My Bella Colle My Beautiful Life

Vintage junky jewel bling!

Wowzer! Three posts in three days... What's goin' on here?..LOL! Well..just wanted to show you my junk jewel necklace I just made. I was so inspired by Gypsyville (see below post)... What better than to wear a unique custom piece of jewelry!! I'm sooo going to make some more!

I just listed this in the Shoppe! Actually, I've been updating LOTS of goodies to the Shoppe!

I added Swarovski crystals to give it an extra sparkle... I love the feel of the vintage chain.. How about you? What is your fave jewelry piece that you have?

Here is the focal point.. an actual vintage chandelier crystal! I love rescuing and reusing! Ultimate green living...no?

Vintage junky bling! How fun!!

Happy Wed.

XO

Gypsy Lovin'

{Courtesy of Gypsyville} Well... I'm feeling a little better today... I found this fun site and wanted to share it with you guys. It is Gypsyville and my I say it's one of my new favorite places!!

These fun ladies go on amazing road trips and find the coolest stuff!

{ Courtesy of Gypsyville}

Isn't this a fun picture?!! Very patriotic don't ya think? I will definitely be getting one of those tees soon!

{Courtesy of Gypsyville} Yes...Yes... Southern fried Soul...that's me! I miss it soo much. I can't wait to get back down to my home BELOW the Maison Dixon line!! AAhhh~Someday...

{Courtesy of Gypsyville} Yes! Cowgirls are forever! Maybe that can be my next baby step to getting out of my comfort zone...Get back on a horse again! Wahoo! I love riding..I just ordered me some rockin' cowboy boots I'll have to show you guys when they get here...

Go check out Gypsyville It's for the Junkin' Gypsy in all of us!

Tootles!

XO

Sea Wed.

Here is the necklace I am working on from the goodies I found while we were camping. I have added round antique buttons and attached three vintage clasps.

I will be making some smaller soldered pieces and adding them to this piece as well! Stay tuned! lol

So, want to know my new fascination? Sea glass! I think sea glass is soo uniquely beautiful. Soo appropriated for Summer don't you think? I acquired these above pieces recently and will be creating something lovely with them.

{ Courtesy of Naturalseaglass.com } Each little piece of glass in the bracelet is authentic beach glass! I loove the color combination of this wonderful bracelet.

{ Courtesy of SweptfromtheSeaDesigns } This is actually a wonderful bracelet! There are three silver charms and three pieces of sea glass.

{ Courtesy of SweptfromtheSeaDesgins } Aren't these earrings Hot?!! I love the wire wrap! I wish I could learn how to wire wrap like this!

A little 'Sea' inspiration for ya this Wed.

XO

Belles of the Garden

Well, the 'Belles of the garden ' this year are my peonies...Their fragrance is filling the yard and our home now..

I love the 'Sandra Bernhardt' variety...the delicate pink petals remind me of my favorite flower..Roses..unfortunately my beloved roses have been attacked by spider mites because of my neglect! Shame on me! lol

These are the only other blooms right now... holding court in two planters on the side of the house...

I was able to create this weekend! I have made this wonderful collage "Sisters"... there are times you want to wring their neck...but always the first one you call when there is something going on...

Any thing you want to share about your siblings? I'd loove to hear some stories!

This is actually a larger 8"inchx7"inch collage.. I will be shrinking it down to put in some charms... I'm even thinking about making some cards with my collages.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

yay for warmer temps and sunshine!

XO

Hurray for Home!

Hurray! We are home....ahh..my own bed...my own shower... ahh.... Now the joy of putting EVERYTHING away...and laundry, laundry and more laundry! lol I did pick up some fun and fab things for the Shoppe ...I haven't had a chance to take pics or list these yet...but I will! Anyone looove Fiestaware?!! I love the vintage feel of the 'disk' pitchers... Large, Medium and small.. I think the Rose/pink color has been discontinued? Correct me if I'm wrong... I don't know if I should list these as a set or individually?

How about this bling and buttons?!! Awesome stash I found! I even got my hands on some 'Bakelite' buttons!! How cool is that?! I have some wonderful necklaces and bracelets in mind for these babies.

