Blackbirds & Bumblebees

Steam Punk Style

2012-01-23T07:21:00.000-08:00

I have a fascination with the Steam Punk style. I enjoy creating jewelry and items with this theme.

 Watch Movement Ring

Steam Punk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history and speculative fiction. It came into prominence during the 1980's and early 1990's.

Steam Punk Antique Brass Theodolite Necklace

Steam Punk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used - usually Victorian era Britain or Wild West era - United States and incorporates elements of both science fiction and fantasy.

Time Traveler Necklace

Works of Steam Punk often feature futuristic innovations that Victorians might have envisioned based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style and art.

Octopus Necklace

This technology includes such fictional machines as those found in the works of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne and Mary Shelley.

Sailor's Valentine Locket Necklace

Honey Bee Necklace

Telephone earrings

Firefly Stencil necklace
Steam Punk style is a fun creative way to re-purposed broken and vintage jewelry in to new industrial treasures.

2012-01-18T10:07:00.000-08:00

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Vintage Japanese Doll Chess Set

2012-01-13T08:38:00.000-08:00

I have to share with you the most adorable vintage chess set I found the other day.

It looks like this set was made in Japan. They are beautifully hand painted. The colors are fantastic. This is a complete set and it is in great condition.

There is a word in Japan - kawaii - which means cute. I think this chess set is quite "kawaii."

Sweet Valentine

2012-01-10T20:16:00.001-08:00

Mini Valentine Art Quilt

Red Heart Vintage Jewel earrings

Pink rose cameo ring

Vintage heart dish

Love Song encaustic painting

Vintage shell heart brooch

Valentine pink flower white heart earrings

Pink flower earrings

Big heart ring

Red heart journal

Bookmark Jewels

2012-01-10T07:17:00.000-08:00

Jeweled ribbon bookmark charms. Something pretty for the bibliophile.

Custom Bridesmaid Necklaces

2012-01-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

I just finished a set of custom bridesmaid necklaces.

The bride's colors were an aqua blue and a lovely cream white.

I thought these necklaces looked quiet nice lined up and the winter sun gave them a beautiful glow. The wedding isn't until the spring, but after the wedding I'm hoping to see some photos of the bridesmaids with their necklaces.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from the Pacific Northwest!

Watson Kennedy

2011-12-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

I was in Seattle the other day with my daughter and we stopped by one of my favorite shops -

Watson Kennedy.

This shop is located on 1022 1st Ave in Seattle. Just a short walk from the ferry.

This beautifully designed shop is like a combination of an old English library and natural history museum. Everywhere you look, there is something fantastic to see.

I can spend hours in here just exploring all of their finds.

Much of the store is "color coordinated" with collections of pretty items.

Green, my favorite color!

You can find jewelry, home items, art, books, textiles and so much more in this fun shop. If you can't get to Seattle any time soon, don't worry. You can have fun visiting their online shop here

Ornament Give Away

2011-12-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

As a Happy Holiday Gift to my blog followers I am giving away 3 of my handmade encaustic painting ornaments- that means 3 lucky winners!

To increase your chances to win one of these original encaustic painting ornaments you can –

Tweet or RT this giveaway,

1 tweet = 1 extra entry.

Include @susannajarian so I can find you.

To thank you guys for the blog love:

Follow this blog = 1 extra entry

This give away will end Sat December 17^th and the winners will be picked randomly and notified by email.

To win one of these ornaments you'll need to provide a working email in the comment for contact and valid entry. (Email links to profile is also accepted)

Click, look, comment and spread the love!

Church Lady

2011-12-07T06:19:00.000-08:00

I found the cutest pair of 1950's vintage porcelain figurines.

These choir singing red heads are hand painted.

Their choir books read - "Jesus loves me this I know."

What a fantastic gift for a singer or church choir leader. These church ladies can be found here.

“Well, isn't that special?”

