Has it really been that long?

I've been MIA... so sorry. Various health issues.... earlier on I didn't even know I had "health issues".... have kept me both from my daily creating and my daily blogging. Praise God we have ruled out the meanest and nastiest health issues and are left with some that will mean creative living, but not a "death sentence" by any means. (Visit my other blog for more info: Trustjoyfully.blogspot.com )

In the meantime, I may not have been creating daily, but I have been creating. And, I've been teaching others to create as well. We ended our homeschool year with an assemblage/collage project which used the background paper technique from The Artistic Mother book, although we applied it to stretched canvas. Then we used many found objects and went to town. I hope to post pictures at some point... the projects were amazing!

I was also asked to make a series of BFF necklaces. Quite a challenge! In the end I used one of my background papers, added stuff on the computer, shrank it down, made a collage and then cut it into pieces to be applied to each domino. I was VERY happy. So was the lady who ordered them. So was the shop owner who asked about me to see if I would be interested in working with them to sell my jewelry. We'll see if I follow through... life, energy, health.

In the meantime, I've made several necklaces for friends, and continued to gather found objects, haunted auctions and hit garage sales. As "Art and Soul" approaches (our local art and craft show which I've been invited to take part in) I am seeing that I want to limit some of my work: necklaces, notebooks and some Christmas stuff. My domino and "Bit of Charm" necklaces have a small following, and from the last show I know my button jewelry should also sell well. So, just taking baby steps. Still creating, just slowly, but savoring the lack of fear about health issues!

Hope you all are doing well!
Shalom,

Kim

It's time to catch up!

Life has been a little more than full lately. Perhaps OVERFLOWING would be the best word. However, we are slowly returning to our normal routine... and by that I mean that I am letting us sleep in every morning till 9 or 9:30 until I finally feel rested. Most mornings I'm up by 6 or 7, but I get a glass of water, sit down in an easy chair and snooze a bit more. Sounds decadent, but I think it's what the doctor orderd after our busy schedule and my illness. This morning is one of the first mornings I'm starting to feel myself. To that end I'm updating my blogs and putting up some OLD pictures.

Here goes:

My "booth" at the childbirth expo.
Several thoughts: know what size table you'll have. ACK to the table cloth.

Even if you sell nothing, which was the case, you get the word out.

I did sell one necklace later after the expo.

I sold 3 necklaces at the other booth I had the same day.

Wee One has taken to prepping "welcome home" posters to put on the door leading to the basement from the garage for Dear when he arrives home. Somehow he's earned the nickname "Possum."

Go figure!

Not sure if I posted these earlier... unstamped background papers.

These are some of the stamped papers. Now that the two shows, expo and Easter are past I can concentrate on this online class again. The art I've been working on each day has been jewelry, jewelry, jewelry. Wish I had taken a photo of my two recent necklases "Allelujah"... a domino necklace, but done in paper collage style, and "Miss Emily" ... a domino necklace using "A Bit of Charm" style photo. The first was for my Easter attire and the second was sold to another doula who founded the expo. I've also completed 4 mini journals in the style we're to use for our poetry journal. One is already gone, as a gift. Hopefully I'll get photos up of the other three. They are so sweet!

Lovebirds ... $10

Vintage domino adorned with vintage bird cut out, a defintion from a late 19th centery dictionary. Around the sides of the domino you'll find rich copper trim. The waxed linen necklace is embellished with a gorgeous black button and several rich metalic beads.

Bloom... a bleated birthday gift for Bekcy

she is blooming in godliness, maturity and her pregnancy!

"Bird in Flight"... I went for a diferent style this time. Fun and funky!

$20

A gorgeous irridescent blue disc , over which flies a sweet "antiqued" swallow, while below dangles various glass beads and a stamped word. All hang on a simple but lovely waxed linen necklace.

Woodland Flower... $25

A lovely glass disc over which dangles an antique button. From below is a group of hanging beads, along with a stamped copper word. All hung from an antique style chain.

 "Friendship" and "Golden Swirl" earrings

$20 and $20

A "Bit of Charm" in the original style on a simple copper ball chain, the necklace is ehanced with a sweet rose gold plated swirl and glass beads. The earrings are on rose gold findings, also with rose gold swirls, rose gold beads, glass beads and luscious "jade" style beads. Perfect gift for a special sister or your best friend!

"Miss Olivia"... $30

Another in the "Bit of Charm" line... named for a lovely young lady in town. The photo reproduction is ehanced with delicious glitters, while the lovely rose gold chain has various dangles including rose gold charms, an antiqe button and glass beads.

"Psalm 23" ... $25

Another in the "Bit of Charm" necklace line. A lovely reproduction of a vintage postcard. Enhanced with glitter, glass bead dangles, rose gold dangles and a gorgeous antique button! The back reads "Psalm 23."

"All That Glitters" bracelet and matching earrings

bracelet... $35 and earrings... $20

Gorgeous antique buttons set on goldtone findings. Some buttons are stamped, some enameled and some set with contrastings metals. All unique and very collectible! The earrrings are adorned with gold tone beads and lovely glass beads as well.

"Psalm 23" Breast Cancer bracelet...$18.50

Mixed beads with silvertone spacers which help to share the thought of Psalm 23. Originally made as a breast cancer survivor bracelet. Might also be worn in memory of a loved one.

