As I posted so many pieces last week, I will take a break from showing you anything new today (although, believe it or not, I do have a few more pieces I worked on!)
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited my blog this past week for all 4 (four!) challenges: for taking the time to read everything, to comment, and to encourage me.
It means a lot to me!
If you have just landed on my website and wonder what the challenges of last week have been, I compiled a list for your easy of reference: please consider visiting other participants too, we have created many beauties for you, our visitors & customers!
A time to stitch #2 - hosted by Therese (Therese's Treasures) and Christine (One Kiss Creations)
Sharyl's Bead Packet Challenge - hosted by Sharyl (Sharyl's Jewelry)
Solar Flare Blog Hop - hosted by Sam (Ultimate Supplies)
Oktoberfest Challenge - hosted by Rita (Toltec Jewels)
This week and next I will prepare for a small home show a friend of mine has invited me to. So I will probably have more pieces to show you in the near future :)
If you have any words of wisdom for what to make - please share! This will be my very first show and I am both excited and terrified :)
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Oktoberfest challenge
I have survived this weekend :)
If you'd like to check the other 2 blogs hops here they are:
When Rita (Toltec Jewels) put up the Oktoberfest event I had to participate. Who can look at that picture and stay on the sides?!
I knew October will be a busy month, but I also knew I will make something for it - I love autumn colours way too much. Plus she mentioned it doesn't have to be jewelry - decor will be accepted too. And boy, do we decorate for fall!
Nonetheless - I had to make a piece... actually 3! Almost 4 - but I have to solder the rings for the 4th, so I will leave it for another time.
I finally managed to use the vintage amber strand my mom sent me. I made 2 pieces (I took pictures of only one!) - a combination of fall / summer, I can't seem to let the summer go. I present you 'Autumn in Amber'; I am sure through the comments I will re-visit and re-name it :)
A flower made of copper and decorated with amber, and a amber-beaded chain: simple, elegant, light and beautiful to wear!
I love the colours and the texture: the metal against the organic amber is a very interesting feel!
When I dug the amber from the box, I also got two of the bracelets my mom sent (originally set on elastic): no fancy materials, but really interesting and good looking pieces. Out of one of them I made this Victorian necklace (yeah, a couple of weeks too late, I know!) using seed beads and Czech crystals, and a strand of velvet ribbon. I present you "Victorian October Evening":
It is incredibly elegant, I knew it would be - but when I added the black velvet I gasped; you have to see the Czech crystals glittering between those delicious chocolate beads to understand its full power. This is not a day piece: it must be worn with an elegant evening dress or even with a crisp white blouse and jeans and very high heels :) Watch for a Polyvore collage soon...
Last, but not least - with my newly found love of bead weaving I finally managed to make this piece. I had the inspiration for almost a year, I believe, it's from the book 'Stunning jewelry made easy'. I absolutely love the fiery colours (to think when I bought them I thought these are not my colours!) and I named the bracelet "Glorious Chrysanthemum"
I bought the daggers specifically for this focal, I wanted to make it for a very long time - and now that I did I wonder why I have waited for so long. It is delicious - and it matches the colours of the foliage perfectly!
With the ribbon I just bought for the 'Victorian Evening' necklace I decided to transform it into a bracelet. You can't see very well in the picture - but the ribbon ends are in a gold finish, and the actual hook is hand-made from copper. I wasn't sure about the combination at first, but because of the daggers, which are in a beautiful Siam Ruby and Apple Orange colours, I think the copper and brass make a nice autumn-like 'team' :)
I couldn't leave you without the décor items, could I?
I found this beautiful candle holder on one of our Royal Botanical Gardens trips - in the gift shop. I love its curves and William chose these (very expensive) poppy-like candles.
This is our cornucopia on the mantel :) There is something soothing about getting the horn out of storage and filling it with colourful gourds.
I hope you have enjoyed my Oktoberfest adventures - thank you, Rita, for hosting it and making it happen!
And Happy Birthday to our wonderful host, Rita of Toltec Jewels :)
Thank you, my visitor, for taking the journey with me.
And please make sure you visit the other participants:
If you'd like to check the other 2 blogs hops here they are:
I knew October will be a busy month, but I also knew I will make something for it - I love autumn colours way too much. Plus she mentioned it doesn't have to be jewelry - decor will be accepted too. And boy, do we decorate for fall!
Nonetheless - I had to make a piece... actually 3! Almost 4 - but I have to solder the rings for the 4th, so I will leave it for another time.
I finally managed to use the vintage amber strand my mom sent me. I made 2 pieces (I took pictures of only one!) - a combination of fall / summer, I can't seem to let the summer go. I present you 'Autumn in Amber'; I am sure through the comments I will re-visit and re-name it :)
A flower made of copper and decorated with amber, and a amber-beaded chain: simple, elegant, light and beautiful to wear!
I love the colours and the texture: the metal against the organic amber is a very interesting feel!
