Category Archives: sparkling

Miniature Perfume Bottles

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by in beading, crafts, miniature, sparkling

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I was cleaning out old photo files and found these photos from way back in 2003.

All the perfume bottles are made of beads, earring backs and jewelry findings. They are tiny, some less than half an inch. To help the bead “bottles” stand up, I glued the bead on a pierced earring back. If you want to see the most detail in these photos, click on the photo to open a larger image. Then at the upper left of each photo will be a link that says “ORIGINAL SIZE AT (number) “. Click that link to see the largest image.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads and jewelry findings.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads and jewelry findings. Please click on the photo to see a larger image.

A small plastic organizer with the lid removed made an elegant faux glass shelf unit for the miniature bead bottles.

A small plastic organizer with the lid removed served as an elegant “glass” shelf unit for the miniature bead bottles.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads. This dresser tray is a mirror with trim glued around the edge.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads. This dresser tray is a mirror with trim glued around the edge.

To make the tray, I glued seed beads around the edge of a small mirror.

To make the tray, I glued seed beads around the edge of a small mirror.

The first two photos were taken in my kitchen window… so many years ago, even before we planted the rose bush which has climbed all the way up to the kitchen window. I don’t remember where I put all the tiny bead bottles. When I find them, I think I’ll put the display case in the bedroom or bathroom window. I love tucking miniatures around the house. Most people never see them but I like knowing that my home has an even smaller story for those who have eyes to catch it.

Rainy May Day French Beading

06 Monday May 2013

Posted by in beading, crafts, flowers, nature, sparkling, sunlight

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It’s been mostly overcast and rainy for at least two weeks now.

A Rainy day in May.

A Rainy day in May.

I’m discovering that the weather greatly affects my pain level, ever since having my spine fused. Despite the pain, I shall redeem this time.

Rain in May, drip drip drip...

Rain in May, drip drip drip, fall the crystal drops …

Today when the sun peeked out briefly, I stood outside even while the rain was still falling, so desperate to feel sun on my face.

Even the trees are becoming mossy from all the dampness this spring.

Even the trees are becoming mossy from all the dampness this spring.

Then the clouds moved in again and I tucked back in the darkness of my work space. But places don’t have to stay colorless and uncheered. I got out the beads.

Seed beads, mostly size 11, including Aiko and Delicas, fill a bin with color.

Seed beads, mostly size 11, including Aiko and Delicas, fill a bin with color.

Pearl, crystal and glass beads.

Pearl, crystal and glass beads.

They glistened and captured every speck of light. I didn’t want any light to get away.

Beads in a small condiment dish.

Beads in a small condiment dish.

I made petals and leaves and flower centers.

Gold and bronze bead flower centers await petals and assembly.

Gold and bronze bead flower centers await petals and assembly.

I use children’s teacups and dishes to hold flower components while I work. Here a child’s teacup holds stamens.

A small child's teacup holds white stamens.

A small child’s teacup holds white stamens.

I made

I made a cardboard insert in a bin to hold my bead bottles upside down so I can see the color of the contents better.

These vintage flower centers belonged to my grandmother. I’m looking forward to using them. Thank you so much, dear sister Donna for sending them!

I will use these vintage flower beads in French Beaded flowers and jewelry.

I will use these vintage flower beads in French Beaded flowers and jewelry.

Even though it is dark and rainy outside and there are no flowers blooming in the window, I have flowers blossoming on the table.

French Beaded flowers.

French Beaded flowers

French Beaded flowers in a shoebox await stems and leaves.

French Beaded flowers

French Beaded flowers

French Beaded Flowers

03 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by in beading, crafts, sparkling

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All the activity of last week finally caught up with me so yesterday was a down day. Some days are just like that; I just have to hold very still all day and let my old bones repair. Fortunately, I had a new craft to work on – French Beaded Flowers.

I used this book, French-Beaded Flowers, and this terrific video by Lana to get started. The book is very good for beginners but it was the wonderful video by Lana that finally made sense. Thank you, Lana!

I don’t have a studio so I do all my crafting on the dining room table. I try to only take over half the dining room table so the family can use the other half for actual dining. ha ha. My end is called “the work table” and here is what it looked like last night.

