Making Jewelry

My creative juices have had me putting together jewely pieces this year.  My house is torn apart with a remodel that we are doing ourselves, when my husband is off.  That, of course, means whenever we get a chance.  Meanwhile, when I am not gophering here and there, planning the next step in the renovation, or ordering bathroom lighting and such, I have been putting together some new pieces. 

There is something satisfying about being creative, even if it is only for one's own joy. It is nice when you only have to please yourself, but I thought I would share a few regardless. 



Lapis Lazuli wrapped in sterling silver and sterling hooks make up these dangle earrings.





The matching Lapis pendant can be slipped on a sterling chain  or leather cord for a necklace.




This vintage style metal necklace has 18 red jade "berries" making up a cluster pendant, a rhinestone heart pendant, and a handmade rosette from a crocheted doiley attached to the side of additional swags of chain. 





This little necklace wears well with vintage style tops and trendy T's.





This blue heart is Bloodstone Jasper.  I put a nice sterling bail on it, with a black cord.  I put it on  my facebook today to show friends, and it sold tonight. 





Large disk shaped smokey quart and obsidian beads make up this choker style necklace.





Lapis Lazuli is one of my favorite stones.  I used several shapes with brushed silver rings to make up this versatile necklace.  The findings and wrappings are all sterling. this necklace can be worn in any position, with the clasp in the back, on the side, or in front. 





Agate is another favorite.  I used to find agate chunks on the shores of Lake Superior.  This all-agate necklace is mounted with a filligree sterling bail, sterling chain and sterling findings.





I love the way these little pink faceted drop beads turned out, wrapped in sterling on curvey chain with hooks and crystal beads.



As in the first photo, these are the same blue faceted drop beads with sterling wrappings and a simple sterling  hooks.

Pillows Pillows Pillows



Last spring I made some vintage pillows using all vintage fabrics, trim and decor.  I have had them stored, and decided I would put them in my etsy.com shop, http://www.etsy.com/shop/countrycharisma  (I'm listing them today) but first show what I had made. 




This little pillow was made from a vintage handkerchief sewn on to a dresser scarf.  I folded the scarf in half to create the pillow slip, and slip stitched it together after inserting the pillow form.




This pillow is made from sewing two pieces of embroidery onto a background of vintage fabrics.  I  got a whole box of vintage fabrics that were new, from an estate sale.  Most were pieces were small, so they worked well for piecing the pillows.




This bow print fabric was used for the backing, and the encloser is a bow tie with the same fabric.



 I had a dresser scarf which had two nice embroidered ends, but the center had an unremovable stain.  The ends worked perfectly for the pillow tops, and the vintage print for the front edges.  

Envelope backs worked well for these pillows.


This is the pair together. 


I had another old pillow case that was worn out, but had the cute applique tulips on the ends.  I used the ends on both sides of the pillow top and added a small embroidery doiley in the center.  

Masterbedroom Update



BEFORE:  Master bedroom with federal blue woodwork and crown moldings, white walls, green rug, and faded cranston blue check drapes.  



I know I kept saying I was going to paint my bedroom.  Now that we have our entire house torn apart so we can put down hardwood in the rooms that were carpeted, I finally had our bedroom painted. Notice I said "had it painted", rather than painting it myself.  The last guest room I painted myself took me three weeks of dragging a 12' heavy step ladder round and round the room painting 14' ceiling and crown.  Not this time. 

The kitchen was painted at the same time, after we added new wide crown molding to the 12' ceilings. While installing the crown, my ladder began slipping, then suddenly I took a wild ride to the floor. I ripped the crown molding off the top of the cabinets trying to stop the sliding, and ripped my nails off at the same time.  I just couldn't stop it, and hit my head on the granite countertop as I came crashing down. Ending up with a huge knot on my brow and bruises to my arm and legs, I was grateful not to have broken anything.  Seriously grateful!  My husband finished the crown himself, while I was on the couch with icepacks.  DYI is not always as easy at it appears!  I have the black eye to prove it! 

 In order to add new hardwood to the kitchen as well, we had to remove everything including refridgerator (now in the LR, we will do hardwood in kitchen first then move ref. back) and all furniture and low level pantry goods (mind you all decor is off the walls and shelves for the painting project).  We also had to move everything out of  living room, 2 hallways, and another bedroom.  All of that is now stored  in our other guestroom, dining room and front entry hall.  We are also remodeling our master bath with tile shower, clawfoot tub, new vanity, floors, and waincotting...an entirely new room. 

