Monday, February 27, 2012

Made By Hand

There's a cute little shop in the Del Ray section of Alexandria called A Show Of Hands.

 Everything in the shop is made by hand and they've got some really unique things, including a few select pieces of Julie LoRusso "new vintage" jewelry. If you're local, pop in and poke around. Some of my favorites were the original paintings behind the register and knitted baby clothes (so cute).

Speaking of hand made...

Drew and I have just returned from our second day at the community center open pottery studio

My first attempt at doing something creative was in my late twenties throwing on a pottery wheel. I LOVED it and spent many many hours hunched over a wheel in this studio.  But, the process is somewhat involved with several steps and if you miss the timing on one stage your piece will be ruined.  I.E. you can't really have a social life if you're spending all your time a community center art studio.



I never did hand building before, but since I got special permission for a child to come in during open studio, we're on a very short leash and he's not ready for the wheel yet. So building by hand it is!

First you roll it out


Then you form it into something.


Then you put it in the kiln room and wait for it to be fired
Then you glaze it, and it goes back to the kiln room for another firing.
These glazes don't look anything like the colors they'll be once fired.
It's very exciting to see what they turn out like. 

Hopefully we'll be able to pick up our less than perfect masterpieces on Saturday.

Like I said, I have too many hobbies :)




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Saturday, February 25, 2012

Bringing Back The Snack Set

I'm sure all my male readers are getting tired of the jewelry posts, so I'll get back to blogging about homemaking :)

On my weekly thrift store outing I found this depression era pressed glass snack set of four plates.  I thought they would be perfect for kids since they have the little dividers and the handles.

I couldn't believe it when I noticed this little detail

Did people really need to have a cigarette holder and ashtray built into their plates -- cigarette smoke billowing up into their faces and ashes flying into their food?  
We've come such a long way.


I decided it works better as a chopstick holder.

We tested them out tonight

Even Matt (who isn't usually the most observant when it comes to these kinds of things) noticed them right away and said he really likes them.



They were PERFECT as sushi plates. My "ashtray" held exactly the right amount of soy sauce.



If you're itching to get yourself, or someone you love one of these very cool sushi/snack sets, just check your local Goodwill, thrift store, junk shop, ETSY.  

Do not purchase it from an antique dealer. When I Googled to find out what they were originally used for I saw some dealers charging upwards of $55 for sets.
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Friday, February 24, 2012

Something Old, Something New, Something Bought, Something Blue

I was contacted by a bride recently to create a custom design for her wedding in March. She showed me a picture of her dress which had a very open necklace and a simple silhouette. She wanted one of my new vintage designs to really make a statement. She asked me to incorporate sparkle and blue to bring out her blue eyes.  She also wanted earrings. 

I showed her some options for stones and vintage accents






I had been saving this stunning big vintage blue crystal brooch for something special. 
She immediately decided it was perfect for her big day.  
I paired it with these vintage crystal screw back earrings--She asked if I could make them longer. 


Here is the finished set.



This collaboration took place via e-mail.  


If you have a special occasion or a piece of old jewelry you'd like to have reworked send me an e-mail. It's a fun process and I especially love working with brides.

Have a great weekend! 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Birds of a Feather

I met someone new...

Kelly and her mom a.k.a COO

Kelly, of StylishPatina is one of the vendors at Stifel & Capra (where I was the featured artist a couple weeks ago). She refreshes furniture and is an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint distributor.

She has great style and taste (she bought two of my necklaces) and is a very creative entrepreneur.  After a while talking we figured out that we even went to the same high school (not at the same time).

Last Friday we bumped into each other at an estate sale. 
I was admiring some chairs (as I do) and she was buying them.


Here is one of her pieces - she recovered it in the same fabric I used for pillows in my living room. 

The week of a barn sale….

Kelly and her business partner have a barn in Frederick, MD and they run barn sales every month where they sell all kinds of great furniture and accessories for the home.  
Kelly also rents vintage furniture for weddings and photo shoots.
{V-Day} Vintage Props for Photographers
how cute is this photo taken with her vintage school desks. 



The February sale is this weekend.  
Her prices are REALLY good too, so if you're local, you should go!

Fri-Sun 10am-5pm at the Stylish Patina Barn in Frederick MD about 45 minutes from Northern Virginia.
If you see me, be sure to say hi :)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Heart & Hands


Drew was SO excited about today he brought me breakfast in bed - a banana, magazine and bowl of Cheerios.  

With heart, hands and backpack full of handmade treats and treasures for every classmate, the cute girl in his math group and the librarian he headed off to school today, just beaming. 

Part of the thrill of holidays for Drew is the crafts. 
His Valentines were all handmade. 
One part of the packages he gave were these heart shaped crayons. 
 
We started making them weeks ago.
Good thing we started early, they took forever because we had to make over 30 of them. 
We got the idea from Pintrest
 bake at 230 degrees for 15minutes

I hope your heart and hands are filled with love and other treasures today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

If I Had a Million Dollars

I would buy this lamp

 The head poking up and the legs sticking out the bottom. I just makes me smile





Never gonna happen



Friday, February 10, 2012

And the Pink one goes to

Bonnie G.

Congratulations Bonnie G. Please email me your address and I'll get your necklace right out to you.

Thank you to everyone who entered.  A special thank you to Janet for making this giveaway my most successful one ever--you have a very loyal following.

Happy Weekend!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Pink Pink Pink - Giveaway

I had a little scare-I was having some pain and the Dr. found a lump. After waiting a month for the x-ray/squeeze I found out it was just a wardrobe malfunction -- that's what Matt's calling it. 
The lesson learned was that underwires are not good for the girls. 
Needless to say, we've been a little stressed. Heavy sigh of relief



In other news, Monkey Grass Hill is two years old. 
Valentines day is just days away and I feel like doing a giveaway. 

It seems only appropriate that I go with something pink 


So this pink cultured pearl necklace (or same style your choice in alternate color) 
will go to one lucky winner chosen randomly Friday. 


 This is a piece that has so many different looks - 
 Wear it long
or short

 Show a little sparkle with the rhinestone clasp 

Add a pin


And the beautiful clasp is magnetic!
This is one versatile necklace!

Enter up to three times by doing the following:
  1. Leave a comment on this post
  2. Become a follower and leave a comment letting me know. (If you're already a follower, just leave a comment saying so and you'll be entered again too)
  3. Tweet about the giveaway or mention it on your blog - then leave me a comment. 





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