Life Should Be An Adventure

Saturday Craft Time

2012-01-28T15:47:00.000-06:00

I haven't worked on anything new in a while because I have been crazy busy.

I couldn't wait to get back into my craft room and start working on something. I haven't played with leather in a long while, but have been wanting to get back into it. I made a few necklace pendants with stamped designs on them a long while ago and I wanted to do something similar but a bit different. Here is what I came up with.

I made 4 more stamped designs and I am going to dye them all differently and put different beads with each design. I might keep this one for myself. Not sure yet.

Nurse Assistant

2012-01-28T15:38:00.000-06:00

Where have I been lately? What was I doing?

I was accepted into a CNA (certified nurse assistant) program about 2 weeks ago. It's a free program and lasts only about 3 weeks. I have considered going to school to become a nurse and I thought becoming a CNA would expose me to seeing nurses in action.
Unfortunately, I picked up a stomach bug and had to not go in yesterday. Missing anytime automatically removes you from the program. I was bummed to not finish it out, but learned a lot about myself in the short time I was there.

What I learned in this experience:
Although I think I would make a great CNA I don't think it is s good fit for me and my personality. My cousin told me "Of course it wouldn't be a good fit for you because you are a right brained person." She has worked in the medical field in lots of different capacities and she knows me well. So, I trust her judgement that it's not a good fit. I need to read up on right brained people I guess to figure out what I should be doing.
Seeing the elderly in such bad shape was really hard for me emotionally. I thought giving someone a bath and changing their diaper would be the hardest part- not so. Knowing someone can hardly move and feed themselves and seeing that no one comes to visit them was far worse than dealing with any of the gross things.
I do NOT want to be a nurse. ;)
I am capable of studying and doing well on tests. It's been a LONG time since I have had to study or memorize anything and I was a bit worried it would be hard.My lowest grade in the class was a 99%!
Mostly-It helped me see that what I truly love to do is make things with my hands. I haven't touched a craft in over 2 weeks and I realized that working with my hands really energizes me, gives me a feeling of peace, and helps me release stress. If only I could figure out how to sell more so that I can make this my career...

So, I am not exactly sure where to go from here, but I am trusting that God has a plan for me.
`

A Package!

2012-01-12T14:22:00.000-06:00

I am so excited! I just opened the mail and a little package that I have patiently been waiting for arrived today!

I have long admired the work of Jillian from The Noisy Plume. Her jewelry is AMAZING! Her photography on her blog is so beautiful and so are the words that she writes. She is just one talented lady I must say!

I don't really wear much jewelry on a daily basis. Actually, most days I wear nothing other than my wedding band, but I definitely swoon every time I see her come up with a new ring or necklace. The problem for me (and probably a lot of other people who want to own a small piece of her work) is that almost as soon as she lists something in her Etsy shop it is sold. I am not kidding around here either. The second problem I have is that I don't often have much extra money to spend on fun things like this. But...thanks to Christmas and thanks to a miracle I just happened to look in her shop the other day and there were a few things that had yet to be snatched up. I thought "this is my chance!" As I sat there thinking whether or not I should take the plunge the item I was looking at sold in that instant. There was one necklace left like it and I quickly clicked the button to purchase it.
It just arrived today and here is my little package!

I love the thoughtful packaging and the little extras. She included a tea bag along with two of her post cards that feature her photography and a nice little note written on one of them. I also love the jewelry box.

This necklace is called The Eager Thaw necklace. It's a sterling silver casted twig off her lilac tree.

I think what I love about buying handmade items directly from the artists is that you aren't just buying an item. you are buying an item with a personal history behind it. It wasn't something made in China in a huge factory where thousands are being mass produced. You are buying an item that one person put their time, creative abilities, and energy into- hoping someone will find it just as beautiful as they do.

Is there a handmade piece that you cherish or were really excited to buy?

Bead Embroidery Ring

2012-01-12T11:44:00.000-06:00

I was bored the other day and decided to do a little bead embroidery. I didn't have a plan for what I was making, but as I worked I started thinking how pretty it might be as a ring. How would I do that???

I decided to make my own ring base to fit the bead embroidery piece. Here is the result!

I stamped the word "peace" in the middle. I like the idea of having little hidden nuggets on pieces. Just for the wearer. Which might end up being me because I love it so much.

I really love how it turned out BUT.....
It took me what felt like forever to make this. I cut the back plate and shank with a jewelers saw and it took me awhile to get the thing soldered. Hopefully the more I work with metal the faster I will get. I also think buying metal pre-cut for ring shanks would save me a lot of time.

On another note-
Tomorrow I am filling out an application and doing an interview to hopefully be chosen to start classes for something that could turn into a new career path. I am really excited and hope I can get in. If you wouldn't mind please say a prayer for me.
I am believing that 2012 will be full of new adventures!
I pray that 2012 is a great year for you as well!

Rootbeer Floats

2012-01-10T15:32:00.000-06:00

Last night while watching episodes of the Twilight Zone on Netflix I decided that I just had to have a rootbeer float. So, off to the store we went in search of supplies. Brought out the biggest cups we could find...
Ahhhh...yummmmmm

I love how it gets foamy on the top!

PS. Have you seen many episodes of the Twilight Zone? I sort of remember seeing commercials for it growing up, but never watched it. Christian really likes it and they are pretty good little short stories.

Etsy

2012-01-10T15:22:00.000-06:00

I added some new things to my Etsy shop toady. Thought I would share them with you.

PS. I love making these little beaded bracelets!

A crocheted cowl/neck warmer.

PPS. My hair is starting to feel longer. I haven't had chin length hair in forever!

Coffee or Tea

2012-01-09T17:30:00.000-06:00

I can't decide if I am more a coffee kind of gal or tea. Are you one or the other? Most people seem to be.

I LOVE coffee, but only with a lot of cream/milk and sugar. If I drink it early in the day it makes me sick to my stomach.

I also adore tea though. It is lighter on the tummy and I can often drink different types without feeling the need to sugar it up.

This is one I bought a long time ago and just now started drinking.

It's REALLY good and has a nice sweet flavor all on it's own. It's green tea, but has a bunch of other flavors mixed in...AND...it is actually good for your digestion. It has become one of my new favorites.

I chose to have a cup of coffee earlier and it was tasty but i think I might have to make another cup of this.

I am curious-What is your favorite coffee brand or favorite kind of tea to drink?

Metal

2012-01-04T23:17:00.000-06:00

I made my first ring tonight!
I saw this Thoreau quote on something and knew I wanted to use it in some way.
All Good Things Are Wild And Free

New Bracelets!

2012-01-03T23:04:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure if you can tell from my blog, but I love doing/learning every kind of craft under the sun. Well, everything except scrap booking. Not sure why that one doesn't appeal to me???

The other day I taught myself how to make these really pretty bracelets after seeing them around everywhere. I was just watching a show on tv tonight where a girl was wearing one.

Apparently they are called Chan Luu style bracelets and to buy the "real" ones you will easily shell out over $100 for one that wraps around the wrist a few times. The materials are pretty cheap unless you use some more expensive beads, but they do take a lot of time and patience to create. You are pretty much weaving beads between two pieces of leather cord.

The one above wraps around the wrist 3 times.

I recently bought some really pretty beads from Bedazzled here in Nashville and I wanted to make a few bracelets with the cheaper beads until I got the hang of it. I really like how they turned out and I plan on making some more in different colors.

I also have been playing around with a few simple ideas for bracelets. Here are a few I made.

These are adjustable and have beads strung on a piece of sterling silver filled wire.

Anyways, besides all this type of thing I have been crocheting up a storm as well. I am sort of obsessed with crocheting cowls right now. They are so cozy to wear in this cold weather and I even find myself wearing one inside. It sort of feels like you have grandmas handmade afghan wrapped around your neck except you look way cooler. haha...

Happy Crafting!

Christmas

2012-01-03T22:41:00.000-06:00

Christmas was fun! Great times with family and some really awesome presents as well.

This is a picture of our pathetic fake Big Lots tree stuffed full of presents.

I got several metal smithing tools that I have been wanting for a long time now. I haven't used them yet, but am planning on it soon. Can't wait!

I hope you all had a really great Christmas holiday and a great New Years!

Donate Please!

2011-12-12T09:12:00.000-06:00

Hello friends,
Christmas is around the corner and I am wondering if you would consider something for me?

My friend Dan is only 29 and is in need of a heart transplant. You can read about his story here.

Dan is fortunate to have health insurance; however, his current and future care will not be completely covered. There will be many uninsured expenses such as: co-pays, deductibles, doctor visits, and the costly immunosuppressant medications that Dan will need for the rest of his life. Even with insurance, the cost is overwhelming. To help offset some of these expenses, a fundraising campaign in Dan’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive (formerly NTAF). HelpHOPELive, is a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for nearly 30 years. All contributions are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Mid-Atlantic Heart Transplant Fund and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

He is a super talented sweet guy and I am asking if you would considering giving a gift that will really make a difference in his life. You can either donate online at the link above or can mail a check. Here are the details.

