Mirrored Garland

I've been playing with mirrors again - some of you may remember that I used to make my wings in mirror too ( Versailles Angel ) but until recently I had a missing material from my supplies to do the job they way I like too. But Versailles is back, along with plans for some garlands and some small, fancy mirrors framed in stained glass. Cutting mirror glass is much easier than cutting some of the textured glass I normally work with but the soldering is a different matter altogether!



Some of the supplies I used for this garland - the fabulous vintage glitter I picked up when my favourite boutique shop (A1) closed down in Grenoble. It sold beautiful handmade clothes, jewellery and crafts, and when the owner retired she sold off some of her craft supplies, so I bought the huge bag of glitter and some glass cabochons.



The ends of the garland are finished in genuine antique keys bought at a brocante in the summer of 2007 - Aaron cleaned the dirt and rust of them for me whilst still leaving a great patina. The fabric and paper rose was 'antiqued' and given a little of the tarnished glitter and attached to the ribbon with antiqued copper filigree. A little Swarovski heart is attached to each key.



The ends of the mirrors are decorated with crystals in grey (I think they're Swarovski but I never labelled the container after sorting my supplies - stupid) and calla lilly bead caps in antiqued copper. I've felted the backs of the mirrosr to protect them.



I love these little birds - I've bought about a million to decorate with various glitters, beads etc. This one's feathers were given a stain before I added the glitter.



The garland is tied with lush grey velvet and organza ribbons and then I've twisted a chain of silvery beads around the ribbons



And so here it is! another in my 'autrefois' series of garlands. Think empty, lost, forgotten and locked rooms with magic and memories still inside . Listening very carefully and you can hear music.

The Vintage Bell Jar

Let me introduce my shiny (and still quite empty) new Etsy shop The Vintage Bell Jar :) It's for all my non-glass goods, 'destash' ie getting rid off my overstock of beads, findings, ribbons etc , some artwork and a little vintage finds too. It's kind of my 'hobby' shop so who knows what will get added over the next months!! It'll take me some time to fill but I'll try to add a few things when I get a chance.

Pretty Fabulous Things (part 6)

Oh my. It's impossible to look inside this Etsy shop without going weak at the knees and all clucky! Beantown Handmade in Lincoln, Nebraska, makes the most adorable dog clothing and accessories EVER! And they have the cutest little muse in Bean, the Boston Terrier too.



I've told Aaron I want to get a dog just so I can buy the fab Blue Blossom Dog Hat ! (He said no btw) . But if you are lucky enough to own a cute pooch you must, must , must check out this shop, not only will you make your best friend warm and snuggly but you'll make the day a little brighter too.

You can also follow Bean and his friends on their blog

There Lived a Princesss

Before I write about my latest garland I want to say a big merci beaucoup to Lily Descazeaux from Paris, who has featured some of my glass on her very stylish and beautiful design blog Les Carnets du Design Thankyou Lily!!

As I've mentioned before, our Etsy European Street Team has a weekly challenge set by the previous week's winner. As Stemellina won last week she chose this week's theme "Once Upon a Time". All the entries will be collected over the coming days and posted on her blog Felt4u .

"There Lived a Princess" garland is my entry.



A pretty garland in streaky pink and champagne colored glass.

Tied with a twist of ribbons in gorgeous sugar pink velvet and a greeny gold satin, and embellished with vintage look flowers in pastel pink and green. Each 'pennant' is adorned with pale pink bellflowers of lucite and glass beads. The ends of the ribbons are finished with glass stars.

you can find it for sale here

Parisienne

A glass garland in streaky, textured champagne and scarlet glass and perfect for Valentine's Day!

Tied with a twist of ribbons in fresh sapling green satin and lush green velvet and embellished with paper vintage look red rosebuds. Each 'pennant' is adorned with faceted glass beads in champagne and the centre pennant is adorned with a Swarovski crystal heart. The end of the ribbons are finished with posies of the rosebuds, and glass stars with Swarovski hearts.

I'm hoping to make some more with white roses and filigree posies for weddings soon

Parisienne is available here

Baudelaire

This is my latest garland in my Etsy shop.

Beautiful and dramatic, this garland in wispy smoky pink glass has an air of gothic romance about it.

Tied with a twist of ribbons in black crushed velvet and lilac satin and embellished with mauve fabric rosebuds. Each 'pennant' is adorned with matt black lucite and pale pink glass flower beads and antiqued copper filigree bead caps. The end of the ribbons are finished with glass stars, 'tassels' of glass and flowers.

This has less to do with the poet and more to do with Lemony Snicket - I loved Violet Baudelaire's clothes!!!!


you can find it and other garlands for sale here

Moulin Rouge

I'm totally in the mood to make garlands at the moment ( they mostly seem to be inspired by petticoats...don't ask ) and this is the latest to be listed for sale online - Moulin Rouge

A garland of glass in 3 shades of old fashioned pink mauves.

Tied with a twist of ribbons in bordeaux red velvet and burnt orange organza ribbons and embellished with mauve fabric rosebuds. Each 'pennant' is adorned with opaque lilac glass flower beads and antiqued copper filigree bead caps. The end of the ribbons are finished with glass stars.

Every decadent boudoir needs at least one of these! available here

Dreaming

My third post of the day - I hope this isn't going to be the norm for the rest of the year!! I just wanted to post my latest garland for sale online - Dreaming.



I loved the Winter White Rose garland I made towards the end of last year so I've used the same glass and beads but used soft aqua satin and antique gold organza ribbons and finished the ends with glass stars.

You can find it in my Etsy shop here

New Year Reductions!

I've reduced* prices on some garlands, panels, and little creatures in my Etsy shop - hurrah!
you can find them in my S A L E section here



* until end of January

New Year Resolutions

Last year I made a list of new resolutions and kept none of them, so this year I will make no such promises and hopefully, inadvertently, I'll break some bad habits along the road....

good luck and health in 2009!