C'est la vie

Journaling by the sea

2011-08-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend! Pam Garrison shared her talents, journals, tips, tricks and sunny smile with us at Artinfusio Weekend Workshop by the Sea, Malibu, CA. I just happen to stumble upon the workshop while surfing through my blogs last weekend and Pam posted this. I was so happy to get in! I just got into the 1st of the 2-day class, but it was worth its weight in gold!

Above: *Pam's starting the class. It was a little cool and gloomy that a.m., but that's typical Summer at the beach in California! Later it burned off and we had a spectacular view of the Pac ocean.
Most of the ladies attended the whole weekend. Visitors came from Canada, Utah, East Coast, Ventura, Riverside and Orange Counties to just name a few! I'm sorry if I didn't get everyone's names, but it was a pleasure creating and sharing the day with you!
Goodies for sale from Pam G. and Gina, our hostess. Thanks Gina for coordinating the event! Check out her blog, she's a very talented artist as well. I'm looking forward to taking more workshops here.

Pam works her magic with Golden acrylics, water colors, inks, and Copic markers. This girl is just beaming with creativity!

Paints and art supplies all over~LoVe this! It's a good sign that some serious creativity is going on.
The art journals we made were completely made from scratch. Other than painting & planning techniques, Pam showed us how to collage, bound, and sew the journal together. We used 140 lb. cold pressed water color paper to fill as pages. This will be heaven to draw, glue, and paint on!
Above: *My finished art journal (and a Smash book peeking below it, but I'll post this one separately). Check out the cute wrapping paper under the journals- designed by Pam G., made by Papaya Art!
The inside cover and 1st page. I've got a lot to do!
Me and Pam. What a great day! Thanks again Pam, for sharing your talents and for being so sweet!

Vintage & Handmade Market in Huntington Beach

2011-05-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day to be vending at Behind the Picket Fence's Vintage & Handmade Market! This event is held twice a year (next one in November) and this was the first time it was held at the Old World Village, off Beach Blvd. There were many vendors lined on the cobble stoned sidewalks of this quaint shopping center. Plenty to entertain with food, drinks, music and shopping, too. Check out the day we had! Many thanks to those of you who visited and to my artsy friends who stopped by!

above: my table!

photos above and below are from the Huntington Beach News

Happy Easter to You

2011-04-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone! It's been a quiet, relaxing, but productive day for me and the family. I'm pleased to announce that I'll be at the next Behind the Picket Fence Vintage & Handmade Marketplace next Saturday! Last night I had fun dyeing feathers and today is the result of these happy plumes! I promised the hubby and little furry kids not to spend too much time on the computer, so I leave you with warm wishes for you and your family.

Feather hair clips, fascinator, or wear as a brooch

An array of feather hair extension clips, the colors make a cloudy day (like today) a bit more brighter!

I hope to see you at the Marketplace in Huntington Beach next Saturday, the 30th!

Finding my creative force

2011-03-06T15:55:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how much time has passed! I haven't posted since November and I apologize. A lot of personal things have come up and thankfully it's slowing down. Like most everyone else, we are hit with the depressed economy and have had to move recently. Between work, home, and family it's been difficult to find time to create. But at last, as an event sponsor for Artistic Bliss and as an upcoming vendor at Glitterfest, I've finally found the creative forces out there to make the fresh and bright necklaces that are posted here. I hope it brings you a little sparkle for your day!

Find the above necklaces when you come to Glitterfest Spring, Saturday March 19th, in Santa Ana, CA.
I won't be able to attend Moulin Rouge, but there are a lot of lucky gals out there who will! I'll miss all of my creative and beautiful friends who will be there. Have fun!
This necklace will be raffled off at Moulin Rouge. Good luck!

Rug Hooked Pillow

2010-11-14T15:17:00.000-08:00

Here it is, finally done! For those of you who haven't seen my rug hooking project, it's been in the making for the past couple of months- a little work here and there, whenever I get a chance to pick it up, I'd add a few stitches (or hooks?). It has evolved into this sweet little pillow.
I added a stitched felt heart in an area that had a hole, but hopefully this looks like it belongs.
The edges were done with a pink fringe and the back is a wool felt.

Thanks for waiting around for my finished piece! Enjoy your weekend friends!

A little peek

2010-10-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a little peek into the process of my Charlotte necklaces. I spent most of the morning tearing up vintage ledger and stamping & distressing them, then I filled their little glass bodies up with glass glitter, freshwater pearls, vintage lace and the stamped ledger. I carefully shaped silver filigree bead caps for the base and stuck an eye pin it so that I can dangle some pretties later.
Each head is a little different than the next and that's what's so fun about making these guys. I imagine the German lady painting on the sweet face with her own creative hand (100 years ago!). It's so rare to find items as unique as the Charlotte doll now a days since mostly everything today is manufactured to machine perfection.
The next step will be to wait for the glue to dry completely, foil the neck and then solder.

Oh, and an update on my rug hooking! Since this is my first try at this, I've already pulled out wool that I didn't think worked right and re-did some areas. There's also a small bald spot at the upper left corner from something that was glued onto the burlap. Oop-sie! I'm going to stitch on a felt heart there. No worries, right?

More progress

2010-09-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

It's coming along!

Americana Art Part 2

2010-09-18T17:44:00.001-07:00

Happy weekend everyone! I've put aside some jewelry projects to indulge in a little rug hooking. This is my work in progress and it's my first hooking project, too! So to all seasoned rug hookers out there, please feel free to give any advice! The lamb was part of an original kit and then I decided to totally change it's folk-art-vibe.
A couple of days ago I thought that I should give myself some boundaries, so I traced a dinner plate to designate my finished edge. Otherwise, I'd never get this finished! Now I can see where I need to "fill" in.
"Peek-a-boo, I see you !" Here's my little cutie, Mona. She was very curious about my photography shoot in our backyard. I call Mona my project leader since she's always peeking in on my latest piece! Usually she's doing her "peeking" while sitting on my lap. Anyway, thanks for checking in on my hooking! I feel like I'm starting to make some progress!

Ol' Americana art form

2010-09-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

Trying my hand at a true American art form: rug hooking. I bought a little kit from Ebay, which conveniently had all the wool, the hook, and a burlap printed with 3 lambs. Watched a short You Tube "how to" video and here we are! Cute little lambs, but I want to change the "primitive" or "folk artsy" look to something of my own (yes, I actually put a party hat on him). We'll see, this is a fun and different challenge for me. I'm intrigued by the wide variety of wool strip colors that you can get from here and other Ebay sellers. A lot of artists, such as Mary Stanley, cut their own wool from recycled sweaters and stuff, but I just don't have the time! I'll keep you posted on this cool and ancient American art form...

New boho necklaces & crystal bracelets

2010-09-05T12:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, summer just flew by! Although Fall is around the corner, we here in So Cal are enjoying the brimming heat. Even with the heat I'm loving the latest Fall fashions and already eyeing which pair of boots to get! So many cute lace up and over-the-knee boots to pick from. I have to admit that I'm addicted to Free People. Do you love that glam meets Boho look? If you are, I created this line of necklaces that parallels their look. I haven't posted the necklaces to the site yet, but you can find the Winding Ways Bracelets (below) and a couple vintage inspired necklaces in my Etsy boutique.

Have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!

A few bits

2010-08-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

A few bits of jewelry recently added to my website. Please visit my Alchemy Shoppe!

