Vintage Redesigned Necklaces

This necklace is one of my favorites. A lovely strand of vintage faux pearls linked in the chain with a vintage gold filigree focal base that has been layered with a vintage mens watch face and a new gold detailed bird accent. From the gold filigree piece a vintage chandelier piece drips with a vintage earring with rhinestones and a pearl center adds the final details of these lovely finds.

SOLD

Necklace sold, but one similiar could be made.

The lovely vintage faux pearl chain is quite long on this necklace, so it could be layered with other necklaces if you are into that look. SOLD

Once again there is a vintage faux pearl chains that are linked to one another to form the first section of this necklace and then for the focal there is a vintage button layered with a vintage brass padlock, key, watch part and faux pearls to create a fun and unique layering on this piece.

Details of the vintage button assembly and all of the unique found items that make up this one of a kind design.

The second chain on this ensemble has an original funky tassle with faux pearls dripping from it. What a fun necklace to wear.

This necklace has a combination of about five vintage necklaces making up the entire piece. The white and pink color scheme is very feminine and the length is long and fun to wear. "SOLD"

There are three of these lovely flower sections on the side of the necklace to give an asymetrical look to this necklace. One more of these flower sections has been used in the center as a focal piece as well which is shown in the above previous photo, and was layered on a vintage glass button.

The closure of this necklace repeats the pink links that are also part of the lower part of the necklace.

A three strand series of vintage chains make up the outside part of this necklace and the inner chain has all been hand created to create this very unique and one of a kind treasure.

The locket is new, but looks vintage and the rest of the items are vintage brown flower shaped buttons, varying shades of ribbons, chain links, charms and vintage cracker jack prizes.

Vintage clasp, ivory pieces are of an airplane and cow with lots of detailing and are cracker jack prizes. Vintage ivory buttons have also been added to the necklace.

Notice the detailing of the cow cracker jack prize and the cool charms. This piece is mostly gold in color and earth tones have been added to it.

Vintage rhinestone piece with a gorgeous vintage unique shaped Swarovski crystal dangling bling. This chain is heavy duty and gold in color.

Simple, but stunning.

I apologize for the poor quality of photos in this post, but when one is taking photos with natural light and you live in Minnesota, unfortunately there are a lot of sunless days which account for poor lighting. I got a bit impatient waiting for the sun to shine, so took the photos on a dreary day and now I've got dreary photos. I've learned my lesson from this.

"Treasures in Our Home"

Many of you that have read my blog, may be thinking that I am just a jewelry designer. Well, that is what I'd say I major in. I have minors in many other venues as well. I'd say junking, creating altered art, decorating, photography, flower gardening, repurposing vintage finds and creating projects are just a few of the things that keep my eventful life filled with fun. I can honestly say, "I'm never bored". How about you? This blog post will be to show just a few pieces that I've collected over the years and how I display them in our home. This is the style of decorating I love, but am still working on pulling our entire house together and am not near where I'd like to be. For now, this is what I can share with blog land.

This desk ($25 at a garage sale) sits along the east back wall of our livingroom, to the right of the atrium doors to our backyard. I have had this piece for close to 20 years now, and didn't have to do anything to it. The chair sitting in front of it, was plucked from the dumpster at our first apartment 20 years ago, and I gave it a new leopard upholstery job with black fringe trim. The twigs to the right were culled from a garage sale, as was the Pier One jug they rest in. The lamp with the fringe lampshade was also a garage sale find.

Mirrors are a favorite of mine, and I have so many currently that I'm not using about 6 of them, so will probably sell them at a new venture I will be soon blogging about. I love this mirror which was purchased at an Occasional Sale about six years ago.

I am a lover of vintage millinery flowers and paid $1 precious dollar for this white rose many years ago. The small vintage silver creamer is another one of those loves I have and the patina ed style is totally my taste. I've had this little creamer for five or more years. The little snow flake represents what it is doing in Minnesota once again today. Snowing!!!

I love the European/Parisian/Cottage style with the neutral color tones. This woman statue is an outstanding example of something that I've loved for most of my life. It has a story! When I was about 10 years old, my Grandma promised me that I could one day have this statue that was hers. I've loved it for 40 years and I have owned it now for about 18 years, as I received it when my Grandma passed away. My Grandmother said it was from a "Mrs. Brown" that was her neighbor in North Minneapolis and lived to be around 90 years old, and probably was born around 1880. I believe it is from France. Anybody have any ideas about it? This statue is very oranate and detailed. She has a birds nest with babies in her left hand, the mother bird on her right hand and a basket of flowers at her right side. There are no markings. I just love this statue and treasure it very much. It brings back fond memories of my Moms parents.

The previous post was a feature on the Carver, MN occasional stores and this cottage style white chippy paint table was grabbed up last Thursday for a mere $13.00. Yes, you read that right! Thank you Jane. I just love it, and it is now in a handy spot in my home, right next to the area that I photograph my jewelry photos using the morning natural light that comes in through our south bay windows.

