New Leather Flowers

Took at trip to Scrap with mom last week and was inspired by felt flower hair clips. I decided to make my own version of the flowers by sewing layered leather flower pieces together. I'm really happy with how they turned out! They're now listed on my etsy and storenvy shop. Weather permitting, I'm hoping to make some more for Last Thursdays on Alberta too.

Vintage Things and New Legos

Have officially been on summer break for about two weeks now. I haven't done too much yet except job hunting, listing vintage items on etsy, and gardening. I got to enjoy a lovely week of nice weather to kickstart my summer break and got all my seeds planted in the ground. They're just starting to sprout now as the weather decided to take a turn for the worse - rain all week! :( I'll start posting about my garden when the plants look more substantial and less soggy.

For Mother's Day we took a detour to the Lego Store! It's quite a drive, so it's such a treat to go and handpick my legos for the jewelry and frames I make out them. I was in luck too because they had pastel colors! They're going to make some awesome new earrings my shop.

I've been focusing on vintage items on my etsy lately. Just posted some new things today. Now that it's summer all the great estate sales and flea markets are up and running. I'm looking forward to finding lots of new treasures!

Check out my new items here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/jreyesha

A Short Update and Lego Frames

As usual when school is going on, I haven't blogged in months... I'm more than halfway through the semester and already looking forward to summer. I haven't been able to work on anything new, but I've been updating my etsy store constantly and sales have really taken off. Taking trips to the post office and finding ways to recycle old boxes and envelopes is part of my weekly routine now.

Over winter break I was finally able to finish these lego frames that been sitting around my room. These are now listed and are available in my esty shop for $10-12. Check them out, along with the wide variety of vintage and handmade items listed!

Refinished Chair

School is back in session, but I used my last day of break to finish up a chair I'd had in the studio for months. It was in really bad shape when I saw it at a yard sale, but I thought it had some great bones for a chair and I hadn't refinished a chair in a while. Guess the guy at the yard sale thought I was crazy for wanting it so he gave it to me! I'm really proud of the transformation. Amazing what cleaning, sanding, a few coats of paint, and some reupholstery can do.

Before and After

Holiday Crafts Posted Late... of course

Christmas is long gone, but I still wanted to post some of the crafts and finds from the holidays. I'm even watching 'Nightmare before Christmas' now, so I'm still in the holidays spirit! :3

Anyway, I tried some new craftiness this holiday by making bath goods from scratch. A friend of mine is going into naturopathic medicine and taking some herbal classes where she is learning how to make lotions, organic remedies, and herbal healing ideas. So, we made bath bombs, lotion, and bath scrubs for Christmas gifts. It was really fun and I can't believe I made lotion! There is something about knowing all the ingredients you put on on your skin that is just wonderful.

As far as awesome Christmas finds, I had to post this adorable Santa mom found. This guy is a kitschy hit, though he only got to be in the shop for a few days before Christmas was over. At least he'll be around for next year too. Hope everyone had a great New Year! Looking forward to more crafty ideas and kitschy finds in 2013!

Mama's Dolls

I just realized my mom has some really cool dolls that she's found thrifting or has saved to give new dresses, hair, etc. I wanted to share some of my favorites because they are just too precious and unique.

This doll is part of a vintage gift set that came with a book, The Little Wooden Doll. I have been trying to learn more about the doll, but the only hit online is about the book. The book alone goes for quite a bit, but I have yet to find the little doll. She is probably one of the most beautiful closepin styled dolls I've ever seen. 

The second doll is a storybook doll, also vintage, but this little gal was balding, missing arms, and without clothes. Mom gave her doilie wings, patched up her hair, found a dress, and pinned the arms so you barely notice her arms are missing. I love this doll's face; she is so dainty. 

Winter Break and Thrifted Finds

I'm officially on break! Can't believe I'm already halfway through my sophomore year. Everything is going by so quickly! Anyway, I got to spend some good old quality thrifting time with my family today. I almost slept in today too... I'm glad I didn't because I found some great stuff today!

Awesome halloween-esque skull planter, jolly roger sparkly bowl, vintage tupperware cups, a vintage crazy quilt pillow (my favorite find of the day), a groovy vintage recipe tin, and two little kewpies. Probably one of my best thrifting days, because I found a ton of new clothes too, including a vintage 'Judy T. of California' dress, which is in a Gunne Sax style. Most of these finds will be making an appearance on my etsy store too, so keep posted here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jreyesha

I usually blog things I've made, but since I've started adding vintage items to my etsy store, I'm going to start posting some of my favorite finds from thrifting and my collections of vintage trinkets I have from my room.