Monday Morning Eye Candy and Book

Another practice bracelet of Right Angle Weave made with Gossamer floss, crystal 6mm firepolished rondelles from Rings n Things and silverlined "E" beads. I like the single row of RAW because it makes up quickly and by changing the beads, you can make one to match your wardrobe!

I've got another book from Kalmach that I'm smitten with. It's Jewelry for the New Romantic. Here's an interview with the book's author Nealay Patel. 

Projects look yummy don't they?  I haven't done any stringing with Soft Flex wire in quite awhile. Patel puts a new spin on it and I can't wait to dive in.  Are there any techniques you haven't tried in awhile?

Studio Saturday lingers into Monday....Stamped Copper Saucers for Giveaway

This past Saturday, I was over on Art Bead Scene for Studio Saturday. If you were over there, you know I was busy stamping onto some brass and copper sheet metal I had won in the Rings n Things Blogger drawing.

I stamped a few months back and seemed to catch on quickly. I even wrote a Stamped Bead Bravely Art Ornament tutorial for the holidays. I was confident I could create with any stamps. So I ordered smaller sized script style stamps so I could stamp longer quotes. What I didn't realize was when you switch stamps it's like starting all over again!

I have Lisa Niven Kelly's book out and was going for a variation on the stamped ladder bracelet - making a ladder pendant with a quote from the Buddha, "the way is in the heart." 

I measured.

I counted letters.

I measured and counted meticulously.

Everytime I'd put the script style stamp down in the measured area, it was either too far or too close or too high or too low. They weren't behaving like the larger boxy type style.

Arghhh!

I made 8 scrap pieces to every 1 that came out half way decent.  I say half way because take a look at the finished products....

They didn't turn out the way I envisioned through no fault of the materials. I ran out of the brass sheet trying to create what I had in my head.  After the brass, I switched to copper round blanks without any quotes. These came out much better although the photo is a bit blurred - my Canon is on the fritz and I had to take these pictures with my iPhone!

I used my Euro Power Punch to make a hole in the 3/4'' inch 24 gauge copper blank.  Then I stamped the flower on and used my center punch for the pollen. The rounds were then dapped to a slight saucer shape. I aged them using liver of sulfer and polished using baking soda.

That, my friends is how I finally finished the project I started last Saturday! I'll give away a set of two of the stamped copper saucers to the winner of the July 9th Studio Saturday. If you haven't made a comment, be sure to go on over and tell me about how projects move through your studio!

Mad for Monday....

This week, I'm mad for smokey quartz

I ordered Smokey Quartz from Rings n Things as part of their May Bloggers program.

After a bit of sketching, I created a 20 inch necklace entitled Smokey Blues.

disclosure of material connection

Coffe Talk: Remembering my Grandmother

Last week was another flare up of my carpal tunnel so I had to lay off the computer for a few days. I wrote alot of posts and paperwork a few days before the flare up so I should have seen it coming. Since my work is focused on using my hands and arms (sign language interpreting, making beads), it's really easy to do too much and not realize it.


While away from the computer, I received another goody package from the good folks at Rings n Things. (Here's my disclaimer.)

This one is very "Day of the Dead" - a holiday celebrated in Mexico and in the Southwest in November.  Relatives hold celebrations in cemetaries to honor their ancestors. It seems this tradition is particular to Mexico yet I remember growing up with a similar, more quiet celebration around Memorial Day.

Each year on Memorial Day, my family would load up the car with bright red geraniums and trowels and make the rounds to the cemetaries where our great grandparents were buried. My mother's family in one local town and my father's family in another. We would hear stories of our families and run through the cemetary reading the headstones of others. We were always careful not to walk directly on a grave but on the grass paths made by the caretakers.  My mother would pull weeds and old grass from around the headstone of her mother and plant fresh red geraniums near grandmother's name. My grandmother was 86 when she died and although I was about 4 or 5 at the time, I remember her wizen face and white/gray hair.  She seemed very old and stern to my 4 year old self. I couldn't imagine her being anything but old.

