Name tag quest

One of the things that I am currently working on is a vendor name tag for the Vintage Chicks Show. Apparently it has to be "creative". So I figured, that since I design jewellery, my name tag should somehow be incorporated into a necklace that I can wear. Mmmmm...not as easy as it sounds, however, I would like to put forth a good effort as there is a $25.00 prize for the most creative and interesting vendor name tag! So I am putting on my thinking cap and heading off to the studio to see what I can come up with! Pin It

Mock Up

For the last several days, I have been working on my mock up display for the upcoming Vintage Chicks show. I have set this up in my dining room area, and have played around with props and proportions, carefully working within  my allotted 6' x 6' space.

I am going for a retro boudoir look, inspired by the Hollywood glam icons of the past. I must admit that memories of my grandmothers bedroom dressing table also gave me some inspiration as well! You have to imagine that I will have necklace, and bracelets draped across some of the items, and my new mannequin bust will most likely hold several necklaces.The smaller crystal dishes and trays will be great for displaying earrings, and the sexy leg adorned with the  black fishnet hose will hold anklets.

I would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and ideas for improvement, as there is still enough time for me to make some changes. Thank you!

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New member of the family

Today, I welcomed the latest addition to my family. She is going to be a great pal for Betty and Lucy!

Betty and Lucy

 Although, I think the girls will be a tad jealous of her really great body!

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Updates!

We had a fabulous weekend, with lots of family time, which is always a good thing. The new Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Stranger Tides, was very enjoyable and I would recommend seeing it if you are a fan of the previous "Pirates" movies.Saturday night was spent at my daughters house, and we stayed up till past 1:00 am playing Cranium. It was guys vs. girls, and to say we are a competitive family is an understatement! Unfortunately the guys beat us...but only by a hair...we shall get our revenge at the next game.
As promised, I have some new creations to show you today.

This bracelet combines several vintage beads and buttons with Swarovski pearls and mirrored lampwork beads together on a vintage brass chain. Check out that cute little vintage brass key. When I found it in a box in an antique store, it was totally black. I cleaned it up and voila....a wonderful shiny brass key was underneath!

This leather cuff is a totally new style for me. Here, I added a vintage cut steel shoe buckle with part of a very old belt buckle adorned with a pretty green glass stone to a wide leather cuff. Then finished it off with some emerald colored rhinestones from some old earrings.

 I am really enjoying working with these vintage keys lately. I find them, clean them up, and am thrilled to discover the fabulous design details on them. This necklace has several interesting keys, I liked the one that says "Master"! Also check out the one with the lion design. This is a long necklace made with big faceted glass beads, brass chain and several keys.Such a fun piece! Pin It

Stay tuned............

I have to apologize for the lack of posts this week, but I have been concentrating on making new pieces for the Vintage Chicks Show, that is quickly approaching. I hope to get some of my new creations photographed this week, and post the pictures here for your viewing pleasure, sometime next week. There are also some new designs, using a completely new material for me, so stay tuned!
This weekend in Canada, is a long weekend, the first of the summer. I am hoping to get out into the yard at some point and do some gardening and plant cleanup after the long winter. However, it looks like it may be a bit rainy, so I might have to rethink my weekend plans. I will get my Johnny Dep fix this weekend, as we have tickets to the Imax theatre to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie, On Stranger Tides. I will let you know my opinion, so yet another reason to stay tuned. So wherever you are, and whatever your weekend holds for you, I hope you all have a safe, fun and wonderful weekend, and pop back in next week for all the updates!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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Saturday night out

On Saturday evening, we attended my friends fundraising dinner for The Mustard Seed. The proceeds from this event went to help Calgarys homeless population. There was a silent auction with several pieces of art work, several baskets of goodies that were raffled off, and a 50/50 draw. Unfortunately we were all a bunch of losers at our table! The bracelet that I donated for the silent auction sold for $160.00, so I was very pleased!
Here I am with my friend, Brenda, who decided that she wanted to help feed the homeless and organized this fundraiser...I have to give her a big huge applause!

We went to this event with 3 other couples.
Here are the ladies..............

and here are our guys!

We had a great evening ,and it certainly was for a good cause. Pin It

Create your own book

Have you ever wanted to take your personal photos and design a book? Well, I found this great website where you can do just that...and it is so simple to do! The website is called Blurb, and here you can download your pictures and design  a book with or without text. There are tips and tutorials to help you on your way, you can even set your own price and sell your book, or if you like you can share it on Facebook! You can create a small 7 inch square  soft cover color photo book from as little as $13.95, all the way to a large hardcover coffee table book, with premium paper for under $200.00. There are options for every budget. Imagine the fabulous personalized gifts that you can create! Family history books, weddings books, graduation or school memories, birthdays and anniversaries, ....hey Fathers Day is coming up..and what a neat gift idea to create a special book for Dad. A lot better than another shirt!
This person made a book consisting of all her sons art work within a period of a few years. That is so cool!

 Here is a book of an artists paintings. Proceeds from this book go towards this persons college fund...neat idea!

