Hoosier Baker's Cabinet, finally!!!

 
 Never say never...

I am going take a moment to delve into my personal life...not that it is exciting or anything, but, I have to share my latest acquisition. 

I'm sure that we all have wanted something that wasn't an item that we had to have, but, you still thought it would be absolutely wonderful if you had it?  And you search and search and it has to be affordable, because after all, you don't really need it!  After many years (6 or 7 at least, I lost count), I found it!  It is a Hoosier Bakers Cabinet.  It didn't have to be a Hoosier brand, but a Baker's Cabinet of any sort would have been fine.  It is so prefect in my eyes!  It is all original in its finish, has the flour bin in tact and the sifter, has the 'Daily Reminder' on the inside of the top door, and I am not sure if the one metal object is a match safe (it seems too large to be that) or possibly a container for baking soda or powder.  The original cutting board pulls out and if it could talk, what tales it would tell.  There wear on it is so deep, that is is a wonder that there is not a hole through it!  And it's on both sides!  There are two doors that are supposed to go where the open space is at the top. 

I have the doors-one is absolutely perfect...but the glass in the other is broken.  It is a beautiful pattern that is Gothic arches in a clear motif with a frosted background.  The glass itself is a 'glue chip' pattern-it looks like a window that Jack Frost had touched...you know what I am talking about, the frilly, fern looking swirls of beauty.  I will be on the lookout for something similar and replace both pieces so they match.  But, definitely save the old pieces!  The best part is, at least in my opinion, not my husbands, is that it matches our table---the mechanism that opens and closes the top to add the leaves is dated 1906.  The Hoosier is dated 1906.

 

 

I think it was meant to be...see you soon~

 

Until then,

Cheryl

 

New Adventure; Nice People

 Yesterday, my friend Judi and I went on a mini adventure.  About an hour and half from our homes is a shop called B'Sue Boutique.  I have not purchased anything from here prior to this, but have been following her blog and checking her website on a regular basis. 
I placed my first order with her company and asked her if we could come and pick it up in person.  I soon found out that they are usually closed on Mondays.  But this kind lady and her son let us come to her store!  It was a lovely drive and a bit cold (OK, it was very cold with snow squalls every few miles) but it was well worth the trip!

What an adorable store!  She has some of the most amazing creations in artfully combined assemblage of mixed metals...that just to walk into the shop you cannot help but to be inspired and in awe!!  From talking to Brenda Sue (B'Sue), she has been in business for many years.  And she still loves what she does-it is so obvious!  Her son has been involved since a very young age.  If by chance you have time and are in the area of East Palestine, Ohio, it is well worth your time to stop by and say HI!  They make you feel

very comfortable and are very hospitable.  I think we were there for 2 1/2 hours!  Part of that time was talking, of course.  The following pictures are just a small sampling of my wonderful purchase.  I cannot wait to get a bit more organized to start creating something beautiful with these pieces. 
I told B'Sue that I would post pics as soon as that happens, so keep a look out for that.A lot of the pieces I chose have a 'nature' feel to them.  But I also love the tokens!  I can't wait to see what I can do with dichroic cabs and some of the filigree pieces. 

Well, try to keep warm...it is only 7 degrees here right now. 

Until then,
Cheryl

Button, Button...who has a button?

Have you ever looked at something and thought "I can do something with those".  You know, sometimes that can get you into trouble.  Not this time.  My Uncle Herm has a yard sale every year, come rain or shine.  He retired many years ago, and has for many years now helped a local auctioneer with set-ups.  So his yard sales can contain many eclectic objects.  A good part of the button collection that is pictured here came from his yard sale.  The remainder came from a clean out that he had to do from his mothers' home.  When I first saw them, they were like little jewels sparkling in the sunshine!  Of course, I had to have them!  There are probably 1 1/2 times more that I did not photograph.  Many of them are made of shell, some glass, some bone, and I am pretty sure there are some Bakelite.  I tried to separate them by what they were made of, but that was very time consuming.  So, I went by color.  Hopefully in the near future, there will be some semi-fabulous creation made from buttons!

