Snow Day

Large fluffy white snowflakes are drifting steadily down outside my art room window today. I don't know why, but it gives me a sense of comfort while I am tucked warm and cozy inside. It is a lovely day to create.
Here are two necklaces that I have been working on. The heart necklace is for a charms swap at Marie Antoinette Mail Art Ning Group. We traded hearts and now we are to make a valentine necklace. I received some beautiful hearts from everyone in the group. I will wear this out for dinner on the 14th.
The turquoise one I have created with vintage beads and a vintage rhinestone pin. I strung the dangles from the pin arm on the back. I just love this sea glass color beads, they came from French General in Los Angeles.
Now I am going to work on my curtains and an ATC for Paperwhimsy.

I am considering making my next video tutorial, I think I will do one for a necklace like the sea glass one. What do you all think of that?
I hope where ever you are, that you are having a great day.

Wishes Granted

Wouldn't it be wonderful if wishes were granted for only 5 cents!
This is an entry I created for "Gotta Have Heart" theme at PaperWhimsy and their monthly ATC lottery. I love playing each month. The images available in their store are very high quality and inspirational. I enjoyed sanding down the background paper and image, and I used a little gesso as well as a touch of German Glass glitter here and there. ATCs are so much fun to make!

In case you have been wondering...

I have been away. A dear family member has passed away and I went to honor his memory. I was blessed to know this wonderful man. I will miss him.

First Pic of my new Art Room!

Happy Saturday Everyone! It is an absolutely stunning day here in N.C.
Here is a picture of how my art room is coming along. I am hoping to get curtains made today for the window. The chair at the side of the room will be covered as well. You can see one of my new studio lamps (well, the white umbrella part) on the left as well.
I am ordering a few more containers. Oh, and can you see how my table is messy already!!!

Oprah is always saying that your home should rise up to meet you when you walk in. I have kept that in mind with my home. And I must say that when I walk into this room I feel such a sense of wellbeing and excitement that it is astonishing! It is hard to sleep at night (o.k...hot flashes aside!) when my head is brimming with creative ideas I would like to do in this room!

So I am truly grateful, for my generous husband who knows my passion for crafting.
Thank you dear Karl!

Hugs to you all!

The Elegant Shoe Tutorial

Well, it's finally done. In this tutorial I explain how to use the my template to create a Marie Antoinette style shoe from paper. This was originally created for a swap I am hosting at Marie Antoinette Mail Art Ning group. These shoes are really fun to make. The possibilities are endless!

Click on the template and do a "Save As" and then enlarge if needed so that the sole of the shoe is 8'' from tip to heel (it may print out the correct size as it is). When cutting out the shoe front trace an extra 1/4-1/2 inch for tabs. The tutorial gives options for different ways to expand the toe area so that there is more room to tuck in a little gift.

I hope you find it useful.

Hearts for Theme Thursday

I made this necklace with some of my vintage button collection. If you click on the image you will be able to see better the little round buttons, the rhinestone buttons, and at the bottom, I put a black glass button in a cabochon to make the charm. I stamped the word LOVE on paper and put it under glass in another cabochon. It fits this weeks Theme Thursday of "Hearts". I love making jewelry and as soon as my art room is all set up I will be making more.

Today I am putting the last bits of supplies away in my room. My linen bins arrived and it was amazing how fast they filled up! Didn't I throw enough away??? I have a few more bins coming in the medium size and that will help with finishing up the job of organizing.

I am planning to make some curtains and a chair cover, and I am scouting out a chandelier to shabby up for the room. It has been a lot of work, but I feel so renewed by doing it.

This morning as I was filling up little vintage glass dessert cups with colorful beads I was feeling very grateful for my life, for my room and for all the creative ideas that rush into my mind. The sun was streaming through the window, and I felt such a sense of wellbeing! I know I am in my right place.

Thanks you for coming by!

First Try at Gothic Arches

I have wanted to try the Gothic Arches challenge for a while now. I have seen so many beautifully created ones by fellow bloggers. I felt inspired to try. This weeks theme is "Gemstones". My birthday gemstone is Aquamarine, so I made this piece with those kinds of blues.

My art room is coming along. Yesterday I sat on the floor sorting through a huge mess of ribbons and fibers. I am thinking of a way to store them so that they will be more accessible. Do you have any ideas?