Birds and Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap

Bonnets and Birds Vintage Workshop Swap, originally uploaded by bluebirdsandteapots.

I have never participated in a swap before where you actually send artwork to be exchanged, but I just couldn't resist this one. Karla of Karla's Cottage and Beth of Gathering Dust seem like a wonderfully creative duo. I have peeked into the world of their parties, swaps and adventures. They never seem to run out of ideas to have some creative fun, and they always include others to join in on the joy.







Birds and Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap is a swap that they are jointly hostessing. They asked that we decorate four panels 4 x 5 1/2 on both sides for this swap. They provided beautiful papers to download, including vintage wallpaper, women in bonnets and fabulous bird graphics.







When I saw these images the song Somewhere In Time seemed to serenade my creative muse. Each image was from another time, a romantic era of women wearing beautiful bonnets. We get to keep these and I am so thrilled to create with such lovely images. Now all I needed to know was...where to begin.




I chose a lovely black chipboard that looks finished on the edges. I learned this from my favorite shop called Ink About It, and yesterday when I needed to finish them I stopped by to use their art room.





Just being around all that inspiration and the lovely creative women that work there, helped me get in the zone.






When I finished completing the panels, the best part awaited me...the icing.


I closed up all my art supplies and roamed the shop in search of just the right inspiration for my bling.








I found these wonderful teeny tiny envelopes and cards, some pretty ribbons, lovely teeny tiny pearls, and the rest of my embellishments came from my own supplies at home.







Each panel seemed to take on a life of it's own, and when I finished them and lined them up I felt just like I had gone back somewhere in time.






When I returned home, I embellished my heart out, and thankfully they are finished.





I guess what I enjoyed the most was being able to take the images and use my own style of design.








This is one side of the four panels:




And this is the other side of them:



So, now I will wrap them up with a little "somethin somethin" hostess gifts for Beth and Karla for hosting this wonderful swap. Lots of work ahead for them both as they select, punch, ring and send them to each of us. I can't wait to see what I receive, I have peeked at the pool of entries and they are all wonderful.




I learned so much by creating these panels with lovely images of Victorian ladies, and I always love any image of birds. I was reminded how much I love the fashion from that era, and why when I visit shops, I always am attracted to this time. The song for this post seemed so fitting, Somewhere In Time.