itzaChicThing

Hi Everyone!  I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!  I have discovered yet another Etsian that I am in awe over....itzaChicThing.etsy.com!! 

The packaging of the cute cuffs I ordered was just so cute....it was like having Christmas all over again when I came home from out of town!  The creativity and care that was put into the cardboard tube they were put into impressed me!

I just love the bright colors...can't wait to throw it on!

I love the crocheted flower on this one...and the bright blue button!!  I must say that I'm loving THIS, too: http://www.etsy.com/listing/118654675/festive-cuff-bracelet-golden-tones!!  She makes so many cute things!!!

Of COURSE I couldn't just have ONE, so this was the second one I got!  Head over to her shop and check out the other cool stuff she makes....like this:http://www.etsy.com/transaction/106404335 (sold...sorry!!) and this: http://www.etsy.com/listing/117742935/upcycled-bag-beachy-boho-cross-the-body  It's so hard to decide what to buy next!!  Be sure to look for itzaChicThing in the spring issue of Haute Handbags, too!!

In Honor Of Kennedi

I was given the honor of designing another relic bracelet for a special mom of one of my students.  As I've said before, I love to put together pieces that have specific meaning....it's much more personal.  The letters on this bracelet stand for Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.  When it came to deciding on what kind of buttons would keep company with the typewriter keys, it was a no-brainer--children with this syndrome are the happiest on the face of the earth!!  They wear constant smiles, which in turn, has everyone else smiling, too!!  We wanted the brightest pops of color imaginable...and who am I to argue about digging into my brightest buttons!!

Here's my girl wearing that big smile!  Now you know why black, brown, or tan buttons would NOT work on a CdLS bracelet!!

A Sea of Tin

As my uncle used to say, "I've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger!!" That pretty much sums up my life lately!!  Between the pesky day job, preparing for Christmas, and filling Etsy orders, I've met myself coming and going!  I did want to make time for more of my "Gardens and Graphics" tin necklaces, though...I just love to make them!!!  It's almost like putting together a puzzle--except I get to pick the pieces!!  The Prince Albert tobacco tins are always a favorite because I love the red and yellow.  I can't remember what "Fixaco" is, but that little man on the tin is a charmer!!  These are listed in my Etsy shop, themadcutter.etsy.com...we'll get 'em there by Christmas!!

God Love The Amish!!

Did anyone do any holiday craft shows today??  I sure did, and although my sales were only fair, I DID meet the most wonderful Amish family situated behind my booth (HOW LUCKY IS THAT??!!!)  Here is a quick view of part of my booth today and the wonderful Amish man in the background who was selling HUGE homemade cinnamon rolls with caramel icing that I ate INHALED in no time flat!!

Earring Addiction

Last night I went out into my cold garage (AKA "Ghetto Studio"!!) to make a COUPLE pairs of earrings.  I cranked up the heater (it's freezing here in Kentucky!!) and got going...but once I started, I couldn't seem to stop!!  These were hand-cut and weathered front and back.  Patina was added to the edges...my favorites for the evening!

I never seem to tire of this bright blue pattern....it makes me happy every time!  The bright blue beads are striking!

I recently came upon a beautiful Asian-inspired tin with two pretty geisha girls on it...and I was so taken with the patterns in their kimonos!  I knew when I saw them that I couldn't WAIT to get my shears on that tin!

Ahhh...my little "rebel" earrings of the evening!  These were cut from the bottom boarder of a vintage tea tin and beaten into submission (and this shape!!) with a hammer.  Boy, it felt good after a looonnnng day at work to take a hammer and beat something!!! LOL!  I love the gritty feel of these paired with the soft muted colors.  The dark spots came about when paint chipped off and patina was added.

Sweet earrings with the petite floral tin pieces free floating against brass rectangles.  I love the yellow beads, too!!! VISIT ME AT THEMADCUTTER.ETSY.COM AND ENJOY 20% OFF OF ANYTHING IN THE STORE UNTIL DEC. 3!!  ANY PIECE WILL COME WHIMSICALLY PACKAGED READY TO GIVE...OR SAVOR FOR YOURSELF!!

Cozy Hearts

I have PILES of sweaters in my spare bathroom tub....I'm not kidding!!  It's one of those "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" kind of thing....except there's no wizard and it's a shower curtain!!  I've been playing around with ideas of things I want to do with them....so stay tuned!  I think it's the colors that grab me...so soft and almost ice cream-like!  I'm obsessed with hearts--you all know that--so I just started cutting some out of the sweaters and finding sweet buttons that resembled flowers.  After stitching them and slightly stuffing them, what I have are some pretty pendants waiting on some ball chains.  It's just one more way to cope with the onset of winter!!!  HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!!

Sew....EXCITED!!!

Yesterday I grabbed my mail, threw it in my back seat, and headed back to work for a night of team building activities....arrived home around 9:30 and decided to weed through the stack when my eyes fell upon THIS!  I had to read this FOUR TIMES before it sunk in that I was actually IN THIS MAGAZINE!!  About a year ago I had submitted my stitched hearts to Sew Somerset....never thinking I would make it in.  In fact, I had totally forgotten about sending them!!!

Like all of the other Stampington magazines, Sew Somerset is the bomb!  It has always been a dream of mine to be ANY of their fab publications!!

I'm toward the end...back in the "Gallery" section, which is FINE WITH ME!!  To be anywhere in the magazine is an honor--I'm not picky!!  I don't believe this has been released yet (the winter edition), but I'm anxious for it to hit the news stands!  My stitched hearts are 20% off in my store right now, too!  Head over to themadcutter.etsy.com!!