I picked up some more milk glass shakers..and a very European shaker /canister set!? {Haven't figured it out yet..lol}

I haaad to pick up a prize for myself..you know how it is!lol... I found this wonderful clay bead bracelet. Each are a wonderful design of pink...very unique and Swarovski crystal spacers... oh la la! Hey, Kara, if you read this... I gotta talk to ya!!

Well... I must run and unpack some more.... Hurray tomorrow is Sat.! Now that the children are out of school..I guess I could say I have 3 months of Saturdays....!!lol!

Happy Weekend everyone!

XO

New charms & New Shoppe section!

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I have busy busy... I was able to make some of my collages into fun charms! Each one is unique with a different phrase on the back like "Tres chic" "Tres jolie" and " I gotta be me.."

This is My Affirmation fairy! This one is mine... for some reason the Diamond glaze melted a bit so it's a little blurry.. But if one were to order from the boutique Your charm would be crystal clear...

This one turned out to be my favorite! I have also added a Carta&Papier section, stop by and tell me what you think! I have lots more paper items in mind... These charms are all listed in the boutique and more new designs I didn't list here...

Here is a thought for today...

"To freely bloom-that is my definition of success." -Gerry Spence

Fun Monday

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I did...didn't do anything, that's what was nice! Just able to catch one's breath... I was able to work on some custom orders... and a new necklace design and this new collage in a series I have swimmin' around in my brain...

I guess I'll call the series "bloom". Things are really starting to blossom here in my garden and it's inspired me to do some collages....

You've seen this charm before, but I decided to play around with some necklace designs and this is one I came up with... Only one design flaw...it's top heavy. So, I'll just go back and add a jump ring and some charms on the bottom. Keep an eye out! I'll be adding necklaces to the store in the up coming month.

Turquoise is such a fun stone to work with right now for me... I don't know, I think is fresh and 'Summery'.. You can really wear silver and turquoise with so many things... it can be dressy or casual.

I will keep working on my sketching.. I am going to challenge my self to some new things this summer... get out of my comfort zone so to speak.. artistically and personally! I think one thing we might do soon is going camping! Aggh... I'm not real big into that... I kinda like having my own potty and shower near by...lol! But, like I said it's the summer of new things.. and this will be a start! What are some things you've wanted to do but never really tried? Anything that would stretch you this summer that would help you grow? And 'Bloom'?

Wonderful Monday evening everyone!

XO

Cuppa

                                         {Cuppa my charms waiting for their jump rings}

Hello! I wanted to share a wonderful magazine I found while browsing Barnes&Noble. I have been on a quest for what is ... authentic...joyful living.. a creative life that isn't shaped by its circumstances but a life that can rise above the now... I was moved by this post as well on Melissa's The Inspired Room... So, grab a 'cuppa' and let me tell ya about some of the stories in this magazine.

I have never seen this magazine before...Duh! Where have I been I'm sure some are thinking.. The caption under the title truly says it! La Vie Claire

I think everyone can live creatively! Why get stuck in what a mold of what is considered creative..art... beauty. The below story, 'The Art of Travel' really spoke to my heart. A wonderful artist named Mari Le Glatin Keis believes that even the "wrong color" has its place... I quote the author Jennifer Sperry " The only rule artist Mari le Glatin Keis upholds is that there are no rules." She speaks of embracing and looking at things the way children so innocently interpret the world around them every day.. How did we lose that?

Mari is a traditionally trained artist from the L'Ecole de Beaux-Arts in Paris.. she shy-ed away from teaching because she felt art school was "depersonalizing and constrictive"..But now after many years of listening to her heart has taught hundreds of adults on her traveling workshops the joy of letting go of expectations through sketching!

Granted there are a lot of wonderful mixed media/collage/art charm creators/antique boutique owners out there...but I'm here too... so long I've been paralyzed with the fear of failure and criticisms of others.. but from what I learned in collage, art is getting people to see something in a new and interesting way.. the pure and simple act of taking a thought or idea and translating into some for of medium like painting or printmaking or even interior design is joy to me! Why do it if your stomach is tied in knots every time you sit down at your work station to create?...

