My Interview with Rhonda at ShadowJewels



Rhonda with Coob



When did you start Shadowjewels? How long have you been creating your own jewelry?  Was there a particular event that sparked it?



ShadowJewels is entirely the fault of the internet. About 12 years ago, I got a new computer. Once I got online, unfortunately I discovered cybershopping. I started collecting Victorian jewelry, but that was frustrating for me because the pieces I really wanted were too expensive. Then one day I bought a necklace with a broken clasp~ a bargain! And decided to learn how to fix it. When I found you could buy vintage beads and jewelry parts online, that was the end of my normal life.

 Zowie!

'This will be much cheaper', I thought. Sure! Now I have a whole room full of the stuff. It has not been cheaper than buying the Victorian jewelry, but it sure has been more fun.

What drew you to Etsy?

Finding Etsy was like coming home for me. I love handmade, of course....and when I saw how vintage was taking off, that was wonderful!

The community here is just so creative, and positive, and eco conscious.

I'd absolutely love it if you could tell everyone about Coob. (Your avi buddy)

Oh Cooby. He's a character. When my husband moved here from France, he brought Coob with him. At first we really didn't click, because he couldn't understand me! Coob didn't speak English. "Come here boy!", "Cooby get out of there!", and "Coob, dinner!" were all met with the same puzzled, blank stare. He must have thought I was stupid ("look at thees seely woman, she does not speak a zee francais"). He learned fast though, and it didn't take long for him to become part of the family.

Now if somebody is speaking French to him, it's because he's in trouble. LOL!

You are the Queen of the Treasuries (in my humble opinion)...How do you find inspiration for your wonderful collections?

For me, making a treasury is a similar process to making my jewelry. Sometimes I'm inspired by a special item, a color, a season, mood, song, story, or poem....lately I find I am drawn more and more to Emily Dickinson, that quintessential peculiar woman. I'm right there with you Emily, getting stranger by the day!

What season of the year do you find most peaceful?

Love them all, except summer. I melt.

You create gorgeous vintage-inspired jewelry...do you ever go 'treasure hunting' for other vintage things?

Yes but I'm more of an online shopper!

What are the top three songs on your Playlist right now?

Sixties! Blind Faith~ Can't Find my way Home, Jefferson Airplane~ Somebody to Love, and Jimi Hendrix~ Machine Gun.

 Animal, vegetable, mineral.

Giraffe, artichoke, quartz. Ametrine, tourmaline, garnet, aquamarine, kyanite, labradorite.... wait a minute, what was the question?

If you could spend a day with a picnic lunch, your favorite book, and a beautiful place--what would be in the lunch basket, what book would you bring, and where would you go?

A simple lunch, some brie and fruit; the Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss ( just started it); in Sequoia National Park. I love exploring the high Sierra, and sequoia forests are my most favorite places of all. Nothing else comes close to that feeling of sheer joy, peace, and contentment. My husband and I go out camping every chance we get. You can see his beautiful nature photography on my flickr page

www.flickr.com/photos/sierrashadow/

Any advice or encouragement for fellow artists or Etsyians?

Find what inspires you, hold on tight, and then follow your dreams. Remember to stay positive.

Instant Karma's gonna get you!

Thanks Rhonda!  For the positively wonderful interview!

A Little Bling! Vintage Inspired Jewelry Giveaway!!!!!!

******Congratulations to last week's winner, Jhitomi!!!*******

I love anything that is shiny.  My husband is the most patient man on earth, because whenever we are out I am always darting this way and then that in pursuit of things that sparkle.  I don't wear tons of jewelry...but I like having the option to!

When I was a little girl my Grandma kept an old train case in her guest bedroom for when we grand-girls visited. It was full of old jewelry that she didn't wear...pieces that had seen better days, or weren't her style...they were saved for our visits so we could play dress up.  I loved, loved, loved digging through what I thought for sure were diamonds and rubies and using those pieces to pull together an 'outfit'.  You have no idea how the right necklace can rock out a bathrobe until you have tried it. In retrospect I wish I had all those little baubles today because I am sure I was getting peanut butter and jelly all over some really wonderful vintage pieces.  If someone runs across a rare Weiss brooch that smells like a sandwich--it was probably part of my early collection of vintage :)!

I got reacquainted with vintage jewelry fairly recently, when a wonderful woman at an estate sale sold me five boxes for five dollars each.  On the ride home, I poured over all the shiny things in my little used grocery box and fell in love with vintage jewelry.  Especially rhinestones. 

That was last summer, and since then I have thrown myself into studying vintage jewelry.  Maker's marks, company styles, anything that will help me to identitfy jewelry from a bygone era.  I love it.

