is this a dream?





Being here in southern California

makes my heart sing and my feet start to dance.

I do believe~

"my feet lead me to where my heart has always been"

Vintage Ear Bobs

"Amber"

This cold join connection is probably my most favorite to use on my etched cuffs.

"Dancing Queen"

Along with using vintage ear bobs. 

I don't call them clips.  I call them bobs.

I most likely call them bobs because of my aunt Susie.  She wore beautiful ear bobs.

Her name was actually Josie, like my grandmother's....but, the family called her Susie.

She was beautiful.  Just like my grandmother.

When I was little, we would go into Houston where she lived.

Once when I was probably about seven years old, we went to visit.

At that time she was living in an apartment above a grocery store.  

In her kitchen was a booth-like nook....early sixties-style. 

I had never seen anything like it.   

It was there...that particular time that I ate my first powdered do-nut.

I didn't know what to think as I popped them in my mouth, 

and they just melted away.  I thought they were the best thing I had ever eaten!

We never ate anything like that at home.  And, you know what...never did.

My mother did would not buy them.

Yep, ear bobs.  They don't have a thing to do with do-nuts.

But, then again....maybe they do.

etched & layered

"Emerald Lady"

Etched & Layered

 In preparation for my Etched & Layered class, 

(and three more times after this one)

I finished my newest cuff last night.

I find myself trying to catch my breath as I think about seeing old friends 

and meeting new ones.  I will be in Fullerton in just over a week, 

where I will teach two classes~one being Etched & Layered. 

I will be at Gilding the Lily on Saturday, May 21st.

(I will be teaching Heart Strings there on May 22nd).

I am excited about finally meeting Nancy and Dede and so many other beautiful ladies.

Many I have only talked to online.

I do confess, 

I am constantly on the lookout for vintage rhinestone brooches, ear clips, 

shoe buckles and vintage buttons.  

I probably have more than you can imagine.

But, when I saw this one sitting in one of the vendor's cases at my local antique shop,  

I immediately knew I wanted it.

Now I know for sure it was worth every penny.

The best part of "Emerald Lady" (for me) is the gorgeous brass piece behind the Ruiz Studios 1920s brooch.  It is one that Jill, at Brass Bouquet, named "Diane".

I thought this was a beautiful piece of filigree the moment I saw it.

Thank you Jill for such a beautiful honor.

And don't forget, 

if you are on the east coast, registration is now open for ArtBLISS, 

where I will be teaching Etched & Layered on September 24th.

I am sprinting past today only slowing down for tomorrow - diane =)

dreaming of dancing

When I was a little girl I watched the Carol Burnett Show religiously.

It was one of the best variety shows wasn't it?

What I loved most about it were the dancers!

Remember, all the shows had them back when.

I confess, I wanted to be one of them. 

The Ernie Flatt Dancers!

Really, was that their name??  Yes, I had to look it up =)

They would effortlessly spin together light as air on the dance floor.

I dreamed of twirling around and dancing with my partner on a stage like that!

To be part of a dance troupe on TV.

Oh, what funny dreams I had.

I guess Dancing with the Stars fills that empty gap today.

Not for me, as it is certainly not the same.

I have been working on finished a couple new classes this week,

this being one.

This cuff was cut and etched out of a gorgeous piece of red brass 

I had etched almost 2 years ago.

It sports a forged, stamped & oxidized nickel silver heart,

with a tiny window letting you see into "my heart".

One that longed to dance on a TV stage!

Yes, I dance.  But, not like they danced.  

I have danced since I was 6, when I began tagging along with my mother & father

to country dances in old German dance halls.  You must dance if you are from Texas!

Especially the part of Texas I was born & raised.

Today I still feel a deep stir inside my soul when I hear a beautiful waltz, 

AND even a polka.  

I probably always will....

 Just let me dance.

And when I do, let it be with heart ~ diane =)

Thank you Mom...

I don't have many pictures of my mother and I by ourselves.  

This is one of the rare ones taken outside of her sister's home in Pasadena, Texas.

I was three.

My mom had a hard life.  She was number 8 of 13 children.

Her father was a barber, but also drank too much.

Her mother, Josie, took care of her children and her home.

My mother and my father were married when she was just 16.

They had 4 children, but for many years there was just us three girls.
I was the middle child. 

 My little brother came 10 years after my little sister.

My mother is a strong woman.

I only hope to have as much strength as she has had to have in her life.

 My Mom, =) and my daughter, Melanie =)

I love you Mom!

I love you both!

Happy Mother's Day!

ArtBLISS 2011

I am so excited to share with you this great bit of news!

I'll be teaching three classes in the Washington DC Metro area this September.

I can hardly believe it!!

I am so excited that Cindy & Jeanette invited me to come to the east coast, 

along with six other extremely talented teachers; 

who are btw, teaching many new classes!

I will be in the company of Robert Dancik, Deryn Mentock, Richard Salley,  

Jane Salley, Kerry Bogert and Christine Damm. 

On Saturday, September 24th,

Etched & Layered Cuffs.

That evening I'll be teaching 

Heart Strings.

....the fun tassel part of the necklace.

The same Heart Strings I had published in the latest issue of 

Belle Armoire Jewelry, and the ones I talked about here.

Then on Sunday, September 25th,

I will be teaching a new class...

"Believe" Soldered Pendant Necklace.

 This class will be chocked full of my "primitive style" of soldering 

and fun techniques.

I hope I see you there!

