What Happens Next

What Stella Wore ~ Boho Embellished Jeans

 

On the first weekend of this month, we took a girls-only road trip up the central coast of California. Three generations celebrating a few of our shared passions... travel, fashion, and flea markets!

Stella wanted to take her new "fancy jeans", and of course the occasion was perfect. Casual, girly, sparkly with a bit of pink... a Boho look for a special weekend.

 

A pair of skinny jeans that was juuuust about to be outgrown. Still fine in the waist, but getting a tad short. Isn't that the story of children and their clothing?

We decided to celebrate the shorter length and give them a makeover.

Fabric glue, needle and thread, and a basket of bits and pieces left over from other projects. Nothing goes to waste in our studio!

 

Stella is very pleased with her outfit, and especially happy with the treasure that had been given to her that morning.

 

This absolutely darling Fairy Princess Wand, generously gifted by our beautiful friend Lisa Leonard. (link below)

Stella has barely let it out of her sight.

 

But back to the task at hand, giving us her "modeling face".

 

A small break to watch the light dancing on the steps.

 

The smallest scraps of lace and trim can completely transform a tiny pair of jeans.

And you must always consider frosty pink toenail polish...

 

 

It makes me smile that these are so reminiscent of jeans that we altered and embellished when I was in college. The major difference is in the quality and availability of materials. And of course the slender silhouette of the jeans! :)

Boho with a modern twist!

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Jeans ~ True Religion

Cotton and Lace Blouse ~ Zara

Fairy Princess Wand ~ Lisa Leonard Designs

Embellishments ~ A Gilded Life

 

Stash Society ~ "Floral Dreams" February 2013

 

February is one of our favorite months in Southern California. One foot dragging in the season we reluctantly refer to as "Winter", and one foot firmly planted in the idea of "Spring".

Cool and overcast one day, a bit rainy here and there, and days upon days of glorious sunshine and warmth. 

The perfect month to be dreaming of the garden, and we are thrilled to bring you this floral fantasy straight from some of our favorite vendors and cherished secret sources!!

 

1/2 Yard Sumptuous Pink Velvet (36" x 24")

Fat Quarter Floral Printed Linen (18" x 28")

 

Fat Quarter Bedspread Chenille (18" x 32")

 

Two Vintage Threads on Wooden Spools

10 Mother of Pearl Buttons

Assorted Vintage Pearl Drops

Darling Vintage Bow Stamping

 

Exquisite Large Bead-and-Sequin Floral Applique

 

Pearl and Sequin Millinery Flower

 

Gorgeous Ivory Wool Flower Pin

Assorted Cream and Silver Trims. Beautiful!

 

16" Antique Bronze Jewelry Chain

16" Pearl Rosary Chain in a hard-to-find oval shape!

16" Vintage Filigree Beaded Chain

 

2 Yards Vintage Gold Sequins

2 Yards Vintage Ombre Sequins

 

3 Beautiful Vintage Beaded Leaves

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Thank you for your patience this month! This kit is entirely sold out, so I am not posting the link to sign up. We will be sending tutorials out this weekend!

xoxo Debbie & Shea

Stash Society ~ "In Love" January 2013

 

Thank you all so much for coming along for this ride with us... we are now in the third year of the Gilded Girls Stash Society, and we are very, very grateful and humbled that so many of you choose to take this creative journey with us each month... we are continually blessed by your support! xoxo 

It seems only fitting to celebrate the beginning of this brand new year with a head start on the most romantic month of all! Let's all be "In Love"!

 

And, we are... in love with this collection! Lovely, vintage-y, girly, sparkly...

 

2 Large, Patinaed Kilt Pins

1/2 Yard Natural Burlap

 

24" x 18" Ivory 100% Wool Felt

2 Taupe Chiffon Rose and Leaf Appliques (1 Large, 1 Small)

Pair Softest Pink Feather Angel Wings

3 Ceramic Rosebud Beads

Rhinestone Heart Buckle

Large Mother-of-Pearl Pendant Disc 

 

6 Yards Dyed Seam Binding

2 Yards Pink Mini-PomPom Fringe

5 Yards Metallic Gold String

2 Yards Silver Fringe Trim

1 Yard Embroidered Rose Lace Trim

 

Gorgeous Bead and Rhinestone Starburst Pin

Large Sequin and Organza Embroidered Heart Applique

 

One Yard Wide Tarnished Silver Trim

One Yard 4" Wide Rose-Colored Sequin Trim

One Bunch Pink Millinery Flowers

One Spray Velvet and Glitter Leaves

3 Brushed Pewter Buttons w/Cartouche Design

3 Brushed Pewter Buttons w/ Crown Design

Antiqued Gold Rhinestone Heart 

Square Rhinestone Pin

15 Light Rose Swarovski Crystal Beads

18 Chaton Rose Rhinestone Findings (2 sizes)

 

This is truly a very special assortment, and we are so excited to present it to you. We cannot wait to make some lovely Valentine treasures... are you with us?!?