My work table, covered with beading supplies for making French Beaded flowers.

My work table (half the dining room table) covered with beading supplies for making French Beaded flowers.

The bead spinner was essential! In the photo above, it’s the little round wood bowl with green beads in it on the left. I was going to skip purchasing one until I tried to hand string about… (getting calculator)… about 2730 tiny beads. I put about 10 seed beads on the wire by hand and looked at the clock and figured I didn’t have the luxury of eight more months to finish. To string the beads quickly, I used the mini bead spinner from Bead Wrangler.  It works fantastic! It was fascinating watching the beads fill the wire as I spun the spinner like a spinning top.

The beading tools are from French General. They are very durable and are stored in a lovely roll. I’ve purchased many unique and gorgeous beads from French General over the years and hope to incorporate some of them in my flowers.

I didn’t take photos of the beading process because the day was all about holding as still as possible. These flowers were all made while watching two movies, so basically less than 4 hours.

French Beaded Flowers, made with size 11 seed beads and delicas.

French Beaded Flowers, made with size 11 seed beads and delicas.

The construction wires were wrapped with green floral tape.

The construction wires were wrapped with green floral tape to form the stems. Delicas are cylindrical beads, such as in the pink flower shown here, while seed beads are round, which is what I used to make the leaves. I made up the green loopy leaves because I didn’t want all the leaves to look alike.

French Beaded Flowers 3

I aspire to making stunning flowers like these, from the Bead Society of Greater New York. Until then, I’m really pleased with my first little arrangement.

My first French Beaded flowers.

My first French Beaded flowers.

The Dewing of the Hanging Plant Easter Egg Tree

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by in All Sparkled Up, beading, crafts, Easter, flowers, gardening, home decor, miniature, sparkling, tutorial

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Last year I posted about the Hanging Plant Easter Egg Tree I made. It’s time to get it out again. Adding the drops of dew was my favorite part.
After I finished each miniature plant, with it’s tiny leaves and petals, I hung it on the tree. Though pretty, the plant didn’t seem fully alive it was all sparkled up with spring rain or drops of dew.
For each drop, I used tweezers to dab a single crystal seed bead in tacky glue and attach it where it should go, hanging from the tip of a leaf or puddled in the folds of a petal.

The tree was from Pottery Barn a couple years ago. The hanging egg baskets are cut from small plastic eggs and filled with tiny plants

The tree was from Pottery Barn a couple years ago. The hanging egg baskets were cut from small plastic eggs. The miniature plants were made by cutting up full-size artificial flowers and leaves. Some of the hanging vines were made by gluing hand-cut leaves to artificial plant stems. Click on photos to see the full size images if you wish.

2 Miniature Daisies

Miniature Daisies.

3 Miniature Daisies 2

Miniature daisies.

4 Miniature Lily of the Valley

Miniature Lily of the Valley.

5 Miniature Lily of the Valley 2

6 Miniature Fern

Miniature ferns and moss.

7 Miniature Forget me not 2

Miniature Forget-me-not.

8 Miniature Forget me not

9 Miniature Burros Tail

Miniature Burros Tail.

If you want to add realistic drops to an artificial plant, remember how real water acts. It flows down hill. So it will puddle at the bottom of a flower center, or hang from the lower tip of a petal or leaf.

10 Miniature Blue Flowers

Miniature Blue Flowers. The fluffy white balls were actually stamens cut from the center of a full-size artificial flower.

11 Miniature Ferns

Miniature ferns and moss.

12 Miniature Tuberous Begonia

Miniature Tuberous Begonia, reminiscent of the colors of my mom’s beautiful begonia hanging plant.

13 Miniature Peony

14 Miniature Peony 3

15 Miniature Marigolds

Miniature Marigold.

16 Miniature Rose

Miniature Roses. To make a rose, I took one petal from a 1″ artificial rose, folded it in half and glued and rolled it up into a cone shape. The pointed tip of the cone was cut off and stuck down inside the top part of the cone to make center of the rose. Some cone tips are also used as the buds.

