When it comes to gift wrapping simplicity can easily become breathtakingly fancy. A little sprig of ribbon and a cute tag can be all that’s needed to add that extra touch.
These small tags are made with cuts from old photos glued onto photocopied butterfly images. The gift, a vintage set of fabric swatches is wrapped and tied with pieces of raffia ribbon. While tiny clothespin clips attach the tags to the raffia bow.
You can Download a PDF version of this presentation here. The PDF contains Clickable Links that will take you directly to an artists Twitter page or Store/Main Website.
It never ceases to amaze me the creative ideas artists think of. I hope you’ll enjoy taking a sneak peak at some of their works.
I’m so thrilled to be able to participate in this year’s One World One Heart Blog Giveaway. It’s an exciting opportunity to meet hundreds of artists & bloggers from around the globe and possibly become the owner a gorgeous item or two.
And you’re invited to come play!
To learn more & join in on the fun go to the One Heart One World website and visit any or all of the blogs listed to the right. Over 700 at today’s count.
Each blog owner has something listed as a FREE giveaway. All you need to do is add a comment to the post that mentions their OWOH giveaway and wait till Feb 12 to find out if you’ve won.
While you’re there check out what other great things they’re up to by visiting their blog’s main pages. Afterall, the best part is you’ll have the opportunity to meet wonderful new people, be inspired in creative new ways & possibly WIN a prize or two. The list grows daily so stop by every day until Feb 11th to find out what other blogs have come out to play.
Mom Pink Pearl pendant. This pendant is created using vintage papers sandwiched between 2 plates of thick glass. They are held together with a high quality lead free solder frame. The pendant hangs from a 24″ 2.4mm silver plate ball chain and is embellished with a few freshwater and mop pearls. The pendant measures approximate 1x.75 inches.
Cream & Black Friends Charm Bracelet. A chunk chain bracelet lavished with tiny cream pearlesque drops from a vintage necklace once broken but now with new purpose. 7 mini initial charms spell out the word -Friends. Each created using small glass drops encased in a high quality lead free silver solder frame. Small black glass dangles (also from broken jewelry now repurposed) are scattered throughout.
Brass Filigree Ring. A whimsical ring that defies the traditional but remains a classic. Our brass flower ring is made with a vintage brass flower stamping set atop a vintage brass colored filigree ring. The ring is adjustable to fit most fingers. The center flower is filled with a small watch part set with epoxy resin.
Leave a comment below with your email address or some way for me to locate you if you’ve won.
Please leave your comment before
We’ll announce the new owners of these fabulous items
Ready, Set,… Play!!!
Every Friday Twitter Followers are invited to meet a selection of Twitter Users they have not yet connected with. Known as #FF, #FollowFriday and in the Artist Community #FollowArt. The suggestions are usually made within the 140 character message length Twitter allows and resemble “#FF @tweeple1 @tweeple2 @tweeple3″ (with tweeple being substituted with an actual twitter profile name).
I wanted not only to share the recommendation but show you some of the wonderful artist creations I’ve enjoyed finding through the Twitter Connections I’ve made.
If you follow me at twitter you’ll receive both this video and the usual @messages.
Did you know there are more antiques and collectibles stores per square mile in the state of New Hampshire than in any other state? Along with a plethora of consignment stores a visit to New Hampshire is a wonderful treasure hunting adventure.
A few minutes past the Massachusettes border as you drive from Nashua into Amherst NH you’ll find yourself on a grand journey across what is part of “the Antiques Trail”.
Usually we (my mom & I) start at the 101-A Antique & Collectible’s Center located right off 101A just over the border of Merrimack, NH going into Amherst.
It’s a two story establishment with rows and rows of gorgeous vintage and antique booths at the main floor and loads of gorgeous furniture etc. downstairs.
The next stop is another deceptively small shoppe called “This Olde Stuff.
It looks small from the street but This Olde Stuff is a good size Antiques Mall. Parking and the entrance is to the rear of the building where you’ll find a whole other “wing’ of available goodies. The dealers here tend to keep the stock fresh so that you’ll always find a unique little treasure tucked within the loads of goodies. It’s a “crawl around” store so wear comfortable clothing cause you’ll definitely want to get on the ground to pull things tucked out of bottom shelves. We found an entire replacement set of dishes that way. It’s also a “vintage jewelry” mecca with some of the most gorgeous pieces handsomely displayed. The staff is exceptionally helpful and friendly and the hunting is always fantastic!
Back on the highway we’ll take the next right at the lights and tucked around the corner is a yellow building with a chinese food restaurant, a consignment shop and at the very end a cute little co-operative called “Martha Mae’s”
Martha Mae’s is on the right of 2nd Chance Consignment. It’s more like a little vintage consignment store with antique-y things in it. It’s a tiny shoppe with loads of tiny treasures. There are only a few booths, which are not really booths but small closets. You’ll find some great deals here. As you can see from the photo the store is jam packed to overflowing.
