Holiday Accessories by TreasuredDetails

I'm excited to announce some brand new accessories for the holiday season! Some of them went up for sale in my shop, TreasuredDetails, just today, and more will be rolling out as the week continues. Here's a brief introduction to some new great products.

The first favorite of mine is the Glittery Holly Fascinator that was a huge hit with the models at our shoot earlier this month. This is a simply crafted piece that makes a statement. The glitter is bold and the colors are bright and festive. This is an accessory that will catch sunlight, moonlight, Christmas lights, and candlelight, and send it back sparkling beautifully! If you're interested, I have 5 available this holiday season, and may be persuaded to make some more, if you want them ;) You can buy it here.

Another brand new holiday listing today is the sweet and simple Silver Fern Bobby Pin Set. These have a powerful sparkle too, and because they're not specifically Christmassy, they can be a great accessory for New Years' or all-year-round evening wear. The set comes with a large and a small leaf for wear in an up-do. This also makes a great gift! You can buy this set here.

These little tiny Glitter Holly Bobbies in Green and Gold are a favorite of mine! I'm making a set for myself, because I just love the idea of wearing something cute and sparkly and festive, but not too overwhelming to my outfit! I have a few of these little sets available, so feel free to pick up more than one. These make great stocking stuffers too! The bobbies are available for sale here.

The last holiday item that I added for sale today was this pop of color with a snowflake applique. I love the idea of wearing this belt with a white lace dress (as pictured) for a holiday party. It would be a beautiful detail for a winter wedding dress as well, especially if the bride wants a little color in her ensemble...maybe even just for the reception. This particular sash is listed here. 

I love making customized sashes for any holiday or event, so please let me know if you'd like to chat about an idea you have. I'd love to make your dreams come true! 

Brand New Designs from TreasuredDetails

This summer and fall has marked the reinvention of TreasuredDetails, and I'm excited to begin unveiling some of my newest creative projects! I have always loved the idea of custom designs, enjoying working with women who are looking for something a little special, something just for them, for whatever event they happen to need an accessory for...weddings, proms, parties, professional photos, boudoir sessions, performances, or just for their own pleasure. "Custom" designs go a long way, but a potential buyer often needs a spring board, a "THIS is what I want...but different." And then we take it from that point, choosing the colors, the materials, and the "treasured details" that make your piece your own in every way! 

TreasuredDetails has specialized in hair accessories, cocktail hats, and veils, while only dabbling in sashes and shoe clips. We've now expanded to include far more! I invite you to follow me to stay up-to-date as the new items are rolling in and just waiting to be claimed and customized. 

TreasuredDetails Winter 2012/2013 Preview

In the image below, the lovely Amelia is modeling a feather pad hair fascinator. This hair piece was designed by me and handsewn with beautiful accents and details, including feathers of ivory and amber, a vintage rhinestone brooch, two types of vintage lace, sead pearls, rhinestones, and crystal beads. 

This feather pad was inspired by the debutantes of the 1920s. 

This next image depicts my lovely cousin Clarissa wearing a custom cocktail hat with a handsewn horsehair bow and handmade dotted tulle flower puff.  This hat is a collage of bright white, as it appears here, and would be a beautiful addition for the bride who favors the mid-century American look to her classic or vintage-inspired wedding, but like all designs, it can be customized for all purposes! Looking for the same thing in black? Prefer a birdcage veil on it's edge? It can be done!

This design was created with a 1960s lady in mind. 

This large purple dahlia clip is being modeled by the lovely Diana. This lovely purple flower with vine leaves cascading down the back is a beautiful accessory that can be worn casually or for a formal event. This clip is a personal favorite of mine, being a gardener and lover of the outdoors. Every time I walk through the woods (which is often) I am inspired to create a new accessory for the woodland beauty. My own wedding this past year favored the woodland style, and this will always be a favorite look for me. This piece is also customizable. Just contact me if you have a request or can think of something that would make this fit your vision better!

This final preview is being modeled by my beautiful friend Janneal. (The camera loves her!) This simple headband is a TreasuredDetails classic that's been modified more than once for a bride in need of her own creative control over her accessories. These sweet ivory gardenias have been handsewn with pearl bead stamens and affixed to an ivory satin-wrapped headband. Customizations that have been done to this design are turning the 5 gardenias into 5 individual clips or bobbies, and having this made in different colors! Be sure to contact me before purchase though, because colors are limited in this design. 

