~~~~~~A SWEET TUTORIAL FOR YOU~~~~~ Precious Gifts From Your Own Hands

~ROMANTIC SOAPS~

Sweet Gifts for Pennies on the Dollar

(Left Click to Enlarge Pics)

Last week while my hubby and I were away visiting the beautiful state of Arizona we had the chance to visit some truly amazing little shoppes.  We ducked into more charming places than I have room to share.  Visiting small, privately owned businesses brought back many memories for me and reminded me how challenging owning a brick and mortar store can actually be.

 ~QUICK and EASY TO MAKE~

Simple To Follow Directions

It's not for the 'faint of heart' I can assure you!  With the economy the way it is today I'm not surprised when I hear another one has closed.  

 ~PERSONALIZE FOR A CUSTOM LOOK~

So, as much as I once loved my days running a 'Storefront Gifterie' I don't ever see myself returning to such a business.  Still, there were aspects of being a Shop Owner that I will always love tho... 

 ~CHOOSE SOME SWEET WRAP~

(Shopping Dollar Tree is Great!)

Going to Market (wholesale) four or five times a year (or more when necessary) provided endless hours of inspiration and proved to me on more than one occasion that nearly every idea I THOUGHT I'd come up with had in all likelihood been done many times before (bummer!)... 

 

 ~I LOVE TOILES and PASTELS~

(Found This Beauty at Tuesday Morning)

One of the most popular things sold in my A Gathering Place Shoppe (Yes! I've had the same name all these years!) were embellished soaps and decorated/bottled oils.  Back then I didn't even try to make them...  Quite honestly I was too busy trying to balance my books and was far too focused on trying to keep the lights turned on if you want to know the truth!  :(  (Trust me when I say there were LOTS of lean days even in the early 90's, too!)

 ~FRENCH, ITALIAN and ENGLISH SOAPS~

(Lots of Sweet Finds @ Ross/TJ Max-i-million) 

Anyway, I learned a lot about marketing during those early days of owning a business and thankfully figured out that expensive isn't always better.  Creative Labor is extremely costly as we all know and many of the things found offered in the best boutiques were created by hard working (struggling?) peeps like yourself (and Moi).

 ~THESE WERE FOUND AT ROSS~

(Cost $3.99-$4.99 for a Box of 3)

Boy...I'd love to tell you that the embellishment of soaps was all my own idea, but you know that would be TOTALEEE SILLY!  Just know that I'm just showing you my little spin on them!  I'm sure you'll come up with your own amazing styles and ideas that will suit you (and those you love) to a T!

 ~IMAGINE THAT...PINK SOAP~

(Sigh....)

Now...to make these over-the-moon Embellished Soaps for the special lady in your life start by stopping into your neighborhood stores like ROSS, TJ Max, Marshall's and Tuesday Morning.

 ~RE-WRAP SOAPS IN SOME PRETTY PAPER~

All of the stores I just mentioned sell amazing Soaps and Body Bars at discounted prices.  Lots of the ones I found smell truly heavenly and were made with high-quality ingredients!  It's the packaging/boxing that is UGLY!

(They are probably designed by a man!)

OMGOSH...did I say that????

GIGGLE-GIGGLE-GIGGLE

 ~SIMPLE - SIMPLE - SIMPLE~

This is easy to do...just like wrapping a gift box!  Secure with a TINY BIT of glue (hot or Tacky) if necessary.

  

I skipped the glue and just folded the ends over like you see above before tying up with my favorite rayon ribbon...

 

 ~VINTAGE PAPER DOILIES~

For the Soaps covered with solid pastel paper, old paper doilies were added for just a hint of chic panache before the ribbon was added!  Sweet, huh? 

 Now...I have tons and tons of vintage and older millinery blooms to work because I've collected them for years.  They truly add a special romantic touch to most of the things created in my AGP studio, but at the same time they can be very pricey.  

 ~ATTACH FLORALS TO THE TOP~

Still...you can find some amazing florals at Michael's and Hobby Lobby so check these places out when you have time.  Some of the best roses I've ever found (over 200) were at a garage sale and glued onto cheap looking baskets (the florals were great...the baskets not-so-much!).

