Leather Cuffs Headed to Alabama

I have to admit, this batch of leather cuffs is good stuff. I kinda got carried away seeing what I could add to each one to make it super unique! Vero's been selling my cuffs since probably 2011. They are a great seller for her as they are both one-of-a-kind and priced just right for your budget. :) This group will be for sale in her online gallery. My page is here. In the store she'll have like 20 more. Like I said I got carried away this time around with the making.

I also made a few new dainty gentle reminder bracelets using the USA stamp blank and those teensy vehicle charms. Look at that truck. Love....love the way these look on your wrist!

If you are in the Birmingham area you should definitely check out the gallery. Vero was recently named one of the TOP 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN in Birmingham!! Woohoooo Vero. I mean seriously. That is like the coolest honor. I am so glad she took a chance on me all those years ago. Her gallery has been such an inspiration for my art career. I love being a Naked Art Gallery artist!

Leather Cuffs

I've been crafting cuffs for years.  Trying this and that with them.  Never really making a living off of it, just enjoying the crafting of something different.  I actually get tired of painting.  Gasp.  Right?  And this is something fun that uses stuff I have around the studio.  This past weekend I went to the mart for the January gift show.  There's a vendor in the cash and carry area I LOVE to buy my leather cuffs from.  Yes, I could be thrifty and use belts, but his leather is like freaking butter on your arm.  So I buy his.  It kinda helps he's from some foreign country, talks real smooth and is hot in his skinny European blue jeans.  Did I just say that out loud?   This time I bought some fun colored pieces too...including white, hot pink, navy and orange! 

Anyhoo....I was taking Claudine Hellmuth's online class where we learned a bazillion new techniques.  One was using embossing powder on sticky back canvas.  And although I really like that particular technique, there was a little light turned on in my noggin to use the embossing powder on leather.  Oh sweet baby in a footed onesie, this was the mecca.  First because I've been a buying stuff for years including embossing powder and rubber stamps.  So the piles where there waiting for their rising from the studio grave.

This is kinda addicting.  In case you try it.  So many combinations.  So many end results.  These are of course headed off to the Naked Art Gallery.  The first batch I made and sent her all sold the first month.  Birmingham people know good stuff when they see it I tell ya.  If you like any you see however on my instagram feed let me know before I ship.  Be glad to sell one to you.  BTW I'm artsyorange on instagram. 

Well...gotta go make some dreams come to life.  Hope you guys are having a fabulous Thursday!

Leather Cuffs and Breaking the Rule

I adopted a policy in my studio.....about a year ago.  When I had the great yard sale clean out and made like $1000.  Yeah.  That was cool.  The policy goes a little something like this:  Use the supplies you've got and then you can buy more.  See what you really miss making and then buy more.  Now this rule does not apply to painting.  I always need new boards and fresh paint.  This rules applies more to my jewelry making and sewing addictions.  Yes, addictions.

I love to make myself jewelry.  Which usually leads to people liking it and me getting the light bulb idea that maybe if I made more people would buy it and I could make money and...and...and it might be the next big thing, right? Right.  So in other words, I start making stuff, make a batch, then move on.  When it comes to jewelry making that is.

 I found a source for leather cuffs at the mart years ago and started making simple little cuffs with hand stamped messages, beads and charms on them as an addition to the gentle reminder bracelets.  Which BTW are quite dainty.  And sell like hot cakes wherever I take them.  But leather cuffs seem to be popular so I added them into the mix.  Although I wasn't skilled enough to figure out how to add the stamped pieces with ease.  Until I took and enameling class of all things and she taught me how!  That was in Portland, OR in October of 2011. 

 I tell you all this because it amazes me how even in jewelry making how my skills and creativity have evolved.  One night when I should have been working on paintings I got the wild hair brain idea to emboss on the leather with my scrapbook embossing powder.  Yes, that pixie dust stuff that gets everywhere it shouldn't and lingers for years after.  And it worked.  And I love it.  And reading your comments on my insta and FB feed I am thinking I might need to go out a buy more cuffs.  Because these were the last of my stash.  A part of the rule:  don't buy more until you find out what you really love making and then go buy more.  I've used every last one of the 100's of leather cuffs I bought (Yes, that was a pricey purchase years ago because I do that, buy in bulk for fear of never seeing it again and then have stuff for years which leads to the issue of art supply hoarding and borders on an issue I might really need therapy for.  Yeah.)

The rack above photoed at the Country Living Fair are the original cuffs.  They were actually watch leather cuffs.  That way I could hide all the jerry-rigging wire.  Hahaha  now that I have the snappy things I don't have to worry so much about that issue.  Honestly I love some of the cuffs with just the embossing.  I really can't wait to try more.  Vero at Naked Art gallery in Birmingham, AL is very excited to be getting them for the holiday season.  Look for posts about how and when you can purchase then there or here in Atlanta at upcoming shows.

Well...gotta get going.  I'm working on a rather BIG project with Clementine the Bunny.  A project that is scaring the poo outta me.  That doesn't happen much.  But it is right now.  Basically she and I have to put on our big girl panties and get busy.  See ya on the downside of the week!

Texture Cuff

Ahh...the weekends.  Very different for us right now without our William playing travel baseball.  I kinda miss it, the interactions with other humans and watching him play.  But man.....it was really nice having a weekend to do, well.....NOTHING.  Saturday morning I woke and got my 14 mile run over with before anyone was up.  It was perfect weather.  A little misty rain the entire time with the bottom falling out right at the end.   I tried the audio book and that was awesome.  2.5 hours flew by.  No really.   Here's proof I survived the longest run in the history of my 41 years.  This picture cracks me up.  I look like a bobble head!

 I'd jokingly put a box of Gluten Free pancake mix on the counter the night before and said to Billy, "You can make these for me tomorrow if you want."  (Just a little background, Billy is the pancake man.  He loves making them for all of us.  I bought the GF because I have to limit my wheat intake the rest of my life.  To be honest, everything GF I've eaten so far has tasted better than wheat products.  Even Billy agreed the pancakes were amazing.)  Seeing my man in the kitchen makes me all smitten with him again.  It's the little things when ya been together 22 years.

After a hot shower and a movie with William (We watched Oblivion which totally sucked.  I was like what?  What was that about again?   Don't waste your rental mola.) I headed on down to the studio for some art making.  I took an online class with Claudine Hellmuth this past month.  It was a month of techniques....a lot a techniques I have to add.  One stood out to me and so I trotted off to buy the supplies for it last Monday.  I mean what the heck....it's not like I don't have enough art supplies in my studio right?  It was called faux leather I think.  Using sticky back canvas and embossing powder.  And although I enjoyed the technique and it pushed my thinking, the stencils were a pain, expensive and limiting.  I made a bunch, which I'll sell.  But I kept thinking there has to be a better way......

So my wheels started spinning and I thought, can I use embossing powder on leather?  Why yes Jenni, you can.  And so this happened:

 And then these happened.

 And now I am kicking myself for the binge clean out where I got rid of all but these 8 leather cuffs.

I never got back into the studio to finish adding the metal stampings to the embossed cuffs.  Next weekend I hope to get back.  Mostly after the few hours in the studio I laid around the house.  Sunday was church and more laying around.  William and I Sunday rented another movie in which both of us fell asleep during.  Hilarious right?  Billy and Mailey just piddled all day while we snoozed.  William actually slept I think about 5 hours.  Football is kicking his booty.  Mine too obviously.  Haha...actually I'm pretty sure my napping was due to the 2nd week of school exhaustion and my running schedule. 

So....big week ahead.  Open House for me and the kids, Football Jamboree and more.  Oh and after school art classes start back this week too.  Pretty sure I won't be back here until next week.  So have an awesome creative week!

Let's Talk About Something Else

Yes.  Please....let's talk about something other than houses and teaching.  How about....ummmmm.....these super great new additions to my etsy shop!!  I'm determined to use all the charms and beads in my drawer and not buy a single thing.  Determined.   I did have to buy the leather blanks to attach these baubles to, and have zero regrets about that!  They are like butter, so soft.

There are many styles and colors to choose from in the shop.  I've also filled a shelf in my booth at The Vintage-Flea.  So shop peeps....shop!  Early Christmas shopping, Birthday shopping or just a happy day shopping. 

And yes, this orange wide cuff is by far my favorite.  It's about 3" thick.  Fabulous.  Can you just see it....jeans, white tee and this on your wrist?  Yes I can!!

The Newness of it All

So remember my post a few days back when I showed my new jewelry pieces and parts?  Well.....I finally got into the studio and started making stuff!!!  Woohoooo!!  I am in love with these.  Especially the cow hide one on the bottom with the intricate brass plate with stamping.  They are super comfy.  And yes, custom orders are welcome!!  The newness of all this making is so energizing to my creative soul!

I hope to get back into the studio today to finish up a dozen or so.  This summer is keeping me super busy in so many ways.  I haven't found my way into the studio as much as I like, but that's ok.  There aren't too many summers left with my kiddos in the house or where they actually want to do stuff with me.  Know what I mean?

I will list a few in etsy with the rest headed to the Vintage-Flea in Newnan.  I'll keep you posted through my facebook page as to when!!  So head on over and join to get in on the latest adventures and heads up on etsy listings.