Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner!!

Drum roll please......

The winners of the earrings I made and posted on Tuesday's blog entry are:

R Cates and Terri Del Signore!!! APPLAUSE! Please get in touch with me! Send me your address so I can get your fancy ear-bobs in the mail as soon as possible!

Thanks to everyone who commented and shared thier 80s music. I now have many, many earworms rocking 80s style in my head.

I hope many of you will make these earrings, and show us your version. ENJOY!!

Practice in Action .....

by MaryAnn Carroll

So..... I tend to be the type of person who loves to experiment. I am also the type of person that LOVES to find unique deals, which is why auctionzip is one of my favorite websites. You can search for all of the live or online (not my thing) auctions that are in your area. Most include pictures, so you will have a good idea about what will be there.

I keep an ongoing list in my head of what I would like to have one day. When we go, I am MUCH better than my husband with money limits. If I don't get what I set out for, the hunt continues. It's fun. If you haven't tried it yet, you should!

So, I have wanted a letter punch set for a long time and just haven't purchased one. It's not one of those "must haves" for me, but more like an "I would like to own one someday" kind of thing.

Last weekend, I found this cool punch set! Some people like the look of new things; I prefer the look of something that has been used and passed down over the years. This one definitely is old. There isn't a top with it, but I'm not sure it every had one...... and it is a full set (including numbers). I managed to get it for $30.

Now, it was time to try it. I've watched a few tutorials and liked the one that used masking tape. Keep in mind, I am clueless when it comes to doing this.

The pictures below show my steel block that I've purchased in a bead shop. The one I prefer and use most often is my antique iron (directly below). I purchased from an estate sale before I realized that auctions were much more entertaining! This picture is for no reason at all other than I wanted you to see it!

After taping the disc to my block, I wrote out the letters to help me with my spacing. Then I moved the punch ever so lightly until I could feel it touch the masking tape.

That's all good and well until I faced this..... Just one big hit they say...... yup and I could picture my fingers becoming part of the steel iron! This took some major concentration and I had to let go of the fear of losing my fingers!

I read that the best thing to use was this heavy duty two pound mallet that I use for disc cutting.

You need one good hit (a little scary).

So I practiced and practiced....

Am I good at it yet?

No.... 

And I've learned not to get too wordy!

Then I tried doming, but could not find my wooden doming block. I wonder why???

Don't judge.

I'm pretty sure my metal block is not the one to use! The letters stayed, but they were definitely different and I was afraid to keep rounding it. What the heck? It's just practice.

 And then what? Let's try some enamel..... hmmmmmm..... not sure.

I've read that using lower case letters softens the words..... I won't be running out too soon to get those since I am not positive that this is my thing. I like it and I might try using them in clay. If I find an antique set with lower letters, I will definitely try them out though.

In the meantime, this was a good way to find out if I liked doing this? I think we all have to find what types of things are natural for us. This didn't come naturally for me like it is for mary jane dodd.....

https://etsy.com/shop/mairedodd

or Barbara Betchel.....

http://secondsurf.com

We will see. It was fun trying and if nothing else, I have another antique piece!

Have you tried something that was a challenge and ended up working out or not working out?

Thanks for reading!

MaryAnn

Looking at Your Progress Through Photos

Recently I went through my photo library and cleaned up the files.

There is something magical and inspirational looking through photos...

Screen shots from apps are a bit of a time warp:

Above was a photo of Blue Poppies filtered through the Percolator app.

Over time technology changes and I wonder when this app will be obsolete.

Times that I have spent just making and making beads.

Sometimes for orders. Sometimes for ideas. Sometimes for shows.

And variations - ideas and daydreams about what these could be - barely touching on the potential...

Working through hundreds of beads making pairs and having just a few odds left.

Wondering sometimes: How did I make all of those? And will I ever do that again?

Always inspired by nature - seed pods - a bunch of press molds and bead tests that need to be looked upon again and fiddled with.

And explorations with water color a few years back - simply to explore.

To me I see an eye, and blue skies reflected.

So while work and family keep me busy and my studio is more and more cluttered from short bursts of creativity time - I look on these and feel inspired to get back and focus.

It is time to clean and organize and get myself ready for some bead shows (Bead Fest April, Bead and Button June, and Bead Fest August). I need to look and see what it is exactly that I want to make.

Looking back is a good way to make progress forward...

