New Fall Jewelry Line

I have been amping up my Etsy shop for the upcoming holidays. With fall ahead I felt like doing a bit of woodland jewelry for everyday wear and some Mom, Grandma Sister, Friend and bridesmaid pieces with personalized initials. I love to work in the rustic nature vibe. So I have been having fun with my beautiful Hydrangea bushes and Impatiens leaves. I am using an air dry clay that really is strong once dried, painted, gilded and sealed. They make lightweight  pieces and I get to do some detail work. My clay dries so white that they make beautiful pieces just sealed. They resemble porcelain when left white.

These make great bridesmaid gifts.

These are little brooches for your jean  jacket.  I always get compliments when I wear them.

Can you tell I’m in a Fall mood. I love making these leaves. I use real leaves to imprint the clay. Then I use several colors of glazes and and often metallic patinas… I love my happy place. Its so fun to create practically everyday. I plan to do oak and maple leaves also. These little gems are all in my Etsy shop. You can see it all by clicking on the link. Of course I had to make some Tennessee VOLS jewelry. Its once again…Football Time In Tennessee! So far the team is looking good. I have high hopes for them.

Keep your artists in mind this year when it comes to gifting. Handmade is in. Many of the big company’s are buying from artists on Etsy and other sites. Target and Macy’s, to name a few. Thanks big box retail.

New Jewelry Too

I actually got the urge to create some new summer jewelry items. I really took a break from my etsy shop with all the health issues I was going through. I decided to destress wherever I could and still intend to stay in that mantra. OOHHMMMM! Namaste. 🙂  I have been walking and finally did get 8 lbs off (more to go). I do yoga at home and should get back to class, and of course the kayaking is both our new exercise regimen. It’s so nice to find exercise that you can’t wait to do. Anyway I digress. I’m simply going to show you some of my new pieces.

Green Aventurine and Amonizite

Summer colors in glass and Turquoise and Howlite

Czech Glass in Lime opaque and clear

Resin Zinnias in coral.

Sodalite and Czech glass. Most of these bracelets have a magnet that is so strong it will close itself. So easy. Well that is a glimpse of what I have been up to.

And now I’m off to see my little Oliver. Whoohooo…grandma can’t wait.

Annie Oakley Meets Lucy

I have been soooo busy lately with getting ready for my first jewelry art and craft show that takes place June 1st and 2nd. I’m having a ball doing it  too. That is the important part. I made the cutest aprons for Caroline and I to wear. They’re a hoot. I had this faux tooled leather that I have been planning to make a purse out of for the longest time. I have been cutting bits from it for bracelets and cigar boxes. Then I got this idea for the aprons.

I found several bright pretty florals in my fabric stash and ripped them at the length I needed for that true shabby chic gypsy cowgirl look.  First I cut the front panels of the faux leather and then the pockets for the CASH  I hope to bring in. I need my CASH for Round Top TX Antiques Week when we go in Oct. (Did I tell you how excited I am to see this event?!) Check it out here.

Here is a closer look at the apron. I was so lucky that the mannequin had the same waist as mine… just kidding. I can’t make the bow when I wear it :). The necklaces that she is wearing are more of my Tennessee necklaces that I have priced and ready to go. I made Caroline’s apron in two different bright fabrics. She has already asked if she can keep it. Of course she can!

I found a few great pieces that will be props for the show, then I may make spots for them in my home. The shutter is old and I still may give it a chippy white coat so my jewelry shows up better. The barn windows, I simply hosed off and Roger nailed hog wire to the backs so I can use the mini clothes pins to attach the earring cards and necklaces. They would make great jewelry hangers in a bedroom too. I’ll have to show you the one I created for our bedroom. It is a little more elaborate. It hangs behind my bedroom door and holds many necklaces.  It sure prevents chain tangles and keeps them out of the way. I could see the barn window painted in bright glossy colors… oh well, I digress.

The neighbors are always laughing at me when I drag birch branches home. We stuck these two in the back of the golf cart and took them from a refuse pile that was ready for pick up. Aren’t they beauties?! I think I will trim the branches and use them to drape bracelets across. These branches will be used in containers for Christmas decorations.

This ladder caught my eye as Caroline and I were walking out the door of a junk shop. I yelled, “how much,” he said “$25.00,” I yelled “$20.00” and he yelled “SOLD!” It was invigorating!

