Winter Storm

Here in Illinois we are having a winter storm! It truly looks like Christmas today! In my parka and long underwear I was out shooting photographs! I thought I would share some of my new listings.


Mistletoe Snow Girl Ornament

Santa Beveled Glass Necklace

Gold Star Angel Victorian Ornament

Don't forget to check out my Holiday Goodies section in my Etsy store! Keep warm! :)

A Very Vintage Christmas

The holiday season is now upon us! Cold air, snow, and people rushing about in stores looking for that perfect gift.

                                                            Victorian Christmas Ornament      SOLD
Here is a little something I came up with to make your holidays sparkle with Victorian charm. Victorian images encased in resin, with hint of sparkle. Sure to please the fussiest on your Christmas list.

                                                        Holly Girl Victorian Ornament      SOLD
So have yourself a very vintage Christmas!

Another opening, another show!

With the holiday season in full swing, I am busy doing craft shows! I have one coming up that is right across the street from me! Talk about convenient! I designed a flyer Urban Nostalgia style for the show!

RJ's Eatery

I'd love to see you there! Stop in for something to eat, or enjoy a holiday libation. Ohhh don't forget to enter to win a door prize from each of the vendors! It's the holiday season let's enjoy!

Ballerina Watercolor

I am always trying to reinvent myself and always off into a new direction. Photoshop is a program I almost always use daily and there are so many wonderful things that can be done with it.

This is an experiment from an online tutorial that taught me how to make a photograph look like an actual watercolor painting, with brush strokes and texture. I'd love to know what you think about it!  

Baby It's Cold Outside!

As I write this it seems November in Illinois has finally come to stay. After a great week of 70 ish weather we are now back down into the 40's and it is a dark gray day with rainy weather that seems to be our mantra for the week. Let us not forget the holiday season seems to be right around the corner. I have been curled up around the heat of my CPU on my computer making some vintage prints with a winter theme, making me think snow is not so far off.

 Winter Fairy

I don't think I could have picked a better color for the sky, as it seems to be what I see out my bedroom window. I never know where things will go in my prints, or how they will turn out, and it is the journey that seems to intrigue me. I am inspired by the upcoming holiday and I think about how people spent their holidays long ago.

Winter Girl

Beautiful faces of long ago days get to come back to life in my art work. Enjoy!

Packing It Up And Taking It On The Road

I don't get to do as many craft shows as I would like, but on occasion I pack it all up and take it on the road! I have an upcoming craft/art show coming up at the College Of Lake County.

A shot of my studio, and setting up my booth for the show.

Here is the info for the show:                College Of Lake County

20th Annual Holiday Art Sale

November 20-23, 2010

Saturday 9-4:30

Sunday 1-5

Monday 9-9

Tuesday 9-6

19351 West Washington St.

Grayslake, IL 60030 

Beaded bracelets



One of my soldered necklaces and chandelier crystal rings

parking available in lots 2-6

Something new for the show, Faux Typewriter Key Adjustable Rings Great stocking Stuffers!

This is a great show featuring pottery, glass, jewelry, wood and fiber. It's a juried show so expect to find quality items! Hope to see you there!



Everything Old Is New Again!

I decided to stretch my wings in my shop and add a brand new a category, Vintage Prints. Aside from being a jewelry designer I also work with digital art and do a variety of other art work.

                                                                              Rose Fairy
In keeping with my vintage theme I am using real photographs of people from around the 1800's to the 1900's. I think it's fascinating to see people from this era. They all look so glamorous, and have such an innocence I find their photographs hard to resist.

                                                                         Lost Garden
I think about these people who have long passed, and am pleased that I am able to give them new life in my art. Maybe someday people will think the same of my photographs and restore me for all to enjoy as art work.

                                                                        Strange Dream
This also allows my creative side go full force. I enjoy adding random details like numbers, and borders. Making things look scratched and grungy, and adding old photos into new situations. Making a picture into a complete fantasy, and leaving the observer to wonder what's the real meaning? Art speaks to people on so many levels.

                                                                      Do So Lovingly
Like what you see? Want to see more? Check out my shop Lisa's Urban Nostalgia I'd love to know what you think of my prints! Comments always welcome!

Spooky!!!

I just couldn't resist, there they were calling out to me from the giant bin at Walmart. Carve me, carve me! So I grabbed one and took it home!

Although my kids aren't too interested in carving pumpkins anymore, I sure am! Just thought I would share.  Anybody else carving pumpkins this year? I always like something creepy and scary, how about you? 

Better Late than Never! We have a winner!!

I am writing a bit late about the winner, but by now she should have received her bracelet! So without further adue the winner is Cenya from Emerald Window. Cenya is a talented beader and makes some fascinating creations! You can visit her blog here, Emerald Window Blog I thought I would share with you some of her wonderful work! Enjoy!

