New Art to Share

Below are a few pieces I've been working on. All listed in my Etsy shop!

The first three pieces use one of my favorite mediums, resin. The ring features a tiny undamaged German frozen Charlotte.

And just for fun because I'm a huge Twilight fan!

(I'm team Jacob just FYI)

And more sweet Chenille ornaments, this time more of a paper doll style. I used the Retro Cafe Art German Doll Heads Collage Sheet and Paper Roses amongst other things!

My Banner and Lots of China Doll Heads

The other day, I hung up my banner that I usually use for art/craft fairs in my supply room and I LOVE how it looks! I'm very against putting holes in the walls (when we bought the house we spent DAYS patching holes), however I recently discovered the Command Hooks by 3M so problem solved! They come off the wall without leaving any marks. I also rearranged some of my favorite babies :).

I also had an order on my site for 18 doll heads with cutting fee, the most I've ever done at one time! They looked so sweet all lined up. Doesn't it look like the larger doll is the teacher lining the "children" up for a school photo? Lol! I love how each face is a bit different! That's hand painted for you :).

Simply Swank Soldering at Retro Cafe Art!

As many of you know, I LOVE to solder! So I was really excited to add these lovely products by Simply Swank to the store! You can get a whole KIT with EVERYTHING you need to start soldering as well as many other goodies. I've heard the DVD is awesome too! And I'd be lying if I said I didn't love that everything is PINK!

Some soldered charms by moi.

Homepage Update and Valentine's Day Goodies!

Now that New Year's Day is behind us, it's time for one of my favorite holidays, Valentine's Day! Now, yes, it is a "Hallmark Holiday" but what other holiday is centered around LOVE, PINK, XOXO's, and CANDY?

I updated the homepage at Retro Cafe Art, I hope you like it!

I also wanted to share some of my favorite Retro Cafe Art goodies, perfect for Valentine's Day!

Lovely Collage Sheets...

Dollie Collage Sheets in Paper and Digital format...

Jenny Bowlin Bingo Cards...

Yummy paper roses in reds, pinks, white, cream, and more...

German Glass Glitter in wonderful V-day colors...

And German Dresden, TONS that are perfect for the holiday with crowns, wings, hearts, birds, in lovely reds, silvers, golds, and more...

Plenty of other goodies on the site too, but those were my favorites! Get your goodies now so you have plenty of time to make those handmade Valentines!

xoxo, Kristin

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