Tuesday Tutorial - Earrings, and I Hate to Make Earrings!

This is a quickie post about making something I hate to make----EARRINGS. Making earrings to me is the art equivalent of torture. I am not inspired by, nor do I wear, earrings. I love to look at earrings and am totally jealous of the gorgeous designs I see so many artists creating. I wish I could get that sort of inspiration!

I used to wear earrings. Back in the day I wore HUGE, CHANDELIER shoulder duster earrings that went great with my permed mohawk. GOD BLESS THE 80s! 

I've moved on....

Anyway, occasionally I sit down and force myself to make earrings. Usually with dismal results. The other day I was fooling around with some 20 gauge sterling wire and this happened. AND I LIKED IT. Mostly by accident, I had been making head pins and these red jasper disc-ish beads happened to be laying in front of me. I started messing around and viola! I made earrings I actually like and would possibly even WEAR. 

Now, I DO NOT CLAIM that this is some never before seen design. I'm sure there are tons of these out there. In fact, a friend of mine commented that she had seen this style before. So much for my perceived GENIUS...

But, if you want to make a simple. organic style earring that works really well for flat-stacked and disc designs, this is it.

What you need per pair: A torch (I use a micro torch), four lengths of 6 to 8 inch 20 gauge wire, a chasing hammer, steel bench block, needle nose pliers, flat nose pliers, needle file, a drill or hole punch (Eurotool) with a 1/16th bit, sanding sponge and sandpaper (med/fine), pickle if you want, disc beads and flat-ish accent beads of your choice.

What you do: Ball the ends of all four lengths of wire. Clean how you see fit. Pickle if you want a super shiny wire or hand finish with sandpaper/sanding sponges for a more rustic look. Hammer flat the balled ends of two pieces of balled wire. Punch or dill a hole in the flattened end of each and clean with a needle file. To assemble, thread a small accent bead on to a length of wire with a balled end (here I used a lovely little enamel disc by MaryAnn Carroll). Thread that through the hole in the flattened end of the second wire. Add a disc bead or two (whatever, stay single if you are using a fatter bead, make a stack of flat beads in graduating sizes, etc.).I used a turquoise disc here. The wire with the flat end and hole is the actual ear wire, so orient that up, bend the wire holding the beads flush with the back and do a simple wrap to the ear wire to hold it tight (I like a messy, knot-looking bundle of wire here so I use more). Trim excess wire with snips, tuck the end in with needle nose pliers. Now make the bend in the ear wire any length you like using flat nose pliers. Curve the wire in the back, snip to whatever length you like. File the end nice and smooth. I give the bend a couple whacks with the chasing hammer to stiffen a bit. Repeat for the other earring. THE END.

Since each earring takes two pieces of wire, you can make cool mixed metal earrings too! Copper and silver wire is next on my list...you could even thread a small bead on the ear wire and wrap in in place with the thread wire. Many possibilities here! I could conceivably make a ton of these, but I probably won't because...earrings. So, you GO NUTS! If you do make some, share your pics! 

Oh, and did I mention that I AM GIVING TWO PAIRS OF THESE EARRINGS AWAY??? You're welcome! Simply comment here what your favorite 80s song or group is. If you are too young (Oy) GOOGLE IT. For example--Prince's Purple Rain (the entire album) was my JAM. I played it (cassette, people) until the tape BROKE. LET'S GO CRAZY, LETS GET NUTS!!! 

I will be giving away the turquoise/enamel disc and red jasper pairs you see here--yummy!

Your turn...I will plug your names into a random generator and post the winners here and on our Facebook page Saturday the 27th. Get out your leg warmers and DANCE!

Now GO MAKE SOMETHING AMAZING!

Ask and You Just Might Just Receive

by Sherri Stokey

We all have those little things that we need or want just so.  After years of knotting, I like to think I know what things work best in my jewelry designs.  When I'm buying beads to use as focal pieces in bracelets, I want them to have two holes large enough for my cord to pass though.  If I'm buying bracelet bar connectors, I look for two holes on each end, instead of just one.  I also have colors I prefer and colors I avoid like the plague.  In handmade jewelry, these little details can make a big difference, even if they sound a little silly.

I spent quite a lot of time searching for the perfect components over the years with very inconsistent results.  Sometimes I'd find just the thing, and other times I'd strike out.  Then one day it finally hit me - you won't get what you want unless you ask for it.  It might not sound like an epiphany to you, but to me?  It was huge!

