Do You Know What Today Is?

Happy

Thanksgiving!

Uh Oh, I'm Thinking About Food

Here's a few things on my radar this week...

 

Cuff Weekend

I was busy and in heaven this weekend. I finally had a weekend when I could create again. It feels like it's been eons since I've had a chance to pull fabrics, buttons, beads and stuff out to create with. It has been a busy last few months.

For the Romantic

Many good things happening and then not so good...my mother in law passed away in September and it's the little things that you pick up and a memory of something she said or did hits you like a jolt. With her death I have also revisited the memory of many other people whom I loved and cherished and who I have lost over the years.

Simply Victorian

We still have a couple of weekends of yards sales to have...but this weekend was mine!

Do you love Jane Austen

A weekend in the woods

 And, there's more on their way....  plus, there will be a metal working weekend real soon too! Oh, and see that button on the last cuff...one of my first buttons from my enameling class. I can't even tell you how much fun enameling is!

What is it about Handmade

Visiting a site like Etsy provides you with many choices in handmade items. With each click there are so many things to ohhhh and ahhhh over. To wonder how they did that...  evoke memories from your childhood... inspire you to learn a new art.  Each and every handmade item began with an idea.  The final product that you see may involve hours, days or weeks to create because the finished creation is more then the result.

The idea may have hit that person while taking a walk, kept them awake because they were so excited to create, or began as an experiment with new materials. Shopping for the "just right" materials or sorting through their own coveted stash to create a very special creation. Spending hours to get the exact beading pattern, color combination, stitches placed just right, putting together and taking apart. So when you see something that was hand created, by the person with the idea, take a moment and consider all of the facets of the result.

Ideas are valuable to the artist and crafts person. Ideas are the "gold" they keep in their safety deposit box. It may be easy to say, "oh I can make that" when you see something on Etsy or at an art fair, but how easy would it have been to make if you hadn't come across someone else's "gold." The ideas that are being "borrowed" by mass producers is taking the livelihood away from artists and crafters. Their profit margins have been challenged because the consumer can now find that same item for half the price and no heart.

Handmade is subtle differences. It is knowing that a person came up with an idea and then they sat and created the item you hold in your hands. It wasn't stamped out from dies and molds. It didn't travel down an assembly line being put together by underpaid workers. It didn't get packaged up without any thought about you the purchaser. Handmade has a face and a set of hands.

SEMA 2012 , Drifting and Transformers

We spent four days in Las Vegas attending SEMA. D has invented a product for the off-roading community that was shown during SEMA in a vendor booth (more about that later). So while we were there we enjoyed some of the show and I enjoyed some vintage shops....

I spied these really cool motorcycles that were pieces of art. I couldn't imagine riding one...at least until the seats were covered with something a little more comfy... In the top picture, if you click there is even an engraved saying. I was amazed by all of the detail in each of these bikes... They were created by Rafik Kaissi of RK Concepts

Then we watched some Drifting...I would have loved to have been a passenger. You could take a ride for free, but the line was hours long..

I spent a day visiting some antique malls in the Las Vegas area and found this guy...
"....transformers...."  I can still hear that theme song in my head from listening (son watching) to it so many times when my son was little...it's too bad they didn't have a "He-Man" as well...

I spent time wandering through Antique Mall of America and Charleston Antique Mall.  Both were great and there was so much stuff to look at and be overwhelmed by.

Torch and Needle

I began a new adventure in January... (the reason I've been so quiet)

Now eight months later I have creations that combine my hand embroidery and metalwork, my new line will be christened "Torch and Needle."

About four years ago I began thinking about the longevity of my hand embroidery as jewelry. One of my initial thoughts on creating textile jewelry pieces was that people who are allergic to metal have access to an accessory that is beautiful and unique. So I will continue to create the textile pieces as well. My first love will always be fabric, thread, lace....

After working on a piece of hand embroidery I imagine it will last and be handed down for generations. Or, if not handed down, then found as a treasure in an antique shop or estate sale...

With that thought I began brainstorming how to combine metal and hand embroidery. I came up with several ideas, but didn't have the skills to move forward on the ideas. Over the last four years I've contacted a few metal-smiths and just like everyone else they didn't have time to collaborate...

