Gabrielle Messina Just a Girl

Some Spring Things

 

I can't say I've done too much Easter decorating this year, but the mantle is looking spring- like in it's candy colored hues, so I thought I'd give you a little tour of the spring things going on here at our home. This large bunny I've had for a handful of years. He's from an old candy store that closed down. They used to use him in their window display each year. How I wish shops like that were still a dime a dozen.... This old iron piece I've had in the garage and decided to bring it in and  use it as sort of a fireplace screen for our "flip switch" fireplace. My husband said he would weld some small legs onto it so that it could be the proper height.

 

Andrea sent me this beautiful pink mercury glass egg! Isn't it lovely? And the wrapping too, it was a bit of Spring itself.....  From one Italian girl to another, she knew I'd love this big, beautiful tin, of which the contents have since been eaten! It was filled with biscotti....   With the exception of an Easter tree all decorated on the kitchen island and few faux chocolate bunnies scattered through the house, this little egg display in the corner in our kitchen just about sums up my minimal Easter decor for this year. Have you decorated for Easter?

I should be back very soon. I have a piece of furniture I made over and want to show you.... Happy Spring! 

 

 

Good Luck Charm

It's really the littlest things in life that prove to bring us comfort, isn't it? A warm blanket, a steamy cup of tea, a tattered toy, a reassuring phone call from a friend. It brings comfort to think at the end of the day, these things will be there to take even the slightest edge off  of our day. I wanted to make a little something for a friend to do just that; to take just the smallest trifle of stress off of her day. It's such a small token, how I wish I could do more...  A friend who's made many trips to and from doctors with her sweet child; her faith unwavering and her spirit so strong with the sweetest smile.
 I decided I wanted to make one of those moist heating pads that you can heat up in the microwave. Only I wanted a a prettier version and one that carried a message. I found a beautiful vintage postcard in my collection and printed it onto fabric and then went about creating a pillow case for the heating pad to slip into. The pad itself is filled with rice, lavender buds and lemon essential oil... it's smells divine! 

I used velvet on the back so it's soft against skin and while not in use as a heating pad and because it smells so lovely,  it can be used as an over sized sachet.I hope she will enjoy her gift and if it can provide the smallest bit of relief of a rough day, then it's doing just as it should. 

 

Lacy Sugar Egg

 So, right now I'm wondering why no one has ever told me about these 'til now? Sugared string eggs.... Have you heard of them? Supposedly, they were very popular in the 1920's(using rubber balloons) through the 1950's(using the latex balloon we know of today)! I was at work on Wednesday and a lovely employee of mine was telling me about how she used to make them with her family when she was little. I was captivated and continued with questions for more and more detail. I couldn't wait to get home and start one. Traditionally, you are supposed to wrap and wrap crochet string around and around an egg shaped balloon in no particular pattern. Then dip and redip into a thick sugar and water mixture. The size of your egg is up to you. Mine is about 24 inches. You can make it larger with a larger balloon or smaller with a smaller balloon.  I'll let you know now, that the first balloon I did, I used string and was a total flop. It wasn't the string's fault. I think I used too much pressure and while wrapping, the egg shaped turned to a round shape. I'd used up most if my crochet thread and then it hit me to use lace! I cut strips of lace out of lace fabric I had on the shelf and went about gluing the strips to the balloon. After this, I decided to use fabric stiffener instead of sugar. I coated and coated with the fabric stiffener. About 5 different times. Letting each coat dry. Once you are done letting the stiffener dry and the lace is nice and firm, you pop the balloon and pull it out.  Now, you should be left with a hollow shell. I held mine up to the window in the kitchen to show you just how delicate and airy the egg is when you are done.  Now, comes the fun part. You can either cut a larger hole in the egg or decorate the top with flowers, dime store fuzzy peeps, or Easter grass. I opted to just decorate the top. I don't know that my egg was hard enough to withstand cutting into it.... Perhaps I should have coated a few more times with the fabric stiffener. These are beautiful, but very delicate. They are usually meant to be hanging decorations, but, I am sure would look lovely nesting in a basket or on their own little "egg stand". Of course, I will be making more of these. Just wanted to share with you in case you wanted to make one before Easter rolls around too!  I also was a lucky duck to be able to find this vintage panoramic sugar egg while out antiquing a few weeks ago. I've loved these! Wouldn't a little collection of these be great? Sweet little chicks inside! Sweet sugary eggs! I really want to try my hand at making some of these too! I think that will be a project for next year, though. Have a sweet Saturday, girls! 
 
