Frozen Charlottes

I have been intrigued with "frozen Charlottes" for quite some time. 

These historical dolls date back from 1860-1900, ranging from an inch in size up to 18 inches.  Many of these cuties were rescued from a dig at the doll factory yard in Thuringia, Germany. The arms and legs do not move or are "frozen." Children used to play with these bisque dolls, and even made clothes for them. Sometimes called bathing dolls (backside unglazed, therefore allowing them to float in the tub), and were even used to decorate or were baked into cakes.

Why "Frozen Charlotte?"   During the mid 1800's there was a story printed that later turned into an American poem about Fair Charlotte. This tale spoke of a vain Charlotte who refused to bundle up on her way to the ball. She froze in her carriage and her beau is said to have died of a broken heart. This story was told to remind children to bundle up when going outside.

Etsy:  Okiedokieartichoky

Etsy:  EKSupplies

Etsy:  OscarCrow

One of above 1 inch babies is on it's way to me....my very own Charlotte.  Now...I'm thinking a pendant of some sort?  Of course my "sensible" husband questioned:  "Please tell me you don't plan on wearing that creation?  Never mind...I know you will...if it causes a second glance, you're all over it!  Only you would wear a 100 year old, dug from the ground and broken doll and think it was mainstream."  I love him!  He knows me too well!

First Day of Summer...

Summer Soltice...Ahhh...Finally!!!  My favorite day of the year...where I can look forward to at least 3 good months of heat, sunshine and overall happiness!!

...And what did I create?  Well, falling leaves necklaces of course!  I'm a rebel like that!

A trio of yellow, taupe and burgundy domed leaf imprints.  Accented with raw copper hand wrapped beads on a copper neck wire.

I'm always under the philosophy "go big or go home" when it comes to jewelry.  So here we have a solitary large domed leaf imprint in jade green.  Green wooden rondelles and twisted closed jumps...on a stainless neck wire.



Enjoy the first day of summer...think I'll celebrate on the back deck with a bottle of blackberry wine tonight!

A Little Mixing It Up Is Good For The Soul

I finally have gotten around to snapping a few pictures of my new work...kinda grungy, but I like them in gypsy-ish, woodsy kind of way!  Not my usual sort of work, but I like branching out, and attempting new ideas.  Granted, there are still kinks to be worked out...and they are time consuming...so...we'll see where this path takes me!

"Brass" polymer clay bee hollow medallion with brass chain and findings and mysterious aqua faceted stone (I have no clue what it is...I *think* it might be candy jade) and aqua shell spear dangle & robin's egg blue ceramic round charm.

Close up of the bee.  Many, many layers of patina...it started out as a grayish brown clay.

Honeycomb "brass" polymer clay lentil

Carved (completely by accident, as I was trying to shave of the roughness and my knife slipped & decided to go "whole hog" on it) clay toggle clasp.

Fleur De Lis pendant.  this one is still in the works...just not happy with the finished look of the necklace.  Hollow polymer clay "brass" lentil with teal cut glass and peach marble accents.

Closeup...it's missing something...I just can't put my finger on it yet...so it's hanging out (literally) in my view while I mull it over.

Stamped polymer toggle.  Aged & distressed.

Silver hollow polymer ginkgo pendant.  Pearl & Swarovski charms.

Carved & distressed toggle clasp.

So, while it's a far cry from a PMC finished piece...it'll occupy my creativity...for now!  And because I have an addictive personality, I just ordered 10+ patina colors!!

What?? No Swarovski on Tuesday???

I love the look of PMC (precious metal clay) and it's versatility, and have wanted to branch out from strictly working with polymer clay for quite some time.  I've spent my spare time (HA!) in the last week researching, and, well...right now it's just not a feasible option for me...financially, that is.  It could be a viable option if I could find an appropriate second hand kiln...but then I face the dilemma of where I'm going to put the darn thing!  I've read that you can also fire PMC with a torch, but again...with 4 kids in the house, it's a house fire waiting to happen!

But, I wanted to share with you the possibilities...endless...

Silver Wishes

Dream Some

Shannon Dee



See why I'm so enamored??  Do a quick search on Etsy for PMC and you'll find many talented artisans...the above are just scratching the surface of amazing talent and creativity.  So, after rechecking my bank account, pants' pockets in the laundry basket, and even under the couch cushions to no avail, I set about creating a "poor man's" version! 

I worked endlessly today on this little project of mine.  While, by no means does it look even remotely close to the exemplary models above...I think I like it.  It's polymer clay, meets PMC, meets metal work.  A 180 degree about face from my usual dainty, sparkly pieces that I've become too accustomed to making.  But, while talking to my dear friend Kim, she brought up a great point..."that some would never wear Swarovski on a Tuesday!"  Pure blastemy we both agreed...but she may be on to something. 

My demos need a little tweaking before I share, but I may just have something I'm happy with....stay tuned and hopefully I'll have picture worthy pieces by the week's end!

Window Shopping

I love to spend hours of my life perusing Etsy, sometimes with a specific genre in mind, other times I just wander.  It's window shopping at my fingertips!  And when you live in a town where the only shopping experience is Dollar General...well...you get my point!   Here's where my wandering lead me today (while I should of been in the studio):


Love, love, love this leather cuff!! 

From:  CJohannesen

I'm all about some ballet flats, and these look SO comfortable...and vegan to boot!

From:  TheGeneration

Painters fascinate me...which could probably have a lot to do with the fact, that painting (even walls) is definitely not my niche!)  I want this hanging in my house!!!!

From:  MamaPainter

Lampwork beads.  Enough said!

From:  ModernTrails

This would look great in my teal, orange & gray schemed bedroom, that I've yet to get accomplished!

