New Creations

It seems like lately all I have been finding time for

are vacations and tennis. I'm not complaining at all...

I'm pretty happy with both those activities! :)

I did, however, manage to create

two new necklaces that I'm excited about.

I liked them so much that I submitted them to teach at an art retreat. It will be a few weeks before I know if  I'm accepted. In the meanwhile my fingers (and maybe even my toes) will remain crossed!!

What do you think...Would you want to

learn how to make these necklaces?

 
 

Popcorn Popping! - Fun Ring Design

As an ICE Resin® Creative Team member I get to play with some of the coolest stuff! Every month a box of goodies arrive at my doorstep. Last month this fun ring bezel was the first item to catch my eye and as soon as I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it!

Fun Ring Bezel + ICE Resin® = Playful Ring!

"Popcorn Popping"

It has a wire cage that I created and set inside the ring bezel

which I filled with ICE Resin® and some “popcorn” (white pearls).

Once the resin cured I added some loose “popcorn”

that "pops" about when I playfully shake my hand.

It's being featured as the

"Creative Team Wednesday" project

today over at the ICE Resin® blog where I share

a little more about what inspired its creation.

I hope you will "pop" on over there and take a quick look!

Sharing with: Lil Pink Pocket: Show & Share

 

Serious Neglect

With getting ready for a couple of home shows, the holidays, and a birthday, the last couple of months have been a busy whirlwind of activities for me. I'm not complaining...I had a wonderful holiday season, but my Etsy shop has suffered serious neglect on my part.

I am happy to report that the neglect is over and

I just listed a new necklace and earring design.

I paired sterling silver with lustrous snowy-white petal shaped pearls that I found at the gem faire a couple of months ago to create these new pieces. They are a bit more refined than most of the rustic styled jewelry in my shop but I like them just as well.

You can click here if you would like to take a closer look at them.

Thanks for visiting!

Sharing at: Creation Corner: Friday Link Party, Delicate Construction: Delicately Constructed Friday, Fireflies and Jellybeans: Show Off Your Stuff

Cameo Appearance

As a long time admirer of the beauty and grace of vintage cameos, I was thrilled when I became the lucky recipient of several gorgeous and unique cameos that had belonged to my grandmothers and my mom. However, many of them were brooches and earrings which I rarely wear. When I set out to find a way to incorporate them into necklaces without compromising the integrity of the original cherished pieces,
I decided to replicate them using polymer clay.

Polymer clay comes in a vast array of colors, is inexpensive, and very easy to work with. The versatility of the clay allowed me to incorporate metal framework within and around the cameo that could be adorned with complimentary crystals, pearls, and charms.

I adore the look of my new collection of cameo jewelry but most importantly, I love the precious memories that come to mind when I wear a piece that was inspired
by a cameo worn by a loved one.

Do you have a family heirloom cameo that you'd like to turn into a necklace, or maybe even make as a gift for a sister, mom, or aunt to remind them of a loved one?

Visit my tutorial here to see how they are made. 

You can also find some of them featured in the Autumn 2010 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry and in the Summer 2011 issue of Belle Armoire.

Sharing with

Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Funky Junk Interiors: Handmade Gifts 2011, The Shady Porch: Rock 'N Share, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday, Lil Pink Pocket: Show & Share, Creation Corner: Friday Link Party, One Artsy Mama: Shine On Fridays, Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Nite Special

Butterfly - final design of a Girl and her SHOES series!

Welcome to the final post of  "a Girl and her SHOES" series. If you missed the original post, you may want to check it out here to see what inspired this series.

The butterfly is a much loved creature. We see it used in home decor, clothing, accessories, paper products and much more. It is admired for its beauty and grace but most of all, it is a symbol of transformation.

I thought it appropriate that my final shoe transformation
would be a tribute to the lovely butterfly.

The shoes. I loved the design on these shoes when I first spotted them at the thrift store but unfortunately they were not on the discounted ticket. So I waited until they were the

half off sticker for the day, and lucky for me, they were still there!

I cut out around the stitched area of one shoe, removed the bow and this is when I noticed that the design resembled a butterfly. I enjoy these types of happy little surprises! I lightly scuffed up the leather and rubbed it with some brown permanent ink (for stamping) to add character and age and then added the pearls for color and texture.

I didn't want to use the bow but the braided lacing was pretty cool, so I incorporated
it to act as a way to attach the handmade pearl links. I finished the piece off with
a copper chain and a handcrafted hook clasp.

I've had a lot of fun creating for "a Girl and her SHOES" series! I hope it has inspired you to be like the butterfly...willing to make a transformation and let your imagination take flight!


Sharing with: It's Overflowing: Overflowing with Creativity


Featured at Too Much time on my hands

 

Spider - part five of "a Girl and her SHOES" series

Welcome to part five of  "a Girl and her SHOES" series. If you missed the original post, you may want to check it out here to see what inspired this series.

The working title for this redo was Spider. My reasoning for the working title will become clear a little later in the post. I realize that Spider is not a very attractive name for a necklace but since it is so close to Halloween, I decided to stick with it!

The Shoes. A very unique pair of sandals that I just couldn't pass up.

The first thing I did was cut the leather straps away from the sole. I played around with the shape for awhile until I got the idea to create a copper wire frame that the straps could attach to. I cut the straps down to a reasonable size and this is what I ended up with.

 

Okay, my working title is making sense now!

I attached the straps around the frame and wired on some metallic stick pearls for that needed bit of bling. Finally, a couple of the tiny buckles (also from these sandals)

became interesting additions to the copper chain and handmade hook clasp.

 

Normally I wouldn't think of allowing a spider to crawl around - or even come close - to my neck, but I'll happily make the exception for this Spider!

Tomorrow will be the final shoe transformation in "a Girl and her SHOES" series. (At least until I find time to visit the thrift stores!) I hope you will return!

 

Sharing with: Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, I Gotta Create: The Mother Lode

Dressed Up Pearls - part three of a Girl and her SHOES series!

Welcome to part three of "a Girl and her SHOES" series. If you missed the original post, you may want to check it out here to see what inspired this series.

Wow! It's almost the end of October and the holiday season is soon to arrive. One of my favorite bonuses of the holidays has to be the parties!! I look forward to slipping on my favorite black cocktail dress and fancying up my hair. Yep, dressing up is just plain fun!

So what about the plain-jane strand of faux pearls I inherited from my Grandma?

I decided it could benefit from a little dressing up too!

The shoes. Just a fairly average pair of sandals that I picked up for next to nothing at the thrift store but I was attracted to the leather flowers and knew they had potential.

I already had the vintage faux pearl necklace. It was not perfect;
it was missing a strand but I used it anyway! I love the vintage clasp.

 

This make over could not have been any easier. I just cut the flowers off the shoes,

glued them together in a row, glued earrings (from my stash that I never wear)

at each flower center and then wired the entire piece to the pearl strands.

They can be removed at any time...nothing permanent.

Grandma wouldn't recognize her pearls - they're all dressed up and ready for the party!

I hope you will return and check out the next shoe redoux in my "a Girl and her SHOES" series!