There was I trying to take photos and she wouldn't stay still...the button doodahs? I got that idea from Jane's wild use of buttons!
This is my pin cushion which I made about fifteen years back:
...and here's one I made this morning for fun, with vintage beads and some trimming I found.
I'm going to put it in my Etsy shop later as I'm really happy the way it turned out.Ages ago Paulette gave us a guided tour of her bead stash, which gave me serious jealousy issues. Since I had my own stash out this morning I thought I'd show you, though its not a patch on Paulette's lovely selection.
S'il vous plait, regardez le tres elegant cardboard box, dans which resides a veritable Aladdin's cave of sparkling....you get the gist...
Et voila, les beads extraordinaire! 
You see the old containers- match boxes, tins, Cadbury's Choc box? Isn't it just wonderful?
And the blue satin with all the beads sewn on in leaf and flower motifs?
Would you like the story?About 1994 ish some ladies were helping an older lady to move from her home into sheltered accommodation, and in order to both reduce the amount of belongings and pay for the move she decided to sell some of her things. I think she hadn't thrown out a single thing since the 1920s so you can just imagine the amount of 'stuff'.
She had, apparently, gone out to East Africa as a bride before 1910, complete with trousseau, and since she was marrying a settler and was an excellent seamstress herself, her trousseau included a number of evening gowns, of which I believe the beaded blue satin to be part of a bodice. From what little I know I think most of the beads are from around the '50s.
One of the ladies gathered all the beads as well as a bag of embroidery transfers and gave me first refusal. I was delighted and have so enjoyed using them, for the 'now' and for the history attached. I hope, when I meet Nancy Rainbow in the 'Hereafter' that I can tell her I put her stash to good use!
This is an evening clutch bag I made for Sos to go with the dress she wore for her 18th birthday last March, using some of the beads and sequins.
And there you have my bead story!
7 comments:
Oh what a treasure you have discovered and are making even more beautiful things with the treasures you've discovered. Love the wrist warmers. I may have to email you to make me some! I am always freezing cold now!
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
I'm into wrist warmers big time.
Great story......
Wrist warmers are vey underatted..
x x x
I love the story of Nancy Rainbow and your wonderful stash.
LOVE the wrist warmers...and so glad I could contribute to the "funky" side of them...awesome!
Love that story and how wonderful to re-use for your daughters....
Love the Coty face powder box, LOL!!
What a lovely story about your bead stash! The clutch bag is beautiful, and so are the wrist warmers.
Love your treasure chest, and the fact that you're willing and able to use them; I think I'd just keep looking at them and wondering what to do with them. Wrist warmers and ankle warmers have been on my to-do list for ages, and I wish I'd got round to making them before this cold spell kicked in.
Love your bead story! I'm a big fan of containers like that too... always saving tins/boxes... never know when you'll need a cute container! I think you have a nice collection, makes mine look tiny.
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