Make checks payable to:

HelpHOPELive

Note in memo section:

In Honor of Dan Short

Please send to:

HelpHOPELive

150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120

Radnor, PA 19087

For card contributions, please call 800-642-8399

Busy Hands

2011-11-29T17:02:00.000-06:00

The weather is really yucky here. It's been raining for a few days now and has been getting colder. I think winter is finally coming to TN. :(

Because I am pretty much stuck inside I figured it would be a good couple of days to work on some projects.

I have been crocheting a lot lately. I finished these two headband ear warmers today.

I really like this pattern a lot. It makes a really nice thick headband and the way it's crocheted doesn't give you a typical crocheted look. I also LOVE crocheting large flowers and I think they look cute on these.
Here is me trying to get a picture of it on my head.

Another project that I worked on today is a copper pendant I started a few weeks back. I sawed out the shape and it's just been sitting on my table all this time. Today I finally finished it! The pictures are kind of blurry and the lighting was horrible when I took these. The copper actually has a really pretty rainbow effect on it due to a patina I put on it and the stone is actually really deep blue. It is only my 3rd time making a bezel and setting a stone and frankly I am not very good at it, but hopefully you can't tell in the picture. haha...

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We ate our meal at Cracker Barrel and it was actually awesome. So nice to just show up and order and not have to cook all day long. I can't remember the last time I had a Thanksgiving with no family visiting or us traveling anywhere. I thought it would feel weird but I actually enjoyed it.

Pendant

2011-11-15T10:37:00.000-06:00

In my last post I told you that I finally was able to solder a bezel with my tools for the first time. Here is a picture of one of the pendants I made. It is made with copper and fine silver. I can't remember what stone is in there-maybe some kind of quartz or something.

I stamped the word "flourish" around the bezel and hammered the edges for some texture. For my first try-I am happy with it. It got me so excited that I got online and ordered some more cabochons, beads, and wire to do some wire wrapped stones.

I am excited to dive more into jewelry making.There are so many different materials to make jewelry out of and now that I know how to make bezels and can incorporate stones the possibilities feel a bit endless.

I am off to buy some yarn to make a custom pair of crocheted slippers for a special gal and might stop off at Fulins for lunch where I always get the same meal- Kung Pao(Pow?) Chicken.

I hope you are having a nice Tuesday where ever you are. :)

Finally!

2011-11-14T21:37:00.000-06:00

I finally did it! I was able to solder a bezel and set a stone at home!

I have been slowly collecting tools so that I can do metal-smithing at home and although I still need a few more essentials I am at a point where I can improvise and still make some things. I have been DYING to be able to use a torch and solder, but I just couldn't decide which one to buy. That issue might warrant it's own post at another time. I finally decided on a torch and it arrived last week. I set up my work station and attempted to make a bezel and solder it to a piece of copper. I TOTALLY FAILED! The bezel never did fit right and I couldn't get the solder to flow and so the bezel never did stick. I was totally bummed and felt defeated.
When I took classes a while back my teacher kept saying how easily I was picking everything up and how well I was doing. I think I was overconfident about my abilities and when it didn't work my first thought was something like " I seriously just spent every last amount of extra money I have accumulated on tools and I can't even figure out how to use them. I stink!". I had a horrible rest of that day.
I gave myself some time and after talking with a silversmith friend she gave me some insight into what might have happened and It made me feel a little better. I had a good weekend and today I felt motivated to try it again.

It totally worked! I did it! I even made and finished two pendants this evening. Are they super awesome? Not exactly, but they aren't bad for a first time home experiment.

I feel excited at the possibilities and am sort of proud of myself for using boy tools like torches and hammers and things with acid in them. Hahaha...ahh growth is good.

Working with Brass

2011-11-14T15:07:00.000-06:00

Today I finished up this pendant and turned it into a necklace. I am just getting started with metal-smithing and I finally got in a few more tools so it has motivated me to play around with it all.

I sawed out this pendant from a thick piece of brass, pierced it and sawed out a heart shape, filed and sanded the edges, hammered the edges, banged around the top of the pendant with a hammer, and played around with my torch to get the patina. I like the texture and patina that resulted.

I will be putting this necklace in my Etsy shop shortly for purchase.

I am thinking about talking more about my experience as a beginner metal smith in future posts. I have had to search the internet like crazy for answers to some of my questions and I am finding that the info just isn't out there or at least not easily found. So, I may make a few posts about my experiences as I go. Thankfully right now I have an internet friend who is a silversmith who is gracious enough to answer my questions. You can see Amy's work here. She is the sweetest!

Monday

2011-11-14T14:55:00.000-06:00

Today I am cleaning up the house, doing laundry, and working on some new jewelry pieces. My mom and step dad came for a short visit over the weekend. We had a nice time. We drove to Nashville and browsed around the Antique Archeology store and toured the Yazoo beer factory. I don't really drink and especially not beer (yuck!) but it was still fun. It was also my moms birthday and I was happy to get to share that with her.

I totally forgot to take pictures of their visit! Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Monday

2011-11-07T11:51:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted anything in a little while. So, today I will just tell you a few random things.
I cut myself some bangs! And so far I haven't regretted it :)

I snapped this little picture of my dog Mose this morning. He reminds me of an Ewok...

About 3 minutes after this photo was taken he threw up on the floor. :(

I have been listening to a lot of this lady lately. And I love this video of her.
I am reading this.
I wish I were taking lots of classes here.
I am looking for a job. (I hate looking for a job)

Cooler weather always makes me want to crochet or knit. I may whip up a hat today.
Have a great Monday.

More Metal

2011-10-13T14:21:00.002-05:00

I finished this pendant the other day and just added it to my etsy store yesterday.

I never considered myself a "gold" jewelry kind of gal, but I really like this brass after its had a patina applied. I also used sandpaper to give it a more satin looking surface.

On another note-
I joined Pinterest! A few friends told me about it and I never checked it out till recently. I am hooked. It's kind of fun putting together "boards" and it's a great place to keep pictures and things that inspire you. Check out my Pinterest HERE. Let me know if you are on there.

Movie

2011-10-12T09:50:00.000-05:00

I got up kind of early this morning and decided to watch a movie. I watched this.

Marathon Etsy Posting

2011-10-10T18:44:00.000-05:00

I just spent the past 2 hours (maybe longer) posting new items into my Etsy shop.

I sort of really dislike the whole process of posting new items. I don't know why I dislike it so much, but today I FINALLY took the time to photograph and work on it all. Several pairs of earrings, a new leather cuff, 2 paintings, and a few necklaces.

It feels good-like a small burden lifted. I feel free to make some new things since the "older" things are dealt with.

I am currently working on a few crocheted flower headbands. I have been making these for a few years now, but have never tried selling them on etsy. I have been selling them at a local coffee shop that sits next to a high school (they seem to do well with that crowd) and at craft shows. They are simple and cute. They look cute on little girls and even on my adult friends. They sort have a bohemian vibe to them and you can even wrap them around your wrist as a bracelet or wear it tied around your neck like a choker. I am sure I will post a picture soon once they are done.

It's been a good day. I hope whoever reads this is having a nice Monday too!

PS-I don't usually eat food from Sonic (I like their drinks!) but have you tried their new premium hot dogs? Yummers! I had the bacon blue dog (I think that is what it's called). It's really tasty! and unhealthy but who cares... :)

New Jewelry

2011-10-10T10:42:00.000-05:00

Here are some new pieces I am about to add into my shop over the next few days.

Saturday

2011-10-08T14:16:00.000-05:00

I woke up with a crafty spring in my step. I just felt like I needed to make something. Probably because yesterday I didn't work on anything and really didn't do a whole lot.

I made wall hangings!

I had a bag full of clothes that were waiting to be taken to the thrift store and I realized I could use some of the shirts in there to make scraps with. So-I picked out a few and began cutting thin strips of fabric. I also cut out the beaded section of one shirt and made the hanging below (my favorite of the 3).

.
These other two I just threaded the strips around the wooden stick (which I found outside). I tied some knots in the fabric to give it some more texture and the one hanging has some wooden beads dangling from it.

These were so fun to make and it gave me something to hang above my work desk.
I have a lot of scraps left over so I will probably make a few more for the fun of it. I think it would be neat to incorporate things like yarn, ribbon, and lace into them. Maybe even string some smaller beads or I might figure out a way to incorporate some of my leather into one.

Have a great weekend!

