The Evolution of an Inspiration

In the Spring issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry ( 1 of Somerset Magazines publications) there was a tutorial by Deryn-Something Sublime. She showed how to transfer images onto crystals. Way cool I thought!! Then a couple of weeks ago my bloglandian friend Sharon-Livewire used Deryn's technique and created a wonderful piece that she transferred an image of Marie Antoinette onto a crystal focal. Then I thought okay I gotta do this. First up I had to find the lamp crystals. Ha I lucked out because one of the two bead stores in town had some!! :) Next find a print to transfer. I have kinda been wanting to play around with a Marie Antoinetteish piece of jewelry. I had a couple of portraits of MA in my ever growing digital library. Flipping through them I really liked this one. Then as I got to looking at it I thought "wouldn't it be cool to use the necklace she has in the picture as an inspiration for my creation??" Oh yeah I can use the crystal as one of the 3 focals. Oh oh oh I just scored big on those beautiful strings of pearls!! Perfect. Cuz you guys all know how allergic I am to pink, which is the color of the pearls in the picture.


So I set to work on "transferring MA onto the crystal. Now I have to tell you that was one big learning experience!! First MA was in my computer so I printed her out on the best printer paper with the setting as super duper as it would go. Oh yeah I don't have a laser printer :( Then there's the issue of the transfer medium, hmmm not to be found in this town. No worries I can still do this. But after many different experiments I can report that they all failed to transfer MA to the crystal. Not willing to admit defeat I decided not to transfer her I'd just glue her onto the back of the crystal and move on :)

Now if you have to you can flip up to the top to refresh your memory with the inspirational piece :) The next picture is what my hands, heart and brain created.

Wow if you didn't know better I bet you'd guess they are the exact same piece :) :) Okay so what can I say, you guys all know how it goes. Something happens and your hands just seem to take over and before you know it there on the desk is the piece you must have had in mind all the time. I don't know about you but I learned a long time ago not to let my perceived conception control the final outcome. Much easier, far less stressful and way more exciting to just let the inspiration flow uninterrupted from my hands :)

See there are pearls like in MA's piece. I decided to put the toggle in the front so I used a recycled donut type metal bead with the word beautiful stamped around it. For the bar I used another recycled piece. This time with a bit of the Bling MA loved.

There's the first focal just like in MA's piece. I used the cyrstal here. That posed a small problem because there is only one hole in the crystal and it's at the top. How to continue the necklace below it. Simple I took another piece like the bar in the toggle. It actually has 4 holes in it so I could thread the wires through it, to connect the bottom pieces to the top one. :)

On the bottom strings I changed the beads a bit, not wanting to be too boring :) On the wires going into both focals I tied a bit of dark cranberry colored ribbon, my nod to fru fru :) The second focal is a early 1900's head and shoulders of a bisque doll. She got E6000 glued to another one of those recycled pieces. I think they were a part of a belt once. A few beads to gussy up the support wires

Ya remember the other day when I showed you the two Bohemian candlesticks?? Weeeel then you should recognize the 2 blood red glass cut beads and the amber colored prisms!! I thought they were a great finishing act for MA's "Evolutions" necklace.

Since the back of the crystal really looked yucky with the wires and white paper backing I glued a small piece of tatting over it. I also glued a small piece over the empty hole in the back of the stand MA's head is pertched on. Awwww jeez now that sounds soooooooo bad!!! Surely that didn't just come out of my fingers?? As Pattie's Mum would have said "sometimes it's a good idea to think about what you say before you let it out of your mouth" ;)

On that note and with one last look at Annalise modeling the piece called "Evolutions" I will quietly slip away :)

Have a most audacious today or tomorrow depending on where in the world you are ;)

A Give Away & Rubi's New Jewelry :)

Is she not the most adorable 3lb little girl you have seem in a looooooooooong time????? (Psst, the answer to the question is Yes!) As most of you know we are a family of 2 adults and 5 four legged dog type critters. :) They range in age and size from Tali our yellow lab at 11 and 80lb to Rubi our year old 3 pounder. There are 4 girls and Charlie our little guy who was rescued from a puppy mill. In fact everyone but Rubi is a rescue pinup. :) Little Rubi was a gift from our dear friends Luci and Tony.

