Gypsy Brocante’s Rosette Swap Reveal

August 31, 2010

It’s here ~ the day we reveal who our rosette swap partner was and what they sent us as part of this fun rosette swap! Our partner’s identity was a secret until we received their package in the mail….(we sent to someone else, and so on).  I was lucky enough to get Tobi Britton of The Pink Pixie Forest  as my “secret swapper.” Boy, was I lucky! Did I say I was lucky? Take a look.





Ok, is she talented or what? She actually decorated an antique brass hair brush with a beautiful satin rosette and vintage bling ~ are you feeling my joy? Thought so.  And it looks fabulous on my pink Depression Glass plate where it fits in nicely with other little lovelies from my jewelry stash. 

Some close-ups....


You can start ooh-ing and aahh-ing now. 





Vintage rhinestones, pearls and a romantic delicate bird charm ~ it really takes my breath away. And she threw in a second rosette for good measure, too!



I can’t thank Tobi enough for her generosity and for sharing with me us her formidable talents! To see more of her talents check out her Etsy shop here. Then head on over to Gypsy Brocante’s and take a look at all the other sweet rosette swap treasures!  And thanks, Jill, for hosting such a fun swap!


Spooky Monday

August 30, 2010


I'm so excited to share with you some more Halloween/Fall/Spooky stuff as part of Wendy's Adventures in Wonderland's Spooky Monday.  This will be a mash-up of some things that remind me of this time of year.

Sample Boo Packages

Have you ever been "Boo"-ed?  This is something we love to do each year.  You pack up some Halloween goodies and anonymously drop them off at three neighbors' doors with a note that says "You've been Boo-ed!"  Then it's THEIR turn to do the same for  another three unsuspecting families. I first learned of this in 2007 from Cindy at Skip to my Lou.  You can download her Boo Sign (shown above) by going here.  You can fill the packages with candy and small toys, etc. and GUESS WHAT?  Target even started selling PRE-MADE BOO BAGS.  How simple is that?

 Captain Hook, perhaps?

Here is just one of the many animated Halloween spoookies we place in our yard each year (or should I say "my husband" places in our yard each year?! lol)



We always get lots of pumpkins ~ carving them is quite a production!  How great are the leaves?  I can almost feel the crispness in the air!



Here's one small view of our street in all its glory.  I LoVe this time of year!

Go check out some other entries here.

Thanks, Wendy!
  



Blog Guidebook Goodness!

August 25, 2010

Pssst...have you heard?

The Blog Guidebook is a great resource for all things bloggy ~ you can search blogs by topic, list your giveaways (and see others!), and find and list those linky parties we all love so much!  They also have general blogging tips and resources for blog design (they're really G-O-O-D!)  This is a "must-be-a-follower-of-this-blog" blog.  You know what I mean. 

BONUS: Aaaaaaaaaaand if you head over there TODAY I know you'll be pleasantly surprised by their most recent generous offer.  So stop over there, list your blog in the directory and let the fun begin!

Hope you're all having a great BLOGGY week!

Holiday Open House #2 (AND OTHER UPDATES ~ see below)

August 21, 2010

I promised my friend Carol over at The Answer is Chocolate that I'd be joining in on her second Holiday Open House Linky Party.  It's for those of us who can't help but start dreaming of Fall and (maybe?) Christmas in August.  I've decided to link up some fun little Halloween trinkets I made ~ jewelry, of course!  {Note:  I'm still trying out the vintage/antique photo thing so hopefully you can still see them OK.}


The earrings are made out of some silver "skulls" I scored at a church barn sale.  They were part of a spooky-skully-keychain-thingy and I just took it apart to use them for ghoulish earrings.  And I'm happy to say that there are still about 20 or so skulls left on the chain so I can make even MORE ghoulies!  I added black and orange faceted glass crystal beads for a dash of Halloween color.


Of C-O-U-R-S-E you all know that I had to make a charm bracelet!  And as much as I love the old black and white look, I had to show you this one in all its Halloween color!


