using what i have

"Heart Strings"

I have the tendency to buy way more than I need ~ of anything.

I sometimes sit in my little design space and think I feel the walls literally closing in on me.

Seems once a new idea flies into view, I go all out!

Delving into a new assignment this past week, 

I have tried to turn over a new leaf.   Don't laugh.

I told myself, use what you have.

You have much....just look...you will find all you need.

And more.

I did. I have.  I am happy.

 Other news is that my dear friend, Barb Solem and I visited 

The Prairie 

 this past Wednesday to begin work on her new venture, 

an art retreat (to begin the Spring of 2012)

in Round Top.

Beautiful and inspiring...the day was.

An unusual (for Texas) 

cool breeze was gently blowing.

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture Shop

I literally wanted to jump into every bed Rachel had dressed in each of the 

quaint little cottages on site.

 This picture was actually taken in the downstairs bedroom of the big house, 

the

Liliput Lodge.

 There are two more additional bedrooms upstairs.

Then onto the 

Bluebonnet Barn.

I don't know what to say about this darling cottage, 

once a barn...except...

I want one!

 Every bed, including this day bed in the barn, 

is full of Rachel's pillows.

Next, we stepped into the Cornflower Cottage, 

where Barb had stayed the night.

 And, lastly...

The Meadow Manor.

Reserved for The Prairie event next Spring by Barb, 

for she and the instructors.

Then it was back to the 

Ranger Lounge.

 Once a horse barn, creatively redesigned into a communal meeting/eating space by the previous owner, Lenore Prudhomme. 

The classes will be held here, with plenty of space to spread out back.

And, of course, 

Rachel had angel wings everywhere.

Simply divine.

it's always in the details

When I am hunting for vintage ear bobs, I am always looking at the tiny details.  

Sometimes I will find a set that takes my breath away.  

This was one of them.

It had vintage Miriam Haskell written all over it.

From the brass filigree, to the tiny crystal headpins, then onto the unmistakable patina of the drop pearls and the champagne colored baroque pearls nestled in the back.

I have had this focal made for some time, using it as an example in my Rhinestones & Rosaries class...

as well as in my Etched & Layered classes.

I decided several days ago to go ahead and finish it into a necklace for

Art Unraveled.

I will be teaching this very class, Rhinestones & Rosaries, 

which is the first of two, a week from tomorrow.

 I finished it off with a vintage rosary, that had the most beautiful champagne colored glass pearls, bought from a favorite Etsy dealer.

I had the same reaction to it when it arrived in the mail, 

as I did when I found the ear bobs.

Little did I know that one day the two would come together.

I dug though some bits and pieces left over from necklaces past, 

finding a few strings of filigree covered rosary beads that fit with the two just perfectly.

 Now that will really take your breath away....

Jewelry Affaire

I love surprises.

A beautiful little muslin bag tied together tightly.

Covered with vintage bits of lace

and

topped with a steel cut rhinestone button.

Inside you will find a cuff.

Romancing the Cuff

I am so excited to be have this design included 

and be a part of the latest issue of Jewelry Affaire, 

 which actually hit the newsstands on April 1st.

These romantic cuffs have a soft leather base, 

and have been a consuming passion of late.

I taught this technique at an evening class at Adorn Me! 2011.

Remember the photos here?

I sewed a large group of them to sell at Marburger.

This isn't all, just the ones that made it back home =)

I have had inquiries about selling a kit (even before Adorn Me!), 

so one of the things I have worked on this week was making that happen.

I (will) have the tutorials available on my Etsy Shop here.

Several examples are (and will be) posted for you to choose from.

Here is what you will receive:

A detailed tutorial, which I will send in pdf format,

2 cuff templates,

a soft piece of leather (you choose the color)

 vintage lace, tulle, recycled sari silk ribbon, a charm, an elastic closure,

and either a vintage button or rhinestone button.

You get to choose the type of button (either will be vintage), 

which will determine the price.