From:  TheHomeCentric

And I'd have to have an orange one to go with the teal, right?  This fits the bill.  I love to mix dainty, frilly, girlie things with more organic/rustic items...

From:  LivyCreation



That concludes today's window shopping excursion....







You Know What They Say About Opinions

As usual, I'm a day late and a dollar short. 

Photos of our booth at The Heart of Virginia Festival this past weekend.  Please excuse the shoddy photography.  I was snapping quickly, so I could finish setting up!

Hadn't quite finished setting up when my husband proceeded to wallop his head on the corner of my sign.  It was promptly relocated to a safer location...it's position in the picture.  While not the best spot to advertise...it was better than Chris knocking some sense into him all day!

Still not finished setting up...

I've got to do something about the sheerness of my table coverings...

Now...after alot of thought...here is my PERSONAL review on the festival...take it for what it's worth.

1.  The crowd was great!  We received compliments hand over fist throughout the day...not only for our products, but also for our booth presentation.  After quickly perusing other vendors later in the day, it seems that most just didn't care about their first impression.

2.  It seemed that although this was classified as a "juried" show, that rule didn't apply to some.  While I don't have any issues with non juried shows, please make me privy to that beforehand, and may I suggest a separate section for them?

3.  Evidently it was bad form for me to introduce myself to neighboring vendors...non jewelry at that...who knew?

4.  Music and activities kept the crowd hopping, and upbeat...we had a to die for space directly across from one of the stages, and they kept us entertained the whole day!

5.  Wooden pop guns should be banned.  End.  Of.  Story!  This also includes said pop gun vendors! :)

6.  I despise my tent!  :) LOL!  It is the first thing on my list to be replaced!!  It's not that it's hard to put up, it just gives me a complex that I akin to not keeping up with high school fashion.

All in all, I had a great day!  Profit wasn't what I expected, but I learned a lot, and had a great time!!



Have The White Jacket Ready

Just a quick post to let everyone know I'm still here, drowning...but still here!   I've been working myself into a frenzy (think Tazmanian Devil on steroids) this week over the the upcoming art show.  I don't know why I do it to myself...ok, ok I'm fully aware why I do it!  Because, while I'm completely non OCD in every other aspect of life (don't listen to the rumors), when it comes to my work and how I present myself I drive myself a little batty (I can't imagine how I come across to everyone else)!  Redesigning, adding new work, organizing, photography, double/triple checking everything, obsessing over minute details that no one will ever notice...except me!  And, don't even get me started on pricing items...definitely not my strong point in this circus/jewelry business endeavor, so I put it off until the last minute!

Then...Wham!  It dawned on me this morning I don't have a single ring made (to fill my new ring displays)...nor do I have any ring blanks.  Which then brought about another maddening check of my entire stock.  Which turned into a dash to order those, and twenty other things I didn't know I needed...darn Etsy!  So, all in all a half of a day wasted!!!

I did have time however to snap a couple of pictures...

Teal blue with pale lime flowers

Jade & porcelain bead accents

This picture drives me insane because the swarovski crystals appear to be an orangey color instead of the identical shade of the red clay in all 80 pictures I took (told ya, I'm a tad anal!)...

Backtracking here.  The corsage I made for my daughter's prom last weekend.  I'd forgotten all about the pictures I had saved until now...

Just a close up of the center of the corsage.

And because I love y'all a sneak peek of something new I've been working on!  Faux wood...I love the combination of dainty flowers and rustic wood...well polymer clay manipulated to vaguely resemble wood like formations.

So, the coffee is hot (yes, @ 10:40 p.m.) and there's work to be done!  Lucky for me the kids are on spring break next week and I can work through the night if needed be....hmmm this seems like deja vu of last year.

Now, should I let my husband know that I've planned for him to build new displays and framework this weekend, or surprise him come Saturday morning?



Sidetracked

The past few days have really gotten me anticipating summer...I even let the dog lounge on the threshold of the open back door (Shhh...don't tell my husband)...the warm breeze and the scent of freshly cut grass lifted my spirits, until I had a few buzzing little companions longing to join me, which then brought about the all too familiar "OMG!!-there's-a-bee dance!"   They did however give me inspiration for the day.  I had the cutest brass bee charms by Vintaj  left neglected by winter's fury that have been just been waiting for their day!

I've also been racking my brain trying to come up with unique color combinations for upcoming shows.  All too often I realize after the fact that I gravitate towards certain colors....which nine times out of ten is some variant of green.  A coral red puffy lentil with the palest periwinkle blue.  I love the monochromatic flowers & leaves.

Finished with periwinkle glass tube beads.

From here I got sidetracked playing with the settings on my camera.

Ok, enough of the overgrown, weed ridden backyard!  If paranoid schizophrenia is genetically possible in canines...our pooch could be the poster child...errr...dog!

He hates the lawnmower...passionately!  It doesn't have to be in motion for him to launch into attack mode.  We've even  been known to pull it out just for the sole purpose of entertaining ourselves!

Good Ol Monday Morning!

While I give the sun a chance to wake up, before I take anymore pictures, I thought I'd share a few that I took last week.  I've been working like a mad woman!  After careful consideration, I've decided not to order any more pre-made necklaces, and make my own instead.  I will continue to use bought steel neckwires, but I wanted to keep most of my work handcrafted.  Maybe I have "fool" stamped on my forehead?  So far the couple that I've created I love!

We had a great weekend.  I didn't make it to our local bead show (I'm kicking myself now) we did shop for new components though, and I'm excited to get to working this week!!

P.S. - Pendants/beads are awaiting their new home on necklaces.