Past Blog Posts:



Georgian Ladies Parlor by Laura Carson!

Filed under Art Projects, Costume History/Fashion, Featured Artwork, Laura Carson, Shadowbox/Room Box

A SALE announcement before I hand over this newsletter to Bella: the Dresden sale that started on Thursday ends TOMORROW NIGHT, Monday, May 16th (2016).

ALL 38 of the Metallic Dresden trims are on sale! AND that sale includes 3 beautiful trims that have just come back in stock:
Fringed Gold Dresden Curtains (at far right), Gold Dresden Altar Set and Small Gold Dresden Shrines or Arched Windows!
 


Design Team Member Laura Carson has created a stunning, Georgian Ladies Parlor that is filled with beautiful women and furnishings.

Standing on the side of the Georgian house is a lovely lady from the Outdoor Fashions of the 1780s Collage Sheet. Inside the house is a ladies parlor filled with beautiful furniture and décor. Three women from the Indoor Fashions of the 1780s Collage Sheet are enjoying the parlor; perhaps they are sisters.

The star of the room is a handsome secretary and it happens to be the inspiration for the entire project! (See the wide photo below, and a photo of the secretary with the doors open down in the Giveaway.) The secretary is full of books, a trinket box, a candlestick to write by, and more. When Leslie at Alpha Stamps asked me if I would like to design a Secretary Collage Sheet to work with my project, I said of course and got busy creating. Deciding on how best to showcase it, one thing led to another and I decided to create a Georgian style facade using a Deep Open Front Room Box kit and a parlor room to show off the secretary.

Of course the ornate fireplace isn’t too shabby either! Would you believe that the top and bottom are Blank Altoids Tins? (See the left side of the wide photo below.) Ah the magic of Altoids tins. One of the women is sitting on an elegant velvet settee, and notice the elaborate decorative top of the curtain? It is cast from the Baroque 3 – Medallion & Filigree Silicone Mold and Creative Paperclay. So simple!

To go with this project are a series of new Collage Sheets and Digital Image Sets that are all listed out on my Supply List. As usual I have a detailed tutorial (and many more pictures!) that explains how I made the house and all of the pieces in the parlor. Even if you don’t want to tackle a project this large, you might find individual elements like the secretary or something of interest.

For the detailed tutorial and more pictures of the Georgian Ladies Parlor, please visit Laura’s blog, Artfully Musing.


 

A note from Leslie regarding the new Indoor and Outdoor Fashion Collage Sheets:

I am bemused by these illustrations. The style of skirt seems a transition from the excesses of pannier skirts to… well, they did not know how soon corsets and petticoats would be making a (brief) exit entirely from fashionable ladies’ closets (in the early 19th century).

And in some of these skirts, it seems they had all this extra fabric that used to be over side hoops that they just didn’t know what to do with… so they just pulled in back into a huge wad in the back (too early for a true bustle style). And then there are the giant mob-cap hats over grey-powdered hair. And the fantasy that a well dress lady would be out harvesting grapes (or fishing!) in one of these heavy gowns.

Anyway… I love the deep colors in these illustrations. And the different poses should give you good options for using them in a collage.
 

 

Hooray for the A Lady’s Secretary Giveaway!

I decided to focus on just the secretary itself (as there are so many pretty things in Laura’s artwork… if I didn’t contain myself to one small section I’d lose my mind)! So here are items I chose (and a repeat of Laura’s full supply list for links to these and to everything she used):
– Chipboard Secretary 1:12 Scale (new)
– Gold Candlestick Holder w Handle (new)
– Miniature Square Metal Box with Lid (new)
– Secretary 1:12 Scale Collage Sheet Set (new)
– Portraiture Collage Sheet
– Little Library Collage Sheet
– Miniature Vase Set
– Set of Miniature Books
– Tiny Black Hinge Set (that Laura painted gold)

And not shown in that big grid at right: a set of the lovely Window Pediment – Deerfield
And the new collage sheets with the costumed ladies:
Indoor Fashions of the 1780s Collage Sheet
Outdoor Fashions of the 1780s Collage Sheet
Georgian Fashion Collage Sheet!

To enter the A Lady’s Secretary Giveaway drawing all you have to do is leave a comment BELOW on this blog post TODAY or TOMORROW (the deadline is 11:59 pm PST, MONDAY NIGHT, May 16, 2016).

AND to enter the drawing, please tell me: How will you decorate your secretary? What will you put inside it? And/or what room or scene will you put the secretary into?

Don’t forget to leave your (hello! correct) email address, too, so I can contact the winner; your email address does not need to be made public. Note: I’m offering free shipping, too, but only within the USA. International shipping will still apply.

