New Obsession: Antique Lace Collars

So, I want to start this by saying that I started to write this yesterday, and then I couldn't finish it b/c I had to run off to dinner with my friend before seeing a play.

Anyway.

I have a new mini-obsession. Antique Lace Collars. This all started out when I went to a local antique mall in the town where I grew up (ie. the old junk store) and I picked up a few crochet doilies and a crochet collar. My intent was to make some cool stuff from them.

So I finally used to crochet collar, and I've been noticing lately that a lot of cool projects using crochet collars in interesting ways.

So, without further ado, ways to use crochet collars and doilies in interesting ways!

My Dress


So, this really isn't so far a stretch from the general purpose of an antique lace collar. My dress is a Faux halter (that is, I made the back of the dress come up and attach to the collar, so that i could wear a regular bra with it) but the point is that an antique lace collar, which can often look semi-frumpy or too outdated if worn as it was meant to, can be instead used as a halter to add a dainty touch to your dress.

http://www.theblackapple.typepad.com/somegirlswander/

Some Girls Wander is the fashion blog of Miss Emily Martin, who is the brains behind The Black Apple shop which I am so terribly in love with.

So when I went to start this blog yesterday, I quickly went to her fashion blog, knowing I would find something there I could feature in this post...

And LO AND BEHOLD! She also decided to do a mini series about doilies/lace! (I guess the fact that I cut my hair so I could try to get it all cute and curly like in her New Years Eve photo might help indicate the fact that I adore her, and thus don't mind)

At any rate, this is by far my favorite lace/doily project on there. And yes. I know it's not lace collars. But it's within the same family. So it's ok.


Purses, In General, look good with lace!

.

So, this isn't the purse I wanted to post as an example originally, but of course I can't find the ones I saw before on Etsy, because it tends to be a pit were things get lost, and I was silly and didn't favorite the purses while I had the chance. Point being, though, you should look at the stuff you find and think out of the box...


Antique lace collars don't have to be used as collars. They can be used to embellish anything. They can be dyed crazy colors to make a statement, or left plain to keep a traditional look (I tea dyed mine, fyi, b/c it was stained. If you have yellow discoloration and don't mind an off-white look, I advise tea dyeing. Black tea works best). At any rate, just go out and be creative!

Love,
Shila

Etsy Favorites Friday, Vol. 1

So, I decided that I am going to make a post every Friday that will highlight some of my favorite finds on Etsy. Hope you enjoy them!

Favorite Shops:
TheBlackApple.etsy.com


This is probably one of my favorite sellers, and I'm sure that many of you feel the same way already. I happen to already own this little darling, which I recieved as a Christmas gift. The shop is certainly worth checking out.

AliciaBock.etsy.com

Alicia Bock's photography is downright brilliant. I love the simply beauty of her work, and the technique she uses gives many of her photos a very vintage, lost in a photo album look. I sincerely hope that you all check this out, because if you can't find beauty in these, you probably can't find it anywhere in the world.

SpittingImage.etsy.com

This brother/sister wonder duo is honestly one of the coolest things I've come across on Etsy so far. Amy draws out the designs and then sends them off to brother Glenn who screen prints them on American Apparel t-shirts. (For those of you liveing under rocks, that mean top quality t-shirtage, right there).

Well Kiddies, it's about time for me to wrap this up! Hope you enjoy your Friday (it's gorgeous where I am!).

Love,

Shila

A little about this blog, since I'm finally sharing it

I started out this blog as a place to weasel away my poetry where nobody could find it. I would show a few people that I wanted to share it with, and that was basically it. But I've since decided that this blog could (and should) be so much more. I really want to share what I'm passionate about.

I'm a true craft junkie. I make things constantly. 

I'm also addicted to vintage fashion in general, and it really fuels a lot of what I make. 

In general, this blog is going to be a compilation of stuff I own, stuff I've made, stuff I'm selling, and stuff that I admire. 

I will be sure to post tutorials, links to other cool blogs, and anything else that I think will be of use to crafty folk like myself.

Hopefully  you'll love my blog. If you have suggestions, feel free to mention them!

Lots of love,

Shila