Part of a necklace with a cool homemade thimble

Here's part of a necklace with one of the poker chip assemblages. I couldn't finish it yet because I didn't have any chain that worked with it. So I am actually going to have to buy some. Egads! 

I also used a turquoise bead, probably faux.

I really liked how my tassel turned out. I used a vintage Monopoly thimble and turned it into a tassel. When I got it on my drill press, I was surprised to discover that it was actually made of metal. Isn't it cute? Can't wait to finish it!

Have you ever made tassels out of an unusual object? I'd love to hear your ideas.

My Reliquary

I just finished my assemblage piece that I'm going to take to Liquidambar Gallery in Pittsboro. If selected, it will hang for a two month show this August and September. I titled it "Reliquary: Frances circa 1932".

I didn't take any pictures of the piece in progress; I was too focused. Anyway here goes...

I centered this piece around this photo of my grandmother and my father. I've always been drawn to this picture. While I used the photo and name of my grandmother for this project, the piece isn't really about her. She died when I was very young, and I don't know enough about her life to tell her story. So this is the story of my imaginary Frances.

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Here's a picture of the whole piece. If you look on the right edge of the photo, you'll see the paw of my little helper, Ginger.

Here's a detailed view of the recessed interior of the main box. I want the rest of the piece to tell a story of this beautiful woman's life.

This is the 'roof' compartment. It holds lace, pearls, and an elegant ring. 

Here are views of the three small compartments in the base. 

Seashells and a conch egg case,

dried hydrangea, and 

 game pieces. Even a vintage Lotto card.

These next two pictures show details of the decoration framing the center. Here is an antique letter and a piece of a vintage folding carpenter's rule.

I woke up one morning and the first thought I had was that I needed to add this row of dots to the piece. It's so strange how the brain works.

 And a final view of the entire piece. 

Thanks for looking.

Eclectic Necklace (I told you I couldn't wait to make something with my paper beads.)

Remember when I made all these wire-wrapped paper beads? 

 So here's what I made today.

 Here's one of the paper beads. I also used two vintage brass buttons that I hammered and drilled on my monster drill press. And added vintage pearls.

 This is the hinge from an antique carpenter's folding ruler. I used my bandsaw to cut the ruler, then sanded all the edges, and waxed the wood with beeswax. Then I suspended a very old key underneath.

 I love the patina of age on the key. And the great shape - why can't keys look like this now?

 See how it looks on my manikin. I love the colors of the recycled ruler. And the textural contrast with the vintage pearls. I'll have to take this one out for a test drive soon and see what people say.

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I remember playing with my Dad's old folding ruler in the garage. I used to love to fold it and unfold it. And make shapes with it. 

Obsessed with Making Paper Beads

Sometimes I joke with my daughter that I have artistic ADD. I tend to focus intensively on one project for a short period of time. Then I get distracted and move on to another. Last summer I got obsessed with marbling paper. I marbled the paper on the front porch of my hundred year old bungalow overlooking our beautiful park. It was great!

I'm sure my neighbors thought I was crazy because I had pages and pages of marbled paper hanging to dry on the porch. But it was way too messy to do inside. First I marbled all the good art paper I had in stock. Then it occurred to me that book pages would look beautiful marbled. Since I collect broken down antique and vintage books to use for art, I started marbling pages out of my books. So I now have stacks of marbled paper ready to use. 

Then I got obsessive again and starting making paper beads. I made the beads out of old book pages, vintage atlas pages, and some of the marbled papers and book pages. This weekend we went on a five hour trip to help my father-in-law celebrate his eightieth birthday. So I used the time in the car to wire wrap my paper beads. I think it makes them look more finished.

See I told you that I get slightly obsessed; I couldn't make just a few paper beads. LOL

Here's a closeup view. Aren't they pretty? They just make me happy!

Here are some of the beads made from a vintage atlas. I like to use atlases that date to at least the 1950's. The colors were better then, more subtle. 

 These were made with the hand marbled papers or book pages. 

 And a better view so you can really see the marbling. Isn't it gorgeous? See how I could get obsessed with making more and more marbled paper?

Here are the antique and vintage book pages. I love the colors of the ones that have aged.

 The aged bead with the large type in the bottom right quadrant is from an old dictionary. I love typography, especially old typography.

Now I have to go make some goodies with all the beads I finished. 

Victorian ladies in the late 1800's and early 1900's made paper beads. At that time handiwork was considered a proper way for a lady to pass the time. Maybe times haven't changed that much. Just kidding!