Patina White

be aware...think pink!

happy monday everyone! chances are pretty good that you have experienced dealing w/ breast cancer @ some level. whether it be a personal battle or that of someone close to you...it hits home for many of us. and october is, of course, breast cancer awareness month. 

as i have been getting things in order for my studio event...i was inspired to put together a couple necklaces to honor those brave souls. the first {below} is a collaged SURVIVOR skinny stick w/ HAVE FAITH on the reverse...it is accented with a pink ribbon gem cluster + hope charm. a combination sure to pass on a message of FAITH, HOPE and LOVE.

a recent addition to my bauble family was a rhinestone encrusted charm w/ enameled pink ribbon. to accent it...i hand-stamped a sterling silver disc w/ a motivational message for a simple yet powerful statement {below}. you go girl!

so ladies...please remember to treat your body like a neighborhood watch program. being on the lookout for any suspicious activity. do it for you...do it for your family...do it for your friends. being aware is the first step.

and to end today...an always inspiring quote...

never, never, never give up.  ~winston churchill

THINK PINK!

rock*star glam

happy monday everyone! with the onset of patinaWHITE's holiday event ... there has been a flood of new goodies arriving that i am pretty excited about. of course jewelry always tops my fav list. so i thought i would give you a sneak peek @ some of the baubles that await! 

this season the layered look is still going strong. i've been riding this "wave" for years now & will probably be the last one "hanging 10" as i am all about "more is better"! you too can be a part of the "chain" gang w/ the number {below}.

or what about this beauty {below}...tastefully "overdone" w/ rhinestones & crosses! if it can make this rusty metal look this good imagine the possibilities!

maybe you'd like to "rock" out a bit with a long & lovely adornment? the druzy agate inspired centerpiece is in good company with a multitude of cross charms hanging out. {below}

why stop @ just a necklace when you are going all out glam this season? well i'm happy to oblige your other needs in the form of stacked bangles and unique bracelets! {below}

bingo was your namo! you'll be the winner with one of the MANY burnished metal necklaces...but be sure to give yourself enough time to ponder on which 1! {or 2 or 3!}

get a punch of color and texture with rock chip necklaces enhanced with over-sized metal pendants. with all this rocking and rolling go on lately i was inspired to create a one of kind guitar pick that i perimeter stamped with an appropriate verse...

not just for little kiddos anymore! "bib" necklaces are a fantastic way to dress up a simple tee or glam out a glitzy dress. you decide! 

so are you ready to channel your inner "rocking" spirit? well...then be sure to swing by & visit patinaWHITE's studio event coming up here the first & second weekend of november. click NEXT EVENT @ the left for more tidbits on that!

thanks much for stopping...wishing you a great start to a new week!

artsy fartsy finds...

hello show & tell friends! these days find me scooting between my summer cottage (opening in 3 short days!), the wood-shop + my enchanting "make" room. lots of projects to be finished...packing to be undone & of course my favorite, setting the "stage" for it all to come together! 

where does a girl find the time to make sure there are plenty of unique goodies to go 'round? short of giving up sleep...i do squeeze in an extensive amount of research finding + working closely with a handful of wildly talented artisans just to make sure there isn't a shortage of the "less than serious" wares you've come to expect from patinaWHITE! 

i am so tickled about my introductions for summer 2010 and have to share a little eye candy of what is in store! darkened patina baubles {below} are first on the list...with birds, crosses & butterflies - there is sure to be a favorite icon for everyone! i just have one word for them BEAUTYfull!

 

are you feeling a bit punky? well then stop by my shoppe this weekend for a pick-me-up! these "steampunk" influenced cuffs {below} are over the top fabulous! created solely from reclaimed metals...there is even one with a hammered cow tag! plus their addition to the family gave me a chance to unearth some rusty gears to show 'em off! remember? setting the stage here...

 

be a free spirit! i just unpacked {literally moments ago} these breath-taking butterfly wings forever on display encased in handcut glass. i am currently at a loss of words over their beauty. (so you know they are pretty special)! hold onto your hats 'cause you are about to see why here {below}.

 

collage necklaces are a patinaWHITE staple. i started selling artisan collage charms {7} years ago. they continue to be a favorite w/ new designs + shapes premiering this year. one i am pretty crazy about is this oval number {below}. simply stunning alone or layered up for an eclectic mix! i always say, especially where necklaces are concerned, "if one is good then more is better"!

