Recycling Bullseye ~ the continuing saga...

The studio has been crazy busy & I'm blowing through the glass so

yesterday I needed to crack open a new case of

Bullseye Tetka.

 

These cases are tightly secured with metal straps,

packing paper, Styrofoam, screws....

YIKES, it's a process to get the lid off of a crate of glass.

 

Upon prying off the lid I had a nice (or not so nice)

surprise inside the box!

 

 

A wasp nest!

 

Just a little one.

 

Close up.  You can see the comb inside but there

wasn't any larvae or bees around so it must be abandoned.

 

Good thing because these bees are vicious & not sweet like my honey bees.

 

Apparently, the wasps have found a way to recycle Bullseye crates too!

Fused Glass Leaves....!

Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall....

 

 

 

I'm loving these small leaves! 

They look so great with a variety of frit & fun to mix up.

 

Approximately 4" X 8".

 

These are a new addition to my aurora series &

will be available in August.

The Reds Are Running ~!

Yes, the salmon are starting to run & the Alaskans are getting fishing fever.

 

I haven't been fishing yet but I do have the fever.

 

For ceramic salmon that is...

 

 

 

I used to throw pots & create hand built items with clay until I got into glass but

every once in a while I pull out the clay & glazes & go crazy.

I think William's been my influence as I've been helping him

with his salmon & halibut pins.

 

That is when he's not hiding out in the greenhouse

 

 

 

or playing golf.

 

He's a golfing dude!

 

 

 



Upcycled Wedding Dress ~ Done!

The Wedding Dress Project

is DONE ~!

I know.....you're probably thinking....
FINALLY! 
Yea!  She's Dooooone!

Here's a few shots of the details.

Floral shoulder strap.  
Little ladybug accent.

Waist detail with snake & large peony.



White polka dots with letters....which spell...
Transformed...

Treasure...

The completed piece.

There's lots more inspirational words/phrases & bugs/insects on the skirt
but I was too lazy to take pictures & post.

I upcycled the head piece & it turned out kind of cool.
More ladybugs, bugs, snakes etc.

The dressform was out fitted with zebra duct tap.
Sooooo, Alaskan ~!

The title?

   ~   NEW LIFE  ~ 

Upcycled Wedding Dress ~ Part 5



This has been such a fun project.

I was sort of thinking I was close to being done

but as I was looking at the dress on the mannequin

I decided it probably had more life to it.

 

First, however, it's getting the equipment ready for work.

When I was a kid my Mom, Grandmothers, & Aunts would gather to quilt around

the quilt frame that was almost always set up in our basement . 

It was a large frame that belonged to my Grandma Johannes & made by Grandpa.

Grandma J had tacked a doubled over piece of fabric all along the length of each strip of wood.  The bottom, batting & top of the quilt was pinned to this fabric.

 

As a child, I remember having to thread needles & line them up

along the edge of the quilting frame.  As the quilters worked across the quilt

they never had to stop to thread a needle.  They would just pull another needle

with thread & continue on.

 

At the time, I thought it was a speed thing.

NOW... I know it's an eyesight thing.

Those tiny little holes in needles are hard to see!

 

So... I've employed my own system.

Here's William.

Threading my sewing machine.

Yep ~ I can't thread the darn needle except by accident

or if I wear my new bifocals.

 

Good Grief ~!





 



 

I had the other half of the skirt (that I used earlier for a hooded cape).

But, hey, since I have another half I might as well make another cape, right?

 

So, this will be a short cape.

With a tulle collar to match the hem.

And beaded fringe since I had almost the exact amount left over.

 

It's a sign!



Working on the neckline of the cape.

Close up of the beaded fringe being sewn on.
This was sewn on after the tulle & the casing for the drawn string around the neck.

 

Here's a picture of the casting loose.

It looks great if it's pulled up tight & around the neck too.

 

Here's a view of the back of the cape.

I think this is better being shorter?

 

Yes?

 

I like it because it's above the tulle' hem.

 

I feel like I need to add a shoulder strap...

 

A SNAKE STRAP.

 

With lots of bugs & insects hovering over the shoulder.

 

What can I say??

 

It's still winter in Alaska & I'm salivating for spring.

 

Can't wait to get the worm compost going.

 

Upcycled Wedding Dress Part 4 ~

The devil is in the details.

The base of the wedding dress is pretty much completed.

It's been cut, re-sewn, painted, dyed, & manipulated in many ways.

So, now comes the fun part of embellishment.

Beading & leaf action on the bodice.

A little beading trim.

A cape is always a fun accessory.

This was recycled from part of the skirt & has an iridescence purple lining.

Cokie Robert is always close bye her boy.

I had some of the leaf fabric left over so I added a hood.

I always love a hood for a bit of mystery.

Here's my reluctant son modeling the hood.

William, you're a good sport!

 (I agreed to not show his face modeling the hood)

I think an extra scoop of ice cream is in your future!

One of those days...

Ever have one of those days?

 

 

It's been a bit challenging today but I'm looking forward

to a Mom & Son evening.

 

There's a light beautiful snow coming down,

chicken soup on the stove & a bottle of wine in the fridge.

 

Things are looking up!