Monday, June 8, 2015

Moonshine Vintage Silverware Assemblage Necklace

Oh how I struggled with this. Originally I made the moonshine silverware knife handle to be a liquor bottle tag or charm.

And like so many things I create, I got so far with the idea and then set the unfinished focal piece aside, waiting for it to reveal what it was really meant to be.

It didn't want to be in some dark bar, it wanted to be seen in the sunshine and under the moon & stars.

Moonshine $115.00

Happy moonshine Monday to you~

Friday, June 5, 2015

A Belated Thank You

April 22nd was Earth Day. I always get inquiries around this time because I'm into it and most of my work is "upcycled".

I like to change my banner out during this time and use this one below.

Can you imagine how thrilled I was when a gal from Amy's Kitchen contacted me for a bulk purchase of rustic garden markers for a week long Earth Day giveaway they were promoting on Facebook?

I buy Amy's Kitchen lasagna in bulk at costco for my lunch!

Pinch me, really :) We quickly hammered out the details.

Off to Amy's Kitchen! 7 sets of three ~

And here they are as part of the "garden bag giveaway" and a BIG THANK YOU from Anvil Designs!

Amy's Kitchen Facebook Link

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Wine, Weddings, Custom Orders and More Wine

Once again I have been challenged by a wonderful new customer!

She wanted a couple of personalized wine tags similar to this one she found in my Etsy shop.

Cabernet

She wanted one personalized with a last name, no problem there.

Here is the finished product.

Then she asks if I can do coordinates on a wine tag?

BUT, she doesn't want a rifle casing like this listing...

Coordinates Key Ring

She wants the coordinates on a knife handle.

Pssst, here comes the challenge. I was about to tell her one doesn't have the room for that on a knife handle...

Perhaps it was because I was drinking wine but I told her I would make it work somehow. I must confess I had no idea what I was going to do. None.

I looked through about 293 vintage knives and nada, zip, nothing.

I was coming close to a panic. Think! Frankly I needed a glass of wine about this time. After the first glass I was feeling better and it came to me I should look through my butter knife stash.

Vino' viola! I found a Rogers Bros. circa 1904 "Vintage" pattern master butter knife that was perfection.

In Vino Veritas

Monday, February 16, 2015

I’ve Got the Pinterest Picked For You Blues, How About You?

I started the day by going back to bed with a nice hot cup of coffee and my trusty tablet. I just wanted to sip and pin, slow and easy like... but as soon as my feed loaded that peaceful feeling evaporated and that annoying feeling I've had the last few weeks kicked right in.

That feeling of being force fed. On my 7" tablet 2 of the 6 pictures on my screen were "Picked for you" and neither one were anything I would pick for myself. Sigh.

I don't remember when I started pinning but I do remember I heard about it on the Etsy forums and back then one had to be invited in order to join. Looking at some of my older boards this morning I have pins that were pinned 3 years ago. You had to have a Facebook or Twitter account to join then.

I say this because I remember what my feed looked like back then. Um, shall we say random?

I have enjoyed how my feed has evolved in what I would refer to as an organic and good way over 3 years. Based on boards and people I have chosen to follow.

When I thought about writing this post this morning it was mostly because I wanted to make the graphic above to pin on one of my group boards because I wanted a simple way to tell those people I had missed some of their pins and I felt in part it was due to 1/3 of my feed now being clogged up with picked for you items. I knew I should add some sort of disclaimer somewhere in this post so here it is:

DISCLAIMER: This post is a vent. I did not research anything nor did I come up with the 1/3rd number in any scientific way beyond looking at a 7" screen and seeing how many pins were showing on the screen and how many of those were "picked for you". I randomly scrolled and it was never less than 1/4 but was more frequently 1/3rd.

I wouldn't want y'all thinking I'm all vent and no action. I have been sending feedback on a lot of these pins and in all fairness I'm beginning to see a slight improvement.

One thing I don't understand or like is so many of the "picked for you" pins, are pins I've already pinned or liked? If I try and pin something I've already pinned I'm warned of this by Pinterest in the form of "Psssst looks like you've already added this". If they know that, why are they adding pins I've already liked or pinned to my feed? Ugh.
At least I do like those though, more often I'm thinking am I on the Popular or Everything feed? WTF and where the heck did that come from?

