Movin' on up!

Thanks for checking out my blog! I've moved locations, so please find me, read and comment at

www.dragonflybead.com/erins-blog/

See you there!

The collection begins!!

I am loving this bouquet idea. I've had such great feedback, and everyone I've heard from is really excited about the idea! I can't claim credit for it, since I found it through Etsy, but I know mine will be unique and will have it's own personal story, which is unique to ME and much better than buying a pre made bouquet.

Yesterday I had 4 little packages in my mailbox, which was SO exciting! The pins I've ordered on Etsy and Ebay are starting to arrive. I'm taking a break from my ordering now so I can start assembling some stems on the pins, and I have several friends now scouting out thrift shops and antique stores looking for treasures. My mom found two today, and the shop owner was quite taken with the idea, and said she has more pins at home AND several more sources! I have another friend I met through Metal Clay who lives in Colorado and is scouring stores out her way for unique pins (Thanks Donna!)

Here's the start of the collection (minus the two my mom picked up this afternoon)

The butterflies are from Wichita. I only ordered once, but Etsy seller EnamelOwl was SO sweet and sent me the second one for free! The large daisy in the top right is from Chicago, and from Etsy seller RobertRagdoll. The wonderful black eyed Susan (probably my favorite one!) is from Texas, Etsy seller GypsyFeather. They were all wonderful to do business with, and sent my pins so super quick! The blue flower is my "something new" and "something blue". It was made by a local artist, Lucia. She hand cut the flower from copper, and then enameled it. Love it! And finally, the mosaic pin is a true antique. It belonged to my great (or possibly great great, my mom couldn't remember) grandmother! A family heirloom and a lovely addition to the bouquet.


LOVE this one!

I'll keep posting as I assemble the bouquet. Next step will be attaching the "stems". Stay tuned!

Ace of Base

Day 1 of class with Hadar Jacobson, heretofore the "Ace of Base". (http://www.artinsilver.com/). She's developed her own metal clay powders in copper, bronze, white bronze, steel and pearl steel. I love base metal. It's a new found love, I admit. But I see for us a great future. I even like the way it's grunge-ing under my fingernails.

My goal today was KISS (keep it simple, stupid) projects, and indeed, they are pretty simple, but the possibilities, oh my god, I hope I can sleep tonight without the ideas running endlessly through my noggin. I'm excited about finding this love, as I've poo pooed the base metals to some extent, and haven't given them enough of a chance. But with my new fire brick kiln arriving shortly and the gunk already established under my nails, I've got no good reason not to start cranking !

Unofficially Official

Or is it officially unofficial? Either way, we have a tentative (but pretty certain) day and location for the wedding! Which means that weddingitis is setting in a bit. I'm finding that surprising, as I'd like to consider myself as something of an "anti-bride". I don't want to get so caught up in the hooplah of planning the sucker that I lose sight of WHY I'm getting married. So, ok, I love my fiance, and now I'm getting really excited about planning, of all things, my bouquet. Not my dress, not my colors, not the decor. The bouquet.

I found the COOLEST bouquets on Etsy. Several sellers are making (incredibly expensive) amazing bouquets using vintage flower pins and brooches.

From Etsy seller LionsgateDesigns

From Etsy seller TheRitzyRose

These bouquets are great for several reasons.

1.) The flowers never die! Hooray! Many of them haven't even faded after 20 plus years in existence.

2.) Each flower has a story. Each pin graced the blouse of a mother, daughter, grandmother, sister...perhaps a cross dresser...and each of them have a story too. The mother who wore a daisy pin to her daughter's wedding. The grandmother who wore a bright sunflower pinned to her Sunday best each week....the cross dresser who used it to complete shis Marilyn Monroe get up? I love things that have a story to them, and I like the idea that my wedding bouquet has numerous stories, since I'll be carrying the dang thing all day. And here is where you, dear reader, come into the equation...

I've been finding these pins on Etsy and Ebay, but apparently they are quite the hot item right now, and I just can't afford to spend $12/flower (let alone $450 for the bouquet!). Plus I intend to have this be a very crafty DIY wedding, informing you of my progress and process along the way. So if you have one of these pins gathering dust in a jewelry box, or in a box destined for Good Will, bring them into the store and have a part in my bouquet! I'll give you 15% off your purchase for your effort, and I'll gush and excitedly tell you all about my plans. Ahem. I mean, my amazing fiance. (It's a good thing he loves me too!)

Not local? No problem! Send me your flowers, and I'll send you a little somethin' fun from the shop!

In other store news, there is a brand spanking sparkly new website in the works! This updated format will allow me to keep the site much more current, bringing you information as it happens! As part of this new website, I'll be making some changes to the blog, bringing you more tips and jewelry ideas in addition to regaling you with fun little facts about my life as a business owner!

Success!

Sigh. Class is over, and it was great! I'm really happy with my "dated wallpaper" piece. It just needs to be assembled into a necklace now.


Last night after class I went to see the Brinks in Fletcher. Their house is really starting to come together and feel homey. Courtney made a delicious tofu and kale dish and we had some apple crisp that another friend Laura made. I introduced them to eating apple crisp with a bit of sharp cheese. Mmmm! Then this morning I checked out a few potential wedding venues. I saw Dreaming Mountain in Johnson and the Echo center. Really different places. Feeling like I need to start making some decisions but it's hard! Do I want a rustic dreamy wedding, or do I want something that is convenient to Burlington and full of fishies?

Ready for bed. It's been a fun but tiring week.