Jeanette Janson-Mixed Media Artist

Watch this!

I've got some cool new things listed at Vintage Supply and wanted to tell you about them.  Old watches have so many uses, I never get tired of using them in my work.

I have 3 sets of cigar boxes filled with watches.  They are $40 a box and this many should last you awhile.  Go  HERE to check out a box lot.

For inspiration....here's an art doll I made using a non-working recycled watch.....

(FYI, you can also get the wings you see HERE.  You won't find these anywhere else, as we hand cut each one out of roofing copper, sand the edges and distress them with a mixture we have perfected over the years!)  

......or you could use one on the body.

This big square watch face would look great in an assemblage.  I love how the graphic numbers stand out.  

This necklace really came to life with the black watch face background.  The photo frame on this is a wristwatch bezel.

Here's a nice assortment of parts to get you started for only $25.  I could see these parts made into some cool jewelry pieces.

I made this bracelet a while back and I still get comments on it everytime I wear it.

And last, but not least....these cute little watch faces could easily be made into this:

or this:

with just a little imagination!

Mannequin Makeover

Yay, the weekend is finally here.  I'll be finishing up a project or two and then taking a much need day off tomorrow.

Do you remember the mannequins I showed you in my previous post?  Well...I got one cleaned up and she is looking pretty glamorous now.

This is before.  There was really no way to get the fabric off and clean it, plus these stains were looking like they might be difficult to get out anyway.  So I decided to paint it instead.  I used a very light dry brush and slowly added paint layer by layer.

After about an hour, this is what it looked like.

The stains are still there, very faintly, but they kind of blend in with the vintage look of the piece now.

And this is what she looks like now.

All glammed up.  This is a great way to display a rhinestone pin collection!

Antique shopping

 Don't you just love finding a new and awesome place to shop?  For me, that usually means a junk/antique treasure trove.  Today, I had a ball visiting a unique shop in Greenville, SC called Shinola Antiques.

This is not your grandmother's antique mall.  A dapper dressed skeleton greets you at the door.  

I was getting a real "Oddities" vibe here.

My friend, Karen, wanted to show me this place and of course I said..."YES, I'll go!"  

After perusing the inside, we headed out to the garden area to find more unique relics.

Baby dolls, skulls, rusty machine parts....

.....and a mannequin with attitude.  Not to mention there were chickens clucking about at our feet, the whole time, protecting their newborns.

I love bottle trees, especially when the bottles are cobalt blue.

Thank you, facebook for leading me down the path to Shinola.  I met Karen on facebook and have kept in touch with her on and off for awhile now.  She in turn, lives in Greenville (about 45 minutes from me) and discovered this place right in her own hometown on facebook.  The internet can be a lovely thing.

Being in sensory overload, I didn't end up buying that much.  I got these 2 dress form busts that I plan on encrusting with something.  Buttons...jewels...not sure yet.

And I got a bunch of lamp shade frames.  I plan to hang these in my studio, staggered at different lengths.  In the back is a heavy boxing trophy I bought for only $10.

I love finding a new place to shop for Vintage goodies.  I will definitely be making a return trip here!

 

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day of the Back to School sale at Vintage Supply Co.  25% off.

I wanted to do something to celebrate the new school year.  For the kids and the moms! I remember those days....it was always so exciting getting prepared for the upcoming school year.  Shopping for clothes and school supplies, meeting the new teacher and seeing who was going to be in your class this year.  These days, about the only way it affects me is the increased traffic on the roads.  When I was growing up, everyone took the bus.  Nowadays, seems like most of the parents drive their kids to school.  

Anyway, I wanted to show you my newest project.  

I found this dresser at a yard sale yesterday and grabbed it as soon as I saw it.  It has a mirror for the top, also.  There's some water damage on the side, so it will need a bit of patching, but I think it's going to paint up beautifully.  This week I'm going to buy some Annie Sloan paints and see what I can do with it.  

I will keep you posted!

 

Back to School 25% off Sale

OK, moms....next week the kiddies go back to school and you can finally enjoy a little "me" time!  You know you've been itching to begin that new art project!  

In celebration, Vintage Supply is running a 25% off Sale on everything now through Sunday night.  If you order early, a fun package could be arriving right about the time the kids are boarding the school bus.  

We've got lots of cool items in stock....hardware, keys, charlotte dolls, rhinestone jewelry, tons of watch parts and more!  I guarantee you will find lots of inspiration.  We are now accepting visa/mastercard through etsy to make shopping fast and convenient.

Check it all out HERE

Recycled Chairs

Don't you just love a good recycled art project? Well, I do and I couldn't resist an opportunity when I saw one. A neighbor of mine mentioned that he had 6 chairs in his garage and was looking for someone who could use them.

If you like a 1970's medieval look, they're perfect, but I had other plans for them.  So I loaded them up and brought them home.  Now it was time to get the circular saw out.

The 1st step was cutting the backs off and replacing the black vinyl seats with plywood.

 

After several coats of paint and some sanding, they were starting to look halfway decent.

The plywood tops needed to be sanded down and then I began collaging old music sheets to the top of this one.  

3 different designs...each one has a unique look.

I added a tape border to this table to give it a "French Country" look.

It had a clear background and blended in perfectly.

This fun table has outrageous headlines from The National Enquirer and other publications collaged on the top.

My favorites....."Dick Cheney is a robot,"and "Hilary Clinton adopts alien baby."  Too funny!  I'm going to give this table to my son and his fiance.  They just moved into a new house and they will appreciate the humor.

I did a layered paint effect on the legs to make them look old. 

And last but not least, the music sheet table, set up next to the fireplace in my living room.

I tried to give the legs of this one a Pottery Barn look.  After painting, sanding and staining, I think I'm close.

So, what did this project cost me?  $O !!!

Chairs- Free

Paint and Stain- I used leftovers that were in my garage.

Plywood- I used a sheet that we had saved from our renovation.

Sandpaper, mod podge and furniture wax- I had that on hand, too.

Music sheets, magazine articles and french tape- I dug these out of my art supply.

3 more tables to go now.  I have no idea what the next designs will be, but I will keep you posted!

 

Here and Now

What am I doing right now?

Going through my supply items, taking photos of items to list and enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon by myself.  I thought I would take a little break and snap a few pictures of my workspace for you.

A sweet Christening gown with the light shining through.  I painted the border of this window with chalkboard paint recently.

I bought this little plaster angel at an antique shop while I was in Texas.  I couldn't resist; I have such a weakness for these old religious figures.  The chips and imperfections just make them more endearing to me.

My doll head collection is growing.  I'm in no hurry, I just pick them up when I see them at a reasonable price.  I want to get a big glass jar and put them in that eventually.

I love this velvet baby doll dress...so sweet.  I see a pattern developing here.  I don't really have that much baby stuff around, but it defenitely is one of my favorite themes to collect, can't you tell?

So, I'll get back to my work now, but before I do, I'll show you what I've been listing.

WATCH PARTS for art or jewelry making.

You will have KEYS for many future projects with this lot!

Early 1900's LETTERS

A wooden BOX full of flea market finds.

And much more, so go HERE to have a look.

'Til next time!