Almost Three Months?!

GOSH!  Though it's been an extremely productive time, too long, too long!!  First there were a couple of antique shows, then a trunk show, a huge craft faire, assisting my parents with a remodel and move...yada yada.  SO!  I'm back for now and wanted to share what I did with the last two weeks when I wasn't wearing my moving, painting and cleaning hats.

My dress design and construction hat!

We were invited recently, to attend a period event towards the end of this month.  Used to be I could just pull out some ensemble from my antique clothing collection, but I've put on too much weight to fit into much of it.  Yes, up and down with the pounds, so I started looking around my fabric stash to pull something together for moi!  I have designed and sewn for years, used to have a full time costume rental business, but have never taken the time to make something for  myself.  Because time was a huge consideration, I didn't have the luxury of  over-agonizing about it. 

Here are a few pictures, if you're interested in doing something similar, I have explained it at the end of this post.  I just finished a sassy little fascinator that didn't get photographed.  Perhaps I will have an event picture or two to share on a later date....

Alll the fabrics are crispy silks, the red is a color change to a greenish gold.   I used antique laces, trims and buttons.

I lost my desire to sew after costuming a play, when I had to construct ten WWI mens British military uniforms, and had about 2-3 weeks.  I pulled several all nighters getting that done and the thought of olive drab still makes me queasy.  I've done some accessory items and light boho reconstruct things, but this was the first fairly intense piece in quite some time.  I wanted a basic 1880's silhouette, and I have a small bustle to wear under the skirt to lift the poufs just a bit.  And a corset, bleh.

What I did, if you're interested...For the bodice I used McCalls 6097, but lost the ren style lower sleeve and added my own layers of fabrics and lace, and the ruffles around the neckline.  I like the longer bodice style, it's really smooth and forgiving.  I flat lined and didn't bone because of the corsetry.

For the skirt I used Simplicity 2851, attaching the apron to the skirt at the waistband.The bustle poufs and train are one piece, attaching at the back of the waist band.  Both patterns are costume designs and I am never satisfied with the finish work per their instructions, electing to french seam, or bind my seams.  As I was taught, your work should be just as beautiful on the inside as out, and I don't serge, ever.  Fiddly-ass machines drive me nuts.

So there you have it, I am back to jewelry making as of tomorrow, having some earring requests to catch up on and will be taking my artfire studio off hiatus status as soon as I can get a few things listed. 

Oh, I almost forgot to mention, my jewelry can be found locally at The Genoa Trading Company, and in Anchorage Alaska at the divine Ozarks Americana.  I am so pleased and proud to be in both these lovely spots!

Thanks for stopping by...be back soon!

Lis~

In the Blink of an Eye

July is essentially gone, another month...POOF! I've done two shows back to back weekends, and Ron just finished yet another.  Sparing you the details, we have a very very busy house.  Very.  I don't have many pictures to share this time, but am wanting to tell you that I've consigned a significant quantity of inventory at The Genoa Trading Company!  That arrangement is going swimmingly well.  I try to make things, or progress toward  that every day, it's what I do, and happily, a number of things have sold before even having the opportunity to photograph them.

My garden is a pathetic mess this year, but there aren't too many around here to be very envious of.  The weather has been unstable and just plain stoopid. Oh! Something I learned this month. One space after a sentence..?  Huh?  I can't seem to break the habit of two and wonder when that happened anyway.

A few pics and at some point I will update the ArtFire Studio. Talking to amazing SIL recently and I told him that we were so very busy, and that I always seem to be that way, and at least I am never bored.

He said that he was never bored either, and thought that it might be fun.

I do apologize for the brevity, and will try to get back soon!

Studio Update

Here we go, another month breezing by.  I have piles of inventory and will be updating my ArtFire studio momentarily, but wanted to take just a moment and share pictures of a little of what I've been doing..Many of my pieces will be going to consignment, so if something catches your eye, contact me quick.   I am really pleased to be working with Christine and will update with links and pics on my next post.  Meanwhile, here we go!.

Edwardian enamel reconstructed earrings...

Edelweiss enamel flowers, little sterling bells...

Vintage jacks and antique glass beads.

Bracelets, bracelets, and more bracelets...

 Nouveau brass heart, NOT a reproduction....and an amazing brass cross with a pocket knife.   Ironic.

I don't often keep my own pieces, but this hand carved Victorian bone castle necklace is calling to me...and I've pondered it's construction for months...we'll see...

Love and blessings to anyone kind an patient enough to stop here....

Lis~

Palette Pondering and What Happened to May?

I haven't been here in quite some time and it makes me a little twitchy!  I like to blog, I like to read others...and I've missed this very much.  So!  Cowboy Poetry was a success for me, a very respectable quantity of my work went riding off into the sunset, I had a birthday back then and it was made so lovely and special by my best peeps, and then the rest of the month...well, I wouldn't go back there for all the coffee in Costa Rica.  Major creepiness with a rental property (not ours, but in the family) but I think we're d.u.n.  Pretty much.  Being kept away from the studio makes it all the sweeter when I finally do get back, and I spent a couple of days catching up on some custom work.  Today I just puttered and pondered and piled palettes.  So this what I have to show you after my stress workout.  Palettes...

Design work happens for me in different ways.  Sometimes I sketch, sometimes I pile things up, but no matter, it's always an evolution process.  These pictures are just beginnings.

Tourmalines, one of my all time favorites.

I found this old celluloid cat brooch and think the grossular garnet and smoky quartz might be the thing with the chalcedony...ponder ponder.

Carnelian, faceted citrines, antique carved bone and a yummy old reverse painted glass brooch....sigh.  I've set a tintype into a cavity on the reverse of the focal.

I am thinking that the matching brooches will soon be earrings, and kyanite drops with antique mother of pearl just has to work in....

I'm pretty anxious to get to work on this one....the focal has an amazing story to tell.

These little "ponder piles"...well....some will be realized and some will have to wait for that perfect little bit that I must locate, or construct...the only thing I know for certain is that it feels really fine to sit here and be still......

I've missed you!

Cowboys Incoming

Jeesh, I hesitate to use the words "Cowboy Poetry Festival" since Harry Reid shot his mouth off and was so roundly criticized for it.  Taxpayers money supporting the Arts and all that.....and this event isn't even the HUGE festival they have in Elko every year....only the second annual for us, we loved the experience last year.  May 4-8   and we have no expectations but some relative level of hope for a successful event.  Nevada has been hit really hard in this economy.  Foreclosures are still very common and everyone knows someone or several someones' who are out of work and/or have lost their homes amd more.

The music and poetry are just a bit of what happens,  a small part of our culture here, and if you're local I highly encourage you to head on out.  The weather is purported to be fabulous. I will be peddling my handmade wares, the antique store will be open, and so many interesting things are going on!  Wonderful art, the Native Americans (Indians) will be in front of our antique store selling their legendary Indian Tacos and in the Mason's Hall next door they'll have Arts and Crafts demonstrations and goods for sale. Activities and events are spread all over town.

I've been diligently working on my inventory all winter and this will be my first opportunity to put some things out to the public that haven't been listed in my ArtFire studio.  My focus has been on a more organic, simpler line of affordable adornment though I do liberally scatter rhinestones around out of habit and necessity.  If you do come around, be sure to stop by and say Hey, Hiya, Howdy or something!

Always some element of sparkle, I'd have to hide my rhinestones from myself to work without them ever...

Happiest of Mother's Day,and my heartfelt prayers up for tornado victims.

 Now....where did I put my boots?