I Can Solder, But it SUCKS!

 Hi Sweeties...
Well, here I am as promised, back to tell you about my
weekend of soldering. I was so inspired having seen all the absolutely
gorgeous pieces of handmade jewelry on Pinterest.
But let me tell you a little secret....
it's NOT as easy as it looks! LOL

I must say, this is not my first attempt at trying to conquer my fear
of soldering, it's my 2nd. My 1st try was a complete failure & you can
check that sad experience out HERE!
Let's just say, I BURNED shit!

So, the good news is...I love to copper wrap!
Instant gratification, just like wrapping a beautiful present...
it's easy & tidy & neat, me likey.  ;)

{don't ya just LOVE the face of my grumpy little girl}

But then comes the hard part, the SOLDERING...arggggggghhhh.
My problem is, I want it to be perfect & as far as I can glean,
there is no perfection in soldering, or at least not in MY soldering.

In the pictures above, I bought the glass soldered charm on the left
& my soldered charm is on the right. When comparing, I see that even the purchased
glass charm has solder dripping on the edges on both sides & I bought it & loved it.
But I need mine to be smooth, which comes from the anal, OCD part of me.
Another problem I have, is that the flux always gets under the glass
leaving a wet mark on my antique, 1855 French paper.

Like I said before....arghhhhhhhhh!
By Sunday evening, this is exactly what my face looked like. lol

But through it all, the trials & tribulations, I did manage
to create this one little perfect gem.

And look...the flux didn't even get under the glass this time.
Yippppeeeee.....

To reward myself for suffering through a weekend of soldering,

I also worked on some yummy little vintage coin purses

that will be made into long necklaces. 

I still have a few, treasured metal jewelry pieces left from my

Round Top, Texas trip last spring & they make perfect little frames

for a Tintype photograph. 

I ADORE Tintypes...

you can see & feel the history they share with us.

Sooooo....short story long, I can solder, but it SUCKS!!!

I know I will get better in time & I know practice makes perfect,

but for right now...

I will try & find the beauty in imperfection.

And keep in mind,

I haven't even TALKED about jump rings...arrrrgggghhhhhh.  ;)

XOXO

vintagesusie

Pinterest & Inspired Soldering

{pictures from pinterest}

Happy TGIF Sweet Hearts!!!!

I hope you had an AMAZING week...

I know I did cuz this week, I discovered Pinterest!!!

I'm ALWAYS the last to know right, what's UP with that??

Well, here's my theory...

I spend soooooooo much time on the computer working,

I mean like ALL day, a lot of days,

that I'm already filled with guilt about not being present.

There's Email...

Facebook...

My Blogs...

Blog Design...

Reading Other Blogs...

Photo Downloads...

Spoonin  Website Revisions...

My Kindle Fire...

The idea of one more social media to have to nurture & maintain

was too overwhelming & I had no interest at all in adding to my already full plate.

And then I actually went into Pinterest....

& fell madly in LOVE with everything I saw!!!

So here's my boards...

vintagesusie & wings

Queen of Everything

Needful Things

Jewelry Inspiration

Pearly Love

Junky Love

Spoonin

Words to Live By

Places I've Been & Love

Places I Dream Of

Design Inspiration

Inspiration

Bucket List

Love Old Pictures

Sooooooo, once more I will say to you...

can anybody say OCD!!!!

I'm addicted to Pinterest!!!

I spend my nights {sometimes days, lol}

dreaming of the things I love & looking longingly at the

gorgeous images found in Pinterest, I ADORE it!

The GREAT news is, Pinterest INSPIRES me to CREATE.

So today, I overcome my fear of soldering & make this!!

{well maybe something LIKE this, lol}

Source: youtube.com via Susie on Pinterest

{click on photo for soldering tutorial}
I'll be giving you an update on my soldering progress,

as last time I tried it was a complete failure.

Why does it scare me so???

I feel like a 2 year old...HOTTTTT!

Anyway, wish me luck & go forth & PIN!!!!

XOXO

vintagesusie

W.H.O.A. Women Helping One Another

Have you ever said to yourself..

WHOA!!!

Well lately, I've been saying it quite a lot & here's why...

A new blog is coming out, the brain child of my dear friend

Jenelle Van De Mortel

& the concept is beautifully simple.

W.H.O.A.

Women Helping One Another.

I have been touched by WHOA, as I'm sure so many of you have.

I know from personal experience, that the women in my life

have truly been...The Wind Beneath My Wings!

When I first starting blogging a few years back after looking through a

gorgeous Artful Blogging magazine, having never even read a blog before,

it was the kind & generous comments from my friends that encouraged me

to continue & in doing so, opened up a world of unknown possibilities to me.

WHOA is the soft nest we can land in as we start a new business venture

or try to accomplish something that's been in our heart for a long time,

but we just didn't feel secure enough to take that leap of faith.

Jenelle's goal is to create a community of women who will be

there for each other to offer support & encouragement,

networking & advice, contact's & idea's.

A place women can go, to truly feel unafraid to speak their dreams out loud.

