Vintage Clothing Labels

This was a wonderful find in the outdoor market in Paris.

In a clear bag I noticed this collection of men's clothing labels.

I always wonder how these collections come together. Did someone actually collect all these labels from their own purchases or did a dealer buy out an old clothing store lot?

I am always on the look out for great "manly imagery" for my card making projects. I just love how each label was attached with a red cord and a gold metal embellishment held everything in place. It's the sort of label few companies would attach to an item today. This would be very expensive to produce and then attach individually to a garment. I am glad these were collected with the matching brochure.

One of A Kind Cards

Now these are true one of a kind art cards!

I bought them in the little gift shop attached to the Louvre gardens in Paris. This shop is dedicated to gardening...so no surprise that they would choose an artist who used dried flowers and leaves in her work.

I almost bought all the cards. It was so hard to reign myself in! But I was mesmerised by the detail and the plants that she used to create outfits for these girls.

There was no website or email attached to the cards so I need to admire the artist from afar.

Here are a few detail images.

The moss was a beautiful touch.

Huge petals were incorporated into this card! Note the hand writing.

The hands were both modern and sweet.

I need to find a way to protect these cards so I can leave them out on display. I think I will put them in a clear plastic sleeve and then arrange them on a bulletin board.

I Still Love Kokeshi Dolls

My love for all things Kokeshi was strengthened by all the little finds I made in Paris.

Parisians clearly love this doll shape too! I found tiny versions, hand sewn, printed and even on fabric for purses and wallets. One of the major jewelery companies released a line called "Tokyo Style" which has Kokeshi charms intermingled into their necklaces and bracelets.

I have not had a coin purse in years! Finally my loonies and toonies will have someplace nice to go.

Where To Start

Yes my friend. I know just how you feel.

I don't know what to work on first.

The new puppy sure has us spinning. He's settling in though. I am working around his schedule. I made a coffee an hour ago and can't remember where I left it...and since he is napping within range of my chair, I can't get up to look for it. So post I will. Then I will have completed something. I have only two goals today.

1. Try not to create too much anxiety in the new puppy whilst I run to the post office and bank. I can do that in under 30 minutes if I focus.

2. Put away everything on my big table. Currently it holds the contents from my Paris trip and the last few weeks of March when I was preparing for the One of A Kind and The Shopping channel appearance. I think it can be done. We'll see. As soon as I leave a room the pup attacks the fringe on the carpet...so rolling them up might go on today's agenda.

That's it. The puppy rules around here this week. Okay, he's still asleep. I might go visit some blogs to get caught up on everyone else's projects!

Orange and Yellow

Sometime a colour palette follows you.

Before I left for Paris I bought a lot of yellow and orange beads. I just felt the need to make something in either or both of these colours.

This lovely storefront convinced me to review those beads this week.

I won't rest until I make something influenced by this palette!

This was my first chance to post my links for the week! Everyone is working hard in my beading group!

About.com Jewelry Making

It is flower power time! Mix resin, real flowers, and beads for this necklace design.

Art Bead Scene

Art beads don't have to be round, they can be toggles too!

Barbe Saint John

Barbe will be at Unique LA promoting the Steampunk Style book

Beading Arts

Cyndi has a copy of "Totally Twisted" that she's giving away! Come enter the contest now!

Carmi's Art/Life World

Stranded by the volcano, Carmi has time for a little more window shopping.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva

For Cindy, yellow is the color of anticipation.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

Melanie sets up a trunk show at her favorite local indie craft gallery. Check out her display!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio

Resin has become quite popular in jewelry design lately. It's a lot trickier than Lorelei had originally thought. She tries out the technique for the first time.

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!

Do not miss out on Andrew Thornton's amazing sale and giveaway! It is fantastic!!! Go now! Really fun!

Strands of Beads

Melissa creates a sweet Spring necklace from wasabi-colored pearls and a beautiful Lillypilly pendant courtesy of Artbeads.com

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Be entered to win a one year subscription to Beadwork magazine! Find out how!

Easing into Puppy Land

So much to do now that there is a puppy underfoot.

Not sure when my schedule is going to go back to normal!

Carpet fringe is already being targeted and he clearly wants to chew on wood. He's been eying the remote all day.

No more slippers left out. He's already considering them a chew toy.

Yup, we got a rascal!

Meet Magnus!

We had the best day ever.

This is our new puppy Magnus. He's already won our hearts and figured out how to open the gate to his special zone in one afternoon. (He got out in under 2 minutes.)

He's clearly happy. But smart is a bonus too!

There will be so much to look forward to!

The Photo Lot

There are certain things that make my heart race at an antique market.

This pile of photos is the perfect example. All tied up. And a very unusual french price.

10 Euros. I had to double check. It looked like it might be 70 Euros. I have seen loads of photos in French markets that were 10 Euros each. So the pile was too good to be true.

So into my bag it went. Not to be opened until I was home in my studio.

