A Year of Pretty - January 26, 2014

Today's Pretty Post is this sample of really detailed ribbon and bead / button embroidery from pintangle. Pintangle is a website with amazing examples and tutorials for Surface Embroidery.

As a gal who loves texture and design details, this is right up my alley. If only I had more time.

I used to embroider all the time. And by all the time I mean every evening, or on long car rides, or on the bus. I think I was probably the only teenage girl working with needle and thread. More than once I caught the eye of an elder woman and we shared a small smile. Embroidery takes time, it takes commitment and it takes patience. And she was letting me know she knew this.

So I can just imagine the time and effort that went into making this sample shown above. Then imagine this as part of a larger quilt. Months, years even of selecting just the right button and stitching it on in place.

To this day, there are several large embroidery projects around my parents' house. Some are pillows, some are wall hangings. But each is treasured because they were made by hand over many, many hours.

Traditionally, women would get together and work on their projects, exchange the recent gossip (who's cow had gotten out of the pasture and trampled the prize winning begonias, who was seen walking together after church last Sunday). And they would learn skills and techniques from each other. This doesn't seem (nice pun) to happen anymore; at least not here in Vancouver, BC. Which is why websites like pintangle are so essential for sharing these ideas and methods.

In our fast paced world of mass production, give me a piece of material, some thread and some beads or buttons; a comfy corner with good lighting and a cup of hot tea. And then leave me for hours at a time and I will be perfectly happy.

Sweet and Pretty

Romantic purple lilac flower and silk necklace by zsb creations

I'll Take the Cake

Looking for a beautiful way to show of your baking? Have a gander at these gorgeous cake and treat stands by vesselsandwares, sure to make your guests drool.

The colors are reminiscent of pastel icing and the eyelet lace edging of frilly lace, as displayed in this set of three cake stands (shown left). Custom colors are available on special request.

Or, you could opt for a more traditional white or off-white cake stand and thread a colored ribbon through it to match your theme or occassion.

Black and orange for Halloween cupcakes, bright red to highlight a prized Christmas fruitcake. Pale blue or soft pink to celebrate a new baby. Or choose the colors for your wedding and display tempting treats at your bridal shower. Again, you are able to request different colors of ribbon other than the aqua, yellow and green as shown in this set of three eyelet cake plates (shown right).

Based in Atlanta, GA; creator Jeanette Zeis has worked with clay for over 15 years and has operated a pottery wheel full time since 2007.

Her online store offers a wide variety of pottery dishware for the home including bowls, plates, cups and planters. You can learn more about her work at Jeanette Zeis Ceramics.

In the meantime, help yourself to another serving of delicious cake plateware.

it's all in the details . . . .

I adore beautiful packaging. (and for the purpose of this post I’m talking about gift wrapping and presents, not men . . .in which beautiful packaging is de rigueur). To this end, I save ribbons and bows to use again. I confess to ironing tissue paper to re-use. My closet is full boxes for decorating and using to give gifts in. I cringe a little when I see perfectly good gift bags being crumpled up and tossed away. Re-use people, re-use!

I believe attention to the details in a gift's presentation speak volumes to the extra care and thought a person wishes to express to the gift's recipient. Here are a few examples that I have found and enjoy - many of which use re-purposed or recycled paper products:

These Damask paper take-out boxes (shown right) from a download template by ThePoshEvent make a great impression. Order the download, print out the pdf file on your computer's printer and follow the simple directions to create beautiful gift boxes. Print on different colored stiff cardstock to fit your theme.

The Red Christmas with Snowflake (left) and Vintage Luggage Style (top of post) gift tags from ozzyandfelix are two examples of how a simple addition to the top of a gift can give it that little extra something.

While a beautiful bakery box won't technically make what's inside taste better, thoughtful pretty packaging can often indicate the quality of the yummy treats hidden within.

Better quality bakeshops and pastry chefs take pride in their craft and want to ensure their creations arrive in the best possible condition to be enjoyed. These Kraft Tote Bakery Boxes (shown right) and Transparent Macaron Cases (below)are just a couple of packaging offerings by fromsoul .






So take the time to create some lovely and distinctive packaging out of old Christmas cards, second-hand wrapping paper and scrap paper punch outs. You'll have fun being creative and be doing something nice for the earth while showing the recipients of your gifts your extra care.

Pudding 'n Lace . . Welcome !

I make a dessert for my family called Pudding ‘n Lace, which always earns rave reviews. I think it’s the smooth creamy texture of vanilla pudding paired with the crisp and spicy taste of lacey gingersnap tuille cookies . . . each is in itself lovely, but together they form a wonderful combination simply because their contrast in texture and flavours compliment each other. This is what you will find here: the blending of the things I enjoy in a way that complement each other. Many of them I will have created myself. Others are from fellow creators and artists that inspire me or whom I admire. Ideas for all things creative and sources to purchase them (both locally and internationally) for those not so creatively inspired but who still crave pretty things. Pudding ‘n Lace is the amalgamation, the fusion (or perhaps more aptly – the mish mash) of many of the things that I wish to share with you.

I am based in Vancouver, but have had the wonderful opportunity to travel through England, France, Spain, Portugal, Madeira, The Netherlands, Canada and the United States. Upcoming trips include Ireland, Scotland, Cape Breton, New Zealand and Turks & Cacios. During my travels I have seen some wonderful things to inspire me which I have photographed. Some items I have been able to bring back with me. Vintage French silk covered buttons from Paris, intricate lace from Seville, smoked Gouda from . . .well . . .Gouda.

So grab a cup of tea or a glass of wine (naturellement, j'adore les deux), relax, unwind and enjoy.

Puddin’

. . . mmmm, french pastries in Paris