Category Archives: Atelier: Arts and crafts

Knitting for little ears

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How fun it is to knit fuzzy hats to keep granddaughter Zoë warm and snug! How about those bear cub ears?!
A close up shows how the wool/silk/angora yarn from Noro floats from one color to the next as you knit. From my favorite, Haus of Yarn.

Zoë is something of a jester anyway, so this hat is just right. Felt balls were a cinch to make, and they give the hat a character all its own, with three sprouts in all. Wool yarn from Haus of Yarn.
This elf cap actually is for Jenny and Charles Maldonado's little girl-in-waiting, who will be Zoë's BFF in New Orleans. She's not too sure why she can't keep it. More wool from Haus of Yarn.

 

Zoë wears her own elf hat, made to go with her dress, which features elves' clothes hanging out to dry, a vintage flour sack print, and gathered rosettes made of repurposed felted wool. She is joined by her personal couturier. This hat is made from wonderful Peaches n Cream 100% cotton yarn from WalMart.
All styles except the jester come from the outstanding book, Baby Beanies, by Amanda Keeys, available on Amazon or at Michael's. The jester design is from Warm Hats for Wee Noggins by Glenda Anderson Muse, available on Amazon or at Haus of Yarn. (It has a pumpkin cap and a witch's hat, which I will tackle for next fall. Also includes preemie sizes and instructions for donating the littlest hats to the littlest babies, who need them most.)
à bientôt...Tatie (Zoë's NaNa)
 

 

Embellishing: A rosette with text and texture

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Onesies are the mainstay of the modern layette. My sister Bendie says there's nothing cuter than a baby snug in a tight little onesie, and I'm inclined to agree.

The creative Mom or Nana likes the canvas a onesie provides. Whether you embellish with a handcrafted rosette, like the one above, or an embroidered Christmas motif, it's a great way to make the mundane magnifique!

 
 

For rosettes, I enjoy using soft cotton ribbon made extra special with French script text.

 
 

With a little gathering and a little wrapping and a small piece of crinoline to tack it to, you end up with a precious little posey.

 

It adds artisanal texture to any design for a child. Pair an embellished onesie with a matching pair of booties for an exquisite baby shower gift.

 

Like the crenelated edge of the rosette "petals"? I used my brilliant antique pinking machine, above to cut it.

Inspired by the intricately scalloped edging of trim on antique doll costumes, I looked high and low for a gadget that would make the cut. I have scalloping shears, but the old edging was even more detailed.

 
 

Finally, I found reference to antique pinking machines used for fabric or leather (a favored taxidermist's tool). After making a regular search on eBay, I found the one above. It works amazingly well and has opened up all kinds of creative possibilities for embellishing children's styles.

 
 
The lovely lengths of old cotton ribbons embellished with stamped French script text come from oh la la crafts on eBay. Kristi describes her work:
 

My 91-year-old mother in law has made quilts since she was a child growing up on a farm in cold Michigan. She has given me her stash of fabric (hundreds of patterns!), vintage and not and I have have hand torn into ribbon. I will offer it in different widths, tea-stained and not, and hand-stamped and not.

 
 
I am smitten with the ribbons, with their shabby French touch. The bunny with a naughty expression is a favorite.

 
The pastels are rich. Note the blue and red crown details. Can't wait to use that style.
 
 

I've developed quite a stock of Kristi's oh la la trims, and I notice she has added lots of new designs to her eBay store. Think I'll go do some shopping.

 

à bientôt...Tatie

 

 

 

Vive la layette!

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Nothing has a bigger "awwwww" factor than a baby's layette. Add a little French touch, and "awwwww" becomes "oh la la!" It also means a lot of fun for this new Nana!

For several years, I've collected French layette booklets from the '30s, '40s and '50s , and the one pictured at left is one of my favorites. It is filled with ideas for everything from knitted dainties to the classic styles in the center spread below. The soft tones of shell pink and powder blue make you want one of each.

I had the pleasure of learning to "knit in French" when I lived in Paris. French women love to knit, and there are shops with everything knitters and other needle workers need in most every neighborhood. (These merceries stock hose and stockings, too. No clue what the connection is!) I especially like the little knitted romper style, like the one below left, that the French call a barboteuse. I can see one knitted in cotton for our little Zoë.

