Bits and Pieces to Catch Up

I have indeed been missing in action...however, I am back. There were some family things to attend to last week...one of which was seeing my grandparents whom I haven't seen in several years. After Mom's accident and the health difficulties of my other grandmother, there has been a great desire to visit my other grandparents. They are in their mid-80's and not getting any younger. Life is short! We must do what we can when the opportunity arises. It was a wonderful visit and hard to leave since they are far away, and we aren't sure when we'll see them again.

While away, I received an email from Sadie that Lollishops will be closing its doors. Was I sad to hear this news! I had signed up to be a part of Lollishops before it went live on line. It was great to be a part of Sadie's vision. There were opportunities to do press kits, craft challenges, advertise in major magazines, and be a small part of a larger group of very talented people. Many, many thanks to Sadie for the opportunity. I will miss Lollishops in the new year.

Also, many thanks to Cap Creations for the Distal Funk cookie stamp giveaway...I actually won! I was able to choose any two cookie stamps that I wished from Distal Funk's Etsy site, and I chose the snowflake pattern and the teacup pattern. Also included was a little recipe booklet. I can't wait to make up some cookies and stamp the top of them then enjoy with a hot cup of tea. Yum!! Please, visit Distal Funk's store. These stamps are of exceptional quality and beauty.

A Few New Things Added To the Shop

I've added a few new items to my shop lately. This little brooch is just in time for Thanksgiving--a sweet pilgrim gal.

This French handmade coin purse and eye glasses case is a beautiful vintage find. It is hard to sell them since I like them so much--they are exquisite with gorgeous embroidered/tampour detail.

These are thumbtacks that are public domain music scores of favorite hymns--a perfect gift for a church music leader, or a music teacher, or for someone who just loves hymns.

Victorian Vintage Montages

These were SUCH fun to make. You know I love little itty bitty bits of things, and I have saved some interesting bits from the vintage jewelry pieces I have accumulated. I just couldn't throw them out...and these are the result! They are one-of-a-kind, Victorian-inspired montages complete with pieces of old teacups (of course!), little bits of Victorian jewelry, and other interesting things--in these two cases an interesting old "Coro" label from an ugly piece of jewelry and a "Made in France" tag. How could I throw them out? Anyway, they are set in resin. I loved making them and am pleased with how they turned out....and I hope you like them too. ; )

More Vintage Jewelry Embellished Perfume Bottles

I've been having great fun lately embellishing perfume bottles. With my stores of broken and orphaned jewelry strewn all over the counter (I am SO thankful for my very understanding and sweet husband), I have been planning and putting together several bottles lately. Believe it or not, it actually takes me quite awhile to plan what goes on which bottle. The jewelry has to fit the personality of the bottle and its curvature. Then--the hard part sometimes--I need to find several pieces of jewelry that may have come from different places to work in harmony with each other. Here are some of the results.

I think purple is a beautiful color--elegant and rich--and this bottle I thought offered plenty of royal sparkle.

I really like the crown one, since I DO love crowns. When I bought this broken crown at an estate sale, I knew immediately that it belonged on a perfume bottle. It was hard to choose what should go with the crown...I mean, how can a person top a crown? With jewels, of course!

The seashore one was interesting. It started with a broken brooch that was gold "coral" with a rhinestone ball in it. I just carried on the theme with other bits (was very excited to find the "pearl" and coral colored starfish jewelry at an estate sale) for a seaside intrigue.

This one reminds me of Italy...must be the cameo. I tried to keep this one simple and elegant with rich browns and golds and subtle sparkle.

I found three other perfume bottles at the flea market last Saturday and thankfully got them for a song. Two are Italian glass and are gorgeous by themselves. I will be working on them over the next few weeks as well as finish up another bottle today.

Flea Market Sunday Giveaway Winner....

