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Realizing What Really Is Important

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Sometimes it takes a catastrophe to make us realize what really is important.                    Letting my everyday frustrations pile  and allowing my tendency to jump into projects that are at the far edge of my skillset caused some angst.   I made an overlay ring that went fairly well other than getting the silver too hot so the ring band is no longer symmetrical.  The good news is that it fits and if I don't let anyone see it closely it won't show and I like the texture caused by too much heat.   The overlay silver cuff class I took was a huge stretch for me.  I got most of the design sawed out in class but that was all.  'Ok' I said, 'I have everything at home and I can finish this there'.  When I got home I worked for 2 days to get the two pieces of silver to solder. It should have taken 15 minutes maybe.  At the end of the second day, I realized that the solder tip I was using was too small and when I changed to the next size with more heat 

Vintage Clothing

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Finally I have some new vintage pieces in my vintage etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/537019176/vintage-dotted-swiss-dress-dotted-swiss?ref=shop_home_feat_2 This past week, I've decided that I need to put the vintage clothing on my vintage etsy shop.  www.brittdesign.etsy.com   I've had a plastic tote with some of my favorite vintage items packed away for several years making them even older. sneak preview Years ago, early 2000's, my good friend Jay and I shared a booth in Tucson's Copper Country Antique Mall.  It was a huge building with many spaces and a cafe inside.  A large bull on the roof named 'Fred' kept watch.  My parents had just moved into assisted living and my brother drove a UHaul truck filled with lots of their things.  Between that and the help of some friends, there was plenty to fill our space. My partner, Jay, has amazing talent at merchandising and selling so our space was really special. Copper Country Antique Booth

A New Journal Cover

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Creating a journal cover in polymer clay that has an embossed leather look was a fun project!  I've  had the  centerpiece polymer parts done for months.  Some of you might remember me asking what I should do with them.  I decided to incorporate them into the cover!   The polymer needed to be conditioned and I made 2 colors a few shades apart so I could interchange parts of the design.  I textured the clay by using a texture plate that reminded me of embossed leather. After placing the decorations on the polymer and texturing, I used powdered copper, bronze an gold to create color movement.  At first it looked too bright but I burnished with a cloth.  It started looking like old leather! I baked the 8 1/2 x 11 journal cover in the oven at 275 degrees for 30 minutes.  Then I painted a burnt umber over everything and wiped it off.  That really helped 'age' the cover.     The cover is sealed with PMII  and glued to the journal.  It has