Further down the road, past the Wal-Mart, the underpass, the Shaw’s shopping plaza & right before the Milford Oval is another gorgeous 2 1/2 story shop called Golden Opportunities. If you’re driving from Amherst into Milford it’s on the right across the street from a run down shopping plaza.
The old home feel is quaint. You’ll enter into the foyer and walk past a small section of booths with jewelry. Up a small flight of stairs you’ll find a gorgeous selection of furniture pieces. Towards the back you’ll find the entrance to the basement where you locate the stash of goodies perfect for fix ups and re-purposing.
And I saved the best for last. The Antiques at the Mayfair is a gorgeous 2 story multi room shoppe with hundreds of awesome finds on any given day. Unlike the others it’s not located on 101A. Rather you have to back up a little and get onto Rte 101 going towards Bedford/Manchester. There are very few businesses on Rte 101. Instead it’s fairly scenic with loads of trees and old farm houses. A restaurant here and there. More trees, more trees, and more trees. Then out of nowhere a little plaza emerges on the left side of the street. It’s facade looks like you driven into Switzerland. There are several buildings/cottages with the very last one primarily the Antiques at the Mayfair store. (Right next door is Enchanted Lace.)
The prices are excellent here and if you see anything you like snap it up right away. I saw a vintage typewriter for $25 and decided to hold off on picking it up right away. It was gone before I finished perusing the store. I should have known.
Of all the stores this is by far the most fun. The entrance is actually on the top floor in the center of the building. If it’s your first time the basement can be confusing as rooms open up into closets that open up into rooms that open into other rooms and don’t forget to check out the stuff stashed beneath the stairs.
When you get to Antiques at the Mayfair ask one of the members behind the counter for the map to the Antiques Trail. There are a lot of other shops along 101A that we haven’t been to yet so I didn’t mention them here. If you’re up to it you can visit them on your return trip.
So if you’re up for something to do this weekend take a trip along “the Antiques Trail” on Saturday. Then on Sunday visit the Hollis Flea Market. Happy Shopping!
Step One: Glue Your Images to the back (plain) side of your domino. I use a thin coat of 2 part epoxy resin.
Step Two: Coat the images with 2 part epoxy resin and let dry for at least 24 hours. They’ll be safe to wrap with the copper foil. But you’ll want to wait 7 days for the resin to be completely cured/dry.
Step Three: Solder the piece with a lead free silver bearing solder. To get a darker colored metal you can antique with patina after it’s been washed.
I was able to make it to phase 3 of completing these mixed media domino pendants late in the night. I’d completely lost track of time and wound up staying up till just past 1am. I must have been sub-consciously tired. Can you spot the pendant I goofed up?
I received the most pleasant surprise yesterday afternoon when
Terri G. of
informed me she had awarded my site a Kreativ Blogger Award.
You can imagine being somewhat new to the Art Blogging world I was thrilled & honored. Especially as you consider the gorgeous layout and workmanship of her site & art. If you’ve never stopped by please do you’ll absolutely enjoy it!
Terri, thank you!
Here are the award rules:
List 7 things You Love & Pass the Award onto 7 Blogs that you love.
Be sure to tag them and let them know they have won!
You can copy the picture of the award above and put it on your sideboard
Letting everyone know…..you are KREATIV!
Seven Things I Love
My 7 Wonderfully Kreativ Bloggers are…
My copy of Somerset Studio’s Marie magazine arrived.
And inside I found…
my Marie Antoinette Choker Necklace
Of course the photographer and model did a far better job making the piece look great. I was beyond pleased. And Kudos to Amanda Crabtree who did an exceptional job of taking my long-winded babble and making a concise article for you to enjoy. The additional artwork within the pages of the magazine are also simply stunning.
Inside the tiny soldered frame there is a small collage print of Marie Antoinette asking a simple question “cake?”.
As the story goes… upon hearing the French people had no bread to eat Marie Antoinette, the lavishly dressed Queen of France, proclaimed “let them eat cake”.
While the quote did not originate with her, French Revolutionist used the excessive spending and extravagant lifestyle of her youth to convince the people that Antoinette the woman/mother was anti-France. Tried for treason she was found guilty and executed by beheading.
But to those who knew her… Marie was a gracious and giving woman. Her generosity included adopting children, building homes for those in need, supporting the cause of the unwed mother, widow and blind. As a mother she doted over her children getting personally involved in their education, which was uncommon.
The choker is a mixture of different metals, pearls & wire. It’s finished with a faux vintage rose drop. And closes with an ornate lobster clasp.
The choker style was used to represent her beheading. The rose “as she was often seen” representing her fall from grace. The piece created with pearls, silver and gold colors represent the beauty that is Marie Antoinette.
For more information about Marie Antoinette including a gorgeous array of artwork visit Marie-Antoinette.org and Wikipedia’s articles on the infamous Queen of France.
Remember you can pick up your copy of Marie at Barnes & Nobles, most craft stores such as Michael’s & ACMoore and other booksellers on April 1st.