Registration begins here tomorrow morning 7AM EST.

Art Walk 2011

"Aquamarine Never Makes Me Blue"
I've been busier than a bee preparing for Art Walk this weekend.

Oh, and not to mention class proposals (that have been and are due soon)
that have been buzzzzzing around in my head.
I will have more details on those soon...California & DC here I come =)

But, my main focus has been on an event I've been a part of for the last three years.

It is a grand event.

One that benefits local children.  

This pulls at my heart, 

as I was one of those children who could have benefited from the programs
now held in this small Texas town.

The ArtWalk, sponsored by Arts for Rural Texas, features over 60 artists, displaying their paintings, jewelry, photography, ceramics, sculpture, wood and glass art.

It is a free event for the public...with music, food, wine tasting

AND a Kid's Art Tent!

It will be held around the quaint Fayetteville historic square this Saturday, April 30th

from 10am to 5pm and Sunday, May 1st from 11am to 4pm.

More details can be found here.

I will have many pieces of fresh Spring jewelry for sale.
I do hope to see you there.

"Believe"

(Psst...I will be teaching this class in DC in September!)

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'm ....

from Marburger Farm Antique Show.

This five day show was the longest I've ever done.
Thankfully we had (pretty) great weather most of the time,
even though I almost melted a couple of afternoons.

I'm so thankful to have been a part of it,
as it turned out to be one of those experiences I'm glad I didn't miss.

I couldn't have done it without my selfless husband,

 my great friend Riki,

and my wonderful daughter ~ Melanie!

Before the show, we had two days of shopping in Warrenton...which was the BEST.
We shopped, laughed and walked a lot!
Here's a picture of Mary, Melanie and Riki
on what Melanie thought must have been the very first  

bike cab!
I saw old friends and met new ones.

Rita, Charlene, =), Sandy and Susie.

Amy, =) and Karen.

=) & Cindy (Crawford *wink*) 

 Sandy, Charlene, Susie, Karen, Joy

Rita, Cindy, Riki & =)
at Theresa's Blog Party.

 Barb from Arizona, who will be taking a couple of my classes

at Art Unraveled, stopped by to introduce herself,
which was such a surprise!

Here's a picture we took with Jenny, who is a Facebook friend from Minnesota.

Jenny actually caught me while Riki & I were walking through Warrenton.

She was there selling some of her jewelry!

And, of course, my great friend Agnes,

who gave me the opportunity to be a part of the show next to her in Tent "W".

This week I will share more pictures of what Riki and I did the day she arrived, 

as well as the next two days we spent in Warrenton.
One of those being with Mary and Melanie

 at the show opening of Clutter.
Yep....we had quite a time!

See you at the Blog Party

For the past two days I have been in Warrenton with my good friend, Riki.  

I shopped till I dropped, and am now home preparing for the

Blog Party tomorrow evening with Theresa.

I will be one of her featured guests, 

 so please come by her booth at Zapp Hall around 6 pm.

I will have my vintage jewelry boxes full & spilling over with some of the goodies 

I'll be selling at Marburger Farm Antique Show  

beginning Tuesday, March 29th!

Would love to see you there!

diane

xox 
BTW....Riki is still out there shopping =)

rhinestones & rosaries

"Crystals & Pearls"

I taught one of my favorite classes, Rhinestones & Rosaries on Thursday.  It was full of awesomely talented students...each eager to bring their own flavor to the piece they would call their own.

In fact, Susan finished hers that evening after class, 

bringing it to our class with Richard (the very next day) to show me!
Beautiful work.

I especially love the crucifix, with it's ornate brass end-caps, 

which matches the bead caps in the rosary.   

These rosaries are higher end, and occasionally I find one I can afford.

Susan is one of those estate sale goers from Dallas.
I would love to hitch a ride on her coat tails sometimes =)
See how she made a double strand, adding a vintage rhinestone brooch across the top of the brass focal?  

BTW...she worked hard on that focal!
That's more than half the fun, 
working out the puzzle of making pieces work together,
cold-join style!

 Sue is a lady I have been speaking to online for probably almost a year.  She and I finally met when she came to a class I taught in College Station last December. 
This is her necklace.
Isn't it gorgeous?  I love that unusual connector, and the crucifix is so beautiful.
I love the deep blue color of the faceted glass beads in her rosary.

...some of the other "works in progress".

My dh was there each day helping me in class...

sharing his knowledge of important things...such as faulty tools.

He's THE gadget guy, and the one who wrote the book on ~

"whoever has the most gadgets wins".

The bottom line~

I had the best day with some great ladies.

Thank you ~ all ~ you were amazing!

Then, after I thought I had one of the best days in my many days of best,

Melissa Manley showed up, to park her tools & supplies for her class,  

Band Groupie, 

which she would be teaching in the room later that evening.

I was packing my things, trying to focus on stuffing getting all my tools to fit back into the bag they fit fine in earlier that morning!

She was wearing a pair of the most beautiful enameled earrings!  In fact, they were even prettier than the ones she had been wearing sitting next to me at Meet the Artist night.

I told her I loved them~'cause I did!

She pulled them off and gave them to me~

...paying it forward she said.
I immediately put them on.

They matched my jewelry AND my outfit perfectly!

She said, "how could I not?  They were made for YOU!"

I almost cried.  

This was the jewelry I was wearing....my bead soup pieces,
along with one of my Etched & Layered cuffs,
wrapped in luscious recycled sari silk.

You be the judge!

I was am overwhelmed.