Late Night Shopping

2011-10-08T01:25:00.001-05:00

It's late-like 1:02am late!
I am still up and have been "shopping" on Etsy for the past hour. I have been stalking this shop for awhile now. I think I even mentioned this store in a past post. I have always been a sucker for lip balms, lip gloss, and all things waxy and smelly for the lips. Looking at the scents and flavors remind me of when I was like 10 and wanting to buy a new flavored Bonne Bell chap stick from the store every chance I had. This store has flavors like Pumpkin Cheesecake, Chai Tea, Cherry Limeade, Raspberry Lemonade, and Caramel Apple! They look a bit more grown up and so you can hide your strange fascination with flavored waxes/oils like me! Eww...that sounds gross when I say it like that...Ha ha...

After going back and forth I decided to buy the Raspberry Lip Tint and the Lavender/Lemon perfume oil. I can't wait to try them out!

I really love buying from Etsy. Not just because I have a store on there, but because I love knowing I am buying something that someone put time and effort into(maybe even a bit of their heart and soul-because I know I feel like I do with each project that passes through my hands). It feels more special-in this case it feels way more special than buying a Cover Girl lip gloss from Walgreens not to mention this stuff is made with natural ingredients and not chemicals and preservatives. Also-I love buying from Etsy because I love getting fun mail-as appose to un-fun mail which is like bills and ads and what not.

Since I am talking about shopping on Etsy here are a few other things have purchased from there recently.
These postcards from UmberDove(she is an amazing artist with a great blog!) and this print from Collage O Rama.

Time for bed!

Craft Room Clean Up

2011-10-06T16:11:00.000-05:00

I like to read a bunch of different crafty/artsy girl blogs and sometimes they give you glimpses of the spaces they work in.

I came across one the other day and everything was all clean and neat and organized. It got me thinking about the space I use and how completely crazy and chaotic it usually is. It's a pretty small room and I have A LOT of supplies and things stuffed in there. My husband made me a special bookcase for me to have some storage. It's filled to the brim with yarns, bead boxes, art supplies, my camera, etc. I have two tables in my craft room. One is where I do all my work and the other has become a place I just sit random projects on. That table became piled high with stuff and was a real eye sore.

After thinking about my mess for days (and really if I am honest weeks) I decided today was the day to get things together.

I made two separate spaces. One table is where I will do my leather work and painting and the other table will soon be where I work on metal jewelry. I only took a picture of this table because the other doesn't really look like much yet.

I removed an old dingy carpet I had put in there awhile back. Getting rid of it has really made my room look bigger. I hung up a table cloth over my bookcase to hide all my stuff. (you can see a wee glimpse of it to the far right)

The only thing I need to do now is hang some pictures up. For now these little windowsill decorations will have to do.

Having a nice clean organized space definitely is more inviting. I hope it sparks some new creative juices.

What does your work space look like if you have one? Do you keep it organized or does it get crazy like mine?

Poor Guy

2011-09-30T12:27:00.000-05:00

This little guy is getting neutered tonight. Say a prayer for him. ;)

Metal Work

2011-09-29T17:48:00.000-05:00

I ordered some brass sheet metal and it finally came in! I am working on a few pendants and am excited to show you my first attempt(well-second attempt if you count the copper one I made and showed in an earlier post).

I like how it turned out but there are two things I am changing for the next attempt. For one-I don't like how shiny it still is. I tried using a wire brass brush to give it more of a satin finish but it didn't turn out right. I am not sure what I did wrong. Secondly, I didn't feel that the patina darkened the letters enough so I darkened it with a sharpie marker (little trick I saw on the Internet somewhere). It looks fine but I think it's a bit too dark now and stands out more than what I want. Any suggestions???

It's been fun experimenting though. I really like sawing with a jewelers saw and am getting better at not braking blades. My craft table is a huge mess already and now it has metal dust all over it. I am thinking I need a special table space for this type of work...

Happy Thursday!

Watercolors

2011-09-29T17:26:00.000-05:00

Today I drove into Nashville with a good friends and we shopped at Plaza Art. I just LOVE that store! I didn't go there intending to buy anything but I always find something. I bought some watercolor paints! They came in a set of 12 and they aren't professional grade I guess but I am no professional so who cares. A few months back I bought one of those little plastic cases that contain about 5 colors of paint thinking that would do the trick. It's ok but I really wanted more colors and I kind of like using the tubes.

I got them home and decided to sit down and give them a try. Here is a little picture I painted today.

I really enjoyed using the paints and I foresee many other pictures to come.

Lip Balm

2011-09-27T21:02:00.000-05:00

If you love flavored/scented lip balm check out this esty store! Look at all those flavors! It's like Bonne Bell Lip Smackers only more grown up. ;)

Bye Bye FB

2011-09-25T16:31:00.000-05:00

I just deactivated my Facebook account and it feels so good!

A Trade

2011-09-17T13:23:00.000-05:00

I made an online friend, a fellow jewelry maker, who is so talented and has given me advice and opinions on all the different aspects of silver-smithing. Her name is Amy and she has an Etsy shop where she sells the most wonderful silver and copper jewelry. See her shop HERE.

I have long admired her work and was in major need of a new pair of earrings. I wear the same pair EVERY single day. I asked if she would be willing to do a trade. I would make her something and in return I asked if she would make me a pair of copper earrings. She agreed and so I went to work on a leather coin purse that she asked me to make. I meant to take pictures of it but I got so excited when I finished it I quickly mailed it off to her.

I received the copper earrings in the mail the other day and I SOOOOO LOVE them. They are light as a feather and so pretty. Take a look here!

Do you see that they are rain clouds?!? So clever!

This is me wearing them-a happy camper to finally have another pair of earrings!

Thank you so much Amy!

If you love these like I do you can purchase a silver pair HERE.

Happy Saturday!

Playing Around with Copper

2011-09-09T14:26:00.000-05:00

A few nights ago I decided to get out a sheet of copper and just play around with it. I haven't practiced sawing with my jewelers saw in a long while and wanted to try sawing out a small shape. I drew this little butterfly shape and sawed it out. I stamped "fly" onto the metal and then banged around the edges with a hammer to add some texture. I didn't necessarily plan on my little scrap becoming a pendant, but in the end that is what it became. I have been wearing it since I made it.

I pretty much used up the last scrap of copper that I had and so I ordered a sheet of brass to play with next. It's a bit thicker and I think it will be fun to make a few more similar necklaces, but hopefully they will be a bit more refined.

I wish I could buy silver but it's CRAZY expensive right now. I can buy a 6"x12" sheet of 20gauge brass for about 13 dollars or buy the same size in silver for like over 500!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean can that be right? Yikes! I am not sure how people do it!

New Glasses

2011-09-07T17:20:00.000-05:00

I have always wanted a pair of cat eye-ish glasses! I finally got a pair thanks to an awesome groupon deal for See Eyewear in Nashville. They have the most awesome unique frames there!

Some New Things!

2011-09-07T17:13:00.000-05:00

I have been working on some new things to sell in my Etsy shop. It's taken me a while to actually get them in my shop. Taking pictures and writing descriptions can take what feels like forever and I sometimes put that part of the process off for longer than I should. Today has been an excellent day though to do these kinds of things. I FINALLY did it and here are a few pictures...

As much as I love working with leather I have been dying to work more with metal. I am still collecting all the tools needed to do the kind of work I want to do, but in the mean time I realized I can still make a few things with what I do have. Last night I made the copper butterfly pendant above. I sawed it out with my jewelers saw and gave it texture with my special little hammer. Gave it a nice antiqued patina and made it into a pretty necklace.

Mose

2011-08-29T15:36:00.000-05:00

My little Mose Mose

A Few Things

2011-08-29T15:33:00.000-05:00

I found this nest on the ground underneath a tree. It made me smile because it has lots of my dogs hairs woven into it. The feathers were also found outside. I am really interested in feathers lately...

I ordered a little bundle of these peacock feathers and also am waiting on some other feathers to arrive. I hope to either use them in my jewelry or just keep them around just because they are pretty.

Two necklaces I am working on.They hang from a 32" chain and will also have charms and a feather attached.

Turquoise beads. I just got these and I LOVE the color. I love turquoise!

My New Favorite

2011-08-24T17:38:00.000-05:00

I just finished a new necklace today and I LOVE it. I foresee me making several of these in various shades to put in my etsy shop. It's a bit bohemian and a bit southwestern.

It's funny how ideas will just all of a sudden come to me. I try to come up with new things, but I can never force it. I was tossing and turning in bed the other night and this design came to me. Here are a few pictures. What do you think? It's a large pendant I know, but I am just not one of those gals who likes or will wear a wee little necklace on a wee little chain. I like a necklace that speaks for its self. Leather, brass, and turquoise.

Messy Desk Clean House

2011-08-23T16:34:00.000-05:00

If you come to my house you will see it's usually pretty clean. If you peek your head into my craft room you will see my little secret. I'm a mess! or at least the room is! I can't seem to keep my desk organized and clean. I have way to many arts and crafts supplies piled in every corner of this small room. I use my desk to do my leather work so there are constantly bits of scrap leather everywhere. I also paint on this desk so there are brushes, paint bottles, and wads of paper towel all over.

