Vintage girl scout memorabilia, part 1
I purchased an elderly woman's Girls Scout memorabilia in an online auction. When my package arrived it included a sweet note about her troupe in Indiana and how she treasures the memories her keepsakes evoke, so I feel an obligation to do right by her. Here is the first necklace made from a Brownie barrette. "On my honor, I will do my best." More to come...
A Crackerjack stork...
Years ago my mother told me that CrackerJack toy prizes used to be metal. I was so excited when I found this stork that I ripped into the package and rather than opening the little ziplock bag it was in, I poked its head through the plastic to save time? I broke its tiny little neck! I decided I would talk to myself like I would to one of my children. "Let's see if we can find you another one." Thankfully the vendor had one. Not only that, she told me about using scissors to cut open a bag that contained a new necklace she had purchased and ended up cutting it in half. (Maybe she should have tried poking it through the plastic.) In an act of generous solidarity, she didn't charge me shipping for the replacement. I made it into this necklace that features a palladium foil wrapped tablet of mint glass.
Thursday and Friday night outdoor events!
Getting ready for two events, Light up College Park on Thursday night from 5-9pm and First Friday Art Stroll in Baldwin Park this Friday from 5-9. Here's what I've come up with using vintage suitcases. Now to figure out lighting!
Cracker jack!
Had to share this find! Old cracker jack prizes on a bracelet... I see a necklace.
Friends + Laughter= Earrings...
Susan was over yesterday to play in my freshly organized studio. I jokingly picked up a pocket knife I was working into a pendant and held it to my ear. To our surprise it looked sooo fab! I love it when laughter gives birth to creativity, especially when it delivers earrings.
Living outside the pencil box...
I love the movement of this long and lovely tassel my friend Susan Meyer designed using my transparent glass discs. My design contribution is the vintage bead cage featuring stacked agate slices. I love the 'out of the box' look. It reminds me of when my Natalie was in Kindergarten. Like me, she likes 'all the colors.' She could never keep all her markers and pencils in her pencil box... my kind of gal. 
Camo ammo diva...
Camouflage is a trend this season. I love this tiny touch of it, especially juxtaposed with the rhinestones. Brings back memories of the movie Private Benjamin. 
Onyx and cast iron skillets...
My grandmothers made the best liver and onions, tomato pudding, and fried corned bread. She taught me how to sew, loved onyx, and me. She was an ace saleswoman, running the children's department of a local store, a trait I wish she had passed on to me.
I had a pair of her onyx earrings, so I put together this necklace in her honor. Here's to you, Patti Eugenia Dale.
The latest!
I bought a collection of knives on Ebay and was so disappointed when they arrived. They looked like they had done some serious time in the bottom of a tackle box. Included in the lot were extra blades and a set of pearl casings from a broken pocketknife. How happy am I? Put this puppy ( or should I say 'pony') on right away.
Glass Half-Vintage!
Susan Meyer and I landed on a name for our collection that we both love: Glass Half-Vintage. Below is a sample of what we've been up to, a necklace designed from a watch pin that was in Susan's family.
I continue to be polyvorous. If you haven't tried Polyvore, beware: very addicting, especially if you liked paperdolls as a child. 
Lutheran world tour...
I pulled out this vintage suitcase that belonged to John's godmother. I love the color and like to use it to give my living room a sense of travel, but this time I was wanting it to reconfigure into a jewelry display for the new vintage line. Lo and behold, the oh-so-cool luggage tag is for a Hawaiian tour. Do I hear "Aloha" in our future?
Pearly gates and everything ducky...
Yesterday Susan Meyer and I worked up some fun pieces using our vintage treasures. One of the things I appreciate about teaching art is that children learn to redirect when things go wrong. Starting with odd bits and pieces pushes me in the same way, unlocking some creativity. Sifting through the 'junk drawer' tray I decided to start with an old enamelled religious bracelet that I fell in love with. It paired nicely with this crucifix and the blue and green ring reminded me of 'the whole world.' I had a tiny medallion of Mary, so it dangles from the clasp along with a 'pearl of great price.' Did you know that the apostle John describes heaven's gates as one giant pearl? I can't even imagine. 
Susan designed a fun little bracelet using vintage plastic chain. Today, I followed her lead with this gift I am giving to an expectant mother so she can remember 'everything is going to be just ducky.'
Junk drawer bling...
I bought a collection of pocket knives off of the internet. When they arrived they looked like someone strained them out of a flooded tackle box. This one cleaned up pretty nicely. The necklace reminds me of my 'pocket mischief' series, a little junk drawer, a little bling.
Cutting edge vintage...
What could be better than pearls, seahorses, and a pocket knife? Susan started the ball rolling with a cool knife she found that is embellished with a mermaid. I found these amazing little pink vintage knives, so we played with incorporating them in our new line today. Literally edgy, am I right?