Kind of makes me want to say "Trick or Treat!"

Head on over to The Answer is Chocolate and see what other holiday stuff is being added.  Or maybe even add your own?

I'm also linking this up over at Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap-Up Party!

Hope you're all having a great weekend! 

UPDATE:  I'm linking this up to Wendy's Adventures in Wonderland and urge you to visit her if you LoVe Halloweeen like I do!


FINAL UPDATE (I swear!): I'm also linking up over at All Thingz Related.  Go on over and check out all the awesome handmade crafts and/or home improvements.  Have a great week, ladies!

Flea Market Friday

August 20, 2010

Here we are again....another week, another Flea Market Friday over at Lemoncholy's Flight of Fancy.  Here are a few goodies I picked up this week.  WARNING:  I'm experimenting with a few free digital effects websites and I've decided to use an OLD/VINTAGE look for the photos in this post.  {I think it's pretty cool myself...}


Gotta love the multi-strand pearls, reminds me of the stuff I used to find in my mom's jewelry box.


I was thrilled to find these medals.....there's even a Saint (Padre) Pio medal which blew me away since my Dad has been on pilgrimages in devotion to this Saint!  Think I'll be keeping that one for me ~ lol.


These flower earrings are a muted mustard yellow/taupe combination and they actually look real (as real as earrings can look, I guess ~ you know what I mean).  I can't wait to include them in some kind of flower-themed necklace!


This one's a jewel in the rough for sure!  Don't know if you can tell from the photo but there are supposed to be eight ruby "jewels" embedded in the ornate scrollwork surrounding the face of the clock  ~ alas, three "jewels" are missing.  I'm sure I can find something to fill in the gaps here....hhmmm....which bling to use?  And should I paint it white (for all you WHITE lovers out there) or should I leave it looking regally old and all antiquey and brasslike?   


These fleur-de-lis earrings are missing their original hanging bling ~ no problem!  I'll replace the missing goodies and probably incorporate them both into one of my signature chock-full-of-charms charm bracelet!  

I LOVE THIS VINTAGE STUFF! 

Head on over to Kecia's blog and share the love. 

UPDATE:  I'm also linking up at Debbiedoos Loves Livin in the Carolinas.  Go check it out!

Have a great weekend!

I won a blog makeover….Yay! Wait, no….

August 17, 2010

You may have noticed that my blog header changed today, from my Bee-you-teeful vintage birds header (which I absolutely LoVed!) to a more personal one, one with photos of my jewelry. And I’m proud to say that I did it myself! A bit frustrating and scary perhaps, yes, but I Did It! I used Picasa, which I had read was really, really easy to use, blah, blah, blah. But I’m a bit computer-grahically challenged so it took me HOURS of sweat and stress to get it right. I know, I know, Picasa for Dummies would have been nice but I have no patience once I get it in my head to do something.

I also inserted a post divider that I’ve been wanting for some time. And I love it. (It’s a really good idea to have a “test” blog to do these things on ~ so I created a test blog and tinkered away! That way, hopefully, you figure out how to do something right before you go in and do for real.)

As happy as I am about my blossoming bloggy feats, it’s a somewhat bittersweet experience for me. You see, I “won” a total blog makeover about a month ago, but it never happened. I initially thought it might work out even though the designer had a very different style from mine, but let’s just say that we did not see eye to eye on things and we parted ways. {TRUST ME, THERE’S A LOT MORE BACKSTORY TO THIS THAT I WILL NOT GO INTO FOR FEAR OF COMING ACROSS AS, HOW SHALL WE SAY, UNKIND?}

Anyway, I’m thrilled to have been kicked in the butt and motivated to move forward with some more blog re-design. I REALLY need a menu bar as well as matching sidebar buttons. I’d also like to change my fonts and sizes of my text. I also need to figure out how to get rid of that pesky black box around my signature….I know I’ll harangue over all of it. But that’s OK. Because in the end I’ll know that it’s what I want.