A few years ago, while visiting my mother on the family farm, I asked if I could have something - an old portrait of her mother in it's original frame and glass. It was taken before Grandmother was married at age 14.

The woman I thought was wizen and stern is forever young in this portrait. I feel like I see something of her spirit. My mother tells me she was quite a gardener and every year she'd plant something she'd never planted before. Apparently, Grandmother planted spaghetti squash before anyone knew what it was! I'm reminded of the bright red geraniums my mother chose to plant every Memorial Day - such a vibrant color is befitting an adventuresome spirit like her mother.  When I plant something I've never planted before in my garden or see the vibrancy of a red geranium, I'm reminded of the young woman my grandmother once was and the adventuresome spirit she had.

I'd like to make a remembrance piece for her using red and something impish. That's why I'm gravitating towards using the smiling and hat wearing calaveras charms from the lastest R&T goody bag - even though it isn't November 1st, my family's Memorial Day Celebration is fast approaching.

Is there a vibrant spirit in your family tree? Did your family have a similar "Day of Remembrance?"

Rings n Things Remembrance or Surreal

For the month of March, Rings n Things sent a sample of jewelry making materials focused on "Remembrance Jewelry." This group of goodies might inspire you to make a piece of jewelry that pays tribute to someone or highlights a childhood scrap that's special to you. But all week, I've been talking about surrealism and Tim Burton. So my mind is swirling with ideas that aren't necessarily about remembering but about taking the the grotesque and making it beautiful or juxtaposing startling pieces together. Hmmmm let's see what I've got here...

...a glass bottle with a cork, a "watch" case with glass crystal, a square antiqued copper box....

...a blue diamond shaped vessel, a purple diamond shaped vessel, a small glass bottle and brass bezels.

So as my mind percolates some ideas, I'm wondering what is your mind coming up with?

Squeeee!! Rings n Things is readin' my mind!

I'm sooo excited about the most recent goodie bag from Rings n Things! It's like they're readin my mind or something!

Remember the other day when I posted about my new found love, shell pearls mixed with my lampwork beads and crystals? So when I got the goodie bag, guess what was inside?

Yup! I squealed with delight! Shell pearls, fresh water pearls and crystals!

Guess what I'm gonna make with them?

Squeeee!



Ooops and let's not forget my disclosure of material connection!

Rings N Things Goodies Valentines

Here's my latest set of goodies from the good people at Rings n Things. I added in a set of black keys I bought from Joanns. Just perfect for the bleeding heart style!

Disclosure of Material Connection

Rings n Things November Goodies

Payday! Ahhh, I mean I got a goody bag from Rings n Things. Ok, I'm being sarcastic about the payday because I've written before about how I can't pay the bills with beads - but hold on, now that I think about it, I've never actually TRIED to negotiate beads-as-payment terms with the electric company and there is a precedent for it. Isn't it said that Manhattan was "bought" for $24 worth of beads? Beads have been legal tender but I digress, on to the beady-goodness I received last week.


I chose my favorites out of the Rings n Things goody bag sent to the Bead Bloggers. Can I say I'm in love with the wooden chain? How cool is that? My creative wheels are turning.

Which ones pictured here are your favorites?

Making my list and checking it twice....

After work today, I'm heading over to the Rings n Things Bead Tour. I can't go in there willy nilly though. I got to have a list. Afterall, look at some of the beautiful beads they're going to have there.


I love green and blue together using a neutral of brown. Oh and the pearls! Do I need to talk about pearls?!?

Focus, Cindy. Focus!!

I need chain and links. Seriously, I do.

Last month's goody bag from Rings n Things included a couple of hammer copper links like these.



I love them! I need more so I'll take a look to see if the Bead Tour has them. If not I can order them.

