Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Making a Paper Cocktail Dress


I've had so much fun making the props for our Christmas display at work this year. So, I thought I would take some step by step pics of the last dress that I built; in case you have a couple hundred cards lying around and want to make one yourself! I first started with brown craft paper and constructed a pattern.

Cut up the back of the dress where a zipper would normally go and reinforce the edges with some cards then add velcro dots. Now you have a dress that can be taken on and off the form.

Cut the greeting cards in four pieces then fringe. No, I did not sit and cut each individual fringe. Martha Stewart sells a great pair of fringing scissors that cuts four fringe strips at a time. It went pretty quickly to cut up this box of cards.

With a hot glue gun and LOTS of glue start gluing the strips on the paper pattern starting from the bottom edge and working your way up and around the form.



I made a cute little flower pin for her dress using a flower pattern from Paper Source.

Her shoes of course needed to match!


Here is our cocktail girl set up between the escalators on the first floor of Halls(Crown Center) department store. She is holding a string of cards that zig zags it way up three levels of the store.


All the cards used in our displays were reprinted from Christmas cards in the Hallmark archives between the 1920's-1980's. This installation is in honor of Hallmark Cards 100th Anniversary this year.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Finished



The clown is finished. Wore him to work today, just felt fun to have this on!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Amuck in the Northwest


We are very excited to now have our jewelry at the Mary Lou Zeek gallery in Salem,Oregon. This is what we recently sent to Mary Lou. Think we may have to plan a little vacation in the spring to Oregon and see this great gallery in person. Neither Bryan or myself have ever been to that area of the country and we always hear raving revues about how beautiful it is.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Progress on Clownin Around


Got the main link of the necklace finished tonight. The tab setting was Bryan's idea and I think it came out beautiful.


I added the star and rivets detail to the back. Should be able to finish this tomorrow evening. I actually got the studio cleaned up a bit this weekend along with some of the house. Sure feels good to start getting this house back in order. I still have boxes in the dining room from the when we did the Plaza art fair. Sometimes it takes quite awhile to completely unpack from doing shows!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Paper Gowns


Iam so excited to finally be able to show you what I've been working on since July at my day job. We are setting up our xmas decor at Halls Crown Center. Everything this year is made from Hallmark christmas cards in celebration of their 100th anniversary.
This lovely lady is Holly, as viewed when you first enter our store. The trees and platform are covered with cards as well.

A close up of her vest. I made everything removable with velcro closures. If you happen to be the same size as Holly this vest is totally wearable. I can put it on but sadly I can't close it shut!


The lower back of her dress has an accordian fold detail and they are approximately 200 little red flowers on her skirt.


I will share LOTS more photos of our card creations. I made 3 dresses and a pair of men's pajamas. I will also share a step by step tutorial on how I built one of these dresses. Stay tuned!!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

New work,new retailer and work in progress...


A new heart brooch made from copper and a vintage aluminum drinking cup. Love the way this came out,very eye catching I think.

I'm working on another large piece that will be called Clownin Around. The chain will be similar to what I did on the Sugar Skull necklace. The tin with the clown pattern was once a noisemaker, I love using those!!


Amuck jewelry is also excited to announce that our work is now available at The Eclectic Collector in Katonah,NY!!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Ring#307/365


A custom Roger skull ring. The most detailed of the skull rings that I've done so far. Have I mentioned how excited I am to be nearing the end of the Ring A Day project! Oh, I will be so happy on January 1st to not have to make a ring.