Before and After Projects…

Thanks to my new blog friend, Cindy, at My Romantic Home, who inspired me to refinish my china storage cabinet – It seems that I am slowly, but surely, painting everything in sight a shabby white!!! :-) This weekend I completed two simple projects and I thought I would share them with you. Just think of these two projects as "Jewelry For Your Home"!

Project One: Cherub Candlesticks Makeover. I found these sweet Cherubs in a gift shop but was not crazy about the gold finish. I brought them home and applied a flat white spray paint and then “dabbed” on highlights of gold using DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Elegant Finish in two different shades, Venetian Gold and Glorious Gold. All the paint was purchased at Michaels. I also added the crystal wax catchers to the holders. I thought they still needed just a touch more of something….so I added a beaded swag using a vintage pearl chain that has a great rusty patina on the metal links.

I really like how this turns out. I think they look a lot more elegant and now I am having trouble deciding which room to put them in!

Project Two: Cake Stand Makeover. I have a small collection of these creamy white cake stands and I decided to stack them, drape them with more of my vintage beaded pearl chain and also some vintage chandelier crystals I had laying around. I added a shabby lace candle votive at the top with a few cream silk roses.

I can’t decide whether to use this as a centerpiece on my dining room table or use it in my studio to hold some of my vintage rhinestone jewelry pieces on the tiers. Both these projects were super simple and fast to do. I hope these projects have inspired you to take a look around your own home for something that can be put together in a new way for a little touch of beauty. xoxo ~ Joy

The Things They Do Behind Your Back….

Here’s the scene I witnessed as I stepped from the shower this morning…..now I ask you, just how am I supposed to punish Barkley’s bad behavior with an innocent face like that? Only a mother’s love can see the cuteness behind this mess. Whether you have children with fur, or children who don’t, here’s wishing you a lovely mess-free Mothers Day!

Enchanted Gardens…

Do you love beautiful flowers and garden design as much as I do? I absolutely DO NOT have a green thumb and really admire those who have this talent. This weekend I enjoyed a lovely neighborhood garden tour and would like to share some of the great ideas I saw. Hopefully you’ll be as inspired as I was. Now, put on your comfy shoes and lets stroll……

I love garden design that mixes many different types of plants together. This grouping was beautiful!

Painted vintage lawn furniture in vivid hues was all the rage. We saw this everywhere.

No bird needed to use vintage bird cages in your landscape!

Another trend we saw....artwork and painted signs hung outdoors on the house or fence. I like it!

This was a great fence design...that is a little window cut-out in the fence with a window box under the window. There is a little wood door behind the window that you can close from the other side for privacy when needed. I also like how the fence was painted cottage white but had natural stain on the posts for a little extra style.

When all else fails...plant fakes! I was oooohing at this pretty plant when the owner came over and told me it was silk! Boy, I felt dumb! She said her secret was to stick fake plants in the landscape where real plants had a hard time growing. She pointed out little spots all over her yard with fakes mixed in...Now that's gardening I can keep alive!

Too cute....ducks in a row!

Loved the look of "drapes" outdoors.

Loved the bright mix of colors in this border!

Loved the comfy quilts and pillows pilled high on this hammock!

Another big trend we noticed....plants in chairs!

Great punch of color in a dark spot of the garden.

This was the biggest trend we saw...indoor furniture moved outdoors. Not furniture made for outdoor living...but real furniture, the kind used indoors. Rugs, lamps, pictures, you name it. If it's INSIDE your house, move it into the yard!

We saw lots of pails and containers tacked up on tree trunks.

Nothing is more charming than vines growing over a cottage white picket fence!

Color and contrast adds interest.

Another example of furniture that could be inside the house but instead is used outside in the garden. This was really like an outdoor dining room!

Very large shells placed in garden beds! Loved this look!

More painted vintage lawn furniture.

The floating "centerpiece" in this pool was an arrangement of tropical palm leaves and flowers with flower petals floating about. A very pretty party idea!

Water features and ponds were still big in garden design.

I love BIG pots of colorful flowers tucked all around the garden. It gives interest where you don't have actual plant beds.

More mixing of plant types and colors!

Little accents add a sweet touch!

Loved this!! Everything including the kitchen sink...uuhmm, bathroom sink, can be used in garden design!

Colorful Shrimp Plant

Little bowls tucked around the garden...filled with fake fruit & veggies and also bowls of collected sea shells.

Pretty summer flowers in bloom. Love the window boxes!


We saw lots of small water fountains tucked in corners and around patios. The soft sound of water is so relaxing.

More indoor furniture moved outdoors, along with pretty pillows. This looks like a comfy place for us to take a rest. Thanks for coming with me on the garden tour. Hope you found some ideas for your own garden! ~ xoxo ~ Joy

Let’s Shop!

Yesterday I made a run for more “bling” from one of my favorite antique stores, Patty & Friends. My vintage bling picture frame project was such a hit with family and friends that now I am scrambling to make a bunch for Mothers Day and Graduation gifts.

These cabinets filled with glittering jewels make my heart go pitter-patter!

