A Look Inside Haute Handbags...and Another Giveaway

I hope you are not getting tired of the chance to win something from me.

I believe in spreading good things around the internet.

And who does not love a chance to win something?

What's in it for me?

I feel good about sharing a publication that I adore.

I get to brag just a little.

I get to feel great that I am giving you a chance to see the issue for yourself. 

 So, I get a lot too.

Have you ever looked at Haute Handbags?

It has been one of my favorites for years.

It has a great combination of artistic bags.  

They range from purchased bags that are altered in some way to bags completely created from scratch.

The materials they are created from will have to reassessing everything for potential handbag usage...

Karen Valentine has such a sweet style. 

 It totally appeals to me.

I would so carry this bag....

Chantal Johnson made this, and another gorgeous bag.

Jana Holland transformed a vintage bag into this piece of art...

Colleen Davis takes knitting to a whole new level and truly elevates it to an art form.

How gorgeous is this?

There are some beautiful bags incorporating  vintage laces and doilies from Grace Bachmann.

And then there are those pieces that are just perfect.

Where someone takes something simple and utilitarian and turns it into art.

Bo does that with these painted change purses.

I love Sarah LoCascio's shopping bag...

She actually has me thinking of a few new ideas myself...

And then there is this little needle felted owl bag.

This one is mine.

I made to enter in the fair.

It was a fun little bag to make.

It is fun to carry too.

So, on with the giveaway.

This giveaway is open to continental U.S. residents.

For a chance to win, tell me in the comments about your favorite handbag.

Why was it your favorite?

I always love hearing your stories...

I will choose a winner Sunday. 

 Good Luck!

Linking up with these great blogs...

Thanks for stopping by...

The Button Bargain Bonanza...

Well, hello!

It seems like every post I have been doing has been giveaway related.

I love doing that, but I have been crazy trying to do a ton of other things so the blog has taken a hit.

I will try to get back on track. 

At the beginning of September, my husband and I went on our yearly date to a large flea market in the area.

The day was dark and it was raining...a lot.

We put on our raincoats and rubber shoes and put extra garbage bags in the wagon for purchases.

Off we went.

In the 4th booth we looked in, I hit the jackpot.

I found 2 boxes of zinc and glass canning lids, a hardware organizer full of vintage jewelry, a big pile of silver trays, a wooden soda crate filled with vintage bottles and what I about to show you next.

The two guys in the booth pointed out that under the table, there was a basket filled with sewing stuff.

Here is some of what was in the basket...

So, I love little things that tell a story.

Who was Ruth?

Why did she have to write her name on her sewing box?

We will never know, but her little label will stay there as long as I own the tin...

It was filled with mostly thread.

There are some old wooden spools but there are also some modern plastic ones so Ruth was still buying supplies...

This tin is adorable in itself...

Why don't we make such charming packaging anymore?

Another story scratched in the lid...

I.R. + J.B.

Does it make you wonder too?

The mint tin was filled with goodies...

Then there were these 2 Ritz cracker tins....

Are you ready for this?

They were filled with vintage buttons...

Can you see how cool they all are?

You know I LOVE buttons.

Here is the second tin.

More button goodness...

They are pretty grubby...

The dirty stickiness old buttons get...

This basket was piled full...

Here Is another tin.

What is inside?

More vintage buttons...

And here is the last tin.

Can you see the image of the woman?

There was some damage from something that was set on the can at one point.

Maybe a glass of sweet tea in the sewing room....

This one was filled with buttons still on their cards and all sorts of vintage sewing notions.

There was a plastic container of thread on spools too.

All of that and a great basket that they were packed in for....

you are never going to believe this....

my husband could not even say "you already have enough buttons!" for this price...

$3!

Yes.

No joke.

So it was a very good day...

Even though we got soaked to the skin and pretty muddy.

We had fun together too...

What have you found lately?

Thanks for stopping by...

Time to Announce the Winner....

Wow.

It has been a busy week.

There is a lot going on.

That is true for everyone.

I am so happy to be able to announce the winner of the current Issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine.

Without further delay....

The winner is....

Maggie Van Zandt!

Maggie, shoot me a message and I will get your address to forward to Stampington.

You are going to love this issue.

Congrats!

For everyone else, thanks for playing along.

Early next week, I am hosting another magazine giveaway...

Hint: if you carry any kind of purse, you won't want to miss this one.

Thanks for stopping by....

Art Jewelry Retreat Giveaway

I love a freebie.

I think everyone does.

So I am thrilled to announce that YOU have a chance for a free seat at this retreat.

