Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Look What I Found. New Fabric by Tracie Lyn Huskamp of The Red Door Studio


I am pretty excited about the new fabric designs by
Tracie Lynn Huskamp of the Red Door Studio.


I am fortunate to own 2 originals by Tracie: a beautiful goldfinch pin cushion, shown in this blog post, and this wee chickadee painted on muslin shown above and below.


When I heard Tracie had available fabric created using her original designs, I headed right over to her Etsy shop to get me some!


Nature is so much to me, an inspiration, a comfort, a place to heal, a continual source of wonder and beauty and joy.


I love Tracie's work because it reflects how I feel about the magical beauty of the natural world.


I'd love to take a class from her one day, or even just to meet her so I could tell her in person how much I love her art.


I don't know yet what I will do with these wonderful fabrics, right now I am just enjoying them.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Featured Artist. Tonya Boezi of Uniquely You on Etsy


One of the things I love about vintage materials is that artists using them often use them in ways not originally intended and with mediums and materials not originally intended. This is part of what makes pieces made with vintage materials so unique and special.


One such artist I have recently met is Tonya Boezi of Uniquely You on Etsy. Tonya is pushing the envelope working with vintage rhinestones and I’m delighted to share with you her original designs.


Tonya combines images, resin, beads, metal, and various vintage components, such as beads and rhinestones, to create unique mixed media wearable art pieces. She specializes in buckles and statement rings, and these are definitely statement pieces. I’m featuring the buckles in this blog post because they are so spectacular, there is so much going on in each of these in terms of color, images, texture. Just look at this one…


And this one…


And this one…


Tonya originally contacted me to do some brainstorming about how the vintage rhinestones available at Bumbershoot Supplies might perform with the resin she uses for her buckles. It's great when customers share their experiences working with vintage materials because it helps me learn about the characteristics of the materials as they are exposed to contemporary conditions. Plus, I get to connect with wonderful artists! I’m glad to have met Tonya and learned of her work. I hope you will enjoy a visit to Uniquely You. I know you will find inspiration and will be wowed by Tonya’s unique and glamorous designs.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week, The Singing Bird in Your Heart


Goldfinch, Washington's State Bird.
Rendered as an original art pin cushion, displaying my vintage hat pins.
Beautiful art by Tracie Lyn Huskamp, The Red Door Studio.

If I keep a green bough in my heart, then the singing bird will come.
~Chinese proverb

Monday, February 14, 2011

New at Bumbershoot Designs. Sneak Peek at New Vintage Inspired Designs


My muse has been busy the last two weeks, with 32 (yes, I counted) new designs waiting their turn to be listed at Bumbershoot Designs. It has been hard to pull my muse away from the work table, but I was able to convince her to take a few photos on the weekend. If you would like to know more about any of these designs, just let me know and I will prioritize listing the design(s) you are interested in, so you can have more photos and full information.


I've started working in sets, like the costume jewelry designers of decades ago did. So many of the new designs you see here are available as "demi-parures", meaning there are 2 or 3 matching pieces. For example, the earrings shown at the very top and this necklace match, and are a demi-parure.


These earrings feature lovely vintage 1920's Czech nailhead beads with tiny vintage 24K gold charlotte beads and there is a matching necklace on a pretty sparkly antiqued brass chain.


These earrings also have a matching necklace and feature vintage blush pink pearls with really lovely antiqued brass bead caps and a tiny peach moonstone bead, not vintage but genuine :)


This vintage locket is adorned with a 1940's crystal button and black rhinestone of the same era. The chain is also vintage and I have restored and patina'd the chain and locket.
I also made a shorter pair of matching earrings, with just one stone, providing 2 options for this demi-parure.


Another set featuring some lovely coral - peachy vintage Czech beads and lovely Japanese glass pearls. The cabochon is also from 1950's Japan. These move in a charming and eye catching way.


This butterfly necklace also has matching earrings. I'm not sure this one is a completed design. I have some rosaline cabochons enroute that I think I might swap with the rhinestone, but I have to see when they get here. I want this to look light and airy, like butterflies are. This charm is 3 dimensional and I really like that, it adds movement to this simple design.


I love the black diamond stones, so I made this ring to match the black diamond earrings I already offer at Bumbershoot Designs.


I have been fascinated with the character and individuality of these vintage rhinestones ever since I purchased them to offer at Bumbershoot Supplies. I finally decided I could have a few to work with :) I am working on a bracelet to match these earrings.


Oh Marie, Marie... I offer pearl Marie Antoinette earrings at Bumbershoot Designs, this is a new version featuring the most spectacular 1940's crystal rhinestones you could every hope to see. I'd love to make a necklace to match this, but so far the right fleur de lis has not appeared...


