Happy New Year!

Just wanted to wish you, my lovely friends, a very happy, safe, and artful New Year! Chris and I will be relaxing at home with some shrimp cocktail and yummy pink strawberry champagne! What could be better?

"Heal" Small German Doll Necklace

Here is another piece I worked on during Christmas. When I was trying to decide what word seemed best, I thought of my aunt battling her illness so the word "heal" came to mind.

The necklace features a small German doll body that is over 100 years old. The wings are metal, and the entire doll centerpiece measures 1.75" x 1.75". I attached the body first by sewing her on the butterfly filigree with layers and layers of string (like a cocoon). Then I painted and sealed the "cocoon" with resin. The word "heal" on her chest is also sealed with resin. While the resin was still curing, I sprinkled on some mica flakes and glitter for some shimmer.
I hand wrappped the beads (both vintage and new), including two hand wrapped by me "eye of god" wraps that I learned how to create from the book Just Simply Charming, gifted to me for Christmas by my friend Bianca. I used steel and german wires, which will not tarnish or rust. Measures just around 18" long, but can be shortened. I listed the piece HERE on my site.

Christmas Spirit, Better Late Then Never

I must admit, I was not having the best Christmas this year. At the beginning of the week, my aunt from Chicago was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. So on Christmas Eve, I drove to Chicago, 7 hours round trip in one day to go see her. She was unconscious (drug induced comma) and although I was able to see her, she wasn't awake. I'm happy to report, she is now awake and doing much better, but I didn't hear the good news until late last night. Then, Christmas morning Christopher and I woke up to our skylight/roof pouring down water. I just lost it and cried most of the day (I couldn't help it!). You know the saying you just wanted to crawl in bed and stay there? Well, that is what I did until about 3pm, which is not like me at all. Later that day, I forced (yes forced, can you believe it?) myself to make some art. And it helped SO MUCH. Today I'm feeling much better, and wanted to share my little Christmas joys with you. At least I got into the Christmas mood at some point. Today it even snowed a bit (instead of the ick rain Christmas Day). I've seen old fashioned Chenille ornaments before and I've always loved them! So I taught myself how to make them and added my own spin using antique China Doll heads! I hope you like them! I have listed them HERE with more photos.

My friend Cassandra send me the crepe paper, little flower, and the rhinestone bling that is on the angel ornament a while back! Thanks girlie! I finally used it :).

I used the small sized China Doll heads which you can get HERE in my shop! Be sure to take advantage of the cutting offered for a small fee.

Speaking of gifts, I received this gorgeous Christmas pillow from my adopted Mossy Mom Joanna Pierotti! The image is a scan of one of her hand painted doll faces and I just love the quote. And it smelled so yummy! I LOVE YOU Mossy Mom!

The two photos below were taken by my friend Rhonda of her doll collection! Isn't it just fabulous! I love how she has the glass cover over a few of them! A few of the dolls she purchased from my shop, including the very tiny one. Thanks for letting me share these Rhonda! Sometimes Christopher rolls his eyes re: my dolls but I insist I'm not the only one! Proof!

And here is my latest baby. When I bought her, I fell in love with her ruffly dress and booties. Not to mention she is a sleepy doll baby. She is not as old as my usual dolls, but I just loved her. And after doing some research on her markings (the word Ideal pat. pend. with a circle on her back), I found out that she is "Boopsy" doll created by the Ideal doll company from 1950-1955. She originally came with only a diaper. I'm pretty sure I got a great deal on her too, as I didn't not know this, nor did the seller. Love those side glancing eyes!

And here are some sweet Charlottes from Japan. I've had them for a while, but never photographed them. The little baby with the puffy dress is very unique!

Happy New Year friends!

Carrie's Tag

Check out this sweet tag by Carrie Rees! She recently purchased 2 digital sheets, Nature Fairies and Hello Dollie Bodies. I'm SO glad she decided to share. Too sweet!

German Glass Glitter and Flitter!

NEW IN THE SHOP! Gorgeous Imported German Glass Glitter! Here are just a FEW of my favorite colors, but you can get them ALL HERE!

And how about some FLITTER! This is new to me, and I LOVE IT! It's like glitter meets mica flakes!

China Doll Fabric Ornaments and a Craft Show

I had so much fun making these sweet ornaments today! Three of them are for dear friends, and the one below I listed here on my site! At first I started stuffing them (bottom row) but decided that distorted the face too much. So I switched to a stiff interfacing instead. The china doll images came from the Hello Doll Christmas II Collage Sheet printed on fabric. Each doll that will be gifted is personalized with special text.

With all the happenings around the tree, a little Charlotte popped up to see what was going on!

Last night was my last craft show of the season. It took place downtown in a really cool urban locale. Here is a shot durring set-up.

My space.

I donned my antlers for the occassion!

Kelly's Sample

Check out this lovely sample by DT member Kelly Burton using the Hello Dollie Christmas II Collage sheet. I especially love the background. Thanks Kelly!

Please Vote for Me :).

Hi everyone, I entered my Charlotte cupcake in a little crafting contest on Michaels.com. I would love it if you would vote for me. Under the picture you just click the rating scale (a 5 I hope). It only takes a few seconds and you don't have to enter any info. etc.

Here is the link to my piece:
http://michaelscontest.com/uploads/1918

I would really appreciate it!!!!
~Kristin

Cupcake Queen Necklaces

I had fun making these "Cupcake Queen" resin necklaces! When the Provincial Frames were added to the store, I knew immediately I would make jewelry out of them! The Edwardian Frames could be used too. For one of the chains, I used the black rosary link necklace. Sealed on the fronts and backs with shiny glass-like resin!


I listed both sweet necklaces HERE.

New Homepage Image

I just updated the Retro Cafe Art Gallery Homepage! I hope you like it!

Holiday Inspiration - Design Team Samples

I have some LOVELY festive art samples to share from the wonderful Design Team members!!

Audrey Hernandez made these gorgeous Fabric ATCs using several Fabric collage sheets including: Christmas Birds, Bella Grunge ATC Backgrounds, and Eggs and Other Curiosities and of course several other lovely bits.

Love them Audrey!

Kelly Burton created these lovely samples using two of the new collage sheets: Hello Dollie Christmas 1 & Hello Dollie Christmas II.

Fabulous Kelly!

Heather Robinson made these super SWEET ornaments which include images from Christmas Cuties 1 & Christmas Cuties II. The house ornaments were also from Retro Cafe Art, but sadly they have been discontinued by the manufacturer.

So adorable Heather!

Nancy Dooren created this magical skinny with an image from Hello Dollie Christmas 1.
Gorgeous Nancy!

New Goodies in the Shop!

I just listed lots of new goodies on the site! Here are a few of my favorites! See ALL of the new goodies HERE!