Triangle. Think Monday Think ATC

This is my entry for this week's challenge at Think Monday Think ATC: triangle. This is an abstract fabric ATC made of a collage of my hand dyed fabrics and denim (from old jeans). It is both machine and hand stitched. Lots of triangles in here.

When I make these types of ATCs, I usually make a large pieced fabric, then use a template with an ATC-sized hole cut in it and move it around the fabric until I find a section that I like. Then I mark and cut out that section.

Since this is an abstract piece, I thought it would be interesting to photograph it in each of the 4 directions in which it could be viewed. See which you like best.

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week

(Skagit Valley tulips)

And tulips, children love to stretch

Their fingers down, to feel in each

Its beauty’s secret nearer.

~E. B. Browning—A Flower in a Letter.

New at Bumbershoot Designs. Jeweled Feathers. A Vintage Button, Bead and Charm Bracelet

If you are familiar with Bumbershoot Designs, you will know that one of my favourite things to make are these button, bead and charm bracelets, pulling together vintage and antique components from my collection.

It takes some time to make each bracelet.  I audition beads, make charms, go looking in my collection and elsewhere for the perfect buttons to complement the other glass and metal components.  Each bracelet remains laid out on my work table so I can see it all the time. 

This particular bracelet features 5 vintage sparkly rhinestone buttons in different sizes and styles. Also featured are 2 individually made lampwork flowers from 1950's Japan in cobalt blue, plus 6 periwinkle teardrop beads, also vintage Japanese. The rivoli faceted glass buttons in cobalt are from 1940's West Germany. There are many charms made with vintage glass cabochons from Japan, West Germany and Czechoslovakia. The bracelet is named after the 3 very old Czech glass feather beads in turquoise with gold detailing (my only 3).

I love these bracelets, since they allow me the freedom to include all the vintage components I adore, in one place.
This one of a kind design is currently available here, at Bumbershoot Designs.

And on my worktable currently is the next button charm bracelet, a flower theme in shades of antique ivory, peach and coral. Stay tuned...

New at Bumbershoot Supplies. Vintage Ribbons and Lace

I have been fortunate to obtain some vintage ribbons and laces from the estate of a retired doll and dressmaker.  Just listed last evening and this morning, currently in stock at Bumbershoot Supplies, you will find some vintage grosgrains from the 1940's to 1950's...

some vintage satin ribbon from the 1940's....

and several laces, all at least 30 years old...

These ribbons and laces are found in the "vintage sequins, trims" section of Bumbershoot Supplies.  I have yardage on each of these trims, so if you would like more than the 2 yards listed, just let me know.  And as always, if you click on the link and items are sold, just contact me and I'll help you out.

Featured Artist. Chantal Regis of Creolane on Etsy

I'm happy to share with you the work of Chantal Regis of Creolane on Etsy.

Chantal purchased some vintage Swarovski crystal beads in a gorgeous apple green. Then she left feedback about her purchase that made me laugh out loud.  I simply had to go over to her shop to see what she was doing with the beads! And here is what I found in her brand new Etsy shop....

 

 

I love Chantal's combination of materials and textures, and also how she mixes vintage beads and components with contemporary ones. 

The other aspect of her work that is interesting to me is that she sometimes alters her supplies to meet her needs, for example these earrings in which she has painted the brass to achieve the aged appearance:

 

 

If you visit Chantal's shop, be sure to notice her shop banner also - it's a band of shimmering color, mezmerizing!

 

Studio Snapshot. Sweet Little Chickadee

sweet little chickadee painted by Tracie Lyn Huskamp...

Discovery Park Wildflower Bracelet Featured in this Lovely Collection

Buried in Betsy's Closet, a blog featuring fashion accessories, has included my Discovery Park Wildflower Bracelet , offered at Bumbershoot Designs, in this collection, Wild Flowers. Check it out!  Many thanks to Marianna!

This pretty charm bracelet combines mint green and frosted white vintage 1960's West German lucite leaves, rose pink vintage lucite flowers and vintage clear round glass bead “dewdrops” as accents. The leaves and flowers are wonderfully detailed, with delicate veining and serrated edges on the leaves. Everything is attached to a 1960's vintage 8 inch sterling silver double link bracelet chain. All findings and the clasp are sterling silver. Vintage lucite is a lovely material to wear - is light in weight, and makes a soft jingle that is quite pleasing.

Discovery Park, one of Seattle’s natural jewels, is home to many wildflowers, including the tiny pink ones that inspired this design.

Three Muses. Maps.

"Maps" is the challenge this week at the Three Muses challenge blog - Incorporate maps into your piece.  Here is a book I have made - the base of the book cover is a map of one of our favorite vacation destinations, Seaside Oregon. Over the map I have collaged bits of paper and hand dyed thin papers and metallic threads, so the base map peeks through the layers. 

Then I stitched, stamped and embellished in an ocean theme, with starfish stamps and vintage beads that remind me of iridescent bubbles. 

 Inside this book is an eclectic collection of my handmade papers and paper experiments. I've sewn a seam down the center of the book to hold all the pages together.

Hello Dolly. Mixed Media Monday

These are my pieces for this week's challenge of Hello Dolly, on Mixed Media Monday.  We watch A LOT of old movies and I knew I wanted to focus on the movie "Hello Dolly".  There are some wonderful hats in that movie. I love vintage hats, and I wanted to incorporate vintage hats into my piece somehow.

Then I remembered the set of 4 ink sketches I purchased at a local antique store...

The sketches were on heavy watercolor paper, pretty much already ATC size.  Not all have hats, but I thought you'd like to see them all, and I encourage you to enlarge them, the facial detail is so lovely.

I embellished them simply, with the goal of enhancing and extending, but keeping true to the spirit of the original artist and his or her subjects.

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week

(white camelia, Japanese Garden)

It is at the edge of a petal that love waits.

~ William Carlos Williams