inspiration & making jewelry

{1 of my shop's sidewalk displays yesterday, doesn't it just make you want to wander through France?}

Happy Sunday Sweet Friends,

As I sit on my bed this morning surrounded by the new tools of my trade,

I am reminded of the grandness of serendipity!

Because of a post I wrote awhile back about my

Daddy & Disneyland ...

I made a brand new friend, Diane Cook of

rosa & josie's .

She had read the post & new instantly we were

kindred spirits.

She contacted me to work on some digital designs for her.

A new logo, some hang tags & 2...2 sided postcards.

Together we created some wonderful designs, but all the while I was smitten with the

beautiful imagery of her jewelry.

The textures & patinas, the color of the stones & the

mix of old & new.

I am amazed & in awe of her creations!

Then as serendipity will have it, I was contacted by
Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio
to work on some digital designs for her upcoming weekend workshops for
Artbliss
taking place this September in the Washington DC area.
She had been referred to me by Miss Diane , so together
we designed the flyer & blog badge for this must go to event.

While visiting Cindy's blog, I am again struck by the beauty & creativity I find in all her amazing designs. These 2 beyond talented women's jewelry sing to my soul so loudly that I began to believe that maybe I was a jewelry designer in another life.

I have always loved to play with vintage buttons & came up with this little line of accessories called 'Button Up' a year or so ago.

Then I started playing with vintage domino's, painting them with alcohol inks & adding sweet little vintage images on them, accented by some pretty beads.

{tutorial at the top of my blog}
Next came my Frayed Fabric Flower Brooches, which are such fun to make, but using only a glue gun to create...it doesn't really feel like I'm making handmade jewelry.

{tutorial at the top of my blog}
Finally, I jumped on the bird nest bandwagon & touched wire for the very 1st time. I twisted it & wrapped it, twirled it & made spiral tendrils. Many of my early nests were literally tossed out, but as I continued to work through my 'wire frustration', I got a little better at it. I got a little more comfortable with manipulating the wire & making it do my bidding.

And all of this fuss leads up to a bracelet I made last week.
My 1st piece of inspired by my amazing muses, jewelry designs made from vintage buttons & vintage religious metals on antiqued brass findings.
What do you think?
I adore it.
My wire wrapping still sucks & I'm in critical need of some classes, but I have a new love in my life & my hubby isn't even jealous. Last night as we sat on the bed watching 'Practical Magic', my new tools & supplies surrounding us both, he picked up my new copy of 'Easy Wire' magazine & while thumbing through it said, "These are nice earrings, why don't you try & make a pair?"
So, thank you to the Gods of Serendipity.
Thank you to the muses who have touched my life.
Thank you to cupid who shot the arrow through my heart for my amazing soulmate.
And thank you my friends for allowing me to share.
Now I just have to ask my muses 1 simple question.
How do you learn to not want to keep everything you make just for you? LOL

Smiles Friends!

XOXO

Artbliss

Greetings Sweet Friends,

We finally got my Daddy home to his own house where we know he will heal & get better so much quicker. Amazingly, his life threatening injuries are no longer the biggest concern...now, it's all about time & patience. He's so cute because when asked how he's feeling or how much pain he's in, his answer is..."I just feel a general state of miserableness." Ya Think....He's a lucky, lucky man to be alive & we in return are a lucky family to have this 2nd chance & the knowledge that, 'This too shall pass.'

While waiting for my Father to recover in his hospital in Escondido, I was blessed to be able to work with Cindy from sweet bead studio on a flyer & blog button for her upcoming 'Inaugural Event' in Washington DC this fall...ARTBLISS! This event is a weekend full of workshops, shopping, food & fun from September 24th ~ 26th. {oh, how I wish I lived closer & could attend!}

I love all of the vintage, patriotic elements we used in these two pieces & think this adorable little boy waving his flag is just the cutest! {wouldn't he be fun to have on your sidebar with all of our National Holidays coming up?} Thank you Cindy, so very much, for having the confidence to use me during such a stressful time & for giving me a reason to create & a moment in everyday to take my mind to a different place & time & to remember to smile!
And, Thanks Again Friends for all of your Loving & Supportive Comments.
You will never know how very much they have meant to me & my family!!!

XOXO