Monday....

Caffee Tempo

Mad for Monday - Giveaways

Today, I'm mad for giveaways. First up is a mini giveaway going on over at Love My Art Jewelry

Andrew Thornton hosts a weekly Thursday Giveaway and this week it's turquoise beads.

On Saturday, I'll be hosting an online clearance sale from 1-4pm EST, with giveaways each hour.

Mad for Monday....Hands

If you work with your hands all day, like artists do and like I do as a sign language interpreter/artist, then you probably have a collection of hands. I'm always on the look out for artist made hands and I've recently found a couple I want to share with you.

Raku Hand Ornament from Wonderous Strange Designs on Etsy.

Frosted Hand Pendant by Spirited Earth on Etsy

Do you have a collection? I'd love to hear what you are always on the look out for!

Monday and I'm Mad for....

....Hearts!

Unzipped Heart 8 by Maire Segal on Etsy

Christmas Poinsetta Fairy Heart by Molded Moonbeams

Menagerie Studio's Shabby Nouveau Full Heart Charm

Mad for Monday: Beadmakers you might not know....yet

I've been on line ordering gifts already and came across several cool beadmakers that don't seem to be well known. I chose different media just so you can see what can make your handcrafted gift unique - supplies made with just as much care as you put into your handmade presents.

I came across these handcrafted Polymer Clay Christmas beads from Barbie's Best on Artfire. They're well made and crisp in their details.

You might not think of fabric or fiber when you think of beads but let's broaden your horizons! Take a look at these Red Fiber Beads by Petal Creations on Artfire. They'd make a festive piece of jewelry or even an ornament.

In the holiday spirit, I'm offering a winter version of my lampwork glass links and double dips, "Flurry."

Have you bought from any "new to you" beadmakers lately?

Mad for Monday and the Missing Links....

'tis the season for free projects! I'm mad for the free projects I read about in this week's Bead Bloggers missing links (meaning I missed posting them this past Friday!) Take a peek at Carmi's sweet little joy pin....

....or Tammy's "a Time to Gather" pendant. What fun projects to make into lovely handmade gifts for the season!

Get in the spirit and read what the other bead bloggers are up to as the holiday season starts to rev up...

A Bead A Day
Do you enjoy making more than one piece of jewelry in the same design? Lisa is exploring this topic over at A Bead A Day.

About.com Jewelry Making
Thanksgiving is not just about the turkey. It's a perfect time to make some fun themed jewelry as well.

Art Bead Scene
November is here and so is the monthly challenge. This month it's Klimt's Tree of Life.

Beading Arts
Registration has just opened for next year's Bead Journal Project! Don't get left behind!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi crafts a little joy brooch.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy shares a handmade necklace that has special meaning for her.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
ArtBeads.com and Pantone inspire Melanie to work with some new fall colors to create an asymmetrical autumn cluster necklace

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Tis the season for Craft Fairs! Lorelei had a great weekend at the Raise the Roof Fundraiser last weekend.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Artbeads inspires Jean to write about their Fall Inspiration Contest (you can win!), and also their FaceBook site!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Kathy Van Kleeck helps Andrew out with his medical bills by placing a magical, fairytale style fine silver and beach glass box up for auction. Check it out!

Mad for Monday...Snow Globes

Cooler weather starts me thinking about the upcoming holidays. Soon, I'll take out the boxes of holiday decorations and in it will be several snow globes. So I thought today would be a good day to take a peek at snow globe inspired handmade jewelry and home decor....

First up is Reson8's Tiffany Blue Snow Day Necklace on Art Fire. I love the sparkles that create a snow globe feel to the pendant.

Swirly Garden's Snow Mosaic Wine Glasses on Artfire have the feeling of snow floating down the outside of the glass.

Finally, this Winter Fox Ring by Divine Sweetness on Etsy is too adorable! I can almost feel the chill in the air!

What do your holiday decoration boxes hold? What is your favorite?

Mad for Monday: Crochet Quirkiness for Day of the Dead

Yeah, I could do the traditional skulls for the Day of the Dead but I'm choosing quirkiness in form of crochet.
Toshwerks made me smirk when I saw their Pincushion Queen Doll

and their Toxic Boy.

Both are characters in Tim Burton's 2005 book, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories. I find inspiration in Tim Burton's work as you can see in the mixed media, glass and resin skully beadz I made after visiting the MoMA.

Quirky, yes.

Fun, definitely!

If you'd like to crochet up some quirkiness, how about a skulls and crossbones scarf from JudesCreations?

 Get your hooks out! It's time to be quirky!

