01.08.12
Decorated handbags are nothing new; wonderful examples of this crafty form of entertainment can be found dating way back, with a proliferation of such objects in the mid-20th century. The work of artisans like Enid Collins of Texas (think glittery bejeweled wooden boxes and woven bags circa 1960’s) is in fact highly collectible. Because there was a time when my thrifting was so intense and the availability of really cool retro bags was plentiful, I’ve amassed a nice little collection. And, at some point, I started using them as little art canvases. The bag above was purchased in Columbus a couple of years ago, decorated as-is with shells etc. What I love about this one is that the shell purses are always very summery, white basket weave, very Florida! I had never seen one in black velvet. I added a few things to the front of this bag to give it even more edge; can you guess which objects? I call this one Summer Gothic.
I sold a ton of these vintage car emblem bags many years ago, but a few of them had to remain in the personal collection. The bag above is from that period, and was recently out for a spin to a very fancy Boston wedding. I absolutely love carrying this red velvet one. The bag itself is not really vintage, more late-model faux vintage, but it’s somehow perfect.
Here is another I just could not let go of, mind you, I don’t even know what an “Electra” (the car) looks like… but I know that a girl named Electra would carry this bag and be wearing the MOST chic LBD with a string of pearls.
The girl carrying this one is super tall and model-thin, with a HUGE afro, gorgeous brown skin, and legs up to there. She’s on her way to the disco. Sometimes I’m that girl. In my dreams!
This crafty girl wears broken babydoll dresses, big platform shoes and striped mismatched tights. I love the lucite ice-cube clasp on this little velvet bag, and the german glass glitter star acquired a nice patina in about a week of air-exposure. Lovely vintage millinery also.
I’ll leave you with this morbid little number, a Victorian mourning bag complete with vintage “Portland Casket Co.” metal label. Memento mori, people!
These images are up on flickr in their larger sizes, and check out the “embroidery mine” section over there for a few more recent bags created my mad moi.
Subject: Blog, Modern Art | No Comments »
01.06.12
At 14 I almost ran away to join the circus. Not wanting to be too big for my britches, or cause my mother an untimely death (she would have been only 34 at the time) I opted instead to spend a lot of time at the State Fair with a handful of glamorous characters several years my senior. Hours spent wandering the chicken building for exotic feathers to tie in our hair, licking hot sugar from mini-donuts off our fingers, and screaming down the giant slide, which seemed it might go on forever, dumping us into another star-filled galaxy in the night sky, far away from parents and school and our utterly boring lives.
Quieter times were spent sitting by the door of the Fair Arts Building with a surrealist boy, discussing anarchism, the poetry of rockabilly music and plans to run away to San Francisco. Laughing until tears fell like mewling kittens from my shining eyes.
You think I’m making this up. Well, I have witnesses.
Two lovely boutinniere corsages designed for the so charmed relaunch. There will be more. Interested now? Please get in touch.
Subject: Blog, Modern Art, They Call It Work | No Comments »
01.05.12
I’m trying to remember when I first read Oscar Wilde, and I believe it was in high school; The Picture of Dorian Gray. For those doing math out there, that would mean about close to 40 years ago.
My obsession continued into college and remains in place today. I love his writings, images of him, the film starring Stephen Fry, and just thinking about this radical individual taking a lobster out for a London stroll on a leash. So here is a brooch entitled Thee Poison Pen featuring the wild one, with a lovely vintage pen nib affixed. The vintage seam binding ribbon is, of course, the palest shade of pink.
My research into ancient radical writers also lead me to Aphra Behn, who lived during the mid-1600’s and is upheld by many feminists as the first published female literary voice. Kind of a riot-grrl of the 17th century. Thee Poison Pen brooch honoring Ms. Behn, with vintage lavender ribbon and pen nib.
These two brooches will be offered among the last of the resin jewelry on the So Charmed site; we are about 4-6 weeks out from launch. If you are interested in either of them now, feel free to email me: jodiatsodashcharmeddotcom.
Subject: Blog, Modern Art, They Call It Work | No Comments »
01.04.12
Greetings bloggy folk, we have winners of my first giveaway, as picked out of a hat this morning by the bf (BEFORE his coffee, poor guy). They’ve been contacted and just need to send their mailing addresses to get the goods! And, happily, it worked out that the 3 lucky ladies, got the earrings they preferred… Lot 1 goes to Debbie, Lot 2 to Chis, Lot 3 to Cindy.