When I dug the amber from the box, I also got two of the bracelets my mom sent (originally set on elastic): no fancy materials, but really interesting and good looking pieces. Out of one of them I made this Victorian necklace (yeah, a couple of weeks too late, I know!) using seed beads and Czech crystals, and a strand of velvet ribbon. I present you "Victorian October Evening":
It is incredibly elegant, I knew it would be - but when I added the black velvet I gasped; you have to see the Czech crystals glittering between those delicious chocolate beads to understand its full power. This is not a day piece: it must be worn with an elegant evening dress or even with a crisp white blouse and jeans and very high heels :) Watch for a Polyvore collage soon...
Last, but not least - with my newly found love of bead weaving I finally managed to make this piece. I had the inspiration for almost a year, I believe, it's from the book 'Stunning jewelry made easy'. I absolutely love the fiery colours (to think when I bought them I thought these are not my colours!) and I named the bracelet "Glorious Chrysanthemum"
I bought the daggers specifically for this focal, I wanted to make it for a very long time - and now that I did I wonder why I have waited for so long. It is delicious - and it matches the colours of the foliage perfectly!
With the ribbon I just bought for the 'Victorian Evening' necklace I decided to transform it into a bracelet. You can't see very well in the picture - but the ribbon ends are in a gold finish, and the actual hook is hand-made from copper. I wasn't sure about the combination at first, but because of the daggers, which are in a beautiful Siam Ruby and Apple Orange colours, I think the copper and brass make a nice autumn-like 'team' :)
I couldn't leave you without the décor items, could I?
I found this beautiful candle holder on one of our Royal Botanical Gardens trips - in the gift shop. I love its curves and William chose these (very expensive) poppy-like candles.
This is our cornucopia on the mantel :) There is something soothing about getting the horn out of storage and filling it with colourful gourds.
I hope you have enjoyed my Oktoberfest adventures - thank you, Rita, for hosting it and making it happen!
And Happy Birthday to our wonderful host, Rita of Toltec Jewels :)
Thank you, my visitor, for taking the journey with me.
And please make sure you visit the other participants:
Our host: Toltec Jewels
Labels:
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Czech crystals,
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nature,
necklace,
ooak jewelry,
ooak necklace,
wearable art,
wire wrapping
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Solar Flare - Blog Hop
As you know from previous posts - this weekend is home for 3 Blog Hops.
This post is for the Solar Flare Blog Hop
Back in September Sam from Ultimate Supplies took a gorgeous picture of a sunset down in California. It was during one of those solar storms and the picture became the inspiration for Sam's first blog hop.
During the summer days, following Sandra's Creative Chaos design Challenge I was the lucky winner of her giveaway and she promptly sent me a beautiful red jade focal. I stared at it for a long time, I even took it with me on our trip to South Carolina, in an attempt to find something that will work with. Nothing matched nicely.
Until one day, while browsing our LBS (local bead store) when I finally knew what I want to do with it. I bought the materials and... life intervened so it stood like that, in a little bag: the red jade focal, matching red jade carved beads, dyed silk, glass doughnuts, and some fake leather thread (I don't know how would you call it).
Until Sam's Solar Flare picture - when I realized it will match perfectly.
So here it is: the necklace that I used no tools to make :) absolutely none!
Red and bright blue, a very bold combination, not tamed by anything in the necklace :) My Bold Solar Flare!
A few more details:
I really love the look of it - and the sound too! The glass beads hit the jade beads and they make a charming sound :)
So here you have my interpretation of Sam' Solar Flare.
Thank you for visiting - and please make sure you check the other participants too!
Gloria Allen
Shawn Marie Mills
Karin King
Alicia Marinache <-- You are here
Pam "The Crazier Sister"
Kelly Hosford Patterson
Delia Marsellos-Traister
Dana Lang
Mischelle Fanucchi
Jessica Murray
Cynthia Abner
Charlie Jacka
Shannon Hicks
Zoe Marcin
Rebecca Sirevaag
Miranda C. Ackerley
Paula Winchester Hisel
Lynn Jobber/Lo/The Creative Klutz
Alenka Obid
This post is for the Solar Flare Blog Hop
Back in September Sam from Ultimate Supplies took a gorgeous picture of a sunset down in California. It was during one of those solar storms and the picture became the inspiration for Sam's first blog hop.
During the summer days, following Sandra's Creative Chaos design Challenge I was the lucky winner of her giveaway and she promptly sent me a beautiful red jade focal. I stared at it for a long time, I even took it with me on our trip to South Carolina, in an attempt to find something that will work with. Nothing matched nicely.
Until one day, while browsing our LBS (local bead store) when I finally knew what I want to do with it. I bought the materials and... life intervened so it stood like that, in a little bag: the red jade focal, matching red jade carved beads, dyed silk, glass doughnuts, and some fake leather thread (I don't know how would you call it).
Until Sam's Solar Flare picture - when I realized it will match perfectly.
So here it is: the necklace that I used no tools to make :) absolutely none!
Red and bright blue, a very bold combination, not tamed by anything in the necklace :) My Bold Solar Flare!
A few more details:
The jade elements have been knotted on the blue waxed thread, while the blue glass doughnuts have been just slid on the dyed silk: both are very light and they stay nicely put. |
So here you have my interpretation of Sam' Solar Flare.
