Showing posts with label crystals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crystals. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

She was a Collector of things

Last year I reorganized my beads and components.

They are sorted by color or material.

I am finding this is opening new doors when I create since so many like things are gathered together.

I have had an idea for a Collector Series.

And this was the very first piece I made for it.

I have to say, I love this one....


All the components and charms came from my metals, vintage and handmade components boxes.


This is the year I start to use those things I love and have been saving...


So you may notice some sweet little vintage wonders among all that goodness...

Like the bottle cap and brass tag...


Components that I bought and hoarded saved like the resin pieces and rhinestone bottle caps now are a piece of something bigger than themselves.


I am still on the fence about whether I keep this one or let it go to someone else...


Tassels and nests and buttons...Oh My!


This piece is called She Was a Collector of Things...


It is a bit of a biography....


Aren't those the very best kinds of pieces?

Something that tells a story?


So I am hoping this makes you want to make something that tells your story....


A charm bracelet or a necklace...

Of course it may only have a few curated charms....

Just a chapter of your story....

What are you waiting for?

Go make something amazing!

Thanks for stopping by....

Monday, May 23, 2016

Potion or Poison?

Just a little quickie post today...

For years I have collected treasures to use in my work.

I saved them, waiting for the perfect design...

They sat in jars and trays and boxes and drawers.....

No more.

My goal this year is to use those things I love.

This little blue bottle intrigues me.  

The stamped PP back-to-back make it the perfect amulet for a Potion or Poison necklace...


Vintage crystals and a vintage key compliment it.

What treasures do you have stashed that you can use today?

Thanks for stopping by....

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Wind Chime Workshop...

I took a break from cleaning the studio last week to have a fun day with a dear friend and my daughter.

My friend is gifted and creative and so much fun to be with.

A couple summers ago we had a weekly date and we would work on a new project together.

It was so much fun. 

Last summer we did not get a chance to do it so we decided to reinstate it this year.

Our first project was a wind chime. 

  We planned our strategy.

I got some materials ready on the tables for us to use....

Beads and baubles and marbles and glass.


Silverware.

I have been collecting it for three years for just this project.


Lots of possibilities...

From antiquey junk to metal scraps, bamboo pieces, CDs,  canning jar rings, candle holders, lamp shades, embroidery hoops and more...


 Fishing line, wire, chain, flower pots, flower frogs, and tools...



Another look at the goodies...




I spray painted these candle holders last summer...  

They were black.




I took these pictures before my friend brought her stash.

She added lots of fun things to the tables too.

Almost as important as the goodies and the friend is the chocolate.



We started with lunch and that took longer than we planned.

We worked on our wind chimes while my daughter worked on a painting.

We had to call it a night around 6 pm but decided to get together this week to finish them up.

So we got together earlier in the day this time and worked first, took a break for lunch (yum) and got back to work.

I am proud to say we both finished our first creation.

Here is hers.

I LOVE it!



Hers was much more melodious than mine.  

That bent aluminum bar in the middle really sounded lovely when it bumps the silverware.



The denim and tulle and twine give it such a cool urban chic look.



I love her seashells and beach glass pieces.  

The overall shape of it makes me think of a jelly fish.


She let me take a few photos before she took it home.



I wish I had taken a couple more but I didn't want to hold her up.

Here is mine from last week finally finished.


It started with that lampshade.

  I ripped off the fabric and just kept adding things until I thought it was done.


Old necklaces, muslin strips, beads,silverware, wire and marbles....

Very shabby chic...

Tattered, distressed Victorian...

Which is not really my style...

But a style I am drawn to and love.

I am just too messy to maintain that pretty white creamy color scheme.

I wanted to try something new...


STAZ-ON inks on muslin...

Those really pretty plastic drops that look like crystal...


I love my little caged marbles....


Here they are again....


I had time to make one more quick one from a few things before she left....


This one started with the flower frog.

I stayed with the clear crystal look.

This one makes me think of raindrops.

More of the caged marbles.


These look like the coolest raindrops.


This one was much quicker to make.


It was much easier without all the muslin to wrap.


I like the simple lines of this one.


I hope you have a friend who inspires you to create.  

Tell me about her...

Thanks for stopping by...

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