Rose Mille

Where Women Create; Book of Organization

Coming in May, a new book by Jo Packham.

See it in Action by clicking on the book: (but come back and buy it from us!)

We have it on pre-order!!

xo

mi

 

Evolution of a Collection Kit

Years ago, when Rose Mille was in San Jose, (1998-2002) there seemed to always be this growing pile of mish-mush, wonderful leftover bits and bobs, random odds and ends of ribbons, threads, buttons etc. So we started making collections out of them. We put them in clear topped boxes by color and theme, and also lengths of ribbons in "bits-bags". No two were alike never to be exactly repeated again. 

These boxed kits we lovingly called "Rose Mille Starter Kits". Each box was filled with everything and anything that we could fit into them; ribbons, glitter, fabrics, buttons, snippets of pretty papers, sheet music, millinery flowers and even wooden spools of vintage thread.

Very early on while still in California, we launched a "Ribbon of the Month Club". It was wonderful but very hard to keep going without the benefit of the internet, we had to rely on walk-ins and snail mail advertising, which proved to be very costly.

 
Later, in Stillwater we started putting a few collections together that were the same. But this time we used old See's candy boxes that had come with us from the Bay Area. The only problem was that since the tops were not clear, it was hard to keep them from being rummaged through in the shop.

{This could be another post, shortly after I opened Rose Mille in 1998 I was fortunate enough to purchase inventory from an old fashioned "Notions" store in Palo Alto called "Irma Schwabel", named after the proprietress. Yup, this is worth it's own post. Who had sorted her thread in old See's Candy boxes. But I digress.}

In our earliest advertising campaigns, we used vintage images tailored to our events. We found vintage post-cards so charming and fitting our look, so we used them for our semi-annual sale and soiree. 
Each time layering the new post card over the previous years card, with just enough peaking through so, in case anyone ever looked closely, they could see the progression.

In 2011 we wanted a cleaner less cluttered look so we stopped layering and put more work into re-designing the cards even more.

We were also creating our "Frame Cards" to use in displaying our jewelry and winding ribbons and trims on. Everyone wanted the cards, so we decided to sell them. This led to making other kinds of cards like our "Vintage French post cards", and our Christmas cards for sale.

Before there was a Rose Mille, I was making custom hats and bridal veils under the name "Michelle Rose Designs".  Some of my hats were to big and some too tall for the average hat box, so I found a manufacturer who would make custom ones for me. Over the years this manufacturer has made many custom boxes for me, including the band boxes for our new collection.

The internet, and later blogging, has made it much easier to connect with like minded people and makes it possible for designers and shop keepers to sell items that would normally get damaged in a physical shop.

This time, with technology in our favor, we pulled everything together and launched "Cachette du Mois". Named after those wonderful French Cachette boxes that we carry. The ones that are shaped like strawberries, logs, mushrooms and even fish.

This past December, we launched "Cachette du Mois", starting with January and includes:

Twelve custom post-cards.

A custom band box.

Unique bits and bobbles to covet or use in your special projects.

Finally it's working.  Thank you everyone for "getting it". Right now I am choosing the ingredients for our April box. The Post-card and box are all ready in stock. We have also designed the box and post-card for May and June. I can't wait to show you.

For more information and to purchase our latest kit or a subscription click here.

xo

mi

From My Camera

Dare I share?

I did not do anything very interesting this weekend so I thought I would put up some pictures of what my studio can look like, when I'm not in it. :-)

See the current Spring issue of Where Women Create for much better photos by Martha Schuster and Aimee Christensen.

xo

mi

Oh and if you want to see my studio being built, here is a link to the archives. 

Pin Cushion with Simplicity's Felting Machine

I am a natural fiber snob. Some people have annoyingly called me a purist. Ninety nine percent of the time I am using cotton, silk, wool or linen. I prefer stitching over gluing, and I have a hard time with printed fabric trying to look as if it were woven.

I recently discovered a machine that works with wool's natural ability of "felting" to itself. Since I love to work with wool felt in hat making; steaming, stretching and smoothing the fibers into shape is quite gratifying. Wool blankets as felt material is also a lot of fun for me. Hence my wool flower pins and kit. So when I first saw this machine that actually uses just the needles action, without thread or glue, I was intrigued so say the least. 

My first project, (that I am going to actually write about) is making a pin cushion out of wool blankets that have already been "felted" and an old canning jar lid.

First I cut out a circle, 5 leaf shapes and a 5 petal flower out of blankets.

Without pinning, the leaves are "felted" onto the blue circle. There are 12 needles poking through all layers, causing the wool fibers to "felt" together.

All the leaves are now attached to the circle.

This is what it looks like on the back, see the green fibers coming through!  This gives me an idea.

But first, I attached the white flower, but "felting" only the center. I want the petals to be loose.

Great, it worked!

Now back to that idea; I flipped the circle over and felted the leaves from the back side and look what happens!

{so exciting!}

Darn, I wish I would have done the back felting before I attached the flower, but I worked around it and it came out great. 

I wonder..........

Wow!  Look what happened when I felted the flower from the back.  A blue center! Next time I will take pictures while felting the back , yes - I have three hands.

{so easily amused}

Now, make a running stitch all around the edge of the circle with strong thread, gather up, stuff and stitch closed. Grab the canning jar lid and apply some Fabri-Tac, by Beacon and insert into the lid.

Stitch on a pearl button, tie a bow with some of the french ribbon you have laying around and poke in some corsage pins. Wala!!

I'm thinking about putting some embellishments on some sweaters with this nifty machine.

xo

mi

 

March Cachette du Mois

March is an exciting month, especially where it is cold and snowy in the winter. However this year not so cold and not so much snow. Since living in the upper Midwest, I have learned that March is when we dare to start thinking about Spring, my favorite season. It may sometimes be the "snowiest" month but hey, Spring is just around the corner!

