Want to Make Paper Beads?

I love Pinterest and the blogs!  I've been cruising around and came across this DIY blog post from

http://www.astorybooklife.com/how-to/paper-beads/

These beads are so beautiful and she even has a necklace that includes both the paper and felt beads.  The beads take several steps, but you will have a truly one-of-a-kind necklace or bracelet that is just stunning. 

I'm hoping I can find time to make one for myself, but if not, I have a special friend who makes paper beads and maybe she'll make one for my birthday. :0)

I hope some of you will try these and show us what you've created.

Pepper



Okay, so I messed up and am a bit late posting today.....

Well, I have no excuse other than I completely forgot that yesterday was Tuesday and therefore today would be Wednesday and my day to post....sorry.

I have picked out a few of my favorites from the others that are a part of this collective Journal. For one reason or another these items struck me as something I wanted to show off.

 these are from Vintage Station

This next two are from Peppercorns2

Here are some beauties from DoodleVintagePlus 

Of course I have to include another horsey item from MySeriousSide

and last but not least two items from VintageEmbellishment  (and I am sure she can figure out why I picked furnace part)

If you click on each picture it should take you directly to that item, if you click on the names it will take you to their Etsy shops.

Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy.

(jj)

Pounce!

This week, the crew of  ACJ is featuring shops new to Etsy.  Shops awaiting their first sales.  Do you  remember your first sale and how exciting it was?

Last week, I made this  Pounce treasury of undiscovered shops (click on the word Pounce directly above  the treasury and you can see the treasury on Etsy OR click on each photo to be  taken to each shop):

Today, I'd like to draw attention to  the first two shops in the treasury!  Why?  Because the first one, Pretty Duzz,  

 broke the ice and purchased a card from the second one, Melley  Nelson Design giving them their first sale!  How cool is that? Thank you Brenda!  And I see Brenda is having a Fourth of July sale in her shop, be sure to check it out.


And here is the second shop, Melley Nelson Design:

Please be sure to check  out the rest of the shops in the treasury, each one is new to Etsy.

THIS just in!  Leslie from Julesandlouie is offering FREE shipping on anything in her shop through the Fourth of July!!  Use coupon code "Happy4" at time of checkout to qualify for free shipping!

Someone better snap up  this purse from Julesandlouie, because I'm loving it!:

Why not make someone's  day and be the first person to purchase from a new shop?!?! 

(You can click on each banner to be taken directly to the shops or an item to be taken to that item)

Have a great and safe  holiday weekend!

RWS

For the Love of the Irish

If I were given a free ticket to fly anywhere in the world, I would choose Ireland. I've always been fascinated by this beautiful country. It is a mix of the soft and beautiful and the hard and difficult. I love the art, music, dance, and culture as well as the landscape and people.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/69050237/4-green-claddagh-ring-irish-language
So....as I was thinking of Ireland and St. Patrick's Day I did what I usually do, I did an Etsy search. This time for the artists of Ireland.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/68709047/seafoam-pearls-and-fish-scales-a-mermaid
Here is a little gallery I put together to honor the artists and their wonderful talents. I hope you enjoy it.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/60998235/white-chiffon-silk-shawl-with-handfelted


http://www.etsy.com/listing/69741805/cream-silk-shoulder-bag


http://www.etsy.com/listing/68351567/art-pendant-songe-dune-nuit-dete-glass


http://www.etsy.com/listing/58165893/handmade-notebook


http://www.etsy.com/listing/67365053/baby-girls-st-patricks-day-hat


http://www.etsy.com/listing/64156804/felt-necklace-with-wooden-beads-merino

There are so many talented Irish artisans on Etsy that I'm sure if you do your own search you'll be pleasantly surprised.  Have fun and have a very happy St. Patrick's Day.....

pepper/Helmet Head

Bakelite

I've been told I can smell Bakelite a mile away!  That's okay with me, I love the stuff.  I love the look, the color and yes, the smell! 

I collected Bakelite for a long time and when I decided to cut back, sold a lot of it but I still can't resist it, I just collect certain items now.  I'll show some photos later in this post.

First, some history and photos:  Bakelite Exhibition  The first photo on the left makes my heart flutter!

