My Fair Summer

It's been a while...again.
Life is crazy right now!
A load of my clutches, purses and necklaces arrived in Düsseldorf two days before the re-opening party of "Das Pinke Zimmer" and I thought that's it for a while...but...no. I had to hurry up for the next market date was close and I hardly got done, but I got done :)
The market in Zug (Switzerland) was a great experience although the weather was slightly humid and the visitors rare. But I've met a lot of beautiful and interesting human beings and had a lovely helper by my side!
For the last two hours the sun came up and we enjoyed some more visitors.

Even these two "guys" got soaking wet

My booth

Our direct view from the market

Cleaning up

Afterwards I caught a big, fat cold and my husband had to get surgery on his back, so I was home alone with two grumpy dogs, missing Oliver and dealing with all of it by myself.
I could not work on anything but on a little bit of cleaning.

These days I often have a quick look at my atelier and all the new fabrics lingering for me. I hardly can wait until my head, throat and lungs are getting free of all of this...waste...to go back to this new material waiting.
I also already have my mind set on christmas and the christmas markets but first I'd just enjoy this wonderful summer weather! It's exactly the temperature I prefer for this time of the year (not too hot!). I'll lay back, at least a little, before I have to make decisions, cut some strings, open new doors and live up to all of the new things that will come.

Much love, Dina

By the way: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWITZERLAND!

Vintage Treasures and two Boxes

To get back into blogging I'd first like to share something fun...my latest and some of the greatest vintage treasures I've found so far.
As always I've found them at Mösi's and I got them for quite a while now, but never showed them off.
So here they are:

And since my beloved father in law also was a collector of vintage treasures, I got this breathtaking old wooden frame of him. 

There is another thing I want to show off with and I hope you'll like it ;)
Last year I stumbled over two old boxes for sewing notions (I'm not quite sure if this is the right word for it...?), dated between late 1800 and early 1900. They where in good shape and I couldn't resist.

A pot of ASCP graphite was waiting and calling my name, so I finally gave in and used it gutsy on the bigger one of the boxes. The smaller one I painted in old ochre.

The light one is already sold but the graphite box is available on my DaWanda Shop.

And yeah, it feels good to be back on track!! ;)

Much love,

Dina

Frog Box "Sweet Home"

Jewelry Box "Sweet Home"

Had a rough week so far but I was so into doing boxes that I had to finish this one today, even if I was exhausted.
Working on this jewelry box kind of fixed me and made me energetic again. I can't even tell you why I love this one so much. Maybe because of the awesome picture with the frog I found on Karen's blog (The Graphics Fairy) I get all nostalgic about? Because of the self mixed greenish egg shell paint? Because of the dotted light blue fabric? I just don't know. But I really DO love it! Maybe it makes it all together or it's just the rainy weather.
Snow covered mountaintops, rain, low temperatures, cloudy. Wonderful! :)


This is how it was looking before, when I got it at Mösi's flea and antique market. I guess it was an old cigar or tobacco box.
That's also what my mom said. She told me that her mom's aunt had boxes like this one at her restaurant. And they where filled with cigars.
I love when she's telling stories from back then!

before

First I thought about saving the picture on the inside of the cover but I could not remove it and I also didn't know anything about it's copyright so I decided to cover it up.

Cleaning and grinding as usual, then I mixed a greenish eggshell paint with white, green and blue furniture paint (acrylic).

Distressing and waxing also as usual.

For the cover inside I used a very light wooden sheet.

First I printed the frog image (from the Graphics Fairy) onto a light cotton fabric, sewed it onto a light blue fabric with white dots, glued lace trim and sewed shell buttons to it and then covered the wooden sheet with it.

Afterwards I glued it into the cover (the cover inside didn't get waxed).

There was "Club Sortiment" engraved on the outside of the cover. I caught that and colored it black and distressed it, glued a fabric flower and hanged a self made tag to it.

On the inside bottom I used a scrapbook sheet and glued it underneath the partitions.

Done. And proud! :))

After

Outside

Outside

By now I'm really exhausted and will try to catch some sleep... hope Abby won't find some flies to jump at the whole night again...

Love, Dina

P.s. Box is for sale