Featured Artist. Karin Vergoossen of One of a Kind Jewelry Design on Etsy

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it is Spring, and that means the flowers are returning. In the spirit of Spring, it is with pleasure I share with you Karin Vergoossen's art and designs, found at her Etsy shop, One of a Kind Jewelry Design. 

Karin creates beautiful jewelry designs, many of them in the collage style with vintage components. She’s inspired by many things, including nature, local markets, vintage pieces and shops, and many of her designs feature flowers.

Karin began crafting her own jewelry years ago and eventually opened her own Etsy shop because “I started making pieces on request and discovered the great feeling of making someone happy with something I created. And I can tell you, if you once have felt that, you wanna feel it over and over again!” 

I love Karin’s collage jewelry pieces because it is always inspiring to me to see how individual cabochons, rhinestones, metal and other baubles come together and are elevated into a greater whole.

I often visit Karin's shop, just to see what new vintage treasures Karin has obtained and how she is working with them in her designs. 

I hope you will enjoy a visit to Karin’s shop, One of a Kind Jewelry Design. If you are still waiting for Spring to finally arrive, or if you just need a vintage flower fix, you will find it there! Perhaps you will even be tempted to take home a bouquet...

Featured Artist. Susan Evans of Hydrangea Afternoon

When you find yourself counting and packaging up hundreds of tiny rhinestones for a customer, sometimes you’ve just got to know what she’s doing with them :) That is the case for me, at least, and I’m glad I asked, because that is how I learned about Susan Evans of Hydrangea Afternoon.

I'll be honest, the reason I stock tiny vintage flat back rhinestones and smaller cabochons at Bumbershoot Supplies is because I like to use them in my own paper, fiber, mixed media projects. So it is with recognition and delight I share with you Susan’s cards and mixed media pieces.

Susan makes one-of-a-kind, handcrafted cards, journals, sketch books, note cards, bookmarks, mixed media collages and assemblages, and she has been exploring the use of tiny 4mm vintage Czech and West German glass rhinestones, as well as other types of vintage glass cabochons.

I’m including some holiday pieces in this overview of Susan’s work because I am in awe of the time involved in adhering all these tiny stones in these designs, and so you can see how Susan’s vintage approach in these pieces has provided a wonderful showcase for these old glass jewels.

But as you can see, Susan works in a variety of styles and the rhinestones do too. Notice the vintage Japanese opaline heart cabochon in the piece below. You may not be able to see it, but the visual texture of the heart complements the pattern of the dress.

It's hard to decide, but I think the one below might be my favorite. I love the creative use of the glass teardrop cabochon as the bird’s wing and I love how it magnifies the sheet music underneath. Plus, after a week or more of very grey Seattle days, these colors vibrate :)

As you move into a new year of art making, I hope you will consider a trip to Hydrangea Afternoon for a splash of inspiration. Plus, Susan is such a friendly and positive soul, you will find her a true pleasure to chat with. Enjoy your visit!

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

A very happy Canadian Thanksgiving to all!

May you find your true north, your native land, your glorious glowing hearts!



Vintage Design Inspiration Board #2 with Creativity Quote

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.

~Mary Lou Cook

Inspiration Board #2 features:

vintage Japanese glass flower cabochons

vintage Japanese plastic rose cabochons

antique Japanese silk floral ribbon

vintage millinery net ribbon

vintage ledger paper (dated 1927)
vintage Japanese mother of pearl buttons

vintage paper tag from Japanese bead hank

vintage millinery flowers

vintage West German rhinestones
vintage quilt fabric

antique silk embroidery floss

vintage French sequins

vintage earring

vintage linen tea towel

mounted on 5x5 inch gallery wrapped canvas base

Vintage Ads or Labels. Mixed Media Monday. The Best Christmas Ever.

This is my entry for this week's challenge at Mixed Media Monday, which is to use vintage ads or labels in a design.

I have a wonderful Victorian ad for a brass doll bed, "The Best Holiday Present for Little Girls".  I also have a Dover CD with this charming image.  The girls in both the ad and in the clip art were holding their babies just so... With some computer alterations, some collage, foiling and embellishing, this trading card came together.  It was the best Christmas ever...