17 Miniature Roses 2

18 Hanging Basket Egg Tree

Placing the tiny bead droplets on the plants was a very contemplative task, like yoga or painting, with each moment crystallized and beautiful. No it was not tedious, it was restorative and full of light. All sparkled up.

“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” Isaiah 58:11

Look for the sparkle

02 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by in All Sparkled Up, Inspirational, sparkling

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I stood at the back door feeling trapped.
I stood at the back door and looked out to a place I couldn’t go.
Where we live, there is rarely snow so winter is just all dead. There is nothing there.
But I wanted there to be something there.
And then I saw it, just a sparkle.

There, barely visible, hovering above the table was a sparkle.

There, barely visible, hovering above the table was a sparkle.


I looked closer. It wasn’t outside, it was where I stood!
A glittery rhinestone heart necklace that I had bought for myself.
It was my own heart that contained the only sparkle in the day. I just had to look for it. It was there all along.

It was my own heart that contained the only sparkle in the day. I just had to look for it. It was there all along.

The heart necklace was the only part of me that reflected in the glass on the dreary day.

The old bouquet roses have donned their jewels

26 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in All Sparkled Up, flowers, Inspirational, nature, sparkling

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Their edges are a bit crispy and tattered and the Valentine Roses can no longer hold up their heads.
I’m not about to part with a bouquet if it has even a speck of life in it.
I placed the musty bouquet on the table outside thinking perhaps a little sunshine might brighten them for a last hurrah.
But there was no sun. Instead, the sky darkened and the rain came down in streaks.

Past their prime, the Valentine roses droop their velvety heads.

Past their prime, these Valentine roses droop their velvety heads.


But these roses weren’t about to waste a good opportunity to glam up.
Like a group of aging women, they donned their crystal and went out one last time.
And I cheered them on.
Once vibrant red and perky, the Valentine Roses age gracefully in their queenly red velvet capes and dripping with jewels.

Once vibrant red and perky, the Valentine Roses age gracefully in their queenly red velvet capes and dripping with jewels.


I’m approaching the age to join their ranks. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I plan on seeing it and, even more so, participating.
You’re never, ever too old to sparkle. Don’t forget that!

Mirror Gem Notebook

30 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by in All Sparkled Up, crafts, sparkling, tutorial

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Today I reached for a notebook I haven’t used in years. I decorated this notebook in my hotel room during some free time during a writer’s convention. (Doesn’t everyone take glue, gems and tin foil to conventions for emergency crafting sessions?)

Mirror Gem Notebook

Mirror Gem Notebook

First I wrapped and glued a piece of tin foil over the front cover of a small memo pad.

Tin foil is glued on the cover of a memo pad.

Tin foil is glued on the cover of a memo pad.

The gems and small craft mirrors were glued on with tacky glue and then secured around all the edges with silver glitter glue. I’m surprised that everything is still holding together over 8 years later.

Plastic gems and glass mirrors are glued on the notebook cover.

Plastic gems and glass mirrors are glued on the notebook cover.

I love the gems on the cover of the notebook but there’s more to it than meets the eye. You just have to focus on something deeper than the glitzy cover.

Mirror Gem Notebook

Mirror Gem Notebook

Look past the outside.

Mirror Gem Notebook

Mirror Gem Notebook

Don’t get distracted by the gems.

Mirror Gem Notebook

Mirror Gem Notebook

Find the real sparkle.

Mirror Gem Notebook

Mirror Gem Notebook

 

Mirror Gem Notebook

Appreciate what’s on the outside…

…just as much as what’s on the inside.

The dining room light is visible in the mirrors on the notebook cover.

Now the dining room light is visible in the mirrors on the notebook cover.

Trees in the cover of the Mirror Gem Notebook.

Enjoy the bigger picture – Trees in the cover of the Mirror Gem Notebook.

Crissy has a Gilded Crown!

08 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by in beading, dolls, Gilded Life, sewing, sparkling

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A box of glittering goodness arrived from Gilded Life’s Stash Society and oh my, what splendid craft supplies! There were glass vials of mica flakes and vintage mother of pearl buttons. There was a vintage trinket box, a mica-dusted cherub, a glass tube of sparkling beads and jewelry supplies. There was a generous piece of ultra-soft, rose-taupe sequined fur. Sequined fur! Not your everyday stuffed animal variety fur. I instantly pictured a garment out of a fairytale, perhaps a baby’s bonnet made of swan’s down or a shawl worn by a princess.