A new departure

2010-07-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry, it has been forever since my last post! I've been a busy gal, attending a couple of vending shows (including Kim Caldwell's Les Sirenes-yeah!) and filling a few orders. I decided it's time to try something new and fresh and here it is! I immersed myself in a couple of new techniques (new to me at least): wire crocheting & knitting and micro-macrame. I got my influence from artists, Sherri Haab, Chrissie Day, and Annie Modesitt.
I was amazed at how many different and beautiful beads that you can incorporate into macrame! Above: I used Grace Lampwork beads and a myriad of Czech glass, and on the far right bracelet I used Peruvian Opal, lemon jade, and Czech crystals.
Of course, they had to be finished off with vintage German buttons as toggle closures!
Above is my attempt at wire crochet. I admit, I'm not as experienced at crocheting as I am at knitting, so this little baby took me a whole afternoon to make! I think it may have been worth it, it really makes the pink cane glass beads stand out.
Sparkly wire crochet necklaces.
The two crystal bracelets below the pink crochet bracelet are macrame. I love the "sparkliness" of the gray and black AB beads.
Above is a knitted cuff: Gunmetal, black, gold wires, and coordinating Toho seed beads.
And another Charlotte doll necklace! I need to get into gear and whip up (yeah, I wish it were that easy) a batch of these gals. I plan on listing some of the jewelry later this week on my website. Thanks for visiting!

Grand Opening, The Alchemy Shoppe

2010-07-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the long awaited opening of the Alchemy Shoppe site!

For those of you who have been following my blog, I extend a 10% discount for the month of July. Just enter Grand10 at check out. A big THANK YOU for my friends and family who have supported and encouraged me to follow my dreams!

Paris Blush (above)

St. Theresa necklace w/olive jade, vintage carved roses, Swarovski cream pearls, faceted Czech beads, oxidized rhinestone balls, brass chain, & religious medals.

Madame Elizabeth-Faceted pyrite rondelles, chocolate Swarovski glass pearls, rhinestone spaces, honey filigree, peachy Swarovski faceted beads, Czech crystals.

Here's one of the necklaces created for the upcoming Les Sirenes Market Faire & Soiree. Sea shells, sea shells by the sea shore...

Thanks again for visiting!

My website is coming soon

2010-06-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's finally happening and I am getting excited! My website will be open for business soon! I'm preparing for a July 4th grand opening and I hope that you will visit. Catherine from Avalon Rose Designs did a wonderful job designing the site and she is awfully sweet and talented. She's definitely got an eye for mixing vintage & modern. Here's what The Alchemy Shoppe is looking like:

Here are a few previews of my latest pieces. I'm also busy preparing jewelry for a new boutique in Camarillo, called Posh and for next month's Artistic Affaire "Les Sirenes" Workshop. I'll be at the workshop's market faire, July 15th, in uber cool Manhattan Beach, CA. If you're in Kim's workshop, then I can't wait to meet you!

Thanks again for your visit!

Come to Glitterfest!

2010-05-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

Come spend the day with 40+ artists at Glitterfest! This show happens twice a year (Spring & Fall) and there is so much talent to be seen! Every year this show gets bigger and better. Past Editor-in-Chief of Somerset Publications and her staff have been seen shopping at Glitterfest (woo-hoo!). Come by my "Alchemy" booth and mention my blog for a 15% discount! I'll have specially priced jewelry and a few other items that are especially made for this show. Hopefully I'll have time to give you a little sneek peek later today...

Would love to meet you and hope to see you there!!!

A Little Stitch in Time

2010-05-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite treats is to order a new book from good ol' Amazon. I usually order a book based on the reviews and most of the time it's accurate. I think this book only got 3 1/2 stars out of 5, but I took a chance based on the "good" reviews and the adorable project on the cover (of course!) and was pleasantly surprised. Kata Golda's simple, yet charming felt projects are heart warming to make and give. I made the puppy pouch after I was inspired by a combination of her Little Girl's Puppy Purse and Glasses Case. My puppy was fashioned after my Brussels Griffon, Fozzie (a.k.a. "Fozzie Bear").
Above: My felt puppy stitching (before I knew it was going to be a pouch), strawberry pin cushion, and "Very easy tomato pin cushion". Sewing was in the air (beach air that is) over my little vacation and I was again inspired by Heather Bailey and Purl Soho. The tomato was a free tutorial on this blog. Wow, there are a lot of cool free projects there! They are definitely on my fave list. I'm always inspired by Heather's fresh and bright fabrics and her cute sewing projects. I'm not the best seamstress, but it sure is fun using my sewing machine!
Wanted: Good home for 3 mice. Here's a group of hand-stitched mice that I made following Kata's book. These guys are soooo easy to make and I bet my girlfriend's kids would love to play with them...
Fozzie was captivated by high tide.
Fozzie and Mona take an early a.m. stroll near the tide pool.
Thanks for visiting! Wish I was still at the beach, but I was itching to get back to my studio, too!

April Sparkles

2010-04-18T17:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, sparkling with a new collection of jewels! I've been inspired (and teased) by the latest catalogs that have been pouring in my mailbox recently- Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs, etc... That I've been drawn to creating a mix of cheery candy gems, nostalgic buttons and the translucence of crystals.
I've also played with my stash of felt, burlap, and calico fabrics to make these sweet and vivid flower brooches. You'll find all of this at Glitterfest- coming up May 22nd. As for the Carlsbad Street Faire, I'm unfortunately pulling out of that venue (but for a good reason... beach + vacation). But, I plan on attending the fall Street Faire, so I'll keep everyone posted.
In the meantime, I hope that you'll enjoy this latest collection. The website is still in the works! So many ideas and yet, so little time. *Above is a vintage Stanhope cross, carved bone bead, rose quartz, Czech glass, glass pearls, and porcelain beads.

Also, thanks to all who left their sweet comments on my last post. Your salutations keep me motivated and happy!!!

Joy & Smiles,

Christine

Charlotte Army

2010-04-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

I finally finished up a large order for a local boutique and for my upcoming shows. These soldered Charlotte charms are very much a labor of love! They are filled with tiny freshwater and glass pearls, Swarovski bicones, tiny Czech beads, and vintage text. I'm working on a few finished necklaces this weekend and will try to post those when I'm done!

Enjoy your weekend!

Thank You Leonesse Cellars

2010-03-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

I'd like to thank the folks at Leonesse Cellars for the opportunity to vend at their recent Zin Festival this past weekend. I met a lot of kind and fun people at the winery (and I'm not just talking about the wine tasting crowd!). Special thanks to Becky and Britta for their invitation and support. Your winery is beautiful!

Leonesse Cellars & WOW

2010-02-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

I am very pleased to announce that I'll be vending at Leonesse Cellars during the World of Wine Barrel Tasting Event (WOW)! This is a two day tasting event, March 6th & 7th, featuring favorite varietals from the Temecula Valley. This is a self-guided tour through 25 wineries, each offering old world varietal wines from barrel, tank, or bottle. Ticket holders receive a map of the Temecula Valley, a passport which allows a visit to each participating winery and a souvenir glass. Get more info.

Leonesse Cellars will be having a Wine & Art Walk during that weekend and my good friend, Tina, has invited me to vend and attend with her! This should be an exciting engagement as I was told that approximately 1,300 tickets are sold during the event! Oh, and did I mention that I get to taste wine? Thanks Tina! See more of Tina's luscious one-of-a-kind crochet bags and stylish bib necklaces here.
The two day event is held from 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., March 6th & 7th. Tickets are $89/person. Sunday, Local, and Designated Driver tickets are also available at a discounted price. Get your tickets here! By the way, the manager at Leonesse told me that you don't have to buy the passport ticket to get into their winery that weekend. You can visit Leonesse just to taste and shop if you'd like!! Woo-hoo!
Please visit Leonesse Cellars site and oogle over their virtual tour. This will be my first visit to Temecula and I'm really excited to go!
I've been busy creating jewels for this, Glitterfest Spring, and the Carlsbad Street Fair. So, I'll post more soon!