I have been making my jewelry cards from birch wrapping paper. I simply applied glue stick to the back of it and stuck card stock to it to give it some body. When it was dry , I used a  rotary cutter to cut the strips as I needed them and I have a hole punch for the earring  holes.

So now you are getting a sneak peak of the show preparation. I will take lots of pics to show the set up and completion. Now we have to hope for sunny weather.

Pinterest Challenge Duo- complete!

We did it- Mom and I pulled out our first Pinterest Challenge, a fabulous idea dreamed up by the blogging pros among pros (and this round guest hosted by this sparkly gal and this chipper gal) to get us all hands-on-to-those-pinned-ideas-we’ll-never-actually-do-otherwise. So, here’s what we accomplished- this post is a two-parter, begins with signage and ends with sandwiches!

Mom first…

I have my first arts and craft show featuring my jewelry coming up in June. I have been pinning tons of booth ideas. I have been really busy making many of them. So, for my first Pinterest Challenge, I will show you my sign project. I found a pin that was “Free Must-Have Fonts.” I had a few oval canvas boards that had been laying around for years, so that is perfect. I love it when I have everything I need for a project.

My first plan was to paint the canvas with black chalkboard paint. I happened to have a bottle in my paint cupboard. I knew I wanted to do something with chalkboard paint someday. This is the day! So I brushed it on. Easy so far.

This is the font I chose. I printed it out for a reference. If I had planned to take more time, I would have enlarged it and made stencils from it.

I decided to free-hand it instead and I drew the letters out the best I could. I used my chalk line pen that I use for quilting. It’s very sharp and I needed something white to show the letters on black.

This is the hard part. Getting my letters perfect as possible. Perfect they are not, but I think it turned out cute.

This will sit on my chippy yellow $4.00 chair that I use for photos. I plan to place it at the front corner of my tent and sit the sign on the chair. It’s a little wonkie, but it will look cute when the whole set up is all together. My first Pinterest Challenge is complete. TahDah…!

So, Lindsey here now… Yeah Mom! Love the combo of the cool new font on stark black matched with the chippy yellow chair. I wish I could be there for your show! But glad we have our blog to share in the preparations 🙂

For my Pinterest challenge, I picked this crazy looking sandwich that I pinned a few weeks ago from Big Girls Small Kitchen, a fabulous foodie blog I recently discovered. I liked the concept of this bizarre sounding sandwich (eggs and eggplant?) and I would never normally cook anything just to go onto a sandwich, so this was the perfect Pinterest Challenge for yours truly. Obviously the full details and recipe are on their site, but I did a slightly simpler version… and an also slightly botched version cuz I kinda rushed it Step one, slice thin the eggplant and salt liberally to draw the water out. I did this when I got home from work (as well as put eggs on to boil) so all this was doin’ its thing while I was doin’ my thing.

After squeezing it dry with tea towels (or paper towels), I totally messed up and put it in the oven on parchment DRY— oops. That gives you eggplant chips. I realized this 10 minutes in and pulled it out and quickly slathered it in some olive oil. This gives you fried chips. Ugh. I finally kind of worked it out after some blotting, further roasting, etc and after a little more slicing (thin slices of cucumber, sliced hard-boiled egg, chopped cilantro), the major players were ready.

I opted to simplify things and use mayo with the cilantro sprinkled on top instead of making the tahini based herb sauce in the recipe. I’m a workin’ girl after all, can only handle so much on a weeknight!

Ta da! I think my final product, despite some eggplant problems, turned out pretty similar-looking to the original! And, as surprised as I honestly was, it was delish! Kind of like an egg salad sandwich with thin slices of eggplant. Pinterest Challenge dunzo!

I’m Featured…Check It Out

Second Spring Soap has featured my jewelry on her blog. Go to the link here to see it and here to see her lovely Etsy shop. She makes handmade soaps and I’m thrilled to be a part of her blog.

Get Into the Give Away For A Stretch Bracelet From PeeGee Jewelry

I will be giving some lucky person a beautiful stretch bracelet from my Etsy Shop, PeeGee Jewelry on April 27th. All you have to do is go to my shop, PeeGee Jewelry and like an item. Then come back to our blog and let us know (leave a comment on this post) which item you liked. You will be entered into the drawing every time you report back to us. I have so many new things in my shop, so I thought I would treat someone for taking a look at my new items. I have been very busy and more items for summer are on the way. I am in the process of making my botanical pieces which includes my new Hosta necklaces and Fern necklaces. I also have been making some fun “Junk”  items for the avid flea market lover as well as some hand stamped “Mom” and “Sister” necklaces. So take a look and let me know what you think!  We love our readers, so why not treat them to a gift? Good Luck!

