A Gathering of Tearful Beauties

Layering - The Sky's the Limit!

 
Vintage Carved Celluloid and Goldtone Chain Necklace layered with ethnic inspired Bone Dagger and Bead Necklace

There's been alot of press over the last few years about the flexibility and flair behind layering clothing pieces.  Stores like Old Navy and H&M offer a wide array of light weight knits and sheer fabrics for this purpose and to save the wearer from "baking" like a hot potato.  Now comes the new trend of layering jewelry pieces to create a more interesting, in depth jewelry statement.  New with Vintage, multiple metal chains with ceramic beads, bohemian or ethnic styles with victorian cameos.  The sky's the limit!

The Bone Dagger and Bead Necklace above and Red Wafer and Round Bead and Brass Bead Necklace below are both currently offered in my BlissQuest Etsy Shoppe .

 
Mid-Century Celluloid and Brass Floral Choker over a Damascene Coin Necklace and anchored by an ethnic inspired Dyed Wood Wafer and Round Bead and Brass Bead Necklace - all vintage 

Not only can you layer these beauties on yourself, but display them in your bedroom or dressing room on these nifty jewelry forms.  Readily available at Michaels and other craft stores for around $12 CAD usually in black and white.  Or online at shoppes like  www.notablenotions.etsy.com or www.displaydiva.etsy.com . 

www.displaydiva.etsy.com

www.notablenotions.etsy.com

 
Silverplate Tidbit Tray Repurposed as a Jewelry Holder

I wasn't kidding when I said "the sky's the limit".  Repurpose a diminutive silverplate tiered tidbit tray (oh it's that layering thing again) as a bedside or vanity table jewelry holder.  The tray above is currently for sale in my Blissquest Etsy Shoppe along with oodles of vintage jewelry pieces. 

 
 

Repurposed Vintage Dishes - "Garden Variety" OOAK Jewelry Holder from Etsy Shoppe RestNot

You can't have this beauty as I just purchased it from my friend Jennifer at RestNot and she's  working on a custom order OOAK jewelry holder for me right now!  Why not get her working on a special order for you too?

'Nuff said about "layering". 

BeJoyful mes amis!

Winter Redeems Itself

 

WINTER REDEEMS ITSELF

Winter leaves little to be desired for me,

So I search about in this life of mine and,

When I think all is lost,

I see.

 
Do you see what I see?  How many? 

Our beloved cardinals only seem to show themselves when the snow is falling.  Even then.......as the pictures show........they're elusive and try to mask themselves by their surroundings. 

BEJOYFUL!

Long Standing Love Affair and BlissQuest's JewelryNest Shoppe

 
 
 
My husband.....L.....O.....V.....E.....S....trains.  Model trains or full grown trains, he absolutely adores them, hence this long standing love affair.  Needless to say, our home during the Christmas season is decorated to a certain extent with train ornaments.

 

 

One year he actually decided to put the traditional model train set around the bottom of the tree after all the presents were open.  But then he discovered the potential for the train cars to become kid and cat toys (we have 2 children and four cats) to be a little too high.  No more tree train.  So we roll with the ornamentals like the one above. 

BLISSQUEST'S JEWELRYNEST ETSY SHOPPE

I have resurrected my Etsy BlissQuest shoppe this week.   Previously it was the home for BarbaraDoone's current trend jewelry line.  For 2011, at least, it's becoming the JEWELRYNEST.  I will be offering wearable vintage jewelry, excess glass and other beads and tools for your crafting pleasure, and destash lots of broken jewelry and other such neat stuff.  Oh and I'll be throwing in some display and packaging items as well.  Great prices as I gotta get rid of some crafting stuff!

 
Vintage Cloisonnee Bangles $9 US

 
Funky and Chunky Necklace $12.50 US

 
Crystal Cross Pendant Necklace $21 US

BOGO pricing.  Buy one higher priced item at full price and receive the second item 50% off, buy the third item full price and the 4th 50% off, you get it.    Just e-mail or convo me through Etsy the items you want and I will adjust the pricing accordingly.  OR, buy them and I will process a refund through your Paypal account. 

 
Coffee and Cream Clip-On Earrings $15 US

I will be moving the lower priced vintage jewelry pieces currently offered in my BeJoyfulVintage Etsy Shoppe to the JewelryNest over the next few days.  I may even take the liberty of adding chain and ribbon etc. to some pieces to do a little makeover but the prices will stay low, low, low and BOGO will drive them even lower. 

 
Boho Chic Mother of Pearl Pendant Necklace $16 US

This is a stunning mother of pearl hibiscus pendant.  I've added some multi-hued sari ribbon, antiqued brass chain and a antiqued brass lobster claw.  Ready to wear or remove from the ribbon and put the pendant on another chain. 

There you have it. 

