Nest Necklace

During my creative weekend, I decided to make myself a necklace. Here is how it turned out.



I tried my hand at etching metal again. It wasn't so bad. I have a number of pieces I did. My only problem is using liver of sulphur. For some reason, I don't have much luck getting it to turn my metal as black as I want it. I am using the liquid kind and I just don't like it. I learned the nest technique from Deryn Mentock last weekend. It's fun to make. The necklace itself is longer than it looks here. I pinned back the chain so that I could get a picture of it hanging. I am going to work more on the metal part so I can get the bird to stand out more. But for tonight...I am done. I am tired and I am going to relax now. Wire work is tiring!

Lots to Do, Lots to Do!

It's time to start cracking the whip on myself. I have been busy, busy, busy these days but it seems like I haven't gotten anything done. Jen and I have decided to sell at a local craft event here in July. It is a new venue, so we shall see how it goes. We are sending in our applications tomorrow, so hopefully we will be juried in. In preparation for the show we went to the bead store where I picked up these bits of earthy goodness.I am starting to sound like Jen! Oh no! LOL Earthy Goodness....sigh. After the July show then I head off to Art Unraveled, and then after that the Zne Convention. I have lots and lots of stuff to make! If I don't sell it at those 3 events, then I will be having a Etsy clearance sale in September! My next task though is my submission for Belle Armoire. I have 2 pieces to finish by July 15th. That is priority #1. I have decided that I am going to post on my blog every other day or every 3 days while I am in creation mode. If I decide to post more, it will be just a picture or 2. My computer seems to steal me away from the work at hand. I could spend hours and hours on here. So stay tuned for this weekend because I will be creating and then posting. I am going to try metal etching again. We will see how that goes. TTFN and wish me luck that my muse is with me.

Mingled Elements Class

What a fantastic time Jen and I had in AZ. It started at the Trunk show were I bought this from DJ: and this from Deryn. I just love my pieces. Then Saturday, we started working on our canvases. Here is my first progression. Looks like crap huh? Then it went to this: Then to this: DJ is such an incredible teacher. I learned alot from her painting techniques. Even Jen learned to paint and it didn't look like the hideous Bride of Frankenstein ATC she had done a few months ago. I was pretty proud of her! There were a couple of times that she wanted to give up and I pushed her along and she finished! Sunday was Deryn's teaching time. She is so sweet. We learned how to make all kinds of curly Q's and the birds nest and little dangles. She taught us wire techniques too. Very useful. We reunited with old friends, like Rena who was at the Art Nest. And we met new ones, like Cindy, Donna, Tanya and Maija, and Bridget,Kathy, Jenny, Nelly & Angie. Every one was so nice. Each persons project turned out so different, as every body put their own spin on it. If the class ever comes open again, sign up! You won't regret it. So finally, here is my finished piece. I am happy with it. No it's not perfect, but I learned so much during this class, I will use it as a stepping off point. Can't wait to paint again!

Sorry...only one picture for tonight

I am too tired to do a long post about my weekend class. I will say this. I had a great time and met lots of very nice women. Here is a quick pic of me with Deryn and DJ and my semi finished project. It's kinda blurry cause Jen was taking it! LOL...now I know it's not Jen's camera that takes blurry pictures, it's just Jen!
Tomorrow I will post the whole tale and show you the progress of my piece and a close up of the finished project.

Off to Phoenix!

Jen and I hit the road this afternoon to learn to do this from Deryn & DJ.We are excited for our girls weekend. I will be taking lots of pictures and will be posting them sometime Monday evening as we won't get back till late Sunday night. TTFN (ta ta for now)

Old Books

During lunch today, Jen and I made a quick stop to the antique shop down the street. You never know what you will find and it's only a couple of miles from work. I wanted to get a book to alter. I have never done one and I have been wanting to try. Here are my finds:

These books are from the 1890's. The white one is the one I am going to alter. I just had to get the red one though because of what was INSIDE the book. It is called Safe Counsel and it is filled with all kinds of sage advice. Like what women love in men. We naturally love our Lord and Master! LOL

And how to court scientifically.

But the funniest part so far...
Yes, why bring Idiots, Fools, Criminals and Lunatics into the world. LOL. This will be a fun book to use in some art projects.

New Favorite Thing

As I was searching for supplies for my trip this weekend, I found these:
Aren't they the cutest stamps? I am going to take them with me this weekend because you never know. I really like them and want to break them in. Besides...I always have to be a little different! So in my painting that I do in DJ's class, maybe I will use one of the numbers in the background. Hmmmm what number will it be?

Joy O' Joy!

Today I got a email newsletter from The Paper Studio, and I read that they had one more slot open for Deryn & DJ's class. So first thing, I called my sister and told her. Bummer....she can't go as she is in the middle of a major project on her craft room. Painting and replacing the floor. See...major. So I had yelled to Jen that they had one more spot and when I got off the phone with my sister, she was already on the website and on the phone with her hubby asking if it would be ok if she went! LOL The answer was yes and she clicked on the purchase button and now she is going! Yeah! I am very excited that she is going with me. It will be so much more fun with a friend. Then I get home and I find an email from one of our ArtNest friends Rena, saying that she was going too! Yeah! It will be so cool to see her again. So needless to say, I had to change my plans so I am not flying there and I am driving now and I get to go to the trunk show they are having on Friday night. That will be fun too. Oh...and bonus today, I got my check from Stampington for my article in Belle Armoire! What a wonderful day.

