Snow = crafting time!

14 inches of snow. Yes its pretty, but also massively annoying. Since I'm sick/damaged and can't even go out to help shovel, this means I've got plenty of crafting time. And who could complain about that, right?

I just posted a few new pretties in my shop, including this wonderful woven necklace. I'm really loving this design, and the colors here are just so rich.

I've also had time to sit down and sew this weekend, which hasn't happened in a while. I made myself a little tea wallet, so I can carry 6 teabags all nice and protected in my bag. I also finished the norman overtunic for a friend for an upcoming medieval event. I'm pretty happy with it.

Snow, you're gorgeous. Now go away before you get all dirty and gross...

I am boycotting winter.

Yes, that's right. I am boycotting winter. Sure we've not gotten any snow yet and temperatures have not yet dropped below freezing, but I'm anticipating it. So I'm boycotting, with butterflies. I came across them in the craft store and they're just so cheerful.

First was cute hair combs with flowers and butterflies which I made for myself and Avealina, along with sweet holiday themed ones.

Next, I discovered these hollow ornaments in the craft store. Some I painted and did up like fairy globes/witch balls, but this one I decided to fill with autumn leaves (after I realized flowers would not fit through the hole in one piece), topped off with some more leaves, pretty cord, and a cheery butterfly. This is a gift for a co-worker.

Take that, winter.

It's almost December??

Unbelievably, it's already the very end of November, and thus my November contest has ended. Congratulations Rebecca, on winning your own customized Anne Boleyn style "W" necklace. Thank you very much to all the other participants, you should have all received an e-mail regarding the contest.


This is the last weekend at my family's summer home until the spring. It's been a chilly, but lovely weekend. I observed an adorable squirrel napping on the deck this morning and saw a beautiful full rainbow this afternoon. I've had plenty of time for pearl knotting, inkle weaving, and even a little baking. Speaking of, I think I hear some lovely green pearls calling my name...

★November Contest- Win a customized Anne Boleyn letter necklace!

Once Halloween passes, what comes next? There's Thanksgiving, and OH YEAH- holiday shopping. I actually enjoy holiday shopping (though not so much the wracking my brain over what to buy people, or the crowded stores.) Take a break during this busy pre-holiday season to get something for you.

Beginning today, contact me with your name, best mode of contact (e-mail address/etsy ID) and the letter you would wish for, and you will be entered to win a customized Anne Boleyn letter necklace of your very own! E-mail me at duchessashop@yahoo.com, or send an Etsy conversation at duchessa.etsy.com, subject "November Contest", please.

Names will be put into a hat, and the winning name will be pulled on Saturday, November 28th.


At the conclusion of the contest, the weekend of November 28th, the winner will be notified and asked for the remainder of the customization information (allow production time after end of contest.) All other participants will be contacted as well- there's something for you as well! Non-winning participants who place an order before the final day of 2009 will receive free shipping and complimentary matching earrings (or other items, if ears are not pierced- let me know.)

Feel free to contact me with any questions. I look forward to hearing from everyone!



Don't forget customized jewelry and knotted pearl necklaces at reasonable prices when doing your shopping!

Quick hello.

I've been a very busy girl. I got a whole bunch done tonight, and am looking forward to 3 more days of work and then a quiet Halloween weekend with my fiance.

I've just listed in my etsy shop 2nd version of my "Anne the Queen" pendant necklace, similar to the first but not identical. The design and colors are a tad different and to be honest, I don't think I could make them identical if I tried. I also listed another portrait necklace, this one a silver and gold frame detailed with a fish scale pattern, containing a small print of "A Mermaid", one of John William Waterhouse's beautiful paintings.

Off to bed now, probably for dreams of knotting pearls (considering how long tonight I spent doing it!)

Soldier's Angels

Not that I have so many readers, but I want to highlight a very worthy cause which is in need of support.

Soldier's Angels is a wonderful nonprofit group which supports members of all branches of the armed forces through a series of projects and events. There are a number of crafting teams where for example, you can donate handmade blankets to veterans recovering in military hospitals, or bake homemade treats as part of the Angel Bakers to send to the troops.

Then there is adoptions. You sign up, and are given the name and address of a deployed soldier. You are asked to write about once a week, and send a care package once a month. You do this for the remainder of the soldier's deployment.

I am on my 4th adoption, with sporadic additional activities with the group and I have to say, its a great feeling to be able to help. Whatever your political stance is, the fact is that our guys and girls are away from home, in harms way, and whatever we can do to assist them is a worthwhile effort. Remember when those "support our troops" ribbon magnets were showing up on every car? I used to laugh because while people were slapping magnets on their cars and feeling like they were doing something so useful, I was actually supporting our troops in my small way.