Thank you for visiting - and please make sure you check the other participants too!
Gloria Allen
Shawn Marie Mills
Karin King
Alicia Marinache <-- You are here
Pam "The Crazier Sister"
Kelly Hosford Patterson
Delia Marsellos-Traister
Dana Lang
Mischelle Fanucchi
Jessica Murray
Cynthia Abner
Charlie Jacka
Shannon Hicks
Zoe Marcin
Rebecca Sirevaag
Miranda C. Ackerley
Paula Winchester Hisel
Lynn Jobber/Lo/The Creative Klutz
Alenka Obid
A walk through the forest - aka Sharyl's Bead Packet Design Challenge #2, the reveal
As you know from previous posts - this weekend is home for 3 Blog Hops.
This post is for Sharyl's Bead Packet Design Challenge #2 - featuring Natalie Pappas of NKP Designs
When I first saw Sharyl's original post I almost fainted: along with gemstones and glass I am in love with ceramics too. I saw many ceramic beads, but being quite new to the artistic world I saw very few ceramic art beads, and even fewer up close and personal :) The colours weren't the ones I would pick for myself but I threw my name in the hat nonetheless, the whole package looks truly delicious.
A few weeks after the registration I was the proud owner of my first ceramic art beads. No, scratch that - my first and gorgeous ceramic art beads! I received them shortly after attending a Rock and Gems Show where I bought a few beauties, one of them being an Onyx small bowl... which became the first home of my new beads (see below).
I kept them on my table and played with them for a little bit - imagining various ideas, none being worthy of their beauty. I knew I wanted a simple yet very elegant design, something to let the finesse in the beads prevail.
Luckily for me the muse decided to take pity on me and this is what they became shortly after:
Is there a way to take good pictures of long necklaces?! This is a very long one - doesn't even need a clasp :)
Each bead has been carefully wrapped sandwiched between 2 antique copper spacers. The beaded components have been linked with 3 strands of copper chain (2 different chains, one antiqued, one not). Around the neck I used a piece of leather, wrapped with copper - it makes for such a soft and easy wear!
I love tassels and I used the large focal ceramic bead to create one - pulling all the elements together: a strand of leather is kept together by one copper spacer, and a few more strands of chain give the tassel a playful and charming air.
These are the beads I started with: and have used all but 2 white stones for the necklace.
What do you do when you have 2 stones? I don't know about you - but I made earrings:
As simple as the necklace, and lovingly brushing my neck with the tassel chains :)
I need a real-size mannequin - my necklaces are getting longer and longer and I have no neat way to present them properly.
Anyhow - I am uber-pleased with my set, I just love how it drapes and how it wears. It has the ability to change a low-key attire into a very elegant combination, and to match the elegance of a cocktail dress and make it playful and charming.
P.S. Since Kashmira asked so nicely, I tried my best to get a complete picture of the necklace - not my best pictures, but you'll get the idea of how the necklace will look like (a lot slimmer than in the pictures, I widened it as much as I could)
That is, in fact, the blouse I've been wearing it with a lot!
Thank you, Sharyl for the opportunity to play along - Natalie's ceramic is absolutely gorgeous and Sharyl's matching of the stones was perfectly done.
Thank you for visiting with me for this challenge.
Please make sure you visit the other participants (and if you are curious my Solar Flare blog hop too!). Remember to visit tomorrow too, for the Oktoberfest :)
This post is for Sharyl's Bead Packet Design Challenge #2 - featuring Natalie Pappas of NKP Designs
When I first saw Sharyl's original post I almost fainted: along with gemstones and glass I am in love with ceramics too. I saw many ceramic beads, but being quite new to the artistic world I saw very few ceramic art beads, and even fewer up close and personal :) The colours weren't the ones I would pick for myself but I threw my name in the hat nonetheless, the whole package looks truly delicious.
A few weeks after the registration I was the proud owner of my first ceramic art beads. No, scratch that - my first and gorgeous ceramic art beads! I received them shortly after attending a Rock and Gems Show where I bought a few beauties, one of them being an Onyx small bowl... which became the first home of my new beads (see below).
I kept them on my table and played with them for a little bit - imagining various ideas, none being worthy of their beauty. I knew I wanted a simple yet very elegant design, something to let the finesse in the beads prevail.
Luckily for me the muse decided to take pity on me and this is what they became shortly after:
Is there a way to take good pictures of long necklaces?! This is a very long one - doesn't even need a clasp :)
Each bead has been carefully wrapped sandwiched between 2 antique copper spacers. The beaded components have been linked with 3 strands of copper chain (2 different chains, one antiqued, one not). Around the neck I used a piece of leather, wrapped with copper - it makes for such a soft and easy wear!
I love tassels and I used the large focal ceramic bead to create one - pulling all the elements together: a strand of leather is kept together by one copper spacer, and a few more strands of chain give the tassel a playful and charming air.
These are the beads I started with: and have used all but 2 white stones for the necklace.
