Rose Mille

A Bottle of Brown Rit Dye

It's amazing what one bottle of Dark Brown liquid Rit dye can color. A week or so ago, I boiled, in a big big pot on my stove, these hat hoods, in order to turn them a dark brown. They looked very dark in the pot but by the time they dried the color came out more of a milk chocolate than the desired dark chocolate.

{70% Cocoa}

The color is still pretty, and will work up into a lovely hat. This one is still on the block and has a hand shaped brim, ready for wire. Note the large rubber band holding it on to the block.

Not wanting to waste any of the dye bath, I decided to throw in some vintage linens and trims. While I do love these pieces of history, most of the time the color leaves much to be desired. The beigey, ivory color of a lot of laces does not do that much for me. So into the pot they go!

I did get more items with a nice darkish brown, but then after a few batches, the color lightened to a lovely plum or lavender. All this was from the same batch of Dark Brown Dye.

So I rummaged around my studio for more dingy old lace items to give them new life.

I even dyed the bright Aqua tunic I was wearing.  It turned into this lovely shade of grey/plum.

{Those light spots is the sun peaking through the clouds.}

Finally this vintage two-piece crinolyn, that my cousin Charlene gave me for my birthday went into the pot as well. So much better!

I spent a good part of my Sunday ironing this lot, and then shooting the pics on the back yard lawn.

I used to not like to work with liquids. But this was so much fun, I think I will try for a dark black next time. Maybe the residual color will be a blue?

xo

mi

 

Magnet Boards

  

My handy husband Bob and I have been making these vintage frame magnet boards for years and selling them in Rose Mille.

{Okay mostly Bob}

Every one  of them is unique, and made one at a time from start to finish. We often make custom ones for clients.

We start with a crusty old frame. Clean it up if it is dirty, then true the back getting it ready for the board.

{The crustier the better}

Next Bob precisely measures and cuts a piece of plywood and a piece of sheet metal, to fit each selected frame. The two pieces are then laminated together to bond permanently.

In the meantime I am choosing the covering for the surface that best enhances the particular frame. Sometimes it's vintage wallpaper,  an ancient piece of brocade or even some silk taffeta left over from a drapery project.

The material has to be thin enough to allow a magnet to be attracted to the metal through it. Once the fabric or paper has been choosen, I cut it slightly larger than the surface and using spray adhesive, apply it directly to the sheet metal covered board.

Bob then fits the assembly into the frame using framing tools.

{I have no idea what the technical terms are}

The back is then covered with random paper, sometimes old wallpaper, sometimes new brown paper. A couple of saw tooth hangers and felt pads complete the back.

 

Then I get to apply the finishing touches, an inner frame of embossed paper "Dresden" border, 3 vintage earring magnets and a few vintage postcards.

Now if only I could keep this little desk corner looking this way.

{hey...that magnet board should help!}

 

xo

mi

 

 

A Re-Styled Vintage Hat

This is the after shot of a vintage hat that has been re-sized to fit today's larger heads, and freshened up with a cleaner look.

My latest project (or one of them) is to do something with all the vintage hats that I have accumulated over the years.  Time for some Spring cleaning!

Wish I would have taken a picture of it before.......

xo

mi

 

Felted Wool Bundles

Introducing Felted Wool Bundles. The material used to make our popular Wool Rose Pins, and kit.  Of course there are many, many more applications. So snuggly and nice to work with we thought you might like it if we would offer the material in assortments.

{mostly pink, 9" x 12", 5-stack $24}

While we are selling collections like; "mostly pink", "rainbow", "blues and greens" and "more Atumn" colors, each one will be different because they are cuts from cleaned and dried, vintage wool blankets.  You might be lucky and find some around, but how nice to get an assortment of colors in just the right amounts?

{rainbow, 6" x 9", 5-stack $16}

We have 3 sizes to choose from; 9" x 12" 5-stack, as seen above, 6" x 9" 5-stack, and 4.5" square, 10-stack.

{rainbow, 4.5" square, 10-stack $14}

If you would like one, or more sets, please email us for now, at info@rosemille.com. They will be on the web-shop soon.

 

Treasure Chest

 

So here I go again!  Look what I just dug up.

(Okay not really with a shovel, but well, I  found it already, geese at a, a saale.Ya gotta keep you eyes open!)

So I "found" this amazing antique trunk, filled with you guessed it .....

vintage quilt pieces!  Stacks and stacks of little squares (and rectangles and petal shapes and octagons), perfectly cut ready to be made into a quilt.  The majority of fabrics look like they are from the 30's through 60's.  There are also yards and yards of home made bias tape, made from vintage fabrics as well.