This is another classic piece that favors the woodland-friendly girl, but also gives a twist on a very traditional bridal look! This veil can also be changed up a bit with the addition of a blusher veil. Ask me if you'd like a customization like that as well. 

When I design, I employ the understanding that the sky is the limit! You deserve the look that suits you best, and I want all my customers to walk away happy. If you like what you see--or at least like what you're reading and want to see more!--shoot me a message and we'll take the first step toward a custom design that makes you happy. 

Credits:

Accessories: TreasuredDetails
Photos: Michelle Cox Photography

Projects in Progress

With my big photo shoot with Michelle Cox Photography and a group of very lovely models coming up in only one week, I am working like crazy to my production off the ground! I have so many new items already made, and so many being "drafted."

Side note: Sorry, I am a writer. I think of unfinished, in-the-works projects as "drafts." It's just part of my nature!

Anyway, there are so many things to prepare for the shoot as well...props and displays for photographs, outfits for models, and inspirations for the shoot, not to mention finishing touches on the designs!

Oh, I have been and will be a busy woman this week!

Millinery Experimentation

Today I created my first hand-pressed millinery flower. This is destined to become a creative love affair.

I can't wait to post more about how I did it, and some new creative items that I make. Keep an eye out for more interesting developments in the flower-making department.

Would you ever try s project like this? I've always wanted to, and now that I've done it, I can't wait to do more. 

TreasuredDetails New Bridal Line

I am excited to announce the coming of TreasuredDetails' new bridal line. Busy fingers have been creating new items for sale for several months, and my workspace is filled with sketches, bits of lace, trailing lengths of ribbon, and pins and needles of all sorts.

For those of you not aware of the changes on hand, I wanted to make sure you knew that the line is coming! Photography, completed by Michelle Cox Photography, is scheduled to take place on November 3rd.


2013 is going to be a big and exciting year for TreasuredDetails! I look forward to sharing all things new with you. Thanks for your support!

Fabric Hair Bows Giveaway!

We're doing a giveaway! I've actually never done one of these before, but think they're so fun! I love to enter giveaways all the time myself, and I've won some great things through them. If you guys would be interested in entering more giveaways, make sure you participate and share this one. Let's get as many people to check it out as possible :)

You can win this set of fabric hair bow clips from TreasuredDetails! These cuties are handmade and can be used by adults or children. How would you like to add these three bows to your hair accessory collection, for free?

Contact me if you have questions!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Black and Blue French Manicure

This fancy black & blue French Manicure is easy and fun to do! As a first step to any manicure, it's important to file your nails smooth along the edges, and rough-up the tops of your nails just a little bit to ensure the polish sticks as it's intended to do. It's important to always use great care when prepping the nails for a manicure, to ensure that the nails aren't damaged or broken before the nail polish is applied. Nothing feels worse than a broken nail under your polish!

The second step is, in my opinion, non-negotiable! This fantastic L'oreal base coat is the best base coat I've ever tried, and believe me, I've tried many. Manicures are notoriously short-lived for me. I've tried all kinds of "long-lasting" polish, even the guaranteed no-chip that you get from the salon. Even that is really pushing the limit if it lasts ten days. And the down side to the no-chip Gelish nails is that they aren't that much fun! You can try to paint nail art on those, but they naturally repel it. 

When you apply this Quick Dry Base Coat, you only need one coat. It feels like it takes a while to dry, but the truth is, it remains a tad bit tacky to the touch, with an almost gritty undertone to it. This is intentional, and the reason this base coat is so good. It's designed to keep the manicure and the nail bonded to each other, and believe me, it does the job. Like any manicure that is not well-cared-for, the final design may wear and chip after while, but this base coat does a better job of keeping the bond strong than most other base coats do.