What do you do when you have 2 stones? I don't know about you - but I made earrings:
As simple as the necklace, and lovingly brushing my neck with the tassel chains :)
Anyhow - I am uber-pleased with my set, I just love how it drapes and how it wears. It has the ability to change a low-key attire into a very elegant combination, and to match the elegance of a cocktail dress and make it playful and charming.
P.S. Since Kashmira asked so nicely, I tried my best to get a complete picture of the necklace - not my best pictures, but you'll get the idea of how the necklace will look like (a lot slimmer than in the pictures, I widened it as much as I could)
That is, in fact, the blouse I've been wearing it with a lot!
Thank you, Sharyl for the opportunity to play along - Natalie's ceramic is absolutely gorgeous and Sharyl's matching of the stones was perfectly done.
Thank you for visiting with me for this challenge.
Please make sure you visit the other participants (and if you are curious my Solar Flare blog hop too!). Remember to visit tomorrow too, for the Oktoberfest :)
Sonia Smith - her piece will appear on Sharyl's blog
Kashmira Patel of Sudafulee... Always in Bloom
Alicia Marinache of All the Pretty Things <-- You are here
Cheri of Creative Designs by Cheri
Laren Dee Barton of Laren Dee Designs
Shirley Moore of Beads and Bread
Alice Craddick of Alice's Beads and Baubles
Cilla of Tell Your Girlfriends
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Time to sttich 2 - 'The Green Dragon'
Not so long ago, while browsing my daily blogs, I discovered a new challenge - one that seemed a complete misfit for me. Therese of Therese's Treasures and Christine of One Kiss Creations teamed up for the second take on their 'Time to stitch'. To stitch... what?! well - whatever you please, as long it was the RAW (right angle wave) or St. Petersburg.
Now everybody who knows me also knows I am seed-bead-phobic. I never seem to get over the idea of 'a myriad of tiny little things I need to manipulate'. However (yes, there must be one!) just the day before reading about Therese's & Christine's challenge I watched a video on... what do you think?! on St. Petersburg stitch. I loved the video - it presented the whole process very simply. I took it as a sign, thinking this might be just what I need to try it - if I leave it on myself do to that, I'll never push myself beyond my comfortable cozy state.
So... I breathed deeply and registered myself into the challenge.
We had the 2 stitches to try: RAW is dead simple, and can be used with large beads or crystals quite nicely. So I picked St. Petersburg :)
After an excruciating time choosing sizes and colours from my existing stash (I kind of got myself into a bead diet this month, and promised I will buy only the bare necessities) I decided upon a combination. Not the most spectacular one, but I still like it very much (although the trouble seems to be on what to wear it with! maybe I should get into clothing shopping?!)
I started my stitching and when my thread ended I took a break. One reason was that I wasn't sure how to start a new one in the most seamless way (Therese and Christine were both a great help and both let me pick their brain a few times during this adventure). The other (and most important) reason was that I wasn't sure what to do with it now :) I had about 3 inches of a splendid bead weave and... no idea in the whole universe on what to do with it.
A few hours of browsing through magazines and listening to music I decided to take it further.
I present you now my 'Green Dragon' (Godmother: Karen W.) St. Petersburg piece (aka St. Pete)
Oh, yes, you'd think I will stop at one St. Pete... hehe, not this girl: it's all or nothing - so yours truly went on and stitched a double St. Pete. I had bigger plans - wanted to do a quadruple one - but enough was enough, this week has no less than 4 challenges!
I love the texture, I love how the beaded weave molds on the skin (I actually cannot stop playing with it when I am wearing it) and I already have a few more ideas on how I can use it for other pieces.
Can you say 'hooked'? Because this is what I became - now the seed beads are not so impossible to manage, I took my trapshooting approach: it is one bead at a time (or a few in this case). There is something dramatically soothing about bead weaving, I believe it has to do with holding a needle and weaving the thread through those little colourful pieces - I love sewing and I love needle work... but I haven't done any in years... this experience just brought back memories of past and made it such a pleasant journey.
Thus I would like to thank both Therese and Christine for making it happen and for accepting me into their wonderful group - when they mentioned you don't really have to finish a piece, it's important just to try the stitch they lifted the pressure and made me comfortable in trying. I know I can succeed in trying, even if I wasn't sure I would succeed in finishing a piece.
Thank you, my visitor, for reliving the joy of this new adventure with me today!
Please make sure you visit the other participants, I am looking forward to seeing what everyone has created!
Now everybody who knows me also knows I am seed-bead-phobic. I never seem to get over the idea of 'a myriad of tiny little things I need to manipulate'. However (yes, there must be one!) just the day before reading about Therese's & Christine's challenge I watched a video on... what do you think?! on St. Petersburg stitch. I loved the video - it presented the whole process very simply. I took it as a sign, thinking this might be just what I need to try it - if I leave it on myself do to that, I'll never push myself beyond my comfortable cozy state.
So... I breathed deeply and registered myself into the challenge.
