Oh, how I've yearned for a beautiful vintage dress form. One that can join my other "assistants" at my arts & crafts fairs and model my aprons during photo shoots.
One that has just the right amount of shabby and vintage charm to compliment my products. One that wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg ~ afterall, they don't have arms and legs, so why would I pay hundreds to satisfy my obsession?!
Looky, looky!
I'm in love! I've been searching and searching with no luck. Until now. Just like they say with love...stop looking and you'll find it! I went to one of our local thrift stores looking for some vintage candle sticks for my dessert pedestals and...
Aaaahhhhh! Angels sang and trumpets trumpeted!
There she was, shoved in a back corner, all dusty and crudey! Got her for $50 ~ yep, $50! I lugged her home (she's heavy with her cast iron legs) and cleaned her up a bit. Isn't she gorgeous?!
So what should I name her? My other "assistants" are Coco and Brigette and the twins are Babette & Beatrix (click here to meet them). Thinking Bebe, to continue the "B" theme or maybe Sally since that's the manufacturer's tag on her chest.
Until my next show I think I'll keep her on my bedroom dresser where she can display my brooch collection. I was inspired by this photo by Bejeweled By Gwen. Isn't this an incredible work of art?!
For Bebe/Sally, I draped a vintage, hand-crocheted doily collar over her neck, layered on a few necklaces and then randomly pinned on my broches.
Like a little old lady, I've been wearing broches for-ev-ah! I usually pin them on my dresses and t-shirts rather than jackets, figuring this is a bit more modern.
My collection includes a mix of newer and vintage pins in lots of different colors.
(The photo brooch is my friend Suzy and me in a photo booth, I think from 6th grade ~ ha!)
And as you can tell, florals are my favorite. I made the fabric flower pins myself, usually using silk flowers cut and glue-gunned to a craft pin:
I just love the way Bebe/Sally looks now!
Hey, my friends, please don't forget to enter to win my super big giveaway this month ~ the one worth over $200 in Retro Revival products and J&O gift cards! Click here for entry instructions. Good luck!
17 comments:
Girl, you got the goods! AWESOME find! The name Sally reminds of my fav retro show- The Dick Van Dyke Show! She looks fabulous with your brooch collection, which is pretty darn cool all by itself! Can't wait to see all the ways you can pretty her up! HUGS!
Hello Cindy,
I am so excited for you Cindy! This fabulous dress form is the perfect addition to your handmade business. She fits right in with the other girls Coco, Babette and Beatrix. Wait I hear someone yelling; wait it’s Sally. She is screaming “My name is Sally” “My name is Sally” “Sally, Sally, yes Sally! Have a wonderful creative day. Smiles, Paula
Oh what a wonderful idea...i did hang all my "jewels" on a cork board in my old house...but now i have been looking for a new idea...you have me thinking...thanks for popping by my blog all the way from Florida USA...loved my visit there twice now as my daughter and son in law lived in Ithaca upstate NY for 4 years...
She is FABULOUS!!!! And your brooch collection is to die for! Wow!!!
What a wonderful collection of old broches and other jewlery. I used to go to church rummage sales, they always had lots of vintage jewlery. Your new manequin was a great find, she looks in perfect condition.
Can you believe I passed on one of these for the same price at an estate sale years ago? I have been kicking myself ever since. Something about dragging it to my car seemed oppressive. She looks amazing. It is always such a happy place here...smiles....Rene
WOW...those are great, you are so creative! And I super love your aprons, cutest I have seen! :D
Wow! I'm so excited to have so many new followers join my blog over the past week! Welcome Gemma, ImagiMeri, Kim (Red Farm House), Sweet Pea N' Me, Sprout N Wings, Sweet Cottage Dreams, Diana, Psycho Sue (Sew Misunderstood), Andrea (Vintage Sewalong of 2011), Charity Bish & Enigmatic Muse! Thank you all!
She is so cute. What a good idea with the pins and brooches.
I like Sally....it's it just the best when you find a great bargain!!!
Congratulations on finding your new "friend"! She's beautiful. I can't wait to see her decked out in one of your beautiful aprons.
Sherry @ A Happy Valentine
I think she is gorgeous! Love what you did with all your bling. I would try Betty?? What a bargain!
...wow now that is gorgeous!
She's a beaut. I would have talked them down in price... of course, thats just my "thing" lol I embarrass my husband a lot by doing this... hmm maybe thats why I do it? lol
I vote for Sally! There was a lovely, elderly woman that used to work at the Woolworths in Brunswick, Ga...my Grandma used to take us to the lunch counter there and we would always go and say hi to Ms. Sally. Good memory! :)
Wow lots of Sally's --- I think I like Blanche though - its in keeping with the B's (Bebe was my brother's cat.) Love Love LOVE all the old broches, etc. I just may need to try something with my small collection. P.S. You may like this. One of the ladies from our Quilt guild made a quilt using doilies. Check it out: (this is a close up of one corner) http://www.redhenfabrics.com/Images/1stThursday/July2011/DoilyLg.png
Tracy :)
LOVE! I know what ya mean. I found Herman one day when we just stopped by the NC State Fairgrounds Flea Market to wander!
I wear brooches too! Little circle pins, flowers.
But I don't have a Retro Revival pin!
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