The Calumet Kid

Ever since I first spied this little guy on a pamphlet I just had to keep looking for more information.  He was the main illustration for a baking powder company.

I love how his little tongue is always off to the side.

And like any good mascot, he had a little four legged side kick.

I finally tracked down my own copies of the recipe booklets and a vintage tin that used to hold the baking power.  It is such great packaging.

And, I am sure the recipes will come in handy.  Can you imagine the fat content in these donuts?

Deep fried.  MMMMMM.

Wedding Week Has Been Good

You would think I was getting married again.

When I choose a theme I think and dream about it round the clock. I have been at several weddings in my mind already. And, I am going down memory lane too.

This week and a little bit of next week was set aside to work on wedding themed art cards.

I have been making the best embellishments! It has been a very good week in the studio and I plan to have another great production run today.

Most of my embellishments are fabric now. My sewing machine has never been busier. I also have a very pretty button post today with some of my other embellishments.

Big Resin Bead/Bauble Finds A Home

Yesterday I posted an image of the three inch long bead/bauble I made. I wanted to wear it and was uncertain as to how to attach it. I have had almost no jewelry training so I am always flying by the seat of my pants. I did have one great class with Katie Hacker though! She introduced me to the Beadalon quick links which I love.

I know what I like. So I study the books and look for techniques that I can learn myself.

Last week I showed you how to break up a belt and turn it into something else wearable. Well, I still have so many parts and findings left that I added them to this project. I wrapped up my bead/bauble and gathered up all the items I wanted to dangel with it.

The necklace built itself. There wasn't much to do accept look for a few other necklaces I could break up for the chain.

There are only a few minutes in any given month when I wish I was back in a work enviornment out of my home. It's only because I would love to wear all this jewelery somewhere! So today, my four legged studio assistant will be the only one to see me wearing this necklace.

I jingle when I walk.

One Big Resin Bead

I am not sure if I can call this a bead or not.

But I will be using it on a necklace later today. I'll post the results in tomorrow's blog entry.

I have been experimenting with resin in different ways this winter. I have been containing it in non traditional shapes. This big bead is three inches long. Pop by tomorrow to see what I do with it.

I started feeding the birds this past summer. My dad made a comment that I was not attracting enough birds to my country property when he had dozens of regulars in their backyard in the city. So I put up three feeders and all winter I have enjoyed seeing the birds swoop in for a snack.

Of course, if you have bird feeders you have squirrels. We have four regulars.

This guy is our favorite. Two colour Charlie. Black body, red tail. He's quite devious and we have watched him in major circus type moves dangle upside down to get into the feeders.

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Today I am heading down to Bizzy Bs. I am dropping off a box of my rubber for their second hand stamp sale this Saturday. If you are looking for some deals, do go Saturday for sure!

Wedding Week

Wedding card production was meant to start Monday...but I was distracted by these last few sets that just needed some tweaking.  All-occasion cards are covered at this point so I need to focus on on specific event cards now.

So weddings here I come!

 

I Do Love To Get People Blogging!

I'm pretty excited about this little announcement.

My hubby (known as "overthere boy") has a blog!

He wavered on the idea a little bit on Saturday and before he knew it I was showing him his new blog!

I did say that he should at least make sure he registered his name on Blogspot.

He is such a great writer.

Writing has always been on the back burner for him as life and career have taken precedence.

But during all his road trips and various weekends he still managed to pull together a collection of stories which we just self published. Publishing your own book is so satisfying! Having a blog along with a book made perfect sense to me. His blog is where he can post small snippets of stories or he can post some of his photography with a story to go along with the image.

Having introduced Paul to you I have now added him to my links list and look forward to his posts!

The Weekend Flew By

Here it is already Sunday night.

I can't believe how quick these last few days went.

Here is a look at what my beading pals were up to this past week.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Andrew shares six new earring designs, utilizing some of his favorite artisan made components.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts

Barbe Reviews the fiber jewelry book "Elements of Style"

Carmi's Art/Life

Carmi "repurposes" a belt into a new necklace.

Art Bead Scene

It's cold outside! Get a clasp on things.

Jewelry & Beading

Combine wirework and embroidery with stringing to make a beautiful one-of-a-kind necklace.

