MISS MARIE II

Even though I'm working on a project, I just had to squeeze this one in for me! I had this necklace in mind for a long time....just really needed the right combination of pieces to fall into place. Using the technique that Deryn Mentock shared in her article of the Spring 09 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine, I created the Marie pendant using a collage image and a chandelier crystal. I really love this technique, and the quirky, ethereal, distortion that comes from it. Combined with the lovely baroque pearls, vintage pearls, a vintage bone flower, tiny aquamarine briolettes, and that luscious Objects and Elements sari silk, I think Marie is lookin pretty regal. For some reason I just love her!!! (Oh no, another new obsession!) I think I love her in blue!! Click on the photos for a closer look.

BTW, thank you to everyone who left such kind comments on my first publication, and I FINALLY received my copy today , so hooray!! Some of you requested that I scan the pieces....I will try to tomorrow, but no promises on that working, remember, computer challenged here!! If it doesn't work I'll post new photos of them. But thank you all for your kindness, and I am very excited about it!!

CAN'T WAIT

OK, I know I'm a little impatient, but I can't stand it anymore! I AM in the July issue of Bead Trends!!!!!!!FINALLY, my first publication!!!HOORAY!!! B U T , I still have not received my copy yet. UGH!! I had 5 minutes the other day on my lunch break and ran to the B & N and saw it there, quickly, but i do know that I saw it with my own eyes, 2 necklaces in the back of the magazine, not sure of the pages. Seems everyone I know on the blog has received their copy but me. Melissa from Chinook got her's a week ago Friday. I realize that I am on the other side of the country, but my friend Liz Revit, who lives about 2 miles from me, received her's the other day, so now I really can't stand it. BUT, I am very excited I'm published, and will be in the same magazine for a few months to come!! My ongoing work and blogging with everyone here has gotten me to this point and I thank everyone for encouraging me!! I look to the blog daily for your friendship and inspiration. Lately I have been working on a special project, so I can't really post anything, but I hope to have some new things soon.
And about my friend Liz, who lives close to me, but more importantly was my first jewelry teacher, first inspiration, first source of encouragement, and one of the most talented and kind people I know! She has a terrific bracelet in the July issue also, so check it out! Also, check out Liz's etsy store!!! She is involved in painting, jewelry making, cards, and has recently been published in the book "Earrings, Earrings, Earrings"! She's super talented and her work is so much fun, her pictures are so full of whimsy!! She has her hands in everything and does a great job at all of it! Liz is the reason I do what I do with jewelry. I have tremendous respect for her, and can never thank her enough!

A LOT OF LOVE

This is one sweet piece from Sweet Bead Studio!!
There is a LOT of love going around the blogs lately!!

Another fantastic giveaway from a fantastic artist...Cindy Wimmer!! Cindy, at Sweet Bead Studio is celebrating her website redesign by having a VERY generous giveaway! There will be 3 winners and the gifts are FANTASTIC!! Go there now to check it out!!! I'd also like to say that I'm speechless at all the generousity flowing around blogland and general good will. It makes me happy to see so many people so happy......thank you to all my friends and new ones that are giving me opportunities all the time to meet them and learn more!! Cindy , I'd be honored to own one of your pieces!!

A COLORFUL GIVEAWAY!

Leave it to Chrissie Grace to find the best shot of color for the summer...and some adorable inspiration and treats for your home! These are made by Michelle of Allen Designs!! I think they are fabulous....just what we all need.....fresh, vibrant, COLOR! And such beautiful designs also!!
Enter her giveaway and treat yourself!!

AGAIN WITH THE FLYING!

Kristen challenged us the other day to do what we think we can't. So it took me a little longer than anyone else but this is what I did. I know, I know...bizarre huh? Not sure I really like it...it's ok....but I'm happy I did it. Actually it was 2 challenges for me, because RED is a challenge in itself to me these days. It certainly sparked my interest in altered art and ATC's, which I will continue with..... For now I guess I just keep flying! Thanks Kristen!!
( click on the photo for a better look if you want, it says)

in dreams we catch glimpses of life larger than our own

I CAN FLY

I always wished I could, and I love birds for the fact that they can! How incredible would that be? My best friend told me as a very small girl, she jumped off the top of her stairs in the house because she TRULY believed she could fly! (BTW, she was fine). Erin, of Treasures-Found, speaks daily of the power of belief!! So when I saw this pendant from Julie Haymaker Thompson.....had to have it! This necklace came to me effortlessly...the pendant spoke. I've never worked with brass wire...I'm so much a silver girl, but it lent itself to this piece perfectly, as did Doreen Willey's polymer clay beads(so beautiful!), Gaea's crackle beads(so beautiful!), and Green Girl Studio's pewter bird(so beautiful!). So I made this necklace with and for the power of belief, belief you can fly, or the equivalent in life, if you believe!