So if you've got a moment, browse through the website. They're short on angels for adoptions right now, and the other groups can use all the help they can get.

Brushes

First off, I want to make sure to give credit where credit is due. I don't know where or when I will use these, so I'm doing this right now...

If you use Adobe Photoshop, head over to Obsidian Moon and check out their selection of absolutely amazing brushes. I discovered some of them on the computer at work and had to download them at home. I haven't the slightest how a brush is made, but these are just incredible.

The quality of this isn't so hot, but heres a little sample with the pixie brush, foliage brush, and a few other which I forget which sets they came from. Awesome!

I just made up some really cute promo items for my shop, for well, promotional use as well as sending out with orders. They combine pretty scrapbooking paper and one of my favorite things!

Brand new!

Several things fall under my title category of "Brand New!":

-My graphic design job, starting Monday.
-The shipment of supplies I am impatiently awaiting, with cabochons, assorted findings and wonderful colored pearls.
-My website, build with the intent to be an online portfolio of sorts. It is still in progress, but can be found here.
-My new portrait pendant necklaces!

Hand sculpted around the image, gilded and glazed, with a protective coating over the image. Freshwater pearl accents, build onto matching necklaces.

These two are listed in my shop, visit for details!

It's been that long?

Well, look at how I've neglected this. A lot of stuff going on lately. I've been doing some freelance graphic design work- brochures, postcards, fliers, ads...a lot of fun. And of course, beading!


This is one of the lovelies which sold at the festival, but I'm so in love with it I want to make a similar one to keep. Green and gold pearls, mixed with silver beads and tigereye.

Been spending a lot of time with my viking weave stuff. My pointer finger is less than amused (those little cuts hurt!), but I made some really nice chains. Time to order more sterling silver wire...

The festival is over...

So now what do I do? I've been so busy preparing that I don't know what to do with myself now. Well, I've got a few more highlights from the festival!

Firebreathing...

The Army of Acre storms the castle as the bad guys begin their attack.

Beautiful weather, great merchants...couldn't ask for more. So now what? Sewing, weaving, beading...I'm sure I'll manage to keep busy!

One weekend down, one to go.

Overall, the first weekend of the medieval festival was very successful. We had beautiful weather, the booth did well, everyone was happy. Aside from the inevitable injuries, we did well. One more weekend to go, with hopes for great weather. Here's a few photos:

Sir Geoffrey and Sir Yusef jousting.

Queen Maddalena (me) being released, while her captor, Princess Adriana is captured.

Shiny things and little strings

I have just discovered the joy that is Harry and David's Moose Munch bars. They are quite indescribable.

Setting up for the festival went well. Now, the last minute sewing, stringing, knotting, organizing, tagging, etc etc. My desk is covered in sculpted pieces waiting for glaze, and my pants are covered in thread snippets (its amazing how they hold on.) I'm producing so many things (and of course taking pictures of them all), that I couldn't even think of posting half of it. Here's a little something though, a handful of my pretty little renaissance earrings with colored mountain jade and pearls.

Not slowing down yet...

Well, things have been busy and promise to only get moreso! The medieval festival is a mere 2 weeks away, and my booth, as well as my myriad responsibilities are bearing down on me. Not that I'm complaining of course, I just need to get into gear.

This weekend I did a custom deluxe Boleyn necklace with a D for a wonderful repeat customer, a lovely knotted green pearl necklace and earring set, a quite nice knotted necklace with hot pink pearls and swarovski crystal, and a piece for myself. These next two weeks...work, work, work!

New York...Long Island...check it out...

(Click to view larger.)

Busy, busy.

It's been quite a busy week. With dad's (very successful) surprise birthday party today, things are finally settling a bit. In addition to everything else going on, I had a bunch of orders to complete, and a necklace to make for my cousin based on one of mine she loved. In between the beading, sculpting and weaving (of course), I actually painted as well. I've not worked on canvas in probably nearly 2 years, so it was an interesting change to go back to it. I also made a few new sets to go in my shop, including the below, which uses the most gorgeous blue freshwater pearls.

The Creed concert was last night, and I couldn't be happier that I went. They were better than I remembered last time I saw them. Really unbelievable. I just absolutely adore them, and I'm so excited for the new album in October!

Home again...

Well, it was quite a week. Pennsic is very honestly, like nothing else. There's no way to adequately explain it or understand it, unless you've been there. Shooting stars, fire breathers, musicians, friends both old and new, giving and receiving lovely tokens, and wonderful brews are only a handful of the things that made this year memorable.

Close up of some action in the field battle.

