The Nightstand Project

Nightstand - Before

Drawers primed. 

Diamonds measured & drawn as perfectly as I could make them.

Taped off and spray painted Cream

Pulling the tape off the diamonds...

Re-taping the outline so I can hand paint the detail...

All done... Well... Almost!

Antique Gold vs. Gold

 Time to re-tape for more detailing...

And you actually thought I was going to let you see the after already!?
 I have to keep some surprises for the final Bedroom reveal!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

The Pages of Inspiration...

Here's a sneak peak of my nightstand inspiration. 

 

(Have to find the magazine...)

I am searching my thumb drive for the rest of this project's photos

and will post as soon as I find them all!!

 (House of Turquoise)

 Dresser inspiration, furniture and art layout inspiration...

Thank you again Jennifer for my beautiful blue dresser.

It's all I could have ever asked for and more!!

(Photo from Pinterest)

  (Have to find the magazine... AGAIN...)

Color Scheme: Cream, Irish Coffee, with Turquoise & Purple/Magenta accents

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Up-cycled Napkins

In June I did a tutorial on up-cycling a vintage/antique linen into the pincushion on a Mason Jar sewing kit... but I never said what I did with the beautiful lace cornered scraps from the linen.

 

Well, I turned them into pretty little napkins! When I made the sewing kit, all I did was cut the "P" out of an antique monogrammed linen. When I was finished, I had a near-perfect condition linen - with a 4x4 square cut out of its center - left over... and beautiful lace trim on it's corners!

To make the napkins, all I had to do now was to cut off the excess center strip (an act I didn't feel bad about because it was slightly damaged with moth holes anyways), roll and pin the hem...

... and stitch them on just ONE side. It only took me about 30 minutes to trim, pin, and hem both scraps.

It was SOOOOOOOOOOOO simple, and I got beautiful napkins without wasting a thing!

What have you up-cycled lately?

-- A Victorian Cowgirl <3

What do you think??

My pretty headband from my Best Friend Sophia <3

(Forever21)

My new haircut!! Holiday season 2011

Another pretty headband from Sophia <3

(Charlotte Russe)

This one I've had for about a year (or two by now) but never really worn too often, even though I LOVE it. I THINK I got it at Rue21??? lol.

A not so Wordless Wednesday

Back in January I made and embroidered a corset to go with an Edwardian drawers and camisole set I had made just weeks before... all undergarments for a Ballgown I was in the process of making for the Patriots Ball. I had only a month to finish everything!! I have been so busy since the completion of all of my garments that I have hardly had the time to both take, and post, new photo's. (I was also trying to find a way to wear my corset that was both modest and pretty.)

I was inspired by my blog-world friend Aurora to take pics OUTside, so while I dig around for one of those pics to photoshop into glory... I hope this one will suffice :)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Raw Apple Cake

Sorry I don't have a picture to go with this, but it all got eaten up before I could snap one!

This recipe is really easy for those days when you are in a baking mood, but go to the fridge and have none of the liquids required to bake with :) All you need is:

2 c. Sugar
2 whole sticks butter (or margarine)
2 eggs

Step one: mix together

2 c. flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder

Step two: sift dry ingredients together

1 1/2 c. chopped apples
1 c. chopped pecans

Step three: mix ALL ingredients

Step four: spread into pan*

Step five: bake at 350 for 1 hour.

* dough is tough to spread evenly in pan, so don't worry... just do your best!

I think I 16th-ed my apples and they turned out alright in this dish... also, I only baked for 45 minutes, but then again I am in Colorado so just keep an eye on it :) If you are cooking at a high alt. like moi, it would be best to use High Alt. Hungarian Flour.... it comes in a yellow bag :)

All the Best,
A Victorian Cowgirl

What to do with this moppet called hair...

Trying to figure out different ways to do my hair in a Georgian or Regency style for the Ball WITHOUT having to buy a wig or padded/wired forms and use them... Good thing I have a history book that includes hairstyles from throughout the century's!!

I tried this one first, and then another style... but didn't have time to take pics of the second style.

And then... my attempt :P 

Any suggestions? Any tips? Any tutorial links or blog post's you think might help me out? ANYTHING???? (lol)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

A Georgian Gown for the Ball..

Since I am still waiting on boning to finish off my corset, and reading far too many books, I have decided to go ahead and start on a new gown for the Ball. It's next month, and Georgian/Regency costumes are encouraged :D Since I already know what my inspiration is, and have a photo ready to share with you here, I shall... 

Isn't it B-E-A-utiful?!? The floral that you see is actually Brocaded silk, and the gown really is from the 18th Century. I think it the perfect mix of Georgian and Regency and just right for a young woman who would've been around just as the fashions were changing. Even as you sit and watch Pride and Prejudice (2005, sorry dears) you will realize that Mrs. Bennet (and other such women of her caliber or more, for example Lady Catherine deBourgh) were still wearing the Georgian gowns they grew up with; while Jane, Elizabeth, and Georgianna where wearing modest and comely gowns in the new style - which suited their personalities just fine and seemed so sweet amongst their characters. And, even still the younger girls (such as was found in the characters of Kitty and Lydia) were extravagant with their "it's all the rage in London" 's. 

