Dance Through the Holidays with Me! Merry Christmas!

Kathy Maresco Matthews Stemke 2013 Year in Review on Facebook

This is soooo cool! facebook took my most popular pics and put them into a slide show. Check it out by clicking on the following link: Kathy Maresco Matthews's 2013 Year in Review

Here are some of my recent creation on Etsy!

This and the horse necklace are sterling silver beauties!

 

The following necklace is made from an authentic WWII dog tag!

 

 

Jewelry Tips!

 

     https://www.etsy.com/listing/156347952/victorian-slide-bracelet-gold-seed?ref=shop_home_feat

 

Jewelry Tip of the Day: Stack your bracelets.

Women's Wear Daily declared the bracelet THE piece for this season. Wear any style you like: thin, thick, cuff, beaded, silver, gold, bronze. Many trendsetters are stacking them. Often it's the same style stacked together. Or it's the same color in a few different styles. Or it's a group in complimentary colors. Any way you want to wear a bracelet, you'll be a fashionista.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/161343533/green-alligator-cuff-bracelet-copper

 

 

                    https://www.etsy.com/listing/156397373/rhinestone-enamel-bracelet-stretch

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/163511537/steampunk-lizard-cuff-bracelet-vintage

 

For other great bracelets, visit my etsy shop!

 

20% OFF MY ETSY STORE!!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageMemoryJewelry

Coupon code: NOEL20

To use a coupon code:
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Enter the code in the box ~ prior to clicking the ~ (green)
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Victorian Steampunk Jewelry

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery, especially in a setting inspired by industrialized Western civilization during the 19th century. Steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era. It may also, though not necessarily, incorporate additional elements from the genres of fantasy, horror, historical fiction, alternate history, or other branches of speculative fiction, making it often a hybrid genre. Steampunk also refers to any of the artistic styles, clothing fashions, or subcultures, that have developed from the aesthetics of steampunk fiction, Victorian-era fiction, art nouveau design, and films from the mid-20th century.

Victorian Steampunk is my niche in jewelry design. Sometimes my jewelry leans to the technological side of this genre, but other times it leans heavily toward the Victorian side. Many of my pieces incorporate antique or vintage jewelry in them.

Here are some of my Victorian leaning designs.

 

 

 

 

 

 Here are some of my more techy designs!

 

 

 

For more necklaces: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageMemoryJewelry?section_id=12961204

For more unique items designed by Vintage Memories Jewelry visit my home page: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageMemoryJewelry

http://pinterest.com/kathystemke/

https://twitter.com/kathystemke

http://etsysteampunkjewelry.tumblr.com/

http://vintagememoriesjewelry.blogspot.com/

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kathy-Stemke

https://www.facebook.com/VintageMemoriesJewelryDesignAndAccessories

Train your Artistic Eye with these Exercises

1. Draw an object in a realistic way.  Really see the object and then draw what you see. Don't assume you know! Sit down with a simple shape like a vase or a peach and start noticing. Is the stem of the peach round or does it taper? Does the stem stick straight up or does it lean in one direction? Keep seeing and drawing; you may be surprised at what you discover.

2. Photograph patterns. A walk in the woods is a great place to start. Take shoots of fungus, tree bark, or leaves. Print the image out in grayscale and see how many patterns within the pattern you can find. Trace the lines to see what shapes you can find.  How might you use these lines and shapes in your artwork?

 

 

3.Accentuate the negative.

Take a piece of paper and randomly draw connected lines on it. Photocopy the paper and then with a set of drawing pencils or crayons, color in what you perceive as the negative shapes on one of the pictures. On the other picture, fill in the opposite shapes. See how your perception of the drawing changes. Try this exercise with your photography.

Have fun discovering things and see how it translates to your creative projects. I did masters work in DANCE. So much of what I experienced in dance translates to my jewelry designs. For instance balance, variety of textures, asymmetry, color and shapes I learned to work with in choreography ends up influencing my jewelry.

Great Give Away on Tree Wings Studio!

Go to a great fun give away here:

http://www.treewingsstudio.com/2013/08/sleepy-critter-guessing-game-giveaway.html?showComment=1376521857440#c9165443878966441008

My New Jewelry on Etsy!

We finally got my granddaughter off to her first year at the University of Georgia! Thanks to all her well wishers. Now it's back to work for me. Check out some of my new steampunk jewelry designs.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159320034/steampunk-butterfly-cameo-necklace

 

Okay, so I love butterflies, vintage watch parts and cameos.

 

 

Don't you just love this steampunk bird (parrot)? I do!!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/158059333/parrot-necklace-steampunk-jewelry

 

 

This beautiful necklace is also a locket. You can fit two large photos in here.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/158796173/steampunk-locket-necklace-locket

 

 

This steampunk castle necklace SOLD at my shop in Helen, Georgia!!  Yipee!!

