Lost Art Creations

Steampunk Charm Swap ~ My Charms Are Done!

I knew what I wanted to do in my head - I just didn't know if I could actually make them in reality - VBG!  After lots of trail & error I finally did it!

I am a hobbyist when it comes to making jewelry.  I really love making it, though I don't feel proficient enough to ever sell what I make.  I especially need to work on my finishing techniques.  I just hope my fellow players in the lost_art_creations Yahoo Group swap like them!

We are to attach them onto cards for swapping so I decided to make a quick ATC and tie the charm to the card with hand dyed silk ribbon.  I used one of the techniques I learned from Tim Holtz called Perfect Distress.  I love the look and I think it goes perfectly with the Steampunk theme!

 

More Classes

I have added a couple more classes for October.  The focus of classes for the fall is all about creating inexpensive gifts with a huge wow factor.

Altered Tile Bracelet

What do you get when you combine seemingly ordinary Bamboo tiles with a healthy dose of vintage and a scoopful of sparkly beads?  A GORGEOUS bracelet for yourself or a fabulous gift to give to all your BFF’s that’s what!  Join Terrie for this yummy, creative class. 

All the materials to create your bracelet are included in the cost of the class.  You only need to bring your basic craft tool kit and basic jewelry tool kit.  We will be breaking for lunch so pack a lunch or pick up a delicious lunch locally.   

 

Beautiful Impressions

Westbrook CT

Saturday, October 15

10AM-2PM

AND

Thistle Beads, Niantic CT

860-739-6552

Saturday, October 22

1PM-5PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Altered Wine Bottles

Just throwing a nice bottle of wine into an ordinary gift bag just isn’t enough.  Reflect your creative, caring spirit when you give a gift of wine and get that WOW! Factor from the recipient.  Join Terrie to create custom wine labels and gift tags to match.  In class create that perfect, beautiful bottle of wine to give.  I gave several of these for gifts, and while my friends & family drank the wine, they kept the bottles because they loved them so much!  All materials are provided you only need to bring your basic craft tool kit.  **When reserving your spot in class please specify red or white wine and provide the last name you want on your label. **

Beautiful Impressions

Westbrook CT

Thursday, October 13

6:30PM-9PM

AND

Pinc! Boutique

New London, CT

Thursday, October 20

6PM-8:30PM

 

September Classes

So far I have 3 classes set for September.  Two giftable type classes and one card making class.  Remember to bring the appropriate tool kit(craft, jewelry or both) with you to each class.  You must contact the store where the class is being held to reserve your spot.  Classes require a minimum or 3 students to go forward.  So if you want to make sure the class doesn't get cancelled or rescheduled gather a couple of friends and make a day/evening of it.  You'll have SOOO much fun!  Thistle Beads has a maximum of 8.  Beautiful Impressions and Pinc! has a higher maximum depending on the class, usually 10-12.

Textures Polymer Clay Beaded Book

Saturday, September 10

1PM-5PM

Thistle Beads

55 Pennsylvania Ave, Niantic CT

860-739-6552

This book makes a FABULOUS gift for someone special – including you!  Learn how to combine polymer clay, texture plates or rubber stamps and acrylic paints to create a stunning cover for your book.  Learn basic book binding techniques and finish your book with a beautiful beaded binding.  Lots of tips and tricks for working with clay, plus alternative ideas to build on the techniques you will learn in class.  Everyone from the beginner to the advanced will enjoy this class.  All materials will be provided for you plus a detailed handout will also be provided so you can make more books when you get home.   All you need to bring is your tool kit – although I will bring some specialized tools for the class to use.

Please bring your Basic Crafting Tool Kit to class:

Craft knife (ie Xacto) with extra blades, cutting mat no larger than 12”-13” square, pen, pencil, metal edged clear grid ruler, double stick tape, permanent glue stick, bone folder, paper piercer/bookbinder’s fine awl, bristled paint brushes, both detail and ¾”-1” flat wash (I prefer Golden Talkon synthetic as it doesn’t shed), 1/8” hole punch, a sanding block; ultra fine – fine grit and an ink blending tool (can be the official Ranger brand tool but make-up sponges and cotton balls work too).

Halloween with Memory Box

Saturday, September 17

10AM - 12:30PM

Beautiful Impressions, Westbrook, CT

You'll create 4 of the coolest, creepiest Halloween cards ever using Memory Box stamps, papers and their new dies, plus an assortment of vintage images, and doodads.

These two cards are just 2 of the four that you will create in class.  Hope to see you there!

 

Bead Links Chain & Pendant

Saturday, September 24

10AM - 12:30PM

Thistle Beads

55 Pennsylvania Ave, Niantic CT

860-739-6552

Create this beautiful necklace with a bead link chain (AKA a Rosary Chain) and fabulous Tree of Life pendant.  You'll be hooked!  So many possibilities!  Makes an impressive holiday gift for not a lot of moola!

All materials plus a detailed instruction booklet are included in the price of the class.  All you need to bring is your basic jewelry tools kit.

Finished Projects

I have this HUGE bag full of jewelry projects that I have only been adding to so I decided it was time to start to actually MAKE something.  I took a PMC class last year with Kristie Foss (brilliant teacher by the way!) and made several pieces and the only things I have made so far were the earrings.  I decided it was high time I made the necklaces.  My other motivation was that I hurt my back exercising so I needed to work on projects where I would be sitting.  Everything else I prefer to stand as I tend to reach for stuff all over my studio.  Stamps in one place, paint in another - you know what I mean.  I envy those with big roomy studios with creative stations (sewing area, painting area, etc) with  chairs on wheels with room to roll - LOL.