I am particularly enchanted by this booklet. For years, the French knitting magazine, Mon Tricot, published an annual layette edition. The cover always featured a head of cabbage, no doubt a reference to where babies come from!

Many French women over the decades have saved pristine copies of their layette booklets. I'm grateful that a few of them have found their way to eBay!

à bientôt...Tatie

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

She'll be Running With Scissors!

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This is a post I've waited a long time to write. Sometime around 20 April, my precious daughter and son-in-law will make my dear friend, Cathy Lind, and me grandmothers of a little girl named Zoë. I won't bore you with a doting grandmother's ramblings. But I will take this occasion to launch a creative project I've had in mind for several years: a couture line for little girls, called Running With Scissors. I'll be introducing prototype styles here at atelier chéri, like the dresses above and below, created for Zoë. These two tiny frocks are repurposed couture -- each was a wispy adult blouse that I restructured as a baby girl's "float," as I like to call them. Chouette (meaning owl), at top, features the tiny pleats and clever buttons of the original, along with olive rayon ribbon rosettes at the shoulders. Lapins aux violettes (rabbits amid the violets), right, was recreated from a voile blouse with the tiniest bunnies all over. The rayon ribbon violets were added. No layette would be complete without the ubiquitous Onesies. I've added some flounce with ruffles all around. Ciel moderne (modern sky), at right, is trimmed with a retro flour sack print that I found at Scott's antique market in Atlanta. Rose baroque (baroque pink), below, is ruffled with a pink and baroque print with tiny bunnies hiding amid the swirls and flourishes. Both feature tiny ribbon blossoms.
Another layette fundamental is the receiving blanket. Nuages à la campagne (clouds in the country), right, is crafted with green cotton flannel, with a Venise trim edging and a felted lamb or bunny at each corner. If you haven't yet touched any of the bamboo sustainable fabrics, do so at your earliest opportunity -- it's as soft as a puff of spun sugar. I found a pack of three bamboo receiving blankets and created Rosier des nuages (rose bush in the clouds), below, featuring roses made of ombre picot ribbon and old French lace. I'll make Zoë one more of these comfy covers and reserve the third one for my own snugly needs!
Nothing says baby like a hand-knitted pair of booties. The pair below, Crème de beurre (butter cream), are set off with flowers fashioned from pastel lace tape and pearls, and silk ribbon ties. I have a collection of old baby knitting books, and I turned to an Australian volume for these.
Every little girl needs a treasure box, and I restored the doll trunk below for Zoë. The figures on top are from a sheet of French paper dolls, and above the clasp is stamped "Mademoiselle."
I filled the chest with all the layette items above, plus a few more, and presented it to Olivia and JR at the magnificent baby shower given by my sisters, Sissy Watson, Kit Reuther and Mickie Marberry; JR's aunt, Kathleen Dillehay; and my best friends, Rebecca Pierce and Carolyn Long. Just a few of the yummy things on the menu: Carolyn's handmade pastel marshmallow peeps, Sissy's pork tenderloin and chicken salad on rolls, and Olivia's favorite, petit fours from Sweet and Sassy, topped with, what else, pink icing booties. It was a wonderful day with dozens of friends -- only to be topped by the day coming up in a few weeks, when we welcome Zoë, as we did her mother, at Baptist Hospital. It sho' will be a happy day! à bientôt...Tatie  

Bru Jne 11, a French doll who's pretty in pink

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Of all the French antique dolls, I believe the Bru dolls are some of the prettiest. That's why I enjoy recreating the 18" doll known as Bru Jne 11. Above is my latest version.

As a trained Doll Artisan, I paint the features like the original dollmakers did in the Bru atelier, or studio. The tiny lashes and brow strokes, the lips and the blush of the cheeks are as close as possible to a picture of an actual antique, which I go by when painting.

I did something new with this bébé, as this type of doll is called: I created handmade earrings from old Haskell-style nailhead beads. I found a huge lot of these beads on eBay, with doll earrings in mind, and this was the perfect opportunity to use them, since the original Bru Jne 11s also had pierced ears.

