Feeling the JOY

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Garlands_002 I had a good studio day yesterday after unpacking from my trip to the Ozarks. Well, I am half unpacked. And the laundry isn’t quite done yet.  And the bags of non-refrigerated foodstuffs are still sitting around in the kitchen.

Maybe I am not quite half way unpacked.  But I had a great day in the studio avoiding it all!Garlands_005

I made a few banners for Christmas from vintage wallpaper, millinery flowers, sheet music, tulle, and purchased letters.

Here is a close up of this colorful one.Garlands_007

But this is the one I will keep in my living room to use this season.Garlands_010 (it says MERRY)

It is made with all gold and white wallpapers and I added some chandelier drops to the tulle the banner is strung on.Garlands_031

This is similar to the first one, same wallpapers, but instead of the bright colors, I accented it with pages from an old book and vintage buttons with pearls and rhinestones.

This is actually a cleaned up corner of the studio. I might be in trouble- I have a local TV show shooting here in 13 days.  4 of those days, I’ll be at SILVER BELLA!! and a few others,(like today) I’ll have Sugarwings. 

Garlands_022 But, yet, I let my unpacked weekend getaway things pile up in the house and trash my studio while I string letters on tulle.

Well, actually, here are some not even strung yet.  Garlands_026

Aren’t these pearl letters cool? They are at Michaels for $1 each. I bought enough to spell out a few words,

‘Merry’

‘Joy’

‘Snow’

‘Noel’

Garlands_028 I fell hard for this wallpaper, wish I had more of it!!  It was one page of a 1930s wallpaper sample book. 

I could have used a whole roll! The sample book comes with an order form where you can get the paper for 39 cents a roll.  But, since the book is more than 70 years old, I doubt if there is much of it available. If wishes were horses, I’d need a really big barn.

  Garlands_018_2

Are you seeing a pattern here? JOY is a favorite word of mine.  It sums up the holiday season so well. It is short, concise and just says it all.

Plus, I’d say this sign would be pretty in a little girl’s room year round.  Or in my kitchen.  I love that word and don’t limit it only to Christmas.Garlands_032

I also framed some vintage doll clothes.  I’d bought a cute wooden box at an antique shop for $8.  Then, I found as a bonus- a bunch of these old clothes.

I sold quite a few of them on Etsy (pictured here), but saved my favorites, knowing I wanted to do something with them eventually.Garlands_037

This little pink dress is hand beaded and has a matching necklace to go with it. 

I painted a small frame white, distressed it, then glued down a piece of vintage wallpaper.

The dress is attached with double sided tape.

I glued a bundle of millinery flowers tied up in a faded ribbon to the wallpaper, and then glued the beads to the wallpaper too.

The dress is removable if I ever want to. But then, I wonder, why would I? Maybe I should just glue it down too?

I glued another old, pink ribbon to the back to hang the piece from. It was a very easy project.Garlands_034

This little dress was even easier.

I cut an oval of the old wallpaper to fit this antique pewter frame (hard to believe I didn’t paint over it, huh?), then used double sided tape to lay out this aqua dress, and put it into the frame.

These old doll clothes are art in themselves, but I still needed me some foof.

So I gathered a scrap of vintage lace into a bow, and glued it to the top of the frame and added some old jewelry to it with another dot of glue.

All of these projects will be for sale on Etsy, or contact me here if you are interested. I might not list them, since I have a sale coming up at my house. But if you want one, I’d be happy to sell it from the blog.  Heck, I am always happy (and JOYful) to sell anything!!

You can still enter my October drawing by leaving a comment on this post. I’ll annouce the winner on the 1st.

35 thoughts on “Feeling the JOY”

  1. Sandy

    Beautiful Beautiful Creations! I saw those pearl letters at Michaels and purchased my initials ~ never thought to use them like you’ve done – very clever!
    Have a great day.
    Blessings,
    Sandy 🙂

    Reply
  2. Karla

    I love your banners. I have a few of the pearl letters myself. I’m still deciding exactly what to do with them. Thanks for the inspiration!
    Karla

    Reply
  5. Cherie

    Oh just gorgeous Karla!! Who needs to clean and do laundry and boring mundane things when you could be in the studio doing this?!? 🙂
    I had seen those pearl letters in Michael’s and was trying to think of something to do with them…I think you found the perfect idea!!

    Reply
  6. Felicia

    Thirteen days and they’ll be there to film? I’d call out the troops to help get a move on the tidying! The Fluffy Flowers studio might be clean if given that many days 🙂

    Reply
  13. Julie

    Karla, where do I begin?? I love the banners. The Peace sign you have hanging on the door (a little cock-eyed) is precious. I think it’s my favorite. But I love the antique frame. You know the one you didn’t paint. Everything is great!
    Love,
    Julie

    Reply
  14. Robin~Thrifty Miss Priss

    I love how you are avoiding all the “things to do” so you can play in the studio! I do the same thing, things falling down around me and “tra-la-la isn’t this fun?” !! Banners are beautiful and love the doll clothes idea! (I did this with my kids infant clothes i posted pictures in July or Aug!….but now I’m thinking I need some cute little doll clothes to go along with them!

    Reply
  15. Bethany

    I am going to reiterate what everyone else is saying: I love those banners too!!! I think you’re getting even better, if that’s possible! I think you said you weren’t selling them (yet) because of your tv shoot, but if you do…. I want one!!!! Your doll clothes banners are also wonderful. I am just amazed at how creative you are!!! Don’t worry about getting everything done because to me, it looks as though everything is done…you just keep adding and rearranging (which in your house is a constant anyways!!). It all looks GREAT!

    Reply
  20. Lynn

    How wonderful it must be to go in your studio and just lose yourself. Just let everything “simmer” in the house because it will get done, won’t it? I think I need a studio.

    Reply
  21. Sweet Remembrance

    Karla…
    Love all the banners! I am having a love affair with banners right now!
    Aren’t those pearly letters wonderful?
    I got several at Michaels too…
    The framed doll clothes are so precious…
    love those!
    Priscilla

    Reply
  27. Dona

    Karla, Love the frame. I have a soft spot for old frames.The banners are lovely too. How do you find the time?Your glue gun must always be loaded.

    Reply
  29. karen

    Love, Love, Love the banners…can’t get enough of them!
    Would you mind sharing where you found the silver glittered letters?
    You are such an inspiration for me. I need to spend less time on the cleaning and more in the studio!

    Reply
  34. kari and kijsa

    Okay….we missed the drawing because it is the first 🙁 but love, love, love your stuff….so inspirational…and those banners….yum…yummmmm!
    Have a blessed day…
    kari and kijsa

    Reply
  35. Sandra Feazel

    Love those banners!!! I quickly went to your Etsy to snag one, but they aren’t there!?!?!?! How do I purchase one, are they all going to silverbella? I NEED (often mistaken as WANT) one for my studio!!! Can I get one???? Just love to see all your fabulous pictures and read about that little cutie!!! She did make a perfect Dorothy!!! and you are the prettiest witch I have ever seen!! Looks like October was a fun month with your family!-Sandra

    Reply

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