Well.... This is Embarrassing.....

MaryAnn Carroll

UPDATE: 

Winners: Beti Horvath and Shaiha 
 Congrats!!



I'm not sure what happened to the link for the earrings giveaway from last month. When I clicked it to enter numbers in random.org, I got an error message. I searched through past posts and no luck! Whoops! I'm sorry for the confusion to anyone who tried to do the same :o)

With that sad, I will throw in an additional pair this time and pick two winners. I have been experimenting with copper tubing lately. I purchased all the available sizes that I could get at a local construction dealer. I first purchased tubing from Lowes (short 2 foot or 1 foot lengths) and experimented with TYPE L, which was a heavier wall and when making a thicker cut like you see in these earrings, they were just too heavy, in my opinion....  I'm 52 and don't need any help dragging any part of my skin down ,including my ears!!!!  So, I headed back and checked out a small lumber company near me. They carried TYPE M which is a thinner wall and I could buy it by the foot!

Off I went with my many Dremel cutting blades and got to work and work it was~

I finally got the hang of it after many mistakes. I also found that you really would be better off purchasing a different set up with a blade that does not wear down as you cut, since these are not cheap and wear quickly. Once I started to feel like I had the hang of it, I cut lots. Each one was sanded until smooth and then enameled. As you might have guessed, I really like rustic and almost all of my work reflects that. Here is the first pair for the giveaway... The first winner chosen on Wednesday, July 18th will win these:

And, if you were here reading last month when this giveaway was announced, you might remember these. The beads are made using stoneware clay and then fired in our (my husband's) wood-fire kiln. You can read more about that by visiting splitfirepottery.com. These will go to the second winner chosen.

So, there you have it.... Oh yeah, we need for you to do something.....

How about nature? While walking onto the deck to take these pictures, there was a bird resting on the "perch" that was put there for taking earrings pictures. It wasn't really intended for birds, but, DUH!, it is right next to the feeder!!  It is removable, but I thought about how much I love seeing the variety of birds at the feeder and our hummingbirds at their feeder every morning. I figured they could enjoy it instead. They are right outside of our window and while I sit at the computer I enjoy watching them.  

What do you enjoy about nature? Do you think it influences what you create, what you wear, what you buy, etc.?

Up to three entries will be accepted. The first will be to answer the question(s) AND leave an email contact. Entries without contacts will not be included. I'm sorry for any inconvenience that causes, but there have just too many times that we cannot track down an individual who has won.

The second and third entries can be to share this post on your blogs or Facebook. If you do not have either of those, please be creative and share this post in some other way.... maybe email a friend, mention LMAJ at work, a show you are going to in the next week, etc. Let us know what you did and those will also count as entries.

Both winners will be posted on the side bar Wednesday, July 18th.

As always, thank-you for supporting those who create handmade with handmade.

MaryAnn