Last night I came up with a new necklace idea and decided to make it today. Here is a little picture of my progress and my mess.

I envision these little medallions dyed in rich shades of brown and hung on satin ribbons. A bit bohemian and a bit south western with the print. We shall see how they turn out....

Hopefully I can clean up this mess!

Exciting Stuff

2011-08-23T16:23:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to share that I have sold some items to a local boutique here in Nashville, TN!!!! If you live in the area you can check out Your Home Enhanced in Berry Hill. It just opened up and is totally cute(think vintage,shabby chic, furniture and art)! I am so honored to have my items there.

I also started using a leather purse that I made probably a year ago. I can't believe the response I get when I go out. I have handed out several business cards to random people who admire my bag while out and about. I suppose I should have used it a long time ago and perhaps I would have made a few more sales. Well-now I know. If you make something use it or wear it. It's the best exposure.

My little Etsy business may never go anywhere or make me much money, but I am appreciative of the opportunities and the people I have met along the way.

Doc Martens

2011-08-15T16:33:00.000-05:00

My teenage years go hand in hand with Doc Marten shoes. I had a red pair of boots, a black pair, and a blue mary jane style. I use to travel into Pittsburgh just to go to Bovers shoe store(which is LONG gone). They carried mainly Docs and I would walk around with my poor and pitiful teenage self and run my hand along all the fun candy colored boots. The shoes were always way out of my price range and two out of 3 pairs that I owned came from the thrift store and from a friend (I had to swap the black for the red). There was always a specific pair that I wanted but never was able to buy until I turned about 23 or so. I bought them off ebay for a pretty hefty price, but I didn't care. It was fulfilling my teenage dream. Here they are!

Last night I decided it was time to part with them. Apparently this specific style has been spotted on celebrities like Sienna Miller making them even more desirable for doc collectors. I saw on ebay that they are going for about $400! Holy crazy! I can't sell them for that even though these are in great shape for being vintage.It just seems wrong.

Teenage dream shoe you will be missed, but you have served my desire for weird shoes well.

Sales in the Shop

2011-08-15T16:14:00.000-05:00

Today I marked almost everything in my shop for sale. Well-it's all technically for "sale", but I am talking money off original price kind of sale. Haha... Many items are MAJORLY discounted! Why? I am going to start working on some new pieces and it's just time to start moving out what is currently in my shop.
Check it out here!

New Clutch

2011-08-10T12:20:00.001-05:00

I started working on this months ago. I did the tooling and then the first layer of dye and I thought it was pretty hideous. So-it sat on my desk for a long time. I considered pitching it. It was THAT bad. The other day I was in my craft room and saw it sitting there. I was frustrated that I had put so much time into the design and the tooling only to not like it. I decided to keep working with it. More dye and an antique finish later- I love it!

Leather is awesome like that. It is so versatile and takes on a whole new life once all your dying and finishes are applied. A coat of glossy sealant and voila- something special. Here are a few pictures I just snapped of the bag.

Mini Paintings

2011-08-09T15:06:00.000-05:00

I bought two very small canvases from Joanne's months ago and they have sat in a drawer since. I pulled them out yesterday and mixed up some random colors that I like and just started painting. I love mini paintings! I think it would be neat to make a bunch and hang them in a big cluster.
Here are a few more picts.

20% OFF!

2011-07-27T13:20:00.001-05:00

Hello friends,
I am doing something I haven't done before and that is giving a 20% off discount code for my Etsy shop fara.daisy.jean!

Type in "summertime" when checking out.

Just to say thank you and also to make room for some newer things.

Thanks,
Lindsey

Tubing the Elk

2011-07-25T21:35:00.001-05:00

Last Friday I went tubing on the Elk river with two friends. I really enjoyed it. It lasted a bit longer than we expected (4.5hrs!) but was a great experience. The water was FREEZING! I am not sure how it was possible with the upper 90 degree weather we have been having but it was. It was like dipping your tush in a glass of ice water.No joke! It was so warm outside though that it wasn't so bad. I really loved being out in the sun. It was great!
PS. sorry the picture is a bit fuzzy.

Arrington

2011-07-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

I had such a great time with friends last night. We all went to Arrington Vineyards and each brought along an appetizer to share. They offer free wine tasting up to 8 wines. I am not much of a drinker and have no clue when it comes to wines. It was sort of a good lesson and experience to get to taste so many types. My favorite were the dessert wines-Blackberry and Raspberry wine. Mmmm..tastes more like juice but that is the way I prefer it I suppose. Haha...

Here are a few pictures from the evening.

Re Do

2011-07-19T15:38:00.000-05:00

A few months back I bought a few canvases and painted them. I liked them ok but didn't love them. Not wanting to buy another canvas I figured I would paint over one of them and start from scratch. This is what I came up with in a rare moment of craftiness.

I don't know much about using acrylic paints. Do you? I don't like the finish they give off when all is done. It always looks really flat and cheap. Maybe it's just my painting skills but is there a way to give it a more polished look? I don't know if this makes sense. Someone help me!

Hiking

2011-06-19T22:39:00.000-05:00

This past Friday I decided to go hiking. I had heard about this trail from a friend and was so excited to see it for myself.

I packed myself a lunch and wore my bathing suit because at the end of this trail is a waterfall. I wasn't sure if it was something I could swim in but just in case I wanted to be prepared.

Here are some picts from my lone adventure.

As I was walking out I even saw 3 armadillos scavenging for food. And then... as I kept walking I came across this guy

He didn't look that nice when I found him. He was COVERED in ticks and was quite dirty. Even though he had a collar he had no id tags and as there wasn't anyone around I knew he was lost. I just couldn't leave him. He was so sweet. I very slowly tricked him back to my car with a ham sandwich and right away stopped at the vet for a good bath and some meds. I have had him for about 3 days now and he is the best dog ever. So laid back and always wants to be petted. We hope to find him a great home although I am tempted to keep him...but I don't think I should...or maybe I could...oh I don't know.

On a side note-I also saw Super 8 this weekend. It was really fun. I recommend it.

The Farm

2011-06-14T15:45:00.001-05:00

Sometimes it's the small things in life that bring you joy. Seeing these guys every so often always lifts my mood no matter what.

I often drive by this farm and usually the animals are off in the distance. There have been several times where they were really close to the road and I always wish I had my camera with me. I drove past them a few days ago and realized I actually had my camera in my purse. I pulled over and shot these from my car window.

See the little black and white one? I tried hard to get a picture of him, but he kept weaving in and out of the other cows legs. I finally got this picture.

This farm also has donkeys.Even though all the animals are in the same field you always find these guys off by themselves.

And then there are these beauties.

Peaches Galore

2011-06-13T17:58:00.000-05:00

I kind of forgot that I have two peach trees in my yard. I pretty much never walk around that side of my house. The other day I just happened to see the splotches of red out of the corner of my eye and turned to see the above tree. Amazing!

Brass and Pizza

2011-06-12T16:08:00.000-05:00

My silversmithing classes have come to an end. This morning I stopped by my teachers place to finish up a piece and say my good byes. I REALLY enjoyed working with Nancie who does classes through Bedazzled and also Vanderbilt. I wanted to show you all this awesome lady, but she asked that I not put our picture up that I took and I am fine with that because we both were sweaty faced from working in her garage studio (which miraculously stays fairly cool considering it's been in the upper 90's lately).

Here is a look at one of my projects. She had a few wide cuff bracelets scattered about and I really wanted to try my hand at one. She allowed me to take home a massive heavy piece of brass to come up with my own design to cut out. This is what I came up with-

Here is the final project after it was hammered, edges filed smooth, polished and shaped.

It's amazing how it goes from dirty smudgy sharp metal to something you can wear! I love it and it was so fun to make.

On another note- Tonight we are getting together with a group of great friends for games and homemade pizza. My contribution was to supply the dessert. I made an Ooey Gooey Carmel Cake and a Key lime pie. I can't wait to eat them!!!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Plume Cuffs

2011-06-09T12:20:00.000-05:00

I just added these to my Etsy store today! Check them out here.

Two New Cuffs

2011-06-02T21:06:00.001-05:00

I just finished these two bracelets and thought I would give you a glimpse

My mom offered to pick me up and take me back to her place in Knoxville. We will be leaving tomorrow morning. I am excited to get to spend time with her. It's been a while.

Happy Thursday!

A New Skill

2011-06-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

I have wanted to learn how to make silver jewelry for years, but when it came down to it the classes were too expensive and that is when I got into leather work. I taught myself from online videos and books and the tools were affordable for me at the time. You can do a lot with very little investment from the start. However silversmithing is a whole other ball game. You really need a lot of tools to even get yourself started at home. Many of the tools are inexpensive but there are so many necessary ones that it all adds up fast. Not to mention you need a torch and a decent one isn't cheap. ohh and a rock tumbler and a crock pot for your pickle and so on and so on...

