Shabby Accumulations

The Pillowcases

2011-12-30T14:11:00.001-08:00

Teddy resting on my pillowcases. The top one is from this Christmas, the bottom is my Beatrice Potter pillow case.

There are not many things as precious as the home sewn pillowcases I received for Christmas this year, except the ones I have received in the past. As often as my mom could, when she visited me, we would go to a local fabric shop. She was a fabric addict, she loved all things sewing. On one of our fabric excursions last year, I found some sweet flannel Beatrice Potter material, at the Gloversville Sewing Center. Mom insisted on buying it and making me a set of pillowcases. Through the years she has given myself and my sons, home made (and sometimes embroidered) pillowcases as gifts.
On to to my story..
For you to understand the significance of this, you need to know that my sister and mom had gone for years without much contact.

Forward to Christmas Eve this year.
My sister handed me her gift. I opened it to find a set of beautiful, hand made pillowcases.
"You don't know about mom and her pillowcases, do you?" I asked. She looked at me with a puzzled expression. "Oh my, you don't!" I knew she had been making pillowcases as gifts, because she had shown me the other day, the set she was making for my brother. I sort of kept the thought of mom's pillowcases in the back of my mind, and to myself at that time.
When I saw my sister, who knew nothing about mom's love of making and giving these, had made me a set also..I had to bring it up.
I took her upstairs to my bedroom and showed her the Beatrice Potter pillowcases.
It was the same sewing pattern my sis had downloaded a week earlier. Another odd thing, my sister hasn't sewn in years..
Well, I guess this was coincidence enough, but there is more.
My brother lives in Texas, and received his gift of pillowcases, from my sister this Wednesday, which was also my sisters birthday. That day he called and left her a detailed message. He told her how years ago my mom had bought material with antique cars on it and was going to make him pillowcase from it. He never received those pillowcases with cars on them, until my sister unknowingly went to the same sewing shop, bought material with cars printed on it, made the pillowcases and then sent them to my brother.
Was that my mom's way of giving us gifts this year, as we tried to cope with our first Christmas since she died.
As I write this, I can feel the hair standing on my head. I have read that when that happens it is because of a spirit being near. I love you mom, and thank you for the pillowcases.

Wishing for a peaceful season

2011-12-26T13:28:00.000-08:00

Santa baby! He has been and left for the year.

Along with Santa came loads and loads of sugar! Best ingested when mixed with butter, well if you ask me it is.

My husband surprised me the Friday before Christmas, at work, with these beautiful roses. The color is so gorgeous in person.

They ironically matched an ornament my mom painted for me about a year or so ago.
I place the ornament on her memory tree the day before I got the roses.
They match perfectly.

I knew this year was going to be terribly difficult to face, the first without my mom. I had no idea how I was going to go about it. Crawling under a rock for the season was my preferred choice, but I knew that was not a feasible option. Instead I decided visit my granny, (my mom's mom) who I have not seen since Mothers day, and then to surround myself with as much family as I possibly could, with lots of reasons to smile. She would have loved this. I know she was with us.
Love you mom.

Wishing you all a very peaceful and safe holiday season.

Red October..or should I say white!

2011-10-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

Not truly how the end of October usually looks around here, but it is how it looks right now! I have taken lots of pics lately, didn't plan on even taking advantage of this gorgeous scene. But, when it was not gone by this afternoon, I got the hint. I have now officially been glued to my computer for about an hour..longer than I planned.
I took an extra day off this week, and was in total need of it. I don't work full time, but have been feeling in quite the flurry of a funk lately. School, yes, school..work and family demands..I let them take a tole on me. The last two days, I have thoroughly enjoyed. I am ahead with my online classes, the house is clean and I have taken a few deep sighs. I feel like I haven't given myself a break yet since losing my mom earlier this year. I just kept going, even a few days extra to myself are helping so much.
I keep thinking of things that I want..to be a better person, to live life to it's fullest. I say the words "life is for living" in my head a few times a day. Little reminders that I need to think better thoughts...it does help.
I know I have been absent in visiting my blogging friends, but want you to know I haven't forgotten about you! My life outside of the world wide web goes on. I will be back to say hi during a few more stolen moments!

Lake Placid

2011-09-16T03:07:00.000-07:00

How could summer possibly be over? It went by way to quickly.
I need another month of it, with hot muggy days and really loud thunderstorms.
My summer was filled with back yard fires and friends and long runs outside.
My husband and I did take one trip in August. We visited Lake Placid. I hadn't been there since I was a little girl. A lot has changed!

The views are amazing. We went to the top of White Face mountain. It was really strange seeing people walking around here, especially children. There are no fences to keep others from climbing near the edge. Everything is rock, and yes, extremely steep!

We spent an afternoon at the ski jumps. Athletes were practicing, without snow of course, which I found quite entertaining!

These young men above ,would jump and then fall into a pool.

People were actually skiing and jumping off this ski jump too! It really makes you appreciate the hard work and dedication our athletes have.

You wouldn't find me doing that! Maybe sliding down..lol, but I doubt it!

Oddly enough, while we going up the elevator to the top of White Face, my husband commented that is would be the wrong place to be in the middle of an earthquake. The next day I realized while reading the paper, that he said this at the exact time that an earthquake
rattled the northeast. Sort of sent a chill through me! My husband..does he have powers he has yet to reveal to me..lol! Just an odd thing I wanted to share!

So, that was our little getaway for the season. Now to figure out our fall trip..hmmm.

I hope you all had a great summer and stayed safe. Recent weather has brought so much devastation to this area of the country. We faired pretty well. We were without power for about three days. It is nothing compared to loss of homes and lifetime memories that others are coping with. My prayers go out to them.

On a brighter note.

2011-08-04T02:39:00.000-07:00

On a bright note!
This past weekend my photog partner and I shot a wedding at a lake.
It was a gorgeous evening. The bride was one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen. Skies were clear and bright blue. The lake water was calm. It was perfect! To see more of our work go to our facebook page at He Said She Said Photography, and like us!

2011-07-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

Hi there my friends! I wish I had some shabby new jewelry designs to show you, but alas, I do not. Not much creating going on here lately. Lot's of photography though! So hard to choose sometimes, design or photograph? Give me another five hours in a day and I wouldn't have to choose. That on top of trying to train for a marathon that I signed up for in September. So far I am up to 17 miles. Though, at the moment I have a sore hip, and think I may need an extra day or so off.
Tough for someone who calls running her religion.
I have also been busy creating plans for a photography business. I am in a partnership with a neighbor. We call ourselves "He Said She Said Photography". This weekend we are doing shooting a wedding on a beach. How dreamy is that! I can't wait. Will show you some pics of the action in my next post!

Berry pie..coming soon!

2011-07-12T03:13:00.000-07:00

Behind our house we have a trail with lots and lots of berry bushes! They are just started to turn the right color..another month and they will be perfect to pick.
I took this photo the other night though..not out on our back trail, but out near a sand pit a ways from our house. My husband and I rode our four wheeler out there to watch the sunset and maybe take some photos of it..it didn't end up turning any spectacular colors that night...so you have a pic of berries here instead..lol! This print is available in my etsy shop also.

Remedy

2011-07-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the remedy is to look to the heavens...
and let them fill your heart.

It has been eeeeoonsss since I did an illustration Friday. I have been thinking about, buy my heart has not been in it. It was always so much fun..and sometimes my results just made me smile. So here is the first in ages. The word this week is "remedy"...something people search for forever. I know my search is still on. But there are so many possible ways to go..
God bless you..my friends!

Extreme Makeover Dome edition.

2011-07-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of commotion around here...
We decided to have our sky lights removed and replace them with dormers. Our little dome home has very little air exchange..and heats and cools like a gable barn. We put windows that actually open and close in the dormers! Yay...plan on being much more comfortable here!
Above it the before photo...

This is the in the works photo!..I love it!
We plan on putting cultured stone half up the walls and all the way up the side panel walls, and then siding the rest. The current choice of siding color is dark brown or dark green.

Hubby and my b-i-l posing for me.

This is where one of the sky lights was..it is open to air in these pics.

A view from my bedroom...fresh air view...

Below the sky light is where there is now a dormer..the sky light is covered now..we have five dormers.
Today we are getting blow in insulation at all the dormer spaces...next to have it framed up and done..will keep you updated!

A few little things ..

2011-06-10T03:32:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I have been so infrequent here...life you know..
Trying to get back on track though, haven't felt much like creating anything in the past few months..but I have found that finding projects to do help me..so I have started again.
Above is a necklace I made using a ceramic tree focal piece from artbeads.com. I fell in love with it, hands down, at first sight. How could I not..with my obsession for trees.
They have such character, and are all different in their own way.
One of my friends is now the owner of it, I gave it to her for a birthday gift..actually I let her pick between the three necklaces here, and she chose this one.

This one is made from found vintage pieces of jewelry, the only new piece on it is the little robins egg colored czech flower. The flower is from, of course, artbeads.com.
I love their selection of these, they are new but can be made to look very vintage.

This piece is made from wrapped copper wire and turquoise earring.
I am intrigued by wire wrapped jewelry, but as of yet have much to learn about it!

And best of all to show you..my youngest son Casey. He recently graduated, with honors and an associates degree in general studies.
He isn't finished though, we will be going back to attend a two year nursing program at the same college this fall. I am so proud of him, he has not has any easy road with this, and has overcome so many obstacles. There are so many ways he has grown and become more independent. He has an anxiety/depressive disorder which could debilitate him if he let it. But he hasn't, he has fought it all the way. He has taken baby steps to get where he is today, it is still hard for him, but he continues to challenge himself. His goal it to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner so he can give back, and help others that are walking down the same road.
I used to think that diagnosi's like his may be a catch all, or an excuse, pretty bad for a nurse ha? But it changes when see someone struggle with it..it does exist..and should be addressed as if it is any other disease.
As far as his choice of desired careers...was surprised, but secretly thrilled. No it will not be easy..but I know he will work as hard as he has thus far. I know my mom was excited for him too..she was also a nurse..as is my sister.
I must tell you it was not my first choice of careers..art was, go figure. While art lingers in the shadows..nursing has made me the person I am today. I have learned to be a better person and to have empathy and compassion for others, and am thankful that my life twisted in such a way. I hope for the same for my son.
I am so lucky to have such a person in my life..He has been the bright spot in these past few dark months.

Pink Lemondade

2011-05-23T02:26:00.000-07:00

This cupcake was from Mother's Day breakfast. We ate at Grandma Millie's Bakery..all moms that day were to pick a free cupcake!
Lucky me!
It was hard to pick..they all looked so good!
This one was the prettiest..and I thought it would photograph the best..lol!!!
I loved the pale pink pearl sprinkles and frosting, and knew I had the perfect shabby saucer for it to pose on!! It tasted as good as it looks!

2011-05-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends.
Haven't been around in a while..feel like every moment is taken up lately..
Hoping for some calm soon...however I have my doubts!

I did have the chance to go the the tulip fest in Washington Park on Mother's Day.
It was beautiful. Plenty to take pictures of...I spent the day with my son's and husband.
In the afternoon we visited family that I had not seen since my mom died.
That was hard to do..but a good thing also.
My grandma was there..we call her "granny". It was so nice to see her. My sister, my two aunts, my uncle and his mom were there also.
Wow..that about says what is left of my family on my mom's side..besides my brother in Texas and my neices. We are a small group now. I lost and uncle and great aunt in the past year also..My mom's brother passed away last fall..luckily she was able to be up here with him. One of my aunt's has downs syndrome. She loved my mom more than this whole world. Mom was planning on taking care of her if my granny became ill and couldn't. She is only a little over a year older than me..we grew up together. I consider myself lucky to have had a childhood with her. The whole fabric of her life has been changed now. Mom and her used to joke about sitting on a porch swing sipping mimosa's..in their old age. I would do anything to take her pain away..her love for mom is so pure..just like her pain.

Something old something new

2011-04-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

Artbeads.com's beading blogger theme for this spring involves using a vintage or old piece of jewelry and combining it with something new. Creating pieces of jewelry with found items is near and dear to my heart. So I was happy to have a few spare moments to design!

My new items where vintage inspired. The beautiful cameo and small czech glass belflowers are both from artbeads.com
The necklace is one a friend collected at an estate sale, and then gave to me.
And the most special piece of my design is the brass flowered button, with a red stone in the middle. My mom was here for Christmas this year..she gave me an array of beautiful vintage buttons that she thought I would like. I of course adore them all. And they will forever be cherished by me..as they are the last gift I will ever receive from her. Sadly, if you have read my previous posts you know why this is so.
I have many more sweet buttons she gave me...that I hope to create something beautiful and inspiring with..more to come my friends.

Picking up the pieces.