Cenya also has an inviting Etsy store, and you can visit her store here, Emerald Window

I apologize for posting this so late but my father has been in the hospital for the past week. All is well now, so onward and upward I always say!

 Congratulations Cenya for being my first give away winner!

HaLLOwEeN Give Away!

It's that spooky time of year, and it's always been a favorite of mine! This gives me an opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has been following my blog and shopping at my store. It's really quite an honor to know that people actually read what I write, and even more remarkable is people leaving comments! Wow I love that! I thought I would give some love back and offer one of my new Halloween bracelets for my giveaway!

These are wooden tiles with Halloween vintage images sealed with resin and is very light. There are 7 fun tiles with orange cracked glass beads in between each tile. Bracelet is approximately 8" in length.

So how do you win? I want to make it easy so this is what the requirements are:
1.Become a follower on my blog.
2.Visit  my Etsy store  and leave a comment on my blog about what your favorite item is in my store.
3.Make sure I have an email address to contact you and that's it!

Giveaway begins right now! I will close the entries at 5pm Wednesday, October 13, and announce the winner that night! Good Luck and thanks so much for following my blog!

There's A Little Witch In Every Woman! (movie)

Fall is now upon us and I am a huge fan of Halloween and anything spooky. I am in the blog party pRACTICAL mAGIC bLOG pARTY Some of you may have seen the movie about two sisters when they fall in love their suitors die an untimely death. So here is my tribute to witches everywhere!

My necklaces and earrings are available for purchase on my Etsy store Lisa's Urban Nostalgia

Please be sure to grab your broom and click on the blog party link to see lots of other

witchy things. After all it's a party and YOU are invited!

Rest, Restore, Relax



nature at it's best

 Everyone needs to take some time away from the grind. I did some camping last weekend with my friend Marilyn. We decided to go to Warren Dunes, Michigan. I have to say Michigan is truly a beautiful state, and I really enjoy spending time there. I thought I would share a few of my favorite photos.

A beautiful butterfly garden. If you look closely my friend is missing part of his tail.

When I am camping I like to spend a lot of time looking at nature. It's so nice in my busy world to just slow down and relax. I tend to forget how wonderful nature really is.

 And let us not forget the animals. Wild turkeys seem to live at the state park, and like to hang out at the entrance.

I got to go to an apple orchard and pick apples. I haven't done that in years. This fruit farm has over 200 different kinds of apples! I didn't even know there were that many.

Treemendus-fruit

One of my favorite reasons to go to Michigan is of course, the water and the beach!

And lastly a picture of me at the camp ground. Somehow I ended up walking the dog that lived at the general store at the campgrounds. Say hello to Peaches the pitbull!

Ride'm Cowboy!

This is another week filled with guest posting. Today, my post is at my friend Amanda Nicole's blog, Amanda's Blog.  My Western Collection is officially up on my etsy store! This collection was inspired by Amanda Nicole and my Uncle Jake. I hope you will visit and take a look.

Amanda Nicole's blog is about her journey to become a published writer. She's got some great stuff on there and I know she would love you to come and sit a spell, as they say! Comments welcome!

Another Guest Post!

 Today I am featured on Frugal Fancy Blog My friend Dee's blog is all about frugal living, saving money, and living better for less. You may be thinking how the heck does this fit in with what I do?

Symphony In Pink Chandelier Neclace

Well you might be very surprised. One of my favorite trash to treasure stories can be viewed on Dee's blog TODAY! This find started me on a whole line of jewelry.

Red Poison Ice Crystal Necklace

VACATION

Yipee I am doing one last camping trip before winter. Tomorrow morning I am headed off to Warren Dunes, Michigan. What a great way to clear your mind and get some inspiration! While I am gone please check out these two blogs! On Friday, September 17th, I will be guest blogging on Frugal Fancy's Blog,  and on Monday, September 20 I will be guest blogging on Amanda Nicole's blog A Writer's Journey To Being Published This guest posting offer was the inspiration behind my new Western Collection on my etsy store. And yes, everything is now available for purchase!

Once I return home it's time to focus on my favorite time of year, Halloween! Yes I have already eaten my way through several bags of those sweet candy corns and pumpkins. I wanted to use them as photo props but somehow they never quite made it in my pictures, hmmmmm, how very strange!

Lots of things in the works. More guest posting too. But also I wanted to mention I am going to do my first GIVEAWAY!!! yeahh, and I think it's going to be a Halloween bracelet. So please be sure to keep up with me. Free is always good!