 

~COMPUTER-MADE TAGS~

I'm crazy about personalizing things and love coming up with sweet little decorative tags to attach to my gifts.  Use your imagination because the possibilities are endless...

 ~HERE THEY ARE AGAIN~

Computers are wonderful if you know what you're doing, but you can also create amazing one-of-a-kind hang tags from rubber stamps and simple papers!  I made the labels you see above using a vintage postcard graphic and lettering.  Soap fragrance and/or ingredients can be added to the backside of the tag if you so desire.  On small items I've always believed simple is best and less is more!

 ~CREATED FOR A FRACTION OF RETAIL~

Lastly...I opted to cello-bag my embellished soaps.  I love this look and all you need to do after one is tied up is to place it in a small gift bag and you are good to go.  You can also wrap the original soap box in matching paper and then place the embellished soaps (without the cello bag wrapping) back inside.  Then cover the entire box with clear cello wrap and secure with a single tag and ribbon.

~FLAGSTAFF CHURCH~

Before I scoot I just MUST show you the most amazing church I've seen in many a moon!  It is Catholic Church located in Flagstaff, Arizona and is about 100 years old if I remember correctly!  I was totally awestruck to see it person and knowing it comes trimmed out with PINK PAINT made it even more, um...

~HEAVENLY~

(Sorry...couldn't resist).

Thank you for stopping by today!  Don't forget tomorrow I will begin another fun Give-A-Way...

Blessings for a lovely Sunday.  Isn't God Good?

Love to you...

~SEPIA DREAMS and GIFTS of GRACE~

GREAT GRANDMOTHER - LILLIAN

Holding My Grandfather, Phillip Circa - 1909

With Mother's Day coming up this Sunday I've been a busy bee in my studio...  I've found that being swamped can be a super good thing so I NEVER complain (well...almost never!).  Trust me...there have been moments when I've wondered if working at Micky D's wouldn't be better for my 401K. :) hahahahha

Anyway, I'll be back in my very favorite of all places to work today finishing up some last minute projects for some local peeps and their Momma's... :)  Such fun!

In the meantime my thoughts have turned to my own Mother and the special gift I would choose for her this year.  I'm terrible about planning ahead...but then my Momma knows that about me! :)

 

~COLORED CHALK PICTURE~

LILLY at 16

Last week when I stumbled upon that old box of pictures I told you about I found the tiny little photograph you see at the top taken of my Great-Grandmother, Lillian Mae Burton Martin holding my beautiful Grandfather, Phillip, in 1909.  My Gramps was born in February of '08 so it was fairly easy to date the picture given his size.  He looks to be about a year old..  The colored chalk drawing above was made when Lilly was only 16...  My Mother has the original and about ten years ago had copies made and gifted her children with beautiful framed prints.  Mine hangs in my studio (you can see it in one of my pictures...)

So...I decided to scan the tiny sepia picture last night and then print out the aging image on fabric.  My plan is to make my Mother a sweet Sachet Pillow using the only photograph I believe there to be of my Mom's Grandmother alone with her Father...

This is one of the things I will be working on today!  I hope you'll come back tomorrow to see how it turns out.  I'm hoping my Mother will LOVE IT!

Blessings to you as you remember your own Mother and the other special women in your life who have helped get you to where you are today...

~A MOTHER'S BLESSING~ LOVE TO MY SON

DEDICATION DAY, APRIL 1982

From as far back as I can remember I wanted to be a Momma. It is hard for me to believe that this year I celebrated my 27th Mother's Day...seems like it was just yesterday that I held my children in my arms or was a crazy-busy Mom of toddlers. The years flew by and when I wasn't looking my tiny children grew up...

The photograph above was taken in Irving, Texas on the Sunday my hubbs and I had our son, Brandon Kent, Dedicated. I know the picture is grainy and poor...but I'm thankful to have it. The original photo was lost many years ago and only a damaged negative survived. I was thrilled when I discovered it last year and was grateful a print could be made of one of the most special days in my life.

