Busy in the studio. Getting ready for my first craft show.

Hi everyone! It's been a long time since I've written anything because I've been hard at work in my studio getting ready for the fall craft show I'm going to be participating in at Baldwin Hall in October. I've also been busy working 2 jobs that I would like to give up to make jewelry full time. But alas, my husband says no..... I need to fund my retirement account.  :(   For now I can't quit my "day jobs." But a girl can dream.  Anyway below are some of the things I've been working on. 

Set of 3 tribal silk wrapped bangle bracelets. The big bead was one of my first attempts at enameling copper.  The  enable cracked off in some places....which is bad....but I liked the way it looked anyway.  It looks rustic and tribal.

Silk wrapped bangles with copper wire and beads.  I'm thinking about selling the set for  $35. I will be making more of these for the show.  This was my first set. My prototype.

This is a set I made a while back. I love working with leather and suede.  The length on the pendant is adjustable because of the sliding knots. It is shown at choker length, but can be opened up to a full length pendant that falls to the belly button or any place in between.

 I found this glass focal and the accessory glass beads at the Philadelphia Bead Fest last year. I am going to be taking a glass bead making class at that  event this year in August. Hopefully one day I will be making my own glass focal beads in the future.

Here's the matching earrings for the set.

Here's a set I just made today. I used layers of soft grey suede and gun metal leaf chain embellished with grey fresh water pearls. The focal pendant is carved shell. Details show better in the picture below. Matching earrings.

Detail of carved shell flower and gun metal leaf chain.

One of many layered wrapped bracelets I've made for the show. I particularly love the colors and the fresh water pearls. The center is a purple leather link with accent bead.

And last but not least....my etched copper Peace bracelet. I love etching. I need to do more of it. Ahhh. So many things to do and so little time.

Well that's it for now. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Independence Day. Picnics. Bar-B-Q. Fireworks. Family. Friends. I'll be spending my weekend in the studio. So many things I've started that I need to complete. So many ideas for new things. Can't wait!

Philadelphia....Here I come!

Tomorrow at the crack of dawn I am off to Philly for the Spring Bead Fest where I will find over 150 jewelry making supply vendors selling their wares. Beads of course! But also tools, metals, findings, cords, leathers, silks..... treasures!  This spring they offered over 100 in-depth workshops presented by well know jewelry designers and teachers. I am signed up for the soldering boot camp Saturday with Kate Richbourg author of Simple Soldering. A Beginner's Guide to Jewelry Making.  Check out her blog spot We Can Make That at Home.  So....shop shop shop tomorrow and Saturday I'll  be firing up the torch playing with fire and manipulating metals for nearly 8 hours.   Yahoo! If anyone is interested the Philadelphia Bead Fest in August is even bigger!

This is kind of a boho/hippie set I made recently. I found the lovely, artist signed, handmade flower pendant focal at the D.C. Big Flea.  It was in a big box of estate jewelry and the woman selling told me to pick out anything I wanted that she would give me a great deal. She did!  I came out with a pile of beads and baubles for 15 dollars. This pendant alone was worth it to me. Anyway I attached some leather cord and with adjustable sliding knots so it can be worn as a long pendant or as short as a choker. 

Can you believe I had all of these beads that match the pendant so well in my stash!  I made the clasp out of the same leather cord.

Matching dangling earrings. This was my first attempt at enameling. I made the headpins myself using copper wire and blue opaque enamel.