Treasures by Louise

Newly listed on Etsy: Vintage Floral Tray Vintage Two-sided Nut Dish on Etsy

The beads from this Etsy s eller a re beautiful, I love the handcrafted look. EarthButter Studio on Etsy. I visited her blog to learn the story. She employs local women to create the beads, and donates part of the proceeds to local charities. It's worth checking out her blog, for more info: earthbutterstudio.blogspot She has many beautiful bead sets, here is one of my favorites & prices and postag e to the U S are very reasonable.    

Here is a link to many hand-crafted beads: Check out the Beads of Clay blog for links to various bead makers. They all make beautiful clay beads and I love supporting hand-crafters.   Beads of Clay Sunday Sale  

Every once in a while, I like to put cut flowers in old bottles to use as casual and rustic vases.  Here are some old bottles that make easy vases for black-eyed Susans. These bottles and more yummy vintage can be found at Lily and Jasmines Treasures on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilyAndJasmine

Big News! I've updated my blog name to match our Etsy Store: Lily and Jasmine's Treasures. The blog will be in transition for a while, as I am launching a line of earrings and other jewelry onto our Etsy Store. We will alwa ys include some vintage, and add in jewelry, as time allows. Fall is such a creative time for me, as the weather cools, and I am inspired by the colors of fall. Here's some beautiful September color from a local garden: Lantana Wouldn't these shades make a colorful and beautiful necklace ? Or I'd love to see them used in a quilt.

Here's another work-in-progress: a whimsical approach to adding the creative touch in your projects. This is a re-purposed pepper mill that I imagine as a way to "sprinkle on" the inspiration. What colors would you fill it with? What inspires you to create? And how do you work around those creative blocks that happen on occasion?  

I am trying out some of the Tim Holtz alcohol inks and some special  Kraft resist paper, preparing to use them in collage and decoupage. These are fun and inspiring products to work with. I like the effect of the inks on the Kraft paper, and found that adding Snow cap Mixative makes the inks show up a bit more - they become more opaque. There's much more to try - I want to break out the silver and gold metallic mixatives next! Check back soon to see what I create with these!

Here are my tins, coated with gesso and ready for decoration. I also am going to use an old Home Economics textbook for an altered art journal. Altoid Tins with Gesso Sometimes the process is as much fun as the result. One of my friends has started her "Christmas Chest" by starting altered journals for gifts. I love that idea! Now to turn the unfinished objects into something special!

Happy July everyone! I hope you are using the hot weather to energize your crafty urges. It's nice if you have air conditioning or a cool basement for creative pursuits. If not, maybe a nice fan at the window.  The beginning of a project   I love summer, I get so many ideas. Now to follow through...Inka over at Altered Artifacts Blogspot  has some free printable organizers that can help get you started if you need to sort your supplies. I love Inka's Etsy store, too. I recently purchased some of her images, and plan to create all sorts of collages and altered realities!  Click here to visit Inka's store .

Thunbergia Alata Yesterday we enjoyed grilling chicken and veggies outdoors, and then brought our food indoors to enjoy. Earlier I stopped at the garden center for one of my favorite flowering vines. The common name is Black-eyed Susan vine. Beautiful Summer colors!

I have discovered a wonderful new blog - Full of fun and creative crafting ideas. Claire writes the blog 'blah to TADA!' and I'm having so much fun exploring all her projects. Cruise on over and check it out! I especially like her take on a simple leather and beaded bracelet that is very trendy. blah to TADA! - Leather and Studs Bracelet.  I am going to try one of these myself,  so check back after a while and I'll post some photos. Have a Happy Mother's Day!

Cute little canape trays These country style canape trays remind me of blue and white pin-dot fabric! I love the country farm look of these four little trays that may be from the 1970's. They are in great condition.

I had a strand of 'ugly' beads, think they are plastic, and a wild combination of colors. My mother found them at a rummage sale. I set them aside, not knowing what I would do with such beads. I recently pulled them out and sorted them by color. I found the green and orange colored ones went nicely with some assorted beige glass beads, they made up into a very nice necklace. I'm showing it today in honor of earth day. It has inspired me to create more upcycled jewelry coming soon!

Here is such a pretty nut dish I found last week amongst some other treasures. It is in excellent condition, and would be perfect for serving snacks at your next tea party or holiday event.  I am currently using it to keep track of my beads while I'm creating! I hope to soon post pics of my necklaces! Meanwhile, visit my Etsy store LilyandJasmine for this and other delicious finds.

We are reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle for our church book group, and I am getting hungry reading it. Chapter two speaks of early spring vegetables, including asparagus. So we had asparagus for dinner on Saturday. (From the grocery store.) Now to track down my other favorite spring food - rhubarb! Barnes and Noble Books . I also have lots of reading to do by Wednesday!

  Beautiful graphics and colors on this tin. This one sold from my Etsy shop, but it was hard to part with it!

Wow! What could you create with this clever little fellow?

I love to find inspiration in seasonal colors. I have created two (!) new spring treasuries of beautiful greens. If you are new to Etsy, treasuries is a way of liking a group of items that all belong to a theme. I don't include my own items in a Treasury, just beautiful things from other sellers. Check out all my favorites. Etsy.com/treasury Beautiful-inspiration   Etsy Treasury: More Spring Inspiration

Here are some recently listed tins available in my Etsy shop Lily and Jasmine's Treasures They are some selected from my Dad's collection of old tins. Here's an old tiny moth ball tin . Update: Sold A colorful white tin with floral and butterflies, once contained Ginseng Tea. This one has such fantastic bright colors!

  I am finally posting this bracelet that I made in October - inspired by the fall colors. Made with memory wire, eye pins and four colors of Bead Gallery glass polygon beads. Here is my inspiration: http://www.michaels.com/Seaglass-Cuff-Bracelet.   I used just four beads per pin and arranged the black beads to form the chevron pattern. The colors used were black, amber, gold and lavender. I have had many compliments on this bracelet!