This is my blog where I write about music, jewelry, and myself. Vaudeville, burlesque, blues, jazz, songs about baltimore, novelties, and whatever else I feel like posting. Mostly from my own LPs and 78s. Subscribe via any of the methods in the right-hand column. Please do not link directly to the mp3 files.

Pulp & Paisley's etsy shop has been one of my favorites for awhile now. I like the big necklaces loaded with beads and loops accentuating patterned discs. The color combinations are appealing to me..


You mention you've been making jewelry for 10 years.. how long have you been selling? What inspired you to start?
In 1997 I got a job at a bead store in Ottawa and I worked there for four years until I went back to school. I learned a lot while I was there and needless to say, accumulated quite a collection of beads! I finished school, got married and while on my maternity leave in 2005, I began to make jewelry again. My son was a good sleeper, so while he napped, I made jewelry, which is more fun than cleaning! I got an enthusiastic response (on my jewelry, not my messy house), so I started selling in a local shop and then craft shows and then a few more shops and then more craft shows and now I'm on etsy!

You have a very distinct style, do you remember any jewelers or particular pieces of jewelry that have "influenced you"?
There are so many incredible jewellers but I can't think of anyone off-hand or any pieces. I will see pieces where I think "Damn! I wish I'd thought of that!", but then I'll move my work in a completely different direction.



What (if anything in particular) has provided inspirations for jewelry items you've made or in your shop?
I've always been inspired by interesting colour combinations and now that I'm using paper in my jewelry, I feel like my head is going to pop off with the endless selection of paper patterns and colours. It's always changing and never boring for me.

Any other types of crafts or hobbies you like to do on the side?
I love sprucing up thrift finds when I can, but mostly my jewelry and my family (I have two little kids) consume every waking moment!



Any other new ideas/plans/things you want to learn?
My to-do list is enormous! I can't seem to make things fast enough, so that I can get onto the next idea, but my husband and I are planning to start blogging this spring, which will be an interesting endeavour and I think I might jump on the moustache (jewelry, not grow one!) bandwagon for the summer....and my hot air balloons are coming soon.

Labels: jewelry

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/31/2010 06:25:00 PM  (0) comments

I was trying to consider what created the demand for records like this, and what happened to that demand. All I could think of was NPR segments.


Part 3: 1929 To 1940 WHEN WALL STREET LAID AN EGG with the actual voices and music of Morton Downey, Ben Bernie, Rudy Vallee, Arthur Tracy, Bing Crosby, Helen Morgan, Ben Lillie, Jimmy Durante, Cole porter, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, Kate Smith


George Jessel
Show biz Part 3
RCA Victor (1953)


Next time:

Part 4: 1940 To Date FROM TV TO 3-D

Labels: big band, history, spoken

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/26/2010 10:41:00 PM  (1) comments

non related image. I have this poster.

Part 2: 1920 To 1929 THE ROARING TWENTIES with the actual voices and music of The Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Sophie Tucker, Paul Whiteman, George Gershwin, Irving Caesar, Franklin Bauer, Maurice Chevalier, Charles King, Helen Kane, Gene Austin, Wendel Hall, Vaughn De Leath, Jones & Hare.


George Jessel
Show biz Part 2
RCA Victor (1953)


Next time:

Part 3: 1929 To 1940 WHEN WALL STREET LAID AN EGG
Part 4: 1940 To Date FROM TV TO 3-D

Labels: jazz era

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/12/2010 10:49:00 PM  (0) comments

I love the simplicity and colors of the bangles created by Bronwen, aka whizzbangle on etsy. I admire the simplicity, restraint, and lack of candy sprinkles. Amateur that I am, it's hard for me to resist the urge to throw in one too many ideas in an effort to be super-original.
However, as you can see from the whizzbangle shop, it is possible to make an impression without a ton of rhinestones, glitter, and candy.

What led you to take an interest in resin? What other materials have you enjoyed working with?
Resin was just something I saw on a TV segment while I was in hospital recovering from a hernia operation. They made bangles, I like wearing bangles. It was a natural progression.

Other materials I have used with resin include glitter and Pearl-ex powders as well as normal resin pigments. I have experimented with spice powders after making a batch of kasoundi (spicy tomato chutney) and seeing the colours of the turmeric and paprika and chilli as you measured them out. Coffee beans, beads, an old shirt, my falling apart Birkenstocks... I am really enjoying the creative challenge of making these inclusions work with resin and work as a bangle.


Why do you prefer to make bangles over other jewelery?
I have never liked to wear a watch, but I really like to wear bangles on my left arm. I think I like the way they respond with your activity, dancing wildly with big hand gestures, resting while you work at the computer, the odd 'clank' to remind you they are there.

I've noticed a lot of resin artists/sellers on etsy and the web are in or come from Australia. Is there a particular reason that might be?
I can't think of any particular reason... Resin is an interesting medium that lends itself to many applications - from beads to pendants to bangles - and on a small scale. And maybe they saw the same segment on a lifestyle show that I did and thought "I can do that". Maybe there are others who saw the potential for resin drops and spatters all over their husband's workbench!?

What kind of feedback do you get selling at the market, especially from "non crafty" types?
I get really good feedback from markets. I have set up my stall to be a bit "different", so people are intrigued. I think people like to touch the bangles, see the colours in sunlight (and twilight at one market), feel the clink/clank as they slide down your arm... all these things are missing from online selling, so I think a market stall really complements a site like etsy.


Do you feel that some people look upon resin as just plastic and not understand the value?
I find almost the opposite... polite scanning of my stall at first, but then when they discover they are RESIN bangles, polite looks turn predatory.

Any other jewelers whose work you covet or admire?
I do like Dinosaur Designs. I hadn't heard of them until I got into making bangles myself, but the colours and shapes they use are fabulous.


WHIZZBANGLE on etsy.


---
In other etsy news I joined a "team."

so I may be posting about that now and then.

Labels: jewelry

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/11/2010 06:30:00 PM  (1) comments

How about a good ole serial?
Hide yourself underneath 1000 blankets and listen to records on the computer.
It's easier to click a mouse under a blanket than to move a turn-table arm. Unless you have a "snuggie" I guess.
You've heard George Jessel on at least one of my other uploads.
On this recording he's not really doing comedy.. just narrating. Reading from this book.
This record has 4 parts.


Part 1: 1904 To 1920 WHEN VAUDEVILLE WAS KING with the actual voices of Jimmy Durante, Smith & Dale,Georges M. Cohan, Harry Lauder, Fanny Brice, Nora
Bayes& Jack Norworth, Will Rogers, Enrico Caruso.


George Jessel
Show biz Part 1
RCA Victor (1953)

I appreciate the mention of Bee Palmer.

Next time:

Part 2: 1920 To 1929 THE ROARING TWENTIES
Part 3: 1929 To 1940 WHEN WALL STREET LAID AN EGG
Part 4: 1940 To Date FROM TV TO 3-D


Bonus: searching for any fun facts on this record led me to this unrelated blog which does however have a nice thing about Brittany Murphy and some old timey actresses.

Labels: history, spoken, vaudeville

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/04/2010 10:05:00 PM  (2) comments