Fabric and Lace and Ribbon, OH MY!

Working with fabric, lace and ribbon, let alone using a sewing machine, has never really been on my radar.....but recently, I have become fascinated with fabric and journals.  I've also been incorporating more fibers into my jewelry.

This fascination started with Deryn Mentock's online course, Artisan's Day Journal. Sewing fabric on paper, I found, was really fun.  It didn't have to be perfect!

I now have a sewing machine and have been slowly accumulating fabrics, laces, ribbons, and trims.  I never knew it could be so much fun looking at fabric.....as a kid, my mom dragged me through fabric departments all the time and I was always happy when we moved on to the toy department!!!

An on-line workshop, Fabric and Lace Composition Journal, instructed by Gail Schmidt from Creative Workshops has now sparked further fabric and lace fascination!

Learning to print on fabric with your printer and.....techniques for giving fabrics and lace a vintage look were just a few of the techniques from this workshop. Gail's videos are very clear and informative! It's been great fun creating this journal and I've started a second one.  If you have the chance, check out this workshop. You won't be disappointed. 

Altering clipboards has also become an interest of mine.....and given me an outlet to use not only my acquired fabrics, laces, ribbons, and trims but also paper, stencils, rubber stamps, paints, inks, and bits and pieces of old jewelry that I've been using in my jewelry creations.

Talking about acquiring laces....I purchased a fabulous array of French vintage laces from La Clariére on Etsy.  



Everything was beautifully presented when I opened my package. I'm looking forward to using these and hopefully visit her shop on our next trip to Paris.

Given the opportunities to learn new techniques and acquire new interests has truly been a blessing that I am ever grateful for.

Until then.....continue to pursue new interests!

Artisan's Daybook

Deryn Boyd Mentock has once again provided a wonderful online class called Artisan's Daybook!  Having passed this class by the first time Deryn offered it, I decided that I just needed to take this class when she offered it again.




Full of techniques like collage, creating resin flowers and leaves, sewing on paper, embellishing covers from books, altering cabinet cards, image transfers, photo transfers and much much more.  I learned about the different mediums to use for watercolors, transfers, and acrylics. Embellishing our journals with fabrics, laces, and trims was my undoing.....

I'm TOTALLY hooked!!!

My first journal became my reference of the techniques and ideas that Deryn shared in her online class....successes and failures alike.  I've already started my second journal and hope to create many more.

Until then............start your own art journal!

Blooming Bangles, Deryn Mentock's online class was full of techniques and wonderful ideas for creating bangles.  Here's my spin on the class....I took three bangles and did some wire weaving to bring them all together in one bracelet.  One has the bloom on it and the other I embellished with bone and pearl beads. I highly recommend her online classes if you aren't able to take a class in person with Deryn. 

Until then.....be creative!

I'm once again taking another one of Deryn Mentock's online classes.  This one is Bloom Bangles.  Deryn's videos are excellent and her method of teaching makes each technique fun and easy to understand.  




Plus you can wear your jammies while learning!!!! How fun is that?

Check out info on Bloom Bangles by clicking the link in the right column.  It's not too late to register.


Until then.....enjoy relaxing in your jammies!!!

Resin-ating!

I've been busy this past week preparing bezels and crystals for resin.  It was great fun selecting items to be used.  While searching for embellishments to use, I found things I had forgotten I had so it was fun re-discovering them again.  

Two of the chandelier crystals are vintage, the other two I purchased at a hardware store.  Deryn Mentock provided wonderful instruction in her online class, Alchemy of Objects, on putting images on crystals and setting them with resin.  I was happy with the results.

The final step is the resin and then it's just waiting for the resin to set. 

At this point, I'm not sure how they will be incorporated in my jewelry designs......but I look forward to the time when my creativity kicks in and they become part of my design. 

Until then......keep on creating!

Boho Bliss

Once again, Deryn Mentock has provided a fun online class.....instructional and full of great tips that you can use in your other jewelry projects.  You can still register for Boho Bliss until May 11, 2015. Check out Something Sublime to find about this class and others that she offers online and in person.  You can also click on the icon on the right that will take you to your bliss!!!


Until then......what's your bliss?

These Took me Awhile......

but......I finally finished four bezels with resin.

 I enjoyed the creative process of just deciding what elements I wanted to use in the bezels.....part of a rhinestone bracelet.....an old earring....vintage key. 

Now I need to decide how I want to incorporate them in a jewelry design.....so I may just let them stare at me for awhile till an idea comes to me.

In the meantime.....happy creating!