A captured fairy for my friend Gail!

My good friend Gail stopped by this morning and I showed her my captured fairy... she thought it was kinda cool! I had actually made another fairy for the original jar but it was just a schmidge too big and she asked for a little fairy box with the extra fairy inside.

It was awfully fun to work on and I was surprised at how quickly it came together - but all of the materials were already on my work table, so that probably helped. Anyway, we found a plastic case that used to hold a deck of cards. I lined the bottom of the box with tiny green glass nuggets and then used some twigs from the yard, moss, silk flowers and a little millinery mushroom for the environment. Then the back and sides were decoupaged with some pattern tissue. Just a few pretty flowers and lace trim as a finishing touch and *voila!* - a pretty little fairy box!

I hope Gail likes her! I hope you do, too... be sure to let me know what you think! :)

Captured a Fairy in my studio...

I don't really know what took me so long to find out about captured fairies! I was just browsing around on Pinterest and *poof* there they were! I was instantly smitten and everything else was put on hold so I could capture a fairy of my very own!

Rummaging around on my stash, I found a jar and some trim, some Spanish moss and an old book from 1915 about the great operas. In the book were some wonderful photos of divas of days gone by and I copied a couple in different sizes. I loved the look of this lady - Geraldine Farrar as Juliet from Gounod's Romeo and Juliet. I lightly colored the photo with colored pencils and cut wings from plastic packaging. After dipping the edges of the wings in glue I glittered them with in turquoise and added some glitter detail to her bodice.

From there, I decorated her surroundings with the moss, some millinery mushrooms, silk blossoms and twigs from my yard and closed her up in the jar.

The jar is decorated with more silk blossoms and pretty trim.

I also added a little jar of fairy dust and a few charms just because.

I really enjoyed capturing this first fairy! Next time I'll find a taller jar - this was the first one I found and even had to evict some vintage buttons in order to use it! Anyway, I love her - I hope you do, too!
**P.S. I also love my new high-temp glue gun!!**
:-D

Latest from the Studio

Just a few shots of something new I've been working on...

New Ingredients added to the mix! Yay!

Since I've started brewin' up new jewelry creations from vintage finds, I have been having way too much fun gathering new ingredients (aka. wholesale lots of jewelry!). This bunch of beauties came from KattsLair on Etsy. Here's a big bunch of beauty that arrived on my doorstep a few days ago. Now all I need is some time and space to get cooking! :)

All the new "ingredients"

Hmmm... What to do with these Native-style beaded pieces?

 

Love that dusty pink Lucite next to the sage green glass beads

This necklace is made entirely of antique brass bead caps!

More Lucite... and in such a lovely shade of turquoise.

Two New Necklaces - Panthera Regale and Tropic of Cancer

I made two new necklaces today - the first is called "Panthera Regale"...

"Panthera Regale" is a mixed media statement necklace made using bits of new and vintage jewelry and found objects. It was inspired by the leopard pendant in an antiqued brass finish. I instantly thought of the Indian Subcontinent - leopards, elephants, palaces and the maharaja - and wanted to make something fit for royalty but not necessarily opulent.

With that in mind I chose the sweet elephant charm and a color palette of antiqued brass, gold, red and cerulean blue with some touches of amber tossed in. Other materials used in making "Panthera Regale" include a lovely vintage brass swirl (this is a mystery piece and has been in my stash for a few years. I have no idea what it's supposed to be!), vintage red glass beads, beaded drops and upcycled gold and brass chain. The many drops and fringes of chain give this piece lots of movement - it is fun to wear and will attract lots of admiring attention! The links of the necklace chain easily accommodate the lobster clasp so the necklace length is adjustable up to 18".

The other is called "Tropic of Cancer"...

"Tropic of Cancer" is a mixed media statement necklace made using bits of new and vintage jewelry and found objects. It all started with the green enameled crab charm and went from there. The crab is surrounded by elegant shades of gold and bronze to make "Tropic of Cancer".

Besides the enameled crab pendant, other items (all reclaimed!) used in the making of "Tropic of Cancer" include: vintage chain, vintage filigree and rhinestone drops, a beaded bracelet and tassels fashioned from filigree bead caps and sections of chain. The necklace can be worn in lengths ranging from 16" to 19" but the length can be extended upon request.

Angel Fish Rumba - Even MORE Summery Goodness!