A close up of the chippy white painted finish that is orginal to this table. Love this table and just the great look that it has.

I also bought this faux moss sheet at the same store last week for $2.50, the coral for $3.00 and the small silver bird was I believe purchased at a Wayzata shop called "Nature's Harvest". The silver dish has been in my possesion for many years, as has the silver heart shaped dish that is layered in the silver dish. I have always love cloches and this is just one of many in our home that protects and displays a lovely little find. I just love the little details!

This cabinet is an oak sewing machine cabinet, that I purchased for $50 quite a few years back, but really bought it for the cabinet only and got rid of the sewing machine. It is used for my business and holds paper products, ink, etc. I just love the carved details on this piece and painted it white and aged it to give it the look it has now.

I hope you enjoyed this post of some home decor photos for a change. I hope to have a mix on my blog with all of the things I love and makes up my style of living.

A Fun Day in Carver, MN !

Today my friends, Carolyn, Lynette and I took a day trip to Carver, MN in the Southwest corner of the Twin Cities to attend the 3 day monthly sales in this quaint little town. This quaint small town plays host to three occasional sales, which are "Mustard Moon", "The Nature of It", and "Seasons", which are all connected to each other and is a huge plus when shopping in the Winter in Minnesota.

Gretchen in black on left owner of http://www.mimitoriasdesigns.blogspot.com

Lanette on right is owner of http://www.cottageelements.blogspot.com/

We are also co-contributors on Junk Market Styles site which you can find at http://www.junkmarketstyle.com

These shops are open three days a month which is always the third Thursday of each month through that Saturday. They open shop at 10:00-5 on Thursdays and Fridays and are open from 10-4 on Saturdays. We arrived at 9:50 and stood in a line. Now, what does that tell you? It tells you that this is the place to be. This shot was taken just before the doors opened, so there were about 25 women waiting outside in 10 degree temps. Note the boots and coats. Hardy Minnesota ladies rock!

Gretchen, Carolyn and Lani waiting in line to get into the shops.

Lani, our friend, Julie and our new friend we met on this day, Terri. Isn't Julie all cute with her red bag full of bed springs, her red plaid coat and hat? The five of us went for lunch after our morning of shopping and had a great time together.

Jane Hall of Mustard Moon in Carver, MN is an outstanding shop owner.

"Mustard Moon" - Carver, MN

This employee of Jane's is writing up a slip for Carolyn, and she had a personality that is awesome and makes shopping and check out at Jane's a joy. Ladies, if you're going to have a shop, you need to have happy people working it. This is what you find at both of these shops. Happy and helpful women running the show. Love it! It just makes you want to come back- Thanks ladies!

This cool white chippy painted cupboard was was sold in about 5 minutes. I walked into the shop, stopped and looked at an item near it, and the lady next to me spoke for it. At Jane's you see it, you buy it, or you will lose it! Great product, and awesome pricing.

Lots of Spring items were tempting us Minnesotans out of our long Winter slump and helping us to remember, that it won't be long and the sun will shine and we will have green grass again and if we're lucky flowers by May.

Lots of cool pieces for sale in this shop. Fun farm stuff and industrial type goods that you just wouldn't of thought to decorate with, but Jane will introduce you to a cool style of decor using these finds, and you'll be happy you made a visit to this great shop.

A few new items were interspersed among the vintage wares. Most of these new type of items look and have the vintage feel that we all love and are relative to the garden theme that we all are loving. Great taste of mixing a few fabulous new things with the old.

This display near the check out with the use of the fresh greens and the great vintage worn wood on this stair riser type of piece as well as the use of greens throughout the rest of the store were so fresh and perfect for this rather drab time of year. Just makes us happy to think of warmer days ahead.

Sorry for the blurry photo, but I wanted to share this cool display Jane had in her shop. This was unfortunately the only photo I took and thought the blurry vignette was better than not showing this fabulous window with the stained glass pieces. Very one of a kind!

Cool grey table with a funky vintage metal toy truck which was filled with paper products for altered art or scrap booking projects.

This table was sold in the first hour. It was a long harvest table, with a car dolly, with three rusty strainers tipped upside down with cute little juice glasses filled each with a mini plant and then had clothes over each of them. Lanette snagged the three strainers and cute little planters.

A very cool clock in the back room. Note the wall and texture as you look at these photos. Such a great place for Jane's look. This is a basement of a very old building and it is filled with character. This shop and shop owner are such a treasure! Thanks Jane for another wonderful shopping day in your little quaint town.

Gretchen Shaumann

"The Nature of It" - Carver, MN

Wow! Check out this very cool metal chair. I just love the curves of it! Such a neat find.

