Story Time.... and showing off my vintage souvenir locket assemblage!

As I said in my last post, I have been busy making some pieces for hubby's store. I guess I should call it our store now, since I am getting so many of my pieces in it :)) Anyway... I thought I would show off one of the necklaces I have done recently. If you click on the thumb.. it will take you to some much better pictures.

I have really enjoyed making these pieces, it is just so relaxing for me. I thought I would give you a glimpse into my creative process. Now I am no writer, however I can just sit there for hours in my own little world and make up my corny stories... something I have really not told any one :)) It seems that when I do this, things just flow together... like they belong together. I don't get stuck on what should I add here or what colors to go with...So I thought I would share a condensed version of one... here goes...

Somewhere in England during the dark ages a carriage makes its way down a bumpy dirt road carrying a lovely young lady to visit her dear aunt in the neighboring castle. Suddenly a group of bandits appear stopping the carriage and over taking the driver and its guard. They kidnap the young lady to hold her for ransom and during the struggle the necklaces she wears are broken and fall to the ground... 

She is later rescued by Robin Hood and returned to her home.... but that is another necklace :)) Can you tell I was a big fan of BBC's Robin Hood? at least until they killed of Marian... I really lost interest after that.

So on with the story... along comes a little peasant girl who had been in the forest all day gathering mushrooms and berries for dinner that night. She finds the broken necklaces on the ground and gathers up all the pieces. Later that night she assembles them all together creating a lovely necklace and presents it to her dying mother. Her mother is so pleased and tells her daughter that she knows in her heart that she is going to become a wonderful woman. She implores her not to be satisfied with her station in life. To always strive to better herself. 

After her mothers death, the young girl wakes up before dawn every day and goes out into the forest gathering mushrooms, berries and wild flowers. She then spends her evenings in the little village selling them, saving her money in hopes of attending the boarding school for young ladies in the city. 

One day while out in the forest she encounters non other than Robin Hood :)) He asks her why she is out so deep in the woods and she tells him of her mother and her hopes to go to school someday. 

Well that is just not something Robin Hood could let pass so a few days later he shows up at the little girls cottage. He gives her a trunk of clothing.... that he had liberated from some rich passer by and a pouch of gold coins... enough for her to go to school. The little girl is thrilled.

Then in all her newly acquired finery she makes her way to the city where she enrolls in the school for young ladies, carefully watching the other girls and mimicking there mannerisms. She learns quickly and begins to make friends and to be a lady. Soon one of her friend notices her necklace and convinces her to create one for her. Using the girls jewelry she makes an elegant and unique pendant for her. All of the other girls began to notice and soon were coming to her to create one for them. 

When spring break came her close friend told her that her mother had seen her necklace and hoped she would come visit during there break and put together some things for her. The girl did and while there met a handsome young gentleman. Over time they corresponded, met on occasion (dated) then he asks her to marry him and they live happily ever after. 

Ok... really corny story but I like it and it helps me focus on my work :)) 

           

Hubby's Etsy Store

Hubby has officially retired and it was driving him crazy so he decided to reopen his little etsy store now that he has time. It is a family effort with his vintage finds and artwork from our family. I have never sold my artwork or jewelry before but I have decided to add a few pieces to his store. I thought I would share some of the pieces I am most proud of here to see what you all think :) Do click on his little Etsy badge on the left sidebar and check out his other great finds.

A Working Studio ... Free Scissor Printable

I am loving being able to work in my studio again. I made this cute little necklace with the tiniest little antique change purse.

 Not only am I able to create again but with all my supplies and tools in place I can now start getting things organized and decorated! I have just added a new "old" shelf that hubby made me from an old door and antique door knobs.

and I have to show off my latest find... a scissor light for my workbench. I was so excited to find this. I pictured it with an antique light bulb but I have ordered some reproduction Edison light bulbs to actually use.

