Frosted Dragonfly. Progress Report 4, Ethereal Bangles Online Class With Kristen Robinson

This is the 4th of 5 bracelets I have made in the Ethereal Bangles online class offered by Kristen Robinson. I've shown 3 previously, 2 in this blog post and 1 in this blog post. You can find out here why I made design changes so that this bangle is not really a bangle :)  Instead, it has an adjustable closure, with the clasp linking into the chain. The pearls and the chain are vintage components.

It's not snowing in Seattle, but it is cold. Thus the name and inspiration for this design...

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week, Ideals Are Like Stars

art quilt post card

hand dyed fabric, stamped, painted, stitched, glittered

Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands.

But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides,

and following them you will reach your destiny.

~Carl Schurz

Happy Holidays. Vintage Design Inspiration Board #11 with Creativity Quote

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

Inspiration Board #11 features:

vintage millinery stamens (West Germany)

vintage gold mercury beads (Japan)

vintage crystal flower buttons (Czech)

vintage heart stampings (USA)

vintage ruby rhinestone (Austria)

vintage red silk ribbon (Japan)

vintage teal ribbon (England)

vintage checked taffeta ribbon (USA)

vintage flower cabochon (Japan)

antique Victorian Christmas scrap

vintage brass double heart pearl rhinestone chain

vintage brass bells

antique silk embroidery floss

vintage linen tea towel

mounted on 4x4 inch gallery wrapped canvas base

Joy. Progress Report 3, Ethereal Bangles Online Class with Kristen Robinson

Yes, I am still working on the Ethereal Bangles online class offered by Kristen Robinson. I've completed 4/5 bracelets. I've shown 2 previously, in this blog post.  This is the third, and I wanted to show it this week, since it fits right in with the spirit of the season...

Wishing you joy!

Look What I Found. Vintage Bethlehem Star Mother of Pearl Cufflinks

...beautiful Bethlehem Star vintage carved mother of pearl cufflinks, from my personal collection,

with wonderful old chain construction...

Monday in Seattle. Gingerbread House Design Symmetry

Eric's gingerbread house, a study of symmetry in design

The universe is built on a plan,

the profound symmetry of which is somehow present in the inner structure of our intellect.

~Paul Valery

with thanks to Eric for selecting this quote

New at Bumbershoot Supplies. New Vintage Cabochons, Vintage Rhinestones and Settings, Vintage Ribbons

How are you all doing, busy?

If you need any last minute supplies, we're here to help, shipping up to and including Dec 23.

We're busy too, so today I'll just share a few pictures of some of the lovely new items that have arrived at Bumbershoot Supplies.

New vintage glass cabochons… More new vintage rhinestones in all kinds of shapes and colors… New antiqued brass ox settings… New and luscious vintage moiré ribbons from the 1940’s…

I invite you to come on over to Bumbershoot Supplies and have a look at all these new vintage treasures. 

Until next time, wishing you a great weekend!

Wearing This Tonight. Necklace With 1930's Glass Vintage Beads, Sterling Silver

Tonight I am going to see the Seattle Symphony perform Handel's Messiah.

This is one of my absolute favorite pieces of seasonal music and I have never attended a live performance. I'm really looking forward to it.

What makes it even better is that I am attending with my daughter Emma, who, having performed with the Seattle Symphony a few years ago, is now reviewing the Symphony's performance for Seattle's Teen Arts program, Teen Tix. This is a wonderful program that provides discounted arts tickets to Seattle teens. Emma has been one of their arts reviewers for a few years now.

It will be fun to get dressed up since I don't do that very often. I will be wearing one of my own designs, this necklace, which is a cascade of silvered amethyst bugle beads, a bit more purple than my photos captured. These beads were purchased in Paris and are Czech in origin, made in the 1930's. They came to me with individual looped wires through each bead. I created 10 strands of linked beads, each strand with 36 beads and finished the necklace with sterling silver findings. So, 360 linkages to make, and then check again for quality control. It took a while, but it was worth it, I think. I love the subtle silvery shimmer of the bugle beads in the light.



Vintage Design Inspiration Board #10 with Creativity Quote

Cherish that which is within you.

