NEW STORE OPEN!!!! Just for prints!

I finally decided to change things up a bit. Since I have my jewelry line and my digital prints in one store I decided to break them out! I will now have a store just for my digital prints. The new store is called Urban Nostalgia Prints on Etsy.

                                                                Butterfly Dreaming
I like to make these assemblages usually before bedtime. It is my way of relaxing, and creating is just what I do. There will be quite a few new prints added in the coming weeks.

                                                                Samantha's Play Room
I thought I would give you a few examples of what I have been creating. I'd love to know what you think! Comments encouraged!

                                                                    Glamour
This one to me is striking because it incorporates old and new. The woman is from the 1900's and the background has a very hip modern feel to it. Plus I really love lots of bold color.

                                                              The Looking Glass
I absolutely love to do fantasy work. I am enamoured with things that sparkle. This assemblage came together very quickly once I found the right Victorian woman in a sitting position. I love the green tones and just the magic that the image seems to portray.

Ringing In The New Year

I know it's cliche', but I have been making new rings! I have truly been ringing in the new year! Here are a few pictures from my Etsy Store

                                              Faux Typewriter Key Adjustable Ring
The Faux typewriter key rings are so fun! Very affordably priced too. I have a limited amount of these rings please check my store for availability of initials.

                                               Our Lady Of Guadalupe Adjustable Ring
Another religious medal ring. I bought a lot of these medals and many of them are one of a kind. This ring features Mexico's most famous cultural image, and called The Patroness of the Americas. 

                                                    Green, Amber, & Purple Sparkly Ring
One of my favorite kinds of rings to make are the wire wrapped kind. This features 7 Swarovsky crystals for extra sparkle and shine because it's all about the bling!

                                                  Green Rainbow Chandelier Crystal Ring
I added more Chandelier crystals rings in some new colors! Green Rainbow, Pink, and Aqua. These provide lots of sparkle and are simple and elegant!

                                                           Pink Chandelier Crystal Ring

                                                          Aqua Chandelier Crystal Ring
Hope everyone is having a great start to their New Year! How did you "ring" in the new year?

BOGO Sale!!! Yipeee!!

Hope everyone had a great New Year! To welcome the new year in I am having my first sale in my etsy store!

                                                                   BOGO SALE!
In order to get the sale price you must purchase this listing! In the notes to seller please tell me which prints you would like! Also get 2 for 1 shipping!

My Dear Correspondent

                                                                              Passion

Here are a few new offerings from my store that are included in the sale.

                                                                     Fantasy Night
Also be on the look out for new ring listings! After the holidays I am busy restocking the store! There are many new things in my studio waiting to be put in the store. Here's a sneak peek!

                                                                    Virgin Mary Ring

Capri Blue & Crystal Ring

                                                         Pink Chandelier Crystal Ring
Here's to a wonderful New Year to all of us!!

Stylish Blogger Award!!

What a way to start the new year off right! My friend Amanda Nicole from Amanda's Blog A Writer's Journey To Being published has passed on the "Stylish Blogger Award" to my blog! How exciting!

I have to say a few words about Amanda. She has been a great inspiration to me and a wonderful friend. Although we have never met in person, I think she's great! Always inspiring, and always encouraging me to keep blogging. When I have felt that no one was reading me, there was always a comment from her. So what are you waiting for? Check out her blog, or better yet become a follower and read some of her writings! I tip my hat to Amanda Nicole and say a heartfelt THANK YOU!

One of the things I must do to accept this award is share 7 things about me. So here goes....

1. I am an only child.

2. I come from a family of artists that go back to the 1800's. My mom has artwork from the 1800's from our family members. My mom too, is also an artist and I grew up watching my mom paint.

3. I have no formal training in art. I am a self taught artist. LOL I am one of those people who just one day decide things like, I think I will become a jewelry designer.

4. I LOVE to make soap and bath and body products! I am going to open another store soon for that!

5. I HATE vegetables, nothing green for me! Lettuce tastes like grass to me and leaves behind "lettuce residue" People have given me food that has had lettuce on it and I can always tell!

6.  I am also a huge fan of theatre and have been in many plays and love to sing. I have even taken voice lessons. 

7. The first trip I took on a plane was to visit my pen pal in Papua, New Guinea. I flew half way around the world by myself!  That was over 20 years ago and I am still in touch with my pen pal and the friends I made there.

Wow! Now you know more than most people do about me! I am going to pass this award along to a few of my friends. So please visit them!

Ocean Color's Bonnie Lynn's Blog Bonnie does beautiful watercolor paints of the ocean. She also does hand painted silk scarves in lovely colors

Elizabeth's Flower's Check out Liz's botanical creations with dried flowers! If you like what she does, Liz also has a kit available so you can press your own flowers!

Emerald Window Cenya is another blogosphere friend and talented beader. She has some unusual and unique creations.

Sweet Lollipop Shop Louise is one of my friends on facebook and has the cutest designs in lollipops! Yum check out her blog if you have a sweet tooth!

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!