Red Lead . . . Where have you been all my life!?

Nest

You know how it is when you're surfing . . . once in a while you run across a site that is positively wonderful . . . I stumbled onto Red Lead this morning. EEEeeeee!

"NEST" Stamp

The following is what their website tells about them:

"Red Lead was voted "the best place to buy art supplies" and "the best place to buy scrap booking supplies" by the St. Louis Riverfront Times.

Chris and Sharon have been published in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Mary Englebreit Home Companion, Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Celebrations, as well as several Stampington and Company publications.

Chris and Sharon are known for their inspiring art, exclusive line of rubber stamps designed by them, an eclectic mix of collage trinkets, vintage collage sheets, and artful workshops taught in the Red Lead studio. When you are in their neighborhood please drop by, they would love to meet you!

Visit Red Lead in the historic Webster Groves neighborhood of St. Louis, Mo. at 27 North Gore Ave."

So I ask you . . . why is this news to me!?

Have I been living under a rock?

{I suppose that is possible.}

Dottie and Debbie Rubber Stamp

Do you even believe this is a rubber stamp! I am not kidding you!

A super delicious collage sheet!

Vintage Elements Collage Sheet

I mean, come on! Seriously! Don't you just love it!?

Their prices are even completely reasonable, and I can be such a terrible cheapskate {I dropped a small fortune for me, there today!} . . . I suspect a lot of us creative types are . . . it's hard to buy that which you can make . . . and Red Lead will help you find some scrumptious goodies to do all that great creating with!

{Sorry about the closing preposition . . . I couldn't help myself. I'm a real person, you know?}

Red Lead Storefront

Red Lead Blog

Carla M Fox, Metalsmith

This is for those of you who might wonder about those silversmithing classes that I keep talking about . . . :)

Cool Tool

Filed in the Look What I Did department . . .

;)

It is lovely, though, isn't it?

I've told you before that I take a silversmithing class . . . a classmate and her husband invented the tool that I used to make the chain . . . I just love it! It's all sterling silver and pearls . . . The crucifix and connector, I found on Etsy . . .

It's a birthday gift for a dear friend . . . I'm hoping she doesn't see it here before she she sees it in person . . . :)

If you want to know more about the tool that I used, or the Etsy supplier . . . just let me know . . . I'll get right back to you!

Gosh! How've you been?! It's been ages since I saw you! I should stop in more often, I know . . . I've just been so busy . . . and I always write at night, it seems . . . and my husband has discovered the joys of sharing my computer in the evenings . . . sigh . . .

Today, I'm grounded. He has my automobile . . . {pickup, actually . . .} . . . and is out enjoying his new boat with our son, and I get to stay home and do whatever I please. :) I so love those days when I can't leave the house for some reason . . .they're gifts, absolutely . . . so . . . I've completed a bit of correspondence, edited a couple of pictures, and remembered that I have a blog. :) Here you go . . . in photos . . . a bit of what I've/we've all been up to . . . ;)

I've been . . . taking classes and giving them . . .

. . . just finished this necklace for Relay for Life . . .

. . . tried to hang out with these precious people whenever possible . . .

. . . and Rip Van Winkle . . .

. . . celebrated Easter with my family

. . . including my two favorite, beautiful, little gossamer girls . . .

{She's trying to decide whether to go near to . . . }

. . . Emily Easter Bunny! {Who happened to be in the neighborhood {because she lives across the street} and surprised us with a happy visit . . . }

We traveled a bit . . . not too far, just enough . . . to share in a celebration honoring my Mother-in-law and her milestone birthday . . .

{Mom with our eldest son and his beautiful family. . .}

. . . enjoyed the company of relatives who traveled rather farther than we did . . .

. . . and taken every opportunity to find my peace . . .

. . . here . . .

. . . in this beautiful place . . . {big ol' sigh} . . . how about yourself?

Soldered Charms Workshop/Class

This Saturday, I'm teaching another Workshop/Class at The Empty Nest! Let me give you the particulars! April 2, 2011 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You will make five different types of charms! You will learn; the copper foil method, how to cut and grind glass, and how to solder! {At least!} The Workshop fee {$100.00} includes the class {naturally}, all of your materials, and a delightfully delicious catered lunch! Tools are available for use in class! It is a good idea to bring your own soldering iron, however! There are two students who can't make it at the last minute, so there are open seats . . . just in case you need one of them. ;)

The Empty Nest (209) 847-9300

For a recent post about the last class, Click Here

Vintage Bird Collage

Do you mind terribly if I repost an old one? Currently, I am recreating this for a couple of really special people who have asked . . . :) I keep opening the photos to double check details, and am so enjoying the process all over again. I am ready to attach the doors . . . just need hinges. Having way too much fun over here! Thank you for indulging me.

Originally posted July 9, 2009

This project was such a blast! The theme for the swap at The Vintage Dragonfly Studio was, Vintage Bird. The size of the collage itself is 5"x 5". I haven't received the one that is being shipped to me, yet. But this one is my submission.

The glass window panes are a whopping 2 1/2 inches square.

The edge is a page from an ancient German language book. I did not deface the book! Honest! Someone just happened to give me the page, at a class. Isn't the font lovely? A pearl rests in the gold wire and antique print nest. The little silhouette is cut from the same text. It's positively ancient and very brittle. That's a vintage locket displaying a bit of quail egg set on green velvet. Les Memoires d'un Oiseau ~ loosely translated, The Bird's Memories

Once Upon a Time {reading challenge}

How's this for a bona fide grown up excuse to read the fun stuff!? A reading challenge, with these simple parameters: "Spring (March 21st to June 20th) . . . journey together into the magical lands of fantasy, fairy tales, folklore and mythology." Carl, of Stainless Steel Droppings fame is hosting this challenge for the fifth year running. I would like to know why this is the first time that I've heard! I'm saving you from the fate of waiting any longer, though! {You know that's my mission in life.} :)

Herein are the pertinent links and a little information . . . I'm not posting my Quest {level of commitment} until I've had a little time to think on it . . . but you are allowed to join the challenge if you intend to read only one book in the three month period! How hard could that be!? I'm thinking of reading The Hobbit or maybe A Wrinkle in Time, again . . . But I have Peter Pan on my to-be-read list . . .

I'll paste a bit from Carl's post about his challenge here:

Now, for the particulars:

The Once Upon a Time Challenge has a few rules:

Rule #1: Have fun.

Rule #2: Have fun.

Rule #3: Don’t keep the fun to yourself, share it with us, please!

Rule #4: Do not be put off by the word “challenge”.

If you have participated in any of the reading events hosted here at Stainless Steel Droppings then you will know that my goal is not to try to reach some preset number of books read. It is simply to take pleasure in what is read. By the same token, I do like setting personal goals for myself and I see the value in “challenging” myself not only to read regularly but also to get out of my comfort zone on occasion. We all have books that we want to read. On top of that some of us have books we are obligated to read, be that for school or commitments we have made, etc. The Once Upon a Time Challenge is not meant to be a burden, nor is it meant to coerce you into participating in something when you feel overwhelmed. That is why you will find that the Once Upon a Time Challenge is designed to cater to everyone–those that want to set a specific goal to reach and those who know that all they really have time for is to read one qualifying book and want to take part in the fellowship that springs up during this challenge.

Your challenge options are wide open . . . choose from The Journey {which is just One Book!},

Quest the First, Second, Third or Fourth, The Short Story Challenge, or Quest the Screen. The Quests aren't what I expected them to be {each more involved than the last} . . . rather they are different configurations . . . Options! He has given us completely doable options!

Do give it some thought, eh?