Soldered Vial

2010-01-30T14:04:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to post as often as I've been listing (my New Year's resolution, I guess!). Here's my latest little Charlotte girl, "Blessed Girl." I hope you like her! The last one sold within a couple of days- goodness! Thank you to all who have taken an interest in my art. I love making these little gals and I hope it shows.
Contained in the glass vial are vintage lace, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, and seed beads and she wears a vintage rhinestone necklace.

A few more to add

2010-01-24T15:57:00.000-08:00

I added a few more items to my Etsy Store, Alchemy Boutique.
Thanks for visiting!

This little Charlotte

2010-01-23T17:48:00.000-08:00

This little Charlotte was something that I've been playing around with in my head for the past month. She's come to life and I hope you like her!

A small sampling of soldered charms that I'll be selling at Glitterfest Spring and the Carlsbad Street Fair.
Remember my bottle Charlotte a couple of postings ago? I finally finished her, too! Wishing you a delightful weekend...

Listed

2010-01-16T17:49:00.000-08:00

Finally! I just got done listing a few things to my Etsy shop. It's so much fun creating these jewels, but unfortunately not as fun to list! Sorry about that! If you ever see anything on my blog that looks interesting to you, please e-mail me at xtine.saqui@gmail.com and I'll be happy to work something out. But other than that, I just really appreciate you visiting and leaving your sweet comments!

The lampwork beads in the above necklace are from Grace Lampwork Beads. I met Grace at the Pasadena Bead & Design show this past week- wow, she's got great stuff! She's a super friendly gal with some serious talent. These high quality lampwork beads are made of Italian and German glass. I can't wait to make more with these!
Pink and aqua... Marie's colors indeed!
The pewter owl and cute jumping bunny (below) are from Green Girl Studios.

And more Marie Antoinette for her fans! Have a wonderful weekend~

Welcome to the New Year

2010-01-07T06:51:00.000-08:00

No I haven't forgot you or my blog, just busy during the Holidays, work, work, work, and then problems with my computer! I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday and New Year. How are those resolutions coming? I usually don't make resolutions, but I would like to expand my little creative world and learn new techniques this year.

I'm planning on taking Diana Frey's Charming Romance workshop in February (Pismo Beach, CA). If anyone is interested, please visit Diana's blog. She's such a talented mixed-media jewelry artist and soooo sweet in person! Diana's been published in many Belle Amoire Jewelry mags. So if you think you'll join this incredible workshop, let me know and we can create together!

Pictured are a few new goodies that I've been working on since last month. Yes, still obsessed with those vintage Charlotte heads. They are so darn cute and I am amazed that they are 100 years old or more! This one is a really tiny one- the whole charm is about 2 1/4" tall. I plan on making more of these gals (as a necklace), then I'll list to my Etsy.

Just above is my Marie Filigree bracelet. I found some fabulous faceted rondelles that are "Red Star Quartz" when I visited the last Gem Show in Santa Monica. There's also bronzite, Czech glass, Swarovski crystals, and Vintaj brass filigrees.

The two above are necklaces, using the same resin technique that I did for the bracelet. Again, I found the best freshwater pearls from the Gem Show! They've got a really nice luster to them.

Thank you again for visiting and looking around! I will let you know when I plan on listing the Charlotte doll necklaces, too.

Take Care...

Ave Maria

2009-11-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

Having been brought up Catholic I've always had an affinity for images of saints, angels, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. This bracelet was commissioned by a friend of mine- he requested all images of the Virgin Mary. I think he's going to give it as a surprise gift to his wife! So I dug up the precious gem box for this one!
There are images on both sides of the soldered bezels, including the Annunciation (above). The glass is beveled, so there's a little glare in my photos. I added faceted labradorite, silvery-green freshwater pearls, and beautifully faceted iolite.
I just love how the light brings out the different colors in labradorite and the sparkle of the iolite! I think I'll have to dig into the precious gem box more often!

Still going

2009-11-03T15:18:00.000-08:00

Even with my hectic work life, I've been slowly churning out the creative side as well. It's such a satisfying feeling to actually finish a project! Here are just a couple of the latest...
This Paris felt cottage is the sister house to my trio of Marie Antoinette inspired cottages (still working on the third!). It stands about 4" tall.

Over the top award!

2009-10-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you Dollybelle for presenting this prestigious award upon me! I am very flattered! From reading your post, Miss Dollybelle, I believe that you got your award from Scrappy Jessi? Thanks Jessi, for getting the ball rolling!

One of the requirements of winning is that I have to take the quiz below...

And here are the rules for this award:

1.) Thank and post URL to the blog that gave the award.

2.) Pass the award along to 6 brilliantly over the top blogs (blogs you love!) Alert them so they know to receive the award.

3.) Copy and paste this quiz... Change the answers, ONE word only...feel free to fudge here!

4.) Have Fun

So, here it goes!

Where is your cell phone?

Purse

Your hair?

black w/brown highlights

Your mother?

decisive

Your father?

happy-go-lucky

Your favorite food?

sushi

Your favorite drink?

pomegranate martini

Your dream last night?

about work

Your dream/goal?

being happy

What room are you in?

dining room

Your hobby?

jewelry, sewing, art, time w/my pups & fiance

Your fear?

running out of creative ideas

Where do you want to be in 6 years?

as happy as i am today

Where were you last night?

fire station

Something that you aren't?

bored

Muffin?

Damon

Wish list item?

happiness for every one

Where did you grow up?

California

Last thing you did?

helped Damon with his photo project

What are you wearing?

Juicy sweat pants, white t

Your TV?

too old & small

Your pets?

Fozzie & Mona

Friends?

trusting

Your life?

full

Your mood?

great

Missing someone?

mom & dad

Vehicle?

BMW x3

Something you aren't wearing?

make-up

Your favorite store?

Nordstom

Favorite color?

green

When was the last time you laughed?

this a.m.

Last time you cried?

2 weeks ago

Your best friend?

my fiance, Damon

One place you go to over and over?

work!

One person who emails you regularly?

not one person, just junk mail

Favorite place to eat?

Cheesecake Factory

And my picks are..!

Tina Capriotti- Je Ne Sais Quoi

Dede Warren- Dream Create Share

Holly- Holly Loves Art

Charlene- My Heart's Ease

Thanks for the award and fun quiz, Dollybelle!

xo-Christine

Marie's Cottage

2009-10-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Another felt cottage/pin cushion a'la Marie Antoinette. I decided to add a little sparkly beading to the stitching this time, what do you think?

More stitching for the next couple of cottages- I definitely like the Paris and Marie Antoinette theme for these. I'll post the whole "court" when I get them done! Have a wonderful weekend!

Glitter everywhere!

2009-10-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

Back from Fall Glitterfest, which was this past Saturday in Santa Ana. Here's my table (above & below). This time the venue was twice as big and there were approximately 50 vendors selling their beautiful handmade wares. Sheryl & Dianne host the venue and did a fabulous job!

Here's my friend, Tina (left), with the proud new owner of one of her crocheted hand bags. It takes Tina over 20 hours to make one.
Of course, my adorable friend, Christine, had her Dollybelle table right next to mine! She's got absolutely stunning jewelry, altered shadow boxes, purses, pins, and porcelain doll boxes.
I think I'm hooked on the GF events, so I'll be back next Spring! There were so many talented artists and it's fun shopping and talking with people who love art as much as I do.

Lovely ladies in waiting

2009-09-26T12:56:00.001-07:00

Here are a few goodies ready to be listed in my petit boutique. The "dancing Marie Antoinette" is a soldered piece that I made a while ago and I just got to finishing her necklace this morning.
At the back of the necklace is vintage glass pearl string doubled with an oxidized silver plated rollo chain.
I added vintage pieces such as a cameo, a miraculous Mary religious medal, a portion of mother of pearl rosary chain, a rhinestone button, and charm of Arc de Tromphe.
The "Valognes" panel is from a vintage Paris bracelet. There's also a mixture of hematite, pyrite, vintage black Czech beads, Swarovski pearls, keishi pearls, silver and brass chains, and rhinestone balls.