 

Steampunk Hat: Victorian Steampunk Hat

Great Steampunk Hat!

LOOK LOOK my first steampunk hat!

 

 

It has lots of feathers including a peacock feather!

 

 

It's for sale in my Etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/157333224/victorian-steampunk-magenta-hat-velvet?ref=shop_home_active

 

Please consider liking my NEW jewelry face book page.

 

https://www.facebook.com/VintageMemoriesJewelryDesignAndAccessories

 

 

 

New Items on Etsy!

This is my new favorite steampunk lizard bracelet!

 

 

 

 

 

I added a watch picture charm to this beauty. You can open the hanging charm and add a picture of a loved one.  Cool huh?

 

 

New Necklaces on Etsy

This is a 4 strand gray crystal choker with a gray and white cameo with green patina trim.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/156812375/vintage-crystal-beads-cameo-necklace

Check out this owl steampunk necklace.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/156810110/steampunk-peace-owl-necklace-vintage  

Granddaughter going to college SALE!

Granddaughter going to college SALE!

She is scheduled for her first year, first semester at the University of Georgia to study biochemical engineering. However after scholarships and a federal loan, she is $4,000 short. She has saved $3,000 herself. I'm trying to help her raise the rest by August first.

Use code: DANCEKAM20 for a 20% discount on anything in my etsy shop.https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageMemoryJewelry 

My Latest Jewelry Creations!

Hand Painted Victorian Style Cameo Butterfly Necklace

       Vintage Button Necklace!
Below is a steampunk bracelet that reminds us to DREAM!

Masriera: My Favorite Jewelry Designer!

 

Lluis Masriera, the third generation of Masriera jewelers, caught Barcelona by surprise and achieved "overnight success" in 1901. He was born into a family and into a culture where the arts and society overlap. His jeweler father was also a painter, and his uncles and cousins were painters, sculptors, musicians, and literary critics. From an early age, Lluis was given a connoisseur's training in the arts. He would later publish an art journal, write, paint, design his store interiors and exhibition spaces, modernize his jewelry manufacturing facilities, and become fully involved in the performing arts.

A crucial moment arrived for Lluis when he visited Paris to see the 1900 International Exhibition, where the Art Nouveau style reigned supreme. It was here that the jewelry of René Lalique received its highest acclaim. The extraordinary enamelwork, technical skill, and imaginative jewels of Lalique struck a deep chord with Lluis. The traditional story says he returned, closed the store, and melted the stock of jewelry to create it anew. While there is no documentation to this effect, the investment in time, materials, and effort to create these new pieces was considerable. Though he was only in his late twenties, Lluis had taken a daring step and moved the firm in a new direction.

 

The jewelry of Lluis Masriera has a sense of harmony, proportion and wonderful  color. His drawings center on the Art Nouveau themes of women and nature. The female form is very often depicted in full length, a wonderful excuse to show off beautiful modeling and drapery. His floral pieces have a lightness and delicacy that is unusual and appealing.

 

Ta Ta Ta Dah!! Introducing My First Bridal Button Necklace!

Ta Ta Ta Dah!! Introducing My First Bridal Button Necklace! What do you think? I love it!

 

These are white, off white and crystal vintage buttons with just a few lavender beauties mixed in. I could see a bouquet of flowers that mimics these colors, can't you?

 

 Instead of chain, I added lovely buttons that lead to a ribbon closure in the back of the neck that can be adjusted to any length the bride desires.

 

Here's a close up of the focal buttons full of texture and sparkle!
 

 

Check out this fabulous treasury titled," Sunrise Sunset Summer Stylin'"

Click the following link for the treasury: https://www.etsy.com/treasury/Mjk3NDM5ODZ8MjcyNDY2Njk2Ng/sunrise-sunset-summer-stylin

A Great Bracelet Give Away!

For a chance to win this gorgeous bracelet from Grubbi Ceramics click on the following URL:

http://www.grubbiceramics.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/giveaway-sale-thank-you.html

Steampunk Keys Cats and Dance!

Here's my favorite necklace EVER!! Why you ask. Because it's a dancer and I love dance! Do you like her?

 

 

Here's a Steampunk cat brooch I fashioned.

 

 

 

Here's a really cool Steampunk star keychain I made.

 

 

All of these items are available in my Etsy shop.

 

My Son is a Soldier Patriotic Necklace for the Fourth of July!

 

Order this one of a kind patriotic necklace ASAP from my etsy shop and you'll be wearing it for your 4th of July celebration!

Don't miss the chance to honor America and the men and women who keep us safe.

My grandson, Michael is a marine stationed in California.

 

My prayers are with ALL the men and women who serve and sacrifice for our freedom every day. THANK YOU!

 

Use this code at checkout and get a 10% discount: DANCEKAM22