Off The Cuff

Spring '09 is here!

2009-03-31T17:54:00.008-05:00

The Spring '09 line has begun!
New designs for this season are now posted on Zanne Avenue and will continue to expand. The Spring look brings a fresh take on recycled metals. Here is a taste of what's to come (apple not included):
The Industrial Weave is a tapestry of color and texture on perforated metal. It's woven with leather and copper cord, and lined with red leather:

What CAN'T roofing material do? Altered with a metal grinder, this red metal roofing takes the form of a 1" wide cuff:

Step aside auto industry! This Ford letter D is now a fierce fashion symbol:

New York is always in season! Keep the city close at hand with a wrap-around ring made of high-shined brass:

Much more to come this season! I'll be posting new earrings very soon. Until then, enjoy last week's unseasonable snow view from my kitchen window!

Craftin' it up,

-Zanne

http://www.zanneavenue.com/

Post #2: Furniture and Tornado Tour

2009-03-15T13:40:00.015-05:00

Hello again!
There's good and bad news.

The good news is that Zanne Avenue is up and running and all is going smoothly! (Check out Zanne’s new myspace page! myspace.com/zanneavenue)

As a result of all this goodness, the bad news is that, without juicy drama to entertain you with, this blog is relegated to Best Of Zanne Furniture!..I promise to spice it up at the end with a wind-ravaged house from last week’s tornado. –My first tornado experience ever! Just like the Wizard of Oz which, incidentally, I make lovely image jewelry of. :)

I’m actually very excited by my thrift-store furniture finds. This first beut’ is the latest piece, which holds all my images and was delivered last Saturday by two nice, burley, thrift store boys.

This piece was rescued from certain death, as that VERY NIGHT, the thrift store had a gnarly fire:

(Caption: The fire burned the back of Avenue’s building and a tractor-trailer used for storing donated clothing and other items. Jason Johnson/The State Journal-Register)
.......

In the same room is the leather hanging. I never tire of the lingering leather smell as I walk by 100 lbs of draping cow on my way to the kitchen. I know. I'm aware this is a little odd and that I've both disgusted and offended many. So I won't show you my fur-lined bathroom.

Totally kidding.

And the cedar chest! Do you wonder what dubious relics I keep inside? Hmm...perhaps I will reveal this mysterious secret on a subsequent blog...

Here are some typewriter key rings drying (upside down) that I made today:

EXAMPLE:

And here is the great view from my studio as I craft your jewelry. Notice: Abraham Lincoln era brick road!

And finally, what you've all been waiting for, some exploitive entertainment of ramshackle remains and a mourning girl from our tornado:

(Caption: Jerika Graham, 12, surveys the damage to her home in Park Ridge Mobile Home Park after devastating winds blew through the area Sunday, March 8, 2009. Jason Johnson/The State Journal-Register)

But on the bright side, Spring is near! May this week find you happy and in short-sleeved shirts.

Crafty as always,

-Zanne

www.zanneavenue.com

Post #1: Welcome!

2009-03-06T13:52:00.001-06:00

Welcome to Off The Cuff!

This is Zanne Avenue’s forum for sharing various Zanne news, for jewelry networking, and for friends and customers to see what’s happening beyond the website.

As of January 2009, I put a cap on my day job as a newspaper photographer--
*plug* (I still freelance: http://www.suzanneschmidphoto.com/)
and I now have time to dedicate myself full-time to Zanne Avenue Jewelry!

The first order of business was to build a studio in my new apartment.
Zanne Avenue Day 1: I ventured into the very scary, Hannibal-like basement with a wee keychain light and bolstered courage:

It was a treasure trove of discarded items from tenants past! Like my own private, dank thrift store, I pillaged everything. In full recycle/reuse Zanne Avenue spirit, I swiped two forgotten doors and gave them new life. Here I am attaching legs for what will become my two work tables:

As evidenced by my bagged eyes and bed-head hair, I began my morning exceptionally early. Like noon:

A few days and a few dozen Salvation Army jars for grommets later, my beauteous studio was finished, complete with a cheesy, high school-style, collaged wall of surfer magazine pics to remind me of home. And the zebra tail for a touch of class:

Here’s a crazy composite panorama for your viewing pleasure:

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for more Zanne-tastic news!

Craftily Yours,
-Zanne
http://www.zanneavenue.com