Please be patient! Spammers try to post crap here a lot so comments are moderated. So if you don’t see your post in the comments section, be patient and check back in a few hours before re-posting it, please!

After midnight, I’ll randomly pick the winner (via Random.org). So make sure to check back to see who won! And check your mailbox on Thursday morning for the next Giveaway and Newsletter!

And…. who won Thursday’s Was Lewis Carroll a Secret Crafter? Giveaway? That would be Traci! Congratulations! Check your email for more info.

  
Posted by Leslie, May 15th, 2016

58 responses to “Georgian Ladies Parlor by Laura Carson!”

  1. Arlene Wheeler says:

    Love this period of history and the parlor she created!

  2. chris v says:

    Love this! I would definitely use this secretary filled with spooky books(and some cobwebs!) in my half scale Haunted House I’m planning!! Your details and minis are fantastic!

  3. Alice says:

    I just love the possibilities with this secretary! I most likely would use some of the
    fancy German borders and some oriental pieces I have to do it in a chinoiserie style. I’d fill it with assorted Asian curios, dragons, cats and other animals, as well as urns and vases.I think it would be an outstanding pioece to add to my Asian curio shop, or even free standing under a dome!

  4. M. C. Sparks says:

    I’m more into primitives, so I would distress the cabinet and put vintage country in it

  5. Carol DuBois says:

    Lovely images and ideas, as always.

  6. Karen says:

    I’ve made some books that need a home…this secretary would be their perfect home.

  7. Maggie M says:

    Please let me win this magical giveaway! I would decorate the Secretary Desk the same as Laura did. This would end up in my dollhouse (yes, I have a large dollhouse even though I am a senior) as a special feature. I would have the ladies standing around in all their glory.

  8. Kari Gluski says:

    I LOVE this just the way it is!

  9. Lou Anne says:

    This Georgian ladies’ parlor is magnificent!

  10. Emily Ann Dale says:

    Love the secretary. I’d make an Edgar Allen Poe desk with spooky things and a raven.

  11. Joanne Root says:

    I’d mist definitely make a Georgian ladies’parlour with these wonderful accessories.

  12. Barb Striethorst says:

    A desk for a mini study, (over) filled with books, etc. for family tree research!

  13. Barbara Rossman says:

    Wow, Love the parlour, such inspiration.

  14. Jen R says:

    Have to make this into a spooktacular potion cabinet in my haunted dollhouse. And it would go in the spell room of course.

  15. Kimberly Barcello says:

    I have an idea of a Beatrix Potter -author and illustrtrator- secretary with plummy ink pens and watercolor pallets. Perhaps the secretary would sit in the middle of Farmer McGregors garden! Thank you again for the chance to win 😊

  16. oh my gosh, this is amazing!
    I would fill it with books, books, and more books! love the ideas people have left so far. so clever! 🙂

    I do confess there would be a tea cup sitting on it though. 😉

  17. Jo says:

    i would create a witch’s desk with lots of little spell books and potions!

  18. barb macaskill says:

    Be still my beating heart!! It is racing like the lead car in a Nascar race just thinking of these amazing goodies headed my way!
    My Fairy Village has been needing an office and the Secretary would be a great piece to get that office started! I would use the steamer chest that I have and the Secretary to give the Fairies a place to work on the books and inventory! I imagine they will also spend many hours writing to the other Fairies who are far away and maybe even plan a Fairy get away to reunite with them! Fairy Dust being sprinkled over my head for luck! Thanks for the chance to help the Fairies get their affairs in order! macaskillbarbara@yahoo.com

  19. Traci says:

    Love the secretary-would make a nice apothecary cabinet. Laura is amazing she is so talented love all her creations. >^..^<

  20. Kim Lucak says:

    I love this!! The desk and fireplace are beautiful!! Not sure I would change much if anything at all??

  21. Karen S says:

    Oh my gosh!!! I love this room! Being an avid rare book collector, I’ve been working on drafting a formal library design so these items would go perfectly in the design. Thank you for the opportunity to win this set of items.

  22. Oh I LOVE this I would decorate it with all the items you show here on this page and would definitely put it in my studio so I can look at it all the time Thank you

  23. This would look great in my ladies parlor! I would add book whick I have many, flower vase, desk set, knickkacks, whatever I can find in my stash!! 🙂

  24. Tracy says:

    I’m working on a witches cottage right now, so my secretary would contain lots of potion bottles and old leather “magic” books. I also have a tiny bat that would love to live in a cubbyhole somewhere!

  25. Kathy hou says:

    Love that bookcase! So many ways to use it.

