Fish Wrench

I can't help it.. don't you see a googly eyed fish in this? and a wrench?

 I can't help it, I just love playing with all the lovely metal bits Jerry digs out of our vintage machines.  It's like being a 6 year old, staring up at the clouds and seeing dragons.... Only I'm staring at old sewing machine parts and I see fish wrenches. 

I faces in the bits and cogs and wiggle waggles he brings me.  Last year a did a whole series of faces and I'm thinking I should do that again.  I made it sort of an artistic game... I wanted to help people see the faces I see, but I could only do that by adding 1 element.  It was fun stretching my artistic sensibilities that way... I have a few pieces set aside for the 2014 version of this mini-line, but I want a few more before I make them up.

Tomorrow Jerry and I will hit the big flea market again -- I can't wait to see what we bring out this time!

It always amazes me what comes out of old mechanical items.  Fish Wrench is from a 1920's singer, and 2nd one comes from the 1960's.

The key to ????

Group shot of the key necklaces

 I love old keys, and my stash is finally large enough to share some!

Keys are so iconic, and they can mean so many things to so many people.  And some of the older keys are little mini works of art all on their own.


I wanted to make a series of necklaces that are simple in design ( which admittedly helps keep the costs down) and fun to wear.  Most of these keys have just 1 crystal added for a touch of bling.  I made the necklaces longer -- most are around 26 inches.  Of course I am always happy to change out the size of a necklace.  Some of these keys are from the vintage lot Jerry and I picked up a few weeks ago, and then I through in a couple of really old skeleton keys and clock keys.  No 2 keys are alike, because that would be boring!  I actually want to make more of them, but I want to see how well these go over first... still, I kept a few keys out to play with, to make something more elaborate later.  It's good to have a big stash!!

I love the shape of this really old clock key! it's like a battle axe for Barbie!

Not feeling the love in the studio this week.....

 It's probably just recovering from this cold, but I"m having a hard time creating in the studio this week.  I have a bunch of paperwork type things to do.. like gathering all the tax info for my tax gal in a couple of weeks, and researching and applying to shows for the summer, so maybe it's just a hard to switch gears thing.  Since it's January ( and several months before I have a show) it's nice that hitting a minor creative dry patch isn't a huge deal.  No Pressure!  I plan tonight on organizing in the studio once I get my "home" chores done. (yes, that is code for dishes.  oy)

Since I adore organizing my stash, I am looking forward to this block of putter time.  If nothing else, my studio will be clean and organized again, always a worthy goal -- and often when I have stuff out of the boxes and playing with where it should live, it sparks ideas. 

For example, the piece above came about because I was trying to put stuff away.  I hit the colored butterfly wings while I had the liberty head gal on my desk, and it was magic.   It's actually a fairy with butterfly wings, but I don't like the fairy -- never have.  I keep covering her over with different things... I'm not sure why I don't like the fairy.. I guess she doesn't look happy or something.. I like happy components.  Ms liberty is a happy camper of a component!

A few more elements added until I liked the balance and boom! I have a lovely piece, even if I didn't get everything put away yet again.  I have a whole table ( and half the day bed) with stuff that needs to be organized and put away, and I need to redo my chain storage because they won't all fit into the current boxes. 

I love happy accidents.

Below is one of the recycled tin pieces from the weekend before. 

 See the shoe? it's truly a barbie doll shoe, which my Mom found for me, because the woman never throws anything away, even toy shoes. ( youngest girl in the family now is 14 -- and hasn't played with Barbie in some years)

I had to have a shoe for this piece... the Cinderella is actually a vintage watch face I've had in my hoard for a year or so.  I didn't think I would ever use it because so far, I like my watch faces either "pretty" or sort of grungie and old looking.  But something about the heart shape and coloring made me think of it, and then I had to add the bling because, gosh, it's Cinderella! and then, well what else could I dangle off a Cinderella heart but a shoe??   I've mentally dubbed this "someday my prince will come, in the meanwhile I'm gonna buy shoes... " 

 I'm really glad Mom doesn't throw stuff away because it's much harder to find barbie shoes than it used to be.