Gift Giving Jewels & Baubles

2011-12-05T06:42:00.000-08:00

Namaste

2011-12-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

Blue Buddha

Balance

Love this :)

OWL always LOVE you

2011-11-30T06:51:00.000-08:00

Owl LOVE - Mixed media owl paintings. Using papers from vintage books I created these original encaustic paintings. You can find these sweet owls in my Etsy shop

Red for the Holidays

2011-11-28T06:13:00.000-08:00

Black and white encaustic paintings with a bit of red. Perfect for the holidays. All of these original encaustic paintings can be found in my shop here

Designing Dresses

2011-11-21T06:44:00.000-08:00

I've been having fun "designing" some dresses.

These dresses are made using vintage papers and encaustic beeswax.

I used a page from a vintage French book for this dress. The pocket, belt and collar are bits of a vintage map.

This dress painting is also an ornament.

To create this dress I used a topographic map page from a vintage atlas. This map has such wonderful colors and patterns.

The pink and green colors in this thematic map make a lovely dress.

All of these mixed media encaustic dress paintings are available for purchase in my shop.

100 Happy Faces

2011-11-16T09:26:00.000-08:00

200 people were asked one simple question - What makes you happy?

Holiday Jewelry Gift Ideas

2011-11-15T07:58:00.000-08:00

I have been busy creating lots of new pieces of jewelry for my shop for the holidays.

I thought I would share some of the new pieces with you.

I have both vintage as well as handmade jewelry in my shop. As a thank you to all my wonderful blog followers I have created a FREE shipping code for any piece of jewelry in my shop - handmade or vintage. Just type in the code BLOGFOLLOWER in the coupon code section and the shipping is FREE.

Holiday Tree Ornaments

2011-11-14T09:40:00.000-08:00

I have added some cute encaustic art ornaments to my shop.

These fun and festive ornaments are tiny encaustic mixed media paintings.

They measure 2 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches and are painted on little blocks of wood.

Each ornament has a lovely red satin bow and can be hung on a tree.

I am offering free shipping on these fun little paintings. They would make a great gift.

Gratitude

2011-11-09T06:33:00.000-08:00

I have so much in my life to be grateful for, yet sometimes I get caught up in the business of life I forget to pay attention to what is truly important. I get irritated by stupid silly things. This video from TED is a lovely reminder to myself to pay attention to the beautiful experience of living, to appreciate every moment. Not to wait for a vacation to enjoy life, but to enjoy life right now. To be grateful and to wake up everyday saying - thank you.

Murmuration . . .

2011-11-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

. . . a collection of starlings is called a murmuration. Enjoy this ballet of nature.

Autumn . . .

2011-11-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

. . . is a second spring . . .

. . . when every leaf is a flower.

Graffitti Artist

2011-11-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

I’m sure there are quite a few of you out there who love the idea of going out under the cover of night, packing an arsenal of spray-paint and creating amazing graffiti art.

Check out this clever notebook - Walls Notebook

This is a notebook / sketchbook that features 80 pictures of "clean" NYC walls instead of blank pages.

Write, draw, paste, or doodle on these inspirational backdrops. You'll be one step closer to being the street artist you've always wanted to be … minus the jail time.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Still Life Alive

2011-10-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

I want to share this amazing artwork by a young artist named Alexa Meade

Rather than creating representational paintings on a flat canvas, Alexa Meade creates her representational paintings directly on top of the physical subjects that she is referencing.

When photographed, the representational painting and the subject being referenced appear to be one and the same as the 3D space of her painted scenes becomes optically compressed into a 2D plane.

Alexa Meade art is playful as well as skillful combing paint, portraiture, photography and performance.

The finalized work is one that is beautifully engaging, temporary and colorfully alive.

NEW Custom Art Gift Blocks

2011-10-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

I have a new item in my shop. Art Gift Blocks

My Art Gift Blocks are mini art prints of my original paintings mounted on small pieces of wood and covered with encaustic beeswax. On the back of each Art Gift Block is a pocket that holds a decorative mini card that comes with the piece.

Art Gift Blocks make wonderful gifts for weddings, birthdays, holidays, anniversary, house warming, hostess or new baby gift. It's a greeting card and a piece of artwork in one little package.

With this Art Gift Block, I feature a pair of love birds and a tree with a heart. I will personalize the piece with initials, names, dates or words "carved" onto the white heart.

I'll even gift wrap and send the Art Gift Block to the recipient.