Ah well, looking at the time I have to end my vent. I have spent all my allotted quality pinning time today writing this post and it's time to go to work~

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Vintage Palomino on Etsy

I used to make "treasuries" on Etsy.

Now I prefer to make "collections" and post them here.

I'm thinking about making it a weekly series...

~ Today I hope you enjoy all the pretty vintage palomino horse goods ~

From the Top
Vintage Cowichan Sweater

Vintage Scarf

Marked Vintage Planter Japan

Midcentury Ceramic Figurine

Vintage Paint by Numbers

Pair Vintage Bridle Rosettes

1951 Book Page Horse Print

Vintage Mohair Mechanical Toy

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

A Darling Love Story ~

~ A Darling Love Story ~

A darling lady contacted me through Etsy to ask if she could send me a bullet shell that was sentimental to her husband.

She wanted me to turn it into a key chain.

She planned to give it to him for Valentine's day.

I had done this before, told her as much and gave her my address. Previously though, the shells I have done were shot in 21 gun salute at funerals. I'm asked to put the deceased's initials, birth and date of passing on them.

She then told me the casing/shell was the first bullet her son ever shot with her husband. I got misty. I come from a shooting family. It's a milestone. A beginning of life milestone.

I had never been contacted to do a "first shot" piece.

After a little back and forth about what she wanted it was revealed the bullet casing was much smaller than the ones in the listing and which I normally use. We were both momentarily disappointed that I was unable to put all the characters she originally wanted as they simply would not fit.

Truth told, I wasn't certain I could even do much with it at all...

Anyone who knows me well could tell you I'm a bit jaded by life but this love story gave me some hope. I told the darling lady I enjoyed a good challenge and to go ahead and send it. Even if I could only stamp it with a heart it would warm a couple of hearts.

The Letter & Brass Arrive

A few days later the letter and casing arrived & I set to work~

The Work Begins

I had told the darling lady who was now a client we could fit more on it if I smashed it completely flat. The process pushes the pin out.

Once it was flattened / smashed I was able to see what would actually fit. The client had wanted me + you with a heart as her first choice. Unfortunately that wasn't going to work.

Her second choice was C + S with a heart.

That would fit but I had another problem to deal with first.

The tip end had literally taken a beating even though I tape it off and concentrate on the pin end. The reason I don't work with this size much is they aren't as malleable. For every success there is failure. A 50/50 chance doesn't work for stocking my shop on a daily basis. At some point the tip end needs to be flattened & it's a lot of stress on the thin brass.

Raw Rivet, Stamping & Pre-Drilling

I decided a copper rivet would add strength and stability so I added that and then began the stamping. I also pre-drill the hole for the key ring. The size depends on which ring a client chooses.

Next Step - Polish, Darken & Drill to Size

The polishing process naturally sets the oxidation into the stamping imprints and a black sharpie evens it out.

Detail

I love how even in the "smashed" state one can still see WIN (Winchester) and 9MM

The Finished Piece

It makes me very happy!

One Last Shot with the Pin

I got a little punny with that title!

Here's to True Love

Friday, January 30, 2015

Throwback Thursday & 5th Anniversary Etsy Promo

We are so excited to be celebrating our 5th anniversary!

We did a gift with purchase on Jan 24th & now, for a limited time we have brought back the first listing we put on Etsy!

A "throwback listing" if you will.

Promo Listing

This was not only our first listing it resulted in our first sale!

We are offering these rustic vintage spoon markers for our original listing price of $5.00 each ~

You "pick" from the following 5 Styles:

BASIL
HERBS
MINT
SAGE
THYME

For fun I included a photograph used in our very first listing

I can't believe I used Papyrus font! LOL

Now I know the title here says "Throwback Thursday" and today is Friday... this post was scheduled to be published yesterday but things happen.

A day late and a dollar short. Have a great weekend ~

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

IKEA 2015 Top 10 Cabin Style Items

Who says Ikea is all Scandinavian Modern?

They have cabins in Scandinavia don't they? LOL

OK, They do have a "look" but if you need a cowhide rug, inexpensive calico bedding or lighting and don't have time to search high and low, scour flea markets and such, you are in luck.

My picks for the top 10 Cabin Style Items from the new catalog~

Some are new and some are old favorites but all of these will add charm to the cabin without breaking the bank and are conveniently under one roof @ your nearest Ikea.

HERMINE