...is Robin Bird's Nest! Congratulations. Thank you to everyone who participated. I appreciate each one of you. This was a fun giveaway, and I hope you checked out the other goodies offered through other Lollishops vendors. Thank you, Sadie Lou, for hosting this.

Flea Market Sunday with Lollishops

It's Flea Market Sunday with Lollishops! Please check out my previous post (or go HERE) for all the details on the goodies you might win from me....then head over to the Lollishops blog HERE to see who else is participating and to have chances to possibly win some amazing things. I'm planning on having some fun going through the blogs after church tomorrow, and I hope you do too!

Flea Market Sunday Giveaway with Lollishops!

What could be more fun than a giveaway? This one is hosted by Lollishops and is flea market themed.
My giveaway is for for a mint green powder tin (some of the powder is still in it) with a guilloche rose on the top; a pair of screw-back, white-beaded earrings; and an aqua purse zipper clip (something to clip onto that purse of yours when you go flea market shopping!). Of course the tin and earrings are vintage finds, but the purse clip was made by me. Rules: Go to my shop here----Glass Bead Treasures---and find one item that you like. Come back here and leave a comment telling me what it is that you like. That's it...easy! Only one entry per person, please. International friends are welcome. I will choose the winner on Monday morning. Oh, don't forget to head over to the Lollishops blog on Sunday sometime (before or after church!) here---Lollishops Flea Market Giveaway---to see the list of other participating Lollishop vendors and their giveaways.

This is now closed. Thank you to all who participated!

A New Brooch and a New Perfume Bottle

I have been able to get two things done this past week. I acquired some exquisite (and a little expensive, might I add--but worth it!) rose shell beads this past week and am working on putting them into jewelry. Once I got the beads I just had to sit right down and work on a brooch. I made this light pink, Victorian-looking, Shabby Chic-looking rose brooch with a crystal butterfly. I sort of don't want to part with it because I like it so much!
Secondly, I finished another perfume bottle. The vintage pieces come from jewelry featuring daisies as well as parts of a leaf bracelet and some rhinestones. I'm pretty pleased with how this little bottle turned out as well.

Press Kits for Artistic Affaire Les Sirenes

I've been neglecting my posting lately...but have finished and sent off my five-press-kits contribution to the Lollishops pool of press kits for the Artistic Affair Les Sirenes event coming up in California on July 15-17. You may read all about this even on Kim's lovely Weblog--Artistic Bliss. It certainly looks like a grand and enchanting event indeed! The theme has a Victorian beach, romantic ocean look and feel, so I wanted my press kits to carry on with that theme.
I found a beautiful vintage image of Victorian ladies strolling by the sea (loved the palm trees!) to make some pins out of (complete with a little glitter),
and I stitched some zipper clips on turquoise backgrounds with pearly light pink "star fish", an iridescent scallop shell, and, of course, "sand" made by stitching on sparkling golden brown beads.
The netting for these are actually hair nets. I saw a container full of them for sale at an Amish grocery store and was instantly inspired. They looked like old fishing nets to me. I thought the idea of having my things "captured" on the net would be a fun idea. Since I have plenty of sea glass from visits to Maine, I glued some pieces on for extra interest and color.
I glued a simple ivory backing onto the back of the light pink board used for the front to cover up the glue work and neaten up the back then put my business card in the baggie. I kept the bow on the top--a gold organza--simple so that they eye would be drawn to the work below and not onto the top.
I was thinking this would be a good idea for a romantic ocean themed invitation or place card...just something to keep in mind if you needed an idea. You could also put little shells onto the net too.

Blingnets...A Friendly Person...A Beautiful Shop

I have met a truly, truly super nice person...who happens to have a shop with the most gorgeous things in them. The items appeal to me because, as you already know, I love sparkles--especially vintage ones. Yes, we both sell items with similar appeal, but since our creations are different from each other, I'm happy to tell you about Michelle (also a fellow Lollishop vendor). Her shop is Blingnets where she sells magnets and small hanging "glamers", she calls them, embellished with vintage jewelry.
And to add to the charm, there are very few people as nice as Michelle. So, I'd encourage you to check out her shop and enjoy her things.