This week's giveaway from a featured seller is ShadowJewels on Etsy.  I am ecstatic!!  I promise I will not enter my own blog's giveaway, though I will admit to wanting to!!  Her jewelry is stunning.  It uses vintage elements and is vintage inspired.  what I really love is the thought and time taken with each piece.  ShadowJewels is art.  It is quality.  Her jewelry speaks of a time when delicate care was taken in each earring, every bracelet.  This is wonderful stuff, worthy even of Grandma's train case.

Here's how to win (winners are chosen via an online randomizer):

Comment on any post you like this week, each comment is an entry
Double entries for a comment on the featured seller post on Tuesday
Follow me on Twitter for an additional entry

Here's your prize:

A Pair of Amethyst Art Glass Earrings handcrafted by ShadowJewels

The Just White Bracelet from the ShadowJewels Collection

Happy Commenting!  You need this beautiful bling!!!

***********A Note to my followers...
I promised you a giveaway in addition to our weekly one, and have not forgotten!!  :)  To avoid confusion I will be publishing a post on Thursday with your prize in it...just know that I have written down each of your names, and you are entered.  I don't think you will be disappointed. :)  But go ahead, enter the one with Shadowjewels as well, I would!! :)

My Interview with Rachel @ CuriousCrowVintage



Meet Rachel



How did you discover Etsy?

I’ve known about Etsy for awhile and even had a shop a couple of years ago, but I never really did much with it. I can’t even remember what the name was. At this moment in my life, I have the luxury of being able to put all my attention to a self-employment endeavor, so I decided to start two Etsy stores. One for my art and one for my vintage finds.

You have multiple shops, where do you find the time? Lately, I’ve been working about 18 hours a day, seven days a week. A lot of my time is spent in front of the computer either researching or putting new things in my shops, and I’ve been known to spend half of a day taking photos of my shop stock. As soon as my shops are up and running a little more smoothly (read: making more money), I’ll relax a little and won’t be such a workaholic… I think.

Your art is so unique (really big fan of Oliver to Infinity plus 1), what inspires you?





http://www.etsy.com/listing/66315231/oliver-to-infinity-plus-1-mixed-media

  Tim Burton and Edward Gorey are two of my favorite artists. I’ve always been drawn to dark, yet still cute, art. I am definitely not a fan of blood and gore. Most of my art is based on someone I’ve known at some point in my life (more often than I’d like to admit, it’s myself). A lot of the time, I don’t even realize who it is I’m creating until I’m partially finished with the piece. My art evolves during the creation process and sometimes ends up being something entirely different from my initial vision.

Best vintage treasure you've ever found

Just this week I found three, first edition Tasha Tudor books, including her very rare first book, Pumpkin Moonshine. The best part is that I only paid seventy-five cents for the lot of them. When I looked up their value, I almost hyperventilated. They will most certainly be sold. I think my favorite find that I’ve kept is my 1940s wire dress maker’s dummy. I love it so much I even named it. Her name is Olivia and I dress her (usually just a hat and scarf) for seasons and holidays.

Ok, has to be asked for the Sci-fi geeks...you live in Eureka Springs. Do you watch the show, Eureka?

As much as my very geeky, sci-fi loving boyfriend wishes I were into the sci-fi thing, I’m not. I’m still a geek, just not a science fiction fan.

What times of day do you find yourself creating, collecting?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68579149/vintage-1967-spinnerin-knitting-pattern

When garage sale season starts (hopefully soon), I’ll be up early to get the best deals. Right now, I do my thrifting in the afternoon and most of my art is created in the evening. There’s something about that quiet, unrushed time of the day that makes creating much easier for me.

Animal, vegetable, mineral.

Vegetable. Preferably ripe tomatoes fresh from the garden.

Where did you come up with the name of Curious Crow?

I am absolutely fascinated by crows. I think a lot of people view them as pests, but they’re really much smarter than people realize. They’re the bad boys of the bird world. I knew I wanted “crow” to be in my name somewhere, and I also knew I wanted an alliterative name. I started going through a list of adjectives that started with the letter ‘c’ and when I got to curious, I knew it was perfect.



http://www.etsy.com/listing/68740376/vintage-1960s-peacock-brand-black-patent

 What books/magazines/etc are you reading right now? Who has time to read? I’ve typically been a voracious reader my entire life, but it seems like in the past year or so my reading has tapered off. I still read Martha Stewart Living and Country Living religiously. And when I have the time, I’ll flip through the latest Art Doll Quarterly. Actually, I did read an entire book the other day. All 48 pages of it, half of which are pictures. It was The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Even though it was published in 1992, I’ve only just now discovered it. It’s a retelling of fairy tales and I laughed until I cried. It’s definitely recommended reading.