BeadStyleMag.com

Tips on submitting your work to BeadStyle magazine

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

Melanie's finishes her Alchemical Glove costume project: an intricately articulated metal glove constructed of brass filigree and jump rings.

About.com Jewelry Making

It's party time! Mix it up with your own beaded cocktail! Tammy shows you how and what to do with the mess afterwards.

Strands of Beads

Melissa shows off an unusual stash acquisition - mammoth bone beads.

Broken Heart

I love this vintage image of the nurse bandaging up a heart.

It may have been a post card originally designed for couples missing each other during the war.

I think it can be used as a sympathy message. I plan to make sympathy cards in a week or two, so I am looking through my collection for some appropriate images. These cards are not easy to make but when I don't have them in stock people get very disappointed.

Toile or Tole

The word to describe the fabric I used for this group of cards is often misspelled or mispronounced. I know it is "toile" and pronounced phonetically "tole" but if you look for it you have to be able to use both. On Ebay it is sold under both and if you go into a fabric store you definitely need to say it both ways or be confronted with blank stares.

Given the chance I would love to have a wall completely papered with a vintage tole design. So until I can incorporate toile into my home I can at least find a way to add it to my card production.

For these cards I printed the fabric myself. I always use EQ Printables fabric sheets. They are prepared for your standard ink jet printer. Toile patterns are easy to find and then manipulate in photoshop. I am very happy with these cards. They are unlike anything I have designed in a while. Light and elegant are the words that came to mind.

Repurposed Necklace

Here's a little colour to brighten your morning!

I keep this hot pink shirt on my studio mannequin so I always have a bright spot in my room.

On Sunday I did a little post about "repurposing."

I had a belt that I purchased simply for the embellishments.

(Suze...it was from your favorite store Chicos!)

In the sale bin...it was finally at a price point that was cheaper than if I went out and bought all these beads separately.

For the last couple of days I just rearranged some of the deconstructed belt parts on my table. I really didn't need anything. Just a few eye pins and my tools. I also broke up another an old necklace so that I would have a chain to complete the necklace.

I have a new necklace that makes a little noise when I walk! The last bead on the bottom is a tiny bell. I still have so many embellishments left! I can make another two or three necklaces!

Glam Birthday Cards

I went down a very glamourous path with these cards yesterday. I printed the gal on some specialty gold paper and before I knew it I was hunting for some equally exciting background paper. You can't really see from the picture, but I used my ribbon printer to create the sentiment.

Another Day, Another 24 Cards

It was a very productive Monday.

I didn't have any sense of a colour preference or theme.

Cards just built themselves.

Today I am going to try and just focus on the word birthday.

Chuck Lorre Makes Me Laugh

This is a non art post.

Chuck Lorre took up some of my precious online time this weekend.

You may know him because he produces several major Tv shows including Two and a Half Men.

For years...and years... I have noted that at the end of one of his shows a page of text pops up for a second and then disappears. I have contemplated taping a show and then stopping the video to read the text...but that would require some effort on my part to care about a TV show.

But last week something tweaked in me after seeing the text yet again.

I wonder if he has a blog?

So I popped on line and sure enough he has a website and EVERY single message he has written is online. 240+ of them. They are called vanity cards.

But here is the interesting thing. Well interesting to me.

He has no "contact me" email address. No "webmaster is" email address either.

His messages are all there and a great picture of his dog.

You have no way of telling him that the message is great or funny or politically astute.

But then again, he doesn't get the you are a nut, a maniac or insane messages either.

He neither needs nor wants feedback. Basically he is saying: These are my messages. Read them if you want to.

Makes me wonder what I would publish if I turned off my responses options.......

Repurposing

You may have noticed a new book link here at the side of my blog.

I am trying to pull one book a week out of my library...and actually use it.

And by use it...I mean allow it to influence me into making something based on a technique shown in the book.

Books are coming out so quickly now. I can't keep up. And, like most people, I am starting to reach the saturation point. I have more than enough books already to be inspired for a few years.

Vintage Redux was one I really wanted though. I have always loved breaking up jewelry. I purchase broken pieces all the time knowing that I'll think of some way to bring them back to life.

Take for example this belt.