Because our two little chihuahuas are way to fragile to walk on leash with collars we have little harnesses for them. But around the house the little ones both have collars with bells on them. It just keeps the rest of us "Brobdingnags" from squishing our little "Lilliputians" !! :) I have a lot of fun making their collars. Charlie's is always made with a dapper stripe or plaid ribbon. Rubi on the other hand is such a little girlie girl, and she likes her babbles. But she draws the line at those trashy looking pink rhinestone collars that all the other chihuahuas wear!! :) No she's more the tasteful, feminine jewelry kinda girl.

Of course in celebration of summer with our tropical beach town life we added a lamp work cobalt fish. Muy Bonita :)

My friend Sharon of Livewire is the most amazing artist who creates incredible wire work jewelry!! In fact I want to be just like her when I grow up!! Well Sharon is having and awesome give away in honor of her first two pieces of jewelry to be published in a magazine!! (WOO HOO, WAY TO GO, YOU GO GIRL!!) The current issue of Bead Trends Magazine has 2 of Sharon's pieces featured!! :) This piece she calls Always Faithful.

So in celebration and as a thank you to her many friends and supporters in Bloglandia she is giving away "Always Faithful" Can you imagine giving away your first published piece?? I have to tell you that Sharon has the most amazing ability to make wire do her bidding and to make it look easy :) I was really hoping that that I could get a really good close up of her work. But alas Blogger thinks otherwise. But maybe you can see all of her meticulous wrapping and links she always makes!! No store bought chain here!! How very cool is that???

I almost hate to tell you to head over to her blog and sign up for her give away, cuz the more that sign up the less likely my number will randomly be picked :( But I can't keep this dear friend's amazing talents from the world!! SO head over to Sharon's blog Livewire and sign up before Friday for her give away. While your there look around and don't forget to check out her ETSY store :)

Have a most audacious today or tomorrow depending on where in the world you are ;)

A Few DYI Recipes :)

Back in the post-Flintstones age crafting and DIY first started to have a public following. That would have been the late 60s early 70s. Back before all the cool art mediums, tools, amazing inventions were found and created, we were forced to find every day things to create different effects. Now 40+ years later and I'm rediscovering all the old make do recipes. :) Actually some I have always used, finding that the new super dooper miracle medium is harder and way more expensive then the old tried and true. Like white school glue or Elmer's as most of us refer to it. Everyone has a bottle of Elmer's around some where usually in the junk drawer in the kitchen. It's the perfect all around glue, water soluble, so it cleans up easy, non-toxic (whatever that is suppose to be) and dries clearish. :)

But did you know that before Modpodge was "invented- developed" by Jan Wetstone we all were using Elmer's thinned with water?? :) Modpodge is basically white glue and water, but cost about 3 times more then a bottle of Elmer's. In fact I always used white glue because controlling the thickness is always easier for me. Besides I really hate to pay for a name when I don't have to!!! So for decoupaging. I generally mix water into the glue a little at a time until the mixture is the thickness of Half &Half / cream. You can make it thicker if you like, it requires less coats but it tend to create more bubbles that way.

When crackle mediums became all the rage they were always treated as this magical aging medium. We were told they were difficult to use and impossible to get good results unless we took classes bought specially books and of course used official professional crackle mediums. But then again there was a whole bunch of us out in the real world that had for years been using Elmer's to create crackle finishes. It's another easy peasy nobrainer recipe. Paint the piece you want to crackle with acrylic or latex paint. You can always opt to have the bare wood show through the cracks. Once that layer is dry paint a generous amount of glue on the surface. I like to use a sponge brush, it doesn't leave brush marks and it's easier to spread a nice consistent layer of glue. When the glue has dried enough to have a "skin" covering the entire surface, paint over it with latex or acrylic paint in the exact same way you would paint over a crackle medium. Now you need to exercise just a bit of patience. Unlike with the crackle mediums it take a few more minutes for the cracks to appear with the glue. But appear they will!!