  26. Birgit says:

    I would make a witch’s secretary — perfect project for Halloween! 🙂

    Happy creating,
    Birgit

  27. marykay chisum says:

    AGAIN Laura has outdone herself!! PERFECT! Absolutely adore this project!

  28. Evelyn Reyes says:

    Oh geez what a beautiful giveaway! I used to be a secretary, so yes I would love to create one! Namaste

  29. Mary Mac says:

    I would love to make this a garden theme secretary.

  30. Laura says:

    I love this! I’m not sure what I would do, there are so many amazing ideas of ways to decorate and they’re all wonderful! This project looks to be so much fun

  31. Karen Mallory says:

    Laura does it again! Fantastic room!
    I think I would do the secretary pretty much the same as Laura!

  32. Lana says:

    a magic cupboard would be in the works.

  33. Sharon Kaczorowski says:

    If I win this, I’ll save the completed project for my granddaughter to have when she’s older. What a beautiful project!

  34. Sonja says:

    I would love to win the secretary. I would put it in the den and put my collection of tiny crystals and sharks teeth in it

  35. Cg says:

    I have never wanted to win a prize package so much in my life!! Just came from Laura’s site. Simply cannot process what I’m seeing. She has always been the Mack Mama of creating everyday scenes but this puts her in supernova category!!! I would print out Laura’s paper to cover the secretary (love you for that, Laura!) and I would create something very similar…except with an Outlander theme. I’d recreate Jareds Paris townhouse. AND I would make it a point to fill the secretary with books and a skull bead I bought from y’all awhile ago as a nod to Maitre Raymond. This is to die for!!

  36. Denise Bryant says:

    Love this secretary! I’d decorate it with Christmas minis as a nod to my Mom, who so loved decorating for the holidays!

  37. Denise says:

    I think for this I’d like to Steampunk it up and make it a Victorian mad scientist’s cupboard!

  38. Verna says:

    Laura Carson’s attention to detail is amazing. Love this give away. I would have a bird theme secretary. Oh spring!

  39. Phoebe Diamond says:

    Rachel Carson’s desk. I’d fill it with all sorts of things from nature to honor this wonderful environmentalist.

  40. Susan Gunter says:

    I have a dollhouse it would fit perfectly in!

  41. chark says:

    books would have to go in this, along with maybe some little fairies or hidden creatures. Love this whole project, Laura!

  42. Wendy S. says:

    If I was lucky enough to win this I’d make it into a display piece for some of my natural history specimens and curiosities. It could be that of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who was a collector of minerals during the Georgian period 🙂

  43. Nadine Ertel says:

    Neat project as always. I would need to think about this one but I am sure I could come up with something creative!

  44. Margaret D says:

    I love it! I would put books and letters and small treasures in mine. Wonderful give away!

  45. Marcie in Montana says:

    Love it! I would make it into a seamstresses’ cupboard. Filled with Lace, ribbon, and fabrics spilling out of the drawers and shelves!

  46. Jackie Barth says:

    I like it just as Laura did it. Great project!

  47. Gretchen S says:

    This is lovely. The scene is so charming. Having just finished
    Reading the Stockholm Octavo, I think a Gustavian style
    Desk with some fans would be excellent. There are so many
    Good ideas listed already!

  48. Bonnie Cernosek says:

    I think I would use it as a stand alone in my living room. There are several ideas in my head, maybe a Halloween desk or a mad scientist, or maybe just like yours.

  49. Nancy E says:

    I just love this desk. I would decorate with fairy minis and put in my sitting room.

  50. Kat Cashwell says:

    I would make a Halloween piece with books and bottles found on your website!

  51. Leanna Alverson says:

    I love miniatures and I love books so this is a great giveaway for me! I’d even include a
    “hollowed out” fake book to hide tiny treasures in!

  52. Marilyn Hughes says:

    I’d probably paint it and then fill it with the other little bits that are part of the giveaway. I think placing it in a library would be a good idea.

  53. Rose says:

    I love this beautiful piece and would love to have one to decorate with tiny books and treasures of my own creation. Maybe with a Jules Verne theme?

  54. Eve Watters says:

    How absolutely wonderful– well done Laura! If I get to win this lovely array, I think I’d like to go Georgian as well- I’ve specialized in that era as a musician for years!

  55. Diana bittaker says:

    I so see a MARIE Antoinette sitting at that chipboard desk writing out a love letter with a pink feather quill pen and perfume bottles everywhere!

  56. Carol Slowik says:

    I would decorate mine with all the goodies in the giveaway! Laura Carson’s work is so inspiring! Thanks for the chance to win!

  57. Parisa Javidi says:

    This looks like it would make an awesome Ms Claus desk!

  58. Ann Pierce says:

    I would fill the secretary with my blown glass collection and beautiful books on at.