tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90743449002931019962024-03-13T19:34:59.887-07:00CMS DesignsCMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-25125873987944950162021-10-30T16:44:00.004-07:002021-10-30T16:44:47.500-07:00Daily Meditations<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmMi39T3RPI/YX3YoNP7xAI/AAAAAAAAUSg/UgWEFBkhYxUulFV_VNXfYtuZBs80plkUwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/284D8AB6-12D4-4A1B-943C-2BED74696DC9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1994" data-original-width="2048" height="390" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmMi39T3RPI/YX3YoNP7xAI/AAAAAAAAUSg/UgWEFBkhYxUulFV_VNXfYtuZBs80plkUwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h390/284D8AB6-12D4-4A1B-943C-2BED74696DC9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkYZP2hJIgo/YX3Yo4Sxm9I/AAAAAAAAUSo/8izP8_7TlKgd0SeHAyfaxbDk87jVJXmegCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/87F49212-1BF6-4F09-B341-D8A2AEDDD62E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="2048" height="311" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkYZP2hJIgo/YX3Yo4Sxm9I/AAAAAAAAUSo/8izP8_7TlKgd0SeHAyfaxbDk87jVJXmegCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h311/87F49212-1BF6-4F09-B341-D8A2AEDDD62E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HnFv1VkP9IQ/YX3YoMaspFI/AAAAAAAAUSk/T8j9sIM-h9oZ3PmWZLAetXl5OFqC2D-CgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/43E64F2A-7214-4012-A948-D509435C5B78.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2046" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HnFv1VkP9IQ/YX3YoMaspFI/AAAAAAAAUSk/T8j9sIM-h9oZ3PmWZLAetXl5OFqC2D-CgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/43E64F2A-7214-4012-A948-D509435C5B78.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XkVAXjmIsNo/YX3Yn6JswdI/AAAAAAAAUSc/moVHtYfxVzsGEIdQv8awTafzlV7SnWTqgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2035/6AA922F0-6A10-4527-AD2D-24AA8C6244EF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="2035" height="301" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XkVAXjmIsNo/YX3Yn6JswdI/AAAAAAAAUSc/moVHtYfxVzsGEIdQv8awTafzlV7SnWTqgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h301/6AA922F0-6A10-4527-AD2D-24AA8C6244EF.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-49171289691003374382021-10-30T16:41:00.003-07:002021-10-30T16:41:46.424-07:00Daily Meditation<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wl1cHDJ96Y8/YX3Xzycd3ZI/AAAAAAAAUSM/HIdLUai75AUrerXQdIQdXUOCnh2cmDRjgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/4E81D416-DE6A-4D1C-9C10-7413213DD11C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="2048" height="344" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wl1cHDJ96Y8/YX3Xzycd3ZI/AAAAAAAAUSM/HIdLUai75AUrerXQdIQdXUOCnh2cmDRjgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h344/4E81D416-DE6A-4D1C-9C10-7413213DD11C.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf12mieGAhk/YX3Xz5-QHSI/AAAAAAAAUSQ/7U1vcUeDM945tSLOGf7X8PTCuFWxTYx0ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1F70C9A4-80CB-4C04-B84C-347D792DC0B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1906" data-original-width="2048" height="373" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf12mieGAhk/YX3Xz5-QHSI/AAAAAAAAUSQ/7U1vcUeDM945tSLOGf7X8PTCuFWxTYx0ACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h373/1F70C9A4-80CB-4C04-B84C-347D792DC0B2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-8319619845195559002021-10-30T16:30:00.008-07:002021-10-30T16:36:41.282-07:00Daily Meditation: Cats and FB<p>Daily Meditation: CATS and FB</p><p>Okay, given recent revelations, I really am having difficulties sticking with FB as a platform. I do not support their policies, but I do love looking at all of the beautiful art and photos posted here and keeping in touch with friends. Without this platform, my drawings would have no reach into the world outside of my art room. I certainly don’t draw for the purpose of sharing, but it does seem a shame to just stick them into a photo album, forgotten and lonely. </p><p>I stopped using IG long ago because I don’t like the whole IG “influencers” thing. All the selfies and trendy stuff is icky. </p><p>I like to write and share photos. So what do I use as an alternative to FB? I once had this blog, but that died years ago. I guess for the time being, I grit my teeth, hold my nose, and use their platform. I am, however, going to back up all of my art posts here on Blogger just in case. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">CATS and drawing. I am trying to teach myself to draw realistic stuff. Here is my first attempt. Of course, a CAT would be the first! 🐈⬛</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sT2Q_jVqBfU/YX3W89ymeMI/AAAAAAAAUSE/fJvog8JlSZwfdCTShbIcScmbOCcYHm_DwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/43AD5A05-B0FB-458B-8E1C-DF16DEC081EB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2048" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sT2Q_jVqBfU/YX3W89ymeMI/AAAAAAAAUSE/fJvog8JlSZwfdCTShbIcScmbOCcYHm_DwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h260/43AD5A05-B0FB-458B-8E1C-DF16DEC081EB.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p></p>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-86665687371260930352021-10-30T16:12:00.003-07:002021-10-30T16:13:36.514-07:00Daily Meditation: Trees and Clutter<p>Daily Meditation: Trees and Clutter</p><p>Trees exhale for us so that we can inhale them to stay alive. Can we ever forget that? Let us love trees with every breath we take until we perish.</p><p> ~ Munia Khan </p><p>Inspired by gorgeous fall foliage and a profound meditation on creating the life that we desire. I changed this piece countless times. At first, it was way too busy and cluttered, taking the focus away from the outline of the maple leaf. A black paint pen was all it took to blot out the undesirable busyness. At times, the same busyness clutters our lives, obscuring our view and shifting our focus from life’s most important things. In those moments, a black paint pen and bold actions are required to blot out the clutter that does not add beauty to this life.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-47i-AiE3Rnc/YX3RPEuzGBI/AAAAAAAAURs/gjESwrgYLwQxrD3ZsBHhX3GyFw356zTygCNcBGAsYHQ/s1666/DEEF699D-CA41-489D-9386-C8017D271F8A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="1473" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-47i-AiE3Rnc/YX3RPEuzGBI/AAAAAAAAURs/gjESwrgYLwQxrD3ZsBHhX3GyFw356zTygCNcBGAsYHQ/w566-h640/DEEF699D-CA41-489D-9386-C8017D271F8A.jpeg" width="566" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-50679179163323777152021-10-30T15:54:00.004-07:002021-10-30T16:37:38.467-07:00Daily Meditations: The Sea<p>Four years have passed since I have updated this blog. We moved from the coast to a city inland in the valley, life plans changed completely, a pandemic stopped and then altered every aspect of life, and my creative muse took a long and weird vacation. Jewelry making, a creative outlet and passion which dominated my first five years in retirement, no longer called to me. But I soon discovered that, for me, creativity must be honored and fostered in order for my spirit to be calmed. I picked up a pen one day, and my new outlet was clear. . . meditative drawing. Here are drawings inspired by the sea. Copic markers, Micron pens, gel pens, Posca paint pens, Derwent watercolor pencils, chalk pencil, graphite</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sJNuehWjJqk/YX3MZ_j2XCI/AAAAAAAAURc/croWugEwGuA_DERsOqx_oF0D-dsPeIVUwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/F8C1E1ED-621B-42AC-A434-311630C7CB3C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1623" data-original-width="2048" height="318" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sJNuehWjJqk/YX3MZ_j2XCI/AAAAAAAAURc/croWugEwGuA_DERsOqx_oF0D-dsPeIVUwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h318/F8C1E1ED-621B-42AC-A434-311630C7CB3C.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ykw2uj6ZC-4/YX3MZ_FX_cI/AAAAAAAAURY/GlSu-6_gJ3QkaQ4Qs_P7N0H0G3LrOy82ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/D0ACF06F-CFEC-4664-BA67-754E9CA0BBB1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1919" data-original-width="2048" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ykw2uj6ZC-4/YX3MZ_FX_cI/AAAAAAAAURY/GlSu-6_gJ3QkaQ4Qs_P7N0H0G3LrOy82ACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h375/D0ACF06F-CFEC-4664-BA67-754E9CA0BBB1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HD1Le9_zq4I/YX3MSZdvsMI/AAAAAAAAURU/gU9yxPl7wbkFW-IZPSRUbBHkKnIu9JFBwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/B8A3ABF4-4DBB-40FF-82F4-08430898E878.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1845" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HD1Le9_zq4I/YX3MSZdvsMI/AAAAAAAAURU/gU9yxPl7wbkFW-IZPSRUbBHkKnIu9JFBwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h360/B8A3ABF4-4DBB-40FF-82F4-08430898E878.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuwzJwC4kdw/YX3MSKcfuTI/AAAAAAAAURQ/rSn3s2WoyioQK0ER9LJQC8w315AXO3hHQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/965C9174-F607-4B3A-8D85-8DF2D76E7797.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1959" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuwzJwC4kdw/YX3MSKcfuTI/AAAAAAAAURQ/rSn3s2WoyioQK0ER9LJQC8w315AXO3hHQCNcBGAsYHQ/w383-h400/965C9174-F607-4B3A-8D85-8DF2D76E7797.jpeg" width="383" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYsL0MDJSG4/YX3MRiJByoI/AAAAAAAAURM/sX8wXsZYwrcNhYM_g1EAoowkoE2qpFVbQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/253BA980-99DA-4DCD-81AE-7AAA6D701FD9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1947" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYsL0MDJSG4/YX3MRiJByoI/AAAAAAAAURM/sX8wXsZYwrcNhYM_g1EAoowkoE2qpFVbQCNcBGAsYHQ/w380-h400/253BA980-99DA-4DCD-81AE-7AAA6D701FD9.jpeg" width="380" /></a></div><br /><p></p>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-79144435068276725122017-04-08T19:39:00.001-07:002021-10-30T16:38:27.796-07:00Jewelry Gifts<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Inspired by the Sea and Made in my New Studio!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On our recent, brief trip to the Oregon coast I picked up these seaside-themed gifts for a new friend (and neighbor) in Eugene. I have been invited today to a gathering of six teachers, and this is my gift to the host of the party. It should be fun drinking wine and conversing with Oregon teachers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">* Earrings are made from embossed and painted recycled tin and glass. These are my FIRST pieces of jewelry made in my new (but still very disorganized) studio in Eugene.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LOfgu-_xxPE/WOme0Ibm4nI/AAAAAAAAHAM/r6u1_sxiNzE/s640/blogger-image--202175749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LOfgu-_xxPE/WOme0Ibm4nI/AAAAAAAAHAM/r6u1_sxiNzE/s640/blogger-image--202175749.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gRFpUe9C80Q/WOmeuBOx0dI/AAAAAAAAHAA/WBYToDDE7XQ/s640/blogger-image-1645751940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gRFpUe9C80Q/WOmeuBOx0dI/AAAAAAAAHAA/WBYToDDE7XQ/s640/blogger-image-1645751940.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4tcIRb_w2yM/WOme-rG2T6I/AAAAAAAAHAg/NsAZHnSkeNk/s640/blogger-image--601038295.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4tcIRb_w2yM/WOme-rG2T6I/AAAAAAAAHAg/NsAZHnSkeNk/s640/blogger-image--601038295.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our realtors, who helped us by our dream home, have become dear friends. I made this set for Renee as a thank you gift.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">* Seaglass, brass, recycled glass</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ftx37uRBadI/WOme4S6PtII/AAAAAAAAHAU/SckAcM9iRoY/s640/blogger-image--1783918531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ftx37uRBadI/WOme4S6PtII/AAAAAAAAHAU/SckAcM9iRoY/s640/blogger-image--1783918531.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7atz_CvDLZQ/WOme6fCbLZI/AAAAAAAAHAY/DYkN9lEYhvE/s640/blogger-image-1055638059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7atz_CvDLZQ/WOme6fCbLZI/AAAAAAAAHAY/DYkN9lEYhvE/s640/blogger-image-1055638059.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YkwUrOyFJCY/WOmewJNJlII/AAAAAAAAHAE/ASDi9ohQJH8/s640/blogger-image-583092650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YkwUrOyFJCY/WOmewJNJlII/AAAAAAAAHAE/ASDi9ohQJH8/s640/blogger-image-583092650.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uD8ptAGPvWg/WOmeyB79jQI/AAAAAAAAHAI/qoJH0ROSqT4/s640/blogger-image--1664916352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uD8ptAGPvWg/WOmeyB79jQI/AAAAAAAAHAI/qoJH0ROSqT4/s640/blogger-image--1664916352.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EBDpW8ikfio/WOme2fqeCrI/AAAAAAAAHAQ/w8qXg1SR0Tw/s640/blogger-image-1330666971.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EBDpW8ikfio/WOme2fqeCrI/AAAAAAAAHAQ/w8qXg1SR0Tw/s640/blogger-image-1330666971.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-im8TlS2kbvU/WOme8i7fiSI/AAAAAAAAHAc/wJWOqW4pYsw/s640/blogger-image--423727206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-im8TlS2kbvU/WOme8i7fiSI/AAAAAAAAHAc/wJWOqW4pYsw/s640/blogger-image--423727206.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-14507007366273651332017-04-08T19:19:00.001-07:002017-04-08T19:19:01.059-07:00Spring Fling<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Spring @ Sunflower Flats </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cindy Gardner, the owner of Sunflower Flats in Tillamook, Oregon, requested some new jewelry in a pink, lavender, and purple color palette for spring. Those aren't colors I usually work with, but I had great fun with these. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Vintage beads, glass, mother-of-pearl buttons, bone, silver</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DFUz5324TUA/WOmZ7HG6HxI/AAAAAAAAG_o/fBaw_KwBkiE/s640/blogger-image--504663802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DFUz5324TUA/WOmZ7HG6HxI/AAAAAAAAG_o/fBaw_KwBkiE/s640/blogger-image--504663802.