living the life fantastic

a blog about the kind of stuff that people like me like to blog about.

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Victorian Steampunk Spider Necklace ~ Mixed Metals ~ Resin Cabochon w/ Watch Gears, AB Rhinestones, Brass & Stainless Steel Chain #N0671

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Steampunk Ring ~ Gruen Watch Movement w/ Sapphire Blue Swarovski Rhinestones ~ Handmade Sterling Silver Adjustable Band ~ Size 8-11 #R0103

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HEART of the VALKYRIE Winged Statement Necklace Gemstones Agate Champagne CZ Brass Collar N0575 Fantasticality by Robin Taylor Delargy 

~There's 'statement jewelry' and then there's STATEMENT jewelry, and this piece has a LOT to say. Inspired by the legendary Valkyrie, bold and striking, a declaration of self-confidence for those who shy away from all things 'dainty' and 'demure'. Notice how the layering of the brass pieces resembles concentric hearts? In the center lies a beautiful agate or quartz - I'm not quite certain, it's been in my collection for years.  A dazzling 10x8mm champagne cubic zirconia adds a bit of golden sparkle to the base of your throat.

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Verdigris Copper Rhinestone Bedazzled BUTTERFLY Necklace Hammered Riveted Natural Green Patina OLD Metal from Roof of Tacoma City Hall N0574

Glam meets grunge, and the result is awesome. This saucy metalwork butterfly necklace was made from 100+ year old verdigris roofing copper from the old Tacoma City Hall (on the right in the old photograph), bedazzled with vintage rhinestones in brass settings. The necklace is a rich composition of aventurine beads, Swarovski bicone crystal beads, copper daisy beads, a cool freeform faceted jasper bead - looks like the patina'd copper, doesn't it? - one beautiful chunky cubist peridot green crystal bead, one emerald green Czech glass teardrop and a beautiful old vintage gingerbread brass flower that I riveted to make a link and set with a tiny vintage opaque glass rivoli. The beads are all wire wrapped into links on one side of the necklace. The chain is new, of red brass with yellow brass accents, darkened and polished to perfection, with the hand made flower link set into it on the left side of the necklace. 

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Miss Bossypants, eater of spiders and provider of tasty eggs. #backyardchickens #citychickens

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This cute little fat-bellied brass bat has been sitting on my worktable for a couple of weeks, ever since my tool slipped while I was performing abdominal surgery on him, driving my pointy pliers up under my left thumbnail. Some very inspired swearing ensued - my very best swears - not to mention a bit of a bloody mess. Nail beds bleed a LOT! (Don't worry - I didn't bleed on the bat.) I was effectively benched for almost two weeks after that. Once again, I bleed for my art.

Anyway, yesterday it caught my eye and told me it wants to be a cuff. I went in my workroom to do something else entirely, but that darn bat wouldn't shut up... yammering, pestering, like a fishhook in the brain... so I made a cuff. The bat was right, because it turned out AWESOME!

Steampunk BAT Cuff Bracelet Riveted Brass over Oiled Bronze Patina Exploded Belly Watch Movement Red Rhinestone B0131 Fantasticality by RTD 

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Verdigris Copper Hammered HEART Necklace Layered Riveted Natural Green Patina OLD Metal from Roof of Tacoma City Hall N0572 Fantasticality

I am loving this old green copper. It’s gritty and weathered and just freakin’ wonderful. <3

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This saucy metalwork heart necklace was made from two riveted layers of salvaged copper from the original roof of the old Tacoma City Hall building, built early 1890's. The vertigris patina is original; hammering compresses and polishes it, giving it this marvelous enamelled look. The heart is dapped, not flat, and measures about one and a half inches square. The necklace adjusts from about 19 to 22 inches long. $65 w/free USA shipping until Friday, 4/24 when it goes to my online store. #metalwork #metalworking #hammered #heart #hammeredheart #verdigris #patina #copper #verdigriscopper #greencopper #antique #antiquecopper #handmadejewelry #handmade #necklace #necklaces #fantasticality

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I made these fun metalwork leaf earrings from 100+ year old copper salvaged from the roof of the old Tacoma Town Hall, built in the early 1890s. To avoid destroying the wonderful original verdigris patina I have riveted sterling silver settings in place to hold 4 millimeter cubic zirconias, like dazzling drops of dew. The rings are sterling silver as are the hand made ear wires that I have embellished with 6mm faceted crystal rondelle beads. These have a definite left and right. Drop length just under 2-1/4 inches. Signed. Nice and light, too! $64 shipped in the USA. #handmade #metalwork #metalworking #copper #earrings #hammered #patina #verdigris #fantasticality

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These earrings are completely handmade from copper salvaged during the repair of the original roof of the Tacoma Old City Hall, built in 1892-1893 and re-roofed in 2013 or 2014. The verdigris patina is original; hammering it gave it an appearance almost like enameling. The copper has been sealed with Renaissance Wax. The stone beads are aventurine, wire wrapped on copper, and the handmade ear wires are sterling silver. $46 shipped (USA). If you want them, message me with your PayPal email and I will send you an invoice. :-) #copper #verdigris #earrings #handmade #metalwork #metalworking #patina #gemstone #fantasticality

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ATTEND ME, HUMAN! My Overlord summons me. #felineoverlord #cat #meow #fantasticality

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"Take a picture, it'll last longer." Don't mind if I do. #cat #blackcat #rollingcat #dirtycat #Boo #fantasticality #dirtylook #iflookscouldkill

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Dustbathing. Cracks me up every time. ♥ #citychickens #backyardchickens #urbanchickens #dustbath #fantasticality

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Basket's a dirty bird! Dust bath time. #citychickens #backyardchickens #urbanchickens #dustbath #fantasticality

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Sweetcheeks, our Americauna hen. She's a fiercely beautiful girl. #citychickens #backyardchickens #americauna #urbanchickens

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Goat cheesebruschetta and antipasto at El Bistro, Seattle. #goodeats #seattlefood

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Hubby Neal, a wine rep, shmoozing at The Tasting Room, Seattle. The wine is Treveri Blanc de Noir. #wine #sparklingwine