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

Creamy, Glitzy, Deliciousness!!

I bought several new hats while I was staying in Colorado, and this one has become part of the inspiration for the redesign of my bedroom.

I absolutely LOVE the feathers on this hat! My father calls it my Robin Hood cap. lol. I'm thinking my walls are screaming PAINT ME! What do you think?

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

PS: Much thanks to Jennifer Creviston of The Creviston Nest for her guest post on my dresser, and for all the hard work she put into it!!! It's amazing what beautiful people you meet in life, and a line from one of my favorite movies comes to mind, "Good trade!" - Dances With Wolves

Guest Post: Victoria's Dresser

Hi,

I am Jennifer of The Creviston Nest.

I have been lucky enough to be able to meet some of the best people in the world doing what I love; faux finishing furniture!

I was able to meet Victoria though her wonderful Mom, Sallie. I have faux finished several pieces for Sallie. Recently while she was dropping off a dresser, I was able to meet Victoria!

Victoria is just one of the most amazing people I have ever met. It has really been a blessing getting to know her and her wonderful family.

Victoria asked me some advice on refinishing a dresser she had purchased. While giving her advice on what seemed may be a difficult refinish, we came up with a plan. Victoria would do some sewing I needed done (yes, I can sew but not much more then a line it may not even be straight) in exchange for me faux finishing her dresser!

Before

This is the dresser Victoria brought over, a very CUTE solid wood antique dresser. It had a lot of potential, hiding under that terrible, TERRIBLE paint job. White, with a dry brush of green... and the infamous red knobs.

Victoria sent me several inspiration pictures of what she was looking for. After my process of sanding, primer, paint (Benjamin Moore), glaze and sealing it... here is the finished product.

Before and After

Thank you for reading my blog post and thank you Victoria for allowing me to do my very first guest post!

-- Jennifer Creviston

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.

"P" is for...

Last summer while looking through a stack of antique linens that had been given to us by a friend, I found a particularly sweet (albeit well loved, and slightly imperfect) table runner, which I immediately fell head-over-heels in love with.

Later, as I was giving the runner a once over I realized it was monogrammed. What was the letter? you might ask... It was a "P".

I have been thinking of the things that "P" could stand for since it isn't part of my initials, and the runner is so lovely that I can't bear to part with it. After weeks filled to the brim with long hours of thought, it (FINALLY) came to me:

"P" is for Pincushion.

But how shall I do it?!?!?!?!

Here, my dears, is the answer to that dreaded question...

The magazine article that I used for inspiration is found in last years May/June edition of Victoria Bliss Magazine.... but I tweeked it a little as I went along and found what worked for me :) 

My crafting supplies (minus the fabric...since I still have to search the external hard-drive for those pics) include: a mason jar and lid, cardboard (from a ramen box works), Gorilla Glue (you're supposed to use fabric glue but this is all I had), pillow fluff (not shown), and some mini-sewing kit supplies to go in the finished jar... consisting of a pack of machine needles, a pack of mixed hand sewing needles, assorted small white buttons, safety pins (the ultimate seamstress's life-saver -- aside from duct-tape which fixes EVERYONE'S problems), a thimble, some embroidery floss, some floral lace trim, and a pretty dark grey pearlized Butterfly button :)

My fabric cut out already... I have more pics of the full runner, but that is for a later craft-project post :)

Tracing out the lid onto cardboard... you are supposed to use two circles of cardboard like I have shown here, but I found it easier to use one. And, it's best if it is slightly smaller than the lid :) 

Fabric, pillow fluff, lid and cardboard... time to center the "P" in the middle of the lid, and insert pillow fluff. Then comes the cardboard to hold it, and you glue the fabric to the cardboard to lock it all in place. Don't forget to trim the fabric after the glue is dry. Should look something like this...

And here is my finished pin-cushion...

Then you just fill the mason jar with a mini-sewing kit. Like this:

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

(I think I will redo this post with better instructions later... 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 would a girl be...

Without a pair of fabulous looking shoes?!

Perfect for those going to a ball, or who just like the style in general. Hop on over to American Duchess' shop, and buy yourself a lovely new pair!

-- 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

For my first set of stays; My true love gave to me...

2 yards of muslin, and a new, working sewing machine ;)

When I was in Colorado visiting my fathers parents, my parents went to visit my mothers father for Thanksgiving and he sent two of my granny's sewing machines and a Serger home to me! Thank you Papaw!!!

 I really want to try and make a Georgian dress but need stays for that, even more than I do for my Regency dresses. I looked through my stash of patterns and found this one from McCall's. I am making it out of a plain white muslin, and eyelet's instead of grommets for lacing (since I am HORRIBLE at putting in grommets). I am almost done (but for attaching lining to corset once the boning is in). While waiting on the chance to get my boning, I  have decided that I will add a little decorative touch to one or two of the front panels. I started earlier today on the embroidery and will post a pic as soon as I have one. Though I fear my stitches are always very poor I think it will be all the more lovely knowing that I did it with my own hand, and hopefully one of my children can enjoy my toils many years from now when it gets passed down from myself to some dear little girl... 

If you have any tips for corsetry (yes, it's a "new" word :P), please share them if you can spare a moment here. I am very new to this, and though I am using a modern pattern for my stays this time, I hope to learn from it and make a set of 18th Century stays somewhere in the near future. (Hopefully with the help of your tips, and also a little guidance from the quick hands of my dear friend Laura at Tryon Palace...)

-- 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