It's An Eye Candy Kinda Day

I've spent the morning listing a few new bracelets to my Etsy store, and it's been a while since I shared recent works here on my blog...so.....

Hammered & patinaed vintage spoon bowl cuff bracelet

Upcycled silverware spoon handle bracelet featuring an artisan cupcake lampwork bead

Ok...this is sort of a joke in our family.  Every single show, someone asks if I make western themed jewelry...so here you go...now I can say I do! :)

These hand stamped spoon bowl bracelets are quickly becoming my favorite.  We always sell

all that we bring to shows...down to the one I'm wearing for the day!

I'm not giving up on summer!  

Vintage beaded pearl charm...love this!

And of course I've done cancer awareness bracelets!

From my favorite poem by E.E. Cummings

"Paint the town red" stamped spoon bowl bracelet

And finally, a few of the new components I've started creating.

Whew...listing is almost as demanding as art shows!  All of the above (and more) can be found on our Etsy store HERE

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday!  I'm off to enjoy the 80 degree temperatures we're having today!

You Know What They Say About Opinions

As usual, I'm a day late and a dollar short. 

Photos of our booth at The Heart of Virginia Festival this past weekend.  Please excuse the shoddy photography.  I was snapping quickly, so I could finish setting up!

Hadn't quite finished setting up when my husband proceeded to wallop his head on the corner of my sign.  It was promptly relocated to a safer location...it's position in the picture.  While not the best spot to advertise...it was better than Chris knocking some sense into him all day!

Still not finished setting up...

I've got to do something about the sheerness of my table coverings...

Now...after alot of thought...here is my PERSONAL review on the festival...take it for what it's worth.

1.  The crowd was great!  We received compliments hand over fist throughout the day...not only for our products, but also for our booth presentation.  After quickly perusing other vendors later in the day, it seems that most just didn't care about their first impression.

2.  It seemed that although this was classified as a "juried" show, that rule didn't apply to some.  While I don't have any issues with non juried shows, please make me privy to that beforehand, and may I suggest a separate section for them?

3.  Evidently it was bad form for me to introduce myself to neighboring vendors...non jewelry at that...who knew?

4.  Music and activities kept the crowd hopping, and upbeat...we had a to die for space directly across from one of the stages, and they kept us entertained the whole day!

5.  Wooden pop guns should be banned.  End.  Of.  Story!  This also includes said pop gun vendors! :)

6.  I despise my tent!  :) LOL!  It is the first thing on my list to be replaced!!  It's not that it's hard to put up, it just gives me a complex that I akin to not keeping up with high school fashion.

All in all, I had a great day!  Profit wasn't what I expected, but I learned a lot, and had a great time!!



Have The White Jacket Ready

Just a quick post to let everyone know I'm still here, drowning...but still here!   I've been working myself into a frenzy (think Tazmanian Devil on steroids) this week over the the upcoming art show.  I don't know why I do it to myself...ok, ok I'm fully aware why I do it!  Because, while I'm completely non OCD in every other aspect of life (don't listen to the rumors), when it comes to my work and how I present myself I drive myself a little batty (I can't imagine how I come across to everyone else)!  Redesigning, adding new work, organizing, photography, double/triple checking everything, obsessing over minute details that no one will ever notice...except me!  And, don't even get me started on pricing items...definitely not my strong point in this circus/jewelry business endeavor, so I put it off until the last minute!

Then...Wham!  It dawned on me this morning I don't have a single ring made (to fill my new ring displays)...nor do I have any ring blanks.  Which then brought about another maddening check of my entire stock.  Which turned into a dash to order those, and twenty other things I didn't know I needed...darn Etsy!  So, all in all a half of a day wasted!!!

I did have time however to snap a couple of pictures...

Teal blue with pale lime flowers

Jade & porcelain bead accents

This picture drives me insane because the swarovski crystals appear to be an orangey color instead of the identical shade of the red clay in all 80 pictures I took (told ya, I'm a tad anal!)...

Backtracking here.  The corsage I made for my daughter's prom last weekend.  I'd forgotten all about the pictures I had saved until now...

Just a close up of the center of the corsage.

And because I love y'all a sneak peek of something new I've been working on!  Faux wood...I love the combination of dainty flowers and rustic wood...well polymer clay manipulated to vaguely resemble wood like formations.

So, the coffee is hot (yes, @ 10:40 p.m.) and there's work to be done!  Lucky for me the kids are on spring break next week and I can work through the night if needed be....hmmm this seems like deja vu of last year.

Now, should I let my husband know that I've planned for him to build new displays and framework this weekend, or surprise him come Saturday morning?



Senior Prom - April 16th, 2011

Just thought I'd share a little of my weekend...

6 Homecomings & 4 Proms later...we have finally reached the finish line!!!

The Three Stooges!  I'm not sure what I'm going to do next year without these 3 around. (L to R:  my daughter & my 2 that I didn't actually give birth to, but are still mine)  This was upon arrival...all elegant and proper...

Which quickly turned into typical silly girl antics

And got progressively worse as we were waiting out the tornado warning.

I asked for a nice picture...

I'm not sure if she lives in reality

I'm assuming the silliness continued into the night...I didn't stick around!

Her corsage that I made for the big night.  We've done local florist corsages for many years, this year she wanted feathers and not for it to look like everyone elses.  Hopefully we accomplished just that.  Of course I couldn't NOT add my own touch to the flower's center!  I also made the boutonniere but didn't get a good picture.

Darn...I just realized I have 2 more daughters & my son to go through all of this with!

Blog Hop - 7000 Bracelets

YAY!!!!  It's Blog Hop Day (Thanks to Lori Anderson for being our hostess!)...and my very first one at that!!  Ok, I know I'm not fooling anyone, technically it's not quite the 16th...but have mercy on me, please?  It's my daughter's senior prom tomorrow, and her 18th birthday on Sunday, which equates to total and complete madness.  Chances are I won't have the opportunity to "blog hop" until late tomorrow night, while awaiting her safe return. 

The bracelets will be sent to  The Global Genes Project, an advocacy group who launched "7000 Bracelets for Hope", a children's rare disease campaign.  The bracelets are given to one of 7000 families having children with rare diseases to show them love and support. 

I can't wait to see all of the unique bracelets my fellow blog hoppers have created!  But first...

I mulled over my approach and design for days!  I didn't want to use an extender as these often get in my way, nor did I want the recipient to have to return the bracelet to me for resizing.  That left me two obvious choices...memory wire or bangle.  I obviously went with the memory wire!   I used hollow black tubing as  spacers, adorned with icy periwinkle blue glass faceted rounds, an assortment of silver beads & beadcaps and lastly handcrafted (by yours truly) metallic polymer clay rondelles and 2 polymer clay flowered lentil beads.  I hope whomever receives it loves it as much as I loved creating it!

Please visit each designer below to view their amazing creations! 

Bracelet Blog Hop

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got To Doodle
3.  Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym
4.  Mandy Duffy, Beads for Brains: 365
5.  Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
6.  Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
7.  Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry
8.  Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
9.  Amy Severino, Amy's Beads
10.  Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride

11.  Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions
12.  Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio
13.  Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading
14.   Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl
15.  Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
16.  Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae
17.  Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium
18.  Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
19.  Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading To Be Done!
20.  Nicki Keller, Nicki's Reef

21.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
23.  Carrie Tahquechi,  Carrie T
24.  Deci Worland, Gem Trails
25.  Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium 
26.  Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
27.  Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio 
28.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
29.  Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady 
30.  Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs 


31.  Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux  
32. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads 
33.  Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread 
34.  Kate Gardenghi, The Tropical Blonde 
35.  Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre 
36.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me 
37.  Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co. 
38.  Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie 
39.  CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations 
40.  Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash 

