**Divine Vintage Collection No. 3**

Good morning, Happy Friday to you all. I

 wanted to show you all another one of my new designs, it's from my Divine Vintage Collection.

This design was really different for me because I used an existing chain in the design. It also has clear Czech glass beads and vintage Miriam Haskell pearls as well.

The pendant is designed with a pewter rosary medal. I love the look of this one because I oxidized the whole necklace and it looks worn and vintage. I really like how it turned out!

Well, I'm off to design some more.

Talk to you all later.

Sincerely,

~Melinda

**Prairie Love**

All I can say is HOLY COW!!! Or Holy Ollie!! If you follow Kristin's blog, you'll know what I mean!

I just received my vintage galvanized creamer from the lovely Kristin at Faded Prairie and I am in LOVE!!! This piece truly exceeded my expectations. I knew it was pretty cool, but when I opened the box a few minutes ago, I was speechless! I felt like it was Christmas morning. It is super heavy and BIG and rusty and just yummy!

Okay, I'll stop raving and show you all the photos.

What did I tell you? Fabulous right?

Now I realize this may not be to everyone's liking, but everyone knows what it's like to get something you truly love, and this is my TRUE LOVE, prairie love!

Thank you Kristin!!

Check out Kristin's fabulous blog and Etsy shop, maybe you'll find your love! 

Have a great day.

Sincerely,

Melinda

 

~**Vintage Treasures on Etsy**~

Happy Monday all, I hope you had a glorious weekend. I known its been a few days since I last posted or visited you all, life has been so busy lately. I've been doing really well with my Etsy shop and I have been busy wrapping up jewelry orders and shipping them out. I can't even begin to tell you how blessed I feel that people are actually loving my designs!!I also had a really great multiple order last week in my vintage shop as well, thank God, we really could use the money!

I wanted to show you a few new vintage items I just listed in my 88 Bella Vintage shop, and I'm still not done. Check back tomorrow for more goodies.

This is a great vintage silver tray with gorgeous etching on the inside of tray.

This is a vintage powder jar with a great rose embossed sterling silver lid. This is from my personal collection and I love it, but I just don't use it anymore and it's just too beautiful to stuff away in a box.

SOLD
Vintage red watering can.

Love the hydrangeas in this, I almost changed my mind about selling it! :)

There's even more new vintage items I listed in my Etsy shop, so take a look. 

88BellaVintage

I also had to tell you that I finally got to meet one of my fellow bloggers yesterday at the flea market. I met Irma, from Cosas Bellas, and she was the nicest person ever and her vintage treasures were gorgeous!!
I might even sell my jewelry in her space at the next flea market in Irvine. She was such a sweetheart to offer. 
Thank you so much Irma, you were just absolutely gracious and  lovely!! It was a true honor to meet you!
Check out Irma's blog if you haven't already, i know you'll love it!
Have a great day all.
Sincerely,
Melinda 

~**A Little Pink In The Fall**~

Hi everyone, I hope your having a lovely week!

It's been stormy here for the past few days, we actually had thunder and lighting on and off throughout the whole day yesterday, it was fantastic! One of my favorite things to do on a rainy day besides creating is antiquing, don't ask me why I like getting out there and getting soaked , but I just love it.

And for my hard earned efforts, I found some great things!

One of the treasures I had to put on lay-away, but at least next month it will be mine!!I can't wait to show you all.

I also went a little crazy again on Etsy, darn you Etsy!! I'll show you those goodies when I get them.

 

I couldn't pass up these gorgeous flowers at Trader Joe's, even though it's Fall, I had to get these pretty pink roses!

I picked up this great Crown jar for next to nothing! We love that, right!

I added my vintage green bench to my dining table, the kids love sitting on it to eat.

Some vintage books tied up with vintage seam binding and finished with a vintage key.

Pink roses in ironstone placed on a chippy mantle, love it!

I found this great display box at Home Goods, it totally looks vintage and will be perfect to display my designs in. 

A last look of loveliness.

Today I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. Please check out the other fabulous participants at Cindy's place.
Have a great day and don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't done so already.

Sincerely,

~Melinda

~**Alabaster Rose Designs 1 Year Blog-i-versay Giveaway Is Here**~

Happy Saturday everyone, I hope your enjoying every minute of this fabulous weekend!!

I have finally gathered together what I think is a wonderful gift collection for my 1 year blog-i-versary. I had such a hard time deciding between gifting one of my designs or something totally different. I decided on some special treasures from my personal collection instead, I hope you like them.

Gorgeous 2 light rose sconce that I got when I worked for Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic.

A lovely sage green lace frame with vintage ephemera, a vintage rose china box with lid, a great rusty white wire basket full of shreds of vintage music sheets, 4 vintage floral desert plates and a vintage floral bowl. And last but not least, a vintage linen towel with hand embroidered hydrangeas in pink and blue.

{sorry, but mirror's not included}

Okay, so there you have it. I wanted to give away something that I loved and that was close to my heart, so that you know how much I have appreciated your kindness, your encouraging words, your empathy and most of all your friendship!! This past year blogging has truly been such a wonderful experience for me because of all of you.

Thank you from my heart and soul!!!

