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Thursday, May 31, 2012

I Need to Buy a Lottery Ticket

Yesterday I was chosen to be one of the lucky 5 for Joanne Tinley's Flower Bangle Challenge. How very exciting! Also a bit nerve wracking, as I'm terrified of not being able to do it justice. But I'm sure I'll come up with something fabulous and surprise myself. Bracelets have just continually been a weak point for me. But that's what a challenge is all about. Her bangle blanks are beautiful enough to be worn unadorned. If you're unfamiliar with her work, do yourself a favor and explore her etsy shop.

And on Monday, I was honored to be chosen as Art Bead Scene's Designer of the Week for my May Challenge entry.

Yesterday, Jeanne informed me that she'd unearthed her velvet displays from her old salon and she redid my jewelry display at her current salon. She sent me a photo, and it looks a lot better than it used to. She said it seems to be increasing my sales, so I certainly can't complain about that! She hasn't figured out where to put the earrings yet, but I'm going over there this evening and I'm sure we'll come up with something.



I made this last night, and it will be joining the above display tonight:

Golem Studio pendant, Czech glass flowers w/ little rubies, dyed jade, serpentine chips, copper wire & chain.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Memorial Day Weekend

Nothing like spending an entire day of a holiday weekend sneezing your head off! Oh, stupid allergies. Anyway, I did manage to accomplish a little bit yesterday. Crazers went for a much needed trip to the groomer (photos below), and I watched about 75 episodes of American Pickers. I love watching that show, but they never pick the stuff I would want. I don't care about vintage motorcycle parts! I just know that they're amongst some really super cool old stuff that I would love, but they don't even show those things.

My first Marsha Neal order arrived yesterday, which was very exciting. You know how it's either MUST USE IMMEDIATELY or HOARD FOR MONTHS -- well, I was compelled in spite of the allergies to make a necklace right away. I had it mostly assembled last night before the extra strength allergy meds kicked in and I passed out. I just attached the clasp and focal, and I'm quite happy with the way it turned out. And I got to use some of my most recently acquired gems from April's gem & jewelry show.


Friday night, I threw together these little earrings with some new pieces from Dimestore Emporium.


And that's about it on the jewelry front. I was out and about most of today, so that's all I really had time to accomplish. I'm quite pleased with the necklace though, and I have a few more exciting goodies on their way to me right now, such as this extra awesome Lynn Davis piece:


Now for some pics of Crazers on her way to and from the groomer.


She's MUCH happier now :)

Thursday, May 24, 2012

May ABS Challenge

The inspiration for this month's Art Bead Scene Challenge is this painting, Italian's House at Montmartre by Maurice Utrillo. The idea is to create a piece of jewelry -- using at least one art bead -- based on the monthly painting. This is only the second time I've participated, but now that my collection of art beads is growing, I might be participating more often.








The green ceramic house bead is by Elukka. I've also included copper leaf chain, coppery coral tube beads, faceted jade, and some vintage crackly off white flower beads and vintage green cotton-pearl beads that obviously weren't given the pearl finish, but are interesting nonetheless. It's strung on salmon colored Irish waxed linen cording, and is finished with a bit of antique copper chain & clasp.


Saturday, May 19, 2012

New Old Stuff and Name that Thing!

I haven't blogged in ages - I'm sorry for being such a slacker! But you know, sometimes life just happens... Anyway, you might have noticed I've played around a bit with the design of my blog. My favorite colors - teal and purple.

So my friend Heather (famous for giving me tons of vintage jewelry to play with) is in town and she brought me a big bag of stuff. Yay! I haven't picked it all apart yet - just a cursory examination. But I did find one thing right away that I LOVED and had to use immediately. It's an old Australian coin that's been punched and sliced and entirely smoothed out on the backside. I just thought it was so interesting. People with lots of foreign coins (I'm looking at you Keirsten) might find some inspiration in this.

