A Hard Day's Night or....

A Working Girls Secret....
I went shopping or "scrounging" today, and I normally don't hit antique stores with much success since I am an uber picky dealer with my own store....so I had to really work hard to find anything.  I did end the day with swollen feet and some treasures!

The little boxed set of antique Colgate products is darling...the green talc can is only 2 inches tall, the graphics on the box are very sweet.  I love the graphics on the dye package too....contents and instructions are all intact...apple blossom pink from the 20's!

I'm well pleased with the jewels too.  I got some wonderful brass filigree and textured beads,  a couple of interesting dress clips, a nice brass brooch from the 30's with a litho of "Marie" under glass, and some nice strands of rosary beads.   I scored some interesting very vintage chain and a little pile of earrings, and a couple of victorian pins.  Some of these things will be sacrificed to the gnarling hunger of re-creation, some of them I will list when the honeymoon is over.

One piece I found is the rhodium deco filigree lavaliere, with the pale blue faceted stones.  It's really very pretty but needs tlc.  The faux pearls are in such bad shape, I'm going too replace them with nice freshwater pearls.  Once it's cleaned and has a real going-over, it will be truly breathtaking.

I don't think it shows well in the pictures but the "sleeper" find of the day was a strand of ugly, odd boho style beads of undetermined nature.  My first glance blew them off thinking 70's Pier 1 junk.  For some reason I kept going back...then I noticed they was strung on fine chain....flappers did that because of vigorous dancing.  Gorgeous engraved brass barrel clasp, I have to study it more, but for $4.00?  I've seen single beads sell for more than that!  It has 3 very unusual hand hammered metal beads and hand carved bone bits. 

So, though my feet are mad at me for wearing my western boots all day, my pocketbook is pleased and I'm feeling smug.

The crepe paper roses are a delicate little spray from the 30's.  They just jumped into the bag at the last minute.

Till next time........

CenturyVintage....

Another Etsy shop, CenturyVintage for vintage and antiques, destash and great stuff to inspire....just opening (as in today) and so come visit, check back...I love my banner...Alicia Pellon (artinsomnia) has done all of mine for Artfire and Etsy,  she inspires me.  Truly....sigh, she is wonderful....I highly recommend her.............

It's all still so new, the categories aren't built yet, really.  And there are other projects on all the burners, but I wanted to check in....
okay so I have:
bonjourmadame.artfire.com
cobwebpalace.artfire.com
thecobwebpalace.etsy.com
centuryvintage.etsy.com

I will never get around to Facebook....Twitter....Plurk.....

I am really loving Creative Souls...



Till next time!
moi

Ladyes of The Cobweb Palace, Act II...

Are you weary of the ladyes yet?  I'm pleased with the outcome of this little group, but am ready to take a break from paper and trims for just a bit....the jewelry bench beckons to me, whispering, "I miss you...".  They're all listed, between etsy and artfire, I could sink the Titanic with these dolls....I do have plans brewing for another grouping, but somewhat different.  Photo layout and fonts are giving me grief this evening, so I do apologise for the choppy presentation.  Until next time...!

Presenting The First Ladyes of Cobweb Palace....

And they are indeed the first of a new area of expression for me.   Paper dolls, puppets, free standing these are, but articulated characters are in the works as well.....Meet the ladyes, on their way to entertainments of an undoubtedly exciting nature.  These five lovelies have just been introduced in my Etsy shop, and I have plans for many, many more characters of the CobwebPalace sort.  I am using lots of wonderful antique and vintage embellishments, and will make no two alike.  Some will go to Artfire, some to Etsy, some will stay with me to adorn my studio.  Please check back with me periodically to meet the new personalities.  Paper dolling fits right in with everything else I do, and helps use up my tiny snippets and scraps of  antique bits.....Shhhhh!  I can't say too much right now, but I do think you'll be delighted!  

Easter Postcard Images to Play with...

Yesterday I was perusing a very fun blog, AlteredArtifacts and noticed that the artisan gave away vintage postcard printable clipart, and I was touched by that.  Particularly since images are her Etsy business.....she has a list of free tutorials on her blog that I am anxious to look at as well....I thought that was a wonderful idea, not that my images are worth using, the postcards I scanned seem a little faded now, but here they are, for you to take and use how you like, assuming I did everything right.  I have hundreds of antique and vintage postcards and their original purpose was for sharing, so ... I hope you enjoy! ~Lis

New Treasures Just Off the Bench....

I'm pleased to say that the necklace I donated to Haiti by Hand has been purchased and is now finding it's way to a new home.  I think that Rebecca Sower's efforts will be ongoing and so I will come up with another piece sometime soon, but in this little meanwhile, I've just finished and listed these pieces.  I am really pleased with all of them, but the Maltese Cross really sets my heart pattering.  The combination of lapiz and aquamarines seems to really generate some interesting energy.   Okay so I'm a little nuts but I kid you not, the piece really hums for me.

I found the hand carved bone piece recently and the brooch casing was somehow too huge for it, so I reworked it and will create a reliquary from the other part of the brooch....that's going to be fun!

I can't believe the color separation in the  slag on this Nouveau Pendant.  It almost looks like picture agate. 

The filigree piece was a rework and I'm much happier with it now.   I really like jewelry that moves. 

These earrings were hard to capture, the pearls are a soft whisper of green, and the faceted teardrops are prasiolite green garnet.  I'm still working on the design....I want the drops to be looser, almost seeming to spin under the rondelle, so they're not getting listed but going back to the bench. 

Rebecca Sower and Haiti by Hand

Haiti by Hand has been organized by Rebecca Sower , and if you are a craftista with a heart to donate, please consider doing so.  But this is Rebecca's story and it's best you hear it from her. 

This is one of  the pieces I donated to the Etsy/HaitibyHand Shop , so if you can, please saunter on over there and look around, lots of lovelies and interesting things, and every dollar goes to the relief project in Despinos Haiti.  There is a price range for every budget, but before you do, read Rebeccas blog...it's an intimate, focused and brilliant way to help women of Haiti.

 

Please, if nothing else, try to get the word out...

When I think about how much difference a small amount of money can make to these people, it really amazes me to think how we can deeply affect and even profoundly change lives with our art.

If I stopped to count all the ways I am blessed every day, I would simply run out of day.  I take too much for granted and forget how fortunate I am. 

Lis