We just got back in our bed after sleeping on a airmattress on our sunroom floor (the only room left unscathed by the updates, but full of tools, tile samples, paint cans and whatnot).  I have always told my husband that we love our sunroom so much, we don't need any other rooms than a bathroom.  I should eat my words. I have a entirely new appreciation for our bedroom.  I have included a few pictures of the before and after of the bedroom, with the "after" still undecorated and some of the furniture not in place.  We are just barely in it, but rejoicing just the same! 



AFTER:  Newly painting crown molding and wainscotting  and windows in white.  Walls are a very light grayed-green.  It apprears darker in this picture because of lighting, but I will get some better pictures when the decor is done.






BEFORE:  Fireplace and woodwork in old blue.




AFTER:  Newly painted white woodwork.



 

BEFORE:  Blue cranston curtains and white walls.





 



AFTER:  Nice bright woodwork, suttle walls, perfect canvas to decorate.  Hopefully in a few weeks, the remaining remodeling will be complete, and I will have a newly decorated room to post.  Keep watching.





Goodby airmattress bed in sunroom!  At least we could watch TV (on the wall not seen in photo) in bed.



Before the New Year

While many have removed all of their decorations, and tucked them away for another year, we are still enjoying ours as we entertain family for the holidays.  Our normal routine is to put all the decor away the day after NewYears.  In keeping with that tradition, I thought I would post a few photos before the grand finale.

The baby ice skates hung off the kitchen fireplace mantel.  When I was five years old, and living in Wisconsin, I wore these skates for my first pair of single blades.  Our entire family of eight skated on creeks and ponds, and a frozen parking lot in town that was reserved every year for the town rink.

My old mantel clock works well in a cupboard-top display with candles and antlers and greens.

And visions of sugar plums danced in their heads (more like beef roast trimmings).

A vintage wicker sleigh keeps company with a little egg basket collection atop my pie safe in the entry hall.

The guest room which is now occupied with my son and daughterinlaw from Indiana, is decorated with pointsettias.

My greatgrandfather's 9' secretary desk adorns the front wall of the guest room.  Inside the drop-down desk, brass desk pieces, a rounded inkblotter, letter opener, stamp dampener, and some of his old horticulture books keep hidden from little hands.

Toby loves to lay by the kitchen fire.

Kitchen mantel with greens, chocolate and candy molds, and berry topiary and wreath hold together with my grandmother's wood candlesticks.

Well, my photos got a little out of order, so this is the guest room bed, made with a down comforter with a white cotton button-on duvet cover.

This spring is curtain season, even though I have had my rods stored in the closet for a year!  I painted this room myself last year, and it was quite a trick with 14 foot ceilings.

Our sunporch table toted a vintage Christmas cloth with a basket of string balls I bought at a sale last summer.

Simplicity was my moto this Christmas.  Using both live and artificial greens, I slipped together several mantel and tabletop arrangements including this simple dining room table piece with white honeycomb candles and pinecones and greens.

A gold candle and berries accent some yellowware on my pewter cabinet.  In a couple of days, it will be another great holiday memory.  I am enjoying every moment of it.  Then come on 2011, I am ready for ya!

Christmas, Still Enjoying

While we await the arrival of our oldest son and family from Indianapolis, we are resting from our own trip home from southern Indiana and Kentucky.  We left home on Christmas Eve to visit our daughter and family in Kentucky, and all of us were snuggled in, when it began to snow.  We enjoyed and lovely evening with dinner and chatter, and before going to bed, 5" of new snow had fallen.  The many tall pines in the woods by their home and road were ladden with the wet snow.  It was just as sassytrash had mentioned, "icing on the cake".  After a nice Christmas morning with our grandson, on to Indiana to see my stepson and family and two children, and ending at my husband's mothers.

Janette Mallory's Giveaway Ended

Janette Mallory is giving away a GORGEOUS pair of candlesticks.  Don't miss out on this giveaway because it ends Sunday, December 5th!  Click the badge on my sidebar and go directly to the offer.  Janette awarded her lovely candlesticks to an entry.

Giving thanks!

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful, and even though we get caught baking, cooking, running the highways, overeating, visiting until we are worn out, and taking time with loved ones, it is still a blessing to live where we are free to do this.  We enjoyed my husband's family this holiday, and were very blessed.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for grandsons,

budding artists,

kisses,

Innocense,



adoring pappas,



granddaughters,



daughter-in-laws,

sister-in-laws,

brother-in-laws, and husbands who do the dishes!  And more than anything, the Lord!

And now on to Christmas!