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Silver is beautiful. It’s also - how to put this politely - okay. Call it a Challenge to photograph 
I have some lovely vintage glass jewels in my Jewelry Supplies Shop on Etsy:
I’ve recently gotten some silver plated settings for my pretty vintage jewels - and I’d forgotten what a challenge silver can be to photograph! If it’s clean and shining (like these settings) - it reflects nearby colors almost like a mirror. Place the settings on a wood background - which is usually a good choice - and guess what? The silver looks tan, beige or bronze - the color(s) of aged brass! Well brass is wonderful - I use (and sell) a lot of it - but the point here is to show the silver!
I’m working on it. The composite above shows some of the pics that worked - and as you can see, those silver settings are highlighted by a lot of colors besides just “silver”.
This is going to be an ongoing project - better pics, more silver (plated) settings, more silver all around - and more of a learning curve. So - stay tuned, this will be continued!
Here’s a great example of indie design - fab style - and recycling too! This dress is from Amanda Vaughn-Redmon on etsy.
First and foremost of course, is that it’s a great-looking dress - it would be fun and flattering to wear!
Equally important in my book - she makes her garments in the U.S. (North Carolina) and she uses recycled/repurposed clothing for all or part of them. Of course that makes each garment one-of-a-kind, which is terrific too
Think about it - this is style at its best. It looks great, those fabrics would feel good and be super easy to care for (here, she’s used an old t-shirt, and slinky drapy poly knit) - and she’s taking what would otherwise be tossed away, and turned it into something fabulous.
Talk about a feel-good dress! Love it
I’ve started doing “pet photo jewelry” lately and people are so enthusiastic about their pets, furbabies, fuzzy kids, whatever you call them - I have a feeling these are going to be fun!
There’s a twist though. I don’t just use straight pixel-for-pixel photos (well I can, but that hasn’t been the focus so far) - instead, I make a sort of portrait of your furbaby, and use that as the basis for the earrings (or pendant). For example, look at these sweet beagle earrings:
Custom Pet Photo Earrings or Pendant
These would be fun anyway, because this is a much-loved pet and her human really cares about these earrings - and the extra fun part is that, these aren’t copied from an “exact” photo. At my customer’s urging, I played with the photo a little, I changed it, stylized it, turned it into a mini-portrait. (Yes, I photoshopped it!)
I think it’s going to be interesting to go down that road a little more
The earrings are a great conversation starter, if you’re into that. And they’re a great keepsake gift for someone you love (hmm, can we can “paper anniversary present”?) For someone who loves their pet!
PS I’m going to be putting up some new and different examples soon - stay tuned for further developments!
I’m always looking for paper inspiration and goodies, right? And in my recent quest I found this yummy vintage skirt. The vendor is calling the print, “Paper Roses”, which is how I found it. Serendipity! It’s so fun to find surprises that are as cute as this one - and as affordable
“Paper Roses” Vintage Skirt from kellyemeraldhart at Etsy
Of course once I found her shop I had to look around. She’s got really good prices, vintage skirts and dresses I’m definitely going to check out, and some goodies that I thought were both attractive and really interesting. Take a look at this artwork:
Polaroid into Prints - from kellyemeraldhart at Etsy
She’s taken her own polaroids - and turned them into larger prints. You can buy a pack (as in this listing) or get each one separately for only $2.00! I love the water-color-ish look of them - and the uniqueness - and of course the price!
Original artwork - and vintage pretties - this is a great shop you definitely want to visit
P.S. AND she’s having a sale!
Now you know how I love seeing artistic creativity, especially when it’s original work, and especially when it’s budget-friendly. This is fabric creativity, not paper, but it’s right up my alley all the same.
The artist is Kankywompous - see her work here. Her project - that reminds me of Project Runway - was to create a Japanese kimono outfit (kimono, obi and haori) for a small contest on the following Saturday. To find the fabrics, do the cutting and sewing of all the pieces from Wednesday to Friday (night) - and oh yeah, there was a “real” job during that time too - I’m applauding!
And check out the result!
 and 
See the detail:
And they won first place! The artist mentioned, “I started cutting and sewing about 11am Wed and stopped at about 10pm that night with both the Kimono and Obi finished at that point.