Short and Sweet

Check out my shop, PeeGee Jewelry. I am having a winter sale. You will get 20% off of everything! Had a wonderful Christmas with the kids, and plan to have a safe nonexciting New Years eve. More to come about all we have been up too.

Busy Stocking My Shop

We apologize for our infrequent postings. My step-dad had his surgery and we ended up staying in Illinois longer than we thought, but I’m sure glad we could. Roger built a ramp for Pat so he can get in the house easier. It turned out beautiful. Mom and Roger also decided to surprise Pat with a 60 inch flat screen instead of their monstrous rear projection that had the worst reflection problem I have ever seen. Pat was very happy and can now can enjoy his football from anywhere in the room without seeing a lamp instead of a game. He is doing well , but it has been tough. Mom is doing well too now that they are both getting some sleep.

We left IL and headed to see Jon, our son, in Ohio and then drove to Northern Virginia to see Lindsey and Chad’s new place. Seeing the two kids was not in the plan, but since we stayed so much longer, we thought we would get both kids in before Thanksgiving since we won’t be getting together with either of them. Jon is great and Lindsey and Chad have a wonderful new place that you will all see soon with the drapes up and feeling more like home.

I am busy catching up on my Etsy shop to get ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I had to add tags to all 175 items. My arms barely work now. I have also been busy working on jewelry and trinket boxes for my shop. I am having a ball with these little gems. We stopped in a little town (Staunton, VA- note from Lindsey!) on the way home from Lindsey’s and found a great cigar shop that sold their wood boxes. So we left with arms full and I have been turning them into keepsakes.

I purchased vintage sheet music and lined this box with it. This particular box had beautiful paper all around the edges. Much of cigar box labeling is like beautiful art, so this kept the edge taping on. I did add some of my cold porcelain holly leaves to the top and fabric roses. I sprinkled old German glitter around the top edges and added buttons. The box came with pretty brass hinges and a black and brass latch. These boxes are listed in my shop. I am making each one different. This is the only Christmas  box so far. I think they would make great gifts for home decor and or jewelry or trinket storage.  Some of my others would really be great for teens and tweens.

The inside.

I added one of my fabric Hosta leaves to this box.  I blogged about making the leaves this summer. I have collected post cards in the past, and this one is from 1914. I thought it would great on top of this box. It’s amazing to see how little info people had to write for an address, and the penmanship is beautiful. Truly a lost art.

Here is the inside of the last one. Aren’t they fun? I love to make them… I love to make anything! Check out PeeGee Jewely to see the others. I will be offering free shipping Nov. 23 through Nov. 26th to take part in Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If not me, give some artist some business this holiday season. They work hard and Etsy has some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. OK, that was my plug for shopping small. I’ll stop now.

I decided to decorate some pine cones for my home. The pine cone crop was huge this year so Caroline and I went out and collected this bag  full that I planned to paint and glitter.

I did wear a mask and highly recommend it. Be safe. I used ballet pink, pistachio green and white matte spray paint. I think I still will add a yellow gold on the left-over pine cones. Gotta match the decor.

A cardboard box makes a great paint booth. It also helps to have an empty lot next door. After painting them pretty heavily, I spread them out on a sheet in the yard to get rid of the paint smell. They were fine by the next day. Then came the Modge Podge and German glitter. They turned out really pretty. I glittered the cones pretty heavy. I love glitter at Christmas time. I collect the glitter houses and bottle brush trees, so these will look great with them. The glitter doesn’t show up as well in pictures, but believe me , they are sparkly!

The next project is digging out the tree and all that goes with it. I love to decorate for the holidays! Roger just rolls his eyes… every year for 37 years. Does anyone’s husband get happy and excited about the decos going up? Let us know. I feel it’s part of the tradition at our house to hear him sigh like something bad is about to happen. If he hasn’t gotten it by now, he never will. Oh well, I do it anyway and I like it!  Have a great Thanksgiving everyone. I have to put my 2 lb turkey breast in the fridge to thaw. I laughed when I saw it roll down the checkout belt at Walmart. But I won’t miss making all that stuff this year. I’d rather spend the day decorating with the football games blaring in the background. Ahhhh memories…