She found 4 of them, which I took with me.  ( 2 of them even form a pair!)  (earrings anyone?) I can remember they used to sell huge shoe packs, and other accessories for Barbie but a quick look down the barbie isle at Target ( not someplace I thought I would need to ever be again) shows that they mostly sell the dolls now.  I guess there just isn't much money in little plastic bits for Barbie anymore, but as a kid that was the funnest part.

 I probably have a few Barbie shoes somewhere myself, because I rarely throw away anything either.  I know somewhere in storage I have my old Barbies and the clothes my Sister Gretchie made for them.   (imagine late 70's fashion in Barbie size, but really well made... ) 

I doubt I have many shoes left though, because my daughter played with them as well,  and well, they are easy to lose.  Still, next time I have to dig in the closets I am keeping my eye out for them. 

The thing is now I want more barbie shoes, I have in my head an idea for a cha-cha bracelet made out of Barbie sized shoes, maybe a few pearls or crystals... I can see it soooo clearly in my head.


So, anyone have Barbie shoes to spare? Pairs accepted, but not necessary...... 

Hearts

I'm not really big (personally) on heart motifs, so I tend to hide them.  I wonder if I should read more into that.


these piece is brass stampings, vintage pocket watch face, pocket watch key, and chain.

tax time....

brass flower cuff

I got my tin projects all done yesterday! wooo !!!

I'll blog about them soon... tonight and the next couple of nights I really need to concentrate on end of the year business stuff, like taxes and inventory.  ugh.

I would almost rather wash dishes!!

Works in Progess....

My goal this past weekend: 5 pieces incorporating cut up cookie tins.  I didn't get them all finished, but here is the group shot of what I'm working on.

I love the plaid heart on this fella! I just need to add chain on this one.

I love the shading on this moon, and it's a vintage clock behind it.  I need to add chain and maybe a crystal drop on the bottom.

These are done!

teaser....

This is what I'm playing with today.... cutting up tins in kewl shapes and then making stuff with them.  I'm not sure what I'm going to end up with, but I am having fun in the process. 

Flea Market Finds from last weekend

here is a group shot of the "little" stuff

 Jerry started college up again this Monday, so last weekend was his last homework free weekend for some time to come.  It was also the state fair grounds flea market weekend, so he suggested a round of flea Markets and antiquing.  Jesscera called her troops, and we headed out to the fair grounds and went nuts.  By the end of the day, the kid and friends escaped to the friend's house, and Jerry and I hit the flea market at the fairgrounds, 3 antique / flea markets stores, a good will and a fine jewelry store for watch movements.  I've only got pics of some of the smaller stuff.... by the end of our shopping day, we had the following items:

box of keys

3 sewing machines

2 adding machines

3 typewriters

various vintage sewing stuff, like needle packages and findings

1940's voltmeter in a awesome box

1950's film projector

little tin boxes

alarm clock

old cookie/candy tins to cut up

90 watch movements with watch faces, and these are the old quality stuff.  A couple have sterling on the faces!

and some odds and ends of stuff

I'm still sorting through stuff, and it may be awhile before Jerry has a serious block of time to salvage the big items, but boy, we had fun last weekend!! 

This weekend I'm going to start cutting up cookie tins for some ideas I've gotten .... so I'm looking forward to this weekend as well.

 

a big box of keys.. no skeletons but a nice assortment of vintage ones (some of these will go up on etsy!)

more small box tins for my upcoming locket experiments

This voltmeter is from the early 40's.. Jerry's already taken out the guts, it's a kewl box though.... we are thinking display!

earrings, earrings, on my mind.......

 busy working on new designs for shows this year...

I had soooo much fun on this commission......

I used bronze wire, and balled both ends up to give it more "grit"

bicycle chain and bronze rings.  um!

 I am asked to do commissions by my customers from time to time, and this one was a blast!! The gal wanted her daughters to have "name" bracelets using scrabble tiles and bicycle parts, as both young women are biking enthusiasts.  I had to keep it simple because that's what the kids liked....   I ended up using bike chain that's been taken apart for the links, and bronze wire and rings.  Each tile was drilled (thanks Hubby!) and then wrapped in bronze wire.  I threaded the tiles on, then torched each end of the wire for balls, and then finished the wraps.. I wanted both sturdy construction and the orange-y/grey balled ends of the wire I think add a nice touch to the overall design.  These were Christmas gifts, so I didn't want to post this until after they received them.  I love to do projects that have so much meaning for the customer.  Everyone feels so good after something like this!!

here they are finished!

