All occasion card with a cute duckling photo

 Got to love baby photos!!  Here is one of a fuzzy duckling!!  I added a row of paper piercing to all four sides of the 4" x 4" photo and then layered it with gray cardstock.  I created a large light blue card and then added this great hand decorated background ( watercolour and blue glitter glue) to which I had already attached a strip of vellum overlaid with a strip of green fiber flagged with a short strip secured with a brad.  I added faux stitching to the outer border of the background and mounted the layered photo with 3D foam tape.  Therese

All occasion card featuring a beautiful white flower photo

I love this photo of a white flower which I trimmed from a photo calendar my sister gave me.   I layered it with a dark green cardstock and adhered it over my collage background using 3D foam tape.  The background is two strips of floral gift wrap with a strip of green cardstock in the center which is embossed with Scripty (SU).  I have mounted it to a large dark green card.  Therese
 

All occasion card with a beautiful moth photo

 I started with a large brown card and a green envelope.  I ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four sides of the moth photo to add some texture.  Next, I added embossed brackets to each side of my image, added eyelets and fiber to those.  I added this large element to my trimmed background using 3D foam tape and used double sided tape to secure the fiber ends to the back before mounting it to my card front.  

Therese

All occasion card with a blue jay photo, a paper pierced background and ribbon embellishments

 I started with a large navy blue card.  I created a layered background with coordinating papers.  I used a border punch on the bottom of the green one as well having added many lines of paper piercing.  I added a strip of navy cardstock to finish it off.  I added little coordinating ribbon flags to my image and mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape.  As a final touch I added faux stitching with a black marker to the edges of the blue jay photo.  Therese

All occasion card with a cute duckling photo, a hand made background and eyelets and vellum embellishments

Love this cute little duckling photo!!  I started with a blue card and added the handmade background (blue pigment ink with a watercolour wash) which was perfect!!!  I added a strip of torn vellum and a strip of blue cardstock.  I added paper piercing to the 4" x 4" image then added six little eyelets before I mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Would make a great baby card!!! Therese
 

All occasion card with a sunflower photo, a paper strip with eyelets and a small butterfly

Another large card!! I started with a large green card for an envelope from my stash.   I found this wonderful collage background in my stash and it was perfect for this wonderful sunflower image from a photo calendar my sister gave me.   I trimmed the background, added a layered strip of coordinating papers held together with three little eyelets and the mounted it to my card.  I added rows of paper piercing to my image using my tracing wheel before mounting it to my card using 3D foam tape.  As a final touch I added this cute little butterfly embellishment.  Therese
 

All occasion card with a 4" x4" photo, a decorative paper background and a strip embellished with eyelets and ribbon

 I have been making more cards with photos which I have trimmed off photo calendars my sister has give me as Christmas gifts over the last few years.  The photos are wonderful and I am so glad to give them another life!!   I started with a large purple card that fit inside a large envelope from my stash.  I trimmed a decorative paper background that coordinated with my photo.  I adhered several purple strips of cardstock to each other, added a short piece of green ribbon and adhered it to my backgound.  Once in place I added three little eyelets on the left hand side before adhering this large element to my card front.  I ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four sides of my photo (4" x4 ") and then adhered it to my card front using 3D foam tape.    Therese

All occasion cards with small photos, decorative paper backgrounds and various embellishments

After playing with little photos last week I decided to continue the fun and made these cards.  I had sorted the photos into sets of four for this large birthday card.  I found a set of envelopes in my stash that would nicely accommodate the 3.75" x 3.75" element so I made up a whole bunch and then made them into cards.  You can see that I added decorative little embellishments to the first three.  I cut a label in two and mounted each piece to the back of my large photo element, added an eyelet to each of them, embellished them with faux stitching/paper piercing and then added fiber.  I mounted the photo element to my background paper, used double sided tape to secure the ends of the fiber to the back and finally mounted this large element to a coordinating card front.  The ones to the side all feature paper strip embellishements.  Some with eyelets, embossing and one with green fiber as well.  The ones below have ribbon, vellum, eyelets, paper flower and a metal heart as embellishements.  These were very much fun to make and the little photos work so well as design elements.  Therese

 

Large all occasion cards featuring small floral photos, fiber and

Here are a couple more cards I have made using the small photos I trimmed from the index cards I received with the photo calendars my sister has given me.  