 

 

Have a great afternoon-I will try to be here tomorrow~

Until then-

Cheryl

Buttons...

Buttons...



I have some Buttons!

 

An old wax sealer with more Buttons! 
And for those that think I lost my marbles,
they are right here in my jar!

Impressed?



Good day to all.  I haven't felt 100% today.  I don't know what's up with that.  So far, just crackers and applesauce.  I think that when I am done here, I will go lay down.  I have not been sleeping well lately and I'm sure that has a lot to do with the way I am feeling.

 

I was playing with different gauges of copper sheet and shapes with the Vintaj Big Kick.  I have found that if you anneal the thicker copper sheet  or shape before you run it through, you have more success.  I tried some of the patinas on a few of the pieces.  It will take a little practice to get the look that you desire.  Once I decide what to make with these, they will be cleaned up and polished real pretty! 

 

The bottom two pics are leaves from last fall that I have electroplated.  I can see where this will be a really, really neat thing to master, but as of right now, I am definitely not there.  I was pleasantly surprised on the thickness of the copper that got deposited on the leaves.  I am not sure why I chose these leaves, because they are too big to do anything with!  I'm sure that there is an artisan out there that could do something magnificent with them.  She doesn't reside here!

 

*Just looked at my pics-sorry bout the white fuzzies on the black velvet background.  I still have a lot to learn!  Everyday...!!!

 

 

 

 

No Rock Candy...but Eye Candy!



 

Good Afternoon to all.  So, today I got out for the first time in over a week.  No, not the flu, but some blood work and I had to get my car washed.  Black and road salt 'white' just doesn't mix! 

 

Below is a mix of some of the lampwork beads that I have made.  I had these grand plans of making all of this fabulous jewelry with all these fabulous beads...HA!  I am such a perfectionist.  Or anal.  Or have a lack of superbness.  (Is that even a word?)  Well, I seem to find something wrong with most of them-you know, they may be a bit wonky or the color just wasn't what I expected.  Maybe if I tried to encase a bead in clear, (as I am looking at the picture), there are a million tiny bubbles encasing it instead.  The second picture actually are beads, too.  They somehow broke in two pieces, so, I put them in the kiln and made them into cabs!  They turned out to be unexpected surprises!  I kind of like them, at least.   The long bi-conish tube looking beads are fun to make, but alas, once again, I lack the wisdom to create something more than a necklace...with a bead.  That's it.  Just a bead...sigh.

 

Have a great evening.  I will see y'all tomorrow!

 

Until then,

Cheryl

a few older pieces-



Good day to everyone.  I thought I would work on how to post some pics.  These pieces are older pieces that I have made.  My muse had taken a vacation for a while and left me alone.  When inspiration did finally take hold, I went and tripped over my own foot and broke my femur.  Things are starting to heal real nice, so new creations will be on their way.  Have a great day...

 

Until then,

Cheryl

 The warmth of sunstone with oxidized copper chain and findings...fun to jingle-jangle.

 Interchangeable pendant with my lampwork beads.  Fun to wear and great with jeans.

 Leather wrapped bracelet with jasper (I think).  It has a sterling button as a clasp.

I love tourmaline.  I love any kind of tourmaline.  Expensive or inexpensive, did I tell you that

I love it all?  This makes a statement-straight down the front, warm copper chain with those

wonderful, multiple colors of tourmaline. 

Trying...Again.

If at first you do not succeed, try, try, again.  Or something close to that.  So, this is the forth or fifth time I have tryed to start a blog.  Somedays I feel that I have a lot to say and then I go completely blank.  I'm sure there will be days that something new will be introduced and others will be a bust. 

I have been making jewelry for many years now.  It basically started by me taking stained glass classes.  And then to glass fusing.  And then to lampworking.  And then to stringing and making something with all the beads I was making.  And then setting fused glass cabs into silver, so a little bit of silversmithing jumped into the mix.  I have worked with many different metals and have found that I love the warmth and look of copper.  so, my journey is going to continue, with you following along, if you choose.

 

I hope that I can help to make your day complete, as I have told my boys as they were growing up...learn something new every day...otherwise your day is never complete!

Until then...
Cheryl