$32 shipping for a kit with vintage rhinestone button (No.1 and 2)

$30 + shipping for a kit with vintage button (No. 3 and 4)

You can add any additional bits & pieces that you might like & have 

when you receive your kit.

It is up to you....as it is your cuff.

I will be adding some different kits in the future, but for now these are the choices.

They are just samples, as each one WILL be different

but just as close as I can get to what you see.

While in Warrenton, Riki and I shopped at the lace ladies booth in the Rose of Texas Field, which is behind the Legal Tender Saloon (where my daughter and I eat every time we go to the festival).

This lady comes in from Oklahoma.  We stayed in her booth for at least an hour (or more)

looking and digging through her goodies.

Then, Riki took some of the other girls back there later that weekend.

 She had MOUNDS of lace, tulle, tatting, buttons and more.

And, guess what?  

I haven't even tapped into any of what I bought and brought home from her.

If you'd like the tutorial only it will be $12 in my shop on Etsy.

This latest cuff has a great vintage charm AND a rhinestone button. $48

It is one I've made in preparation for the Art Walk, and is the one I made as a demo for my tutorial.

The Art Walk is a juried art show I am once again honored to be a part of 

in Fayetteville, Texas.  It is a great show, and Fayetteville is located in such a beautiful part of Texas, just down (or up) the road from Warrenton and Round Top.  

The show is for two days, Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. 

I have been on such a fast track since Marburger, I haven't gotten all my photos posted 

from that time.

We had such a great week and a half, shopping and visiting with Riki, 

my daughter, AND my husband.

We laughed ~ a lot.  My husband was there helping me the whole time I was set up at Marburger, and for that I was so very thankful.

The days I spent at Marburger were long ... but very good for me.

I learned a lot.

About my set-up (thanks Riki-son), my jewelry....about myself.

 Riki and my feet after the first day of shopping in Warrenton!

My daughter, Melanie and I on the second day in Warrenton and Round Top.

 Mary, Melanie and Riki on what Melanie though

had to be the very first bike cab!  LOL.

We had a BLAST!

i ♥ valentine's day

"Vintage Crystal Hearts"

Create

ear bobs & screw backs

My name is Diane,
and 
I have a vintage rhinestone addiction.

This addiction I have no problem denying, 
as I sift through a stash of vintage rhinestone ear bobs and screw backs.

Lately I have received a few questions in regard to "bobs". 
On the supply list for the classes I'll be teaching at Adorn Me! and Art Unraveled, I have included vintage rhinestone ear bobs as a design element.

Last night I listed about nine different "bob" sets, two have been sold.

To see them all, just go here.
This post began after receiving a question or two in the last month, 
regarding the difference between ear bobs and screw back earrings.
I love vintage screw backs and use them often.
But, in both classes, Rhinestones & Rosaries and Etched & Layered, 
ear bobs are what's needed.
Here is another example of an ear bob.

A beautiful vintage Weiss by the way!

But, here is the difference.

I have here a couple sets of screw backs pulled off my shelf, 

just waiting to be used.  

They may first appear to be the same...especially when looking at them from this angle. But, it is the back that tells the story.  When ordering online, I always ask (if not shown) to see the back of the piece.  
It says more about the age than the front will ever tell.

Here's their backs.
And, 
another pair of screw backs.

And their backs.

So, if you are working on your supply list for any of my classes, here is an example of what you might like to look for in the way of gorgeous vintage rhinestone ear bobs, 
as seen here.

 Vintage Weiss, with prong set AB rhinestones and a stunning baroque pearl.  
This "bob" is sitting on top of a favorite Brass Bouquet filigree focal piece called, 
Festoon Pendant.
I will be teaching a fun technique for attaching these "bobs" in cold-join fashion.
The "g" word never appears in this process!
It whispers the Miriam Haskel style to me.
A style I fell in love with years ago.

 And here is the back of this "bob".

Wow.  

I love to stare at it from this angle....almost as much as the front.

Especially when it has Weiss on it.

 Now that is what I call gorgeous!

My name is Diane,

and

I have a vintage rhinestone addiction.

LOL.