Flea Market Finds

This week I had a bit of a forage for some more tea-pots to paint - I want them for a Uni project, so of course I had a good fossick in the "china department" of several local oppies. I only found one suitable tea-pot but I did find this adorable little fellow!

He seems very contemplative doesn't he?! If you want to contemplate some other Flea Market Finds, head on over to Sophie's - or maybe you would like to join in?!

Pattern Making Mayhem

I have this top that I just love. It hides a multitude of sins and is soft and comfy but still looks good. Thing is though, I have worn it to death and whilst it is not exactly shabby, it is certainly not in its prime ( a bit like me I suspect!). Now this was an op-shop top that I bought years ago and I have never seen another like it - even in "real" clothing stores. I thought it had been lost at one stage and was  mighty upset. So, I decided to gird my loins and make a pattern from it and set to making myself anothery! I should point out that I haven't made a pattern for years - and even when I did I was always terribly grateful for stretch fabrics - gotta love easement! Of course there was no tracing paper in the workroom, so I snaffled the Glad-Bake out of the kitchen and set to work. I drafted the pieces fairly well (forgot about seam allowances though!) but what seems like a simple top is in fact deceptively complex - the front is actually made of 6 panels - all differing in shape - they kinda fit together like a jigsaw! The upshot was that I decided I should make a prototype - just to see if the pattern works before I go and spend my dollars on decent fabric. I only had a skerrick of stretchy fabric in the cupboard so it looks a bit odd - there will need to be a few pattern adjustments - adding seams for one thing but overall, I do believe it might just work! I sure made a mess getting there though!

 Fortunately, you can't see the floor in this pic - it was positively littered with screwed up bits of Glad-Bake- and I always like to add hints on my pattern pieces!

All in all, it reminded me why I like to make jewellery!

Recyclers Rule!

I have been using found and recycled stuff in my work for a number of years - I love the challenges non-traditional materials present as well as the freedom they allow because they are usually inexpensive or free. One of my all time favourite artists who works with recycled stuff is Harriet Estel Berman. This lady makes amazingly bold pieces of jewellery and sculpture from tin cans. I find her work fascinating and thought it was high time I shone a light on her! The great thing about Ms Berman is that her work may look decorative and jubilant, but it always has an agenda - some kind of commentary on our world.
Here is a little video from her website.

This is someone who embodies my own sentiments about the materials we use - it is not about using intrinsically valuable materials, but about challenging our perceptions of what we believe to be valuable. Not long ago, I was wearing a neckpiece that I had made from a soft drink can and recycled paper. A jewellery lecturer admired it and suggested that to sell it for a "decent" price I could get the drink can bezel cast in silver. Right there and then I knew that I could indeed go down that road or I could stick to my guns and in my own small way, work towards changing attitudes and steering people towards seeing the true value of an item that is recycled/sustainable -that beauty and value don't have to cost the Earth - literally.Lucky, lucky me - I now have an official bandwagon!!
To see more of this talented lady's work head over to her website here.

Sparkles!

A young friend asked me to make some earrings that she could wear to her School Formal. She had bought a drop-dead gorgeous dress and killer heels and was looking for a little "blingage"! The instructions were 'big and sparkly" - we are talking Statement Ear-rings here folks. So, I channeled my inner Beyonce, gathered up the shiniest of shiny Swarovski crystals and set to work. I decided she should have a couple of pairs to choose from and this is what I came up with ...

These are very pretty - not all Swarovski but still have 'bling' factor. The tips of the tear-drop just touched her shoulder ...

I set Swarovski crystals into the bit at the top - the big ones were easy but the little ones that go around the edge took a bit of fanangling! She said big and these babies are definitely BIG!

In my defence the girl in question reiterated that BIG was good so I went with that. These are full-on big and sparkly. I wired Swarovski rhinestones to the smaller hoop and threaded crystals onto the big hoop - there is  a couple of rhinestone rondells thrown in for good measure.
They all looked fabulous on her ( mind you this is one gorgeous gal and would look glamorous in a paper bag!) and she liked all of them,although the fan shaped ones were pretty heavy. I don't know which ones she chose to wear yet - will let you know. All in all I think I followed her instructions for BIG and Shiny pretty well!