If you have read very much of my blog you know I think Shoe polish/wax rules!! :) It really is a one stop patina shop!! You can use it with your paper projects to add patina to the surface or edges of paper. It will "age" and add patina to your new-old antiques. It will cover scratches in furniture, it will give wood, paper, leather, and concrete a lovely agged,buffed finish. Gads I bet I've used a dump truck full of shoe wax by now. If I could only have one medium in my arsenal it would always be shoe wax!!!

I always keep natural or tan around along with brown and black. The next time you want to put a nice buffed surface for protection without shine on a paper project use a bit of tan or natural Rub on a layer then buff with a clean rag, you can keep repeating until you get the thickness and look you want :)

Bleach pens are sooooooooooo cool!! If you have ever used bleach in a paper or cloth project where you were "drawing or writing" with the bleach you know how easy it is to completely ruin the project in the blink of an eye, a slight breeze, or slightly shaky hand :( Not with a bleach pen. You can control the lines you are drawing and because it a gel it doesn't bleed into the surrounding material!!! And it works dang good to remove stains !! :) I was reading an article the other day where they were using bleach pens to "hilight" certain areas on photographs. I'd love to play around abit. Have any of you guys used bleach on photos before??

One last recipe tonight. There are all kinds of cool, caustic, and complicated patina producing mediums for metals. But good grief there are a bazillion out there and they all do different things. More importantly for me is the inability to find them here. But I still want to be able to really corrode a metal up sometimes. Enter another one of those old DYI recipes. Now this one really works and I don't even want to think about how someone figured it out. Not to worry it's not as caustic or toxic as the accidental mixing of ammonia and bleach, but for sure you want to do this outside. Oh and don't be leaning over the tub watching things happen and breathing in the fumes. In a ceramic, glass or heavy plastic container make a bath of half bleach and half white vinegar. Place the metal pieces you want to 'patina up" in to soak. You are going to have to check back every so often to see if your pieces are corroded up enough. I will tell you that the process is slower then many marketed products but it does produce a good job. I can get decent green verdigris on copper and brass

So this brings up to the end of our class of home remedies for the die hard, artist, crafter, or do it yourselfer :) Maybe there is a recipe or two that you might find useful or maybe you have one you'd share??? :)

Have a most audacious today or tomorrow depending on where in the world you are ;)

Yeah It's Double Feature Night!!! :)

I thought I might do a little home recipe posting tonight. With a few of my tried and true all you can do with Elmer's glue, kiwi shoe wax etc.... You know when in a pinch substitutes you can whip up in your kitchen sorta thing. :)

But I think I will save it for next time. I have fun movies tonight Yeah!!! Yipeeee, Yaaa Hooo break out the pop corn, sodas, Junior Mints and Mike &Ikes!!!!

Oh but these aren't just any old movies I'll have you know. Our first feature tonight is guaranteed to make you giggle till... This one is courtesy of Lulu of Coastal Sisters my little Bloglandian sister. So go a head press the play button and giggle your heart out with this one :) Just remember to save some of your popcorn for the second feature! :)

Now for our second feature we have Dylan's mom and dad to thank. And by golly I think the apple doesn't fall to far from this papa's tree. Dylan's papa's nickname was Scooter. He earned this by perfecting the crawling method of pulling his leg up under him and then lunging forward. It was rather crude and there certainly was nothing aesthetically pleasing about the maneuver, but man could that kid move!! It appears that there is a Scooter II in the making!! Oh my gosh is this what they mean my payback??

Thank you guys you are the best Bloglandian friends, to let me share my grand baby pictures. And double thanks for all the "oh my gosh how cute" and "how adorable" LW and I have come to realize that there are a few draw backs here in Paradise. Only seeing our grand baby once a year is sure one! :( Thank goodness Dylan's mom and dad realize this and are so good about sending grand baby pictures!! :) And for the first time in Peder's life he remembers to call his mum every so often!!

