Sunday, July 25, 2010

The Evolution of an Idea, or.......

......how my mind works (hmmm...you've been warned), or.....how I get inspiration from jumping around from blog to blog.   Here's how it all started.  Wendy was blogging about the newest wonderful additions to her product line....art parts.  Chipboard frames, shapes, other goodies, perfect to use with her stamps.  One in particular caught my eye....a kind of pedestal thingie....looks a bit like a mini cake plate.  You can see it here.  Things started spinning in my head.....

A few days later, I'm visiting Linda Cain's blog and she's busy making spools.  I love old wooden spools; thread these days comes wrapped on plastic mostly.  But I digress.  Linda is whipping out these fantastic spools.  Made me think back to Wendy's pedestal.  After all what is a spool but a cylinder and two circles.  Different sizes and proportions, but the same elements.  See Linda's beautiful spools here.

As if that wasn't enough, Linda supplied a link to the blog that had inspired her to make the spools, so of course I visited there, watched a video tutorial, and hatched a plan.  If you really want to follow my journey, click here to see it too.  (even if you aren't interested in following along, you should click there because it will take you to a really interesting and creative blog)
 
Now, let me make it clear that I am NOT trying to tell anyone that they shouldn't get Wendy's art parts.  Hell no!  I'll be first on line to buy some.  It's just that I had this notion and I have no patience, so how could I wait for the weeks, maybe months before these beauties hit the stores?  So, I had to make a version of my own, just to try out my idea.
Following me?  (remember, I did warn you!).  I bet about now you're wondering if I'll ever show you a photo.  LOL!  Yep, here goes.  I found the components to make my squat pedestal (or I suppose it could be a giant sized spool, now that I think about it).  (the proportions of Wendy's art parts pedestal are waaaaaaay better and more elegant, trust me!)
Very high tech....a paper towel roll and two chipboard circles.  I cut the roll down and covered all three parts with some Graphic 45 paper and glued them together.  Of course I did some artsy stuff to them...sanded the edges, distressed them with some ink.....
This is the idea I had when I first saw Wendy's blog post.  I wanted to make a little display stand, but one where I could change out what was being displayed very easily.
I have some of these plastic thingies:
I'm sorry I don't remember where I got them, but they're meant to display an ATC.  (there's a little slit in the middle for the card to slide in).  Not too gorgeous, but when covered with some of the same G45.....
Much better.  Now, a long time ago, back in March in fact, I was visiting Hels' blog and saw her tutorial on faux porcelain flowers.  I made some then, but never used them.  They're the right color, so I thought they'd make a nice decoration for my display pedestal.  (I also added some lace and fiber to the bottom of the cylinder).  The plastic thingie and the flowers were all adhered with glossy accents, by the way.
And although at first I thought this would just be a good place to pop an ATC, I discovered that it can hold a greeting card, a postcard, an altered coaster.....just about anything.  It could also be a place to put a work in progress as you contemplate the next step.  And I just think it is so much nicer than those little easels that are always falling over on my work table.
I'm having another thought for a future project....what if I pierced the rim of the top circle with a bunch of little holes, all the way around....wouldn't that be a fab way to store/display a collection of danglie earrings?

25 comments:

Nancy Lynn said...

I saw Wendy's and Linda's blog too. Loved them. I really like what you did. It is just beautiful. You could possibly make the spools out of little CDs too. I like your idea about punching holes around the top to hold jewelry. I think it would also work good to display all kinds of charms.

Cariena said...

you are a genius!!!!!!!!

SusanK said...

Eileen, great minds think alike! What a super idea you've had with the display and earring holder. I, too, saw Linda's blog and the blog she found from down under. I'll be posting my spools today. They are super easy to make but like you said, getting Wendy's art parts will make theme even better!

Kathy Eddy said...

Oh what fun Eileen! I am not a good waiter either! I want it and want it now! LOL You did a great job on this and I love that you cna change out the art piece and switch it up.

Unknown said...

Saw the blogs too .... and I'm not sure if I should be scared or not cause I totally followed your train of thought. hehe Yep, I think we have lots of great minds thinking alike out here!! Scary thought, ain't it? :)

Love the idea for ATC/Card display. hum...... can you smell smoke?

Angie Hall Haviland said...

OH WOW...Eileen!!! That is FABULOUS, BRILLIANT and BEAUTIFUL!!!

Anonymous said...

OMG.....I'M SO SO SO SO MAKING one of these....WHAT AN AWESOME way to display our ART!!!!!!!!

Vic said...

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

Tammy D said...

Very cool.

Linda M. Cain said...

Absolutely drop-dead gorgeous, fabulously scrumptous, wonderfully artsy, and just plain FUN! Terrific post!
And Nancy Lynn...love that idea, too!
You guys ROCK!

Linda
..and thanks for the shout out!

scrappin-scrappin said...

Love it Eileen!! Funny, I checked out Linda C. blog yesterday and I was playing around last night making some spools, not done yet but I think these look so cool!! Can't wait until Wendy's hit the stores! The punching holes around the edge sounds like a good idea to! Fab job Eileen!!

Chrystal S said...

I had no idea where you were going with this! I was glued to my screen!!! I absolutely love it! :)

Dawn said...

Great idea Eileen. You've given me some food for thought.

Bearcrazyman said...

Amazing, Send it to me.... LOL

WendyP said...

absolutely stunning - love love love it !!!

Art By Wanda said...

This is fabulous, Eileen!!!! Your plastic holdy thingy could be made from heavy chipboard or bookboard... just a thought :-)) And I love the earring idea!!

Dorothy said...

you are one smart cookie!!
Love it all!!!

Lori said...

Way to jump on that spool bandwagon with both feet! lol! Looks fantastic, love your porcelain flowers, they look great on there! And yes, I agree with the earring thing, AND the charm thing, all great ideas!

Elaine A said...

Boy Eileen -

When you get to thinking, you get to thinking - LOL! I saw Wendy and Linda's blog and thought " I really like those spools, file that away for the future." No waiting for you! Fabulous job!

Elaine Allen

Anonymous said...

Only Eileen can surprise us like this! I was thinking the same about the dangling earrings and thought that was what you were doing. Such a beautiful gift item you have created. I've seen a lot of your creations and must say this is one of the most beautiful ones I've seen. Love, love, love it. What a wonderful surprise.

Shoshi said...

Eileen, what an inspiration you are! It was a great joy to follow your blog "journey" to reach the end, and see all those delights on the way! I love the idea of the little pedestal. It has so much potential for decoration.

Your idea for piercing it for hanging dangly earrings on had me thinking. You could make the "tube" part of the pedestal thicker, make the top removable, and use the hollow tube to put other things in like necklaces etc.

When I started papercrafting seriously only very recently, I had no idea the enormous potential of paper and card. I feel quite blown away today!

Keep up your awesome creativity!

Shoshi

Julie Ann said...

How cool!!

Patzee said...

Eileen, you are too Spoolicious! It's great and just a lttle frightening the get a peek into the workings of that brain of yours. How very clever and resourceful! Might we soon see teeny tiny spool earrings dangling from your jewelry spool?

sue young said...

Gosh,Eileen!You are just having too much fun!LOVE this idea!!!Might have to make one too!Too cute! Sue

Girlsinthecraft said...

Wow, all I know is I LOVE watching how your mind works! ;)