I actually remember that April day very well. The morning was bright and sunny and my Mr. AGPMan and I were excited to have his parents join us for the beautiful, sacred ceremony we had planned for our first born. As our Pastor lifted our son up to heaven he prayed a simple but meaningful prayer for God to guide his every step. He asked God to anoint his life, keep him healthy and strong and to ultimately bring him to a place of total dependency on Him. He also prayed for my hubbs and I that we would walk a Godly life and teach Brandon to do the same.

Our son indeed grew up and has a very blessed life. As a child he was a feisty, curious, extremely intelligent little boy and one I easily fell in love with from the second I laid my eyes on his chubby cheeks and soft brown hair. I prayed for over 3 years for a child to call my own and I've always been grateful to God for sending me such an amazing son.

BRANDON, AGE 4

I heard it said once that God allows the sometimes tough "breaking away teenage years" of child's life to take place because without them parents would never be able to allow their children to leave the safety of their nests. I believe this to be true... for our Brandon was our child who couldn't wait to spread his wings and soar. With a free spirit and a calling designed by a loving God, he did just that. When others said "he couldn't"...Brandon always knew "he could". I'm quite sure I'll be long in the ground before he truly understands how very much I have loved him.

Not long after Brandon's birth I penned the following poem in his honor of the very child who gave my life breath. I'm blessed to share it with you...

DANCING WITH BRANDON 2006

"CHILDLIKE FAITH"

I felt you stir within my body
And I knew the hour had come
I was frightened by this confrontation
And prayed to find comfort in my Master

The pain increased to an unbearable pitch
And in my heart I knew
A miracle was needed

Secretly I knew you were my son
Forever being my first born
And I, your mother

I remember how I'd prayed for you
How from the beginning
You were not mine
But, His

I felt my flesh tear from my soul
As we tried to save you
My mouth was parched
My body was weary

My faith was failing
It was then I knew
He was helping me to
Safely deliver my cargo

With newfound strength I held you
Knowing you'd been taken
From my body unwillingly

Now you are safe within my arms
You can find refuge there
Forever

Rebecca Nelson/1982

I will always remember your tiny hand held tightly in mine, Brandon Kent. Thank you for all the years of sharing your sweet, tender spirit with me and for the gift of your life. It is my prayer for you that you will always remember to allow God to go before all you do and say...I trust every single day for Him to guide your every thought and every step. He has such big plans for you...

Blessings to you as you rejoice in the gifts He has given...and in anticipation for those you have yet to receive...Rebecca

~VINTAGE MILLINERY BLOOMS~ SOFTLY FADING

FRESHLY MADE MILLINERY SACHET HANGERS

One of the greatest joys I have comes from the making of handmade pretties. Aside from my love of painting PINK ROSES, I simply love working with fine old laces, linens, charming vintage ribbons, buttons and the ever lovely, (and getting harder to find), vintage millinery flowers and blooms. Creating new works of art from snippets of the past just seems to call out to me… Repurposing old finds has easily become my passion. I just can’t resist the allure of an old keepsake I know was once dearly loved.

I do a lot of shopping, but I spend a lot of time looking, too! Boy am I picky and more often than not I’ve found one must wade through a lot of JUNQUE before uncovering the perfect treasure! If I stumble upon vintage goodies, such as these, at estate sales, tag sales, thrift stores (yeah, I’m dreaming here!) or even antique shoppes, more than likely most of the highly sought after Lots come home with me...

PART OF MY VINTAGE FLOWER COLLECTION

With Easter and Mother’s Day on the horizon I’ve spent many hours making Sachet Pillows and decorative Hangers for gift giving. I’ve included a picture of the latest pretties that will be listed on my website later today…

Why not try your hand at fashioning a Sachet for your own Momma (don’t forget that loving MIL), sister or friend? They aren’t nearly as difficult as they may seem and are gifts that will last for years and years to come. Those you love will greatly appreciate the effort and time spent creating something with your own hands!

Blessings to you as you seek to uncover your own passion…Rebecca