I'm making my list and checking it twice. Have you gone to a Bead Tour? What did or what would you buy?

Lava and Ivory Bling Link Earrings

Hand formed French earwires coupled with my torchwork Ivory Bling Links and Rings & Things Lava round beads make an organic set of earrings. The ivory, brown and silver will go with any outfit - and in fact, that's what I've been wearing these with - any outfit!

So now, you've seen two sets of lovely earrings done with the ivory bling links, Lava and Ivory Bling Links and Loopy Tuesday...hmmm maybe I have something with the alliteration of "L" in earring design? Or maybe I should keep going and see just how many different designs for them I can come up with. What do you think?

Goody Rings-n-Things Bag - It's Volcanic!

This month's Rings-n-Things goody bag had various shapes and sizes of Lava Stone Beads.



From the Rings & Things Website:

"Stock#: 21-887-193
25% off prices shown!
Approx. 12mm round gemstone beads, 0.8-1.2mm hole. 30-36 beads per 16" strand. Brown Lava Stone
Color: Brown Lava Stone
Country: China
Page Number: Spring 2009 Supplement A19
California lead classification for this item: Class 1
Lava Stone: Earthy yet elegant, lava stone beads are made from basalt, a type of igneous rock formed during volcanic eruptions. Due to their many holes and bubbles, lava stone beads add great texture, but not a lot of weight, to jewelry designs. Lava stone is naturally rough in texture."

Hmmm what sort of designs would you use these light weight beads for? Do they inspire you to create something "hot?"

The Deconstructed Watch - Not gluing the glue-ables

Remember I said the inspiration fairy visited me after I got the Rings & Things Goodie bag, right? Well here's another fabulous project I made with the Brass Square Frame....

The Deconstructed Watch

One of the great things about this project is it can be made for $10 or less. The cost for the brass frame is $6.70. If you have the tools already and you are hoarding junk, then you're not going to spend anymore than that.

I've been haunting the flea markets and buying up old watches and keys. That set me off to buy special watch tools because I couldn't take the watches apart. This project uses the watch parts I've been able to get from the my flea market finds combined with "stitching" the parts onto the brass picture frame.



Materials:

Circular watch part approximately 29mm in diameter (to fit onto the brass frame)

Brass Frame #49-441-0
Approx. 30mm square brass picture-frame charms, 1.8-2.2mm inner diameter loop. 1.3-1.7mm thick. Fits 25mm image.

6 Glass dagger beads (14mm or so)

4 feet 28 gauge brass wire

1 6mm or 7mm jump ring


Tools:

metal hole punch pliers
small files
steel bristle brush
wire straightener pliers
wire cutter (to cut the 28 gauge wire)

Directions:

1. Cut four holes, one on each corner of the brass frame - on the flat metal not on the raised edge.

2. File the holes smooth so there are no rough edges.

3. Above filing will cause scratches in the smooth finish of the brass so use the steel brush to create a satin finish on the brass. Brush the brass frame with the steel brush in circular motions on the front and the back of the frame.

4. Cut the 4 feet of 28 gauge wire. Use the straightening pliers to take out any kinks in the wire.

5. Hold the circular watch part to the brass frame as you thread the wire ends through the two top holes.

6. Pull the left wire end to the opposite hole at the right hand side on the bottom of the frame. Pull it diagonally across the front of the circular watch part. Thread it through the right bottom hole to the back.

7. Pull the right wire end to the opposite hole at the left hand side on the bottom of the frame. Pull it diagonally across the front of the circular watch part. Thread it through the left bottom hole to the back.

8. The wire makes an "X" holding the circular watch part in place.

9. Pull the right bottom wire end over to the left bottom hole and thread through to the front.

10. Pull the left bottom wire end over to the right bottom hole and thread through to the front. You're "sewing" the watch part into place.

11. "Sew" across the front again pulling the left wire diagonally across the front to the right top hole and the right wire diagonally across the front to the left top hole.

