Truck Show @ Garden of Beaden Dec 2009

Last weekend was a busy one ~ I loved every minute of it.

"Garden of Beaden" located in Old Town Upland, CA is celebrating it's 11th year in business. Propitiator and owner Irene Sanchez keeps us all interested in her passion by providing helpful hints as well as sharing her talents in the unique art of Beadwork, Mixed-Media and Wireworks.

If you enjoy beads in any fashion you'll want to make sure you pull up a chair at the Garden of Beaden, and Irene and her talented family will help you create something spectacular.

Garden of Beaden ~ hosted a truck show featuring artist "Robin Dudley-Howes".

Robin's style is an electric blend of Bohemian Chick channeling Mata Hari, Our Lady of Guadeloupe and Frida Khalo with a dash of glitter.

Feel free to check out Robin's unique mixed media works on robindudleyhowes.blogspot.com

"There is no such thing as a great talent without great will-power"

~ Honor De Balzac (1799-1850)

Much Love ~ Andrea

Vintage Beauty or Train Case

For me, the reality is, the older I get the more I realize that I don't need much and I'm likening it. I've decided that if I get to stumble onto some thing I would like to have and I could reuse it, in some way, then I'll willing to purchase it. However it does needs to be old.

Of course I want my health for my family and friends and myself, and know the Bible better.

Addition to these things,  I am gravitating to old and hand made items and not throwing much alway these days, and even taking my recycled bags when I do my grocery shopping.

Anyhow, stuff like, cut off jeans into shorts with leggings, fingerless gloves, vintage travel clocks that don't work, vintage Bible, and this crazy obsession lately with vintage train and cosmetic cases. I love the way it looks, with it's chips and worn out handles, and of course the way it smells. I'd love to hear the stories old vintage pieces could tell.

Last weekend I peddled the Irvine Flea Market and found a few ~ but today,  I went to the various hand made sites and had a field day.


Wanted to share some finding with you .....

It's really comes down to nothing materialistic is needed at all ~ enjoy the simple thing he has to offer us ~ while we have the time on this beautiful place he has given us, called Earth.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Much Love ~
Andrea

Piecemakers ~ Xmas Under the Stars Craft Fair Dec. 2009

Wow ~ Crafting is becoming a large part of my life and I continue to be amazed at all the talent out there, in this great big wonderful world.

Friday night, approximately 120 vendors attended this show, on a very cold December evening. 

Some of the artiest included Jewelry & Bead makers, Gourd carvers, Wood carvers, Clay face makers, Paper clay elements, Cloth doll makers, Embroidery designers, Knitted Fingerless Gloves, Quilting, Crochet Scarf & Bags, Needle Felted Balls, and of course so much more. 

The show included, work-in progress, current projects, and display upcoming elements and techniques for 2010.  

My mentor and new business partner had a booth as well. 

The very talented Janet Shultz ~ Primitive Doll Maker.

   

As I was walking around the show, the "Paper Clay" booth caught my eye. As I walked into the booth and slowing looking at each little creation she had made, my eyes were captured by the birds she created. And I was hooked. It's turns out that the talented "Virginia Lewis" was selling her goods that I have not see before, nor did I know how beautiful "paper clay" really is.  Well, to say the least I fell in love with her paper clay creations of a black crow and a red cardinal. So, as I got to chat with Virginia, she shared with me her focus to detail and the hours it takes to make these little creations. Yes, lots of hours.

As I was listening to her detail work habits I did let her know I was interested in purchasing one or two of her pieces. As I'm finding

out with some of the artist I meet, they want their pieces to go to a good and loving home. To ensure these little creations live long and prosperous. And you know, I indeed agree. 

I found myself providing a full background status of who I am, where I am in my life currently with my art and my enthusiasm to the crafting life. I would not let anything happen to her outstanding work, and assured her that her holiday crow and red cardinal would be coming into a loving and safe home  ~ to provide us, my family and friends, joy of who their were created to be. 

Me ~ Virginia Lewis and and her business partner Sue Smith

"Curiosity is a gift we each can share. Harvesting it is simple Just be like a child.

Wonder, play, pretend, and live in the moment"

Unknown Author

Much Love ~

Andrea

The Background Fairy: Free Blog Banner - Christmas - Ho Ho Ho

The Background Fairy: Free Blog Banner - Christmas - Ho Ho Ho

The Background Fairy: Free Blog Banner - Christmas - Ho Ho Ho

The Background Fairy: Free Blog Banner - Christmas - Ho Ho Ho

Upcoming New Project(s)

Wanted to share with you two projects that I've been working on this holiday week. It's taking me to extreme directions in making cloth dolls and my un`supervised soldering craft. Anyhow, I've found time to squeeze both projects this week.  Between assistant cook on Thanksgiving and Xmas decor team leader.

What I've found out is that both projects show me ~ how to utilized each techniques into others craft areas. For the soldering and wire project, it's the use of color (picture in pendents) with metal.

The cloth doll, I've used the wire in the arms and fingers, (no pipe cleaners this time) as well as color coordination of attire (stocking and boots) and new eye lids technique. Small half moon shape fabric sew on the lids of her eyes and stuffed with a small amount of polyfill. Adds a completely different de-mention to the face of this doll.

Both project are not completed as of tonight, kids back to school tomorrow, and award Volleyball banquet in the evening.

But I do get to meet with June tomorrow,  she is the daughter of her late mother who was a professional "porcelain doll maker" and she wants to give me her doll molds, or she was going to throw them in the dumpster. I couldn't let her do this, it breaks my heart.

So ~ I'll keep you posted on the next adventure, of this crafting journey that I'm on ~And loving the ride.

Cherish all your happy moments; they make a fine cushion for old age.

~ Christopher Morley, 1890-1957

Much Love ~
Andrea

Thanksgiving Primitive Pilgrims

Happy Thanksgiving ye all ~

Just finished my primitive pilgrims this afternoon, and wanted to share them with you, before the actual day of Thanksgiving. This project was a lot of fun, the stuffing was becoming a bit boring, but had to forge thru it, because the embellishments are so fun to add to the dolls. New technique learned on this project as well, tea dye fabrics. Ten bags of tea in 2 gallon of water and soaked the fabric for several hours and dried them in the bathroom shower.  The male pilgrim is darker then the female pilgrim due to the dyeing process ~  One bolt of fabric was left in the tea dye longer then the other one.

But  ~ back in the 1500's - 1600's hundreds, the male pilgrim was out getting the wood and food, and the female pilgrims were in the covered wagons providing for the family, and not getting so much sun.

Well, that's when these pilgrims told me ~ "if you will"

             Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family ~ enjoy the love you share with each others.

Nothing is permanent in this wicked world - not even our troubles. ~                            Charlie Chaplin, 1889-1977

Much Love ~
Andrea