We had the 2 stitches to try: RAW is dead simple, and can be used with large beads or crystals quite nicely. So I picked St. Petersburg :)
After an excruciating time choosing sizes and colours from my existing stash (I kind of got myself into a bead diet this month, and promised I will buy only the bare necessities) I decided upon a combination. Not the most spectacular one, but I still like it very much (although the trouble seems to be on what to wear it with! maybe I should get into clothing shopping?!)
I started my stitching and when my thread ended I took a break. One reason was that I wasn't sure how to start a new one in the most seamless way (Therese and Christine were both a great help and both let me pick their brain a few times during this adventure). The other (and most important) reason was that I wasn't sure what to do with it now :) I had about 3 inches of a splendid bead weave and... no idea in the whole universe on what to do with it.
A few hours of browsing through magazines and listening to music I decided to take it further.
I present you now my 'Green Dragon' (Godmother: Karen W.) St. Petersburg piece (aka St. Pete)
This is how it looks: a double St. Petersburg weave that separates into 2 simple ones around the neck. Something like a beaded tie :)
I love the texture, I love how the beaded weave molds on the skin (I actually cannot stop playing with it when I am wearing it) and I already have a few more ideas on how I can use it for other pieces.
Can you say 'hooked'? Because this is what I became - now the seed beads are not so impossible to manage, I took my trapshooting approach: it is one bead at a time (or a few in this case). There is something dramatically soothing about bead weaving, I believe it has to do with holding a needle and weaving the thread through those little colourful pieces - I love sewing and I love needle work... but I haven't done any in years... this experience just brought back memories of past and made it such a pleasant journey.
Thus I would like to thank both Therese and Christine for making it happen and for accepting me into their wonderful group - when they mentioned you don't really have to finish a piece, it's important just to try the stitch they lifted the pressure and made me comfortable in trying. I know I can succeed in trying, even if I wasn't sure I would succeed in finishing a piece.
Thank you, my visitor, for reliving the joy of this new adventure with me today!
Please make sure you visit the other participants, I am looking forward to seeing what everyone has created!
Alicia Marinache <-- You are here
Monday, October 22, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Swirls and Twirls (take#2)
I've been admiring Cynthia's collages for a while now - and was wondering how in the peaceful world is she doing them. I know how to do collages - but to gather the images and mix and match them so perfectly it's a labour of love. And whoever met a woman with so much time on her hands?!
Luckily for me, right before I was going to ask what kind of tool is she using - she posted a wonderful article on our new community, Artisan Whimsy. What is the article about? Exactly on how to make the above-mentioned and well-admired collages!
I really can't resist a challenge so here I am with my very first Polyvore collage!
What do you think?
Luckily for me, right before I was going to ask what kind of tool is she using - she posted a wonderful article on our new community, Artisan Whimsy. What is the article about? Exactly on how to make the above-mentioned and well-admired collages!
I really can't resist a challenge so here I am with my very first Polyvore collage!
What do you think?
Friday, October 19, 2012
Alicia's Studion
A while back we started to slowly, but surely, arrange some of the rooms in the house. We've been in the house for 8 years now and some areas need some extra TLC. Add to that the ever growing child and you get the perfect formula for lots of small renos every few years :)
After the deck in the spring, it came the time for our son's room. While doing his room - some of the items (mainly the crafts) had to come out... so I took this perfect time to modify the attic into my own studio (thus liberating the living room from the overflowing boxes and items).
When we moved into this house - actually when we were looking - each of us fell in love with something different: hubby loved the extra den (which, by the way, is next on the list of fixing and getting its floor changed), everyone loved it is a bungalow (no more up the stairs, down the stairs) and I... I loved the attic. I grew up in a small city where houses had real attics - some with rooms created, some just a storage space. When we came to Canada, our first house was a brand new one - where the attic is full of... foam. The few years we stayed in that house I kept thinking how much space is totally and utterly wasted in the attic, so when I saw this house having stairs to go up I thought it'll be just another storage area.
Imagine my surprise when we discovered 2 huge areas for storing and... a fully functional room. With a 2-piece bathroom (that bathroom is the nicest looking in the whole house: it has wood paneling and it's never cluttered, since it's never used :)). And - a skylight too! It was my dream room - I dreamt about a room like that for years.
The room became first a nice relaxing area... but has been cluttered for a while now...
After working for a couple of days on it, and taking almost everything out - it first looked like this:
As you can see: a mighty mess! Boxes, and toys, and boxes with toys everywhere.
Little by little, spending all my free time to fix it, it finally became this:
Toys and books and the music centre in one corner, all nice and quiet; except for the radio: I set it on Country Music and I am having fun! The old toy basket holds 2 maps now, but the rolls of wrapping paper will get into it soon (I figured I'll do the transfer when I start wrapping the Christmas gifts)
One of the bookshelves that came out of the child's room: it is now holding jewelry and art magazines and books, and lots of boxes with... beauties. The vintage items my mom is sending me are finally in their own boxes, and there is still room for improvement in organizing the content of the other boxes - but at least they are not piling on the floor in the living room. Big step forward.
