Tuesday 6 November 2018

Pastel Roses and Lace

Hello Friends,

It's the 50th Simply Neutral Party at Wen's blog, AppleApricot, so I'm celebrating with a bumper post and a special giveaway for you all below. Thank you, Wen for being such a warm and welcoming host, and also the community of artful women who have gathered to share their works and encourage each other in their various artistic pursuits. I've appreciated the inspiration, ideas, and friendships that have grown here.

I've chosen a mauve theme today - along with some other pastel roses, since my garden is overflowing with rose beauty at the moment. It's very challenging for me to limit myself to 'simply neutral' tones!!! I hope these choices fit the theme.

A gorgeous old print of a bunch of mauve roses in its chippy paint frame called to my heart. There's a signature at the bottom - 'Morgan' - but I couldn't find it on the Internet. I can't tell if it might be under copywright or not. This aged and stained mauve silk doiley I've had for years goes perfectly with it. It's from the personal collection of my friend Donna who has a wonderful vintage shop at Burrill Lake near here on the South Coast of Australia, called 'Lakeside Vintage'. Donna sells via Instagram, too, and can mail some things. 

https://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com/2018/11/pastel-roses-and-lace.html


I had fun pulling out mauve stuff to display with it. Another reason I've not produced much art this month! Too much playing! You'll see it appears further down in this post with another picture.



https://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com/2018/11/pastel-roses-and-lace.html


Apart from gardening, I have been creative too. I pulled out a pile of old clothes I've been saving to alter - things that didn't fit properly, or needed some attention, or were just not quite right. Some were from charity shops, bought for their fabric, to turn into something else. I set about altering some of them... I stitched the grey rose in chiffon by hand, and attached a piece of lace cut from a round doiley. That made it flow nicely. I then gathered some mauve seam binding to cover the seam, and added a brown ribbon accent. 



https://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com/2018/11/pastel-roses-and-lace.html


These mauve roses from my garden were perfect shades to show with it... The centre rose is called Stainless Steel, and the others are Novalis.


https://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com/2018/11/pastel-roses-and-lace.html



Roses by Jesse Rowan



Roses by Jesse Rowan


https://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com/2018/11/pastel-roses-and-lace.html



Roses by Jesse Rowan


This beautiful top had a fully gathered bodice which looked a little like a maternity top, so I added some lace decoration (old doileys) and a pale salmon cloth rose finished with a seam binding bow to break up the line of gathers. I love it much better this way. It's hanging against David Austin's rose, Windermere.



Upcycled top by Jesse Rowan



https://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com/2018/11/pastel-roses-and-lace.html


Upcycled clothes by Jesse Rowan

The cloth roses are sold by the metre, on a gauze strip at a local crafty shop. I used another on this cheap sleeveless top for Summer. I added some black braid around the neck and at the bottom of the lace to protect the cut edge. 



Upcycled clothes by Jesse Rowan


The lace was an op shop buy, gold on black netting. I cut the frill off a synthetic blouse that was too hot to wear here, and stitched it as a layer under the last flounce. I used a scrap from that blouse under the rose as a small frill.


Upcycled clothes by Jesse Rowan

The top is mostly cotton, loose and cool. It's become a little more dressed up.


Upcycled clothes by Jesse Rowan


Since we are here in the garden... 

Gardening has taken over my life these past few months, and our garden is looking magnificent. The roses are the best they have ever been. It's raining here now as I write this...surrounded by vases of roses I just HAD to save from browning in the rain... 29 vases of them!!

I picked a whole bucket of Climbing Cinderella roses at their best, as the rain browns the edges of the petals. I painted a metal bucket with pale pink chalk paint. My kids complain that there's not enough room to sit at the table for dinner, surrounded by flowers! (I do take some away before we eat!)


Cinderella roses by Jesse Rowan



Cinderella roses by Jesse Rowan


Daisies are such cheerful, long-lasting hard workers in my garden... It's hard to find a 'neutral' palette when everything is so green and vibrant at the moment.


Daisies by Jesse Rowan


A dear friend who is staying with her daughter while her new house is being built needed a place to store her vintage typewriter - so I offered it a temporary (sadly!) home. I cleaned it up and displayed a favourite quote on it - my teenage son scoffed at me that "typewriters can't print pictures, Mum!"



Vintage typewriter by Jesse Rowan


Here's the quote:

'Tis the good reader that makes the good book; in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakenly meant for his ear; the profit of books is according to the sensibility of the reader; the profoundest thought or passion sleeps as in a mine, until it is discovered by an equal mind and heart.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Society and Solitude, 1870 

Not much reading this month! The picture of sweet twins below was a garage sale find. Some more adopted children for my collection.


Vintage typewriter by Jesse Rowan


Now for some cards I've made -  the first three I made some time ago, but I have been doing so many other things this month that my creative output suitable for Simply Neutrals is limited! First, a birthday card...



Vintage style card by Jesse Rowan


A baby card for a friend...



Vintage shabby chic style card by Jesse Rowan



A little Christmas angel...



Shabby chic card by Jesse Rowan


Here's a recent gardening-themed wall hanging which I made at the same time as a garden-themed card for a dear gardening friend's 70th birthday. I made this as I reflected on how my garden has been such good therapy these past months, and its rewards are ongoing...


Garden themed wall hanger by Jesse Rowan


I love old world roses, particularly those with scent, and many petals. One of my favourite roses is David Austin's William Morris...



William Morris rose by Jesse Rowan




William Morris roses by Jesse Rowan


The old silver rotating photo display below was a cool op shop find. I enjoyed printing out my favourite cabinet cards to fill it.