I loved all the sparkly parts...but have no interest in actually wearing it. (I have no waist.)

At one point I though it might become a purse strap instead.

So while listening to a TV show I broke it up. It took no time at all...and now I have some really interesting items to work with.

Later this week I'll post some results!

Now, lets have a peak at what the BEAD BLOGGERS were up to this week!

About.com Jewelry Making

Is Etsy passe' for jewelry designers? Is it time to move on? Google seems to think so.

Art Bead Scene

A kiss inspires the ABS monthly challenge.

BeadStyleMag.com

A great new way to share our free earring project e-newsletters with your friends.

Carmi's Art/Life World

Carmi recreates a vintage embroidered brooch using hand sewn linens.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

Melanie is touched by the golden fingertips of creativity, in part two of her earworm inspiration journey

Jewelry & Beading

Using a bead frame, you can create a special necklace.

Katie's Beading Blog

Katie's spreading the beady love with free shipping and a CRYSTALLIZED™ jet twist pendant with your purchase of the new book, Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed, from her website. Offer ends Thursday, Feb. 19th.

Snap Out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

The amazing Margot Potter is coming out with a new book, Beyond the Bead, by Margot Potter--next week! Read all about it, here!

Strands of Beads

Melissa ponders how the jewelry of one's youth informs a designer's style.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

On the heels of a trip to Tucson, Andrew shares a glimpse inside the annual Swarovski Party.

Happy Valentine's Day

And the winner of my draw is #6.

Never go into a raffle if Marissa is playing.

I swear she has super powers for winning.

Thanks to everyone for leaving a comment.

And Marissa, let's do a lotto ticket together!

Vintage Embroidered Brooches

This is one of my favorite finds. A hand embroidered vintage brooch. Its just under two inches tall. It isn't an expensive piece. The sewing is only protected with plastic instead of glass. I came up with a fast way of making similar brooches...while simultaneously doing something I love: saving hand sewn linens!

For this project you need a bezel. I used a bezel that would normally be set with a cameo. You also need a piece of embroidery you are willing to cut into. This project gave me an opportunity to test ECOGLUE since I was attaching fabric to metal. It worked out really well!

I cut a piece of card stock that would fit snugly into the bezel setting. Then I used it to help me decide which part of the embroidery I would be saving. Note, I can avoid the stained areas but keep the important parts.

I wrapped the piece I cut around the card stock oval I cut out and then sewed it into place using random stitches to create this laced up back. Then, I put some glue into the bezel. This was actually a little too much....luckily the glue did dry absolutely clear.

Ta da!! Isn't it pretty?

I am going to wear it on my knock off Chanel jacket!

Now, earlier this week I announced my resin FRIDA give-a-way. There is still time to leave a comment to win it...

Plus I have an extra bottle of ECOGLUE from the company to include as well!

Gifts and Things

Overthere Boy now has the coolest lunch box accessory.

He likes to take his own lunch most days. We always joke that he is off to work with his Fred Flintstone pail. Now he has an apple cozy to protect his favorite fruit. Isn't this brilliant?

My sister in law has a really pretty children's store in Toronto. She did a little blog post about the cozy and I just knew it would be a great gift. I ordered one and even had a monogram added!

I love the crafty world. I wonder if she could knit a banana cozy...I hate when they get bruised.....

Ahhh. Some eye candy.

My friend Karen gave me this necklace. She knew I loved it and gave it to me as a Valentines Day gift.

And finally a lesson learned.

It has been a bit of a joke that I have been looking for a special egg cup. When I am in antique markets or stores I always pick them up and then put them down. I knew I would find one that I loved eventually and quite frankly enjoyed the hunt.

I did find the perfect cup. Yellow. So happy and appropriate. This was my first soft boiled egg in it.

And my last.

I put the cup in the dishwasher and it snapped in two.

Sigh. Back to the hunt.

Frida Collection and Give-A-Way!

Overthere Boy was in Texas last week for business.

He had a half day to himself to do a little shopping and site seeing in San Antonio. All he found were things for me! I got an email that just read "I found the Frida Kahlo mother lode!"

I set everything up like a shrine for now. The smaller Day of The Dead items may go into a project at some point. But for now, the colours are just such a bright spot for me to enjoy.