2011-03-14T07:20:00.001-07:00

It has been a very rough week or so for me. I am still reeling from the sudden loss of my mom.
One moment I am fine, the next I am not. For those of you who don't read my other blog..so distressing, I lost my mom in an accident a little over a week ago. She was hit by a car while crossing a road. This is a flower from one of the arrangements sent to the funeral home. It was my favorite..the bright beautiful colors stood out amongst such sadness.
Funny how quickly the whole course of so many lives can change. I sat on the couch last night and almost reached for the phone to call her. I miss doing that so much. It was almost a habit.

I made myself pick up my paintbrush the other day. Actually I ended up enjoying the quietness of painting.
Tomorrow I am going back to work, which is a good thing. I have been touched by so many people in recent day, through this all I realize how much I need others..and what a comfort they are. Every kind word spoken from them, was held onto tightly by me.

Winter Enchantment

2011-02-20T15:35:00.000-08:00

I have been busy this weekend creating with some beautiful findings from artbeads.com.
In my mailbox recently I found some gorgeous jewelry supplies. Amongst them were brass antique flowers and curls links and antique brass texture and curls links.
Inspired by the cool blues of winter I set off on a mission...
First I designed a pair of earrings, featuring the antique brass texture and curls links. The disks are brass that has been handcut, domed and colored by me! The cool, robin's egg blue reminded me of icicles hanging from from the edge of our roof.
To match the earrings I made a broken china necklace. I used another small disk, a piece of china that has a 32mm antique brass flower and curls link attached to the back of its filagree wrap and also an antique brass texture and curls link.
And last but not least, I made a pair of earrings using cobalt blue teardrop crystals from The Black Bear bead shop, 24 mm antique copper decorative flower links and antique copper lily cone bead caps from artbeads.com. The blue beads made me think of the sky on a cool, clear day..the copper brings thoughts of the contrast against the sky, provided from leaves that still are holding on dearly to a few trees.

The time has come..and gone..my OWOH winner is...

2011-02-20T15:30:00.000-08:00

Alas..I am late, so late!!! Apologies! I need to announce the winner of my OWOH giveaway! Excuse me...I will be right back...teedly dee..teeedly doo..
ok..here I am. What I just did, is consult my technical numerator generator. He happens to be my youngest son..who is 21. I stood at his bedroom door and asked him to use his mental top hat to pick a random number. And the number he picked is number 29...my age,...well apparently NOT.
Anyways..the 29th comment was made by Hoopie! Click on her name to visit her fun blog! And congrats Hoopie! Once I hear from you I will send you print along on it's way!

Perhaps renaming my blog..not.

2011-02-15T03:54:00.001-08:00

Ok...so I blast my blog with puppy dogs photos...So what!?? lol..they have no choice. (Perhaps this should be a blog just about my poochies!!! )
And if I can catch them when they are being elusive with the camera, so be it.
They are like snobby celebrities..often turning the other way when the camera is out.

I swear they hear me take the lens cap off!
I did manage to catch Tia giving my hubby lots of love this week..and having a face to face chat.

She is such a cuddly dog. I told my husband I wasn't lazy until she came around. I love when I grab an afghan and lie on the couch..she is always willing to jump up and cuddle as close as she can get.
You can tell she is from the south. She waits until the last minute to go outside and do her business.

She does however, love to run in the woods. Mention the word "walk" in our house and the mayhem begins, with both Yogi and Tia.

I will never get tired of watching them run out on our path out back.
It is always the same old path..but they approach it with such joy.

I don't know what I would do without my little friends. I know they will leave one day, and that will be so very tough. But for now..they just keep warming our hearts!

Another new in the shop post!

2011-02-07T03:42:00.001-08:00

Hi all! Hope things are going swimmingly! If you are looking for my OWOH post, scroll down, my friends!
Otherwise hang out here.
I have about had enough of winter, for the rest of my life..lol!!! The snow just keeps on coming! Can't wait to see green grass again! Even though we were spoiled, and had NOT a stitch of snow here till January, am ready for blue skys and warm sun.
Yogi, up above, really doesn't seem to mind the snow. He likes to sit at the top of our driveway and keep watch on the surrounding land..including the road below..for if a UPS truck dared to go our way..he would be sure to run after it, and bark. He also has his eye out for FED EX trucks and mail trucks. His partner, Tia..my other dog, has the speed behind the operation, she is the runner..Yogi is all bark.

This is a broken china pendant that I JUST now listed in my shop!
I have been trying to think of new designs for my pieces of china..something new for me is attaching a bail. Usually I just solder jump rings on and then go from there. I am having fun checking out different possibilities.

For this piece I used a gunmetal plated, pewter leaf pinch bail, from artbeads.com

I love how it looks with the distressed design here! It goes perfectly with the black patina.
Check out artbeads.com for more gorgeous bails! The possibilities of course are endless!

One world One Heart is here again!!!!

2011-01-31T14:21:00.000-08:00

It is that time of the year again! One World One Heart is in full swing! Sadly, from what I am reading, it will be last year it takes place..perhaps it will go on in another way, another form..or held by another person??? Hint, hint..anyone out there interested? This is, I think, my third time participating in OWOH.
For those of you who are blog hopping thru this event, my name is Jenn. I love all things artistic and creative..which at the top of my list includes: photography, digital art, drawing, painting and jewelry design. Often I have a hard time deciding which I actually want to concentrate on...such a dilemma..(usually solved by going for a long run about town) I am very much looking forward to seeing what others are creating for this event and hope to visit everyone who visits here!
For my giveaway..I am posting a print that will be sent to whomever happens to be drawn out of my lucky top hat at the end of OWOH on February 17th. All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment on this post.
Looking forward to visiting many, many others across the modern "airway" in the next few days!
Isn't it just amazing how our world is a bit wider through this one venue?
Here is the link to the main page for OWOH..if you would like to read more about it..
One World One Heart

Memories and Reacquaintance

2011-01-30T14:15:00.000-08:00

I had to tell you about a sweet person who recently featured an interview with me on her blog.
Her name is Tammy. I have know Tammy for years upon years, and feel very old saying that! She used to ride the same school bus as I did, while in high school
A memory about Tammy. One year, my sister I and decided we wanted to take dance classes. Actually, I had always wanted to take dance classes, but finally got around to it in my early or mid-teens. One night we were either leaving or getting dropped off, at the dance studio..
when we saw this graceful figure glide across the floor and then effortlessly leap high into the air, twisting and turning all the while. That person was Tammy. I had never seen her dance before that. Even back then she had a grace beyond her years...and a very wonderful talent, to say the least.
I have not seen Tammy for years, probably since my last ride on the school bus..lol! But with social media sites, it seems I have reconnected in one way or another with many people..and that is how I came to be on Tammy's blog..through a sweet invitation across the net.
Oh..one more thing I will fess up to..I had, for a short time, the biggest crush on her older brother! He always sat in the first seat on the bus. I was the shyest person ever, and found it ever so painful to walk by him every morning!!! But alas..I lived to tell about ages and ages later!!
Here is the link to Tammy's post..and once again.. thank you Tammy for your way too flattering words!! (Thought I love them!)
3 Sisters Village

Russian coils and little girl's boots...

2011-01-24T16:15:00.000-08:00

I recently became ambitious..lol! Well, sort of. I love the Belle Armoire publications, and usually have a few floating around. I had pulled out last winters issue and decided to actually make use of one of the lessons in there. True to self, I did not have the exact size wire or tools needed, so I improvised. I think, (now forgive me, because I have once again lost that ambition and am unable to find the issue this is from!) these swirlies are called Russian coils. I promise when I find the issue I will return with the proper names, date of issue, artist..ect!!!

As is true of most of Belle Armoire's featured designs..I want to make more and more of these!!! The coils are so sort of goth/feminine. I used a chandelier crystal as the focal piece, robin egg blue beads as secondary beads.

My friends around the corner have a little "bog" that they damned up last spring...mostly, well mainly..for what we call Mudder's Day. It truly lives up to it's name. But more on that this spring. Currently the bog is frozen. A few weeks ago we had a little cookout bogside, while the neighborhood kids went ice skating...and a few brave adults..I saw these little boots sitting on a log next to the fire. They just sort of said it all about the day. It was one to remember.

A lively romp

2011-01-22T04:18:00.000-08:00

My dogs can play me like a fiddle...look at these faces.

Do they, or, do they not look absolutely depressed?
They are saying.."Mom...take us out for a run in the snow!"
I really didn't want to...
but

I did.

Tia decided to venture off the trail. I don't think she had any idea how deep the snow was going to be!

Yogi, on the other hand, has short stubby legs..and stayed true to the path..and true to his elusive nature with the camera..so no Yogi trail pics today.
I did have a few, but they were of his backside bootie..left them out.

In the end a good time was had by all.

Another little bird...

2011-01-13T13:34:00.001-08:00

Gee..do you see a trend here!? Lil' bludbird s/p shakers for Christmas, bluebird necklaces...I guess I just like the color blue..and birds of course! I received my photo cube..or light tent..or whatever you choose to call it, in the mail a few days ago. Why did I wait so long to get one??
I LOVE it! Have been taking and retaking pics of my jewelry for my shop. I have yet to use the lights that came with my little set up..was too excited to take time to set them up..lol! Yes, call me a geek.
I don't know know about you ....but where I live, it is freezing out!!! Brrrhhh!!! It is late afternoon right now, work day done, dinner done..would love to cuddle up on the couch with my doggie and the remote, but plan on hitting the gym with hubby in while. I am amused by the number of people there lately..I guess there were lots of fitness related resolutions.
Not me,...I just try to take things day by day..and make things that I know I need to do, routine. It is a smaller task that way, and works for me...no broken resolutions!

This is a retake......happy with the contrast!
Until next time my friends...!

It really is winter!

2011-01-09T03:42:00.000-08:00

It snowed!!! Finally! Winters around here have not been how they used to be, with snowbanks almost up to our housetops. It seems like we have had a weather bubble around our area of the state. Surrounding areas have gotten lots of snow, but not us..which is sort of odd considering our location!
Well, we have a bit now. Not a lot, about seven or ten inches, but still enough to turn the outside into a beautiful winter wonderland.

My dogs had a blast playing in it. There little path in the woods is unmanageable for them, but we played in the driveway. They are just as much fun as little kids, the way they chase snowballs.
So things will be gorgeous around here...until the snow turns dirty..which is always disappointing!
This also gave me a reason to use my new lens! Which I LOVE! It is a sigma 70mm-300mm. It is taking a little getting used to, as all I have used is my kit lens which is 18mm-55mm...I have to learn to stand way back! I threw..ok, placed, my camera in the car when I went to the gym. You never know, fresh snow all over the place..totally photo op heaven right!? So much easier to do, as another reader stated, "drive by shootings" when I am by myself. I tried doing a few around town when I was riding with hubby in his truck. He was afraid I would get arrested or something..lol!
So, as I was driving home from the gym, all disgusting and sweaty (but freezing at first!) I took lots of pics!!! Finally it looks like the season has changed..other than just dried, dead grass and trees, the fluffy white snow was a welcome change.

Warning: Servere Cabin Fever!

2011-01-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

My get up and go has got up and went! Hubby is out of town, my mom, who was visiting recently is gone, and I have very, very few hours at work lately..the later leaving me slightly stressed. I am TRYING to find ways to remain motivated and upbeat during these slow, grey days!
So last night feeling myself losing that drive, I made myself sit down and finish a few necklace. I was pretty happy with what I ended up with, and am working on listing some of them in my shop.

I also pulled out a worn copy of "The Purpose Driven Life", by Rick Warren. I read it a few years ago and it really made me take a different approach to everyday life.
Last night I only got as far as reading the dedication..

It quotes this scripture:
"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ,..he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose his is working out in everything and everyone." Ephesians 1:11 (Msg)
It is a start for me. One of the reasons I pulled the book out was that my mom mentioned it in conversation. Just reading that first scripture brought a little light into my day, on a day when I felt like I was starting to lose sight of goals, starting to sink just a bit.
So to gain back some direction I will start with rereading this...goal one: Chapter one, tonight.

New in the shop!

2011-01-02T13:19:00.000-08:00

Rose Heart Broken china necklace (so shabby!)

Hi all! I have had a very lazy, lazy day! Perhaps too much cold medicine last night..it is four in the afternoon and I feel like I am just getting some energy! Hate it when that happens...so much for the gym today! Luckily I am sitting here with the lovely smell of baked chicken wings making it's way into my studio. Hubby, unlike me, is full of ambition today, and is making homemade pizza and chicken wings..I am a lucky girl aren't I!
One thing I did manage to do today it take a few pics of this necklace and list it in my shop. I am trying to stock up on some new broken china pieces. I love the cabbage rose pattern in this piece! Just had to hop and show it off to you!