Above is a brass bracelet with a lovely maiden. This is one of my favorites! I'm hesitant to post it to Etsy, but I will!

This bracelet is a mixture of vintage Paris bracelet panels, aqua Czech rondelles, white freshwater pearls, and a brass bird. Lovely Miss Virginia sits delicately in an oval soldered glass bezel.
"Paris Noir vintage button bracelet"
Merci for looking! Have a fabulous weekend, too!

Xo's

Artistic Affaire L'Automne

2009-09-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a great weekend I had at Kim Caldwell's Artistic Affaire! It was my first time taking her infamous workshop extravaganza and it lived up to all the hype. Friday night was the Market Soiree and there was a plethora of eye candy to buy! Vendors included Julie Haymaker Thompson, Ruth Rae, Dollybelle Atelier, Simply Me Art, and Holly Loves Art (just to name a few).

Check out the goodies!
Above: Holly Stinnett of Holly Loves Art is modeling one of her apron masterpieces. Below is Holly's vending table. Watch out for her, she may be vending at Glitterfest, too!

Kim Caldwell's vending table, above.
Kim and her hard working crew even made these awesome tissue balls! The studio was just so L'Automne and it was perfect for welcoming guests and the Fall season.
Saturday morning was the beginning of the art marathon for me!
When I arrived at my seat, a very welcoming (and coordinating!) notebook, itinerary, name tag, and raffle ticket. We even had brown M & M's at the table! Everyone mentioned that Kim is the event pro!
Lisa Kettell started the day off teaching us to make these adorable garden girls.
I actually joined one of two swaps! I was so lucky to have Lisa as my trade! She's modeling my mask here.
Priscilla is ecstatic!

Above is one of my favorite masks- doesn't she look like an autumn garden nymph?
Above is one of my favorite pieces that somebody did in Julie Haymaker Thompson's class. Sorry, but I never did find out who you were! It's just so heart warming of a piece.

Another great piece done by Cheryl in Julie's class. Julie is quite a hoot, I was so busy with my art that I didn't get a chance to take a pix with her. She's so vivacious, a great artist, and a warm soul.
The lovely quartet sitting at my table: Holly, Christine, Jennifer, and Jessi. So glad to have met new artsy buddies!
Saturday night ended with the sweet Ruth Rae (on right). She's so nice and talented! She taught us how to make her coveted fabric wristlets. By the way, her new book will be coming out this November and I'm looking forward to its release. Congratulations Ruth!

I totally enjoyed crafting with my fellow artists this weekend. There was just too many gifted artists and their art in the room for me to photograph! It was so entertaining and impressive to see everyone's work. So I think I'm hooked on future Artistic Affaires- thanks Kim!

Art swaps

2009-09-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd post a couple of photos of my mask for a swap that's going to be held at Kim Caldwell's Artistic Affaire L'Automne. It was difficult to photograph without losing the detail of the mask, but there are a couple of soft brown feathers poking out from the tulle. I can't wait to do my first swap!

I also joined the paper doll swap, but as you can see, I'm a little behind! Five of these gals have got to be finished by Saturday- wish me luck!

One year Anniversary

2009-09-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

Bonjour everyone! I'm happy to announce that it's been one year since I've been in Blog WoRld! I've enjoyed meeting new friends and sharing my creative adventures with you. I'm sure that you've already noticed- the new look of Alchemy Studio! I thought it would be appropriate to mark another year of blissful blogging. Special thanks to Michelle at Shabby Creations for the beautiful blog makeover. She did the most wonderful job and was a sweet heart to work with.

Thank you to anyone who's following, for leaving comments and peering in. Your support helps to fuel my creative endeavors! Oh, and happy Labor Day weekend to you as well. Have a safe and fun weekend!

Cute Little Felt Cottages

2009-08-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

I adore house shapes, they always bring to mind the warmth and comfort of family. I enjoyed making these little guys with my collections of wool felt, lace, and vintage buttons. If you're as inspired by houses like I am, check this out. And when you're ready to make your own artful wool pieces, this place has a great selection of wool (super fast shipping, too!).

I originally meant for them to be just ornamental, but as I was sewing, I realized that they made great pin cushions! Also, each cottage has attached seam binding so you can hang it wherever you desire.

This one's in celebration of the Fall season coming up.
Vintage mother of pearl buttons over distressed lace.

Love Letters Box

2009-08-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

While shopping at the mall a few days ago, I stumbled into my favorite paper supply store, Paper Source, and got a little inspiration. I picked up a book (sorry, but I can't remember the title!) based on using vintage ephemera to embellish every day items. One of the projects was a cigar box covered with vintage papers, pen nibs, spoons, and two cabinet photos. Well, I ran down to the nearest cigar shop in town and the shop owner was nice enough to sell me a few empty boxes. I finally got the vintage pen today at the flea market, so wa-laa! Cigar box turned Love Letters box!

Some stitching, vintage mother of pearl buttons, vintage earring, tulle, and hand-aged papers, lace and cotton fabric.
Above: My latest vintage button bracelet, "Tweety." You can find this at my petit boutique.
And my shopping excursion at the Glendale Flea Market was a success!

Needle, thread & felt

2009-08-14T17:44:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been floating around between projects and experimenting with new mediums. I've always loved the fiber arts and sewing can be so relaxing (not to mention a lot easier on my neck than making jewelry). So I got the itch to start embroidering after admiring this and this. I just finished the felt brooch (above) this morning. The little puppy at the center is actually a button! Found that while shopping at the Pasadena Bead & Design show last month. Surrounding the puppy brooch are a collection of cream, gray, lavender, and orange felted flowers. It's been fun making these things while lounging in front of the t.v. You'll be seeing all of these goodies at the Fall Glitterfest.
The following sewing project isn't finished yet, but I thought I'd give ya a sneak peek!

Have a beautiful weekend! ;o)

A Little Shopping

2009-07-31T20:30:00.001-07:00

Went on a little shopping trip to the Pasadena Bead and Design Show this past Thursday and fell in love with some (well, a lot of) vintage German buttons! Of course, I had to indulge a bit- you never know when all the cool vintage stuff goes away! Also made a stop at Greengirl Studios table where Christine and I went nuts over their adorable charms (the pewter "pudgy fairy" is from them). So here's the first of many vintage button bracelets that I'll be posting at my Etsy Shop. Thanks for stopping by and have a safe and terrific weekend!

Plaques

2009-07-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of soldered plaques that I've been working on lately. I got the most adorable digital photos of children from Debrina- check out her work as well! The background is collaged with various vintage ephemera and whatever else I could get my hands on. If you've ever done collage or taken my "La Maison d'Amour" (soldered house) class, then you've indeed experienced what it's like to tear and glue many pieces of paper and then have sticky finger tips! Yes, a lot of fun!

Stay tuned, I plan on listing these guys in my Etsy shop this week (hopefully by this weekend)! Thanks for looking, keep creating, and have a terrific weekend!

Make a Wish

2009-07-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

I totally adore Sally Jean and her book is full of wondrous projects, including this one. Sally's "Magic Wand" may not make all your dreams come true, but it sure does conjure up a smile when sitting near your favorite space at home! Sally's directions were easy to follow, there wasn't too much ephemera to be used, and I found all the glass from my favorite supply store. It does however, entail a lot of solder and soldering time. Probably not a beginner's project. A very fun and challenging project and if you've got her book, I suggest you give it a whirl!

