Featured Artist: Mandy Kallal of Jewelry4Reenactors

 

Our latest featured artist is Mandy Kallal of Jewelry4Reenactors!

Mandy's designs are unique because they draw on her years of experience as a Civil War reenactor and have been specially crafted to be period correct.
 

Mandy loves the Victorian era and many of her designs are inspired by pieces from that time. Her extensive research can been seen in each one of her handcrafted pieces and by her attention to detail.  

Mandy uses materials like coral and mother of pearl, as featured in this brooch and earring set, as they were very popular materials during the Victorian era. 

These bracelets are designed around Victorian mourning jewelry. Often incorporating jet black glass or onyx, these pieces would be worn for years after a loved one's death. This design features an old daguerreotype which was a fairly new technology at the time. 
 

Mandy's beautiful designs have delicately detailed filigrees which would surely look lovely to wear whether you are going to a Civil War ball or a modern day event. 
 

We hope you'll enjoy a visit over to Mandy's website (and also check out her Etsy shop too), to be inspired by her designs and their unique histories. Any one of her special pieces would make a great gift for someone who was interested in history, or just beautiful jewelry!

New on Pinterest: Color of 2014 Radiant Orchid

Source: Jentina Naude via Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies on Pinterest

Are you ready to ring in the new year with bright colors? In our latest board "Color of 2014" we are exploring PANTONE's color of the new year, "Radiant Orchid." It's bright, and somewhat sassy, and very purple! Who knows what colorful delights the new year will bring?

Source: fashette.wordpress.com via Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies on Pinterest

Source: Nationaljeweler.com via Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies on Pinterest

January's Birthstone: Garnet

Garnet Vintage Czech Glass Crystal Faceted Bicones.

January's birthstone is the garnet.

The gemstone garnet comes in shades of green, yellow, orange and red. We have a selection of stunning faux garnets at Bumbershoot Supplies and Bumbershoot Designs. When it comes to the vintage stones, garnet refers to a deep red color and faux vintage garnet stones and beads are often faceted to emulate the gemstone.

Garnet Vintage Glass Pear Teardrops.

Garnet Vintage Swarovski Crystal Beads.

Garnets have been used in jewelry since Roman times. The gemstone is the state gemstone in Connecticut, New York and Idaho. It has been the birthstone for January since medieval times. Garnets have been associated with friendship and loyalty.

Garnet Vintage Swarovski Rhinestone Earrings.

Garnet Vintage Rhinestone 60ss Round Glass Jewel.

Garnet Vintage Glass Heart Rhinestone Jewel.

In 1870 Tiffany & Co. published a birthstone poem in one of their pamphlets. The January poem goes:
"By her who in January was born
No gem save garnets shall be worn
They will ensure her constancy

True friendship and fidelity."

Garnet Vintage Swarovski Rhinestone Pear Jewel.

For friendly inspiration, we invite you to browse our vintage faux garnet collections at Bumbershoot Designs and Bumbershoot Supplies.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 25

Day 25:

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!"
– Clement C. Moore

Card by Sharon, Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

 

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 24

Day 24:

“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse..."
– Clement C. Moore

Card by Dorothy Jane.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 23

Day 23:

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree."
– Roy L. Smith

Card by SalmonBerry Studio.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.
 

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 22

Day 22:

“Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more…"
- Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Card by Papyrus.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 21

Day 21:

“Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling."
– Edna Ferber

Card by Dorothy Jane.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 20

Day 20:

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
– Norman Vincent Peale

Card by Sharon, Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 19

Day 19:

“Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind."
– Mary Ellen Chase

Card by Dorothy Jane.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.
 

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 18

Day 18:

“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone."
– Charles M. Schulz

Card by Sharon, Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 17

Day 17:

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?"
 – Bob Hope

Card by Cara Scissoria.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.
 

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 16

Day 16:

“At Christmas, all roads lead home.”
– Marjorie Holmes

Card by Papyrus.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.
 

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 15

Day 15:

“As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is.”
– Eric Sevareid

Card by Sharon, peppermint cookies by Jim, Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 14

Day 14:

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Card by Papyrus.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 13

Day 13:

“I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know,
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.”
– Irving Berlin

Card by Walter Colors.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 12

Day 12:

“Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance - each beautiful, unique and too soon gone.”
– Deborah Whipp

Card by Papyrus.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.
 

