Shabby Chic altered lampshade DIY

I embellished a plain lampshade for a friend. I used ribbon trim around the bottom of the shade and flowers and beaded sprays, all from Hobby Lobby.  A hot glue gun, wire cutters, and scissors are all you need for tools. The lighting for these photos was not the best. The colors are actually off white and pale aqua.   Don't spend money on the pre-made ones. Do it yourself!

Repurposed vintage keys, "Believe" and "Trust"

I have altered two old keys that I found at estate sales.  I love to use vintage dictionary pages in my work, so I have wrapped the stems of these keys with the definitions of "believe" and "trust."  They are gentle reminders to keep your thoughts positive. I sealed the papers and sparkled them for a magical look. I further embellished them with some bead dangles.
I collect old dictionaries wherever I can find them.  Keys too!

Oh! The third necklace is one of my layerd pieces. I use a brass bib for the base. I blacken it for an aged look.  The coin focal point has a rhinestone chain around it.

All of my work is one of a kind. I may use similar or the same elements but they are always designed in a unique way.

You can find these necklaces on my Ebay sister site under the Ebay name "Oldstorybooks," where I list other vintage and antique finds.  Here are the links:

Believe

Trust

Coin necklace

Harold's Halloween ~ a jointed bear and pumpkins!

Silly me, I forgot to give you the link to my auction. Here it is!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171098691287?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Harold's Halloween ~ a Shabby Sweetie bear and his pumpkins!

Here is my first sculpt for the Fall 2013 season!  Harold is jointed with heavy duty thread.  He wears a hat made from a vintage dictionary page. The black ruffle is silk and he wears an orange bell around his neck. He comes with 3 sparkly pumpkins! Not only that, but he comes in a box that I altered just for him!

I sculpt with Parkinson's Disease.  I used to think about how lucky I was to have a passion for sculpting and how I would be doing it until my nineties.  Then, the tremor in my left hand started.  It began with a twitch in my thumb.  I thought it was just one of those twitches that everyone gets from time to time. But, it got worse. I was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.  I had to learn new ways to do my work.  Often, I have to lay my work on my desk, rather than hold it in my left hand. Paint must be applied quickly...in between shakes!  I started out with primitive pieces and have found some peace and happiness going back to them, although I might just try a realistic baby one of these days!

I don't know how much longer I can do this, but I will continue until it's no longer possible.  I hope that you won't let obstacles get in the way of your life, your loves.  Please don't let the elephant in the room make you quit!  Work around it.  Never give up!

A repurposed sauerkraut jar! DIY

Here is another repurposed jar, this one a sauerkraut jar.  It now holds tealights!   The knob was on clearance at Anthropolgy. I sanded the lid, but not completely. Then I used Ranger's alcohol ink to age it.  I made the label using my collage maker and a vintage image from The Graphic's Fairy.  This one is going to my daughter-in-law for her birthday.  This could be used for an inexpensive hostess gift so save those jars!

Polymer clay sculptng tutorials and a tip.

Don't forget to check out my sculpting tutorials. I offer free instructions for sculpting baby hands and faces. I would do videos, but I doubt you would want to see my hand shake throughout!  Fortunately, the tremor is in my left hand, although the neurologist says it will ultimately go to the other side Meanwhile, I will sculpt! 

My tutorial for baby faces can be applied to older faces.  It all involves nudges of the clay, the amount of clay, and thinning out the face. 

Don't give up!  I have my down times, but, somehow, my determination wins.

A tip:
Don't be afraid to mimic someone else's work. Many of the masters learned by mimicking. Eventually, your own style will evolve.

"Poppy," a shabby sweet baby orangutan

Finally, after a few months, I have a new sculpture finished!  This baby orangutan's name is Poppy.  I haven't finished embellishing her box, yet, but as most of you know, my work always comes in a custom box. 

I work a lot slower than I used to because I have a tremor in my left hand caused by Parkinson's disease.  I'm too stubborn and determined to give up sculpting until my work all begins to look like little aliens.  I think it's still pretty good and pretty cute! I hope you do too!

Here is the link to Poppy's auction:

Poppy