These earrings are all sterling, antiqued and polished by me, and feature extraordinary rose colored crystal drops, 1930's Czech. How blessed am I to be able to work with such beauty!


I have been looking for some time for white mother of pearl to make more white cufflinks since my round vintage mother of pearl cabochons ran out. I am extremely pleased with this new lot of vintage mother of pearl, it is flawless, creamy, smooth, iridescent, and I love the oval shape too.


This locket is a long necklace, 26 inches, and is a tribute to all the birds and especially the swallows I see on my walks around Discovery Park in Seattle. This floral locket is adorned with a blue and white vintage West Geman flower button bead and another of those wonderful vintage Japanese glass pearls.

If you've made it to the end of this long post, thank you for viewing my designs! I hope you have found some ideas or inspiration with them. All of these designs and more will make their way into Bumbershoot Designs over the coming days. If you have any questions or would like more information, please let me know!

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week, Happy Valentine's Day


dance as though no one is watching
love as though you have never been hurt before
sing as though no one can hear you
live as though heaven is on earth

Happy Valentines's Day!

Friday, February 11, 2011

New at Bumbershoot Supplies. Vintage Enamel Flowers are Back


Happy Friday!
New at Bumbershoot Supplies this week, we have been able to obtain a few more lots of vintage enameled metal flowers, just in time for your spring designs.  New in stock are the lilac ones above, and back in stock are the following....



We don't have many of these, so if you want 'em, come and get 'em!
Let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Wishing you a wonderful, wonderful weekend!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Featured Artist Update: Cathy Sizer of Rings of Desire on Etsy


Are you going to be anywhere near Savannah, GA in late February?



If you are, perhaps you’d like to catch up with Cathy Sizer of Rings of Desire on Etsy.



I last featured Cathy’s work in this blog post. Cathy has designed several new pieces since then, using various supplies from Bumbershoot Supplies, and I’m delighted to be able to share these new designs with you.


But the big news for Cathy is that she was recently juried into the 9th Annual Springtime Made in The South!, an arts and crafts show to be held in Savannah on Feb 25-27, 2011.

This is Cathy’s first in person show, and I’m so excited for her. Being successfully juried into a show, and presenting your work in this type of environment is a big step for any artist.



So if you are in the Savannah area at the right time, perhaps you may be interested in checking out the show. It sounds like a great event. If you do, stop by and say hi to Cathy – you’ll find her and her beautiful Rings of Desire designs in booth 611.



Monday, February 7, 2011

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week, Violets First Bloom


first bloom of our violets just beginning, our garden at Greenlake, Seattle, Feb 7, 2011

I smelt the violets in her hand and asked, half in words,
half in signs, a question which meant
"Is love the sweetness of flowers?"
~Helen Keller

Friday, February 4, 2011

New at Bumbershoot Supplies. Vintage Glass Pearl Bead Drops and French Metal Sequins


It is very late.
There are many new items at Bumbershoot Supplies this week, but this post will be short.
I'm behind because I played hooky for a few hours today
to make some necklaces and earrings.
You know, sometimes you've just got to get away from everything and create.
So for today, I'm going to share 3 splendid items that are newly listed at Bumbershoot Supplies.

These champagne bead drops, beautifully aged teardrops....


These absolutely incredibly rainbow golden ivory drops, out of the original packaging from Japan...


And oh happy day, restocked vintage French metal sequins, shown above also. Haven't had these in stock since April of 2010!


Going to knock off for the day now, wishing you all a great weekend!


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Featured Artist. Alona Freeman of lonkoosh on Etsy


These wonderfully romantic vintage inspired jewelry designs are by Alona Freeman and are available at her Etsy shop, lonkoosh.


I’m glad to have an opportunity to feature Alona’s work because I have admired it for some time. I often lurk at lonkoosh, just to see what new vintage treasures she has obtained and how she has put them together into her unique artistic designs.


Alona’s designs are like viewing a mini curated collection of vintage components, beautifully arranged and displayed. She uses vintage cabochons, buttons, rhinestones, earring components, and various metals as focal pieces and components to create wearable collages, each one full of vintage flair.
Many of Alona’s designs are one-of-a-kind or extremely limited editions.


I think one of the reasons Alona’s designs appeal to me is because I often have a hard time deciding which of my vintage trinkets I like the best. With Alona’s designs, I would not have to choose – I could wear the rhinestones and the buttons and the flowers and the cabochons and the filigree all together at the same time!


I know I’m not the only one attracted to Alona’s designs because her work has been featured on the front page of Etsy many times.
I’ve focused on sharing Alona’s vintage collage jewelry here because the pieces are so remarkable, but there are many other lovely jewelry designs available at lonkoosh, such as this necklace…


And this bracelet…


I hope you will enjoy a visit to lonkoosh. You will be transported to a place of vintage romance, soft colors, and many, many flowers.