The Lazy Days of Summer...and...The Winner Is!

Ahh the lazy days of summer - the weather has finally started to behave like summer, hot and sticky, and things have been slowing down around the studio. Not to say I haven't been busy, I've done some re-organizing and re-prioritizing and cleaning and clearing, and still managed to put together a few more antique rosary choker style necklaces in the process:

The Earth Is Filled With His Glory

Consuming Fire

Find both necklaces at OPF Studio ~ great additions to your summer wardrobe!

And the winner is...
For those of you who are on my mailing list and have been waiting to hear who the lucky winner of June's drawing for one of my 100+ pc ephemera paper packs is.....
Well, July's newsletter is on it's way so look for it to see if it is you!
In addition, you'll be receiving an exclusive offer for discounts in both the studio and the store, as well as a chance to sign up for July's give-away!
This month I have made the switch to using a professional e-mailing service to host my newsletter and keep better track of my mailing list sign-ups, but I am on a learning curve for adding the sign-up form to my blog. So until I get it all figured out and posted, if you would like to be added to my mailing list, send me an e-mail at crystal_opf@comcast.net and I will forward a copy of the July newsletter to you so that you can take advantage of the savings and sign-up for the give-away too.

Beloved

"I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine." Song of Solomon 6:3

A commissioned piece I made based on one that I created in the past. I really enjoyed going back to this style and it has inspired several other projects that I am very excited about!

The Heart of Worship

The Heart of Worship

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

Song: The Heart of Worship by Michael W. Smith
Necklace is available at OPF Studio today

HOLY HOLY HOLY

We Cry Holy Holy Holy

This antique rosary choker style necklace is the first of several I plan to list at OPF Studio this week. I broke my good camera so getting suitable pictures for the listing is challenging, keep checking in.

Each choker is a one-of-a-kind original work combining antique rosary beads, religious and other medals, contemporary beads, and hand fabricated clasps.

Length's are adjustable at 14.5" and 15.5", with additional increments available for a small fee at the buyers request.

The Chat and The Cedar Bird

UPDATE: I have yet to list either THE CHAT or THE CEDAR BIRD, I have hopes to get them professionally photographed and listed soon so please keep checking, or e-mail me at crystal_opf@comcast.net if you are interested in purchasing.

This week in the studio I have been exploring the colors, textures, and aged patinas found in old book bindings and papers, and I find a series is unfolding.

I am fascinated at how I can combine these elements to emulate a moss covered tree trunk or impress an image of peering into a forest at dusk.
The Chat

An 1800s cloth covered book board combined with the binding tape pulled from the spine, the cloth from the spine of a second book, a vintage brass stencil and a bird image from a 1910 edition of Webster's Dictionary.

The board is mounted to a back frame which has been covered in the same dictionary page as the bird, no need for framing, it is ready to hang.

A second original image of The Chat and the definition are mounted to the back.

This next one is by far my favorite so far. It seems that it was common practice in earlier times to use old text along the spine of a book along with or in place of the seam tape. This one peeled back to reveal a green page with text that beautifully emulates a moss covered tree trunk!

It is hard to really show the depth and dimension to the piece with my basic little camera. I hope to have a friend photograph it before it is sold.

The Cedar Bird

I've revealed the interior spine and the leather that surrounded it and mounted both to the leather cover of the 1870s book. A 1910 dictionary image of The Cedar Bird sits looking out at the cottage across the lake. This lithograph image was lifted from a cover of a little postcard type book, also from the late 1800s. I have thinned the image to almost tissue transparency.

The leather book board has been mounted to a back frame covered in the 1910 dictionary page the Cedar Bird is found on. A second original image and the definition is mounted to the back of the board.

The last project I have to show was just a fun way to doll up a tiny leather book of poetry bought in an antique shop a few years back.

B...just Because

B is for bunny, and billy goat, and book...just because.

Brass letter stencils, book binding and bits of a children's book cover and game box. Only the cover and the title page have been altered. The Fifty Best Poems of England can still be read and enjoyed.

Each of these items will be listed at OPF Studio later today.