This idea continued to nag at me, so early this year I took the plunge and began taking metal classes....I LOVE IT! Thanks Jonathon and Holly!

I'm sure that I won't contain myself to combining embroidery and metal...I've seen too many cabochons that I've fallen in love with and want to use. I also love just working with metal...the designing, sawing, soldering. I also have some ideas to combine another medium, but that will have to be next years project!

I have a lot more ideas and I hope you will follow my adventure in metal... Other pieces can be found in my Etsy shop.

Last Week Wetterhorn Pass

Summer Lovelies

I don't usually add Etsy treasuries to my blog....but I found some beautiful creations and had to share!

A Mint Romance

Are You Ready For 2013?

Don't you just love beautiful hand embroidered creations for your home? Or, do you love to give fun gifts that your crafty friends, mom, sister would enjoy making? Perhaps you like to gather together with like minded people, or want to learn a new craft?  Is 2013 a special year for someone....a new baby....a wedding....special anniversary?

Over the last couple of months I have been designing a new hand embroidery product. A Calendar!  I love Jacobean designs and I love beautiful calendars. I so enjoyed designing this piece and doing all of the embroidery.  I really looked forward to just sitting down in my comfy chair...a cup of tea...watching a movie or listening to a book and stitching. It was almost like a "calgon take me away" moment...lol (do you remember that?)

I have designed this calendar so that when the end of 2013 comes to a close the embroidery designs can be repurposed. You could make six different items from the pieces that you have already embroidered!  Certain sections can be turned into cuffs, a pillow that you could fill with lavender, the beginning of a wall quilt, a valentine heart brooch....the ideas are endless and I'm sure you will come up with plenty as well.

I have used basic stitches so that no one feels intimidated... back, straight, stem, blanket stitch and, of course, french knots. With the use of many different colors and basic stitches you can make this beautiful calendar.  And, if you have questions....

I will also be opening a flickr group so that we can share pictures...ideas....questions.  I plan to begin in one area of the calendar in June and each month work together, through the flickr group, so that everyone can get together and have their calendar ready by January 2013.  I produced this calendar early so that if you want to give it as a gift the recipient should be able to have it ready as well. Even though I am going to sell kits that will include all of the same embroidery thread, it doesn't mean that you have to use my color scheme.  I will also sell just the panels so that you can use the color scheme of your choice.  I can absolutely see this done in just black and white....I have some other ideas but I'll share them in the flickr group!

If there is at least 10 participants who finish and post their calendar I'll have a giveaway...  some of us need incentives...lol.  Visit my Etsy shop to purchase your calendar kit or panel.

Featured in Cross Stitch and Needlework

 

I was  so excited when I was contacted by Cross-Stitch & Needlework for a "Fab Find" feature in their May issue!  This feature is for my Wildflower Romance Cuff Kit.  This kit includes all of the materials and embroidery floss to create this cuff yourself.  This would make a great gift for mom, sister or best friend.

However, if you don't have the time to create your own cuff....you can always find a completed cuff in my shop.

Keep watching my blog and Etsy shop for a brand new kit!

eReader Kindle Bags and Hand Embroidery

I've been looking for larger platforms to do embroidery and create something that is useful as well.  I decided that ereaders needed a handmade/artsy carrying case to give them a bit more charm. These ereader bags have a shoulder strap that allows you to carrying across your body, or over your shoulder. I've padded them so that they also protect your ereader when you set it down.

I love my newest....the 1970s version playing off of the book/movie/play "Butterflies are Free." It has a very hippie look and the fabric is from the early 1970s!

Vintage Costume Jewelry Finds Eisenberg and Trifari

I attended an estate sale a couple of weeks ago....look at some of the pieces I ended up with....

 

 This is an Eisenberg Ice Brooch

 Possibly a D and E,  Juliana Piece

 A Mother of Pearl Cameo ....it's beautiful!

 Trifari Royal Coronation Brooch from the 1950s

 Vendome Pearls and Gold Brooch

 Warner Cushion Brooch

 Not sure of maker, but it has grey and gold rhinestones

 This is a layered piece and may be Juliana

And, this is an amazing cameo...I've dated it to about the late 1800s. 

I ended up with a ton more brooches and other vintage goodies....and I'll share with you in the coming weeks...  I'm also going to be adding vintage to my etsy shop...don't forget to stop by and look!