The next step to this manicure is to gather the tools and colors that you want to use. I wanted to use a light baby blue and black, for sharpest contrast. The tools I needed were masking tape and zig-zag scrapbooking scissors. I used Sally Hansen Pure + Smooth nail color. As a personal note, I generally prefer Essie colors, but every time I go to the store in search of this sweet baby blue, the Essie version is sold out. So

Once your base coat is to your preference (with Essie, it takes approximately two coats, while with this Sally Hansen color, it takes about three), you should begin preparing your masking tape for the French tip. Again, I chose the black color to have the crispest contrast, but when you're working with such opposing colors, you do have to be very careful to not feather the colors under the tape. There's a delicate balance because pressing the tape down on your nail too hard can cause the base color to come up. I usually wait at least 30 minutes before applying the sticky tape to my base color, just to be on the safe side. This can give you time to experiment with your tape pieces.

Once you're ready to start applying the guides to your nails and painting the tips, you can either apply the tips to one hand at a time, or if you have some time to spare, one nail at a time. I like to do one nail at a time myself because then I can be sure that each one is perfect. I do often apply the guide all at once though. Painting the tip is actually quite simple. You can apply as much polish as needed in the first coat, and often subsequent coats are not necessary. Just remember to double check that before removing the guide because it will be really hard to try and tape the guide back on once you've removed it! Don't forget to remove the tape VERY gently so as not to pull off the base color beneath, or the French tip where it overlaps the tape slightly. 

When the French tip is complete, you can double check any lines that need to be fixed or made more defined, because sometimes those lines can feather a little with the removal of the tape. This is also a good time to work on the retouching that may be required wherever the masking tape has pulled up some base color.

If you want to do a cute design like the one I chose for my accent nail, you can either mask out the main line of the ribbon and free-hand paint the bow with an art brush, or you can free-hand it with a nail art pen. I've done both. I love these nail art pens! They came out this year though, and they're quite expensive. I suspect they're being discontinued already because I can seldom find them anymore. I got this one at Target where it had been reduced to $7 (yes, reduced!) and there were only a few color options available where they used to be pretty extensive. Let me know if you find them for sale anywhere! I'd love to know if they're still around! They make painting designs a lot easier for those with an unsteady hand or those who are in a big hurry. 

Before you can call this manicure "complete," you need to add your topcoat! This is especially important if you're using the nail art pen, because the texture of the polish is a little different from the rest of the nail. Also, where you've removed the masking tape, your French tip may peel away slightly, and this top coat is the perfect way to keep it secure. (Remember your French tip doesn't have that added protection of the base coat like the rest of the nail. I have considered trying to do a base coat under the tip as well, but haven't yet. I will let you know when I do!)

Here is the finished product! Let me know if you try this design, or if you have your own cool  design you'd like to share on my blog! Contact me at treasureddetails@gmail.com to contribute, or leave a comment below. I'd love to see your own fancy manicure creations. 

A Tribute to my Mother

This week I was out for dinner with a friend, meeting to discuss her wedding veil that I am designing. Over sushi and sake, we discussed a lot about life, and it was good. I told her about how I came up with the idea to make hair accessories in the first place, and although I've always known it to be true, it was nice to be able to say it, mull it over, be reminded of my inspiration, be inspired all over again... Because the inspiration is my mother, and because it's almost Mother's Day, it seems like as good a time as any to share that inspiration with her, and with all of you.

When I was a little girl, there was a time when my family was poor. I don't know how long that lasted, or how serious it was; I was very young and the details escaped me. Even now, many details escape me, so it's no wonder that I as a child would not know everything. I remember that there was a holiday coming up, it might have been Christmas, or it might have been Easter. Everyone in the house except my mother was in bed, and I was having trouble sleeping. I remember sneaking, bleary-eyed, downstairs to find her, and I came upon her working intently over a small shirt. I knew it was for me. It had to be. She had a glue gun, and she had her huge box of pretty scraps and supplies. This event is far enough in the past that the specifics have gone blurry for me. Did she see me? Did we speak? I don't remember. I believe, though, that I was a silent observer, that she never saw me standing there, and that I went upstairs again with a combination of smiles and tears. I knew what she was doing. Even at such a young age, I knew that she was making pretty things for my sister and me to make up for what we couldn't afford to buy. She made us hair clips and bows and pretty shirts embellished with fabric hearts, and glitter, and lace. They were beautiful--far more beautiful than if they cost any amount of money--because they were made with love.