Let's say you have a clear day, no responsibilities a full tank of gas--where do you go, what do you do? I would take out a map and mark off a 150 mile radius, close my eyes and pick a spot. Then I’d spend the day exploring all of the small towns in between here and there. Some of the coolest places and best places to eat I’ve ever experienced have been discovered this way.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/67677380/turquoise-house-abstract-painting


Any advice for other etsians or artists?

Don’t be afraid to be yourself. I think a lot of time as artists we want to produce what we think will sell instead of just producing what needs to come out of our heads and heart. Also, don’t be scared to support other artist and sellers on Etsy. Oftentimes, we think that if we shed light another artist or shop, it will detract from our own, but the opposite is true. The more we help others, the more we’re helped. One of my favorite sayings is by Erin Majors and is, “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”



http://www.etsy.com/listing/68163694/vibrant-vintage-ladys-pride-expandable




Thank you Rachel, for that interview and for sharing your talents and treasures with us!!  
Rachel and I are both members of the Vestie Team on Etsy.  Go Vesties!



Good luck to everyone in all your endeavors

        – no matter how big or how small.

               Be happy!





Giveaway! Vintage Paper Ephemera

Note:  This giveaway has ended.
Congratulations to Carla, winner of our Spring Trends 2011 Giveaway!

Read Below for this week's opportunity for free stuff!

My Mom has an addiction to material.  I never really understood it until recently, when I wandered down the scrapbooking aisles of a local craft store.  I do not scrapbook, I am not meticulous enough....but oh, the paper...the patterns, the color....

Suddenly it made sense that growing up there were baskets piled with bright colored fusions of art and cotton, drawers stuffed full of subtle print and satiny textures.  It must be in my genes to fall in love with patterned toile and gigham checks!

I have many sheets of pretty paper and what you in the know call 'paper ephemera' piling up in my workshop.  I have some use for them, but it has gone beyond buying to use.  I am full blown addicted to their look.  And the vintage stuff--the stuff you can't just run to WallyWorld and pick up, well that is like paper ephemera fine wine.  Meant to be used sparingly, not the easiest to find, costs a bit more to get the good stuff....

Which brings me to this week's giveaway! 

This week we will be featuring the shops of Rachel @ Curious Crow on Etsy.  She has graciously donated some AMAZING Vintage paper ephemera for this giveaway.  This is the good stuff!

Here's the Giveaway conditions:

1. You must comment to win.
2. If you sign up to follow the blog, it gives you one extra entry for that week.
3. If you comment on Tuesdays feature with Rachel from Curious Crow on Etsy, it will give you double entries.
4.  Numbers will be assigned to the comments and winners chosen at random, and announced on Monday, March 7, 2011.

Here's what we're giving away!

10 pages from a vintage 1946 Arithmetic Textbook 



10 vintage French Vocabulary Cards!







Imagine all the projects you could do with these...or you could stockpile them.  :)

Happy Commenting!

Give Away!

Make sure you stay tuned!!  I will be giving away several items from the Beteabon Shop's Secret Stash of Vintage and Hand Painted Goodies!!!!!  I will be doing an article on the items in the coming week...and you'll have a chance to enter via comment...so get ready to get free stuff!!!

Snow Cream.

There's something I think, that goes along with a 'vintage' way of life.  A desire to find purpose in the discarded, to reuse what was once loved...to see beauty in chips and rust and imperfections.

I would not call it frugality, though I believe in being frugal--and right now, have no choice but to be.

I think, perhaps, it's a longing for simplicity...

When I was a child, we used to make 'snow cream' an ice cream like concoction made from the fresh fallen white stuff.  Then came all the concerns about pollutants, and even acid in rain and snow.  Our snow cream days were over--even our childhood joy of catching flakes on our tongues was carefully monitored.  It was sad, and somehow felt like an era was past.

Today, I am writing this as big puffy snowflakes travel in an earthbound spiral past my window.  They add them selves to the plethora--and I mean plethora of snow already on the ground.  And I am thinking of snow cream.

I have Googled the safety of it, and found that the scientific snow eating experts say it's OK in moderation unless you live in a large city.

I live next to a corn field.

I have decided to embrace my inner child, do a little 'vintage' eating, and have some snow cream.

Snow Cream Recipe

Mix together 1/2 cup of whipping cream or cream of choice, 1 TBS sugar and 2-3 drops vanilla.  Slowly stir in 1-3 cups of clean snow, a little at a time, till it’s the right consistency.  You can adjust ingredients to suit your taste and experiment with flavors like cinnamon, butterscotch, lemon extract and eggnog.

