Monday

More... in our "Order from Chaos" series.

This enchanting glass and gilt case was discovered at an estate sale by Mike~~for a mere $19 dollars! (We were told it came from an old European church.) I've been using it ever since to store vintage jewelry. However...once I began rummaging around in our junk...ummm...I mean...craft...room I decided it would be just the thing to cradle our prettiest pieces of vintage ribbons, crochet and lace!


I think it's pretty enough to keep these lovelies in plain sight! In addition, it will help me to remember to make use of them. So often I forget what I have when it's tucked away in bins and boxes~~thus defeating the purpose! It's a bit like "hiding your light under a bushel" but on a much more frivolous level...of course. Do you ever do that?

Notice the doily turned into a bow (bottom center)? My friend Alexis created a drawing of this in my book, Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons!

I keep finding more pretty pieces to add to this treasure box! (Thus the second set of strawberry cushions.)

~~~~~~

As you probably have noticed... I am finally shedding the cloak of procrastination that has been garmenting me for far tooo long.
Thus, I suppose I should offer fair warning...

this "Order From Chaos" series will probably become one of our ongoing (i.e., never ending :) features.
~~~~~~

I would love, love, LOVE any advice and suggestions you might have on ordering such collections of treasures (and I use the word loosely...keeping in mind the "one man's trash..." philosophy ;). Right now...I'm focusing primarily on sewing supplies...fabrics...fabric scraps...and of course vintage laces and linens but we will be moving on to paper, jewelry, magazines, books, catalogs and all manner of mandatory ;) items. As always, I'd sooo enjoy hearing how you creative souls contain your earthly delights !!

Warmly,


Tracey and Family


x0x


P.S. If you could see the chaos that is my craft room you would understand why this series is going on sooo long.

23 comments:

Scrappy quilter said...

A girl after my own heart. I collect lace has well. I've been doing it for years. There is just something about vintage lace that touches my heart. I love how you've found a special place for it and that you can show it now. Hugs dear friend

Anonymous said...

How great that you are making order out of Chaos Tracey!! My craft area is a total mess - just boxes all thrown in a huge closet. I did have a bit of time to make some Easter baskets for a swap a few weeks ago and was so wishing that I had things so pretty and tidy like so many do in blogland! Well guess the Lord doesn't think it is time for that yet as other things keep poppin up!

Love that beautiful glass case and the lace looks so very pretty in it! It truly is a work of art in in itself!

Blessings
mary

Dumpster Decorators said...

The lace looks lovely, won't you have a hard time disturbing all those goodies?

Anonymous said...

Ahhh Tracy,

What beautiful Oil bottles! Again your ideas about making "something special" from recyled material is awesome. What a great gift to take as a hostess gift to a dinner party!!! Love it!!

Your friend,

Barbara Amaya

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Hello Sweet Carol! Yes, I too get that pitter pat when finding snippets of old lace!! When the girls were younger, I used to take bits of it and edge ordinary tee shirts and the like ("embellishing the ordinary":). When they outgrew them I would carefully rip out the lace and return it to the collection for future projects!! Now they are digging into the collections and using the lace on projects of their own!
Love,
Tracey
x0x

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Clarice you are so funny!! I love the box too...couldn't believe our luck. Mike seems to uncover the most amazing things...I always tells him his Angels are whispering in his ear. :) Wish they'd whisper in mine too!! Hahaha...but then that might be greedy! As for the chaos, it's just been going on too long for me...thank Heaven spring had finally nudged me into action!
Love,
Tracey
x0x
P.S. So exciting about the third draft!! Email me when you decide what's next, if you would please. 0x0

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

DD, I just rolled each piece and tucked it in...thus making it easy to add and subtract as needed. That being said...I must confess that I have a bin or two filled with even more goodies that are awaiting a coveted spot in the gilt and glass "lace" box. (Like Carol, I've been collecting for well over a decade! :) Lately, however, I've just had the urge to do more than store it. I'm thinking that the sudden loss of my oldest brother has strongly reminded me not to wait for the elusive "some day...that thief of best things".
Warmly,
Tracey
x0x

P.S. So glad you like the flavored oil and cup idea! I've added a link to the full post about putting it together. To get there click on the picture in the sidebar!

