Thrifty Finds May 6

Today was a breezy (literally and metaphorically) trip to Goodwill for my weekly thrifting fix.  I didn't find as much as I hoped as again I didn't get there until noon.  But I didn't come away empty handed. I got 2 sets of 70s era dishes. And it being Santa Fe, I had to walk to the car while a mixture of rain, snow, and hail pelted me and my new finds. 

And just to include another set of beautiful photos, here are some lovely vintage buttons, again from my grandmother.  I was sorting through these today picking out the ones I will no longer use and plan to list on Etsy.  These are the ones I found: 

As always the above items will be listed and for sale soon in my Etsy store!  Feel free to contact me to reserve anything. 

And I love my Grandma, too!

Package from Grandma!

So I'm postponing this week's feature until next week, and until then I have some lovely eye candy for you. Yesterday I came home to a huge package of vintage goodies from my grandmother. She sent me so many beautiful things, I was ecstatic!  All of the items in the photo (well maybe not ALL of them) I plan on photographing and listing on Etsy.  Stay tuned!  And if you are just dying to own one of the items (the Shirley Temple coloring book, perhaps?), let me know and I will make a reserved listing just for you with a 10% discount!

And because I'm now in vintage mode,  I also want to share with you the gorgeous collection of brooches I have received from both my mom and grandma.  These were originally collected to make brooch bouquets, but honestly, those are nearly impossible to make!  So I gave up, and now plan on listing all of these on Etsy or repurposing into new jewelry pieces.  The same applies as above, if you are interested in a piece, let me know!  And if you are interested in trying your hand a brooch bouquets, I recommend this tutorial....Project Wedding:  DIY brooch bouquet.  Also, here is an example (below left) of a mixed flowers and brooches bouquet my talented mother, owner of the North Dakota wedding decorating company, "I Do"...Balloons, Weddings, and Events, made for one of her brides.  Please remember all images are copyrighted to the artist.  Do not use them without permission!

I love my mama!

 My mom truly is my biggest fan!  I checked my Etsy shop yesterday and noticed I sold this necklace and earrings set.  I got so excited until I realized it was my mom that bought them.  Not that I don't appreciate that!  Some guaranteed feedback is great. Love you mom!  You are the best!

"Soul Verbs" Series

I go to Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA studying for a master's degree in art therapy and counseling.  Right now I'm taking a class in Archetypal Psychology, which has been a very inspirational class for me.  We do a regular dream journal and artwork as well as artwork around the mandala books we are reading.  Today we had a discussion about feedback giving when sharing our artwork and how some people really like/need to get feedback or interpretations of their work and how for some it is not helpful.  This got me thinking about my jewelry.  I have always wondered why I make jewelry when I rarely ever wear it, and when I do its usually not my own work.  Thinking about our conversation in class I realized I create jewelry because it is a way for me to connect with others.  I make beautiful and meaningful jewelry because I like to hear what it means to others, even more than deciding on my own interpretation.  Its very heartwarming to me when I create something that another person likes enough to wear on their bodies, especially when it has meaning to both of us.  Its a way for two hearts and souls to align. 

"dig deep"

I've been thinking a lot about branding lately as well, and I see that this idea of meaningful, touching jewelry is what I want Erika with a K Designs to be about.  And coincidentally I created, in response to my mandala book for class, a series of necklaces (an in the future bracelets, earrings, etc) I call "Soul Verbs."  They are made with Swarovski Elements, glass vials filled with Swarovski beads and other things, as well as hand stamped metal tags with inspirational verbs like "Explore", "Love", and "Dig Deep".

"dream"

When I showed these today in class, one of my classmates pointed out that each one has 3 different elements, 3 being a very powerful number meaning synthesis and "2 becoming something greater than the sum of their parts."  I feel this is the perfect explanation of these pieces!

