Three Muses. Relationships. Love the One You're With

This is my entry for this week's challenges at the Three Muses, "relationships", called "Love the One You're With".

This is a 6x6 inch art quilt made with more of my stash of hand dyed fabric, which I sun printed, then wrote on with white pen, stamped, stitched with metallic thread and finally foiled.

The one you are always with is yourself.  I've always found that my relationships with others, be they humans, animals, and even the plants in my garden, are so much better when I am in good relationship to myself.  This art quilt is my reminder of this personal reality.

Studio Snapshot. Vintage Postcard Inspiration

Early 1900's antique post card...

Although I regularly sell vintage and antique post cards at Bumbershoot Supplies, there are a few that I keep for myself because they inspire or touch me in some way. This card sits on a shelf in my studio, by the ribbons I use to wrap up jewelry purchases, so I see it all the time. I love this card because it reminds us that amidst winter, the memory and the reality of spring is still present. It also reminds me of my snowy Canadian childhood - we don't get much snow here in Seattle. Plus the back of the card is very sweet, it was written by a mother on behalf of her young daughter, clearly too young to write herself: "Here is a card Miss Olga McMillan sends to Marie. I would like to ask you what do you want Santa Claus to bring you for Xmas. I remain your friend." The address is merely a name, city and state.  Imagine that... 

Fish. Think Monday Think ATC

This is my entry for "fish", this week's challenge at Think Monday Think ATC. This ATC, called Piscean Dreams, has an image of a fish overlaid with a transparency covered with words created by me via computer, embellished with gold metal tape (same iridescent shade as the fish's eyes) and a bubble-like cabochon disc (find these in the vintage glass cabochons section of Bumbershoot Supplies).

I got thinking about fish and what they might dream or think about, and then I remembered Dory in Finding Nemo - "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, that's what we do, we swim, swim, swim".  What a great thing to remember during the continuing difficult economic times, just keep swimming, what else is there to do...  I added in "clean water" and "food" since I thought fish might think about those things too.

 

Fish are pretty big in the Pacific Northwest. In Seattle, great places to see fish are the Seattle Aquarium, and the Ballard Locks, where there is a fish ladder for salmon to migrate from the salt water of Puget Sound to the fresh water of Lake Washington and beyond.

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week, Mountain Majesty

(approaching Steven's Pass, east of Seattle)

Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.

~Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You'll Go!

New at Bumbershoot Designs. Earring Designs Featuring Vintage Glass Cabochons

This week I've added to Bumbershoot Designs some new earring designs featuring vintage glass cabochons.  Building on last Friday's "New at Bumbershoot Designs" post, this one of a kind design features contemporary clip earring findings, for a modern-vintage feel. These are absolutely gorgeous vintage Japanese glass cabochons, made to mimic natural turquoise.  They are a splendid robin's egg blue.

I can't see anything but owls when I look at these cabs. These are from my personal stash, and in all my supply-hunting travels for Bumbershoot Supplies, I have never seen any like this. Beautifully molded, with really sharp and clean lines and a mother of pearl-like luster, I've paired these cabs with a vintage brass flower charm, found in a large lot of vintage brass that I am still sorting.  A very limited edition earring design.

I love it when I find interesting earring findings.  Beautiful rose findings and spectacular vintage Japanese glass cabochons in that shade of green that the Japanese did so well - that's all you need for a splendid, one of a kind earring design.

All of these earrings are currently available in the earrings section of Bumbershoot Designs. If you are interested in them and can't find them, as always, just contact me and I'll be happy to help you out.

Best wishes for a great weekend!

New at Bumbershoot Supplies. Vintage Glass Cabochons

We carry a lot of vintage glass cabochons at Bumbershoot Supplies. You will find them in the vintage glass cabochons section of the shop.  The one shown above, a spectacular vitrail starburst with a faceted high dome, is back in stock this week - last seen at Bumbershoot Supplies over 6 months ago.  My inventory of these cabs is small, so get 'em while they are available!

Also restocked this week are these very special vintage glass cabs from occupied Japan, floral ovals in what is commonly referred to as a "carved" effect, although the carved-looking glass cabs are molded.  These are a most unusual demin color with a bit of mottling of white glass throughout.  Really, really pretty.

And although not all new, I want to draw to your attention the large number of really small vintage glass cabochons and vintage flat backed rhinestones available at Bumbershoot Supplies.  I was originally drawn to these tiny bits of glass for use in my paper, fiber and mixed media creations. That's an inchie in the photo - a mini piece of art 1 inch square, so you can see the small size of these beautiful glass leaves.

As well as the jewelry applications, these beautiful tiny bits of vintage glass add a special and unique touch to these other art forms. If you decide to try some out, I'd love to see what you do with them!

Happy Birthday Party. Wednesday Stamper

We are partying as you read this because today is my daughter Emma's 16th birthday! A very special day for me, since she is my firstborn, and it marks the day I became a mother.

This artist trading card (ATC) is my entry for this week's theme of "party" at
Wednesday Stamper.

It uses a beautiful swirly stamp from the Michelle Ward series, just like ribbon party streamers. I've added stamped circles using a handmade stamp, made from foam pieces. I've also stitched and embellished with transparent flower confetti, sequins and glitter.

Studio Snapshot. Stacks of Jewelry Findings

Waiting to be made into something beautiful...

I have learned that I need to be able to see my options, quickly, in order to create optimally.  These trays work really well for me. Plus I can turn over the tray and see the stock numbers and costs, which I write on masking tape on the bottom of each little jar.  It makes the dreaded paperwork associated with making every jewelry piece a little bit quicker and easier.

Three Muses. Legs. Kitten Art Quilt.

This is my entry for this week's theme of "legs" at the Three Muses.

For over 8 years now, we have fostered kittens for the Seattle Animal Shelter.  We do not do this all year round, just during kitten season.  I thought I would honor all the four-legged creatures who have passed through our home and blessed us with their presence.

Hand dyed fabric, photo transfer, vintage charms, stitched transparencies, stamping.

It's so much fun to watch the really tiny kittens find their sea legs. Their legs are so tiny that we have to teach them how to use the litter when it is in an old cookie sheet on the floor - they can't handle anything higher. The bottle babies have to practice just walking at first.  And they walk through everything, litter, food, water, it's pretty messy for a while. Pretty soon, though, they figure it out and start tearing around the room we reserve for our fosters, and then it's just crazy fun to watch them slip and slide on the hardwood floors.

Our family came to this choice after losing our 17 year old brown tabby, Alu. She was really my cat - I got her when I was in graduate school. I really did not want another animal, but my children really did want a pet, so we compromised and decided to try fostering, and it has worked out wonderfully well for us. To see one of our foster babies, see this Monday in Seattle post.

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week, Foster Kitten Baby

(one of our foster kittens, named "Baby")

Kittens are angels with whiskers. ~author unknown