1800s Silhouettes

As promised, 

here are photos of my most recent project:
1800's themed silhouette pillows. 

-Silhouettes sewn onto fabric of reclaimed curtains.

-Creamy white, damask embossed fabric.

-Silhouettes cut from black felt.

-Hidden zippers in the bottom of each. 

Lady's hair: Lace bow in moss green. 

Lace ascot/jabot in white. 

New Item!

Ohhhh I just completed a new project and I'm IN LOVE! 

Definitely one of my best items- I'll be sad when they find a new home. 

BUT: they worked out so well that I've got another similar project in mind already!! 

With any luck, tomorrow will provide me with some sunshine, 

and I'll take photos to share with you! 

But for now, I'll leave you with a few key words: 

1800's silhouettes. 

Royal Order

Occasionally I'm lucky enough to have one of my items found and listed in an Etsy Treasury.  I've been told by many people that it can take quite a while to be 'discovered' via Etsy and online shops, so every time I have something chosen for a treasury, I get a little extra excited!  I've had yellow rose earrings listed under a Warm & Sunny Treasury, and my Heart Love Note pillows listed in a Valentine's Day treasury.  A few days ago, I had my Couples Silhouette Pillows listed in a wedding treasury!!
Usually, being listed in a treasury results in slightly higher traffic to my page, perhaps a few of my items being added as favorites, and occasionally it might result in a sale.    Recently, I had the most unusual and exciting result from being listed in a treasury.  It was an Etsy Admin who added my Silhouette Pillows to the Wedding Treasury.  She then contacted me asking if I had any orders ready that I could ship to her for a Etsy photo shoot in Berlin!! While I was flattered, all my silhouette pillows are custom orders:  I don't and can't make them until someone orders them and sends me photos of their face profile.  I asked the Etsy Admin if she would like me to remake the silhouette pillows she saw online (of my brother and sister in law, Ty & Hannah) and she replied with the idea of, since its a UK treasury centered around weddings, why don't I make a set of pillows based loosely on the wedding of "Kate & Wills".  Of course, I said something along the lines of "HECK YES, I will make you some royal wedding silhouette pillows for your Etsy photo shoot in Berlin!!!!"

At Camp Shamrock (a Christian outreach camp for youth ages 8 to 16 in Tollymore Forest) last year, I saw an old tea towel which featured the faces of Charles and Diana.  Having grown up in the US where we simply don't have Royalty to swoon over, I found it hilarious that commemorative tea towels would be produced for the Royal wedding back in 1981. Since then, I've discovered that its not strange at all over here to go all out for Royal weddings! In fact, I recently saw a report showing airline sales for tickets to the UK have gone up dramatically during April: the date for Prince William's wedding.

Soooo, thats one of my next projects!  I never thought I'd be making silhouette pillows with royal faces on them!

Link to my original Silhouette pillows: http://www.etsy.com/listing/48210983/personalized-silhouette-pillows-two

Furniture Bargain!!

 Okay people, this was one fantastic Saturday!!!

 I went walking around Belfast and visiting a few of my favorite craft and fabric shops to pick up a few supplies.  In the mean time, a small miracle happened: my husband spotted a cute crafty/vintage shop and said "Hey, do you want to go in?"  (This is semi-miraculous because my husband doesn't usually suggest additional vintage or craft shops for me to visit, because he knows it may take anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours before I exit the store.) This little place was called Crafty Belfast, I believe, (I may have to double check that ...) and it was an amazing little store!! Stuffed with new and old, handmade, vintage, beautiful, odd, unique, affordable, expensive... you name it. Just crammed to the rafters with COOLness.  Beautiful.

I noticed inside that they had a few items that I've seen floating around Etsy. I spoke with the owner, chatted her up a bit, and she said she'd love if I brought some of my stuff by and she'd gladly sell it for me there! Also, I gave her my info because she said they occasionally need extra part time staff. 


The highlight of the day, *drum roll please* was finding a beautiful little vintage piece of furniture that is in need of a good home:

    

 Its a beautiful little piece: sturdy seat and legs, complete wicker back, and a table/storage area. 

As you can see, it needs some TLC.
The door is currently detached: I'll need to replace the hinges. 

But it has a magnetic closure that is still working. 

I'll sew up a little square cushion- probably floral design. 

I like the color, but the paint job will need to be re-done. 

I don't like the rough stencil spray paint job they did on the front door.
I may keep it a solid color, or perhaps add some Victorian swirls, or perhaps some birds. 

On the box's side, there is a poorly done chalk board area

announcing someone's salon opening. 

That will be repainted as well. 

This is Olive Owl Art's first vintage furniture purchase! What a marvelous find! 

I got it for a good price (which I won't disclose), 

and I can't wait to 'flip it'!

If the repairs all go according to plan, you will see it 

for sale at The Home Souk on the 5th of March! 

Europa Hotel, 11am to 5pm!

And what made my day even brighter?
My first haggling! 

I asked the lady if I could have the keys thrown in for the cost of just the furniture alone, 

and YES!!! I basically got the keys for free!
Two thumbs up for my successful haggling!!

They're beautiful keys, too! Vintage metal- great condition, and large: about 4 inches or so. 

I now have about 5,000 ideas running through my head, so I'm off to create some wonderful new items!  

Check out Olive Owl Art's Etsy shop!

Fashion Souk Sunday

The Fashion Souk (a fair trade, vintage, and handmade market in Belfast held once a month) was so successful it outgrew its old home. Sooo, now it has a new home in the Europa Hotel (famous for being the most bombed hotel in Europe...greeeeat). And, since it was so busy and successful, they've split it into two days: The HOME Souk is now one Saturday a month, and The FASHION Souk is now one Sunday a month. Next month, I'll be participating in the Home Souk, leaving my accessories at home, and instead I'll have all my acrylic artwork, pillows, potpourri pouches, etc on display.

A few things on display: rings, earrings, brooches, clutch purses, necklaces, headbands...etc.

Thanks to an old and huge picture frame that I found in our attic, I displayed my necklaces and bracelets off to the side of the table, providing us with much more room!
I just backed the frame with cardboard and a pretty layer of olive green felt- accented with a nice owl logo.

Find #1 of the day!! After I made some money from selling some of my own items, I walked around the Souk and viewed other booths and I found this cute and casual dress with pockets and sparrows!! At it was only a fiver! (Five pounds...five bucks..)

Also a fiver: dress #2! Vintage, adorable, and from England.

This nice scarf was FREE. Vintage and lovely olive green.

And this cozy little beauty was only four pounds.

It will keep my ears nice and warm in this cool UK climate!

All in All: I made a decent profit: more than paid for the price of the booth, found some cute vintage dresses for a really low price, and I'm excited to sew sew sew during the free minutes here and there this month in anticipation for March's Home Souk!