There is something about the anticipation, the possibilities of what the end quilt will look like. Should it be purely patchwork, i.e. just simple 3 1/2" squares of calico, sewn into a patchwork pattern.

I have never actually thought about making a quilt before, but lately I have been challenged to do just that.

The only damper on this GORGEOUS fall day is the strong moth ball odor. But I do believe it is going away.

So, here at my feet is a treasure chest full of quilt squares.   Hmmmmm..... 

It's a sign. 

It's probably also ... ummm cheating. :-))

xo

mi

Recycled wool

My Saturday was spend felting and sewing these cute cold weather head wraps, from wool sweaters.  Just as soon as the weather turns, the locals here are out getting their warm fuzzies so I thought I should get busy.

After a day making the thrift store rounds, I cam home with more than enough sweaters to make a few for the shop. I was worried that my front loading washing machine would not do a good job "felting" the sweaters, so I threw in a few tennis balls and gave the load some extra soap, time and rinsing, before it went to the dryer on long and hot.

The sweaters came out great. Well some that were not 100% wool did not felt so much, why don't I listen to my own advice? But OMG look at this rose colored one, it's so thick I'm not sure I will be able to work with it. It's too small for Makenzie even. It started out very large.

You can't even fold it!!

And this one shrunk really good too, except for it's lining.

Too funny.

I threw in my lens cap so you can tell how small this one is. This sweater gets chopped up first. Turning the sweaters inside out help to find the seams to cut along.

Off go the sleeves, for future mittens.  Then the back got a strategic cut.

The head-wraps are only so wide, and I wanted to have some material to make something else with.

Voila!

 

Three vintage buttons and a sweet layered flower.

So getting carried away, I made some more:

This one is sold.

Bring on the cold!  Well not just yet, after Halloween already.  I still have to make the mittens and scarves? Hmmmmm..

Oh, if you would like one they are selling for $29.00, just send us an email! info@rosemille.com

xo

mi

New Magnet Boards

Love Bird Magnet Board
We are bringing in a new batch of Magnet Boards and here is a sample. I'm using original vintage wallpaper and antique and vintage moldings. They will soon be up on the web-shop!

Make This Rose Pin

We still have openings in this November 3 class to make these cozy pins from felted wool blankets (or sweaters)! 

Class starts at 6:30 to 8:30 here at the Rose Mille Creative Lounge, Price is $40 and includes everything!  You don't have to bring anything but your hands.  You will make one in class and there will be enough materials to take home to make another one or two!  Great gifts!  Sign up on our web-shop or call - 651-439-0205 or email info@rosemille.com. 

 

 Check on our other classes on our Webshop.

Ruffled Cuff Wool Christmas Stockings

It is good to have our beautiful fall season back, after last week's snow, yes I said snow. While L.A. was being rained out, we were getting our earliest snow sine I arrived here in Minnesota 8 years ago.  But today, it was a gorgeous, blue sky fall day.  

 
Last weeks snow started people buying our Christmas decor, and not complaining that is is earlier every year! So we hurriedly put more out.  I even got in the spirit by finally making more of my stockings.  A little pretty, a little "green",  and a little elfin, these stockings are made from felted wool blankets, my new favorite medium. 

Yes, I know these are not the so called "traditional" Mid century, holiday colors, they're pink and harvest gold. But they are festive and the Victorians would approve. Their Holiday color palate was not limited to green and red, all colors were included.  The way I like things.  Each of these four are different, I've used well loved old millinery flowers and leaves. There is space for personalization, if so desired.

I have making this stocking for years, but only for family and gifts, and once I taught a class in making them out of tapestry, lined and all. While collecting wool blankets for my wool rose pins and kit I kept noticing the edges with their beautiful bindings,  and thought they would make a lovely ruffled cuff on my stockings. These are already in the shop and soon, very soon on the web-shop.  

Maybe I will make some blue and green ones tonight.

Sparkle - with chandelier crystals

Don't you just love vintage (or new for that matter) chandelier crystals?  I just came across a few boxes of them, and am so exited about the possibilities!

After hours of cleaning and sorting, they are now at the shop and are ready for your next creative project. There are lots of ways to (re)use crystals. They make pretty ornaments, jewelry, and even bottle stoppers.

They can be attached to gift packages with a bow for a unique embellishment. Or by gluing the recipient's name on pretty paper to the flat side as a name tag! Hanging crystals are often used in Feng Shui practices to help energize a space.  The options are endless. 

Images, vintage sheet music or an inspiring word on paper can also be glued to the flat sides of many types of crystals giving it the same magnifying effect as in paperweights.

I have seen some great ideas in Somerset Life magazine lately, soon to be available at Rose Mille!

Send me a comment or email if you would like to purchase some and can't get to the shop.