I love making the dolls, but my greatest passion is in designing and creating their clothes. I chose palest pink French organdy for this doll's frock, and I highlighted it with antique lace and a rayon ribbon trim. I used an unusual old length of lace from my collection, with antique lace insertion and edging already assembled to make just the right width for the collar and dropped waist skirt. I set the collar off with an heirloom knotted bow made of the tiniest rayon ribbon.

The bébé shows off her elegant ivory pointed French doll shoes that tie with pink rayon ribbon. I made her socks from a delicate piece of antique lace.

I found some wonderful wide French taffeta ribbon at Textile Fabrics here in Nashville. It makes the prettiest bustle to these old-fashioned dropped waist dresses. I repeated the effect with the bow in her hair.

This bébé doesn't mind showing off what she's wearing beneath her frock: a "combinaison" (one piece combination of bloomers and camisole) made from an old piece of eyelet fabric. Like just about everything else she is wearing, it is trimmed old pink rayon ribbon.

One other detail: She wears a handmade human hair wig. The old doll wigs were made either of combed mohair or human hair. I prefer working with the latter. After sewing wefted lengths of it to a wig cap, I cut and style it. I really like the chestnut color and natural curl of this wig. (I buy the wefted hair weave from hair supply shops.)

One of the great things about the craftmanship of antique reproduction dolls: It gives 21st century doll lovers a chance to own a doll that looks almost exactly like the antiques at a fraction of the cost. Unlike many reproduction dollmakers, I am particularly proud that I can offer these dolls to you at prices that are accessible.

I love sharing these beauties with you, and there will be more in the weeks to come. A great Christmas surprise for someone special!

à bientot....Tatie

Fill an Easter basket at Cottontail Cheri

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Papier mache robin's egg candy box with artisanal details Being German-American, I have a special affection for the holiday traditions from the homeland of my ancestors. Each year, I have a lot of fun applying my own creative touch to traditional German Easter treasures. This year, I have created Cottontail Cheri, an Easter market like those held in Germany. (Sadly, much of last year's collection was destroyed in the flood.) I particularly enjoy decorating papier mâché eggs my own way, like the one above. I started with a robin's egg treatment and added a curious medallion made of old German type and plaid paper rope (untwisted), centered by a tiny bunny. Martha Stewart's coffee bean-edged pink ribbon finishes it off. Papier mache Easter egg candy box covered with Florentine paper, blue metallic German Dresden trim. I really heart Florentine designer paper, and it looks just stunning on a papier mâché egg. Add Dresden foil trim, and you have a family heirloom. By the way, that fellow who's helping me show off my Easter eggs is a little replica of a longtime Reuther family heirloom, Bummy Rabbit, a wrought iron rabbit that my grandmother, Mammy, had in her yard when I was a little girl. The full-sized Bummy now sits in my patio garden, a proud survivor of last year's flood. Papier mache Easter egg candy box, bronze with paper medallion Here's the German script medallion again, this time with pleated Florentine paper, on a bronze painted papier mâché Easter egg. Scalloped green Dresden trim is the finishing touch. These eggs make the best candy boxes, to hold little treats and nestle in an Easter basket. Papier mache egg candy box with German diecut decoupage If you've followed this blog, you know what a fan I am of D. Blumchen & Co., where they specialize in imported German craft and holiday specialties. That's where I got my papier mâché eggs and German die-cut scrap, like the bunny on the egg above. I used a dimensional découpage technique to apply the little fellow to this robin's egg painted candy box, which is a little smaller than those above. The tall bunny showing off this egg is destined to become a family heirloom.   Papier mache Easter egg candy box with Florentine paper, small Again, beautiful Florentine designer paper, on a smaller papier mâché egg, finished with Dresden trim. Papier mache Easter egg candy box with elegant medallion, small The smaller bronze egg here has a German text medallion with pleated Florentine paper, this time centered by a prim little paper rose. I do hope you'll visit my Cottontail Chéri Easter market and make one of these creations an heirloom for your own family. Each item in the market includes a link to Etsy, where I am selling this collection. And stay tuned to Atelier Chéri, where I'll be telling you about some of the other Easter treasures at Cottontail Chéri. à bientôt...Tatie

La Poste: Candles you won't want to burn at either end

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Finely sculpted candles, octagonal boxes Thank you, one more time, Remodelista Daily. Today's edition brought us these magnificent candles, made by Candle Studio Mageira and sold at Le Grenier, both in Japan.

