Thursday, August 20, 2015

Kathy's cuffs


Some of you who read my blog know my friend Kathy visited me last Wednesday.  I asked her to bring the things she was working on, which she did.

On the table is the pouch I won from Judy in Australia.  I gave it to Kathy because she loves this sort of over the top beauty and will put it to use, where I will let it languish without finding a good use for it.  Please ignore the cat toys strewn all over the dining room area.  It seems I put them away and the boys drag them out again.

Kathy brought all these beautiful cuffs she's made over the previous three weeks for me to admire.   She plans to sell them to friends who asked her to make them.

This first one was gorgeous, 

but very difficult to photograph all the bling on it when it was on her wrist.  Maybe you can tell the embellishments go all the way around the cuff.

This one, more simple, was easier to show in one shot.

I got a bit close when I photographed this one on Kathy's wrist.

Since it took so long to put them on, photograph them, then take them off, I asked Kathy to let me photograph them on the table.

Of course, then I realized the shadow from the camera lens was in the way.

That's when I asked her to hold the cuffs.  It saved time, and I'm sure those of you who love cuffs can see how wonderful and over the top with bling they are.


This one was stretchy pearls that were attached together under the bling.



Although I didn't notice it through my viewfinder, Kathy pointed out the two smaller cameos on either side of the larger one.  I was in awe of all the layers she uses in her cuffs, including the string of pearls that connects the burlap looking fibers to the backing made of layers of lace.


Kathy admitted the shoe was her favorite, because it was very old and not something she could buy except maybe in an antique store.



The last one she showed me was a cuff from one she fashioned for herself,  Unfortunately, I  didn't get a good photo of it because she had begun putting the cuffs away.

Here you can see her new camera and the cuffs individually priced and bagged.

Although I failed to take photos, I showed Kathy my craft room after I had cleaned it up.  Of course, I had already started to get it dirty again, but at least it didn't have the huge mess I had dealt with from before my purge.

Then it was off to lunch, photos of which I showed on Tuesday.

The next stop was Mrs. O Leary's, Kathy's favorite mixed media, scrapbook, and stamping store.  I like it, too, and try to get ideas of new things to make while I'm there.  I fell in love with this piece, and got lots of ideas for a mixed media canvas.  This is a large piece, probably around 24 square inches (60,96 square cm).

When we turned the corner, the lighting was horrible.  I tried to color correct, but nothing I did helped.  These are some of the things they make here.

I didn't take time to stop and check the mixed media and jewelry out, because Kathy was anxious to get to the rubber stamps.

Unfortunately, that was all the photos I took, and this was the one I played with the longest to try to adjust the color.  Mixed media at its finest in these cases, and on the walls inside the actual store, too.

Thank you for joining me today as I played host to my friend Kathy last Wednesday who I met through our altered book club on Yahoo, then met in person in 2006.  What fun we've had since then, even though we live about two hours from each other.


18 thoughtful remarks:

johanna said...

i think you made wonderful photos of kathy´s cuffs! and she really did a great Job on them, i´m sure they will sell in no time! my personal favorite would be the very elegant black one, though i could never wear it (way too elegant for my Dressing Habits;)) ... i also enjoyed the squared mixed media Piece you saw in the shop, really inspiring stuff!

Valerie-Jael said...

Those cuffs that Cathy makes are wonderful, very elegant, I am sure she will have no trouble selling them. I never get 'dressy', but I am sure they would also look good with jeans and make a nice contrast. That old shoe ornament is really very special.The mixed media canvas in that store is fantastic, very inspirational. Sometimes it's very difficult to get good colours when the lighting is wrong, but you did well. Another trick is to convert it to black and white. Don't worry about the cats strewing their toys everywhere - they like playing! Have a lovely day, hugs, Valerie

Viktoria Berg said...

Those cuffs are wonderful! So glamorous. Also, I think your friend´s nailpolish is absolutely fabulous. I can´t wear nailpolish, but I used to when I was in my 20´s and I miss it so.

froebelsternchen said...

She makes wonderful cuffs and you made beautiful photos of all of them ! I would have no outfit to fit- I think my daughter would waer such stuff very proud.
This MM Canvas looks really gorgeous!
It seems you had a fab visit to this shop together!
Thanks a lot for sharing all this Elizabeth!
oxo
Susi

Nan G said...

Whoa! Wow! Gorgeous beautiful amazing cuffs! Love all the bling and trinkets she puts on them. Though not my style I can appreciate all of the work and time she spends making them. Thanks for sharing. Hugs

Halle said...

Kathy did some fine work on those cuffs. That canvas is gorgeous!!! I'm sure it was even more amazing in person.
Thanks for the highlights of the day. :)

dawn said...

Hello! WOW, these bands from Kathy are GORGEOUS! Each time I had a favorite I liked another one and so on, so I LOVE THEM ALL!! Such detail and hard work put into each one, she did a wonderful job and it shows. The photos were great, on her wrist and off they showed a great view of each one.
Too bad the color was wrong for the rest of the pretty jewelry, sorry about that. Thanks for sharing them anyhow, they still look pretty.

So sweet that you two got to visit together!!

Thanks for the blog visit and birthday wishes. It's been a great two days of celebrating. Blogging each day is a bit rushed but nice to have these memories to share and look back on too. Thanks so much for your support, means a lot to me. xo

Lynda Shoup said...

Looks like you had a good visit! Those cuffs are beautiful! Such variety and loveliness. I so enjoyed visiting today.

Nancy said...

Love the vintage style of the cuffs! What a fun visit.

Divers and Sundry said...

Those are lovely! I think she'd do well with a booth at a craft fair. Why let her friends get them all? :)

Krisha said...

I love the vintage look of cuffs, and Kathy's are gorgeous!! I only wish I had someplace to wear such beautiful things......besides sitting at Betsy.......LOL

That MM piece really caught my eye.....the textures and colors are right up my alley.

peggy gatto said...

Lovely display of pretty cuffs, thanks for showing them

Dianne said...

Oh my, tell Kathy that her cuffs are gorgeous!! Is she selling them in an etsy shop? or elsewhere? anyway, hope you had a nice visit!

Shoshi said...

What gorgeous photos, Elizabeth, and those cuffs are so stunning, and so varied! Just beautiful. I love the canvas too - nice grungey colours.

Thanks for your visit and your nice comment - so glad you liked what you saw on the Big Reveal - I certainly enjoyed making it all. I am not feeling good this week but that's to be expected, and hopefully next week I shall be back in my wonderful room again, doing fun things! Since having it, I haven't spent as much time in there as I'd have liked, or as much as I expected, but you can't plan these things, can you. Hopefully next year will be a fresh start and I'll spend most of my time in there! I have so many plans.

Shoshi

Craftymoose Crafts said...

Kathy's cuffs are really gorgeous! It was nice hearing how you met and then became closer friends! It is fun to have someone who enjoys the same things you do.

By Neymes said...

Que lindas peças amiga,me lembrou o vintage.Beijo.Valéria.(Brasil).

~*~Patty S said...

It's really nice that you and Kathy can get together now and again and what fun to know how you met.
It takes effort to keep long distance friendships going.
She certainly is having fun making those fancy cuffs.
Each one has so much to look at and enjoy.
Thanks for sharing and that canvas sure is yummy!
oxo

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow! Kathy's cuffs are fabulous! My DIL loves things like these - I on the other hand, felt most uncomfortable when asked to wear one at her wedding to my eldest son!! It was lovely but just not for me - my (ex) SIL took hers off too as soon as she could - I guess we aren't the dress up kind!! Mrs O'Leary's looks great - the mixed media piece has given me ideas too! Hugs, Chrisx