Mad for Monday.....Lotus Flowers

The lotus flower is rich with symbolism. According to the ancient Egyptians, "the seed of the Lotus flower contains perfectly formed leaves as miniatures of what they will become when the Lotus blooms. Reincarnationist religions believe that, like the Lotus flower, every person is already perfect and the model of perfection is already formed inside each being, awaiting the opportunity to emerge when one reaches the condition of being aware of his perfection."

I like the idea that we have perfection inside of us, we just need to let the natural state shine through. Handcrafted lotus flowers remind one to let who you are shine through. Here are a few of my favorites:

Block Party's Black and White Lotus Flower Necklace

Lotus - Zen inspired charms from Hint

LaLaDesigns Studio's Wireworked Temple Lotus Necklace

Is there a symbol or theme that's on your mind today?
(Thank you for the use of the white lotus flower picture.)

Mad for Monday: Art Bead Surprises

Today I'm mad for a lovely surprise package of handmade art beads from Elaine Ray. They are a nice little jolt of inspiration. I'm already working on something with some of them.

If you're mad for them too, then you can purchase Elaine Ray Ceramic Beads at Ornamentea.

Mad for Monday and Missing Links

Since I've been so crazy from rings lately, I'm mad for rolled edge bezels too. I find the best selection at Metalliferous where they come in all sizes and where I borrowed the photo.

Trying to keep myself busy, I find I've made myself too busy and have less and less time for myself and keeping up with the blog. So here are the missing links from Friday. Lots of inspiration in them!


A Bead A Day
Take a trip down "memory wire lane" as Lisa remembers discovering this versatile beading staple.

About.com Jewelry Making
For those who like immediate gratification jewelry, there's a new line coming to your local Michael's called Trinkettes.

Art Bead Scene
The Art Bead Scene Carnival Bloggers write about renewal for September.

Beading Arts
Auntie's Beads supplied some wonderful faux sea glass beads for Cyndi to use in a new design!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi's new BELIEVE necklace starts out with a beaded embroidery.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
To badly paraphrase Shakespeare, "the ring's the thing!"

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie mashes up two songs about school and growing up and uses it as inspiration for a mixed media necklace.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei was able to watch a couple of cool videos from Ronna Sarvas Weltman, and reviews them this week on the blog.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviews a VERY cool DVD all about metal work, which is super great for beginners AND super inspiring for old hands at this type of jewelry creating and designing!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew has another great Thursday Giveaway! Find out how you can win a Halloween-themed Trick or Treat Trios set of flexible beading wire from Soft Flex Company!

Mad for Monday: Frit Part Deux

Ok, my friends, the once in a blue moon hit last week and I completed something in short order! Last Monday's Mad For was about the luscious color palette I had put together in frit. I went online and ordered a few sample packs from Val Cox Frit in Fairy Dust and Champagne Rain.

And then I spent yesterday at the torch creating variations on the Double Dips and Glass Links...

There's a slight reaction between the Fairy Dust and the Avocado (yeah, don't know why they named it "Avocado" - it's not green, it's taupe.) It creates a slight outline between the frit and the base glass that I like very much.

What do you think, my friends?

Mad for Monday

Vacation is coming and I'm dreaming of the beach. I'm sure to take along my iPad but what to carry it in? I've got a few ideas for today's Mad for Monday....

I might need to put a credit card, a few dollars, a pen and a few other things into the case. So this Ultimate traveler iPad Case from feltu on Etsy would do the trick.

But maybe I want my playful side to show through. If I do, I could pick up this Owl iPad Sleeve from BoutiqueID on Etsy

What if I want something "girly-er?" I might have to get out my sewing machine and get busy making this floral iPad case by Heidi

I love Book Book but they're not available for the iPad yet. So I've found a tutorial to DIY one. It's a how to make a hollow book and I think it will come close to looking like the Book Book. Now where can I find a book large enough?

I better get to work - which one do you think would make the best vacation-mate?

Mad for Monday: Bathroom Remodel

Normally, "Mad for Monday" is a collection of some of my favorite things but this week's inspiration comes from being "Mad AT the Bathroom Remodeling." Seems this is the remodel that goes on forever, we're going on day 11 and I'm tired of having to be ready at 7:15am for the work crew to come in. Truth be told, I threw a 2 year old temper tantrum last Friday because I overslept and had to be ready in 15 minutes. My hair won't cooperate in 15 minutes! Nothing puts in me in a bad mood more than a bad hair day. I looked like a drowned poodle the whole day.

But there IS a light at the end of the tunnel. They've GOT to finish, right? So today's "Mad for Monday" is the accent pieces I'm considering for the bathroom.

