Tools of the Trade

About five or six years ago, I learned about valentines made in the late 1700s and early 1800s called puzzle purses. According to Frank Staff who wrote The Valentine and Its Origins, "So called 'puzzle purses' were skilfully made so that the recipient had always to spend some time trying to decipher the message or verses, and to get the design in the right folds and the right order."

After several attempts at making my own, I finally figured out the folds and now make them each year to sell on my website, Honeysuckle Lane.

I mix a homemade stain concoction in an ironstone bowl and brush it on the parchment paper. This staining process is one of the most important steps making the paper look old.

Once the paper has been dried and cut to size, I measure and fold and crease several times.

This antique tool is what I have always used for that step. I found it in a junk shop years ago but I have no idea what it was used for. Is it bone or ivory? No matter its original purpose, it works very well for me as a folding and creasing tool. I have panicked more than a few times when I have misplaced it. Thankfully, it always turns up again.

I have all my papers folded and will be adding the artwork to each puzzle purse tomorrow and tomorrow night. I'll be back Sunday with another post of the rest of the tools used in finishing the valentines.

I might even have photos of the *s*n*o*w* that we are getting as I type this. I just looked outside it's coming down pretty good!

Stay safe and warm this weekend ~

Take Care and God Bless,

Lana

~*~

1/2 off sale EXTENDED...

From now until noon central time tomorrow, January 27th, until all items are sold, all of the items in my Honeysuckle Lane Etsy shop will be 1/2 off the original price.

Please contact me through the shop contact link or at this email address: honeysucklelane(at)hotmail.com and tell me what you want. I will change the price for you and reserve it in your name for you to purchase.

I will mark them 1/2 off in my shop and add SALE to the title so that you know they have been reduced.

You may see the items here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HoneysuckleLane

I'll be back tonight or tomorrow with a photo post. I'm getting restless and feel the need to go outside and photograph something... anything! :)

Take Care and God Bless,

Lana

~*~

white

...and ivory and cream and tan and brown and black ~ I love those colors, together or alone, in my home decor or in my closet.

I was taking photos of a wreath I made today for an Etsy customer and noticed all the items I'd placed around it were those colors.

The jar with spools of thread was a thrift store find a few years ago. There was also a jar of black spools of thread. I wish I had bought it too, but I think I only had a few dollars in my pocket and I was at my limit. When I went back a few weeks later, it was gone.

The antique make-do pincushion was a gift from a lady who introduced herself to me at the Lavender Festival a couple of years ago. She told me she wanted to send me something in the mail later, but I never dreamed it would be this beautiful! Yes, old and worn and stained... and beautiful!

The little white strawberry make-do is one that I made. I've made many, many make-dos to sell at shows and on my website, but I think these miniatures are my favorite.

This basket pincushion is a fairly recent find. I plan on coming up with my own pattern inspired by this antique ~ maybe for spring designs.

And the large apothecary jar full of cotton crochet thread just came to be after I was looking for a place to hide / stash my thread. It's much too pretty to be hidden away somewhere, don't you think so?

That wraps it up for tonight! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Take Care & God Bless,
Lana

Valentine Wreaths

Sorry to just post and run on this one, but I have to get back to work soon.

I just listed these in my Simple Joys Paperie etsy shop last night and this morning. Two have already sold, and I thank you ~ my customers & friends ~ so much!

I'll be listing more framed love tokens tonight.

Have a very lovely and blessed day! :)

Lana

Cast your vote and see what's coming soon...

Update ~ Thank you so much for your votes! My wreath is in the lead, but not by much.
Voting closes at 9am Monday morning (Jan.11th).
Regardless, I am so honored for it to be in Etsy Voter. :)

~*~

Yesterday I received an email from Etsy telling me that one of my paper wreaths was in this week's Etsy Voter. If you like it, I'd appreciate your vote! http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=88

There are so many great things in the voter this week, I don't blame you if you choose something else. :)

~*~

I am still working on orders, but by the weekend I will be finished and will begin working as much as possible on love themed vintage book wreaths and other tokens of love. Whatever I can get completed will be available January 15th, and more will be available January 22nd, and then on January 29th. My puzzle purse valentines will be listed on one of the latter dates.

If you'd like to be notified when I have new items listed in my etsy shop or on my website, just send me an email and I'll add you to the list.

Thanks!

Take Care & God Bless,

Lana

~*~

Reporting In...

when you have nothing to talk about, post a cute cat photo......

or two...

or three...

That's Scooter in the top photo. He's adjusted well here and wants to be near someone all the time or sitting in a window watching the birds. Scooter is a bit of a pest though, and Sam (photos 2 & 3) hides from him so he can sleep for hours on end.

I'm busy working on Tattered Angel Wings and Vintage Book Wreaths, but will have lots of new Valentine items ready by January 15th.

Take Care and God Bless,

Lana

~*~