As on my last card, I have chosen photos with similar colours to compile the group of four for these cards.  I layered the photos onto coordinating square (1.75").  I created large cards and them trimmed a 2" strip of coordinating cardstock onto which I have adhered my little matted photos.  I both cases this left a bit of a gap which I have embellished.  On the red card I added a little metal embellishment which I adhered with double sided tape and then tied on both ends using coordinating fiber.  On the yellow card I added five little eyelets and then ran some yellow fiber through the two outside one which I tied to my card front once I had added my background paper.  I added a strip of red and overlaid with green which I embossed with the Subtle textured embossing folder (SU) before mounting to my card front over the decorative paper I had adhered.  I mounted my strips to my card fronts using 3D foam tape.  For the yellow card, I used a small hole punch to create an opening in the spine through which I ran the fiber and then brought the end back to the front and tied it off leaving the ends free.  I am really happy with these cards and they are off to my Card Exchange partners in today's mail.  You can check out the other cards I have made with these small photos - here and here.  Therese

Large birthday card featuring small flower photos, embossed vellum and a small greeting

I have made several large cards featuring the small photos off the index cards from the photo calendars my sister has given me over the years.  Here are the small cards I made.  For this card I layered the four little photos with purple and then mounted them to a square of green cardstock.  I passed my tracing wheel on on the edges and between them to create a bit of texture.  I created a large purple card to fit in a large envelope from my stash.  I trimmed a piece of weather wood decorative paper (colour printed digital from Morgue File) for my background and added a piece of embossed vellum (Swiss Dot - CB) before mounting it to my card front.  I added a small font greeting to the bottom edge of my square of photos and then mounted this large piece to my card front over the vellum using 3D foam tape.  Therese

 

Small all occasion cards featuring tiny photos on embossed layers with lengths of fiber tied below

I have made these all occasion cards using little photos trimmed out of the indexes which come with the photo calendars I get from my sister every year for Christmas!!  She prints all twelve of the photos along with her information on a 4" x 6" photo and includes it in the calendar packages she gives me.  I have been saving them in hopes of find a good way to use them.  They trimmed out at 1.25" square so I decided to make some small cards with them.  In order to stream line the creative process I decided to use the same sketch for all of them.  I started with a small white card for all of them which fit nicely in envelopes from my stash.  Next, I trimmed some of the same cardstock into 1.75" strips and tore them apart at about 2.5".  I embossed them all with the Scripty 3D embossing folder (SU).  I glued a little photo to the top of the strip and then tied a coordinating piece of fiber below it.  Then I dug through my scraps of decorative paper to find backgrounds for my cards.  Once I had them matched up I glued the backgrounds to my card fronts and then added the little focal elements with 3D foam tape.  These ones all have floral elements in a variety of colours.  I have a little stash of these little photos on my desk so there will be a few more show up in the next while.  Therese

 

Slow Stitching - more cats

I am currently slow stitching cats!!  Actually, I am slow stitching borders around the cats in order to secure their edges to the black squares (6.5")  I have already machine stitched them to the squares with one line of black stitching to keep them all organizedbecause I cut over 80 of them and had them all sorted to make two quilts.  Not sure that is going to happen as my plan has changed since I started the project.  I cut the cats from a piece of fabric I got from my daughter and thought they would be great focal elements for my quilts.  I have been incorporating all of my slow stitching projects into quilts which has been really fun!!  I have done leaves, houses, trees, etc.  So I continue with the cats and will be doing some later today.  You can see below the lastest quilt I made last week which has incorporated some of the cat squares.  

I have been checking Kathy Quilts regularly over the last few months.  She features Slow Stitching Sunday where people add the links to what they are slow stitching at the moment.  It is so interesting to see what others are slow stitching.  I am a new quilter though I have siblings and a Mom who have been quilting for many years. I have been making quilts which I have been donating to Linus Project and have made quilts for my grand children in the past year.  I am an even more recent slow stitcher so it is fun to check out others' projects!!  I am linking to Kathy's slow Stitching Sunday.     Therese

 

New pincushion from a large wooden spool

I have finally removed the pincushion from my current sewing machine which I made for my last sewing machine because it is in the way when I use my lift and I am finding pins on the carpet.  It took a bit of a brainstorming session to come up with this design.  I have two thread pins on my sewing machine which generally are not in use because I am using cones with a handmade thread holder  so I decided to make a pincushion which I can store on one of the spool pins.  I chose a tall wooden spool with a deep recess and filled it with batting.  I found this scrap of fabric in my stash which had batting attached and created a sleeve with it.  It took a bit to get the sleeve over the edge of the spool (pliers were required) but it snugged up very nicely once it was in place over the spool.  It provides just the space I need for putting pins in when I am doing general sewing and it is nicely out of the way otherwise.  

