Woolly PoPos

I have been working feverishly in my spare time for the past several months on a series of stuffed animals (I understand those in the know call them "stuffies").  I'm calling the Woolly PoPos.  Here are a couple of pictures.  I like how this one looks melancholy:

I made the first ones for the boys.  I wanted to applique a heart onto them, and as I was deciding where to put it, on a whim I decided to put it on the bum.  I knew it would make the boys laugh.  Hence, the "PoPo."

I've been having a great time creating these.  It uses my sewing skills and sculptural impulses, and I get to see quick results.  I also like the fact that the materials are recycled.  (If you have any nice wool sweaters that are going to be thrown away, let me know . . .)

I just think these are so great, and I've had good feedback, so . . 

I'm going to open a shop.  It's going to be "cshargrove" on Etsy.  If you're not familiar with Etsy.com, you should check it out, especially if you like handmade or vintage.  My shop is there, but there's nothing in it yet -- I need a couple of hours to get the photos and descriptions posted.  I am very excited, though, so I'll keep you posted.

Tschuss!

Driving

I love driving.  Whenever I have to go somewhere for work, there's a point when I'm in the car, on the way, and the stress of getting ready pauses for a moment and I relax.  I'm alone and the sun is shining in (or the rain is drumming on the windows) and I see the trees and the sky, and I'm on the road.  Maybe I should have been a trucker . . .  

Today on the way home I bought a GPS, so now I'll have my little gadget with me -- I can go anywhere!

Class

Last Saturday I took a jewelry-making class at Beadworks, a bead store in Salem. There were just two of us and the instructor. I pretty much knew the material already: making simple wire loops and wire-wrapped beads, but I made a nice pair of earrings (purple stone, of course), and spent a pleasant hour and a half chatting, with the winter sun shining through the windows on the smooth wood floor.

New Photos of Jewelry

Here is a pair of earrings I made from new materials. They don't really fit into my series of vintage component jewelry, but I do like them. I also love this photo by my friend Monica Fecke:

New Photos of Jewelry

My friend Monica took some photos for me. Here are a few of the green Murano glass earrings and necklaces "Heidelberg"

Cartoon people

I had an inordinate amount of fun doing these last night. It's a website where you can pick face shape, hair, etc.:

Teddy

Troy
Daddy
Me:
I know, everyone who has a Wii has already done this, but videogames are banned on Home St. :)

Hutzelwald

Hi everyone,

I've been making more jewelry, but I haven't had time to photograph it all.  Here is another line of one-of-a-kind necklaces and bracelets with vintage components, including my favorite bracelet.  I finally found a bead store nearby.  I didn't get many beads, but they have silver plated and sterling silver wire, which I eventually want to start using.  Stay tuned!

This pendant necklace collects together a vintage brown and black round button, a vintage brass cage bead, and vintage silver-plated "melon" bead, and a vintage green, fire-polished faceted glass bead suspended by bits of vintage chain from an old brass ring.  The necklace chain is new, but with an antique brass finish.

This pendant necklace is made from a vintage wooden bead, separated by brass rounds with an antique finish from two vintage blue and white lampwork beads.  It is suspended from two slightly different vintage brass chains.

My favorite so far:  three vintage buttons wired together using reclaimed brass wire and a vintage brass ring, connected by a chain and lobster-claw clasp that are new but that have an antique brass finish.  At the clasp hangs a vintage "melon" shaped bead that appears to have been silver plated brass.  The finish is charmingly worn and patinaed.

This necklace is similar to the first, but with a pearlized-white button, instead of the black and brown.