Tag Archives: jewelry

Hand painted earrings

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Pinterest has done it again. Maybe I should make this a weekly thing, eh? The pinterest thing?

Anyway, I saw this tute on Pinterest, and I am so sorry. I left it open to pin it and BAM. My husband Xed out of my windows and it is lost forever. You know, I have a bad habit of leaving pages open on my google chrome, to remind me to do things. What? Oh yeah, I have a planner. And a calender. Yeah. But still. Leaving the page open is much better.

ANYWHO….

I made these. They are easy peasy.

All it is, is sanded down shrink plastic, that is drawn on with a fine tip permanent marker, and then painted with acrylic paint. Shrink it up with your heat gun, and then go over the painted side with Mod Podge. That’s important, so that the paint doesn’t chip. I used Plaid’s folk art paint and that worked nicely on this project.

And that’s it! I have a necklace that I am making to match it, but eh. When you have two kids, things become….a little…bit….slower. You know?

So right.

Do you like it?

 

A Little Bit of Gold Won’t Hurt

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Will it?

Either way, I recently made a pair of earrings and a matching necklace just for ME.

Those are the earrings.

And that’s the necklace. I’ve got a yen for wings and birds and things, as you (should) know.

Meanwhile, we have entered the tantrum phase in my four year old. Goodie. I think it’s combination of growing pains, and the new baby taking up mommy’s time.  I’ve been offsetting this new phase, by spending time with her doing our favorite things, while baby Dharma is napping. This helps a lot, except for when Dharma decides napping is for suckers. So the other day, I decided that I’d go out alone with my beautiful Dakota. This was splendid! And it was Dharma’s first night alone with Daddy. We were both apprehensive, but it needed to be done. And of course, daddy and baby both survived, with minimal (if any) crying.

I’ve been using my juicer more often, also. I’m trying to eat a bit healthier, and lose the baby weight. But I can’t do it “all of the sudden”. First step is water with lemon each morning, along with fresh pressed veggie/fruit juice. After that, I will ATTEMPT to not eat too many sweets. This of course, is easier said than done, since I have a MAJOR sweet tooth. Oh MAN. I really do. But whatever-one step at a time, right?

Anyway, that’s all for now.

 

Playing with Plastic

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Recently, I decided to get myself in the Christmas spirit. This of course, is a hard thing for me to do, since it’s REALLY hard to be 38 weeks pregnant AND be excited about anything but giving birth. But, after cleaning out my art supply closet (nesting, of course) I found some shrink plastic. If you’ve been a loyal reader, you know that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE shrink plastic so much. It’s SO fun for jewelry making.

Anyway, I made some earrings and things. I made one christmas-ey pair, and a few others just for kicks.

cute, right? I love these! Sock Monkeys, even! The stamp, is from Stampin’ Up. They have a little set of accesories for him too that I also have. I forgot to glitter the little hat, sorry.

Here’s a few more I made:

I know they don’t perfectly match, but that’s the style. I’ve seen ladies walking around the city with ginormously long earrings, and I so love them. I have a pair that my husband bought for me, actually. But these are just fun and funky earrings. Again, the sock monkey makes his apearance. Actually, he is one of my favorite rubber stamps.

And the buddha, of course. This one was made with a fun shrink plastic photo transfer technique that I love. Did I show you how to do that already? If not, then I’ll show you. I promise.

Anyway, that’s that.

A Brooch Bouquet, for a friend

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Last night I went over to a friend’s house to help her with a craft emergency. She wanted to make a flower brooch bouquet, only….she didn’t really know how or where to start.

So, enter “The Craftaholic”. Here’s what we made.

She wanted to make this as a gift for a friend, who is getting married. Only….she didn’t have much time. So I figured out how to make it, and we did. I want to make one for myself, as decor for my kitchen or living room.

Meanwhile this week, I may FINALLY be getting the workspace I deserve! Finally! So right now, I keep all of my art supplies and things in a closet that has no shelving. So it pretty much looks like a mess. Well, it doesn’t just look like a mess, it IS a mess. My hubby had been telling me for months that he’d add shelving in there, and a space for a chair, so I can turn it into my own workspace. I have always wanted this. Finally this weekend it may really and truly come true.

I don’t know if I mentioned, but I am speaking to my parents again. Yeah, I know. But you know, I realized you get to an age and a point in your life when you just….gotta let things go. And as my husband says, no one can abuse you unless you let them. They’ve actually mellowed out a lot. But then, I don’t hide anything anymore. I just let it all hang out. Don’t like it? Deal with it.

Meanwhile, my daughter is just too darned defiant! What the heck! Last night, while waiting for my friend to pick me up, I was sitting, knitting, and she decided she just HAD to have my knitted fabric. After telling her nicely a few times not to, she PULLED my martha stewart merino yarn knitted fabric. PULLED! Imagine how annoyed I was, pregnant while this is going on. I had to be stern with her of course, and the knitwear, or future knitwear, was indeed saved. But I hate being stern. Doesn’t that suck about being a parent? Having to talk to your kid in a “big person” voice? I don’t ever raise my voice at her, I have no real need to. But still.

Anyway, that’s that.

Fantasy Film-Earrings

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Recently I agreed to work with Art Institute Glitter. No sooner did I get my shipment of art supplies in the mail, then I was already at work, creating. So I made a pair of earrings.

Are these not the coolest earrings you’ve ever seen in your life? Oh man, I love them. And I love working with Art Institute Glitter. Not just because I love glitter, mind you. They have some unique supplies, and are a  fun and easy company for an artist to work with. It’s nice when that happens.

I made these with their Fantasy Film. Oh my god, why didn’t anyone tell me about this stuff sooner? I LOVE it, so much!

