Working on commissioned pieces of jewelry!!

A friend that has bought several pieces of my jewelry has commissioned me to make several more pieces for her. I love when my art helps bring folks into my life as what happened this time. She commented on some ooaks that I had made and we started talking back and forth and discovered that we live almost right around the corner from one another. Small world, eh?

I just finished one of the bracelets she ordered.....one of my hemp ones....the one with the pansy and the pearls.  She wants another one just like it but the roping in rose color. (someone has notified me that they are hopefully going to buy one of my teacup faeries and I so hope they do. I need to make a supply run)

I made one of my paper boxes to put the bracelet in and made one of my paper flowers with a button in the center as a decoration for it. I love making these little boxes....such fun!!

After I finish this post then I'm going to start on a memory wire bracelet she has ordered. Well....actually I think a horizontal pause is going to take place first and then I will work on the bracelet. ^_^

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

Day Three of Teacher Appreciation Week!!

OMGOSH....I can NOT believe that I am actually getting to do my post in the morning (like I"m suppose to)  instead of late in the afternoon. Yea me!! Monday and Tuesday were late postings because I was cleaning a BIG, messy beach house and didn't get to post until late but today...today there is no cleaning. Well...there really is..MINE!! I want to apologize to ya'll now though in the quality of some of the photos....it's difficult taking them at 1am. Can we say Whooo Whooo? All my fellow night owls will I know!!! @_@

It's day THREE of Teacher Appreciation Week and it's SWEET day. There are so many cute ideas floating around out there in BING or google land and it's fun looking at all of them for inspiration. Inspiration they did give too...that and my muse whispering in my ear and trying to grab a few of the sweet treats..hehe  After looking at everything and knowing that I wanted to make sure a part of the gift was something they could use and keep to remember the Chazman by I (hey..stop poking me muse) I meant WE came up with something that I think the teachers will really like. A movie night POPcorn container filled with candies. I mean, who doesn't like a good movie night and all the goodies that go along with it.

I started with a popcorn container...well..duhhh Regina, they could figure that one out...hehe. Found some really cute ones at the Dollar Tree....two for $1. Good price, ri iight? The perfect size for a single serving of popcorn for future use and the perfect way to show off their gift. The goodies we placed inside were a box of Cracker Jack's which I so wanted to opened and had to contain myself...I wanted the prize inside. Remember eating those as kiddos and getting some really cool prizes, like rings and little people. They don't put those in them now and I guess I should really just shhhhhush since I am telling my age here. :P   Ya'll know me and know that I could not just put a box of Cracker Jack's (not opened and prize still intact. I promise..hehe) into the container. I  had to add that "sumthin sumthin" to make it POP. HEY...I made another funny...get it? Cracker Jacks are popcorn and I said.....oh you get it!! While I was floating around BINGland I found this blog that had some really cute ideas and one that she let us borrow and use for free. The cutest tag and I swaney it was made just for me. Nooo..not really but it was perfect. Go visit the domesticatedlady and read her post about a cute idea using this tag too. Thank you Melissa!!

See there...even she used the POP in popcorn to make this tag even more awesome. I love the movie theater theme around the tag. Didn't I tell you it was perfect for my Cracker Jack's...that I didn't open...I swaney...even though I really, really, REALLY wanted to.

Now what would the movies be without smarties. I could eat several rolls of them..ok ok...I USE to could eat several rolls of them. They need to come out with sugar free ones...just sayin!! Again, I couldn't just plop some smarties in the container. I had to make them STAND out and HAHA...I surely did...make them STAND out...in a pair of pants. ^_^  This idea came from a blog that had made a teacher's Valentine gift last year. Can ya guess what pants and Smarties could possible have in common? Think now....I know ya'll are real SMARTie pants...HA!!  Trish and Bonnie over at uncommondesignsonline are the ones I borrowed their pants from. Oops...I mean their pants tag. Thank you ladies for giving me inspiration!!

