Over the Top Studios

Love is in the Air

February 1st.

Time to start thinking of Valentines Day. 

I absolutely love the old vintage images of the early 1800’s when the Victorians raised Valentines correspondence to an art. 

Valentines were so popular during that time that collecting them now is not a very expensive endeavor. There are plenty out there to choose from, some in excellent condition.

I thought it might be fun this year to take some of my old favorites and make them into to Valentine’s Gift Boxes for my Etsy shop.

I have taken liberties of course – it is important to make them your own.

My Heart – Special Delivery

 Cherub Love

 

 Parachuting Kitty Valentine from the 1950’s

 

Do you know someone who deserves a special Valentines Day award?

This one is oh so sweet!

I’ve been busy creating some “Pretty Little Things” now it’s time for you to get to work.

Hugs,

Amada

P.S. What is Black and White and Red all over?

My Alice in Wonderland Crown,of course. 

Check it out later this week!

 

Crown Envy

 

First off, just want to say Thank You to all my blogging buddies who made such nice comments on my blog regarding  Cirque Fini. Yes, it was a huge undertaking – a first for me and it was so fun to share it with you. You all inspire and sustain me.

My “Queen of Hearts” mini crown

Recently Donna O’Brien over at The Ribboned Crown decided to sell some of her lovely glittered crowns and other “Majestic Bits of Mishmash” as Donna calls them. I found Donnas blog and  admired her work  this summer. Many of you already know her regal creations. I absolutely love the way she combines Dresden trim with German glass glitter and a bit of frivolity. The effect is stunning.

  Donna doesn’t sell online often so when she has a sale – you jump on it! I missed the sale which lasted approximately 2 days before she sold out. No surprise;  her work is worth coveting.

Item#200 was my favorite – A little crown with a frozen charlotte doll on the front. My heart be still. Make sure you go over and take a look.

While cleaning out my craft room last Thursday night I found a few tiny pieces of Dresden scrap laying  around and decided to try and ease my broken heart and make a mini crown in the same style.

The result was this teeny tiny “Queen of Hearts” crown. Not as elaborate as Donnas  fabulous creations but sweet just the same. This one is only 3” high and 3” diameter and made from a laser cut cupcake holder that has been drenched in glitter. Although I love this style my heart kept wanting to add little paper flowers and other bobbles, I guess its hard to break your own habits. Don’t you think it looks divine on my porcelain cockatoo?

I always appreciate a style different than my own and I have great fun trying new things – I must say this was more difficult than I thought. As much fun as it was I think I will  make another with the same laser cut as a base but add lots of little fairy flowers.

I hope Donna will have another sale soon, LOL!

Want to see some really beautiful pieces, check out Donnas Blog and make sure you have a drool cup with you. 

Just another “pretty little thing”  to share with you.

Hugs,

Amada

Cirque Fini

Happy New Year! I feel like I haven’t blogged in a month – because I haven’t. It has been exactly 30 days since I put my thoughts down on virtual paper.  Part of the reason I have been so distant is I had to finish up this massive project for The Banker’s Suite in Oregon. I kept putting it off and in the end I realized that I budgeted way too few hours; and with the holiday, well,  I ended up working through it.

I also had/still have my kids home from college. I love spending time with them just hanging out. It’s funny; I am getting to know them as adults now and when they come home we are not worried about homework, curfews etc. I am finding I really like who they are becoming.

So, since they come first every spare moment I had was spent getting my Christmas orders out and finishing these circuses. I finally delivered them Saturday morning and received the final payment, Yipee! My husband commented that by the time I finished I may as well be working in China for $2.00 an hour; that’s how much time I spent on this. I had never made anything this large before so structurally it was a challenge for me.

The center stage ended up being almost 50” high and about 33” wide. The two smaller circuses where 36” high and 28” wide. WOW! In the end, when the last image was glued on and the final glittered clown was positioned perfectly in his place, I breathed a sigh of relief and said never again. Of course now I think I could definitely try it again!

Want a peek?

All three circuses side by side. The table they are on is 6” wide and they take it all up and more.

  “The Flying Dillons.” All the images are from vintage Circus posters

“The Famous Clodoche Tropue” an actual French Circus act of the 1930’s

  Center Stage – 50” tall. “The Lion Tamer” The image behind the curtain actually is a box that extends 8” off the back and has a vintage image of a traveling circus on the back. I hand painted the sky and road on the top and bottom of the box to match that of the poster.

“The Flying Dillon’s” These three images were cut out and suspended under the tent I created. The mural behind is actually a three piece panel I created as a backdrop. Don’t you love the shadows?

 

Two other flyers are perched above the tent.

Another calls down to them to make way and prepare for her arrival.

Our high wire walker is the most daring of all.

The second small circus, “The Clodoche Troupe”

I love this view!

 

One kicker on each side.

The third and final piece.

For the big top, I got the idea of covering a lamp shade with ribbon from the talented Deb Kennedy of Retreat Design. She is a wiz at it!

Details make this piece.

    The columns are covered in vintage wallpaper given to me by Tiffany, of Shabbyscraps. Thanks Tiffany!

There you have it,, what has occupied my last couple of months. It was totally worth it! I would love to make another one of these for myself, the difference is it would be a storybook stage where I could switch out the backdrop and characters. Everything from Alice in Wonderland to Marie Antoinette.

What I love most about these three stages is that they are definitely “Over the Top” and, at least, to me, a “Pretty Little Thing”, now go out and create your own!

P.S. Stay tuned for my new Valentines Boxes.

Hugs,

Amada