Junk 2 Jewels Boutique

Rhinestone "Bliss" Necklace

Another new design in the Etsy  Shop!

My Mothers Day Weekend away

Coming from a home where "Dad" was not there...... I cant ask for a better gift than this! Trusting yours was just as special.

New Designs

Two new pieces  waited patiently all day long yesterday to be photographed. As usual I tried to  cramming just one more chore in before dragging everything outdoors to shoot the pics. It was a race against time. The sun was quickly  setting. Nothing I seemed to be doing was pleasing to the eye or cooperating for me! Bad lighting and not the most pleasing of photographs, but Ahhh.....the necklace  gorgeous! Its one of those that when you put it on, it really does not matter what you're wearing ...You look Stunning!  You can view the entire piece  here.

These last two   images are just a tease of a piece that will be for sale in the Etsy store later today. There was just no salvaging these photos, so they must be re-shot.  That'll teach me to procrastinate! lol 

Project decorate / Country Glam lampshade

Well here  it is......the finished lampshade ( it might need one more touch, I'm asking for your opinion at the end of the post), so as promised, this is how I did it.

Cut fabrics in carefully calculated strips. My lampshade was different circumferences at the top and bottom  making it a real challenge for me. Thanks  to hubby  and a calculator I  could move on  to the next step. ( thanks dear)! 

I ironed in the raw edges on both sides and gave the fabric and the lampshade a quick spray  with quilt basting spray. The reason I use this spray  first is that it is repositionable. I could apply the fabric and  reposition it as needed. When I got them in the perfect position I used spray adhesive, securing the fabric having the top and bottom edges of fabric  expending beyond the shade.

I hot glued the edges of the fabric to the inside of  the shade and glued  black velvet ribbon to cover the raw edge.

Far  be it from me to leave well enough alone... I added a lace trim on top of that. After all  it will show if you are sitting at the desk and I think it is a pretty surprise, don't you? O.K. so here is where I need your opinion. I have a whole spool of this lace trim and I thought I might trim out the outside too! I placed a few scraps on the outside just to see what it  would  look like.

Whatcha think?  with or without? Please leave a comment and help me out. Now that these are done it's on to a new "Project Decorate"  project!

The Final Cut / Project Decorate

It was a tough choice, I considered so many nice fabrics for this project.  I finally made my decision and these are the ones that made the final cut. I really love the way they all work together. (they work for me anyway), some of them having a more vintage textile feel to them while others are so vivid and contemporary. Perfect for the  "Look" of the new office. The fabric on the far left ( blue and green) and the black and white damask print I found here. The hot pink and bright teal and green are  designs of this cool chick, and last but not least... the pink floral with the yellow and orange center is a favorite pick from this fabric goddess.   These girls would never steer me wrong! lol The plan is to cover the contemporary lamp shades in wide strips of each of these fabrics. Its very hard to see, but if you go back to the original post you can just barely see the lampshade on the night table. LOVE IT !!! Tutorial to come in the next Project Decorate Post!

Hitting the bottle Again!

The demand for these little beauties is overwhelming. In a good way of course!  So here are five more  that will up for grabs  in the shop today. Next up is some long overdue  jewelry pieces! Come back soon!

Lost Boy

Over the years I've heard bits and pieces of my pastors youth as he has shared when applicable to the  message he is given on  any given Sunday. Tonight was  the night he was recalling  his childhood and giving his personal testimony. POWERFUL is the only way to  describe it. Its a story I don't think I'll soon if ever forget (for many reasons). His story is being written in book form, and the making of a movie is wrapping up as well. I don't  think the book  has been released yet, but keep your eyes open for it. Pastor Greg just started his own personal blog Go  there and check out the trailer for his movie. I'm very blessed to be taught every Sunday from such a gifted evangelist.

Project decorate

                             ( images not my  own)

After visiting Country Living on line, I discovered  the incredible artist that is responsible for these  designs. I LOVE the bright colors and the  vintage yet modern feel. Her name is Sandy Stone. Apparently I'm having a real color crisis! I'm  craving bright bold colors and lots of them! lol. I found inspiration just in time for my office re-do. Ordinarily I  would have waited until  it was all finished and show you the finished  results. But, I  thought it  would be fun to have you along for the entire project. So...........now that you've seen my inspiration, I'll share the first purchases and plans for them.

These are some of the fabrics that I'll be using. Greens, teals, black and white damask, orange and pink. There are still a few fabrics I plan on ordering before making my final choices. These are a good start though.

I Love these modern lamps I picked up  here.  My plans are to use the fabrics in the previous picture, and cover them in  strips of the different  varieties of patterns. As you can see  I'm starting from scratch here. Next up is the piece I bought last week at the barn sale.....

Its a ......., a..............., it's a chippy, peely, canopy thingy! yeah, a canopy thingy. Really I have no idea what to call it but I loved it and had to have it. I'll  make it work! Hubby built me some new shelves for much needed storage. The shelves are really what initiated the whole re-design project. I have just sort of thrown thing s on the shelves and need to shop for the perfect storage containers. Thats the fun part of getting organized. The  white metal folding table was another barn sale purchase, as was the teal cupboard door.

I thought it would be fun to have you all along on this design project. I welcome  any ideas or suggestions  So please bring them on! lol  I will be doing tutorials on each project like the lampshades so stay  tuned!

Easy and Breezy

Every Spring I get the bug to whip up a  few fresh new pieces for the warmer weather.  In the Summer months I LIVE in skirts. They are so easy to wear and  are so much cooler than  most anything else you can put on. I've always loved Amy Butler Patterns and have my eye on both of these cute designs. Ever since I saw this skirt designed by my VERY talented friend Denise, I have been in search of some hip vintage patterns and fun fabrics. I searched ebay and found these 2 patterns.....

and my Mother-in-law gave me a 70's wrap skirt that is going to be perfect!!! Here are a few collections of fabric that I think will be fantastic for these designs.

  These fabrics are from Amy Butler. While I was clicking around looking for inspiration I stumbled upon this very  cool site. Inspiration is everywhere, I just really enjoy finding  fresh new inspiration in the past!

2 Junk In

Friday as I mentioned, I dropped the kids off at school and headed out to Temecula to Linda's for the barn sale. Im redecorating my office space and was in need for some unique pieces. I was'nt dissapointed! Im always surprised that each and every month I make the trek out there it is entirely different than the time before. Creative girls indeed. I ran into Joy of "The Vintage Rabbit" and chatted with her a while. Met Jane, who Im dying to know better. She is just one of those gals who you know is just a very down to earth, no nonsense old soul! ( love that).

After shopping and visiting, I loaded up the car. My old  Suburban.   She is 16 yrs old and  dos'nt look a day over 10.

A few years back I had the idea that I had to have a new car. Though the burb was in prestine condition, no dents or major  scratches, no rips in the upholstry, air works great, sterio still  keeps me rockin to Sheryl Crow and The Dixie Chicks ( very important )!...and plenty of room for larger  flea market finds.  Its been almost 3 yrs now that I have been driving my new car, and its out with the new and back in with the old! There is not  near the room in the new car, I dont feel as safe, the kids can not both invite friends to tag along, and most importantly larger pieces of JUNK just wont fit in the back. It has to go!  I've washed and waxed her, and even gave her new plates.......What do you ya think? Somehow she just feels like  my favorite pair of jeans, comfy and familiar. She is just way more ME