COFFEE INCHIES AND SANDA

coffee inchies for a swap

gifts from Sanda

click on the pictures to see the detail!

handmade cards by Sanda Reynolds

I'm back on the inchie kick this week, and the theme was coffee, one of my favorite things in the world! Been drinking it black since I was in high school, and I like a strong cup . I adooore expresso also, but don't make it as often, but I have been giving that some thought since I feel more tired it seems every day. Does anyone remember those college or 20 ish year old nights that never ended? Up all night without assistance, and ready to do it again in a heartbeat? Where is that?! haha
On another energizing subject though, Sanda Reynolds, of Sanda's Hobby Blog sent me some divine gifts !! I ordered two handmade Christmas cards from her that I thought were beautiful, and let me tell you, they are INCREDIBLY beautiful in person! The quality, craftsmanship, and beauty is amazing, and I highly recommend that you order some if your looking for a great card or product . She sent me lovely gifts as a thank you, which I will treasure! She sent her cards in plastic sleeves also for protection, another fantastic idea! These cards are exquisite, and now I'm not sure if I can part with them! Maybe I'll keep one! She sent me an incredible card as you see here, with a gorgeous Christmas tag, and a small frame of polymer clay with the word believe stamped in it and framing a vintage lady! Sanda....you know the way to my heart! Thank you so much for your kindness and for sharing your talent!

FAIRY LOVE

Here is my second entry for the Art Bead Scene's November challenge. When I went to the bead show last weekend, I fell in love with so many pieces that I thought could work, and landed up putting them all together for this. The long skinny very interesting stick was made by Anne Dilker of Moss Hollow Pottery. The lovely fairy face by Moggie Moyer of Bead my Love. I wrapped the face in the neatest copper filigree by Kabela Design, and that great little charm that I think MAKES the whole thing is what LeAnn Weih of Summers Studio calls a "doo dad!" Copper chain by Kabela, labrodorite, yellow chalcedony, lapiz, and wood.

Happiness!!

FINALLY CREATING

This is an inchie box and inchies I created for a swap. The first photo is a sample I made to make sure I liked the look . The finished product has to be shipped flat, and the the recipient can decorate with the inchies they receive, and also embellish it if they wish. This was a bit of a challenge for me, since I never was very good at 3-D in college. I was pretty happy with the way it turned out.
Life has really gotten in the way recently of my creativity, and I feel like I am overflowing with ideas and they have no where to go. I cannot even remember to write down everything I think of. Hopefully this week will be less chaotic. I am planning on making this an art/jewelry priority week......I hope I can pull it off!

UPDATES AND AN ATC SWAP!

Thanks to everyone for their best wishes, and I am happy to say the party I just came from was a big success!! Not a lot of people, but wonderful people who appreciate artisan goods, and spent a nice amount of money on my jewelry. I'm happy!! And they plan to have another one in the new year!!
I did want to mention that I was also fortunate enough to be published again in the November issue of Bead Trends, and above are the two pieces included, both are in my etsy shop. I have been blessed to have made another issue, and I am most grateful to the staff at Bead Trends and my blog friends for their constant motivation and support!
Another exciting bit of news.....my friend Liz told me about a Christmas ATC swap being hosted by her friend Sandra of Babycakes...Cornbread Kids. All are invited , so check it out to see if you would like to play....I'm in!!

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

MABEL just couldn't take it!
(make sure you squint so you don't see the dust!)

A new bird flew in to meet the round robin !

Lenna's wonderful journal!

Esther's spoiling me with gifts of paper, atc's, bits, bobs, and

BEADS!

Ok....seriously, I came home to work on some jewelry today because I'm stressing over this party tomorrow night. I should have known it wasn't going to be good when Mabel was facing down, instead of up, really not a good sign. Maybe I talked myself right into it, but nothing worked out.....you know, did you ever have that day when you can't even figure out how you EVER made jewelry, cause every move is just awful, I mean, cutting wire in the wrong spot so the entire piece falls apart, crushing beads with pliers....I hope you know what I mean. So that was the end of the work session. Thank goodness some sweetness flew in from my friend Lenna, who I am working on an altered book exchange with. Of course she is done ahead of me, BUT, I have started, and you will soon see. Her journal is magical, and the marks on the paper are lyrical in movement, just like some of her backgrounds....just amazing! And sweet Esther to my rescue too.. I ordered a pair of earrings from my famous french jewelry designer and she sends me things like it's Christmas....I squeal when I open her packages......all kinds of precious little things for me to play with! Oh! And along with that Lenna sends me this little cutie bird to warm my heart and soul, and she's staying close to round robin!! So I didn't make anything today with my hands, but I made memories for a lifetime!! Thanks friends!!

NOVEMBER ABS-QUEEN FAIRY

This is a necklace I made a while ago, now revisited for the ART BEAD SCENE challenge this month. I really liked the way it worked with this month's theme..."Fairy Feller's- Master Stroke", by Richard Dadd. Go on over and take a look, and see the current entries. It's always nice to see the different interpretations and the diversity that goes on there. I have met a lot of amazing artists there too!
The focal of the piece is Gaea's flower goddess bead, which I think speaks volumes for the fairies and the painting, and for Gaea's incredible talent to make magical beads! I have never been too much into fairies, until I started to work on jewelry for this painting, (another one to show you soon!) It is kind of magical once you start. I haven't done an ABS challenge for a while, but I had some ideas and I think I need to push myself out of my comfort zone from time to time to keep the energy level up, and the creativity going!
Let's remember to challenge ourselves...that's how we got here in the first place....right?!

BEAD SHOW

I went to a bead show today only a few miles from here, which is really a rare event in this part of the world! I had a blast, BY MYSELF, and spent 4 hours when I thought I would have been done in two. Sooo much to see, and I usually want one of everything I see!! Some things I haven't shown though, so I can show you later in the pieces I have planned....hehe.
I have been working to the bone to get ready for a jewelry party I have on Wed., so I need to keep this short. Hope some of these colors have inspired you!! Here's to a happy and colorful new week ahead!!

AND, IF I MAY ASK A HUUUUUGE FAVOR from my dearest blog friends....Sally of WIREWORKED has just started a blog, so if you can go and give her a visit, I'd really appreciate it! Sally and I took jewelry lessons together at the same time from LIZ REVIT, another friend and artist from my neck of the woods. Sally is super talented in many aspects of jewelry, and I remember how hard it was when I started blogging, so I'd like to try to make her feel welcome, because all of you did that for me! Go see her work and Liz's, you'll be surprised! Thanks everyone!!