Flea market Finds - a bit lean this week!

This week I had a big clean out of my wardrobe - I sent heaps off to the op-shop and felt very satisfied with all the "new" space I suddenly had. Apart from the dropping off scenario, I didn't get to do much op-shopping so I don't have a lot to share for this weeks Flea Market Finds. I found this jacket in a local oppie - pretty well brand new and afterall, I did have some spare hanging space after the clean out ....

Hhhmm - not a very good photo I'm afraid - but trust me, it is cute and in excellent order - I have worn it twice this week! I love the big buttons and the sleeves which are not quite full length and have a flouncy bit - I do love a good flouncy bit! Actually it is a really good weight too - warm but not too warm - I hate feeling hot! For far more exciting finds than mine, head over to Sophie's and see what the other Hunter Gatherers have brought home this week!

Still on about that 21st ...

Thought I would share a few piccies of the decorated Hall. We had some most marvelous bunting from Melissa - all made from vintage sheets, doileys and lace. Draping it across the ceiling proved to be quite an adventure as Kath and I had no ladder and we are both somewhat vertically challenged. If I ever caught my kids clambering up a stack of nine chairs waving a massive broom, I would have a hissy fit - but that is exactly what we did! It took several attempts ( and there were a few "Teena Lady" moments let me tell you!) but we got there in the end! The bright bunting (that was easy to hang!) had been made years ago for my nieces wedding and has subsequently been used for quite a few parties. The panne velvet cloths were also made for my nieces wedding and are usually employed to display jewellery upon. The lace cloths were dyed by me - prolly NOT gonna go there again - and you have all met the table decorations (footed tea-pots) before.
I don't have any shots of Melissa's bunting at the hall just yet so I took these to give you an idea of the trouble she went to.

Just a few pieces of the 13 or so meters Melissa made!

Just had to show you how great it looks when it is hanging.

How cute is that little piece of doiley?!

And of course the beautiful crocheted garland - what a gal!

Here is the hall decked out - we only had a few tables the idea was to encourage people to mingle - given the exciting party games, they had no choice really!

The photo board taking shape! Thanks Kath! Ooooh - see all the little tea pots across the front of the stage? They were from Melissa's collection and she gave at least one away on the day and I have the rest - planning something fun ...

The other side of the hall - food, bar and tea station!

Can you believe all those tea cups are mine?! Some I have had since the kids were really little when we would ahve afternoon tea parties on a regular basis! Truth be told, that isn't the entire collection - just what would fit!

Even the birthday cake was handmade - dodgy icing and all! I really take my hat off to people who can ICE! Damn tricky if you ask me! I had to make a mad dash to the cheap shop to find something to disguise my lack of expertise - those flowers around the bottom are not edible - they are neoprene and hide a multitude of icing sins! On the day we also had a good few sparklers to divert the eye - give 'em the old razzle dazzle ...

Oh my goodness it was a lot of fun and made all the more special because my dear friends contributed so much - not just to the organising - baking and decorating but they gave their whole-hearted love, brought along their sense of fun and showed the depth of their friendship by making this a very special occasion - my daughter is still receiving texts from her pals exclaiming how much fun they had. Thanks you two - you are the BEST!

Speaking of all things Alice ...

The Alice in Wonderland/Vintage High Tea-party 21st celebration was a big hit! The games, the decorations, the costumes - everything was just perfect - even the weather was outstanding! My daughter went as Alice and had requested  a necklace to go with her outfit (she was a slightly punked up version of Alice) and this is what I came up with...

I wonder if anyone recognises the little bottle? Although the label was missing when I got it ( it was amongst those Flea Market Finds a while back), I am pretty sure it is an old Bex bottle - y'know those headache tablets your Mum always took? I must say that after all the party preparations I am ready for "a Bex and a little lie down"! The key was also amongst the Flea Market goodies. The heart however is new. I cut it from copper and then enamelled it and tried really hard to burn the edges to get that aged look. " Alice" also wore a cuff with a muffin on it that said "Eat Me". Try saying "Muffin Cuff " three times really,really fast after a few champagnes ... yeah, you get the picture!
Do you suppose now that I have  a child who is 21, I am officially an adult?