A Flurry of Creativity!

It has been a long, cloudy, cool week...and with some newly-acquired pretties, I just couldn't resist being busy creating. It has been such fun, and my family has been so patient...since....once I start something it's hard not to finish (that's why I should never touch a long novel--no housework would get done and no one would see me for days until I finished every last word!). I've completed three perfume bottles with vintage jewelry bits on them--two I have listed, and the other I will list probably tomorrow in my Etsy and Lollishops shops.
I've also had fun beading up some new clips/charms. Enjoy!

Blub...Blub!!

I just finished and listed a new brooch featuring of all things...fish! I love fish and have many pretty and different fish beads. Now, I just need to do something with them! The ones on this brooch are tiny little silver fish, and I enjoyed putting them in a "lake" setting complete with a "rocky bottom" made of silvery white, black, and brown seed beads and "weeds" made of bright green glass tube beads. Of course, those bubbles are pearly white glass beads. This was fun to make and something a little different.

More Vintage Jewelry Perfume Bottles

A dear gal who is getting married contacted me through my Etsy shop this past week asking whether I had more vintage/antique jewelry pieces perfume bottles (she wanted some gifts for her bridesmaids). I did...BUT none were completely done yet! So, I've been working hard and steady to complete some and get them listed for her review. The one I have already listed with the lady on it she has asked me to alter. It is now on the counter drying. Hopefully the sun will keep shining so that I can get a nice picture later this morning, and hopefully she will approve of the change. Of the three here, the pink and green rhinestone one is reserved for her...but the other two (and they are sort of tied for being my favorites actually) are not and are listed on Lollishops and Etsy for sale. These are a lot of fun to do...and I DO like perfume bottles in all of their femininity!

Lollishops Romantic Homes Ad--May 2010

I have been eagerly awaiting the May 2010 issue of Romantic Homes to come out since I participated in a Lollishops ad in it. Well, the magazine arrived in my mailbox yesterday, and I think the ad looks great! I'm thankful that the little cupcake brooch goes so well with the colors of the ad and am very pleased. Sadie did a good job. Thanks for the opportunity, Sadie!

Another Embellished Perfume Bottle

This one took awhile to put together, but I'm pleased with the end result. I had this little Coro brooch featuring a lady--I think she looks very elegant and French--that I couldn't sell because part of it was damaged. I don't really like to sell a signed piece unless it is all there. Anyway, it fit perfectly on this little crystal perfume bottle and made a nice focal point for it. The top part is a very elegant rhinestone earring that had fallen apart. I then glued on a "pearl" bead that coordinates with the "pearls" that are staggered with rhinestones surrounding the lady. I listed it in my Etsy store this morning. Hope you like it!

Vintage Jewelry on Perfume Bottles--Repurposed and Glitzy

Remember the estate sale I blogged about a few weeks past with the box of rhinestones and broken vintage jewelry bits that I bought? I'll show you the picture again to remind you.
I have been busy since--and making a huge mess in the process--organizing that box. Pieces of jewelry and rhinestones have literally covered one whole counter top in our kitchen while I've been working on it in my spare time. (Thank you, Honey, for being so patient!) I've been sorting rhinestones, seeing what vintage pieces may be salvaged, organizing orphan earrings, and seeing what needs some repair and/or reworking to use in something pretty. Many rhinestones and faux pearls were gone in many pieces to begin with or were removed by the previous owner of this box. Well, I'm actually making progress. I had purchased a little blue perfume bottle at a thrift store for my grandmother (had previously posted about that too), and decided to make my first try at decorating something with that. Here is the result...
I was pleased and so was Gram. The vintage bits really perked up the bottle and made it prettier. I had purchased some quality little crystal perfume bottles a while back, and thought last week that they would be great things to put some broken jewelry pieces on--and the bottle at the very top and the one below are the result. I like perfume bottles anyway, as you know, so these were perfect for this project. Without a question these are one of a kind items!
The rhinestones may not all match, there may be a chip or scratch on a piece...but I think that adds to the charm of these repurposed vintage jewelry bits. These glitzy little pieces of jewelry certainly shouldn't be thrown out just because they are showing signs of their age!
I'll be adding the crystal perfume bottles to my Lollishops/Etsy shops soon, and I'm working on a few more. This has been such fun, and I've enjoyed this greatly