Although these items were beautiful, it was a small, clear box that stole my breath away. Written in gold on the box were the words Thank You and inside was a glittering, miniature beaded crown. What an awesome Christmas surprise!

A beautiful beaded crown from Gilded Life.

A beautiful beaded crown from Gilded Life.

I carefully took the crown out and placed it on the table for a day. It made me happy just to see it. And then I remembered something from long ago and far away. Tucked in an old dusty trunk was my vintage Crissy doll from my childhood in the 60′s, the doll that grows her hair by turning a knob on her back. My mom sewed all Crissy’s clothing, including this stunning pink taffeta and velvet dress and cape, with a sprinkling of hand-stitched pearls and iridescent gold trim.

Vintage Crissy doll, wearing a handmade pink taffeta and velvet dress.

Vintage Crissy doll, wearing a handmade pink taffeta and velvet dress.

Crissy can’t wear just any crown when she dons pink velvet and pearls. My mom’s handwork deserved nothing less than a grand crowning touch. Now, over 40 years later, Crissy finally has a crown befitting the occasion.

Vintage Crissy doll wearing a beaded crown from Gilded Life.

Vintage Crissy doll wearing a beaded crown from Gilded Life.

Thank You Debbie and Shea for the glorious crown!
And Thank You, Ma. I am still awed by your handwork! Love you. ♥

Scoliosis

05 Sunday Aug 2012

Posted by in All Sparkled Up, Gilded Girls, Inspirational, Scoliosis, sparkling

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Before getting into the Scoliosis part, it’s true: My life IS all sparkled up! Every day I’ve got bling going on.

Bling in the mail…
My amazing daughter surprised me with this package the other day, a Grace Notes box of gorgeous craft supplies from Gilded Life.

Grace Notes box of sparkling craft supplies, from Gilded Life.


Luscious velvet, beaded trims, pearl-studded flowers…


Oh my goodness, I don’t know what sparkled more – the rhinestone chain, sequins and velvet sheen or the tears in my eyes. She knows me so well! ♥

Bling at the dining room table…
My adorable granddaughter and I did some painting. I taught her how to carefully drop one drop of water into each pan of watercolor.

My granddaughter uses an eyedropper to place one drop of water in each watercolor pan.


Then we painted flowers and a blue river. We were all sparkled up in our spirits as we painted together on the page.

Flowers, painted by my granddaughter and me.


My craft table (which suddenly turns into a dining room table when we scrape off the thick layer of “studio” from every surface) is all blinged…
This bracelet was created from a Gilded Life kit back in February.

Valentine’s Bracelet, made from a kit from Gilded Life. I have the chain suspended from a cardboard platform so I can add the charms without it getting twisted.

You’re probably wondering why the subject is Scoliosis but the posts are all sparkled up. If I went to a website called “All Sparkled Up” I would expect the posts to be just that! But while all this blinging and sparkling is going on, I must confess I’ve got a serious back issue – Scoliosis that has progressed to the point of needing major surgery, not an easy undertaking for a 53 year old. The date is set for September 25th and I seriously can’t wait! But I am not my disease; Scoliosis is just something I have, not who I am. Sparkling is something I like to believe people can actually BE. And I like to think that nothing can stop sparkling, not even migraines or Fibromyalgia or Scoliosis.

I’ll be posting about my progress from time to time but only if the posts can be all sparkled up, through color or art, humor or joy, light and truth. I doubt the doctors can use rhinestone-studded bolts in my back but it’s a very nice thought indeed. Wink!

Sometimes we just need to be reminded to…

27 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by in beading, crafts, Gilded Girls, Inspirational, jewelry making, sparkling, words

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…shine.

Shine!

These beads are from a bracelet kit from Gilded Girls. I looked at the pile of beads and wires and felt there was more to it than just a bracelet. Maybe it was the wing that gave me pause.
Don’t forget to slow down and shine.