Therese 

Birthday card featuring a chickadee and a sanded embossed background

 A birthday card for my brother whose birthday is in early January!!  I managed to get this done before leaving for our "Christmas" with family this season.  

I started with a large taupe card base that fit in an envelope from my stash.  I used a piece of white core cardstock which I cut to size, embossed with letters, sanded it and then added a bit of black with a Versfine stamp pad.  I adhered the back ground to my card and then worked on my focal element.  I used a chickadee photo from one of my sister's photo calendars ( I get one every year for Christmas) and love reusing them in my cards!!!  I ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four edges of the 4" x4" photo to add some texture with lines of paper piercing.  I added three little silver eyelets as well which adds interest.  Still thinking it needed something I added four little flagged strips on the right hand side and then mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape.  I sponged the laser printed oval greeting with a bit of ivory ink and then mounted it to a black scalloped oval punchie (SU) and mounted it over the photo using 3D foam tape on the left hand side.  First card of the year and mailed on time!!!  It is a good start for 2022.  

Therese

Birthday card with flowers and swirls

I made this little birthday card for my daughter in law.  The flowers (Magenta) were watercoloured and layered onto ivory cardstock which I distressed on the edges.  I created a small white card, added the swirly background and then the rectangle of coral paper.  I mounted the image over the rectangle with 3D foam tape.  I trimmed a font greeting with decorative scissors on the bottom edge, added paper piercing  and mounted it below the image using double sided tape.  To finish off my card I added two clear rhinestones on each side of the greeting.  

Therese
 

Two more small quilts --- burgundy and green

 I managed to get two small quilts finished yesterday.  We took a Staycation day!!!  

These two quilts feature premade panels.  I bought them together a while back and raveled them so I could use the panels in little quilts.  I had to figure out the angles for the first one to incorporate by panel.  I was fotunate to be able to use the off cuts from my first quilt to fill in the triangular spaces in my second quilt.  I added flannellette battings to both.  I added a warm brown backing to the first one and used it to bind it as well.  For the second one I used a coordinating floral fabric for the backing and stitched my pieces together and turned it inside out.  I stitched the outer edge to finish it off.  Also added a row of wavy decorative stitch about 3.5" from the edge and then added three row of straigh stitch on the green in the middle floral piece which was enough to quilt all the layers together.  

Therese

Birthday card with a little lady bug

This small card is for our youngest granddaughter who lives far away.  She is a year old.  We have been very fortunate to have had many  photos and videos of her this past year and we can see that she is a bright and curious child with big beautiful eyes. 

I started with this cute little lady bug (Pixabay) to which I added a dotted frame before I colour printed it.  I trimmed it with an even border around the frame.  I created a white card, added a collaged paper background in pink to which I added a font greeting with paper piercing.  The ends of the greeting were folded to the back and secured with tape.  I glued this large element to my card and to finish off I added a little pink flower embellishment to the left of the greeting.  

We count our blessings everyday that all is good with her and her family!!

Therese
 

Bright dryer balls stuffed with felted wool scraps

 I made a set of eight dryer balls for my sister for Christmas!!  I bought a bright pair of socks and cut them into 3" lengths.  I tied off one of the edges by stitching in a strong thread and then gathering it really hard and tucking the extra to the inside.  Next, I created wool balls using felted wool scraps wrapped very tightly with wool strips and wool yarn.  I stuffed them into the little pockets I made with the socks and ran another length of the same thread to the other edge of the pockets.  I pulled them really tight using a needle to stuff the cut edges into the openings and tied them off.  I pulled the ends of the threads into the center and through the balls to hide them.  They are some of her favorite colours!!

Therese

Ivory tree ornament/ diffuser

My sister requested a little tree ornament to diffuse essential oils for her new Christmas tree.  She made it herself from birch branches and it hangs on the wall.  Takes no space and will hold a curated selection of oraments which will be all neutral in colour.  The ones I made were too bright and busy to really fit in with her new tree.  I dug through my felted wool and found a small piece of ivory and thought that would work well.  I trimmed a triangle shape and kept the adornment to a few lines of stitching.  I added a crochet  thread hanger and then went looking for buttons for the star.  I found two of these cool clear ones that worked really well for the star.  I stitched them back to back on the top of of my ornament.  I think it will work perfectly on her new tree and will generously diffuse pine essential oil to make Christmas memorable.          Therese
 

Christmas card with a vintage Santa, handmade paper background & vgreen intage seam binding

For this card I started with a red card and trimmed a background from a sheet of handmade paper  - white with black and silver inclusions.  I added a length of vintage green seam binding and then tied on a short piece to simulate a bow.  I layered the Santa image with red cardstock and added it with 3D foam tape.  This large element was adhered to my card front.  