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Trade beads, seaglass, recycled glass, blue lace agate, copper</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WNoYPsSW_fM/WOmaBlsbT0I/AAAAAAAAG_0/mysQzSfA1PY/s640/blogger-image--1368333489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WNoYPsSW_fM/WOmaBlsbT0I/AAAAAAAAG_0/mysQzSfA1PY/s640/blogger-image--1368333489.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Rose quartz and amethyst drops, glass, silver</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rqYd4LPeQZQ/WOmZ5PlSaPI/AAAAAAAAG_k/TUmq6IPpi70/s640/blogger-image--1961096004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rqYd4LPeQZQ/WOmZ5PlSaPI/AAAAAAAAG_k/TUmq6IPpi70/s640/blogger-image--1961096004.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Embossed and painted recycled tin, glass, silver</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2pKGlnnLYzA/WOmaDrxeJ4I/AAAAAAAAG_4/YhYUy85D0PI/s640/blogger-image-2081850318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2pKGlnnLYzA/WOmaDrxeJ4I/AAAAAAAAG_4/YhYUy85D0PI/s640/blogger-image-2081850318.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cindy's daughter, Natalie, sent me photos of the spring jewelry display case at the shop. She and Cindy always create such pretty and clever displays throughout the store. With the sunny warm weather yesterday and again today, it seems like spring has finally arrived, making winter a distant memory. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thank you, Cindy and Natalie Rieger! Happy Spring!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4chtK36LN5I/WOmZ_Ro_V3I/AAAAAAAAG_w/RyNzYaMTEbo/s640/blogger-image--1355322776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4chtK36LN5I/WOmZ_Ro_V3I/AAAAAAAAG_w/RyNzYaMTEbo/s640/blogger-image--1355322776.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hjfJn-o5NS4/WOmZ9VRgYdI/AAAAAAAAG_s/WVelXxM_YPY/s640/blogger-image-981500435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hjfJn-o5NS4/WOmZ9VRgYdI/AAAAAAAAG_s/WVelXxM_YPY/s640/blogger-image-981500435.jpg"></a></div><br></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-4757729283846862962017-04-08T18:44:00.001-07:002017-04-08T18:44:11.260-07:00Moving and Setting Up My New Studio<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">On our recent trip to the beach, I packed up my entire jewelry studio from our old house. It was an overwhelming task to accomplish, but in the end we filled our car to the ceiling with 10 boxes and a zillion bead boxes. My jewelry room was seriously lacking storage, but a trip to a thrift store resulted in a $12 shelving unit and a lovely cabinet repurposed from an old Edison record player cabinet (if I didn't have all of that stuff piled on top, I'd take a photo of the Edison label inside the middle section lid). What a cool cabinet. Lots of useful, velvet-lined drawers!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YshNNu__Zp4/WOmR4XrGtzI/AAAAAAAAG_Y/_xhv10nCMMY/s640/blogger-image--954822732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YshNNu__Zp4/WOmR4XrGtzI/AAAAAAAAG_Y/_xhv10nCMMY/s640/blogger-image--954822732.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7HZpEiFSibE/WOmR6obGWBI/AAAAAAAAG_c/pbcYIins0Ws/s640/blogger-image-1868620053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7HZpEiFSibE/WOmR6obGWBI/AAAAAAAAG_c/pbcYIins0Ws/s640/blogger-image-1868620053.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My cat Missy is checking out the cheap shelves crammed with bead boxes and tools.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tqYWrNEDRhU/WOmR0LptT3I/AAAAAAAAG_Q/S_CZjoOx_iU/s640/blogger-image-2025200288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tqYWrNEDRhU/WOmR0LptT3I/AAAAAAAAG_Q/S_CZjoOx_iU/s640/blogger-image-2025200288.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My work area is spacious and filled with light.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i8bzcwnZ4IQ/WOmR2B0e9iI/AAAAAAAAG_U/DYKfn4K1I1I/s640/blogger-image--69973400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i8bzcwnZ4IQ/WOmR2B0e9iI/AAAAAAAAG_U/DYKfn4K1I1I/s640/blogger-image--69973400.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-91171844548816441882017-04-08T18:10:00.001-07:002017-04-08T19:45:54.145-07:00Not Just Jewelry<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My friend Kirk Willis requested a keychain, so now I am making something entirely new. Life is not all about jewelry, I realize! He has opened my mind to non-jewelry applications for beads and leather . . . window hangings, napkin rings, wine glass charms, etc. I love new projects!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">* Brown & cobalt blue suede, very old trade bead, recycled glass, shell, bone, wood, antiqued brass charm/chain/beads<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-izTkkll_VlA/WOmJ9-YF6dI/AAAAAAAAG_E/rV6Kg_3dIsg/s640/blogger-image-1696397781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-izTkkll_VlA/WOmJ9-YF6dI/AAAAAAAAG_E/rV6Kg_3dIsg/s640/blogger-image-1696397781.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Anyone who knows Kirk, knows of his fondness for bears. When he specifically asked for a bear charm, I was fortunate to find one in a cool antique shop in the town of Coburg</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZEUjLNqlZHM/WOmJ47p0b8I/AAAAAAAAG-8/SM9LT2TNhlI/s640/blogger-image-1700464437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZEUjLNqlZHM/WOmJ47p0b8I/AAAAAAAAG-8/SM9LT2TNhlI/s640/blogger-image-1700464437.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x-ICL9xlzDg/WOmJ7ngrCeI/AAAAAAAAG_A/FPbQQ2efphI/s640/blogger-image--739706465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x-ICL9xlzDg/WOmJ7ngrCeI/AAAAAAAAG_A/FPbQQ2efphI/s640/blogger-image--739706465.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UW2VzjYRZtU/WOmJ_zhPkNI/AAAAAAAAG_I/Uq7vtFiobdA/s640/blogger-image-65169727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UW2VzjYRZtU/WOmJ_zhPkNI/AAAAAAAAG_I/Uq7vtFiobdA/s640/blogger-image-65169727.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I had some leftover black leather strap (I throw away nothing!) and these enameled number tags. All of the numbers on the tags are just random, which made me wonder if customers would buy them if the numbers had no special meaning for them. I figured that "17" could at least stand for the current year. :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What are your thoughts about the randomness of these numbers? Do you think random numbers would appeal to customers?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">* riveted leather strap, bone, shell, enameled number tag</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iEpYKvbRlLQ/WOmJ0kf1T6I/AAAAAAAAG-0/Ayp_PlywIks/s640/blogger-image-350139159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iEpYKvbRlLQ/WOmJ0kf1T6I/AAAAAAAAG-0/Ayp_PlywIks/s640/blogger-image-350139159.jpg"></a></div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y-gYWeIlzFQ/WOmJ2vnGOhI/AAAAAAAAG-4/pE28YBwIOwg/s640/blogger-image-1116628207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y-gYWeIlzFQ/WOmJ2vnGOhI/AAAAAAAAG-4/pE28YBwIOwg/s640/blogger-image-1116628207.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-66300471804192433282016-09-15T19:03:00.001-07:002016-09-28T23:58:43.662-07:00Art Jewelry Elements Autumn Challenge: Trees<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love how life has those serindipitous moments that touch our hearts. Caroline Dewison's post for this <font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://artjewelryelements.blogspot.com/2016/09/trees-autumn-themed-challenge-and.html" target="_blank" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Art Jewelry Elements Autumn Tree-Themed Challenge</a> </font><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">arrived in my blog feed just when I needed it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><u>The Inspiration</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My favorite images from Caroline's post are framed in this collage:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QAQ0e4wGtyw/V-rSlhpBzMI/AAAAAAAADnI/K4Rry0-z-0A/s640/blogger-image--1092554640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QAQ0e4wGtyw/V-rSlhpBzMI/AAAAAAAADnI/K4Rry0-z-0A/s640/blogger-image--1092554640.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Trees and forests have always fascinated and comforted me, but they have lately become a great source of passion for me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When I retired from teaching and moved to the Oregon coast, I believed that I would be living in a paradise by the sea. Those gorgeous hills of old-growth forests in a state famous for being green. We built our house so that our bedroom windows framed a beautiful, forested hill. One morning we awoke to the sound of beeping and crashing, a sound that has become far too common here . . . the sound of industrial timber turning a diverse ecosystem into another clearcut wasteland. It is impossible to travel along coastal Oregon and not be assaulted by vast swaths of clearcuts, yet another example of resource extraction for corporate profit. Seeing our diverse old-growth forests disappear at such an alarming rate breaks my heart. For example, the Homesteader Forest. Pictures tell the story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JSbAkCIZ8fU/V-rIZJOyiDI/AAAAAAAADmo/OYv6rgjLv2M/s640/blogger-image--863060837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JSbAkCIZ8fU/V-rIZJOyiDI/AAAAAAAADmo/OYv6rgjLv2M/s640/blogger-image--863060837.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sKJO5wSHxjQ/V-rIjKVzvVI/AAAAAAAADm0/r_5AfPpOSnw/s640/blogger-image--1381100632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sKJO5wSHxjQ/V-rIjKVzvVI/AAAAAAAADm0/r_5AfPpOSnw/s640/blogger-image--1381100632.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The photos below show our community watershed. This is right behind my neighborhood. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gziwvfIywl0/V-rIeHuQvaI/AAAAAAAADmw/Viauc7ww_As/s640/blogger-image-273591670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gziwvfIywl0/V-rIeHuQvaI/AAAAAAAADmw/Viauc7ww_As/s640/blogger-image-273591670.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1yRGOCvi-O0/V-rIbn4XEKI/AAAAAAAADms/iodvqzFZCjM/s640/blogger-image-152692906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1yRGOCvi-O0/V-rIbn4XEKI/AAAAAAAADms/iodvqzFZCjM/s640/blogger-image-152692906.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This devastation has activated me to advocate for healthy forests by joining a coalition of citizen and non-profit groups that seek to educate Oregonians and push for legislative action to reform the Oregon Forest Practices Act that allows this kind of destruction. A short but powerful video shows this issue clearly: <font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.oregonforestvoices.org" target="_blank" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Oregon Forest Voices: Timber's Cover-Up</a>. </font></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><u>The Jewelry</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Some of you are no doubt saying, "Enough already! Show us the jewelry." Here is THAT story. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Caroline Dewison of blueberribeads.co.uk randomly <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">selected two winners to receive one of her lovely tree beads made from buff stoneware clay and decorated with underglazes and a china painted tree motif. How lucky I was to have won one of these beauties! (Connection: my great aunt painted beautiful china).</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6uUcK9VcL28/V-rSjT0VcSI/AAAAAAAADnE/YDqd5Lf0Vpg/s640/blogger-image--1384729409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6uUcK9VcL28/V-rSjT0VcSI/AAAAAAAADnE/YDqd5Lf0Vpg/s640/blogger-image--1384729409.jpg"></a></div><br></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Exciting day when the package arrived from the UK!</span></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ivuru6Gz6_Q/V9ta_7fx5WI/AAAAAAAADbI/8OtY1gtUaVo/s640/blogger-image-296738635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ivuru6Gz6_Q/V9ta_7fx5WI/AAAAAAAADbI/8OtY1gtUaVo/s640/blogger-image-296738635.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The best part of a challenge such as this is anticipating what other designers will create with the exact same component. I spent much time gazing at this beautiful bead and imagining the possibilities for a context in which to highlight it. The more I pondered, the more clear it became that ALL the focus needed to be on this lovely component. The shape and weight of it shouted NECKLACE PENDANT with few competing adornments. I obliged. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Using brass wire, I created a spiral and strung an antiqued brass bead, a cap, and Caroline's pendant, and then I created a loop with a chunky wire wrap. Luckily, it was a sunny, warm day, allowing me to set up my oxidizing station on my deck. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GM4-IHrzOAI/V-q3bTevm5I/AAAAAAAADmI/sWDoCLnioQM/s640/blogger-image-2004300081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GM4-IHrzOAI/V-q3bTevm5I/AAAAAAAADmI/sWDoCLnioQM/s640/blogger-image-2004300081.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The weight of the pendant called for an equally weighty stringing medium, so I chose soft, black deerskin leather accented with old padre trade beads and antiqued brass large-hole beads. I always like to make necklace length adjustable, so I deferred to my usual method - threading both ends of the leather through a trade bead (tight squeeze through that hole) and pulling the brass-beaded ends to shorten it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mIMLPa0E924/V-q3Y7Ec-QI/AAAAAAAADmE/zUIPsVHGZiw/s640/blogger-image-1044044981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mIMLPa0E924/V-q3Y7Ec-QI/AAAAAAAADmE/zUIPsVHGZiw/s640/blogger-image-1044044981.