Sorry about the blury shot....1am just doesn't have the best lighting.  Cute idea though, isn't it? The tag I typed says "Thank you for helping me become a real SMARTie pants this year". So hope they (drool) enjoy their smarties and I swear...I didn't eat any of them. I gave the extra few rolls to the Chazman.

Momma always taught me when doing designs of any kind to always make it an odd number, so that's what I did. Besides, I figured they would like more candy AND it wouldn't be HERE to tempt ME. A simple idea from several things I saw while exploring using M&M. There were some cute poems that pointed out the colors and what they stood for but I couldn't use them because..well...my container wasn't big enough..hehe
Sooo.. I tied up some peanut M&M's in a small clear bag...tied it off with some jute cording..added a little tag that simply stated "You're an M&M (Magnificent & Marvelous)".

Again...sorry about the shot. (grimacing). 

Now that I had all our cute candy ready...I simply placed it inside the container....added a cute movie ticket tag with a "Thank you from Chaz" and they were ready to go.

Tomorrow is supply day and I'm going to start working on them as soon as I post this. Until next time...Hugs,

Regi

Spoon to stir your tea!!

Remember that empty space over my tea pot collection? WHAT?? You don't remember?? Let me refresh your memory a wee bit.

To the left by the light switch. Ahhhhhh, now you remember. Thought ya might with a little assistance. ^_^
I made a cute little paper wall tag to go there and it fits just perfectly. I used a few vintage images, old lace and one of my old vintage silver spoons I had in a bag....just sitting there....doing nothing...just waiting on it's chance to shine again. HeHe.

I have just been waiting to use some of my old silverware and I think this little spoon added just what this tag needed. I mean you simply can not have a tea party without a spoon. Ya have to be able to stir that sugar, milk and honey up somehow.

No more empty spot now and I think I really like my wall above my tea pot collection. Even the Mad Hatter is considering how much he likes it too!!

Until next time..........Hugs,
Regi

According to the calendar...it's FRIDAYYYY!!!

This year is going by so fast. I mean, can ya believe it's been two weeks already. Ok ok almost two full weeks but close enough AND it's FRIDAYYY!!! The Chazman is home today...the teachers are in school. (it's a teacher/employee work day..and here I thought they worked Mon-Fri already..hehe) SO with that being said (about the Chazman being home) I had better get to work on this post because I won't have use of the computer for long. (unless he decides to sleep in and that means sleeping til around 10)

I finished the last two of my vintage tags for our January/winter tree. I think they turned out pretty dang good, if I must say so myself. Yes yes I know...I just did. HA!!!

This little sweet guy walking his little doggie out in the cold and not minding it one least little bit. I made another of my beaded snowflakes or "Winter's Teardrops" as I like to call them. Used some of my colored pens to add a bit of color. Little man was to blahhhh being in black and white with those beautiful colorful wings. I just had to add some color to him....just had to I tell ya!!

Here's the last of the four tags and isn't she adorable. Ya best be shakin those noggins "yes yes". ^_^   I have been seeing folks posting old photos of kiddos on horses and that's what gave me the idea for this tag. I love being able to use all of a photo, like the butterfly wings. Little man had the top part of the print and little miss has the bottom. Would never know though, would ya? I used several different vintage images for this one. The pony (so cute) The little girl is one and her hat, coat and hand warmer were another. I added a pretty blue silk ribbon/bow to her collar and added an inspirational saying that I so love " Spirit...the vital principle or animating force within living beings" (I encircled it with some bronze chain) I also added some German glass on the hat and hand warmer. It's hard to see it on the computer but it looks so pretty when the lights shine off of it on the tree.  Speaking of the tree, I guess it's time to show it to ya'll........

The Chazman and I are so enjoying having it still sitting in the corner and winking blinking at us at night. The little bear on the ladder is holding a crystal in his hand and is getting ready to hang it on the tree. I have been using that ladder (which my parents gave me yearszzzzz ago) ever since Chaz has been in this world. He said he wants it in all the decorating we do throughout the year too. So I guess Ted E is going to be a very busy bear climbing up and down that ladder this year. ^_^

Did ya notice in the first tree photo my teapot collection and the Mad Hatter sign I made? Let me show you a closer photo...don't want ya to miss seeing it.