The Haori I had less time to work with, as I had work in the morning, so after I got back on Thurs, I started the cutting and sewing of the jacket. The Haori is lined with the same print as the outer layer, but in a brighter color to add a nice pop.
At the event, which is part of a two day CCG Event for Legend of the Five rings, it placed 1st in the costume contest (out of four placings).”
You have to admire that kind of creative rush (and can I add, I absolutely love that lining!)
It’s not really a catch though - it’s a question. I’m having my first Free Earrings Giveaway at Paper Jewels. All you have to do to enter the Giveaway is send me an email telling me what pair of earrings you’d like to win AND (this is the “catch”) tell me one thing you’d change
You want those earrings - but in another color? Or, you’d make them in silver, not gold? Or you wish they were smaller (or bigger)? Or - well, you tell me.
You could win these pretty paper earrings:
 or these: 
Or, well, you pick your pair! Just tell me the one thing you’d change Hint: these CAN be made to match your bridal gown / wedding party. Or you can choose your honey’s favorite color - and use these for the perfect First Anniversary Gift or Mother’s Day earrings
The Giveaway runs until April 15, 2010 - so we have something nice to look forward to on Tax Day.
Good luck!
Of course I always think vintage is a great idea - it’s usually thrifty (or downright cheap) - which always helps. And so often, you’ll find clothes made better than new ones. And there are so many beautiful finds!
As, for example, these wonderful wedding gowns I found today at Pink Ribbon Bridal on Etsy:
Vintage Alfred Angelo White Lace Wedding Dress Bridal Gown Plus size 20W BNWT
and
Vintage Moonlight Plus Size 28 Wedding Dress
I know it’s sometimes hard to find terrific plus size garments when you’re searching vintage - for that matter, it’s always a crapshoot to find any particular size. That’s part of the hunt! So when there are wonderful choices like these, I think they need to be found
Now I will say, I’m not sure if these fit the definition of “true vintage” because they’re from the 1990s I think. But if I was looking for a wedding gown in those particular sizes, would that bother me? Oh no. I’d be thrilled to find them!
These gowns were purchased from a breast cancer charity - read more about it on her Etsy page so this is just a win-win all the way around.
Of course the most important thing is that you are finding the PERFECT wedding gown for your most special day. At a great price. Talk about a win-win!
Talk about a color lift! And I’m not talking about your roots here. I’m talking about a shot of color you could use every day - red is the “new neutral”. This would be a happy-making bag!
You know I think vintage is the best shopping ever. And when I find a goodie like this, I want to share! You can see the quality (and there’s several pics, so you get a good look).
This particular bag may or may not be sold by the time you go peek, but this seller - RiffRaffReview on Etsy - has lots of goodies - and more on the way. Check it out!
I’m one of those people who makes stuff. I sew, I do crafts, I make things for the house, etc etc. And I’m fairly knowledgeable about fabric. Felt is a fabric that used to be made out of, well, smushed up wool leftovers. It’s always offered great vivid colors, but it ‘pills’ and frays and it’s not sturdy, so oh well.
But! I have been re-educated here. Not only have I found some great colors in oh-so-useful felt, but it is made ENTIRELY from recycled stuff - even better, from recycled bottles! They’ve made a soft fabric - from bottles. And it’s not expensive!
The colors are clear and vivid - and from what the vendor writes, the fabric does NOT fray or fall apart in the wash. (Old-style felt, forget it, you wouldn’t dare toss it in the washer). And she has it in many colors! And she even has it in this camoflauge pattern!
 Camouflage felt fabric!
Now honestly, that wouldn’t be my personal choice - but lots of people would love it (imagine a pillow made with this felt, sitting on your couch in the den).
I will happily promote this vendor - K and C Supplies on Etsy. She is finding / sourcing / selling a product that is not only entirely recycled, but it’s pretty and soft and nice!
Talk about the best of all possible products. Go buy some!
There’ve been tons of studies on how color affects us, and I’m no expert on any of them. What I do know is that color makes us happy, gives us a smile, and is a great way to add a little boost to our spirits (especially right now when it’s still so cold!)
So I’m specially happy to be able to offer some lovely vintage jewels in yummy colors in my Artfire jewelry supplies shop and also in my Etsy shop. Like these pretty jewels:
and
They feel like Spring to me - and that’s of the good
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