This is the crafts corner: the carton boxes hold fabrics and yarn (2 of my other favourite past-times) - and the craft items that were scattered everywhere in this house made it on that small shelf. I probably need a small extra table to work with my son on crafts - unless I want to bring them on the kitchen table... which I really don't anymore :)
Last, but definitely not least: my table! This is, believe it or not, our very first desk we bought with our very first pay cheque here, in Canada. I need a better chair (just figured it out in the last few days, while working there :)) - but otherwise it is perfect: it has that sliding shelf (it used to be a computer desk) and the computer nook (where I currently have the sewing machine) holds room for more little shelves, as it is on the side. Lots of room!
The walls will be filled with William's work (which you see on the futon in one of the pictures above).
And look at that skylight - isn't it absolutely delicious?! natural light during the day and an extra lamp when needed... can I ask for more?!
Well, actually - I can... but about that on another post :)
After the deck in the spring, it came the time for our son's room. While doing his room - some of the items (mainly the crafts) had to come out... so I took this perfect time to modify the attic into my own studio (thus liberating the living room from the overflowing boxes and items).
When we moved into this house - actually when we were looking - each of us fell in love with something different: hubby loved the extra den (which, by the way, is next on the list of fixing and getting its floor changed), everyone loved it is a bungalow (no more up the stairs, down the stairs) and I... I loved the attic. I grew up in a small city where houses had real attics - some with rooms created, some just a storage space. When we came to Canada, our first house was a brand new one - where the attic is full of... foam. The few years we stayed in that house I kept thinking how much space is totally and utterly wasted in the attic, so when I saw this house having stairs to go up I thought it'll be just another storage area.
Imagine my surprise when we discovered 2 huge areas for storing and... a fully functional room. With a 2-piece bathroom (that bathroom is the nicest looking in the whole house: it has wood paneling and it's never cluttered, since it's never used :)). And - a skylight too! It was my dream room - I dreamt about a room like that for years.
The room became first a nice relaxing area... but has been cluttered for a while now...
After working for a couple of days on it, and taking almost everything out - it first looked like this:
Little by little, spending all my free time to fix it, it finally became this:
Toys and books and the music centre in one corner, all nice and quiet; except for the radio: I set it on Country Music and I am having fun! The old toy basket holds 2 maps now, but the rolls of wrapping paper will get into it soon (I figured I'll do the transfer when I start wrapping the Christmas gifts)
One of the bookshelves that came out of the child's room: it is now holding jewelry and art magazines and books, and lots of boxes with... beauties. The vintage items my mom is sending me are finally in their own boxes, and there is still room for improvement in organizing the content of the other boxes - but at least they are not piling on the floor in the living room. Big step forward.
This is the crafts corner: the carton boxes hold fabrics and yarn (2 of my other favourite past-times) - and the craft items that were scattered everywhere in this house made it on that small shelf. I probably need a small extra table to work with my son on crafts - unless I want to bring them on the kitchen table... which I really don't anymore :)
Last, but definitely not least: my table! This is, believe it or not, our very first desk we bought with our very first pay cheque here, in Canada. I need a better chair (just figured it out in the last few days, while working there :)) - but otherwise it is perfect: it has that sliding shelf (it used to be a computer desk) and the computer nook (where I currently have the sewing machine) holds room for more little shelves, as it is on the side. Lots of room!
The walls will be filled with William's work (which you see on the futon in one of the pictures above).
And look at that skylight - isn't it absolutely delicious?! natural light during the day and an extra lamp when needed... can I ask for more?!
Well, actually - I can... but about that on another post :)
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Conversations
Life moments in conversations with our son. He was anywhere between 4 and 6 years old when these moments happened
************************************
- Mommy, which is the greatest music maker of all?
- Well, you know, that's a personal preference, we've talked ab...
- No, mommy, it's GOD!
- Oh... yes, you're absolutely right
[I should have thought better before starting to answer: he used the term 'music maker', not 'composer', which he also knew very well, just a couple of days before he announced that in his opinion the best composer is Beethoven]
********************************************************
- Mommy, when was colour invented?
- Colour? What you mean by that?
- You know, long ago the pictures were all black & white - is that how people saw the world?
- Oh... no, the world was coloured, but we didn't know how to make the pictures colourful. It's like when you have only black & white crayons and you want to draw the world.
- Oh, now I understand! [you could see the light downing on his face]
********************************************************
Colouring a lake full of dolphins (on one of our long road trips):
- Mommy! At night, when the whole town prays...
- [interrupting] What are they praying for?
- Remember how we pray at night, ‘my little angel...’? [a Romanian prayer]
- Yes...
- That’s why – they pray to God. And God is nice and you know – when they all pray, he makes a dolphin in the sky
- Wow! That is nice!
- See, I told you I am genius with coloring
********************************************************
- Daddy! Would you like some sausages? She [mommy] freshly burned them.
He was very proud - and I am not such a bad cook :)
********************************************************
- Daddy, I found a wasp-nest
- That's OK, we'll just leave them through the winter and check on them in the spring
- And they will wake up dead?