So please bear with me while I’m under construction (this could take a while…) and keep coming back for more. You’ve all been great and I can’t thank you enough for your kind words and continued support……..and I promise my next post will be about vintage jewelry!

Flea Market Friday

August 13, 2010

I'm linking this up over at Kecia's Lemoncholy's Flight of Fancy today.  I don't have a lot of bloggy time (chickadees have not started school yet!) so I'm going to post a few photos of one great barn sale find I picked up this summer. 




I thought this book would be great for photo shoots ~ I've already used it a bunch and really like the effect.  When we got it home chickadee #2 said, "Mom, this book is really OLD, the PAGES ARE FALLING OUT!"  And I said, "I know, when a book is 106 years old that's bound to happen! :)"  I really had no idea how old it was was when I bought it, I just knew I liked it.  Even chickadee #3 wanted to read the whole thing with me ~ it's really rather beautiful and interesting, of course ~ it's the Bible!

Tomorrow is one of my favorite church barn sales ~ wish me luck!  And have a great weekend!

Repurposed Vintage Pearl Bird's Nest Necklace

August 12, 2010

I've wanted to make a bird's nest necklace for some time now, what with it being all the rage in the jewelry blogging world......what's that?  It's not all the rage?  Well, let's just say that I've seen it around enough times to feel compelled to make one of my own.  I'm not totally OK with mine yet, but here's what I came up with so far.


The "eggs" for the nest are actually a repurposed vintage pearl earring.  The pearls were already wired together, saving me the trouble.  All I had to do was wrap the wire among and between the "eggs"  to look like a nest.  I also added silver and antique brass charms with the words "Believe" and "Grow."  I ued a small single link antique brass chain and a decorative silver toggle clasp.

I don't think I'm totally happy with the type of wire I used, but it was all I had.  Note to self ~ buy some thinner, more vintage looking wire for next time (I still have the other earring to repurpose, you know!)  If you're a mad flea market maven like me you probably already have some similar earrings in your stash.  Grab some wire, a chain and some charms and you're all set.  Easy, peasy.




Hope you're all having a great week!


I'm also hanging here today


The Two Savvy Sisters

This Week's Featured Artisan~ Jewelry by NaLa

August 9, 2010


This week's featured artisan is Jewelry by NaLa.  She fashions one of a kind jewelry incorporating Czech glass, Swarovski crystals, semiprecious stones, freshwater pearls, antiqued metals and sterling silver.  All my favorites!  I especially LoVe her Victorian Style Antiqued Brass Earrings on Etsy.  You can also check her out at Artfire, on Twitter and Facebook or on her blog.   So what are you waiting for?


Altered Art Party (a Bit Late)

August 4, 2010


Okay, so I really meant to participate in The French Cupboard's Altered Art Party a few days ago.  (All right, 5 days ago, to be exact, but who's counting? lol)  As some say, better late than never.  Here's my creation.





I finally created a piece made out of a small round copper disc (which otherwise shall remain nameless for fear of alerting the authorities...lol) which was flattened by the train that runs through the woods by our house (placed there by my ever-so-willing-to-help children!)  I added a charm from a Goodwill thrift store bracelet find and a silver ring and voila!  I'd like to find a way to "antique" the ring, liver of sulfur, maybe?  Oh well, I still love it!

I'm too late to link up with the party :( but you can still go over there and view some really awesome altered art by some really talented artists. 

Hope you're all having a great week!


I'm AM linking this up to Whatever Goes Wednesday over at Someday Crafts.


 and

giveaways
and

Flower Tutorial Blog Hop!

August 3, 2010

Ever wish you could remember where you saw that really cute flower tutorial out there in blogland?  This might just help you find it!  Somewhat Simple is having a Flower Tutorial Blog Hop and I am so in!  I've enetered mine, and can't wait to sit down with a cup of Earl Grey and peruse the many talented creations that are popping up.  I'm SO stoked about this I've added the McLinky button RIGHT HERE for you all to see and join in the fun!  Ladies, let's see those Flower Power tutes! {I'm not obsessed, really, I'm not :) }

 


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