After doing the leather work for a little over a year the excitement to make my own jewelry never went away and so I started looking into classes again. There is only one woman who teaches around here which I was totally surprised considering I live near Nashville which is full of creative people. I signed up for the class and at this point have only one more class to complete.

My teacher's name is Nancie and she is amazing. She is so sweet and so knowledgeable. My first project was to make a simple link bracelet. I had to form, cut, and solder this piece. It's not necessarily what I would call my style but I think it turned out nice. My filing skills need some work, but I am sure that all comes with practice. It was a great first project to get me comfortable using the torch and soldering. Here are a few picts I just snapped.

The next thing I started making is a large brass cuff. Nancie allowed me to take home a huge sheet of the brass metal and let me come up with my own design. I can't wait for you to see it! I love how it is turning out. It's mostly done, but still needs to be polished up. I am grateful that she is having me play around with different types of metals. Brass and copper are a whole lot more inexpensive than silver and are considered not as nice by some, but I love the warmth of these metals. After the cuff is finished I start a ring.

It's been a blast and I will slowly collect the tools so I can work on stuff from home. Can't wait for that day!

On another note-
I have been dealing with insurance junk from my accident yesterday (see previous post). I can't wait for this all to be over with. My neck is super duper sore today, but I am thankful I am ok. I find it so interesting that the seat belt gave me this welt. It's weird, but I will share it with you.

Alright-Have an awesome day!

Today

2011-05-31T22:11:00.000-05:00

I started out having a real nice day....
I went through my closet and pulled out all the clothes I no longer wanted and then my friend Sarah did the same. I stopped over her place and we looked through each others piles and swapped a few things. I had a nice little Subway sandwich and then headed off to my 3rd silversmithing class. I had a great class and almost finished a really awesome wide brass cuff bracelet. I headed out of there feeling happy and instead of taking my normal route home I chose to use my GPS to get me home. I was about 20 minutes from home and a car quickly pulled out in front of me while I was going about 45. I pretty much smashed right into him or he smashed into me(one of those happened). It all happened so fast but yet the second before we hit it was like watching it happen in slow motion. I knew I was about to get smashed but I didn't have enough time to really avoid it. Anyways- It was a total bummer but I am thankful that no one was hurt too bad. I have a nice red speckled mark where the seat belt was and my arm and back are pretty sore but it could have been a lot worse I am sure of it. The guy who hit me was a real nice guy on his way to pick up his daughter at daycare. I think he was pretty shaken up like me. His car looked about as bad as mine.

Hopefully tomorrow is a bit better and hopefully something good comes out of this. I am believing it will. The last accident I was in God really amazingly turned that bad situation into a really good thing so I am trusting he will work something out this time too.

Vacation to Bay St. Louis

2011-05-30T16:53:00.000-05:00

We had a really amazing vacation in Bay St. Louis, MS. Here are some picts!

We rented out this little house. It doesn't look all that great from the outside, but it was very nice and cozy on the inside.

The location was awesome. We could bike to the water and into town.

We walked around the small downtown area with vintage shops, antique stores, and a fabulous bread bakery where we bought really tasty sunflower bread.

We spent one day in New Orleans. I really enjoyed the French Quarter and eating pecan crusted catfish at Deanies!

Just Finished

2011-05-08T19:55:00.000-05:00

I have been working on this purse for a few days now. I just finished it!

The pictures don't do the color justice at all. The bag is this amazing antique yellow sort of color. I'm not sure how else to explain it. It's much richer in person than in most of these photos.
Here is the front.

Here is the back.

I put a liner in this bag. My grandma gave me a bunch of fun fabrics she had saved up for quilting and clothing. She decided she wasn't going to use them. I love this bright blue floral fabric.

This last photo shows the richness of the colors a little better.

I leave for vacation on Tuesday so my shop will be closed for almost a week. I can't wait to walk on the beach and smell the ocean air!

A Bag for your Belt

2011-05-04T14:32:00.000-05:00

I received a custom order from a gal asking for a belt bag she saw in my sold section. I was happy to make another. Here is how it turned out. I hope she likes it.

I might have to make myself one of these. I can't tell you how many times I have wished I had a little something to keep keys and some cash in when going to festivals or out hiking.

PS. I don't know why but I really love sewing leather by hand. It's kind of hard and messy (I use waxed thread that leaves my fingers a bit waxy) but it's so relaxing and satisfying when you are finished.

How to be Alone

2011-05-03T22:52:00.000-05:00

I absolutely LOVE this video. Sometimes I just get the urge to watch and listen to her poem. Like right now for some reason.

I spend a lot of time alone. Not because I necessarily have to, but because I often enjoy it. I am an only child and I think it's one thing you get to be good at when you are.

Tomorrow I am off to the leather store to stock up on snaps and leather. I won't be going alone though :)

PS. Do you like being alone? Have you ever gone to a movie alone or eaten out by yourself before? How was it?

He Did It!

2011-04-30T16:42:00.000-05:00

My husband has been training for a half marathon that took place really early this morning in Nashville. I am so proud of him! Here are a few pictures of him with his medal.

Awww..look at my dog. She looks so old....and kind of like an alien.

Saturday

2011-04-30T16:37:00.000-05:00

I started working on some new leather items to put in my store the other day. I just finished two of them today.

First is a leather tooled bracelet. It's HUGE and Colorful! I made one very similar a long while ago and I have been wanting to make another ever since. The leather piece I used for this is so smooth. Smoother than usual. It just feels really nice to run your fingers over it.

I have used tooled peacock feathers before on bags and even a cuff. I decided to draw one for a pendant. It's also a larger-ish piece. I am going to put this one in my store but I plan on making one for myself. I picture it with a summer bohemian flowy type dress or even just a plain colored t-shirt or tank top. Necklaces like this really bring some fun style to plain boring clothes. Most of my clothes are plain and boring so I think that is why I am drawn to make this type of jewelry. haha...

I will be placing these in my Etsy store shortly.

Have a great weekend!

Good Day!

2011-04-26T23:30:00.000-05:00

It's strange how one day can be such a downer and the next so satisfying.
Today I woke up to find the sweetest message in my etsy mailbox. A girl named Heather let me know that she loved my work and wanted to purchase several things.She later did and I was just so happy to be sending off items I made with my own hands to someone who appreciated them so much. We ended up chatting through a few more emails and I came away so encouraged. Please take a look at her etsy store. Her and her mom make the items and I just love the fun crocheted items as well as the jewelry and wreaths.

After I dropped Heather's package off at the post office I headed to one of my favorite peoples houses-my friend Sarah.We had a good chat about life and our etsy stores. You can find her store here.(someday I may write more about her cause she is worth writing about)

I finished the evening off with dinner out with the hubby and another etsy sale! Another!!!!! Totally crazy! It's been such a slow time in the shop and today I sold 4 items. thank you God!

I should be heading to bed soon but I just had to let everyone know that I am just so thankful for good friends, encouraging words, meaningful conversations, and etsy sales.

New Necklaces

2011-04-26T14:42:00.000-05:00

The past couple of days I have been working on these two new necklaces. I like how they turned out. Lots and lots of tooling and stamping. My hands were sort of aching after it was all over. It's always fun though striking my mallet and playing around with dyes and paint. I hope you like them!

Spring

2011-04-25T20:42:00.000-05:00

The weather was so glorious today! I grabbed my camera and took my dog on a walk. I snapped some pictures of our walk as well as the pretty flowers and plants around my house.

Did you see the bird nest with the tiny eggs! I love when I find nests. They are little hidden treasures. I check on the nest almost every day to see the progress.

I hope everyone is enjoying Spring where ever you may live.

Rose

2011-04-19T21:13:00.000-05:00

A new necklace.

I have been wanting to tool a rose for a long time now, but it wasn't until about a week ago that I took the time to draw one out. It was fun painting this one and I sealed it with an acrylic spray. I really like how it turned out. Perfect accessory for Spring/Summer.

I will add it to my Etsy shop tomorrow. :)

I also felt like doing something really simple and came up with this wide stamped leather bracelet. Dyed a dark warm brown color. Unfortunately my computer won't allow me to show you a picture. Maybe tomorrow...

Buck

2011-04-17T10:46:00.000-05:00

Last night my husband treated me to a documentary showing at the Nashville Film Festival. We saw Buck. See the trailer here. It's a story about Buck Brannaman. Buck trains horses and even though I know NOTHING about horses it was amazing to watch how gentle he was and how easily he could train a horse. Think the Dog Whisperer but for horses. The film was so well made and even if you aren't into horses it's still something you should see. Learn more about Buck at his website here.
(picture came from Buck's website)

Food

2011-04-15T17:13:00.001-05:00

I have always been interested in nutrition, but never really had the discipline to put a lot of those principles into practice. For years I have known that I could be eating healthier. I have always loved fruits and vegetables and all things "healthy" but I also have a massive sweet tooth. MASSIVE! I have considered going vegetarian, considered trying a raw diet, considered giving up sugar but I just haven't. It was never the right time or I told myself that I would do it after this vacation or that event. Excuses excuses!

