Trick or Treat

Kids were happy with their costumes this year. Mr. Robert was a Griffyndor wizard, very busy casting spells and charms. I finished up his cloak today..I really need to learn how to sew properly, while I'm pleased with the end result I can't even tell you how many mistakes I made along the way having to rip out seams.

Ms. Maria was among the walking dead looking to suck some blood as a vampire. The costume was a happy garage sale find late this summer, just had to hem it up a couple inches. Oh, and those teeth crack me up..they were huge and they glowed in the dark...funny.

Here they are again a bit more calm and waiting for me to be done taking pictures so they could go scoop up some candy.

Hope everyone else had a safe evening filled with happy trick-or-treaters.

Not sure when I'll get a chance to blog this week, I have a bit of work ahead of me. All the Halloween product comes down and there is a mountain of boxes with Christmas product to go up...as long as the stores aren't playing Christmas music I should survive ;)

Angie

Happy Halloween

Hoping everyone has a safe and happy Halloween. Be wary of witches carrying potions and casting spells.

The costumes are done and candy is bought...more pictures tomorrow.

Angie

Craft Sharing Day

Another busy week draws to a close but I still have potion bottles to assemble, a Hogwart's cape to make and Halloween candy to buy. Add to that a day helping out at the cafeteria and Halloween parties...eek!

While waiting for my witch potion labels to print I came across a few got-to-try tutorials. Being the ever-so-lazy blogger I thought it best to make note of them here then I can find them again when I'm ready (sad isn't is?)

Antiqued Sheet Music by The Decorating Diaries

Flower Pin by 12 crafts till Christmas (l.o.v.e. that name)

A Recycled Flower Pin by Studio Waterstone

Enjoy!

Angie

Tutorial: Making hook clasps from shank buttons

I've love shank buttons, especially old vintage ones. Unfortunately I find them difficult to use in jewelry because they tend to dangle or hang the way they want rather than the way I want.

Just fooling around tonight I figured out that they could be turned into hook clasps, here are the steps I took:
I used 20 gauge annealed steel wire.

Cut off a 4 inch piece and make a loop one inch from the end.

Slip the doubled wire through the shank of your button, I like a nice snug fit but I think it's ok if it wiggles a little bit.
Taking the short end , curl it up and around the shank with needle nose pliers, cut off any extra wire. This locks it in place and prevents the button from moving up or down.
With the remaining wire make the hook clasp.
Easy Peasy
Angie

Family that doesn't belong to me

I guess there is something odd about working with portraits and photos of people long ago. They aren't my ancestors but they are someones family. Wonder if they are long forgotten folks or if maybe someday someone will send me a message saying.."Hey that's my great great grandfather"...

Guess it's unlikely to happen.

I moved on to making ovals and circles the last few days and I'm totally in love with them, it's going to be hard to put them in the shop...

What I'm really thinking about is making some completed pieces for the shop. It's nice to have some variety, even if it's mostly inspiration for others who only want to buy the components.

Any thoughts, how would you use these in your work...I'm thinking buttons , pearls and lace but draw a blank after that. Should they be necklaces, brooches or maybe bracelets?? Or am I overlooking other projects these could be useful for?

Angie

I'm a tree hugger

Lesley Purcell placed one of my etched polymer pendants in her 'branching out' treasury (thank you!). It is a sweet grouping of tree inspired artwork.

Lesley has an etsy shop with her beautiful watercolor painting transformed into cards, soldered jewelry and ornaments. I already picked up my favorite items so now I can tell you about her great promo...free shipping on her items until Oct 23rd!

Angie

Found: Old medicinal bottles

Very excited to have found a few of these old medicine/tonic bottles. While running errands Monday I strategically made the loop around some of my favorite places to treasure hunt.

I did come across a few true pharmaceutical bottles, but wow are they expensive. The ones I purchased were simple over the counter medicine/tonic bottles, much smaller and more reasonable at just a couple of dollars apiece.

I'm looking forward to making these into witch's potions and such for Halloween. Hopefully I can get to it before the 31st...

Angie