Inspiration...

Sorting and organizing….well, really playing….with new, well, really old treasures…..

I attended an annual Bead, Gem and Jewelry show this past weekend and came home with a small tote bag full of vintage treasures. Above is a sneak peek……. vintage lace, old rosaries, a Victorian era rose pendant and multiple strands of vintage freshwater pearls acquired from an estate sale.

Just a few of the trinkets that will be making their way into future jewelry pieces. With inspiration like this, I can’t wait to start creating and it looks like I’ll be burning the midnight oil in the studio this week. What inspires your creative heart?

Studio Snap.....

...serving up a bowl of "bead soup"....

...a favorite vintage bowl filled with strands of crystal beads, waiting for their makeovers to become sparkling jewelry.

Vintage Tiara

This week, my MCP Project 52 photography group on Flickr, had the challenge to submit a photograph with the theme "Shades of Grey", so I photographed a favorite vintage tiara....

This tiara is very large and has so much sparkle....I just love it! It's really hard not to put this on my head and wear it everywhere I go.....that would just be plain silly, right?

Romantic Valentine Soldered Charms!

My newest soldered charms to celebrate the romance of Valentines Day.... and everyday!

.... listed on the website today....click HERE to come shop. Merci ~ xoxo Joy

Easy Bling Project!

In my never-ending quest to find things to do with left-over jewelry pieces, I decided to bling out a favorite pair of bronze metallic ballet flats…

I love how these turned out! Just a little bit of super glue, broken rhinestone earrings and filigree findings, jazzed up a pair of otherwise plain shoes. So easy to do and a fun way to add a touch of sparkle to your wardrobe! ~ xoxo Joy

Learning New Skills...

One of the many things blogging has inspired me to do is bump up my photography skills. I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures, but learning how to take better pictures is important, especially since I make my living selling jewelry through website pictures! Without my customers actually being able to hold a piece of my work in their hands, my photographs need to be as clear, interesting and beautiful as possible.

Theme: Illustrate A Song Title - "Amazing Grace"

That’s why I was excited when I received an email invitation to join a photography group, MCP Project 52 on Flickr sponsored by MCP Actions. MCP provides Photoshop Actions and Workshops for professional and hobbyist photographers. Jodi organized this group so we could learn new techniques and inspire each other to take better photographs. So far, there are over 2,000 of us in this group!

Theme: Illustrate A Song Title - "Paper Roses" by Marie Osmond

Each week, Jodi assigns a “theme” and everyone submits 1 to 3 photographs that relate to that theme. It’s a fun way to explore and experiment with new techniques and a great way to get us out of our comfort zones.

Theme: Illustrate A Song - "Chances Are" by Johnny Mathis

I have to admit, I rarely take my camera off automatic focus and I am looking forward to taking off the training wheels that I have been so comfortable using and actually start working more with the manual settings.

This week, our challenge was to create a photograph inspired by a song title and the photo’s above were my contributions. I can’t wait to see what next week’s theme challenge will be and I hope that over the next 52 weeks of this project, my photographs will improve and that this ol’ girl will learn a new trick or two.

New Jewels In The Shop!

Just listed! The last batch available for these one-of-a-kind, vintage Holy Card Soldered Charm Necklaces. Click HERE to get yours!

Studio Snaps...

Happy New Year dear ones! I hope your holiday celebrations found you in the company of loving friends and family this year. Now that the holidays are over, I’ve been spending time in the studio getting organized for the coming year.

I thought I would share a few of my favorite places to stash my stash! The sweet Cherub statue above used to reside in my garden until I moved her in my studio. Now she holds jewelry pieces for me that have been completed but are patiently waiting their turn to be photographed and listed on the website.

This is a FAVORITE….a little antique French Pastille box….a charming candy box from turn-of-the-century Paris. I found this sweetie at the most recent antique show at Marburger Farms in Round Top Texas. I just love the romantic graphic on the lid. It reminds me of the history where Marie Antoinette is met for the first time in the forest near Compiegne when she was handed over to France as the new Dauphine.

I also keep trays and trays of vintage china platters everywhere around the studio. Each holding groupings of jewels or beads that are in-progress pieces. I like keeping things out where I can see them when I am working on design ideas in my head.

…and of course, the best little boxes for holding small charms and other what-not’s are vintage jewelry boxes. The compartments and trays inside make these perfect for storage and you can still find them pretty cheap at flea markets. Each box is dedicated to something different…religious items…. rhinestone pieces….. sterling charms… etc…… I can usually find what I am looking for pretty quick by sorting pieces this way.

Another favorite storage solution…. I use vintage canisters that I’ve painted creamy white and then embellished with wood carvings and vintage brooches. These are perfect for holding tags, spools of ribbon and button cards.

Thank you for your visits this past year. I truly appreciate that you choose to share a part of your day with me and I am looking forward to sharing a new year of inspiration and creativity with you. ~ Merci ~ xoxo ~Joy