Monthly Archives: November 2011

Biltmore and More!

Biltmore and More!
Biltmore and More!

Mama and I traveled to Asheville, Friday, and met Adrianne, her family and in-laws at the Biltmore Estate! I wish I had tons of photos to share, but you are only allowed to use your camera outside the house.

Cynthia, Adrianne’s mother-in-law, and I traded out as photographer. What a lovely backdrop, eh?
Peter James was an angel, despite the huge crowd that was there to see the house decked out for Christmas.

I finally did get a picture of Mama in front of the house, but I couldn’t get her to quit counting her money. I think she was considering buying the place!

In addition to the amazing handcraftmanship found throughout the house itself, there were vintages dresses on display in the guest quarters. I would love to see the needlework on these gowns up close. Since there’s no photography allowed inside the house, I’ll have to scout around the web to see what I can find in the way of pictures.

This article from Victoriana Magazine is all I could find on the subject of dress at the Biltmore House. It included this photo, and the dress on the right was on display in one of the rooms. It was no where as grand as a couple of the ballgowns that were done in jet beads on lace. One of them also appeared to have silk roses embroidered in among the beads and lace. There was also a green velvet “reading gown” that looked like it had been made out of Scarlet’s mama’s draperies! Gorgeous!

I was so insired by the ball gowns that I went to eBay and bid on this vintage beaded panel. I fell asleep before the bidding was over and lost by 25 cents. Oh well, this close up looks like it was done with bugle beads on tulle.

Mosaics Class!

Mosaics Class!
Mosaics Class!

My friend, Beth, and I took the Mosaics Basics Class at the Ciel Gallery in Charlotte, NC, yesterday. The owner, Pamela Goode, Wild Hair Mosaics, was the instructor. I can’t believe I didn’t take my camera along. I’ve got to learn to live with that thing in my pocket. My cell phone has been disassembled by my grandson, so that is currently not an option! I didn’t get finished with my project, so I’ve got to go back on Tuesday. Drats! 😉

(This photo was taken at the old studio.)

While we’re talking trash…

While we’re talking trash…
While we’re talking trash…

<I love these rectangular Gerber Baby Food containers for bead storage. Peter James is eating all table food these days, but I managed to save and wash several while he was in the baby food stage. (It’s also interesting that http://www.monarchwatch.org/ likes to use these containers for housing caterpillars and hatching their butterflies!) I’ve been doing a little organizing of my primary craft space, today, and I am also glad I purchased this umbrella-photo-keeper-thingy at the Container Store. I couldn’t find it on their website, but here’s one at Amazon: www.amazon.com/Umbra-Fotofalls-Metal-Desktop-Holder/ It’s great for clipping up parts of an upcoming jewelry project!