Lollishops Press Kit February Challenge

I have finished the Lollishops February Challenge--making 10 press kits for Jennifer Hayslip's (of Sweet Eye Candy Creations) event, Petticoats and Parasols.
My press kits are sort of simple really, but I suppose simple is not always a bad thing. I had fun and didn't stress out about them, so that is important. I decided this time to just make a vintage image pin instead of something beaded or with the addition of a beaded item. I needed to keep costs down a little bit.
I wanted to keep with Jennifer's theme, so used a new-to-me vintage image that I found recently. It really is perfect for the event. It features a lady (with petticoats showing) stepping off a carriage with the helping hand of a gentleman awaiting hers. Super fine glitter in pink and green was added to enhance the pin and give it extra sparkle (can't have enough sparkle). It looks a little French to me which I find appealing.
I made a parasol out of a folded doily--complete with a glass bead that I glued on top--and a toothpick.
My business card is in the back. I had wanted the pretty pictures of my cards to show, but figured it was best if my information were showing instead. Whoever receives these will have the added treat of discovering a pretty picture on the other side of my card.
I color coordinated the whole thing by picking out the colors from the pin (besides they are springlike, and I'm sooo ready for spring)--turquoise, white, and both light and dark pinks. I hope the recipients think these are a little bit of "eye candy" and like them. It was fun, and I appreciate Sadie giving us this challenge and opportunity!

Another Fun Estate Sale

I have certainly been neglecting this blog a bit...you know how life gets. We've added another homeschool activity to our week which has been just great--but takes up time. I have been working on the Lollishops February challenge which is due soon. I'll blog more about that on another post when they are ready.
I did manage to go to another estate sale this past weekend. It wasn't as much fun without my mom along who was out of town, but it was fun none the less. There were some interesting things, and I saw this (see above) box on the counter by the lady who was helping with the sale and asked if it were for sale. She said that she needed to ask her husband because they were thinking of saving it for a relative who was a teacher. So, I gave her my name and number saying if the teacher DIDN'T want it I definitely DID. So, I meandered around the house...yes, praying that if the Lord thought I should have it that He would change their minds and allow me to buy it now. I was ready to leave and thanked the lady for taking my name and number. "You're leaving now? Let me ask my husband about that box again." Well, the husband said I could just have it...for $10. Yippee! An answer to prayer! I could hardly contain myself. It is full of rhinestones and beads and antique buttons and beautiful old broken jewelry bits. The person who owned this has been collecting sparkles for a very, very long time, and I'm thankful to have it. My mind is swirling with ideas! Now, if I can just find the time....

New Victorian Fan Brooch

As promised, here is a peek at what I just finished. I found this bone fan bead at one of bead shops I visited this past week and just HAD to sit down and work on it. I decided to decorate it with "roses" and green "leaves" for a Victorian look. Also, the burgundy background and all the brass gives it a Victorian feel as well. The bottom needed something, so I put some heavy needlepoint thread in a coordinating green color there to pull it all together and give it yet another genuine fan look. Hope you like it!

Woolly Sheep Brooch

I had been thinking of doing a sheep with tiny pearly-white beads for some time now...and finally just went ahead and did it--just in time for spring! Perhaps my meandering thoughts toward spring is what got me motivated. Whatever the case, I had fun working on this little woolly friend and hope you like him too.