I found this great vintage shelf unit just full of cubbies to hold all sorts of treasures. If I had more room in my studio, this would have been mine!

I found this cute shabby dog bed that would be darling for Barkley!

I loved this shabby chic dresser. Believe it or not, I actually wanted this for my bathroom! I’d like to drop 2 sinks in it for a his n’ hers bathroom sink cabinet. Wouldn’t that look darling?

I found these cute sugar & creamer chickens….I have a collection of vintage ceramic chickens in my kitchen so this pair caught my eye.

But here is what I actually came home with…..

The purpose for the trip…Bling!

A few great vintage postcards and photos for some upcoming projects.

I fell in LOVE with this antique Victorian Lace Shawl. Now Miss Gertrude has something pretty to wear for my photo shoots. The lace detail on this piece is just exquisite.

And this was my most exciting and unexpected find of the day… a Victorian Mantel Clock Case. The clock part has been removed and a mirror has been put in its place. There is a bottom drawer that pulls out and the original hardware is still on the piece.

When I saw this, I immediately had a creative vision and I snatched it up so fast I swear I must have looked like the roadrunner zipping up to the counter. Just a blur! When Mr. Cupid saw it, he was scratching his head over what I found so special about this piece…silly boy…here is what I see….a pretty creamy white shabby chic paint treatment, gobs of vintage rhinestone jewelry pieces circling all around the mirror. And with the pull out storage drawer, I want to use this as a jewelry box! This is a good example of how something that looks like one thing can actually become totally something else! I love those moments when you just KNOW what to create!

sshhhhh….it’s a secret sale…..

Just for you, my dearest blog friends and loyal customers….I need to do some spring cleaning and have put everything on my website for sale at 15% off, now through Sunday, May 4th. Just in time for Mothers Day too!

Celebrate the return of your romantic garden with these pretty vintage broken china necklaces – Click HERE to see more....

Or maybe you’d rather wear your garden on your wrist? Click HERE to see more

Perhaps you’d prefer a vintage Cherub Broken China necklace? These sweet little guardian Cupids will watch over all your romantic notions and are guaranteed to bring you love and joy every time when worn….Click HERE to see more

Whichever you prefer, please come visit quick before your favorite is gone. To receive your secret discount, you'll need to type “Charming” in the Voucher Code area on the checkout page. Then simply click the “re-calculate” button to see your savings. Happy Secret Shopping!!!

xo ~ Joy

Vintage Bling!

Jewelry For Your Home! I want to share this fun project with you that I just completed today….a Vintage Rhinestone Encrusted Picture Frame! I’ve been seeing these beautiful frames in upscale gifts shops lately and they are always sooooo expensive. But it’s very easy to create.

First, I raided my stash of vintage rhinestone bling, then grabbed my trusty hot glue gun and an old metal picture frame. You can use any picture frame you like, but I wanted to go for an “elegant shabby” look, so I spray painted the frame a creamy white color first. Then I just hot glued on bits and pieces of old broken jewelry around the frame.

I really like how this came out. I won’t be offering these on my website, but I think these would make terrific gifts! I plan to make a few more and thought one of these would make a great Mothers Day gift too. I think I’ll make one for my mom and put a special picture of the two of us together inside, or maybe a vintage mothers day card inside would be nice too. The possibilities are endless! I hope you’ll give this fun and easy project a try!

~ xoxo Joy

Come With Me To The Bead Store!

Today was a treat….I started work early in the studio and realized I was running low on supplies and needed to run over to one of my favorite bead stores - Buttons, Bangles & Beads. Just look at all the beautiful, sparkling treasure to be found there. I have to seriously watch my pocketbook because I want one of everything!

It's at this point on the sidewalk that my purse begins to twitch.....


Beautiful Semi-Precious stones in the most yummy colors.

More Semi-Precious stones...if you listen quietly, you can hear them call your name...yoooo-hoooo, Joy, over heeeerrreeeee....

A gorgeous basket full of large and unique silver beads. The shells would make the most beautiful beach jewelry!

Bins and bins of sparkling Swarovski Crystals in a rainbow of colors. I love playing in these bins!

A colorful wall of Czech Crystals and Glass Beads

And the Pearl section is beautiful too! Such a selection!

Now, there is a down side to going to the bead store and it has nothing to do with my purse…To get there, I have to drive by this….

Today was one of those famous Florida beach days…low 80’s, nice breeze, low humidity….I had the top down on my little sports car (I call it multi-tasking…working on my tan while I drive).

I was really tempted to just pull over, grab my pink beach chair from the trunk (kept there for “drive-by” sunbathing opportunities) and head down to the waters edge.

But not today, my studio work had to come first, so I headed home with a bag full of beads and the first hint of my summer tan starting to emerge.

Almost home and back to work…….Thank you for coming with me to the bead store!

xoxo ~ Joy

A Whisper Of Beauty From Yesteryear….

I had a very productive weekend in the studio! I finished several custom orders and also had time to complete these antique Broken China Bracelets for my website.

