So Very Fortunate...

I have been so fortunate lately to have some wonderful pieces of memorabilia to work with for some holiday special orders. And on top of having some great things to work with, I am so thankful and honored they have en-trusted me to create some special and one of a kind heirlooms with them. A piece so special, that it can be passed down to the next generation...

Lorraine's beautiful Jeanne brooch was one of those pieces...

I turned her brooch into a one of a kind wearable treasure....

It was so much fun working with this beautiful piece of French history!!!

And my friend from Memphis sent me her grandfather's military patches and buttons from his old military uniform....

You know me and that military memorabilia, I just can't seem to get enough of it!

I fastened all the patches onto cuffs and added some old rhinestone bling for some real feminine glamour.

And I attached the beautiful bronzed buttons on to the ends to serve as sweet little charms for the bracelet.

Just look at the amazing detailing in these beautiful old patches...

...not anything like the patches we get these days...

...the patch below was definitely the "belle of the ball" so I found it fitting to accessorize with old rhinestone woven fabric...

I hope she will be happy with these cool old patches turned into blinged out cuffs!

One of my latest designs inspired from my recent trip to England...

"The Anglophile"

I filled this antique Langham Hotel souvenir match case with old vintage photos of London...

I just "LOVE" the photo below of the changing of the guard! And check out the detailing on the inside of the match case...

Pretty cool, huh???

And the back of the necklace...

...complete with a miniature compass in case you lose your way on your tour of England.

And, of  course, some new earrings for Etsy...

Well that is what I have been up to lately! How has your holiday season been going??? Hope everyone's creativity is brimming over this season!! Take care mes amis and see you back here in a few days!!! 

Less is More...

Every once in a while, 'less is more' so I have been busy, busy, busy lately creating these sweet, simple designs using some gorgeous old Victorian treasures. I just ADORE the details of old elegant Victorian pieces and feel that sometimes they need nothing more than just a beautiful chain to accent them. These sweet simple, timeless little Victorian sweethearts will be coming to my Etsy store this evening...

the inspiration...

Remember the piece I showed you from last week? Well, I added the old onyx brooch to a simple old gold-filled chain and 'voila'... a simple, and elegant Victorian stunner. Less is definitely more in this necklace's design!

I left the pin back on this piece. I have a feeling this old Victorian brooch is 14 karat with tiny little diamonds in the flower's centers, so I felt like it should be left in it's original condition. I accented the chain with tiny French cut steel beads. I really love the color combination of steel and gold!!! Very STRIKING!!!

An old Victorian bog oak morning piece....

...accented with black onyx and really old sterling chain.

and some new earrings for Etsy....

Also, for those hard to buy for jewelry lovers...

....gift certificates are now available in my Etsy shop!

Au Revoir my friends, hope your holiday season is coming along nicely!!!

Hope to see you back here this weekend!

Things Are Lookin' Up...

Things are looking up around here at the Wallace household. My hubby is feeling a lot better after a couple of weeks of being under the weather and.... I have had a huge jump start on my Christmas shopping this year. Usually every year I am scrambling around at the last minute, but not this year. Actually, I am almost done with the shopping, thanks to an all-day shopping extravaganza with my talented jewelry making friend, Mary Kay. We actually took the day yesterday and went to a local bead show, several little craft fairs and did a little antiquing. And wow did we SCORE!!!!

The little hand-felted animal thing a ma jing above was the most adorable score of the day. Look for the lady that created this cutie pie on Etsy in the future. Her name is Darlene Samuel, and she also teaches classes on how to do this cool sculptural art.

I also scored these sweet folk art pieces handmade from vintage quilts. I absolutely fell in love with that pillow and it's message. The hearts below were cut from old vintage quilts and are now coasters. How smart is that????

We took the rest of the afternoon and went to our neighboring town of Pensacola and visited our local bead society's craft and bead show....

the show was held in this really old church....

You know your going to find some good stuff when something is held at an old, old church that looks like this! LOL

I was delighted to find my friends Bill and Steve were hired to entertain us as we shopped...

They sounded great too!!!

Ooooooh and I found these for some future designs....

Mammoth Ivory!!! Hand carved and millions of years old! No animals were hurt in the making of these little delicate pieces, because this ivory is found in very northern regions of the planet, has been buried for millions of years and are a natural outcome of evolution.

...and my favorite find of the day...

...these heavenly Victorian mourning pieces.

Wowza!!! Huh?!

Hope you are all getting your shopping and Christmas plans underway! Remember, to check out your local craft fairs if you are stumped on what to give. There are some fabulously talented artists out there creating some beautiful  and one of a kind artwork. Saw it with my own eyes yesterday and wanted one of everything. Hee hee.

Take Care my friends and see you back here next time!