Happy New Year!!!

shaggy loop bracelets, I keep thinking in my head shaggy dog!

Well, 2013 is almost over, and 2014 will begin.  New year always make you think of resolutions, of new beginnings, the ways to make yourself over into a better person.  Which sort of naturally leads to thinking something is wrong with you now.


I'm tired of that. 

I've struggled for years with just feeling like don't I deserve the space I take up, the air I breathe.  All the bad things that happen seem to be deserved, all the good things not.  The fear I feel sometimes, waiting for the other shoe to drop -- because life is going well, you know that shoe is out there, just waiting -- it's overwhelming.  Sometimes. 


The last few years I think, have been better.  I look around and despite my own internal self doubts, I seem to view myself with slightly kinder eyes.  It's a trend I want to continue.

So my resolution is this: I'm going to pamper myself more.  I am a good person, and I deserve the good things I get. 

So if I buy a book on i-tunes as a pick me up, it's OK.   If I can find a fancy bath product that doesn't make me sneeze or wheeze, then I'm going to buy it, and take that extra time to exfoliate. 

It's OK that I like colored pens.  If i see something at an art show this summer and can't trade for it, then just maybe I'll buy it outright.

If I can swing an extra girls weekend, I will.

And I'm not going to feel guilty about it, because there is nothing to feel guilt over treating myself well.

Happy New Year's everyone.  It's a good year to be kinder to yourself, and to others.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

May your Christmas season be filled with steampunk fairy dust...

And Cart loads of fun!

more sewing machines...

sorry the photo is sooo fuzzy.  the cases are all wood, and in wonderful condition!  At least considering they are 90 years old.

I adore this motor tag .. these motors are original Singer ones so they date from the 1920's as well.  I'm excited, the motors we have had prior were added on a treadle machine after the fact. 

closer shot of the box... I'm hoping to incorporate this into our display without  altering it.  I want to be able to lay chain necklaces across it.. I"m thinking something using wire.

By serial numbers these date to 1920 and 1924.  Got them at a good price, and the boxes are in lovely shape for their ages... I've been wanting wooden boxes for a while, so I'm glad I waited til we found these!!  I know.. I have a thing for boxes.   But I'm actually planning on refitting at least one of these into a display for the booth.  That's a tentative plan.. I want to figure out a way that makes it useful without actually altering the box.  I have to consider this very carefully as this will be a huge footprint of space in my booth.. but if done correctly I think will add a lovely touch to it. 

Jerry's getting pretty excited about ripping stuff up, he's already started on these singer.  I really believe next year could be our best yet.. we are both so excited at the direction my art is taking!

Flea Market Finds ....

I'm planning on doing a series of lockets made out of old little tins.  I made one last year, I've I've wanted to do more since.. so I've been collecting the little guys as I see them.

I've got a bunch of watch part tins, I've got some typewriter ribbon ones winging their way to me via etsy, and this weekend I hit a bonanza of them!

I saw a few I didn't buy, because they wanted more money than I could spend... but I'm pretty pleased with the ones I did find.

Not all of these were at the Flea Market at the fair grounds.. We also decided to hit the 2 best and largest antique malls in Des Moines, The Brass Armadillo and The Majestic Lion.  (the Lion especially has incredible furniture for sale.. some of it is listed online-- if you like antique you can't afford check out the link!) 

Here are pics of what I bought this weekend.  I want to hi-light 2 purchases...

At the flea Market, I bought a small tin of chocolate ex-lax.  Now, if one is constipated, eating a chocolate bar laced with laxatives wouldn't be my first thought... but this little tin amply demonstrates someone did (in fact, to my horror, they still sell stuff like this... ick)

The amazing thing is when I got home, I discovered the "candy bar" is intact and whole inside!!!! ICK!  See pics below....

