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!

This Brooch does Double Duty!!!

 They're both pretty awesome brooches (well at least I think so), but the brooch on the right was more awesome than I thought it was when I purchased it at a local antique shop. When you turn it over you can see that the pin part of the brooch is also a frame for what becomes two shoe clips. Pretty kewl, huh? I've not seen anything like this before but maybe it's more common than I'm aware of.  Not sure what I will do with it but it was an interesting find.

Until then.....keep shopping for the unusual!! 

The Alchemy of Objects

Deryn Mentock is offering an online class called The Alchemy of Objects.  I'm very excited to be taking this class and learning techniques to include my vintage jewelry and objects along with my costume jewelry in future designs.

You may also want to check out her new book The Jewelry Maker's Design Book, An Alchemy of Objects.

Deryn offers a weekly challenge in this online class.  I hope to be able to participate in a couple of these challenges but my main focus is technique.  Hopefully I will have a beautiful piece of jewelry from my found objects to post in the future.

Until then......Keep Focused!!!

It's OK to be a Queen!!!!

every woman is a queen and

we all have different things to offer

Queen Latifah

How Long do I want to Keep Doing This?

That's the question mon husband keeps asking me about submitting my jewelry to Jewelry Affaire magazine.

I was thrilled, once again, to have some of my jewelry published in the Summer 2012 issue of Jewelry Affaire magazine.

Answer:  As long as it gives me a challenge.  It will always be gratifying....no doubt about it.  If some of my designs to not make it to the pages of Jewelry Affaire, it will become an even greater challenge for me.

Please enjoy all the beautiful designs in the Summer 2012 issue that so many artists have chosen to share with you!

Until then............Happy Beading!

It Happened Again.................!!!!

Once again......there's that thrill that goes through you when you see an e-mail from Beth Livesay, Managing Editor of Jewelry Affaire magazine.

Could it be?  Then you see the word "Congratulations, your jewelry piece has been accepted!!!"  (OK, Beth only used one exclamation point).

Check out the Spring, 2012 issue.....it's filled with inspiration.
















Happy Beading!

I'M SO EXCITED!!!! It's Jewelry Affaire Magazine

What am I so excited about???? 

The new issue of Jewelry Affaire magazine is out and my submission, Jazzymyn's Secret was selected for publication!  When I received an e-mail from Managing Editor, Beth Livesay that my necklace had been chosen, I wanted to jump up and down but I also had a feeling of accomplishment....that a goal had been attained.  Seeing your work and name in print in a premiere magazine was definitely an exciting event for me.  But don't get me wrong....I still have more goals to accomplish. 

 
For those of us that create jewelry (and there's so many mediums), any goal you set for yourself will help you grow and keep your creative spirit exciting!

Until then..........Happy Beading!

Vintage Costume Jewelry.....Is it Right or Wrong?

You've seen it....vintage costume jewelry and it's in absolutely perfect condition. No stones missing, no scratches in the metal, the clasp is intact....that kind of stuff.

A lot of jewelry artists are incorporating these pieces in their creations, just as I'm attempting to do.

So, my question is......do these vintage pieces have to be in perfect condition in order to sell your jewelry creation if they are only a part of the total design package?  Is part of the beauty of these pieces the fact that maybe they aren't so perfect?  Does it allow us to embellish these pieces in other ways that we might not have done if they were in perfect condition?

Maybe this topic isn't THAT important as not everyone that creates jewelry wants to incorporate vintage costume jewelry as part of their piece.

Picture Courtesy of 
Morning Glory Antiques and Jewelry

So, what do you think?       



   Until then........Happy Beading!

Re-Inventing Myself

In November, 2010, I decided that I needed to do something different in relationship to my jewelry.  My work has evolved, trying different methods and mediums.  Taking workshops has helped build my techniques and skills.  It has also shown me what I do and do not enjoy doing...and given me an appreciation of the work that goes into a creative process.



From my "Oui" Series



My interest lies in working with metal, wire, vintage elements, and cold connections.  I enjoy working with all kinds of beads and incorporating them in my designs.  My thoughts went to my etsy shop and how I had ignored it for so long.  With a new determination, I decided to re-invent myself by giving my business a new name and become focused on creating a style of jewelry using the methods and mediums that I enjoy the most. I do not want to limit myself and know that I will continue to grow and learn while still

maintaining a "style"!  

Thus, Suite7 Bijoux Designs was born.  It has a French theme which some of my pieces reflect.  It was definitely time for a makeover.  Many jewelry artists have a definite style to their creations that with one look at a piece of jewelry you know who the artist is...designers such as Stephanie Lee, Susan Lenart Kazmer, Ruth Rae, and Denise Yezbak Moore.  They are and will continue to be an inspiration to me.

Until then........Happy Beading!

Woman's Day-Shopping 1966 Style

In a recent post I showed you the cover of the February 1966 Woman's Day Magazine....now let's take a peek inside.

Shopping....by mail. From wigs to fiberglass bedspreads, from cake decorating to personalized kitchen labels. The concept of mail order shopping has evolved to shopping on the internet. But whether it was ordered in 1966 or in 2009, the products still arrive via USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.

This is just one page of mail order shopping and I'll be sharing other mail order shopping pages in future posts.

Why Was It Kept?

Found amongst my mother's things was the February 1966 issue of Woman's Day Magazine. What articles in the magazine prompted my Mother to purchase this magazine for 15 cents? From the cover I think it was An International Collection of New Knitted Sweaters and the Spring Fashions in Knit Fabrics that probably caught her attention as she loved to knit and sew. Of course there's the Pork Cook Book....even that caught my attention.

The Magazine is in relatively good condition for being 43 years old. No ripped, torn or missing pages. Does being 43 years old qualify as being Vintage...now, I'm only talking in terms of the Magazine?

Since finding the Magazine, I've only glanced through it briefly. I thought, if you're interested, we could spend some time looking through the Magazine and reading the articles, check out the recipes, read a story, and look at those ads. Sure, things have changed since this Magazine was published but maybe we'll also find things that really haven't changed that much. So, I'll be perusing the Magazine and we'll look inside in future posts.