Precious pages...

You know how we always choose what things we would run with if the house were on fire? The tiny album pictured below would be high on my list. I purchased it from a friend years ago, and it has never entered my mind to part with it.


Measuring just four inches in length, it is a tiny distillation of family, love, and the unabashed exhortation of the youth that was so evident in Victorian times. Some of the pages are blank, but many are inked with fond messages and instructions for life, all directed at a little girl, one Evie White....

The first page in the book was written by her mother, and dated June 10th, 1879.

My dear little Evie:

Life is not all sunshine. The clouds often hide the sun, so the clouds of sorrow sometimes cover the mind and make it sad. Try to do right always, and ask the Savior to help you everyday, and all will be well and you will be happy and make others happy. Your Mother

I often wonder what inspired her mother to write such cautionary words, and what sadnesses caused the 'clouds of sorrow' to sometimes cover her mind...

The page above was written by her father, and its eloquence is astounding, starting with a beautiful little poem, followed with a brief phrase of instruction, and a paragraph tethered by his hopes for his young daughter:

How quickly pass these fleeting days!
Our journey here will soon be o'er.
O let us walk in Wisdom's ways,
And meet again on Canaan's Shore.

They who strive to make others happy will find happiness themselves.

May each day of your life be such that should you reach your three score years and ten, you can turn from page to page in memory's closely written book feeling that you have not lived one day in vain. And may you greet in heaven those you have blessed on earth.

Yours Truly Wm. O. White
Irvington, Mich. Nov. 15th, 1879

J. Greensted wrote the message above, now faded, in spidery Spencerian script, stating simply:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

This appears once more in the little album, so it must have been a popular thought in its day.
Another thought to live by, lest we be prideful about our kindnesses:

Do good, then forget it.

And I love the message above, loving words as I do...

Good words are worth much and cost little.

Ring a Ding Ding!

This Monday we'll ring in some fun with these simple and easy to make rings!

Choose from this religious themed ring, which includes a vintage cloisonne cross, vintage crosses, medals and mother of pearl cross, or....

...maybe this little sweetheart ring will capture your heart with its vintage channel set heart charm, tiny locket, mother of pearl hearts and rhinestone drop...

Last but not least, the little bluebird ring charms with tiny birds, large and small rhinestone drops, and czech faceted beads with filigree caps.

All kits are $12, and you can make them at Gilding or take them home with you. We'll be set up from 6:00 to 8:00 on the courtyard at the Villa. Hope to see you there!

TAG SALE ALERT!

HUGE TAG SALE!

True Fact: I have let my storage space go, and am sorting through tubs of stuff for the yard sale. Alain would desperately like to park his car in the garage, so I have to make some serious inroads on the heaps of stuff packed in there right now.

S A L E D A T E:

Saturday, July 11th, 2009 8:00a~2:00p

404 W. Brookdale Place

Fullerton, CA 92832

Nancy's Cel: 714-349-2069

In the past, I have held a preview on Friday night, and considered doing that this time, but Dede and I have our first event in conjunction with the Brownstone Cafe that evening for Debby Schuh's class, so Saturday will be it for the sale.

I will be selling vintage clothing and accessories, hats, veiling, flowers, feathers, fabrics, vintage items, miscellanea, glassware, collectibles, stuff, stuff and more stuff. Beautiful fabric sample books of designer textiles perfect for small projects and mixed media, antique mission oak chairs, large paper cutter, books, magazines (Victoria, Country Home, Country Living, and more), linens, odd lots of beads, findings, etc.

O T H E R P A R T I C I P A N T S:
Linda Hayward, who shared my storage with me for years, will also be liquidating the contents of her stored goods, which include decor items, vintage and antique items, merchandise, florals and so on. Doris Parkhill of Sleeping Lion has also been working for the past two months to clear space in her warehouse, and has been sorting closeout papers, combined lots, postcards, ephemera and more that she will bring to the sale. Look for super deals from both these ladies!

We have also distributed fliers to our other neighbors on Brookdale who may want to participate in the sale, so look for other neighbors holding tags sales at their homes on this day.

Make and Take Mondays!

We're up to something new here at GTL, something we have been tossing around for a while, and now it's time to take it out for a spin...

We will be launching Make and Take Mondays at the store, to be held each first and third Monday of the month. We'll send out an email with the project a few days beforehand, and if it catches your eye, come in and take one home to work on, or stay and work on it at the store.

We've been having our Open Studio nights on the courtyard, and it is delightful! We'll set up tables outside for M&TMs, have extra tools on hand for those of you who do not have your own, and Nathalie and I will be here to help out if you need it. We'll start at six and end by eight p.m. Here's what we've got coming up this Monday night:

I loved all these raw copper components paired with the green of the sea glass and limpet shells. The kit includes chain, clasp, wire, rings, pins, copper fob holder, as well as sea glass, tiny vintage shells, a faceted crystal bead, copper bead cap, and a beautiful vintage three dimensional copper shell charm as shown below. Cost: $15.00

We're also offering this sweet little necklace kit, with tiny bird charms and more...

The kit includes chain and clasp, pins and hardware such as rings and connectors, a vintage cage bead, two solid brass swallow charms, and a vintage rhinestone drop. Cost: $15.00

We hope you will be able to join us this coming Monday... we'll be doing more and different kits this summer for those of you that are time-crunched, budget-pinched and just ready to have some fun!

Liberty Belle Chapeau

Last Saturday saw us gathered outside on the courtyard for the Liberty Belle Chapeau class with Christine Rose Elle, and what a fun class it was. As usual, students turned out incredible creations under her tutelage and brought fun things to pair up with their kits....

Attending the class were Margie, Priscilla, Mary, Keisha, Bryanna, and Barbara, shown below hard at work on their creations. In the foreground is one of the sample hats by Christine, posing as inspiration...

This was Mary's first class at Lily, and she had a ball and kept us in stitches most of the time. Her pal Barb had to leave early, but was a delightful class mate while she was there...

You can see by the lovely mess on the table that there were lots of perspectives on just how these adorable little chapeaux should look, each one taking on the artistic point of view of their creator...

Look at this lovely combination of paper, fabric, ribbons, tulle and feathers...

Here's Keisha and Bryanna working on their hats...

One of my favorites from the class...what a beautiful and sophisticated color palette, and...

...Marie made a cameo appearance as well, tucked in a little frame poised on the brim of this hat. Too much fun, beautiful balmy weather outdoors under the old tiled roof of the patio, and lovely company. Join us next time!