Well...of to follow my nose to the kitchen!!!

Grindley Broken China Necklace

2011-01-01T05:02:00.000-08:00

SI have been trying to organize my studio (actually it is something I am always TRYING to do! Never quite done) While doing this I found some pieces of broken china I had set aside some time ago. I found a cup of old back stamps. Back stamps are the mark found on the back of china, depicting the manufacturer and something dates and other markings. I, myself, find them quite sweet.

This is the necklace I made from one of them. Yup...it is beat up and old looking...the more distressed
the better, I say!

It is now on a "shelf" in my shop.
Distressing Delilah's Shop of Shabby Accumulations.

Tiny things seen

2010-12-27T12:44:00.001-08:00

I love these tiny little things! All of which arrived nicely packaged, and nestled under a Christmas tree this year.
What is NOT to love about sweet little blue birds?...Corey, my oldest son, gave these to me. I had to wonder if he planned it to go with the gift below! If tiny little bluebirds fly....over the rainbow..

I was all smiles when I opened this package too!
How cute can it get! One of my favorite childhood movies is, yup, you guessed it, "The Wizard of Oz" My mom gave these to me this year...I adore these little house and ruby slippers s & p shakers!!!
What a sweet little coincidence these gifts were!!!
I myself, have been in a state of flu-like slumber...dropping to take a nap at any comfy nook I might cross in the house. I feel like I truly have cobwebs in my head that I just can't shake out....not enjoying this little bug that has gotten me. At least I made it through Christmas before it appeared!

A wonderful Christmas Day

2010-12-26T05:25:00.001-08:00

This year will go down as one my most favorite Christmas days ever. I am not usually a fan of hectic, busy holidays...but our Christmas day was busy..and I loved every minute of it.
My son Corey came home for the night on Christmas Eve.
Christmas morning was quiet, but wonderful.
I, as usual, feel spoiled.
I have a brand new bench grinder..a true surprise, from hubby! I can't wait to use it on some broken china! Also under the tree, was new Sigma 70-300mm lens..which I have quickly fallen for!...My older son (pictured above with all the facial hair!) brought me the sweetest little bluebird salt and pepper shakers...and rare Jamaican Blue coffee..yumm! Casey, my youngest son gave me a huge basket full lotion and soap!!!
Hubby then made us all delicious omlets.....and I baked some cheesy artichoke dip for later in the day.

After a while we headed out to make our holiday rounds. We stopped at my sister & brother in law's house, during which we gave one of my FAVORITE gifts that we bought this year, a pair of cowboy boots!..to Sydney..our sweet little niece..she ADORES boots..and of course we felt she needed a new pair! She was so cute..I think she went upstairs to look at them in mirror about three times in fifteen minutes.
We then headed about an hour away, to spend the rest of the day with my family at my aunt and uncle's house in Delmar. My mom is in town, from Florida, so that made the day very special. It has been years since I have been able to spend time with her on Christmas!
The sweet face above is one of my aunt, Tammy....I think she was pleasantly exhausted from food and festivities!

Here is another photo, yes..taken with the new Sigma lens, of my two favorite young men in this whole world. They were hamming it up for me, apparently!
I am so thankful for being able to spend the day yesterday with people that mean the most to me. That was my greatest gift..nothing can outshine it.

Wishing you all a special holiday season!

Rocky Mountain High!

2010-12-22T13:37:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday hubby and I took off on an adventure to Denver, Colorado.
I had never been there, he had. His company is based out of Colorado, we went in for his company Christmas party...and for a day or so of sight seeing

It was quite a long flight! But very much worth it!
We did some shopping in downtown Denver, which is always fun..
well, maybe not always..if you ask my husband! We met a up with a co-worker of his and his co-worker's wife for our outings.
Things are quite a bit different there than at our little, failing city I seem to live in.
Things seem to be thriving there, though I know they are not as good as they have been in the past, as is for everyone...but in comparison to what I usually see, it is a huge difference.
I saw this gorgeous horse downtown. There were two horse drawn carriages going down the street at the time.

We made an attempt to drive up to Vail, but had to turn around. I took this photo about ten minutes before we headed into blizzard territory...with flashing lights telling us to chain up.
Blizzard or not, it was just beautiful. Most of photos of the snow are just white outs...so you won't be seeing them! All in all, it was a nice little get away, though I missed my doggies terribly...as usual, and was very happy to get home to them!..Now on to my Christmas rush!!!

Early to Rise

2010-12-03T01:53:00.000-08:00

Princess Bird Necklace

Since it is apparently time to get up, as my dogs seemed to think so, (I have been up since before 4 a.m.) I thought it would also be a good time to hop on here and do a post!
Miss Tia is back to her scratching all night. She started this in the beginning of fall, it went away for a while, now it is back. She is going to be headed for an oatmeal bath when I get home later, which she will not be happy about in the least...and after which she will hide under the bed for an hour or so. It is Friday! I can't say I have had a rough week, but am happy about the weekend.

White Key Bouquet Necklace

I have two prints that are going to be an art show at Arkell Museum, the opening is tonight.
It's my third year in a row doing this show, some of their featured work is usually quite varied and interesting.
The opening is tonight at 5pm.
Also, this weekend, I am having a little get together at my humble dome home. It is a wine tasting/jewelry party/girls night in. Just a chance to chill with some friends and also show some of my jewelry.
I haven't really made too much new jewelry lately, doesn't make sense does it, as it is prime selling season! (and decorating season, which I have yet to start!) I guess you can say I am a bit on lazy side of most recent.
I did happen to put together the two necklaces pictured above. The key necklace is my favorite.
I used old vintage earrings to create the little bouquet of flowers.
Well, my day is off to a good start..chatted here, up early (not by choice though) three cups of coffee consumed and I am almost ready to roll! Have a great weekend my friends!

The latest in the shop

2010-11-22T03:10:00.001-08:00

"Do You have the Time" necklace

Just showing off some of the new bling in my shop!
I have so many supplies, as I mentioned in my last post, that sometimes I just don't know where to start. My goal is to actually start USING those supplies, instead of collection them, creating more dust bunnies was not my original intention.
Above is an Alice in Wonderland themed necklace. I call it the "Do you have the time" necklace.

This my "Heart on a String" necklace.
One of my favorite color combinations is red and baby blue, which I used in both of these!
It just makes things seem more vintagey to me!

"Heart on a string" necklace

Both can be found in Distressing Delilah's Shop of Shabby Accumulations.

pardon me

2010-11-19T14:53:00.000-08:00

Hi my friends, pardon my absenteeism here..but someone has to take care of the coupon clipping and coffee drinking around!
Actually...haven't been doing a whole lot of coupon clipping, though I always have the intention...
coffee drinking..that is a different story now. I bought a pound of Starbucks Italian roast at the store this week. There is nothing (much) better in this world than waking up and having myself a cup of that Starbuck's joe!..I do believe they have a very secret and addictive type of coffee bean that is added to their product.
Today was a day off..followed by another two days off, which gave me an excuse to totally beat myself up and go on a long run. Today was an 11 miler...a slow 11 miler as at mile 2 I felt sick and wanted to call hubby for a ride home, but instead just took my time and eventually felt fine.
There is a marathon in Albany in February that I am thinking about running. I think I will train for it, but not decided for sure until a few days before!! Lol..lord knows what the weather will be like then. I guess it is a low key race, and only about 100 runners actually run or finish it....like I said..just thinking about it! This because of the fact that I am planning on being in the crowd of runners next fall for the ING NYC marathon, as long as I am picked out of a lottery next April!..So I am a little antsy to get going on the training...antsy...not a new thing for me.
I am also cleaning out my purse closet..and cleaning off my purse wall.
(I hang vintage purses on my studio wall, they are soo cute!)
The problem being is I keep finding more vintage purses to bring home. So to make room for the new "old", I am selling my old "old"...I have starting posting them on ebay..as tears role down my face!!! I need a whole purse room then I would keep them ALL!!!
Oh well, we all have our vices right?? (purses, jewelry supplies, wine, coffee, vintage aprons...lazy mornings at the computer: drinking coffee..surrounded by jewelry supplies..with my vintage purse wall behind me..)..oh and Jodi Picoult books...but don't get my hubby started on that one..many a nights he is ignored all because of Ms. Picoult...what can I say..she writes REALLY well!

Post note..a repeat blog pic if you have been here for a while..sorry..no new jewelry this week!

2010-11-07T16:07:00.000-08:00

Ahh..back at my blog...sigh....have missed it, as usual!
I have been a busy, busy blogger, though not busy blogging!
First of all, I have my 2011 calendar finished.
Click "here" to preview and purchase.

I have also been working on this broken china bracelet, it was just finished today.
I am so drawn to vintage cameos. Placing them in the middle of broken china links just displays them gorgeously. I love the vintage feeling this creates.

I also had a custom order for some sweetly colored lime green earrings and bracelets.
They are all boxed up and ready for their trip to Florida!
Soon to be worn by 16 young girls from a theater company.

And to top the day off, I had my first ever childrens photo shoot!
It was very, very hectic..but so much fun! I often forget how quiet my house is, until I visit a house in which a young toddler resides! I miss the chaos and silly laughter sometimes. My sons are 20 and 22. One lives in with us, the other is about an hour away, so no more pitter patter of little feet here! So I always enjoy hearing giggling little children when I visit friends homes.
Anyways, I have been pulling the photos up on my laptop and am pretty pleased with how they came out. But right now I am suffering from a sore neck from sitting here so long! I guess it is time for a little break! Until next time!
Until next time my friends!

November Bracelet

2010-10-25T04:44:00.001-07:00

Just a few weeks ago I had some foggy, misty thoughts of what to do with this little leaf pendant.
I also had daydreams of a fall broken china bracelet.

So I started out with my breaking and soldering.
A dark patina came next.

Then my little broken china pieces met this stunning cameo..and said "Your are the one my dear!"...and so they were married together.
Snow white swarovski pearls and freshwater pearl pumpkin beads flanked their side.

I then invited a few coppery leaves and sweet little ol birds to the mix.

Swarovski crystals from Artbeads.com brought the perfect shine.

Trailing the end of is this sweet, fall colored leaf pendant. (which can be found, along with other sizes and styles, at Artbeads.com!)

I was so excited to finish this bracelet! The colors reminded me of November..when the first snow starts to come...and all we see is rust, black and white.
While the leaf pendant came from Artbeads.com, the shiny copper leaves, the birds and pumpkin pearls can be found, for some readers, locally..at the Black Bear Bead shop.

Pine Lake and the Haunting

2010-10-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, my family used to spend quite a bit of time at this lake. It
it called Pine Lake and is located in upstate New York. It had the softest sand I ever felt.
My stepdad used to own it, way back when..
It once was also an amusement part, and also had
a very scary, tall and dangerous metal slide that stood off from the beach and ended in the water.
I never went down it. Am not sure, but I think it was closed up when we spending there.
The slide was next to a building called the Timberline. There had been a bar on the first floor, and a camp/apartment on the second floor.
Every now and then we would spend the night there, not often though...for which I am thankful.

My stepdad always seemed to have a good story
to tell. He used to host youth Halloween parties up at the camp, and scared us all silly!
Often they included a seance, and let me tell you they were very, very freaky, at least in my twelve year old mind.
Back to my point about being thankful we did not spend too many nights there.
Well, I was in my early teen years...and very easily spooked.
Who do you think got to sleep in the "haunted" room?
You got it! Me!
According to "legend" hunters used to spend time in the camp.
For some reason the light in this room would not stay off.
It would be turned off, only to later appear back on.
After so many times of doing this, my stepdad said he unscrewed the lightbulb..
to no avail...Apparently the ghost did not want to be in the dark.
Now, I don't know if he was just pulling me leg, or telling the truth, because this man can spin
quite the ghost tell, but I often slept with one eye open..
well the covers were over my head, so I didn't really see much.

Autumn Falls

2010-10-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled when I saw Artbead's fall lineup!
And even more thrilled when I received a recent package all wrapped up in Artbead's signature purple tissue paper!
So yesterday...I got busy!
Starting off with this sweet leaf pendant.

I kept my first design pretty simple as I felt the copper maple leaf pendant spoke for itself.
The coppery orange and red tones are so beautiful in this.
I did add a few Mocca colored, faceted swarovski roundelles.

(THIS is a post note!!! I am back days later..and decided to change up the original design!! I added a piece of brass that has blue patina on it, a few more crystals, and created what I call my Autumn Falls necklace! Sometimes you just have to change things up till you are happy, I am NOW very happy!)

The chain I used was a bright shiny coppe r plated 3 strand/3 link chain.
I have never seen a chain quite like this..and will be ordering more! It is really unique and beautiful. I am thinking of using it for a few broken china pieces that are in the making.