This story is about a woman who participated in an art retreat called "Artista creative safari" in Carmel California. Again the resounding message in this retreat was to 'quell the pressure to perform and simply to enjoy"... And so... this message has become concrete in my heart.. I WILL live a creative life! Because it is my life... joy first in my heart that will overflow to those around me... I thank the good Lord that He is helping me grow...

I embrace this saying! Joie de Vivre!! The joy of life!! How about you? What brings you joy in this life? Is it your family? Your creations... Lets find joy in the here and now...

Lastly, this story is about a cooking school in France run by Patricia Wells at her home Chanteduc. Patricia teaches her students to embrace the joy of cooking..they learn professional techniques... as well enjoy 'field trips' to surrounding areas learning about French cuisine.. she even has an oven owned by Julia Childs... According to the story Patricia has infectious laughter which her students can't help but catch...a memorable experience I'm sure!!

Simple things can bring joy to ones soul... Living a creative life is an art in my opinion and there are some who have become masters! I would say I've become a student on that quest, I'm by no means perfect, but there is no turning back now! lol!.... how about you?

Hope your week is goin' wonderfully...

XO

Patina something Lovely...

Patina: (pat'n-a) noun. 1. A fine crust or film on bronze or copper: it is usually green or greenish blue and is formed by natural oxidation; it is valued as being ornamental. 2. Any thin coating or color change resulting from age, as on the surface of old woodwork.

I patina-ed some larger collage charms I made many moons ago today... I love how they turned out! They have a wonderful quality of loved and aged treasures from long ago.

Some folks have the luxury of being able to buy brand new high end furniture and accessories.. but we don't here..But that's okay because being the sentimental fool I am, worn and loved is what I prize!

This charm says " Keep up appearances what every you do" and have a Victorian lady on the front.

These two are the backs of " He's tough ma'am tough" and "Has anyone seen my dog Totto?"

Here it is as a drawer pull on a loved dresser at the top of our stairs that holds our linens... These larger charms are so much fun! They add whimsy and interest where ever they are...

Patina is so beautiful in my eyes.. I use estate silver everyday, and no it's not bright and shinny.. Things that have acquired this wonderful warm look always remind me of older relatives homes... a feeling of comfort and fun...

{Designers in Residence 2000}

Who is the 'Queen of Patina'? There is no one in my mind that embodies this sense of timeless elegance The.... Carol Hicks Bolton You can find some of her wonderful creations at Homestead Hico

{Mary Engelbreit Nov. 1999} Can't you just see these wonderful treasures coming from some wonderful estate somewhere? Aged and loved pieces have history... that is what makes them such a wonder to me. Who owned this originally? Was this a wedding present? Things like that...

{Mary Engelbreit Nov. 1999}

And if you do find a treasure but it seems abit too new.... you can patina it your self with a bath of coffee... or there are patina acids that turn metal that wonderful color like what I used on my charms...

Patina... something lovely this Friday...

Have a wonderful weekend!

XO

Texture

Happy Monday... Busy weekend.. I have been painting and sprucing up to get the house ready to sell our selves... I just had to pause as I was packing some odds and ends away... with the wonderful textures around me.. I'm constantly looking for inspiration around me and I didn't even stop and realize I had inspiration right in my own bedroom... This is one of my bedside table lamps.. I smudged my self out of the reflection..but I just love the silver sheen these lamps have.. smooth and cool to the touch.. mini gazing balls.

This is a beautiful white rose wreath that hangs over our bed. Now with the chocolate froth walls and white trim..soft pristine folds right above our head...

Here is an antique picture that hangs on our door... simple.. the gilded frame adds a beautiful ridged trim...

Now to my favorite! I love birds nests... something about the intricate weave of the grass and fibers makes me feel all cozy.. Aren't the smooth eggs lovely? The colors are a wonderful tan and the faintest of blue... wonderful inspiration for my blog colors! I'll have to play around with that later.  So lets see we have; smooth, ridges, soft, thread like...

This is the inspiration for the Mothers Nest available in the Shoppe

Here is a new charm available there as well... Only one available...when it's gone it's gone..

Here is the front...

Have a great Monday!

What wonderful texture can be found in your world?

XO