Above, back side of the "Wish" wand.
St. Joan of Arc necklace: Swarovski Pegasus drop and pearls, freshwater pearls, shell beads, pyrite, bone, rhinestones, vintage religious medal, firepolished Czech beads, sterling Joan of Arc connector and S-hook closure.
Have a happy and magical day!

2009-06-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

"Les grandes pensées viennent du coeur."
("The greatest thoughts come from the heart.")

~Vauvenargues

My Tin Can Doll, "Little Miss Frenchy," take this class at the super cool, mixed-media art store, Zinna.

http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/194/D65745F4FB383CC073DD789097004DE8.png

A Whisper

2009-06-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

While making these pieces, I wondered about the musings and thoughts of these women captured behind glass. Ahh, yes! Whispers in the chambers and secrets to their closest confidante... Broken hearts and confrontations!

A mystical creature in the dark...

It isn't what they say about you, it's what they whisper. ~Errol Flynn

Latest Projects

2009-05-29T15:12:00.000-07:00

Yeah! The circus is coming to town! Well, to Camarillo at least. Posies Boutique is celebrating June with a colorful circus theme! Above is an order of charms that were just dropped off at the store. If you're local, or just cruising through our beautiful county of Ventura, then make a stop at the store!
I've been working on projects for workshops and here's the latest. She's a sweet Charlotte with a vintage spool body and wire petticoat.
Oxidized nickel cut in to a strip and stamped with "She pursued big dreams instead of small realities."

What little Charlotte isn't complete with a treasure chest and her dreams?
Brass vintage birdy, German glass glitter in a vial (her magic dust), crystals, glass pearls, lace. She was a lot of fun to make~ Thanks for looking!

Frozen Charlottes

2009-05-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

I was absolutely delighted to pick up my package from the Post Office and finally receive these 100-year-old German china doll heads! AKA, "Frozen Charlottes." It took 4 weeks for these babies to arrive from Germany. I'm really excited to get working with them. They'll be making their way via "workshop" at Posies, so stay tuned!
Above: This is a necklace that I made back in March at Diana Frey's "Secret Shaker Doll" workshop. I had a blast with buddies, Tina and Christine. This was my first workshop with the infamous Diana (she's published in just about every Belle Armoire Jewelry mag out there!). And guess what gals, she's just as sweet as she is talented!

Diana on the far right, Tina in the center. Thanks for sharing your wonderful talents with us, Diana!

Glitterfest 2009!

2009-05-17T11:11:00.001-07:00

My very first vending show and what fun it was! This was also the very first Glitterfest event, hosted by Whimzy, in Old Town Tustin. There were about 30 artists selling their latest wares, some from as far away as Arizona and Northern California. Nearly 300 people passed through the doors and it was packed!
My little part in the show, above.
Wow! Check out my buddy artist, Christine, and her DollyBelle Atelier table! I think she had the most innovative way of displaying her lovely jewelry: she hung them on the vintage pink bed frame, from behind the table! Her work is so inspiring and beautiful.
There she is, DollyBelle's creator! We had so much fun, there was a lot of energy in this room!
I was really impressed by the different works of art. Here are some fabulous crowns, vintage shoes, and repurposed vintage bottles.
I got so busy that I wasn't able to take photos of all the different vendors. But here's an idea of what it looked like. Stores like Paris to the Moon and Saltwater Studios also had a table at the show. I missed my photo opportunity, but I did get to meet Jenny Doh, of Stampington & Company and two of her advertising heads as well! I had such a tremendous time, thank you to the sisters at Whimzy for inviting me.

The Fairy Moonbeam

2009-05-14T10:44:00.000-07:00

The fairy poet takes a sheet

Of moonbeam, silver white;

His ink is dew from daisies sweet,

His pen a point of light.

~Joyce Kilmer

Happy Thursday!!!

Can't we all just get along?

2009-05-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

Can't we all just get along?

P.S. Is there a trademark on the plastic ballerina or gift box that I don't about?

Wishing everyone well on their creative adventures~

Beautiful Day for Moms

2009-05-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

Hope you are all enjoying a beautiful Mother's Day- it's a simply gorgeous 78 degrees in So Cal right now. Here's a little sneaky-peeky of what will be at my booth at Glitterfest next Saturday! I hope to see you then!
A few pyramid gift boxes that were inspired by a fellow local artist, Rosemary. These cuties will be traveling with me to the O.C. (Orange County!) on Friday. Got to gift box those jewels, right?
Enjoy!

Last La Maison d'Amour Workshop

2009-05-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Here's the last group to make the little soldered houses for Mother's Day. I was so impressed by all the new talent and ideas during these classes. It was so nice to meet new artsy ladies! A special thank you to Pam, owner of Posies, for giving me the opportunity to teach at her gorgeous boutique. So, here's more happy faces and beautiful soldered houses. Enjoy!

Above- still so pretty even though it has not finished the "soldering" process!

Leslie took the class twice! She was also so inspiring- she paints your beloved dog on to cameos that you can wear as a brooch or pendant.

Workshop #2 & Sandy Toes & Paws

2009-04-28T17:59:00.000-07:00

Yeah! The second workshop of "La Maison d'Amour," soldered house of love, was a success and more happy ladies survived the long evening. Thanks gals! I'll post photos of your lovely work as soon as I get it from Pam, owner of Posies.

Above, the ladies are hard at work and play!
This past weekend I got to celebrate my birthday at a beach house in Solimar, CA. It was a much needed mini-vacation. Here's the view from our patio. Weather was predicted to be foggy and cold, but we got some warm rays!
View from our patio looking north. Sure is nice sleeping to the sound of crashing waves. We could've stayed out here forever!
My furry babies, Fozzie and Mona, taking their morning walk. I love paw prints in the sand!
Well of course I did some creating while I was out there! Above are various soldered charms and some neat shells I collected from the beach. The starfish wasn't one of them (it was a decoration I found in the house)!

Posies Workshop #1

2009-04-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

Today was the first official workshop for "La Maison d'Amour," the soldered glass house of love! I feel absolutely fortunate to have been asked to teach the first round of classes at this beautiful boutique. I've mentioned this first class boutique in the past but never posted any photos- so now you can have a little glimpse into Posie World!!!

Six lovely ladies attended today's workshop and they all did an amazing job during the 5 creative hours. Above are the "back yards" of the soldered houses (drying outside in today's 90 degree California weather). They wrote sentiments to mom, sisters, and other loved ones on the back.
My artsy friend and the proud owner of Posies, Pam Trout (on the right), and me! I taught a class for Pam, her sister and mom, and several of the employees prior to today. They were a lot of fun and broke me in as the "rookie" teacher. Thanks gals!
Above is Pam's beautiful house of love. She incorporated a vintage brooch and her mother's wedding rings (next to the embroidered "Amour").
Amy, a family friend, is all smiles after finishing her tribute to mom.
Amy's art is above. The vintage pearl/crystal earring was her mother's (bottom left corner).
Joanne and Kim show off their stuff! They signed up together for the class and are friends and business partners.
Joanne's art above, "Sisters."

Kim's work which is dedicated to the business they own together.
Tamala and Lisa's very vintage-y looking houses. Aren't all of these amazing? Just about all of these women have never soldered or collaged prior to today. They took on a big challenge and ended up with wonderful keepsakes. I'd like to thank them and Pam for their patience, feed back, and enthusiasm. I'm so glad that you all finished with smiles!