All my photos can be seen here.

On the craft front, I got to play with metal stamping and hand engraving, and I have finally had the opportunity to expand my fiber knowledge. I picked up some lovely red wool to spin on my drop spindle, as well as viking weaving sticks and finally, my very own inkle loom (as an early birthday gift from my fiance)! I'm just thrilled with my little "inky", and have been weaving away!

A few of my pretties draped over my loom.

The left two were some of the first I did, with slightly thicker fiber (it was all I had access to), done without my glasses, just getting used to the loom. The right two were done at home, following a pattern, and came out wonderful. I get about 5 feet of trim out of a completed warp.

We came home to some sad news which we are currently in the middle of, so I'm trying to keep myself occupied. I find I feel better when I keep busy. Between my new projects and the custom orders from my incredible customers, I think I'll be plenty busy this week.

... the riveter

One of the brothers hit his thumb today while trying to fix his armor, so while he was seeing to that, I went outside and finished the riveting for him. I felt very accomplished.

8.5 hours until we leave for Pennsic 38. I think I'm actually all packed, which unfortunately includes my camera (so no photos of my pretty new earrings I made to bring along today (as a break from the last minute sewing and packing.)) Also made a few chainmaille holders for site tokens. I'm hoping for good weather, and looking forward to great battles, wonderful shopping, and unforgettable times with my favorite medieval re-enactors.

Duchessa and Prints by Duchessa are both on vacation mode, but everything will be back as soon as I return next weekend. Once Pennsic is done with, I'm planning for some new stuff (maybe even including new things I learn this week!)

Woad is me!

Leaving for Pennsic in just about 27 hours! Pennsic being the weeklong medieval camping trip I've been making myself crazy preparing for.

Today I went digging through everything in an effort to find some accessories. I found some, and also the woad powder I bought at Pennsic last year. Needless to say, my hands got very blue!

Below, our camp chicken, roosting on the underdress I made for Mel. He was a quick project, probably under half an hour. We needed livestock for camp, so...chicken!

Even with my vast collection, I suddenly got self concious about my jewelry. I decided I needed some medieval jewelry fit for a queen since I'm sort of playing one. I made a lovely necklace with pearls and coral barrel beads, with sterling silver accents, and am working on another with moonstone so bright it nearly glows. Did some wire linking with snowflake obsidian and lovely black and green stone I forgot the name of, to support a pretty cast pewter key (bought last year at Pennsic, found in the bag with the woad.) I also made my man a gift, which I hope he likes, but won't be offended if he doesn't (see below.) His very own viking treasure necklace, with a center pendant I made, as well as two beads (the red and green to either side of the center) which I made as well. I thought he could use some accessories, and these are just too much fun!

REAL pearls

Came home today to a shipment of lovely genuine freshwater pearls for my Queen Anne Boleyn style necklaces. They're just so pretty, I can't imagine using faux when these darlings are available.

Deluxe Anne Boleyn necklace, hand sculpted letter, freshwater pearls individually knotted on silk cord, gold plated findings.

Available at Duchessa on Etsy.

Paternosters on a pretty Saturday

Paternosters (literally meaning "our father"), are strings of prayer beads which have been in use since at least 1000 A.D., as a devotional item or method for keeping track of prayers, much like modern rosary beads. For a pious Christian of the middle ages, having a paternoster (often work looped around the belt as an accessory) was a must!

To the left is an example of this, a detail from Osuna's "Adoration of the Magi" shows a man holding a paternoster in loop form. The gentleman in the background of Rogier van der Weyden's "The Magdalen Reading" is holding a linear rosary, and if you look closely at the background of "The Arnolfini Wedding" by Jan Van Eyck, you'll see a paternoster hanging on the wall!


My newest is made on silk cord, individually knotted, with white mother of pearl and larger onyx beads, finished off with a handmade tassel and a small decorative cross. As a re-enactor, I find these very intriguing, and asthetically I just find them so pretty! This one will likely not find its way into my shop (as my blue jade and sterling silver one has), but rather wait for the medieval festival in September.

And just a note,

I will begin promotions and such once I think there are enough readers to make it worthwhile!

Happy birthday, Miss Avealina!

1st post

I'm creating this as a studio blog, to showcase and discuss arts, crafts and whatever else may strike my fancy. Occasionally something personal may make its way in. The intent is to include contests and discount announcements as well.

This weekend I'm at my family's summer home upstate. We've had quite the storm tonight which has given way to a lovely gentle rain. I've been spending a lot of time sewing, and this evening I made a lovely pearl necklace accented with awesome rutilated quartz beads, which you can see here. And look at this little sweetie I came across by our fire pit!