Made With Love By Teresa: 2015

Monday, September 28, 2015

Couleur d' Etoile Sampler

I did this wonderful sampler to be framed and hung.

32 count natural linen 2/2, DMC B5200 & 815.

My next sampler to stitch up to match this beauty is designed by Bleu De Soie.

Designer: Couleur d'Etoile

Jeux d'Amours

Monday, June 29, 2015

Carded Antique Tinted Picture Buttons

I found these beautiful tinted buttons still on the original card. They have a great shade of green, yellow & red. Love them so much!!!!

I would really hate to remove them from the original card but I want to make earrings out of them so I am leaving a photo of the card. Stop by my Etsy Shop (Buttonique) soon to buy a pair of these buttons on earrings.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

DIY Raw Brass to Vintaj Look

This is for personal use only.

Making inexpensive jewelry using raw brass. I saw some pieces at Joann’s fabrics that was the Vintaj brand and noticed the high prices.

If you do these steps you can get the same look cheaper. I have been doing this for the past few years & I love the look it gives.

You need:

1. Raw Brass Pieces. One place I buy these pieces is from Dime Store Emporium on Etsy (LINK)
2. Vinaj Black Onyx Patina Paint

3. Paint Brush

4. Paper Towel

5. Dremel Tool & Carbon Steel Wheel (Silver Color Bristles)

Using my earlier tutorial taking raw brass pieces and leaving sit overnight in a sealed container with Ammonia ((HERE)) to start off with. The piece should be very dark in color. Wash off your pieces with a little soap and water to get any ammonia fumes off. You can use just your fingers, then dry. This is what it looks like after this step.

Using a paint brush and Vintaj Black Onyx Patina Paint, brush on a little at a time because the this paint dries in seconds, then wipe off with a strong paper towel by straightening your finger to wipe so you are wiping off just the top raised parts of the piece. The black should be left in the groves and crevices.

If you took off to much of the paint and it did not stay in the crevices you can repeat the step.

When you have finished the entire piece it should look like this. Don't worry if you did not get all the paint off the raised part of the piece.

Using a Dremel tool and the carbon steel wheel attachment, shine the raised surface only. This attachment only shines surface areas so this is key. Do not push down otherwise you will remove the black paint that is the crevices It should be turning brown color. Do not over shine. If you shine it to much the pieces will be too light in color.

And there you have it. Your finished piece. This is my finished piece.

This is Vintaj Brand piece.

You can take antique buttons and make a pendant. These are the large drop pendants.

You can other Raw Brass pieces like these filigree circles.

I used the Vintaj Earth Patina Paint on the filigrees to make them brown color and made these earrings which are available in my shop. (My Etsy Shop)

You can find so many stampings all over Etsy in raw brass, oxidized silver, oxidized brass & oxidized copper. Trying to find the piece you want may take time searching so be patient.

Also to match any Vintaj pieces you can use Vintaj Earth Patina Paint on ear wires, chains, filigree beads, etc. The possibilities are endless.

You can get great pieces at some of these shops either in Raw Brass or plated.

Dime Store Emporium (HERE)

Vintage Jewelry Supplies (HERE)

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Oxidizing Raw Brass Technique

I do so many experiments and found such great ways to turning raw brass darker.

Starting with a raw brass piece that is very shiny.

These earrings were raw brass then they turned brown in my technique.

Start with raw brass pieces, a nice size tupperware container that seals, a small cup or something to put liquid in ( I used an espresso cup because it is small & Ammonia.

Pour the ammonia in the little cup and place it the container and your pieces of raw brass. Do not overlap the raw brass and make sure the ammonia does not spill on the pieces. Lock everything in the container and wait overnight or most of the day until it turns dark black and green.

They will look dark like this. Shine the pieces with a dremel tool using the carbon steel wheel brush. The brush has silver bristles.

After it is shined you will get a lovely brown tone and shiny surface.

You can also buy your pieces already oxidized brass and oxidized silver. Oxidized Sterling Silver is a little more expensive then the brass because it is sterling silver and the depending on the silver prices.

You will find all of my hand made antique button jewelry in my (ETSY SHOP). So stop by and take a look at my creations.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

My New Etsy Shop

My journey of collecting antique buttons has started to become a new business. Check out some of my wonderful handmade jewelry made from antique buttons (circa 1800's) and single antique buttons at my Etsy Shop. Etsy Shop Antique Button Luver)

Nice Selection of antique picture buttons, enamel button, cut steels, charmstrings, etc.

Lovely earrings. These are tinted buttons with a fabric back.

Cut Steel floral picture buttons with faux wood background.

Carved Mother of Pearl Button Pendant wrapped in filigree & topped with a black glass button.

Aged castle scene picture button on a floral setting.

A rare antique brass acorn button necklace.

Wonderfully carved mother of pearl button that is dyed 2 tones and topped with a black glass button.

Gorgeous cut steel floral picture button with a weaved basket wallpaper background.

See this and more at my new shop (ETSY SHOP LINK)

Friday, March 6, 2015

Antique Button Jewelry

I have a nice collection of antique picture buttons, mother of pearl, glass, etc. So instead of it sitting in a box, I decided to make a necklaces and other jewelry out of them. I have been so busy for the past few months making jewelry and selling it. I have been doing very well in this that I do not have time to cross stitch. Here are some of my creations made from buckles, glass buttons, MOP buttons, etc.

Antique Czech Stamped Buckle with Cut Steel Rivets, Cricket Antique Cage Buttons