A Girl & Her Rhinestones

2009-04-11T17:39:00.001-07:00

What's a girl to do in downtown L.A., but shop for bling! I've heard of friends talking all about Bohemian Crystal in the jewelry district, but never made time to go... So I finally made the big trip with my mom and two girlfriends. Here's the stash!!! I couldn't believe that I waited this long to go shopping here!
Can you see a re-occurring theme here? Yeah, I can't get enough crowns, fleur de lis, and keys as well. Bohemian Crystal also has a tremendous selection of Swarovski crystals. You've got to take a number and wait in line if you want the Swarovski's though- but the prices and selection are worth the wait.
Another store called Athenian (it's a few doors down from Bohemian) also carries a wide selection of charms, beads, findings, and miles and miles of chain.
Here's just a peek of one of my latest necklaces devoted to our beloved Marie Antoinette. I'm preparing to sell a bunch of "Marie" inspired jewelry at Glitterfest, coming up in May. Hope to see you there!

Everyone- please have a very safe and wonderful Easter Holiday and spring break!!!

Marie Magazine

2009-03-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

Yeah! I was so excited yesterday to find that the "Marie" Somerset Magazine finally made it to my mailbox! Deryn Mentock told me she got hers last week- how did that happen? I was under the impression that the magazine got published in So Cal and Deryn got it before me (she lives in Texas)! Lucky her. So I waited impatiently and here it is. My first publication in what I consider one of the best multi-media art mags out there. I feel really fortunate to have something in this special issue dedicated to Marie Antoinette. There's so much eye candy in here, you've got to get yourself a copy!

Creativity abounds with paper shoes from Connie Govea Stuart, a beautiful paper cake by Jenni Bowman, a very lavish and glittery crown & shadow box by Donna O'Brien, and a really artsy collaborative book that was hosted by sweet Dede Warren. I just can't put this mag down- there's so much to take in. All the artists did wonderful work. It must have been difficult for the publishers to pick and choose. Sorry, I'll jump off of cloud 9 pretty soon! Just get a peek of it!

My submission was an 11" x 14" collage/painting. I made this while taking Anahata Katkin's class at "ARt in Ashland." Anahata is an amazing collage artist and an excellent teacher. She has a beautiful line of cards, wrapping paper, canvases, and office storage that you can find at finer boutiques and stores. I owe all my collage techniques to her teachings!
Thanks for stopping by! If you've got a submission in "Marie" or you're just browsing the blog, please let me know and say "hello!"

Xoxo- Christine

2009-03-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

More...

I've been busy and happily making these soldered houses. My favorite's gotta be this little birdy and princess, but the "Beauty" house is very MA and runner up (Marie Antoinette, of course!).
"Reve" for dream...
"Beaute" for beauty...

And another tribute to Mom.

If you want to make your own soldered house, you can get the beveled house shape and other cool tools and supplies from Robin's E-bay store. She's got the best selection of collage glass and great prices as well. Thanks for looking & have a wonderful weekend everybody!

First Workshop!

2009-03-12T20:55:00.000-07:00

Good evening my friends! I'm happy to announce my first workshop, "La Maison d'Amour," for Posies Boutique. Bring your favorite photo of mom and let's create together! The date is still to be announced (we're looking at the end of April) and it will be open to 6-7 students. I would love to meet some of you out there in Blog Land! Have a lovely weekend...

Xo- Christine

La Maison d'Amour: "House of Love," a memento for Mom on Mother's Day (don't forget it's May 10th!).

A la Marie

2009-02-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

Hello there! I have to apologize for being away for a while... thanks to those of you who check back every now and then. I've been making jewels for two boutiques in my area; Posies and 23 Twelve Boutiques. Both are wonderful shops and if you are ever in Camarillo, California, then you must check out both! I'll post a little something on each store in the near future... In the mean time, here are some jewels a la Marie Antoinette! Also, stand by to pick up Somerset Magazine's special edition, "Marie," to be released April 1st.~ I can't wait (by the way, I've got something published in it!)! Woo-hoo!

"She Was a Phantom": This is a soldered 2" diameter bezel. Kinda heavy, but I think it turned out pretty cool. I've wired Swarovski pearls, crystals, pink quartz, and a vintage button for the rest of the necklace.
Here's the back of "Phantom" necklace bezel.
I just adore this repro of an old vintage tooling~ this necklace is on "Hold" for now.
Buzzzzz! The honey bee is another reproduction of a vintage tooling. Bees are "in style" this Spring. Bee sure to get yours!
"Marie Cameo" bracelet: I wrapped a silver filigree around this lovely cameo. She's surrounded by smokey AB cathedral crystals, black quartz, and pearls (of course!).

Have a wonderful weekend everybody! Thanks for visiting!

XoXo~

2009-01-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

Just got done listing some new stuff- "Bonbon Collection." I've been busy soldering and making bracelets based off of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and charms of vintage images of sweet Gibson kids (which are perfect for Valentine's!).
Bracelets and pendant inspired by "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."
Oh yeah, and I wanted to share with you the sweet gift that I received from my dear friend, Christine. Thank you for your lovingly handmade gift! She sits with a watchful eye as I create...

Alice in Wonderland

2009-01-08T12:27:00.000-08:00

I've been tinkering with making some jewelry based on Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" lately and here it is! While flipping through the latest Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine, one of the articles featured an Etsy seller who has the most incredible vintage images, including these of Alice and her friends.
The snippet of text comes from L. Carroll's book. Did you know that this story was first published in 1865?
And here's a little soldered Valentine keepsake that my friend, Christine, taught me and Tina, how to make. These will make adorable gifts this upcoming holiday!

Show and Tell

2008-12-28T12:28:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd share a few of my latest necklaces before listing them on Etsy. I reworked the longer necklace (Dream Baby) because the clasp wasn't sitting properly on the front side (moved it to the rear). The middle necklace is called "Milk & Honey" and is a combination of a vintage mother of pearl rosary, golden colored cubic zirconias, crystal quartz, and sterling chain. The center piece is a replica of a vintage sacred heart medal. The shortest necklace is called "Opera" and its center piece is a sterling bracelet panel from a vintage Parisian bracelet.

Close up of "Opera." The cute rhinestone button is one of my favorites from my vintage button collection. A couple more hang from "Milk & Honey."
Here's the back side of all 3 necklaces. I love adding dangles to the closures of my necklaces. So feminine looking!
The bracelet above is actually my mom's original design. She made this for a close friend of hers. It's packed with sterling Bali silver beads- A really gorgeous piece. I'm so glad that I inherited a little bit of mom's talent!
Here's just a small portion of vintage buttons that I won off of e-bay- exciting, huh? I think there were 70 buttons in this lot. The soldered vial in the center is something I made a couple of weeks ago. Still deciding how I'm gonna incorporate it into the necklace.

Well, thanks for looking! Xoxo...

Happy Holidayzzz... Sale!

2008-12-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! Here are a few new things that I just listed in my Etsy shop. I've also discounted a ton of stuff for the holidays (30-40% off!). Please come visit!!

New Banner!

2008-12-19T14:43:00.000-08:00

Wow, I'm soooo excited about my new banner for my blog and my Etsy store! My good friend, Christine Rose, knows a very talented artist... Dale McLain of Sea Dream Studio- who created my wonderful new banners! One of the best things about the mixed-media world is that I get to meet such talented and friendly women like them. Please visit Christine Rose's blog, Dollybelle Peepshow and Dale's website, Sea Dream Studio. Thank you Dale, for such a professional manner and your beautiful work.
Above: Here's one of my favorite pieces from Dollybelle Atelier. Christine's got a knack for detail, right? Her store is filled with delicious parlouette jewels, soldered Lucette jewelry, and reliquaries.

Simplicity of the Holidays

2008-12-11T17:03:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone~ I've been away for a while, unfortunately the day-time job gets in the way of the creative time (hee-hee). I'm sure everyone is in the holiday spirit and rush to do their Christmas errands and shopping. I've been trying to remind myself to take it easy this year and keep it simple! Of course, the bigger picture of Christmas is to spend time with the loved ones that we don't get to see so much, right?
Here are a few new posts to my Etsy store, Alchemy Boutique. Caio!

