couple of cukes and a couple

well this just tickled me to no end when i placed the cucumber salt and pepper shakers next to this pretty pair on the mantle for my photo shoot of vintage pieces recently listed in my etsy shop. i have to find ways to amuse myself-- juxtaposing unlikely objects is one of my favorite ways to give myself a chuckle...

both the cukes and the cute couple ( planter) can be found in my vintage shop 5gardenias.etsy.com

summer vintage

here are a few new summer vintage items from 5gardenias my etsy vintage shop. lots of sea and sun inspired collectibles-- i'm always in love with summer finds-- they have a touch of salty ocean air, farm stands, warm summer breezes, flip flops, sleeveless tops, melting ice cubes, and books marked with corners folded in...

thanks to ngan of eNVe Designs

ngan of envejewelry.etsy.com recently posted an interview and photos of my handmade jewelry on her blog enVe Designs. ngan often posts an indepth interview-- or features other artists on her site, along with giveaways, and contests to raise money for charitable organizations. i don't now how ngan manages to summon her energy and keep up with interviews and blog posts considering she just had a beautiful baby daughter only weeks ago and already has a little tyke to care for--but she did-- so i salute her and i thank her!!

in addition to that ngan has her own etsy shop filled with lovely, feminine pearl and gemstone jewelry--some perfect for weddings and formal wear--currently she is running a sale in her shop, making room for new pieces-- a great time to go and poke around!

so-- XO ngan-- and many congrats to you and your lovely family!!

Mod3rnArt Jewelry

another of the things that i am late in getting to. i have been intending to post a bit about Mod3rnArt's extensive jewelry site. well finally!!!

in addition to having a wonderful all in one site that feature's their own nature inspired jewelry with a clean modern edge-- always with a lovely organic feel-- Mod3rn site also has links to their blog , where they often feature other talented artists-- and their etsy shop Mod3rnArt.etsy.com

in addition to all the above, Mod3rnArt has been working on an ongoing project of collecting studio shots of etsy artist's work spaces. here is a small sampling above. i love getting a peek of people's personal spaces. it's always fascinating to see how and where artists spend their days and nights ( in many cases) and to see what they surround themselves with, what solutions they come up with for storage, light, space. the kinds of tools and equipment they use..all of it a wonderful glimpse into a very real and thriving world of artists working everyday at what they love!

so thank you Mod3rnArt --for taking the time to compile such an interesting list--!

Simply Hue

i was pleasantly surprised to find out that my jewelry is featured on a beautiful blog, Simply Hue today. vicki dvorak, the creator of the blog has a wonderful eye for color, photography, art, fashion, design, well...everything... and now i have another blog on my list of favorites to visit for my eye candy fix!!

thank you so much vicki- you made my day!!!

here is a wonderful vintage straw hat--the kind my aunt glo used to wear when gardening, in her floral swimsuit and big sungalsses

thanks aunt glo for always being a source of style and inspiration-- and a wonderful gardener to boot!
you can find this hat in my vintage shop 5gardenias.etsy.com

etsy FP

it's been a good while since i made FP with one of my treasuries. this one went up tonight--i've been in such a mood for vintage, so it was good to see this make it. hope everyone gets some good love!! , and now time to take a night time nap...

YART SALE

i love sales--- and etsy esst team is sponsoring an etsy wide YART SALE from june 10 to june 14. i decided to join in and offer some great reductions on many of my vintage items in my vintage shop 5gardenias, and hopefully send some of those babies packing to some fresh owners, new shelves, and fine lapels...
here are a few of the items that are reduced, and up for grabs

from BROOKLYN rehab

i love BROOKLYNrehab one of my favorite etsy shops to poke around in when i have time....and to purchase things from when i really just can't take it anymore! alyssa has a fantastic eye for a mix of vintage -- the industrial, the quirky, and the folksy--- the kind of vintage that smacks of bygone eras, a sense of history and originality. in addition, when you visit alyssa's shop you will find vintage inspired hand crafted designs-- cast porcelain gnomes, & petite squirrels, drenched in a pure white milky glaze--or a cast porcelain branch for your wall ( these may not be available anymore...sorry). or one of her completely charming necklaces-- my favorites are her wooden key, or porcelain bow necklaces. each item she sells is completely charming and fascinating!!

i was so excited to open my package from her --- even my husband loves my kitschy, yet unearthly gnome, and sweet squirrels--and my beautiful pristine branch, complete with wood grain details--- now i just need a special shelf for them, because they must be featured!! thank you alyssa-- i love them--so very much!!!