OBJECTS AND ELEMENTS CHALLENGE

Yes, if you don't know by now, Objects and Elements design team is having a closure challenge for the month of June. Anyone up for that?!! I was , so I submitted a few already and think I might have more up my sleeve!!!! Check out their blog, and shop, and I guarantee you will not be dissapointed. There are soooooooo many great products you don't know where to look first, I've never seen anything like it! Plus check out the challenge entries and see if we can get some good creativity going, raise the bar, push the limit............. TRY!!!

Check out this design team for some terrific inspiration!


JUST DO IT!
there's still time!

PLAYING TAG

Cristi, from 2 if by Sea has tagged me for a meme! I don't usually do this, but what the heck, the silliness part intigued me. How you play.....

-List six silly things that make you happy

-Mention and link to the person who tagged you

-Tag six of your favorite bloggers to play


My silliness consists of:
1.Looking at birds in my backyard
2. Flea marketing
3. Eating cake
4.Leaving work early
5.Sleeping in late
6.Discovering new blog friends


I tag:
Renate of Put a little magic in your life
Julie of Julie Haymaker Thompson
Doreen of Dorren's Backyard Beads
Kristen of Waking Beauty Designs
Patti of The Joy of Nesting
Mari of Mis Amores

HOW GREAT ARE THESE?!

Did you ever see something and immediately you had to have it....you knew you wanted to do something with it....that it was so unique that the possibilities in your mind were endless?? I am sure you have!! These two items here were those things for me!! I ordered these from the lovely and sweet Julie Haymaker Thompson. What an incredible mind this lady has!! Where does she get this stuff to create these?!! Whatever you're on Julie, I need some of that!!! (just joking!!!) When I look at these I see endless possibilities, and am in awe of how her mind works.! Anyway...they are mine now and one is on my worktable and I have plans........

Whatever that thing is for you today.............Have fun imagining!!

SARI SILK AND LYNN

It's 1:01 a.m. I accomplished what I wanted to tonight, and more, but I'm too tired to talk about it, and have a long day of work tomorrow........I'm going to bed happy though!

pendant: Lynn Davis
sari silk: Objects and Elements

MOONDROPS AND ROMANCE

Just two more earring designs from the last few days. I'm loving the little romance involved here....it's making me feel better about the world. I try to incorporate positive things into my work, I think we could all agree that romance would be pretty, and positive. I'm smitten with vintage, but still have to incorporate some earthiness . This is the result.

available on etsy

PRAYER FLAG

The team over at Objects and Elements is having a closure challenge, so I used this opportunity to work in a new closure and some other things I've been meaning to try. I ordered some of their sari silk recently, and was dying to use it. I combined that with a patinaed and stamped copper piece that I made, also set some eyelets in, then got out the torch, burned some ball ends on brass and sterling and wrapped it all together. It's strange how I can go from stitching( so quiet!), to hammering and torching and it all makes me so happy!!
When I saw the silk, it immediately reminded me of the prayer flags in Nepal. I have never been there, but my brother traveled there a few years ago and has a beautiful collection of photos...someday I hope to post some of those.
I would like to propose a challenge for all of us, a non tangible challenge, and never ending, but not always so easy,.......... let's all try to live by this word!!

BEADER TEASER

Here is just the beginning of my idea for Scarlett Lanson's "Use The Muse II" challenge. I am really enjoying this as I can incorporate stitching, really relaxing to me, and some beadwork. I do have a plan, but it is wide open to change, and so far I'm liking it. It's different for me and a lot of fun! Even if you don't beadweave, (and you don't have to), you should surely check out Scarlett's awesome talent and what she's doing with this contest!! And the generous Scarlett has worked hard to offer blogger rewards every week!

OH, and of course, I can't reveal the MUSE!!

