Some Upcycling Posts Are Coming Your Way ~

Earth Day 2016 is coming up on April 22nd! 
Seeing as it's spring here, we've been working on some projects around the homestead.
Two projects we worked on this weekend came about due to timing. 
Opportunity arose & other projects immediately went to the old back burner!

Two different neighbors were spring cleaning and had some piles that were destined for the landfill. Free for the taking we jumped on it and rather than add to our junk collection we went straight to work incorporating them into the landscape. 

The haul: broken concrete the likes of which were delivered in the bucket of a Cat 450e. We have quite a bit left, enough to go around the firepit and possibly a small path next to the house. 

We have a Kubota BX23 but let's take a moment to salute our neighbors with BIG TRACTORS! Thanks for the loan of that bad boy :)

We also scored a barrel that was oddly cut in half diagonally and came complete with sweet patina & 2 spouts.

I've cropped these shots tight because I'm not ready to reveal the whole area & my pond is so green it's embarrassing! 

I've got tadpoles in there and need to figure out if there's something I can do that won't harm them.

Happy upcycling ~

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

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

LOVE on Etsy

As an Etsy seller I spend a lot of time cruising about the place. 

Today I was in a sort of rustic, upcycled, repurposed ♥ LOVE mood.

I hope you enjoy this collection as much as I do!

From the top

1. Reclaimed Wood Heart

2. Antler Ring with Rustic Silver Heart

3. Salvaged Wood Cut Out Heart

4. Bourbon Bottle Label & Wax Bouquet 

5. Hand Embroidered Bunny 

6. I Love You More Journal

7. Railroad Art LOVE Sign

8. Chain Art Upcycled Heart & Arrow

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 #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~

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