Many of the artisans who make jewelry components will take custom orders. I recently came across some raku pieces by Valerie Cristo of Clay for a Cure, but of course the ones I liked only had one hole.  I messaged her and asked if she would make the pieces with two holes and all that loot in the photo up there is the result.

Not only did Valerie agree to make the pieces I wanted, she took the time to ask some questions about why I wanted the changes.   Because she made the effort to understand why I was asking, she was able to suggest an alternative which led to these double shanked pieces I'm really excited about!

You'd think these pieces would hold me for a while, but since I was out pestering artists for favors, I hit up Sue from Star Spirit Studio, too.  Sue is always great to work with and when I asked about getting some of her designs on bracelet bars with four holes, she was most obliging.

*Swoon*  Aren't those amazing!  She actually made more than this and let me choose which ones I wanted.  I had a really tough time narrowing it down to a dozen.  Just look at those colors!  I can't decide if this one is my favorite:

Or maybe this one:

I do really like the spirit horse:

And this one just makes me feel serene:

Next time you find yourself wishing you could find a certain this or that, like a bead with a larger hole or a pendant with just a bit more blue in it, try asking!  That's part of the beauty of using handmade components.  Not every artist can or will take custom orders, but many of them will go the extra mile to get you just what you need.  It's worth asking!

Combining Techniques

by Staci Louise Smith

I love learning new things.  Each time I learn a new technique, I begin to realize I will probably never ever use it the way I learned it.  Or worse, get to do it again.

I make beads and jewelry.  Occasionally other things, but most of my time is spent making beads.

So, when I get to use techniques, that were perhaps supposed to be for something else, in my beads and jewelry, its a happy day.

I got into carving beads around the time I got into Lino Cuts. I love lino cuts, and one year, I gave myself some time to play, and actually made a few.  It reminded me how much I like to carve ( the photo's below were the few lino cuts I made, used in mixed media pieces).  

But alas, my beads weren't going to make themselves.  Some other events happened and carving was on my brain, and voila, I was carving beads!

My bead carving has come a long way from where I started, and I must say, I LOVE it.   

So, now I am on this Zen Stone kick.  Where my carvings carry all the way around the beads.  I LOVE THEM.  I love to make them, I love how they look and feel.  I have been making big batches for something lately.

Another technique I have been playing with these days, is my Gold Rush technique.

Anyhow, I am loving that one too.

Well today, as I made huge batches of the Zen Stone beads, I wondered if I could make a Zen stone bead, that looks like it has a vein of gold running through it, and then carve it, marrying the two techniques.  So out of all the beads I made, I tried ONE.  Just in case it was a big fail.

Well..........................................

THIS TIME IT WORKED!  

Let me tell you, it doesn't always work out like it looks in my head.  But this one did, and I am so glad!  Looks like pyrite in a carved stone.  

So, now I have a new direction.  My wheels are turning to try other veins in stones too.  Like boulder opal beads, or imaginary ones even.  

Anyhow, let this encourage you, to learn new things.  Even if its not something you think you will not use.  You may end up using it in a different way.

And PLAY.  Combine techniques.  You will never know where your creativity can go unless you try.  You will never know if something works unless you just do it and see.  

Have fun and PLAY today!

Handmade stands for retail stores

Carol Dekle-Foss

I've been gun shy when it comes to displaying my work in stores or galleries. It could be the pricing challenge or that I feel my work isn't cohesive enough. Whatever the reason, it's time to get over it and pick up a few stockists.  I've started the process by making some handmade stands with some shadow boxes I had in storage.

I also used some floral microsuede fabric I fell in love with from Joann's, 6 gauge copper wire I scored from a suspicious looking biker dude, and some african trade beads. 

I really enjoyed putting them together. Let me show you how I did it!

First, I finished the wood using a distressing technique I learned how to do here.

Then measured where I wanted the copper wire to go and drilled holes in the side of the box. 

I cut the fabric to size and just used double sided tape to attach it to the back of the box.

I then straightened the copper wire using a raw-hide mallet and a steel block. I also sprayed the copper with a few coats of lacquer.

I cut the wire 1mm longer than needed on both sides and riveted the the trade beads in place. I used a riveting hammer and a vise for the first rivet and then placed the box with wire attached on top of a steel block and riveted the second bead in place. 