Therese
 

Christmas cards with a little trees made from woven paper with a confetti star and embossed background

 I got carried away in my creative mode and made a whole sheet of woven paper strips.  I chose from my stash of Christmas papers and then added greens and reds from my other collections too.  I started by adhering the set of horizontal strips to a piece of tape.  Then I wove strips into them vertically until I had a letter sized sheet.  I added tape on the back to secure the pieces in place.  I trimmed the sheet into triangles to simulate trees.  I did have some loose pieces both on the front and the back so I added dots of white glue to secure them in place.  I have over a dozen trees.  I only used these two this time but have set aside the others for Christmas cards in 2022 as I still plan on making card monthly.  I chose two backgrounds from my stash  and embossed one with birch trees (SU) and snowy dots (SU).  I positioned my trees and stitched them to my background using dark green thread in my sewing machine.  Really like that look!  I added a trunk to the first one and a snow bank to the second one.  They both got large confetti stars  - gold on the first one and silver on the secon one.  I wanted to add a little bird to the birch trees.  I bought a stamp and die set which I thought would work quite well for this purpose.  In the end, the bird is a bit big for A2 cards and the stamping in black made it too dark.  So I cut one without the stamping and added little features using a fine black marker which was much better.  I added it with 3D foam tape.  I glued my large elements to coordinating cards to finish them off.  Therese

Large Christmas cards for my exchange partners

I made up a few large cards from large images I had printed a while back.  The two Merry Christmas greetings are from Graphics Fairy.  I do not have credits for the other two.  

First card - I watercoloured the letters, cut the edge with scalloped decorative scissors and paper pierced each scallop then passed my pattern tracing wheel to paper pierce a line on each edge.  I mounted decorative paper to  a coordinating large card after added red gros grain ribbon to which I had tied a short piec of green vintage seam binding.   Second card - After trimming the Santa image I paper pierced wavy lines on the edges with my pattern tracing wheel.  I added turquoise half labels to the top and bottom which I also paper piereced with a push pin.  I added a silver eyelets to each of them as well.  I mounted my Santa over my decorative background using 3D foam tape.   I created my own baker's twine by twisting ivory, turquoise and green threads together which I passed through the eyelets and adhered to the back with regular tape.  I mounted this large element to a coordinating card front.  

Third card - I used a scallop punch (SU) to trim the edges of the Peace on Earth greeting then ran my pattern tracing wheel in wavy lines on all sides.  I added drops of coordinating nail polish on the scallops and when they were dry I mounted it to the front of my card over my background.  I added an antiqued turquoise ribbon to my background paper and then tied on a short piece with a single knot to  simulate a bow.  I finished off the card by mounting this large element to a coordinating card front. 

Fourth card - I ran my tracing wheel around the trimmed image, watercoloured the holly and added red glitter glue to the berries.  Once dry, I mounted this to a green cardstock layer.  I added and embossed strip to my background of fun snowflakes and tied on a short piece of green vintage seam binding on the right hand side.  I mounted this to a coordinating card then adhered my focal element with 3D foam tape to the front.    I am really enjoying making these large cards - so much real estate to work with!!

Therese

Christmas cards featuring stitched elements - stamped handmade paper trees and greeting

This was a fun card.  The focal element is made from handmade paper onto which I added a stamped piece of tissue paper when it was wet.  The tissue paper incorporates into the paper and disappears.  I tore the image from my sheet of handmade paper and found this background paper which so nicely highlighted the image with little fun sparkly snowflakes.  I used shimmery embroidery thread to stitch this element into place and then I added the greeting which I also stitched to my background.  I stamped the greeting (SU) added two lines of paper piercing then added a small piece of 3D foam tape in the middle and double sided taper to the sides so there would be more relief in the middle.  With everything in place I adhered my backgound to a green card front.   I really like this card - will have to make more of these elements.  Therese
 

Christmas card featuring little chickadees, some string and a stamped greeting

I have been admiring these simple cards on line for quite a while and finally took the plunge to see if I could actually make one.  Generally, I like much more paper and embellishing on my cards.  I started with a kraft card and added the cording.  It is three pieces of thread - white, red and tan which I simply twisted together.  It worked well but the twisting made the bow really distorted so I let out the twisting which was much better.  I layered the little chickadee image (reused from another card) with red cardstock and adhered it with 3D foam tape.  I stamped the greeting (SU) in black ink.  Done!!!  What a quick and easy card!!!  Therese
 