I love making little signs and I will decoupage this one later on so it will last for a longer time. The print is an image of one of the illustrations from the children's book, Alice in Wonderland. Well....ok...I guess ya probably already knew that. DUHHH!! I added the Cheshire cat sitting in the tree, the teacup full of flowers that's Alice's cup, the strawberry shortcake (I mean what's a tea party without sweets, ri iight?) the cute little extra teapot, the little Mad Hatter label and the sign that states " We're all quite made here!! You'll fit right in".  Since I collect teapots and my own original Mad Hatter is sitting with them, I just had to make a sign. I noticed now too in the photo of the tree and the teapots that there is a blank space in between the Mad Hatter sign and my mermaid soap sign. I guess I know one thing I will be doing today....making something to hang there...HAHA!!

Thank you so much for stopping by today to visit with me and I hope that you will do so more often this year. If you see something that I have made and would like some instructions, just ask and I will email you the how to's or even do a post about it. I love to share...sharing is a very good thing!! Also, I have decided that 2013 is going to be a year of giving. I will without announcement except in the post that will let you be "THE ONE" give the number of the comment for that post that will become "THE ONE" to win something that I have made during the year. I think it will be fun and hopefully get more to come and visit with me. I like my visitors and yes...I will stoop to bribery to get them to come. hehe

Until next time...........HUGS,
Regi

Two down...two to go!!

I am having SOOOOOOO much fun playing with paper. I forget just how much fun I have until I decide to play with it again. Mine isn't as awesome as some other paper artist I know but I like it and for now...that's what counts. Of course, I really like it when you like it....so LIKE IT...ppplease ^_^

I had four tags to make to put on the January/winter tree and I finished two of them late yesterday....almost a third one. One day I hope to be able to purchase some of the actual paper products to make these really POP but for now I am blessed that I can just make these. (I need to start several pickle/glass jars and label them for what I want to buy...hehe)

Let me show you the two I did get finished before I babble ya'll to death....hehe

Do you like them? Say yes...HA!! The top one is my favorite so far. I wonder why? It's because it's one of the sea....I love the sea/ocean/lakes/streams that surround us here. I added some of the shells from one of our beach walkabouts and one of my little clay turtles (can't forget our sweet turtles) and even added one of the tiny glass vials that holds some of our beautiful warm, white stuff. (sand people...beach sand) What could be any better than standing "By the crystal sea & Dreaming".

 The second one is "precious" I think. See...I even let you know by stating it right on the tag. hehe   I pulled out some of my vintage lace, buttons and string for this one.   I thought the button kinda looked like a snowflake...ri iight? The lace made a perfect little collar for her. I wrapped a tiny bit of my colored string around the bottom and made one of my pompoms for it. The background tag is from an old sewing thread ad and ya'll know how much I love to sew.

Now some might be asking why I'm doing the vintage tags for a January/winter tree. It's ok...go head and ask. (sitting here waiting for someone to ask hehe) Oh good...someone asked..thank you!! I don't know why but January and winter make me think of vintage or olden times. If you live where it really snows (if you are like me and NEVER get snow, look at a photo. HA) just look out the window. Snow makes such a magical place where you really couldn't tell what time period it was....that is if ya didn't already know.  I know...I'm weird...but I'm good with it!!

Until next time........HUGS,
Regi

Love making paper crafts!!

Remember the three cones I showed you yesterday? Well....I finished them and just had to show them off.

I love how this little one turned out. I made her dress out of ribbon and then adorned the waist and neckline with tiny pearls. She is holding a tiny crystal in her hand. I hope you can see it of you click on the picture and make it bigger. Yes...you can do that...go ahead...try it.  Could you see the tiny crystal? I hope so!!