So far I've made two boxes, one for earrings and one for necklaces and bracelets. I've figured out the pricing for my work using the Jewelry Manager Deluxe software, and now it's time to find the right stockist!  Wish me luck!

Also, I've been thinking about the David Bowie blog hop. He was such an amazingly creative soul and he has left a permanent mark on our culture. He touched us in such a profound and unique way.  For the jewelry I make in his honor, I'm going to just let my imagination run wild and not be too specific on what I create. Anything goes! I think it will be fun to just let go for once and explore with different mediums! We hope you will join in and celebrate David Bowie and his life with us.

Thank you for reading!

Slow Recovery and the Season for STONES

Ugh. Excuse me while I blow my nose for the 40,000th time today. *Cough*Wheeze*Sniff*

I got bronchitis. Then, because bronchitis is for BABIES, I got low-grade pneumonia. As opposed to fancy high-grade pneumonia--I'm not THAT high maintenance. No, just give me the garden-variety lungs filled with fluid, mucous producing viral infection that only makes you FEEL like you are dying as opposed to ACTUALLY dying. As I said before, ugh.

In all seriousness, if any of you are suffering from this terrible season of snot slinging illness--I FEEL YOUR PAIN. As one friend put it--the Holy Trinity is NyQuil, DayQuil and your cough drop of choice. (I prefer lemon, thank you). Also, I am not an Earth Mother. I did not gather my own organic echinacea flowers to brew into tea. I did not get a Z-pack (whatever THAT is), and if I hear the words "neti pot" again I will punch someone in the throat. Humans are gross, germ infested snot manufacturing organisms and I PEAKED at mucous production. Seriously, I deserve some type of award. My trash cans overflow with used tissues, and I believe I have been directly responsible for the felling of a swath of the Amazon rainforest for paper production. My deep-chest cough would attract a bull moose. My raw, red nose rivals a baboon's flaming butt.Give me the strongest over-the-counter product that will simultaneously knock me out and clear my sinuses. I fall asleep every night on a NyQuil/Zyrtec buzz that mostly gets me through till morning.

That being said, I'm actually feeling better. After almost a month. DAMN! Thank you to all my friends who were kind enough to leave me completely alone knowing full well that when I am sick I turn into a cave-dwelling troll. I appreciate the Facebook messages and the refusal to visit. Seriously.

So, studio time was a distant memory. Up until yesterday (for REAL) I hadn't been in the studio for almost three months. Holidays, life, work all got in the way then the freight train of illness really stopped me in my tracks.

BUT I'M BACK, BABY!!! Yesterday and today were good days. I have continued my Time Traveler series and begun fondling all the cabs I have in stock. YOU KNOW YOU DO IT TOO! Sit and run your fingers over all your pretty rocks....sigh.  

The Path Least Traveled - from my Time Travelers Series

Gorgeous natural surface quartz cut by Angela Fowler

Which brings me to my next topic--IT'S ROCK SEASON!

The Tuscon gem show is over, all our favorite vendors and artists are home. Most are also fighting some sort of travel bug, because as wonderful as the Tuscon gem show is it should really be named the Tuscon Gem and GERM Show. Everyone gets sick there--I believe from handling all the gorgeous beads and gems that everyone has literally DROOLED OVER ALL DAY. Anyway, everyone is home with suitcases full of loot and it's now ROCK SEASON! Be sure to check in with your favorite vendors to snatch up all the wonderful goodies they have brought back. For instance...

Kimberly Rogers of Numinosity Beads is offering GORGEOUS stones she got in Tuscon along with her spectacular lampwork. I'm FREAKING OUT over the spiny oyster shell strand...TAKE MY MONEY, KIM!

Nikki Zehler, the force of nature behind LoveRoot, is creating AHHHHMAAAZING works with stones from her endless stash--her new stuff is DELICIOUS.

And my go-to for super-spectacular cabs, Angela Fowler, is offering some serious treasure over at Designer Cabs and More on Facebook.

So, wipe your noses and get back in the studio as soon as you can. There are so many lovely rocks to play with, beads to string, metal to melt and wire to wrap!!! Remember, we have an awesome David Bowie inspired blog-hop, too!!

Here's to a healthy rest of Winter--remember, Spring is right around the corner. Then we can all start bitching about our allergies.

Now, GO MAKE SOMETHING AMAZING!