I love the shape and color of the natural coconut soap dispenser from FLCoconuts on Etsy. But let's say I change my mind and don't want liquid soap. What else might I like?

There's nothing like peppermint to invigorate you. When I have to get up at 6 am to get ready for an early work assignment, this Sacred Waters Soap Company's Peppermint Pickup bar would be the perfect morning tonic.

But what to put the soap in?

DGordon's little trinket dish can double as a soap dish and reminds me to take it one day at a time.

The remodelers WILL finish and then I'll have a nice, new bathroom....one day at a time!

Manic Monday

 Yes, I seemingly dropped off the planet for the past two weeks. Eventually, my crazy work schedule caught up with me. Then The Teen graduated and my anniversary. Tomorrow, the work crew comes in to gut and remodel our bathroom. They'll be here for a week to ten days. Apparently, we'll be without a shower for a day or two. Consider this your warning, Co-workers!

All this change and remodeling talk started me thinking about my own office space. You know the room in your house that you plan to fix up but you don't? You end up putting things in willy-nilly and then you try to add storage but it never quite comes together?  Well that's my office. See for yourself:

I probably should be embarassed to show it to you but I'm showing it anyways. All of the clutter under the desk is years of school work from The Teen. I think it goes back to middle school. I kept all of it because I was sure at some point the school would send home a letter and say he had to turn in something or he couldn't graduate! Now that he actually has the diploma in hand, I think I can throw these papers into the recycle bin.

Basically, I have lots of bare wall space and not enough storage for tiny things - like all those beads and books! I've got a plan, though. Here it is:


1. Clean out the paper.

2. Clean out the bead stash so I can have a HUGE SALE and GIVEAWAY!

3.  Decide on some REAL storage! Pegboard? Cupboards? Both?

While I'm cleaning and readying for a HUGE SALE (which I will announce formally in a few days), I've got lots to do and it's already Monday! 

Wish it were Sunday....it's another Manic Monday!

Mad for Monday: Fascinated with Fascinators

I like to collect vintage goods and am always on the look out for new ways to use them and my handmade art beads. I'm fascinated with fascinators lately and want to try my hand at making some with art beads and/or vintage pins.

We all remember the first time we saw them - Project Runway and the infamous Kenley (Photo Courtesy of fanpop.com.) and her feather fascinators.

They've caught on now and here are select favorites from Artfire.com:

Xanadu by yjdesign on Artfire (photo courtesy of yjdesign.) Yjdesigns uses a vintage rhinestone pin as the center.

Floral Fascinator by Bead Flora on Artfire (photo courtesy of Bead Flora.) Bead Flora works a beaded bloom into a fascinator that will go with everything.

Fascinator Cocktail Hat by yjdesigns on Artfire (photo courtesy of yjdesigns.) Another stunner from YJ Designs using a vintage rhinestone piece in this funky hat.

What about you? Are you fascinated with fascinators?

Mad for Monday....Purple and Green

Inspired by the green in my yard and garden, this week's Mad for Monday is really about color...well, ok, I still have some crochet thrown in here, but how could I resist?

Crochet Flower Lariat by Bohemian Hooks.

Kona Bay Fujiana Purple fabric available at Fabrics & Designs by Barb on Artfire

This lovely photo comes from Nuxie Made and is of a little girl in a crocheted cap Nuxie's work is available at her shop on Artfire.com

What colors in your yard and/or garden is inspiring you today?

Mad for....Toronto

For the last few years, we've spent every Memorial Day weekend in Toronto. Finding ourselves with a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, we parked our car and hopped on a streetcar to take a walk around the Kensington Market. I snapped a few shots of the colorful shops.

The red "Courage" cut out flags are my favorite. But what's up with the nude mannequins?

It still mystifies me that anyone can dislike yellow - it's so happy and well, sunny!

For those of you who have never been, here's a little video tour....



Do you have a favorite place to visit and explore?

Mad for Monday....

Another Monday, another day of web-window gazing. I've got a hankering to do some crochet but have to finish up other projects so I'm looking at crochet related items again. One of my fellow glassies, Squid Glass makes these adorable fiber themed cabochon pendants. I love the crochet hooks!

I've started sewing again so I need a place to put those straight pins. Joyous Treasures read my mind and crocheted this sweet Mocha and Cream pincushion.



I've got a pile of crochet circles and I've been trying to figure out what to do with them. Making them is like eating potato chips, you can't make just one. Maybe I could put some together and make a necklace like this Sweet Summer Crochet Necklace.

Ok, enough web window shopping - it's off to finish a project!