Feather Trees From Studio 136!
Dusti and I love trees,..especially feather trees! We made one from scratch about a year ago, from a wooden dowel, heavy gauge wire, and black feathers. We mounted it on an antique metal lamp base and we have enjoyed hanging Halloween ornaments from it,..and taking it to shows. Ever since making it we have wanted to do more! (More is always better!) One a month, or, this time of year,..one a week! So we have been collecting and or making trees that have the feather tree shape, and putting them on a variety of wonderful bases. We have urns,..vintage wooden pedestal stands,..old metal Victorian looking lamp bases,..and other fun salvaged items to turn a tree into extraordinary! On this tree, our first, we took a vintage wooden cake stand and painted it in a bright red enamel,..and added a fence which we white washed. Traditionally German Feather Trees came with fences surrounding them. I just think it is so cute! We also found a vintage wooden toy train ornament and thought it went perfect under this tree!

Toot Toot! Jingle Jingle! All aboard!


Our first tree is a "Christmas in Toyland" theme,..it started with a find of some vintage rocking horse ornaments and a few others we have been saving. When we were little,..we had plenty of these miniature wooden ornaments with felt hats and painted faces on our tree at home! There were elves, santas, animals, and snowmen. They all came to life in my little girl's imagination, like toys that came straight from Santa's workshop just for the tree! Just like this tiny snowman, holding a wee broom!

So now as find these kind of ornaments, we keep them, and even restore or fix them up as necessary. We started this tree out with a few of our favorites. Here is a vintage wooden rocking horse with a brown chenile mane and tail! There is a mouse with spectacles also hanging nearby,..and the star was one of three made just for this tree by me!


At the very top is a crescent moon I also made, to tie in with the stars and some of the other yellow ornaments on the tree. He has a hole in the bottom, and the top of the tree fits snugly in it.

What better to top off a tree?
Here is another of my favorite ornaments,..a little elf in a felt hat sitting on a present! I added the pom pom, (or "hat dot" as I hastily called it, running for my glue gun!) As I added hat dots,..Dusti painted fences and bases and measured and hung trim in ribbon pom pom and tinsel. I painted my dried moons and stars and we talked about several other trees we are working on at the same time. (More to come about them soon!)

Here is another star,...

I just love this combination of tinsel in a warm white gold color paired with traditional polka dot and red stripe ribbon! And the shiny red beaded and tinsel trims brighten the tree and tie it all together!

Here is the other side of green eyed moon topper,..

Dusti made this "naughty and nice" scroll list ornament!
We had some private fun deciding the names to go on each side! She sheallaced the scroll to stiffen the paper and hold it in its scroll like shape.

There are a few wooden Santas on here,..and here are one of two brightly painted toy drums,..

another star,..
a look up at the moon,..
And so much more can be found on this beautiful tree!
These are all the pics I have for now. We will finish this tree up tomorrow,..photograph the entire tree, and list it on eBay for a 7 day auction which will end on Black Friday. We are busy elves this week! To bid on this tree,..click here
Thanks for stopping by!

More Ornaments! And Some Pics From 136!


Here is my Krampus! Those Germans new how to spin a tale! This creepy Christmas Devil came and hauled off all the bad boys and girls. That sure alleviates the need of the old "coal in stocking" threat.

The one I sculpted here is 5.5" without the wire hanger,..hollow with a hole in top,..just like a miniature lantern or candy container. He'd look great on the tree!

Painting his eyes and sculpting his lecherous tongue were the most fun!

Here is another skelly lamp,..13" tall,..

I don't care what time of year it is,..I love to see him flickering in the dark!

He makes me happy and I love making the faux candle waxed dripped sleeves on my lamps,..
tiny details like this are best seen in person!

Here are the ornaments of the week,..minus a snowflake I left at the studio,..all of these are available on my STJ page tonight at midnight....

This Black Cat Santa is my favorite! 7" high,..

He just looks so dashing in his yuletide finery!

I love cats! Especially the black, hissing kind.

No matter what the holiday!


I almost forgot,..my first Christmas lamp of the year! The colors,..texture,..and detail are really rich in person. He's a jolly Snow Moon!

A swirl of candy pink and icy blue colors meet with German glass glitter and candy cane goodness,..the lamp base itself has the same treatment!

Reminds me of everything kitsch,..sweet,..and Santa Claus-Townish that was exciting about Christmas when I was a little girl!