More importantly to me, the fuse boxes still had a few fuses in them! that's a total score...  that made me smile!!

Most of the finds this from this weekend....

A pleasant surprise! both fuse boxes still had fuses... total bonus and I've already got some ideas on how to use them

Interesting, if not so pleasant a surprise... the tin is full of laxative goodness (ewwww)

OK, gag reflex is activating.. see the quote.. " not impaired by age .... May turn grey.... "

can you believe they still smell? I can't be sure, this this tin and "candy bar" might date to the 1940's.  Judging by the artwork on the flyer, it's not any earlier than the 1950's, and online I can only find this style of tin from the late 1940 to early 1950's.  Have I said EWWWW yet???

Gearing up....

just a quickie, went to the Flea Market with Jerry, didn't actually buy much, but had a good time.  I did find a bunch of tins -- small ones, which I've been looking for, for a series I'm planning to start working on in the next week or so... so I'm pretty happy.

Also found some really lovely chandelier crystals, in a kick-ass drop shape.


A few other odds and ends.. I'll save the rest for for my next post once I get a chance to take pictures.

the flea market had the used book dealer again.  I love her... she brings huge PILES of books, and if you buy at least 10, they are only 50 cents each.  Heaven!!

Since Jerry went with me, he actually picked out 10 mostly Science fiction for him too. 

And the guy selling peanut brittle was there ... Woot!!

I've also been lurking on etsy and ebay and buying small lots of stuff for my mechanical romance line.  I've got more smallish tins coming for my new line ( typewriter ribbon boxes!! some really adorable) and I found a nice lot of older, 17 jewel watch movements with the faces still attached... which is wonderful my supply of older watch faces is dangerously low.  I have a bunch of larger faces, it's the under 1 inch size I'm really low on, and almost no pairs or almost pairs for earrings left.  I'm going to keep searching online for pairs.

I also bought a bunch of pendant crystals... splurged really, and they are gorgeous!!  The only problem is being willing to SHARE them enough to actually make jewelry to sell with them!!!!

Jerry actually took apart a couple of clocks and some of the gears in them... ohhhhh!!! I'm getting ideas!!

And I finally ( I hope) have worked out all the nit-picky design details on the commission I'm working on, my hope is to get them done tonight, or at least this weekend..


I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm getting excited again to make jewelry.  I think my batteries are at green again.. are just about fully recharged. 

Now if it wasn't arctic in my non-heated studio...  The little ceramic heater just isn't quite enough heat when it's below zero out by wind chill......

more adding machine fun....

such a cutie!! got it cheap, it seems to be in perfect working order, but missing the stylus... it's getting taken apart though, I have plans for the gorgeous brass detailing!!

Got this one at a flea market in South Dakota on my last best-est buddy visit in September.  Jerry Decided to start taking it apart as a study break yesterday.  It looks to be a easy one .. which is why he picked it.  ( he's swearing he will get back on track ripping stuff up as soon as all his finals are done next week.... I hope so.. I need some mechanical romance inspiration here!!)

So I did some researching on this cute little guy, and it's patented in 1946.  I can't find specific info on when mine was made ( late 40's to early 50's is my best guess), but check out this link which includes a popular science add from 1947, it's a hoot and a half to read ( it reads like one of those late night infomercials) and tells me all kinds of interesting stuff, like this is all metal, made PROFESSIONALLY ( what adding machine would not be professionally made?  was there a market for homemade adding machines??)   And it touts the lack of paper as a convenience for the buyer!!

Love it!

why am I busy???

I'm working on a couple of commissions, and I've been slowly and methodically cleaning/ reorganizing the studio.  LOOK! the painting desk!!! it's clean!! and look... you can see all my paints and patina's easily on that carousal.!   That is a old fisher price paint caddy I believe.  Works great!