MORE METAL

Most times the simplest of things make me happy....like these earrings did. I think I'll make one into a pendant and one a connector, maybe a pin. I was just fooling around with eyelets and really planned on something entirely different, and this happened. They make me think of the fabric poppies the Veterans sell on Memorial Day. They started out as an interpretation of a flower or bud. One of these days I'll get some of this stuff on etsy.

sterling silver, copper, and Gaea beads

USE THE MUSE II

Here's this week's blogger reward for Scarlett Lanson's "Use The Muse" contest! I love this pendant from Artbeads, but then again I like trees and have a real soft spot for green!! I received my kit late last week and have yet to start, but my mind is way ahead of me on that.....such possibilities. I don't know how well I will do with seed beads, but I figure it's another way to broaden my jewelry landscape! You might want to give it a try! And to make it better, Scarlett is the nicest girl in the world, and super talented. Check out her blog for yourself!

www.thebeadersmuse.com/use-the-muse-contest2/

SILVER PARROT GIVEAWAY

Silver Parrot is having a giveaway of all the beads she wants to clean out of her stash......I think it looks pretty interesting....as does her work! Someone in the blog comments suggested that maybe the winner could take what they liked, add something to it from their stash, and have another round of giveaways. I thought that sounded positive and would be a benefit to all...good karma flow.....so I'm helping her spread the news! I love the sharing part!! Check out her blog

silverparrotdesigns.blogspot.com

KEEPING THE FAITH

I have been busy creating....thinking....praying...and really haven't felt that great lately. I have had ongoing dental problems for years, without explanation of course, ongoing digestive problems, (YUCK) and general fatigue. I get tired of going to the doctor.....hate pills.....more tests...blah, blah, blah. So that's what's been going on with me. It's nothing really in the big scheme of things, but it gets me down sometimes. So I keep making jewelry, keep blogging cause I love talking to all of you and seeing what your doing, and I keep keeping the faith.

blue opals, chalcedony, coral, bone, hill tribe sterling beads, and vintage pieces

BACK TO WORK

Ugh!! Back to work for me in about 8 hours, so a quick note to say Philly was great....weather, friends, meals, purchases, couldn't have been better!! But there is nothing like your own bed!
I can't show you full strands of anything because as soon as I got settled I broke into everything and went nuts, you know....kinda like a Christmas!! Can't wait to wire and bead! BTW, I had a slight Blog withdrawal over the weekend, but I'm alright now!

SMALL BREAK

Tomorrow I am going to Philadelphia to visit my best friend for my birhtday. We will go BEAD SHOPPING....eat somewhere great I'm sure, and stay the night at her place and catch up on a lot of things...we only see each other about twice a year, she is a physician and usually very busy, but everyone is busy anymore. It's nice to get away for a while.....I usually come back with a better attitude and fresh outlook. I'll leave you with some of my garden photos and a recent order of sari silk that called out to me from Objects and Elements!

Have a great weekend!

I LIKE METAL A LOT

Can you tell!! I've just been obsessed again with metal, but on my worktable are some fragments of fabric and beads....so I see things taking a turn soon..... maybe.... if I let it happen!! I really want to start working some fiber and softness in again.... maybe not fiber.... not sure?!! What do you think? What are you attracted to when you look at my pieces? I'm interested in working in some mixed media, which is another excuse to buy more STUFF! I LOVE STUFF!! Then I'll need some more time to go with it!

CATHEDRALS AND CROSSES

Just thought I'd share my ongoing works ....a little metal...and a little faith!


available on etsy

FEELIN BLUE AND PURPLE!

I recently won a giveaway from Tammy and Rob and their blog Santos and Tesoros!! If you haven't checked them out yet, it will be the best thing you do for yourself by doing so. Tammy creates beautiful jewelry, really rich and saturated with color, and Rob does wood carvings, spanish colonial and latino influenced, religious inspired pieces of beauty. They are truly a remarkable team.
I won a bracelet and Tammy said she would do it up in my favorite color, and it is a knockout, as you can see! Then I was suprised to see she sent me another gorgeous bracelet in shades of purple, because she felt I had waited too long to recieve it! Way too generous, but sooooo apppreciated on this end Tammy! I can't say enough about these two, they are kind, generous, and extremely talented .....and I'm sooo glad they are sharing with us!!