I knew it was time and somehow my timing matched up with a friends timing as well. My friend asked if I would consider doing The Daniel Fast. Have you heard of it? It's basically eating only fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds, and whole grains. No sugars other than the fruit. Not even honey or agave! No dairy of any kind either. The "fast" is supposed to last 3 weeks. I agreed and we set a date. The day before I started I bought one last Gigi's cupcake. If you really know me you would know that I LOVE or maybe I should say am obsessed with Gigi's cupcakes. They are completely tasty, but completely one of those treats that could probably give you a heart attack right there on the spot. I ate all the icing (I'm talking like a cup full of icing!) and left most of the cake behind like usual and said goodbye to sugar right there. It was depressing but I knew I needed to allow myself a vacation from it.

I have now eaten this way for a week and 2 days. It's been surprisingly easy in a sense and terribly hard in another. I never ate a lot of meat in the first place and it hasn't been to difficult to give up. I have craved a hamburger since day one though which is really weird since I don't even eat them very often. I also crave something creamy and usually it's ice cream. Overall the cravings are pretty un-intense and in those moments I just eat an apple or have a rice cake with natural peanut butter and it quickly goes away. The terrible part about this for me is that I feel like I am eating the same things over and over. I can't tell you how many times I have had brown rice with beans and cooked vegetables for lunch or dinner. Also, you really have to do a lot of cooking unless you just want to eat raw stuff all the time. This week I am planning out my meals a little better to get some more variety.

Overall it's been a really good experience. I see that I can make it through a day without a sweet treat and I feel more clear on the inside. It's hard to explain really, but it feels good. Below is what I eat pretty much every morning. I love it!

My favorite breakfast recipe:
one sliced banana
raisins
dried coconut ( no sugar added)
pecans
frozen blueberries
cinnamon (a shake or two)
almond milk (enough to get things wet)

It makes me feel like I am eating cereal. It is also really tasty and keeps me full for a long time.

Art

2011-04-06T13:45:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I pulled a plain wooden bangle out and just squirted out all kinds of colors on my pallet and just started to paint. I didn't really know what would come, but with Spring on my mind I started this landscape scene.

I don't consider myself a very good artist anymore, but it's something I want to focus more time on. On a recent trip to Knoxville to visit my mom and step dad my mom took me to this awesome book store where I found 4 books on drawing in the free bin. I use to draw all the time, but somehow getting older and going through the motions of life I have lost the passion I once had. Getting out my paints yesterday with no plan was somewhat freeing. I didn't really care what the end result would be. I wanted to give myself the freedom to just create and if it ends up ugly it was still worth the effort. I have met a lot of artists, many my friends, and I have noticed how hard it is for the artist to see the value in their own work. It's so easy to look at someone elses work you admire and wish you were "as good" as them. I am learning in this season of life to try and appreciate the talents and skills I do have and not try to worry about the what ifs and could haves. Art should be an outlet where you walk away inspired and refreshed. A little bit more connected with yourself. I need to remind myself that.

Give-a-way!

2011-04-05T18:30:00.000-05:00

Brittany over at Love Stitched blog has reviewed my shop and is giving away one of my necklaces. She is super sweet and her blog is really nice with fun reviews on all kinds of accessories and do-dads. For details on how to enter the giveaway head on over to her blog.
:)

Necklace

2011-03-24T17:55:00.000-05:00

I have been holding on to a particular antique spoon for awhile now. It was the only one I found that had this pretty scalloped shape and had a reasonable price (who knew antique spoons could be so expensive?!?). I think they are called jelly spoons, but I could be wrong.

I decided to turn it into a pendant. The funny thing is that I actually really messed up on this, but my mistake made it much cuter in the end. I thought I had a "w" stamp in my hand when in fact I had a "L". I was so devastated because I thought I ruined it for sure. After looking at it closer I decided I could creatively turn my one L into a bunch of L's going in a circle forming a flower or spark type shape. I think it turned out cute and it saved me from pitching it into the garbage.

I stamped the words "it is well with my soul" onto the metal after I flattened it a bit. Have you ever read about the author of this hymn? You can read about him and the inspiration for this song here. It's hard to believe he wrote these words following the tragedy in his life. I am inspired...

Is all well with your soul????

For a Friend

2011-03-22T16:44:00.001-05:00

About a month ago I bought 10 or so antique spoons at a local antique store. I knew I wanted to try and make a bracelet out of one, but I really had no plans for the rest. I made two bracelets and even though they turned out nice, in the end, they were sort of awful to make. Bending those babies into a flowing round shape was almost impossible. I know there are ways to make this easier, but I am not ready to buy the tools involved. I decided to try something a little different and I love the results.

My oldest friend Natalie asked for me to make her a bracelet and instead I used her piece as an experiment for a new necklace. I flattened out the head of the spoon, sawed off the head, filed the edge smooth, stamped phrase, and drilled the hole. Kind of a process but I really like how it turned out. I am going to make one for myself next and since I have a few spoons left I will probably put a few in my store for sale.

Here it is

PS. I am still working on my stamping skills. It's much easier to get it right when using the stamps on leather than metal. I kind of like that it's not straight and perfect though...has more character I like to think.

Pullips

2011-03-19T12:38:00.001-05:00

I haven't really collected anything since I was probably 10. I had a real nice nerdy stamp collection back then. My step mom collected Madame Alexander dolls and when I was younger she would buy me them for my birthday and Christmas. Doll collecting was never my thing (I did love playing with Barbies though but it's not the same) and although I appreciated the gifts I never really loved the dolls like she did. I would bring them home and leave them in their boxes in storage. One time my mom decided to display them, but I never really cared about them much.

Fast forward many many years. I am a grown woman (29!) and all of a sudden have the desire to start collecting DOLLS of all things. A while back I heard about Blythe dolls.

(found this picture here)
I would come across photos in Flickr and even on Etsy. I thought they were so unusual looking. Huge heads and big eyes. They look a little off and also a little sad or mischievous. I sort of wanted one and I am not even sure why. I wasn't going to "play" with it. After doing a bit more research I found that there are other dolls with similar qualities and that is when I found Pullip dolls. I just had to have one! I found a website that sells them and I still was holding onto birthday money that I didn't know what to do with so I bought one. I kind of can't believe I bought a doll and also an expensive one. I pretty much never buy anything this expensive.She arrived in the mail today and she is so fun. SOOOO well made. Here are a few pictures.

Pullips have eyes that open and close and move side to side. There is a mechanism on the back of their head that allows you control them. You can also replace their eyes and hair to give them a different look.

It was hard to choose just one because they are all so cute and unique. This is what makes me think I might start collecting them. The company that makes these also makes a doll called Dal. It is slightly smaller with a different type of face.

(image came from here)
They even make miniature less expensive versions of these dolls called Little Pullip and Little Dal. Here is on of my favorite Little Dals.

(Picture from here)

Starting to collect something has got me wondering what other people collect. Do you collect anything???

Saturday

2011-03-12T16:14:00.000-06:00

This has been a really nice week. I have worked on several custom orders, finished this necklace, and got a new haircut. Today we went hiking at Henry Horton State Park and we are about to go eat at our favorite Chinese restaurant.

The most lovely thing of all is that the sun is out and there are blooms on our trees. The air smells of fresh cut grass and wild onions. Spring is almost officially here!

Wild At Heart

2011-03-10T17:35:00.000-06:00

This is a necklace I am working on. I hate the word "Bib" necklace but I suppose that is what you might call it since it's large. Still needs a sealant applied and some chain added.

Two Lion silhouettes with the words "wild at heart" stamped in between.

Have you seen the preview for the new movie with Reese Witherspoon? Where she works in a circus? That was what I was thinking about when making this. I wish I could have captured the dye colors better but my indoor lighting stinks at the moment. It's a lot more rich in person. More photos to come when it's finished and ready to be put in my store.

This necklace is not for the faint of heart but more for the wild at heart...wink wink..... :)

Bed Time?

2011-03-06T23:46:00.000-06:00

I hate when it's late and you know you should go to bed, but instead you sit with a thousand whirling ideas in your head of things you want to do or make in my case. Ahh....I love creative ideas but I hate when they come when your mind should be winding down.

Doll Necklace

2011-03-05T15:18:00.000-06:00

I made a few of these doll necklaces to give to my nieces as presents for Christmas. A sweet friend also asked for one for her daughter. She sent me a picture of her daughter so that I could make the doll look similar. Here is the doll I made for her.

