Vintage Blue Studio

Vintage Black Friday

It's that time again!  Time for Vintage Black Friday!  Before I show you my finds I just wanted to let all my VBF friends know that I'm holding an earring giveaway and would love for all of you to enter if you haven't done so already.  Ok on with the show and tell...

Some pretty rhinestone earrings I picked up at an antique store for $1.  They are missing some stones but I didn't care...it's part of their charm.

Another great tintype from my collection...  Check out those poofy sleeves!

And we shall call him "Charlie".  I practically squealed when I found him up on a shelf in the antique shop.

 

My little friend Charlie still has some of his paint left...  Isn't he adorable?

 Off to go see what everyone else posted for VBF!  TGIF!!!

Santa Star

 
 I couldn't help myself.  I HAD to start my Christmas crafting.  I basically followed the same idea as the Kewpie ornament but just used Christmas colors and paper instead.

A closeup of the gesso, mica and glitter.  A little extra sparkle of course...

Red tinsel trim around a vintage Santa...
 

 
I would love to have a reason to make more of these so if anyone is interested in an ornament swap leave a comment or send me an email.

And in other exciting news I was the winner of the October challenge on Art Bead Scene!  I cannot wait to receive my awesome prizes!  A special thank you to Art Bead Scene. 

Also, don't forget to enter my earring giveaway if you haven't done so already!

Happy Crafting! 

Ceramic Earring Giveaway!

In celebration of the start of the holiday season I am giving away a pair of my handmade ceramic and sterling silver earrings.  A winner will be randomly drawn on Monday, the 9th.  Here are the rules:

1. Leave a comment on this post regarding what you love most about the holiday season.

2. There must be some way for me to contact you if you are the winner. (Link to your blog, email...)

3. If you post on your blog about this contest (with a link) between today and next Sunday you will receive an extra surprise gift if you are the winner.

4. You will only be entered once even if you comment more than once.

5. Contest is open to any blogger in the US, Canada, Australia & Europe.

Let the holiday crafting season begin!

Happy Halloween!

I can't believe this means I can start my Christmas crafting tomorrow...

Have a spooky and safe Halloween!
 

Vintage Black Friday

It's Friday!  And this Vintage Black Friday is especially spooky since tomorrow is Halloween!  

I found these really nice steel and rhinestone buttons at my favorite antique co-op in Hamburg last weekend.  I'll probably encorporate them into a necklace.

An old printers block...

These make great rubber stamps.
 

Here's what it says...   I couldn't pass on that!

 And of course it wouldn't be Vintage Black Friday if I didn't show another tintype.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else found.  Happy Vintage Black Friday and have a spooky Halloween!

If you are in the NJ area...

 
If you happen to be in the North Jersey area November 21-22 there is a real nice event you can stop by to do some holiday shopping.  My very talented ceramics teacher Carla Horowitz is hosting an exhibition and sale of her students work.  For sale will be some wonderful bowls, plates, vases, teapots, etc...  I will also be taking some of my ceramic charms and beads and turning them into jewelry for the event.  Information as follows:

November 21st & 22nd: 11 am- 5 pm

The Gallery at Riker Hill Art Park

284 Beaufort Avenue

Livingston, NJ 07039

Get some holiday shopping done AND support local artists!  Hope to see you there!

A Bit More Frou Frou

It was incredibly rainy here on Saturday so I took the opportunity to make more stuff.  You can never have too much stuff right?  Since I was so pleased with how my frou frou "D" piece came out I thought I would continue with the theme.  May I present my frou frou Kewpie ornament...

Some silver trim and glitter with a little silk flower for added whim...
 

The background is old text from a french book that I layered with gesso and sprinkled mica flakes and glass glitter over.  It's a shame the photo doesn't pick that up.  I've also started working on a similar one with a Christmas theme.  This is just too much fun! 

Oh and I believe I will be having my ceramic earring giveaway this coming weekend so please stop by and enter!
 

Vintage Black Friday

Is it really Friday?  Where did the time go?  Well at least that means it's the end of the week and I get to show off more vintage goodies!  I scowered my collection of vintage and antiques and found some very special items for Vintage Black Friday.

This is one of my funniest antiquing finds.  I paid $3 for this photo of a skinny man lifting weights.  What's not to love? 

 

Two teeny tiny tintypes...  I just love their expressions or lack-thereof...
 

And here is my prized antiquing possesion.  A Victorian mourning brooch.  It has two small hairline cracks in it but the piece is not broken through.  I just love how it sparkles when the light hits it.  This was not a bargain but I didn't care since it's a piece of history.  I wish I had a Victorian costume...

 
 
Now I can't wait to see what you found for VBF! 

It's All About Me!

It's finally time to reveal what I made for It's All About Me, held by Natasha Burns!  Instead of a typical swap, Natasha encouraged us to be our own swap partners and make something we had always wanted to try or kept putting off.  I've been tempted to make something very frou frou so this was my chance. 

I dug into my stash of vintage ribbon, lace and trim...

Lots of sparkly glitter on my "D" for "Diana"!

More sparkly glitter and Swarovski crystals...because I'm a princess.  Well, at least I like to think I am.

Lots of buttons both vintage and new...

Sweet velvety flowers on vintage lace...
 

 I cannot wait to see what everyone else created!

~Happy Crafting!

Fun With Shrink Plastic

If you are looking for an instant-gratification type of project then shrink charms are it.  I had a bit of free time yesterday morning and needed a quick craft to do.  I dug out my shrink plastic and had some fun.

I'll probably make some cute jewelry for myself and my friends.

 
 
Here's what you need:

Shrink Plastic (I prefer Lucky Squirrel brand)

Rubber Stamps

Staz On ink (I used black)

Embossing Gun

Punches in different shapes/scissors

Ink cleaner

Hole punch

Sharpie markers (for the edges)

Piece of cardboard for shrinking on

*You can also use markers, chalk, alcohol inks, etc...
 

Be careful not to burn yourself and have fun!