clothing at Target for their little girls?  After a trip to the donation center, my closet's looking rather spring- like too with some new velvety pink hangers and a lot less clutter! Lots of organization and spring sprucing around the house these days. How about you? Has spring fever hit you too?

Party Time!

   Hello, ladies! I thought it might be high time for me to get to posting about my girls' 7th and 5th birthday party! We had a tiny intimate affair, this year. The girls picked a few of their closest friends from school and invited them for an afternoon of girlie fun! As you can see form the above picture, my littlest lady loved her doll and named her Miss Angela on the spot.The night before the party, I set the able with a few paper dolls and a vintage handmade table cloth my mother- in- law gave me.On the cabinet in the corner, I stacked some hatboxes from my bedroom and craft room along with a vintage train case and tacked some paper doily bunting to the ceiling.I made a little clothes line with a sweet selection paper doll attire to festoon the cake.   And individual vases of petite roses at each place setting.I pulled the buffet table from out of my craft room and set it up in the kitchen, once again. Of course, another paper doll.Here's the cake I made the morning of the party. Strawberry buttercream icing, as per requested! And the little clothes line atop! A party isn't complete without cupcakes, now is it?A day filled with smiles galore.

paper doll line-up

 I got to thinking, that for the girls' Paper Doll Party, more paper dolls might be in order. Who's ever heard of too many anyhow? So, a few weeks ago, I set about making some rather colossal sized paper dolls that could be used as center pieces and focal points for the day of their, now rescheduled celebration.
I used the same image of the sweet paper doll I had used in all of the other trimmings for the party. Just this time, scaling them larger. I scaled them too large to fit on a standard sheet of paper, so I copied first the top portion of the little girl, then the bottom and fitted them together. I think they turned out pretty cute and think I'll end up using them as little decorations for their playroom after the party's over.As cute as the front of them are, I think I like the back just as much! There's something wonderfully mod about the lineup of these little women and at the same time, old fashioned. 

  On a side note and completely unrelated, I realize that ferris wheel has been shown in the last couple of posts. It's just been making it's rounds around the house more then usual. I love ferris wheels. Ferris wheels, hot- air balloons and carousels... I put them all in the same fun category and they are often hard subject matter to find. So when I do, I scoop them up! Rambling, rambling. Thanks for listening, girls! 

a little lady for my little lady

Want a peek at my little girl's birthday gift? Isn't she sweet? I'm most certain every five year old girl needs a life sized doll that can also store toys and treasures inside and comes complete with forget- me- nots, a rhinestone buckle and painted fingernails. I for one would certainly need one if I was a little girl again. I know my little lady's going to adore her. Right up her alley, she'll be. I used to do my little lady's hair just like this when she was a tiny babe with curls. Her big eyes and eyelashes reminded me of her too...That rhinestone buckle and dainty red fingernails.... Here's where she'll be able to keep her trinkets and her toys. Love that  form and function! Oh, and yes, that's my vacuum cleaner back there. I just finished up sprinkling her with a baking soda & lavender essential oil mixture and then vacuuming her off to freshen her up a bit. Love the dingy, time worn colors. The scent has sometimes got to go, though! I found her while doing a bit of antiquing with my husband on a date day a long while back(yes, I conned him into antiquing on a date day, and no, he'd never do it again.... It was a one sided date night, I'll admit) He thinks she's ridiculous and that no other person on earth would like her. Just goes to show you he was never a five year old girl..... I know for a fact she'll fall in love with her big dolly and she'll have a name for her in ten seconds flat, as she seems to name everything she comes across. 

Walt Disney World Magic

It was a week spent in the most magical of places, a escape from reality and everything that mid-winter brings. There was no cooking or cleaning, no responsibility of the shop, meetings to attend or paper work needing attention. We silenced all telephones and agreed that we would not check emails. There was nothing that was going to take our attention away from moments like these.... Live an in Techcnicolor meetings with characters we've only seen on screen or read about in books.