OK--- HERE WE GO

i must confess i am nervous first and foremost, then thrilled and honored (!!!!!) to have been selected as a featured seller for etsy's front page starting today at 1:00 p.m. est time-- and up for the next three days.

for those of you who don't know about etsy-- well!--- it's an amazing global marketplace comprised of small shops filled with hand made goods. each shop is a gem unto itself and reflects the personality and passion of the individual who makes the items. you can find everything possible under the sun on etsy--- clothing, accessories, jewelry, bath and body, vintage, sculpture, ceramics, furniture, lighting, home decor, paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, craft supplies, children's toys and clothing, pet supplies, ---really everything you can imagine--i'm sure i've left out many things... the most amazing thing is that no matter the level of experience--from sophisticated to naive-- the work is made with heart. people on etsy love what they are doing-- and you can feel it as you weave your way in and around the shops-- it's a wonderfully positive experience!!

so take some time to go and explore etsy---you will thank me. here is the link--- etsy.com --- you will never run out of ideas for gifts or ways to entertain yourself when you have free time to explore the shops. i may sound a bit like an etsy stepford wife, but i really do love this fascinating world!!

not only does etsy help to provide everyone with the opportunity to grow a small business---it also provides a meeting ground for a global community of amazing scope. it is my favorite thing about etsy--the people!!! i have met some of the most lovely, wonderfully talented, hard working, diverse, fun, supportive, marvelous, energetic, inspiring people from all around the globe-- i cherish the friends that i've made--!

SO I THANK YOU ETSY--- AND ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL ETSY ADMIN--- AND ALL OF YOU ETSY SELLERS--- AND ALL OF YOU ETSY FRIENDS !!! XOXOXOXOXO!!!

stem flower earrings with pearl

some additional new designs that i'm posting in my etsy shop over the course of the next few days. these earrings are hand pierced flower forms--some with fused gold leaf ( keum boo). all have warm white fresh water pearls centered in each. the flowers sit on the earlobe and the stems or elongated posts travel through and out the back to gently arc around under the ear-- a sort of reverse half hoop. another lotus flower pendant here-- no enamel in this one-- just light and airy on a silk hand dyed cord with hand made toggle clasp -- modern and feminine-- all of these pieces will be offered in a variety of sizes, shapes and finishes.

three ovals w/ chrysoprase

another new piece made of three hollow form ovals with beaded vertical lines, and chrysoprase beads on blackened chain for contrast
--chrysoprase is a beautiful semi translucent and often opalescent apple green stone in the quartz family--- it's green is derived from it nickel content-- often mistaken for imperial jade --it was used by the greeks, romans an egyptians for ornamentation... lovely stone..

i will be listing my new pieces toward the end of may-- can't wait to get my etsy shop stocked back up!

along the silk road

everytime i visit boudoir queen's shop at boudoirqueen.etsy.com i get inspired by her sensual, 20s nostalgia, and fabulously exotic, feminine designs. i think of mata hari, spices, beds and baths sprinkled with rose petals, sand dunes and camels, huka pipes, and opium dens, the fragrances of patchouli, sandlewood, & ylang ylang--fresh figs-- pistachios, cashews, and olives-- loose bins of black and green tea leaves in the market places, rickshaws, and rooms lit in lantern light.... i'm visiting many wonderful places all at once in my head!
so... i put this treasury together today in honor of the 1920s and of travel to exotic places, boudoirs, harems, deserts, dens, temples, and markets--- and all that is feminine and sensual....

dark flower disk necklace

i've been working to add some new designs for my etsy jewelry shop and local shops where i sell my work. always fun to be able to add new work to the mix! this is a hollow form piece that's been pierced and cut. a fresh water pearl glows in the center. the necklace hangs about 19" on simple blackened chain. more flower designs to come--earrings and pendants, hopefully some new rings too... we'll see!
the new pieces will be listed in may!

the dude that made the lego dudes

henry comes to talk to me when i'm taking photos-- he liked the little paper parasols i was taking pictures of. he starting spinning them and talking-- i thought he couldn't have looked more charming...