OK, I admit it.....It's time to clean....& an announcement!

When you have a 12 foot long workbench, and you're down to only 2 feet of workspace, admittedly it's time to clean up. As I was working on some jewelry for the ICE Resin®  Design Team I realized the pile was encroaching on my workspace. It's time to clean!
I've been having a lot of fun with ICE Resin® lately, there are so many ways to use it and so many fun things to make. There are a lot of new products coming out very soon and you won't want to miss them. To find out more you can visit www.iceresin.com

I also want to announce that I am starting a bi-monthly linky party for ICE Resin® projects.
On the 2nd & 4th Fridays of each month I will be hosting "Friday ICE" a linky party where you can link up your favorite ICE Resin® projects right here on this blog.
The folks at ICE Resin® have graciously offered to do a giveaway once a month as well, it could be an ICE Resin® plunger or a cool bezel, we'll just have to wait and see.

So I hope you will join us starting February 8th, I can't wait to see what you make!
More details to follow...

Where have you been?!?!?

 I know I've been away for a bit but I have an excuse. Truly I do. I've been very busy...

 I've been making key necklaces. One for Debi at MAMA

 and one for my mother in law's birthday...

And I decided I just had to jump into a project that is taking a LOT longer than I had anticipated...

75 YARDS of piping anyone? Yep I said "75"

We got a sectional given to us that is quite comfy but oh my is it hideous. I can't stand the upholstery that is on it so I decided I could make a slipcover out of dropcloths using all the fabulous tutorials all over the web. And I decided this after only having made one slipcover before in my life for a tiny little bar stool if you remember my last post.

 sewing the first cushion

Now you see why it needs a slipcover... AHHHHHHH!

But it may possibly do me in, took me all weekend to sew the piping, one cushion cover and the two ends with arms (not pictured)

Mayber I can get it done in ONE more weekend? (I hope, wish me luck!)



Tattered Layers, antique lace, cuff bracelets...

 I got to play in the studio last night and came up with these pretty cuff bracelets.

They are up for sale in my shop Vintiquities Boutique

 *Take Me Home-I'm perfect for Valentine's Day*

 This one has lots of layers of antique fabrics, lace, and fibers. The focal piece is a vintage flower with antique rhinestone jewelry piece and a vintage glass pearl drop. There are also some antique rhinestones hand stitches into the design on the sides.

 This cuff bracelet's focal piece is a vintage flower with an antique reflective glass button center.

 *You know you want me*

 *I would make a beautiful Valentine's Day Gift*

This one is my favorite and I'm really wanting to keep it all to myself. Lots and lots of layers of antique lace, fabrics, and fibers. The focal point is an antique rhinestone piece sided by 2 mother of pearl buttons with hand stitched antique rhinestone centers.

Soldered Necklace, Some Blingy Finds, & My New Favorite Place on Earth!!

SOLD
"One Heart" Soldered Necklace $35

The Two Hearts necklace is off to it's new owner today!...

And I wanted to show you some of the super fun blingy things I found during lunch yesterday...

 I found this super old, completely wonderful cast iron knob that I put on my Victrola cabinet...

 I also found some great old keys, a couple of old rhinestone necklaces, and my favorite tons of wonderful little metal rhinestone buttons! The buttons the knob and that little metal claw foot were found at my new favorite place on earth "The Rusty Chair" in downtown Rogers AR. That place has everything I love and I think I will probably be spending a lot of lunches browsing that wonderful shop! Can't wait to go back.

 I also wanted to share this old check book. I love the fact that it's from my hometown. Whomever this belonged to had a lot of dough for back then. $2000 was a lot of money in the 40's.

Hope you guys are having a great week and looking forward to a great weekend! Hugs!

Thespa

Soldered Jewelry, a few new pieces...

$35
SOLD


 I finished this piece ("two hearts")

and started a few more...

I wish my camera was able to show you just how pretty these are in person. All the sparkle and the true colors of the ephemera don't show up well. All of these let light pass through which adds a lot of depth. Each necklace is handmade, soldered, patina solution is added to age each item and a small collage with antique and vintage ephemera and elements is encased in resin.

St. Patrick's Day! with a 1920's twist

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
So, yesterday the 1920's beaded flapper dress I ordered off Ebay came in the mail. And I was so excited I just had to make SOMETHING with it. So I tried my hand at a collage necklace, above.

The dress was made of silk chiffon in a lovely shade of green. The silk was tattered because the intire thing was covered with glass tube beads and adorable little rhinestone beads making it very heavy and unable to withstand the ages. There were many splits and tears throughout the dress making it ideal for reuse in crafting.

Below are pictures of the dress, oh and the adorable belt that came with it, love that buckle but I'm reselling it on Ebay starting today at 12:30 if anyone is interested, I'll post a link after it starts.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360244400285&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT 

The dress however will remain in my stash so I can look at it's aged sparkling goodness whenever I want. 

I've removed the top portion and am thinking about pinning the skirt to my dress form, which I still haven't finished. I can't help but wish it was in better shape and that I could wear it, maybe it's the little girl in me trying to come out and play dress up. I was always a sucker for shiney things. Although diamonds I really could care less about, how strange is that, but my husband gets off easy, LOL. Chalk it up to having lots of diamonds and gold lying around my whole life; my grandfather, my father, and my mother all had their own jewelry businesses, so "the finer things" just aren't that interesting to me. You would think I would have become a jeweler but it just never worked out.

Today I was going to post some pics of post cards and the stories they have on their backs that caught my eye, but that will have to wait till tomorrow.

Thanks for visiting me and I hope you have a very special day!