Vintage Family Photos

Before taking up jewelry, I was obsessed with framing vintage family photos. Our dining room is covered with them and somewhat tell a story of our family. I say "somewhat" because most of these folks passed away before we had the opportunity to know them.

Mom and Dad's first Holy Communion photos framed side by side.

A favorite of my sister (seester), Susan, and our brother, Michael, both toddlers. So cute.

Dad's grandparents, immigrants from Germany.

Jeff with his mom, Doris, when he was 3 years old. Love this!

Dad, as a teenager; I swear it looks like me when I was a teen! Lol!

Dad's mother, Elsie. She passed away when I was a baby.

More later -- this is fun!

Must go sell some jewels -- happy day to you!

Reflection on 2013

On this first day of 2014, I can't help but reflect on the past year.

A few exciting developments have happened and just as many challenging and frustrating developments as well!

Steph's Jewels has had its most successful year to date. Sharing a shop at the PNC 2nd Street Market with Decoy Art Studio has been the opportunity I've needed and wanted for a long time! Increased custom orders, reaching regular market customers from Tipp City to Springboro, and the sheer volume of jewelry sales have all been very exciting and positive! Yet, taking a year break from art and craft shows, missing regular design and planning sessions with Heather, my dear friend (and partner in crime and creativity), and scaled back presence at local shops and boutiques have been difficult.

In 2014, I pledge to:
1. Bring my customers new and exciting upcycled vintage jewelry designs.
2. Try a few major out-of-town shows that Sherri of Sweet Annie's Vintage and I have been wanting to try.
3. Work with my market partner, Tabitha of Decoy Art, to take our market shop to the next level.
4. Renew Steph's Jewel's Etsy shop, with help from Stephanie of Steph's Jewels 4 Ella (my extraordinarily talented daughter).
5. Give better attention to my valued relationships with local shops that graciously pedal my wares - Myndi of Beans and Cream in Cedarville, DJ of Urban Handmade in Yellow Springs, Mary Kathryn of Clash Consignments in the Oregon District, Barb of Lorelei's in Centerville, and Erica of Rusty and Chippy in Xenia.

Thank you to all who have helped Steph's Jewel's and I to have a successful 2013. And cheers to 2014!

Steph's Jewels' 15 Seconds of Fame!

Many thanks to The Dayton Informer, Webster Street Market and Handmade Dayton!

http://daytoninformer.com/?p=38590

Loralei's Heart of Centerville Event

Many thanks to Loralei's for a wonderful evening with Art in the Heart of Centerville Friday, May 18, 2012.  They invited me to be their featured artist and to demonstrate artwork involving their customers.

I offered up a choice of vintage buttons and other earring components to make earrings for only $3.  It was a very popular event! 

Here's a photo of our first happy customer wearing her new pair of Steph's Jewels' Vintage Button Earrings!  I would have taken more photos of happy customers, but I was busy making earrings!  :)

New Year. New Lovely Ladies.

With Handmade Dayton Etsy Team's monthly meeting scheduled for tomorrow, I wanted to bring some "freebies" to share.  We like to send our customers little samples as a way to promote each other's Etsy shops.

I had so much fun last year incorporating beautiful images of Vintage Lovely Ladies into my jewelry, that I thought it might be nice to try them in a "freebie" promo item.  Little images found their way onto mini oval glass tiles mounted on pretty little filigrees.  They turned out so cool that I'm going to do something special with them... not sure what yet.... but they will definitely become the focal point of a new Steph's Jewels series.  Here's a sneak peek...

Now... I have two dilemmas.  1.) Just what exactly to design using them.  and 2.) A new idea for "freebies".  :)

While searching a flea market in Corbin, Kentucky, I found this lovely vintage rhinestone necklace with several links - what a find!  Each of these pretty little links may be just the perfect marriage my new Lovely Ladies desire!

I snapped a photo of this beautiful painting in the bathroom at a favorite coffee shop recently.  She will be a new project soon as well... stay tuned...

Any ideas on a perfect name for her?

Ella 2012

May I please brag about my beautiful grand-daughter, Ella?

She is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside! :)

This photo of L just makes me happy :)



She's painting my Christmas gift - a Nutcracker ornament :)  Crafting is serious business to Ella :)



Natalie is Ella's best friend.  She moved away recently. My wish for them is to always cherish this photo.

Handmade Gifts on My List!

Hoping your Holiday planning is off to a great start! I was thinking about all my friends planning gifts for everyone on your list and decided I would help by sharing some of my favorite handmade items from the Handmade Dayton Etsy Team. All are available right now on-line at Etsy.com.

Please visit these shops to browse and buy handmade gifts for yourself or for others - you'll be glad you did! You may even get addicted to these fabulous items like I am!

For a fashion-forward lady in your life, you can't go wrong with a Handbag made of repurposed men's neckties, or Earrings made of guitar-picks named after famous Vintage Rock and Pop Songs. If you haven’t tried Hand-knit Fingerless Gloves, you really must!

My friend, Tracy, does custom-made dresses inspired by decades gone-by. Very classic and special. Check out this beauty. What fashion-forward lady wouldn’t just LOVE to have the promise of a custom-made dress under the tree this Holiday season?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82508544/messenger-bag-repurposed-neckties

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69096396/guitar-pick-earrings-hey-jude

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82521147/hand-knit-fingerless-gloves-wristwarmers

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87005667/haute-couture-custom-made-dress-french

For the art-lover, please browse these works of art! Perfect for a kitchen, this oil painting of a pear is one of my favorites. And the photograph of A Foggy Drive represents the calm and peace of a first fallen snow. Have you ever heard of sand-painting? I never had until I met the artist of this beautiful nativity scene. It’s such a beautiful technique!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75635952/the-pear

http://www.etsy.com/listing/20699344/foggy-drive-8x10-print

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60769998/o-little-town-of-bethlehem-sand-painting


Need a Hostess Gift? Try one of these… Handy Jan’s Tea Towels are a blast! I love this one of a retro cocktail party. Also, check out the beautiful handmade cards at Cathartic Slant’s shop. And the handmade paper roses pictured below are absolutely gorgeous for many uses and would make any hostess happy!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70873102/cocktail-party-tea-towel

http://www.etsy.com/listing/38478159/seasons-card-set

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68772308/u-pick-bulk-order-20-assorted-large


For the kid in your life, please allow me to suggest some one-of-a-kind handmade critters that also make pretty comfy pillows!  Ella’s favorite is one of SnowMachine’s robots. And this adorable owl is made of recycled materials!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68842419/robot-plushie-medium

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79568112/handmade-owl-pillow-in-pink-and-yellow

Happy Handmade Holiday!