Saturday, July 31, 2010

Faerieworlds Pics

I just got back from Faerieworlds. It was not as busy as I wished; hadn't sold much yet, but hoping it picks up tonight when they have more entertainment and things cool off a bit. I did take some great pictures of costumed fairies, which were in abundance.
It was Bad Fairy Day today and this one was especially bad tempered. When I asked if I could take her picture, she snarled at me like a wild animal. I didn't know if that meant yes or no, so I took the picture, assuming that if it meant no, she would simply chew my arm off and call it even, Luckily, no arm chewing.

This fairy was a good fairy and actually thanked me for taking her picture. Nice manners are always indicative of good fairies.


This leather vendor had a definite Steam Punk vibe going on.


After I showed these ladies their picture in my little viewfinder, the one on the right said "I didn't realize I looked so scary!"


Loved this gent's clever costume, but his troll was grumbling mightily.
Everything that is left after Faerieworlds will go to the Gallery and onto Etsy. No more fairs this year.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Spirited Earth Cabs

I feel like it's my birthday! I just got a nice little package in the mail from Nan Emmett at Spirited Earth. She sent me a wonderful assortment of clay cabs she had made me. I have coveted her beads for some time and asked her if she would make me some without the holes for my seed bead work, and voila! Here they are.
The bee is my favorite and I have some great beads to go with this yummy turquoise glaze.


I was so excited about receiving these that I started prepping them for bead work before I took "before" pictures. So here is this batch already glued to the ultra suede and ready for their trip to the bead store when it opens (in a few minutes) so I can pick out beads to match them.

I already started to bead this one - my favorite. I was concerned that the netting was too much and detracted from the intricacy of the cab. Still on the fence about it. I may rip out the outside row.
I'll post more pictures when I've finished messing with them.
Thanks, Nan!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Faerieworlds This Week-End

Well, I've been beading my fingers to the bone and have come up with close to enough jewelry for Faerieworlds. So here are a few photos of what I'll be taking, all carded and priced and ready to go!
I have 54 Brooches made and might make a few more before this week-end.

They have the days divided up into "Good Fairy Day" (Friday) and "Bad Fairy Day" (Saturday) and I guess Sunday is a free for all - doesn't matter if you're good or bad.


This looks grey on my monitor, but it is actually a deep grass green. She reminds me of the Absinthe Fairy on Moulin Rouge.


Hopefully some good fairy buys this sweet little butterfly. A bad fairy might pull her wings off.


These are some of the bracelets that I'm taking. Still have about 20 more to make .
I also have Necklaces, Hair Clips and Beaded Earrings. Shalyhn has made some long Feather Earrings
I'll only be at the festival one day (Bad Fairy Day), but my jewelry will be there all 3 days. We have a marvelous booth very near the main stage, so we can listen to the wonderful music all day (and night - it goes to midnight). Since I'm there on Bad Fairy Day, I'll be on the watch for Kleptofairies. I hope they don't come around because I'd hate to have to turn them over to the Karma Kops.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

What's In The Trunk?

I promised  some pictures of what I've been working on for the Faerieworlds Festival. So here are some of them. I've been concentrating on Brooches, but tomorrow is my last day for that and then I switch to building up my stock of necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

I made a number of Steampunk pieces since a lot of this crowd will be younger.


I have considered keeping this piece. I LOVE the bird claw which I got from The Mermaid's Dowry on Etsy (Check her out, she has AMAZING stampings).


And what Faerieworlds Festival would be complete without a Faerie or two?


Butterflies and Crystals fit well with this theme.


I love the whole "Running against Time" theme.


I made this with watch parts from one of my Mother-in-law's old watches. Thanks, Mimi!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Winning Some Swag

I love leaving coments on blogs just about as much as I love reading the comments left here. But when there is a Give-Away involved, I REALLY love leaving comments on blogs. Not that I'm particularly lucky. Aside from winning a bike once, my luckiest venture was winning a fabulous husband (and I had to really WORK for that one).
But, I was lucky this week when I won a Bee-utiful necklace from Melissa Rappaport on her blog. Just in time to wear with a new dress, it came in one of my favorite colors (purple) and had one of my favorite critters (a dragonfly). Be sure to check out Melissa's blog.



