The Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Irwindale, California

In all my years I had yet to attend The Renaissance Pleasure Faire. I would hear about it every year and never seem to make it there, although I've always wanted to go.  This year, after hearing from several friends how much fun it was, I decided it was time to experience it!

Here are some of my highlights of my adventure back in time...

Pretty Maidens

Lots of bosom!

All sorts of adornments

gorgeous parasols

Very happy people ready to serve up delicious food and drinks!

Cute guys selling wood art

Stunning ensembles 

Booths filled with hats, jewelry and costumes

Pretty ladies and gents walking about

The day was lovely and I'd highly recommend going.  I would have been thrilled to take one of these gorgeous gowns home!

If you live in Southern California you have up until May 19th to make it this year. Let me know if you go!

Hope you're all enjoying the final days of April.  I can't believe that May is just around the corner.  

Have a great day!

Holly

Happy Spring!

I've been hanging onto some of my favorite Rock 'n' Roll tees for many years knowing that one day I would upcycle them and turn them into cute little doggie t-shirts.  The day finally came!  With just a few snips and some quick sewing machine work both tees were complete in just minutes.

Phoebe makes a great fashion statement in her new Stones tee!

And she loves Jimi Hendrix too.  The flocking on this one makes it extra cool.

I hope these give you some great ideas of what you can do with your old tees.  I've also incorporated some of my other tees into aprons and pillows.  The ideas really are endless!  

Hope you are all enjoying April, which is one of my favorites times of year where everything is blooming and Spring is in the air.

Cheers!

Holly

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Phoebe!

Two years ago I rescued my beloved little Phoebe.  One of the best decisions I've made in my life... but I think we all say that with our pets don't we?  The Rescue, Bichons and Buddies thought she was about one-year-old so I made January 1st her official birthday!

Here are some of my favorite pictures taken in December of 2012.

We try to go to Runyon Canyon at least once a week and it has become Phoebe's favorite adventure!

She proves to be the toughest powder puff around!

And loves exploring! 

The great thing about Phoebe is that she stays very close and doesn't wander off too far from Mama... which I love.  

She meets all kinds of people and other four-leggeds and everyone loves her afro!

The views are spectacular on our weekly hikes!

And there are so many opportunities for creative picture taking.

Aside from our hiking adventures, we continue to enjoy other types of photo sessions.

Like this one where Phoebe is wearing her cute little Martha Stewart dress from PetSmart!  We found it on the sale rack for 4.99!

Christmas and the whole month of December was GREAT!

Phoebe on Christmas Day snoozing with her new toys.

I hope you all had wonderful holidays!

Happy New Year!

Holly

Oh Deer!

I made and shared this on my blog last year but couldn't resist showing it again.  I found these adorable vintage celluloid deer on Etsy.com and incorporated them into a sweet little winter wreath.

On my last post I shared the little denim jacket that I made for Phoebe to wear at a VERY large party (where I wouldn't be able to constantly keep my eye on her).  The back of the jacket reads: Do Not Feed Me.  I think it did the trick because everyone seemed to notice and comment and I didn't see any little morsels being handed to her.  She was so tuckered out after a few hours from all her socializing that she fell asleep in my arms.  Chatter, laughter and music didn't bother her at all!

I can't believe that next week is our last one before Christmas.  Where is this month going?

I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season.

Cheers!

Holly  

Easy Denim Doggie Jacket

Phoebe Genevieve AKA Phoebe Geebie and PG is sporting her new denim jacket.  But this little coat has a special purpose!  It was designed with her health in mind.

You see, we will soon be having a big soiree and with this cute face I couldn't risk the fact that some party guest might offer her a little nibble of people food.  So hopefully Phoebe's little jacket will get the message across.

It was a fun no-sew project utilizing the bottom of a pant leg.  Easy peasy!

I'm a lucky doggie mama to have such a sweet little girl who loves wearing clothes.  

Happy December!

Pillow Parade!

The other day I was thinking about all the custom pillows I've made for gifts and clients through the years and thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you.  They are fun and easy to make with minimal sewing... how about making a custom pillow for someone on your holiday list?  With the right fabrics and adornments they can be quite impressive!  

An Alice in Wonderland themed collection.

Illustrated Barbie ~ Very romantic!

A vintage French postcard has been copied and turned into the focal point of this pillow.

Who doesn't love a pretty mermaid?

And one in pink too!

This one was very large at 16x16.  Hand beading around the cameo with a raw silk bow made it so lovely.

The perfect shabby chic look.

And lastly, a pretty siren by the sea surrounded by real shells and starfish.  A delicate and very pretty display piece.  Don't lean up against this one or it might break!  Not your typical pillow.  I actually taught a class on how to hand sew and design this pillow a few years ago.

I hope you're all enjoying Fall.  It's finally starting to cool down here and we even got a little rain the other day.

Let me know if you're inspired to make some pretty pillows for holiday gifts this year!  I'd love to see them.

Cheers!

Holly

I Love November

~ Miss Phoebe ~

I searched for an Autumn poem to share and found this one written by Victoria Gauci in 1982.  I found it quite apropos.

Enjoy!

Autumns In California

The hills in the horizon, 

Smog in the distance, 

A blue sky, 

The sun high, 

A pickup up truck rolls by, 

Making a delivery, 

Postman brings my letters, 

And bills, 

The green grass, 

The neighbor's kids, 

The paper boy on route, 

There are no Autumns here, 

Only summer, 

And winter, 

They both look the same, 

I remember how

I used to play

In the leaves, 

A happy child, 

I remember it well...

In the autumns of my life.

Victoria Gauci

It will be back up in the high 80's again this weekend.  Luckily, the evenings have been cooling down so there is a chance I may get to wear my boots!

Have a lovely weekend.

Holly

Happy Halloween!

I've always enjoyed creating my own Halloween costumes and this year was no different. I had the idea to be some kind of ethereal creature for a party I went to on Saturday.  So at first I was going to be a Woodland Queen or Queen of the Forest, but once it started coming together, my costume looked more like Mother Nature.  I may not have been a super hero but I had a lot of power at my finger tips!  I only had to cast lightening on a couple people though. ;)

Remember the old Chiffon Margarine commercial from the 70's?  

This pose is a little funny because you can't tell that I'm not standing straight in a "perfect mountain pose" as we do in Yoga.  Yet, I'm a little tilted to the left.  I promise that my arms are even. hehe

My crown had pretty butterflies, babies breath, gold glittered leaves, ivy and even a little bird.  It was such a fun costume to wear!  It felt quite different and much more girly from many other years of being a vampire or going in the direction of more Goth.

Happy Halloween and be safe!

Holly

Ready For Cooler Weather

Happy Fall Everyone!

We are still wearing our flip flops and tank tops but the nights have been cooler and that sweet autumn breeze flows through the air a little here and there.

So no doggy sweaters for Phoebe just yet!  She continues to go au naturale!

I hope you're all enjoying Fall wherever you are!

Cheers,

Holly