I've been busy in the studio!

It feels so good to work freely and to be inspired by the vintage goodies in my collections. For the past 8 month's I have been working on a challenging artistic and time focused project ~ which will be shared in the future. I know that I am not alone on on this... I have many designs that have been in a "holding" pattern waiting to be completed. I am refocused and have started to "chip" away to bring them life...I hope you enjoy the four designs I am sharing ~ 

A lovely friend celebrated her birthday yesterday and I made this for 


her...



I have a extensive collection of vintage Art Deco shoe, dress and fur clips and love to add them to my designs. I spent Sunday customizing a few into connectors without compromising the rhinestones and pot metal structure. Here is a beautifully delicate inspired rosary design using one of the shoe clips and is available on my website:


 


















I love anything French ~ authenticate, or inspired: This bracelet has been in one of those "holding" patterns and it feel great bringing it to completion! It is also available on my website: 



 






















The embellished focal pendant was a pair of huge vintage earrings that spoke to me long ago ~ I knew that I would be inspired to work with them. I adore the mix of colors for this neck piece ~ it reminds me of an ice cream cone, or cupcake...Heavy on the "sprinkles"! 
 It is also available on my website: 



 
















Thank you so much for visiting!!! 

Mixed Media & Bridal Jewelry Collage

I thought I would share two of the collage photo's that I created using photo's of my mixed media and bridal jewelry designs.  My technical skills are not up to date and it takes me FOREVER to figure this sort of stuff out ~ I used Picasa to get this far.

I'm off to play a little bit more to see what else I can learn. :)

Paris Themed Workshop ~

Happy New Year Everyone!

I am so looking forward to this New Year of 2012 ~

Next month...February, I will be teaching a workshop ~ something I have wanted to do for a long time. 

I would like to invite you to visit my new website ~ new creations will be added often:

http://www.romancethebling.com/

Wishing a fabulous year for everyone!!!

Cest La Vie ... Paris...from start to completion ~

One of a kind assemblage necklace ~ Paris

I love how this necklace turned out and thought I would take photos of the process and materials used. I hope it gives an idea what is used in creating a piece like this ~ starting with photo #1 ...


No, you are seeing correctly ~ this is a small paper box where you find wooden match sticks (discard cover and match sticks).
This is what I have used to make a small showdow box.





To reinforce this half box I have used netted plaster material ~ which is used to make a cast when a limb is broken. Dipping it in water and wrap around the box (I wrap it twice to make it strong) until it is completely covered ~ letting the box dry overnight.

Modge Podge brushed on moistened paper images and carefully placing onto the box~ drying after each step.






and now the real artistic expression and fun begins...


Layer, layering and more layers using combinations of artist chalk, crayons and two different compositions of pigment powders and a product called H20 (solid pigment using water ~ working into a paste). Between each product I brush on a coating of Gel Medium ~ more drying time between each step.

Patience ~


next wrap the decorated box and glass cover with copper foiling ~ using flux and silver solder to securely seal the box.

Embellishing with French charms, stampings, vintage rhinestone jewels - soldered to box, vintage bias tape, chunky chain ~ hand oxidize silver solder and components for a vintage cohesive look.

Very labor instensive; but so much fun to make!

Due to the drying steps for each process this piece took 3 days from start to completion ~ I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Français Assemblage Shadow Box Collier ...

(French assemblage shadow box necklace)

Rhinestone fluer de Lis dangles freely inside the box ~ so fun!

If you have made it this far ~ thank you for viewing all the photo's!

Have a wonderful week!

Shoemakers Kids Go Without Shoes...

No this isn't really a posting of the "Shoemaker and his kids"... As a mixed media jewelry designer, I rarely keep any of my creative pieces for myself. Recently, I made two pieces just for me. I thought I would share them and I hope you like them also! This is my favorite piece. I splurged and used such yummy materials to create this one of a kind necklace. Gorgeous baby pink Baroque pearls hand wired wrapped using vintage oxidized wire. Faceted rock crystal ~ hand embellished by cutting apart ornate bead caps and soldering the pieces to the front and back of the crystals. French spiritual medallion, guilloche rhinestone cross and mother of pearl locket with cross accent all dangle below the crystals. Love it! My favorite chunky faceted Aquamarine gem beads were used with checkerboard faceted rock crystals and two-tone faceted Czech crystals. I found the two vintage metal findings at the flea market ~ where else? :) Sometimes when I can't find the right components, or findings to create with I will make them myself. The soldered connectors I made to join the beads and rock crystals to the double strands. The heart was made using a turquoise heart that I wasn't fond of ~ I foil wrapped, silver soldered and embelished it with a vintage rhinestone finding and various components.

I "heart" this piece!

My flea market finds today...

I took a quick trip to the Alemany Flea Market early this morning and found some wonderful items waiting to be repurposed into new little story pieces of jewelry ~ A beautiful vintage carved rosary, spiritual medals ~

LOVE the French one!


An awesome Victorian Chatelaine Coin Purse...German?

Vintage metal chain belt, BLING!

Large silver filigree flower brooch, Art Nouveau and Deco Findings ~ Vintage Repousse Crown!
Can you guess what the four items are in the second photo? I gazed upon these vintage aluminum chunky pieces and I knew how I would use them in a future project. :)


I love these fork pendants!


Chunky antique brass belt...just what I was looking for!

Swoon ~ Mother of Pearl Choker and another pearl collar to add to my growing collection ~

The thrill of the hunt and the next awesome find waiting to be discovered is what it's all about!