 
 
 
 

One Hundres Wishes Came True! A Surprise Baby Shower

 

Hello girls! Today is such an exciting day! As so many of you know, Andrea is pregnant and expecting a baby girl. A perfect addition to their already adorable family! A bunch of other blogging friends and I have been keeping lots of secrets from her! We've been planning a surprise baby shower for her and today is the day of the big event! Hope and I are the lucky girls that get to present her with the abundance of handmade baby gifts that are sure to make her swoon! I can not wait to see her reactions to all the presents!  Right now, I'm on my way to Leesburg.  Hope and I have planned to arrive at Tuskie's for lunch a few minutes before Andrea is set to arrive and set the table with all of the lovlies. We'll return to the parking lot and just walk in with her, as if we too are just arriving! My goodness, the suspense of this is already too much to handle!

  So, this is my gift for Andrea and her sweet little girl. It's a mobile to hang in the nursery. Layers upon layers of hand dyed and hand cut fabric and tulle flowers... 100 or so, I lost count. I can't wait to see that nursery! I know Andrea will have it looking like a little girl's dream! Lots of tutus, tiaras, and dollies in dresses. I don't have a girly nursery anymore... otherwise, I'd show it hanging over a little girl's crib. It's rather tough to photograph. Hopefully you still get the picture.  

  

    

  I had a few other things already purchased for here before Jenn organized the online shower and I'll share them with you as well...   Because she's her mother's daughter, she'll be needing a sweet strawberry of her very own! I'd purchased it a few days before Andrea told me she was having a girl, I was grocery shopping at Wegman's, strolling down the organic/ natural baby aisle and came upon this darling velor strawberry stroller toy! I immediately snatched it and put it in my cart, figuring it was too perfect to pass up!  I know how much Andrea loves religious items, especially vintage. So, when I saw this pink crucifix and Mary medal while I was out antiquing months ago, I had to get it for her! Even though I really did want it for myself, I knew it had to be for her!   A closer look.... Finally, I found this darling cut velvet dress with the tiniest of buttons, the sweetest collar and ruffles, of course. I'm pretty sure we have the same taste in dresses, since she mentioned she purchased a dress for her little bambina that I also purchased for my girls! So, I hoping she'll love it for her little bundle! I'll be back real soon with pictures of our day! Yay! 

Here's the list of all the girls "attending" the shower.... Be sure to visit at all of them, lots of beautiful handmade baby gifts for you to view!  

Kari

Amy

Hope 

Lori

Holly

Natasha

Sherry

Analise

Karla

Rosalyn- Sue

Tiffany

Jenn  

 
 
 
 
 

The Bellas

                         {{Andrea ... (my roomie), me, Lori, Jenn, and Tiffany(had an adjoining room)}}     

I guess it was about two years ago wen I first heard of Silver Bella. Immediately, I was captivated by the beautiful projects, the groups of girls attending, but most of all by the comradery the girls seemed to share. All those like minded girls in one place left me flabbergasted! I wanted to go, but had just missed it! By the time the next year came around, I had a very wee one that I was not leaving anytime soon. I had began to blog and through blogging, friendships blossomed. I registered way back in April, or so. I forget the exact month. I am still on cloud nine and don't think I'll be back on the ground anytime soon. I've also been taking a nap most days since I've returned to recuperate from those nights of lost sleep.... So funny, while I was there I didn't even seem tired. I guess it's caught up to me. My expectations were high. Well, my expectations were surpassed! These girls made me me feel like an old friend, even though it was my first time meeting most of them!

 This girl, was a hoot! Vendor night was something I had been looking forward to and it did not disappoint. Lots of trinkets and goodies to prove it. 