More to come with artbead's beads! As I still have a small copper maple leaf pendant to create with. Planning to go a little wild with that one!!

Where it's at!

2010-10-04T04:45:00.001-07:00

This Saturday I took a little trip downtown
to a little shop called Mohawk Harvest, a cooperative market.

I was greeted by these huge pots of colorful mums...
a true treat for the eyes!

once inside I was more in a hurry to shop, than to do what
I really was there for...

which was to hang my prints in the storefront window.

but, I remained calm..and carried on with my task at hand.

Once finished the fun began!
Mohawk Harvest has the biggest apples I have ever seen! And they taste great..especially in the pie I made last night! My new fave is the Autumn Crisp apple.
What else went home with me?
A loaf of cinnamon bread..which apparently is talked about near and far. (I now know why, it is hard to stop eating once you have started!) Also making the return trip to my lil dome home was lovely spaghetti squash, butternut squash, and Stash pumpkin spice tea. I have never seen this flavor of Stash tea before, being a tea horder I grabbed it up quick.
Already, three of the tea bags have been used..yumm!
I just adore this little shop!

sidenote: The prints in their storefront are all available for purchase!
To view the store's website click here.
To visit the store, head on down to Main Street, Gloversville!

Tis the season...for ghoulish jewelry!!

2010-09-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

Bwah ha ha ha!!!!

Yes, my one of my FAVE holidays is just a little over a month away!

October 31st is coming!!!
What better way to prepare and get in the spirit, but to create some ghoulish jewelry!

I just finished a couple of these..however only one is listed in my shop at the moment.

If you happen though, to see something that tickles you spooky bone..just let me know.
I shall cast forth a spell and brew one up for you!

Other than creating my first symbols of the upcoming holiday season, I am in the beginning stages of creating a 2011 calendar! It will be available by mid October....
What does it hold you ask..?
Some of the shabbiest, prettiest flowers I have been able to find this year!!!
Here is the linky to my shop..just in case you ARE interested in seeing the most recent additions to the shelves!
Distressing Delilah's Shop of Shabby Accumulations

A vampy Revamp!

2010-09-13T10:29:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you pick something up without have any plan as to what you will do with it!
That is what I did last night while sifting through my bins of old jewels.
My original intent was to work on the ten or to Halloween necklaces sitting at my studio table.
Instead I spent a couple of hours putting this necklace together.

I love how shabby it turned out..pretty cute if I say so myself!
It is now up for grabs in Distressing Delilah's shop.

It is Bliss Friday, bridal bliss!

2010-09-10T04:32:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when I was asked to create a necklace for a beautiful young bride!
She came to me with a necklace I had made her mother a few years ago, and wanted to incorporate a special cameo piece into the necklace.
We decided to make a new one to match the gold color of the cameo setting.

The cameo was bought by the bride's mom, during a visit to Italy years and years ago.
Little did I know..(perhaps you all know this and will think I live under a rock!) that each cameo image has a meaning to it. This particular cameo represents the goddess of fertility. The detail in it is so beautiful..I didn't do it justice with my camera...and the blue color ironically (or perhaps planned?) matches the bride's eyes!
It has been carefully tucked away in the corner of a dresser drawer for years, taken out now and then to ensure it was still safely there...as it waited for a then unplanned wedding date.
This ALSO gave me an excuse to return to a local bead shop in town..which I have totally fallen for by the way! It is like they have read my mind and stocked their store full of everything that I want! If you live locally it the Black Bear Bead Company ....don't miss out on a visit!
It was there that I bought the beads for the necklace, and also the memory wire....and a few other things not related to this project! The crystals are swarovski, as are the pearls.
And that is my "bridal" Bliss Friday post!
Hoping you all have a relaxing happy weekend!

2010-09-06T04:22:00.000-07:00

I had the most wonderful weekend.
We spent time with friends and relatives.
Lot's of floor scrubbing was done too!..and laundry..

Managed to squeeze a nice long run in..
Before heading out for a jog, I pulled out my recipe for half moon cookies and baked some up..

After my run, I frosted them, testing the frosting often for
quality and taste...

These are my FAVORITE cookies! We usually go to a local ice cream shop called Wemple and Edicks, where they sell huge half moon cookies with gobs of frosting on them...I have to say they are even better than mine...though I haven't met a bad one yet.

Hello my sweets!

2010-09-04T04:37:00.000-07:00

The corner of Spring Ave. and Wheaton Ave. in Gloversville Ny. I love the way this vine meets up with the telephone pole!

New oldies!
Made from vintage clip ons...

Just typing up a quick post! Things have cooled down here outside, after a week in the nineties!
The air this morning is so cool and spectacular. It is teasing us with the upcoming fall season.
There is something so comforting and cozy about autumn. It is probably my favorite season.
Nothing beats the scent of a late fall evening.
Oh..and then you have Halloween looming in the shadows! I ordered some special supplies so that I can create some really goulish and cute Halloween necklaces! Am waiting on one shipment, then I will get to work.
In the meantime I have a custom bridal necklace to start..off to the local bead shop today to see if they have what I need!
Have a safe and FUN Labor day weekend my friends!

New!

2010-08-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

This is my latest listing in Distressing Delilah's shop!
It is a broken china necklace. The china is surrounded by brass, which folds over the sweet and haunting black rose piece. I wish I had ten more plates like the one this came from!..Anyone?? lol!
I believe it was a piece of Scandinavian china. I only had one plate.

And here is part of the result of what I showed you in my last post.
Pretty happy how it came out. I used three new tools to make this...
(LOVE new tools!)

And I love the different shades of aqua this took on.
It is funny how patina always dries differently.
I still have lots of little spheres to work with!!! Yay!

Hammered

2010-08-26T15:37:00.001-07:00

I had some play time in the garage earlier this week.
Pulled out some copper sheeting and hammered away at it!
First I created all these little circles!

After I warmed them up, quite a bit I might say, with my blo-torch..
they took a dip in a pool of blue patina.
They are lying by a window right now..all dry and a pretty aqua blue..
With zillions of possibilities!...

When old tools come out to play

2010-08-21T16:13:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to show you a few of my newer creations!

Above is a spoon bracelet, I made it about a month ago. Per usual is it created out of somethings old and somethings new..can you tell which is which?
Inspired by Brenda Sue from B'Sue's boutique!

I made this necklace today...My soldering iron was begging to be let out of it's cabinet.
So I had a few hours of quiet creating....just me, my soldering iron and a few pieces of broken china.

I made this one today too! It is made from a piece of decorative tile.
I love the image of the women and a young girl.

Last, but not least...(because this is my favorite!) is the "Esther" necklace. Esther is a young girl I created as a character for a book. The book production, the writer and illustrator being mwah, has halted for the time being. I didn't shelve Esther though. She made an appearance at my recent art show and print of her sitting by a fireplace, hangs in my studio.
And that is all I have for today my friends!!! Have a most wonderful rest of the weekend!

yes it is Friday again....Blackberry Bliss Friday that is.

2010-08-20T14:31:00.001-07:00

In which hubby tries to control his bliss.....

The other evening hubby came in and grabbed a bowl then headed out the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked. He was moving with a purpose...had me wondering.
"Out to pick blackberries"
Good for you I though, I am going to hang in here and just chill...
That lasted about twenty minutes....then off I went with my two furry friends in tow.
I must say, Yogi was not pleased with the black berry path behind our house. He stopped often, waiting for me to lift leaves and small hanging branches out of the way. I guess I can't blame him. He is a little low to ground. Tia, who is lean and long legged, was not bothered by the cluttered path and started eating the blackberries off the bushes!

We ended up with lots and lots of berries!
Of course, one of us had his own motive for the impromptu picking.

That one of us was my husband.

I started to pull out ingredients to make a pie when we went inside.
Oops...out of flour, go figure.
Someone, who shall remain nameless, made a beeline for the door.
"Where are you going?" I asked, for the second time that night.
"Out to buy flour" was the answer from the blur of motion.
I did have to protest, as it was already getting late,

and by the time he would return..my baking mood would most likely be gone.
(or maybe not judging by the speed at which he was moving..lol!)

He lived until the next day...

when he finally got his blackberry pie...

another Bliss Friday!

2010-08-13T14:05:00.001-07:00

Something happened here the other night..

The sun set quietly on the lake,

I made a few new feathered friends..

and revisited this building..
where my first ever gallery reception was taking place...

Here is my chauffeur, otherwise known as husband...

a different angle of the wall..

My "Ester" sitting in the other room....

I was just thrilled with the shabby look of the whole place, isn't it charming??

Here is a place to get a bite to eat in town. Though I couldn't figure out why anyone would want this strange combo....

I had some very wonderful friends who came along with us...

Though, some seemed to need to rest after the long ride....

This is Polly, she was helping with the gift shop and gallery....

Here is John and Cornelia. John is a summer intern for the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.
Standing next to John is Cornelia, the Adirondack Lake Center for the Arts gallery director. Thank you John, Cornelia and Polly!!!
I also was very happy to see a few relatives make the long trek up north, (although I didn't get a chance to catch them with my camera)! Thank you for stopping by Lance and Merideth!

This is the whole gang...shortly after we descended upon the tavern...yup..all smiles!!! (yes, we had JUST gotten there..had not been holding up the bar for three hours..though we may look it with those smiles!)
I am so lucky and blessed to have these people in my life!!!
All in all, it was a nice night, shared with great company..
And that my friends..is my offering for Bliss Friday...what made you blissful this week??

bliss...

2010-08-06T20:55:00.001-07:00

is seeing the beauty that is offered..

after the rain...

as clouds reach out to touch each other...

and the sun's rays cry to be seen...

it is the beauty we sometimes search for...

that is right there before our eyes...

this is bliss!

It has been a busy week. Yes, it is Friday..and yes it is my bliss and diss day..but alas..this little princess (uh..NOT!) worked a twelve hour shift that left little time for anything else...
So I am sharing with you, some of the most amazing rays of light that I have ever seen...god bless..and have a safe and most wonderful weekend.

Bliss and Diss Day!

2010-07-29T15:02:00.001-07:00

Blissful because
1. It is Friday...(well actually it is Thursday, but I will post this on Friday!)
2. Someone, somewhere, designed these sweet sandals for me to lust after...
click: Anthropo logy

3. Small wonders full of color, just steps outside my door.
4. The smell of fresh cut grass...it is all over the place today, went for a ride with the windows down and the scent was so strong..I love it!
5. A cool breeze coming through the windows
6. Friday...oh, already said that..but it so good that I can say it twice.
7. A chilled glass of oaky, woodsy chardonnay.
8. A race with myself ever time I step on the treadmill.
9. Having a friendly, 60 something young man chat with me (while I took a break from racing myself on the treadmill) to ask me if I ran the boilermaker this year. (how did he know!) I did. And hearing how he and his wife have ran it three times. The last time just months after a heart attack. Loved hearing this. It is so important to take care of our bodies! You eat, you breath.. therefore you must move people!

ok...DISS..yes, I have some this week!

1. Insomnia..every night this week!
2. RLS and PLM!...adding to my insomnia.
3. Joint and muscle pain every night..adding to my insomnia...(and NO it is not from running..lol! have heard that before...I don't run with my shoulders, wrists and hands do I??) (and yes I went to a rheumatologist years ago for the same issues, with no diagnosis...haven't made my follow up appt!!)
3. Me complaining about things I know I, myself, should do something about.

4. A two million dollar wedding.......
5. a tough 8 mile run(just got back) sometimes you just feel like you have lead in your pockets!
Okay..despite the disses....I am grateful for all the good things in my life, with out bad days..we couldn't appreciate good ones could we...or learn from them..or become stronger for that matter. So I guess I appreciate the bad days too!
Despite my rambling here..I hope all my reader have a very, very GOOD weekend!!!

Ninety Minutes an Hour

2010-07-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

Ninety minutes an hour...sounds wrong, right? I actually meant to type that.
Don't you sometimes wish you had ninety minutes in an hour...instead of trying to GO at a speed of ninety miles an hour?
Just think how great that would be..I say we extend the hour, after work hours that is, by thirty minutes..who is with me? Let's see a show of hands...!
Wishful thinking, if I do say so myself!
Would I be more productive, that is the question..Or would I linger longer working out photos on photoshop, or browsing photos on flickr? I like to think I would get more accomplished. What constitutes more though .....oh so many things!

I did find a few extra moments to create in my studio...though it was only jewelry..not the painting I wanted to start!

These frames will have to wait a little longer to be filled..though I do have my ideas. Now to just bring them to fruition.

This is one of my favorite recent thrifting finds...the scarf that is, the jar is a close second...
There are lots and lots of town wide garage sales this weekend..hoping to discover some new treasures..and lots of broken vintage jewels!

This necklace totally created from different pieces of vintage jewelry.