I got some crates from the craft store. I distressed them and used vinegar and steel wool to age them. I think they are perfect for Fairyland and some of my little theaters. My other distraction you can see sitting on the crate below.... Yep... I got a Pazzles cutter! You can copy and paste any .jpg into it so if you have software to open the cut files you can convert them to .jpg and just copy them into this cutter. I have just been going crazy finding all the fun cut files available! I will be making some stencils for the sides of the crates too. Just as soon as I figure out the software for it.. lol.

Speaking of decorating and scissors... I thought this little graphic might look good blown up and framed. I think it would make a cute little card too. I hope you can come up with a fun use for it :) Oh and I almost forgot to say... check out the brand on those scissors she is holding :))

Feel free to pin the thumb above but please do not pin the actual download. I would like everyone to stop by here to download it so they don't miss all my other fun free downloads

.·::·.·:*:·.·::·.Christmas In A Box .·::·.·:*:·.·::·.

My sister is not going to be able to make it here for Christmas this year because she has to work :( She is going to be all alone this year for the first time. When I last talked to her she said there was no since in even putting up a tree just for herself so I am sending her Christmas in a box...

Included is a sparkling Christmas place mat, a Marie Calendars turkey dinner, a tiny version of our traditional Christmas cake, A Christmas tree, our childhood Santa and presents including that little rag necklace and earrings I made for her.

Oh ... and here is a close up of the necklace and earrings I sent.It features a soldered centerpiece, vintage ribbons and lace, a vintage rhinestone button, vintage flat crystal beads and some other reclaimed jewelry parts.

 

Mixed Media Monday's Vintage Ads/Labels Challange

I have been doing a little soldering and I made this one for Mixed Media Monday. I finished it with a little lady bug and leaf bead and it is the same on both sides. The theme this week is Vintage Ads/Labels so I used the Hoyt's German Cologne trade card.

Club Diva's Spoon Pendant

 

As well as being a member of Artistic Souls I am also a member of Designing Diva's, an art club in the Boise area. Our super talented leader is Lynn Stevens from Trash To Treasures hosted a spoon project this last meeting. How lucky I felt to be a part of her little mini workshop! However I did not get my spoon finished : / It took me a while to get it done too because I have had my handsome little grandbaby this week. I also just noticed that Lynn has posted several of her spoons on her blog so be sure to click the link above and check out her amazing work!

Sugar Charlotte Spoon Pendant

Just thought I would share this little spoon pendant I made a couple weeks ago. It is on a very chunky chain so it looks smaller in the picture but it is on a standard size sugar spoon. I loved the shovel shape. The rhinestones are vintage earrings and I added them by just drilling holes in the bottom of the spoon. This way I can change them out with similar earrings with colored stones to fit my mood. The shape of the spoon holds the earring posts away from my skin so no pokes either.

Isn’t it Romantic .··-.¸.-··.¸.··-.¸.-·

Same bracelet, same earrings but I did a different necklace to go with them for when I feel in a more romantic mood. It is made from a vintage chandelier crystal also. I did a transfer by dampening a laser print with nail polish and then I used an iron to press it against the crystal. I repeated the nail polish and iron a few times to make sure the transfer was made. Then I soaked it in water and rubbed off the paper. I now had a semi-translucent image. When it was dry I sealed it with diamond glaze and a touch of gold leaf pen around the edge. Most of the parts are vintage brass that has been flame treated to look older.

Timeless Words II

I made a similar one of these for a friend a while back. I had expressed some should have and could haves to her and she encouraged me to give it another go or I would never have made one so similar again. I am so glad I did though because now I have one to wear too :)) I called it “Timeless Words” because of the antique shredded text between the watch lenses and then the tiny bottle has old watch parts inside. I also made a little bracelet and earrings to match. I wore it to the post office today and the lady behind the counter loved it… made my day :))

Tricked out :)

 

I had made several of these pendants last week. I offered one as blog candy and sent several to friends too. My first thought was just to put them on a black neck cord so I called them finished but when I went to put mine together I jazzed it up a little. I had second thoughts about posting this because I worried that the people I sent them to would feel that I sent them an unfinished piece. After thinking about it though, I decided that everyone I sent to were very creative people in there own right. They might even decide to trick out there little pendant better than I have done. It can be like a creative challenge :)) anyway this is what I ended up with for mine :)

