Tex

Today I made my new favorite piece I call "Texas". It is created using some treasures found on my recent trip to Texas. It is kind of whimsical, it's fun and very cowboy-ish! Love it...hope you will too.

Six shooter embossed charm, old horseshoe, antique Gold Medal adv. charm, brass horse button and a vintage monopoly game piece. Mixed metal vintage chains. You can find "Texas" in my Etsy shop.

I forgot I still had these pictures in my I-phone..taken where else but Texas. Looking at them again I just can't get  "Dirt road" by Jason Aldean out of my head!

 

 It actually rained like 10 drops when we were there, enough to produce this beautiful rainbow.

My Two Favorite Things

I love working with vintage and antique elements almost as much as I love shopping for them. It is all about the hunt and the treasures you can find. I know y'all know what I am talking about..... that awesome feeling you get when you see a really cool piece and you are able to claim it as yours. My jewelry design allows me to enjoy my two most favorite things...hunt and create. I am extremely fortunate as lots of my findings come from the antique shop where I have a antique booth and where I work 3 days a month. There are several ladies who keep me in mind when they go to auctions and sales they always have great things for me to pick from. 

This antique button necklace has lots of old elements in it. Mother of pearl button from my stash, old watch fob chains and antique glass cube beads. Etsy is also another great source for vintage finds and I am addicted to searching for them. The vintage raw brass figaro chain comes from LuxeOrnaments and the rhinestone beads are from EightJewelry also on Etsy. This necklace is available at Bright's Antique World in booth #158.

Light and Lovely

There are times especially in the hot months that I do not like to wear much jewelry (however, I never leave home without earrings). I tend to go for something lighter ...I mean it is bad enough to be choked by the terrible humidity here in Tennessee,I don't need my necklace doing it too! So, for me here is a pretty  alternative.

Elegant Romance on Etsy

A sweet little necklace that is light on the neck. I used one of the great findings I found in Connecticut (also available here) and added an antique Victorian button. I used a copper disc to finish the back off and give it a nice neat look. 

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Be sure to enter  my Bead Trends giveaway. Two prizes will be given away, the July issue of Bead Trends and a pair of earrings that are also shown in the July issue. Giveaway ends July 9th.

What's Your Story?

I tend to go from one extreme to another when creating jewelry....complicated and busy to modest.
I suppose it keeps me balanced.

"Whats Your Story?" can be found here.

My dinning room table is hiding underneath this mess...I am re-organizing and stocking for my show next week. ...It actually looks like someone has a hoarding problem. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I hope to finish planting my garden. Sunshine for everyone!!

Perseverance

I wonder if somethings are even worth doing....as in this bracelet. It took me FOREVER! I kept changing this or that to get it to drape correctly, I think having a degree in engineering would sometimes be helpful. However I am not one to abandon a project so I persevered and finally completed it this afternoon. In the long run I am happy with it.

You can find Back Spacer in my Etsy shop.

...and then on to something nice, pretty and easier.

Bottle Green  on Etsy

 Love...love this color! It is so energizing, fresh and soothing. It reminds me of old chunky bottles.

Friendship and a MOP Button Giveaway

I teased y'all about my button stash a few posts backed, but since have decided to share a few pictures of the gargantuan carved mother of pearl buttons I have. These beauties measure a whopping 2 inches across, surely the largest I have ever seen! 

These are sure nice to look at and hold in your hand. Each one is unique with its carvings and irregularity that only mother of pearl can have. 

"BEE A GOOD FRIEND"

Was created from some small mother of pearl buttons, used as dangles on a vintage chain along with old glass beads.  I also used a brass medallion that was once used on an old dresser, this piece is the platform for another button and silver bee. A vintage dictionary definition is forever preserved in resin dangles below and gently reminds us what a friend is.  

When you move this piece the sound is like seashells rolling in with the tide...so fitting for the old shell buttons. 

You can find Bee a good friend here.   

 So tell me what does it mean to be a good friend? Has someone been a really good friend to you? Or have you been a true friend to someone...pat yourself on the back and tell us about it. Good friendships are inspirational. Share!

By sharing your story your name will be entered to win some of my fabulous buttons....post to Facebook and tell me about it and you get another entry, the same with Twitter and so on. Share the love and so will I!! 

Giveaway will end  on May 25th and the lucky winner will be posted on Wednesday May 26th.
(I changed the original end date,due to computer issues)

Here's the loot you can win!!

The largest button measures 1 1/2" across.

Share your stories with us!

The things you can do with buttons!

I LOVE old buttons and have been coveting them for many years. I have always enjoyed using  them in different projects and not hiding them away. I do have the most fabulous collection of antique mother of pearl buttons...however I am not going to show you them today as to prevent a stampede to my house. The ones shown above are the very plain ones.

 some old rhinestone and metal buttons

picture button 

I have been working my fingers to the bone....getting ready for a show in a few weeks. I wish it would happen to the body instead, can you image how svelte I would be? Anyway, here are some button bracelets that I made with the buttons shown above.

 The hook works as a simple clasp to the button. A fun simple bracelet in a good price point. 

And now for my favorite pieces...I just LOVE putting these together. 

ooohhh... wait there's another one too! 

 don't you just love the bull dog. You can find him here.

 and lastly...a whimsical button necklace

Fabulous carved mother of pearl button with pinecone bead cap and Czech glass bead, this makes me happy!

I have much to finish up today as we pack our bags once again for another trip. This time to join my hubby in Florida. Taking my 20 year old college baby to Orlando where we can relive the magic of  our family trip 15 years ago. Hey...it could happen. 

Wishing you all a grand ole' day!