Surprise me! De-hoarding the Brenda and Sacha way!

So everyone knows that Sacha and I have started an Ebay store together, no surprise there!

Boudoir-de-Paris

My barkcloth listed!

I wonder if we are the first people to ever do this from different sides of the world?

Now that's a question for Ebay. And I have such a funny blog to write about the service call to Ebay to explain that!  But that's another story..maybe tomorrow?

Anyway...I was talking to Sacha last night...and it occurred to me that everyone probably thinks we plan out everything...discuss listing stuff...have a strategy...a plan...and I had to laugh.

I drag myself out of bed...get my coffee..turn on my computer...and Sacha is there...having wine and dinner and a relaxing bath, already having finished her day in France.

Our conversations usually start something like this...

Sacha: "How was work last night?  Is your rosemary plant still doing well?"

Me: "Still alive! It and me. :)  Did you list anything today?"

If this poor Rosemary plant lives, then lavender should too...right?

Sacha: "You know you can separate your rosemary now to have more?  Yes, one of my favorite pillow cases! What are you going to list today?"

Sacha's Monogrammed Pillow Case

Me:  "I don't want more rosemary plants, I want your lavender!  I haven't had enough coffee to decide about listing anything yet, I'll decide later. Oh I love your pillow case, I want it!"

Sacha: "No we're selling!!  Selling!  And I love the lace you listed..I want that!"

Me: No! We're selling..not buying..just say no!"

Sacha: "Here's my recipe to the Clafoutis you asked for. I'm going to finish knitting my shawl, have a great day!  Can't wait to see what you list while I'm sleeping!"

Me: "Me too! No clue. LOL  Thank you, you have a wonderful night. Thanks for the recipe and say hello to hubby for me!"

And that's how Sacha and Brenda De-hoard!

I've shared here!

As always, I never know what I'll be getting into next.

This time it turned out to be a joint venture between myself and my friend in France!

We've always wanted to do something together, however the distance

obviously would be a challenge.

So we said "Ha! We say Phffttttt to that challenge!"

So now Sacha and Brenda are together at

Boudoir De Paris!

And an Ebay store...

boudoir-de-paris

It's going to be interesting to say the least!

Why name it The Wilted Magnolia?

One of the frequent questions I get asked is WHERE did you come up with the name "THE WILTED MAGNOLIA"?  I always laugh, but it's a name born of hope, hard times, strength, and just plain old stubbornness. (As my Mom would say!)

My sewing groups always called me "The Southern Magnolia" because I type just like I talk...which is at the  least VERY southern. Born in GA, raised in GA and regardless all my travels, this is where I come back to.

I'll try to make this short, but if you've ever known a southern raised person, you KNOW we can't just spit it out, there's always a story!

At age 44, my life took a very sudden turn with a divorce, which in turn caused a bankruptcy just to keep my home and lots of stress! I had been a housewife for l0 years with not a lot of job experience at that point. So off I went to work. A few months later I was in the hospital for l0 days, very ill (thankfully to drugged to know much about it). Ironically enough, the hospital bill was exactly the amount of the bankruptcy!

To say life was difficult at that point in probably an understatement! I just kept thinking, "This Magnolia is very wilted right now".

 I started writing about my crazy, funny, days (it was laugh or cry, ya know?) and sending letters to the troops who had just been deployed overseas. The dad of one of the soldiers started a program where he sent all these letters to his son, who gave them out to soldiers who didn't have family and never got mail. So funny stories about a crazy life seemed to fit. The letters I got back saying how I had brightened their days with letters kept me going. Who was I to complain?

So the pen name "The Wilted Magnolia" was born. It reminds me of where I've come from, what I've overcome and that I will always have the strength to "make something from nothing".

Thank you to all of my customers who have loved and worn my creations. I love you all!

Brenda
The Wilted Magnolia

I swear...by I-Dye!

Don't you just love creative days that turn out fabulous?

I've always used Dylon cold water dye with great results.

