Sunday, July 1, 2012

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

26 comments:

Mystic Indigo said...

I have been using a tube cutter that you can get from the hardware store...leaves an interesting, sort of beveled edge on the ends...super terrific work..glad you are exploring copper tubing!

Beti Horvath said...

Copper tubing earrings are the best! (Not to slight the bead ones, love them too!) Love the colors with blues and greens!

Please enter me in your drawing: betihorvath at gmail.com

Beti Horvath said...

Shared on Facebook too! betihorvath at gmail.com

Beti Horvath said...

Oh wait, I didn't answer the nature question! And I thought it was such a good one, too!

I love to find new color combinations in nature, and that trickles into my work. And somehow, during the months when everything is lush and green, all my work features greens.

Marsha of Marsha Neal Studio said...

Love those copper tubing enameled hoops you turned into earrings! And your ceramic beads are as beautiful as always!!!

I am inspired by the designs you can find in nature. The textures, patterns, color palettes. I love the interaction of the elements too and how it changes things (thinking of the water lapping up onto the beach, how it makes patterns and exposes and deposits treasures...)

Wonderful post!

Marsha of Marsha Neal Studio said...

I just pinned the photo of the enameled earrings on my Pinterest board.

Marsha of Marsha Neal Studio said...

Also shared on my FaceBook Page! You all do such amazing work!

Alice said...

I love those copper tube earrings! What a great idea! Thanks for the tips you shared.

As far as nature goes, I love most all of it except for ticks, spiders, and mosquitoes. When I'm enjoying nature, I'm usually soaking it all in and enjoying the moment, but rarely do I think about jewelry then.

Alice said...

I posted this on my FB page

http://www.facebook.com/#!/alice.peterson.129

lakesuperiorwaves said...

I feel my pieces of jewelry reflect nature as I am an avid gardener (up until the last two yrs with back surgeries), I live on a road with about 5 other houses so it is remote, I love to walk in the woods and see all the different kinds of ferns there are, or use my camera to catch the rays of the sun streaming through the branches of the trees. But then winter comes and we get lots of snow due to lake effect from Lake Superior so it seems there wouldn't be much going on, but there is. The color of the lake as it churns to the shore or the over spray that freezes to the skeletons of dead plants. taskeylaura@gmail.com

lakesuperiorwaves said...

Also shared on Facebook!

Kelli said...

YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVING the copper tubing earrings!! Those are gorgeous! You have REALLY nailed the enameling :)

mairedodd said...

i have a tube cutter like stacie - got it at my local hardware store... it is nice and easy to use... you are just a font of info on where to find copper! i am guessing i have the heavier type... nice to learn something new like that! (still need to call the roofing companies for scrap)

Coffeefreek53 said...

Oh, yes, nature almost always plays into what I make/wear/see inspiration. I love how you've done the copper tubing. I have purchased some thanks to my mentor, but have not done a darn thing with it yet! You've given me the kick in the tush that I needed, thanks! I am not a good "sawer" and just keep putting off getting out the dang saw.

I would love to have those earrings dangle from my lobes and show them off.

coffeefreek53@yahoo.com

Dale said...

Just wanted to compliment you on the awesome job you did on your copper pipe earrings. They are absolutely fabulous, and i love the idea of enameling copper pipe.

PA said...

Oh nature inspirations! First is color. E.g., I just visited Iceland the brilliant blues of the glacial rivers & geothermal pools blew me away! Second is shape. Nature seems to like circles, spirals, & curves and so do I. And I also pinned this and shared it on my FB. I love this site! My email is randolpabill@msn.com.

Off the Beadin' Path said...

Thanks for info on copper tubing and your experience! Glad you stuck with it! Those earrings are incredible! I'm sure that nature is my best inspiration, there's so much to see and appreciate, even if it just gives you a good feeling and you feel like creating something!

Off the Beadin' Path said...

Shared on my FB page, too! Thanks again, those are desirable prizes!

rockcreekcreations said...

Ah nature. I remember most while driving home from working all night and watching a hill of tree turning green in the spring. Day after day watching the variety of greens. It was worth the night shift to see that.

carrie b said...

I Just Found your web site and I will bookmark it to see all your cool stuff. Thanks Carrie B

carrie b said...

I just found your web site and really in joy it .Thanks Carrie B

Erin S said...

OOOOH, I LOVE that enameled copper tubing! OK, nature--probably the thing I've been most into lately is drilled river rocks. Love those!
eastrother1@gmail.com

Lisa Chapman said...

Nature inspires me in jewelry design with all of the amazing patterns, textures, and color combinations. Your beads and earrings are beautiful as always!

Shai Williams said...

I don't know that nature inspires me directly but it does allow me to recharge my batteries so that I am ready to work on another design.

blogbaby(at)comcast(dot)net

Shai Williams said...

I shared on FB

https://www.facebook.com/sShaiha/posts/339141122826909

blogbaby(at)comcast(dot)net

Christine said...

I love the colors of nature - particularly blues & greens. Love the earrings - thanks for the chance!!

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