The chain is so delicate, and it's clasp is one that is rarely found these days.

So these are a few examples of what I have done with a couple of my sixty minute hours this recently....how about you? Would love to hear about others creations and adventures that they manage to squeeze into their oh so busy lives!!

Bliss.....just bliss

2010-07-23T15:35:00.001-07:00

No diss this week! Just true bliss...

the sun shining through the clouds on a stunning blue day

a lively romp through the woods with two
of my best friends...

hanging laundry on the line

an agile squirrel enjoying a snack

flowers peeking at me as
as I come home...

Rest for the unwanta be weary..

2010-07-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I took a few pics of some gorgeous roses in my garden! As if we didn't have enough, my hubby bought and planted three new rose bushes this spring. This adds to the huge array we already have, however they are the only ones we have planted since moving here. The original owner of the house apparently had two green thumbs...as every year I find something new popping up on our property! He planned his garden just perfectly, we always have something in bloom during late spring and summer. Lucky for us, because I tend to be the grim reaper of gardening.
Today I am making myself NOT go for a run.
It is my day to run..but am sitting on my feet and keeping still for the night. Sometimes I totally ignore what my body is trying to tell me, and it hasn't been saying very nice things to me lately! So I am listening and hope it will start being nice again in a few days...or else, I will be good and go to the doctors...actually being good would have been calling for an appt. today as I was ordered to do by my husband, but, alas..that did not happen.
If you run you have to know how difficult it is to miss a day! So, I am blogging instead, yes, while sitting on my feet so they don't try to take off on me.
We also took a ride to go shopping for new sneaks for me. I tend to wear mine until they fall apart, am not a fan of shopping for, or breaking in, new sneakers. I didn't find any I liked but instead ended up with a really cute shirt...(shopping for cute shirts is WAY better than shopping for sneakers.) While I shopped, my husband was kind enough to sit in the mall hallway on a bench. On the way home he informed of the strange people he saw while waiting for me...such as a bald guy going to Fantastic Sam's for a haircut..he just couldn't understand that one....
I am off to remain immobile...wish me luck(the sun is still out...)

Bliss and Diss Day 2nd edition!

2010-07-16T10:51:00.001-07:00

It can't be that time of the week again! Wowsa..it went by with a swoosh!
It has been a very, very busy week for me!

ok....enough idle chit chat...on with blissin and dissin!
This week I am mixing the blisses and disses together.

A random bliss that I just heard as I typed this..Bono from U2 will be getting back onstage after a serious back injury earlier this year...yes, a definite smile maker!
Bliss number 2..vintage red dresses that you pull from the back corner of your closet..
LOVE this dress! I have never worn it anywhere, picked it up at a local 2nd hand shop a year or so ago.

and another:
a totally productive day off! house cleaned, dogs walked, groceries shopped....toilets scrubbed..WOOT! REWARD: A night out with the girls tonite!

Diss..hubby has been on a business trip all week! Miss him
Bliss....getting lots of things done while he is gone!

Okay..take a guess from the pic above..which is it bliss or diss?
Last Sunday my neighbor friend and I ran THE largest 15k in the country, the Utica Boilermaker..it was a major bliss! It was my second time running it and my friend's first. What a blast I had! Yes, a BLAST! I always tell people it is the most fun you will ever have running 9.3 miles! Every step of the way is lined with music and cheering onlookers!
And....I beat my last time by at least 6 minutes...
a small diss...no race to train for...easily fixed by doing a search for local half marathons coming up this fall...Marine Corps 1/2 going back again...or perhaps the full marathon this time???
must ponder that.

Do you see the two young men in black suits and hats?
They too ran the boilermaker...dressed like the Blue's Brothers.
It must have been craaazy hot for them!

(ok. throwing one in..diss..doggie court for my poor beat up Yogi..he if fine now btw)

a bliss...winning $75 right off the bat at the casino, we stayed there the night before the run.
Immediately followed by my lack of listening to that still small voice in my head...a disdainful loss of $75 that was just won) It was on the nickel slots for God's sake!

a diss...I HATE pics of myself running! I have no problem running anywhere, anyplace, anytime...I just don't want to see any images of it...the rest of you can look, I really don't care, but I prefer to keep the image of myself as an ultra marathoner with a totally ripped bod, in my own sweet lil imagination!

creative bliss.....

a newly designed bracelet from vintage findings.

and it is way sparkly to boot!

On a more serious note, the latest headlines are stating that BP will and has successfully capped the oil spewing out into the ocean. I know this is only temporary, while they work on the actual cap they will be using...but we can all say a little prayer that this is the end of the continuous stream and attack on our nations oceans, water and precious creatures...
Have a very wonderful, blissful, dissless weekend my friends...

a word to the wise.....and "wiseless"..
don't spend time looking at the door that may have just closed for you..you will be missing the ones that are opening! (I read something similar on a social networking site today, this is not how it went exactly and don't remember who the quote was from...but it stopped me in my tracks!)

Bliss and Diss Day!

2010-07-09T14:06:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my FIRST official Bliss and Diss day!
"What?" you say!
Every Friday I will post on my blissful things from the past week..and yes, on a few dismal dis(tainful!) happenings!First the Diss List!

100% humidity and 100 degree heat...yes a heat wave!
a house uncleaned because of the 100% humidity and heat!
lack of sleep...because of 1 and 2!
deerflies...(I swear someone gave them speed and then starved them!)
deerflies on my sweet Tia baby! (they like her black hair!) She tried to bite them out of the air...yucko.
an unplanned sunburn..ouch! I spent a whole day on the lake slathered with sunscreen and no sunburn. Twenty minutes with my back to the sun the next day and a bright red burn though keyhole of my shirt! (That was Sunday...it still hurts!)

ok..enough dissing...on to the bliss!

Blissful things from my week:
1. finding new actions to use on old photos
(actions are a group of layers all in one that you can use and adjust in photoshop! Very addicting!) (as can be seen on some photo's of my favorite green and blue mason jars)

2. Spending time with family and friends.
3.Moseying along on the lake with friends while relaxing in their boat.
4. Finding a hair conditioner that actually tames my lovely, many time way too fluffy, locks!
(Palmer's Olive Oil Formula with vitamin E Replenishing Conditioner)
(may seems trivial to you, but really!..some women search a lifetime for a love like this!)

and last of all....drum roll peeleeease!

5. Finding a few extra minutes in a very busy week to create these..

Meet my "Almost Royalty" earrings!

I know almost only counts in horseshoes...but at least a girl can dream,
especially with these sweet earrings by her "side"!
Check back next week for another weekly roundup of bliss and diss!
And remember..don't dwell on those diss's, think of them and send them on their merry ol way....
so you can count EACH day your life's many bliss's...!!!!

A new print!

2010-07-05T05:13:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been a while since I blogged here! This summer has been busy so far! I have not made any new jewelry lately, but did list this print in my shop yesterday.
You can find it here: distressing delilah's etsy shop
It has been a gorgeous weekend here, and I have just loved every minute of it.
My husband and I have spent time with friends and family.
We had a lovely summer outside breakfast with my brother and sister in law at their house, followed by dinner on the lake listening to the sounds of a reggae band and their steel drums.
It has been a four day weekend for me, and has gone by way too fast! Today we are hanging out at home for a lazy day and a cookout.
I think I need another four day weekend...one that starts tomorrow!!!!
Have a wonderful week my friends!

A day in Vermont

2010-06-20T05:37:00.001-07:00

This week my husband and I took a little hiatus and drove to Vermont for a day or so.

We stayed at an little place called TheDorset Inn.

It definitely had old world charm!And plenty places to sit and relax a while!

We visited a marble stone quarry.

There were some very daring young me there jumping off the cliffs!We also drove up to the highest point in Southern Vermont..Mt. Equinox.

This is the view as you ascend from the very top! Our brakes were smoking!
A little surprise friend jumped out from the bushes when we were driving down.

The had water fountains for cars..not for people though!Hubby posed nicely for me, with a beautiful view in the background!

These flowers where about a quarter of a way down the mountain. I thought they looked so beautiful against the sky.One can only imaging this view in the fall...I think I will be revisiting this very spot!

Ahhh..the weekend

2010-06-11T14:49:00.000-07:00

So happy it is Friday..let the weekend begin!!!!!
I feel like it has been a busy week. Between work, which, I am ashamed to say kicked my butt yesterday, and getting ready for my show, I am ready to chill.
Though my definition of chill can be taken in a few different way! ie: a nice long jog, taking pictures, cleaning..endless garage saling, and particularly this weekend, participating in the NOAH project.
The getting ready for my show part is not done yet though! Someday I hope to be rich and famous, or at least rich...so that I can pay someone to frame all my work! Today I received the custom cut mats I ordered online, albeit, my measurements appear to not have been quite so exact! I spent a good part of the afternoon measuring, cutting and framing..not done yet. I am living and learning though in my preparation. This is the first time I have had to prepare print in multiples for a show..usually it is just a few. I still utterly beside myself that I have the opportunity to do this! Do I sound like a newbie at this??? Well, yah, I am!!!
It is not quite as simple as listing and offering prints online, but still just as much fun!
I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend...and takes at least a little time relax and smell the flowers..in my case, peonies!

A retro takeover

2010-06-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

I dream of retro kitchens...and quaint old fashioned farm houses. Apparently my mom realizes I have these dreams~
A few weeks ago I got a birthday surprise in the mail. (It was the best kind of surprise..handmade!)
It was a set of two bright, cheery tea towels.
Oh, did I mention..they looked quite retro also?

Apparently my menagerie of feathered (albeit fake feathered) friends where very happy to take over my tea towels.
They were right in doing so though. I mean look at them..it is like they were made for each other!

So, I will continue to share my beautiful, very special tea towels with them. Of course, if they didn't coordinate with the towels so well this would not be allowed.

A dear friend and a giveaway...

2010-06-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

Hello my dear friends!
I had to hop on my little ol' shabby blog and tell you about a special friend of mine, who is doing something very sweet! Her "screen" name is Voleur De Bijoux. She is a talented and ever so friendly jewelry designer. I have never met her in person, but have practically known her since the very etsy beginning of my shop. I feel like she has been through thick and thin with me and the rest of a sort of clan! When you start a shop on etsy one can be lucky to find a sort of support person, someone to cheer you on and set an example..I found this in Vol, and am very thankful for such that!
You can find her beautiful designs in her etsy shop by the same name.
Vol, so kindly offered to do a blog feature and giveaway for me! You can find it going on right now over at her blog!
So click on over and check out what is up for grabs!
And...a very special thank you to miss Vol...don't forget to visit her etsy shop too!

A sweet day

2010-05-29T21:30:00.000-07:00

So anyways, yes I am showing you my latest..but before that, let's chat.
I have had the most wonderful day.
It was spend with hubby.
Well, the first few hours where spent with just me and my laptop, and the final episode of LOST.
The reason..I volunteered to work the day after the final episode, 12 hours, and turned the t.v. off after half an hour of it. But then I could not sleep and turned it back on a half and hour later, and then off again, and then on again..when hubby just kept snoring and keeping me awake, and then off again...Needless to say, I did not get any sleep that night, as the dogs then wanted to go out at four in the morning..and yes, hubby continued to snore, and yes, I kept thinking that I needed to fall asleep because five in the morning was coming so soon...so alas, I finally watched the ending online this morning. I thought it was very beautiful and thought provoking.
I watched it before any one awoke, other than me and the dogs!

Hubby slept in. When he awoke we made impromtu plans for the day. Lunch at a place on the lake, called "I Go Inn", and then some shopping at a few local antique shops along the way.
We had lunch out on the deck, overlooking the lake. A reggae band was setting up to play in the corner, cheerful music was piped over the speakers.
After lunch we stopped and did a little shopping. Hubby, who usually detests antique store shopping, made the most purchases. He found some very interesting bar decor.
One of the pieces he bought was really cool. It looked quite ornate and complicated, but was actually a picture and frame made of styrofoam. The frame looked gorgeous. It was an old advertisement for a beer called Koeling. The owner of the shop told us that it was made of styrofoam so that if it fell off the wall it would not break the glass bottles of liquor.

I found a lot that I wanted, but sort of held back. My main search was for shabby, vintage looking frames. I have an art show coming up, and love the look of old and used frames, as opposed to new and shiny. I did not find any, I did however find some sweet cameo pieces to create new jewelery with! More to come on those!
Ok..so about my newly pictured neclace..it is the latest in Distressing Delilah's Shop! It is totally created from vintage pieces of jewelry, absolutely upcycled! and can be found here....click.

I hope you all are having as enjoyable weekend as I!!! God bless, and thank you to all those who have given their time and more for our country and safety.