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If you would like more information on joining the Stash Society, please take a look here.

Still have questions? Email Nivia, and she will be happy to help you!

Have a lovely, creative day.... xoxo Debbie & Shea

 

 

For The Love of Buttons

 

I have a long-standing love affair with buttons.

My mother's button box was an endless source of fascination when I was young, and the feelings that are evoked by the sight of a jar filled with these smooth, luminous rounds are deep and meaningful to me.

 

I know I share this affection with many creative women, whether the medium is sewing, needlework, jewelry, or any type of mixed-media crafting. We covet the look and feel of authentic shell buttons, so beautiful and often so delicate.

 

We wanted to bring them out of the jars this holiday season, and use them to bring a bit of button nostalgia to our decorating plans.

Hung on trees and cabinet knobs, the look is so sweet. Both glamorous and humble, all at once.

 

Strung into button garlands, heavy and supple. Our new favorite thing.

 

 

There is really no telling where these decorations will find themselves during the holidays, but one thing is certain...

They will not be packed away when the festivities are over. They will find their places in the permanent studio rotation of embellishments. 

But we will certainly strive to also keep the jars filled. Yes, we are that smitten.

Have a lovely, creative week!

 

Super Cyber Monday Sale

 

We are celebrating Cyber Monday with a three-day sale in the shop!! Now is the perfect time to grab a few treats for yourself or a friend. We love the holidays!!

www.AGildedLife.com

xoxo Debbie & Shea

 

Stash Society ~ "Sparkles and Lace" November 2012

 

November is so often a month that flies by much too fast, speeding us full-force into the Holiday Season, and somehow not really making it's presence known until Thanksgiving is upon us.

In the spirit of attempting to slow down just enough to enjoy each and every day, and celebrate the precious moments as they come, we offer this unique and beautiful take on the iconic British mantra...

 

Silvery crown atop sequin lettering, on creamy linen. Oh, yes!!

 

The Gilded Girls Stash Society kit this month will include the transfer pieces and the linen fabric necessary to produce this "work of art". (Easily accomplished with a household iron.)

One Sequin Keep Calm and Carry On Heat Transfer

One Silver Crown Heat Transfer

18" x 29" Cream Linen (Enough to make a framed piece or a pillow!)

 

1.25 Ounce Gold German Glass Glitter

One Pair Dyed Cotton Lace Collar Pieces

One Off-White Embroidered Lace Floral Applique

40" Vintage Gold Metallic Trim

3 Pieces Vintage Silver Pipe Cleaner (we have a plan...)

One Piece Bead and Rhinestone Trim

One Bead and Rhinestone Florette

Three Silver and Rhinestone Buttons

 

Two Yards Gold Soutache Braid

Three Yards Gold and White Metallic Trim

20" Gold Beads on Organza Trim

 

Three Sizes Mother-of-Pearl Buttons:

    32 Large

    32 Medium

    25 Small

 

Large Ivory Handmade Lace and Tulle Collar. *gasp!*

 

12" x 13" Spectacular Sequin Fabric. This fabric is not vintage, but we have never seem any exactly like it.  Lustrous, large creamy gold sequins on an ivory net background. Love.

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This November Stash Society kit is completely sold out (even before pictures were posted!)

Thank you so much to each and every member of the Stash Society for creating with us each month. We *heart* you!!

xoxo Debbie and Shea

 

What Stella Wore ~ Roses and Ribbons Altered Beret

 

Some girls are born to wear hats. Even when their hair looks good. Even when it is not particularly cold outside.

A hat for it's own sake is truly a lovely thing....

 

When we came upon a bag of knitted berets in assorted neutral colors, I knew Stella would love one decked out in girly finery.

Scraps of this and that. A needle and thread.

 

She loves the cozy feeling and the hip-yet-feminine style.

 

A few ruffled roses from a length of trim, a few cut out from a favorite piece of lace.

A trio of bronze and rhinestone button centers, and a scrap of seam binding ribbon.

Everything hand sewn. No glue on this project, so that the softness is maintained.

 

A happy girl having a very good hat day.

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Skinny Jeans ~ True Religion

White Ruffled Henley ~ Baby Gap

Knitted Shrug ~ H & M

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Have a wonderful weekend!!

xo Debbie

Glittered Roses Topiary Kit

 

Yesterday, we posted the exciting news that we are once again participating in Christy Tomlinson's "12 Artsy Days of Christmas".

