thankful...

for the food we eat...

the family we have...

the friends who fill our hearts...

and the memories to be had...

happy thanksgiving!

a long lost gift, regifted...

when my husband was young 

he loved to collect rocks

he was fascinated, he even had a rock tumbler...

when he was nine or ten his nannie (grandmother) went to Isreal 

she said she would bring him a talis from Isreal for his bar mitzvah

what she didn't tell him was she found rocks in her travels,  she labeled them

and could not wait to give them to marc.

he treasured those rocks and kept them safe in his 1967 "Hot Wheels" case

for years... 

nannie wrote on each rock the place of it's origin....

I am inspired by restoration hardware's artifacts & curiosities...

and so I started on his gift...

I purchased this beautiful replica of

an old french oval cloche

I measured, marked and drilled holes...

1.50" verticle & 2.25" horizontal

I bought small brass rods, measured and cut them

3.5", 6", 9" & 11.5" 

I layed out the rocks

and marked the center bottom

I grabbed my dremmel, turned on a stream of cold water,

held & placed my rock under the water

and drilled...

I did say a little prayer each time, I was so afraid the rocks would crack or break

my prayers were answered and the holes came out perfect!

 I wanted them labeled even though nannie wrote on each one

so I researched and typed the information I needed on a creamy parchment,

cut mica and glued my information directly to the mica

I glued the rocks to the brass with E600

I secured the brass posts 

I used double stick tape and adhered the mica labels to the brass, just under each rock, 

then I took slender pieces of masking tape and attached it to each label from behind

I placed the cloche over this museum piece 

I had just finished...

 my husband was brought to tears...

he loved his nannie, I hear he was her favorite...

textiles...

I love...

 old, tattered, scrappy, worn

pieces of fabrics & trims

I love...

the feel of old,

I call it comfort 

what does one do with all the tid bits & scraps

of textiles and trims...

1. lay out & design

2. hand sew

3. name & number 

4. debut 

the "rosemary james" tote

a sneak peak   

they can be seen & purchased at 

a beautiful mess antiques

(custom orders upon request)

november already!...

this year has gone by so very fast

it's hard to believe it's november!

the last few weeks have been very busy...

I have been teaching my dear friend sue how to sew and quilt.
I helped her make these darling shoes for her niece
"penny"

tiny and super cute!

we had a few b-days to celebrate...

what to do with cash gifts?!

roll up the cash, tie it with string, wrap the string around the bottle stopper

& dip in wax several times.

pretty cute!

next on my list...

GILDING THE LILY

taught our jewelry design class with dede

these ladies are so talented! each left with 2-3 pieces completed...

my design for the beginning of dede's 

"rhinestone cowboy"

necklace...

  can't wait to see it complete!

a few gemstone necklaces for 

etsy...

wait till you see all of my textile pieces!!
I love them, I'll post them in a few days...

together again...

dede, pearl, cindy and I

are at it again...

cigar boxes painted and layered in tissue...

our cigar box shrines...

and then...

pulled pork and a day of sewing...

vintage remnants...

we all brought enough to share,

so we all had a little of someone elses treasures...

placing and cutting...

the beginning of a handbag...

dishtowels, vintage suade belt, needlepoint, patchwork quilt,

and old linen...

completed this bag!

  

honoring memories...

I have been so privileged to have

 two great articles published 

in one magazine!

stampington's

"somerset memories"

a tribute to my grandfather

and a memorable gift to my

son on his 21st

birthday

thank you stampington!!

the last of summer...

it's only been a few weeks and we are 

missing our little ones already...

haley is back in NY and so is jake

i felt very fortunate having them home my only wish

was to have them here at the same time!

I loved my time with haley! we sat in the studio for days 

teaching her and making jewelry!

look at her creations!!

(she is addicted)

from cutting brass to wire wrapping, soldering

 and  texturing metal... 

the top piece is a headband

and looks so beautiful on her...

this was her first piece! hammering, soldering, wrapping and learning about E600!  

we are the free and the brave...

I sat down to watch a little bit of the news this morning...

it made me frustrated, angry, sad and proud

911

is a bitter sweet day for all Americans.

I use the term bitter sweet only beacuse it was a tradgedy on American soil

and a tradgedy that brought all peoples of the USA together as one 

as Americans.

we were not democrats

we were not republicans

we were not of any religion

we were not of any race

we were not of any gender

we were not of any class

we were 

AMERICANS

united as one people

it was a feeling and a bond that lasted months,

a common thread that bound us all,

it was powerful!

I am truly saddened that these threads that bind us together 

have aged and broken...

let us remember yesterday, today and tomorrow

let us remember the tradgedy of 911 and let us never forget

the innocent, the heros & the sacrifices,

let us remember we are all

first and foremost

AMERICANS

united as one...