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YC5ZqEZpbDw/V-q3OgjxXrI/AAAAAAAADl0/yUR8OPRoYCQ/s640/blogger-image-1762268430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YC5ZqEZpbDw/V-q3OgjxXrI/AAAAAAAADl0/yUR8OPRoYCQ/s640/blogger-image-1762268430.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IhTb8LWkSTQ/V-q8JiNi5BI/AAAAAAAADmY/B6eEFYqRG8E/s640/blogger-image--1086609797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IhTb8LWkSTQ/V-q8JiNi5BI/AAAAAAAADmY/B6eEFYqRG8E/s640/blogger-image--1086609797.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Even though jewelry sets seldom sell as such for me, I couldn't resist a pair of earrings to go with this necklace. Wanting to stick with the oval shape in neutral colors, I wire wrapped an agate briolette and brass bead with dark, annealed steel wire to capture the black color of the pendant trees and trim. I embossed the brass hoops with a tree branch & leaf pattern, domed them, and oxidized them. To be honest, I put the hoops in the oxidizing solution and completely forgot about them for about an hour, which resulted in a very rustic, yet fitting, patina. They feel like they might have been lost for years in an old-growth Oregon forest. Finally, I used brass connectors in a complimentary oval shape, adorned with antiqued brass beads. The antiqued brass earwires are handmade. </div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0WporcTJEbU/V-q3KEaRQUI/AAAAAAAADls/j7BsSm2JE2I/s640/blogger-image--619004917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0WporcTJEbU/V-q3KEaRQUI/AAAAAAAADls/j7BsSm2JE2I/s640/blogger-image--619004917.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9qeWp4C3ews/V-q3UPkY64I/AAAAAAAADl8/hmy-wZo2Xtk/s640/blogger-image-2051700731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9qeWp4C3ews/V-q3UPkY64I/AAAAAAAADl8/hmy-wZo2Xtk/s640/blogger-image-2051700731.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So here is the finished set, which I plan to donate as a door-prize/raffle item for an upcoming event to support responsible forestry practices. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hhKTuWcF19s/V-q3WXQrOSI/AAAAAAAADmA/tuLLzPgQvN0/s640/blogger-image-802383317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hhKTuWcF19s/V-q3WXQrOSI/AAAAAAAADmA/tuLLzPgQvN0/s640/blogger-image-802383317.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yC7nd333Oco/V-q3RpcneaI/AAAAAAAADl4/xOFzLKP8NMI/s640/blogger-image-1410229134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yC7nd333Oco/V-q3RpcneaI/AAAAAAAADl4/xOFzLKP8NMI/s640/blogger-image-1410229134.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oDI5GSZP53c/V-q3HWNZFkI/AAAAAAAADlo/K0Y0ywdx46s/s640/blogger-image--2085061425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oDI5GSZP53c/V-q3HWNZFkI/AAAAAAAADlo/K0Y0ywdx46s/s640/blogger-image--2085061425.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-102yoTTQLrE/V-q3MQZ0IcI/AAAAAAAADlw/m0JZPMiMj10/s640/blogger-image-1494947934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-102yoTTQLrE/V-q3MQZ0IcI/AAAAAAAADlw/m0JZPMiMj10/s640/blogger-image-1494947934.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><u>THANK YOU</u></b> to Art Jewelry Elements for hosting these challenges and to Caroline Dewison for her giveaway of this lovely bead. Check out the links below for Caroline's shop and for the reveal of other talented designers' creations honoring the theme of trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://blueberribeads.co.uk" target="_blank" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Caroline Dewison's Website and Shop</a></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class=""><div class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;"><p class=""><strong class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">AJE Team</strong></p><p class=""><a href="http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog" data-mce-href="http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Jennifer Stout Cameron</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/aje-tree-theme-challenge-reveal.html" data-mce-href="http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/aje-tree-theme-challenge-reveal.html" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Lesley Watt</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="https://wordpress.com/post/jdaviesreazor.com/1001996" data-mce-href="https://wordpress.com/post/jdaviesreazor.com/1001996" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Jenny Davies-Reazor</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://laney-mead.blogspot.co.uk/" data-mce-href="http://laney-mead.blogspot.co.uk" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Laney Mead</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk/" data-mce-href="http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Niky Sayers</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://www.cookyschock.com/blog" data-mce-href="http://www.cookyschock.com/blog" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Cooky Schock</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://cmendola.blogspot.co.uk/" data-mce-href="http://cmendola.blogspot.co.uk" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Cathy Spivey Mendola</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://blueberribeads.co.uk/aje-theme-challenge-trees/" data-mce-href="http://blueberribeads.co.uk/aje-theme-challenge-trees/" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Caroline Dewison</font></a></p><p class=""><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br class=""></span></p><p class=""><strong class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Guests</strong></p><p class=""><a href="http://artisticendeavor101.blogspot.co.uk/" data-mce-href="http://artisticendeavor101.blogspot.co.uk" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Brooke Bock</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.co.uk/" data-mce-href="http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.co.uk" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Karin Grosset Grange</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://suntsan.blogspot.fi/" data-mce-href="http://suntsan.blogspot.fi/" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Merja Sundström</font></a></p><p class=""><font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://cmsdesigns1.blogspot.com/" data-mce-href="http://cmsdesigns1.blogspot.com" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cindy Martin Shaw</a> >>>>> <i>You are here!</i></font></p><p class=""><font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com/" data-mce-href="http://www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com/" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Allison L Norfleet Br</a>uenger</font></p><div class=""><a href="http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/" data-mce-href="http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Melissa Trudinger</font></a></div><p class=""><a href="http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/" data-mce-href="http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Kathy Lindemer</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://wingsandbeads.blogspot.com/" data-mce-href="http://wingsandbeads.blogspot.com/" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Gloria Allen</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://www.shaihasramblings.com/" data-mce-href="http://www.shaihasramblings.com/" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Shai Williams</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/" data-mce-href="http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Tammy Adams</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca/2016/09/trees-art-jewelry-elements-autumn.html" data-mce-href="http://bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca/2016/09/trees-art-jewelry-elements-autumn.html" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Mona Arnott</font></a></p><p class=""><a href="http://artisticaos.blogspot.co.uk/" data-mce-href="http://artisticaos.blogspot.co.uk" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Terri Del Signore</font></a></p></div></div></blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-32806871788228198892016-07-01T11:53:00.001-07:002016-07-15T08:32:20.272-07:00We're All Ears :: July Reveal<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Where has the time gone, and what I have I been doing with it? My last blog post and earring inspiration for We're All Ears was in October 2015! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well, it has been a weird and busy 9 months. Brutal winter flooding. Escape vacations to bask in the wonderous Redwoods and see friends in Spokane, Washington. Lots of custom jewelry orders. The creation of an exclusive collection of feather-themed jewelry for Sunflower Flats, a lovely shop in Tillamook, Oregon. Some environmental activism related to deforestation and water quality here on the Oregon coast. Pet emergencies. The list continues . . . as does life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But then, while scrolling through my news feed, this challenge caught my eye. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Ii_g9f3vc8/V3a7__WPpVI/AAAAAAAADAo/Tl32Hp_os5A/s640/blogger-image-152632567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Ii_g9f3vc8/V3a7__WPpVI/AAAAAAAADAo/Tl32Hp_os5A/s640/blogger-image-152632567.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the day I noticed the challenge inspiration on my newsfeed, I had just returned from the nursery with a new favorite perriniel - the balloon flower. What a coincidence! Balloons, it seems, were calling my name. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h6dlmk_Vl20/V4UlP2U9uBI/AAAAAAAADBk/T3CwdFNYfww/s640/blogger-image--1446763162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h6dlmk_Vl20/V4UlP2U9uBI/AAAAAAAADBk/T3CwdFNYfww/s640/blogger-image--1446763162.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Keepin' it simple, I dove into my long-time hoarded, matched gemstone slabs, the balloon-shaped ones. I was inspired to use the yellows, oranges, and reds from the hot-air balloon photo. (As much as I wanted to use purple to represent my flowers, I had no purple-colored slabs.) I love working with these stones because keeping the focus on the stones forces me to keep the design minimal, a departure from my usual style. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Bumblebee jasper (from Intrinsic Trading), jet, resin, dark annealed steel wire</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UTfvMLWD1E0/V4UkjH7pPBI/AAAAAAAADBc/5kqvwpt8eKU/s640/blogger-image--1481859079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UTfvMLWD1E0/V4UkjH7pPBI/AAAAAAAADBc/5kqvwpt8eKU/s640/blogger-image--1481859079.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Cherry creek jasper (from Hampton's Rock Shop), turquoise, antiqued copper</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Yea! These are actually right-side up, hot-air balloon orientation!</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bWvlA6iD9fw/V3a7WqDZqvI/AAAAAAAADAg/t6MUZ6CrRdg/s640/blogger-image-1869980579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bWvlA6iD9fw/V3a7WqDZqvI/AAAAAAAADAg/t6MUZ6CrRdg/s640/blogger-image-1869980579.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lCKH2OMuS0w/V3a8JHXkuBI/AAAAAAAADA4/GvL4-ihhisI/s640/blogger-image-1255655635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lCKH2OMuS0w/V3a8JHXkuBI/AAAAAAAADA4/GvL4-ihhisI/s640/blogger-image-1255655635.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g0mYmLQblM8/V3a8HZbwtOI/AAAAAAAADA0/CY_bYNkRpeQ/s640/blogger-image--1470716555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g0mYmLQblM8/V3a8HZbwtOI/AAAAAAAADA0/CY_bYNkRpeQ/s640/blogger-image--1470716555.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8exk64SY26s/V3azpgcTUaI/AAAAAAAADAM/apODP2Alu8I/s640/blogger-image-319509375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8exk64SY26s/V3azpgcTUaI/AAAAAAAADAM/apODP2Alu8I/s640/blogger-image-319509375.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To see other designs by talented artists, visit this blog post: <font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://earrings-everyday.blogspot.com/2016/07/were-all-ears-july-reveal.html" target="_blank" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Earrings Everyday</a>. Thanks, Erin, for your continued inspiration! This challenge got me back into the blogosphere and helped me get motivated to fullfil an order for 15 pairs of gemstone slab earrings for a local shop. Yea!</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-8488061863211530822016-02-18T17:43:00.001-08:002016-02-24T09:26:12.662-08:00The Chain Gang<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While on vacation, I couldn't resist a stop at Heartsong Beads in Seal Rock, Oregon. (Honestly, I did TRY to pass by, but the temptation got the better of me. I mean, really, I had just made a haul at three other bead shops in California, and I already have tons of beads languishing in my studio already, unused and forgotten. I tell you, this bead addiction is a bugger to kick.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Beautiful lampwork beads, sterling silver findings, art beads, enamel beauties . . . stop me, someone! Well, there were deals - her gorgeous lampwork beads were 40% off and this antiqued brass chain was cheap. Because the links are unsoldered, I wouldn't use this chain in heavy necklaces, but the oval links could be useful. In my shopping bag it went. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When I arrived home, it was this brass chain that inspired me to experiment. Now I had thousands of brass connecting links to use, so I decided to explore all possible configurations of earring designs using them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fh9DGHD0FjQ/VsZy_beYNWI/AAAAAAAAC6U/gzXM78w13_w/s640/blogger-image-117221413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fh9DGHD0FjQ/VsZy_beYNWI/AAAAAAAAC6U/gzXM78w13_w/s640/blogger-image-117221413.