 

can you see why i am jumping for joy here? nothing excites me more than welcoming unique additions to my "family".  so now i must make a joyful jump back into projects. time to switch "gears" as there is a table saw calling out my name! which means the next artsy fartsy finds will likely have something to do with wood. or metal. maybe both!? you'll just have to swing back into my little corner of the world here to find out!  

make it a GREAT day...

i'd like you to meet my friend "bob"

hey all! with the beautiful early spring we have been granted...i have been able to spend a little time with my new friend "bob". my custom harley "street bob" that is! (thanks to my talented hubby for that one!) just one more of the many hats i like to wear. or should i say helmet? this was bob and i yesterday before we took a little cruise around the lakes area. 

one of the great things about riding motorcycle for me is the uncluttered thinking time it provides. the fresh air...the scenery...the open road...it all inspires me! i was daydreaming of industrial objects coming together to make a fun cluster necklace - appropriate for "biker chicks". when we returned to the shop...i went to my hubby's odds-n-ends pile of hardware & found a couple washers. 

a bit of hammering gave them a rustic feel...then i stamped both fronts + backs of all the charms. of course a nugget of turquoise had to make it into the equation (a bit of texture)! and this is what was born {below}. a true piece of HARDWEAR for the ladies!

 

a creation that is both tough + pretty all at the same time! now i must hit the road...getting back to projects & fun treasure hunting/creating at hand! flea season is near {and not those from our four legged friends}! 

thank you for stopping by...may you enjoy your own happy places & inspiring spaces! 

a cameo appearance

greetings! i have to tell you that one of the best parts of my job is the variety it provides! one day i am knee deep in a pile o' junk & the next moment i am creating a girlie trinket. if you follow my blog you have probably picked up on my tendency to "gather" objects - bordering on being the next subject on the show hoarders! case in point. a pair of cameo earrings. well....since i have {2}...i may as well channel the creative juices into {1}, & save the other! correct?

the inspiration came from a dainty lamp with it's fancy glass beaded details + soft grayish-aqua coloring. out came the magic wand (well, tote of tools) & the end result is seen {below} dangling from the very the source of my inspiration.

i also tend to be influenced by my "threads" (just a spiffy way of saying garments). on the day of the cameo spotting i was wearing the flouncy, ribbon bedecked tee shown {below}. seems like the two were made for each other!

 

it's a good thing i have {2} earrings & the option of creating another necklace. because if i am to offer this jewel for sale it would be a crying shame to split up this pretty ensemble! 

now i am off. there's a pile of letters waiting to have some magic worked on them. it's sign making time. i told you...i am girl who likes to mix it up. variety is the spice of life afterall! so go ahead & sprinkle it on...

wishing you a very happy day!

from this to that...

hello & happy friday! (or what's left of it!) where o' where has the week gone? when you find it please let me know! in the meantime...i have been keeping myself busy by dabbling with new items. whether it's finding a fresh line of unique wares or creating a something special with my own hands...you just never know (nor do i sometimes) what i may come up with! 

well today was a creation day. i had some custom orders to fill, and of course, found myself side-tracked with a recent shipment of jewelry findings. my supplier included a couple samples for me to consider. not really my style {seen below}...

 

...nonetheless they were:

#1. FREE

#2. alluring me to create something pretty.

#3. did i mention FREE?

so i accepted the challenge!  

a little "rework" of the finish + a quick dig in my box-o-buttons {above} that yielded a precious vintage fleur-de-lis button found me all the inspiration i needed to come up with this sweet necklace {here below}. 

 

i am tickled how a ho-hum item sparked me! or was it the distraction from the task @ hand? no worries! the orders are complete...off to their new home AND i have a bauble to boot! there you have it. well...i hope you have a wonderful weekend! i am off to find more items of inspiration. like i said...you just never know what i might come up with!

be inspired to inspire!

charmed...i'm sure!

hello hello! here we are at the start of a new week once again! i have been tinkering with some absolutely ADORABLE new charms i just got in. stamping...oxidizing...buffing...creating some unique layered bits & baubles that will surely bring a smile to your face! so here's a peek...

a combination of pretty + meaning {below}

 

do you remember this children's book? it is a very sweet sentiment. {below}

 

this is a great one for all you dog lovers! pucker poochie & get ready for a WET KISSER! i love the jaunty stamping...i like to mix it up!