Pure enchantment... All smiles as they posed for photos and and waited for autograph books to be signed. There was sheer joy as my big girls experienced their first big roller-coaster!! To my delight, they loved every second of the high- speed thrills.One of our favorite rides is the "Mad Hatter's Tea Party". I love the whimsical "paper" lanterns and giant teacup. My little Alice ready to spin!  Outside of the ride, another favorite spot with cups, saucers, and teapots in the colors of taffy amidst topiaries of equally colorful characters from the story of Alice in Wonderland. Disney never disappoints when it comes to detail, and like a glass of lemonade on a summer's day, I take in every last drop of it.  Daddy with his lovely little troop. (I suggested the girls get fanny packs... Yes, I did. They are big collectors of the tiniest of mementos; sugar packets, pressed pennies, park maps and tiny sticks.... Apparently, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.)  Casted as an extra in a **Big Screen** production on the streets of old time Hollywood.  A pair of regular movie stars, they are!  We jet- setted to Venice for the day. By way of EPCOT, of course.   This was taken the day we arrived. How I wish I could go back to that day and do the whole thing over again... The time goes by so fast. Of course, vacations always do, though. 

Another Snow Day...

   Snow day today.... again.  These paper flowers on my window sill are making me smile a bit, although I feel rather out of sorts and off kilter today... They make me wish for spring, instead, I've got snow.....  More snow...  I baked a cake.  I like to bake cakes and eat them too. The kids like to bake cakes and eat them too.  They wanted to celebrate the snow day.... I lit the candles for them, but did not partake in the celebration of another snow day.... Pardon me, but I hope you can understand.  I did however, have a slice of cake....   I think I'll put a movie in the VHS player to entertain them. Because I am done. They like The Parent Trap with Haley Mills. It's my movie from when I was little. I've heard way too much bickering today and am going to implement a mandatory quiet time during the movie..... Anyone else so over SNOW DAYS?

because they're not already excited....

 We're off to Disney World! A magical place even for me. My kids are excited and haven't been able to fall asleep for the past few days.... I have a little tea party awaiting the girls when they get home from school.... just to add to the excitement of it all!   I'm this closeted Disney fan. I've read all the books on Walt and daydream about what it would have been like to visit Disneyland on opening day over sixty years ago.... I lost count at how many times I visited the park... Of course, you're not going to find a Mickey Mouse shower curtain in the bathroom or Mickey and Minnie salt and pepper shakers on my table, but this tea set on the other hand, is the most beautiful set I've ever seen! It blends perfectly in my cabinet with mismatched vintage sets. So much detail! Of course my girls love that Tinkerbell's on it.   Chip's in the same cabinet as well. There you have it, the extent of my Disney Collections.... Now, what to whip up for this little party since there's NO food in the house is the question.....

A Paper Doll Party

 Well, we came up with a theme for my girls' party this year.... A Paper Doll Party! I think it's such a sweet theme and my youngest little doll has been helping me non-stop. She's so into crafting and loves her vintage like her mama! She's playing a big part in the whole design... picking out the colored ribbon, glitter and flowers for the decorations. We just got word that she will be starting full days at school next week. I'm so sad I'm losing my little helper around the house, but she's so excited and it's what's best for her! Both girls are excited to have their friends over for a day of girly fun! I've been cutting out lots and lots of these sweet little curly haired dolls and her wardrobe for garlands, invitations, and wands! A wand for each.... I may stick these inside their cakes a cake toppers...  And plenty more little girls to be used as cupcake toppers.... I backed each with vintage paper from an old book and tied on some seam binding. Easy peasy!   And been dying doilies in coffee for what seems to be an eternity now too. As the party will be very close to Valentine's day, hearts and lacy doilies make for a perfect compliment to the little dolls!! The remind me of sweet sentiments little girls would hand out to their third grade sweethearts in the 1940's. Very nostalgic, I think. Well, I'd better get out of these pajamas and get dressed. It's soon time to pick my little one up from school. Have a beautiful day!! 

 

Christmas Card 2010

As a result of finishing my decorating a bit early this year, Christmas cards WILL be mailed out BEFORE Christmas this year. I was able to capture a good picture of all three of my little sugarplums yesterday.(Hallelujah) This was picture number 920565 of 924766 pictures taken.... And of course, my battery died in the middle of the photo session. This was an opportunity for my kids to play on the swings a bit and come back refreshed! Why is taking a picture of all three together one of the toughest things in the world to do?? I wasn't even asking for them to smile of look at the camera.....  This was another favorite picture of our little photo session in the backyard.... This one too... I love those chubby little fingers. I even thought about sending this one out since I got it very early on, but thought it wouldn't be fair since there were two more pair of hands that weren't captured here....LOL

 My little man's been carrying that vintage little elf around him for the past few days. I'm not exactly sure of where it came from, but I'm thinking he swiped it off of my in-law's tree. I'll have to let them know that the elf's now under the care of a certain two year old.....

Wishing you the the start of a beautiful holiday season, my sweet friends.