Collector Series-Running in Circles

I am deep in a major project that I will be sharing with you soon, but for now, let me show you this fun necklace from the Collector Series.

I added handmade, vintage and purchased components and charms.

Then I filled in the spaces with extra jump rings.

There are some fun goodies on this one.

Hope you are having fun creating as well.

Thanks for stopping by....

Shabby Chic purse

I have always wanted to make one of those great shabby chic purses...

You know...the ones with whites and creams, lace and more.

So last summer I made myself one.

I had tons of fun getting things out and layering them onto my bag base.

For the base I used 2 quilt squares that have button holes around the edges.

I also re-purposed some pretty sheets from the thrift store for the fringe on the bottom and the strap.

The strap is long so it can be used as a cross body bag.

I printed a few fun images on muslin.

When I do that, I make tons all at one time and then use them as inspiration strikes.

Time to make another purse soon I think....

Thanks for stopping by....

Lucketts 2016

We had a great adventure last weekend...

I had the pleasure of spending the day with my daughter and 2 best friends...

We drove to Leesburg, Virginia for the Lucketts Spring Market.

The weather was wet and overcast but there was still so much to see.

My daughter and I loved this new vendor.

She upholsters vintage chairs with everything from vintage fabric to leather and cowhides....

Mmmmmm....We loved her style.

I am gearing up at home for a studio makeover and a chair like this is on my wish list....

The leather and cowhide is probably my favorite but it was so hard to pick one.

They were all fabulous!

This fun garden art is on my radar for a few windows I have laying around...

 This tepee is always somewhere in the market....

Maybe this year I will make my own version...

There is just so much good stuff we could have taken thousands of pictures...

My daughter and I were in love with those bottles...

They are covered in barnacles...

Old ladders and tin ceiling tiles turned into a screen caught our eye and imaginations...

And check out that cool chandelier at the base of the ladder...

We found what had to be the prettiest cookies ever at this booth....

Sky's the Limit is her company name.

We each got a camper cookie and they tasted as good as they looked.

More amazing tin tiles....

I have to make something like this great pallet display.

How awesome would that be outside the studio/shed?

It was a wet, chilly but fun day.

There is always so much to see.

I always leave with my head swimming with ideas.

I will have to share my finds later.  

Sadly, they cancelled the second day of the show due to wet and muddy conditions.

I am so glad we got there to enjoy it when we did...

Thanks for stopping by....

Workbench Wednesday...Washing Buttons

How about a quick peek of what I am working on this week...

I dumped a tin of vintage buttons in a hosiery bag and dunked it repeatedly in a bucket of hot water and Dawn dish washing detergent.

Then I rinsed, and rinsed and rinsed...

I dumped them into a strainer purchased just for such purposes (i.e. crafty stuff)...

Then I spread them out on a plastic tray and let them dry....

I ran my hands through them over and over...

I tell myself it is to spread them out to dry better...

Really it is because I have to touch them....

Touching them brings me happiness...

My heart tells stories of each button as my fingers touch them...

Next step is letting them become something new....

Stay tuned....

Thanks for stopping by....

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....

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....

Dark and Rusty

For the longest time, I don't think my art had a voice.

I think it echoed whispers of the artists that enchanted me.

It took many years for my pieces to start to look like my own style.

And now that I think my pieces look like me, I push myself to try something different.

Such is the case with these pieces.

I went all dark and rusty....

I took a lot of components I had and gave them a JAX Pewter Black bath.

I love how that simple step adds the look of centuries to a piece.

It can go from at-the-mall-shiny to just-excavated-ancient.

It is fun to add fibers into the mix....

I have to say.... 

I love this look.

I could not do it all the time, but I will do it more often....

I threw in some actual antiques as well...

The skeleton key and the sweetheart pin are vintage finds...

I hope you love to try something new too.

It changes your perspective....

Thanks for stopping by....

Mix It Up Challenge for ICE Resin

It has been a little crazy here but I wanted to let you know you can find the directions for this fun mixed media piece over on the ICE Queen E-Zine.

There is also a quick video on how to use ICE Resin as glue there as well.

Be sure to check out the vast video library.

 There of all sorts of interesting things that can be done with ICE Resin.

I know I have watched many of them and picked up tons of ideas for new techniques, inclusions and more there....

Thanks for stopping by....I

Taking Home the Tree Ornaments

Last year, Taking Home the Tree ornaments were all the rage...

With good reason...

They are adorable...

  Here are a few for inspiration this year.

I have been keeping my eyes open for small cars this year.

 I  pick them up when I see ones I like.

Some of them are new...

Like this little guy...

He looks old but he came right out of the box.

And then some are reclaimed.

I like the chippy, loved look.

I also like creating an unconventioanl interpretation.

Like this garbage truck... 

 How fun is this?

Cute on so many levels...

If a had a son, I would so make him an ornament for the tree with his favorite kind of truck.

I did clean this little guy up so the dirt left on him is intentional...

This little car is new as well.

But it is perfect for a vintage look ornament.

I add a drop of hot glue to the top of the car and add the tree.

The baker's twine is mostly for show and a way to hang the ornament.

Hope you make a few of your own...

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs.