Stealing My Boyfriend's Toys ...

I'm as guilty as any other girlfriend who might do some 'safe snooping', so to speak.  Nick has a 'junk drawer' in the studio full of stuff he's collected over the years, from antique hunting knives from his grandfather to shells and stones from a childhood trip to Guatemala.  Going through this drawer of his treasures, I happened upon a very cool collection of miniature army trucks and tanks, rubber weapons of war and tiny cast iron painted soldiers.  I couldn't help but covet these, and the good girlfriend I am, asked him if he would be grateful to donate some of these toys to my cause.  These are some of his favourite childhood toys, he's told me, a lot of them are vintage from his grandfather's childhood.  For his donation, this is the Alexander Collection, after his middle name.

I didn't want these pieces to fall under the 'military fad' style, instead I wanted to make a statement with these pieces.  I've matched these army toys with various symbols of faith and goodwill that can be interpreted by the wearer and viewer in many different ways.  My interpretation and intention when I made these pieces was that with faith in ourselves and each other, we can conquer the most difficult challenges without conflict.  Let's take a look!

A 'Green' Idea: Reused Fabric Necklaces

With Earth Day coming up, I thought I'd focus on a few crafty ideas from recycled and reused materials.  First up - fabrics!

I have lots of really cool t-shirts that are way too big for me, lots of denim from previously loved jeans, vintage fabrics, patterned bedsheets and pillowcases, and much, much more I most likely can't think of.  Fabric can be unconventional to use in jewelry and is really inspirational once you start to manipulate it for your own design.  I started off relatively simple with some complicated patterns on vintage fabrics, and turned up the drama with classic denim.  Let's take a look!

Blue Fabric necklace

Lookit What I Sold!

Well, aren't you folks just so good to me?  The last few weeks have seen some busy days for my little wee corner of the Etsyverse!  I've had some friendly faces return to purchase their favourites and some new friendly folks - even all the way in Macedonia!  Take a look!

 The Geometry earrings, no. 2 are off to Heather in Austin, Texas!

The Monkey See, Monkey Do necklace was listed and sold in two days!  It's now in Adrianne's happy hands in Stockton, California!  Good eye, my friend!

 The Sunshine earrings, no. 2 went to Jena in Golden Valley, Minnesota as a gift to a baby shower hostess!  An excellent choice, I must say!

 The Veritas bracelet, no. 1 has made its way to Ashley in Mullica Hill, New Jersey!

 A recent Artbeads.com creation, the Mr. Spring Frog necklace will have a wonderful travel to Macedonia!  I do hope Kostoula will enjoy it - and the surprise matching earrings!

A fantastic project - because two heads are better than one! - Anne and I had a lot of fun thinking up a set of custom matching earrings for the Coconut bracelet, no. 1.  By now, I'd imagine its reached its final destination in Martinez, California!

And, as of today, the Chariot bracelet from the Tarot Collection is officially sold!  Barbara from Murrysville, Pennsylvania, a friendly face at the shop, has snagged something she's been eyeing for quite some time!

I always like to include surprise gifts and decorative gift wrap.  I'm always complimented on my gift bows, something to consider for a tutorial of sorts!  Adding these surprises is always important for me.  Because you're not walking into a store front, I'd like to bring a taste of that 'store front' to you.  Well, really, I don't have a store front, but I'd like one someday.  The next purchase you make from me may contain a little something extra to make your day even brighter!  Visit the shop today at designbycassandra.etsy.com!

Photography credit: Cassandra Watsham

A Long Overdue Giveaway Winner Announcement!

Oh gawsh, I don't know where to begin to apologize, really.  Life had caught up with me ... and so did Etsy!  My awesome job at Long & McQuade Musical Instruments has been getting more busy and I've been slaving away at making some new pieces - with more on the way!  What's more - I've been selling like crazy on my Etsy shop!  If you've got a favourite piece in there - grab it now, or it may be on it's way to Greece, like the Mr. Spring Frog necklace!  Wow!  How exotic!

You've been telling your friends about me, haven't you?  :)  A great big thank you to all!  I'm very excited about sharing this stuff with the world - there wouldn't be any other reason to make it!

And on that note, I have to make a humungous apology to those who had entered the 600 Twitter Followers Giveaway to win this beautiful, one-of-a-kind repurposed bangle necklace from my own personal collection, and had waited for so long, anticipating possible victory.  Well, I've finally the time to sit down and make this proper, so here we go!

Here's all your names, with their appropriate point entries, into a large soup can (which will be used in a future project I'm very excited about!)

My hand is now in the can (!) and I've selected a piece of paper ...

And the winner is ... Cathy H!

And Cathy had some really great odds!  Good for you - karma is on your side, my friend! 

A big thank you to everyone who entered for your patience and wonderfulness you bring to all those around you!  Stay tuned to your inbox - 'cause we're all winners in this game!

Congrats, Cathy!  A lots of hugs and kisses to you all!

The Beauty of Spring With Artbeads.com!

Ooooh, spring is around the corner!  Can you feel it?

Artbeads.com has presented our most excellent creative blogging team with showcasing the Beauty of Spring with their fantastic array of products!  Spring is a beautiful season, full of rebirth, colour and sunlight, a wonderful and deserving muse for what we're about to produce!

So, it had me thinking - what is my favourite image of spring?  What's the one thing I look forward to when I know spring is about to arrive?  I walk to work almost every day, trying to stick to the scenic route (unless I'm running late, I've got a few shortcuts) along bikepaths and through parks.  Lately with the balmy weather, I've traded in the heavy winter jacket with a lighter cropped cordouroy jacket, perfect for warmer weather.  As I look about the park and through the bare trees, I see them - the small buds along the branches that will erupt into leafy greens and pink blossoms!  That perfect pale green shines much brighter on a sunny day, and it makes me so anxious for picnics and bikerides and long hours outside.  Green has always been a 'power colour' of mine, and I'm really excited to bring a 'green' collection!

The 'Green Awaits' collection focuses on these beautiful limited supply of Lemon Chrysophrase chips in a beautiful pale green.  Their jagged, unique shapes give a beautiful image of how each leaf on a tree is different from the next.   The premature buds, using Czech glass Bellflowers in Lemon Lime and fuschia glass rondelles add a little taste of what we'll expect to blossom and grow as we go deeper and deeper into the season and watch things grow!  Inspirations of vines, trees and blossoms are evokes with the sterling silver and resin Summer Oak pendant in lime green and the curving separator bars.  These pieces will be available for sale on my Etsy shop - well, maybe not everything quite yet.  I think I'll need to show these off first!

Green Awaits earrings

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everybody!

Today, everybody's Irish, and a stranger's a friend you haven't met yet!  On this proud day, paraders march in cities proudly waving their green and orange, Guiness, Kilkenny and Harp are poured by the pint to happy pub patrons, and all of us feel a little lucky on this proud day we celebrate everything the Irish and Celtic traditions have to offer.

St. Patrick's Day was celebrated as far back as the 1600s, honouring the patron saint of Ireland.  Little is known of St. Patrick's history, although he is celebrated for his efforts in the teachings of Christianity, using the shamrock to explain the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  Although more successful missions had passed after the days of St. Patrick, he is still held in esteem as the 'principal champion' of Irish Christianity.  The fantastic creatures we hear of - leprechauns, faeries, a pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow - are all derived from the Irish mythology and folklore of Tuatha De Danann.  There's a little history lesson for you!

So raise a glass of green beer to a man who helped define the culture of the Emerald Isle this evening at your favourite pub, and check out these fantastic finds on Etsy to keep a little 'luck o' the Irish!'

Green earrings, no. 2, designbycassandra.etsy.com

Claddagh Engraved Olive Wood Pen, woodenpenworks.etsy.com

 Green Adventurine Wood Sprial necklace and earring set, CinLynnBoutique.etsy.com

Four Leaf Clover Fingerless Glover, iLzeDR.etsy.com

Irish Celtic Knot Stained Glass, smashingglass.etsy.com

Jade Chiffon shoe clips, blacksatinshoes.etsy.com

Kiss Me I'm Irish, itsfitz.etsy.com

Lady Baltimore textured green travel bag, marjiew.etsy.com

 Ronan, thepixels.etsy.com

Young Irish Dancer illustration, irelandbrady.etsy.com

Lucky Charms wristlet, clairebabydesigns.etsy.com

Rainbow Day bracelet, designbycassandra.etsy.com

What The Quirk!: Alphabet Soup Key Fob

Sometimes I make the oddest of things out of the weirdest stuff.  Take this little jumpin' bean for example - the green belt clip thingamajig is from this past Christmas' dinner cracker; you know, those paper things on the dinner plate you snap open by pulling at each end? They usually come with a coloured paper crown and a little toy of sorts.  I still had this thing laying around, along with some colourful rubber alphabet charms I had picked up at a dollar store, a pair of Treasure Troll earrings and a couple of chunky vintage lucite striped beads - suitably enough, matching colours to the alphabet charms especially.  Put 'em in the middle and you shake 'em all about ...

... and that's what it's all about!  One side has got the green clip and the other has a metal clip for more security.  The Treasure Troll is your new portable luck charm - it's on a lobster clasp to put where you please! 

Who could you see loving this?  It'll be posted in my Etsy shop very soon!

Photography credit: Cassandra Watsham

Guitar Rings!

I love statement and cocktail rings.  I've been wearing more and more of them now, and was struck with a really interesting idea.  Armed with some antiqued brass adjustable ring settings I bought from snapcrafty.etsy.com and some felt appliques, I've got a pretty good idea going here.  Take a look!

Gibson Guitar ring, no. 1

Gibson Guitar ring, no. 2

Gibson Guitar ring, no. 3

Gibson Guitar ring, no. 4

I have a few different guitar catalogues from work and a bunch of different images that can be captured underneath these glass bubbles.  I'll have these up in my Etsy shop in time for International Guitar Month - April!

Photography credit: Cassandra Watsham

Cardboard Ninja!

There are a couple of kids on our apartment floor that like to act out role playing games: mobsters, soldiers, cowboys and aliens, cops and robbers, all that kind of kid nonsense.  I've had a few cellophane rolls lying around ready to be thrown out, but had decided on something else - ninja swords!

Simple enough to make: I had a sheet of stiff cardboard I had cut two circles, cut an X in the middle and pushed the cardboard tube through.  With the triangles from the X cuts flapped downward, I taped the pieces securely with coloured electrical tape - blue and black - and added a couple of toy ninjas to the handles for an awesome addition.

Of course, I couldn't hand these over to the kids without testing them out myself.

Well, they had passed my test!  Let's see what the kids think.

Seems they like 'em!  

My father has been complaining to me that kids nowadays have no imagination.  I beg to differ every Sunday afternoon when I hear these kids playing in the hallways.  I'm sure they're looking forward to warmer weather just as much as I am!