New Flowers

It's been awhile since I have had time to make any flowers. But time is getting shot and I will have a vendor table at Art Unraveled so I must get busy so I have enough to sell. I love how these turned out. It took me awhile to get back into the groove. I still haven't gotten used to my set up yet. I really should have a bigger space to work on my stuff but I just don't have the room! I can barely fit everything in here as it is.

I have gathered my supplies and I am getting ready to go to Phoenix this coming weekend to take a class at The Paper Studio with Deryn Mentock and DJ Pettitt. It is going to be so much fun! This is my year to immerse myself in classes! I am so lucky to be able to do all this. Life is good!

Flowers for Sale

I received my flowers back from Belle Armoire Jewelry today and I listed them on Etsy if anyone is interested.

Helping a Friend

One of my blog friends has entered a contest to be the next "Bead Star" Her name is Nerissa and one of her pieces made it into the contest. Please go vote for her here! She makes the cutest stuff. Her earrings are in the crystals category and the are #20. Stop by her blog too and say hi because she is also having a giveaway. Here is her entry into the contest. Aren't they cute?

Another milestone in my daughters life (and mine)!

Today, my daughter got her drivers license. Please say a prayer for me...LOL Just kidding. She got a perfect score. The DMV person was very impressed with her driving skills. My youngest is spreading her wings. Someone asked me if I was sad about it. And I said hell no! LOL Freedom for me! Just kidding. I have mixed feelings. Now I just have to worry that much more when she leaves the house. But on the other hand...it's good to know that I raised a smart young woman and that she will be well prepared when she flys out of the nest. This is a time of transition for both of us in a way. I was 17 when I got married the first time and then I had my son. I have never really had my own freedom. So now is my time to find myself and create the life I want. Chase after my childhood dreams as Randy Pausch said in his "Last Lecture". What an incredible story this is. I am reading the book now and I highly recommend it. TTFN for now...

Lucky Me!

Today I sealed the deal to get into one more class at Art Unraveled. It was sold out but I put out an announcement on the Yahoo Group that I was looking to buy it and there it appeared! I am taking Stephanie Lee's class Totally Plastered. I am very happy about this. Yesterday, I got a bit of good news too but I won't share just yet. My friend Jen says that it's just amazing how I make my mind up to do something and it just happens. I like to think of it as what my earlier post described, paying attention and taking chances. You have to take a risk to reap the rewards. I am just an impatient person and I hate waiting for things! But, this is not about the destination, I have to keep reminding myself, it's about the journey. Enjoy the journey...and you never know what life will bring unless you take chances on the unknown.

Another request from my sister

Ok Lynn...LOL Here is the necklace being worn. Of course I made Megan wear it because she is so much prettier than me. LOL I think she could be a model! But I am just a extra proud mommy!

Drawing Day

In honor of Drawing Day... here is my drawing.
I did my part! Upload your drawings today. It's not to late!

I created today!

In keeping with the I saw Red theme this week, I created a necklace today.
I bought the most beautiful quartz hearts the the bead show last weekend. They have a cross cut on them and I just love them and had to use them. My hands hurt now as working with annealed steel is not the easiest task. I am really happy with the way it turned out.

I Saw Red Day #4

Ok...so I didn't post yesterday but this is what I would have posted if I hadn't been so tired last night.

This week has been an interesting experience. While looking for the color red, I noticed it everywhere. Places that I really didn't notice before. I mean, I saw all these signs but never focused on the color. I bet 80% of the signs out there are red. Especially food places.

In doing this exercise, I realized that it's not luck that things happen to you. It's that your paying attention to what you want and the opportunities appear because you are looking for them. So, I have decided I am going to pay alot more attention to the things I want out of life. How about you? What are you going to pay attention too?

I Saw Red Day #3

I forgot my camera at home today, so I will have to tell you my brilliant observations another day. I will leave you with a couple more red pictures though. Here are some red beads I bought at the bead show.And of course...one of my flowers

I Saw Red Day #2

The M&M Jar I have sitting on my desk at work. Red Pepper on the table at lunch today

Spaghetti for dinner.

The new Coke cans honoring the Olympics. This is Russia's can
It has been very interesting paying attention to the colors around us everyday. I am seeing much more RED than I realize now that I am looking for it. Tomorrow I will fill you in on my observations about the color red.

I Saw Red Day #1

I happened upon this blog tonight. I couldn't resist the challenge! LOL...not that it is really a challenge to find red things because that is my favorite color. maybe by the end of the week, it will get somewhat trying. So here are my red pics of the day. Raspberries...yummy.

Here is my Original Disney Ferdinand Drawing that I had framed with a red mat.

Next is my Coca-Cola crate that is sitting on top of my bookcases in my studio.

And last but not least, my little bear wagon that are also on the shelves in my studio.
I will have fun with this theme. I love love love Red!