Projects - Finishing In The Nick Of Time!!

Last Minute Millie here. Yep we leave for the Northlands a week from today and as usual here I sit with unfinished projects piled all around me! But I am whittling them down, really I am. :) I always have such grand expectations and goals, but then real life always seems to get in the way. Well that and the fact that I am the world's best "put-er off-er"  I did finish a couple of "art to wear" pieces that are for "me" At least that's the way they will start out. Although when I'm asked where I bought it, and reply with "I made it", the next thing I know it's being bought right off my body. Go figure??

 I bought this amethyst druzy along with 3 others from my bead guy. They were sooooo beautiful&inexpensive I couldn't pass them up. Probably because they are on the large strange shape size and had no holes or any hardware to use them as jewelry. I made a simple wire setting and bail with 20gage sterling silver wire. Then added a couple of strings of the prettiest blue aquamarine nuggets.

I can truthfully say that I do not own one piece of purple much less lavender clothing, shoes or accessories! Like pink I don't like the color nor do I wear it. Yes I know I'm being a bit unfair about this, but I'm sure you couldn't blame me to much. Consider the facts of being a rather thin,small boned,blond,blue eyed,woman who's name ends in an ie. Bring anyone to mind, hmmmm??? 

 I can only imagine how seriously I would be taken if I was wearing pink or lavender!

At least purple is dark enough to not fall into the "girly girl", fru-fru color wheel. Oh but this druzy is sooooo beauteous I just had to make something with it. But what color to put it with?? Yellow pink white, clear?? Ahh... how about aquamarine. That's blue isn't it??? I love blue it's my favorite colors!!! The only problem I saw with that idea was, not to create a necklace that looked like there was an explosion in the Easter Bunny's egg basket!! I tried to keep it a bit on the edgy side, with the rough shapes of the crystals the darker faceted colored amethysts and a bit of vintage brass chain.

Instead of making a decorative clasp I opted to use a piece vintage silk sari ribbon as ties. But never fear. I know how iffy silk is about wanting to come untied, especially where any weight is involved. So I have a little lobster claw disguised under the bow. :)

While we are in a blue frame of mind, I think I'll share my new little vestita with ya. I used a vintage sheer curtain for the body. It's nice and light weight, so it will be comfortable to wear through all but the worst of the summer. 

For the blue "ruffle" and edging I used some scrapes of this blue dotted swiss&lace cotton fabric. It was left over from a dress I had made a number of years ago. In fact the dress is hanging on the wall in my girly girl room, remember?? 

I tea dyed a set of battenburg lace valances. Then patiently cut the lace from the cotton valances. Then hand stitched the lace to the vestita edges. There is a large lace flower that bridges the two sides with a snap as a closure. BUT what is a vestita without a bit of vintage bling, I ask ya??? Why, certainly not one of mine. :) So there are 4 vintage rhinestone&celuloid buttons down the front. And a nice fat vintage rhinestone earring down on the flower bridge!

And just in case the collar was feeling a bit left out there are two old pearl and rhinestone earrings on each side of it. :)

 For me it's as important to play with details on the back of a piece as much as I do on the front. I mean at least 50% of the time people see you from the back instead of the front. Well we are 3 dimensional (most of us any way). So instead of gathering the ruffle I placed pleats in the middle of the back. Then topped them off with another large lace flower. At the center back of the neck and collar there is another huge flowing lace flower and off of it is hanging an antique dress clip. And boy oh boy has it ever had a long and hard life. The stones are yellowed and there is even one slightly dead one. Yeah just like me...er the way I like it, the old gal has "character marks" like no other!!!

Back in a couple of day with a few more finished projects. See there is a valid reason why I haven't been around Bloglandia much lately!! Until then: Have a most audacious art filled day no matter where in the world you are.   p;)

A Life Filled With Dichotomy & A Fat Hand

Sometimes life conspires against you. Case in point: I am still here in Bloglandia although you wouldn't know it by the frequency of my posting of late. Why may that be?? Weeeeell first our internet has decided to play that ever frustrating game of hide and seek. We are never sure why our service does this. But it will spend days coming and going, sometimes with short comings and hours long goings. Eventually straiting out and flying right. Who knows?? Not us, however whenever we see a "Tel-Mex" technician  monkeying in the the main box at the corner you can almost bet something not so good will happen to either the land line or internet! "Be afraid, be very afraid" is the phase that comes to mind!! :( Add to that the fact that my left hand and wrist has decided to take a "heath leave"!! I seem to have developed a dandy case of cellulitis in the offending hand. Resulting in much rest, antibiotics, and ice. None of which is conducive to finishing all the projects for our trip to the Northalnds, much less typing on the laptop. The good news is the swelling and pain is beginning to subside, and the antibiotic therapy is nearing the end dose. The antibiotic is one that causes me to be quite nauseated...yuck! Okay, okay enough of the fat hand talk!!

On to dichotomy. I do truly love our life here and enjoy living in a foreign culture and environment then the I was raised in. I am truly amazed at  the incredible beauty the tropical environment creates in plant life. However that doesn't mean I don't miss many of the plants I took for granted up north. Like the flowers grown in a cottage garden. You know delphiniums,foxgloves, well all those flowers that depend on a cold winter to rest and recharge. During the the 7 months of our dry season the nurseries will tempt us with a number of them. Marigold,begonias,impatiens, and the like. So when I saw potted hydrangeas at the temporary nursery outside Soriana (a grocery store) I could not help myself!!! Wow and blue flowers to boot!!! 

How perfect is that for my girlygirl room, I ask you???? I'm sure you can't blame me for bringing one home, even though the chance of survival is slim to none.

Maybe I might be able to keep it cut back during the rainy season when northern plants perish from a tropical environment. And Maybe just maybe I can get the flower heads I already have to dry before they succumb to mold and mildew?? It's a long shot, but one I'm willing to try :)

As you guys know we have chosen to live in an all Mexican neighborhood. We did this because we really wanted to learn and live a different way of life, a different culture then the US. We never wish to turn this incredible country into a "little USA" like many fellow ex-pats are want to do. There are so many rewards for our choice. The greatest being that most of life transpires right out our front door. At this very moment I can hear a neighbor's radio playing beautiful old Mexican songs. The chickens, one of the neighbors down the street raises has a rooster with a mixed up time-clock and is crowing to beat the band. Or maybe it's because one of his harem has made an escape and is in the front weed patch of the empty house across the street sampling all the insect delicacies it has to offer?? At this time of day the bread guy comes down the street with his bike cart calling out "Pan" (bread) selling bread and pastries. Or how about the foot races the school at the end of the street sponsored yesterday.

What to do when you don't have the luxury of large tracks at the neighborhood schools?? Well all you do is block off the street with vans, mark off your routes and post people to redirect traffic.

Those parents and grand parents that can come, walk down the street to cheer their favorite contestants on.

They range from junior high girls in their pink!!

 To the real stars of the show :)

The kindergarteners!

I think I will take a hint from this little guy and take myself a highly needed rest break! This typing is murder on fat hands even if you only type two fingered!!

As I heal and finish projects I'll get them posted. But for right now I'm trying to be a really good girl and not put any stress on my fingers,hand and wrist. Maybe tomorrow it will be better...?, well one can hope any way.

Have a most audacious art filled day no matter where in the world you are.   p;)

PS. How rude of me to not give credit to LW who had the foresight to capture these photos. Thank you LW!! Yoar are the Bestest!!