"Angel Fish Rumba" is a mixed media statement necklace made using bits of new and vintage jewelry and found objects. It all started with the pretty angel fish pendant and went from there. The color palette of gold, tangerine orange and lime green brings to mind lounging on a tropical beach - preferably with a fancy cocktail in-hand!

Besides the angel fish pendant, other items (all reclaimed!) used in the making of "Angel Fish Rumba" include: vintage chain, vintage filigree drops, vintage filigree bead caps, vintage acrylic beads in shades of tangerine and lime green, gold tone spacer beads and a necklace centerpiece. The necklace can be worn in lengths ranging from 16" to 19" but the length can be extended upon request.

Also available are these fun, dangle earrings that are a perfect complement to "Angel Fish Rumba"...

Green Gecko Holiday - Summery Goodness!!

"Green Gecko Holiday" is a mixed media statement necklace made using bits of new and vintage jewelry and found objects. It all started with the funny green gecko charm and went from there. The color palette of gold, orange, shades of green and turquoise brings to mind sunny summer days - and there's a cute little gecko along for the ride!

Besides the gecko charm, other items (all reclaimed!) used in the making of "Green Gecko Holiday" include: vintage chain, reclaimed charms and beads, a gold bead necklace and vintage orange Lucite "crystals". The necklace can be worn in lengths ranging from 16" to 19" but the length can be extended upon request.

Also available are these sweet dangle earrings in Teal and Lime Green - a wonderful complement to the "Green Gecko Holiday" necklace!

Sunflower

"Sunflower" is a mixed media statement necklace made using bits of new and vintage jewelry and found objects. The beautiful centerpiece for the pendant started life as a brooch. It came to me missing all but one rhinestone and I thought that was absolutely perfect!

Besides the flower brooch centerpiece, other items (all reclaimed!) used in the making of "Sunflower" include: vintage chain, vintage Lucite acorn drops, links from a vintage bracelet and vintage acrylic beads in swirled shades of amber. The necklace can be worn in lengths ranging from 18" to 20" but the length can be extended upon request. It comes with the matching dangle earrings - they have a drop of 1 3/4".

Flight

Here's another from my new series of "reclaimed jewelry" pieces - this one is called "Flight". It all started with the gold butterfly which came to me minus all of the original pearls and rhinestones. All it needed was to have some vintage pearls added to once again take flight!I think this one is perfect for a bride or possibly that big prom night! Enjoy it here or find better pics on Etsy :)

I'm Ready for My Close-up

Here is that "Silver - Black - Pearl - Crystal" piece from my last post - FINISHED!! I'm calling it "Ready for My Close-up" because the elegant combination of black and white is SO classic Hollywood, movie star and red carpet premier. I hope you'll agree! Let me know what you think and feel free to check out the "Ready for My Close-up" necklace and matching earrings on Etsy! :)

Silver - Black - Pearl - Crystal

This is the palette I'm working with today - classic and elegant! Just a few peeks from my worktable...

Daisy and the Dew Drop

So, I have once again found my way back to jewelry! No matter what I do, it seems that I am meant to make jewelry.... so it's a dang good thing I enjoy it!! :)

I have been buying way too much vintage jewelry from a wonderful seller on that "other auction site" (I am a HUGE Etsy lover, so you know to which "other" site I'm referring!). This will explain the enormous amount of jewelry posted in my vintage shop on Etsy. After two days of sorting, I finally sat down to create and came up with "Daisy and the Dew Drop".

This sweet and very simple necklace was inspired by the brushed gold daisy with a pearly cabochon center (a reclaimed earring). Once I added the pearl "dew" drop the name just came to me. Actually, it sort of sounds like a 60s girl-band name... oh, well!

It's available at Cindy Caraway on Etsy. Here are a few more shots - I hope you like it! :)

Cowgirls Love a Rodeo Rider

"Cowgirls Love a Rodeo Rider" is the latest of my upcycled mixed media jewelry pieces! It was inspired by the round mandala centerpiece with a faux turquoise (swirled acrylic) cabochon. When paired with the lovely stamped heart charms, it made me think of western cowgirls hoping to catch the attention of their favorite rodeo rider.

I hope you like it - here are some more shots for you to enjoy!
Please feel free to comment below and visit my Etsy shop to see larger photos.