I've also been cutting up old and not so old candy and cookie tins to experiment with this weekend, if I can get my commissions done during the week.  My hands are kind of beat up, cutting up the cans can really do a number on silky-smooth skin.... oh wait! You have to have silky smooth skin to began with? dang...

surfing the web

The last week I've been cruising the Internet more the normal.  Heck, I don't normally have the free time to sit in front of my computer and just browse the web.  But I've been Christmas shopping, and that's lead to strange waters.  I detail only one:


 I am a hug fan of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas movie.   Jerry showed me this very kewl t-shirt design showing Jack in the holiday forest, staring at a tree with a TARTIS on it.  wowo! 2 of my most favorite cultural icons on one t-shirt! I want I want I want!! I did finally find it ( the artist doesn't currently have t-shirts up but you can buy prints here) but one of the things I ran into was Sally as the virgin Mary.    I kid you not.  I adore Nightmare, but Sally as the virgin Mary??

I did some more searching on etsy and ran across a couple more strange juxtapositions of various characters playing Mary, so maybe it's some sort of Catholic thing.

Notice I didn't lift pictures of either item because I respect copyright.  But click on the links to check them out!!

I still want that shirt.

I hope everyone had a grand Thanksgiving!!  I've certainly enjoying my 4 day weekend.  Tomorrow is a PJ day, if I get anything useful done it will be to work on my commissions.   I have a very interesting challenge from a customer I'm working on, but they are Christmas gifts so no sharing until after the holiday.

Or maybe I will read.

Or maybe I'll just goof off on the Internet again!

Adding machine pic

Jerry and Jesscera ... he's sooo happy to have a new baby to destroy!

 Trying to clean up my pic files, I love this one... its from one of the Sunday Bazaars we did in the Village in September, and Jerry bought this adding machine and took it apart almost immediately.  It had really kewl number dials on it, which made great earrings.  I've only got a few of them left now!! (the dials.. and 1 pair of earrings)

I probably won't blog in the next week or so, since I don't have anything on the docket and next week is ThanksGiving!! so have a great holiday all!

Random Thoughts

My shows are at a end for the year / til May probably, thought I can pencil in some home shows and of course if anything really interesting pops up I'll go for that.   I admit after the success of the Holiday Boutique I'm somewhat more inclined to give more crafty venues a 2nd try.

Still I feel a huge bit of contentment that I'm done for awhile.


Time to recharge my batteries, catch up on other activities (house cleaning, ugh) and read books without active guilt.

The break between the last of the September shows and These shows in November was long enough I started to work on things for fun!!! So I doubt it's gonna be a long break.


Once again a childhood show disappoints the adult in me.  I caught a couple episodes of lost in space this weekend on TV, and boy, what a illogical plot both had.  How can anyone trust Dr Smith when he seems to betray them every episode?   Miners digging too deep and destroying the planet??  Judy and the other guy never quite seem to get it on???  ugh.  And Poor Penny, doomed to always be alone.


The robot is still kewl, Bill Mummy is adorable, and I still like the theme song.   The mom in the show is beyond insipid.  I think next time it's on I"ll watch the opening credits and ta da along, and then change the channel.

I miss the Daily show.  I hear what's going on in politics on NPR  and never hear the funny side anymore. 

I still haven't seen the last episode  of Project Runway Season 12.  I know Dom won, and I'm sure she deserved it, but I really need to chase that down sometime.  I wonder who won Face off??   now that I have time again, I'm sure I"ll trip over this stuff online eventually.

I'm contemplating buying a tablet, and then feel guilty.  I mean here we are doing very well managing money on a single income, but there really isn't extras $$.  Then I think the business has done so very well this year, and it's easily a business expense.  The business has some $$.  I want a I-pad, but at $500 it's way too expensive.  I 've looked at some alternatives for half that... still I don't really need it, I've spent 45 years of my life without it.     but I want it!! Why do I want it?  I wish I could absolutely pin down why beyond I want it!!

Part of our financial plan as a single income family is paying off the car ( which means no savings left, but no monthly car payment either) We got the title in the mail on Saturday.  I don't think I've owned a car outright since My college days.  My college cars were junk.  Our owned out right car is a 2012 Grand Caravan.  It feels good. 

Reading Terry Pratchett's Tiffany series.  pretty good.  I got them for Jerry for Xmas last year.. which tells you how up to date my reading pile is.


Going to watch a movie with the Man now... it's actually a homework assignment for him.  I don't remember being able to watch movies as homework when I went to college!!!!