This year's theme, "100 Aprons" on all those lovelies made it a treat for the eyes as well! Although, these girls would look adorable in potato sacks!

Jeanne was a living doll! And, I must admit I had to use her two photos because I was way too overwhelmed by all the beautiful goods on vendor night to snap pictures. Although, I wish I had! 

Her beautiful booth... stunning!

 I was so excited to swing by Analise's and pick up some Sugar *Sugar! I left with about eight or nine of her beautiful handmade ornaments and other sweet treats too!! This special lady, Jo Packam Of Where Women Create  really, was just an amazing, inspiring, down to earth, awesome woman. She had moved the crown to tears in minutes and connected with this group of girls on a level I don't think too many others could have.  Here we are, me, Andrea and Hope (who I've missed and was so happy to hang out with again.) right before heading out the door for a stroll through Old Market!  Two stunning beauties... Tiffany and Jessi!    I was thrilled to have met these two extra special girls.... Lorraine Rose... truly and rose! And, Amy Powers ... what an inspiration she is over there at Inspire Co. I have more to share, lots! It's just that this post has taken me over four days to get to and way to long to compose and I don't want my family to feel neglected. LOL, so I will leave you with this and be back soon with more Bellas and projects and all around fun! Good bye for now! Or, shall I say "Ciao Bella!"

Silver Bella Sweets

 For a few extra sweet Bellas, I decided to make some beaded candy canes. I had to make thirty of these sweet, sugary, Christmas canes. 
 I paired them and tied each with a seam binding ribbon. I thought they all looked so sweet hanging on my bottle brush tree
A little inspiration to make some of my own, perhaps? Yes, perhaps! Here they are all packaged sweetly before I packed them up and put them into an already stuffed suitcase!

Christmas Church for a Bella

 So, as we speak, I am sitting outside on a cold metal chair watching my girls play in the "fairy cottage"...  really just underneath a tree. I usually try to to take them outside every day, even if for a few minutes... the fresh air, and a little sunshine is good for them... even if it is rather chilly! I would be playing fairy cottage with them, but, I have cookies in the oven and the oven has been temperamental lately. I think it may need re-calibrated, so I keep popping in to check them! Ok, Enough of my gibber. The church above was my roommate gift to the soon to be mama of three, Andrea. The church itself, was a just a plain jane silver that I figured I could embellish and make it pretty. So, I painted and glittered, and glued and used plenty... plenty of mica. The roof originally was gold. Sort of a lack luster gold.... no glitter what so ever. I was about to paint it but,  decided to use one of my all time favorite products from here.... the Pretty Tapes have so many uses! Of course, adding another healthy dose of mica and glitter around the roof line adds to the festivity!  I added a pretty little rosie cab to the pipe cleaner wreath. And,honest to goodness,I can not recall if I added the wreath or it was existing. I guess it really does not make a difference.  The tree was there, thankfully. I added some vintage pearls and a rhinestone and, silver glass glitter... because, one can never have enough glimmer. Especially, during the holidays. They just give you an excuse to go all out. This time of year, less is defiantly not more. For the lid of the box, I first painted it with a few coats of gesso then another few coats of the palest pink paint, followed by a coat of glue then a fancy doily that I aged in some coffee and then another coat of glue on top.
 The box itself, I covered in vintage sheet music and then generously poured on some clear glass glitter. I embellished the top with some pipe cleaner "thingys" with the pearl on the end of each and topped it all off with a vintage earring. And there you have yourself a little Christmas Church box for the holidays!

Lucketts Fair, Little Friends

   So I have been a pretty bad blogger lately. I have been meaning to post this for a while now. I have really just been enjoying the tail end of summer with my family. There have been trips to fairs, picnics, a few trips to the flea and "A Day out With Thomas". There have been plenty of necessary, but not so fun things too. All of this in the midst of my two little chickens starting school, ballet lessons and swimming lessons.  But, alas, my days are starting to feel more routine again, which is not a bad thing.                                                                                                                             

   So, onto the subject of this post. More than a few weeks ago, I finally had the chance to meet up with my dear friend, Andrea. I am sure you recognize her sweet little Mario up there. What a little charmer! We had been trying to catch up with each other for sometime now. Luckett's Fair proved to be a perfect meeting place since we also wanted our kids to meet! They enjoyed each other's company. Above, they are taking in a Irish jig. I think they were a little mesmerized by it.