Raphael's Angel

2008-11-29T15:55:00.000-08:00

"Raphael's Angel" necklace- faux pearl rosary, sterling charm, Swarovski crystals, sterling chain.
The best part of mailing off a piece is decorating the box!

Hooray for Hope

2008-11-28T16:18:00.000-08:00

Yipee for Hope of Paper Relics for winning the prize for "Thanksgiving Give Away #2!" She picked out the "Romantique" necklace above. Congrats again, Hope!
All ready for the trip to Maryland. Bon voyage little package!

The Give Away!

2008-11-26T19:25:00.000-08:00

I'd like to wish everyone a very safe and happy Thanksgiving. It was a real treat to read what you were thankful for... That being said, I promised a "Thanksgiving Give Away #2!" My trusty assistant, Fozzie (my dog), helped me pick out the winner from a (small) pile of names.

The lucky recipient is... Hope Wallace of Paper Relics! Congrats Hope, and I'll let you choose what you'd like out of my Etsy shop. Enjoy!

Thank you everyone, for leaving your comments and thanks to Cindy Forrester for letting me follow in her generous footsteps. "Giving" can be an addictive and good thing!

xo~Christine

Thanksgiving Give Away #2

2008-11-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

While surfing my fave blogs last week, I saw a very thoughtful posting from Cindy Forrester. In honor of the upcoming holiday she's giving away an item from any of her on-line stores... You just have to leave a comment of what you're thankful for. After reading everyone's comments, it left a real warm feeling in my heart and I thought of all the things that I am so grateful for.

I am very thankful for my fiance, my two loving doggies, the love of family and friends, and good health.

So why not continue Cindy's gift of giving and have a Thanksgiving Give Away, too? So we'll call it "Thanksgiving Give Away #2." I asked Cindy if this would be O.K. and she, of course, said yes! Thank you Cindy :)

Please leave a comment about what you are thankful for and I will put your name in a drawing. The deadline will be November 26th @ 3:00 p.m. (Pacific time). I will list the winner that evening by 8:00 p.m.

Just like Cindy, I won't tell you what you'll win- You get to choose what you win! Winner gets to pick one item from my Etsy site.

So please let me know, what are you thankful for?

2008-11-21T14:03:00.000-08:00

It's right around the corner...

Thanksgiving Poem

The year has turned its circle,

The seasons come and go.

The harvest all is gathered in

And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards have shared their treasures,

The fields, their yellow grain,

So open wide the doorway-

Thanksgiving comes again!

~Old Rhyme
And on to my latest projects! After reading Stephanie Lee's Semiprecious Salvage, I've been inspired to make her "Portrait Pendant."
I've soldered with an iron before, but not with a propane tank so this was a challenge. There's the bezel after finishing the soldering.
Used copper and black patina to antique it. Then lightly sanded it.
Random pix of a baby- Oops, I accidentally glued it in upside down! Oh well, I'll just have to make it work.
Bezel after pouring in resin. The resin brought out the text on the reverse side of my snippet. I think it looks kinda cool. Now to wait a day and then finish the necklace! I'll post it when I'm done.
This was the spoon bracelet that I made in Cindy Forrester's class. I mixed the resin wrong the first time, so it turned out cloudy. So I decided to glue on the text "she dreamed" to cover up most of the cloudy-ness. I'll pour a little more resin over it to seal it. When it's all dry I'll post this, too.
I know that I haven't posted anything to my little Etsy Store lately. So here's a group of bracelets that I just listed. Coming soon- my Curiosities Collection...

cu·ri·os·i·ty (kyŏŏr'ē-ŏs'ĭ-tē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. cu·ri·os·i·ties

A desire to know or learn.
A desire to know about people or things that do not concern one; nosiness.
An object that arouses interest, as by being novel or extraordinary:kept the carved bone and displayed it as a curiosity.
A strange or odd aspect.
Archaic Fastidiousness.

Sticky & Sweet

2008-11-07T18:52:00.001-08:00

Yes! Got to see her last night at Dodger Stadium with my 3 girlfriends and we had a BLAST!
The last world tour I saw her in was in 1990, "The Blond Ambition" Tour. Wow, now I'm dating myself! She couldn't have been any better in concert- Madonna delivered powerful vocals, spot-on dance moves with her cast, and rockin' remixes of her oldies. My favorite was her re-mix of "Vogue" with a touch of "4 Minutes." Oh yeah, and we got a little extra entertainment when Britney and Justin walked out on stage for a couple of songs!
Woo-hoo!

Fun in the Central Coast, CA

2008-11-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

So Damon and I took a short, but fun trip through the Central Coast this past week (it was actually a business trip/conference turned into a mini vacation). Since I don't want to talk about work, I'll tell ya about all the fun we had! First on the list was wine tasting in Arroyo Grande- Talley Vineyards (awesome whites and pinot's!) and Domain Alfred Vineyards, dinner in downtown San Luis Obispo (SLO as the locals like to call it), and as we ended our 3-day adventure, we stopped through the quaint and cozy town of Los Olivos...

Here we are at J. Woeste- I can't believe we didn't find this treasure of a store in our earlier trips to Los Olivos. If you're ever in the area you've got to stop by this store! Check it out...
Being greeted by Roman Gods wasn't too bad.
But being greeted by two Brussels Griffons was even better! Here's Lady, she's one-year-old, adorable (obviously), mellow, and soooo sweet. If you didn't know already, Damon & I have two Griffons of our own (which we were missing terribly during our trip). This was a real surprise and treat for us!
This is Lucy and she's equally as cute, but was a little camera shy. She's 4-years-old and you can tell that she runs the place.
J. Woeste's is in a charming, old cottage house and is filled with so much eye-candy! Take a look for yourself-
Some Halloween treats that are on sale right now (30% off)- yeah!
Ah-haa! Lucy finally lets me sneak a pic of her. Look at those huge brown eyes, they melted my heart.

Photo op with Lady (if only she'd stand still).

There we go!
I loved these clusters of containers. Everything was grouped so elegantly.
I think we spent another hour in the garden. Come take a walk with us- it was chock filled with succlulents, flowers, statues, and water fountains.

Loved this little piggy nestled in the plants!
This was just a little side view of the cottage and garden. I was amazed at how much bigger the nursery was.

Like a miniature Italian villa, complete with my wine on the table!
Reminded me of a quaint village in England, known as Bray.
We were so sad to end our shopping adventure, but we'll definitely be back! Lucy and Lady were the perfect hosts!

If you're ever in the Santa Ynez area, you've got to make a trip to J. Woeste's. Here's their address: 2356 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos, CA 93441, phone: (805) 693-1951.

**Hope you enjoyed our little show-and-tell. Toodles!

Incredible Creative Weekend

2008-10-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

Down town Seal Beach, CA- Last weekend was a blast! My girlfriend, Tina and I started out the day shopping and browsing through Seal Beach's main street. It was a small street, but packed with everything from a nursery (shown above, "Old Town Garden"), to quaint antique shops, to coffee shops and great restaurants. And like always, the weather was a balmy 80 degrees, clear skies, and breezy. We are so lucky here in California!
Pretty Tina amongst the roses and foliage! Tina became a hit this past weekend for her lovely crocheted handbags. Ohh, la la... She doesn't sell on line, but if you bump into her at the next workshop, I bet she'll sell you the one on her arm! I'll post more about her in the near future.

