French Prayers...

 

Remember those beautiful French prayer card bezels that I received from Rhonda over at "A Little Bit French" blog a couple of weeks ago? Well, here they are all 'snazzled' up with some gorgeous old chains, vintage links, Victorian filigree, and some Deco rhinestones. These designs and a few new pair of earrings coming to my Etsy shop this evening...

 

 

 

Please stop back by later this week, I want to show you a couple of really sweet pieces I found at this past weekend's hometown antique show. And, I have one really special design to show you using a very spectacular old brooch I found on my last visit to London. Take care everyone, see you in a few days...and enjoy your Downton this evening  ;~))

Custom Orders...

  

Well it has been one whirlwind week full of custom orders for me! I am not complaining though, as I really love the challenge of custom pieces. Sometimes traveling the path of a specific design is rewarding fun when you feel you have opened your heart and mind to someone else's direction for a custom piece. A perfect example of that direction is this week's custom piece for my friend from Mississippi. She had found the beautiful Art Nouveau cut steel buckle and wanted something made with a multitude of chains. So this is what I gave her.....

 ...the chains were just enough to accent the piece but not too heavy to take away from the real beauty of the necklace's Nouveau centerpiece.

She also commissioned a pair of earrings to go with it...

I also made a custom sweet little bee timepiece brooch this week...

I also managed to create some pieces coming to my Etsy shop this evening inspired by that romantic special day of "Amour"coming up next month...

 I also wanted to show you the new bezels I ordered from Rhonda over at "A Little Bit French" blog.

And talk about going the extra mile with  the details, she always sends her work out in the sweetest little packages, take a look at how adorable.....

...and here are the bezels she made for some of my upcoming designs...

GORGEOUS,  N'est-ce pas????

I'll be back in a few days to show you my designs with these beauties.

 Have a happy rest of the weekend everyone!!!

Oh yes, one more thing this week...In honor of a remarkable man, here are some of his words to inspire....

Simplicity....

Remember my "Less is More" pieces from last year??? Well they are back again, with all of their simple, understated antique qualities.

Merriam-Webster defines 'simplicity' as: "a lack of complication"...this is exactly the way I feel about my new simple statement necklaces made from old Victorian, Nouveau, and Deco centerpieces. Even little nuances of nature paired with some old bling exemplify an elegant, casual look of antiquity. I really wanted to keep my new creations uncomplicated so they would be perfect for layering or for just throwing on with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and going on about your everyday journey. Not fussy, just simple, and just sweet little pieces of the past to adorn unpretentiously around one's neck....take a look....

all these new and simple pieces coming to my Etsy shop tonight. 

...and I could not leave out this super-cute picture I took of my assistant designer this week....

Milo aka "freckle-belly" assisted in all the decision making on the designs this week. He has some great advice, I might add!!! Take care everyone, see you this week with more reporting from the design bench.

Shadowbox Shrines...

I hope every one's year is off to a great start. As for mine, it has been quite tranquil and lovely so far. I have had some extra free time to dive into some special art projects, like my new Shadowbox Shrine Collection. I have had so much fun creating these little shadowbox pendants using old prayer cards, vintage postcards, pocket shrines, old buttons, butterfly wings and other elements taken from nature. I have also made them 3 dimensional, so these tiny dioramas  really come to life after I finished them. Here are some detailed views of these very special petite little shrines coming to my Etsy shop this evening....

....the above old locket was made with a million year old piece of hand carved mammoth's ivory and vintage rhinestones, and inside there is an extra surprise.

The surprise in the mammoth ivory locket?

It is filled with some sweet vintage pieces that pay homage to nature....

...and I have a couple of new pairs of earrings coming to my shop this evening also...

....and,Oh Happy Joy!!!!!

They have finally returned....

...I will be in pure Heaven tonight watching the new season. What a fantastic way to finish off a dreary, cold weekend!!!

 Be back soon with some new designs. Thanks for stopping by to visit!