Also, does anyone recognize this stone? It's one of two things I got at the bead show last time that I didn't ask the name.

I finished this one last night too. But the focal came from someone on etsy who found a bunch of new old stock award medals that were unengraved. She patinas them beautifully. I've been hoarding this one for a year, and recently ordered a few more. So I finally gave myself permission to use it. I combined it with a Czech glass flower with a pearl and a vintage rhinestone, and it's on pale yellow knotted sari silk.


I made these earrings this past week. Mixed metals and to gorgeous blue lapis beads I got at that last gem show.


The ovals twist around a lot - I could not get them perfectly forward facing for the photo, but we all know movement in earrings is great!

Now, for a bit of the other stuff from Heather's package. There are some interesting things I have no idea about. For instance:

Anyone know what this is? Never been to Brooklyn.

I know there are a few Wisconsinites out there who read my blog (Erin for one). Does this mean anything to you?

I love this beautiful Cloisonne lentil pendant. It was her grandmother's. I definitely intend to make something very special out of it.

This Asian symbol (anyone?) in real -vintage- ivory. Speaking of ivory, did you all read this amazing elephant story that's been going around the interwebs lately? Get your hankies ready before you read it! And on the subject of animal tearjerkers - make sure to read about the world's loneliest whale.

Now, more gratuitous pictures of the stuff from Heather's package:

There's a rhinestone buckle in that little bag on the left. And lots of good glass pearls, etc.

This bear peeking out from behind a tree - burned into wood - totally cracks me up! And how about those awesome etched brass teardrops! A matching set! I can't wait to make earrings with those. That drilled thing above the gold heart is a double sided quarter. Don't know what I'll do with that tank charm...

These little black buttons are wooden with metal shanks. I have a feeling I'll come up with something for them. The green beads are wooden as well. Plus, there are natural wooden rounds in the bag beneath.


Here's the Australia necklace again. I wore it out to lunch today and it just feels so good on! You know how some jewelry just feels like it's supposed to be there? I hate to sell it, but I just can't keep everything I like! Maybe it won't sell after a few months and then I can keep it.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Art Bead Love Winner!!!

If you're looking for my One Color Crayon Challenge, click here.

Yesterday was the day I picked the winner for the Art Bead Love tour. It was Lucky Number 7, Jill from Beading Mommy.


Congratulations Jill! Can't wait to follow the box's progress...

Friday, May 4, 2012

One Color Crayon Challenge

Welcome to my offering in the One Crayon Color Challenge! I chose black. I hope it was okay to include white, as it is the opposite end of the spectrum from black, right? There's various shades of black/grey/gunmetal/antiqued silver going on. It features a beautiful Round Rabbit Extra pendant, and was a gift for my hair stylist (her salon is where I sell most of my jewelry).










Hosted by:

Red

Bobbie Rafferty   http://beadsong.blogspot.com

Orange

Rebekah Payne   http://treewingsstudio.com

 Yellow

Blue

Rebecca Anderson  http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache  http://allprettythings.ca
Charissa Sloper   http://blog.obsidiansoda.com
Sandi Volpe   http://sandivolpe.com

 Green

Jenny Davies Reazor   http://www.jdaviesreazor.com
Elizabeth Auld  http://beadsforbusygals.com

Purple

Jennifer Judd Velasquez http://jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

Brown

Diana Ptaszynski   http://suburbangirlstudio.com

Black

Birgitta Lejonklou  http://lejonklou.blogspot.com/
 

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Back to Normal

Don't forget to enter for your chance to win the next stop on the Art Bead Love Tour!!! Drawing this Saturday May 5th!


Now that the insanity of the last two weeks of work has passed (late nights, going in on a Sunday) I finally have time to share some new stuff! One thing I made last Saturday, but it needed an adjustment, which I did last night. And the other one I did last night. Both feature items I claimed from the Art Bead Love box! I'm about ready to turn over that pesky flower focal from the last two blogs and claim one more thing. I just might do it. 




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