The birthstone for March is Aquamarine, so we chose this gorgeous silk taffeta ribbon, that was found in France, for the box ties. Some of the earliest flowers coming up are Violets, which are featured on this month's post-card.

Violet and aqua, with lots of green are this month's colors. Still cold outside we have velvet Violets, and antique crystals for what's left of the sparkly snow.

Yards and yards of ribbons, trims, a generous piece of my coveted favorite linen fabric, a fat quarter of Aquamarine silk tissue, Lilac glass glitter and vintage chandelier crystals.

Spun cotton plums, velvet leaves, vintage millinery netting and braid, a poesy of velvet violets and sparkly rock candy stamens in aqua.

Assorted "Dresden" embossed paper embellishments, including a pair of "in like a Lion", Lions and four "Good Luck" vintage appliques.

Tucked inside this month's Cachette du Mois are:

A quarter yard of grey roses on aqua, linen fabric

A quarter yard of aquamarine silk tissue fabric

A bunch of velvet Violets

18 Moss green leaves on wire

An aqua Dresden assortment

Three Large double sided horse shoes for luck

A dozen four leaf clovers in gold

A pair of Golden Lions

Four "Good Luck" vintage appliques

One yard of fancy flower trim with pearl centers

2 yards of aquamarine vintage rayon ribbon

3 yards of vintage green Soutache cord

A one ounce jar of Lilac German glass glitter

One yard of tubular aqua and violet millinery braid

3/4 yard of vintage French silk netting in violet

Ten vintage chandelier crystals

A bunch of rock candy stamens in aqua

A bunch of spun cotton plums on wire

A dozen gorgeous March post-cards

A hand made Tarragon band box with;

One yard of French silk taffeta ribbon ties

 

You can order it right here or go to our Web-Shop where you will find more information.

Offered at $100

If you would like to order a  subscription, to ensure that you will be first on the list to receive a cachette, to be automatically sent a new "Cachette du mois" every month, with a surprise gift, until you request to opt out in writing (Minimum of 5 months commitment). Please include your phone number in the notes box on as you check out, so that we can call you to set up the automatic subscription.

xo

mi

 

 

 

 

CHA and "Art of Craft" Events Review

The weather was amazing, the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) trade show was super and French General's "Art-of-Craft" was inspiring. Even the side stops, and impromptu hat workshop proved to be just what we needed, in the middle of a whirlwind 10 days in LA.

{But it is soooo nice to be back home!}

Truffle Box (with a view) Workshop at "Art of Craft"

{Hi Jackie!}

A view in our pared down booth at CHA.

My view while lounging at Laguna Beach.

Love this floor lamp viewed in the window at "Gilding the Lily" in Fullerton.

{Heart}

Antiques shopping in Orange, one of my favorite shops, "Down Home Antiques".

{couldn't work in the word "view"}

 

Blocked hats drying in the sun at French General.

{Someone please take the chair!}

 

So now what?

xo

mi

 

 

A Change of Venue for the Hat Workshop

Breaking News!!!

I am teaching the straw hat workshop on Saturday, February 4th from 1:00 to 4:00 at French General, in Los Angeles, California!

If you are in the area, and want to sign up, go to frenchgeneral.com or call (323) 668-0488

Do it now!

Run!

xo
mi

Where Women Create Spring Issue!

It's here.

I'm speechless.

More later,

xo

mi

Oh,

Available at the following fine shops;

Rose Mille

Barns & Noble

January Cachette Projects

We have some great creations using the January Cachette du Mois, coming in!  Check these out.

This just in from Margaret Simonson, gorgeous. Here is two more from Margaret.

Margaret mentioned that this bracelet was inspired by French General, kudos to Kaari!

 

January Winter Crown, by Nicole Gunderson

She used just about everything in the collection!

Mushroom Angel Terrarium, by Dana Caprio

Using the Spun cotton mushrooms, sparkly flower stamens and glass glitter in Snow.

A precious copper nest pendant with the glass pearl eggs, by Dana Caprio

What have you done with your cachette?

More to come!

xo

mi

 

February 2012 Cachette du Mois

Love is in the air!

{cold cold air}

And here is something to warm your heart. The February Cachette du mois is overflowing with lots of Valentine inspirations. In fact it is taking lots of skill just to be able to close the lid!

Tucked inside a red ribbon tied, 10” keepsake band box you will find;
5 silk single stemmed Carnations
6 pink and red crepe paper party cups
6 pairs of vintage appliques
6 large vintage paper heart scraps
6 vintage paper rose scraps
5 white scalloped paper Dresden borders
6 large manilla tags with glassine bags
6 small manilla tags with glassine bags
12 strands of red & white bakers string
 6 ivory blank cards with envelopes
6 signature lace post-cards
 a 20 x 20 piece of heavy red linen
a hank of white DMC cotton
a red and white cupid cameo cabochon
a one ounce jar of Red fine glass glitter
2 yards of white millinery braid from the South of France
2 yards of red silk ribbon
2 yards of pink galloon trim
2 yards of pale pink satin ribbon “l’amour toujours”
2 yards brown cotton lace ribbon
4 rhinestone pins
6 white lacy heart cabochons
a large red Dresden Cupid
12 Golden Dresden arrows
20 Golden Dresden hearts
A dozen gorgeous "February" post-cards

You can order it right here or go to our Web-Shop where you will find more information.

Offered at $100

If you would like to order a  subscription, you will be first on the list, and we will automatically send you a new "Cachette du mois" every month, and a surprise gift, until you request to opt out (Minimum of 5 months commitment). Please include your phone number in the notes box on as you check out, so that we can call you to set up the automatic subscription.

xo

mi