Slow Stitching Project - cat squares - Q2 - R7 - 1-5

 I have finished another set of cat squares in my slow stitching project.  I have two more rows to go to finish quilt two and stil have all the squares for quilt one to go.  I will be taking a break and doing something else for slow stitching in the next while and will come back to these later one.  I did enjoy using a chain stitch on two of these and it was fun to make one using a rainbow of colours instead of coordinating with the squares which has a limited palette.  

Therese

Brown embroidered quilt

I worked on the top for this quilt (48" x 35") a week ago and managed to finish it this weekend.  The center is two embroidered pillow shams sewn together in the center and to add the length I needed I added a green/coral border on each end using scraps of upholstery fabric.  The batting is a flannel sheet and for the backing I used a floral fabric with a brown background.  I stitched the batting to the front and then added the backing which I simply folded over on the edges to make the bindng as well.  I added some horizontal lines to the end pieces and then about five more through the dark brown section of the quilt.  Not too much puckering on this one.  I used a plastic foot on my machine and it seems better for letting the top and bottom fabric move together.  Another one ready to go!!    Therese
 

Christmas card featuring a little tree die cut, a collaged vellum background and a little embossed greeting

This card started with a little strip of very beautiful handmade paper.  I added the little embossed tree die cut and the little gold star.  I auditioned quite a few backgrounds before I decided to create a collaged background with torn strips of vellum.  I mixed in a couple of embossed ones for a little more texture and interest.  I adhered them with double sided tape position on my card where it would be behind the strip.  I added the strip and then the little embossed and die cut JOY greeting (SU).  It still needed a bit of something to I added two little gold stars which made it better.  I really like the layered background.  Therese

 

Christmas card with a collaged background, embellished tree die cut and a bit of lace

For this card I started with a dark green card front.  Using a few pieces from my stash I collaged a background then added a piece of brown handmade washi tape and a length of lace.  I added some lines of paper piercing before adding my little kraft tree die cut.  I added a gold star with a tiny gold brad at the top and some red star confetti with white glue (fine tip applicator) before adhering it to my card front.  I thought it still needed a bit of something so I added a garland to the tree using a clear glitter gel pen which was just enough  - I considered it finished.  Therese

Winken, Blinken quilt

 I finished this quilt (33.5" x 44") more than a week ago but just finally gave it is final wash.  It is a panel I bought for a few dollars at a thrift store.  I added a thin cotton batting and a green cotton backing material.  I finished it by layering the front and back facing each other and then laid the batting over it.  Trimmed them to the edge of the front and stitch all the way around leaving an opening on one side so I could turn it inside out.  I finished it by stitching two rows of straight stitch about a quarter inch apart around the outside edge.  For inside quilting I used black thread on the top and green on the bottom and stitched several of the black lines in the pattern to keep all the layers together.  There is quite a bit of play between the back and the front but fortunately there were very few lines except the wavy border that went all the way across so the play is manageable.  Therese

Christmas card featuring a vintage Santa, ribbon and handmade paper

 I have made up a few Christmas cards for a friend who has found herself a little short of what she needs.  Fun to make cards that are unique with little bits from the stash.  The Santa image is stamped and from a swap so I am not sure who it is made by.  I trimmed it to size, added four lines of paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel and distressed the edges.  I added navy gros grain to my ripped piece of handmade paper and then tied on a small silver piece.  I adhered this large element to my navy card front and then added the focal image with 3D foam tape to finish my card.  Therese

Birthday card featuring a sparrow photo, some ribbon and a fancy greeting

I made this card for my Dad whose birthday was this weekend.  He will get a surprise in the mail instead of it being delivered in person. 

I started with a large blue envelope and created a blue card to fit inside.  I found this wonderful music paper in my stash (donation from my sister) so I trimmed out a piece for my background.  I trimmed this sparrow photo from a calendar page (photo calendar from my sister) added some rows of paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel and then mounted it onto black cardstock.  I added a strip of black cardstock below to which I had tied three little pieces of ribbon and a chalk board greeting with little white brads.  Therese

 

All occasion and birthday cards while I was at it

I was on a roll the other day when I made these cards for my parents so I made these four as well.  They are small cards I made to fit in small envelopes from my stash.  The top two feature white handmade paper with embedded silver embossed images.  I tore them from the large sheet and then stitched them to my trimmed backgrounds.  I adhered them to my card fronts and then added layered oval font greetings.  