 

just a little sampling today...i am always inspired to create trinkets that are a bit rustic...silly...sentimental. and will continue to do so as i stock up on wares for the reopening of patinaWHITE at my shady hollow shoppe this may! so glad you popped by today and hope you have a FABULOUS start to your week!

make it a great one... 

who doesn't {love} a little prize?

happy friday! of all things symbolizing love....hearts top my list of favorites! so i put together a little token of my love for my customers + show & tell followers! 

a treasured vintage key got a little glitz with swarovski crystals...rustic elegance! a warm compliment to the mixture of metals!

                                          +

premiering this summer at my "cottage" will be these little patina'd hearts w/ cutout words embedded in them...they are fabulous!

          +

a tiny silver hand-stamped disc that i will customize to make this unique to you! (or maybe someone you'd like to share it with...but i understand if you want to keep it for yourself)! 

   

all just for you hanging from an antique ball chain if you are the lucky winner! gee..i am sitting here admiring it so much that i may enter my own name!

so just how does one get a chance to make this prize yours? well a simple little request i have for you...please leave me a comment at the end of this post. & in this comment tell me what someone and or something you love ... adore ... covet ... see where i am going? it can be silly, sassy or sentimental!

i will RANDOMLY select the lucky person on february 12th 

...one week from today! i look forward to hearing from you! if you are shy & prefer to send an email...just click {HERE} to be whisked away to my "prize patrol" email address! but ya still gotta share the love! 

have a wonderful start to your weekend! thanks for peeking & good luck!

new year = new beginning

happy monday everyone! a new year means different things to different people. to me it symbolizes a start to a new season...it is the time that i gear up for the opening of my SPRING COTTAGE...creating fresh whimsies & sourcing out the unique wares that i built patinaWHITE on.

since butterflies are often a symbol of new beginnings i thought this would be a grand time to share one of my newest creations! at an antique mall i found a box with the handwritten note "real butterflies for picture framing". inside was a collection of gathered monarchs. {see below}

knowing these beauties expired naturally...i thought they deserved a second "life". so i paired them with vintage word snippets & a rosary inspired chain...it all came together to look like this {below}. a patinaWHITE original!

 

here {below} my always inspiring old perpetual calendar had a great quote today i wanted to show you all too! 

sometimes a little sweat is needed to get where we want to be! and that could mean a round of intense exercise depending on your interpretation! to me it would more likely be the result of dragging a larger than life chippy-white cupboard home!

ALSO...i happened to do a little freshening up on my sidebar {top-left}. there is the addition of a fancy keyhole under which you will find categories that are a mini "library" of my posts. for example...the "corner of my world" category will feature my home postings. when you have a few moments please have a peek! & a big thanks to hope from PAPER RELICS for her creative guidance! 

i hope this finds each & everyone of you enjoying your own "new beginning"! 

love life!

just jewelry!

why hello! as my event draws closer {a little over a week away!} i have been busy making jewelry so i am fully stocked for your gift giving needs! (and of course for your own personal enjoyment)!

seven years ago i started dabbling in typewriter jewelry. i created these whimsical pieces as a unique means of personal expression! many moons later...i still never tire of these little works of art! each one as unique as their soon to be new owner! 

the piece that started it all! the classic bracelet! some spell out fun words as seen {below}.

while others are a mix of random keys {below}...each one selected to compliment the next!

another typewriter key favorite is the single initial necklaces {below}. wear it alone for a clean look or "junk" it up with collage charms + other baubles! it's all about you! 

since the keys are from machines up to nearly 100 years old - there's a great variety of styles in each letter! no two are ever exactly alike and each one has a bit of characteristic charm due to their authentic vintage nature! the same could be said for people! :)

and this cutie {below} speaks for itself! a fabulous pin for your jacket or hang it on your purse for a little pop of FUN!

i love to make collage charms...though my schedule doesn't always allow for me to fabricate all the creations you will find at patinaWHITE - i did create a limited number of necklaces that feature the art from my event postcard! have a looksie {below} at my festive little grouping below!

and my "just jewelry" post wouldn't be complete without showcasing yet another favorite {below}. vintage game tiles with silvery frames make a statement alone or mixed with multiple necklace layers! i can honestly say that i wear my B more often than not!

so there you have it...a small sampling of some of the "less than serious" jewels that await you @ my holiday event! thanks for stopping today & be on the lookout this coming SUNDAY for a sneak peek at my studio bursting at the seams with the "truly unique for all you seek"!

happy day everyone!