All these and more hail from a huge new workspace! I am so fortunate to have recently moved my work into a fantastic studio I share with my sister. We are already beginning new projects in holiday art as well as paintings, lighting,..some furniture,..and mirrors. Now that we have a full wood shop,...space,..tools at hand,..and each other,..the sky is the limit!
Here is "her" end,..although we share and share alike,...notice how neat and organized,..although check back in a month,..I guarantee once we really get going, it won't be so pristine anymore!


Here is the very end of "my" end,..I am way less orderly,..more like a happy tornado,...

Still moving things in,..but also having to still work,..I figure it will come together more or less on its own,..I organize and create new "stations" as I go,..

It's nice keeping the holidays apart,..and paint apart from trims,..trims apart from tools,..glue and epoxy away from everything else,..dremmels and tools and dust in its own spot,..paper mache bowl in their own,..etc...Finishing stages kept away from beginning stages,..and when I am done,..I just walk out and go home! Oh and packing and shipping and photographing pieces,..plenty of room for that,..too!!

The studio is part of a group of studios for artists in my town,...our group is called Clearwater Studios. We are Studio 136 within this wonderful art mecca! Our first open house is next Friday night,..November 18th! If you are in the area, I would love to see you there.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Christmas Ornaments Are Here!
I am so thrilled to report have a large new studio! I am still settling into it but have had to jump right in to Christmas before I could even get re-organized! I have many crescents,..snowflakes,..moon and snowmen ornaments in process now,..here is just a sampling. These three are also on eBay this week but I have also started taking orders. Feel free to e mail me if you would like some,..or just bid if you see one you like!
Here is a crescent moon with German glass glitter,..can be found here


This a 3" moon ornament/candy container,..he has also been dusted with German glass glitter!
His auction is here



And the snowflake is here
Thank you for stopping buy! Back to making glitter fly for me!!

Halloween Blog Sale!
I am posting some photos of the last available items from my studio for the season!
The medium sized parade style lantern on the very left is available for auction on ebay,..but the rest in the photo below are available directly from the studio. Just shoot me an e mail at bran1973@gmail.com to purchase! Prices are as follows,...

small plain yellow moon in foreground bottom left,...$60.00..(he is shown on a ring stand but he has a wire bail for hanging as he is completely spherical)


Pumpkin Lantern (green eyed one shown on the right) $160.00
the one on the left,..orange eyes,..is available here on eBay
painted paper inserts for eyes,...carved teeth,...looks great lit up in the dark!
9" high

Black Cat Candy Container $145.00
16" high
Giant Parade Pumpkin Lantern
15" deep
painted paper inserts carved teeth,...sits directly on a table.
$275.00


Closer facial detail,...you can see the carved teeth and finely painted eyelashes,..



Cat and Moon Sculpture
$125.00
Another detail of the black cat candy container,...he is attached to the lid of the container which may be removed for storing candy or other goodies!

Hiss Hiss MEOW!


Shipping on anything purchased on my blog this month is FREE!
Feel free to email me with any questions! As I move into a huge new studio this month I am still unpacking boxes from shows and my old studio and may come across more.


Thanks for looking and
Happy Halloween!!!!!

Meow! SpookyTime Sneak Peak!
Here are some of my pieces available this month! I put on a few more than normal,.. as next month I will have nothing available online! I will be leaving September 14th to head up to New Hope, Pennsylvania for the second annual SpookyTime Jingles Soiree,..and then leaving one week later to Petaluma, California for the Halloween and Vine show! Back to back fun! I am working hard on many lanterns and lamps. I put a few finished ones on for this month's SpookyTime Jingles update,..they will go on live tonight at Midnight!

Candy Corn Kitty Lamp,..


Green warty Jack,..

Here they are all together,...say "Cheese!!" (they did!)

My favorite is the cat. Lots more cats for the upcoming shows!

Skelly lamps are always fun,..I love wiring their mouths.


What do we have here? Some of my fabulous sister Dusti's (aka The Halloweenstress) jewelry. She did a lot of my photography of the individual pieces with her fancy hand made light box and SLR camera tonight,..and some of her photos were uploaded with mine. I am her biggest fan and wear her necklaces everyday......they are so unique.


Here they are again,,...
My tabletop bases made of collared rings are NOT attached to the moon and parade lanterns, so if you prefer a non gussied up look,..you can hang them on their own,..without the collars.
Please don't forget to check out ALL the delightful art at www.spookytimejingles.com tonight at Midnight!!
Thanks for stopping in!!
If you need me I will be sanding.