Since I am noticing the lack of hoops in the photo above, I am relieved of another fear... I have neither the time nor the funds sufficient enough to include a set of hoops into my grand ordeal of a costume. * whew *

It sounds so lovely, I can only hope it works! Pray for me friends, and hope I don't mess up my stitching! At least I have some assurance of hope in the fact that I can use a new machine that works and not have to go at it by hand, which  would be sure to be a disaster in the making... Oy vey! 

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

A Tid-bit of Stitchery...

I said in my last blogpost that I would put up a photo of the embroidery I've done on my corset when I had the chance... I finally had time to get around to it yesterday evening. Not only did I get a few of the embroidery, but I decided to take a few of my work so far as well. As you can see, it is just a simple Vine pattern w/ French Knot berries, and a few leaves...

Though the photo's probably aren't the best, here they are :)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Party Dresses for the New Year...

Or at least, my picks for the season :D I hope you are all having a Beautiful week, and enjoy my little ditherings here... 

First, we have a lovely RED dress. It's Vivienne Westwood's "Hybrid". The color is good (for me at least...), and the fabric looks really flattering the way it's gathered and draped. 

You can find it here. 

Next, we have a gown that I think would look absolutely lovely on. 

It's Lanvin's Asymmetrical Washed Silk Gown. 

You can find it here at Net-A-Porter.com. Isn't it a dream?!? I LOVE the color, and the draping... like a Grecian Goddess... and I bet it makes you feel that way too. My only hiccup here is the flower... though I'm sure anyone who wears it is more than capable of pulling it off.

My next choice is a bit more glam, and perhaps more "hip" (and SHORTER) than I'm used to. But, I like it anyways! 

The nipped waist is very figure flattering, and the asymmetrical bottom adds intrigue to the style, and an extra appeal to the legs... now, as I think this would be too short to wear with my "mile long" legs, I would wear opaque tights, and black (or perhaps red or blue) velvet/suede pumps :D Unfortunately I can't remember where I found it, but if you happen to stumble across a link can you please share? 

Here, we have a nice LBD. 

Gotta love the Sparkle factor... it's enough to make any woman fall in love, whether she'd actually wear it or not. I'm not one to normally go after sparkles and sequins... but I am starting to realize how much I like them, and trying to make sure I at least try them every now and again :) The velvet belt is lovely in contrast, and helps to break up all the splashy sequins... 

Unfortunately this is another one I can't remember the link for :( Be sure to leave a comment though if you find it, please!

What styles have you fallen in love with over the start of the New Year? 

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

My Christmas Present from Sophia :)

I am leaving Colorado in a few days to return home to NC and be back with my family. So my friend, Sophia, and I decided to give presents early :) I decided to get her a present from her favorite store, Charlotte Russe... and apparently so did she for mine... lol. Unfortunately I can only find the link for the necklace I got her: http://www.charlotterusse.com .

I had gotten her a pair of earrings too, but I can't find them :'(

And here is my present from her:

Isn't it lovely?!?!

 Here's a close-up :D

Have you gotten any special presents yet this year?? Do you think you will?? :) 

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

My New "Holiday" Hairstyle

LOVE!!

In Color

In Black & White

I think my hair looks like Kate Winslet's... but without her gorgeous color ;)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Thank you .. Graphics Fairy?!?!

LOL... but seriously... Thank you Karen!! :D I found this silhouette on your blog and saved, shrunk, and played with it via picnik. I had a lot of fun, even if I didn't do much to change it.

Union Station Rocks...

My friend saw the HUGE RED PUMP and decided it was the perfect pic for to email me.

Union Station

The lovely HUGE red pump

Would make a great slide for fashion loving girls...

From across the way...

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

A trip (onto the patio), Muggish Days, and Opa's Cast

We've been having rather muggish, cold, and windy days here in the Springs. On Saturday, a nice bright day at the start, we decided to go out for breakfast since my cousin Austin was in town.

(Austin)

Walking out the door my Opa fell on the front porch by tripping over the itsy-bitsy door mat. We didn't know his foot was broken and we went about our day until he couldn't stand the pain :( It was rather muggish again in the end... When we came out of the commissary Pikes Peak was clouded by rain.

(Arrow points to the rain & clouds near Pikes Peak) 

We took Opa to the ER and got the X-rays in the afternoon. EARLY this morning he had surgery, the result being a screw in his foot, stitches, and a cast. But, he was feeling much better when he got home!

(Opa's cast with ILY in English and German.. plus plenty of other silly things)

(Opa in his chair downstairs)

(Cast Art)

(It's close to Halloween & Thanksgiving so I was in an artsy pumpkin-y mood and he only had 2 Sharpie pens... 

in 2 colors... Orange and Purple)

(Purple Cats are so much better than Black Ones :P )

-- A Victorian Cowgirl