Half a Rogue Earrings

2010-05-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

Well here I am..back so soon!!! Can you tell I have a little extra time on my hands lately?
So far it has been a lovely day...and productive! Washed the car, oil change, ran six miles....took some pics of these earrings and even posted them in my shop!!! Woot! Have to make use of my time somehow don't I?
A sweet friend at work brings me vintage jewelry she picks up here and there, I think she is like me..enjoys the thrill of a great find! Quite a while ago, she brought me a bracelet, that I used to make these earrings. I thought and thought about what to do with the links, they were so pretty..and green..which is an added plus, because I LOVE green.
I decided to make earrings out of two of the links, which leaves me three more to make something else with..yay! More pretty green and brass jewelry waiting to be revamped.

I named the earrings Half a Rogue, after a book I have by the same name. It is a vintage book that I picked up at a second hand shop. The copyright is 1906!!! It was written by Harold McGrath and has wonderful picture of a lady on the front cover. She is so elegant looking! Now to create time to read the book, one wonders what people wrote about in 1906.

Society of La Femme Necklace

2010-05-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Here it is..what you all have been waiting for...the first in a new line of jewelry!
The Secret Society of La Femme Necklace.
(shameless self promo)..can be found here for purchase..
Distressing Delilah's etsy shop.

Oh, it is so pink and sparklie!

Created totally from vintage revamped jewels.

One can only create stories about the femme fatales that may have worn the pieces making it up in another lifetime...
I hope all is going well for my bloggie readers! I have been getting ready for an art show.
It starts the end of June and runs thru August. More details to come on that! But, if you live anywhere near upstate N.Y..perhaps I will see you there!
It is my first "real" all by myself show. I am so excited! It will take place at "The Woods Inn", located in Inlet NY, and is under the direction of The Adirondack Lakes Center For the Arts. Any comments for a newbie to this are welcome!

The best birthday gift a girl could ask for.

2010-05-14T03:42:00.000-07:00

Twenty years ago today, I was given the most precious birthday gift I could ever wish for, my youngest son, Casey. He was 6 weeks early, and did not do very well with his early arrival. Although his weight was a stable 6.3 lbs, his lungs were not ready for the outside world. There are not many things tougher than hearing you newborn's first cry, and not being able to hold him.
I watched him struggle for every breath that day, for what seemed like an eternity, until he was whisked off for his first (and so far only) helicopter ride.
He went to Albany Medical Center and was put on a ventilator.
I took him home a little over a week later, he was a bit smaller than when he was born..5.4 lbs.
Today he is over six feet tall and wears a size 14-15 shoe!
He is one of the strongest and kindest young men I will ever know!
Happy Birthday Casey!!

Can a girl just have her coffee!

2010-05-10T06:45:00.000-07:00

A girl can be sooo unmotivated sometimes...that is ok, right?
I have a hard time doing nothing. It is usually so very unsettling to me.
Relax is not a common word in my vocabulary. Though I do at times...sit still.
Right now I am contemplating the day's plans. The fam is whining..we are out of milk, we are out of eggss..blah, blah, blah..lol! Really, they aren't whining..well not too much. Does it seem like you go to the store every day? I think I do! And I only have a hubby and a nineteen, (soon to be twenty) year old at home..oh and two four legged inhabitants. Is it me, am I a poor planner???
Am I rambling?.....

A touch of faith

2010-05-07T11:55:00.001-07:00

Two of my favorite types of vintage jewelry to work with are cameos and rosary.
Each piece has its own character and history to it.

Now, I am not catholic, so I didn't know too much about rosary until some friends at work
"enlightened" me. With my newly found knowledge, I find I cherish the old worn pieces of rosary that are found in boxes throughout my studio!
I found myself wanting to create something different earlier this week, what I ended up with was both of my fave types of finds being melded together into this necklace.

I was also itching to use a new "tool" hubby brought home for me! He came back from doing some work at our neighbors' house last weekend and told me he had brought me something and that it was in the garage on his (MY!) workbench. I was very delighted when I found a piece of a railroad track sitting there! An old, metal, rusty and worn piece of track! Can you see that I am easily amused??
I had wanted a piece of metal to use for hammering and forging metal jewelry.
This was perfect! So, when all was quiet in the house, no appointments, no cleaning to do..(well, heck, there is ALWAYS cleaning to do, just nothing growing mold at that particular moment) I grabbed some copper and skipped out to the garage to make some noise! I could have hammered and hammered all day...but then I would have never finished my necklace..so I held back on the all day thing.

I do like how it came out..the rosary is a deep, dark brown and the cameo is black. The metal part of the rosary has been worn down so that you can barely tell there was a raised image there. If only these sweet findings could speak to us......

My "Culture with Corey" Day.

2010-05-03T15:32:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, I went to visit my son in Albany. An added bonus was the fact that my mom is in town also! We met at Corey's apartment and wandering off to a sweet little diner called "The Iron Gate". Your entered through a wrought iron gate into a beautiful courtyard garden. We sat in the courtyard and had brunch. Corey and I had artichoke and spinach crepes with hollandaise sauce over them(uhhm...way yumm!). My mom had crabcakes and Corey's girlfriend had a gorgeous looking piece of quiche.
Afterwords we strolled to Washington park, stopping at a few shops along the way.
The park was beautiful! It is the home of Albany's tulip fest, which takes place this coming Saturday. It was my first time there...I took lots and lots of pics! More to come...
On the way back to Corey's apartment, I HAD to stop at a coffee shop called "The Daily Grind". Sarah, Corey's girlfriend works here. I am in love with their Italian roast!...and yes, spoiled myself by buying a bunch of it!
The weather was beautiful, and the company was even better, and yes, Italian roast has been a pleasant reminder in the past few mornings of a very sweet day.

This I must share!!!

2010-04-28T16:02:00.001-07:00

Anytime I can possibly learn anything more about photography or art, I jump at the chance.
That is what I did this past winter when I took an online class with Susan Tuttle, and learn I did!
She is a truly talented artist who shares so much of her insight with others.
Her second book is now on the market, and it is definitely on my to obtain list! But, before I obtain this myself, I am going to try to win it!
Susan is having a book give away on her blog! (hint..click "blog" for the link!)
If you don't want to enter for a chance to win her giveaway..or perhaps you DON'T
have the fortitude and strength to WAIT for the giveaway results..here is link to purchase her book! (second hint..click "book" for the link!)

Me, I am sitting on my hands so that I don't click that buy it button!...(Not to mention that an unsightly birthday of mine is coming up..no not 40...but proof that yes, I am actually INTO my 40's...41!..and I am going into it as ungracefully as possible...) and I may just have to send hubby the link, if by some HUGE chance I do not win!

Flower Power

2010-04-27T05:11:00.001-07:00

It is raining today, and the forecast calls for snowshowers tonight and tomorrow. I am hoping the flowers that have popped up over the past few weeks will have enough gusto to live through this crazy weather! I am loving how they have been posing for me, so they can't leave so soon!

Of course, every rainy day needs to end with a rainbow...
I took this picture over a year ago, outside of the hospital I work at.
I was very hard to make the rainbow show up, as by the time I was able to get my camera out of my car, it was fading fast!

This photo is also almost a year old. I have a few birthday twins..(one of my fave is my youngest son, Casey!) Orange roses are my favorite. I was so surprised when a "b-day twin" at work gave these to me on my last birthday! They were so beautiful! I still have them in my studio today. They are just as pretty all dried out! I took lots and lots of pics of them..even took pics after they were no longer this vibrant color! For the past few days I have been trying to edit some of the pics so that I could give a print as a gift..to the person who gave me the roses last year. Finally came up with something I am happy with!
Well, off to continue my day...M.D. appt....and then who knows. This is the first week that I am no longer officially the assistant manager of ccu services at work. I resigned along time ago, and then stuck around until my replacement could start. During those months of sticking around, I grew to love my job. It broke my heart to leave last week, but I did do this for a few personal reasons.
When I took the job, (the hours where 7pm-3am, 4 days a week) I had no "children" at home. And hubby was traveling a lot, so the schedule didn't really seem as if it would be a problem. Well, my youngest moved home and hubby's schedule got wackier..and my body said "What the *&^!! are you trying to do to me?" I did have some as of then, undiagnosed health problems wreaking havoc on my body! So, feeling I had no other option, I resigned. Knowing I could get a job as nurse almost anywhere. Not thinking that I may not like my options. So here, I am....now a casual employee...almost 6 years of time down the drain. I am still having a few panic attacks from this..but they are getting fewer and farther between...my goal is to apply for one job a day....wish me luck.

OH my bird..I mean word..no, bird...

2010-04-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

It is a quiet Sunday morning here, and it looks like rain. Making it all more ok to while away the early hours posing my jewelry in different positions and posting the results of my little fashion shoot!

This is the last of my birdie necklaces...for now at least. I only ordered a few crystals, but I think I will get some more, and perhaps use a different type of image. These are so fun to make, and you can do a lot of different things with the basic idea.

I pulled out a bunch of earrings I made, they were in a bag I used to carry with me from place to place in order to pull out some jewelry when people asked to see my latest creations. I haven't been carrying it around much lately..it sort has sat quietly on a shelf in my studio. I had also forgotten how much I had in it!

I loved the color and pattern on these earrings. They were made from a sweet pair of clip ons...

Here is another pair, that were repurposed.

This is a bottle cap piece. I also used an emblem from a piece of rosary, and an old rhinestone necklace.

I know I have posted this necklace before..so apologies if it is a repeat for you!
Off to continue my lazy Sunday! I have lots of non-productive plans.....

Family Values and....

2010-04-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

when in Rome...
I was asked by a friend to design an ankle bracelet for her daughter-in-law's birthday.
It has been a while since I made an ankle bracelet. The last one I made was actually quite different. It had an oddly shaped piece of broken china as the focal bead, and was very unique looking. I wasn't sure if anyone would ever want it, it was that different, but, the eventual buyer absolutely loved it.

I did a search on ankle bracelets to see what kind of designs were out there, and what people were into these days, as far ankle bracelets. I found most of them very simple and "run of the mill". Somehow, I have a hard time keeping things simple...so I didn't. A lot of them were one stranded. There were a few multiple stranded designs that I did like, though none like what I came up with!
First of all, if this was to be gift..perhaps it should mean something. I asked my friend what kind of things her daughter-in-law was passionate about. She gave me a few ideas, but the two words that stuck in my head were family and heritage.

Perfect, I thought! This person is Italian...and her family is very important to her. I decided to make a charm using the word "Italian" cut from a vintage latin dictionary and adhered to the back of a crystal prism. A majority of the chain of the anklet would be made from a vintage piece of rosary. The focal piece is a link from another piece of jewelry. There are three strands that make up the anklet..reminding me of the different layers and generations that actually make up what we call "family".

And that, my friends, is how the "When in Rome" anklet was created!
Okay, so the title somewhat ties in to the story, but not totally?? Sorry, that just kept popping up in my head as I was making this..yes..the "Italian" word did have something to do with it..which led me to think of Rome...which led to memories of a visit there long ago..(and a deep longing to return!)...and a run upstairs to pull my old photo albums off the shelve and look through my photos of Italy...oh how wistful...and distracted I am.

A little inspiration

2010-04-09T14:39:00.001-07:00

What is one of my favorite sounds of spring?? I will give you a guess...(chirp, chirp)
Okay, well that was more than a guess..hey, it is Friday..I was thinking maybe you had a long week and are just not up to guessing games at the moment!
I was quite inspired by Belle Armoire's latest jewelry issue!
The first thing that caught my eye, other than the obvious droolable cover, was an article by Jessica Moreau-Berry, depicting how to create necklaces such as the ones you may be gazing at right now. You can find more of her designs at her blog, junque revival.

It took a while to gather the supplies, I had to order some of them online. But once I received them, I was on my way.
Aren't the birds adorable??

Finding the perfect pieces to go with the pendants was a lot of fun. For two of the necklaces it took me quite a bit of time to choose the findings, but not so for this black one. It just sort came together, without a second thought.
On that note,
I don't think this often, but the more I go through my stash of broken down, vintage and costume jewelry pieces and parts, the more I realize I need to get more!! More parts, more possibilities, right?

This little owl pendant is the first one I made. Don't know why, he just caught my eye first.
Maybe memories of Winnie the Pooh were in the back of my mind. Owl was always quite a comforting character..at the that is what I thought, though he wasn't my fave....

I made this pendant with someone in mind...oh, but I cannot tell you who, it is a secret!
If you look very, very closely at the oval turquoise piece above the wrapped flower, you might be able to see something..It took me by surprise. I don't know how many times I held that piece in my hands and never noticed. It is part of the middle pendant..which I believe was an earring at one time, or perhaps a pin.
There is an image of Mary on it. It is barely noticeable, but it is there. It just makes the piece even more special.

