Sunday, December 11, 2011

Fabric Rosette Brooches

Texture - Color - Vintage Rhinestone Buttons
You'll love clipping these brooches to your jacket, bag/purse, wrap, cardigan...whatever suits your fancy! These are the easiest accessory to add a little spunk to your style!

Scraps of fabric that I rip into long strips are how these rosettes are created. The vintage rhinestone buttons add a little bling and are so versatile because the hardware allows you to decide if you want to pin it or clip it. Love options!

Friday, December 9, 2011

A studio full of sun & inspiration!

It's another beautiful sunny morning in Fargo. The sun is beaming beautifully into my studio and making my vintage jar collections shine! What inspiration! Time to get creative!


Love vintage mother of pearl buttons!

and of course, vintage seamstress measuring tapes!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Hats with creative & vintage embellishments!

These hats have so much fun to design. I start this process by creating my fabric rosettes, which turn out to be much easier when using a hot glue gun! I of course purchase the hats, which I have to thank my great hubby for repleneshing my stock! I sent him to Kohl's in Grand Forks because they had a great stock on sale. He buttered up the sales clerk & came home with 35 hats...WOW! These range in price ($18-$30) depending on which vintage buttons, pins or clip earrings I use to complete the design











Thursday, October 27, 2011

One of a kind Bracelets

I've found another great use for my "up-cycled" leather flowers.....Bracelets! I purchased these skinny black leather snap bracelets at Tandy Leather & didn't like the natural color, so I purchased a water based black leather paint & distressed each bracelet!




I have officially run out of vintage rhinestone buckles after completing this collection of seamstress bracelets! I would love to find a vintage green seamstress measuring tape & a jar full of small rhinestone buckles!




Wednesday, September 7, 2011

"Auction Hunters"

Check out this little "gem" of a jewelry box! Purchased at an auction this past weekend in Park Rapids! My fantastic husband got in a small bidding war for this jewelry box & only went over budget by $2.50!! Everything has been cleaned up & ready for me to start recreating one of a kind Let Your Spirit Soar jewelry & accessories!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Stories from the past

One of my most precious finds of all time will be this small leather box which I bought this weekend from a woman in Moorhead for a $1.00! Yes....a $1.00! I figured I would create a collage in the empty frame, but I didn't even realize it's true story until I came home & opened it! The frame came out of the box & that's when this young man fell out to tell his story of loneliness & lost love.
These dainty quotes where placed inside:
"Ah, no my dearest, never can I leave you. Or do the slightest, simples thing to grieve you."
"Good night, dearest, good night."

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Cowboy Boots or Flip Flops for the Summer?

Although I don't like country music, I do have to admit I'm a little "cowgirl" at heart! I have a pretty rockin' collection of boots that I wear all winter and summer of course, because I have to wear my cowboy boots to the rodeo in Park Rapids on July 4th! I'm sure by I'll be wearing flip flops by July, but yesterday the boots were perfect for the weather!
Today is perfect for my jean skirt! Maybe flip flops tomorrow?

Monday, May 23, 2011

bE fRee. bE hAppY. bE yOu

I do have to admit that I prefer the sugary milk chocolate, but was happy to find this inspirational message in my wrapper of a dark chocolate treat!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Beautiful Sunny Monday!

The sun is finally shining in Fargo and it's truly beautiful! Although I still turned the heat on high when I drove to the gym to Train this morning @ 5:00 am! When I pulled back into the driveway, a few of the older girls were sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the early bus, so I left some chalk for the late bus school kids, hoping they will create some flowers.

I've only noticed a few green perennials poking up through the dirt, but the flowers are blooming in my studio!

I found an amazing basket of fabric this winter at the thrift store down the street from our home. The color and texture of these fabrics at the time (10 degrees below zero) were so summery & tropical. They were all remnants donated from a woman that used to work at Ben Franklin in the 60's. These remants still had the paper tags stapled to the fabric...Truly vintage with a little history...Exactly what I love!

These flowers are beautiful and always in bloom. I rip the fabric into strips and tie a knot in one end and start twisting & gluing around the knot.

Monday, March 28, 2011

T-Shirt Bracelet :: Zipper Flowers

T-shirt bracelet:
This funky bracelet used to be one of my favorite t-shirts! I finally need to recycle it & started to cut it into rags. The edges started to curl & I knew that I wanted to try something a little different. I cut many small strips & layered them together. I tied the ends off with hemp cord, attached a toggle clasp & added charms!

Zipper Flowers:
I have a large collection of vintage zippers in many different colors & sizes. I knew I wanted to create "flowers" but wasn't sure how to make them "curl". I pulled out my sewing kit & started with a "running stitch" to gather the edges. This worked to make the flower & I simply layered the zipper into a circle. The longer the zipper, the bigger the flower!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

JUNKMARKET Style

Find inspiration by checking out the "member junk" section of this fantastic website! You'll be surprised by how creatively members "reduce, recycle & reuse" their treasures of "junk"! I love this site! Check it out!

Funky & Junky bracelets & adjustable rings - JUNKMARKET Style

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Daily Devotion....What Inspiration!


With a heart of love, O Lord, I start this day. With a heart of love, I give thanks for life. I am alive! I love the life and I want to live. Hallelujah! Amen

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

New designs created & listed in my Artfire Store!

An oversized vintage black metal button is the base pendant. I layered a vintage watch face & gold angel wings that surround a dainty black button to finish the pendant. I love the frayed black fabric (I cut it in strips, wet it down, put it in the dyer & iron it flat)!
Listed in my Artfire Store below:



I love the combination of junk & bling with this necklace! A vintage green "flip out" ruler repurposed with a vintage glass chandelier crystal. Junky & Funky indeed! Purchase this in my Artfire Store below:

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2867020

Monday, January 3, 2011

Special Christmas Project

The following two photos show 19 Vintage Key & Seam Binding Ribbon Necklaces. This project was so much fun because I was able to share a little Hangsleben history with my family. Grandma Bea has been so surprised with all the "junk drawer" junk I use when creating jewelry, so I told her to throw nothing away until she gives it to me. Each time we visit, she passes along another treasure. These keys came from her collection that accumulated from the farm & shop. I knew that I needed to keep these in the family and these necklaces were the result.