Heirloom Treasures and Vintage Textiles

My most recent project, is this old piece of a beautiful doily, that I encased in 3x2 inch glass, soldered with lead-free solder, added a vintage heart charm, and sweet chain for hanging from a peg, knob, armoire, and more.  A great way to use your most treasured old tattered pieces from your Grandmother, Mother, or your own private vintage collection.  The overall length including chain, and heart charm is 7.5 inches long.  Why give a card this Valentine's Day, when you can give an heirloom.   I have listed this piece in my Etsy Store http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/.

Vintage Feedsack Soldered Charm Bracelet

Good Afternoon!  It's Thursday, and I managed to squeeze in some time finishing up this soldered bracelet, consisting of charms that were created using vintage feedsack Aunt Grace reproduction quilting fabric.  A couple of days ago, I posted the beginning of this project.  My glass charms were copper taped and ready to solder and add my links.  Today, I managed to get all of them soldered.  Each time I solder a new piece, I begin to understand a little bit better,  how the solder flows, and my charms are beginning to be much more smooth than when I first started learning how to make them.

I kept my first attempt at making these charms, and I can tell you looking back at it, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.  It took purchasing 3 different soldering irons before I found the right one that works for me, and with the help of several books, a great website I feel much more comfortable with my creations, and offering them for sale.  This particular bracelet has been listed in my Etsy Store.

http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/

A helpful site for anyone wanting to get into making these is

http://www.simplyswank.net/

You can do a Google search also for soldered glass charms.  It is very inspirational to see other artists' works, and the amazing collages in such tiny detail. 

On a more personal note, my husband got back from Kentucky early, due to the bad weather. It has been so cold, frozen water pipe to our washing machine.  I'm already wishing for Spring to hurry and arrive.

 

Vintage Feedsacks & Soldered Jewelry

Good Morning!  It is Tuesday, and I managed to work on a project that I've been thinking about for awhile.  I love vintage feedsacks, and my stash now consists of about 100 different old sacks, from 1930 to 1950, and each design is so unique.  I do sell them occasionally, especially the novelty ones that are more rare to find, as they bring a higher price.  I actually have one listed right now in my Ebay Store, pumpkinmoonstudio.  It is a wonderful old cowboy rodeo print.  Quite unusual, so decided to part with it, to help fund my other art and jewelry ideas like this one. 

I have taken vintage feedsack reproduction fabric for this particular bracelet.  Yes, reproduction for this, and my favorite fabric line for this is the Aunt Grace quilting fabrics.  Each charm link in this bracelet has a different piece of fabric.  The front and back of each soldered charm link is the same.  I cut two pieces of fabric and managed to line them up so that each side is the same in color, fabric, and design.  This project is just in the beginning stages.  I have cut the fabrics, sandwiched in the glass, and secured the copper tape.  The charm sizes are 3/4" square, and 1 x 3/4" as you can see.  I have soldered 1 charm and added my jump rings so as to give you an idea of how these will look.  You can click on the photograph above, and it will give you a close up look at the bracelet charms.

As the project progresses, I'll add sterling silver beads in between the charm links and finishing off with a beautiful silver clasp.  The Spring colors will be enough of a show, that I don't think that I will add beads that are colored.  If adding any beads, probably clear swarovski crystals to accent the sterling beads.  I'll have to play with it for awhile until I achieve the look I'm trying to go for.  I will post the end result later this week.  Right now, it is back to the real world and work!