The Magical and Amazing Marci Reinvents (again)

You are about to enter a magical world, the world of my most excellent friend Marci.  A little background on this talented friend before we enter, however, is in order.

Marci pairs her talent for creation with almost boundless energy, which has always amazed me.  I remember once running into her at an antique store on a Friday afternoon.  She said that she had decided to redo her living room using a dramatic black and white palate, with French influences.   She asked me if I had any ideas for things that are black and white and antique.  I suggested one of my personal favorites, silhouettes.  At this point she did not own a silhouette, but agreed they would be a perfect element.  I knew that she was in her collecting phase for her remodel, and that even as fast as she is, that it would probably be a few weeks, at least, before she had it put together, but I jokingly said, choosing a day at random, "Well be sure to call me on Wednesday so I can come and see the finished project!"  Now I have known Marci through a number of remodels, and I knew that she was very fast, but imagine my SHOCK, when she did call Wednesday to say she was done with the remodel and invited me to come see the finished room, complete with a grouping of antique silhouettes.

Of course the room was divine!  I was so enamored of it, that I used to drop  by just to look at it!!  (I later asked for her help in a little parlor remodeling myself, and love the room she helped me put together!!)

OK, with all that said, lets go and see her 'new' bedroom.

I am starting with this sweet bust, as she is one of the few elements that made the cut to the new room, besides which I adore her hat!!  Marci's room transformation was basically switching from a French Blue and cream room, to a black and cream room.

This is a hall just outside her bedroom and it actually welcomes you to her new theme.  The wall behind the frame is decoupaged with pages from books.  She got the idea from another friend's blog, and used paint for her medium to adhere the pages.  She was not really satisfied with the final product, so when she did the same to one bedroom wall, she used watered down wallpaper paste, still adding some color with paint, but with a much more professional look. 

Here we see part of her new wall in her bedroom.  She used several publications, including a wonderful antique calligraphy book. 

An antique fireplace mantel shows off one of three mannequins in her room.

This is a closeup of the mannequin I gifted her after she helped me redo my parlor.  She has the magic touch, it turned out wonderfully.

This corner shows the other end of the decoupaged wall, along with a tapestry, a comfy chair, ah such a restful vignette!

This is the dramatic canopy treatment shown with the head of the bed and her 'so Frenchy' lamp shades.

And finally the woman herself.  She was having a sleepover with her darling friend Kim the day I came to see the house.  This picture was taken the next day at the antique show, thus showing again my mannequin, but I thought you would like to see her.  It was great fun to meet Kim who is an old college roommate!  Thanks, Kim, for sharing Marci!!  It was lovely to meet Kim, and as always a joy to spend time with Marci!!  Kudos!



What's Bigger than a Pinata? or Reinventing Paper Mache'

This is a close up of a project I just finished.  I had a lot of fun making this mannequin, though I have to admit it was very, very time intensive.  Let me tell you about the process.

I started out by doing about 8 paper mache layers on a plastic commercial mannequin that I own, and use for displaying clothing at Treasures Antique Mall, where I work.

It took me almost 2 weeks to complete the paper mache process, then I slit the side and shoulders of the mannequin. (Which also scored the plastic mannequin, so one should probably not borrow a mannequin for this purpose.)  My husband cut a wood base and interior waist for our girl, then attached the base of a reproduction wood plantstand that I found at a garage sale last week for $4.

He then cut another circle for the neck opening, and I screwed in the finial for a curtain rod.  He ran screws through the paper mache into the three wood disks essentially pulling her back together.  Next I did a plain paper layer of paper mache, to cover the screws and opening from our girl's reconstruction.

Next I paper mached diamond shapes cut from a French book.

I later varnished and then using furniture stain, I 'antiqued' the finish. Then I used a black enamel paint to paint the wood parts of the mannequin.  Last of all I added an antique collar and cameo, as well as a satin ribbon and bow at the waist. 

And this is a picture of the completed mannequin.  I was very, very happy with her, and have already started her slighter younger sister!!  She is now for sale at the Walter Larsen Antique Show in Salt Lake City at the Expo Center at 9575 S. State St, this week from March 31, to April 2.  Hours on Thursday and Friday are 11:00 A.M. to 8 P.M., Saturday is 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Come and see me!!

The Ever Amazing LaVern Reinvents!!

Since I made you all suffer through another 'my life' post, I have decided to treat you all this morning with some eye candy provided by yet another very talented friend.  The doll below is just one of many of LaVern's recreations.  LaVern favors dolls from the 30's through the 50's.  She loves composition dolls made during this period, such as the sweet blond below. 

One interesting thing about this doll is that LaVern not only dressed her, she made her wig.  The wig is made of mohair, a common material used in doll hair of that period. She had to sew the mohair onto the backing, but it was the setting of it that was very, very time consuming, with each row of curls having to be complete before the next row was begun.  Isn't it beautiful?

When one sees the faces of dolls from this period its not surprising that LaVern loves them.

This is the doll's complete outfit.

This doll is one that LaVern found at the garage sale of a fellow doll collector.  She too is Composition and cost less than $5.  When LaVern dressed this pretty little girl she thought she would look good with red shoes.  Being a fan of red myself, I totally agree.  The problem is that LaVern didn't have any vintage red shoes, though she did have some that fit, so she flattened them out and figured out the basic pattern and then made these shoes from a fairly stiffed back velvet.  When I saw them I asked if they were vintage or new, I had no idea that she had made them!!

Here is a close up of the shoes.

Composition Nancy Ann Story Book dolls are a common interes of ours, in fact we have done a bit of trading back and forth.   I love this dolls outfit, another that LaVern made, because of the adorable apron, which LaVern fashioned from an old hanky. 

These little plastic dolls are made by Knickerbocker.  They are of a similar vintage as the Compo dolls LaVern favors, overlapping during the 50's when the final compo dolls were being produced, they are made of early plastic.  Lavern crochets outfits for them, by themes, such as holidays, nursery rhymes and children's stories.  I am always on the lookout for them for her and have contributed a fair number to populating her displays.

These two are birthday partiers!

This is the Queen of Hearts, from Alice in Wonderland, hobnobbing with Humpty Dumpty!

Now we can take a look at some of the design elements that LaVern has used in her family room.  She loves vintage, and like so many of us, has decided on an accent wall in 50's green.  (which color I might mention was also popular in the 30's and even in the 1890's)

The vintage pastel colored vintage pots add some fun to the room, playing off the great green color of the accent wall.

Last of all is the inspiration for LaVern's room.  It is a block from a quilt made by her grandmother, that never actually became a part of the a quilt.  This quilt block ties her to her predecessors and makes it the perfect background for a focus on the most important thing in LaVern's life, family.  She is the mother of 11 children, the youngest of whom is now 12, and runs her own, very creative, pre-school.  This woman has more energy than any other three women combined, as you can see. Thanks LaVern for allowing me to share your talents!!