Mina, Lexi, and Pirates

Mina & her best friend, Lexi

With all the craziness of this month, I have failed to congratulate (on here anyway) and brag about my beautiful and talented daughter, Mina and her beautiful and talented best friend, Lexi.  These girls add joy to our life on a regular basis.  They have been friends since elementary school and with the abuse they give each other (making me question how they stay friends), it is obvious that it is going to be a long friendship.  Anyway, they both applied and were accepted (along with 3 other girls in their band) to go to Masonic Band Camp in May/June and they will get to play in the Shrine football game in Lincoln, march in a parade, and play a concert at an outdoor shopping mall!  Congrats girls!

We are planning to see the movie "Pirates! Band of Misfits" this weekend.  Not familiar?  Here's the link for the website!

Brooches

I like to make jewelry.  Not a surprise since I talk about it constantly.  I love all sorts of jewelry especially when it combines different media into one piece.  Here are some recent brooches I made for our spring shows.

Sweet Spring

This brooch was a quickie, I started with wide polka dot grosgrain ribbon did a running/tacking stitch to gather it as I went and then embellished with a stacked Lucite/Swarovski crystal flower and a large teardrop shaped Mother of Pearl bead.  Looks like it belongs on an Easter bonnet or large floppy brimmed hat!

Wild and Retro

This is the 80s!  I did a covered base and then a twisted rose with polka dot fabric and then embellished with fun resin and acrylic beads and a bit of colored chain mail that I made with bright blue and green rings.  Fun and funky don't you think?  I actually started this last year, but couldn't figure out what was lacking.  I think if finally spoke loudly enough that I heard it!

Grow

I put this piece together after fighting with the base fabric for some time.  I embellished with felted and button flowers stacked together with a Lucite leaf and funky lime green discs.  I also ventured into the realm of metal stamping (since I couldn't find a stamp to say what I wanted).  It says "Grow" and has ladybugs on it.  Fun and bright!

left - Morning Coffee and right- Vintage Lace

The pin on the left features a group of Czech glass coffee bean beads, a lampwork donut bead made by Palm Tree Queen Lampwork, and a miniature coffee cup (courtesy of the miniature dollhouse furniture at Hobby Lobby).  It was awesome!  I made it Thursday night and sold it Saturday!  The brooch on the right is lacy ribbon accented with a group of brass leaves, a gorgeous Kabela design (Small Beautiful) accented with a vintage Swarovski crystal glued into the center of the flower setting.  It is really lovely and looks vintage, but the photo doesn't do it justice.
Hope you enjoyed the new photos!  Check out the real pieces at our shows this weekend!

Weekend Show Info

(photo from Prairie Loft Center)

Seems like all I post is our show info!
This week we have a show on Saturday at the Elinor Bartholomew Fine Arts Festival from 4-6pm during the Art Show opening at the St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Hastings. 
On Sunday we will have our first show of the season out at Prairie Loft Center in Hastings for the Springfest from 1-6pm.  Please stop by to check out our new designs and say hi!  There will be loads of fun, FREE, family activities and it sounds like the weather will be lovely!  Hope to see you soon!
Chris took 200+ photos off the camera last night, so I hope to get some new photos of goodies up on here soon!

Omaha Bead Bazaar Info!!

Just a quick reminder:

We will be HERE Saturday!!!

2012 Omaha Bead Bazaar 

Saturday, April 14th

9:00 am to 4:00 pm$3.00 admission
$2.00 with coupon - available at local bead shops
$1.00 Kid's 12 and Under (must be accompanied by an adult) 

Westside Community Education Center

3534 S 108th ST
Omaha, Nebraska

Hosted by:

Nebraska Bead Society
Omaha Beady Bunch
Midwest Lampworkers Guild 

 

Stephanie Recommends

It has been awhile since I did one of these posts (or any posts for that matter, SORRY!) so I thought would update you on some wonderful shops which I LOVE to shop at here on the internet.
UnkamenSupplies on Etsy:

On Edge Square Bronze and Stainless Steel Bracelet

 Ralph, Karen, and their family are fabulous to work with and they make top quality jump rings for chainmaille designs.  Their kits contain everything you need (and isn't this new design amazing?!) and they are above and beyond fabulous in the customer service department.  We have worked with them many times on many projects and we couldn't be happier.  There are plenty of places to buy supplies for chainmaille, but this is our favorite and first go-to spot to start.  Tell them we sent you!

ikandiclay on Etsy:

Mini Kaleidoscope Cane (Polymer Clay)

I came across the ikandiclay shop on Etsy last year when I was looking for small, pretty polymer beads to make earrings with.  Ivy (who lives in Omaha) makes gorgeous polymer beads and canes and what amazes me is that while the picture above shows you the beautiful details of her work, it is only part of the story.  This picture shows you the actual size and it is indeed MINI!

You can learn more about Ivy's beautiful work at her website ikandiclay.com and she also shows you how she makes her canes and how you should bake them to make them into pieces or beads.

Mimi's Gems 
I came across Mimi's when I was hunting for glue in Tierracast bails for Chris's new pendant beads he is making.  Then I fell in love with her prices, selection, and fantastic service!  She has a huge amount of Tierracast at some really awesome prices (and you can order the full package of the style).  She has a wide variety of Swarovski crystals in colors and styles I hadn't seen before too.  They are getting ready to move their store from California to Nevada (I think) so their shop will be closed for a month starting in May.  But these are some of the fabulous pieces I have purchased from them:

I have a weakness for LARGE Swarovski stones and rivoli.  Mimi's has some really cool colors of rivoli!  Stop by their website and check them out!
Good Quill Hunting and Bead Dreamers are a couple of seed bead pattern sources I have purchased from lately.  Good Quill Hunting owner and design artist Christina Neit has some really fun patterns, kits and finished jewelry.  I purchased this pattern from her:

and I made it using terra cotta and turquoise Tila beads resulting in a very Egyptian bracelet!  I added a Tierracast Ankh charm to complete the design.  Would love to show you, but can't find it at the moment to photograph it!
I met the gals behind Bead Dreamers last weekend at the Grand Island Bead Bazaar.  They are from Minnesota and these are the patterns I purchased from them!

Cheeri-O Bracelet

 

Chinese Coin Bracelet

I have started on my Chinese Coin pattern and it is pretty quick to put one ring together, so hope to have the bracelet done by the end of the weekend.  I plan to play with my seed beads all weekend while we visit with Chris's family for Easter!  See you here next week!