Christmas is coming fast.  the BarbaraDoone Etsy Shoppe  BeJoyfulVintage Etsy Shoppe and BlissQuest's JewelryNest Etsy Shoppe  still have lots of goodies on hand to help with your Christmas list, at least locally.  E-mail me at bejoyful@barbaradoone.com if you need help with deciding on what to give that special someone for Christmas and New Year's. 

This truly is the season to BeJoyful!  Give it a try, it's catching!

 

 

 

BeJoyfulVintage in Blogland and Vintage Lace Pendant Necklace Giveaway

 
"Coeur et la Tete" Pendant Necklace

I've begun doing some online advertising of late.  The BeJoyfulVintage avatar and link now appears in the VintageIndie Blog and CityofDionne Blog . 

Both blogs are run by dynamic, trend setting women, putting themselves "out there" to brand great artisan made and vintage wares and sharing bits and pieces of their daily lives with the masses.  Take a moment and check these blogs out - you'll enjoy some great reads and pix. 

I am contributing my vintage lace pendant necklace, "Coeur et la Tete", to a giveaway that will be held on the CityofDionne Blog in the near future.  The necklace features a vintage lace snippet and vintage french dictionary phrase sandwiched between two glass slides.  A freshwater pearl and heart charm add more spice.  And, a vintage ribbon bow bedecks the simple silvertone bead chain.   

Keep watch on Dionne's blog for the giveaway details.  There will be several different gift bags to be won and the pendant will be in one of them. 

 
I will be making more of these necklaces, each OOAK, and offering them through my BeJoyfulVintage Etsy Shoppe . Keep a watch for them. I continue to offer my OOAK Art Jewelry History Collection pieces through my BarbaraDoone Etsy Shoppe .

Oh, BTW, I'm also offering a 15% discount on all items in the shoppe from now 'til the end of January, 2011.  Use discount code XMASJOY2010 at checkout time to ensure the discount is processed automatically. 

BJF and Merry Christmas!

3rd Annual MaMi Shoppes "A Country Christmas in the Village of Solina"

 

 
 Once again Studio BarbaraDoone will be participating in the annual MaMi Shoppes "A Country Christmas in the Village of Solina" sale.  The brainchild of the fab three, Heather Senter, Rachel Stoklosa and Rebekah Bremner, "A Country Christmas" gathers together a talented group of artisans so they can offer the fruits of their creative labours to the public.  This is the place to get fabulous one of a kind handmade gifts to add to your Christmas stash.

Here are some of the pictures I took from last year's event - just a little "somethin, somethin" to whet everyone's appetite.  I'm certain many of the same vendors will be there again this year and there should be some rockin' new ones too!  Go to the Mami Shoppes Blog  for more information. 

Let's start with some scrumptious cupcakes and "to die for" cinammon buns confected by Rachel Stoklosa at "Sweet Occasions".

 
Rachel Stoklosa's "Sweet Occasions"

 

 
"Green Tangerine Bath and Body Products"

 

 
"Crazy Baby Accessories" 

 
 
"Boho Chic Designs"

 

 
Joanna Potratz of "Life in a Lens Photography"

 

 
Heather Senter of "Ophelia Weeping Jewellery" and "Senter Photography"

 
 
Rebekah Bremner of "Balaboosta Baby Products"

 

Well there you have it.  "Start your engines" and get ready for the show this Saturday, November 27th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Solina Community Centre in the village of Solina. Click here for the mapquest directions Solina Community Centre Location .

Oh BTW, some vendors do have credit card capabilities but remember to bring good old fashioned CASH to make your purchasing alot easier.

See you there and remember to BJF!

The Elusive Last Rose of Summer and my Elusive "Ever Blooming" Self

 
New Dawn

There I was standing at my kitchen window yesterday and I saw it........the elusive "last rose of summer".  I purchased my husband a gorgeous curved metal arch a few years ago for his birthday and last season we planted a New Dawn climbing rose at the base.  Well, over last and this summer, it has almost covered two thirds of the arch and been a spectacular ever bloomer.  Well it's now won the crown for being an ever bloomer in my books.

 
I'm not much of an "ever bloomer" myself especially when it comes to my blog.  I'm so thankful you've put up with my abrupt "starts and stops" since I started this creative venture. 

I was a fabulous multi-tasker when I worked full time.  I managed a full time career, spent time with my husband, raised two children, took care of a 2500 sq. foot house, nurtured 4 cats, had extra-curricular activities and so on.  Now that I'm retired, multi-tasking has become elusive to me like that last rose of summer.  Seems I can only focus on one thing at a time......and.....slowly........at that. 

My last blogging absence was due to my "focusing" on my Open House, which, by the way, was not extremely well attended but was sooooo successful from a sales standpoint.  Now that that's done, my mind is arguing with itself over what to do next - catch up on my home's chaotic state, get ready for the next show I'm doing in Coburg on November 21st (details to follow) and then in Solina on November 27th , clean up my studio, post more items in the shoppes, call and reconnect with my friends, beg forgiveness from my husband for my lack of attention to him (which should be on the top of my list) etc. etc. etc.