How about this little darlin all bundled up in her pink winter coat and earmuffs. She is holding a pair of paper winter mittens. I detailed them by sewing the tiny snowflakes on them and then writing on them. One states "Baby, it's cold" and the other states "outside". Have you heard the song by that title sung by Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone? Ohhhh...it's good.

Last but not least by any means is my tiny winter dancer faerie. Can't you just see her dancing out under the snowflakes? Snowflakes are January rain....well...in some places....not here!! HA    The snowflake she is holding , I made from glass beads and crystals.

I'm enjoying making things for our January/winter tree. I'm working on the paper tags that will hang from the tree now. It's really beginning to shape up. I will take a photo when I get it completely finished. Yea yea...I'm a quirky, whimsical soul and I wouldn't want to be any other way!!

Until next time............Hugs,
Regi

WOOT WOOT...ALABAMA Boys did it again!!

OK...(still woot wooting) yes I am VERY excited that our ALABAMA boys did it again....winning the National championship last night. They played awesome!! Congratulations guys!!

Ya'll will never guess what I did this weekend. Noooo...I'm not going to make you guess, I'll tell you straight away. HA!!  I took all my Christmas decorations down with the exception of our big Christmas tree in the family room. Do I see SHOCKED faces out there? hehe  I did take all the Christmas ornaments off . I let the white lights (just something about sitting in the dark with just the tree on and squinting at the lights...they look like shining stars) and the cranberry beads stay on it though. I have always wanted to leave the tree up to decorate for other holidays throughout the year but never had the "nerve" to. Well...this year I decided what the heck...I'll do it!! The Chazman is very excited...he loves when we decorate for holidays and man oh man are there some good holidays to decorate for. There's.....Valentines, Mardi Gras, St Patrick's, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I know there are a few more in between.  For this month we are decorating it with just a winter theme. So far I have some of my handmade snowflakes on it. Here's the link if you would like to make some....they're FUN to make. We hung some vintage crystals on it....they are suppose to represent ice. HEY...it's a winter tree!! The cranberry beads represent holly berries which grow abundantly in cold weather plus I added a few more faux holly berries in with the pine cones. Our winter tree still needed a few more items so yesterday I started working on some tags to hang on the branches.

WOW....time really can get away from you when you are having fun...the saying is true!!! I spent most of yesterday finding vintage images I wanted to use. I just love vintage children photos but there sure are some creepy looking ones out there. Wait wait...I could use some of those for Halloween or All Souls day. I need to go back and reference those for later use. (where's that muse when I need her...she could have reminded me of that YESTERDAY) It takes time too in saving them....printing them out and sorting them. Today I'm working on detailing them, putting German glass on some, using lace, string, buttons, shells....just what ever I have stashed about that I can use on them to make them purty!!  Now, do ya see the last WIP photo..the one with the cones? Noooo, they aren't going to be clown hats..hehe...they are cones that the little snowbabies will be sitting in. I'm excited to get them finished. So I'm ending this post so I can.....PLAY!!!

Until next time..........Hugs,
Regi

Whatcha doin?

I'm rather nosey curious, aren't I? I admit it...I am...but HEY if ya don't ask ya won't know!! What have I been up to, you ask back? Well...let me tell you ^_^  I have been working on more Halloween tags for here at home. I'm trying to really decorate for the Chazman this year...he is really getting into the whole decorating theme. LOVE IT!! I made tags for containers I have in the kitchen.

You'e already seen the Vampire Blood decanter but I decided to offer some real treats too. The large jar in the back..yes..the one with the blue top...it's tag says "Bat Ears...Dried and Salted" (To improve your hearing)  It has dry roasted peanuts in it. See...even this quirky whimsy can come up with a few good ideas, ri iight??  The smaller one that is obviously empty at the moment WILL have some malted milk balls added to it. It's tag says, "Bat Droppings" hehe.

Here's Mummy Bear with his friend Hap the Happy pumpkin. (yes...the Chazman has to name then all) and the tag that goes with this grouping. Poor bear must have eaten the honey even though it plainly stated it was "POISON". Silly old bear!!!