41.  Sandra Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box 
42.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs 
43.  Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn 
44. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle 
45.  Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio 
46.  Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss
47.  Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads
48.  Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral
49.  Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel
50.  Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry


52.  Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
53.  Andrea Robinson,  Madame Magpie's Shiny Things
54.  John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry
55.  Breana Fry, Vault 31
56.  Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
57.  Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
59.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
60.  Heather Pyle, Aquariart

61.  Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs
62.  Dee Gordon, Runako Designs
63.  Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs
64.  Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie & Wings
65.  Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
66.  Norma Agron, Norma's Clay
67.  Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
68.  Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
69.  Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
70.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman


71.  Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs
72.  Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads
73.  Deana Hager, Just Deez' Art & Life
74.  Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
75.  Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass
76.  Janet Bocciardi, Honey From the Bee
77.  Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
78.  Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design
79.  Sally Russick, WireWorked
80.  Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter 


81.  KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads
82.  Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana
83.  Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman ... Art, Life, Love 
84.  Karen Bien, Everyday Gypsy 
85.  Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
86.  Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures
87.  Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats
88.  Deb Beechy, Beetique
89.  Marian Hertzog, M's Place
90.  Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts


91.  Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
92.  Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studio
 93.  Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields
94.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
95.  Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
96.  Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations
97.  Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter
98.  Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
99.  Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio
100.  Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores 

101.  Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets 
102.  Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy
103.  Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies
104.  Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof
105.  Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals
106.  Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry
107.  Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry
108.  Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks
109.  Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading
110.  Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne


 111.  Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra
112.  Mary Ellen Parker,  BeeTree by m.e.





Now, I'm off to get some beauty sleep before I have to morph into the get-my-daughter-ready-for prom-which-is-a-all-day-affair-I-hope-patience-is-my-virtue fairy bright and early tomorrow morning!!

Sidetracked

The past few days have really gotten me anticipating summer...I even let the dog lounge on the threshold of the open back door (Shhh...don't tell my husband)...the warm breeze and the scent of freshly cut grass lifted my spirits, until I had a few buzzing little companions longing to join me, which then brought about the all too familiar "OMG!!-there's-a-bee dance!"   They did however give me inspiration for the day.  I had the cutest brass bee charms by Vintaj  left neglected by winter's fury that have been just been waiting for their day!

I've also been racking my brain trying to come up with unique color combinations for upcoming shows.  All too often I realize after the fact that I gravitate towards certain colors....which nine times out of ten is some variant of green.  A coral red puffy lentil with the palest periwinkle blue.  I love the monochromatic flowers & leaves.

Finished with periwinkle glass tube beads.

From here I got sidetracked playing with the settings on my camera.

Ok, enough of the overgrown, weed ridden backyard!  If paranoid schizophrenia is genetically possible in canines...our pooch could be the poster child...errr...dog!

He hates the lawnmower...passionately!  It doesn't have to be in motion for him to launch into attack mode.  We've even  been known to pull it out just for the sole purpose of entertaining ourselves!

As Promised

I've always wanted to make a bib necklace...it's like a shirt/necklace all in one :)!  This one isn't for the wallflowers amongst us! 

Five graduated clay lentils each embellished with swarovski ab crystals and delicate pink flowers.

Ab studded swarovski crystals in disc toggle.

Layers and layers of chiffon & tulle.

Gunmetal findings.

Center lentil.

Seed bead coral necklace with handwrapped copper connectors.  Accented with small clay marine blue lentils with flowery swirls & crystal swarovski centers.

Handwrapped clasp.

I love this color combination.  Warm tomato red with cool shades of aqua.  The turquoise deerskin leather cord is buttery soft (must get more) all on handwrapped silver wire.

I may just have to keep this!

Yummy!

This is where my camera died on me...protesting a rigorous Monday morning photo shoot.  The rest will have to wait.  If I don't get my daughter's corsage made and approved early on in the week, then I have no back up plan if things go south and I need a bailout from the florist! :)