**So here's the blah, blah, blah:**

1. Be a follower.

2. Let me know if you'd like to be entered in the giveaway.

 3.Grab my button above and blog about it or add it to your sidebar and let me know.

~~~~**Leave me 3 separate comments for each and you will have 1 chance for each comment you leave, {up to 3 chances to win!}**~~~~
**Winner will be announced Nov. 2nd.

Good luck everyone and thank you for your continued support!!

Sincerely,

~Melinda

**Home And Random Ramblings**

Hi everyone, I hope your all enjoying your week!

I'm slowly getting my house in order and it's starting to finally feel more like home. There are still a few things that I need, like a desk for me and my computer, right now it's on the floor and I'm breaking my back bending over while typing! I definitely need to paint the living room and my boys room too, this place  needs some warming up around here! 

I've also been thinking about what to giveaway for my 1 year blog anniversary, any suggestions? I completely at a loss!

Also, in the next few days, look for my interview with Laurie Anna, from Laurie Anna's Vintage Home. He decorating skills are amazing!!

Here are some more photos from around the house, enjoy!

 

An area in my living room.

Living room.

Some of my vintage frozen Charlotte dolls. I use to think these were kind of creepy but they've started to grow on me!

A spot in my bedroom.

Just know that I'm trying my best to get around and visit you all, please forgive me if I have been a bad blogger, but know how much I appreciate you taking the time to visit me, and when you leave me wonderful comments, it truly makes my day!

If you have any suggestions on how I can make my blog better please let me know, I need all the help I can get!
I've also decided to join up with Cindy at  My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. Make sure and check out the other wonderful participants at Cindy's place!!

Have a great night!

Sincerely,

Melinda

**White Market, A Fabulous New Blog**

Hi again all,
 I just had to tell you all about this wonderful new blog that I'm just crazy about. It's called White Market. Just by the title, you love it already right?! The owner of this wonderful blog is Aubrey and she is super talented and incredibly sweet!

She designs the most amazing creations.

Take a look at this:

These are what she calls her "Lil poms".

How adorable is this?!!

Her glittered pumpkins.

{available in her Etsy shop}

{all photos courtesy of White Market}

 Her Halloween boutique in her lovely home.

She has an Etsy shoppe as well filled with her wonderful creations.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/whitemarketblog

Please stop by and say hi to Aubrey, I know you will love her and her blog as much as I do!!

Have a great day.

Sincerely,

~Melinda

**Happy Wednesday**

Hello my sweet friends, I hope your all having a fabulous week. I'm sorry that I haven't posted in the last couple of days, but I've actually been busy with a couple of orders! YEA!!  I sold one of my new designs on Monday and had to lengthen it a bit, so this meant re-doing the whole necklace, but no problem, I didn't mind a bit!! It felt good that I was actually making something for a customer that she loved! 

I'm slowly but surely getting my house in order after the move, believe it or not I still have 6 boxes to unpack. It's all vintage china that I have no idea what to do with. I have no room in this tiny place. I might just have to sell all of it.

Anyway, I thought I would show you a couple of things around the house.

  

Dining room.

  My hutch with all of my white ironstone, I'm thinking of painting it a pale gray color instead of the aqua color.What do you think?

A spot in my kitchen.

Well, I'm off to make some new designs, have a great day.

Sincerely,

~Melinda

**Inspiration**

Okay, so I know I wasn't going to post for awhile, but I received a little advice from my dear friend Amy and I felt like it was a good idea to listen. Things are hard right now for my family but I must have faith and push on, that's the only thing to do. 

So, last night I was hit with some inspiration for some new designs and I just had to let you all see them. This is my first collection so to speak called "The Divine Vintage" collection inspired by what I always need to remember to have, in good times and bad, divine faith! Tell me what you think.

Oh, and bless all of you for your kind and sincere words that you left me on my last post, it was much needed and appreciated!!!

SOLD

"Divine Vintage No.2"

I designed this necklace with vintage French steel beads,

yes, their actually steel! I added some beautiful vintage Miriam Haskell pearls and a vintage inspired solid pewter Holy Mother pendant. This necklace is so petite and delicate looking, so different from what I usually design.

These beads are such a gorgeous color. 

I love this necklace!!

"Divine Vintage No.1"

I designed this with the vintage Miriam Haskell pearls I got a few weeks ago. These are so rare and beautiful that I wanted what ever I designed to be really spectacular, and I think it is! The color of the pearls are a pale silvery gray and so yummy. 

I added a hand soldered glass shadow box that holds a small pewter cross on top of vintage paper ephemera.

On the reverse side is the word "croix", French for cross, that I took from a vintage French dictionary.

This has to be my favorite pendant that I've designed so far. My soldering technique is getting so much better, thank goodness. Soldering is a hard thing to master, and I'm still not there yet!

I did a little research in regards to the renowned jewelry designer Miriam Haskell and learned that her designs were highly sought after in the 1920's and 1930's by such women as The Duchess of Windsor, Joan Crawford , Lucille Ball, and the one and only Coco Chanel just to name a few. Her pieces are even more collectible today and sell for top dollar.

It makes my find of her pearls even more special and I am so excited to offer it in my designs.
I thought I'd link up today with Beth over at Gypsy Fish for Silver Sunday. Stop by her blog and check out the other sparkly participants.

I hope you enjoyed.

Have a great Sunday.

Sincerely,

Melinda