Thanks to everyone who played with me on this! It was so much fun I’ll be doing it again soon. Turns out I LOVE giving stuff away!
Subject: Blog, Uncategorizable | 1 Comment »
01.03.12
Ok, due to OVERWHELMING response… I know, six people, but I expected ZERO so I’m all psyched up… there are now three “lots” I’m giving away with the drawing I posted yesterday (scroll down). This is Lot 2, a pair of very elegant showstoppers with vintage glass and sparkly goodness.
And here’s Lot 3, more Time and Candy… golden brass clock hands with red glass beads, and vintage glass candy colored droplets.
As before, all you have to do is post your New Year’s Resolution in the comments area, either with this post or the previous one, and your name will go into a hat for random drawing. Then you get earrings in the mail! Cool? Cool! PS: Feel free to express preferences but I’m not promising as I want to keep this light and fun ok?
Subject: Blog, They Call It Work | 2 Comments »
01.02.12
Happy New Year to all! Is it Jan. 2 all ready? Time is FLYING! Which is why I included the earrings far left in this first jewelry give-away. Those feature little clock hands and little black glass beads. In the center we have vintage beads on long lovely ear-wires. On the far right vintage 50’s “cut-out” buttons and delicious glass lampworked strawbs. And all of this can be YOURS! To keep, to give away, to deconstruct for supplies, whatever your heart desires!
Here’s how I’m gonna work this. To enter, you just need to comment on this blog post… and tell me one New Year’s resolution. Extra points for a resolution you’ve all ready broken or intend to break soon! Just kidding. Sort of. But share something… anything. I’ll put your name in a hat — a very cool vintage hat, of course — and then the bf will randomly draw a name for the winner. So it doesn’t matter what you write, we’re not judging.
Contest ends tomorrow at midnight, drawing and winner announced Weds, earrings ship by Friday.
Subject: Blog, They Call It Work | 12 Comments »
01.01.12
With all the daily posting in Dec, a couple of pieces never made it onto the blog, thought I’d include them here so I can MOVE ON! Pictured above and below, The Trapeze Artist mixed media joint.
Lots of materials combined here.
Two more close-ups, nice little clasp if I do say! And this skein of the Indian sari fiber is incredible… it’s black but also has under and overtones of blue. This is the color I want my hair!
This one is called When You Left I Found Direction. I’ll just stack the other photos below. That’s an opalite chunk and a bone in the center.
The opalite glows like NOBODY’s bidness, changing with variations in light. Gorgeous.
More dreamy sari fiber. It only gets better as it frays.
As always if you want to see the photos bigger, hit my flickr page. All jewelry goes into the so-charmed.com category on the right. Duh!
Yes, these will be for sale when so charmed relaunches soon. Sign up for the eNews which publishes so sporadically it’s ridiculous, to get that announcement. Here’s the only one that went out in 2011 in case ya missed it.
Subject: Blog, Modern Art, They Call It Work | 3 Comments »
01.01.12
Have had a complete fascination and love for automobile emblems for a long time now; once created an entire line of vintage handbags featuring these… all sold now with a few in my private collection. Anyway, have had this Caddy wreath around the studio for months, distressed it, left it on my work bench, waited, and woke up yesterday morning having figured out how to construct the necklace I wanted to make. Too busy with NYE to make anything but lasagne yesterday but got up this morning and worked out the details. Very excited with results and will be adding more to this series.
Vintage chandelier crystals for added post-apocalyptic glitz appeal.
Clasp is a wonderful vintage button… not sure what this type of button is called with the cording wrapped around. Anyone know? I have two more of these. LOVE.
This necklace hangs longer than I usually make. I’m so petite myself that I tend to wear shorter length things, but have to remember that lots of people like the longer concept.
This image shows the clasp + a very cute set of coral teeth to help you bite the hand that feeds you. This piece is very world’s-end for me, not in a Westwood kind of way, in a dress up all glam for the bombed-out ball kind of way.
Full-sized images on flickr.
Subject: Blog, Modern Art, They Call It Work | 3 Comments »
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