So of course I had to try the new I-Dye for polyester.

I loved the color so much (violet) that I just kept putting garments and fabrics
in the pot and this is what came out!

A pair of my cream lace leggings....it was difficult to capture the vividness of this color!

These are poly or nylon, I can't believe how well they took the dye. Amazing.

I grabbed a cream sweater that I've had for a year and never worn.....and I will be wearing this tonight!

Some vintage cream satin....turned out a gorgeous soft tie dyed purple (ish) color.

Did someone say Roses???

And last but not least, a silk cashmere shawl that I've cut into skinny scarves and I'm going to embellish with sequins and beads......

And I'll be keeping ALL these for MY closet!

  So this will count as my Brenda's Closet Thursday edition too!

Obviously I don't wear a lot of boring colors....♥

Another layer to the graveyard...

Now I remember why I haven't done this in a while....

 Very time consuming...but I love the tree so far!

Graveyard on Muslin

Linking to Show and Tell Friday. Not sure my graveyard fits the theme..
but I like it and it has roses!

I finally got started on my Graveyard picture I've been wanting to make, why is there so few hours in the day?

There's two graveyards I pass on my way to work everyday, very old, one with a weeping cherry tree and the other with old gates and roses....

so I'm combining them both because I couldn't decide!

I've started on the background, painting on muslin...

Soon as it dries I can start doing some free hand work on it!

Too much fun!

Over on my other blog....we're cooking!

OK, Sam is cooking...I'm drinking wine, watching and eating!

 A Tongue in Cheek look behind the kitchen door in restaurants! Bring your sense of humor and see the view from a server's perspective.

 

Chef Sam's First Post - Pomegranate Dressing Recipe

 My fabulous friend Chef Sam graciously agreed to be my first guest blogger!  Not quite sure he knew how much work it was going to be...but he does now....poor thing...

We worked together years ago in a Mediterranean restaurant (not saying how MANY years ago!), he went on to graduate from Cordon Blue School in Atlanta and I have to say my birthday dinners have greatly improved since then!

Although, he did laugh when I told him what I wanted for my birthday dinner this year...

fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans!  I'm such a country girl.

(If I don't ask for something simple, Sam won't sit down and eat, he just keeps cooking and creating!)

I asked nicely for a re-creation of the pomegranate dressing I loved so much and got way more than I asked for!

 

 A mixed green salad with oranges, raspberries and warm chive goat cheese.

Isn't that GORGEOUS???

A platter of assorted tea sandwiches...oh just wait till you get the recipes for THOSE...I wish I had snatched some to bring home!  A glass of White Merlot wine, some antique roses and Homer Laughlin china and a gourmet picnic on the cliff over looking the river.

Can you tell what's missing from this picture???

Oh nooooo....we forgot the dressing!

No worries...we just had to keep smacking Greg's hand (our photographer) who was starving after taking tons of pictures and pop it back in the picture!

I'm assuming everyone knows who drank the wine? Somebody had to do it....

So much fun you guys!

Huge thanks to Chef Sam and Greg for a fabulous evening with friends and food.

Sam is working on posting the recipe for the dressing, so check back!

I'm linking to

Photo shoot with a girl, a boy and horse!

A fabulous Sunday afternoon photo shoot! 

It's taken me forever to find a photographer, a model and a horse all in the same place! 

Heaven forbid I should want it all. 

It was too much fun, we had pizza, the horse had grass and all was happy!

Whitney is such a trooper! We had her climbing...

 Riding....

Posing precariously....

Wading in cold creeks...

Perching percariously....

 

Hanging on...

Laying on briars and anthills....

And just plain having fun.

And then of course, you know I was across the field taking pictures of Greg taking pictures!

A huge thanks to Greg and Whitney!

Romantic Robe/Chemise1920's Flapper Pattern by TheWiltedMagnolia

Finally I'm back in the sewing room, making one of my favorite garments! I love using antique patterns for new clothing that's wearable for today.