Changing Seasons

2010-04-06T04:02:00.000-07:00

That beautiful emerald green is starting to rise up from the ground, finally! The green of spring, the beautiful blue of the mid afternoon sky...ahhh, it just makes me smile. My camera has been sitting quietly, patiently waiting for the outside colors to turn from grayish brown to something a little more cheerful. I will keep my Nikki busy this weekend, I am sure! (Nikki..what I named my Nikon D5000, we spend enough time together..she deserves a name, don't ya think?)
I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. Mine was sort of quiet. No more little boys hunting for eggs..sigh...I do miss that! Though I have a friend who suggested I hide doggie treats in eggs and send my poochies hunting for them. I didn't do this, but I told another friend about it and she did. Her big cuddly yellow lab tried to eat the plastic egg to get to the dog treat!
Yes, I never would have thought that my children's early years could go so fast, but they have, and now I have young men. Yet just another season of our lives. There different times now that I cherish. Like a visit to my son's apartment in Albany, with a lunch date at a place called Bombers Burritos. (yumm!)

Must have something green..

2010-03-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends! I am back..I seem to be on a weekly blogging schedule lately!
Today was a fun filled day of scrubbing away. Scrub, wash, fold, vacuum..you name it, I did it!
There is something very fulfilling about sitting back and looking at the results of all your work! Thank god, because other than that I would lose all motivation for housecleaning...there are so many other things I would rather be doing!

As a reward...or as a break!...I made this necklace after my wenching was done. It started out as a bracelet..lol! Funny how things just take on a path of their own!

Once again, I used old jewelry and made it fresh and new!
I tossed some new beads in to mix it all up!
Amongst them are 8 mm faceted round swarovksi crystals from artbeads.com.
The crystals I used are chrysolite, a very pale shade of green.
The plan was to make a bracelet with lots of shades of green...grass green, gray green, light green...you get the picture.

You HAVE to have something green to wear in the springtime..don't you?

At the moment I have two heavy breathing, whiny, crying dogs at my feet. They are both shaking like there is no tomorrow. They just heard a loud noise outside..actually it sounded like a gunshot!!! Must go investigate..and comfort my poochies! Have a wonderful weekend!

Yippeee! It's Spring!

2010-03-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

Just wondering what all my blogger friends have been up to? Are you all as happy as me that spring is just about here? It certainly is beginning to feel that way!
I was off from work today, and what a wonderful day it has been..and it is not over yet!

Today started with one of my fave things...well two of them. An awesome couple cups of coffee, followed by my first long run of the season! 8 of my favorite, most mind clearing miles. It was and still is, just gorgeous out! I didn't have to stop except to cross roads! This is really exciting to me for a few reasons. I injured my knee last October during a 1/2 marathon. It is better now. While I was training for the 1/2 marathon, my runs just kept getting harder and harder to do. Strange, I should have gotten stronger and stronger. I was short of breath, had ankles twice their normal size and absolutely exhausted...not to mention a multitude of symptoms that followed those all through this past winter.
I just thought it was age, lol! Being a nurse, I ignored my symptoms. I finally had some bloodwork done a month or so ago. Lo and behold...I have thyroid problems. Well duh, I said, I have every single symptom possible!
I have started on medication and am having mostly, really, really good days. I never thought I would feel like myself again..but am starting to. Thus..my awesome runs lately! No longer am I dragging myself up my driveway after, barely able to walk. So, for those of you who "poo poo" and ignore subtle and not so subtle symptoms..DON'T!!!
On to more exciting things...and off my soapbox.
Pictured above is miss Tia. She and Yogi had a lovely and frolicking walk through the woods, sniff and snaffing. They also decided to roll in something, most likely less than desirable...luckily, it they aren't too stinky!

Ever since I have made my last copper cuff bracelet I have been so anxious to do another!
This one was finished today. The colors that came out from heating up the copper are amazing.

Luckily the sun cooperated also.

This will be for sale in my etsy shop very soon!
distressing delilah
I hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend!

Copper Cuff Cameo Bracelet

2010-03-08T02:20:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I know mine was full of a few twists and turns. We had a visit to the vet, which as usual, was full of drama. Anytime Yogi goes to the vet, it is dramatic! I thought we were free and clear this time, but when we got to the vet I opened the back of my Exterra and wonderdog flew out faster than I could put his leash on. He then proceeded to ignore me calling him, and ran into the middle of a three lane highway as fast as he could. So there I was chasing a dog, who supposedly could barely limp due to arthritis, up and down the highway. Finally he stood still and I caught him...and that was just BEFORE we walked through the door at the vet! I won't get into the rest of my crazy..but what ended up to be very pleasant, weekend! Maybe another in time or universe..

If you have not already figured this one out...I pulled out the copper and the blowtorch again this weekend! As usual, this was not exactly how I planned this bracelet. I had two different focal pieces I tried before I pulled the cameo out, then it was instant love!
The copper had many different looks to it before the final one here. One that I wish I had stopped at but didn't! I had heated it up to bring out some beautiful colors...but, as I sometimes do, I went to far and lost them! Next time, and there will be a next time, I will know better.

This little bracelet is sold, though...I was quite attached to it! But I can't keep everything I make now can I? I plan on making lots more like it, as it is my favorite design so far.

So now I am off to my week. It is 5:30 a.m. here, a Monday no less..
But I was so excited about my bracelet I just had show you now!

Capri anyone?

2010-03-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

I have to tell you, I had the greatest day! My work schedule is usually Monday through Thursday, but I took today off and am working tomorrow instead.
It was like a heat wave here! Well, not really, but it was about 35 or 40 degrees.
Which, if you know me, meant outside for a run! It felt so good to be out there again!
Much more enjoyable than the gym.

I also snuck some jewelry making time in today...along with french bread making and homemade mushroom soup cooking!..Told ya it was a great day!
Pictured above is a pair of earrings I made using, once again, (can you tell I love them!) gunmetal pewter knotwork bead caps. I dangled some 9mm swarovski black diamond teardrops.
The bead caps and the teardrops are both from artbeads.com.

Continuing with my "use up some of my copper sheeting" theme, are these earrings! They are based on design I used for the bracelet in the previous post.

Again, I used gunmetal bead caps that I flattened out...see the gorgeous design that unfolds when you do that? I also used aquamarine teardrop swarovski ab crystals. The the green/blue shade of the patina on the copper, and the beautiful aquamarine color remind me of the water in the blue gratto (spelling?) in the Isle of Capri...(the most beautiful color I have EVER seen, and still remember it from so many years ago!)
The above earrings may soon make their way to Distressing Delilah's shelves..so if you like them, keep your eyes peeled!
and before I go,
I want to give a big thank to artbeads for the gorgeous beads they offer, and for inspiring me to create! Thank you artbeads!

My coppery love

2010-03-02T14:39:00.000-08:00

Something old..something new....something copper, something..blue..
with that sentiment on to my story..

I pulled out my blowtorch this weekend and heated things up!

I have had a little clear package of gunmetal pewter knotwork beadcaps
starring up at me from my desk, for about a week now. I tried making a few earrings from them, but just couldn't decide on a design. Instead, I pulled open the bottom drawer of my storage
dresser and there was a partially used, shiny copper sheet calling my name.
An idea then began!
This bracelet uses the beadcaps in a slightly different way than their name indicates they are meant for! But that is why we were given an imagination, right! Do you see where they ended up? I adore their pattern, especially when they are flattened on the copper!
Oh..the blue part...I applied a blue patina to the copper after heating it up.
The old...I used links from a vintage necklace to attach the copper pieces....and the new...
copper and gunmetal beadcaps! The gorgeous bead caps are courtesy of artbeads.com
Visit their site now to enter for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree! The chance to enter ends this Thursday, March 4th! For a direct link click on the contest link in the side column.
To view more of the beautiful bead caps artbeads has to other click here: base metal bead caps.

My coppery love bracelet is for sale in Distressing Delilah's etsy shop.

This is my fuzzy, furry king of the hill, returning after a long five minutes of guarding the driveway. I don't know about you, but he LOVES this snow! I have more than once caught him rolling in the snow, back and forth, all four paws to the sky! To each his own I say.

Shine Down Necklace

2010-02-25T11:07:00.000-08:00

There have been two exciting thing that happened so far this week!
The first came neatly wrapped in the familiar purple tissue paper...
Did you guess what it was??
A package from artbeads.com! It is always like getting a little present in the mail!

I took today off from work, ...spent the morning cleaning and then rewarded myself by spedning some time in my studio creating this necklace.
I used a vintage clip on earring and a cosmic crystal ring. The cosmic ring can be found at artbeads.com.

The ring is 14mm and is so very shiny! I have never used one in my designs before, but was excited to see how it could combine it with a vintage finding or two!

I still have another cosmic ring to create with! (and will be sure to show when the next design is finished!) As I pulled out pieces upon pieces of vintage jewelry, it was hard to choose what to pair this up with..it looked gorgeous with almost everything!

This is scene I was met with as I drove to work yesterday morning. Yes, those are tire tracks! That is the street I live on. By the time I went home the streets were cleared, not so now though! We are expecting another foot or so!!!! Winter has been very quiet here so far.
It seems to have finally made it's appearance! Better (or worse), late than never!

A few thing I have hanging around

2010-02-20T10:11:00.001-08:00

I will call this..the Face. Blunt, to the point..comes right out and says it, ha?

The "Face" pendant is created with a clay pendant I made quite a while ago. A peridot teardrop swarovski AB teardrop bead dangles from the bottom.

This necklace reminds me of spring and Easter! The camera didn't do the colors justice in the Picasso pear shaped drop. It has different shade of light blue, brass and green, in it. The crystals and the picasso beads can all be found at artbeads.com

Made of brass metal, silver and copper wire, this piece reminds me of an iris.

It is a one of a kind design, that just sort happened as I was playing around with my propane blowtorch! I really need to get that back out again!..my ambition has been nil lately.
Maybe it is the winter blah's. It has been cold here in the northeast, but barely any snow! If it is going to be cold, it might as well snow just a little..or a lot!
Actually I just got back from the grocery and overheard what I do hope is a nasty rumor. A lady was saying we could get up to 36 inches of snow Tuesday...Hoping that she heard wrong!
Although it is the first time in history that Buffalo has gotten less snow than Washington D.C., I suppose anything could happen.
Per par for the course, hubby is scheduled to be out of town...so, as far as history repeating itself, I suppose we will get dumped on with the fluffy white stuff!...

I have been remiss

2010-02-18T16:38:00.001-08:00

"Where have you been?" you may be have been wondering.
Well, I have been right here...just not right HERE!
Apologies, I say!
Sometimes my true life gets in the way..hah..that rhymes doesn't it?
I have a lovely new affliction..dry eyes...
which has led to painful eyes, burning eyes, tired eyes...
By the time I get home from work, I just want to shut them! But I really, REALLY, have been missing my blogs!!...so I hopped on to say hi. I have no plans to stop blogging or doing all the online and digital work that I love...just will have to find a way to deal with this.
I have been to the doc once for it, but the medicine he gave me really doesn't help much, so I will be going back I guess, dragging my feet on that..hate going to the doctors!
I will be posting some more jewelry soon! I continue to take part in the artbeads blogging program......and a fresh order of beads is on its way to my doorstep....until then my friends!

Tell Me Your Dream Necklace

2010-02-09T08:51:00.000-08:00

Welcome the "Tell Me Your Dream" necklace to the Shabby Accumulations spring lineup!

Never one to waste, I am continuing recycling and revamping of the lost, broken and forgotten.
I was given the thick, rope, silver colored chain used to create this necklace, along with other shiny bits and pieces. The necklace was sort of discarded to the side, but for some reason after creating just main strand of "Tell Me Your Dream", I picked it up..and it made the perfect finishing touch! You just never know. Sometimes I have to remind myself that jut because things don't look like they would work together, to give different styles a try.
This necklace would be perfect for a spring time bride!
I am available for custom, commissioned jewelry. If you have a broken heirloom piece, that no longer can be worn, it may be able to be brought back to a beautiful life!..and would make a very special gift!

How could you not be in a good mood?

2010-02-05T02:16:00.000-08:00

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head for days on end? I do, and you must be quite rare if you don't! My mind player is playing "Fireflies" Click on it and it takes you to a page where you can have a listen...Ha! Let's see how many other's get it stuck in their head! At least it is a happy song! I just downloaded on my mp3 player last night and can't wait to go run to it!
And that leads me to another question...actually, I just sat down between here and the last paragraph, after refilling my cup with some more velvety Italian roast. Yes, hooked! My son brought me a bag at Christmas time, and first thing, he made me "feel"the coffee. I said, "really I don't need to right now", he said "oh no you have to", so I did. Wow, it totally felt like velvet running through my fingers. The taste...totally euphoric...I currently avoid any grocery store coffee unless it is totally necessary. Another guilty pleasure added to my list. Oh, as I was putting my one packet of aspartame in my joe, and looked at the empty packets on the counter, I was wondering how much it too much aspartame..From the sound of the work, probably any!
If you are interested hop over to my other, more mindful and oh, sometimes I really take myself too seriously, but lovely and artsy blog..so distressing, and scroll down to my OWOH giveaway. All you need to do is leave a comment!!! Easy peasy.

