Rachael's Handmade Designs

Check out my new fancy RCA Victrola Phonograph! It actually WORKS and I just about squealed when I found it. Top down Top up Inside I paid $60.00 for this piece and although it needs a $50.00 needle, it's in good shape and has a fold out speaker on the left. And it means I can listen to my Elvis records! :D And it looks pretty freakin' cool in my home. I was so thrilled with my find and I hope you like it as well!

How many pairs of vintage cocktail earrings does a girl need? One to go with every outfit!! I found these screw back vintage earrings in a secondhand store near my house. I liked this pair because they remind me of snowflakes. These stood out because they remind me of my grandmother's era, circa 1950's, waterfall dressers, and classy perfume bottles with the little poofs at the end. This pair I thought would be fun for the holidays, but I haven't had a chance to wear them yet. Other delectable vintage goods and secondhand pieces can be found at The Furniture Guy !

It's amazing to me what people throw out! I found this complete vintage coffee maker on the side on the road in a "free" pile. I'm actually quite thankful for this piece. Its complete - wire/cord, coffee basket and pump, and although I do have a Keurig machine, I do not always use because its hard on the environment. (All those pods!) That, and I've got a bunch of yummy coffee I brought back from Hawaii that I've been enjoying with this little guy. After and since I brought it home, cleaned it up and sanitized the pump and coffee basket and plugged 'er in, I've been able to enjoy my ground coffee in vintage and practical style. :-) I've also found that, unlike the Keurig machines, you can control exactly how strong you want your coffee. Its cheaper to own a regular coffee maker as well because you just buy the ground coffee in bulk and you're set. If you're interested in owning your own Faberware percolator, you can find them at most ma...

Yes, it's been a while since I have been able to update my blog or send out a newsletter. So sorry! I have missed you all, but what with the holidays and life, things have just been super busy. Loads has been going on (I started a new job and I have a new boyfriend) so, much to the detriment of my paper creations, I have been out of the studio for quite some time.   I gotta say (er, write) that I've been meaning to stay ahead of the game on my creations, but it just hasn't been happening. A real bummer because Valentine's Day is usually rather a big seller for handmade cards. I just haven't had the time!!! I'm working on a life balance, but by the time I get home from my new job (I'm working downtown now and taking the bus so its early evening by the time I'm home) and have supper, its time to read for a half hour and then go to bed. I'm lucky if I even get to read! What do you do to squeeze in some crafting time during the week? I hav...

I created this card from Graphic 45 Papers because I adore the vintage and steampunk themes. This isn't full-on steampunky, but I think its enough of a vintage feeling that you get the idea and the vibe.     This friendship greeting sold today and my customer mentioned that it is somewhat reminiscent of a steampunk-themed wedding she produced the floral arrangements for. I was pleased, since that was the feeling I was going for! Michelle also mentioned that in her arrangements for the wedding that she used a lot of feathers, peacocks and otherwise, a deep deep red and a crisp white with cogs and gears. So I think this was pretty right on for what I was aiming for! What do you think of this card? I loved making it! I adore Graphic 45. I should use more of their papers. I've only ever used their pieces for making cards. Does anyone out there in bloggerland use Graphic 45 for anything else? Scrap projects or dimensional projects? Wha...

Hello to Everyone in Bloggerland! I’ve got loads of new items to share with you, so let’s just get to it!  This little snowman is perfect for the holidays or a wintery greeting. It's a PSX image and is not expected to be available for long. More photos are soon to follow. This item is available in the shop. This 50's rocket has just been added as well. The vintage styling is similar to another item in the shop called the 50's Space Cruiser, so if you like this stamp then you should look into getting both items - they're both vintage stamps and gently pre-owned and loved. Plus, I offer discounted shipping when you buy more than one item.  Here's a large statement pre-owned rubber stamp of a mouse writing some correspondence. It's in very good condition. Color this little guy with colored pencils or copics and see this image jump off the page! Add some style and interest with this handle stamp. Nobody ever forgets who has the best cooking. Mom of course! :)...

Hola Chicas! I don't know if you love vintage items as much as I do, but I can't get enough of them. Especially farm house style things, I love them! I'd like to have a little guest cottage that I can decorate with just vintage items! Nothing says farm house vintage to me more than lovely milk glass pitchers, plates, pedestals and glasswear. So with that, here's this week's addition of Stuff I Love! As always, click the image for a magnified view. Follow my facebook for 10% off in my store. Cheers! Xo, Rachael

This is great. If you really know me, you know that I'm a huge fan of the the vintage lifestyle. Fascinators, vintages dresses, shoes, purses, the whole shebang! (And we musn't forget the fabulous hair!) So I bring you Stuff I love: Tiki Time with a huge grin on my face! Enjoy your tiki time! :) Cheers! Xo, Rachael

Hi All! Well, I'm feeling a bit better and have some time to post this! One of the most lovely women I have had the privilidge to meet in my online adventures has been Cindy Bone. She's such a creative soul and really a delight. Here's her interview! 1. What’s your name and shop name and what do you do? I have 2 shops: Bonewear has vintage decorator items, vintage jewelry, and some handcrafted jewelry; CowgirlRocks has Southwest/Cowgirl style jewelry. 2. Where are you located? The great state of Texas 3. What’s the favorite part of your craft? I love making the rounds of estate sales looking for new and exciting vintage pieces for my shop; in jewelry making the creating process and all that it entails is thrilling, but I have to admit the best part is hearing how much a buyer loves a piece they've purchased-everyone can use an ego boost lol! 4. How long have you been crafting? As far back as I can remember-I have crayon drawings my mother saved when I was 4! I...