They'd have to clean the drool off this display if I visited:  Bakelite Jewelry – bracelets & similar Bakelite type jewelry

And one more:  Bakelite Boutique .com

Just a few items from my collection, I love the flatware and can't get enough of it!  I often set my table for company using old Fiestaware, Bakelite and EAPG.

Some items I sold but can't delete the photos.  LOLOL!

I found a bunch of uncut tubes at a flea market, this black bird was the last of the large ones.  The pear pin was found at a thrift shop!  Buttons are often mixed in with a large jar of buttons, so I stand around shaking jars all the time!

I like hat ornaments made from any material!

Have a nice day!

RWS

Make Someone Happy!

It's tough enough getting a sale these days on Etsy.  Think how it is for new shops, being small fish in a big sea.

I've done a series of treasuries of shops that are still waiting to be discovered.  Stop by and make someone happy, make just one someone happy!

Sewing and Scrapbook:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4ca5240d29de6d9115e5dc27/undiscovered-shops-sewing-and-scrapbook

Art and Photography:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4ca5d10b44188eeff1ab4655/undiscovered-shops-art-and-photography

Knitting and Jewelry:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4ca71762868d6d911348844f/undiscovered-shops-knitting-and-jewelry

Vintage and Misc. items:  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4ca863ba63448eef874ce1c7/undiscovered-shops-vintage-and-misc

Simply click on the links above to see some amazing new shops on Etsy!  And don't forget to leave comments on the treasuries!

How Do You Know

What it is?

What is it worth?

Will anyone buy it?

These are questions a lot of people are asking about the stuff in Grandma's attic...or basement...or where ever!

So here are some links to resources for what you may have :)

Vintage Fashion Guild Label Resource
http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/labels_f.html

Links for pottery and stoneware
http://antiques.about.com/od/pottery/Pottery.htm

Vintage Costume Jewelry
http://www.illusionjewels.com/costumejewelrymarks.html

Antique or Vintage Lace Identification
http://lace.lacefairy.com/Lace/ID/laceID.htm

Identify your silver or china pattern
http://www.replacements.com/silver_dentify.htm

Buttons 
http://www.antiquebuttoncollecting.com/

http://www.buttonbuttononie.com/collectible-buttons-site-map.html
(scroll down on this last link to find clickable links to specific types of buttons)

Vintage BarkCloth
http://imageevent.com/vintagetresors/vintagebarkclothstylenames

Depression Glass Patterns, Elegant Depression Glass and 40s50s60s Glass
http://www.suziemax.com/

Fabric Identification
http://www.fabrics.net/fabricsr.asp

Books
http://www.abebooks.com/

 Good blog post about vintage
http://heatheralexander.blogspot.com/

Good blog for general information
http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/search/label/%22kitsch%20n%20collectibles%22


Hope these resources help some of you to identify your treasures :)

VE

Now What Do I Do???

Okay, so you’re pulling out all your old jewelry or maybe out “thrifting” and thinking to yourself, “I’ll never wear it, don’t want to give it away – let’s see if I can sell it”.  But now, what is it?  Who made it?  How do I price it? 

This is me with every piece I think to sell.  So here is my process.  First, I try to see if there are “markings” or not.  Markings are usually on the back and it points the way to the designer or maker of that piece.  Here is a great site I go to when I don’t recognize the mark then I can advertise it by WHO made it. 

Illusion Jewels

Of course, this only helps when the piece is signed.  When it’s not and you simply have an unmarked piece of jewelry, you start searching for that item, or something very similar.

Trying to describe pieces you don’t know much about is a very frustrating thing.  Materials, styles, colors, and the list goes on and on.  But there are some great sites out there that are very helpful.  And wanting to be in a competitive market for vintage jewelry you want to be sure you’re not too high or too low (unless you just want to get rid of things of course).  So these sites will also help in getting ideas to price your jewelry.  Here are just a few:

Michelle's Vintage Jewelry

Vintage Jewelry Mall

Whimsey's Antiques

I have found these sites pretty easy to navigate through.  I think you will too.

So the next time you pick up a piece of jewelry and you’re not sure what to do with it, check out these sites and see what you find.  Who knows, you may have a collectors piece worth lots more than you ever imagined.

"duuuuuude"