When I started thinking about using the creativity that was passed down to me in order to earn a little extra money, I remember browsing Etsy to see what prices people charged for their creations. I was disappointed in the high prices because I remember that my mother had made me lovely things on a budget. I think that people should be able to get beautiful, creative, and unique treasures for a decent price; they shouldn't be paying me to be the over-priced artist but to be the gift-giver, the behind-the-scenes angel like my mother. I want my customers to be happy, to get what they really want, to have beautiful things to treasure forever, but not to have to spend all of their money to get them. My whole mission was passed down to me through something I observed in my own mother.

Happy Mothers' Day, Moma!

New Items in the Shop for Spring!

New spring designs are in! There are a few cute items on sale in my shop now. Stop by and take a look. Leave a heart if you love them! I'll be adding some more pretty soon so keep your eyes open!

Whimsical cocktail hat: a giant purple mum

I've been brainstorming these earrings for weeks! They are little delicate silk flowers with nickel free posts. I've positioned the posts so that the earrings hang down on the lobe instead of sticking in the ear (which is always uncomfortable!)

I purchased the sweet little green silk flowers with a springtime bobby pin design in mind. I sewed some crystal beads into the center to add a little sparkle when wearing them in the sunlight!

This spring I have decided to go with some Indie style designs, including these delightful handmade felt rosettes. The item I'm most excited about right now is my wool felt rosette bobbies in olive and tan, and my plum colored rosette earrings. These were inspired by a great listing from the delightful Indie shop, ShopRuche. But THESE are handmade!

New Listings in My Shop

I have listed some new hair accessories today after weeks of designing, creating, photographing and editing! I am looking forward to sharing these festive accessories and hope that they are suited to some of my wonderful followers' hair decorating needs!

The first is a scarlet lily comb that I made a while ago. I think it would be a beautiful piece to slip into a French twist up-do for a wedding or formal event. It would also look lovely behind the

ear. This piece could be worn

with a fancy dress, or even with casual jeans and heels for a night out with friends. This is a really versatile piece that shows off different details from each angle.

The second piece that I listed today was the bright gold-detailed poppy clips. This is a festive take on some traditional, casual pieces previously listed in my shop. I

added some gold berries and a little length of some beautiful, sparkly gold French net. I thought these details added a little bright festivity to a simple look. I have been looking forward to listing some more of these sweet cream clips and I am really excited about these pretty ones.

A third piece that I listed is one that was inspired by a brilliant piece of literature! I am an

English literature major and love to be inspired by lovely, poetic pieces. I have been inspired by

many of the scenic descriptions in L. M. Montgomery novels, and many of the beautifully written pieces by my idols, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edith Wharton, Oscar Wilde, and the Bronte sisters.Currently I am rereading an old Bronte favorite, Wuthering Heights. This hair piece is inspired by the romantic images of Cathy and Heathcliff's romance on the moors, wandering over Penistone Crag among the heather. I have designed this piece in dark tones to match the

dimness of the English novel, the dark sadness of Heathcliff, and the wintry grey of Cathy's hauntings. I have included sprigs of heather and soft dark feathers among the leaves. I hope that I have captured the beauty of the darkly romantic tragedy of Wuthering Heights.

Arm Candy for You

Meet Priti, of the awesome little Etsy shop, ArmCandyforYou. This shop is only a few months on the Etsy scene and still fairly undiscovered, and yet the artist behind the amazing handmade purses deserves some special attention. She experiments with all kinds of unique materials in order to appeal to all kinds of different purse-carriers, working with materials like pure leather,vegan leather,exquisite Indian silks & brocades. She is from India, and her rich cultural heritage can be seen in some of her exceptional designs. Please check out her profile to get to know a little more about her and what she has to say about her artistry and design.

All of Priti's purses are unique and original, and as she proudly tells her shoppers, they are one of a kind! Her careful attention to detail make these pieces special for each buyer. And she even takes custom orders! This shop is definitely one to consider when shopping for holidays, birthdays, or just because gifts for your fashion-conscious--or originality conscious!--friends.

Then again, I look at this shop as a place where I can go to consider gifts for myself... :)

Follow Priti on Twitter and check out her Facebook page for more updates on what she is doin

g in her shop. Visit her shop and check out her merchandise! You won't be disappointed.