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 11

Day 11:

“Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl.  But it warmed more than your body.  It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.”
– Bess Streeter Aldrich

Card by Papyrus.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 10

Day 10:

“Every piece of the universe, even the tiniest little snow crystal, matters somehow. I have a place in the pattern, and so do you. Thinking of you this holiday season!”
– T.A. Barron

Card by Papyrus.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 9

Day 9:

“Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.”
– Oren Arnold

Card by Shannon Martin.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 8

Day 8:

“Be merry all, be merry all,
With holly dress the festive hall;
Prepare the song, the feast, the ball,
To welcome merry Christmas.”
– William Robert Spencer

Card by Sharon, Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 7

Day 7:

“The perfect Christmas tree?  All Christmas trees are perfect!”
– Charles N. Barnard

Card by RSVP.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 6

Day 6:

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”
– Hamilton Wright Mabie

Card by Dorothy Jane.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 5

Day 5:

"When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness."
– Bob Hope

Card by Cara Scissoria.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 4

Day 4:

“May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility.”
– Mary Anne Radmacher

Card by Papyrus.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 3

Day 3:

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.  In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall."
– Larry Wilde

Card by Hitchcock Creative. Card's quote by J.M. Barrie.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 2

Day 2:

"'Twas Christmas broach'd the mightest ale;
'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;
A Christmas gambol oft could cheer
The poor man's heart though half the year." 

-- Walter Scott

Card by Papyrus.

For more about our 25 Days of Christmas Cards project, see this post.

The 25 Days of Christmas Cards: Day 1

We love paper and mixed media art here at Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies. The Christmas season provides wonderful opportunities to showcase these art forms. Cards especially, are abundant this time of year, and come in such an amazing array of styles, designs, colors.

Recently daughter Emma and I were talking about how we could bring more mixed media and paper art into our lives this holiday season. As we were musing about holiday cards and advent calendars, Emma had the great idea that we should mail ourselves a card each day during December, sort of an advent Christmas card project.

And so you have it! The 25 days of Christmas cards! We've selected 25 lovely holiday cards and are opening one a day until Christmas Day. Some of the carts are made by me, some are made by other artists, and some were purchased just because we liked the design or the sentiment. Inside each card we've inserted a seasonal greeting or quote to inspire us throughout the holiday season. We're sending these through the mail to ourselves, because what the heck, getting mail is part of the fun!

So without further ado we present you with Day 1's card and quote:

"I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year." 

-- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Card by Dorothy Jane.

Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies December 2013 Special for Newsletter Subscribers

Turquoise charm earring kit, free with purchase!

This month's birthstone is turquoise (be sure to check out our blog post on that!) and in honor of this gemstone we are giving away this lovely earring kit to our newsletter subscribers. During the month of December, receive all of the components to make this lovely pair of vintage faux turquoise earrings when you use the coupon at checkout. We don't mind saying that they would make a lovely holiday gift for someone on your list this year!  

Our newsletter subscribers can receive this kit, free with any purchase at Bumbershoot Supplies or Bumbershoot Designs.  See your December 1 and December 15 newsletters for details and the coupon code.

Also, don't forget your 1-time free shipping offer that you received when you signed up for our newsletter.

And YES, you can combine specials. So you can have the earring kit plus the free shipping code you received upon signing up for the newsletter in the same order!

Not yet a newsletter subscriber? You can read past issues and you can sign up right here and get your free shipping and earring kit at your next purchase!

December's Birthstone: Turquoise (and a few others)

Turquoise Matrix Scarab Vintage Glass Cabochons.

December's birthstone is turquoise. 

The gemstone turquoise comes in many different shades ranging from white to yellow-green. But when we talk about turquoise in vintage glass it is always about shades of blue and blue-green. We have a large selection of faux turquoise vintage glass at Bumbershoot Supplies and Bumbershoot Designs.

Turquoise Blue Vintage Glass Charm Chandelier Earrings.

Turquoise Sky Blue Vintage Glass Melon Grooved Cabochon. 

Turquoise Cherry Brand Vintage Baroque Glass Beads.

The gemstone turquoise sometimes has flecks of pyrite (commonly known as "Fool's Gold") in it that gives it a metallic variation. Often vintage faux turquoise glass is veined or flecked with metallic gold, brown, white and/or black for an organic appeal.You will often see this type of glass referred to as "turquoise matrix" glass.

Turquoise Matrix Vintage Glass Round Cabochons.

Turquoise Matrix Vintage Glass Cabochon Brass Set Charms.

Turquoise Matrix Cherry Brand Vintage Glass Cabochons.

In 1870 Tiffany & Co. published a birthstone poem in one of their pamphlets. The poem for December goes:

"If cold December gave you birth

The month of snow and ice and mirth

Place on your hand a turquoise blue;

Success will bless whate'er you do."

Turquoise Matrix Vintage Glass Octagon Cabochons.

Turquoise Matrix Vintage Glass Oval Cabochons.

Turquoise Green Matrix Vintage Glass Scarab Cabochons.

Turquoise Matrix Vintage Glass Pear Rhinestones.

We hope this brings you some December inspiration. For more, check out our turquoise collection at Bumbershoot Supplies and Bumbershoot Designs.

And if turquoise isn't for you, you're in luck! December has two other birthstones: tanzanite and zircon. Be sure to check out our tanzanite and zircon supplies and designs at Bumbershoot Designs and Bumbershoot Supplies as well!

Tanzanite Swarovski Vintage Octagon Rhinestones.