Better Late Than Never! 6th Anniversary Promo ~

I've been so busy I just realized we've had our 6th Etsyversary & I hadn't done a promo!

~Without further ado, introducing the sixth Etsy anniversary promo~

~ Check it out here ~

Thank you for 6 years of patronage <3

Etsy Editor's Picks Best of Spring Under $30 ~

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme is an Editor's Pick on Etsy!

                                                                    EDITORS’ PICKS

Best of spring: Under $30

A breath of fresh air

Fresh For Home Section

It's very exciting!

Click here to see this garden marker in the shop ~

Happy Easter ~

New Logo ~ Melancholy Monday

Have you heard? Etsy is launching a whole new look on April 5th, 2016

The new look applies to all of the shops and is touted as being more mobile friendly for shoppers. At this point they aren't preserving a desktop or laptop version. Which seems odd for a site that size.

The design feels like a blog or stand alone website in that it's vertical, scrolls down without pages (think Pinterest).

The new design gives shop owners more real estate for individual shop branding.

Back to the vertical. My old banner/logo, which was horizontal in nature, wasn't cutting it in the new & larger format. I made some attempts, but quickly decided this was the kick in the butt I needed to create a new logo. My Taxes aren't done, the house is a mess, the pasture & garden need tending and I'm making a new logo! 

Thanks Etsy 0_o

So there it is and I'm glad it's done. I like that it looks fabulous in the new format but will also be great on tags & biz cards.

For reference, here's the old one below.

As you can see, I kept the font & anvil. The bees have a very special meaning, but 3 was too busy, so I used one bee to symbolize my bees. I have been an equestrian since my first pony at age 2. The horseshoe fits because of who I am, but also represents the welded items we make using horseshoes. I think it's a meaningful addition.

Feeling a bit melancholy, but moving forward <3

xoxo

Wedding Season ~

Wedding season is here! 

I've been working on two new wedding designs & one of them is ready for the reveal!

I'll be listing these shortly, but if you need any before I get it done just convo me through Etsy 

Here's the link to all the stuff  going on at Anvil Designs lately

LOVE~

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~

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

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

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

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 ~

Road Trip Series Assemblage Necklaces #3

Road Trip

3rd in the series

Flat Tyre 

found object, vintage toy car, rosary style, mille flore, skull, turquoise, glass, ceramic, shell & copper assemblage necklace by Anvil Designs / Barn Swallow Studio

May only your jewelry get a flat tire ~

Road Trip Series Assemblage Necklaces #2

Here we have the second vintage toy car in the Road Trip series.

The Road Trip necklaces are available in Anvil Designs Etsy shop and on anvildesigns.com  

Barn Swallow Studio is a little shed on my property where the swallows build their nests in the eves. One day it may be a proper artists studio and retreat, heck it may even become it's own shop. For now I use it for my vintage assemblage pieces.

2nd in the series

*Highway Star*

Assemblage necklace using a vintage diecast "TOOTSIETOY" (as found) as the focal piece. 
Also features beads of Freshwater Pearl, Lampwork, Swarovski Crystal, Crystal & Glass. 
Handmade findings and vintage rosary sections.
Car is marked TOOTSIETOY - Chicago USA - 2
Car is 2 1/2" long - Total necklace length is 26"
One of a kind~

Available on Etsy

Full Shot

Clasp Detail

$95.00 on Etsy

I love it, I need it, I bleed it ~

Road Trip Series Assemblage Necklaces #1

I'm on a "roll" making these little vintage toy car necklaces. 

Not only are they fun, nostalgic & colorful, but wear one to Home Depot or a car show and expect to get stopped every ten feet! 

Men and kids love these! Occasionally the hot rod or truckin' mama will stop me for ooohs and awwws but it's mostly men. 

The kiddles, they point and always have an "out of the mouths of babes" comment.

1st in the series

  Counting Blue Cars  

Assemblage necklace using a vintage diecast "Midget Toy" car (as found) as the focal piece. 
Also features beads of Turquoise, Mother of Pearl, Pearl, Agate, Crystal & Glass. 
Handmade findings and a vintage rosary sections and medallion.
Total length 24 1/2" - Chain 20" and Car dangle 4 1/2"

sold

Clasp Detail

Full View

Rolling down the highway~

A Few New Fall / Halloween / Thanksgiving Items

Available now in the Anvil Designs shop~

Halloween Set

~

Harvest ~ Thanksgiving Set

Fall is upon us, happy harvest!

Using Every Little Scrap~

I love to use every piece I can when working with the vintage silverware. Sometimes you make a mistake when stamping or bending and end up with odd pieces. I have been or will be turning these odd pieces into beads, buttons, guitar picks, toggles and anything else I can think of so nothing goes to waste.

To that end here are 2 new listings of items I have made using every little scrap~

I Pick You (sold)

This pick was hand cut from a 1930's spoon bowl I flattened. It is silver-plate over brass & it does show some wear from it's previous life as a spoon. I have filed the edges so smooth it's like butter. I drilled a small hole off center so it could be used as a charm if you don't want to use it to play.

 It's truly one of a kind ( OOAK ) if you like food and music and want a pick with an 80 + year old vibe rather than some mass produced blank from overseas, look no further. This is a no waste, upcycled product.

I Pick You had only been listed for a few days with 2 views when it sold!
I consider that real success! I already had another one I was working on and decided to show a before and after. 

Next time I'll have to do some progress shots as well~

Music Is Life

This pick was hand cut from a 1916 era spoon bowl I flattened. Holmes and Edwards Silver Inlaid Pat 04 ~ Jamestown Pattern circa 1916. I tried purposely to leave as much of the original patina on this one as possible. The back side has a lot, the front lost a lot! The soul of this pick is almost 100 years old~

I almost always listen to music when I'm creating whether it's my art or cooking. Stevie Ray Vaughan is one of my favorites to cook with and create by.

Here is a rare video of SRV

 

10% Off Coupon for Blog Readers~

In celebration of 1 month of blogging I'm offering a coupon for 10% off any purchase over $10.00 ~ This coupon is good for one week and expires on July 8th!

Shop Anvil Designs

Please use coupon code BLOG1 when checking out! 

Thank you & enjoy~

Faerie Folks are in Old Oaks~

I was researching poems, rhymes, songs and sayings for rosemary for a client and as we are prone to do while following links on the interweb I stumbled across some fun rhymes that had nothing to do with rosemary but were so good I had to use them~

Fairy garden markers have always been popular in my shop and now I have added a new one.

Faerie Folks Garden Marker on Etsy

It is said this old rhyme originated in the New Forest, southern England and goes “Turn your cloaks, for fairy folks are in old oaks!”  it was thought by turning your cloak or coat inside out you could ward off the chances of a faerie encounter~ (I don't think I'd want to avoid that...)

The oaks are considered the very symbol of longevity and fertility, generation and life. It was common to carry an acorn in your pocket for luck~

Rock & roll gardeners this one's for you! Available now~

Faeries Wear Boots

Here's another in the shop now:

Fairy Garden Marker on Etsy

And a few others we've done that are in new homes~

Magic~