Love my little ceramic pumpkin with it's ring of ghosties. It was my grandmothers...she gave it to me over 30 years ago. The glass vintage container sitting with it holds...drum roll please...dadadadadadadada...(taking breathe)....dadadadadadadad....."Fur of the Were Wolf". HEY...ya never know when that stew might call for a pinch. ^_^  BLECK!!!

I love vintage and old things...can ya tell? Huh Huh...can ya? This glass stopper bottle was my great grandmothers and for now it's holding "Wanda's Witches Brew". The owl is one of the vintage Halloween postcards that I have on file....printed out on cardstock.  Decorating can be so easy!!

My dang printer ran out of ink so I had to make these by hand but that's alright because they actullay go better with the white ghosties. The tall glass container has red twizzlers and the sign says " Bloody Skeleton Bones". The open glass container will have chocolate wrapped eyes and it's tag says "Fresh Plucked Eyeballs" and the last container will have homemade peanut butter roll cookies and it's tag says "Witches Warts". HEY...I could use some of the Werewolf fur to make them look like warts....just kidding!! I'm afraid the Chazman would eat them anyways. YIKES!!

The Chazman loved them all when he saw them this afternoon after we came in from school. Of course he wanted to know where all the goodies were that went with the tags. Ahhem...I will have to get some and make sure that I have lots of extra. Ohhh have ya'll met the Chazman yet? Here he is. Can you guess which one is him?  HEHE

Until next time..........Hugs,
Regi and the Chazman!!

It's Wednesday..Really??

WOW...is it really Wednesday already? I am enjoying my therapy time so much that I am letting old Father time just wander on by...^_^   Thank goodness he didn't stop and join in with the bellowing singing that has been going on. No worries and no fears (that YOU will have to hear the "gulp" singing) because Santa has his body now. Woot Woot!!

Now I have to work on his cloak and hood. Remember the goodies..treasures...booty...OHH, I can use that...items I found not to long ago. Oh yes you do!! If not then click here to joggle your memory..^_^
Ahhhh...now you remember!!!  I'm going to use the red/green/white material. I will line the hood with either a red or forest green fabric. I love making these cloaks. My mom and I came up with the pattern a very long time ago, so every time I make one I feel as though she is sitting here with me.

Now I know you must be thinking to yourself "Regi...is that all you have been doing?" That's what you were thinking, ri iight?? HA....I knew it!! Of course that's not all I have been doing. I know, I know...I normally don't work on more than one thing at a time but I have missed my therapy so much and my muse has been whispering so many ideas that I couldn't wait to start some of them.

I'm working on some of my mermaid jewelry again. I LOVE having a mermaid soul (along with my gypsy, bohemian, quirky, whimsical souls too) Aren't these little guys cute? So tiny...a bit over 1/2 inch but not quite an inch. Yeah, yeah..I'm terrible at measurements. I admit it. I'm an "eye it" kinda gal. These sweet little turtles are made from turquoise. Did you know that turquoise is among the master healing stones? It attracts friendship, luck and happiness and releases shame and guilt. I also used some of my treasured Turkish silver spacers that just added that little bit of sumthin sumthin!!

I worked on some tags to put my jewelry pieces on too. I really like this design and I think it's going to be my standard one from now on. It was originally a birthday card I made for a friend. One of my water color doodles with one of my mermaids painted on vellum and put over the top. Cool effect ^_^  For the jewelry tag I just cut it down a bit and added my design name to it. I added the ribbon and realized that it could be a book marker too....so if you purchase one of my pieces you will be getting an extra item. Good deal!!

Making my design tags made me want to work on a book marker design and this is where I am at at the moment with it. I will water color this or perhaps use my gel pens and then paint one of my mermaids on vellum and place her on top. I might even make a few cards using this design too. I'm thinking of printing off some when I'm finished and taking them to the library. Just sit them on the counter so folks can take one. I LOVE my library.

So that's what I've been working on here lately. What have YOU been working on? Share people...share!!!

Until next time..........HUGS,
Regi