Bangles

I had a bit of fun making bangles with more than a bit of inspiration from fanciful devices

She's very free with the sharing of her techniques and ideas.

In fact she welcomes you to try to make anything that she shows on her blog, she's got plenty more ideas.

I used beads from my stash that I wouldn't normally use... like the big bag of beads someone thought I might be able to use. I didn't think so at the time because they don't necessarily go with my lampwork and designs but it was a fun exercise in freeing up my ideas of what can work.

Especially  the randomness, that helped make the funky beads look even funkier.

I used sari silk, mexican woven fabric and even some fabric scraps that I picked up on the migrant trail near our house. 

I made bright ones, brighter ones and some neutral ones

The hard part for me is sizing them. I have skinny wrists and tend to design for my size and then I wonder if I made some too big. We'll see.

Other news is that our apartment in Tucson is painted, tiled and carpeted now. it was too late in the evening for photos so I guess that will have to wait until next trip to the city.

meanwhile the Mr. is decorating the house and propping up our new tree and I'm being beckoned for assistance.

Ciao! xoxo Kim

Swap Pieces

When I received some unexpected goodies with my swap with Linda at Itsy Bits and Pieces, 

I decided to put stuff to use right away rather than rat-holing an ever burgeoning stash of treasures.

 The best way for me to approach  this endeavor was to go into a bit of a production mode.

Yesterday I set about collage-ing the various  vintage bingo cards cards that she gave me along with some little scrapbooking images that another friend had surprised me with. Along with some images that I had been collecting I put together some simple collages.

She gave me several large buttons to play with.

I came up with some simple shabby style silk sari ribbon necklaces

with vintage keys and a bauble or two.

I may even revamp my Etsy shop and hope to get a shopping cart up here and on my website as well as facebook.

I'll be ready for the summer season coming up at least!

I'm not so sure about this one as far as durability goes since it has a plastic hasp 

( vintage plastic) and the headpin is a little wobbly.

I wanted to post it though since I like the picture.

So yes you could say I've been busy!

Meanwhile any of these are for sale. 

please inquire.

The Last Projects of 2010~ Happy New Year!

Trying something new

Where the lampwork meets the "roadsmithed" bottle caps

Opals and rust

Chrysocolla and quartz

A choker of vintage buttons and sari silk ribbons

Lampwork baubles, disks and sari silk ribbons.

It's challenging for me to create a distressed and shabby look that works.

I finally got a whole day to myself to finish some projects that I had started over the last month. In between visitors and parties I found myself craving some time alone in the studio.

While  the Dave-man was off on a hiking in the Grand Canyon I got back to my bottle cap earrings. I had just bought some sari silk ribbon from Mudhound  Studio's Etsy shop and was anxious to put it to use. These are a few of my latest creations to finish out the year.

A very Arty New Year to you all and thanks for your acquaintances  and support this past year. I've enjoyed the journey.

xoxo Kim