Transformed Beauty

This is my latest project that I have been working on.

I bought this mannequin a few months ago. She was a sorry sight, with a nice rip across her fabric chest, and the word "garbage" written in permanent black ink  down her shoulder and onto the front of her body. I did not know what I was going to do to her at the time I purchased her, but knew she would fit in nicely with all my other worn, vintage display pieces.

Apparently she was once discarded, by a retailer  and left by the roadside for the garbage truck. She was rescued and then spent some time in a little local boutique, sporting the latest fashions and accessories. When the shop closed and sold off their retail displays, I grabbed her and gave her a new home.

So over the past few weeks she was transformed. I decoupaged layers of tissue from  vintage sewing patterns, that I picked up for free at a flea market, all over her, covering the tear in her body and trying hard to cover the  word "garbage". Unfortunately, like a tattoo on her body, it is still visible, but now it kinda adds to her personality! I gave her a tiny skirt of vintage lace, and voila...she is now the star of the show. She will make her debut this Saturday, May 4th, at the Okotoks Market Square Artisan sale. 

  




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Quality Made

This past weekend, we hit up one of the local antique shows.  I love to browse all the booths, checking out trinkets, and paraphernalia from days gone by. Even if I don't buy anything, its just so interesting to wander around and view all the items from simpler times. Everything seemed to be made so much better 50, 60, 70 years ago, than what we typically find in our stores today. In the good ol' days things were made with quality and detail, from the tiniest button, to the grandest  dining room table, things back then were built or made to last. 

I did not get anything, other than a small handful of brass buttons, that I bought from a fellow selling military items.  I hunted through his box of beautiful old buttons, and picked out my favorites.

 I especially love the button with the beaver on it! Doesn't get much more Canadian than that, eh?

He gave me a deal....so I was happy. They will definitely find a new life in one of my designs. Pin It

Cadet Fundraiser

I last posted about a piece that I designed for a local charity auction, and mentioned that I would post photos of a second piece that I created for another  great local fundraiser.

This necklace will be up for auction at the Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps. fundraising event, later this month.  

I  call this piece "War Bride". This necklace features a wonderful vintage R.C.A.F  brass button. (Royal Canadian Air Force) I felt this was a  perfect addition to this necklace, given the fundraiser.

I also added an old brass photo locket, vintage skeleton key, and Swarovski glass pearls.

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Camp Horizon Fundraiser

Last week I was approached on two different occasions, about donating some of jewelry for a couple of local fundraisers. The first is a big charity auction, with proceed going towards new beds for Camp Horizon, which is a camp for disabled children and their caregivers. I was more than happy to comply, and set about gathering some interesting pieces to create this necklace.

The somewhat heart shaped, brass filigree focal piece was  actually an old clip earring that I took apart. The crystal key charm at the very bottom, is a modern Swarovski addition. 

  There is a fabulous vintage skeleton key that is suspended from a very old circular, metal filigree jewelry finding, which is rare old Mariam Haskell stock.  I also added vintage chains and  corrugated brass beads,

.............and some wonderful vintage uncirculated Swarovski crystals...both the more recognized faceted crystals, as well as the rare matte crystal beads.

Then I decided to design some earrings to go with this necklace.

Here is everything displayed together and     ready for the auction.

I also designed another necklace for another fundraiser, and will feature that one next time! Pin It

Newcastle Island

A ten day break to the coast was good for my soul.  Visiting and catching up with my daughter, and spending time with old friends, wonderful weather, good food, and invigorating adventures, have rejuvenated me.

We had an amazing day hike to a small neighbouring island, which is actually one of British Columbia's  provincial parks, and only accessible by boat.  So we had to take the little passenger ferry boat across to the island.

 There are several hiking trails on this Island and we chose to do the hike around the perimeter of the island, which is almost 5 miles.  There are many beautiful beaches along the way.

My friend and I, posing for the camera!

                        Here are my friends and my son leading the way.

                                                  The views were stunning!

 Looking back towards the mainland, we could see the snow capped mountains.

 The trail took us through forests, and up over sandstone cliffs where we had some fantastic view points. We saw eagles, a blue heron, Arbutus, Douglas Fir and Garry oak trees.

We sat and ate our well deserved picnic lunch in this pretty bay.

(My son and husband.)

There is a lot of history on this tiny island, ranging from native fishing sites and burial grounds, to coal mining and quarrying for sandstone.

Back in 1869, the American government was searching for sandstone to build the San Francisco mint. they needed massive blocks of sandstone as well as giant columns for this building. The American builders settled on Newcastle Island stone for its superior qualities. Almost 8,000 tonnes of sandstone were cut and transported, by ship, to San Francisco over a period of 4 years.

The San Francisco mint was to have 8 massive sandstone columns made on Newcastle Island and shipped south to San Francisco. However, in 1872, during the ship transport of 2 of the columns, the ship was caught in a snowstorm and sank off the coast of Vancouver Island. 

                       The old quarry.



Over 100 years later,in 1976, the sunken shipwreck was located by divers, and one of the giant sandstone columns was salvaged and brought back to  Newcastle Island, where today it sits as a memorial to the sunken ship and its crew.

We spent about 4 hours here, on Newcastle island, and it certainly wasn't enough time to fully explore all that this park has to offer. I cant wait to go back again in the summer, and hike some of the other trails on this fantastic island.





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