Tag Archives: accessories

In The Studio: Earrings for Summer and Fall

Hey there! I hope you’re enjoying the summer! When it’s not 95+ degrees I’ve been soaking in some vitamin D. I just got back from a mini getaway where I was able to relax and rejuvenate at a spa resort. It’s the first non-work getaway I’ve had in exactly one year and I was way overdue! Pedicures, full body massage, pool time and girl talk was just what I needed after the hard physical work of the weeks before. It was also a chance to clear my head and get a new perspective, away from some of the close and extended family issues that have been making my heart heavy the last few months. I haven’t shared anything about this on the blog. Maybe I will eventually but for now I’ll just say that when your family members are hurting, you hurt too.

I’ve been spending some time in my studio, not creating ~ boo! ~ but organizing. After the garage sale (which was a huge success and earned about 3/4 the cost of the new mattress I want to buy) my house was a shambles. I tore up my studio and storage area during the clear-out, where I keep a lot of my jewelry supplies and props but didn’t organize as I went, leaving it for afterwards. Once I get it completely whipped into shape I will be ready to get in there and create! In the meantime I want to share with you a couple of pairs of earrings that I will be putting in the shop soon.

The first pair is perfect for summer with its vintage lace and gold shimmer.

These could be worn for day or night. I picture them with a sleeveless maxi + other gold accessories by day, or with a romantic summer dress, hair up and heels for a date night.

The second pair can be worn year round but I always think of leather in conjunction with fall.

I hand cut the cross pieces from an old belt and gave them a turquoise patina. I added a Swarovski crystal in Pacific Opal to the center of each cross.

A couple of months ago I shared part of the makeover going on in our kitchen/dining areas. I will soon be sharing some pictures of the rest of our kitchen and dining room, pre and post painting/updating/farmhouse-izing. Thanks for stopping by!

In The Studio: Lace Ball Earrings

It’s been quite a while since I’ve shared what I’ve been making in my jewelry studio. That’s because I haven’t been in there for a while! Today I have four pairs of lace ball earrings that all started with a large wooden bead.

I hand covered each wooden bead using antique lace scraps from my stash.

Each pair was designed to be unique, pairing them with different baubles.

I like to wear shorter styles some days and longer styles other days, depending on my mood and outfit, so I created some of each.

For the above pair, I incorporated pieces of an antique wooden rosary.

All four designs are now available in my shop, hand crafted and one of a kind at $20 a pair.
Thanks for stopping by!

Breakfast Nook Makeover ~ Before and After

Happy new week! As promised I am here to show you my breakfast nook makeover. It’s finished!! It’s a small space but it’s part of a much bigger makeover going on. There are lots of photos so let’s get started.

Here’s what it looks like now.

And here’s a before picture.

Not only did this space get a makeover, I got a new camera too. You can see that the quality of the before pictures aren’t great.

The walls were a charcoal color before the makeover. We painted them in Benjamin Moore Crystalline. In some light it looks green, in other light it looks bluish aqua and certain times of the day it looks gray. I love it! In fact, I love it so much we’re painting the entire first floor in the same color.

I’ve had this antique typewriter for ages and have always kept it on a side table or desk. I decided to show off the graphics of the numbers and keys better by hanging it on the wall.

I love projects that I don’t have to spend much money on. My pillows didn’t cost me a thing. I already had the beautiful rooster pillow that I got from Hazelnut Deux.

I pulled the green fabric out of my stash and stuffed it with poly fill that I had instead of buying a pillow form.

The other two pillows were the most fun to create. Jen Rizzo recently posted a free bird and flower printable that she created. The colors in her design were just the colors I was using to accessorize.

So I saved her printable and played around with it to create two different pillow designs. Then I printed the designs using muslin ironed onto freezer paper and my inkjet printer. Once again I stuffed them with poly fill and as a result they cost me nothing.

Sitting on top of the old school desk they’re the perfect pillows for my breakfast nook. You can see the before and after of the school desk makeover in this post.

I hope you enjoyed seeing all the changes. Thanks for stopping by!

Linking with: Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,The Scoop, Mod Vintage Life, Between Naps on the Porch, From My Front Porch to Yours, Cozy Little House, A Stroll Thru Life, Ivy and Elephants, Style Elixir, Shabby Art Boutique, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Classy Clutter, French Country Cottage, Amaze Me Monday , VMG206, That DIY Party

Favorite Things Giveaway

Just popping in to let you know about a giveaway that is going on right now over at DIY Beautify + 9 other blogs.

This is the BODY, HOME and OFFICE Pampering Pack, just one of the ten prize packages being given away by the ten participating blogs.

When Cindy asked me if I would be interested in giving one of my jewelry pieces I didn’t have to think twice. The piece I sent to be included in her package is very similar to this:

Visit DIY Beautify to enter!

Stash Confessions: Vintage and Retro Buttons

A while back I confessed to having a giant stash of socks for which I had no excuse. Today I want to show you another stash, my beloved vintage buttons. When I’m designing jewelry, it’s important to me to have a variety of styles and types of findings and embellishments. My creative juices flow best when I experiment with all kinds of colors, shapes and eras.

Many of these chunky bright colored buttons have become rings and a few others became the centerpiece for a necklace or bracelet.

I love military inspired fashion and accessories and tend to go to my brass stash when designing in that style.

Ahhh my vintage whites. Need I say more?

This is probably not even one tenth of my collection (just ‘fessing up here).

The detail in vintage buttons is amazing to me. Whether Deco chic, retro funky, or vintage sweet all can find there way into a design in my studio.

Brighten a Dark Room With Glass and Metal

Even though there’s nothing better than natural lighting to make a space feel pretty and bright, shiny glass and metal can work wonders. Most of the rooms in my house have lots of windows but there are a few rooms that are a bit dark and more challenging. Mirrors go a long way in bringing reflective light into their dark corners. But there are lots of other decorative items that can help bounce the light around too.

Load up on crystal prisms on sconces and chandeliers. Nothing catches and distributes the light like these faceted gems.

Bring in more light with shiny metal finishes on your picture frames, candlesticks and art work.
This old copper plaque belonged to my mother, who is now with the angels.

Glass and metal vases, bowls and trays placed strategically among your décor can add sparkle where there was none.

Even small collections of glass items, like these bottle stoppers displayed in bowls will scatter a twinkle around a room.

Here are some additional ways to diffuse the dreariness of a dark room:
RGlass tabletops
RShiny metal fixtures
RLight or sheer curtains
RLight colored paint on walls and furniture

I’m so happy we have “sprung forward”. There’s much more light to go around now, and I plan to take full advantage of it each day!

Tarnished Royalty

Design Your Life