 The kids crafted some sand art.

 Concentrating hard here, as you can see!

While the big kids were making their sand art, these two cuties had their own conversation. I think it went a little like this. "Hey Sammy, I'm just going to help myself to some of that kettle corn of yours." "Hey, buddy, why don't you try asking nicely before just grabbing! Anyhow, I think popcorn and little one year old like yourself could hazardous in the choking department."

Patiently waiting for the little train ride to begin. 

Not one of my kids could look at the camera for this shot! How surprising!! I think this day happened to be the hottest, most humid day of the summer. We had a wonderful time despite the weather. We managed to squeeze in a little junque-ing at Old Luckett's... five little ones in tow. While hiking back to out cars, the skies opened up and my girls took out their umbrellas. Mario was so impressed with the umbrellas, the girls had a spare, and shared it with their little friend... Andrea and I swapped books, she gave me the goodies I ordered from her shop(all beautifully tucked into one of her beautiful One Hundred Wishes bags she made), the kids exchanged little gifts, we said our goodbyes and off we went! So happy to have finally met Andrea, a beautiful girl inside and out. Her two sweet boys, just too cute for words!

Rosie & Some Office Inspiration

   A few years ago, I was in search of a dress form. It seemed that every dress form I stumbled upon was either way too much, or just not the one I was looking for. Even my wonderful husband was involved in the search. We have a lot of antique dealers that come in to our shop. So, he asked them if they ever stumble upon forms or knew where there were some for sale. One antique dealer said he had one for sale. So, one happy husband came home thinking he'd hit the jackpot. He knows how picky his wife is, so he sent me to check out the dress form. It was much too old and much too shabby. No cage either...which was required! So, we continued the search. Another dealer came and said she had one for sale in her shop. Hubby came home and said "We're going somewhere. Get in the car and don't ask any questions." So, we did. All of us. We took about a forty five minute journey to an antique shop. We walked in and found an mannequin from 1965, rather than a dress form. Poor guy, by this time I was feeling worse for him than myself. What a kind soul he is for understanding his oh, so picky wife. Finally, a few days before Christmas, there was an antique dealer in the pizza shop, they said that they knew of a place.... a good place, a place that was filled with "girly" things. So, he went to check it out, but wasn't quite sure it was the form for me. He called me from the shop, and told me to come down. I called my mom. She came to watch the kids, while I went to see the form. Unfortunately, it was not "the one", but right next to this form, my eye caught sight of a one that looked like it had potential. It was in it's collapsed position and under a big ol' mink coat. I excitedly removed the coat and raised her to a higher position. She was "the one"! Finally! I gave the hubby a big smooch and off we went, right after we paid for her, of course! I had paint her, she was black and I wanted an off white one. So, I cave her a few coats of Gesso and some cream acrylic paint. Now she's perfect. Her name's Rosie, by the way. 

While in my office I snapped some other shots of random prettiness. My one and only horse show ribbon, pinned along side some pretty flowers from my dear friend, Andrea. Love the look of these on the wire door of my armoire.

 

 I purchased these file folders and after placing them in my office organizer, I decided the organizer could use a little help. I've had it for years, and was growing quite tired of it. So, I sanded the edges(I have been on this sanding kick for a while now). I then placed the folders that now hold all my important papers in a much more stylish way inside the organizer. Wrapped the beautiful ribbon (that Andrea had sent) around the it. Finally tucked in this beautiful and big velvet rose she sent from her shop.  She sure knows how to spoil a girl! Love the mini makeover that these folders inspired! 

This old hat box sits atop of the armoire in my office. Love the lady's fancy hand. Such beautiful old graphics! Ok, ladies that's it for the little office post. I shall return soon.

XOXO... For a Friend

 

  A wonderful friend, did me a wonderful favor. A goody box is on it's way to her door! Since she's getting married soon, I did lots of "something blue." It just seemed to fit.