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><u>Earring Designs From Simple to Complicated</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Often, my earring designs are complicated and time-consuming, so it was refreshing to just make a simple and casual pair at a lower price point. A wrapped glass briolette and a beaded earwire. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fmhfCWr5dxk/VsZzSFPitHI/AAAAAAAAC60/NIWbu5tY5_c/s640/blogger-image-559136409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fmhfCWr5dxk/VsZzSFPitHI/AAAAAAAAC60/NIWbu5tY5_c/s640/blogger-image-559136409.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A wrapped magnesite coin bead</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PgmbOcf584E/VsZy4sx7iwI/AAAAAAAAC6I/Ldfxc4TBuxM/s640/blogger-image-361285740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PgmbOcf584E/VsZy4sx7iwI/AAAAAAAAC6I/Ldfxc4TBuxM/s640/blogger-image-361285740.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A sparkly glass and brass dangle (I don't often do bling, but I love these purply faceted beads.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V4Pl34dV0pM/VsZy6xoRcwI/AAAAAAAAC6M/vKlVxB14tOA/s640/blogger-image--1311101366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V4Pl34dV0pM/VsZy6xoRcwI/AAAAAAAAC6M/vKlVxB14tOA/s640/blogger-image--1311101366.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A periwinkle glass briolette</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xIGu8WU5_bA/VsZzPTrWp7I/AAAAAAAAC6w/EM1iH6HSUGw/s640/blogger-image-129353668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xIGu8WU5_bA/VsZzPTrWp7I/AAAAAAAAC6w/EM1iH6HSUGw/s640/blogger-image-129353668.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A Vintaj-patinated copper shell charm and brass jump ring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_74cTKpDCx4/VsZzWsqtS6I/AAAAAAAAC68/qtip1KKk7IU/s640/blogger-image--477839425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_74cTKpDCx4/VsZzWsqtS6I/AAAAAAAAC68/qtip1KKk7IU/s640/blogger-image--477839425.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">An apatite and brass dangle and a blue quartz beaded and wire-wrapped earwire</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bKq9moSd2LY/VsZy2EAD1pI/AAAAAAAAC6E/yj6stsc4AGc/s640/blogger-image-666519115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bKq9moSd2LY/VsZy2EAD1pI/AAAAAAAAC6E/yj6stsc4AGc/s640/blogger-image-666519115.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A Picasso Czech glass dangle with Indonesian glass beaded and wire-wrapped earwire</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ILpPa6ft1ak/VsZyy7jNqDI/AAAAAAAAC6A/dSAfJgfwXBI/s640/blogger-image--1742354567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ILpPa6ft1ak/VsZyy7jNqDI/AAAAAAAAC6A/dSAfJgfwXBI/s640/blogger-image--1742354567.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh, and how about double links with acryllic flowers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EsMikoH5OWE/VsZzGHvDoaI/AAAAAAAAC6g/fHNN0eGlHL8/s640/blogger-image--412163943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EsMikoH5OWE/VsZzGHvDoaI/AAAAAAAAC6g/fHNN0eGlHL8/s640/blogger-image--412163943.jpg"></a></div>Getting more complicated now . . . a triple dangle of glass and beaded earwire</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1HNCpNjLHU0/VsZzDkts4nI/AAAAAAAAC6c/2R21vbs1N90/s640/blogger-image-543419727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1HNCpNjLHU0/VsZzDkts4nI/AAAAAAAAC6c/2R21vbs1N90/s640/blogger-image-543419727.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A triple dangle of gemstones - magnesite and coral - and brass</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IwyLSZMJrW4/VsZzBskeVbI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/5gTqcuevjY0/s640/blogger-image--1373275492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IwyLSZMJrW4/VsZzBskeVbI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/5gTqcuevjY0/s640/blogger-image--1373275492.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><u>Dreaming of Designs</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Often, jewelry ideas float around in my head before I fall asleep. (I've lost a lot of sleep this way. I just have to get up and follow through with the idea.) Since the links were on my mind, it occurred to me that I could use these them as frames backed with pieces of tin. A little E-6000 did the trick. I'm glad I remembered to punch the hole before I glued the link to the tin. I don't usually create designs in a single color, but I didn't want to detract from the cool tin pattern. Now that I look at this, a light blue accent would have been nice. </div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FL9wrUsxFPA/VsZzKmNvVjI/AAAAAAAAC6o/Bxy5whJ0-ZM/s640/blogger-image-1047831707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FL9wrUsxFPA/VsZzKmNvVjI/AAAAAAAAC6o/Bxy5whJ0-ZM/s640/blogger-image-1047831707.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><u>Gotta Love Leather</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Another one of those trying-to-get-to-sleep moments when link earring ideas flooded my brain. Use leather! I made a suede leather loop to hold the link. Not liking the exposed hole, I added a brass spacer to hide the hole. (These earrings were difficult to photograph, so I'll include one on an earring card to show how the hole is hidden.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-heDSm4oLJKo/VsnxKPGRjRI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/7TcDp1vy7n8/s640/blogger-image-515263073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-heDSm4oLJKo/VsnxKPGRjRI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/7TcDp1vy7n8/s640/blogger-image-515263073.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Recycled glass, carnelian, and brass.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2aLRz4a1EBo/VsZzIZjqWPI/AAAAAAAAC6k/eMMYYqFZpJI/s640/blogger-image-1055921105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2aLRz4a1EBo/VsZzIZjqWPI/AAAAAAAAC6k/eMMYYqFZpJI/s640/blogger-image-1055921105.jpg"></a></div>Recycled glass, carved bone, and brass</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S7Ee9sc3mu8/VsZzNAucalI/AAAAAAAAC6s/fwdC0gwbSFQ/s640/blogger-image--1167949906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S7Ee9sc3mu8/VsZzNAucalI/AAAAAAAAC6s/fwdC0gwbSFQ/s640/blogger-image--1167949906.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Czech glass, carved bone, brass</span></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wq7tvZ0zwFk/VsZzUYEKMKI/AAAAAAAAC64/lQ7AgLlYCHs/s640/blogger-image-327275027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wq7tvZ0zwFk/VsZzUYEKMKI/AAAAAAAAC64/lQ7AgLlYCHs/s640/blogger-image-327275027.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Recycled glass, carved bone, brass</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TsVQOe-qE9w/VsZy9Hlc5hI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/43Sty8xdvsA/s640/blogger-image-1263982740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TsVQOe-qE9w/VsZy9Hlc5hI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/43Sty8xdvsA/s640/blogger-image-1263982740.jpg"></a></div>For now, I have satiated my obsession with these links and am ready to move on to another material. I do like the idea of having a ton of oval shaped jump rings at my whim. Great purchase!</div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-67672914038072357052016-02-18T16:09:00.001-08:002016-02-18T16:09:42.619-08:00Seashells by the Seashore<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have such a weakness for buttons, mother of pearl ones especially. In Trinidad, California I discovered a bead shop that was pure heaven - shell beads and buttons, abalone, trade beads, bone beads, and leather. Shelves and shelves of the exact kind of stuff I love. I bought bags of beautiful mother of pearl buttons in both ivory and pink colors. Now, what to do with them? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oOGlujM-DIQ/VsZdRXwzvgI/AAAAAAAAC5s/Td5U3TjEpuQ/s640/blogger-image-1205298636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oOGlujM-DIQ/VsZdRXwzvgI/AAAAAAAAC5s/Td5U3TjEpuQ/s640/blogger-image-1205298636.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love the soft and feminine feel of this silver, gray labradorite, and soft pink MOP color pallete. These earrings were so difficult to photograph to capture the flash of the labradorite and the glisten of the button. They look so much more delicate and soft in person. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M2vbFAe42F8/VsZdIZZvQlI/AAAAAAAAC5c/PC7kZST_T2Y/s640/blogger-image--1722588626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M2vbFAe42F8/VsZdIZZvQlI/AAAAAAAAC5c/PC7kZST_T2Y/s640/blogger-image--1722588626.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EKm-XqY-cBY/VsZdOweLNcI/AAAAAAAAC5o/iVTccAtbjm4/s640/blogger-image--1611043134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EKm-XqY-cBY/VsZdOweLNcI/AAAAAAAAC5o/iVTccAtbjm4/s640/blogger-image--1611043134.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And now, pink MOP buttons paired with lavender glass drops and pewter tubes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zNVO91SJBX4/VsZdKp7z60I/AAAAAAAAC5g/3ke_xGVZeAM/s640/blogger-image-942633104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zNVO91SJBX4/VsZdKp7z60I/AAAAAAAAC5g/3ke_xGVZeAM/s640/blogger-image-942633104.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o2SwSwxp5M4/VsZdMwltKfI/AAAAAAAAC5k/O68uDMfz3VI/s640/blogger-image--710004639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o2SwSwxp5M4/VsZdMwltKfI/AAAAAAAAC5k/O68uDMfz3VI/s640/blogger-image--710004639.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-43153237853821499382016-02-16T17:10:00.001-08:002016-02-16T17:17:28.215-08:00Eureka!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On a recent trip to Northern California, I had the pleasure of shopping at Tailsman Beads in Eureka, where I picked up this colored recycled telephone wire. I almost overlooked these, but on my way to the register they caught my eye. Such cool colors! I wasn't sure what I would actually do with this wire, as I haven't really been attracted to colored wire before. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lq5PyjampJQ/VsPIdfhD6sI/AAAAAAAAC5I/QPl8MgJJ8CM/s640/blogger-image-802638103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lq5PyjampJQ/VsPIdfhD6sI/AAAAAAAAC5I/QPl8MgJJ8CM/s640/blogger-image-802638103.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When I arrived home and pulled out this cool stash of wire, I immediately knew I would be making wrapped and beaded hoop earrings. Wanting them to have an industrial look, the steel wire I just HAD to have a long time ago seemed like good hoop material. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GLpY-Uvw1B8/VsPIVqwkdAI/AAAAAAAAC48/KOdtHNhixZE/s640/blogger-image--1265359537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GLpY-Uvw1B8/VsPIVqwkdAI/AAAAAAAAC48/KOdtHNhixZE/s640/blogger-image--1265359537.jpg"></a></div>Then I noticed my collection of eye shield charms that I cut, embossed, and painted a long time ago seemed to compliment the colors of the wires. Hmmm . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LktbGj-GmPc/VsPIYDNJmvI/AAAAAAAAC5A/eHlUeOc0xoM/s640/blogger-image-1250456877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LktbGj-GmPc/VsPIYDNJmvI/AAAAAAAAC5A/eHlUeOc0xoM/s640/blogger-image-1250456877.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wrapping that phone wire is such a meditative pleasure - soft on the hands and nicely pliable. The first pair of earrings, in gray, yellow, and black is my favorite pair. I love those gray Indonesian glass beads! </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F9KVzKM0ksE/VsPIQ3HNW5I/AAAAAAAAC40/924c2Zhqmmk/s640/blogger-image-1814357914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F9KVzKM0ksE/VsPIQ3HNW5I/AAAAAAAAC40/924c2Zhqmmk/s640/blogger-image-1814357914.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next up, white and gray wire with black glass seed beads. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aM8FATrtN74/VsPITNnB51I/AAAAAAAAC44/yDKZVdZS9F4/s640/blogger-image-1703867434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aM8FATrtN74/VsPITNnB51I/AAAAAAAAC44/yDKZVdZS9F4/s640/blogger-image-1703867434.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Love the blue and purple, too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CD8rwL02iFw/VsPIaTbb0GI/AAAAAAAAC5E/0m7BFlzjtKw/s640/blogger-image-1044733114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CD8rwL02iFw/VsPIaTbb0GI/AAAAAAAAC5E/0m7BFlzjtKw/s640/blogger-image-1044733114.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I just love it when an inspired idea strikes, especially after such a long hiatus from jewelry-making and creative inspiration. Eureka!</span></div></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-55443233712874758392015-10-27T19:36:00.001-07:002015-11-04T17:42:39.930-08:00Word Tag Pairs<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On a recent trip to Michael's, these Tim Holtz word tags caught my eye. I always welcome any opportunity to add text to my jewelry. (It must be the ex-English teacher in me.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I had great fun playing with word pairs. Dumping them out on the table, the words seemed to naturally find each other. They sat on my work table, getting knocked about by my curious cats. Fearing that they would lose each other, I tied the pairs with some hemp scraps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's often difficult for me to use commercially-made items as is. I needed to somehow alter them to make them my own. Enter my chasing hammer and Vintaj patina. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BPoEeIhVXCI/VjA0iw2495I/AAAAAAAAC1U/mcbwb27D0Fo/s640/blogger-image--962580216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BPoEeIhVXCI/VjA0iw2495I/AAAAAAAAC1U/mcbwb27D0Fo/s640/blogger-image--962580216.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b><br></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><b>Hello, play!</b></i></span></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><b>Hello! Play!