Finished Brooches

I finally finished these brooches.  I had wanted to play with transfer paper and have been very pleased with the results.

The images are from vintage cards and things that I own that were edited some via Picmonkey, printed off on transfer paper, ironed onto felt pieces, then stitched onto other felt pieces.  The embellishing is the fun part to me.

 The images turned out crisp and full of color.  Hopefully I'll be able to work on some ornaments soon...but you know how time gets away sometimes.  Hope you like these.

More Springtime Stitching

Just a couple more things I've been stitching up lately.  I was inspired by a hat (an actual hat) I saw on Etsy and decided to try out some brooches.  I have not made felt flowers before and saw a tutorial on Pinterest to learn how.  The hard part was making the flowers small enough for the hat.  Felt roses are on my agenda as well...but who can resist some pretty glass bead flowers?  These really are fun to stitch up...and, oh, so springy!  There are other projects rolling around in my mind as well; it's just finding the time to work them up that is the problem.  These little hats were only completed by a few stitches here and a few stitches there. 

 

I thought the yellow, white, and aqua were perfect springtime colors. 

 

This has an actual parakeet feather in it and a wee vintage mother of pearl pin.  Both of these are in my Etsy shop now.  Hope you like them!

Vintage Button Card Jewelry

Well, I've had some amazing inspiration for this, my newest project--Button Card Jewelry. 

I have made pendants and pins that look like vintage button cards--complete with little buttons (some of them very tiny).  

Using the digital tools available today and vintage cards and things, I've made pieces that look like vintage button cards and sewn on buttons (many of them vintage) turning them into brooches and pendants.  They have been a lot of hard work but great fun. 

Of course, much inspiration has come from following Button Floozies, a blog that I adore.  Pinterest has been another source of inspiration with photos such as this:

Then, there was the article in the March 2013 issue of Romantic Homes.  I just LOVED the picture in it and was drawn to the colors on this page. 

I haven't copied any button cards actually but rather have created my own and coordinated buttons to go with them.  Hope you like them!  They are listed in my Etsy shop.

Mother's Day Vintage Brooch Swap from Me

As a continuation of the post above....here is what I sent across the pond to Jan. My box doesn't look nearly as pretty as hers....but I had a great amount of fun decorating and embellishing it. I found some rich-looking paper that coordinated with the colors of the brooch and covered the top of the box and lined the inside.

I embellished the top with vintage butterfly papers and vintage jewelry pieces. The butterfly trails were in pink glitter. Oh, and don't forget the little bumble bee sticker I found.

I put coordinating purple shreds inside and nestled the brooch in it.

I really liked this old brooch with its blue-hued rhinestone aurora borealis flowers and gold tone leaves.

I'm thankful it arrived in England safe and sound and that Jan was pleased.

Mother's Day Vintage Brooch Swap from Jan

Linda at A Swap for All Seasons hosted a wonderful swap, the Mother's Day Vintage Brooch Swap. We were to swap a vintage brooch wrapped in a beautiful package. My partner was Jan of Jan's Arty Journey. Jan certainly renewed my faith in swappers! Not only did she hold up her end of the swap but did so amazingly and beautifully. She is kind and wonderful in every way...and very talented. She wrapped everything in pretty paper tied with lovely ribbon and included a pretty card.
The brooch she chose is absolutely perfect. It is exactly as I would choose and like--you know how I like flowers and rhinestones. I shall wear it an enjoy it.She put the brooch in this amazingly beautiful book box that she embellished with all sorts of pretties--inside and out! I love the Parisian theme.
Many thanks to Jan for this wonderful brooch and box and to Linda for hosting such a fabulous swap.

Some of my Favorite Brooches

I failed to show you what some of my favorite brooches are. As part of Linda's (A Swap for all Seasons) Mother's Day Brooch Swap, we were suggested to post our favorite brooches on Flickr. I did that but didn't post on here. So, here are some of mine. Many beautiful brooches have passed through my hands and into my shop and on to a good home. I wish I could keep them all (some were hard to sell)...but a person can only have so many brooches. Those in this picture are old, and I haven't yet been able to give them up. The little circle one is actually a picture frame. The long, narrow white one is enamel. I love the crown one with its purple and clear rhinestones. The little blue bird one is sweet and such a vivid shade of blue. The large flower one is from Portugal, and my grandfather brought it back to my grandmother when he came home from WWII. Of course, the sterling silver teapot pin is a favorite. Enjoy!

Teaser for the Mother's Day Brooch Swap

The talented Jan of Jan's Arty Journey is my swap partner in the A Swap for All Seasons Mother's Day Brooch Swap. We are to send a vintage brooch packaged very prettily. Well, here is Jan's teaser--it is part of the pretty packaging. We'll have to wait for another post to reveal the entire pictures--don't want to spoil Jan's fun. I will be shipping her package off to England on Monday. Thank you, Linda, for the great fun this has been and to, Jan, for being such a nice partner.

Just Can't Give it Up!

This past Saturday Mom and I got up very early for the first time since her accident in August to go to a large church tag sale, two thrift stores, and an antique mall. She got right up and was eager to go which is amazingly GREAT progress for her. We went slowly with breaks, and she was tired in the afternoon. However, we had a super fun time and got some nice goodies. It was such fun to get up and go with her again. We have BOTH missed estate sales and shopping early. Anyway, I bought this little crown brooch for a song...I love crown brooches. You know, I went to list it in my shop and just couldn't! There have been several pieces that have been hard to part with--gorgeous vintage pieces--but this one I just couldn't break with. It is gold tone metal with both deep purple and clear rhinestones. It was a fun day with even a rare treat for myself!

Giveaway Winners!

My 400th post Interpretative Button Swap/Giveaway has now ended. Partners have all been sent each others' addresses. The winner of the buttons I used as my example for the swap is Melani of My Lady Abercrombie. The winner of the teapot brooch is Molly of Material Gal Molly. Congratulations, ladies! Thank you to all of you who participated to make this a fun swap.

Welcome, Dear, Fall!

Well, with Labor Day here and almost past, I guess fall is finally here (even though not officially yet). School and violin practice is going full force for the kids; the days and nights are cooler; the tips of the leaves are turning; we get up in the dark now; and thoughts turn to pumpkins and apples and stacked hay and all the glorious colors and smells of autumn. I really do like fall. It is one of my favorite times of year (despite Halloween). Flea markets and tag sales and estate sales will be fewer now, which is a little sad. It has been such fun this past summer going with Mom. It has been hard with Mom being laid up for so many weeks and will be for so long coming up, but I'll just go when I can and enjoy each opportunity as it arises. I have found a few treasures lately--a Sadler circus themed teapot and a lovely little pillow ring box--and have put them in my shop.

Also, sitting with Mom a lot, I have had the chance to work on some of my glass bead pieces which has been both therapeutic and productive. I'm still working on assembling my work, but once done will list them in my shop and show you on here. Well, okay, here is one that I finished in the hospital. I was thinking Hanukkah for some reason with the colors actually, but it could be for anyone who likes blue and white. I really like the white rose beads and the richness of the cobalt. Enjoy!

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.

Some New Brooches

I've been inspired lately to bead...and bead...and have been having great fun in the process. This "work" is just so relaxing. I just finished these two Victorian-inspired brooches and am pretty pleased with how they have turned out. I think light blue and brass looks stunning together and almost want to keep the above brooch for myself.
Then I recently acquired these iridescent yellow flower beads and just HAD to make something with them. They are the sunniest little flowers I've ever seen! I thought the little brass heart charm really completed this brooch.