Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Pretty Paperweights

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Hello, dear friends!

Just a short little post for you today…I’m still having a hard time revving up my creative juices after being away so much this summer…so these little projects were just perfect for me this weekend…

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I found a a couple of simple dollar store paperweights while cleaning my craft room (another of my summer projects!)…and I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do with them…..

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…two beautiful images taken from Crafty Secrets’ new “Mini-Vintage” Creative Scraps would fill them up quite nicely!

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A bit of glitter added to eggs and flowers on the bird image, and a framing of Platinum Stickles for both images…

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Now for some simple finishing touches…here, just a wrapping of lovely aqua seam binding, topped off with a few perfect, vintage millinery flowers…easy peasy!

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It’s hard to get a good image with the globy glass on top, but I’m quite pleased with the way they turned out…

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For the second paperweight—with the beautiful lady gardener—I decided to surround the paperweight with vintage mother-of-pearl  buttons…one of my great loves…

…I kept it very quick and easy…no threading the buttons this time…

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…and the finished product under glass.  I love the slightly magnified effect it has…very fun!

I really love this vintage gardener image…it reminds me of one of my very favorite paintings of all…

… “My Sweet Rose”, by John William Waterhouse…one of my favorite of the pre-Raphaelite artists…

One of the reasons I love this painting so much is that it has always reminded me of my beautifully elegant great-grandmother, Estella…

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…a young woman during the later years that Waterhouse painted, she has that same look to me that he portrayed in his work…

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Now…I must warn you….I’ve been inspired by so many things during this short—but very busy summer—that I’ll be trying many new and wonderful projects out on you very soon…

…art journaling

…altered vintage photo albums

…vintage tiara making (going to have fun with these!)

…family history-filled shadowboxes

…crazy quilting (using my great-great-great grandmother’s crazy quilt for inspiration)

…and…craziest of all…homeschooling my two teenage daughters.  Call me crazy.  But definitely call me happy & excited!

Life is busy.  Life is unexpected.  Life is messy.  Life is very, very, very GOOD.

See you soon with something new!

Julie

16 comments:

  1. Julie,
    Love those little paperweight idea. What a great idea! I think I need some squares!!!!
    I think it is a huge tribute to you that your teenage daughters want you to homeschool them!!! Just a wonderful idea. Go for it. They look like they are both so sweet and so full of fun!
    Big hug,
    Suz

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  2. Your simple projects are very beautiful...love the pretty images you put into them! :D

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  3. Julie, I have truly missed you. I know you have been gone and doing girls camp and other vacations. I was so happy to see your blog post at the top of my blog list. Your paperweights are so darling, just like everything your hands and mind come up with. My summer has been quite busy too, but we are official empty nesters. I have been blogging my little heart out. Having tea party and lessons in manners with my granddaughter, visiting my very large family in various places in Utah, going antiquing and doing some designing work for storytellers club. Oh, and I wanted to tell you that I took the Jane Austen quiz and I am most like Elinor Dashwood too.

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  4. Julie, so good to see a post from you this morning. I love your paperweights. How very beautiful they are. So lovely. (As usual.) Sounds like you have had a beautiful summer so far. I think homeschooling will be a wonderful experience for you. I always wish that I had homeschooled my children. My brother and his wife have homeschooled all four of their girls. The girls are a credit to their parents, very well adjusted, intelligent and happy. Love and hugs to you! I have missed you my dear friend! xxoo

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  5. Hi Julie, those paperweights turned out beautifully. But then, everything you do is always fabulous. How wonderful to take a $1 store find and turn it into something so pretty and useful.

    Wow! It sounds like you are in for some fun and busy times. I thought about homeschooling many years ago but wound up teaching kindergarten for 7 years instead and my boys went to the schools I taught at. Now I just couldn't imagine doing it since they are going to be in 11th and 8th grade. I am sure you and the girls will be quite successful at it.

    I love all the art journaling I see out there in blogland. And the crazy quilting too. I just can't seem to get my creative juices in either of those areas at the moment though. I used to draw and doodle a lot but doesn't come quite so easily to me now. And sewing was never, ever my thing, although I am attempting very small projects at the moment. I can't wait to see what you come up with. No doubt I will be inspired!

    HAve a terrific Tuesday and a great rest of the week. Tammy

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  6. BEAUTIFUL Post and your great grandmother is elegant and beautiful......my favourite genre of paintings are from the Pre-Raphaelites!
    Karen

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  7. Hi Julie, I love your paper weights, their beautiful. I especially love the one with the bird! I can't wait to see what projects you will be sharing with us! Glad your back!!!
    hugs~~~ Daphne

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  8. Julie,
    These paper weights are just beautiful.. so simple yet divine.. :) HUGS

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  9. Your paperweights are gorgeous Julie!

    Hugs,
    Robin

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  10. Julie, your paper weights are beautiful! I love the sweet images you used, and the fun way you finished off the edges with buttons and ribbon.

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  11. How funny, 'My Sweet Rose' has been one of my favorite paintings since I was a girl.
    ♥ ♥ ♥

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  12. I just love your paper weights that you made. Can't wait to see all your new projects. I know they will be lovely. Good luck with your homeschooling.

    Have a great week.

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  13. Oh my friend these are so pretty....I love paperweights. Happy day to you. xoxo

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  14. Hello Julie!

    Glad you have had a wonderful summer! Hope you took lots of pictures! We have a sweet cray quilt in our family that is at my parents. I remember it well growing up. All that work and all the different stitches! My favorite was the chicken scratch. LOVE your pretty paper weights too!

    Hugs,
    Maryjane

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  15. Julie, beautiful post! I am excited for you homeschooling! We homeschooled both kids and I never regretted it! Good luck! Twyla

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