</b></i></span></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Either way it is punctuated, the message is the same. Go play! I certainly played a lot making these earrings. I dimpled them with my chasing hammer and painted them. Much more playful than the original. <i class="_4-k1 img sp_ZrsPFjUrAQL sx_a7dbf8" style="vertical-align: -3px; background-image: url(https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/yv/r/0ZIO9JhgCXd.png); background-size: 18px 476px; display: inline-block; height: 16px; width: 16px; background-position: 0px -357px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_Kv-LgbT5qA/VjA0k_5CtiI/AAAAAAAAC1c/zkJtTWNQdFw/s640/blogger-image-189124401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_Kv-LgbT5qA/VjA0k_5CtiI/AAAAAAAAC1c/zkJtTWNQdFw/s640/blogger-image-189124401.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I just love the pairing of colors: turquoise and orange always makes me happy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">*magnesite, fire agate, pewter</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6W_-6BTv1-I/VjA0aqKPU2I/AAAAAAAAC00/01BVBkG8KX0/s640/blogger-image-2013004094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6W_-6BTv1-I/VjA0aqKPU2I/AAAAAAAAC00/01BVBkG8KX0/s640/blogger-image-2013004094.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i>Wish Noted</i></b></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i><br></i></b></span></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's funny how these two words found each other. I imagine someone making a wish and sharing it with a friend who writes the wish down in a journal, saying "Wish noted." Maybe that wish will eventually come true; maybe it won't, but at least it was noted for future consideration.</span></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">*red coral, magnesite, pewter, waxed linen</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wUhcgT7Hz48/VjA0c99842I/AAAAAAAAC08/PALkeCZMr8w/s640/blogger-image--1456987829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wUhcgT7Hz48/VjA0c99842I/AAAAAAAAC08/PALkeCZMr8w/s640/blogger-image--1456987829.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The piece of waxed linen is a lagniappe, that little something extra that brings a piece full circle. I added it at the last minute.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OTxTa3xqtQg/VjA0e5Min2I/AAAAAAAAC1E/z8rYuJba0V8/s640/blogger-image-1200152439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OTxTa3xqtQg/VjA0e5Min2I/AAAAAAAAC1E/z8rYuJba0V8/s640/blogger-image-1200152439.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YEMxycYjJG8/VjA0gr7VkvI/AAAAAAAAC1M/iDOrPh0n0HU/s640/blogger-image-1292775272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YEMxycYjJG8/VjA0gr7VkvI/AAAAAAAAC1M/iDOrPh0n0HU/s640/blogger-image-1292775272.jpg"></a></div><br></div><b><i>All You Need is Love</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">LOVE spoke to me, and it didn't take too much thought to design these. I've been hoarding these red Czech glass teardrop beads forever. Any piece I make with them seems to just design itself. I mean, look at these beauties! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DDAiqQ2JxBo/VjFOVG6t6TI/AAAAAAAAC18/Is17XHc9fMk/s640/blogger-image-1115228120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DDAiqQ2JxBo/VjFOVG6t6TI/AAAAAAAAC18/Is17XHc9fMk/s640/blogger-image-1115228120.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This time I used black paint to highlight the lettering and then added the red trim. I debated for some time about whether to add the pieces of waxed linen; they looked nice either way. I suppose it would super simple to cut them off if a customer so desired. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xp9NH2-3kbc/VjFOROGaw1I/AAAAAAAAC1s/IGOoB9ml9ok/s640/blogger-image--972244277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xp9NH2-3kbc/VjFOROGaw1I/AAAAAAAAC1s/IGOoB9ml9ok/s640/blogger-image--972244277.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy early Valentine's Day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wAiWnefFN-s/VjFOTcU8esI/AAAAAAAAC10/EY31DN_d6B8/s640/blogger-image--594018924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wAiWnefFN-s/VjFOTcU8esI/AAAAAAAAC10/EY31DN_d6B8/s640/blogger-image--594018924.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;"><br></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-55761093037146954492015-10-20T08:31:00.000-07:002015-10-20T09:10:05.441-07:00Stoned!<h4>I am slowly dipping into the collection of gorgeous stones that I have been hoarding since last spring. The owner of one of the shops that carries my jewelry put an order in for some stone earrings, but every time I make a pair, I sell them or want to keep them for myself. What's such fun about working with these stones is that the stones themselves are the star of the show; I only need to add some small accents. </h4><div><br></div><div>Last night I cleared off my studio work table of all other projects that might distract me, so I can get focused and serious about designing more stone earrings to take to <b><i>Angelinas</i></b> in Nehalem.</div><div><br></div><div>Here are the earrings I have made so far:</div><div><br></div><div>Fabulous amazonite. The first pair I made. I don't think these can leave home. Ever. :)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uHYFrF6-PvA/ViZmVX6o9gI/AAAAAAAAC0c/1n4-IeH7QbM/s640/blogger-image-648748037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uHYFrF6-PvA/ViZmVX6o9gI/AAAAAAAAC0c/1n4-IeH7QbM/s640/blogger-image-648748037.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This second pair were made for a challenge at Earrings Everyday, inspired by a photo of a slot canyon in Arizona. Happy accident: my wire wrapping was sloppy, so I wrapped it with waxed linen to cover it up. I quite like that little fix. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qI3sLHL-sj0/ViZmD3-G4GI/AAAAAAAACzc/JkHTEd0qCHc/s640/blogger-image-2071097227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qI3sLHL-sj0/ViZmD3-G4GI/AAAAAAAACzc/JkHTEd0qCHc/s640/blogger-image-2071097227.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--9CZxXwPD7Y/ViZmKBhnZzI/AAAAAAAACz0/TBlJfwL563U/s640/blogger-image--1344448839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--9CZxXwPD7Y/ViZmKBhnZzI/AAAAAAAACz0/TBlJfwL563U/s640/blogger-image--1344448839.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The next pair were a custom order for a dear friend who grew up in New Mexico. They have that kind of NM vibe. My wire-wrapping was better this time, but they looked too plain without the waxed linen accent. A style is born!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PxQB94nk5o8/ViZmGAShl_I/AAAAAAAACzk/_NnydVgWusE/s640/blogger-image-583839518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PxQB94nk5o8/ViZmGAShl_I/AAAAAAAACzk/_NnydVgWusE/s640/blogger-image-583839518.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I am forcing myself to let go of these lovely jasper stones and send them to Angelinas. I won't believe I am capable of letting them leave home until I am actually handing them over to Lina in her shop. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fIV732gw4CM/ViZmIMqmZ2I/AAAAAAAACzs/NPbvja9qqig/s640/blogger-image--1936787517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fIV732gw4CM/ViZmIMqmZ2I/AAAAAAAACzs/NPbvja9qqig/s640/blogger-image--1936787517.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Here is my lovingly hoarded stash. I swear these stones are my addiction. I can get stoned just looking at them. :) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hvaEBrtGW2w/ViZmBr_MbsI/AAAAAAAACzU/Gn7iUkktxkg/s640/blogger-image--1501481541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hvaEBrtGW2w/ViZmBr_MbsI/AAAAAAAACzU/Gn7iUkktxkg/s640/blogger-image--1501481541.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-37k-AX2lCtE/ViZmMR9LcBI/AAAAAAAACz8/eZgjtTQrSXU/s640/blogger-image-842835883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-37k-AX2lCtE/ViZmMR9LcBI/AAAAAAAACz8/eZgjtTQrSXU/s640/blogger-image-842835883.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bCJ0e6WLlNk/ViZmO2sSUgI/AAAAAAAAC0E/UWJTPbTbYZs/s640/blogger-image-1188061008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bCJ0e6WLlNk/ViZmO2sSUgI/AAAAAAAAC0E/UWJTPbTbYZs/s640/blogger-image-1188061008.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FjCqpDTIfqA/ViZmQ-Qzw8I/AAAAAAAAC0M/vyAELXGFec0/s640/blogger-image--876761452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FjCqpDTIfqA/ViZmQ-Qzw8I/AAAAAAAAC0M/vyAELXGFec0/s640/blogger-image--876761452.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Next project: I can't decide whether to stick with blues or go with a secondary orange accent. Such difficult decisions!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j-acRpUH1v8/ViZmTHw4qnI/AAAAAAAAC0U/MvsjgQkDFqM/s640/blogger-image--1821608946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j-acRpUH1v8/ViZmTHw4qnI/AAAAAAAAC0U/MvsjgQkDFqM/s640/blogger-image--1821608946.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div>
CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-11844498449622661112015-10-03T22:30:00.001-07:002015-10-16T03:52:28.604-07:00We're All Ears :: October Reveal<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This month's inspiration is fashion, specifically the Fall 2015 collection by designer <a href="https://www.moniquelhuillier.com/collections/tags/fashion/ready-to-wear/fall-2015/content" style="text-decoration: none;">Monique Lhuillier</a>. The </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">challenge was to select one of these looks and create a pair of earrings to accessorize it.<b> </b></span><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I don't really follow fashion. Though I enjoy watching <i>Project Runway</i>, I rarely am blown away by the clothes that walk the runway.<b> </b>The unconventional challenges intrigue me because of the challenges they present and the<b> </b>creative process involved. The bottom line is that fashion doesn't really interest me that much, especially now that I am retired and living in practical clothes (jeans, fleece, and hoodies).<b> <br></b></span></font><div><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;">This challenge involves choosing one dress to accessorize. Something about this particular dress drew me in. I don't particularly like it; I guess it just so desperately begged for some earrings, that I had to oblige. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: bold; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: bold; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UKy9oJ409S8/VhC7KXTSdPI/AAAAAAAACxE/06JPbmfvUus/s640/blogger-image-693251313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UKy9oJ409S8/VhC7KXTSdPI/AAAAAAAACxE/06JPbmfvUus/s640/blogger-image-693251313.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;">Black, purple, and pink. Interesting colors. To counteract the whole high-fashion thing, I wanted to create something long and dramatic but also funky with a vintage vibe. I cut some discs from recycled tin and embossed them using a floral pattern to echo the pattern on the skirt of the dress. After covering the entire area with black Vintaj patina and meticulously painting the raised areas of the floral pattern in amethyst, opalite, and agate, it just looked too neat and tidy. Wanting more of a grungy flavor, I scruffed them up with some sandpaper. Better<b>. </b>More vintagy<b>. </b>Punch a hole. Good to go.</div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;">That dress needed hoops, so I made some out of 19 gague steel wire, forged them, and sealed them with Rennaisance wax. To finish, I added the painted discs and some crazy-lace, steel-wrapped gunmetal earwires<b>. </b>(Note to self: wrapping 26 gague steel wire around those earwires was a nightmare. Steel is a bugger to manipulate in tiny spaces for fine, detailed work.)</div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: bold; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: bold; clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WbEvNX7bKwM/Vh6zV1DR0JI/AAAAAAAACyE/3H4QAbGuKqU/s640/blogger-image-1060993716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WbEvNX7bKwM/Vh6zV1DR0JI/AAAAAAAACyE/3H4QAbGuKqU/s640/blogger-image-1060993716.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;">They look slightly different on another background<span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: bold; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="font-weight: bold; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_tuYnZolmWI/Vh6lrvurVCI/AAAAAAAACx4/Na9h2NqDeOs/s640/blogger-image--368861713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_tuYnZolmWI/Vh6lrvurVCI/AAAAAAAACx4/Na9h2NqDeOs/s640/blogger-image--368861713.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;">I wish I knew a way to Photoshop my earrings into the photo with the dress. This is the best way I can think to accomplish that. </div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4d1vIpaq4Y0/Vh63DN0BwfI/AAAAAAAACyQ/tBDL4NxJ5Tk/s640/blogger-image-1204499843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4d1vIpaq4Y0/Vh63DN0BwfI/AAAAAAAACyQ/tBDL4NxJ5Tk/s640/blogger-image-1204499843.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;">Making these earrings jolted me out of a pretty serious creative slump. Usually, I make several pairs of earrings for these challenges; this time I was fortunate to accomplish one pair. I've spent a lot of time lately sitting in my studio, staring at walls at a loss for ideas. Thank, Erin, for the jumpstart<b>. </b></div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both;"><b><br></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">To see earrings created by other talented artists for this challenge, </b><font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://earrings-everyday.blogspot.com/2015/10/were-all-ears-october-reveal.html" target="_blank" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">CLICK HERE</a>. </font></div></div></div><br></div><br></div></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-10734246859612561462015-09-18T11:50:00.000-07:002015-09-18T13:05:58.950-07:00I Speak for the TreesI Speak for the Trees<div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am profoundly saddened by what is happening in the state of Oregon. Is there no place left on earth that isn't tainted by destructive environmental policies?