Learning New Techniques

I love using chain in my jewelry design,
but I can't always find the style I want,
in metal I want, or it's just simply way too expensive.

So this morning I am starting a ten week class
at the Mesa Arts Center.
I will be learning how to make hand-made chains and findings from silver wire and sheet metal using soldering, piercing, forging and texturing techniques.  I've wanted to take a class here every since we moved to AZ and I'm super excited that it's finally happening today!

 

Drumrolll....

...and the winner is
Carrie Aquino!

A huge Thank You to everyone who played!

Don't forget to go to my Etsy Store and check out all the other necklaces there! I'm working on some more designs and will have them up in a week or two. Don't forget to watch for special discounts for all my followers and fans!

~♥Love to You All♥~

One More Day

I guess there was a little confusion; so in order to make it fair for everyone I am extending the deadline to enter to win the necklace for one day. You will have until midnight (PST) AZ, tonight, March 1st to enter. Being a friend on my personal Facebook page is not the same as being a fan of my business page. In order to be eligible for the drawing you must be a fan of The Whimsical Flea Market's page. Below is a link directly to that page, all you have to do is press the like button at the top of the page and you will become a fan.

A Whimsical Flea Market on Facebook

And of course if you’re not on Facebook, you will still be eligible if you are a Follower of this Blog. I will announce the winner first thing in the morning.
Thank you for your patience.

She Is A Friend

In order to celebrate the Grand Opening of my Etsy store

I am giving away one of my Shadow Box Pendants!!!


It's simple to be eligible to win! Become a follower on my blog or a fan of my Facebook page. There are links to do both in the column on the right. I suggest you do both, I will be giving special discounts via my blog and on my Facebook page, they won't be the same or at the same time so if your linked to both you won't miss out on any!

You have until the end of the month to become a follower and/or a fan, spread the word, tell your family & friends. I will have a random drawing and announce the winner on March 1st.
Thank you my friends!
xoxox

Broken But Loved

When I discovered Frozen Charlotte dolls
I immediately fell in love.



I have been building up my collection for about three years now. All of mine have been dug from the grounds of old doll factories in Thuringia Germany. If a doll was broken or not quite perfect it was discarded and buried in the ground around the doll factory. They are now excavating at the doll factories and resurrecting these beauties. I'm collecting them hoping to give them a new life! I find the imperfections charming, most of mine are broken and quite dirty, to me this just adds to their charm. I absolutely adore the broken dolls, but on occasion I have found "perfect" ones and couldn't resist, I have them set aside with all

my special little things.

Frozen Charlotte dolls were manufactured between 1850-1920 and range in size from under 1" to 18" plus. There was also a boy version made which is distinguished from the Charlotte doll by his boyish hair and called the

Frozen Charlie.

Usually made from porcelain, some have china fronts and unglazed backs making them floatable. The tiny versions were frozen and then placed in cups to cool afternoon tea, while the large versions floated in bath tubs. They were also given as special gifts; a small one would be baked inside a small cake or pudding to surprise a birthday child or guests during the holidays.

The name Frozen Charlotte came from an American Folk Ballad, Fair Charlotte which was attributed to William Lorenzo Carter. The song was inspired by a poem, Young Charlotte written by Seba Smith after he read a true story in the New York Observer...."A young woman...was frozen to death while riding to a ball on Jan 1, 1840."

To me, this tragic story makes these

little beauties even more special!

Click here or on the Frozen Charlotte Story link at the top of my blog to read the poem written by Seba Smith.

Fit for a Queen

My husband is great at picking out gifts,

& he didn't disappoint at Christmas.

I wanted to share the new treasures

he gave me this year!

He got me this wonderful chair for my studio,
he calls it my Queen Chair.


He added this exquisite crown to my collection.


And my favorite gift is this beautiful Ex-Voto,

complete with a wish for me already inside!


I'm so lucky to have a King that knows

the perfect gifts to give his Queen!

A Few of My Favorite Things

A couple of weeks ago I went antique shopping with my friend Amanda. I found some wonderful things and wanted to share a few of my favorites with you.


I have a love & obsession for old vintage canning jars & anything "crowned". I was giddy with excitement when I found these vintage Canadian canning jars!

I love old books and found the publication date, 1888, title and images on this book irresistible.


Anything Christmas, especially vintage is always on my wish list, when I found this old tinsel still on it's string and these tree candle clips I just had to bring them home.


I've been looking for coasters for my studio & came across these glass ones, I love the scallop edges!


Amanda and I always have fun shopping together, whether it's antiquing, thrift stores or boutiques,

we always find yummy treasures!