Baroque detailing on candles

What do these creamy waxen blocks bring to mind for you? Finely carved butter or, maybe, white chocolate? The detailing in the designs is stunning.

candles as picture frames

Candles as picture frames? Picture frames as candles? Note the fine beading around the oval of the frames.

black coffret candles Any black candle has an elegance all its own. These octagonal Baroque boxes add an element of mystery. candle with classicist styling Classicism isn't always cold marble with a blank stare. This ivory goblet brings magnificence without haughtiness. curious doll candle with braids What would a peculiar collection of wax figures be without at least one curious little doll face? translucent coffin candle Named Macabre, for its shape, no doubt, the translucence of this candle makes it more engaging than morbid. black swan, white swan Last but never least is the black swan of ballet legend and her chaste white friend.

à bientôt...Tatie

  La Poste is an occasional feature of Atelier Chéri where I share a particularly good blog post or newsletter item from my email inbox.

Little lace for little girls and little dolls

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Tiny antique lace edgings Time to make more antique lace available for you at La Dentellière, our lace market here at Atelier Chéri. This round includes an array of my favorite tiny selections -- all less than 1/2" wide. Antique lace edgings, trim This is something of an eclectic selection of antique laces, like the styles above. The first two could be used along the edge of an heirloom creation or as a row of fine applique anywhere you need a touch of old lace on a garment. The last one on the right is somewhat similar to the middle piece of lace edging below -- both with the tiniest, airiest use of the lacemaker's finest thread. Petite antique lace edging Today's new old stock from my antique lace collection will be available for a time on eBay, at a special price. Check out my auctions here. Tiny antique insertion lace When you are creating a fancy band for your French handsewn baby gown, you'll need fine old French antique insertion lace, like that above. The method involves building a band with several rows of these straight-edge laces, finely sewn together by hand or with a tiny machine zigzag uniting the edges. Just about the best book ever on the handsewn technique is French Handsewing by my dear friend, Mary Frank King. It's out of print, but you can still find a copy on Amazon.com. Art deco antique lace If you'd like to give a bit of an art deco touch to your French handsewn heirloom, the French antique insertion lace selections above are the perfect touch. group of unusual antique entredeux Vital to heirloom sewing and French handsewing is entredeux, pictured above, which literally translated from the French means "between two." Makes sense (the French always do): You'll use it to attach lace edging to a tiny collar or cuff. It is correctly pronounced ahn-truh duh, but you may need to call it ahn-truh doh for many American heirloom sewing shops to understand what you need. The first two styles, above, also can be used as shaped lace tape by pulling a thread on one side to make it curve. antique entredeux from Au Bon Marche The entredeux above is an extra special piece. It is still wrapped and tied to its original card and carries its label from the French department store Au Bon Marché. (The old packaging is not for sale.) Unusual antique trim for lingerie The two selections above came to me on a card labeled Vogue Lingerie Braid (more packaging that I'm keeping for myself), and I believe that refers to the twill tape at top. The other piece looks more like antique lace entredeux or beading, through which a tiny ribbon can be woven.

Now is a good time to pick up this  old store stock French antique lace that you'll be needing for that heirloom child's Easter dress or a christening gown or a special antique doll. It will be available on eBay for several weeks, then the pieces that don't sell will be available here at our La Dentellière lace market.