Have a most audacious today or tomorrow my bloglandian family depending on where in the world you are ;)

Shifting a Paradigm or When is a Candle Stick a Necklace

And how was everyones holiday weekend?? Ours was very quiet. Since yesterday was the midterm elections there wasn't even any alcohol sold. The only places that can sell alcohol on election days are restaurants. Now if you were paying attention you would have noticed that yesterday was Sunday. Elections on Sunday?? Yep elections are normally held on Sundays for a number of reasons. The major one is that this country still works on a 6 day work week, with Sunday being the only day off. This way everyone who wants to vote has a chance without having his pay docked, or having to ask for time off.


I don't have an infinite source for vintage chain or findings or even for old jewelry for that matter. I have been taking apart my older stuff (but I didn't bring very much down with us) One of the goals that at the top of my list to do when we go up to the States in November is to hit some places and (dare I say it out loud??) stock pile a bit. I started working on a new necklace yesterday and really did some digging in my infinitesimal collection of old patina chain and stones. Hmmm if 3 of something defines a collection them holly mackerel I've go a collection of chains :) Okay so there I was thinking about my limited options. I have a rather over the top Bohemian in all it's glory set of candle sticks that sit on the corner of my desk. I brought them down with us, and they have been sitting out growing vintage for nearly 3 years. Since we are 8ish blocks away from the beach the chains and metal beads have a most wonderful patina already :) As I continued to feel sorry for myself I notice the candle sticks just sitting there, in need of a good dusting when one of those "Oh My God" moments struck :)

Disclaimer: that orange tub is not the top of my desk! :)

Will you look at that!!!! There's chain (yeah a bit small but workable) & some kind of metal beads both very nicely aged to perfection. There are also some really cool rough cut glass beads in wonderful muted colors.

There are also little round beads. I'm sure there is a name for them in Beadanese but I don't know what it is. They look like seed beads on steroids. :)

Oye this photo is on the blurry side, but you can sorta get an idea of the rustic red and yellow cut beads. They have a few air bubbles in them and are on the way cool crude side of awesome :). Waa Laa a pair of pliers and a bit of work and now my candle sticks are ever so sleek and swelt and I have a little larger stash!! :)

I went into my favorite of the two bead stores the other day, with the intentions of buying a sting of bronzeish iridescent pearls and maybe something in dark moss/sepia colored stones. Gads I found about 3-4 really nice color and size pearls. Yikes but the prices were around $10.00US a 14inch string. I know they are not as expensive as they are in the States. But I don't sell my jewelry and my inheritance and I were separated at birth, I don't have anything coming in the front end to replenish whats going out the back end,. :) I did find one string without a price so hoping it might be less expensive I took it to the counter and asked how much ?? The clerk looked up and said "treinta" pesos ( 30pesos 0r about $2.50US) Wow TREINTA????? si Treinta it's a promotion in fact everything on that wall is $30 pesos.

HAPPY DANCE all the way back over to the beads. SO smiling like a cat with a canary I walked out with 4 strands of pearls a cool tear drop mossy colored stone string, a warm soft faceted green glass string and a lovely limonada colored green faceted glass bead string!!!! :) :) We might just have to take a trip over there again this week ;)

I am now home pretending it's Christmas morning and I'm having so much fun playing with all my new toys!!!

Have a most audacious today or tomorrow depending on where in the world you are ;)

Happy Fourth of July

Well Happy Birthday to those of you in that little corner of Bloglandia call the United States!!! This is not a holiday in Mexico so there won't be any fire works to scare the girls and the little kids half to death. But that won't stop us from wishing you guys a Happy Celebration :)

Maybe you started the day with a bit of a parade??

I love this one is the little girl dressed to be Lady Liberty or is she dressed to be a French revolutionist??

How about a huge community picnic ?? Or maybe just a picnic in the park??

Maybe it's a huge family picnic in the back of Grandma's back yard. With crazy Aunt Venita who brought her famous pineapple upside down cake. And lets not forget Cousin Nel's green jello mold with julian carrots!!! EEUuuu oops I mean Yuuuum :)

Or maybe it's a picnic for the young folks??? Just home from the city where they are going to college?? Then a walk, a bit of poetry, good conversation, well you get the idea :)

Or did you decide a whole weekend out in nature was the perfect way to celebrate??