Lots of gardening inspiration in this shop too. Cindy Halvorson, the shop keeper is another gem of a gal, and has such an eye for merchandising her store. This is top notch people with great products changing on a monthly basis. This is another store that if you snooze, you lose, so if you love it when you see it, you had better grab it and have it stashed behind the desk while you continue shopping, because if you leave it and walk away to think about it, it pretty much won't be there.

A gorgeous vintage door trim was layered around this fabulous stain glass window which the sun was making look far more awesome than this photo captured. Very cool and unique pieces.

Vintage shaving mirrors, old black register grate and cool black filing piece on a white wicker table with the great white wood/glass folding screen made this an eye catching vignette.

These two wooden boxes were so beautiful, and I believe they were vintage flower seed storage boxes. Very lovely with the industrial wire object it was merchandised on top of.

Another cool area in Cindy's shop with her trademark mix of wire, white wood architectural pieces, and beautiful smalls.

A set of awesome vintage corbels. Cindy has lots of architectural pieces that rise above the typical that you may see elsewhere. A few photos down you will get what I am making reference to.

I would of loved to of taken home this gorgeous pale blue piece of architecture for my living room, but didn't. It was the coolest, most serene piece I've ever seen in my life. Just lovely Cindy.

This gorgeous piece has been featured in a book written by Sue Whitney and Ki our famous Junk Market girls from Minnesota. These girls really got us all fully introduced us to the value and use of junk in our homes. It was originally some kind of incubator, if my memory serves me right, but now has been turned into a bar server. This piece was purchased and will have a new home. Such a one of a kind unique piece.

Another piece that sold at the sale the morning we were shopping. This is a wonderful example of the kind of furniture finds you will see at Cindy's sales. They are usually white, and wonderfully patina ed. Such style this gal has. I've admired her from afar at shows for years, but haven't had the privilege to meet Cindy until in January when she opened up her new store in Carver. Cindy, I'm so glad you did!

More examples of fabulous architectural pieces from "The Nature of It".

Thank you Cindy and Jane for allowing me to photograph yours stores and feature you on my blogs. I hope to entice some Mid-Westerners that I've met in blogging land to pack up their vehicles, hitch up their trailers and make a road trip to Carver, MN. It's our own best kept secret soon to not be such a secret. Honestly ladies, it's my new favorite places to shop in Minnesota. When you have wonderful shop keepers like these two, wonderful and unique products, and then reasonable prices on top of it, these two ladies have a winning situation, as do we ladies that are able to frequent their shops.

Artful Blogging Inspiration

(Fireplace mantle headboard in our Master Bedroom)

Have you ever wondered what to post or what not to post on your blog? Is it ever a struggle to ponder the thought, "what if someone takes my idea and calls it theirs?" I am new to blogging, but I have found such generosity and kindness by the bloggers I've encountered thus far, that I am going back to my generous spirit. What does that mean you may be thinking? Most of you don't know me, but I can be generous to a fault and often in the past have devalued my art that I've created. Thus when I decided to start a blog, I was thinking I should be more conservative with what I put on my blog for the world to view, to protect my ideas and designs from others. That just has really caused an inner turmoil, so when I recently posted the blog post about my favorite jewelry pieces which were some of the items I was protecting, I went back to the old generous soul that I was born to be. Ahh, I feel much better now.

Now, here is what I find really cool. This week I purchased the latest "Artful Blogging" magazine and had the chance to read most of it last night. It was so inspiring to me that this exact issue that I have been struggling with was addressed by one of the bloggers that I'd like to share a few excerpts from this magazine from one of the artisans blogs that I have admired.

These words come from Dawn Edmonson of http://www.the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/ . Wow, are they ever wise words. She writes the following paragraphs:

Many artists are afraid to share "too much" or are constantly worried that others may copy their ideas. I find that I actually WANT others to create what I'm making - or if I've learned something that works, it's so neat to pass that knowledge on.

Creativity is like the fishes and loaves story in the Bible ... as you share your ideas, they feed others' creativity and then they are inspired. They in turn want to make something wonderful and as they share, their creativity continues to encourage others and so on. Don't you agree? And even if you create something that I've made, yours will be YOU ... mine will be ME, as we all have our personal style and our artwork will always reflect that.

So don't ever hide your light, talent or ideas for fear of others "stealing" it away ... go ahead, give it away and you will be inspired to always be creating something new and wonderful to share that will be uniquely you.

So, thank you Dawn for confirming that I should continue to live a gracious life and to be the person God would want me to be. I just felt this was such a confirmation of what I had already decided in my spirit was the right way to approach things. I struggled for a month with this, but am happy my decision came before I read this new blog magazine, as I feel it is written just to me. If you know what I mean!

I just discovered a new blog today, and wanted to share her link. She has some awesome information about blogging on her site and it kind of goes with the jest of this post. Enjoy her blog when you have some extra time on your hands. Very inspiring. http://theinspiredroom.net/