Willheit Shoppes: Jewelry and Decorative Boxes

Willheit Shoppes belongs to two sisters-in-law from Ohio, A. and G. Meyer. All the beautiful jewelry you see in the shop is lovingly planned and strung by G. Meyer. She has crafted elegant jewelry for both personal tastes and events such as bridal parties, and is more than willing to take on any requests. She also does some lovely rosaries.

And as you might be able to tell from the handy little lensmaster bio up in the corner, I'm A. Meyer, better known to the internet as Kit. I'm a digital artist and photographer with a love for decoupage and decorative boxes. All my boxes feature my original artwork or photography, either digital or hand-painted, and are coated in several layers of Mod Podge for protection. To find out more about how I create my boxes and about the art of decoupage itself, visit my Decoupaging Boxes lens.

Check out our blog for the latest goings-on over at Willheit, and be sure to stop by the shop. ^_^

G. doesn't just do jewelry - she also does some beautiful holiday wreaths and centerpieces! She designs and hand assembles each of these lovely pieces, any of which will be a wonderful addition to your winter decor. For an additional $3.50, you can even add a personal monogram, and one free candle is included in the centerpiece.

(originally posted at http://willheit.blogspot.com/)

Memory Boxes

This week, I've been entertaining an 11-year-old cousin of mine, and one thing I decided to do was have her make a memory box. A memory box is that place where you stick all those little trinkets and such that holds a pleasant memory for you. They can be anything, really - things friends gave you, very special photos, concert tickets, even rocks from special places. They might look like junk to anyone else, but all those little objects can trigger a great memory for you.

When I was in third grade, I started my own memory box. Of course, back then, I didn't have any idea about decoupage or that you could buy unfinished boxes - I just grabbed an old leatherish mini-suitcase-type box and plastered it with stickers, then started sticking little trinkets in it. There's a nice variety of stuff in there, from a seashell a friend decorated for me to concert tickets to my favorite band to my high school graduation tassel. Good times.

These days, of course, we have our local Hobby Lobby, so I figured my cousin could make her own box. Before we left, I asked her to write down her three favorite colors. Then, once we got to the paper aisle, she picked out three different patterns of paper, keeping her favorite colors in mind. Then, it was on to the sticker aisle. Pick up a little ribbon for the border around the lid, and we were all set.

Depending on how old your little crafter is, you'll have to do all the cutting, but they can do a lot of things. Have them pick out which paper they want where (one for the base, one for the lid, and if you're really ambitious, one for inside lining) and choose a color from those papers to paint the box. For example, my cousin picked a blue paper for the bottom and a pink, green, and magenta paper for the top. Therefore, while I was cutting the paper for her, she painted the base of her box blue and the top magenta. That way, if there were any gaps when she pasted the paper on, it wouldn't be as noticeable.

Once the paint dried, it was on to the decoupage part! At eleven years old, she was perfectly capable of gluing the paper on herself, and it lets her feel accomplished. After that dried, it was on to the stickers. This is where she really seemed to have fun - just let her loose and put whatever stickers she wants wherever, and she'll be happy. Let your crafter add whatever embellishments you picked up at the craft store, and you're done with the box.

It's a nice project for a rainy summer day or two, and with any luck, it'll be something your crafter will be able to enjoy even years later.

It's back! That's right, G's been a busy little jewelry maker, and has crafted several new necklaces for a few lucky shoppers. It's just in time for Christmas, too. If you're looking for a unique gift for that special someone or even just want something nice for yourself, check out these necklaces from Willheit Shoppes.

Deep under the sea, among the shipwrecks and lost treasures, you'll find the pirate mermaids. This brightly colored lass loves having fun and keeping her treasures safe, and she'd love to keep your special things safe, too!

This chest is big enough to hold photos, letters, and any small-to-medium-sized keepsakes you might have. The bottom is covered in green suede paper, and the interior is painted gold. The border is hand-painted, and the Pirate Mermaid is original artwork by A. Meyer.

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You bet we do!

If you see a necklace of G.'s that you like or would like a custom necklace or bracelet, for a special occasion or just to match your favorite outfit, she'll be happy to discuss it with you.

Likewise, if you would like to commission a personalized box, I'll be happy to work with you. Whether there's a piece of art I've already done that you like or if you'd like me to create a box working around your own photos, I'm willing to discuss it. Here's an example of a custom order I've taken:

The commissioner wanted a going-away gift for her mother, who was newly stationed overseas. Her mother liked green, Celtic knotwork, and hummingbirds, so I digitally painted the side panels and border to fit those tastes, then painted an unfinished wooden jewelry box a rich dark brown, decoupaged the artwork and photo (a print-out, of course, not the original) onto it, and lined the bottom and interior in green suede paper.

Boxes can be done around just about any theme, be it for a new addition to the family, a wedding anniversary, or even a family pet or favorite animal.

Got a request? You can contact us through our shop or this lens. We'll be waiting to hear from you!