Lazy Day

Hello everyone! I was really really lazy today. I didn't do much except go outside twice to feed the chickens (Yes. I really have some.) and collect the eggs. I did manage to take a few pics of my practice pieces as I mentioned in my last post. Don't laugh! They're not too bad. This one is a picture of a pendant I did after seeing something similar. Sorry. I don't remember where I saw it, but it was on a search I did for 'artisan jewelry'. It was easy and fun.

Here is my first attempt at the Tree of Life pattern. I made it of copper wire and labradorite chips. The labradorite is so shiny and pretty. This turned out so much better than the crystals. I also made earrings to match. This is one of my favorite pieces. I wear it to work and it draws attention and comments from co-workers.

This one is of a Tree of Life pattern I found on beadstudio.com. This was my second attempt at it. I wanted to try with the 4mm round crystals. The crystals are too uniform and don't fill out the tree as much as I would have liked. I also used thinner wire than I normally would, just because I had it to practice with.

Ah! My first attempt at organic wire wrapping. This is very large and really noticeable. I pulled out some amazonite and dumortierite to play with. I was told that the copper swirl covered too much of the focal stone. Hmmm. I like it. It's mine. I love blue! OOPS! I had my clock and stone box in the picture.

This is my second attempt at organic style wire wrapping. This one I wore to work. I had to make the chain to go with it. I received a few comments and this helps me to keep going. I have used this style to make cell phone charms as gifts. They were in copper. So, they should tarnish well and the stones should stand out.

This is definitely one of my favorites. I love playing with chain maille. This pattern is from the site cgmaille.com. They have some really detailed instructions for creating their designs. If you like chain maille, then you'll be a fanatic after you visit this site. This pattern is called 'Scherzo'. I love it! It makes a really beautiful chain, as you see. This is silverplate jumprings...about 100-110 of them. I wore this to work and a co-worker bought it right off of my wrist. I couldn't believe it! She's done it a couple of times since. I just received a new shipment of rings so I can make one for myself or try something new.

I'm going to call it a day, for now. I've done so much of nothing which makes me more tired than if I worked in the yard all day. Take care. Thanks for stopping by. The best of everything to all of you! -- Michelle

Not Much Going On

Hello everyone! I haven't much going on lately. My husband and I were invited to a birthday party tonight. We just got back about 1/2 hour ago. Anyhow, this was a chance to make a wire-wrap piece (which I didn't take a picture of :( because I was in a hurry to get it done and out of the house). It was a pendant made of amazonite (I love the light blue of it) and autumn jasper 6 mm rounds. Our friend has an allergy to nickel alloy and I made the pendant out of Zebra wire in natural copper finish. I think the copper really makes the blues and greens stand out. The amazonite is about a 12mm x 16mm bead surrounded by the autumn jasper rounds. It turned out really pretty. I made a double strand, black leather necklace with a copper closure for it to hang on. Earrings to match, of course, with handmade wires. I hope she liked it. I did. I'll have to post some of my wire wrap inspirational pieces. Actually, these are my practice pieces that no one should really see. They aren't too bad. This would give you an idea of what today's pendant looked like.

I have a show coming up in December before the Christmas holiday. I'll be making some new items for that show. This will be my first one outside of my home. It should be pretty exciting and fun to meet new people. The only bad thing is the economy is not too healthy here. I'm going to make a few organic wire-wrap pieces in copper and see how that goes. I've never seen anyone wearing wire-wrap pieces in my area. Wish me luck!

That's all for now. Take care, all of you.

Michelle

A Couple More Pics

How have all of you been doing? As promised, here are a few more pics from last Saturday's show. These top two pics are of what I call 'Orange Sherbet'. They are sparkling Czech crystals with some chain maille flowers. It is hard to see the lovely color because of my lousy choice of backgrounds. The necklace is a choker of about 16". A co-worker wants this style but in a different color. Here is one commission! I LOVE commissions!


This necklace is aventurine with some curlicues to join. This is similar to the necklaces in my last posting. I love the color of aventurine combined with silver. These, too, are silverplated.

I have been trying to figure out what I can do with some of my new beads. Sometimes I just sit and stare at them. Nothing comes to mind. That is just what I did with these aventurine stones that I've had sitting around for a while. Hopefully, something will come to mind with the new beads, as well.

So long for now. May you have a creative day!
Michelle

Yesterday's Show

Hello, everyone. I had a nice show. Not everyone I invited was able to come, but enough came to have a great time.

Here are a few of the pics I took today, not yesterday. My husband jinxed me by saying the battery in the camera was probably dead. I only got one photo yesterday before the thing went dead.

This is the table layout I used. I had no idea what I was going to do until the night before. I had bought little pumpkins and gourds a week ago because I wanted to use them. I had the candleabras from a closeout of an outlet last year. My candles weren't the best, but it was all I had at the moment. I used the candle holders and the leaves on the candelabras to hand necklaces and earrings. That worked out well. I put a necklace on the candle holder and let it dangle and I put the corresponding earrings on the wax catching part of the candle holder. I also used the pumpkins to dangle necklaces since the stems were strong enough to hold them.


This next picture is the little pumpkin holding one of my favorite necklaces. Obviously, this one didn't sell. It is a porcelain focal bead dangle with deep blue druk beads. I used some simple chain maille for the chain attached to the clasp. It really stands out when someone puts it on. This was tried on a few times during the show.

Here is a pic of my next favorite necklace, which also didn't sell, but was tried on a few times. It is aventurine pebbles and an odd-shaped aventurine pendant. I like to use the jump rings to make little flowers between the stations of the pendant. I love the color of the green with the silver jump rings and spacers.

At this time, I used only silver-plate heads and jump rings. Some items were sterling, but not many. I am not comfortable enough with my skills to work in sterling or gold. I like working with copper for my sample wire wrapping pieces. Not many people have seen jewelry in copper. I get a lot of comments from my steady customers on the copper items I wear. They have not yet requested any pieces in copper.

Let me know what you think of these few pics. I hope you liked them.

Take care.

Michelle

Getting Ready for the Show

I hope you're having a great beading day! I've been busy getting things ready for my show this Saturday. I've set out all of my jewelry to take count of what I already have and what I need to make. I've incorporated some of my new shiny stuff into this, but I've also used up a lot of my old beads to match the jewelry I already have. I have some of my props ready. I've decided to go with a fall theme...baby pumpkins and dried flowers. Maybe I'll pick some wildflowers instead. I'll be taking some pics of the jewelry and table probably tomorrow and Saturday. All I really have to do to get ready is clean house and make munchies. I don't overdo the munchie thing. I just have a sweet and a savory plus drinks.

Take care.
Michelle