Since you asked:

"Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, to guard a title that was rich before, to gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
to throw a perfume on the violet, to smooth the ice, or add another hue unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
to seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, is wasteful and ridiculous excess."

~William Shakespeare,
ca. 1595

Yup, that's us.

May 31, 2010

From the simple to the sublime...

In doing a little housecleaning at the shop the other day, some things came to light when I emptied one of the old cases, like these old clay tiddly-winks chips. I just love the colors, and don't know how on earth they stayed hidden so long from sight...

I can't say these have been hiding, as they are something that just arrived, but I love them as well. I have a thing for thimbles, and when I had the opportunity to purchase these old brass ones, I couldn't pass the up. They're the personification of simple, and I know you clever girls will think of many things to do with them...

Some new ribbons arrived, too, which always makes me happy. I love these little ribbons, their simplicity paired with a strand of silk chenille zig-zagging down the length of the narrow binding...

Climbing up on the fancy scale, now. Jacquards are much too hard to come by nowadays, so I gather them in when I can. This sweet little peach and blue garland is flanked by ruffles on both sides....

And this one...well, swoonish describes it best. It was one of my favorites that I found. Soft and silky in hand, this pale blue jacquard with tiny ruffles on each edge is simply fab. It perches atop two bolts of another favorite ribbon, double bands of jacquard garland bracketing a ruched central field...

You must be thinking, "She's got ruffles on the brain," but they are irresistible, especially these satiny ones in deep olive green and rose, shot through with metal thread...

And last but not least, these were worth going into hock for. Around three inches of delectable textile wide, these had me at hello. And lest you think we have reached sublime, read on...

My new favorite thing in the whole world. Thierry wasn't sure I would like it because it wasn't one of the velvet crucifixes I love so well. Croix avec velour, move over...

I love the beautiful mother of pearl inlays on this crucifix. They radiate a special glow that makes it impossible to look away from. Each arm of the cross is embellished with leaves and blooms...

...and at the base of the figure, a pierced sacred heart is placed prominently, crowned with a cross and embraced by thorns...


At the top, a dove holding a branch of olive in it's beak swoops downward...

Sublime.

May 15, 2010

Make&Take Monday....

This coming Monday, May 17, we'll offer this lovely little necklace featuring lots of vintage components like the chain, elaborate bezel, enameled cross and religious charm. The asymmetrical design makes the most of each component, allowing each to shine on its own.
The vintage components are paired with beautiful Czech glass beads, two shapes of mother of pearl beads, vintage Miriam Haskell grey baroque pearls, and all the findings necessary to create this necklace. At this time, we have only 12 kits available. Please call to reserve or order kits by calling Nancy at (714) 349-2069.
Cruz de Flores Necklace : $20.00

Make&Take Monday
6:00~8:00 p.m.
Gilding the Lily
305 N. Harbor Blvd. Suite 101
Fullerton, CA 92832
Store: 714-680-8893

May 03, 2010

Make and Take Monday Rides Again!

I think everyone must have thought I'd abandoned our Make&Take Mondays, but we are finally getting back on track after taxes, sales tax returns, a bout with stomach flu and other little diversions, I am back and releasing three new kits into the wild!

Shown below, is our Junk Drawer Necklace, made with vintage brass swivels, bone and mother of pearl buttons, old metal snaps, and a variety of vintage brass beads and bone beads. It's just plain fun, and can be added to as you wish, with dangles and fobs. It measures 36 inches when finished, long enough to wrap twice.

Junk Drawer Necklace : $15.00


Shown below are some yummy earrings made after a design I created late last year. My original was made with emeralds, but I have substituted one of my favorites, green amethyst, for the stones in this piece.

Chartres Earrings : $22.00

Last but not least, is the St. Catharine Pendant, which uses some findings I have been trying to hunt down for a while. I've paired them with a beautiful old holy card illustration, antique brass beads and chaining, and some of our fabulous vintage Swarovski bezels.

St. Catharine Pendant : $22.00

We'll try to stock these kits on a permanent basis, but as always, with vintage components involved, supply always keeps us wondering how long we can offer some designs. Email or call to reserve kits: gildingthelilyvintage@yahoo.com, or 714-349-2069.

A wonderful weekend...

Just now catching up to recapping our fabulous weekend hosting artists Colleen Moody and Iva Wilcox, who came from northern California to teach and brought a wonderful trunk show with them. Here is Colleen and Iva, right after setting up the show on Friday night...

The show featured Colleen's handmade dolls and Iva's exquisite paper and mixed media creations. Also on hand was the premiere issue of Prims magazine from Stampington, in which Colleen was a featured artist...

More and more loveliness to behold, almost more than the eye could take in...

Iva's sea-themed creations were stunning, and I chose one for myself before they were all gone...

Colleen's dolls, each one sweeter than the rest, were beautifully staged, and pure inspiration to the students who came to take her class...

We even got a peep at Halloween and some Christmas....

Creative touches abounded with each piece of art...

Gold and glitter, dresden and dolls, and more dolls, all waiting to be scooped up by visitors to the trunk show and class attendees...

"D

Here were the kits set up for class outside on the courtyard...


Students hard at work on their Bellina Bluebirds...

Dede and Ada with their handiwork...

And afterward, a trip to our house for dinner. Mr. Jamar slaved over a Le Creuset pot all day making us Barolo-braised beef with vegetables, ladled over creamy polenta. He surprised us with his mango cheesecake with lemon biscotti crust, served with a sweet basil sauce. Here's Iva, Dede, and Colleen, tired but happy and full of food and wine!

Noodge, who had a mad crush on Colleen, couldn't help herself and snuck in one last wet kiss as they were leaving...

And after that? Heaven in a bowl the next morning....a fresh egg over the creamy polenta we had left over....yum!

Update and thank you...

I wanted to update those of you who helped out over the past week, and let you know that we have raised almost a thousand dollars for the car fund. Though that amount is not large enough to repair the car or purchase another used car, it is much appreciated and I am hopeful that we can add to that in the coming weeks. Another request to those of you who have not yet contributed but may still want to: please send checks to my attention at the store: 305 N. Harbor Blvd., Suite 101, Fullerton, CA 92832. Thank you so much to all of you who reached out for this person in need. I cannot tell you how much it means to both me and to her. You really are 'a village'....