This online workshop will feature many of your favorite artists and designers, and we are so happy that Christy has asked us to be a part of it again!

This year, we thought it would be fun to offer a kit for our project, to make it even easier for you to participate! 

We found the most beautiful silky rose fabric/trim, and we will be creating a large, exquisite topiary, just perfect for your Holiday Home. Measurement from the bottom of the cone (excluding the urn) to the top of star is approximately 14".

 

Chunky silver German glass glitter on the edges of the petals.

Mercury-finish beads and pearl pins to decorate.

A bead and sequin star topper to complete the look.

 

We will supply everything you need to decorate your topiary. You will need to provide the styrofoam cone, available at craft stores (5" x 12"), an urn or pedestal to set in on, a small bottle of white glue and a small paintbrush. 

 

We will provide all of the beautiful and the sparkly!

The price for the kit is $34.95, including shipping to the continental US!! Woohoo! If you live outside of the 48 States, we will send you an invoice for an additional $12.00 in shipping.

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And, be sure that you are signed up for the "12 Artsy Days of Christmas". We are going to have so.much.fun!!

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The Details:

Kits will be shipped out beginning Monday, November 26th on a first come, first served basis. Our Valentine kits sold out twice before we were able to fulfill them all, so please try to order early.

Students enrolled in the "12 Artsy Days of Christmas" will get priority status in shipping, but the kit will be available to anyone, with this caveat:

Please do not buy this kit without being enrolled in the online worshop, and then email us asking for instructions. It's not fair to those who paid for the class.

That's it!! So excited for this workshop to begin.... please visit Christy Tomlinson's blog for more info and photos of the workshop, but if you come back and sign up from this page we will love you forever!! :)

xoxo Debbie & Shea

 

 

Twelve Artsy Ornaments of Christmas 2012

 

~ The 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas #2 ~

We are so excited to share this news with you... !!

Beginning Tuesday December 4th...

 

Please join us and many of our favorite designers for a five day mini Holiday workshop! Each day for five days (Tuesday-Saturday), 3 new ornament/holiday projects will be posted by one of the fabulous teachers!  There will be all sorts of fun projects, including ornaments, holiday decor, gift giving projects and more!  

 

This workshop will include the following teachers:  Margie Romney-Aslette, Jeanne Oliver, Chrissy Gardner, Alisa Burke, Mindy Lacefield, Juliette Crane, Shea Fragoso, Debbie Murray, Junelle Jacobson and Christy Tomlinson!

 

This entire workshop will be hosted on a private website, and all instruction will be in video form and include up-close pictures of each project and complete supply lists. 
Supply lists are ONLY available in the workshop, and will be posted once the workshop begins.

There will also be a private Facebook group page for those in the workshop as well. This page will allow participants to share photos and get to know each other and the teachers better.

The cost for this workshop is an incredible $24.95, but if you sign up before Thanksgiving weekend, the price is an amazing $19.95 !!

This workshop will be open for an entire year! You will be able to access the classroom from any computer, day or night, for twelve full months!!

Christy is well known for her amazing e-courses full of incredible content. You will have so much fun creating this season!!

Sign up today so you won't miss one minute!! We hope to see you there!!

 

Be looking for photos of our project at the end of this week, as well as an opportunity to purchase a kit directly from our studio!

xoxo Debbie & Shea

What Stella Wore ~ Lace Millinery Crown

 

It has been a very busy week in the Gilded World.

So many Fall activities and exciting irons in the fire...

But always, we want to make the time to create things that are meaningful to us as a family. A soft crown to add to Stella's dress-up box was the perfect project for this hectic time.

 

So easy, and so pleasing to a child...

She can put it on herself, and there are no worries about dropping and breaking. Such a good quality in a crown!

 

Even in the wee, sleepy morning hours, she is willing to wake up and wear it for a few photos. 

 

Simply a length of bridal lace trim and a handful of tiny millinery flowers. Of course, they were treated to our vintage pink dye by special request...

I measured the circumference of her head, cut and stitched the lace into a circle, dunked it in a mixture of 3 parts TackyGlue to one part water, and inverted it over a paint can to dry. This left it stiffened, but still flexible. I then twisted the wires of the flowers one by one onto each other to created a "chain" long enough to go all the way around the lace including the peaks and valleys, and carefully hot glued them on. Little taupe ribbon bows glued onto each point...

Voila! A dress-up, playroom crown.

 

So easy to grab and wear when the fancy mood strikes.

Perfect for making a wish at the fountain, and dreaming those tender 3-year-old dreams...

xoxo Debbie