Sunday, December 23, 2012

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Finished one of the kits I won

Back in late June I won a  
copy of Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry by Erin and Lorelei and two earring kits from a giveaway that Erin held.  
Here is one of the finished kits.
I added a little bling of crystals to the bottom bead and there were two extra beads so I added them to the top of the earwire.
They really look adorable on. 



And just a little added cuteness for the week!
My oldman kitty Joe-Joe.
Have a great one.


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Mismatched Art Bead Earring Swap Blog-Hop

Welcome to Thoughtful-Notions
and the Mismatched Art Bead Earring Swap.

First off let me introduce you to my amazing partner Ali McCarthy of Northwoods Creative Studio.  Ali sent me quite a spectacular mismatched pair of enameled earrings.  I absolutely love red and yellow together.   


Ali formed these flowers from copper discs then they were enameled by her.  The matching beads are from copper tube that were also enameled.



Then matching red and yellow crystals were added and all wrapped together with heat treated copper wire.  She also hand forged the copper earwires.  



Thank you so much Ali it has been such a joy to be partnered with you.  You can also find more of Ali's work at her etsy shop Northwoods Creative Studio.

And a huge THANKS to Diana for organizing such a fun SWAP.

Now have fun checking out all the other amazing mismatched earrings...

Lisa Liddhttp://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com
Kari Asbury  http://www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com
Jayne Capps  http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/
Lesley Watt  http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud  http://www.artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Renetha Stanziano  http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Dawn Pierro  http://www.turtlemoondesigns.me

Sunday, September 30, 2012

My Art is You Weekend

 This was my first time attending a Art Retreat and boy-oh-boy I sure don't want to make it my last.
  
It was AMAZING!!! 

And to be around all that inspiration...
  
The first night I took Diana Frey's Twisted Sistah Cuff class.  LOVED IT!
I have taken classes with Diana before and let me tell you it's always a TREAT. 
Still working on my cuff I will have to show it later.

Then the next two days I took Richard Salley's classes.  Here I am with Richard and his lovely assistant Jessica Papke who is also an amazing artist you have to check out her site.  They are also teamed up for some great classes coming up at 



Saturday was the Rock & Riveted Cuff and here is what I made.  I was actually able to complete my cuff in class.  Yaaaa! 


Sunday was Lasting Impressions-Pendants and Earrings.  We made etched stamps to stamp images onto the solder.  I made these after I came home(been busy).  I added some lettuce colored alcohol ink to the solder I really like the effect.  Then wired up a cool chain with steel wire and some chips.  
It reminds me of a bike chain.


I also made these earrings from the same technique I was taught.  Can you see a GREEN THING going on here?   


Well thanks for visiting and have a wonderful relaxing week.



Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Busy Bee...


I just love making these soldered pendants...


I should be busy too, busy packing up for the weekend. 
 I am heading out to Petaluma for 
Art Is You!!!  
My stomach is tied in knots with excitement :)

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Helping Hand



Yea!
I finished my pendants I am donating to the animal rescue thrift store.
I may just have to make a few extra for my etsy :)


It's for a very sweet cause.
Little Miss Maggie my foster-girl 




Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Bead Table Wednesday!


This is my first ever Bead Table Wednesday post.

You really aren't seeing my table though because I can't even find it :)
I never seem to work on one thing at a time.  Every piece gives me ideas of something else.  I am making this Alice in Wonderland theme necklace for my daughter Roxanne and the necklace part is giving me fits.  I am just not feeling IT!

HELP  



I like the dangles, the bottle is lacking soon to be soldered top.


So in frustration I started the Sing necklace, made the nest and the metal plate this morning.  While I tumbled them I started the  I love Fostering pendant.  I will be soldering around the glass and hang from ball chain.  I am donating some of these pendants for a doggie foster group I help. 



And here is the sweet little face of my foster boy Maverick.  


Well click the Bead Table Photo to the right and visit the other BTW'S

Have a Wonderful Day!


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Time to play


Well I am between jobs right now so I have time to play YAAAA!
I made this belated birthday gift for a friend, she loves pins so I pulled up my spring nest tutorial from Humble Beads and went to work.  I even made my own polymer clay egg.


While I had my clay out I made these cute little bird beads.

                 
And can't leave without one little brag post about my baby-boy.  Last weekend my son Trey (in the back) and his best buddy Eddie entered in a neighborhood boxcar derby.  They were the youngest at sixteen, the only two seater and of course the cutest :)                                                                   



                                Have a wonderful week!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

LUCKY WINNER :)



I received my AWESOME copy of Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry signed by both Erin and Lorelei also TWO earring kits that I can't wait to get started on.  I was the LUCKY winner of Erin's generous give-away!  Just love this book you really have to check it out...  



Sunday, May 13, 2012

Time for the Button Swap Blog Hop!!!

Hello Everyone
 Welcome To The Button Swap
Blog Hop
 &
 Happy Mothers Day To All The Ladies 

Well here we go...
My terrific button partner is Melissa Martin of Kensington Cottage Blog
I was sent a bunch of beauties and here they are 


I started with the larger metal button.  It was mirrored in the inside back just gorgeous and a perfect fit for what I was needing to finish a pendant that I made in a class taken from 
Riki Schumacher.


This is what I had after the class


And this is now


My next button choice was to use the pair of flower buttons.  I just love these buttons.   I had seen a post that Melissa made with these buttons, she had just found them along with some others and I was drooling over them then, to my delight they were sent in my swap. 


And here is what I made with them and I LOVE LOVE LOVE how they turned out. 



Many thanks to Cindy for organizing this GREAT HOP!!! and my partner Melissa thank you for sharing your stash...

Now have a GREAT time visiting the rest of these button hoarders...
I mean swappers :)


 Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.
Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)
Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)