Friday, April 17, 2009

The Rock

....UM NoNoNo notDwayne Johnson( sorry I am a big ol'dork , just could not resisit)

~My sweet man remembered this rock...


Herkimer Diamond Solitaire

This ring was inspired by a one-pound bag of mixed "Herkimer Diamonds" we scored at the NYC Gem and Mineral Show last year. Despite their diamond misnomer, Herkimers are are actually six-sided, double-terminated quartz crystals and are relatively valueless. Nevertheless, unscrupulous jewelers during the Civil War often tried to pass off these stones as the more precious variety. We love the visual joke created when these severely flawed, yet impressively sized stones masquerade as diamonds in our version of the classic "solitaire" engagement-ring setting. A hand-cast sterling silver raised bezel grips the Herkimer with four square-wire prongs. Every unique stone is set by hand; expect yours to have irregularities like cracks, dark spots, and milky-colored mineral impurities
shop Erica Weiner

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Vintage button and fabric scraps brooch Tutorial


~I just had a big sale on my new online store and I needed something to send as a "thank you" to all my sweet customers. I usually send a blank handmade card, but several of these ladies were repeat customers so I wanted to do something different. Plus the sale items had all been shirts so I thought brooches would be fun as well as relevant....This is a fun and super easy project. It is a really nice project to use vintage scraps or quilt pieces with. It is also a great way to showcase some of those pretty vintage buttons you have been hanging on to. (if you are using quilt scraps make sure to use the interface)~I was inspired by my very talented friend in Houston At Tanto Craft. Back around the Maker Faire I had gotten a Frida Pin from her . Inspired by this beautiful pin I made a few at Christmas but each one was completely different, and I worked them one at a time, so I had not really gotten the process down. I was still trying to figure out the best order to do it all in. Anytime I decide to do a batch of something I usually figure out a good recipe for the project. I am not sure if this is how Tanto makes hers but here is what I came up with.

Vintage button and fabric scraps brooch Tutorial

materials
fabric scraps
fusible interface(optional)
round template(i used a jar bottom)
felt
1" bar pin(jewelry notion)
glue gun
thread
needle
button(s)
sewing machine(optional)
Iron

1.Trace and cut out your pattern from the felt (backing ) and one piece of fabric with interface attached to it. ...you can use any pattern you would like for your brooch. I decided to use a circle. I wanted it to be easy to repeat and versatile, since I was making 5. I used the bottom of a pickle jar for my template and just traced it directly onto my fabric ( the back of course) with chalk
2. Sew the bar pin to the back of your felt piece. Think about where you want the location of the pin to be when you wear it. Make sure the opening of the pin is facing up so when you put it on it is easy to use.

3. Design your brooch with fabrics and buttons. Figure out where you want everything. ...Then start attaching each item from the bottom layer up.~ It helps to use your iron here. Iron all the scraps first. Then and if you want add interface to the back of them. Iron the entire brooch after you attach each layer; this keeps everything nice and flat. I like to add decorative stitching to the final layers. Then I arrange a few buttons, or just one special button.
4.Decide which way you want the brooch to be worn and where the pin should be located in relation to that.
5.Apply Glue to the back piece . I like to go around about a 1/4 " away from the edge of the brooch with a thin line of glue. Then sort of zig-zag in the middle. ...Then gently and evenly apply the top piece to the backing. Take care not to squirt excess glue out the sides.

6. Trim any excess fabric

......Tada!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

(36 hrs only) Tanks and T's sell on Belle and Burger


~I am opening my new online store officially this month ... so I will be having these sells to celebrate and such. They are only good until 6 am on Saturday because I am off to the market and these are online sell prices only. The tanks are all $10( there are more tanks and T's at the store).... and the T-shirts are all $15. They are usually at least double that.
SO here it is.... The Belle and Burger Online sale
Belle and burger tanks $10 usually $20. Belle and Burger T-shirts $15 usually $25-$35
This is an online promotion so you must purchase at the Belle and Burger online store. If you are local you can of course pick up at the market or have it shipped . This sell is from 7pm Thursday April 9Th til 6 am Saturday April 11Th.

Tea Time...A New Age speedball

~As my cup of Lavender Earl Grey by sesa tea wafted its calming aroma towards my weary late afternoon head yesterday, I thought to myself " I really need my afternoon pick me up right now". ~You see this oh so lovely tea from the local Austin tea company is just that; calming yet energizing.... I did not see the Lavender earl grey on the Sesa Tea site but you may be able to request it. Locally they are at The Sunset valley farmer's market and Thai fresh. Yummy

Monday, April 6, 2009

Wildflower cruising and other Texas sports

~It is spring time here in central Texas and actually this one is lasting longer than usual. We are enjoying showing Burger some local treasures and introducing some warm weather fun stuff.


~Springtime gardening...Sprouting cucumbers



...and flowering sage

...good garden smiles(this is a "smile" for the camera)...


~Bluebonnets and other pretties

...we were searching for butterflies to chase(one of burger's favorite activities right now)
...but only found a few bees, it was very windy

~Dropping in on the VFWVpost 3377
.....They had a big plane to look at .... and bluebonnets across the street for mama to enjoy


~Checking out Doug Moreland's Chainsaw art sculpture gallery



~The inside gallery was closed (although I think the best stuff is probably outside). Doug is not only a chainsaw artist, but also leads a great country band(the Doug Moreland Show) and plays a mean fiddle. (Quite a handsome fellow huh?) ...Truly a postmodern Renaissance man

~Playground hopping
~Standing on a fire ant hill, unknowingly(um ouch). I gotta do this at least once every spring
~checking out the cows at 35mph
...and of course roadside relief cropped(KG was kind enough to make it a kodak moment)