Scattered, But Focused

Well, here we are--Thanksgiving tomorrow and Christmas right around the bend. I can't believe it's holiday time already. I still haven't recovered from our lack of a Summer this year. We didn't have one good beach weekend. I need a day by the ocean, but I guess memories like this will have to do for a few more months!


I've been consumed with stocking my Etsy shop these days, and I think it's finally taking shape. My aim has been for a vintage/retro feel and I believe the shop personality is at last emerging! I'd love to hear comments and suggestions. Anyone??

Have you heard that Etsy is running a Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion? Many participating shops are offering specials. And Cinderella Lollipop has joined in the fun! From now until next Monday (or until I get around to un-tagging) every single item in my shop is 15% off!! Everything. Even the pure cashmere ruanas!!

I've listed this black one. I only have enough of this scrumptious coat-weight fabric to make just two or three more. I've also got a one-of-a-kind charcoal coat-weight that I'm going to list (but if you read this and want it, send me a convo via Etsy, shhhh...) and a lovely chocolate flannel weight that I may line with a chocolate sherpa.

Oh, and here are some pics of the cutest little ponchos I made this past week.
They are reversible. The pink knit reverses to a pink velvet, and the Ikat styly knit is black fleece on the other side. A custom order, I think the two recipients will be very happy with the surprise flower brooches I created to match!

So click on over to http://cinderellalollipop.etsy.com or just get yourself over to Etsy and see all the beautiful creations and vintage lovelies for your consideration! Try some of my favorite shops like Peaceful Chic: http://www.etsy.com/shop/peacefulchic or Kitchy Galore: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kitschygalore and The Werehouse: http://www.etsy.com/shop/thewerehouse. Some of my other favorites are From My Hands to Yours: http://www.etsy.com/shop/frommyhandstoyours and Lizard Queen Jewelry: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LizardQueenJewelry.

Well, I'm off to make a blanket buddy and neckroll for a sweet little someone! Talk to you all after Thanksgiving. Have a wonderful holiday!!

Contest Time!

Wanna win something unique and beautiful?





All you need to do is go here: http://cinderellalollipop.etsy.com and browse my shop.

Then go to the Cinderella Lollipop Facebook fan page, here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cinderella-Lollipop/55883767988

(Make sure you copy and paste the entire link. I can't seem to make live links for you. Sorry!)

Become a fan and post a comment letting me know what your favorite vintage or handmade item is. When I get over 10 comments, we'll have a random drawing for this fabulous Earthy Delights Windchime made from recycled elements. That's a $24 value!!

And all you have to do is become a fan on Facebook.

Pretty easy!

(Why not follow my blog while you're at it!)

Viva La VivaLaModa!

Anyone who knows me can tell you I've got some strong opinions about fashion. (Capris, anybody? ;p) I also enjoy designing and making clothing, and hunting for vintage treasures. Imagine my delight when I stumbled across this online magazine!



It pays homage to some of my favorite things: fashion design, handmade, and vintage. And it's full of beautiful photos and well-written articles that spark the imagination! To add to my pleasure, many of the articles and ads feature artists from my favorite online shopping and selling 'mall', Etsy.com.

VivaLaModa does a fabulous job of showcasing the wonderful, eclectic talent that's out there! In the current issue, there's an interesting interview with an Etsy seller who designs the most romantic clothing! The article is enhanced by exquisite photos of her unique work. Here's one of her dresses on the cover:

After reading that scrumptious article, I moved on to an engaging story about a trip to Turkey complete with more great pics! And then another outlining a healthy way to eat and lose weight that recommended two books I'd never heard of before. And surrounding these interesting and informative tidbits are pages and pages of yummy eye candy. Gorgeous fashions and accessories. Lovely and original jewelry.

My only wish is that they had more to offer on vintage fashion and maybe just a bit less of the jewelry. But I've only read the one issue and wanted to share it here, right away. Hopefully, the editors will offer more on vintage in future publications. I'm off now to read the archives!

Oh, and here's a link to VivaLaModa. I hope you'll join me in wishing the magazine a long and wonderful stay! Viva La VivaLaModa!!

A Little Blast From the Past

Here's a little something I wrote a while ago. Hope you enjoy!

MY FIRST TIME

I had never done anything like this in my life. I admit I felt uncomfortable and skittish. Sensing my anxiety, his hand grazed my arm, leading me over to where he wanted me. When I saw the tub of soapy water, I must have hesitated because he took hold of my shoulders and coaxed me some more.

"Come on. The water is nice and warm. I promise you'll enjoy it."

Biting my bottom lip, I caught my breath as the soothing liquid covered my bare skin. I felt so vulnerable.

"Oh, this is nice." I giggled. "It's just what I needed, so relaxing."

"Yes. Settle back and let me take care of you."

I closed my eyes, enjoying the warmth and sweet scent of the water. This being my first time, I began to wonder what else he intended to do to me. So far, I had no complaints.

He awakened me from my daydream when he wrapped my damp, pink skin in a fluffy, white towel. Taking great pains to dry every part of my nakedness, he gazed into my eyes.

"You're going to love what comes next," he said, reaching for a dark container. He poured some creamy, yellow liquid into his hands and rubbed them together. "I'm warming it for you," he explained in his husky voice.

Rubbing the lotion into my skin, he spoke again. "Isn't this nice?"

I rolled my head back, still not believing I had summoned the courage to come here. "Oh yes. It's lovely." I meant it. How could I ever go back to my normal life after this? I wished my husband would do this for me, but I didn't hold out much hope.