After my friend received it she posted pictures of it on Facebook and now a few of her friends want dolls for their daughters! I had two orders to work on this morning and I really enjoyed trying to get the dolls clothing to look like the clothing in the pictures. I also love painting the hair. Here is a picture of one of the dolls I painted this morning. I wish I could show you the little girl's photo so you could judge whether or not I did a good job of replicating her. Maybe I can ask if I can use the photo for my blog and show you all another time.

I won't be selling these dolls in my etsy shop but if you are interested in one let me know. They are 20 a piece and if you don't live close by I can mail it for an extra 2 dollars.

Have a happy Saturday!

New Necklaces!

2011-03-04T18:03:00.000-06:00

Here are some new necklaces that I added to my store today. Check them out at www.faradaisyjean.com.

Spoon Bracelet

2011-02-28T15:04:00.001-06:00

I really love spoon jewelry. I love that most of it's made from vintage silverware and you always get a unique one of a kind piece. I have never owned a spoon bracelet and while searching the Internet last night I came across one that I almost bought but at the last minute I didn't. Somewhere in the back of my mind I thought I might be able to make one myself and save me the 40 dollars in buying one. I went to bed planning out how you might go about doing .

This morning I got on the net to see if I could find a tutorial for making one and I surprisingly couldn't find anything very helpful. So, I set out in search of a spoon to begin my experiment.

I knew the silverware had to be actual silver. What I wasn't sure of is if silver plated is ok or not. Do they make silverware out of pure silver??? I don't know. I stopped by my local Goodwill and couldn't find any silverware at all. Next stop was the Antique Mall. It's a super shabby place. Inside of a really old gymnasium with sagging water stained ceilings. However-it's awesome in my opinion and I did find a booth with a box full of antique silverware. Most of it was not silver or silver plated . I did find two silver plated ones that I thought might work and thankfully they were half off.

In case you are like me and love to make things-Here is how I did it:
PS-I started with the cheaper less pretty spoon in case I majorly messed up

*I put the spoon on my husbands small anvil and flattened out the head of the spoon with a rubber mallet. I had to seriously beat it to death to get it flat. It worked though... :)

*I then used my metal stamps to stamp the words. (There are a bunch of tutorials online for stamping metal if you want to see how it's done.)

* The stamping made it wonky so I beat it flat once again.

*This is the step I had to majorly guess on. When making a metal bracelet you are supposed to use a mandrel (it's a steel or wood round cone thing). I don't have one yet (next thing I am going to buy to make this way easier). I searched the garage for something round and hard and the only thing I could come up with was the handle of a hammer. I laid the spoon on the hammer and pounded it with the rubber mallet so it would start to curl. This part was not easy. I probably could have done a better job but it's my first one so who cares!

*I used a wire brush and some soap and cleaned it all up.

*Used my Euro Punch to punch holes into the metal and then used some chain and trinkets for the rest.

Here is the finished product. I like how it turned out but I am definitely spending the money for a mandrel next time.

February 7th

2011-02-14T21:49:00.000-06:00

I turned 29.
I had a great birthday. Spent time with my friend Ali and her new baby Amelia and Valerie and her two kids who I adore. We cut out hearts from construction paper and made a huge mess on Valerie's table.

Valerie gave me my favorite cupcake from my favorite cupcake shop. I said I would take it home and eat it later but I ate it while we sat and talked. It was DELICIOUS.

I headed home on my favorite road. (there are often cows hanging out to the right over those bushes. I look for them every time I drive by)

When I got home I decided to get out my old journal and read it. I last wrote in it in 2005. It made me so thankful for my life today. A lot of things have happened in the past few years and the older I get the more I seem to like myself and my life. I don't mind getting older. I do however mind feeling older. :(

I had a nice evening with Christian, my favorite O'Charley's salad, and an episode of the Bachelor. It was a nice day.

Something a Bit New

2011-02-11T10:50:00.000-06:00

I have been doing leather work for about a year now. I knew right from the get go that I wanted to come up with my own patterns and try and find my own style. At Tandy Leather where I buy my supplies they offer lots of pre drawn patterns. Most of them are more traditional designs that you might see on cowboy saddles or cowgirl purses. I totally admire this kind of traditional work but I haven't attempted any of it yet.

During a recent trip to Knoxville to visit family my mom and I popped into this cute store called The Village Tinker. It was all hand made items from local people in TN. There was work from one gentleman who did leather work. I wish I would have written down his name because it was amazing! I would have loved to be able to buy one of his purses. So intricately carved with flowers and really thick leather. That baby would last someone 5 lifetimes before it started to break down. Unfortunately I don't have 400 sitting around to buy it so I just sat there and held it for a moment. It inspired me to try a more traditional look.

I went home and got to carving and tooling. This is what I came up with.

I am really happy with it. It's different than anything I have done so far. It involved a lot more tooling than I usually do on a cuff. I also like the idea of sticking with two colors. I typically love color so this was a change for me.

Anyways, it was a fun little challenge. I am not sure if i will be selling it or not. I kind of want to keep it all for me. We shall see.

Peacock Bangle

2011-02-11T09:35:00.001-06:00

I painted another wooden bangle! Lots of fun colors on this one. I will be putting it in my shop shortly.

PS-My nails look really gross! I had just dyed some leather items that morning a dark brown and I just noticed the dye had stained under my nails. Gross! Sorry!

Wooden Bangle

2011-02-04T14:30:00.000-06:00

I just finished this wooden bangle and added it in my shop.
I love how it turned out!

Susan for Susan

2011-01-23T15:19:00.000-06:00

My mom(Susan) asked me if I would make her a primitive looking doll to sit in her rustic rocking chair. She showed me a doll that she liked in a consignment shop and so I took the challenge on. There was one thing she asked though-the doll she showed me had a tag with the name Susan written on it . She said she wanted this doll to have that name as well. I created a leather name tag for the doll but it's not in the pictures.

I have never made a doll like this before. I did a little research on the net on how to make the material look aged. I bought some linen and dunked it into hot tea water. I let it soak for a few minutes and rinsed it clean. It did the trick although if I ever had to do it again I will leave it in longer. I rubbed some cinnamon into the fabric to make it look a little dirty and it makes it smell good too. The dress was made out of my husbands flannel bed pants he was getting rid of. I picked some twigs from my tree outside and made "hair".

I think it turned out really cute and my mom liked it too. I presented it to her in a box with a little story I had written for the doll.

Friday!

2011-01-21T16:44:00.000-06:00

Today is Friday and when you don't have what I call a "real" job it's not as exciting as when I had a real job. However, it's still been a really nice day and i am excited for the weekend.

I started the day with a simple smoothie (milk,orange juice, frozen peaches) and attempted some yoga. I have watched my 10 minute yoga video enough times that I finally remember the moves. I knew I wasn't very flexible but doing a downward dog really reminds me of that fact. ugh...

I worked on a new necklace design that I am really excited about. Here are a few pictures of the two I have made so far.

The one with yellow has been on my neck the past two days. Although I do like what I make I usually don't wear a lot of jewelry and hardly wear my stuff (I love wearing other peoples hand made items). I feel like this necklace just really fits me(and hopefully others out there). It's unique and kind of has a vintage feel for some reason. It feels a little shabby but I think it's pretty chic. Anyways, here they are. I hope you like them and the blue/purple one will show up in my shop in the next day or two.

I think the hubby and I are going to eat out tonight. I am hoping for Mexican. Chips and salsa oh how I love thee.

Bangles

2011-01-19T13:32:00.001-06:00

I am in this wood painting phase right now. I showed you some picts of my wooden dolls I painted in my previous post and now I will share with you a set of wooden bangles.

It was fun to paint and afterwards I sprayed them with a glossy sealant to make them somewhat waterproof.

I love crafts like this because they are easy and fun, but most of all can make great personalized gifts for friends and family. I have seen where people use pretty scrapbook paper and decoupage little bits of the paper and printed out words onto these. You could even use wood stain for a more earthy natural look.

I bought these bangles at Hobby Lobby but I have seen them at all the craft stores. They also make plain wooden beads and different size/shape bangles. I think I might try a necklace next with chunky wooden painted beads.

Get your craft on! :)

Wooden Dolls

2011-01-19T13:24:00.000-06:00

I have almost finished a little project that I have been working on. I decided to make each of my nieces (except one who is a baby still) one of these little wooden doll necklaces. I finished painting them, two of them have a sealant applied, and next I will need to drill holes in the tops and screw in a little loop to hold a string. I think they turned out soooo cute and I hope they like them. Here are a few pictures.

New Clutch

2011-01-08T21:46:00.000-06:00

I just finished this little clutch today. I love the clasp!

Sing Out Cuff

2011-01-08T14:10:00.000-06:00

I have been procrastinating lately. Well-I have been making things non stop but procrastinating on the part where I am supposed to take pictures and make a description and add the items into my store.

But-I am working on doing all that today and thought I would share a cuff I finished recently. I heart it....Hope you like it too.