Yesterday I went through them. I can't tell you just how many of the photos I have already fallen in love with. Each individually wrapped in protective plastic. I set a few of them out for a quick photo.

Even though there was no time I decided to take some of the plastic off so I could give you a better peak at these photos. The glare in the first photo made it impossible to really show you how lovely they are.

The back of this picture says these are "sisters in the garden." 1929. I adore them. This is why French Antique markets are so famous. Many things are just too expensive. But occasionally you get a truly fabulous deal.

Unpacking

Thursday Is Usually My Jewelery Post Day!

I am dying to get back to my studio to make some things inspired by this trip to Paris!

If this blog posts it means I am definately on a plane home today! YIPPEE!!!

So, since I can't make anything, let me show you some of the windows in Paris that I loved the best.

Retro is what I see the most. Greens, oranges, yellows and hot pinks. I do see a crazy 60's revival in this.

I saw lots of huge flowers, peace symbols and classic shapes.

You can never be bored if you window shop!

Down The Rabbit Hole

Hi everyone! Thanks for all your good luck wishes. I am heading down all these stairs again....and then into a taxi to the airport. If all goes well I am flying home to Canada today!

Beloved Paris

We are ready to go home.

Here's hoping our flights leave French airspace tomorrow!

If it doesn't, here are the jobs Nancy and I are considering applying for.

1. The vintage bead shop in the antique market is a mess. Piles and piles everywhere. I have been wanting to reorganize it for years. I would create passable aisles and an actual area for a cash register or cash out area. Nancy was lobbying for a job in the vintage metals shop last week already. I think she'll work in exchange for a door knocker at this point.

2. We would like to take garbage bags and a pick to the big cemetery. There is a little too much garbage piled up in many of the crypts. They need to be cleared out and then we could see what else was behind the locked grill or doorway. We did see a sign that weeding will begin May 1. Good. The fall leaves need to be raked away too.

3. Cleaners are needed. We would like to dust the Versailles Palace. Then we could get some great photos from the other side of the rooms. I might lie down in Marie Antoinette's bed though, so I doubt we'll get security clearance now that I have typed that here in my blog.

4. I think we would be a great addition to the wholesale jewelery area. Their buildings are huge and no one is teaching any classes here. One owner sent us through to the back to see all the things he was no longer using. We would love to repackage all those components into class kits!

So many options. Going home is wish ONE though!

Palace of Versailles

What can I show or tell you about the Palace of Versailles?

On Day Two of my official "Eruption Disruption" tour we decided to tackle this huge tour.

I have been several times so I opted to focus my little camera on things I missed on previous visits. Half the palace is under renovation scaffolding. The other half looks spectacular. I am so glad they are doing one side at a time!

The Rules As Posted. No cameras or No flash? Who knows? The rest of the no nos are no tripods, no cellphones and no touching. Hmmmm. I can comply with 2 of the four. Well, 1 of the four for sure.

Marie sure is a hot ticket. She has turned this palace into a "must see" destination. Some of her best paintings (portraits) are in the three buildings on the palace grounds. It was great to see this painting back on the wall here. It was in a special exhibition in Paris two years ago and you couldn't get close to it at all because of the crowds.

The fencing is fantastic. I like to look through pretending I am a pre-revolution Frenchman wondering where all my money has gone.....

The money went here.
No hand held digital camera of mine could capture this room. But it gives you a sense of the extravagance.

Some of the doors were open today. We needed the cooler air. It was very warm in the palace. But the dust was flying. The whole place could use a thorough dusting. I am a bit worried about all the velvet wallpapers.

I am also somewhat relieved to know that even the gardeners at Versailles can't get rid of the dandelions. They were mowing the lawn today.

If I am alone in a whole room with a mirror I try and take a picture of myself. I thought I looked quite serious in this one.

Don't bother trying to do a self portrait in the hall of mirrors though. The mirror isn't as reflective as you might think...hence 12 fuzzy images of myself.

I guess you can see that the day was pretty beautiful. Blue sky and the lovely streaks caused by planes flying overhead. Ahhhh. Going home is a possibility now!

My last photo of the day from the HAPPY florist up the street. I am seeing the world through pink tinted sunglasses. Counting my lucky stars.

Iceland Should Pay Out

If I wasn't still in Paris I would have never discovered the wholesale jewelery district.

And I wouldn't have this huge heavy stash to cart home.

If I wasn't still in Paris I would have never stumbled upon this store which would make Ludgera cry. I teared up.

My stealth photograph clearly shows a vintage ribbon store. 1900s.
Sweet mother of pearl. I'm a dead woman.

Given my picture of the wholesale beads...I only bought a little ribbon.
Air Canada better send me home soon. Or I'll be working in one of these stores.

If I wasn't still in Paris I would not have had yet another pastry when I wasn't even hungry today. Pants are getting tighter.

Iceland. You owe.