Friends and a nice big and neat sewing room!

OK I've just got to vent before I show you what I just made. I don't know about you but it really makes me crazy when someone posts a photo of their pristine and totally organized sewing room. Sorry but how can someone create in an environment like that? I've got to have stuff all over the place...vintage fabrics, trim, buttons, doilies, you name it, it's laying around the living room! Of course, until hubby comes home and then they're back in the "big room" with their 'friends'.

Oh BTW, the "big room" is where my vintage Singer 301A and vintage 'Cadillac' Brother sewing machines are. Along with my obscenely huge collection of vintage fabrics, trims and notions, plus all my eBay and Etsy stuff. AND just to make it even more crowded half is taken up with hubby Rick's fishing tackle business! So no wonder there's no room, even in the "big room"! 

Maybe someday I won't have to lug my 1940's rattan Heywood Wakefield table into the living room. I'll have a nice big (and totally organized!) sewing room. Well maybe not totally organized LOL!

Finished (what I think) is a really cute handbag today, titled Friends. It's just so happy and colorful and the best part is it's big and funky!

What do you think? 

XXOO Valentina

L'oiseau Bleu Handbag

I found the prettiest fabric the other day at Yardage Town! It's so nice to have a fabric store so close especially when you run out of something as mundane as white thread. Problem is, is that I NEVER get out of there without buying something I don't need...like fabric or trim. I've got SO much already! But it's fun and there's always need for inspiration and so that's reason enough to add to the "collection". That's my story and I'm sticking with it!

I call it L'oiseau Bleu (bluebird) because it features bluebirds (duh!)and it has a very vintage French post card look. To make the crossbody bag, I appliqued a piece of the fabric on the front of a linen blend and then added lots of vintage trim, lace and ribbon. I had this adorable vintage post card with blue birds so I copied that onto some cotton fabric and framed it with some wonderful green vintage trim. Then I made a fabric rose out some luscious plum rayon velvet and added some hand stitched vintage felt leaves. Last I added a big mother of pearl button and the cutest little bluebird button!

Still trying to hone my photography skills. Unfortunately, I didn't get the great photography gene when they were passing those out! I really think this bag looks so much better in person!

XXOO

Valentina

   

One day cute little fluffy puppies, the next a creepy skull!

After my latest Precious Pup mini messenger bag-this one with an Ooh La La Parisienne look to it-I was ready to do something more, for lack of a better word, macabre. Well maybe Dia de los Muertos is more like it. I think he (can handbags be a "he"?) turned out pretty good.

The thing is, is that I cannot seem to make anything simple. But with the skull bag I tried. Really. I. did. I mean REALLY.

I was like "Woo hoo, I don't have to make a fabric strap (those take a long time!) I had a piece of black leather! WRONG! The leather was so soft and supple that I had to piece it together and then add tons of hand embroidered running stitches! Took me hours and a few Band Aids...but I think along with the vintage buttons it really makes the purse special.

So waddya think?

XXOO 

Valentina

I forgot this one has skulls too!

Not so cute and fluffy!



Senor Muerto




Aah, back to cute!

 

Latest...

I definitely think I need a massage or a stiff drink right about now. Creating a new blog and a Facebook page all in one day for someone like me is, well, pretty crazy. Or masochistic. I need to get back to my sewing machine!

Don't you just LOVE those cute kitten and puppy images from the early 60's? Well, even if you don't, I do. And so I made a purse out of one little cutie! Can't wait to make more!

AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!

Well, I am definitely NOT the most tech savvy person...and that, my friends, may be the overstatement of the century!

OK, I'm going to try to add my Etsy Mini to this blog...wish me luck!

XXOO

Valentina

My New Blog!

OK I'm really going to try hard to post on this thing and my other blog ValentinasVintage. We'll see how well that goes...

Just opened up a new Etsy shop called SewValentina. I figured it would be good to separate my vintage goods from my handmade stuff. And I've gotten really into making these cute mini messenger bags. Since my big handbags have to sell for SO much, I spend literally days on them, these don't!

A little something about me: I've been sewing, designing and doing artwork since I was young. I've also been collecting stuff most of my adult life. I got my love of all things vintage from my Grandmother and my Mom. I have NO idea where I got my love of kitsch from...must have been some weird old great Aunt! I was definitely not brought up with plastic slipcovers, TV lamps or Keane Big Eyed Paintings! Why the heck do I like that stuff???

So, this is a work in progress...please check back often to see what I just made!!!!!!!!!!

XXOO

Valentina