To work with fantasy film,  took my brown pigment ink stamp pad, and a rubber stamp with typewriter font. I stamped it, let it dry a bit, then crinkled it up. Then, I took a few pieces of film, and sandwiched it between two layers of parchment paper (parchment paper is a crafter’s best friend-it goes right up there with glue and glue sticks).

And then, I ironed it. I forgot to look at what setting I used. But experiment, I say!

Then, I cut out 1″ holes with a paper punch, and made these lovely earrings. Cute, eh? You can CLICK HERE to PURCHASE. And yes, I will be making more in a few different colors.

My daughter starts school next week. I cannot believe it. Granted, it’s just pre-school. And it’s only for half a day. But still! What does one pack a child for their first day of pre-school?

We are going this weekend, to buy her some new clothing, and shoes and stuff. Being a true girl, she of course got excited about school when I informed her that “back to school” means shopping for new clothing and shoes and a trip to chinatown to get her a new Hello Kitty backpack.

I am excited to have 3 hours a day all to myself, and sad to see that my baby isn’t biologically a baby anymore. To me though, she will always be my sweet little girl. Even when she’s all grown up.

 

 

 

 

The Sylvana-Shell Necklace

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*warning-mild rant ahead*

So I hadn’t blogged in a couple days, because my husband and I live in what was an evacuation zone in Brooklyn, New York. So, I had to (begrudgingly) leave my home, and go to stay with my estranged relatives. I did manage to make something while I was there, though.

This two strand necklace was inspired by a friend of mine, who when performing, wears a shell necklace, which she uses as percussion. It’s two strands, and you can CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE.

Also, about hurricane Irene. It left me bored and listless, to be honest. I should have stayed home. Most of you know that I have a strained relationship with my relatives, who would rather sweep things under a rug, than be honest with the past.

Anyway, I went because as I mentioned, I live in an evacuation zone, and was paranoid. I used to live in Florida, and I’ve seen hurricanes, and know the damage they can bring. And being pregnant, and having a little one, I didn’t want to end up being stuck inside my dark closet for hours. So I fled.

This of course, left me with mixed feelings. Forgiveness is one thing, but facing the people who hurt you, because you have no other choice, is yet another. The only thing that kept me sane, was meditation. That, and Wikipedia. I LOVE wikipedia. I’ve already diagnosed half of my relatives, thanks to it.

On a serious note though, I am happy to be home. I really am learning as I go here, but I do not want to end up a bitter lonely person. Here’s what I believe: I believe in talking about it. I believe in not mincing words. I believe in not being ashamed of having an opinion. So, I talk about it. I talk about what happened to me, because it should be okay for me to talk about it. It should be okay, for me to form an opinion. I am after all, not a news journalist (news journalists, traditionally have to keep their opinions to themselves, as they are “public figures”).

I am an artist, and a person, and quite conflicted at the moment. I honestly want to tell the people who hurt me to go F$%^ off, and leave me alone. But that is the child in me, the one who was hurt. When I GROW UP and realize the past is behind me, and I have my daughter and a child on the way, when I realize life is ahead me, and behind them, I….almost feel bad. Maybe it’s bad that I don’t fully, but at least I almost do.

I guess I have a long way to go. But for now, I’ll work on putting one foot in front of the other. I will never not talk about it. Talking is a good thing. We all should feel free and open to talk about things.

So, I’m writing all this to say that I have no idea what to do next. The Dalai lama stated in this article HERE that forgivness is good for YOU. So I read that article, and am going to some soul searching.

On a lighter note, I made almond cupcakes last night, in celebration of being home with my darling husband whom I missed so much, and could not sleep without (he had to stay, since he is an EMT, and was working A LOT).

It was nice to wake up in my own home, knowing that I, my family, and my art supplies where safe and unharmed.

 

 

 

Found Object Charm Bracelet

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Recently I taught a workshop where we made our own charm bracelets, using old jewelry pieces. I already had made one, but thanks to being an airheaded sagitarius, I lose things quite easily at times. So I made another one.

I had to take these pictures with my camera phone, as my camera is in my husband’s bag, which I keep forgetting to ask him for.

At any rate, about the design: So there’s a Buddha there, from a necklace I never made for myself, a matryoshka doll bead, because I love Matryoshkas. There’s a few beads from a charm bracelet that was made for me in a swap, but unfortunately broke in transit. Then, a pair of earrings that I loved, and a few other things.

I love making charm bracelets. LOVE. I decided I might make a few for my etsy shop, what do you think?

What else? Oh, there’s a hurricane warning for New York City. I went to weather.com and they are saying it’s supposed to be the worst in decades, and that NYC and Long Island are the worst effected. Not only do I live in New York City, but I live close to the Coney Island. So I packed a bag, just in case.

I’m not so nervous about it, because I’m not allowing myself to. I’m pregnant and if I let myself get worked up, I will get REALLY worked up because again…pregnancy. So, I’m not so worried about it. I’ll pack my knitting needles and some yarn and I’m good to go.

Dakota and I were listening to some music this morning, and decided that the baby might want to listen too. So I put on a few songs by the Beatles. Tomorow, I’ll listen to the Grateful Dead, and after that, my husband’s music of course.

I’ve been sleeping a little late these days. Normally I wake up at the wee hours of the morning, to get my day started out right, but darned if I’ve been sleeping until 8:30 or 9am.  Normally by this time, I’ve meditated, done Tai Chi and Yoga, had my coffee and breakfast, and blogged. But darn it all! Gotta start going to sleep earlier. I guess. The problem with liking early mornings and late nights is that they do conflict a bit when one is pregnant and wants to sleep all day.

That’s all for now, I guess.

 

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