I FEEL PRETTY

Last night I combined Kristen's chabby chic lampwork beads and my own little funky feeling that's been going on with me these days....something like, french, vintage, rustic, pretty??? I don't know, like I've said before, I feel how to do it, I can't really say it all the time. This little pc makes me feel pretty good today about going to work until 8:00 tonight!

WITHIN REACH

Continuing on in Mary Hett's book, "Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet", I am certainly discovering something about myself and my style, that I had not noticed before, but maybe never had the opportunity, or maybe it's just developing. A few times now a number of people have referred to my work as pretty, and rustic together. I have never thought as anything I did as being pretty, but I'm starting to embrace that terminology. I told Kristen of Waking Beauty Designs that I thought her work looked chabby chic, it has that airiness about it. I think my work looks heavier than that, but I don't exactly have a word or term to describe it. I would be interested to know if you do?! Please leave a comment if you care to share.

available on etsy

p.s. I will be in the fall issue of Stringing, and July, August, and September issues of Bead Trends

GHOST

Last night, my daughter and I watched an old episode of a Vincent Price movie, and I guess you can say I was inspired!! It was very entertaining!! I used to watch these as a kid and thought Vincent was pretty neat then, and actually think he' s pretty neat now! I love the black and white, the drama (no gore!!), the imagination, the music, what an atmosphere!! So here's to ghosts!!

chalcedony drops, vintage brass chain with glass bead, sterling silver

available on etsy

METAL LOVE

I had a wonderfully productive weekend and made a few things I'll post throughout the week, this being one of them. It's my version of the Wrapped Bead's Necklace in Mary Hett's book that I've been jumping around through and submitting some projects on Deryn Mentock's blog challenge. I have to say this was my favorite so far, but each time I complete one I say that to myself, so this has been a terrific way to practice and to learn some new techniques!!

PRESENTS!!!

I received some wonderful gifts this weekend from my good friend Kristen of Waking Beauty Designs. We did a swap of earrings and some other goodies!! Kristen makes the most beautiful earrings, and they are all my favorites. I love her wrapped fiber technique and she has a wonderful eye for the most beautiful gemstones. And, she has been a terrific friend! And then, I received a package from one of the sweetest people I've met, Lilibulle, from France!! We met on the blog through Amber Dawn's International Charm Day, and we really connected.. Lilibulle makes the neatest little charms out of all sorts of different mediums,. and I am fascinated!
They make me smile, so colorful, vibrant and alive. She also made the card and the sweet bag, she's a real doll, and she makes me look at things in a new way! This again is the best part of this blog, to exchange ideas, inspiration, and culture!!! ( I really could use to learn and speak a few words in French though!)

MARIE

This is a new necklace as I work my way through some of the projects in Mary Hettsmansperger's book, Wrap, Stitch, Fold, and Rivet. I tried something new using a digital collage pic and sealing it with a medium that looks like a brushstroke, tried some rivets, and cutting a window in sheet metal. I really enjoyed it and think I may make some pins next, as I seem to instantly gain tremendous ideas from this book!

MY PAST LIFE

A little while ago I made reference to my days of painting, so here are some, and a shot of a self portrait in charcoal. Keep in mind these are at least 26 years old. My perspective on them, I'm sure is quite closed at this point, and I have not been critiqued in as many years. One photo is a close-up to show you the layering and texture. My apologies for the bad photos. These were a series of women in landscapes. The first one is 9"x11", the second is 24"x24", the next is a close-up and the portrait is 16"x20".