Craft Time turned Silly

2010-12-29T22:29:00.000-06:00

This is a picture I took a few months back. My friend Mandy knowing how obsessed I am with crafts and making stuff asked if she could come over and we do some crafts together. I don't have many friends who enjoy this kind of thing so I was excited. We chose to buy a few t-shirts from the thrift store and rework them to turn them into something a little less frumpy and a little more fun. Mine ended up being a fringy eighties rocker sort of looking shirt (which I only wear to bed) and we also made some fabric dangly earrings(which she told me we should wear them to this social gathering the next day. I wore mine even though I thought they were kind of dumb and she didn't and then laughed at me because she said she was joking. darn her :) . When we were done we were looking at all the scraps laying on the table and somehow decided we needed to wear them as blindfolds. It was a random moment but worthy of a picture I thought.

Getting older stinks sometimes because it seems like it's not proper to be silly and make yourself laugh till your stomach hurts and your eyes water. We have to be serious and responsible all the time or so it seems.

I hope in the new year I can be a little less serious and learn to laugh a little more at myself. Laughter is good for the soul right?

Pants

2010-12-28T20:06:00.000-06:00

Today I sewed my first pair of pants! I haven't used my sewing machine since who knows when and have been wanting a pair of wrap pants for a while now. Most people probably have never seen these pants and apparently they were popular in the 60's or 70's (I can't remember which). They have a bit of a bohemian look to them. wide legged and flowy.

I made them following this tutorial. I am wearing them right now and will eventually get around to posting a pict. They are super comfortable. I think I might make a pair with sweat pants fabric for lounging around the house.

I would consider myself a complete beginner when it comes to using a sewing machine. The fact that I made these and they turned out good means it's very easy. I used a chocolate brown linen material and I think I will make another pair with a lighter(lighter as in weight) fabric.

PS.Just had a caramel brulee latte from Starbucks. tasty!

Good night....

Me

2010-12-23T20:56:00.001-06:00

I made these two new necklaces for my shop and took some photos to put on Etsy. I decided to mess with them a bit. I love how you can change photos with a touch of the keys. Whatever I did made my freckles way more visible, but the effect is neat. Except for the freckle mustache. ;)

The Weekend

2010-12-19T17:04:00.000-06:00

It's Sunday and I'm about to go out to eat. I thought I would post a few picts of the necklace I just made.

I am really getting into sewing again. I go through phases and I guess it's making it's return. Sewing by hand is so relaxing and fun. I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and didn't intend on buying fabric, but when I saw these two in the pictures below I knew I had to buy a little of each. I had no plans for what I would make with them, but today I got out my Yo Yo maker and made a few yo yo's. I LOVE making Yo Yo's! That progressed into making a necklace. I think it turned out really cute.I will probably make a few more and put them in my Etsy store.

My husband was out of town for most of the weekend and so I treated myself to a movie yesterday. I saw The Fighter. It was really good and Christian Bale was really great in it. I love that it was based off a true story too.

Mexican food awaits!

Vacation

2010-12-15T12:44:00.000-06:00

We went to Gatlinburg TN several weeks ago just for the fun of it. We rented a really cute cabin and had fun walking around shopping and driving through the mountains. Here are a few photos of our trip.

Finished Bag

2010-12-15T12:21:00.000-06:00

I Love how it turned out and I am sooooo thankful that Tandy leather brought back the cool vintage looking buckles.

For Moi.....

2010-12-15T01:06:00.000-06:00

In the year that I have been doing leather work I have only made myself a belt, two necklaces, and one cuff. I always think of things I would like to make myself but I get caught up in making things for others or for my etsy store. even if I really like it I feel guilty keeping it for myself with the chance I might be able to sell it. I decided to make myself a purse and I totally love how it turned out. Here are pictures I took before I dyed and painted it. I will show you the finished product soon.

I chose a Lotus flower because A)they are beautiful flowers but B) they have a lot of symbolism and meaning behind them. They represent change and growth among other things and I feel like those are two things I am definitely walking in at the moment.

There is really nothing like making a functional item by hand. This purse took me many hours to complete. All the tooling, mixing paint colors and dyes, lacing the thing (was sort of a nightmare-I had what looked like leather dandruff all over my clothes.the fibers were flaking off as i was pulling the lace through each hole). There are just so many steps involved but I got such great satisfaction when i went out today to run errands and brought along my new bag to carry my things.

I am working on a small clutch purse for my shop with a similar feel to it. you will see that in a few days.

Christmas Tree

2010-12-15T00:50:00.000-06:00

It seems like people put their trees up earlier and earlier every year. Most people I know had theirs up the day after Thanksgiving. We almost didn't put up a tree this year. I considered it and then gave in because it just sounded too depressing to think of Christmas rolling on by without any special attention. We have a fake one (i have never had a real one!) and it's quite cute-Thanks Big Lots. We are the only adults that i know who decorate our tree with our old childhood ornaments. Babies first Christmas, numerous ornaments that say "Chris" and a few strange slightly crusty looking random ones. It's not the most attractive looking Christmas tree but it certainly brings a lot of fun memories back. Right now there are only 3 presents under our tree. Hopefully it will fill up a bit more in the next week.

The more I live life the more the real Christmas story (not the one about Santa) touches my heart.I sat down the other day before I put our tree up and started reading in Luke chapter 21 and on. I have read and have heard others read that story so many times but this year it touched me in a way it hasn't in the past. This past year has been amazing and also probably one of the hardest for me. I have experienced great joy but also incredible sorrow. I am so thankful that God loves us the way He does. I could go on about how I feel about God but I won't. It's late and pondering on his love for us should keep your mind busy for awhile anyways.

Good night.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Tweet Tweet

2010-12-06T12:34:00.000-06:00

Cherries

2010-12-04T12:02:00.000-06:00

Last night somewhat late I started on this cuff. It reminds me of a small town fair and a bake off competition. Maybe a cherry pie competition. The cherries kind of look like they are sitting on an old fashioned paper doily. hmm...just thinking.

I also made a really cute little birdie that I will turn into a pendant. Look for him to show up in my store very soon.

This has been a really nice week. My sales have really picked up with Christmas around the corner and that is a HUGE blessing. I repriced a lot of items in my store making them a wee more affordable. I kind of want to sell most of it so I can start fresh in the new year. I have lots of ideas and am excited to get started on them.

I hope you all are having a great weekend!

Swans and Cuffs

2010-11-29T17:58:00.000-06:00

Today has been a really nice day despite the dreary weather. I worked on a custom request through Etsy. I love how people come up with ideas for new designs for my work. This kind lady asked for me to take elements from one cuff I had already made and sold and change out a part for a new idea.

I love how it turned out. See the picts below.The first one I took before I finished all the tooling to show what the leather looks like before I dye it. I think I like it better than my original design. :)

I also watched several youtube videos on different elements of leather work. I watched this one video from a guy who makes saddles and even though I will probably never go there with my work I was so amazed at how beautiful his work was. I wish I could remember the video that showed him because it was just really great. I will never "go there" because they require a crazy amount of time and techniques. I like projects that I can finish in at least a few sittings. Even a "sitting" with say-the cuff above- took me all morning. More like all morning and early afternoon.

I really love working with leather.......

Work in Progress

2010-11-16T13:32:00.000-06:00

Here is a crocheted pouch I am working on. It still needs snaps or buttons or something to keep it closed but I thought it would be fun to share it anyways. I made it because I realized that I didn't have anything nice to put my crochet hooks in while traveling. It doesn't have to be for hooks though. It would make a nice little makeup pouch or jewelry holder when you travel. You could probably use it as a wallet too.Although I will probably sell this one when it's finished (or should I say attempt to sell) I will probably make one for me too. I think it turned out cute. What do you think?

Taco Salad You Stink

2010-11-16T13:25:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I was supposed to be selling my items in a craft show. I drove 3 hours for the show but also to see my mom who was sharing a table with me. We set up our tables and table cloths friday afternoon(the rest would be set up in the morning). After that I just HAD to have a taco salad from this specific place because it was SOOOO good the last time I had it.

As I munched on my salad I noticed that something tasted kind of off in there but I ignored it and finished it anyways. The next morning really early I started getting really sick to my stomach. I will spare you the details but it was awful! I was hoping I would feel better for the craft show but it just didn't happen. We both stayed home. Me on my moms couch most of the day watching a million episodes of some hgtv show.

I was totally bummed. I had spent lots of time crocheting tiny hair clips and getting ready for the show the few days before. When we set up our tables we joked how we hoped the car would be as empty as it was after we unloaded the van as it would be when we finished the show. Meaning we hoped we would sell EVERYTHING and wouldn't have to bring anything back. We had to go back later on that day to retrieve our tables and I realized that God must have a sense of humor because we did leave that day with a pretty empty van but not because we sold everything. So I guess I should be careful what I wish for.

Taco Salad you ruined everything! But on the bright side I got to hang with family and it was a nice change of scenery.