I just LOVE this beautiful Wedgwood Flow Blue china! This gorgeous pattern was produced between 1890 and 1900 and the flow blue is just beautiful. This pattern features fluffy cottage roses.

I was a happy girl the day I found these plates with an antique dealer. They sat unsold forever due to chips around the edges. Not really usable for eating and not pristine enough for display. I am so happy to recycle these beauties into a treasure that can be worn and loved in a new way. Click HERE to see more on this bracelet.

I also finished this Victorian Rose Garden bracelet.

This pattern was produced in the early 1900 to 19-teens. This is one of my favorite china patterns. I just love the large pink cottage roses against the black background. That’s a pretty hard combination to find in the world of dishes!

I wear black pretty often and this china pattern looks wonderful against my black outfits. I acquired this china from another antique dealer who had a box of odd pieces. Not enough to match up into sets and many pieces were broken. My heart skipped a beat when I saw about a dozen pieces of this china in the bottom of the box. And once again, I am so happy to recycle this very pretty china into another life to be enjoyed once again. Click HERE if you would like to see more on this bracelet.

I hope your weekend was happy and inspiring too!

xoxo ~ Joy

Vintage Bridal Hankie Jewelry

I wanted to share these new (old!) pieces of jewelry with you that I just added to the website. I found two vintage bridal hankies on a recent visit to a favorite antique store. The center part of each hankie had seen better days, but the lace around the edges was still beautiful. One hankie is French lace and the other is pure Irish linen lace. I used these forgotten pieces to create a few special pieces of jewelry. I just love lace and every window in our home is dressed in lace panels. There is something so romantic and timeless about lace. I also enjoy the history of lace and want to share a link to a blog friends site, Miss Maddie’s. Susan is a vintage textile appraiser and recently blogged about lace. Please visit her site to read her charming entry. And please click HERE to see my newest creations!

xoxo ~ Joy

Studio Tour

I finally finished shooting a few pictures of my studio this afternoon and I thought I would invite you in for a visit. My studio is small, nothing fancy, but it is the space where my heart sings. When I walk in each morning ready to work, I breathe a sigh of contentment. Please come for a visit and stay awhile. Friends are always welcome! Click HERE to visit me!

xoxo ~Joy

Fun With The Parents-The Last Day

Well mom and dad are on their way back to Virginia. Their week vacation ended today and we were sorry to see them go. For our last day together, we took them to visit some of our favorite stores and we also spent some time at the beach.

We had a beautiful day…sunny and 85 degrees. The beaches in our area are some of the most beautiful in the world and a couple of them are listed almost every year on the Travel Channels Top 10 Best Beaches list.

We also found time to visit a few new gift shops. These pictures are from Coastal Cabana, they specialize in “Seaside Chic”. I fell in love with this chandelier covered in seashells! How clever is that! I thought this would look wonderful in an outside garden area too.

These terrific chairs made from vintage water ski’s. Another clever idea!

This was another favorite shop, Erika’s Place, I purchased a pair of Cherub candlesticks from here that I could not leave without. Mom had to get a pair too!

We popped in here for lunch. This is a cute and casual restaurant that is literally right on the water as you can see from the photo. Now that’s waterfront dining! Hope you didn’t mind my sharing photos from our vacation time with the parents. Playtime is over and I am back in the studio catching up with orders and creating more jewelry. Plus a few more craft projects that I want to share with you too!

xoxo ~ Joy

Today We Were Bad - Very Bad

Parents visit - day 3. No antique shopping today. Instead, my mom and I found our way into a beautiful jewelry store - now how did that happen? :) We tend to egg each other on, so this can get out of hand real fast! I have to confess….I have one of those special milestone birthdays next week. I won’t tell you how “old” I am, because I don’t believe in numbers. I lost a beautiful sister to cancer when she was only 37 years old, so to me, each birthday is a GIFT and as those numbers roll higher and higher I tend to celebrate even more…for me and for her. But I feel that birthday milestones deserve and warrant a little something extra. My sweet mom wanted to purchase something special for me and we went for BLING…a girl can never have enough sparkle! We found these stunning Crislu classic stud earrings…4 ct. tw…and somehow these found their way onto my ears.

Now, this is what I call “PLAY” jewelry – but it is fine jewelry…. Sterling Silver layered with Platinum and handset with top quality CZ stones. Our budgets don’t allow for the real thing, so we are happy to flash our play jewelry. Seeing how excited I was about the sparkle of this jewelry, Dearest Husband came over and decided to make birthday shopping easy and suggested I select a necklace too!! This is what I wore out of the store….an almost 19 ct tw tennis necklace with round and heart shaped CZ stones set in Sterling Silver & Platinum.

Now, my momma decides that she too has to get in on the fun and she starts shopping for herself. She leaves with a Crislu 4 ct tw pear shaped necklace.

Our sales girl was a doll and we had soooo much fun on this little shopping adventure. Truly a lifetime memory because we never splurge this BIG, even on play jewelry. Ooooh what fun we had and you would have thought we had won the lottery and were in Tiffany’s!