Those of you who are now retired after years of corporate or out of the home work, are you having the same problem?  I need your help!!!!!!!  Talk to me, please!!!!!!

 
Mini Rose Pink

Sorry, I lied.  After taking the pictures of the New Dawn rose I found another "last rose" in the other garden bed.  This is a lovely mini rose that was gifted to us by our friends Arlene and Al this summer.  Just a bud, flanked by "the truth" about this time of year - a "spent" mini rose and utterly dry liatris spicata bloom. 

Talk to me you guys!

BJF!

Repurposing with Love

 
Electric Light Fixture or Candleholder or Planter

 
Egg Dipper or Picture/Card Holder or Table Centerpiece

 
Condiment Dish or Pet Water and Food Station or Planter

It's no wonder that the love of vintage things has surfaced, with bravado, in the artistic community of late.  The creative and artistic mind sees usefulness in the damaged, cast-off, time worn pieces from the past.  The creative mind sees beauty and whimsy where others see trash and darkened, sad images.  The creative mind wants to parade and display these lovelies so that others can learn to see the same usefulness, beauty and whimsy, pride and passion that we see.    

Is there still hope?

BJF!

Studio BarbaraDoone Open House

 
Studio BarbaraDoone

SPECIAL INVITATION

1^ST ANNUAL "SHOP FOR CHRISTMAS"

OPEN HOUSE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010   6 PM TO 9 PM

905-668-2307 bejoyful@barbaradoone.com (please call or e-mail for the address)

 A RELAXED EVENING OF SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS &

OTHER GIFT OCCASIONS FROM BARBARADOONE'S

ART JEWELRY HISTORY COLLECTION   www.barbaradoone.etsy.com

THE BLISSQUEST JEWELRY LINE ,

BEJOYFULVINTAGE'S HAND SELECTED VINTAGE ITEMS  www.bejoyfulvintage.etsy.com

AND CUSTOM ORDER JEWELRY GUARANTEED PRE-CHRISTMAS DELIVERY

DOOR PRIZE, LIGHT REFRESHMENTS

Well, there you have it.  The announcement for my "1st Annual OPEN HOUSE".  Christmas in October in Whitby.  Please give me a call or e-mail to let me know you will be attending (for refreshment purposes and to obtain the address).   

There will be one or two surprises and lots of my handmade jewelry and vintage wares to browse through.  Also included are vintage rings and vintage damascene jewelry pieces. Come right at 6 p.m. if you're really interested in these as they truly are "one of a kind".  I can never hope to find the same ring or damascene piece again as they are 20 years or older.  

I hope this evening will help you with starting your Christmas shopping early or at least give you lots of ideas.  There is more than enough time for custom jewelry orders to be ready for December delivery.  Also, if I don't have just the right vintage item for you, let me do some shopping to see if I can find it before December.  I've been known to be quite successful in these "hunts". 

Enough for now.  Looking forward to seeing you on the 21st!

As always, BJF!

Alive and Well and Living in Whitby and Studio BarbaraDoone Open House Update

 
This winsome darling is frantically trying to figure out how to get back in her garden on this book cover.  Somehow she fell out or off and desperately needs to return to finish putting her garden to bed for the winter.  I couldn't resist listing this item in The Shoppe using this picture.  It screams that there's "a mystical story to be told".  The story would most certainly involve flitting wood nymphs and an ogre or two. 

It's been a while since my last posting so I thought I better let you know that I am alive and well and still living in Whitby.  This past month and a half has been a whirlwind with another family wedding in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, which I will be doing a post on, and a family visit/buying trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Also, commitments have been made for BarbaraDoone to show her Art Jewelry History Collection at two artisan shows in November.  Details to follow.

I have also been errant with the next "What Is This?" contest.  Stay tuned and keep checking the blog around the first of the month.  I've got a doozy for you!

Studio BarbaraDoone Open House - NOW Thursday, October 21, 2010

The original date of October 14th for the first annual Open House has been changed to Thursday, October 21st.  Our return from Minneapolis was delayed by several days due to Triple M contracting the flu - 2 days in bed and a very miserable man child.  No one likes being sick and being sick AND away from home is the absolute worst. 

I hope I can get to the few friends and customers that I've already given the original date to so please make a point of passing this change to those you know who want to attend. 

Further details and e-mails to follow asap this week. 

So glad to be home and I have been missing all of you!

BJF!

What I Saw When I Took a Closer Look and "What Is This" Contest Update

I was adding several new lovelies to the BJV Etsy Shoppe the other day and as I cropped numerous pictures I noticed something fun about this etched britannia metal teapot.  Can you see it?  Where ARE my peanuts?

Of India and Elephants

 Just a reminder to take time to smell the roses and to ponder the many beautiful and unique views that we allow to slip by us on a daily basis. 

The September "WHAT IS THIS" Contest 

Get ready for the September "WHAT IS THIS" contest!  I've delayed it a few days so that anyone on vacation will be home to have a chance at the big "guess". 

BJF!