One-of-a-Kind Ornaments!

For that one special ornament that you purchase for a family member or yourself, it doesn’t get better than this.  

An heirloom~quality, one-of-a-kind Christmas ornament made just for you!

Custom ornaments $25.

it’s not too late

Cowgirl Valentine…

I have a sweet cousin who is a cowgirl through and through.

I saw this picture in a late 1800’s scrapbook that I have and I knew that I had to make a charm for her.

~: ♥ :~

It seems that I’m always keeping an eye out for something for her…

…and that ‘something’ slightly resembles the fellar with the loving look in his eye…

Custom work…

One of the things that I really enjoy about custom charms is working with the customer as she designs her charm{s} for that special someone or occasion.

As Kara has been planning a very special wedding for the end of this month she has included a variety of artists from around the country to contribute towards her special day.  I was honored to be one of those artists.  Over the course of about a week we corresponded back and forth probably no less than 20-30 times trying to come up with just the right design for the charms that would grace her decorated tables for her reception.

There is always that element of artistic interpretation that causes concern for me as I wonder if I am appropriately translating what the customer wants.

I literally cherish it when I receive a comment like this as I did from my last custom order…(thx. Cheryl)…

“so far, this charm and experience with you has exceeded my expectations“

I put a lot into them…and that includes a bit of worry!

As I was writing this, Kara called me on the phone.  She had just received her order and she  ♥LOVED♥ it!  😉

This ‘mention’ in the current MaryJanesFarm magazine has boosted sales too.   Working on this project with MaryJane and her peeps has only been a very positive experience.  Nice, nice people!

↔

I’ll be setting up for a show tomorrow in Spokane.  I’m not so sure where I’ll fit into this one (as it is a spa show) but if you’re in the area, come say ‘HI’.  I’ve heard that it’s a very nice and well-attended show.

Charmed with J*O*Y

Mr. T and I are leaving the house early this morning ~ both vehicles loaded ~ to go set up for a show.  What a guy he has been this week…helping me do this…helping me do that…with excitement and dedication!  

WOW!  

…and now he’ll help me haul and unload my junque!  

WOW!! {again!!!}

With every show I do I have such a feeling of excitement mixed with anxiety…it’s hard to explain…I put a lot of pressure on myself hoping that everything will just be….GRAND!

For those of you who are ‘locals’ – I’ll be @ A Vintage Christmas – located @ the NorthTown Mall in Spokane…I’ll be wearing my beautiful new J*O*Y, triple-charm necklace!

Vinyl Collage Tote

Here is a fun tote created with canvas and magazine clippings ~ then topped with clear vinyl.

I’ve made a few of these one-of-a-kind creations before.    •one♥two♥three•

A conversation regarding them came up @ a local quilt ship last week and the owner asked me if I would consider teaching a class.

I said, “yes!” and here is my class sample.

Barnboard re-creations~

I love these barnboard frames with rusty chicken wire and barbed wire.  When we were working on them a gal came in and said that she knew where there was some wonderful, old, well-aged barbed wire rolled up and available for  the taking.  So, right then and there, we left and rummaged through the old dump where it was.

I made the last one for her!

Happy Birthday, Sis!

Yesterday was my sister’s birthday.

She is my sweetest sister.

…and my only sister {except for my 2 favorite sister-in-laws}!

side 2 of bottle label

Her name is Arlene!   …Arlene and Elaine ~ what kind of mother does that?

answer: a wonderful one!

good answer, huh?

I went to an estate sale yesterday.  On the 2nd or 3rd trip there 🙂 I went specifically to buy a jar that I could use to put fresh flowers in for my sis.  I love these old jars ~ they’re so full of character.  I had to cut the cork out of it which meant that the inside was nice and clean.  I added a special soldered label just for her and fresh flowers from the florist.  Since I was going to the big city today I was able to drop this off to her at work (thus the boring white wall in the background!).

Lovely gifts to give and receive…

I have this struggle each time I get ready to leave home – there just isn’t anywhere I would really rather be than to be a home.  I’ve got to admit that it’s not a bad problem to have.  It’s especially unnerving to go to the city (enough said!).   So that’s where I’m finding myself.  Traffic, traffic and more traffic – so many wonderful stores (so little $) – and I’m having a great time.  It’s heartwarming and delightful to do a bit of reconnection.

Miss Amber & I were able to exchange our Christmas Valentine gifts.   This non-seamstress friend of mine MADE me this little cutie patootie doll…on a sewing machine…and she did a beautiful job.

I also received this absolutely adorable apron from Miss Trish!

Since they’ve both received them, here are the little yummies I made for them.

These necklaces are a lot of fun (at least I think so) and I like how they hang.  These gals are dear gf’s to me and I love ’em lots.

Post #200 & a give-a-way! Yay!!

Here’s a new, fun {thing} I want to make to have for sale at the shows I do this summer.  It is inspired by a couple of things.

1. When I moved to the hills this year, I decided that every trip to town needed to count.  I had to come up with a way to keep lists going so that when I ‘went’ I was ready.  I came up with this idea that has worked really well for me.
2. I made children’s chore charts about 15+ years ago and I have quite a few of the wood boards left.  I really wanted to dump them when I moved but I just couldn’t.  They’ve just been sitting there challenging me to try to come up with a fun & functional use for them, so I combined my #1 idea with my #2 problem and came up with this.
   

   I picked up these clothspins @ a recent estate sale. They couldn't believe anyone would even want them. 🙂 I love how they have been well used & loved. I'll also use them on my own clothes line this year~It's hard to find good clothespins anymore.

a label I made for the back

OK…so this brings me to an important item I need to mention.  Because this is my 200th post I really want to do a give-a-way and it only makes sense to give this fun, organizational board away to someone who could use a little help with some New Year’s organization.  Does that speak to anyone???? Just leave a comment and in a couple of days I’ll draw a name for a WINNER.  Besides, I love to read each and every comment and a give-a-way seems to drag a few more of you out of the woodwork cyber-space.

I’ll also show-off a few of the soldered items that went out today:

A cuff and its box…

Here are some pictures of a cuff I made for my daughter and the box I gave it to her in.

I collaged this box with an Alice in  Wonderland~Little Golden Book and I also made a charm for her and hung it from the box.