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

Glitterfest 2011 Photos

Once again Glitterfest was an amazing show. Thanks to Dianne and Cheryl from Whimzy for hosting this spectacular event. It was so great to see new faces and old friends. Glitterfest is hard work though and the energy that goes into it it makes me totally exhausted! So here I am today my first "real" day off since the event and my craft room{s} are once again a disaster. Luckily my Mom is coming over to help recover from Craftageddon. Here are some pics of my booth from the show. Other vendors just loved my chicken wire arch I made, I gave out the recipe to several ladies!

{my top saleslady!-Mom}

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{my booth}

{the chicken wire arch, great for hanging things!}

{my kits}

{my jewelry}

{vintage button bracelets}

{skelly girls sold out too!}

{my collage house kits}

{my beeswax collages}

-Denise

Glitterfest is here!

Glitterfest info click here!

If you have never attended Glitterfest, now is your chance! This is an amazing mixed media art event and you will find everything from original art works, jewelry, to clothing and even supplies. I of course will be vending and have a lot of artwork, jewelry and some amazing kits. Glitterfest is famous for it's crowds! There is always a line around the block to get in. SO here is my advice- if you are cool with the hustle bustle of crowds and want THE best picks of the day-get there early. If you are okay not getting the MOST amazing pieces, get there an hour or two after they open...but again a lot of the coolest goodies might be gone... but then again, still a lot of amazing stuff left. I can't wait not only to sell and meet everyone, but to BUY! So hope to see you there, click on the pic above for all of the info!

Craft for a Cure Event Photos

First and foremost I want to thank from the bottom of my heart all of my friends new and old who supported this fundraising event. From the decorations to the food and amazing projects, everything was donated. Thank you to Tara Wilson and Karin Smolinski for donating all of the supplies and kits for your projects. Thanks to Blanca Paredes, Andrea Villareal and Julie Gordon Weller for the food and desserts. Kim Caldwell, Tara Wislon, and Andrea Villareal for their guest goodies. And to Jenny Doh, Kim Caldwell, Holly Stinett, LuLu Kellogg, Tara Wilson, Nan Trujillo, Paper Tales, Karin Aguirre Smolinski, Cheryl Stoneham, Sharon Hughes, and Teresa Penrose. I hope I didn't miss anyone! Also thanks to my Mom for letting me take over her home for 3 days. Here are the pics, it was so much fun and we raised $1875 for Breast Cancer research and prevention. To read about where the money goes please read this press release!

And I also want to thank everyone who attended including three dear friends who came all the way from Arizona-

Colleen Jew

Sherry Bamsey

Annette Dutson Schwab

and my local gals:

Kim Caldwell

Cheryl Stoneham

Terry Frias

Kimberly Neilson

Andrea Villareal

Ruby Walker

Priscilla Cerda

Julie Gordon Weller

Denise Hahn

Diane Maxfield

Blanca Paredes

Tara Wilson

Karin Smolinski

Marilyn Goodman 

Thanks again ladies and we hope to have everyone back next year and more.....

{little table yummies-some of the girls used the skulls in their cake projects! I love it when that happens!}

{my handwired dress forms, I used as center pieces will be for sale at Glitterfest}

{I added some factoids about breast cancer and hang them from each dress form}

{Julie Me and Terry}

{my Moms house was the perfect backdrop}

{Karins cake kits}

{all three projects, cake, earrings and skelly girl}

{hard at work}

{Glittering outside}

{Taras Skelly girl}

{Priscillas skelly girl}

{more}

{Andreas amazing salad, the balsamic she uses is to die for}

{lunch time}

{me and Ruby- look at the necklace she is wearing, her own creation! Beautiful}

{cakes a bakin'}

{glittery fun}

{me and my etsy team member Marilyn}

{Julies amazing cupcakes!}

{Annette having some fun}

{Andrea deep in thought about her earrings}

{Priscilla love her skelly!}

Me and Blanca my Assistant from work. So glad we got to spend the day together away from our usually stress filled enviorment!}

-Hope to see everyone back next year!

-Denise