</span></div><div><br></div><div>Huge swaths of clear cuts are what is left of our beautiful and diverse old growth coastal forests. Destructive logging on private timber lands is just the beginning. What follows is the aerial herbicide spraying of the new "managed" forest that devastates wildlife and other competeing vegetation and pollutes the drinking water and air in nearby communities. Sadly, this is all legal, courtesy of the Oregon Forest Practices Act. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Efforts to reform this act stalled in the Oregon legislature this year due to powerful lobbying from the timber industry. </span></div><div><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a member of </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">the Rockaway Beach Citizens for Watershed Protection, a local grassroots association of citizens working to ensure clean, safe air and drinking water, I had the privilege of planning a town hall event that included a panel of experts speaking on these issues and the screening of a new film </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b style="font-style: italic;">Behind the Emerald Curtain. </b>F</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ilmed in Oregon coastal communities, it highlights current forestry practices that put at risk our air and water quality and offers a look at practices that are fish and drinking water friendly. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In October, this film will be posted online, but here is the official trailer:</span></p></div><div><br></div><div><div class="clearfix _5x46" style="margin-bottom: 11px; zoom: 1;"><div class="_3dp _29k" style="display: table-cell; vertical-align: top; width: 10000px;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/138204258" target="_blank" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Behind the Emerald Curtain</a><br><br>For last night's screening of the film, I donated a jewelry set as a raffle item. <br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UWfW7IQ-EdY/VfxscIuTnRI/AAAAAAAACvA/rtoGuxMl5VM/s640/blogger-image--904887573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UWfW7IQ-EdY/VfxscIuTnRI/AAAAAAAACvA/rtoGuxMl5VM/s640/blogger-image--904887573.jpg"></a></div><br><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">hinking of the plight of our coastal forests, "I Speak for the Trees" kept circling through my head as I was embossing and painting this recycled tin. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It's the first time I thought of painting only the raised portions of the embossed pattern, while leaving the background unpainted. <br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HbHnvWYvySM/VfxsaPyU1iI/AAAAAAAACu4/QJCOoLDxc4g/s640/blogger-image--733184990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HbHnvWYvySM/VfxsaPyU1iI/AAAAAAAACu4/QJCOoLDxc4g/s640/blogger-image--733184990.jpg"></a></div><br></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Usually I use the exact opposite process by painting the whole surface and then sanding the raised areas to remove the paint there (as in the earring charms and the focal on the cuff). Interesting inspiration.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZuW8JxBlsFg/VfxsYQ3RnuI/AAAAAAAACuw/Zaf3uzKOZ7I/s640/blogger-image-1624410315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZuW8JxBlsFg/VfxsYQ3RnuI/AAAAAAAACuw/Zaf3uzKOZ7I/s640/blogger-image-1624410315.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also figured out a way to make the leather cuff adjustable to a variety of sizes. (I hate setting snaps, so this was a great way to avoid having to struggle with them.)</div></span></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i8CFzesStQ8/Vfxsd4GVp7I/AAAAAAAACvI/8dndG_M0zEA/s640/blogger-image-284208005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i8CFzesStQ8/Vfxsd4GVp7I/AAAAAAAACvI/8dndG_M0zEA/s640/blogger-image-284208005.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> am happy that the gal who won this set was featured in the movie. She lives in a cabin on the hillside, got sprayed by herbicide, and ended up very sick and in the hospital. In the trailer, right after they show the containers of chemical (atrazine), she's the gal with the long braid who talks about the spray coming into the health clinic. She was just delighted with her win!</span></div><div>
<br></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-27163881647527451192015-09-12T17:03:00.001-07:002015-09-18T13:16:22.005-07:00We're All Ears :: September Reveal<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For me, this challenge inspiration and process was w-a-y more interesting that the pieces I actually created. With that said, here we go . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><u>The Inspiration</u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This month's inspiration is a </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">performance art piece from Japanese dance and art troupe <b>ENRA called </b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i>Torque Starter</i>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3JdT4fDi4iI/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3JdT4fDi4iI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Check out other </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><a href="http://enra.jp/works" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank">Works by Enra</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Without color to rely on this month, the design focus is on shapes and geometric forms. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><u><b>The Process</b></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;">First step, pull out black and white materials. Limit myself to these materials. (We'll see how that goes.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y3D2QzRcMIg/VfUY9sLiryI/AAAAAAAACsw/PohJNxIzS2A/s640/blogger-image-1058884946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y3D2QzRcMIg/VfUY9sLiryI/AAAAAAAACsw/PohJNxIzS2A/s640/blogger-image-1058884946.jpg"></a></div></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hYnwySFteYU/VfTAXCChD-I/AAAAAAAACsg/itXUvGYEfhk/s640/blogger-image-594446697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hYnwySFteYU/VfTAXCChD-I/AAAAAAAACsg/itXUvGYEfhk/s640/blogger-image-594446697.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;">Second step, watch the video several times, look for appealing shapes, and draw them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O2Bb9M-RGzc/VfVSTDEK_nI/AAAAAAAACtQ/2S04BQ7xFS4/s640/blogger-image--1141859616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O2Bb9M-RGzc/VfVSTDEK_nI/AAAAAAAACtQ/2S04BQ7xFS4/s640/blogger-image--1141859616.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;">Now . . . start creating! Cutting discs from white tin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OPIdnxnaieU/VfVSO5IuCqI/AAAAAAAACtA/bdqjAEkkXxY/s640/blogger-image-406495842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OPIdnxnaieU/VfVSO5IuCqI/AAAAAAAACtA/bdqjAEkkXxY/s640/blogger-image-406495842.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;">Drawing shapes on tin pieces with Sharpie and doming them. (Feels a bit like Zentangle.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KTnGu5yLCGU/VfVSQ7yblyI/AAAAAAAACtI/f8PZXlJjh6w/s640/blogger-image-527266837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KTnGu5yLCGU/VfVSQ7yblyI/AAAAAAAACtI/f8PZXlJjh6w/s640/blogger-image-527266837.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><b><u>The Earrings</u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><b><u><br></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;">Ok, so this idea had promise, but the result didn't hold up under the ultimate scrutiny of a close up photograph. Totally unhappy with the quality of these, and my perfection won't let me live with them. But that's what challenges are all about. Sometimes you hit; sometimes you miss. This is a miss. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><b><u><br></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><div class="separator" style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold; clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iZfzgOxXJH4/VfptFKZro9I/AAAAAAAACuE/rsSGCUk_dW4/s640/blogger-image--1590908816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iZfzgOxXJH4/VfptFKZro9I/AAAAAAAACuE/rsSGCUk_dW4/s640/blogger-image--1590908816.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On these next pair of earrings I decided to highlight the spiral shapes and trapezoids in the video. Basic earrings. Nothing special. Maybe this challenge is going to defeat me. Usually I am very pleased with the pieces I create. There is still hope. I hope. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OLmbGver9pc/VfpaShiOlvI/AAAAAAAACt0/wAxIb3FzEJ4/s640/blogger-image-291394501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OLmbGver9pc/VfpaShiOlvI/AAAAAAAACt0/wAxIb3FzEJ4/s640/blogger-image-291394501.jpg"></a></div><br></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Life got busy and my muse departed. I really wanted to create something I feel proud of for this challenge, but I am throwing in the towel on this one. Thanks, Erin, for another great inspiration. Sorry I couldn't do it more justice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><u>Update</u></b>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Speaking of justice ....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm think that part of my problem for this challenge was that I was distracted by another project. My creative energy gravitated to a cause for which I have great passion, the environment. I made this set as a raffle item donation for an event that I was involved in planning. Here is a link to my blog post about it:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://cmsdesigns1.blogspot.com/2015/09/i-speak-for-trees.html" target="_blank" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">I Speak for the Trees</font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-riifjm40Pis/VfxacHnvEzI/AAAAAAAACug/uUjfnjuba7Q/s640/blogger-image--789936108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-riifjm40Pis/VfxacHnvEzI/AAAAAAAACug/uUjfnjuba7Q/s640/blogger-image--789936108.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uURGd87odOE/VfxaaUmxcFI/AAAAAAAACuY/aCZGcnmLy9U/s640/blogger-image-411557779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uURGd87odOE/VfxaaUmxcFI/AAAAAAAACuY/aCZGcnmLy9U/s640/blogger-image-411557779.jpg"></a></div><br></div>
CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-51407376623064499732015-09-05T18:42:00.000-07:002015-09-06T18:37:52.372-07:00New Consignment: Forsythea (Astoria, Oregon)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
A collection of my jewelry is now available at a lovely shop in Astoria, Oregon. Forsythea, a store I have long admired, specializes in artisan decor for home & garden and features work by local artists. Patricia, the owner, waded through the five display cases I packed of every style of my jewelry and chose an eclectic selection of pieces, shown below. Her cool shop is right on the main street of town and gets quite a bit of traffic, so I am hoping to get some exposure there. Astoria is such a vibrant place - so funky, and so much happening. </div>
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It seems that every time I go there, someone is camped out in those chairs in front of the store. I don't blame them; it's a great place to people watch, especially on Sunday during market hours. </div>
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Step inside and you'll find stunning artwork and beautiful displays. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">These are the 10 pieces Patricia chose to consign for me:</span></span><br />
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<b><u>Mixed Metals</u></b>:</div>
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(Handcut, textured and antiqued aluminum, copper and brass gears, handmade earwires)</div>
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(Textured and antiqued copper washers, copper and silver dangles,<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> handmade earwires</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">)</span></div>
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<b><u>Gemstones and Metal:</u></b></div>
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(Chalcedony, copper washer, copper and silver wire, handmade earwires)</div>
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(Peruvian blue opal, silver dragonflies,<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> handmade earwires)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Lapis lazuli, turquoise magnesite, silver, handmade earwires)</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Larimar, amazonite, embossed and patinated tin, antiqued brass, handmade earwires)</span><br />
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(Blue lace agate, copper, <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">handmade earwires)</span></div>
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(Blue lace agate, textured and antiqued copper washer! antiqued copper beads and chain)</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">(Prehnite, blue quartz, amazonite, copper,</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> handmade earwires</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">)</span></div>
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(Prehnite, blue quartz, fire agate, textured and antiqued copper washer, copper wire, antiqued copper chain)<br />
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Forsythea</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Astoria, Oregon</span></div>