Thanks for looking. à bientôt...Tatie

Valentine's Day: Poufed and ruffled paper dolls

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Valentine heart box with Marie Antoinette paper doll There couldn't be a better holiday for frilly, girly things than Valentine's Day. When I found these red foil heart boxes, I had no choice: They cried out for poufed and ruffled paper dolls. So I went to work on some of my signature creations, which start with a vintage French illustration, then are embellished with all manner of pretties and have jointed limbs, like the old Dennison paper dolls. Valentine heart box with Marie Antoinette paper doll, detail I get a wave of Marie Antoinette inspiration from time to time -- have been since I first studied her in the 1970s -- and Valentine's Day really is her kind of day. So, my first paper doll is a model of Marie style -- with much pomp and poufery provided by a clear cellophane petticoat and a skirt constructed of printed tissue and ribbon. A soupçon of German glass glitter here and there gave her elegant dimension. Perfect Valentine embellishments from my friends at Blümchen made the tableau complete.

Valentine heart box with rococo girl in red

As I may or may not have mentioned before, the color red is usually verboten for me, due to the intense rivalry between my beloved Nashville Predators hockey team and the dastardly Red Wings (whom we humiliated in the last two meetings, I might add). But, I relent at Christmas and Valentine's Day because the creative possibilities abound -- like this lovely lady in red.

Valentine heart box with rococo girl in red, detail

She is a variation on a fashion plate from 18th Century French Fashions. (Any fan of the froufrou and frills of the Marie Antoinette era needs a copy of this book filled with color plates.) With the ubiquitous heart-shaped doily, foil greetings and one of the stunning roses from the Prima collection, she is a vision (even if she is wearing red).

Valentine heart box with girl in black and pink

There is something especially chic about the play of black and pink together. That, along with an illustration from French Fashion plates of the Romantic Era, inspired this Valentine doll.

Valentine heart box with girl in black and pink, detail

This combination gave me a chance to use some of my treasured black lace as the underskirt. You know about my love for lace and the wonderful heirloom creations that it makes possible for children and dolls. But my collection also includes yards of enchanting black lace -- with a sense of mystery all its own. Stay tuned for its introduction here at Atelier Chéri and the opportunity to buy some of it at La Dentellière.

Valentine's box with girl dressed in blue

Last was this little ingenue arrayed in tulle and printed tissue. She also was inspired by one of the plates in French Fashion Plates of the Romantic Era, as was the black-and-pink number above.

Valentine box with girl in blue, detail

The Romantic Era (during the 19th century) has been on my mind a little more than usual this Valentine's Day season. Not only is it my first as Mike's wife, but it finds me busy putting together a small family wedding for my precious daughter. Just as I made all of her little smocked and handsewn dresses when she was little, I am making her wedding dress. Amid clouds of tulle and organza, I am having a ball! Hope to share wedding pictures in the next week.

à bientôt...Tatie

La dentelliere: Antique lace now on Etsy, eBay

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antique French lace, ivory The new year always makes me want to sew baby clothes. Perhaps because I began a great passion in January 1982, when I was first able to get out of the house after delivering my beautiful daughter. First on my agenda: Start her wardrobe of Southern handmade classics. I quickly learned that the only lace worthy of trimming her classic couture was the real thing: from France, all or mostly cotton, preferably old. antique French lace, ivory Over the years -- long after she decided she was too grown to wear the classics -- I have continued to collect antique French lace, much of it bought at the fabled Paris flea market. Now, it's available to those of you who've got that same great passion for handmade children's heirlooms. I've just listed a trunkful of antique lace at Etsy and on eBay. Best of all are the interesting prices. antique French lace, ivory Do you need the perfect trim for a baby daygown? Are you beginning a big project, a christening gown or a French handsewn Easter dress? Or do you just need a bit of old lace for a collar or sleeve on a smocked Bishop dress? antique French lace, ivory Maybe you need just the right piece of French antique lace for an antique doll or antique reproduction -- a bit of trim for a Bru or Jumeau, or a touch of Valenciennes lace for Bleuette's new frock. antique French lace, ivory Take your time browsing the ateliercheri shop at Etsy, or looking over my auctions on eBay. antique French lace, ivory Of course, there is plenty more antique lace and vintage trim right here, at Atelier Chéri, in the La Dentellière shop. antique French lace, ivory As always, I'll keep you updated as I make more of the lace, currently stored in old doll trunks and vintage Barbie cases (stay tuned for blog on those), available in my shops. à bientôt...Tatie