We found these wonderful caterpillars mingling on a branch of a Monarch Plant. Yes, they're the ones that turn into those beautiful Monarch butterflies! The garden owner says she plants as many of these trees as she can to attract them. It was a real treat to learn about them.
Saturday evening at Gilding the Lily, Fullerton, CA- Party! Here are the gals of Gilding and our hostesses for Cindy Forrester's Workshop. Left to right: Robbin, one of the gals from Gilding (sorry, didn't catch your name), Dede, and Nancy, the owner of Gilding. They, of course, were having a blast!
Shop 'til you drop! If you're ever in the Fullerton area, you've got to visit Gilding the Lily (look at all those yummy vintage trims) and another nearby shop, Saltwater Studio. Both are total eye candy full of vintage trims, ephemera, jewelry findings, and trinkets. They're about 1 block from each other and definitely worth the drive!
Sunday, In the Artist's Studio presents Cindy Forrester's Workshop "Old Bottle Secrets and Family Traditions Spoon/Bracelet"- In the Artist's Studio's second class and it was a huge success. I wasn't able to get in to the Saturday class (first one), "Heavy Metal Heirlooms," but I saw some of the pieces that were accomplished by other workshop attendees (really impressive) and heard it was full of valuable info. Next time! The bottles above are Cindy Forrester's. Pure inspiration. Go to her website to check out her Family Traditions Spoon Bracelets-they are so awesome. I'll post my bracelet when I finally get the resin done (and done right- kinda tricky).
Our table- creative minds at work... I wonder, do I look that intense at these classes, too? Hee, hee!
Some of our finished bottles! Christine and Tina's bottles were birdy inspired.
Another gal in class created these gorgeous bottles- love the frozen charlotte dolls and her soldered pendants. She was so inspiring. I'm so sorry, but I didn't catch her name... Catherine??? She said that she'll be teaching a similar class at Zinnia in Pasadena. Gonna have to look her up.
Here we are! Me, Christine, Robbin, Dede, and Tina. Robbin was so gracious to open up her very beautiful (and big!) home to all of us for this workshop. Both Robbin and Dede were excellent hostesses- very organized, fun, friendly, and even served us a catered lunch and snacks. It was first class all the way! Thanks so much gals! I am looking forward to joining you again in the future...
And I can't forget the very talented, adorably sweet, and generous Cindy Forrester. She had so much patience with the 30-some ladies clamoring about her this past weekend. Cindy, I hope that you had fun during your first visit to Sunny California (please come back!). I really appreciated your master instruction and your incredible inspiration. You are a good soul.

XoXo- Christine

Collecting Inspiration

2008-10-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Whenever I need a little creative inspiration I like to take a good look at my favorite box of goodies. I just started making jewelry this past year and one thing is for sure, you've got to be an avid collector to create jewelry! That's definitely one of the best things about this hobby, right?
I can't seem to do without something French, something rhinestone, something dingy, and something religious.
This Summer my mom came back from the Philippines with a load of Italian rosaries for me (those are the crystal AB ones). I've been addicted to e-bay, scouring for mother of pearl rosaries and Stanhope crosses (among other things!).
Sparkly and gemmy stones always intrigue me. I think the ruby quartz, aventurine, coral, bone skulls and crosses will be an interesting match for the Fall season. Check out the unfinished strand of skulls & black quartz that I started- it's in the bottom right of the pix. I think it'll turn into a multi-stranded bracelet...
And here are the latest to post to my Etsy store, Alchemy Boutique. Again, more religious medals, crosses, ox sterling, and fleur-de-lis! Love it!

Spinner Necklace~ Deryn Mentock's Challenge

2008-10-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, I'm having fun participating in Deryn Mentock's Summer Challenge (well, Summer into Fall)! She's got a whole group of us making the projects out of Mary Hettmansperger's new book, "Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet." This will definitely be an eye opener for me. It's a great opportunity to learn new techniques in jewelry making, and besides, who couldn't be inspired by Deryn?!
Top side view of the Spinner Necklace, Project #1 out of "Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet." I used a nickel sheet, brass sheet, and a religious medal as my layers. It was fun oxidizing, filing, and hammering on those things late last night. I'm sure my neighbors loved it...

Bronze faceted pearls, chalcedony, Swarovski crystals, rhinestone ball, brass rings, and a piece from a vintage thermoset bracelet.
Thanks Deryn, for your inspiration! I'm looking forward to the next project. ~Christine

Birthday Gift

2008-10-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone! I wanted to share this special necklace which is going to be given to a family member for her birthday. I can't say who yet because I haven't had time to finish packaging it! It's belated, but I hope it will be worth the wait! The pic above shows the elements of it- they're not connected just yet. I wanted to get an idea of how it was going to be constructed.
These pieces will be soldered. See the little arm? I won't be using it for this project, perhaps the next. Maybe for some eerie Halloween necklace?
The square piece in the middle is the opposite side to the "Stronger" collage. I stamped this quote into a piece of nickel sheet.
On to the soldering station! This is where the magic happens. I use Canfield's Silvergleem for soldering so it turns out nice and sparkly. After soldering, the pieces get cleaned and polished. Next, on to the beading station!
Wa-laa! It's all put together after moving some things around, I'm finally satisfied. This was a lot of fun to do, I think I'll be making a few more of these to post to my Etsy Shop. What do you think??
Materials: Black quartz, Czech glass, rhinestone rondelles, sterling chain & wire, Swarovski briolette

This side turned out better than I thought! I can't wait to stamp more things!

Project Playhouse 2008

2008-09-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

Damon and I cruised the 8th Annual Project Playhouse which was on tour at The Lakes in Thousand Oaks this weekend. There's a small village of playhouses for kids and one special dog house. They are all available to bid on an on-line auction. Damon's posing at the entrance for the cool dog house below:

O.K., what little girl wouldn't want this as her playhouse?! This thing even has an upstairs loft and is furnished with a built-in glass cabinet and study desk.
The Library of Congress was built with a domed ceiling, tile floor, a built in old-style library with a sliding ladder, desk, and a high-definition flat panel television. Perfect to get Junior ready for the next Presidential seat.
Cool dog house, huh? This is for one lucky dog! This particular dog house was built with "Eco-friendly" products like "low-E" paint, recycled decking, bamboo interior flooring, organic dog lounger, motion lights, and a built in fan! It's also sponsored by the Rescue Train, a non-profit organization in Los Angeles that rescues animals and finds new loving homes for them.
Check out the interior! Our doggies would love this!
Sure does look homey...

For the love of Paris & rosaries...

2008-09-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

I've been busy creating! Here's one bracelet that I've made using a part of a vintage Paris Souvenir bracelet. I wired in lots of garnets and rhinestone rondelles, a couple of vintage rhinestone buttons, some pearls, filigree gunmetal chain, sterling chain, a vintage clasp and a religious medal.

I felt like playing around with the soldering iron and tried to solder this sterling dove to a brass medal. It worked! Like Sally Jean (queen of soldering) said, "flux is your friend!"
The rest of this necklace has glass beads, vintage rosary medals, sterling chain, a rhinestone ball, a sterling rosary center piece and key. I'll be listing this necklace on my Etsy store this weekend.
This morning I got busy making a rosary style necklace for my fiance, Damon. I promised this for him months ago- I'm glad that he's patient! It's a combo of vintage French rosaries and a sterling cross that my friend, Sandy, and I found at the flea market.

Hello Everyone!

2008-09-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

Opps! Still trying to figure out how to place photos after my post! Anyway, here are some of my latest creations.
St. Ann necklace: I drilled a few holes into a vintage religious medal and wired up some vintage rhinestone buttons, Swarovski glass pearls and crystals. Wha-laa!

Hello Everyone! I've been pondering this blog page for months now and so here it is! Please be patient with me, I'm obviously a newbie at all of this. I promise to post as often as I can, to read your comments (I am looking forward to this the most), and to hopefully bring a little bit of creative inspiration your way (woo-hoo!).

To my fiance, family, and friends... Thank you for all your support and LoVe! I'm dedicating this blog to you for all YOUR inspiring words and smiles. :o)

To my fellow bloggers... Please feel free to give moi some of that good 'ol advice!