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<br />CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-82426214327003518072015-08-29T07:41:00.000-07:002015-08-29T23:45:15.204-07:00AJE August Component of the Month Reveal<div>
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Every month the talented team of jewelry artists at the Art Jewelry Elements blog hosts a giveaway of an artisan component. This month's component was crafted by Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl studio. Look at this collection of gorgeous stoneware pendants!<br>
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Her process for creating these lovely r<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ustic stoneware coin pendants is described in </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://artjewelryelements.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-making-of-rustic-stoneware-coin.html" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">this post</a>. Fascinating! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">With fingers crossed to win one of these pendants, I put my name in the hat and received an email message that I had WON. Yea! The day the package arrived was mighty exciting. Which color had Diana sent? Tucked safely inside some bubble wrap was this lovely piece. Thank you so much, Diana!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">For me, this challenge certainly lived up to its name. I've never before designed jewelry with a donut-shaped pendant like this, so I must admit that it sat on my studio table, lonely but not forgotten, for weeks while I mulled over the possibilities.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">One goal that I had for myself on this project was to keep it simple, focusing attention on the beauty of the pendant. Visions of complicated necklace bails kept popping into my brain - metal, rivets, texture. Be gone, complicated! Keep it simple.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Time marched on, and soon I received a message from Diana reminding me of the reveal date. The pressure began to mount</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. Time was short, and I had to get this project done. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It's a weird thing how the creative process works. Surrounded by thousands of beads and components in my jewelry studio, how could I not come up with something? Midnight, 1:30, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">2:30 . . . shuffling things around, getting ideas, abandoning them. All I had decided was to make a necklace and tie on deerskin lacing with</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> a lark's head knot. How original is that?</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Ok, focus on the pendant. Keep the color palette neutral and the style organic and earthy. Hang something from the pendant, but what? Agates collected on my beach stared at me from a jar on the windowsill. Use me! I caged a perfectly-shaped rock in an antiqued copper cage and went to bed.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In the light of the morning, it dawned on my to use some brown waxed linen to tie on the caged agate. To add a slight pop of color, I added a green aged picasso Czech glass bead. The shapes that kept appearing in my mind's eye had materialized here in the pendant portion of the necklace and the proportions seemed just right. Good.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now to tackle the leather lacing. I played with various incarnations of bead groupings and finally settled on knotting aged picasso Czech glass beads, old padre trade beads, and copper spacers and beads. Things were looking more hopeful, and I began really liking this necklace. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Necklace length always vexes me. I love my necklaces long, but I know that many customers prefer shorter ones. To solve that problem, I prefer making necklaces adjustable, whenever possible. Large hole bead to the rescue. I like adorning the leather ends, so that if the wearer chooses a shorter length, the ends can hang down, adding an interesting design element. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">After completing a necklace or bracelet, I always feel compelled to make coordinating earrings. Though sets seldom sell as such and usually end up as orphans, I still make them. Besides, I wanted to use these polka dot agate beads I purchased at a recent gem and mineral show in Seaside. Love those paired with antiqued copper and mother of pearl. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">So here it is, the completed set. I feel satisfied that I kept things simple and neutral. I actually wore this set out and about today with a white t-shirt and brown pants. Very casual and comfortable. Successful test drive.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">AJE team, thank you for your inspiring blog, and thanks again, Diana, for sharing one of your wonderful pendants with me. To see other unique creations using these components, please join the blog hop! (If you click on the blog links below and receive a message that the post doesn't exist, just click on the blog <b><i>HOME</i></b> button or link to get to the reveal post.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://cmsdesigns1.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1440873248293_11848">Cindy Martin-Shaw</a> - You are here!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://wescottjewelry.com/2015/08/26/aje-august-component-of-the-month-reveal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1440873248293_12055">Samantha Wescott</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1440873248293_13431">Jenny Kyrlach</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1440873248293_3083" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">AJE Team</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/2015/08/art-jewelry-elements-component-of-month.html" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1440873248293_3073">Kristen Stevens</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://suebeads.blogspot.co.uk/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1440873248293_3419" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: black;">Sue Kennedy</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://lindalandig.wordpress.com/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1440873248293_3611">Linda Landig</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://vintagebluestudio.typepad.com/vintage_blue_studio/2015/08/august-.html" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1440873248293_3796">Diana Ptaszynski</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://phantasmcreation.blogspot.com/2015/08/art-jewelry-elements-component-of-month.html" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1440873248293_4183">Lindsay Starr</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://silverniknats.blogspot.com/2015/08/com.html" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1440873248293_13698" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: black;">Niky Sayers</span></a></span></div>
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CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-4313656878832965462015-08-21T07:40:00.000-07:002015-08-21T04:32:09.363-07:00We're All Ears :: August RevealThis month's Earrings Everyday inspiration is otherworldly <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antelope_Canyon" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Antelope Canyon</a>. Located in <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">northern Arizona </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">on the Navajo Reservation, it can only be accessed by licensed tours with a guide and a permit. Our blog hostess, Erin's lyrical description in </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><a href="http://earrings-everyday.blogspot.com/2015/08/were-all-ears-august-inspiration.html#comment-form" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank">this post</a> inspired this found poem. The poetic language is Erin's, rearranged into a poetic format by me.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Slot canyons</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">chasms eroded over eons</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">by wind and rain</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">and raging floods</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">liquid gold</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">magical shafts of light</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">secret chambers of canyons</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">undulating sandstone walls</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">moving curves</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">like pulled and stretched taffy </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">playing with depth perception</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">fantastic living sculptures</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">shifting and changing with time</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Twisting and turning</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">corridors of light</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">beckoning discovery </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">what mystery lies beyond</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">the next terra cotta bend</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">revered as sacred ground</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">by native peoples</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">an aura of hallowed ground</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">in these caverns</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">of vaulted rooms</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">in a grand cathedral</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">sandy rock rolls and swells</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">like waves on a molten lava sea</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">an otherworldly feeling</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">echoes keep us</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">hushed in wonder</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">by </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">awe-inspiring vistas</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">a restful, meditative place</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">full of energy</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">spellbinding at every turn</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">~ Words by </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b style="text-align: center;">Erin Prais-Hintz</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: center;"><b>~ </b>Rearranged by Cindy Martin-Shaw</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: center;">(I always loved the teaching middle-schoolers how to write found poems in my middle-school English class.) </span></span></div>
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<b><u>The Earrings</u></b></div>
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It's all about stone, a wondrous gift of the earth. I find stones mesmerizing, and these photos of slot canyons are the ultimate in stone beauty. I knew right away the material I wanted to use in this challenge, but executing my vision proved to be a harder aspect of this project. </div>
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Hidden away safely in my workroom hutch cabinet is a treasure box of matched stone pairs that have been waiting for just the right moment to shine in the spotlight. My cousin Kathie went to the Bead & Button Show in Philadelphia last June and discovered a lapidary vendor specializing in matched pair gemstones. Serindipitously, I had been eyeing and drooling over such stones on-line. After exchanging dozens of texts of stone photos and making difficult, yet exciting, choices, my stones arrived in the mail. Like a child at Christmas, I unwrapped each set of stones gleefully and swiftly realized that these beauties would become items to hoard. I loved every single one of them; how could I ever part with them? So there they sat, tucked away, for months. . . </div>
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. . . nestled in their little boxes</div>
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. . . all shapes, sizes, and colors</div>
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. . . waiting for inspiration to hit</div>
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. . . and then this challenge was posted. Thank you, Erin, for inspiring me to take the plunge with my stash.</div>
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Designing with these stones presented interesting challenges. I decided to just let the stones speak to me. One pair of jasper stones stood out from the rest, and they chose these rustic, old, brick red trade beads (from Happy Mango Beads), turquoise, and copper to join them.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In experimenting with how to wrap these stones, I wasted a lot of copper wire but finally got things right. After they were wrapped and the copper was oxidized, they looked just okay . . . too plain. I decided to add a little splash of color and soft texture by wrapping and knotting some sage-colored waxed linen. </span></div>
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Now they felt complete. I love the swirls of color in the stone, like the sandstones of the canyon. </div>
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I usually make several pairs of earrings for these challenges, but this pair took all of my energy, and I am very pleased with them. To see other unique interpretations of Antelope Canyon, please visit the Earrings Everyday post <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;"><a href="http://earrings-everyday.blogspot.com/2015/08/were-all-ears-august-reveal.html" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span></div>
CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-22268675400935001192015-08-18T00:00:00.001-07:002015-09-03T16:06:44.340-07:00Beach Bracelets: The New GenerationThese bracelets have become an addiction! Originally made with natural hemp, I am now experimenting with colored hemp and colored cotton cording. Playing with colors has now become an exciting new pastime. <div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Seaside Sunset</b></p></div><div><p style="margin: 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The oranges, yellows, and blues of the sunset inspired this new beach bracelet. I threw some greens in there to represent the forested coastal mountains (and the green flash I hope to see on the horizon someday). The button even resembles the sun. I am enjoying working with this cotton cord, which is soft to the touch and knots very nicely. </p><br><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HfMR2ZXsRJg/VdVxOo9OBAI/AAAAAAAACj8/s5M8R33Hvwk/s640/blogger-image--1572778596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HfMR2ZXsRJg/VdVxOo9OBAI/AAAAAAAACj8/s5M8R33Hvwk/s640/blogger-image--1572778596.jpg"></a></div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TxaQMDTLnD4/VdVxZoiC2II/AAAAAAAACkE/GGCZU93Dae8/s640/blogger-image--476460056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TxaQMDTLnD4/VdVxZoiC2II/AAAAAAAACkE/GGCZU93Dae8/s640/blogger-image--476460056.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Going Green</b></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In honor of my once-green grass that is now dry, brown, and brittle and the once-green hillside behind us that is now treeless, brown, and scarred by clearcuts. Rain, please pay us a kind visit. (And timber companies, leave our forests alone!)</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f5RNgM50w5Y/VdVy6OpPUvI/AAAAAAAACkY/YzylofWRErw/s640/blogger-image--1265551128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f5RNgM50w5Y/VdVy6OpPUvI/AAAAAAAACkY/YzylofWRErw/s640/blogger-image--1265551128.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zaa5Mjo64yk/VdVy4IzgMvI/AAAAAAAACkQ/qfIVI6jtB3I/s640/blogger-image-1036563299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zaa5Mjo64yk/VdVy4IzgMvI/AAAAAAAACkQ/qfIVI6jtB3I/s640/blogger-image-1036563299.jpg"></a></div><b> Blue Skies, Blue Water</b></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qdlvk2KyhZ0/VdV1FDyYGJI/AAAAAAAACkg/IDOIW0IzS9s/s640/blogger-image--721338421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qdlvk2KyhZ0/VdV1FDyYGJI/AAAAAAAACkg/IDOIW0IzS9s/s640/blogger-image--721338421.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9WABCyVo558/VdV1H_RfisI/AAAAAAAACko/pT1G7UusiZk/s640/blogger-image--1772750835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9WABCyVo558/VdV1H_RfisI/AAAAAAAACko/pT1G7UusiZk/s640/blogger-image--1772750835.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p></div></div></div><div><b>Sunset Pinks and Purples</b> </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aeNRRwPTY-E/VejReZGiXUI/AAAAAAAACqU/YYNngIO3w98/s640/blogger-image--1307237659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aeNRRwPTY-E/VejReZGiXUI/AAAAAAAACqU/YYNngIO3w98/s640/blogger-image--1307237659.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9SQO1vShnOc/VejRkKNmtXI/AAAAAAAACqk/519jSsDANSA/s640/blogger-image-1359074849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9SQO1vShnOc/VejRkKNmtXI/AAAAAAAACqk/519jSsDANSA/s640/blogger-image-1359074849.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b>This Summer of Sun</b></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-312MQ0TD-0g/VejRhUxi0WI/AAAAAAAACqc/4nS58oVFUao/s640/blogger-image--171204476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-312MQ0TD-0g/VejRhUxi0WI/AAAAAAAACqc/4nS58oVFUao/s640/blogger-image--171204476.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2WZteVySmFw/VejRtkOojvI/AAAAAAAACq8/0ZibZsZkdFs/s640/blogger-image-1646078677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2WZteVySmFw/VejRtkOojvI/AAAAAAAACq8/0ZibZsZkdFs/s640/blogger-image-1646078677.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Sweetheart</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cB_-Jz2KQeg/VejRmKv089I/AAAAAAAACqs/30EQZyvLrgU/s640/blogger-image-1233245084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cB_-Jz2KQeg/VejRmKv089I/AAAAAAAACqs/30EQZyvLrgU/s640/blogger-image-1233245084.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-utZ3Gn52rBk/VejRq-SBPII/AAAAAAAACq0/yANTISrseGk/s640/blogger-image-2064240130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-utZ3Gn52rBk/VejRq-SBPII/AAAAAAAACq0/yANTISrseGk/s640/blogger-image-2064240130.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-12491887237859152232015-08-14T22:08:00.000-07:002015-08-14T22:38:08.648-07:00Historical Mystery . . . 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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gotta love rummage sales! Recently, I purchased a strand of beads at the local Garibaldi Maritime Museum rummage sale and was absolutely stymied by its purpose. Was this a necklace? Who would have worn it? Why were there extra strands hanging off the sides? What was the purpose of the glassed frame? What kind of beads were these? How old was it? It just made no sense. The museum curator had no idea; the strand had been in the museum attic for years.</span></div>
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I posed this mystery to the Creative Bead Chat Facebook group. All day long, member's comments entertained me, as I hopped from website to website. The key elements that led to the discovery of its purpose were that there were 108 beads - four sections of exactly 27 beads, like a mala or Buddhist prayer beads. </div>
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The first revealing webpage was <a href="http://susandods.com/blog/out-of-the-attic" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">http://susandods.com/blog/out-of-the-attic</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. Here I discovered that </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">my piece is a Chinese Court Necklace. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Court Necklace was part of a uniform that denoted rank and position. The materials, colors, and design were strictly defined by rank and proximity to the Royal Family. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">* Picture from: <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">http://susandods.com/blog/mandarin-court-necklace-a-qing-dynasty-cultural-icon</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Also pictured on this page was a necklace like mine!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />After corresponding with an authority from this website, I learned that my necklace is a late 'low rank' court necklace. Because it is in pretty rough shape, there isn't a lot of value in it other than<br />for 'parts' for someone who is doing a reconstruction... or having a piece of history. Its value for me is in holding a piece of history in my hands, imagining it in use, and just feeling the energy from it. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I did learn that I should keep the silk cord that connects the beads intact. The silk cord and the connectors are the most valuable parts, and it is not often that the silk tram is found intact. </span></div>
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Questions still plague me. What is the glassed frame piece? Are the green beads glass? Are the clear beads original? And most of all . . . where did this come from? Who owned it? </div>
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* <b>Update</b>: </div>
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Today<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I took my necklace with me to the Seaside Gem and Mineral Show. Surely someone there could help to identify the beads. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I had a wonderful experience with my favorite bead vendors, Karmic Beads and Gems. We all enjoyed the energy of this necklace, and I discovered that the gemstones are amber (or copal), flourite, and quartz. Pretty cool!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;">A fabulous article about court necklaces was published in this article from the <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="http://www.beadsocietyofnorcal.org/pdfs/BSNC_Oct_2012.pdf" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Bead Society of Northern California</a>. Fascinating!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black;">This adventure has been like one of those Antique Roadshow moments. Quite exciting. I never knew these necklaces existed before embarking on this adventure, and I really enjoyed connecting with cool people that love beads as much as I do. Such a fun time!</span></div>
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<br />CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074344900293101996.post-72381598716084922122015-08-04T11:06:00.001-07:002015-09-03T16:05:03.983-07:00Beach Bracelets: The JourneyMy beach bracelets are definitely a keeper. It's been quite a journey making this line of bracelets. <div><br></div><div><b><u>The Original Prototype</u></b></div><div> </div><div>These simple bracelets, quick and fun to make with simple knotting, had a tendency to stretch out and loosen. I learned to make them snug-fitting to begin with.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-er7UuxFZ3g0/VcEHD0WXMQI/AAAAAAAAChU/c-L7PBUyiC4/s640/blogger-image--1796265397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-er7UuxFZ3g0/VcEHD0WXMQI/AAAAAAAAChU/c-L7PBUyiC4/s640/blogger-image--1796265397.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div><br></div><b><u>The Sturdy Version</u></b></div><div><br></div><div>Hoping to create a version of the original prototype that would not stretch out so easily, I progressed to woven bracelets. Made with six strands and a weaving strand, these bracelets were much more time-consuming to make but way sturdier. They definitely hold their shape nicely over time.</div><div><br></div><div>My first woven band: </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OIHOV2RcURs/VcEHGaNkUNI/AAAAAAAAChc/6faBUOsx8I8/s640/blogger-image--337115564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OIHOV2RcURs/VcEHGaNkUNI/AAAAAAAAChc/6faBUOsx8I8/s640/blogger-image--337115564.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The next experiment: loved the beachy blues!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wr5C-GJRZwY/VcEGBXr8MII/AAAAAAAAChE/eHaOzkZmwJQ/s640/blogger-image-801302796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wr5C-GJRZwY/VcEGBXr8MII/AAAAAAAAChE/eHaOzkZmwJQ/s640/blogger-image-801302796.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Technique mastered: This style is super tight and sturdy. Later after a bit of wear, I added glue to the tail ends to prevent this fraying.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d3IJLEXl0mY/VcEF_RiOJ0I/AAAAAAAACg8/ft153P44gKU/s640/blogger-image--36310141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d3IJLEXl0mY/VcEF_RiOJ0I/AAAAAAAACg8/ft153P44gKU/s640/blogger-image--36310141.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Hitting my stride: playing with color</div><div><br><div><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A productive day on the beach a couple of days ago . . . made this bracelet. Great way to spend three hours! Pretty sure there are actual grains of sand in this one (a true beach bracelet), as the winds were high, and I was being sandblasted. Love these playful colors!</span></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 6px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DD6mKXY-YTE/VcEGDZX9AzI/AAAAAAAAChM/xy-nIZ3C9Ag/s640/blogger-image-1227147353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DD6mKXY-YTE/VcEGDZX9AzI/AAAAAAAAChM/xy-nIZ3C9Ag/s640/blogger-image-1227147353.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><div><b><u>Field-Testing</u></b></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I have field (or rather, beach) tested my own beach bracelet for weeks now, and I am pleased with the way it wears. Initially stiff, it gets comfortably soft and homey. I wear mine every day!</span></div><div><br></div><div><b><u>Getting Orders</u></b> </div><div><br></div><div>At a local restaurant the other day, our server noticed my bracelet and expressed an interest in one. I gave her my business card.</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div>After posting a photo on Facebook, I just received<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> an order from a friend for three more bracelets - one in beachy light blue and seafoam green . . . </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_JvxrDT7b-s/Vc7jCu0YgII/AAAAAAAACjo/ZphpHjpfiBo/s640/blogger-image--1365738153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_JvxrDT7b-s/Vc7jCu0YgII/AAAAAAAACjo/ZphpHjpfiBo/s640/blogger-image--1365738153.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. . . and two in Seahawk colors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2oncTes7dwY/Vc7i_n5udhI/AAAAAAAACjg/5nDdCDlYkY0/s640/blogger-image-1616656532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2oncTes7dwY/Vc7i_n5udhI/AAAAAAAACjg/5nDdCDlYkY0/s640/blogger-image-1616656532.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Playing with copper . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JlUeTWbuiew/VejSFR9NULI/AAAAAAAACrE/JmQ2cm-XWqk/s640/blogger-image--1262479061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JlUeTWbuiew/VejSFR9NULI/AAAAAAAACrE/JmQ2cm-XWqk/s640/blogger-image--1262479061.jpg"></a></div><br></div></span></div><p style="margin: 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; color: rgb(20, 24, 35); font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></p></div></div>CMS Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128066079909801227noreply@blogger.com0