A place where they will be surrounded by love & positive energy.

A place where each & every one of us can find JOY in knowing

we are a part of something so very special, as we watch

our sisters Spread Their Wings & Fly!

W.H.O.A.

Women Helping One Another

Such a simple concept, something we do everyday without even thinking about it.

And the key to this groups success is going to be, you & me.

It's US. The universal US.

Jenelle is going to be a Guest Curator at CRESCENDOh

on January 16th & I hope you all take this chance to get to

know her a little better. Check out all of her talents & the

things that shes involved in, but most importantly...

head over to WHOA & become a follower.

Together, you & I,

we can make dreams come true.

We can change someone's life.

I know you all changed mine!!!!

XOXO

vintagesusie

Happy New Year & a Giveaway!!

{digital designs by vintagesusie}

Happy New Year Sweetest of Hearts!!!

2012 is finally here & now we can all find out for certain,

whether or not the planets are all going to align & throw us off

our regular rotation & fling us into some kind of insane,

natural disaster, Armageddon!!!

I'm thinkin....NOT!  ;)

I'm thinkin the complete opposite...

I'm thinkin I want to be Happier then I've ever been,

Kinder then I've ever imagined I could bee,

Stronger then the strongest oak,

Free-er then I've ever felt.

I want to Go to places that I've never been,

Do things that I've never done,

Meet people that I'd never thought I meet

& stand in Wonder & Amazement at a world filled with Possibilities.

There is Magic all around us, all we have to do is be Brave enough to Open our eyes & SEE!

 These are my hopes for my own New Year & I'm hoping that you

get every experience, every feeling, every joy, everything,

you're looking FORWARD to in yours!!

Oh...& did I mention a Giveaway???

Head over to my Crazy & Beautiful, Rowdy & Unruly,

Trash Talkin Texas friend Deb's place, for a chance to win

a 'SPOONIN' necklace of your own.

Just leave a comment on

her awesome New Year's Eve post & you too

can become part of the SQUIRREL ALERT CLUB!!

XOXO

vintagesusie

Give Hope...it's in our genes.

To all my Amazing, Sweet Friends who have followed me along my path

these last few years, I want to Thank You with all my Heart

for your wisdom & kindness & generosity of Spirit.

You have made ALL the difference in helping free me to speak my truths

without fear, knowing I would land in a place of love & support...

there aren't even words that can express a gift like that.

I learned about Huntington's Disease when I was 10 years old.

My Mother who was adopted, had been sick for quite a while by then.

 Her doctors were finding it difficult to come up with a diagnosis for

her condition without having more information about her birth family.

It was during this period that I heard the term, Huntington's Chorea, for the very first time.

How could I have ever known, how much those 2 words

would change mine & my family's life forever.

{Read more about my journey HERE}

Huntington's Disease is neurodegenerative genetic disorder.

The onset of HD is generally in the prime of your life...

there is no cure & it is fatal.

My Mother & Brother both died from complications of Huntington's.

Every child of an affected person has a 50% chance of inheriting this disease.

This has been a lifelong heartbreak for for me & my loved ones...

but I STILL have HOPE! 

{Susie & Johnny last Christmas}

The Good News!!!

I am joining with The Global Gene Project to help promote awareness for the

upcoming World Rare Disease Day on February 29th, 2012.

What does the R.A.R.E. Project stand for??

Rare Disease / Advocacy / Research / Education

Statistics

*30 days from now is World Rare Disease Day.

*Why is the number 30 significant?

*30% of children with RARE disease will die by their 5th birthday.

*An estimated 350 million people are affected by rare disease worldwide.

*1 in 10 Americans is affected by rare disease, that's over 30 million people.

*30 million Americans is more than the total number of people

  living worldwide with cancer & aids.

*There are more than 7,000 rare diseases with some affecting less than 100 people.

*75% of rare disease affect children,

*Almost 80% of rare disease are genetic in origin.

*These rare conditions are chronic, life threatening and FATAL.

*There are NO cures for any rare disease, and only 5% of the diseases have any treatment.

*Over 50% of Rare Diseases have no foundations, advocacy group or community support.

{Sara & Johnny}

Take Action

*Help unite 1 Million for RARE on the Global Genes Project Facebook page so we

  can increase awareness to the rare disease community

*Wear That You Care using JEANS to call attention to GENES that can cause rare
  disease on World Rare Disease Day, February 29th & encourage others to do so too.

  Include your schools, sports teams, places of worship, family & coworkers!

  Share your photos on Facebook, tag Global Genes Project!

*Getting involved can be as simple as putting on a pair of jeans or as involved as organizing a local

  Denim & Genes event.

Recently driving home, I saw the most beautiful, crystal clear rainbow
that I've ever seen & instantly knew it was a SIGN.

A sign of all the wonderful things to come,
a sign of Joy & Peace & Love for the New Year,
but most importantly & without reservation, I knew
it was a sign of HOPE.
Life without hope is no life at all.
GIVE HOPE...it's in our GENES!

XOXO

vintagesusie