Nothing like hitching up the camp trailer and heading for the hills, or lake, or the mountains.

So few decision have to be made. There's no one you have to impress No top hat and tails required for dinner. One can really dress down, say only Black tie required !! :)

In fact it's a chance to let your exuberant Bohemian nature out to dance the holiday night away!! :)

Whatever you choose to do for today's celebration do exercise some caution on who you ...

This evening LW and I wish for you to have clear skies, and a most amazing pyrotechnic show!!

As for us, we are off for our "Saturday Night Date" Have a most audacious today or tonight depending on where in the world you are ;)

Of Cameras & Slides & Pink Point Shoes

Oh my gosh someone let her get close enough to the camera to play with all the buttons. Actually the truth is I have graduated to using my Kodak Easyshare software. Yes I know it's no photo shop. But then even after Nancy spent hours one afternoon tutoring me by the time I got home I had no clue how to get my picture into photo shop much less do anything with it. :( So for me right now Kodak is something I can work with and come away with all my screws intact and tight. :) I think it's way cool that when you want a B/W or sepia photo these days all you have to do is press a button. Remember when 35mm Black&White film was the only print film you could afford to buy?? Color film was so expensive the only time you used it was for weddings, christenings and 25th/50th wedding anniversary parties. Boy developing color film was also enough to force a family to eat beanie weenies for the rest of the week! :)

So what was the solution to the horrendously expensive color 35mm film?? Why slides of course. With slides you could have all the color pictures you could ever wish for. Because slides required special equipment (mechanical you know) to store them and show them the official family keeper of all things photo was the Dad. He had a special place in the hall closet where he had all the slides organized by year, event, and family vacations. Each slide sat in it's correct box in order, facing the right direction and of course right side up :)

As technology and our disposable income increased slide projectors became more hi tech. And then the screens gads they went from the white bedsheets taped to the wall to those cool portable folding roll down screens. Oh and then there was the invention of the amazing time saving slide carrousel's. No more taking a slide out of the box, holding it over the projector light to check for correct positioning, placing it into the little slide gizmo that pushed it into the projector.... "Well Holly Hell I'll be a God Da... Shhhh Papa the kids are listening, and the Reverend's hearing aids are turned up"....

Oh my gosh remember how your parents always invited all the neighbors and family over for a huge BBQ in the back yard so that they could show off the vacation pictures. Or when your grandparents came for a visit and the Christmas slides where hauled out, you know the ones where you are sitting on Santa's lap screaming bloody murder in total confusion because were you not told just this morning "Not to talk to Strangers"??

But nothing could compare nor prepare you for the most embarrassing night of your life... when the slides are dragged out with desert the night your first boyfriend comes for dinner!! :( OH MY GOD if I live through this night I'll have to run away with the circus or join a convent :)...

Jeez look at the time, I seem to really have wandered off track, or maybe I was just getting in a bit of practice for my golden years ;) It's rather sad how the advent of digital cameras were the nails that sealed the demise of all things slides. Then again I suppose it has also prevented all kinds of emotional scarring to any more generations.

In case you were wondering what's up with these ever so cool pictures that I have taken. Since I was a little girl I have always wanted a pair of point shoes. Oh not because I wanted to be a dancer, I just thought they would be so way cool to decorate my room with. Well I never managed to convince any one back then to give me a pair for Christmas. Then when Mette was little, her "I love all things ballet" phase was so short I still didn't get point shoes. A few months ago I was killing time with a walk through eBay. And guess what there was 3 pairs of well used pink point shoes listed. They looked like they had lead a long memory filled life. The opening bid was $1.99 and no one was bidding. Now how can that be, surely they deserve a bit of respect and care for all the support they provided!! SO I made that opening $1.99 bid, and 4 days later I was the new care taker of 3 pairs of well lived pink point shoes :)

One pair is now hanging on the wall in my Little Art Corner. I fill them with things I love, they make me smile when I look at them and they are great to practice my photography with and of course they do provide me with hours of play time with my Kodak Easyshare :)

Have a most audacious today or tomorrow depending on where in the world you are ;)