My first online sale!

Just a quick note. I made my first online sale in my Etsy shop! Yay! Ok, it's true that I promoted myself and my shop on my Facebook page.... and the person who bought my item went to high school with me.... but hey, you gotta start somewhere! Just a quick thanks to Lori. I can't wait to see a picture of you wearing my pieces.

One of a kind up-cycled, vintage, brass fish pin turned necklace

Bead Fest Fun!

Yippee! Bead Fest Fun!

I’m on my way home from my 3^rd Beadfest Philadelphia. My personal chauffer (er umm…. Frank, my husband) is at the helm and I’ve got 2 hours to go until we arrive home.  I thought this would be a good time to reflect on the past two days and share all of my wonderful experiences with my readers.

I signed up this year to take Kathleen Robinson-Young's  beginning lampworking class. (Click her name to see her Etsy shop) First…. I loved Kathleen’s relaxed, “no worries” approach to teaching.  What a nice lady and oh so talented!  

One of the many amazing flower designs by Kathleen Robinson-Young

Second…. I LOVE PLAYING WITH FIRE!  Every time I take one of these classes where torches are used, I marvel that they actually LET US play with fire!  There were probably 40 torches going just in the area of the expo center where the lampwork was being taught. You should have seen the set up! Huge tanks of propane and oxygen set up outside the building with hoses going in every direction to the partitioned work rooms and ultimately into each individual torch.

For those who may not know what lampworking is all about, it is turning thin rods of colored glass into beads or baubles for jewelry.  While Kathleen makes it look easy…. You know, you just melt the glass, turn the mandrel, make it round and decorate it….. and voila it’s a bead……. it is an art that is going to take a lot of practice. Hot glass is always moving….with gravity….. so you have to pay attention to it  constantly.  I’m trying to think of something comparable to molten glass….it’s somewhere between  honey and a jolly rancher candy.  And everywhere in between. 

The downside to this class and all of the others I’ve taken as workshops is that there is just not enough time to practice the techniques that you learn. I know that the teachers are trying to give you enough information to take home with you to hone your skills…..but I just don’t have the workspace to have a lampworking studio along with everything else I do!  I’d like to try my hand at it in someone else's studio for a while longer before I invest in the whole shebang. Hey instructors.... how about having an "open workshop" where students come and work "where they are" in their journey....with your tools....and you standing by to help with whatever they need?  I'd sign up for 16 hours of that! 

Anyway, here are the pics of my first lampworked beads…. suprisingly round for a first attempt.

My favorite "end of the day" bead. It reminds me of SCUBA bubbles in the Caribbean sea.... on a night dive....with a full moon....looking up from the sea floor.

And here is what I aspire to. The artist is Sheila Checkoway. These are some of the treasures I bought at Bead Fest. Sheila hand makes each bead out of glass. These are etched to make the glass look almost like stone. She was kind enough to look at my first beads and was very encouraging. She also taught me how to get the etched look on any of the other soft glass beads I may have at home. (Click her name above to see her Etsy shop)

Look for my next blog to see what other treasures I found! And please.... if you enjoyed this blog, click the button to follow me by email. BECOME A FOLLOWER! :)  Until next time.... create happily.

The mermaid house.

On another note, which is also a work of art, I wanted to show off the icing to the cake of my home renovation. The fireplace! My husband and I (it's still weird to say that word) have been working for over 2 years at remodeling my house. I bought the hand painted tile almost 2 years ago from the talented Marlene of Water Spider Designs. I live in a water town. I wanted my house to have a beach cottage feel to it. So when I saw this beauty I knew she would be the crowning touch to our project.  I have always loved the water, water sports, SCUBA diving.... and I feel a kinship with the mermaid. I am fascinated with mermaid lore. Anyway, I am very pleased with the house. Sadly, now that it is finished, we are going to put it on the market to sell. It is just too small to house our artistic hobbies. Frank wasn't sure about putting up the mermaid tile. He was afraid it wasn't generic enough for buyers of houses who want to do their own thing.... not everyone likes mermaids after all....and he was afraid that it would end up being torn down. And he asked if I wanted to bring her with us to our new home? But she belongs here. This is the mermaid house. Whoever buys it will buy it in part BECAUSE of her.   And our new home will be... different. It will be a new artistic project with a feel of it's own.

