Is it Spring Yet?????

I know the time of year states it is spring but we haven't really had it yet. The days have been chilly and really windy. I've only been able to work in the garden off and on a couple of days. I've been like a hermit the past couple of weeks and you'd think I would have been blogging, but I've been creating. Here are several of the jewelry pieces I've been working on and listing in my etsy shop. I've wanted to keep several of them but alas I need to sell them. I love the vintage steel bead caps I bought and used them for earring toppers.

I love the ones at the top with the chain mail and pearls they seem punk and romantic I may make a set for me ;>

Repurposed Adornments

I've recently started to do more jewelry. I love the books that show how to re-use items that you no longer wear into new items or to take vintage pieces and re-make them into more vogue pieces. Here is a necklace I made from a vintage glass brooch. The beads were recycled from a vintage necklace with vintage buttons, brass findings and glass pearls. 

I wholesaled this assemblage to a chic store upstate for re-sale. I've been listing some creations on my etsy site too.  I've married new pieces with vintage to make some very pretty items. 

Textile Collage

This is a textile collage I created from re-purposed fabrics like clothes etc. I used a broad cloth for the substructure and built upon that. The fabric on the right is upholstery sample fabric from a garage sale. I was able to purchase several boxes for a couple dollars from a lady that was getting rid of old hobby stuff. I have a huge box of wool yarn I haven't found projects for yet. Most of what I create with is from thrift stores and garage sales. I found a package of wooden beads with only certain letters and was able to use some for this piece. The picture is from a collage pack I bought 8 years ago. I love the velvet leaves,  I found those on a dealer's site on etsy. I have just realized recently a lot of people have no idea what etsy is. This site is like ebay but for artist and crafters. People also sell vintage items and supplies for creating art etc. This is a wonderful site for inspiration. Sometimes I go to the buy section and click the button for "pounce". Pounce is for seeing something that is newly sold which is helpful to see what is selling. I "favorite" several shops and try to see what they're selling new.  My shop is http://www.repurposedbeauty.etsy.com/ and from my site you can see what shops I like and items I'm selling. I always keep an eye out for vintage lace.  I love these collages so much. I just started working on them after seeing examples in Somerset. I'll be showing another one soon, I'm thinking about changing it a bit before showing it. Most of the piece here is embroidered with some gluing here and there. A section of an old torn table cloth has been tea dyed and applied on the right side. Hand painted vintage buttons are in a handmade nest on the left. This collage kind of goes into the mixed media, assemblage area of creating which I find fascinating.  I am amazed at assemblage artist sometimes and how they re-purpose items. I laugh because my husband doesn't quite get the assemblage aspect of art but he is very supportive. Hope those that see this are inspired. Let me know what you think.

More Wrist Cuff Bracelets

I am loving these wrist cuff bracelets. Last year when I was doing my garage sale thing I found a ton of fabrics in clothing and unused upholstery fabric swatches. Now I have found a way to use some of these and create some beautiful works of wearable art. I am using some jewelry findings that are new on some of these if I can't find something I like to add otherwise. I have starting seeing these in the celebrity circles even on the men, but they are really basic and plain. I love the more vintage, romantic feel of jewelry. I'll be continuing to make more and list them on my etsy site. http://www.repurposingbeauty.etsy.com/  I have been thinking about some kits also but haven't taken that too far yet. Enjoy!