Leaning back, I felt completely relaxed and at his mercy. I'd decided to trust him to do what he must. With eyes closed, my mind wandered as he performed all sorts of rituals I had never encountered before. His fingers caressed and stroked my skin, and I thought that I might ask him to never stop.

After awhile he showed me a list of titles and asked me to choose. Blushing, I read the names. "Sin in the Afternoon, She Devil, Purple Passion." My face reddened as I blurted out, "Oh my gosh!" Feeling timid and embarrassed, and with no idea which to choose, I panicked and looked to him for guidance.

“What do you think?” I whispered.

He smiled a knowing smile. "Why don't we try She Devil. It's sexy, but not as risque as the others. I think you'll be comfortable with it."

With nervous anticipation, I looked on as his expert fingers grasped the shiny container. Watching him, butterflies frolicked in my stomach. Before I knew it, he finished the job. I examined his performance and laughed at myself for taking so long to give it a try.

Satisfied, I slid my feet back into my sandals and admired my soft, beautiful, sexy feet. My toenails looked so feminine and pretty with the glossy red polish.

The Making of a Girly-Girl Clutch Purse

Ooh La La!

A couple of months ago, I was shopping in From My Hands To Yours' fabulous Etsy shop. (If you haven't checked out her shop yet, you should. Very cool and unusual offerings.) I spotted these gorgeous pin-up girl buttons and bought them right away.

Of course, at the time I had no idea what I would do with them. But when I opened the package and saw the little beauties, I knew I had to use at least one in some type of purse. As the idea percolated in my mind, I began seeing lacy flowers and a bow-shaped evening clutch--something really girly. At first, I thought I might use a lace overlay of some kind for the purse body, but then decided I'd like to find a cotton with a lace print to make a sturdier clutch for my first try.

On a trip to my local fabric shop where they specialize in miles and miles of quilting cottons, I found what I was looking for: a black cotton with an all-over white, lacy print. I took it home and played with my idea a bit. Then I went to work.

Behind the seams:

I cut out matching rectangles of the black cotton, a thin fleece interfacing to add some body, a sizzling, scarlet red cotton twill for the inside, and a stiff interfacing for the lining. First I applied the fleece interfacing to the back of the black cotton, then ironed on the stiffer interfacing to the red cotton twill lining.

Next, I cut out two red twill rectangles and one piece of interfacing approximately 8" by 4" and sewed them together leaving an opening for turning right side out. After I finished with this, I had a pocket for the inside! I pressed the pocket nice and flat, then positioned and sewed it to the red twill rectangle.

Then, after I sewed the purse and the lining into matching clutch-shapes, I lined them up and sewed them together. Of course, I left another opening at the top that I used for pulling that beautiful right side out where it belongs.

To make the subtle bow shape, I cut a 4 1/2" wide by about 18" long strip of the black cotton and some more stiff interfacing. Assembled and sewed this together, then sewed the first 2/3 to the top of the purse on the front, scrunched the body a bit, then attached the band to the back at the middle. This left a flap of about 5 1/2" that lays across the top of the purse and down the front to where I sewed on snaps for the closure.

Now for the sexy, pin-up button!

I decided to use one of the Bettie Page buttons--the gorgeous brunette showing some major cleavage! At only 1/2", the button sort of got lost on the front of the purse flap. So I took some black lace fabric and cut out a looong rectangle that I tapered at the ends, sewed it together, zigzagged over some dental floss and pulled/gathered it into a flower shape. The button still didn't pop enough, so I got some white lace trim and gathered that, too. After sewing them together, I sewed the button and the lace flower to a pin back.

Voila!

The result is this great-looking, pretty and feminine, Girly-Girl clutch purse with a removable 3" Flower Brooch. The purse measures 8" wide at bottom, 9 1/4" across top, 1 1/2" deep, and 5 1/2" high.



Wouldn't this be great for a prom, or wedding, or just for fun?? Let me know what you think. Oh, and don't forget to tell your friends, they can purchase this fabu clutch in my Etsy shop. The link is to the right. Over there >>>>

Whoops!

After reading my post yesterday, my daughter sent me an email. It seems we scraped wallpaper off five rooms, and pulled up four rooms of carpet.

I'm so tired! Told you I was probably forgetting something!!

Drive By

I haven't had much time for posting here in the past couple of weeks because I've been busy working at my daughter's new house. She closed on it April 17th and we've been renovating ever since.

The house sat empty for about a year before she bought it, and prior to that an eighteen-year-old lived in it alone for several months because his parents divorced. So, you can imagine the state the house is/was in. It's got good bones, though, and it's going to be beautiful when she's finished with repairs and updates. Here are some before pics:

The living room ceiling being scraped:

The dining room wall being knocked out and prepared for a French Door:





The staircase is pretty and it's in really good shape. Not much to do here, but polish and paint the walls.

Here's a view of the hallway, and one of the family room:


So far we have scraped popcorn ceiling off two rooms--the dining room and living room; removed wallpaper from four rooms; pulled up two rooms of carpeting (Tthe carpet guys pulled up the other room.); sanded, scrubbed, and fixed holes in walls; primed and painted the bedrooms; scrubbed the downstairs bathroom and made it usable; and I'm sure I've forgotten other chores.

She's moving in on Sunday! Wish us luck. We still have most of the downstairs to do. The kitchen needs a full remodel, but that will happen well after she's moved in.

I'll try to take some pics of upstairs and outside, and then give you the Grand Reveal!