Mini Purse Earrings

My latest creation, a birthday gift for a great friend. Took some small scraps of ultra suede and made tiny pouches, gathered the top & crimped on a ribbon end. Then attached some recycle bits of chain for handles. I originally picked out a lighter beige faceted bead for the top, but the shape was too flat, didn’t like it. I needed a more oblong bead. Spent forever trying to locate 2 matching beads the right shape & color, the hazards of working with recycled materials - and of course, I just have tooo much crap!


Possibly planning another pair in blue silk with chains that have some crystal beads on them, they’ll be a bit more dressy.


Just a small sampling of my hordes to sort through



Acorn Earrings

Acorn Earrings, a photo by b-a-boop on Flickr.

I threw these together just this morning. I got dressed, put on a necklace to match my top & then went to my big earring cabinet & found nothing that went. Then in a dish on the dresser I spotted 2 pairs of sterling silver earrings I picked up at an antique fair about a year ago. They were both screw back earrings & I had intended to convert them.

The acorns matched my top, so I just got to work. I had intended to nip the screw backs off at the screw and twist the piece into a loop to dangle them from, but the 1st one just snapped of immediately because it was just glued on. Perhaps a bad repair, cause the other one wouldn't pull off, so I just snipped it off  then hung them upside down with a jump ring. I wanted to add a bead & found an old necklace I could take a few off of. I just opened the loops on the ends to removed them & added them to the ear wires.

Nice to make something for myself now & then, especially when it comes together quickly instead of my usual hemming & hawing over which items to put together.

Upcycled Find of the Day

Today on etsy I found this lovely Hidden Treasures Vintage Boho Necklace from tomrass4. A beautiful shop with jewelry upcycled from vintage parts and a french inspiration. I particularly like the way she patinas some of the old metals. Lovely stuff in her shop.

Vintage Find of the Day

The ultimate way to recycle "BUY VINTAGE"

Check out these cool old tokens from jnwalljr aka 'I've been working on the railroad' on Etsy.

They could just be collected as-is, or used for jewelry or buttons or scrapbooking, so many possibilities.

Pineapple Pillow

 Funny how when it comes to sewing for myself a lot of my projects end up unfinished. I too often get sidetracked by projects for the shops or presents I need to be make. Years ago I made a bunch of pillows for Christmas presents and started two for myself. Well after years of sitting in my unfinished pile, I finally finished off my pineapple pillow. All it needed was the velco sewn in for closing it. Its pillow mate has been hanging out in the livingroom alone all this time since it got finished right away. I’m glad they are finally together.

Featured Handmade Item

Stained Glass and Filigree Pendant

Found today on Etsy.
It's unique shape and lovely soft tones really impressed me.
Get this lovely handmade stained glass pendant from Color Shoppe Studio

Recently Found Old Books

Sketchbook - recent find #1, a photo by b-a-boop on Flickr.

I recently found two things I thought I’d lost for good. One is my sketchpad of Fashion Design from back in college in the late 70’s. The other was one of our textbooks on Pattern Drafting and Grading. The textbook was republished in 1977, but you can tell by the page that the designs are older than that. I love the vintage looks in the book, and it is a great resource for how to make patterns.

They turn up right in the open on a bookshelf at our old house where my father-in-law now lives. I swear I’d looked for them numerous times in that room. Anyway I was glad to have them back.

Blue on Blue Ponytail Holder

Bright blue rosette fabric flower made of recycled t-shirt fabric. See it on Etsy.