The bottom two were made around two images from my stash.  The blue one features a butterfly stamped image (SU) over a collaged background with a little bit of ribbon.  The other one features a watercoloured coffee  cup (BlackBerry Jelly) with paper pierced lines and bits of ribbon over a leafy background.  Alway nice to have a few cards on hand for giving as gifts at this time of the year!!!  Therese
 

Lap quilt in plaid and dark green

 I made this lap quilt for my Dad.  He was moved to extend care this week and they are getting him up and out of bed into a wheel chair for his meals.  My sister indicated that he could use a small quilt for his lap when he is in the wheel chair.  I made it 37" x 39" which was along the lines for what the recommendations online for a lap quilt for a wheel chair.  The plaid is flannel which was recovered from a large pillow sham and the botton is brushed cotton in a dark green.  I used a light weight cotton as a batting inside.  I laid them out on  top of each other right sides together and then the cotton batting.  I stitched all the way around leaving an opening to turn it over. Once pressed, I stitched all the way around the edge and then added a few rows of stitching following the plaid design to keep all the layers together.  I am sure it will do the job nicely.  Therese

Thank you cards with removable watercoloured heart ornaments

 I made these cards to thank my parent's neighbours for the generous support they have shown them since they moved into their apartment a few years back.  Dad fell and broke his arm in October and is going into assisted living and Mom is moving into senior accomodation.  They will be across the street from each other so will be able to see each other every day.  It is a blessing that things have fallen into place for them.  They will not be far from their neighbours in the apartment building either but we thought it was important to let them know how much we appreciate all they have done for our parents.  

I watercoloured a piece of cardstock with permanent inks - blue and green on one side and yellow and red on the other which created a wonderful piece of duplex paper.  I die cut hearts from the paper and added a hanger so they can be hung in a window, on a knob or even used as a bookmark.  I created little white cards to fit in small envelopes from my stash.  I created backgrounds using coordinating papers and added the little vellum greetings (gold embossed) with eyelets before adhering them to the card fronts.  I added the hearts tucking the bottom under the vellum and securing the hanger on the inside of the card using regular tape.  I am very happy with how they worked out and I will be bringing them when I go for Dad's birthday.  

Therese

My angel tree topper all spruced up

I spent the afternoon sprucing up my angel tree topper.  It is a vintage tree topper for sure.  My good friend Lorraine crocheted it for me over forty years ago and has been the only tree topper we have had ever since.  She had stiffened the body, wings and halo with sugar water over a cone form.  Over the years they had discoloured and I wanted to redo it.  Removing the sugar water and redoing it seemed like a very daunting task and therefore the process kept being put off.  Last year when we took it down after the holidays I decided to give it a coat of paint which was much less daunting.  Needless to say she has spent the better part of a year near the family room fire place and today with a bit of time on my hands - my Christmas cards have been mailed - I thought I would see what I could do.  I took the pieces apart as they had been simply hand stitched to each other.  The halo, the wings and the head part were seperated from the body where they were stitched.  I did make a few notes about where they had been stitched together so I could replicate the process once they were painted.  I chose a warm white acrylic paint and applied it with a stiff brush so it would get in between the stitches and in the insides of the openings.  I covered all the areas even though they were not all discoloured to ensure that she had a nice even colouring - inside and outside of the skirt, the wings and the halo.  The head and bodice had not been starched and was still in really good condition.  Only four little spots which I painted over using the end of a toothpick.   I painted the halo in gold but that did not work as well as I would have liked so I added some yellow paint and then a thin layer of silver gleams which was the best I could hope for.  After all the pieces were dry I stitched her back together.  She is looking so much better.  I decided to make her a little muff because with only the ends of the pink pipe cleaners twisted together did not really do hands all that well.  I dug through my fabric stash and found a piece that was the right colour.  I trimmed a small piece and stitched it together to created a tube.  After turning it inside out I folded the bottom edge up into the opening and then placed the muff over "her hands" and then used the end of a large needle to stuff the top edge into the top opening covering the ends of the pipe cleaners. That was much better.  I am auditioning a gold star sequin held in place with a head pin to see how I like it.  It might be replaced with a silver one or might just be removed instead.  We shall see!!  I expect she has another 40 years to go so at some point she will be gracing someone else's tree but that will be fine when the time comes.  Therese