Class Sample

Made one if these yesterday for a private class for Valentines day. I am finally going to put some stuff in my etsy shop. It's seems so easy but it can be a lot of work!

Girls day out for Christmas!

{Kim Caldwell and me}

Okay so we have to admit, Christmas is pretty much all down hill from the point you turn 13 until you spawn kids of your own. Tyler and I have pretty much decided Christmas to us means cuddling on the couch watching our favorite shows,  sipping coffee and making a nice dinner for two with a nice bottle of wine. We don't buy gifts really...other than to make an excuse to buy ourselves a big ticket unnecessary item (this year Me= 2012 Subaru Outback,  He=a core drill of some sort). I know some of you might say, what about the new Macbook Pro he bought you....but to call that unnecessary? Never! But I digress, a little old fashioned fun and anticipation does exist for the over 13 crowd and it comes in the form of Kim Caldwells annual Christmas soiree. Girlfriends, crafting, food, desserts, swaps, gifts, are you kidding!? I truly look forward to being giddy each year, so thanks you Kim for hosting this wonderful day for all of us. Now onto the pictures! I will blog about the swaps and gifts in another post, because I have like 50 pictures!

{Kim made these table setting from salt shakers filled with little bottle brush trees and angel wings, so cute!}

{table gifts and supplies}

{feathered center pieces}

{Kims sweet decor}

{and this little sweety too!}

{Holly, Jenny and me, table mates}

{Kims always beautifully attired dress form}

{me Terry and Holly}

{Andrea; LIKE seriously, how do I unwrap this??}

{my sweet little decoupaged birdie}

Class was taught by Karla Nathan, she was so generous with her tips and ideas, thanks Karla! Please click on her name and check out her blog and shop- A-mazing!

{more of Kims decor}

{one of Kims trees! Oh how I wish I could have a big tree! No room and Juno and Pippi would destroy it when they play fight!}

{one of my dearest friends Andrea}

{and this was a little extra gift from her, I saw when she blogged about these cuffs she made and not-so-secretly wanted one!} BTW it came and an engraved box-hugs Andrea- I love it!

{Me and Cheryl}

{and the desserts! To die for especially to the lemon bundt cake in the front, took half of that home with me and refuse to share!}

One last look at Kims beautiful sugary sweet Christmas decor. Being in your home was like being in a Christmas Fairytale Kim, Thanks so much!

Can't wait until next year

-Denise

Victorian Stocking Swap-hosted by Sherry Bamsey

Okay So I am totally cheating, we were all supposed to open our swaps tomorrow, but I am driving to Colorado and juts HAD to open mine a day early so I could ooogle over my goodies and hang my stocking by the chimney with flair! I was sooo lucky to get my friend Julie Gordon Weller as my secret stocking maker. Actually I would not have minded ANY of the fellow swappers stockings, but I know Julies style so was excited to get a box from her! So without further adieu and before we hit the road, here is the precious stocking that Julie made me... a stocking I am sure to treasure for years to come:

{sweet anticipation!}

{love the vintage card inside...so cute!}

{what a great detail, a vintage lady skiier, nice job Julie! Swaps are always so special when there are those little personal touches}

(a bigger pic}

{loves these little vintage lovelies peeking out!}

{a box full of vintage cupcake pics, now Julie is the cupcake queen and I love she added a little of herself into this!}

{I just love these little guys had to do a close up!}

{she added lots of fun vintage embellishments, loved these unique cards}

{more fun embellishments and beads}

{more vintage treats to create with, I loved the spool you cant really appreciate the shiny thread on the spool, can't wait to create some fun ornaments with all of this!}

{here is my stockings honored home, below my memorial to my sweet Temper that passed away last year}

Julie I love my stocking and everything you filled it with, a big virtual hug to you and I hope you and everyone else has an wonderful peaceful Holiday!

And thanks Sherry for hostessing this great swap!

-Denise

New Workshop? Bracelet made with Vintage Finds..

If you will remember a few posts back I went on a weekend girls trip to Cayucos in the central coast. Andrea took us to this amazing store filled with vintage buttons and trims called Lena G's. I bought this bag of goodies (above) and I FINALLY made the piece to go with it. Thinking about doing this one as a class....only have enough for 5 kits though.....thats how it goes with Vintage you just can't run down to Target and buy 10 more!

Pale pink vintage trim, a great vintage pink pearl button, antiqued gold finish metals and hand-wired rosary chain. This looks so good on too, but for some reason the pics of it on my hand looks all weird. *Note to self, look at fashion magazines and learn how to shoot a bracelet on a wrist!

Let me know if you might be interested in a workshop the make one!

Denise

Handmade Stocking Filled with Joy

I wish I could say this stocking is mine, well it is sort of. I made it for someone. Who? Now that's a secret! Yes this sweet Christmas stocking is for a secret friend. I made it as part of a Victorian Christmas Stocking swap being hosted by my dear friend Sherry Bamsey. It was a collaboration with my Mom. (If you call going to my Mom's house robbing her fabric stash, then making her sew it, a collaboration!) I took my stocking home finished it off and filled it with some precious stash items. I think I did good, my rule of swapping is, that if you don't want to part with it, its good!! I hope my secret friend loves it! 

{I probably will not be able to fit all the goodies inside!}

{yes, parting with this amazing avon mini perfume bottle}

{bags filled with ephemera both paper and dimensional}

{vintage goodies}

{Christmas ephemera}

{just the stocking}

{i am glad it looks good hanging, I didn't even think of it while I was making it, if it would hang nicely!}

-I have some more swaps to share but can't spoil the fun!

What are you creating for Christmas?

-D

For the Love of a Friend and a Frenchie

Okay so I finally just admit that I love to make jewelry. My passion for mixed media and altered art has somehow led me here, and I know why... I get to wear all of those little pieces of art. Now I find that instead of hoarding all of my beloved flea market finds, I just make them into something I can wear. Although I always am inspired by my precious found objects, nothing is more inspiring than creating special pieces for my friends. Lately I have been using these glass hearts I found at a floral supply. They are imperfect little blocks of glass that magnify and distort whatever you put behind them. Here is a piece that I made for a sweet friend Terry Frias. Terry is the proud momma to three pups, but the one I always remember is Max, her french bulldog. I fell in love with a frenchie at the dog park and have wanted one ever since. I have two pitbulls and it would be hard to talk my husband in to a tiny pooch, but those frenchies pack a lot of muscle in those tiny bodies, I think it would be a great compromise! Anyway, enough about dreaming of doggies I need another dog like I need a hole in the head! Here is the soldered piece I gave to terry for her birthday:

-Denise