Yea! Made the Etsy Front Page!

My new acorn necklace was on the Etsy front page this morning! So what if it was 2:00 AM- it's still flattering. You can see the entire list here. Thanks Etsy!

New Fall Necklaces

I love everything about these! These necklaces have been in my brain for a few months and they're finally done. All of them hanging in my studio make me smile and remind me of how much I love fall.

That summer day at Lake Oquaga when I gave the kids $1 a piece to fill a bag with acorns (the adults thought I was crazy) was the day I thought of these :)

Hand felted wool balls are attached to the caps, and each has a single vintage pressed glass ladybug bead. So simple. They hang from a vintage brass chain with brass findings.

I just listed them in my shop- more colors to come....

You can get your own here in my Etsy shop.

:)

Pin Cushion Rings??

Do you use them? I make them- but never used then until today. It was like- "wow- these really do come in handy when doing small needle work".

I have a few listed in my Etsy shop- (but ran low after a large order last month). I just whipped up a few more. Made from hand felted wool balls, tiny recycled vintage watch parts tins, and vintage enamel stickpins.

Great gift- too cute! I have an assortment of colors not yet listed. Tomorrow I'll be listing some acorn necklaces with wool-felted balls.

Stay tuned and have a peaceful evening!

The Gang's All Here

One big happy family- the Acorn Birds. Lovingly made from antique German doll parts, fabrics from vintage quilts, vintage bits, and acorns from my friend's cottage. The porcelain bisque bird heads are quite unique- I blogged previously about them here.

I admittedly obsessed over the detail on these, which is why they took so long to make. I knew I was obsessing when I made the pants 3 times to get the pattern right. (I've never made pants before- especially ones that are 2" long)

These 4 have jointed arms and legs- you can see their progress here. So here they sit- waiting for a new home. I'll be listing some in my Etsy shop today or tomorrow.

I hope they make you smile! (they scare my brother-in-law)

Etsy Treasury West- Tickets & Tokens

Here's a really great Etsy Treasury list from thepairabirds featuring my vintage bus tokens.  Titled Tickets and Tokens, it features some great finds!

I love the ring & paperclips.  You can buy your own tokens in Mike's shop- BigDaddyO's.

Hope you're having a great weekend!  Go Ohio State!

Vintage Kokeshi Erasers- Wow

Another great find.  I LOVE these little erasers.  I found them over the weekend at "tag sale" (as Martha would say).  I originally thought they were bottle stoppers- that's what the lady at the "tag sale" told me.

These are WWII era- complete in their original box! 

.....just a random post- these make me smile!  Have a happy Thursday!

What I'm working on....

I was feeling very uninspired the last few months until I came across an old box of religious trinkets in my studio.  I started collecting vintage religious medals about 5 years ago but didn't really want to make jewelry that was overtly religious.  

My everyday necklace the past few years is a tiny silver Mary medal that I bought at Notre Dame 20 years ago. (it was probably a dollar or 2 but I never mastered the exchange rate thing in Europe back then)  I wired on a little pearl and silver cross- very simple.  I have seen a lot of religious medals used lately in jewelry- and I'm starting to work on a collection with this theme.  I'm hoping to share this process as I go- my blog friends have been so helpful & supportive!  So now that the commissions are done, school has started, and the major projects are past me- I have a blank canvas.  Can any of you recommend someone that does silver casting?  I have some things I want to cast multiples of & don't know where to start looking!

Thanks & have a great weekend!

Acorn Birds in Progress...

...or should I say STILL in progress.  Just a sneak peak- this last group of little ladies is almost complete.

3 more to dress and finishing touches on the others.  If my patient friend reads this post & is still interested in a few more for her collection email me!  I will give you first pick!

The last few with the jointed arms & legs took so much longer to dress - mainly because I'm not a pattern-maker and the clothes had to fit when standing or seated.  I'll finish these last 3 this weekend (fingers crossed!)

Cleveland Handmade Giveaway

Check out the whole article here & have a chance to win my bracelet from my Etsy shop.  All the details are on the Cleveland Handmade Blog.  Good luck!

Some New Work in Progress

These are actually prototypes for some designs I'm doing in sterling, but I wanted to work them out in brass to see if I like the look.  These first 2 are my favorite, with the vintage glass rings.  (I hoard these glass rings and feel relieved to be using them) 

All of these will look better with oxidized silver.....maybe with a little pop of color.  Now as I write this I think I'll throw in a few unexpected beads so they aren't so symmetrical.

Aren't ladybugs supposed to be lucky?  I can't wait to do this in delicate silver chains.  I've always LOVED these vintage glass ladybug beads- they might become my "signature".  I'm thinking of incorporating silk ribbon or linen cord...hmmmm...or leather!  That's it!  LEATHER!

This last one was just for fun-  all vintage "stuff".  Makes me smile :)

More tomorrow- I have to run off to dress the Acorn Birds- ALMOST done!

Vintage Tokens

I just listed some extra vintage train & bus tokens in Mike's shop.  Some railroad, some bus, great stuff.  More listings all week in BigDaddyO's shop.

These are fun to use as charms, and of course I bought WAY more than I can ever use.

I LOVE these.  Coming soon- vintage religious medals.  I went through my giant stash and will be listing those next week.  Stay tuned!