********************************************************
The child was trying to tell a 'true story' about how much chocolate he ate, while his dad was patting him on the head (the patting on the head action is known in our household as 'rubbing the radish').
- Daddy, stop, please! I need to think and if you rub the radish I'll think the opposite.
[We aren't sure what he really meant - our assumption is that he was trying to fabricate the 'true' story and the pat was disturbing his thoughts]
********************************************************
What is the name of the person who brings gifts to animals?
Anima-claus!
********************************************************
He was about 4 in this 'incident'. We were baking some cookie and I was doubling the recipe, which called for 1.5 cups of something.
- What's 1.5 + 1.5?
- I don't know, we haven't learned in school yet
- That's OK - think
- [thinking for a moment]: 2 and 2 halves!
- Correct - now those 2 halves - what do they represent?
- A whole!
- Correct - now can you tell me what's 1.5 + 1.5?
- Two quarters and a whole... errr... no... THREE!
Monday, October 15, 2012
And the Winners are...
Two weeks ago I had a giveaway for my one year 'blogoversary' as someone put it so cutely into a new word :)
I was giving away my 'Caught you!' pendant and my 'Pretty and Strong in Pink' bracelet.
Then I realized... it's really up to the recipients, so I will let them choose one *or* the other :)
And now - drum rolls please.... the winners are:
Congratulations, ladies - an email has been sent to both of you!
Thank you all for your participation and your support.
We will do some more giveaways soon, stay tuned!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was giving away my 'Caught you!' pendant and my 'Pretty and Strong in Pink' bracelet.
Then I realized... it's really up to the recipients, so I will let them choose one *or* the other :)
And now - drum rolls please.... the winners are:
Shaiha Williams
and
Chrizette
Congratulations, ladies - an email has been sent to both of you!
Thank you all for your participation and your support.
We will do some more giveaways soon, stay tuned!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Looking for a name
During the preparations for the History Blog Hop I have tried many ideas. Nothing seemed Victorian enough, though, so I kept trying.
This is the piece I said I won't show it to you during the blog hop, it doesn't look very Victorian to me. In fairness it is not the original design - my idea was to build multiple chains from the focal to the back, but I encountered a very interesting problem: while very beautiful, the chain is extremely small, making itdifficult impossible to pull everything through. While I could use the wire to attach it to the focal (I am not very fond of the idea, though), I couldn't figure out how to attach it to the original chain... short to making my own jump rings from a very fine, but hard gauge. I'm open to suggestions :)
Until then - the piece is beautiful as is: in silver plated wire and real rubies (from Tanya) - a delicate and romantic necklace.
Oh, yes - I am looking for a name for it! I draw a complete blank when I tried to find one - and yes, you've seen the design before, it is a variation of the pendant I made for Therese in the Holiday Bling blog hop :)
This is the piece I said I won't show it to you during the blog hop, it doesn't look very Victorian to me. In fairness it is not the original design - my idea was to build multiple chains from the focal to the back, but I encountered a very interesting problem: while very beautiful, the chain is extremely small, making it
Until then - the piece is beautiful as is: in silver plated wire and real rubies (from Tanya) - a delicate and romantic necklace.
Oh, yes - I am looking for a name for it! I draw a complete blank when I tried to find one - and yes, you've seen the design before, it is a variation of the pendant I made for Therese in the Holiday Bling blog hop :)
Sunday, October 14, 2012
You'll have to live with it! [humour]
An eight year old boy is walking down the road one day when a car pulls over next to him.
"If you get in the car," the driver says, "I'll give you $10 and a piece of candy."
The boy refuses and keeps on walking.
A few moments later, not to take no for an answer, the man driving the car pulls over again.
"How about $20 and two pieces of candy?"
The boy tells the man to leave him alone and keeps on walking.
Still further down the road the man pulls over to the side road.
"OK," he says, "this is my final offer. I'll give you $50 and all the candy you can eat."
The little boy stops, goes to the car and leans in.
"Look," he says to the driver. "You bought the Chevrolet, Dad. You'll have to live with it!"
Saturday, October 13, 2012
History Blog Hop - the reveal
Welcome to the History Blog Hop.
Leah from Beady Eyed Bunny decided to have some fun with historical periods and made it into a Blog Hop. She assigned me the Victorian period.
I love Victorian period - I find it at time a bit too 'stiff', but I definitely love the jewelry. They are elegant and very rich (not only money-wise). I could create a Victorian piece - but I complicated my challenge... I wanted a piece I could wear... during the day. Well, that was a challenge.
My sketches are really bad, I won't show them to you - but I can tell this: I went through 5 different designs before deciding on what to do. That's in 2 days :)
I finally set my heart onto this design:
It is Victorian - more so probably if used in earrings, a bit too simple (I feel) for the ever-so-complex era. But I can wear it - and I already did so. It's a beautiful, delicate piece, almost ethereal. I like the feeling of the draping chain on skin. I meant to make earrings too - but then I got caught up in trying a couple of new designs.
One is not Victorian at all, I won't show it to you :) Or not... yet...
