Repurposed Spice rack

I have a ton of glitters and really wanted something to display them on. When I was out thrifting one day I found this old spice rack. I re-painted it with some hot pink paint then used spray glitter in silver all over it.

 I love circus themed stuff and had this cute victorian scrap bunny in a party hat that a wonderful blog hopper sent to me. I put them all together and am so happy with the results. I still need to take the time and hang it, then filler up. In reality I could use about 4 of these for all of my glitter, don't judge. So here is the result.

I need to glue the top streamers in place a little better. It has been so hot hear I've been running my swamp cooler constantly so the humidity made the streamers a little saggy. The little wheels are the caps I saved from my sons smoothie pouches we use in emergencies. Don't they really look like wheels? My dear husband just shakes his head at me because of what I save. The purple circles above are vintage snap on earrings repurposed.



Sparrow Bracelet

I've been experimenting with a lot of bracelets lately. I really love how this one turned out. I have collected tons of findings and components and really need to make a lot of pieces and start selling more of my work. I am trying to simplify more and I hate to just destash everything. I would really like to keep it all but, I find that I wear just a few items. Right now selling is the best thing I guess. I am very drawn to the birds in art and jewelry. I also am starting to work in more of the shiny and antiqued combo pieces like this one and with the brass and silver. I recently went to Monte Vista here in Colorado. I checked out a bead store there and bought a couple things and am in the middle of a project I'll share next couple posts. I've been trying to create jewelry in ways I haven't in the past and trying to use elements that I've never used before. As of yet I still don't have a "style" like a lot of people. I like such diverse things that I don't know how to stick to one style.

My Birthday is coming up soon and my husband keeps asking me what I would like. I have finally decided (I think) that I would like a flex shaft. If you've never heard of one you can check them out at Rio Grande or Contenti. I think it would enable me to do more with metal.

Time Flies

I know it's been a long time since my last post. I had to focus on my health and that took a lot of reading and searching for answers. Also we had several close family members sick and that took up a whole bunch of time. So, I'm back! I went to the Cherry Creek Art Festival last month and got some awesome pics to share. I have a favorite artist that I love to see each time. Her name is Claudia Roulier if you've never seen her stuff your gonna love the next couple pics.

I love how whimsical everything is and the layers are amazing. She had a bear in a party hat the year before last riding a tricycle. I wanted that picture so much, alas was unable to afford it. But each year she has new cards made with her current work and I get them when I can and tuck them away for inspiration and awe.

I believe this was the poster for the year. This artist has some really fun stuff, sorry I can't remember who he is. The next couple pics are from unknown artists.

I love all of the mixed media art and assemblage. The third one up is all toys etc all painted black I thought it was very interesting, my husband didn't get it. He loves the photographs of landscapes and the realistic paintings. As you have probably noticed I don't have pics of those. They just don't move me. I've been making some jewelry lately and will post soon on those.

Frozen Charlotte Halloween Dolls

I love frozen Charlottes and have a bunch in a apothecary jar but I wanted to do something with a couple of them besides just have them sitting around.

 I had made another dressed Charlotte before and wanted to make some for Halloween. It was like playing with paper dolls again. I would try different materials for dresses, netting, paper, plastic. I wanted them to be whimsical and fun.

 I love the hats and crowns made from scrapbook paper. The wings are made from shiny black pipe cleaners and the netting dress has rhinestones applied. The ribbon used is recycled sari silk ribbon. None off the dolls have arms but I love the look.  There are much cuter in person and so adorable all together but I have already sold the one in the second picture and have the others for sell in my etsy shop. I think I'll start a new set just for me.

New Experiences

This is a picture of a new hobby of mine, yep like I need another hobby. Cheese making! These are my photo's of making mozzarella yum. It came out wonderful and lasted 2 days. The taste is so much better than store bought especially for this Italian. We had it with bruschetta for dinner and it was wonderful. Next time I'm going to leave in a little more whey because it was really solid. The first cheese I made was an amazing lemon goat chevre. I've been eating that slowly to really enjoy it and my DH doesn't like goat cheese. In my house growing up it was a staple. My next try is ricotta with whole milk and cream, not the second whey cheese a lot of people make. The big plus is that I make all of these from organic milks which if you buy organic cheese you know it's a fortune to buy. I've been a cheese foodie for awhile and then I rented the cheese nun a documentary video from the library. I kinda like documentaries, I know but don't judge. Anyway I loved it and started researching which ones to start with. Funny thing was the whole time I was watching it,  I was sampling some sharp goat Cheddar's from Mt. Sterling. I suggest you do the same, it takes a little bit to get into it then it's great. She's a nun that decides to go to college and learn microbiology with a focus on cheese making and ends up with a doctorate and spends years abroad in France learning about cheese caves etc. Fascinating if you love cheese like I do. We went to whole foods this weekend and my DH let me purchase a couple to try and I'm going to start a cheese journal so I can remember which ones I love and which I don't because believe me there are some that I am just shocked they're produced. We enough about cheese ;}

I know it's been forever since I've posted. Sorry to say I was in the hospital and have been waiting on testing etc. Because I've had such a hard time sleeping I have also started to get up at five a.m. I never thought I would be one of those people, but the meds make it hard to sleep later. Anyway I've been using the opportunity to rise and shine and watch the sunrise. It really has been a wonderful experience. I walk down a couple blocks with my DH help and watch it rise in the prairie. We've been able to add a couple blocks over the last couple weeks and it's helped my stamina. Sometimes it wipes me out for the day though. But enough about that too!

I wanted to show off my newest treasures. I will be parting with some of them in my etsy shop but I just love them so much I'll have to keep most of them around for awhile. They're frozen Charlotte mini heads! I have never seen heads like this so small, I'm going to try and drill some for beads. My mind reels with projects I'd like to do with them. I may have to wait till I'm functioning better but inspiration has struck.

Ugh!

I can't get myself motivated today! I feel like Charlie Brown bummed out and feeling like life is beating me up.

I did sit down and order some nice new tools I needed for jewelry making and other things. I added and removed so many things I can't remember where I started but am looking forward to trying some new techniques. I have had some ideas for awhile but never the tools. So I sold several things on ebay I wasn't using and bought some stuff I wanted. I love ebay!!! Sometimes I'm totally blown away by what people will and will NOT buy. It's so true that one man's trash is anothers treasure. If I had the opportunity and space I think I would try to make a living from it, but my DH thinks the house is crowded already. I go to thrift stores and get stuff I think I can make a couple bucks off of and list them. Sometimes I'm so shocked at how much they sell for sometimes 10 x the amount I paid for them. I had a ton of the frozen Charlotte dolls and now have just mostly heads. I love to display them in a candy dish but my family thinks they're odd.

I love them!

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 ;>