romance&ruin

I am so excited to be able to share my creative business plans with you at last. I'm hoping to open my shop on Etsy in a few weeks (early October) and I've spent the past few weeks searching for lovely vintage beads and pieces of jewellery that I plan to repurpose into some gorgeous new pieces. The business is called "romance&ruin" and all of the one-of-a-kind pieces will have a vintage look inspired by Art Deco, Edwardian (ala Downton Abbey) and Victorian era jewellery and fashion accessories. I absolutely love the art deco rhinestone dress clips-they are so beautiful but getting harder to find. There's lots of competition for them online, but I'm a sniper when it comes to online auctions and have managed to scoop up some beauties.

 

My plan is to start with jewellery-necklaces, earrings, bracelets, chokers and cuffs along with carpet bags and cloche hats. Future plans include the addition of scarves, ties, belts, brooches, bridal pieces and altered clothing. I'll be setting up a website in the next few weeks as well that will link directly to my Etsy shop. Lot's of work but I'm so thrilled to be able to do this at last. I've dreamed about this for what seems like forever. But my life's path has led me to this right time and place, and everything has come together when it was meant to. I've found my passion along with the time and resources to launch my dream business!  

 

Every day seems like Christmas here and I can't wait for the mailman to arrive with his daily delivery of sparklies and bling. I feel like a little kid tearing open the boxes! Here are a few pictures of some of the lovelies that I have plans for along with a preview of the business cards I've designed.

 

 

My mind is racing with all of the ideas I've dreamed up and I can't wait to get started. With two more mail deliveries before a long weekend, I'm planning a very creative and productive Labour Day weekend. I'm sure I'll have some beautiful things to share with you in my next post. Until then have a great weekend!

 

Take care.....Marian  xo    

The Halloween Party

Last summer when my eldest daughter and her husband were house hunting, like most couples, they had a wish-list of things they wanted in their first home. One unofficial item that my daughter had on her own list was a house that she could transform into a haunted setting for a Halloween party. And so eight months after moving into their new home plans are underway for the long awaited Halloween party. If this amazing hand-made invitation is any indication, we are going to be in for an unbelievable time!

The party will have a Steampunk theme and guests have been asked to dress in vintage steampunk or black attire. For those of you new to Steampunk it is based on a Victorian perspective of fashion, culture, style and art with a futuristic twist. It's how Victorians would have envisioned the future. You can find Steampunk influence in literature, clothing, jewellery and home decor. If you google "Steampunk", you'll have a much better idea.

I haven't decided what to wear yet, but one thing I know for sure is that my new boots will be the starting point of my costume. I ordered them from a website that carries Steampunk clothing.

I've also started making some jewellery pieces for my new business, and without realizing it came up with a piece that will fit perfectly with the Steampunk theme.

It's a lace and grey taffeta choker with velvet lace ties, so one size fits all.

I think my next step will be a trip to some thrift stores to see what I can find. I promise to add updates to my blog as costume and party plans progress.



Take care.....Marian  xo    

The Wedding Shoes

What could I do with a pair of vintage wedding shoes that have seen better days? That's the question I kept tossing around in my mind while I wandered through an Antique and Collectibles shop several weeks ago. I knew these shoes could never be cleaned or restored to a wearable condition, but they were so delicate and pretty I decided to purchase them anyway. Imagining a blushing young bride that would have worn them on her special day made them even more desirable. Besides, the price was very fair and reflected their condition so I felt I had nothing to lose.

The ivory shoes were made of leather with a laced upper and a wooden Louis heel. There were a number of stained and soiled areas along with some paint chipped from the heels. I used the internet to help me date them to the 1920s-1930s. I also managed to find lots of suggestions on how I might clean up some of the worst areas. I used Dove liquid baby soap to clean them overall with a Mr. Clean Magic pad for the worst areas. I managed to lift away a lot of the light surface dirt which is all I really expected to be able to do. I didn't want to risk damaging them any further.

I stuffed them with tissue paper before leaving them to dry for a few days, hoping in the meantime that I would come up with an idea on how I could use or display them. Originally I considered displaying them on a vintage hat box with a bouquet, but the chipped heels would have been too visible for my liking. In the end I decided to hang them up on a wall in my studio along with a bouquet that I would make.

I started off by printing a vintage wedding photo from the same era and attached it to a sheet of lacy vellum along with a copy of the traditional wedding proverb.

Next, I freshened up the shoes with some pretty new paper insoles cut from scrapbooking paper. I also decorated the uppers with some sheer ribbon laces and a pair of blue cupid cameos.

I finished up the display with a bouquet made up of a combination of blue hydrangeas, white roses and sprigs of tiny white blossoms.

And so these once deserted wedding shoes have come to brighten up a corner of my studio.

Who knows what other purpose they may serve someday?

I think they would make a charming decoration at a bridal shower!

Take care.....Marian  xo    

"Funny Looking Kids"

I have always gotten such a kick out of the line that Peppermint Patty from Peanuts uses to describe Snoopy to her best friend Marcie..."funny looking kid with the big nose". Who could blame her for thinking Snoopy was a kid with a personality like that. Well, meet my funny looking kids-Theodore

and Gracie.

Theodore

Gracie

Theodore came to live with us first and I did everything they advise you not to do when buying  a pet. I bought him on impulse (saw him while I was Christmas shopping) from a pet shop a week before Christmas. We all fell instantly in love with him, especially our girls. At a whopping 1 lb. 2 oz., the first time we crated him he immediately strolled out between the bars of the crate. 

Gracie joined us a little more than a year later. I had heard that another litter of black and white Pomeranians were for sale at the same pet shop and that was enough for me. I knew she was going to be trouble when I saw her in her cage at the store tussling with a Jack Russell who was twice her size. And she did not disappoint. Theodore soon learned who was boss when we brought Gracie home.

Theodore loves carrots, any type of fruit, being scratched behind the ears and cuddling. He is scared of balloons, firecrackers and the crackle of an empty pop can or water bottle. Gracie will eat anything, loves belly rubs, constantly wags her tail and hates cats and squirrels with a passion. She is terrified of thunder storms and stairs. Gracie loves the air conditioning and spreads herself out over the vent in the kitchen all summer long to keep cool.  

Oh, and they both go absolutely crazy when we go for walks!

These two complete our family in a way that I could never have imagined. I remember when our youngest daughter Jessica had her wisdom teeth removed, Theodore spent the entire day sleeping next to her on the couch. He sensed she wasn't well and never left her side. And when my oldest daughter Patricia got married, she insisted on a picture with the dogs before we left for the church. Gracie walked directly over to her, stepped carefully onto the train of the dress, and sat down to pose for her picture. It was as though she understood exactly what we wanted her to do. It was priceless!

Loving them is the easiest thing to do with their adorable little faces, endearing personalities and daily escapades. Every morning they greet me with the same excited little spring and bounce-a perfect way to start my day. Each night when I get home from work Gracie is waiting at the back step with her paw raised in the air, offering it up to me to shake. Theodore sits back, waiting patiently for me to come in and will bark if I take to long to pick him up for our quick cuddle.

I'm sure they know that I'm just as excited to see them too.

Aww...puppy love!  

Take care.....Marian  xo