12. Thread wire ends through the top holes and then cross to the opposite side and thread through the front.

13. Sew diagonally across the front on both sides and thread through to the back.

14. Now add 3 dagger beads to the wire on one side.

15. Make a circle with the dagger beads and hold them in place while you thread the end of the wire through to the front to the back. Secure the circle in place by threading back to front. Do the same for the other side.

16. Sew diagonally across the front and wind the end around the top ring two to three times. Do this with both ends. Trim the wire with your wire cutters.

17. Attach jump ring.

I managed not to glue any of the "glue-ables." I had alot of fun challenging myself and coming up with ways to use them in an unconventional way. Other than gluing, what might you have done with any of the glue-ables I showed you this week?

Copper Kisses for $4.00

It's the second installment of the Rings & Things goodie bag. Today it's my favorite - the antique copper plated bracelet. Here are the stats on it from the Rings & Things website:

Stock#: 40-337-7
7.2" disk-and-loop bracelet forms for gluing. Hammered oval loops.
1-11 cost $4.00


Today's "Copper Kisses" grew out of my new work with metal, glass and cold connections which is inspired by one of my favorite books.

I made the pads more bead like by doming them. I removed the pads and textured the surface by hammering a stamp several times. I created domed links between the ovals using a ball peen hammer and a doming block. The domed links were then re-attached.







It took about an hour to do each of the pads. The cost to make this is $4.00 assuming you have to tools to do it already.

Glue is not my BFF and free project

Ok, so last week, I posted about a new goodie bag I got from Rings & Things. Dave describes them as "glue-ables."

I don't like to glue glass because I don't trust the glue will hold. Glass is so smooth, there's never much for a glue to grab onto. And yes, I've tried every glue that people have recommended. Half of the findings fall off, pop off or any other kind of off you can think of. So glue is not my BFF.

So I took it as a challenge. I would do anything BUT glue.

I must have been struck by the inspiration fairy or something because I had a flood of ideas. Here is the first of three and the easiest to do - Color Explosion.




Whoa! Get a pair of sunglasses, Mabel!!! I'm loving on that color!

So ya wanna know how to do it? Start with a bracelet blank, this is the one I used:



On the Rings & Things Website it is Stock#: 40-377-1
7.5" disk-and-loop bracelet forms for gluing. Oval loops.

The silver rounds for gluing looked like beads to me. They seemed to ask me to put a punch of color between the lovely long ovals and make them into beads.

So, I took out my stock of Ranger Inks, the Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks, and a small paint brush and brushed the glue blanks with the inks.

There ya go!



If you buy all the things new, this project is about $15.00 but if you use a 40% off coupon at Michael's like I did for the inks, it's about $10.00 to make. So a goodie bag makes good and fits Beading on a Budget!

Another Goodie Bag has arrived!

Got another Goodie bag from Rings & Things the other day - this time the goodies are "glue-ables." There are a couple that are catching my eye and have my creative wheels spinning. Here's a quick picture and description from the Rings & Things website:



Stock#: 40-377-1
7.5" disk-and-loop bracelet forms for gluing. Oval loops. Length may vary +/- ¼". More details...
Color: White
Country: China
Page Number: Catalog Page 256
Note: The manufacturer states that this product is lead free.
California lead classification for this item: Class 2



Stock#: 40-337-7
7.2" disk-and-loop bracelet forms for gluing. Hammered oval loops. Length may vary +/- ¼". More details...
Color: Antiqued Copper Plated
Country: China
Page Number: Catalog Page 256
Note: The manufacturer states that this product is lead free.
California lead classification for this item: Class 2

Are you creative wheels spinning now?

Goodies from Rings n Things!

I've gotten a goody bag from Rings n Things so I'm playing with the goodies and will post what I've made on Friday this week. In the meantime, you can check out the Plays With Fire license frame a good gift for any flameworker would love!