Vintage baby photos



Vintage baby photos

This month I've been busy designing posters for one of our local Museums, the Moruya Museum.  I just want to show one poster draft here, and I will be posting the others soon. What treasures we have hidden away in museums! The top picture here is a cherub from the old baptismal font from Moruya's Catholic Church. The tintype on the left is a wonderfully preserved example of a cased ambrotype, one of the earliest examples of photographic methods from about 1860. The centre is a part of a vintage lace tablecloth, and the right picture is a framed Irish Land League propaganda-style poster depicting the 1881 trial of Charles Stewart Parnell and other leaders of The Irish Land League in Dublin, dated 1890.

Draft of poster by Jesse Rowan


We are so lucky to have museums keeping our stories and artefacts of the past. 

Visitors to my house say my place looks like a museum - I love displaying my old collections. This gorgeous picture cost a whole $1 at a vintage fair - I've continued the mauve theme as it complements the green and mauve tones in the background of the picture. These roses are fake - but pretty good, eh? Garage sale dust collectors - I just washed them and put them in the sun.


Vintage vignette by Jesse Rowan



I'm enjoying taking photographs of all the beauty I see every day. It's like a gratefulness journal of appreciation.



Vintage girl vignette by Jesse Rowan



Sorry, this 50th Simply Neutrals Give Away is finished.


These images will be available on my Etsy shop when it's up. I am currently preparing images from my own collections to sell, and I hope it will not be too long before I take the courage to open shop! 


I've tried to limit my palette for this post to neutral colours and pastels so I can join the 50th Simply Neutrals Party at Wen's blog, Apple ApricotPlease follow the link and check out the display of wonderful neutral beauty there.

 


 

See you later; I'm off to see what's on display at Wen's blog.


13 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness dearest Jesse, you have done such a stunning post to celebrate the 50th Simply Neutrals! Thank you so much dear friend, it's heartwarming and touching! I wish I had more time to make a better post for it too, but I'm too busy with the art school assignments and am so exhausted already... You have shown so much beauty here. The gorgeous painting and girl image (thank you so much for sharing!), the tops you altered so beautifully with those beautiful roses and trims. Your beautiful art work and the roses, oh my so yummy! Thank you sweetie, you really made my day and filled it with happyness, gratefulness and love. Sending you big hugs and love, xx

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    1. Wen, thank you! I hope the post wasn't too long, as I think I got carried away. It seems that many people only visit my blog for Simply Neutrals, so I saved it all up. What a busy month it's been! You realise how much you have achieved when you look back for photos of things you did. Have a wonderfully creative and fulfilling month ahead.
      Hugs to you,
      Jesse XX

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  2. What a wonderful post Jesse!! I've enjoyed it all~ Such lovely cards you made! Always creative, beautiful work from you~ The wall hanging is such a fav! with the lace and vintage layers. Love your work. and your roses!! Wowzer they are so luscious; I can almost smell them : )
    And the altered clothing is amazing! Just such an uplifting time here at your blog. And great work on the poster for the museum Jesse~ Yes, what treasures they hold! Your advert is wonderful. Thank you for the 'give away'! you're a peach~ It's been a wonderful time sharing so many SNT's with you and the others~ Have a blessed week ahead dear friend. Hugs, karen o

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    1. Hello Dear Karen, It's like catching up with old friends as I come here to read all the comments. Thank you! Likewise, I love visiting your blog too. It's been a heart-warming and encouraging gathering at Simply Neutrals on Wen's blog. It focuses me to have this monthly event to work towards, but I must post more in between! Have a creative and happy month,
      Hugs,
      Jesse XX

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  3. An amazing post Jesse! Wonderful cards and all the fantastic art and roses and the beautifully altered tops! To visit your blog is always a feast for the eyes !
    Happy November for you!
    oxo Susi

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    1. Hello Susi, and thanks for visiting here. I'm glad you enjoyed the post - I must start posting more often, in smaller chunks, as I get carried away! I'm looking forward to what others post on Simply Neutrals, too.
      Hugs,
      Jesse XX

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  4. oh wow- this post is like watching the most romantic,vintage movie ever! Love your altered clothing! The framed piece is so lovely as are the photos of the roses. And thanks so much for your digital prints-beautiful, like this post.

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    1. Thank you Linda, You're welcome. I appreciate your visit and comment.
      Jesse

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  5. fantastic series of arts and beautiful flowers.
    greeting- evi erlinda

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  6. What a glorious post full of beautiful things. The roses are breathtaking - especially the Stainless Steel - what a curious name for a rose! Your vintage fabrics and clothing are so tactile and delicate, and beautifully displayed, and I love your collaged cards and lacy hanging.
    Alison x

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    1. Hi Alison, Thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this post. I think Stainless Steel is a strange name for a rose, too, but I guess it has a grey tinge to the mauve. Another of my roses with a strange name is 'Jude the Obscure' - after a novel by Thomas Hardy.
      Best wishes,
      Jesse X

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  7. Oh my Jesse, so much romance within your post and a real passion behind it all. I've popped over from Wen's page to take a look at all the creations and i'm so glad I have discovered you. Lovely recalls and altered items, makes me want to wrap myself in it all. What a beautiful quote upon the wall hanging.. Photography really is a marvellous way to capture and share it all. Thank you so much Jesse.
    I look forward to returning.
    Creative wishes Tracey x

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Thank you so much for your friendly comments. It makes my day to hear from you about my artworks and topics.