The first one I made was "Explore" (below) in response to my thoughts on mandala making (circular pieces of artwork representing wholeness).  I chose the Earth element because the Earth itself is like a mandala, circular and whole.  I chose the word explore because making a mandala is like exploring the unconscious or the soul.  And then I added the vial filled with beads to represent what one finds when exploring. 


These necklaces are all on sale in my Etsy shop in the Soul Verbs Collection section, and there are more to come.  Also, I encourage custom orders!

"EXPLORE"

"inspire, create"

"LOVE"

Thrifty Finds, Goodwill, April 1st

Today I did my weekly shopping at Goodwill. I cannot stress enough just how AWESOME the Goodwill here in Santa Fe, NM is.  Great things at great prices.  I went early today, around 10, so I found a lot.  Monday's are 25% off days and the place is packed!  As I walked in I already saw a globe, something my son has been asking for, being snatched up.  That's twice now!  As usual I went straight to the back of the store where the furniture is and found a TV tray for $1.50, something I had just the day before thought about to use as a workstation while watching TV.  I also found a cool end table with square cut outs on the sides ($11.50) and an office chair for $4.50 (another very much needed item).  I don't know if there is serendipity in thrift shopping, but it sure seems like it!

I also picked up the cool china pieces below, my favorite being the 3 collectors plates.  These are from the Edwin Knowles Artists of the World series featuring the oil paintings of "Ted" De Grazia.  And I only paid $7.50 each! Most of the china I will be listing in my Etsy store soon! 

I also got a pair of shoes for my daughter, my son (who was running around the store and asking if we could go the whole time.  I will NEVER bring him again!) a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap.  Lastly, I picked up a bag of Chinese lantern "Christmas" lights, which I put up in my room right away along with many of my other previous finds (including the paper lamp next to my bed, the black and white chair, and 2 paintings on the wall) . 

Playing with Resin....

A year ago I bought a tube of Ice brand resin and finally took it out last month.  I think I have found a new love!  Resin can be touchy, and if not mixed properly will yield a forever sticky yet hard, impossible to remove substance, but when used properly creates really professional looking work from the beginning.  Just make sure to follow the directions to a T and be prepared to fail sometimes.  The first time I tried, despite the directions, I ended up with a beautiful collage in a large oval bezel that now is collecting dust, hair, and fingerprints.  Make sure when you try this for the first time you use materials that are not expensive or important to you!  Save those for when you know what you are doing....

My second round turned out great!  I made a whole series of hummingbird collage pendants with little flat-backed crystals. Pouring the resin over these crystals created a really neat effect, making them look flat.  Some bubbles and imperfections are unavoidable with this medium (at least I think!), but I feel this adds to the uniqueness of each piece.  Here are the necklaces from my 2nd try:

Click to buy!

Click to Buy!

Click for Listing!

Click to Purchase!

Click for Etsy Listing!

I also made resin papers, but I will leave that for another day and another post!

Beetle wings!

So at Beadfest I found a new material to work with...beetle wings from the Sternocera aequistignata beetle!  I have not had so much fun making earrings in a long time.  I decided to keep it simple, something I can have a hard time with from time to time, because I thought the wings should speak for themselves. I used my new favorite tool, my Euro Punch metal hole puncher, to make the holes, and placement was easy because there is a natural discolored round dot at the top of the wing where it looks like a hole is just supposed to go.  I also used my wire snips to cut off the gross little ridge at the top of the wing just for aesthetic purposes.  Then I stuck a jump ring through the hole and put the jump ring on the ear wire...Voila!...a gorgeous pair of earrings!

The use of these wings in adornment is an ancient practice in Asia, especially Thailand, and is now becoming more and more popular here in the West.  The beetle symbolizes many different things, including rebirth, stability, practicality, and groundedness.  According to the Symbolic Meanings Blog by Avia Venefica, "They move with bellies always close to the earth, and so their wisdom is sacred and deep."

So anyway, my new earrings are available in my Etsy Shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ErikawithaKDesigns.  They measure approximately 1 1/2 to 2" in length (including the ear wires).