Time for some shabbilicious fun!

2010-01-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

Time for some fun!...Oops, hubby heard that ,apparently..he doesn't understand. I mean girlie, shabbily accumulated, pink sparkly jewelry fun...not let's go out to the garage and work on our snowmobile's fun...
I don't know about your hubbies, but my hubby is huge fan of winter. Snow, snow snow, is all I hear once October hits! That is his fun.
Sadly for him we have been lacking this year.
And unfortunately, I will be leaving him out of our jewelry viewing this afternoon. (or so I thought)

I was looking at my bins of broken down vintage findings the other day when I realized..very soon it will be Valentines Day! That led me to open up my "pink" drawer! It had lots and lots of pale, whispery fairy pink in it! Which led me to create the necklace above!
(back to hubby, for just a moment!)
I showed the necklace to him when I was finished..."That would be perfect for a bride!"
I did a double take...
"Huh??? Really!??"
(I had actually been thinking along those lines myself, but hearing if from a man, a man that also was my hubby, means something!)
High and appropriate, and almost unsolicited opinions from him are of great value to me.
I remain flabbergast.

Perhaps he needs to consult with me more often. Who would have thought? I mean go back up and take a look at the pic of him...does he look like he would have an opinion about a pale pink, ever so delicately made, shabby accumulations necklace???
That just added to the fun!!!

So thank you for joining me in welcoming first of spring 2010's "Shabby Accumulations" bridal collection!
It is waiting for that perfect someone...

Don't just stand there!

2010-01-24T05:06:00.000-08:00

I do some of my best and 'clearest' thinking when I run. Which, if you are a regular reader, you may know I have not been able to do much of this winter, due to a knee injury.
The weather has been so nice this past week, than I HAD to go running.. It had been a while, so I thought I would give the old knee a chance to prove itself once again.
Well, I was able to run, about 4 or 5 miles, further that I had been able to all winter. The knee, still not quite right, but seemed somewhat better. All the same, it was so nice to feel that freedom again!
I find I am more motivated, I get more done, and am generally happier, if I run!
On to my original reason for this post, which is not to ramble on too much about little ol' me!
Well, there was a connection between the running and the post..
I have been trying to think of how I wanted to donate and help a cause in Haiti.
While running, yes, an epiphany, I decided to do this:

The above print is being sold as a limited edition aceo. Only 100 will be sold, if I happen to sell that many, wait, when I happen to sell that many..(power of positive thinking my friends!) I will then post a 2nd limited edition for Haiti. All proceeds go to the Mission of Hope Haiti.

If you know not of aceos then I will tell you...
they are little pieces of collectible art.
The only requirement is that they measure 2.5" x 3.5".
They can be in any medium.
This aceo can be found in my etsy shop...so head on over!

Can computers be infected with H1N1?

2010-01-22T05:51:00.000-08:00

Really! I think I should have vaccinated mine! Apparently some new age virus/bot infected my laptop last Friday!
It actually turned green! And then continued to be cranky throughout the weekend, after which, I broke down and took it to a neighbor for treatment.
He was able to fix it, but it did not last! It again turned green...and 'puked' viral goobers, continuously. That led me to take it for serious rehab, off it went to a co-workers hubbie, who by the why runs his own computer business. It is called Alltech , for those locals reading this. It was hit or miss for a few days though, didn't know if my little Spartan would pull through. Alas, I am happily typing away again!
I am very content to be back. Photoshop withdrawl is becoming a distant memory.
Now to catch up on DJ Pettitt's online class I have been taking!
I hope everything is well with my readers, oh and watch out for that nasty computer bot!

More copper!!

2010-01-13T12:19:00.000-08:00

I have been stuck home for about a thousand years now, well not really that long, but have had

a nasty winter cold this week that has kept me housebound.

I do believe I am well enough to go to work tomorrow! My poor dogs, I things they are now clinically depressed after watching me lay around for three days! They are however, well versed in the latest happenings on Days of Our Lives.

Perhaps you read a few posts back, and saw, the earrings I made out of copper wire. This is a necklace using the same type of design. Par for course, it started out being something different, a bracelet, but after finishing the pieces, I much preferred it as a necklace.

I was lucky enough to catch the morning light streaming through the windows when I took these pics. The necklace has a longer chain, which seemed to fit the style I was going for.

It may be making an apprearance in my etsy shop, once another wave of ambition hits me!

These are earrings I made using handcut pieces of brass, cut by me, and yes I still have all ten digits. I have had a few of these pieces floating around since summer, they were patiently waiting for me to decide what to do with them. Only two of the metal pieces seemed to match each other shapewise, thus just one pair of earrings....and

a matching necklace!

While I may joke, and complain about having a little harmless cold, there are so many people who are experiencing a nightmare of challenges. I am speaking of friends close to me, and people who are oceans away. It reminds me to be thankful for what I have at the moment and that it could all be taken away in a heartbeat. I remember reading that we should live in the moment, because "it"will never be again. I have lost sight of that. That said, my goal is to be more mindful and conscious of the here and now. Because really that is all we really are guaranteed. Take care my friends!

I spy...

2010-01-11T05:07:00.001-08:00

Another bench Monday here! I am lucky enough to have a lovely neighbor friend, who just loves to pose!

She also loves to take lots and lots of pictures...hmmm, sounds like someone else I know!

And it finally happened...a winter cold...I mean the sneezy kind..not the temperature outside. That is cold too!

All the more reason to stay inside and possibly catch up on some projects.

I started this collage a while ago. Inspired by an article in the July/August Somerset Studio's Art of Paper and Mixed Media publication. The article was called "Let's Face It" , written by Cindy O'Leary, with artwork by DJ Pettitt .

It was put on hold when I had to stop and order modeling paste from Dick Blick. I have never worked with this, this is my first attempt. Will try again though. This collage is on regular drawing paper. I would like to use canvas next time.

The modeling paste arrived last week, and I MADE myself sit down and paint yesterday. First I had applied layers of the paste and let them dry, a day for each layer. This project was lots of fun, and still is not finished...I have fabric I want to sew on it. That will be another first..wish me luck!!!

Who's watching who?

2010-01-08T02:11:00.000-08:00

click on the pic....the print is small in this size!!

Do you ever get that feeling someone is watching you, but there is no one else in the room? Or perhaps a feeling that you are not alone?

I do. But I am still standing on a line between what, or who is making me feel that way! I do teeter to the side of belief, sometimes my faith wavers. Perhaps that is why I am so intrigued, or should I say hooked, to the plethora of ghosthunter shows out here! I love to cuddle up on the couch with my Tia (warm, cuddly dog) and an afgan, and watch for a sign to jump out on the screen!

I think a majority of us believe, or want to believe, in something in the great beyond. Though others flatly disregard that thought. It seems to be part of human nature to wish that some type of self will never end.

I must say, there are times when I feel someone or something has given me peace of mind, or strength. I believe in god, and a spirit that guides you...but beyond that I wonder...

Regardless, angels are a huge theme in art today and years ago. It as if we need to put them down on paper, and that helps makes them real.

Shabby Chic steps out, and then sits down!

2010-01-03T06:41:00.002-08:00

Sometimes, a quiet moment gazing out the window can lead to a lifetime of creation, or at least an afternoon of it!

I must admit, I dissappoint myself in the fact that there are so many thoughts of what I would like to do as an artist, but they remain just that, thought.

Thus, a list each morning, or a goal for me, to bring some of those dreams and thoughts to realization. I try to pick one thing and tell myself that I need to work on it, and if possible finish it. It isn't that I don't want to, I just can't decide where to start sometimes. The indecision then leads me to the easiest thing to do, for me at the moment...digitial art.

That in turn leaves everything else in the background!

Yesterday, as I was once again playing with pictures on my computer, I glanced to my left. At my left, strategically next the chair I am sitting in right now, are bins brimming with shiny jewelry pieces, broken parts, the old, the new...
The bossier part of me but a stronghold on my will and forced me slowly back away from the laptop.
I then spent the next few hours creating a few new pieces of jewelry.

Once I got going, I was lost, utterly lost in the sea of sparkles! Broken rhinestone necklace, vintage black and crystal clip on earrings, the gaudy, the dainty...the unwanted. They were my playthings..and what fun I had!

This is "You Make My Heart Soar" necklace. The heart is actually a locket and is so gorgeous!

"A Rusted Love" necklace.
Not so sure about the name. It could be a good thing, or a bad thing. I guess you have to decide for yourself!

The chain is a rhinestone, and fits like a choker.

Oh, and it looks like a dream, my dears!

When your heart's desire is being pulled so many ways....sit down, look out the window..and do nothing but listen for a moment or two.

What you hear in silence will be amazing.

Happy Sparkilicious New Year!

2009-12-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

Well, it is the last day of 2009!!! Why does it seem the older I get the faster it goes!

Could we put the brakes on a little..pallleeeeasee!

Regardless, time passing or time standing still, I want to wish my readers a very peaceful, happy and safe New Year!

That said, on to the sparkly stuff!

Pictured above (and below!) is a pair of earrings made from swarovski crystals and copper wire. The swarovski crystals are available at artbeads.com. The design idea came from Fallan Skidmore and her article in this month's Belle Armoire Jewelry, a Stampington Publication.

I am still working on another piece somewhat similar. Not usually one for shiny metals, but I sort like the way the copper looks here.

Last, but not least sparkly, are my Blue Grotto earrings. They inclue
peridot teardrop swarovski cystals from artbeads.com.
That my friends, is all the sparkly stuff I have to show you right now!!!
If you are interesting I will be listing a few of them in my etsy shop, Distressing Delilah's Shop of Shabby Accumulations, in the next day or so.

Until next year......stay well and stay safe my friends!

Sweet Reflections

2009-12-26T09:07:00.001-08:00

I recently had the distinct pleasure of being invited to take part in artbead.com's blog for beaders community.

I was so thrilled to be able to create and display on my blog, using their beads. December has been declared glass and silver month over at artbeads.com. So in keeping with the glass theme, I got to work!

If you are new to viewing my jewelry, you may not know that I mix vintage, and or costume jewelry with new findings and beads to give it a whole different degree of wearability!

That is exactly what I did with
my Windmere Necklace.

I used a 12mm Graphic AB Crystal as the focal bead.

Then, I dangled a 4mm Faceted AB Round Crystal from it, to give a more delicate feeling.
The Graphic Crystal kept on catching the light and reflecting different colors, while at the same time was transparent enough to see the letters on the page underneath it! I just could NOT stop
taking picutures of it! So far this has been my favorite piece from artbeads.com. It is simply stunning!

These earrings are my Cecily earrings. They are created with vintage white beads, I guess you might call them filagree..not sure, and also with 8mm Faceted Round AB Swarovski Crystal Beads. Again, I was thrilled with the beauty of these! They, like the graphic crystal, are stunning..and also reflected gorgeous hues of light!

As always, these pieces are soon to be gently place on a shelf in
Distressing Delilah's Shop of Shabby Accumulation.

The Best Things do Really come in Little Purple packages!

2009-12-22T16:06:00.000-08:00

First, let my start by wishing you all a very happy and peaceful holiday season!

May the spirit of the season rest warmly with you and your families.

And second...I wanted to talk about a little gift that I received in the mail this week!

It came in the form of a very, tiny package. It was wrapped ever so sweetly in pretty purple tissue paper.

Did you guess what it was yet???

Well, if you are in any way familiar with the creative world of beading, you will have said...ARTBEADS, a package from artbeads!

Ha, if you said this, you were right!

Everytime I order from them I feel like I am getting little treasure of a gift, just by the way they wrap their items, not to mention what is inside the wrapping!

I had a blurry vision of what I might do with the ever so softly colored beads that came my way via the little purple package.

Some of them were in my favorite hue...a pale, pale shade of green.

So......

combined with a broken china piece, created by mwah... a vintage clip on earring and other upcycled jewelry treasures,

and from Artbeads.com:
8mm faceted round crystal AB swarovski beads (amazingly sparkly and clear!)
Czech glass green Picasso pointed oval beads (oh so dreamy!)....

my Hunted Beauty necklace, was born!
(shamelesss plug...soon to be listed here!..Distressing Delilah's shop of shabby )
I still have some other shiny, pretty beads winking at me next to my laptop...more to come on them!
Merry Christmas!!!