THANK YOU, Melissa!

In other news, I am going to be vending with a friend at the Faerieworlds Festival in Oregon at the end of this month, so I have been beading like a maniac until all hours. I haven't listed any of my new pieces in my Etsy shop because :
a. I don't have any time.
b. I want to save my stash for the festival.
c. I'm too lazy.
But I was going to take a picture of some of the new bits I have made and post it here, but I was taking a nap with my nap buddy (soft orange and white Fido kitty) instead of taking pictures and now the light is gone. Tomorrow - I promise.
So stay tuned....

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Alphabet Walk - W

So today I have the letter W on the Alphabet Walk. This has been a lot of fun and I've met some great new bloggers.

WITCHHAZEL at Village Green Resort, Oregon

THE WHITE GARDEN, Sissinghurst, Kent, England


WATER TOWER MURAL, Edgefield, Portland, Oregon


WATERLILIES, Kew, London, England


WATERING CANS, Great Dixter, Sussex, England


WINDMILL, Los Angeles, California


WATERFALL, Proxy Falls, Oregon



WEIR ON THE RIVER AVON, Bath England



WINDOWS, New York City, New York


WEEPING WILLOW, Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, Washington

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Alphabet Walk!

Thanks to One Sydney Road I am part of a blog photo walk featuring the alphabet. I actually picked 2 letters, F and W because I couldn't decide between my forest pictures or my waterfall pictures. I hope you enjoy these photos starting with the Letter F...
The FLOATING FOREST, Silver Falls, Oregon


FOUNTAINS, Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania

FIRE HOUSE, New York City


FACE, Chanticleer Gardens, Pennsylvania


FRANKLINIA ALATAMAHA, The Oregon Garden, Silverton, Oregon


FOSSIL, on the side of The Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California


FROST, The Oregon Garden, Silverton, Oregon


FARM, Near Dozemary Pool, England

Please be sure to check back on Friday (the 16th) to see what I have lined up for the Letter W.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Freaky Fun Fair and Following a Kaboodle.

This week-end I went to The Oregon Country Fair, which is celebrating it's 41st anniversary. This is not your regular fair. First of all, it's huge, rambling through many acres of woodland with artist's and craftsmen's booths tucked hither and yon in the trees. Fairies and Giants stroll the paths and many a musical parade can be found, followed by green clothed Limelights. I love the entertainment and the art and the color and the music. What I don't love is the heat and the crowds. So I went early in the morning and enjoyed myself until I started to feel claustrophobic and then wandered home clutching a tie-dyed scarf I bought from some little kids and 2 porcelain owl pendents bartered from a fabulous porcelain jeweler. Here are a few pictures:
This vine serpent is the perfect place for hot and tired kids to take a break and relax in the shade.
The stilted sheep were a favorite of mine, wandering here and theer through the crowd, bleating, while a very tall shepherdess followed behind. I loved them because even though they are darling, they are also a little creepy.
This butterfly was definately a Monarch (I could tell by his tiara).
Funky flamingos danced to tribal drums while two of the many giants danced behind.

And while we're on the subject of the awesome and the artistic, I have found a blog that I love and I've been amazed that more people haven't found her. Follow this link to Kit and Kaboodle and make sure you check out her weekly "Whimseys".   She has a knack for rooting out fabulous pictures, videos, music and more.
.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Beaded Beauties - Treasure Boxes and Treasury

I love making functional art. And I was a bit jaded with always making beaded jewelry, so in addition to the clock (see sidebar) I also made a few Treasure Boxes. They are both listed in my Etsy Store here.
And if you want to see some fabulous Beaded Bling by some talented artists, check out the new treasury here.