On the website you can see books that have just been published, staff favorites, best sellers and many different categories of books that have been published by ordinary people like you and me.
My husband had mentioned the other day, that he had recently heard, that in the near  future, our children and grandchildren may not have photos of family and treasured moments  to hold in their hands, as they will be forever gone.....once stored on someones hard drive. By publishing our photos in these books, our memories and captures of our loved ones will be around for future generations to enjoy. What a great idea...I am off to make mine! Pin It

Donating for the Homeless

 This Saturday, I am attending a fund raising dinner, that is raising money for Calgarys homeless people. It is being organized by a school friend of mine, Brenda and her daughter. They thought this idea up all on their own, and I have to really give these ladies credit for taking the time to organize this event. Last  that I heard, is that they had sold over 160 tickets! On the night of the dinner, there will be  50/50 draws, raffles and auctions to raise even more cash for the homeless population.
 I am donating this bracelet that I made for her event, and hope it will bring in some  money for a good cause. It is entirely sterling silver, hand wired with gorgeous amethyst chunks, aquamarine, glass beads, vintage beads, Swarovski pearls and crystals. Pin It

Mothers Day

I hope all of you Mothers out there had a fabulous Mothers Day, yesterday. This year, mine was quite different from past Mothers Days celebrations. My husband, son and I  awoke at 6:00 am, and traveled 30 minutes into the big city to pick up up my daughter and my 11 year old granddaughter. All of us then proceeded to the Sport Chek Mothers Day Walk and Run! This year money was being raised for new neo-natal equipment for the hospital. We had registered for this event a few weeks ago, after one of my friends had invited us to join her team. It was a cool and rainy morning but we had so much fun! There were over 14.000 people that participated this year. One could register as a 5K or 10K runner, or a 5K walker...........we decided to go with the walking option, as we were charity run virgins! As the event started we took our positions near the back of the pack with the rest of the walkers (runners were lined up ahead of us), and then we were off! Let me tell you, I have never seen my husband walk so fast! My granddaughter and 13 year old son kept up with him and they soon disappeared into the vast crowd. My daughter and I were walking very briskly, and interspersed our walking with periods of jogging. MY husband, son and granddaughter finished in 40 minutes, and my daughter and I came in at 43 minutes. We were all really pleased with how we did. It was a great feeling, to do this with some of my family, and a great healthy way to celebrate Mothers Day. We have decided to do it again next year and make it an annual Mothers Day event for our family! Pin It

The Vintage Chicks Show

I recently found out that I was accepted into The Vintage Chicks Show, that will be held n June 10 and 11, in Priddis, Alberta! The Vintage Chicks were inspired by the highly successful and very popular, Spokane based Farm Chicks show.

Farm Chicks Show

Farm Chicks Show

 In these shows, it is not just about the product you are selling, it is also extremely important on how you display your merchandise. Each vendor creates a "boutique" style space...no tables a-la- old- school allowed! So this idea makes for a very visually appealing show.The Vintage Chicks Show also supports local handmade businesses, rather than  mass production.(very good ladies!) So if you enjoy, vintage, retro, eclectic, shabby chic, country, farmhouse or rustic style this is the show for you!

This is a booth from the Vintage Chicks Show last year!

 This show features antiques, collectibles, re-purposed finds, art and handmade goods, artists, restylists, repurposers and dreamers of all things old worn, torn and tattered! I am so excited to be included in this show. Now, it is off to get the creative juices flowing to get inspired with ideas for my little 6' x 6' space! Pin It

Thirty four years goes by in a flash!

Today I was inspired by Lin, at  Duck and Wheel with String.  Her daughter turns sweet sixteen today, and her post is about how quickly our children grow up. How eventually, they leave home and build their own life, and how hard it can be for us as parents to let go. I could not have said it better myself.

 My little girl turned 34 years old yesterday...talk about the time flying! I remember every detail about her birth, I was only 18 years old and a single mom. We had many struggles in those early years..life was not easy as a young single parent. The teen years were ...well...challenging at times........ as most teen years are. However, I have many sweet and wonderful memories and treasured moments of her years growing up, that will always be with me. The birthday party sleepovers, the boyfriends coming and going, the weekend nights of waiting up until she arrived home safely (even 10 minutes past curfew seemed like forever!), her high school  graduation.  Through all the ups and downs the challenges and growing pains, she turned out to be a wonderful young lady. She now has a great career, a husband and a wonderful home and is also a Mom herself, and I still treasure every moment I have with her.

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Mission accomplished....Spring Found!

Last week, I went to the west coast of Canada, on Vancouver Island, in search of Spring, and I am happy to report that I found it! After many, many months, of snow, ice, and cold temperatures here in the foothills of the Alberta, Rocky Mountains, I thoroughly embraced every moment of Spring that I could get in 10 days on the west coast. So without further adieu, here are the pics!

I found Spring here!

and here!

"Hey, who's that crazy lady taking pictures of everyones front yards?"

Flowers on fences and trellises.

The monk and his flock.

Trees with big pink flowers...oh my!

 

 

Who says palm trees don't grow in Canada?

I have no idea what this is, but it is beautiful!

The deer have lots to eat here!

 

 

 

My son on the rocks!

 

 

 

 

 

Finding spring.... I am very happy!!

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