"Glassy Black" ... $45

Collectible antique and vintage black buttons, some from the 1800s!

All set on a silvertone bracelet.

Here is "Glassy Black" with "Stunning Sterling" set,

altogether I call this "Black Tie Affair" as it's that rich and gorgeous!

Necklace and earrings use sterling silver findings, swarovsky crystal beads, vintage "pearls" and a gorgeous shell and "pearl" vintage pendant/button.

Black Tie Affair!

Necklace...$25

earrings...$20

bracelet...$45

I hope you enjoy all my creations. None are listed on artfire or etsy yet, so feel free to contact me here if you're interested in purchasing any of these items!

Blessings, Kim

Too many pies?

or too few fingers?

I feel like I've gotten my creative juices flowing EVERYWHERE. And, as is often the case, about the time I get going something stops me. This time it's some nasty bug I've picked up somewhere... fever, chills, cough, burning lungs, you know... nastiness.

But, I've continued to work. And, best of all, I've shared the creative process. Last Friday I began teaching collage to a group of 9 homeschool students... AND... their moms. Yes!!! I finally have ALL the moms participating. We used the background pages technique from TAM (The Artistic Mother) for our canvas and while they dried we went "shopping."  Everyone had brought "found objects" from home to share, I passed out an egg carton to each person and we went digging. A junker's paradise!

The flu/cold bug hit full force on Saturday after a full day of serving at a wedding and by that evening I was huddled and shivering under blankets while my precious Dear cared for me. We dragged out of bed on Sunday morning, headed to church so I could teach Sunday school and be refreshed by the preaching, then home again to repeat Saturday night. Monday we drove Senior Son to the airport, then home to more shivering.

Blessedly the bug is working it's way out of my system, although it's not gone yet.

 This is MMH's journal from her party. It was a "mistake" as she put it, but turned into the most gorgeous journal. The back side is more of the same along with a picture of an elf and an old ship. 

SERIOUSLY GORGEOUS!

I've been LOVING using "The Artistic Mother" with my homeschool art class AND with MMH's birthday party. We did "background canvas" for our collage work in art class, but for the birthday party we made the journals. Well, they did. I'm not ready yet.

This is Wee One's journal. I think she was hungry... note the DQ, McD's and other food related items... along withe the "stop" theme... even related to the paper. Cute for a little 10 year old!

While they were working on their journals I painted more background pages, then started stamping. Then I went and pouted for a while as my pages did NOT turn out the way I wanted. I guess I'll be working on more pages. The only problem with all this is the AMOUNT OF THINGS I HAVE TO GET DONE IN THE NEXT 7 DAYS! YIKES!!!! In the midst of this online art fun, I am also helping with a first time ever Christian Childbirth Expo, which is being hosted at our church. There are five of us running this thing and I somehow am making all the fliers, invites, inserts, name tags, etc. Which "should" be fun, but somehow I am also having two booths on Saturday, same day as the expo. One is at the expo and one is at a friends sale in town... her first ever house sale. She has this awesome 40's bungalow that is decorated... in the style of the 40s. It is so stinkin' cute! Anyway, she's selling vintage, supplies, and art. (She's also an antique dealer.) In the midst of this I have to seriously get some housework done as the nasty bug has slowed me down, plus teach some co-ops, etc.

I did get about 9 necklaces, 2 pairs of earrings and 2 GORGEOUS button bracelets made last week. YEAH!!!! Of course, once I made them I wanted to keep them. AHEM! Anyone else have this problem? Sometimes it's hard to sell the art. (Other times it's "hard" to sell the art... like mine isn't moving at all on Etsy or Artfire...).

Well, that's enough. I have more pics from my weekly photo tries. I've been reading and rereading about the photos and I'm still learning. But, that's another post.
Blessings, Kim

" A Bit of Charm"... ~The Miss Emily~

I was recently asked to make a special order "A Bit of Charm" for a very special young woman. Instead of the usual ball chain we chose a rose gold plated copper chain, added 5 dangle beads and a beautiful antique button. This charm will always be known to me as
"The Miss Emily."

Wait till you see them both.

Isn't she lovely? The REAL Miss Emily I mean... and somehow it's fitting that this peacful young woman in the portrait is named after the young woman modeling her... don't you think so?




If you'd like a special order like this just email or visit one of my online stores. Suggested price for this necklace is $25.

Shalom!
Kim

Buttons and Beads

"Beautiful Buttons"

Art Fire
Product Description:
$ 25.00
Quantity: 1

"Antiqued" copper color necklace. Chain is embellished with 3 vintage mother of pearl buttons. Added on are several scarlet lampwork beads. The clasp has a lovely pearl bead dangle allowing you to clasp it at varying lengths. Looks great against a simple t-shirt, lovely sweater or a nice v-neck shirt.

Inspiration / Story behind this Product:
I was given a large stash of vintage buttons. Truth be told some of them date from the 1850's! I love the look of these buttons but wanted to add a flash of color so dug through the beads and found these lovely scarlet lampwork beads. All in all a lovely piece!

"Lampwork Earrings"

ArtFire

Product Description:
$ 15.00
Quantity: 1
Lovely lampwork bead earrings on gold plated wires. These go well with "Beautiful Buttons" as you can see in the second photo. Necklace sold separately