Monday's thought of the week

«Be brave» printed shadow box by SadlyHarmless

Be brave.

...in facing the week ahead

...in embracing new ideas

...in trying new things.

Happy Monday!

Favorites of the day: Mes coups de coeur du jour

I recently purchased a pair of vintage opera glasses from a lovely ETSY shop called High Street Market. They were just the perfect size to fit inside a small handbag or clutch. Once in a while, I would treat myself to a performance at the Seattle Symphony or the Seattle Opera.

Inspired by my vintage find, here are a few more treasures for those times when one wants to feel elegant and refined. I chose each piece for its distinctive design, color, and detail. Click on image for more info.

Avril à Paris

It was 5 years ago this month that I first came to Paris. Also, it was a year ago that I decided to open my ETSY shop. Time flew by quickly!

I still remember exactly what day it was when I first set foot in Paris. It was April 16th, Easter Sunday and I just crossed the Chunnel (English Channel Tunnel) from London on the Eurostar. I got off at the Gare du Nord where I got to practice my French for the first time by asking directions to the Metro. It's quite nice when the native French speaker I just spoke to replies in French though it can be also intimidating when it's rapid French. To my  surprise, I actually understood the directions he gave me (lucky me...). I found the guichet (ticket counter) where I bought a carnet (booklet) of 10 Metro tickets and the rest was history. 

Below is a short film/slideshow I made for an evening French class I attended a few years ago after my first Paris trip. Music credit: Tomasz Stanko Quartet.

There is that je ne sais quoi about Paris that made me feel right at home. Though I spoke halting French at the time, I felt that I understood the French and they could understand me somehow. Since then, I have visited Paris and France almost every year whenever I could (and I had a little money saved) and every time, it get's harder to say goodbye. I was never the same since then.

Hopefully, I would be able to visit Paris again later this year. For now, I am quite happy that I am reminded of Paris in the Springtime by these treasures from my favorite ETSY sellers. For more info, click on each photo.

 =(^.^)=

Heart for Glass

A few years ago, before moving to Seattle, I lived in Tacoma. Known as the Jewel of South Puget Sound, it is also home to the Museum of Glass, opened in 2002. 

Museum of Glass with Tacoma Dome and SR509 Suspension Bridge

As one can see from the following photographs I've recently taken, there is much to see outside the museum itself. The Seaform Pavillon and the Venetian Glass Wall showcases Chihuly's work. The distinct cone structure that gives the place its nickname houses the Hot Shop Ampitheater where live glass blowing takes place.

The "Cone" as seen from Dale Chihuly's "Bridge of Glass"

Crystal Towers

Chihuly's Bridge of Glass

 

Seaform Pavillon

Venetian Glass Wall

Historic Downtown Tacoma seen from the museum

ETSY.com has a number of very talented glass artists. For those who "heart" glass, here are some wonderful creations that caught my (non-glass) eye:

Heart in a Jar Necklace by KivaFord

Miniature Chemistry Set by KivaFord

Heart of Glass Valentine Paperweight by KitPaulson

Earrings by Kristin Perkins

Glass Leaf Necklace by Kristin Perkins

Glass Orca Whale by Totally Unique Glass

=(^.^)=

In stitches

 the age where technology is able to do almost everything, it is a huge comfort (for me, anyway) to know that the art of hand embroidery has not been lost. As a child, I remember looking at my grandmother's embroidery as well as learning different stitches in school. Being able to sew by hand came in handy when buttons came loose or clothes needed to be mended.

ETSY is a happy place for me and here, I found several wonderful artists who keep the art of stitches alive and well.

Through her embroidered portraits, dioramas, and jewelry, Cindy Steiler takes hand embroidery to the next level and with a modern twist. Her ETSY shop, MarysGranddaughter, was named in honor of her grandmother who taught her sewing and crochet. I love how she incorporates vintage materials and antique doll parts in creating such imaginative pieces.

girl and her goat - embroidered diorama

bathing beauty

embroidered brooch- greta is not amused

head in the clouds

Johanna Wood of Metal, Cloth & Wood incorporates embroidery in her wonderful sterling silver jewelry. Her pieces are worth collecting, wearing, and showing off. 

Embroidered Bluebird Brooch

Embroidered Apple Pendant

Embroidered Heart Ring

Embroidered Teapot Bracelet

WaterRose's meticulously embroidered wrist cuffs, home décor, and jewelry are sure to invite many compliments aside from ooooohs and aaaaahs. I personally admire her embroidered Queen Anne's Lace.

Queen Annes Lace Wrist Cuff

Starry Night Brooch

Crow and Key Steampunk Brooch

For the science geek in all of us (myself included), Malarie Burgess' aptly named ItsAStitch shop offers handstitched molecules --taking embroidery to the "molecular level" . I especially like her rendition of Oxytocin <3 <3 <3

Love Molecule - Embroidered Wall Art

Caffeine Fix - Embroidered Wall Art

Happy Molecule - Embroidered Wall Art

I hope you enjoyed these embroidered creations. Until next time, thanks for reading. =(^.^)=

From rags to handmade riches

Alchemy

al·che·my [ álkəmee ]

noun

Definition (Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009)

1. predecessor of chemistry: an early, unscientific form of chemistry that sought to change base metals into gold and discover a life-prolonging elixir, a universal cure for disease, and a universal solvent alkahest

2. transforming or enchanting power: a power supposedly like alchemy, especially of enchantment or transformation

[14th century. Via Old French alquemie and medieval Latin alchimia< Arabic al-kīmiyā "the chemistry" < Greek khēmeia]

*** This series focuses on artists/crafters and their handmade creations from recycled materials. «Reuse, reduce, recycle» is one of my mantras, especially in this day and age when we truly need to mind our impact on the earth. One man's trash is another man's treasure, that is, in raw material.  I recall the time when I fashioned a shoulder bag out of a striped twill miniskirt. It became a hit among my friends because they have not seen anything like it. Seattle's very own Wooly Bison has a line  of handcrafted bags and accessories made from recycled wool jackets, trousers, even skirts. I personally coveted one gorgeous satchel made out of recycled military wool. Whoever buys it will be one lucky customer. Recycled Military Wool Satchel Recycled Eyeglass Case   When I was very young, I went through a phase of making my own dolls out of flour sacks and whatever bits of cloth I could find around the house. Fast forward to present day--I may be all grown up but I still have a soft spot for plushies. Marjji uses mostly recycled wool and tweed for her wonderful plushies for grown-ups. What once  was a herringbone garment is now a plush creature. Pocket Mouse - Wheat Dover Cat What can you do with old sweaters besides giving them to charity? Wooly Baby uses them to create wonderful wool slippers for children. The upcycled sweater material is felted for luxurious warmth then finished with recycled leather for the heels, toes, and non-skid toes.      Lambswool Slippers,  Peony Lambswool Slippers, Rhythm in my Hands Knot Original certainly took to heart the idea of recycling in crafting such an innovative piece. The «Urban Cowgirl Cowl» was created using handspun yarn from old denim jeans. Recycled materials are also frequently incorporated  in her other pieces. Truly unexpected, uncommon, and unconventional.  The Urban Cowl Girl . recycled denim cowl Thermal Warming . recycled unisex scarf That's it for now. I am off to search for other Artistic Alchemists out there. Until next time, thanks for reading. =(^.^)=