Picturesque Soldered Charm

I called this a charm but it is really more of a pendant. It measures about 1 1/2 inches by 1 inch wide. It is made from my new “Picturesque” collage sheet. The sheet comes in ATC size but if you want to make charms all of my collage sheets are available in special sizes. This is not two charms, the picture just shows the front and the back :)

Timeless Words

 

 

 I have been waiting to post this because it was a little thank you gift for a friend. There have been too many times, I have let a friends words of encouragement slip by without acknowledging the effect they had on my art and me. I wanted to make her a piece that represented her words of encouragement. Although I loved salvaged art, I was so intimidated by it. I doubt I would have started this new avenue in my art with out her. Anyway …the necklace has now arrived so I can share :)) I call it “Timeless Words” because the focal point of the necklace is the crinkled text that is sandwiched between two watch crystals and also the little bottle holds watch parts.

One World ~ One Heart Giveaway!

The idea behind this event is for bloggers all over the world to connect with artists, share stories, creations and giveaways. Well you know how I love a giveaway :)) Just leave me a comment and you could be the winner of my tiny captured fairy in a bottle necklace. Be sure to leave your contact information for this one.

Then once you leave me a comment then click on the world badge above and go down the list of all the other participants

I will announce the winner of the little bottle fairy on Feb 12th a very special day for me as it is the birthday of my second born son who past away several years ago and I think this is a great way to honor his giving heart too!

I am trying to work my way down the caravan list. If you are also playing along leave your caravan post number so I can find your post

Bottled Fairy

 

This is really a lousy picture but she is soooo small. This little bottle fairy's bottle is only 1 ½ an inch high and I could not get the picture to come out clear. She is done with my front back images so she looks cute no matter how she twirls around on her neck cord. Her wings are of acetate and stand off of her body to give her a more dimensional look

Web Woman Coffin 4 Created By Hand Challenge

This is for the Created By Hand Challenge this week. This little charm/pendant measures 1 1/8 th of an inch long and is two images sandwiched between glass.... just one charm but the picture shows both sides of it.

Dream Big!

 

Just a little soldered charm to remind myself to "Dream Big"

Lookie Lookie down under art!

While I was waiting in line at the post office I started thumbing through my mail and Wozer there was an envelope from Jen Crossley! I can’t tell you how honored I felt to be receiving something from her. I have been a fan of her work from the first moment I saw her blog. In fact it is her work truly changed the direction of my own. I was just fascinated by her style. I immediately had to order myself a soldering iron and start collecting junk for some assemblage pieces. I have played around with the soldering iron on a few charms but have not yet really put together a piece like I hope to yet… I did find some awesome junk yesterday so stay tuned for the next post :)) … back to my story! So I was standing there opening it and the guy in front of me was standing sideways watching me. I guess he saw my face when I pulled it out of the bubble wrap because he exclaimed ‘how cool” I of course agreed! I was soon showing it off to all my friends too! I could not have loved it more and I can't believe I actually own one of her pieces! :) Click on the picture for a closer view!

Charming

Well I have been soldering again! This charm is pendant size, a little over 3/4 an inch wide and 1 inch high not including the leaf trim, which doesn’t look at all gold on the edges. It looks silver but the lighting made it look like that in the photo. It features two images, one on the front and the other on the back.

Captured Fairy Necklace

Look how tiny this little captured fairy is! This is made with my front/back images and it is a custom size….tiny! :)) The fairy itself is not translucent but tiny wings glued on its back are. This really gives it a dimensional look I made the little “Captured Fairy” tag with shrink plastic and one of my stamps with that saying. It doesn’t have liquid in it but everything is waterproof so if you would like to fill it and add some glitter you could.

Fairy House Charm

I love this little fairy house charm but decided to part with it for blog candy:) This one is done with mica instead of glass.