Art Jewelry Retreat 2016.


I am teaching at this retreat and I will be showing you bits and teasers of what I am doing this week.

All you need to do to be eligible for a free seat is give your name and email here.

I will choose a winner on Saturday and the winner will be announced Sunday.

For more info, hop on over here to see what is coming....

Hope you sign up for your chance to win...

Thanks for stopping by....

Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine Giveaway

As you know, I am a fan of the magazines from Stampington.

I believe they are the best on the market for quality and innovation.

If you have ever held one of them in your hands, you know they are printed on lovely heavy paper and the photography is exquisite.

I used to think that the price tag was high, but anymore, so many magazines cost around the same price and are not printed on the same quality paper.

And I mentioned before, the number of pieces and projects in one of their magazines compared to a book actually makes them a bargain.

It is true again for Belle Armoire Jewelry Autumn 2015 issue.

Stick around for a chance to win a copy sent right to your doorstep...

First let's peek inside...

Monica Johnson creates these lovely necklaces with my favorite medium, polymer clay.

One of my favorite artists, Cat Kerr, is at it again...

Her designs are genious and never-ending.

She tries so many mediums and styles.

She never gets stale.

I love that about her...

These necklaces are awesome and make me plug in the soldering iron...

Marlene Quigley has these fantastic earrings in this issue.

Justine Brooks' earrings are inspiring...

This ring from Roxy Lentz makes me want to play with metal...

Melinda Barnett is a dear friend and I am thrilled for her every time I see one of her pieces in print. 

Her ceramic pieces in this one call to me...

so much so that I am researching getting a kiln.... 

And those metal leaves....

Don't get me started....

Gorgeous!

Staci Louise Smith first inspired my deep passion for clay.

She also does some fantastic wire and metalworking as seen in this article.

When I was pregnant with my daughter many years ago I made dream catchers.

Mine were huge and made for hanging over your bed.

These tiny pendant size ones are inspiring from Ebru Kapsal.

Sometimes I look at a project and swear it is something I made...

It just looks so like me.

That is what happened when I saw these cuffs from Rochelle Gaukel.

They are so me....

And then there are these cuffs which also look like me...

Because THESE are mine...

They were a project that actually made me grin while I was making them.

I used DecoArt's Metallic Lustres on these.

I love the feeling of rubbing the colors in with my fingers.

I like to get messy when I create...

So, that is such a small sampling of what is in this issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry.

And I would encourage you to run out and buy a copy right away....

Or...

Leave a comment telling a little about your favorite piece of jewelry that you own and why it is so special for a chance to win.

I will select a winner next Friday and post the name here on the blog.

Stampington sends the copy right to you.

It is that easy.

So what are you waiting for?

Good luck!

And thanks for stopping by...

And the Prims Winner is....

Sometimes good things happen to good people....

I love when that happens.

Last week I sponsored a giveaway for a copy of the current Prims issue from Stampington.

 Today I announce the winner...

The number generator chose....

Frances Peets!

Yay!

Frances is a talented lady in her own right.

You can check out her blog here.

I highly encourage you to take a look and follow her on Facebook.

She is constantly coming up with new and fabulous ideas.

She graces the pages of several Stampington publications as well.

So Frances, shoot me a message  with your address and I will let them know Stampington that you are my winner.

I am so happy.

Thanks everyone for your comments and be sure to stop in later this week for another great giveaway...

If you love making jewelry, this one will be perfect for you...

Thanks for stopping by...

Whimsical Garden Decor: Re Purposed Bird Feeders

This summer I got together with great friends a time or two to make some fun things.

Some of our projects took longer than we expected so when I saw these light covers at the thrift shop, I scooped them up for a fast and easy project.

I bought this little set of 6 cups and saucers with a similar project in mind.

 

I bought  a sheet of rubber at the hardware store along with rings and nut caps

I also got some copper pipe and a great new ratcheting pipe cutter.

It was one afternoon we actually finished 3 pieces each and it was easy.

Here is my bird feeder.

Supposedly, since these are tempered glass to withstand the heat temperatures from the light bulbs, they are fairly durable for weather fluctuations.

I did not get a chance to take a picture of the little green cup and saucer feeder.

And these pictures were taken about a month ago and the flowers have died back quite a bit.

It has been dry here.

We have not mowed the grass since the middle of August.

I love how this little project turned out.  

The best part was time with friends.

I also loved that these already had holes.

All we had to do was cut a little piece of rubber to cushion the hardware and screw them together.

I had the chain already too.

What fun things did you add to your garden this summer?

 Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs.