My nephew Ben

Courtesy of my brother.  I don't know what he's saying, but It sounds VERY important!!  

Barbara Lewis - Painting with Fire Artwear: eCourse Introduction: Studio Walkthrough

Barbara Lewis - Painting with Fire Artwear: eCourse Introduction: Studio Walkthrough: Over the past year, I've received requests to teach Painting with Fire Workshops from so many nice people across the country. I wish I coul...

A little Christmas tree.

Hope your Christmas was sparkly and bright!

Alabaster Rose Designs: Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays From Me To You~

Check out this giveaway from :Alabaster Rose Designs: Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays From Me To You~: Hi all, hope your having a lovely weekend! I just wanted to show you a little something... Tell me what you think~ "Winter's Peace" doubl...

Riki's Vice Petite Giveaway

Riki is giving away a Vice Petite!  I want one and if my magic number isn't pulled, this is going on my Christmas wish list!  Enter here:   http://e-workshops.blogspot.com/2011/11/giveaway.html

Visit CreativeKristi for a chance to win a ticket to Haven 2012 Conference

How exciting!  I'm attending the Haven 2012 Conference in Atlanta!  Now you have the opportunity to win a ticket!  http://www.creativekristi.com/haven-ticket-giveaway.html

A challenge

One of my favorite Jewelry Designers and Instructors is Deryn Mentock of Something Sublime.  I took my very first class, Mingled Elements, with her and DJ Pettit in Birmingham Alabama.  I've taken several classes from her at Adorn Me!, on-line (check out her Jewelry Works) and most recently last month at ArtBliss.  She recently posted an Inspiration  Challenge on her blog http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/something_sublime_from_th/2011/10/inspiration-comes-with-a-challenge.html  Based on this gorgeous Gothic-y Romantic photo:

I love the colors, and look at the peek of the animal print pillow! 

I took the challenge and knew immediately what I wanted to do with the leopard print inspiration:

This was my first successful Ice Resin attempt. 

Before I post my other photos, I want to start by saying.  I don't have a professional camera.  I have a little Panasonic Lumix, that usually does pretty good when I photograph outside.  It's POURING down rain here, so...bad photos aside.  Here is the piece I created:

Thank you Deryn for the challenge!  Please go and check out Deryn's gorgeous piece as well as all the other beautiful pieces that were created based on the Inspiration photo. 

e-workshops: LAUNCH GIVEAWAY

Please check out Riki's new e-workshops Blog. I am so excited to see what she has in store! You will LOVE her videos.

e-workshops: LAUNCH GIVEAWAY: In honor of my new blog "e-workshops" I'm offering a fun giveaway!! And there are FOUR chances for you to win! Here are the prizes....d...

My First Bead Soup Blog Party!!

Well the big reveal is finally here!  I've had some anxious moments making this piece.  I've had a very hectic couple of weeks at work and 14 charms to make for ArtBliss (I'm still not done :( and I'm struggling, since the order I placed to finish making my charms still hasn't arrived)  But enough about me....

First a couple more before pictures of the Focal and Clasp.

And my finished piece with the focal and clasp I received from Erin of Erin's Jewelry Creations.

I soldered the pendant and added a little bee.

 To help balance out the pendant from the weight of the bee, I added a jump ring and some dangles on the other side of the pendant.

I wish my pictures were better.  I ended up having to work until 8pm tonight, so I missed daylight when photographing this piece.

I really wanted more of an asymmetrical look.  I also wanted to put a darker patina on the piece, but I have just had so much going on and I was running out of time.  So I am not completely happy with it.  I may try to add a patina later.  I also WISH that I had soldered rhinestones onto the bee BEFORE I attached it to the pendant.  My original plan was to solder rhinestone chain onto the wings (Riki's tutorial here is AWESOME!  http://www.etsy.com/listing/81242609/how-to-solder-rhinestone-chain)

I can't WAIT to see what everyone else has done with their "soup"!!

 We'd love for you to Crash our party and join our Bead Soup Blog Hop and see all the other Bead soup creations.  Clicking on the link below will take you to our Host Lori Andersons list of participants

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/
And click the link below to go see the gorgeous piece Lori created with the beads from her partner,  Manuela Wutschke. 
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

I can't wait to see what Erin created with my bead soup!

BSBP: My beads from Erin

Here are the beads I received from Erin of Erin's Jewelry Creations



Focal and Clasp

 



Turquoise mother of pearl cubes, green crystals, amber seed bead mix, with dichroic focal and copper clasp. 

 





Love the colors in the focal!!

 What will I do? I am certainly out of my comfort zone with my soup! Hope I'm up for the challenge and make Erin proud of her "ingredients" :)

And now that Erin has received her "soup". Here's what I sent:







Here's my "sneak peek"

   

My Soup!


 



Focal and Clasp

 



Close up !

  


Etched copper focal with soldered crown and rhinestones.

  

Introducing my Bead Soup Blog Party Partner

It's ....
Erin of Erin's Jewelry Creations!! 

She has a fantastic blog with incredible information:  http://erinsjewelrycreations.blogspot.com/

And an Etsy shop!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/erinsjewelrycreation

This is our first Bead Soup Blog Party!  I'm so happy to be paired up with her and in the company of so many talented artists! 

Thank you to Lori Anderson of Pretty Things for hosting and if you're in need of some encouragement, read her post on Evaluating what's important:  http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2011/08/evaluating-whats-important.html

Created with picnik

This is what's on the way to Rhode Island!

Fresh Cut: Step by Step Instructions

I discovered this blog via Twitter today. A beautiful blog...I can't wait to try the Lemon Strawberry Jar Cakes too!! Fresh Cut: Step by Step Instructions: "Some weeks I find my To-do list becoming more detailed with little things like 'eat lunch', 'brush your teeth', and even 'get out of bed.' ..."

Come check out our new Blog!

http://queenofthenest.blogspot.com/

New necklace.

Vintage mother of pearl buttons and sterling silver chain.

Queen of the Nest at Woodstock Antiques