Round Robin bracelet project...

Daisy Fields picture 

 

 

 

 

One quick project I had to finish tonight before leaving for Tucson, my round robin bracelet project.  I am working with a couple friends on a journaling/jewelry journey project with each of us making part of a bracelet and a journal and a photo of inspiration.  This is my inspiration photo and though my bracelet doesn't have daisies in it, it is filled with Lucite flowers and crystals.  Can't wait to see what Pam and Carla add to it!  Well, packing calls, and time is short!  Bye!

Away We Go...

Airplane clipart

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BLIZZARD CONDITIONS

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Leaving early for our Tucson Trip!  

We are heading to Omaha tomorrow in order to get ahead of the storm to be able to reach the airport on Wednesday morning.  I hope that all of you have a great week, and I will see you here next week!  In the meantime, Chris and Mina will be filling in for me here!  Stop by to see what they have to say!  See you soon with lots of trip pictures and pictures of my new acquisitions!

Honored and Amazed

I happened to check my blog visitor counter today!  Oh My Goodness!  This week, 282 people have visited here!  Altogether, 11726 visits have been logged in the past year and a half - ish that I have used this counter (wish it would add them altogether, but it shows them as page loads/page visits, then I add them together).  Another interesting point, the counter shows me that the people are coming directly to my blog to read it instead of coming from a linked blog.  My favorite part of the counter system is a world map that shows where all of the readers come from.  Current visitor info shows readers from the United Kingdom and India, besides all of the wonderful people from the U.S. reading my posts.
Thank you!  I am humbled and honored to have you stop by to check in.  Happy Weekend!

Venturing into New Territory

I have become fascinated with Steampunk Style Jewelry.  For a long time, I have loved doing mixed media with my jewelry designs, adding things that would not be considered a "normal" bead.  I made this bracelet Friday night, and it is one of my first pieces of 2011. 
Chris and I take a break from the jewelry business demands this time of year because, WE ARE EXHAUSTED!  We counted and last year we did 14 shows plus the Highland Park Farmers Market every Saturday from 4th of July until the middle of October.  Makes me tired to think about it!  This year is looking good show wise too, we just got info today for a new show coming to Grand Island.   I haven't really beaded since the week of Christmas when we did about 15 special orders in the space of 2 days, and I ended up with tendinitis in my left hand!  So I have been on anti inflammatory pills and wearing a wrist brace. Thankfully the treatment worked.  

BeadStyle Magazine

 

In November, I was inspired by this edition of BeadStyle Magazine.  Loved the projects, adapted one for Julie's C-Koop trunk show, which also was in November.  I really loved the bracelet Monica Han designed using Tim Holtz Idea-ology Scrapbooking Sprocket gears. 

Tim Holtz products from Scrapbook.com

I set about looking for these at the best price and found them at Scrapbook.com.  I ordered them, and played with them for 2 months before making my bracelet!  I used Monica's idea as my inspiration, but went with a single strand bracelet and added embellishments to the gears.

I used Tim's Game Spinners as the hand in the center gear, and mixed the metals so they weren't beside the same metal  I used silver plate jump rings to hook them together.  The clasp was an issue.

I didn't like the looks of a standard lobster style clasp, but wasn't sure what to use that would stick with the theme.  I ended up using an open gear and another game spinner wire wrapped with a crystal for the toggle bar.  I need to adjust it a bit as the round end of the bar slips through and then it falls off.  So back to the design table on that, but it is the first toggle I have designed myself!  Really loving the Steampunk style, so much so I ordered more gears and bobbles from the Idea-ology line!  Stay tuned!

Trial run for a guest blogger...

In 9 days I leave for Tucson Bead Show circuit!  Can't believe I am getting to go with my boss, Julie and co-workers Trish and Mary, from the bead store I work at part time!  While I am gone, I doubt I will be able to blog since I will only have my camera and iPod Touch, so Chris has been drafted to fill in for me!  Here is his first attempt at blogging.


Greetings!  I am doing a trial run at blogging to be prepared for when Steph runs away from home for a few days.  She wants me to keep everybody updated while she is on her Tuscon trip.  I have given her instructions to take lots of pictures.  The new little camera she has will shoot 200 pictures to a battery charge and the memory card will hold about 1200 pictures.  Hopefully she will have lots of wonderful pictures to share with all of us unlucky enough not to be going to Tucson!

Cool! Free tools!

 Lori Anderson, powerhouse behind our Bead Soup Party, is running a give away for a set of metal letter stamps from PJ Tools (I would love to win these!).

  Interested?  Read her blogpost here!
http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/2011/01/metal-stamp-giveaway.html

New Designs

These special items were done as an order for a customer, which ended up not getting picked up.  Anyway, they will be easy to sell, as we have sold quite a few in these styles already.  "Fur"st up is a calico kitty.  Chris has had issues with making a cat that is up to his quality standard, but people love the ones he makes! 

 A beautiful piece in our new Hearts of Glass line.  We have sold many of these at our December shows, and each one is prettier than the one before, making choosing a favorite difficult!  Chris makes these in the style of his marbles using frit to add the detail swirl.  I did the wire wrapping and added the gorgeous Swarovski heart crystal to bring a bit of bling to the design.

 Another in our Hearts of Glass line.  This is really pretty with just a hint of pale rose and grassy green.  Really delicate an pretty and a Swarovski rose crystal pulls out the pink in the design.

This beauty is a large dichroic glass pendant made by Chris and I did the wire wrapping and dangle.  I love it when my crystals match his projects!!  I really love how this turned out, and we will be making more!

Internet Connections

Want more info?

I am continually amazed at the capabilities of the internet.  I have become acquainted with people all over the world through beading and writing about it here and on Facebook.  I think that is SO cool!  I began following Lori Anderson's Pretty Things blog last year after coming across it through posts from another beader I follow, Maria Grimes (her company is Garden Path Beads), while Maria was writing about her adventures with last year's Bead Soup Party.  So this year, when sign up came around, I was in the know because I get Lori's (and Maria's) blog posts/newsletters in my email.  With all that I read, this is a convenient way for me to stay connected to those blogs I follow.  Lori wrote that her party increased to 210 beaders this year!!!  That is amazing, and so amazing that Lori has been asked to write a book about her parties which will come out in the fall of next year, and for all participating beaders, will have a link directing people to all of the blogs/beaders  involved!  I will have exposure I would never have dreamed of!  I have already added readers just from the other bead soup beaders checking out each others' blogs.  Very interesting, how one connection quickly links you to possibilities you never expected to have!  There are so many ways to promote your business or writing or hobby on the internet it makes my head spin to think of them! 
My Bead Soup Partner is Shea Zukowski of gr8findings!  Shea does metal working (love it) and loves lampwork (convenient that I have my own lampworker).  Stay tuned for more about my adventure!

Snowflake Perfection

Over the weekend we had snow.  LOTS of snow (Chris measured a foot in the yard this morning).  I am not a fan of winter, not enough sunny days and short on daylight sets off my S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder).  I am doing much better this year, having visited with my doctor after the horrible winter I had last year.  While I am not fond of winter, I do love living where the seasons change and there is beauty in each season.  We experienced that beauty this weekend.  It snow slow, and often had big, lovely snowflakes.  It is a wondrous thing to behold each perfectly shaped snowflake, a tiny art piece that melts away in an instant.  The awe that it inspires always brings the deep, ponderous questions to my mind, most of them religious in nature so I will not extrapolate (my big word for the day :0) )here.  I really am amazed by the beauty of nature, and often have wished for the talent of painting or sketching to recreate that beauty.  Alas, I do not have it, though if a doodle is desired, I am your gal!  My lovely daughter was given the gift instead, being able to almost replicate an image in front of her!  I have to be content to add nature elements to my jewelry and beading designs instead. 

Silliness

Don't be fooled by the cute face!

 

 When we first got internet, I was appalled to receive the "threat" emails.  You know the ones I mean.  It has lovely pictures, wonderful uplifting sayings, and then you hit the end and it says "if you don't send this email to a dozen of your friends in the next 3 seconds your head will explode"!  Ok, so maybe I don't have the phrasing quite right, but you get the drift.  I see similar posts on Facebook, saying how much you love your friends, children, pets, neighbor's garden gnomes, etc, and that if you feel the same you will repost it on your status update, but if you don't you are a yellow, bellied chicken.  BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!  Don't we have enough guilt in our lives without adding to it with this kind of nonsense?  I think so.  A college friend posted this to his status last night and I love it!  Wanted to share it with you, and it gave me an excuse to vent my opinion, and rid myself of years of email guilt!  Happy Thursday!


PLEASE put this as your status if you know someone who has been eaten by dragons. Dragons are nearly unstoppable and, in case you didn't know, they can totally breathe fire. 60% of people won't copy and paste this because they've already been eaten by dragons. 38% of people are sitting in the shower armed with fire extinguishers, and the remaining 2% are awesome and will re-post!

Possibilities

Sorry for the long absence, amazing how time gets away from you!  Here is an update on what has been happening in our lives:

• Mina's Christmas break has come and gone!  She went back to school today, but during the past two weeks she spent time with 3 of her best gal pals, spent time with her Grandpa & Granny, spent time with her Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, and a favorite foreign exchange student, and spent time with her friend Nita's family.  Mina apparently has spent time with everyone, but her parents!!! Huh, weird! :0)
• Chris hurt his shoulder on an icy day at work, slipped on a step and stopped himself from falling, but put all of his weight on the one arm that grabbed the hand rail.  Consequently, he has visited the orthopedic surgeon, the physical therapist, and soon an imaging specialist for an MRI.  Chris also visited with the folks at the Red Cross last weekend, when he donated Platelets for the second time.  Apparently, Chris is a platelet overachiever, he has so many platelets that he actually was able to donate more than the normal 3 units.  He is a dedicated blood donor, having given several gallons since he was old enough to start giving, and I think the platelet donation will also become a common occurrence. Having needed a blood transfusion in my life, I appreciate all whom can donate.  I have lousy veins, so not only is it tough to give blood just for a doctor's test, but it was pretty tough for them to put it back into me too!  
• I have been busy making contacts with new opportunities!  I joined the Bead Soup Party group that is managed by Lori Anderson and I have been asked to be a compensated blogger for Auntie's Beads!  I love the Chinese Crystals and Pendants from Auntie's!  They are one of my favorite bead suppliers, because living in Nebraska, Auntie's Beads are located in Texas, so the beads arrive quickly, and they have a lovely variety of beads.  
• I was also given a lovely gift by my boss, Julie, at Julie's Xpressions in Hastings.  She is taking me (along with Trish and Mary, who are also a part of the scene at Julie's) to Tucson in February to attend the Bead Shows to buy beads for the shop (and for ME)!!!!  It is so exciting, I just about can't stand it!  We fly out on February 1 and return on February 7 and this is the RESORT that we are staying at!  Though I imagine, that each day after our bead purchasing, we will likely just return there to pass out or soak our aching feet!  I have purchased new luggage and FLIP FLOPS!  I seem to be getting a lot of raspberries blown at me from my co-workers at my other job and from Chris and Mina!  Strange! ;0)

I hope 2011 is presenting you with lovely POSSIBILITIES too!  I feel a wonderful year coming on!