Anyway, I digress.  Here are the two necklaces I made for my silver pendents

The Art heart pendent was made using a stamp from a friends stamp line, Lost Aussie.  The bezel frame was made using a stamp from Invoke Arts.

You're So Charming This Weekend!

Sign ups will close at the end of the business day on Wednesday(day after tomorrow).  Contact Pinc! Boutique to reserve your spot - there are only a couple spots left for the Saturday morning class.

There is A LOT of prep on my part for this class so I will need the two full days to put together the kits.

Learn several different techniques for creating mixed media charms and then create a fabulous necklace to show them off.

For this class you will need to bring your jewelry making tools; 2 chain nose pliers, 1 round nose pliers and flush cutters.  You will also need a small pair of scissors, a small bottle of tacky glue or matte medium and a bone folder.  I will bring everything else.

 

Fun With Beads & Wire

I went to a local bead show recently and picked up these FAB beads from Kate's Treasure.  She specializes in hand-crafted Nepalese and Tibetan beads & pendants.  Fran & I were totally inspired and planned out 2-3 necklace & earring sets right then and there.  Usually I buy with nothing specific in mind - I just have to have them - VBG!

I made a pearl necklace with a decorative clasp and a funky, long (REALLY long!) necklace that I can wear long or wrapped once.  I added a vintage religious medal I had that has an actual relic enclosed on the back.  These relic medals are said to contain actual tiny bits of saints (usually dipicted on the front) and produced by the Vatican.  Kind of creepy - but really interesting too.

More Jewelry Fun

All the Bronzed metal is available on my Etsy shop.  Bluish beads are some kind of Turquoise - really cool and fractured looking!  Large Ivory bead is some kind of stone and faceted and tube bead is handmade porcelain and I pick up a few of these beauties YEARS ago at a local art & craft show.  The covers of the booklet are metal blanks that I texturized and stamped.  Pages are made from stamped and painted cardstock, mica and resined paper.  I am hoping to teach this as a 2 part class - I'll keep you posted!

UPDATE:  CLASSES ARE SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 11TH.  PENDANT CLASS IS FROM 11:30AM (SHARP) TO 2PM.  CHAIN CLASS IS FROM 2:15PM - 4:00PM.  CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT BEAUTIFUL IMPRESSIONS IN WESTBROOK CT.  CONTACT THEM TO SIGN UP FOR THE CLASS(ES).

Another Gift!

I was snowed in today so I made this for my SIL.  It is made from sterling, Swarovski crystals in Pacific Opal, pearls in natural and blue.  Hope she likes it!

Playing With Beads & Metal

I just finished a necklace & earring set for a 1/1 swap for the Altered Art Guild.  I am paired up with Michelle, the group owner.  This is a bit late, but that seems to be the norm lately. 

Where does the time go?  I've always felt like as I get older time seems to spin faster and faster - it's just not fair (whine, whine, I know)!  Anyway, I am ALMOST caught up on overdue projects.  Just have to get busy on my Christmas cards, of which I am only making 16.  So if you are on my Christmas Card List and you get a handmade card consider yourself blessed.  Typically I make about 50.  The thought of making 50 cards gives me the shudders - I just don't have time!  Still working on Mom & Dads 50th Anniversary gift.  They should have it in time for Christmas.

Back to the jewelry.  The necklace is constructed from bits of chain, potato & rice pearls, topaz crystals & glass faceted beads, micro seed beads, one of my new XL beadcaps, wire, head & eye pins and bronze AB metallic faceted beads.  I like it so much I will have to make a version of it for me.  That's an "I've caught up and I'm stuck at home because there's a blizzard outside" project.  VBG!

Here it is!  Tell me what you think.  Please be kind!  Jewelry is something I do for fun and do not, by any stretch, consider myself a jeweler.

Catch-up Time!

I've been trying to catch up (and dare I say getting ahead?!) on swaps and other commitments.  The Altered Art Guild charm swap, Lost Art Creations Printed Page ATC swap and working on my parents' 50th anniversary gift.  Now if I can just get to work on the LAC Winter Banner swap, AAG jewelry swap, plus class samples for the spring - mostly altered book techiques (really different stuff!) and, oh yeah, Christmas cards, planning Thanksgiving and, ummm, I guess I better clean the house too?!  Someone in the Altered Divas said that dust is a UV protectant - I LIKE that! LOL!

Anyway here are a few pics of what I have been working on.  Let me know what you think.

Bezel is a tiny vintage curtain rod ring.  I sprayed tissue paper with a mix of Distress Reinker in Old Paper and Hierloom Gold Perfect Pearls and water.  Stamped german text and heart on the tissue (the resin makes the tissue disappear). Dropped in the key charm and Voila!  Actually it wasn't QUITE that simple.  The first pouring of resin leaked out from under the rings even though I used packing tape - well burnished to the ring - leaving a bit of a mess.  Well, not to be discouraged I pulled out the trusty Dremel and sanded/ground off the pesky resin around the outside of the bezel.  Then I added the paper and charm and did the second pouring.  A couple of the charms needed to have the backs 'cleaned up' so I painted a 3rd layer of resin to smooth out and make clear again.  All in all - considering i am NOT a jewelry maker - I am pleased with the results.  I just hope the recipients are too!

A few Printed Page ATCs.  The swap requirement is to use text in the back ground of every ATC.