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Dear Mary Ellen, Your kind words mean so much to me. I know just what you mean when you say "guess the Lord doesn't think it is time for that yet as other things keep poppin up!" Boy...if that hasn't been my life for the past seven years or so!! I suppose life does get in the way sometimes. Even still, it seems as if you get much more accomplished in this department than I ever will! You always inspire me to creativity, good thoughts and action.
Blessing and prayers to you and yours my kind friend.
Love,
Tracey
x0x

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Hello my Darling Barbara!! It's so wonderful to hear from you. I knew you'd like those bottles and teacups!! They are so easy to put together (and they look like you spend lots more time and money than you actually do). It's almost embarrassing!!
Talk to you soon my friend!!
Love,
Tracey
x0x

Bettyann said...

I am so bad...I must have Crafters ADD..I love old paper, fabric, bits of metal..I swear one day I will drag home an old barn, plus I love vintage children's toys and clothes...Well you could make a "Chaos Anonymous" lol I will be your charter member....look forward to the series..

Laurie said...

I love your blog, Tracey. I love your ideas. Your lace collection is lovely in that beautiful box.

I have an idea I'd like to share. A friend of mine gave me some old pillowcases that had beautiful embroidered flower flourishes with a monogram that matches our last name. The pillowcases were just the right size to use as a curtain for my front and back doors. I added some ribbon loops to the top and embellished each loop with a tiny button. Put a small curtain rod through the loops and voila... loveliness!

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Hi Laurie,

Your monogramed pillow~cases~into~curtains idea is so simple yet sooo clever!! I've heard of the sheets as curtains but never the pillowcases...now that is thinking outside of the box (or...perhaps I should say...the bed ;)! Thank you for sharing this great idea...I believe I have just the little window to try it on!

Warmly,
Tracey
x0x

Unknown said...

You have such a lovely way of doing things. I have a collection of ribbons that are in a plain old plastic box. I'll have to look for something more interesting and think about how I could display them. Thanks for the idea. I was wondering If you could make a box similar by using a picture frame. Of course you would have to find or make a box to fit it. Might be easier to find the box first. Linda

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

What a great idea Linda!! So clever. I bet you COULD use a pretty frame and box to create a similar piece...and it probably would still work if the frame were slightly larger than the box. When we had our Frugal Luxuries workshop we called this sort of thing "Charming Imperfections" tm !! :))

Thanks so much for brainstorming and sharing your suggestions...they are always so helpful and very appreciated!

Love,
Tracey
x0x

Dana and Daisy said...

tracey, my craft room is a nightmare again. just when I get it cleaned and organized, i get a creative spark and it all goes downhill again!

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Hi Dana! Isn't that the way it works??? Crafting and creating is a messy business...there's no way around that!! You should see my living room table at this time...I'm pulling out a bunch of goodies for Easter and trying out different things to see what looks best together and trying new looks. Ohhh, but isn't it worth it for the fun and final products?!!
Love,
Tracey
x0x

Romeo said...

Ah well, glad to know that someone else can create chaos!!! You've given me an idea for which to create a post - just need to take some pictures for you. Will let you know when it's up. Maybe an idea or two, although I know I cannot top your gilded case - $19, you stole it!!! Congrats!

Romeo and "her"

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

BettyAnn I just realized I missed your message up there!! So sorry about that. I did get quite a laugh from your "crafters ADD" comment...all too true for most of us creative types, I'm afraid. Can't tell you how much I am a seriously considering your "Chaos Anonymous" suggestion...oh boy.
More soon my artistic friend!
Love,
Tracey
x0x

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Ahh, dear Romeo, sad to say I work in conjunction with the universal law of thermodynamics in creating chaos/entropy...and that makes it just too easy...it's the order~making that causes me such grief. I am so looking forward to your upcoming inspired post!!
Warmly,
Tracey
x0x

Solange Honorato said...

The box is beautiful and wonderful content! The result could not be better. Beijosss

Romeo said...

Psssst....Tracey, I have a post online for you.

Purrs,

Romeo and "her"

Kimberly said...

Wow! I love this. I really think this is so beautiful. I am packing up our house to sell and have had to tuck most of my pretties away. It is a joy to see yours!

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Thank you Kimberly!! I must say I'm truly impressed with how you've staged your house for sale...it looks so spacious and clean. I'm thinking good thoughts for a perfect buyer at the perfect price!
Warmly,
Tracey
x0x

The original "FRUGAL LUXURIES" ~ Based on the books by Tracey McBride ~ Established 1993

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~~~

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~~~


"FRUGAL LUXURIES: Simple Pleasures to Enhance Your Life and Comfort Your Soul" was written by Tracey McBride and published by Bantam Books, NY, in 1997. It was the first of its genre to synergize the elements of simplicity, frugality and gracious living.

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