~Chang-tzu

Inspiration Board #10 features:

vintage fabric rose leaves (Japan)

vintage glass pearl drop (Japan)

vintage jet beaded ball (Japan)

vintage mother of pearl sequins (Japan)

vintage mother of pearl oval discs (USA), hand stamped

vintage ivory flower cabochons (Japan)

vintage pearl headpins (in flowers, Japan)

vintage hematite rhinestones (West Germany)

vintage braided trim (USA)

vintage Made in Japan paper tag (Japan)

vintage tiny pearl cabochons

antique silk embroidery floss

contemporary stamped shipping tag

vintage linen tea towel, hand stamped

mounted on 4x4 inch gallery wrapped canvas base

With special thanks to JoAnn Ouellet of Au Naturelle,

from whom I purchased the stamped shipping tag

 

Monday in Seattle. Handmade Star Ornaments With Vintage Cabochons

glittered stars, embellished with antique Czech glass cabochons

Begin doing what you want to do now...

We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand

and melting like a snowflake...

~Francis Bacon Sr.

New at Bumbershoot Designs. Limited Edition Flower Bracelets

I love to make bracelets.

I'm especially happy that I was able to locate a few more flower beads to remake 2 of my favorite designs in time for the holidays.  Above is Lilac Pansies and below is Sky at Alki.  Both are available at Bumbershoot Designs.

Just one each of these bracelets, and then the beads are all gone...

I also have added this new, limited edition design, Fleur, to Bumbershoot Designs. It combines some of my favorites, vintage flowers and vintage glass pearls, with a detailed fleur de lis stamping that I have curved to fit the wrist, so light and comfortable to wear.

All of them reminders of spring as we approach the depths of winter
and the shortest day of the year.



New at Bumbershoot Supplies. Vintage Ribbon, Vintage Cabochons, Vintage Rhinestones and More

Are you busy right now?

I know we are!

So it's a short post today, just a few photos of some of the new and beautiful items we have in stock at Bumbershoot Supplies.  We have 3 vintage 1940's moire rayon ribbons just arrived, the one above is the color of Santa's coat.  Below is this lovely burgundy and we also have a deep pink. These are gorgeous soft, supple ribbons, the kind that make you sigh when you pull a length off the spool.  Made by Balley in the 1940's, here in the US.

I am looking at a box of vintage trims that just arrived today, so you can expect to see additional trims, laces and ribbons added to Bumbershoot Supplies over the next week or two, as long as the Seattle weather permits natural light photography :)

I am also looking at a box full of vintage rhinestones, cabochons and glass pearls that are hoping for new homes, and while they are waiting their turn to debut at Bumbershoot Supplies, here are a few that are currently available...

If we can be of any assistance in your holiday projects, please let us know.

We'll be happy to help out in any way we can.

We are shipping daily (except Sundays) through and including Dec 23.

Until next time, wishing you a great weekend!

Holiday Traditions. The Star Game

Every year our family plays a special holiday game beginning on US Thanksgiving and continuing until Christmas Eve. We call it "The Star". Whoever has "the Star" has to secretly do something special for another person in the family. It could be a chore, like emptying the dishwasher, taking out garbage, making a bed. It could be leaving a little trinket where someone will find it. The trinket could be anything, from a paper snowflake to a satsuma or a holiday cookie.  It could be leaving a few inspirational words, a snippet of poetry, a lovely photo. It is supposed to be something that the recipient will enjoy, something that will brighten their day a little bit.  And, importantly, this is all done secretly - you never tell the recipient it was you, and you leave the Star in sight so the recipient knows it is their turn to "have the Star" and pass it on.

We have played this game for many years now, since our children were quite small.  Then, they required parental assistance to play. Now they are both teenagers and the game has evolved with them.  On Christmas Eve, over dinner, we talk about what we particularly enjoyed about "the Star" during the past month.

So far this year, I have received a lovely cut paper snowflake, the origami crane shown in these photos, and today when I came home from the post office, there were jewel toned lights all around the window in my studio.

The Star itself is a little battered and worn, and has had repeated coats of paint and glitter. But it has served our family well over the years, and for all its worn appearance, it is an important symbol of our love for each other.