3 lovely days

Hope everyone's Labor Day Weekend was pleasant.  Following my little "asthma bout" I was still coming down from all of the hospital administered drugs so I spent the 3 days not running amuck. LOL.  My honey and I spent Saturday visiting a gun club for their trap and skeet setup.  Alan used to shoot often but stopped about 8 years ago when he was taking care of his father.   Now that he is enjoying his retirement, it seemed like the right hobby to pick up again...especially since my oldest son shot competition trap while at West Point.  This would give them the opportunity to shoot trap together.  Additionally, I have been wanting to shoot our home defense shotgun, something I have not had the opportunity to do.  Had to laugh as I carried out the gun in its case along with my knitting bag.  Only this Sea Witch would go to a gun cub to learn how to shoot but knit during the drive there. 

Spent Sunday at the Queen of Hearts fixing up the booths.  Added a few things to both and moved items around to give both booth's a nice visual refresh.

Moved the furniture and added a few new things. 

Lovely pumpkin and beaded black lace gown (new) and a marvelous late Edwardian fur capelet make a great Titanic outfit if you want to dress like Rose.

Have been selling antique tea pots and cups and saucers. Everyone loves a tea party and they look so nice on the walnut parlor table.

Moved the big pieces to give the booth more room.  I like to do this often as it  brings items to the forefront that may not have been seen previously.

Moved my glass case to the side so it is easier to access.

A 1930-50s display of items.  Crazy about the old, pink medicine cabinet.  Can be used for so many things.

Have been wanting to get back to making jewelry for a few local shops and finally spent Monday doing just that.  Working with chains in various metallics and having a lot of fun with this design theme.  I'm really enjoying the execution of these first four pieces.

Believe it or not, these chandelier earrings are light weight.

Like the look of the soft silver and plum beads.

Metallics, poppy red and smoky quartz elements.

Copper and bronze and faux amber make this a fun, fall piece.

Matching earrings.

So, my three day weekend has ended.  It was lovely. Wish I could spend the rest of the week making jewelry and preparing my Halloween items for my antique booths, but no such luck.  Gotta return to the present and get back to my 8 to 5 gig, sigh.  Have a lovely week all and wishing all the best to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Bottle caps, Asian influence and chocolate brown.

Okay, okay! I'm knee deep in hundreds of wedding photos and am trying to put a few albums together by this weekend. Lots of thank you notes to write and send and the company I work for is in the middle of a migration and we are in complete upheaval and all I really want to do is play with antiques to price and display in my booth at Vintage Village. Instead and in answer to the many emails I have received regarding jewelry that I have made, I am posting some of those photos because this is the easiest of everything that I have on my plate right now. Besides, it's more fun to post pics of jewelry than pay bills on line, clean house or do the things I should be doing. (My wedding and reception was wonderful and being surrounded by family was such a blessing, especially since my two grown sons gave me away...once I get the photos together, I will post a few of those) But for now, here are some pics of jewelry that I created:

I love anything that has a summer flair to it and these bottle caps are too cute for school. Paired up with a kicky pump or sandal an natural stones and you have a winning summer combination.

This sweet silver heart gives a two fold message -- taken or available -- depending on your mood. Lovely, deep cranberry Italian glass beads paired with small matt seeds.

Golden Tiger's Eye and black cinnabar beads with brass toggle.

Heavy Denim Lapis and tiger's eye beads necklace, bracelet and earring set.

Heavy ceramic beads and gold finished spacers.

I pushed two themes this summer, "Asian Influence" and "chocolate brown". I love the marriage of the two for the organic elements and their simplicity and the earth tones of brown.

My one signature piece that I produce each season. Big, bold and not for the timid, this is a real showpiece. Heavy natural green turquoise stone in center.

Lovely wooden beads with tiger striping paired with abalone shell beads.

Pale pink natural pearls, Bali silver beads and Swarovski crystal beads with a hand blown bead in the center. Piece is offset with sterling silver flower clasp that is much to pretty to hide behind your neck so I placed in on the side so it would enhance the overall piece.

Faux cinnabar beads in bold Chinese Red and Black.

Pretty summer piece with mother of pearl petals and ceramic brown bead discs.

Lovely, heavy pineapple quartz (rough cut) stone beads accented with sterling Bali beads and a citron stone cross. Heavy, bold and smashing when worn with a black dress.

So, there you have it, a few of my pieces. If you must have one of them, please drop me a line. Shipping is always on the Sea Witch.

It started with a cigar store label.

I love packaging, displays, vintage and pop culture art. A friend of mine built a website for a local cigar store and he brought back an armload of cigar boxes. Beautiful ladies adorned them and I thought, what fun these faces would be on brooch's. So, I dug out my beveled glass and copper foil from past stained glass projects, downloaded public domain photos and like a mad woman began creating these "big bang'in brooches." (add a pretty ribbon or your favorite chain and you can utilize them as a pendant)

Victorian postcard images, storybook characters, pop culture icons and other images that had me laughing out loud found their way behind the beveled glass. I pinned one to my floppy, let's go antique'in/junkin hat because every hat should have a little sass. The cigar box label brooches have all sold to cigar smokers who were wise enough to bring home a little gift after hanging around with the boys playing cards all night. (I'mma gal who loves a good bribe, especially if it is jewelry)

Some projects just amuse me and this is one that certainly had

me smiling. I hope you enjoy them too.

The Love Peddler is from a dime novel cover, the Irish lass and Red Cross worker are from Victorian postcards, and our cheerleader is from a pinup calendar.

The great Eartha Kitt, the definitive catwoman and a pinup couple...fun at the beach!

Pinup gals from calendars and of course, the fabulous Josphine Baker.

Fairy tale and storybook illustrations and an Edwardian post card.

Sacred Heart icons, pinup gal and the great Billy Holliday.

Images that make me smile. Nothing like Doris Day looking back at you, love the wild eyed swami and my personal favorite, the government issue WW2 stamp out syphilis poster!

and last by not least, more Victorian post card images.

(Dari, the artist, lives with her man and her rescued dog and would rather be making jewelry, antiquing and junkin, baking and diving than working her 8 - 5 gig.)