Did you like my Western collection photo in this post? You can do that too. Just go to Shape Collage for a free download and you will have some fun photos in minutes and it's FREE! Enjoy the weekend! Comments always welcome!

The Winds Of Change

It's that time again....the leaves are slowly changing and the air is crisp and cool. The relief of summer heat is all but a distant memory. Autumn comes to us in a whisper as the winds of change are swiftly blowing in. My favorite season is here! Halloween, that season for witches, and winged creatures and all things spooky.

I redesigned my header for the blog and would love to know what you think. I am planning on changing this for the seasons and holidays. What do you think? My Halloween collection will soon be unveiled, and once again I will be guest posting on this very subject at Mom To Bed By 8   . Please pop in and say hello to Momma Teri! She has a fun blog with lots of giveaways!

I also plan to do my first GIVEAWAY! Since Halloween is my favorite, I thought it would be great to do one. So if you love my jewelry, why not get a piece for FREE! Gotta love that! Have a spooky day!

Through The Looking Glass

This is a small collection I recently made up. I call it my, Through The Looking Glass Collection. These truly are like looking through the looking glass.

"Sisters" COMING SOON to my Etsy store!

Made with chandelier crystals, the images seem to float inside. They are accented with wire wrapped bails for added interest.

 COMING SOON to my Etsy store!

Pretty In Pastel

Imagine my surprise when I opened my Etsy email and found a message from Kelly of Kelly Nichols Photography. She did me the honor of placing one of my rings in her treasury on Etsy! Check out all the wonderful items in the treasury http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c7ff4d433778eef412bc69b/pretty-in-pastel

Pastel Blue and Crystal Cluster Ring

For those of you who don't know what a treasury is , let me explain. It's a delightful grouping of items by different Etsy sellers that are usually put together with a common theme. The author of the treasury does not add his or her own items. The principal is simple, do something nice for someone and they will do something nice for you! Here is a link for the treasuries I have made featuring different sellers from Etsy. Lisa's treasuries

Kelly's shop features original prints taken along her photographic journey of her surroundings in Virginia and North Carolina. Really great work! Please stop by her Etsy shop at Kelly Nichols Photography 

I'm Going To Be A Guest Blogger!

I was so excited to be a guest blogger on Amanda Nicole Trisdale's blog! Since I am new at blogging this seems to be a way for me to stretch my creative writing wings. Amanda Nicole's blogging journey is about her quest to become  a published author. She shares her trails and tribulations of trying to make it in the writing business, along with some excerpts from her book, The Zeidrich Chronicles that takes place in West Texas.

Now I am sure you are thinking what is a jewelry artist doing  blogging on a writer's blog that takes place in West Texas? I asked the same question myself. So after much thought I finally had a story for her blog and I thought I would tie it all in with my jewelry. So in honor of  guest blogging I decided to come up with a western jewelry collection.

There are a few more pieces in the collection but I didn't want to spoil the fun! This is just a teaser! Once the guest posting goes up my collection will be available for sale in my Etsy store. When I am posting on Amanda Nicole's blog I will have a link here to get to the story. But in the meantime giddyup' over to her blog and take a look! http://antrisdale.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/my-life-the-comedy/

It's All About ME!

I had my birthday last week Thursday and I am now a grand 46 years old. Wow in dog years that makes me 322 years old!  Hmmm perhaps one should not think of themselves in dog years.

Through out my many years, friends have described me with a few adjectives, unique, I am quite sure that one is code for weird, sparkling, bubbly, and  funny.  I think a pretty good all around description. I am blessed with a large group of friends and sometimes the oddest things inspire me to create.This saying came about in my group of friends, "It's all about Lisa"

So yes, I have to admit I actually made myself one that says, "It's All About Lisa" But it's not just about me, it's about you too! And now you can let the world know "It's all about YOU!"

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54976482/its-all-about-me-soldered-glass-bauble

Happy Birthday to my friend Barb who is my birthday twin and my old school pal Barb! I think that makes us birthday triplets! All of us on the same day!

A Published Interview!

Since I started my Etsy store good things have been happening. Exciting things for me. Everyday seems to bring new success. I find that through social networks I am getting more subscribers and making new friends. Through my store, I am gaining new customers and sometimes things just seem to snowball. One night I had a message in my in box and found a note from someone named Rachel Krech. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Rachel wanted to do an interview on my Etsy store! I was so excited. Rachel writes for Associated Content from Yahoo. You can see her work here www.associatedcontent.com/thenews 

I'd love for you to read the interview she did about me! Here is the link http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5671358/etsy_interview_with_lisas_urban_nostalgia.html?cat=46

Also Rachel does many interviews on other talented Etsians as well. So be sure to check out her latest!

Bubble Gum Loop Earrings
 Coming Soon to my Etsy store!