One, though, is very so and has a very interesting story. You know I love chainmaille, however I never seem to have proper rings: you need very specific A(spect) R(atio) rings. I recently bought these beautiful lavender aluminum (anodized) jump rings, with the AR for Byzantine chain and they were intended for use on another Romanov piece (what can I say, I am truly in love with that piece). While trying different ideas for the challenge I thought about making another Romanov. But I knew I don't have enough rings (silly me!) and not even time for finishing a full piece. I thought then to use the chrysanthemum pattern - which is another gorgeous one. But I had only 2 sizes of rings: 4.1mm and 6.7mm. If you know what the chrysanthemum pattern is, you also know... you need progressive larger rings - not an almost 3mm difference! Sometimes need can give way to progress - and that's what happened to me. Look at this neat pattern! I've read many chainmaille books - but I haven't seen it anywhere yet (this is not to say it is original, just that it is very original to me!) and I felt very good about making it work.
I love the colours and I will make a proper chrysanthemum pattern, making it into a full bracelet or necklace. Or maybe both. I love chainmaille, especially when I get proper rings - these are made specifically for chainmaille, with specific AR and of aluminum: the resulting piece is not only gorgeous, but very light and nice to wear!
This was my take on Victorian era - I hope I did it justice.
Please make sure to visit the other participants, I am looking forward to discover what everybody made with their historical inspiration. This will be a very interesting blog hop!
Our host: Leah Curtis – Ancient Roman www.beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk
Ahowin - Art Nouveau www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Alicia Marinache – Victorian http://www.allprettythings.ca/ <-- You are here
Becca's Place – Renaissance www.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com
Beti Horvath – Ancient Egypt and Art Deco www.stringingfool.blogspot.com
Cherry Obsidia – Ancient Mecynae Greece www.cherryobsidia.blogspot.com
Cooky – Renaissance www.shepherdessbeads.com/Blog.html
Jamie Shipp – Middle Ages www.celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Davies-Reazor – Medieval www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Kathleen Douglas – Indus Valley www.washoekat.blogspot.com
Kashmira Patel – Etruscan www.sadafulee.blogspot.com
Laney Mead – Pre-Columbian www.laney-izzybeads.blogspot.co.uk
LiliKrist - Persia www.lilikrist.com
Melissa – Mesopotamian www.design.kcjewelbox.com
Melissa Trudinger – Art Nouveau www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Micheladas Musings – Ancient Romans www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Paula Hisel – Victorian www.simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Sandra Wollberg – Art Nouveau www.city-of-brass-stories.blogspot.com
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson – Art Deco www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman – Victorian www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Meet the Metal Team
... that's a mouthful :)
But wait until you see the team: extremely talented ladies (I seem to be the only one not doing metalsmithing... yet!) with combined decades of experience and various skills. A group of very friendly people, ready to take the artisan world by storm :)
Yes, we are excited and full of energy, I am looking forward to this new journey on a brand new adventure!
The metal team bios can be read by clicking right here (or on the picture)
But wait until you see the team: extremely talented ladies (I seem to be the only one not doing metalsmithing... yet!) with combined decades of experience and various skills. A group of very friendly people, ready to take the artisan world by storm :)
Yes, we are excited and full of energy, I am looking forward to this new journey on a brand new adventure!
The metal team bios can be read by clicking right here (or on the picture)
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Welcome to Artisan Whimsy!!
Have you heard? A new community has been born:
The brain child of the Creative Bead Chat group (on facebook) - the admins came up with this idea of extending the Creative community from facebook to ning. Why? You'll have to visit to understand - it is a true virtual community, with much better administrative tools. We have teams, we have forums, we have tutorials and, most important, we kept the camaraderie - and we have extend it to you!
Come visit us - the team I belong to (Metal) will have its inaugural blog post this coming Friday.
Come visit and let's have fun together!
The brain child of the Creative Bead Chat group (on facebook) - the admins came up with this idea of extending the Creative community from facebook to ning. Why? You'll have to visit to understand - it is a true virtual community, with much better administrative tools. We have teams, we have forums, we have tutorials and, most important, we kept the camaraderie - and we have extend it to you!
Come visit us - the team I belong to (Metal) will have its inaugural blog post this coming Friday.
Come visit and let's have fun together!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Thankgiving Day (Canada)
Today is Thanksgiving Day! I re-read what I wrote last year about the day and I feel I said it best back then, so I will let you read the original right here.
Thanksgiving Day, 2011
Very few things have changed since last year - but my list of what am I thankful for grew a bit.
First and foremost I am grateful for our family and friends: their love is what brings me joy every day! I am also grateful for the health of my family and friends - may God bless us and keep us healthy!
I am also grateful for the community I found in the past year - one I feel I can belong, one I can turn to for advice, help or simply for fun.
And last, but not least - I am grateful for being able to create (maybe not as much as I would love too), to express myself through art and music. It is an essential part of myself, or my soul - and just a few days ago simply browsing through beautiful art calmed me down enough to make me smile and find a solution to a problem that seemed solution-less!
What are you thankful for?
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Holiday Bling Blog Hop - the reveal!
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