Hand painted tile by Water Spider Designs -  mermaid series.

My antique fireplace mantle found at an auction. It is covered with generations of paint. Beneath lies beautiful tiger striped oak. Too big a project for me to refinish... so I just repainted.

My living room. Ahhhhh. Yes. 

I hate mass production!

I spent the entire day making holiday dangle earrings for the craft show I'm participating in come November. While I liked the idea at first.... all that sparkle and bling that comes with Swarovski crystals... by mid-day I had had enough.  I made 22 pairs of gold and silver ear wires. Then I cut 22 pairs tiny gauge sterling and gold filled chains in varying lengths. Then I made 22 pairs of pave crystal ball bobbles..... exhausting.... and BORING!  I much prefer making one of a kind pieces.  But alas, a wise person I met at a metal smithing class told me that you have to make a lot of THAT (to sell) so that you can DO WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO!  (hopefully to sell) 

THAT (below)

                                                                     

Swarovski crystal pave holiday ball dangle earrings.

A day's work.

WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO (below)

One of a kind silk wrapped choker and earrings.

Glass beads and Catholic medallion.

Bangles and more bangles.

I went into hibernation this weekend. My hubby was away. I got to baby sit my best friend's puppy while she was away. So it was just me, the bird, and the dog. It was also in the 90s here this weekend and..... well.....hot humid weather makes me cranky. So we stayed in only leaving the cool confines of home to take care of doggy business. It is amazing how much you can get done in the studio with no one around to distract you. No phone calls, no television.... just a short nap.

Last week I tried to silk wrap some bangles. I was really pleased with the boho chic look so I decided to make some more for the show.

I didn't think I was going to like this one because of the bright brass wire wrapping. But in the end it was my favorite. It has a summery gypsy style.

And look how good it looks paired up with the fresh water pearl wrap bracelet.

In all- 4 bangle sets completed.

I found out the craft show isn't until the second week in November. Which is good. Jeanne who has set up this show for 27 years says that the mistake that newcomers always make is that they don't have enough to sell. So from now until then..... more time in the studio.... more stuff to sell!

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!

7th Bead Soup Blog Party

The 7th Bead Soup Blog Party.

I touched on this fabulous online creative event in my first blog entry. This is the whole reason I started blogging. What is it? Well..... Lori Anderson of Pretty Things is the genius behind this event. Here's how it works.....

1. You have to have a blog.  (that's why I'm here)

2. You sign up.

3. Lori matches you up with partner.  (At this point, it could be anyone/anywhere. This is an international affaire.)

4. You swap beads with your partner. You send a focal piece, a clasp, and some coordinating spacers or beads. The items don't have to be hand made by you....but they should be hand made by an artisan. I don't think beads from Michaels or A.C. Moore are appropriate for this party.

5. The idea is to use the pieces your partner sends you with beads from your own stash and create something "outside" of your box or comfort zone.

6. You post pictures of what you sent your partner, what she sent you, and what you both made out of the swap on your blog.

7. Then Lori posts all of the blog addresses on her website (so do all of the bloggers involved) so everyone can hop around and see what everyone else did!

8. Then if you want, you can enter your items in a contest judged by Lori's invited guests who are in the jewelry making business.

9. If you are lucky..... she may choose your design to be published in her next book!

You should check out the following links if you are interested in knowing more.

Lori Anderson's blog   Pretty Things.

The Pinterest Page for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party participants to be judged.  

Bead Soup Cafe on Facebook

Lori's Book   Bead Soup: 32 Projects Show What Happens When 26 Beaders Swap Their Stash

As I said before......I was too late to participate in this one......but I WANT TO PLAY TOO! So next time....I'm set up with a blog and I will be on top of it. Look for it!

Here is a pic of one of my favorite creations from the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party by Doris Stumpf. I'm not sure who sent her the beads. But there are soooooo very many talented artists on this site. I have no idea how they can possibly choose just a few winners.

Bracelet by Doris Stumpf and entered in the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party