I will never get tired of Frida. Or Frida-like images.

Since I got a whole new pile of objects

and if you read my blog to the end.....

I have a FRIDA giveaway!

This is a tiny resin filled bezel. 1 1/2 x 1 1/4.

I am adding a magnet to the back.

Would you like to win it?

Just leave me a little blog message! I'll pick a winner on Valentine's Day!

Important Instructions

I am sure you will be as excited as I am to see this complete guide to making jello.

Isn't the step by step guide so much help?

I found a vintage guide to Jello this weekend. It was printed for a Canadian audience in 1923.

"It's so simple"

JELL-O

Canada's most famous dessert.

The booklet sent me down memory lane. My mom used to make Jell0 all the time. She had this amazing mold from Tupperware that I thought was magic. I couldn't wait for her take the mold out of the fridge and then pop the wobbly Jello cake onto a plate. I remember we had to set the mold in hot water for a few minutes. It was such a simple dessert. Calorie-wise...much better for adults and children. I am definitely going to make some Jello this week.

I am going to make a few cards featuring some of the more exciting JELL-O creations.

Vintage Ribbon Postcards

I went to the Toronto postcard show yesterday. I really enjoy flipping through hundreds/thousands of cards looking for unique images. I have always liked the cards that have an add on. Hand stitching or brass embellishments. They are usually a little bit pricey so just seeing them in person is worth the trip to a show. I came across these two cards. I have never seen a post card like this before...I found one at one booth and then about an hour later I found the second.

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The sentiments are almost the same.

Interestingly, both of the yellow ribbons are gone.

Both cards were used to let someone know they were already taken.

I sure hope they didn't use them for Valentines Day!

The Big Switch

I love these dancers. Especially when you notice that the big gaping smile on their face only turns on when they have a light shining on them.

I know how they feel. I am making the move to an IMAC. Long overdue in many ways. The Dell I was using was a lemon from the day I bought it. But, like most things, I have gotten used to the on screen freezes, the crashes and other various issues. I can work around them...and quickly. The leap to the MAC is taking some time. Also, I am really missing Windows. But, the file transfer has been accepted and I hope that this week I will work full time on it.

Here is what the beading gang was up to this week.

About.com Jewelry Making Valentine's Day is a big jewelry day, or is it? For those who sell jewelry, you may find this poll interesting.

Art Bead Scene It's cold outside. An art button succeeds as the finishing touch on a handmade neck warmer.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts

Need to get your jewelry business office skills up to date? Check out this source.

Bead&Button Magazine A new design resource for beaders--check it out!

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi creates a broach using old fashioned rug hooking techniques.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Inspiration comes to Melanie in an unusual form... an ear worm and musical artist that she dislikes.

Jewelry & Beading Seed bead mania hits Jewelry&Beading. Wanna play?

Snap Out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean is honored to have her jewelry design book, Links, by Jean Yates, get a jolly good review by a really cool beading magazine over in Great Britain!

Strands of Beads Melissa is inspired by dream catchers to create a spring necklace.

Having a Great Time - Wish You Were Here

I am having a great time with colour right now!

It is just what I need now that I can feel a real countdown to the spring show.  Seven more weeks.  That's not a lot of time.  My race against the calendar really kicked in this week. I think the colours in my booth will be spectacular in April!

Hooked Flower Brooch

I have a link today to my current favorite book.

Sherri Haab's books are always chock full of ideas and how tos.

The minute I saw the hooked flower broaches in her book I just knew I would have to make one for myself.

I gathered all the necessary supplies. Over the last few weeks I have been cutting strips from sari fabrics. These long pieces of chiffon make a very light flower. I had been looking for burlap since I got the book...and lucky for me I found an unfinished rug hooking kit at the antique market.

This is my very first attempt at "hooking." It was very relaxing. I won't give you too many instructions, because they are already in the book. (I don't want to give all the authors ideas away...they are not my instructions to give.) Finishing was easy. You just cut the burlap into a smaller circle and glue the edges to the back.

I love how vintage these flowers looked! The sari fabrics have gradations in colour...so they really resemble the colours in nature.

I made a second brooch...with all these crazy colours. This time I hooked some thick felt yarn for the centre. This brooch looks great on a coat!