A Little Something Shabby

Today is New Year's Day!!  Happy 2011!  My sincere hope is that this will be a year of strengthening for everyone. Strengthening our faith, our families, ourselves, our nation...

Last night I was hit by a sudden burst of energy and inspiration regarding a vintage suitcase I picked up months ago...to 'do something with'.

I know this idea has been done before, but I was really happy with the results...a huge shout out to The Graphics Fairy, who has one of the most wonderful sites on the internet for paper ephemera...check it out, click on her sponsors--support her!  She's doing a big favor to all of us that love beautiful vintage paper art.

Here's the results of my labors...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65068145/romantic-french-vintage-luggage-

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d1f90c457936d91d179da98/making-post-holiday-travel-plans

I am happy with it!

Get a Loupe!

This is my journey to Loupe-dom.  The tale of the over-complicated process of obtaining a simple jeweler's loupe for scrutinizing my vintage costume jewelry.  Really, it was way more difficult than it needed to be.  I am writing this in the hopes of helping other poor souls that just want to see their jewelry better.

I began with research, (which is probably what you are doing right now), and found lots on Amazon under the review section for each loupe.  The issue for me was...I know nothing about these things--and I am not someone who needed to study bacteria growth on the old Chinese food in my fridge.  Yup--lots of people use high powered loupes as a sort of portable microscope. Although that is extremely cool...and gross...but the kind of gross you Might want to see, if you haven't eaten yet for the day....there was very little written by people like me.  Folks that just want to see if it is indeed a rare piece of Danecraft.

So I went to those sites, wonderful sites, like Illusion Jewels and Morning Glory Jewels and there were in fact several helpful articles on purchasing a loupe.  However, these collectors take their jewels VERY seriously, and although I do to...I cowered beneath the weight of information and terminology.  I read admonition  upon admonition to be careful in your loupe purchase...that some loupes that say they are loupes are not really the best loupe or loupes at all.  I felt loupey.  All I really wanted to know is--what power level is good for seeing signatures on vintage costume jewelry.  Never having held a loupe or used one, it all seemed just out of the realm of my meager self to grasp.

Doom started to engulf me...buying a loupe was a bigger deal than I thought.  This was do right or die trying...

So I started to call around to local jewelers.  Logical right?!  If anybody knows jeweler's loupes--it's the jewelers.  Maybe I could get a closer look at one, and some sound proven advice--maybe I could even Buy one from a jeweler.  Things were looking up!  Over twenty-five jewelers later I discovered that most jewelers don't call it a loupe, they call it an eye...or a huh?

Let's just say if I ever am able to afford that diamond necklace, there are probably only three places in a fifty mile radius of my home in Ohio I would buy from.  It was scary how little the people I spoke with knew about something I would think was essential to their trade.  However, I did get propositioned when  I dialed a wrong number trying to reach a store, so you know...I guess my phone voice 'still has it'.  LOL.

In the end I bought my loupe and a 10X at Hobby Lobby in the Stamp Section.

Here's what I learned:
1.  Go with your gut as far as quality goes.  Mine was not in a leather case, but it has held up nicely.  (I get the joy of making a snazzy bag for it...think Disco Funky meets Vera Bradley in 1940.)

2.  30X is too much power.  Think 20X.  The jewelers I spoke with that really knew their stuff, and are well respected for making custom jewelry only use 20X for most applications.  --I bought a 16X and (apart from the whole cross eyed look for fifteen seconds after I use it)--it's perfect.

3.  Don't pay too much.  I ended up paying fifteen dollars for my 16X, and ten dollars for my 10X.  Those prices are higher than what you might pay on Amazon for comparable or a little better.  I paid more because I knew less, and needed to see it to understand it better.  If you order them from a jeweler...they seem to be more pricey.  Again, you are not buying a house or a dog.  Your investment and commitment as you learn is not so great that you can't just get a different one once you learn exactly what you need.

4.  Don't get frustrated when you start to use your new loupe.  After what I had read, I thought--Oh My Goodness--All my vintage jewelry is signed...I just can't see it.  Nope.  Some has been signed, though...and I am looking forward to finding more.

5.  LIGHT.  You will need lots of it and a neutral background behind your jewelry.  I took my first look in a moving vehicle with a heavily patterned coat under my jewelry.  Don't do it.

Have fun on your journey and realize that there are not as many rules as their seem to be.  Do research, and be willing to change your loupe as your needs change...I highly recommend a 16X.  But really...after reading all of this...I am not sure I would trust me either.
Happy Hunting!!!