My Handmade Wedding Dress

Christmas 1981, originally uploaded by stelladanza's confections.

Christmas 1981

I was a newlywed that December. In this photo taken by my sister-in-law, I am wearing my wedding gown which I upcycled from a vintage fine lawn eyelet bedspread I had bought from a sweet woman at a garage sale in Houston.

The pearls were a gift from my parents, the brooch an heirloom from my Dad's Mom. The narcissus in my hair was plucked from the neighbor's yard (shhhh!).

Sterling Silver Medallion Necklace

Sterling Silver Medallion Necklace, originally uploaded by confections.

This sterling silver medallion necklace was a gift to me from my husband. He sculpted and cast the piece after he had taken a jewelry-making class a few years ago.

Inspired by ancient Greek and Roman coins, the medallion is suspended from a handmade chain. The chain is made from a series of individual links which are shaped and threaded through one another, an ancient technique.

My husband has made other jewelry for me over the 27 years of our marriage. I am documenting them and will be sharing more pieces here.

Blue Potato Vine Blossom and Tatting

Blue Potato Vine Blossom and Tatting, originally uploaded by confections.

I was outside photographing this lovely piece of tatting and a blue potato vine blossom (Solanum rantonnettii) fell into the picture.

During one of our forays to an antique mall a few weeks ago, my sister and I found some lace and tatting pieces. This one of variegated lavenders and purples was together with a cream one of equal beauty.

I am incorporating them into a mixed media piece dedicated to one of my third great-grandmothers.

Vintage Family Wedding Reception, 1982

Vintage Family Wedding Reception, 1982, originally uploaded by confections.

My husband and I got married in December of 1981 in California. The following May my parents held a small family wedding reception for us at their home in Pennsylvania. The lilacs were in bloom and everything was exquisite.

Five years after this occasion, my youngest sister tied the knot, and our whole family created her handmade wedding. For all the details, see this article that I wrote for the Storque News on Etsy.com.

Merry Christmas!

Miniature House, Front View, originally uploaded by confections.

This miniature house is one of my recent birthday presents, handmade by my two sisters from patterns in a Better Homes and Garden magazine. Since my birthday is two weeks before Christmas Eve, I have always received Christmas-y presents around this festive occasion.

This mica-frosted confection has a place of honor under my Christmas tree this year. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas in Southern California! Hope your celebration is joyful! Happy New Year 2008!

She's a little like the Velveteen Rabbit

She's a little like the Velveteen Rabbit, originally uploaded by confections.

You may remember the tale of my thrift store find of an Effanbee doll from a few months back. I posted about her in a thread on the Etsy forums, where fellow Etsian Mosey had started a contest for the best thrift store treasure. I named my doll Helene Elyse after my Mother and one of her favorite models and actresses, Elyse Knox, from the late 1930's and early 1940's. I was thrilled to win the contest; Mosey was so sweet to send me the lovely handmade linen clutch pictured below as a contest prize. Thanks, Mosey!