AJE Component of the Month for May 2014

The gorgeous components this month are created by the talented Sue Kennedy of SueBeads.  She gave us the choice of one of her amazing pressed glass cabochons and several of her new pressed bead design...chiclet beads!  It was a really hard choice, but I chose a cabochon and received a gorgeous purple one!

I first thought that I would practice my soldered bezel setting skills, but kept trying to think of something different.  I settled on creating a woven wire "lace" bezel against a copper flower back plate.

I wanted to keep the necklace simple, but wanted to incorporate some different color than the copper and purple of the cab.  I remembered these sweet little Czech glass "twin" beads I bought a while back.  Not sure what I was thinking...am not a seed beader!  I devised a way to wire-wrap them into a chain though and they work perfectly with the purple cab.  I added a second strand of copper "hammered bar" chain I had in my chain stash.

Wanted to add a dangle beneath the flower, but couldn't figure out what.  I remembered some Czech glass teardrops I had bought and they really complemented the purple cab and the Czech glass in the chain. I oxidized everything with LOS and let it tumble for an hour or so.

This was such a fun piece to make and you all know by now that I am a sucker for Sue's lampwork!  In fact, I purchased one of the 1st pairs of chiclet beads she posted, and just last week, swooped in for 2 more pairs!

Thanks for stopping by!  Go show some love to our guest designers and the AJE team!

Guests

Shai Williams

Erin Prais-Hintz

Kari Asbury

Carolyn Lawson

Merja Sundstrom

AJE Members

Susan Kennedy

Diana Ptaszynski

Linda Landig

Lesley Watt

Caroline Dewison

Francesca Watson

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Rebekah Payne

Keirsten Giles

Kristen Stevens

Meet My Bead Soup Partner...Pia Kaven!

Hi all!  Long time no post!

I am participating in the 2013 Bead Soup Blog Party - 2nd reveal, coming up on April 6th!  This is the 7th Party and I am proud to say I have participated in all of them!  My partner this year is talented lampwork artist Pia Kaven. Not only does she create gorgeous beads, she also created this awesome "cookbook" for using murrini!

After exchanging emails and addresses, Pia sent me a few questions to answer to include on her blog and so I thought it would be fun to get her to do the same for me!

Where and how do you live? 

     I live in Plano TX with my husband, cat and three small dogs. 

What started you with the creative path? 

     I grew up in Finland where you have arts and crafts already in school. I am able to make my clothes, crochet and knit, I am able to do some woodworking and using tools. However I doubted my creativity after high school and went to college to be a nurse. After few years of working as a nurse I realized that I was unhappy and wanted to do something creative after all. So I started studying arts, first painting and then glass blowing. The glass work has evolved and started to include some metal work mainly in a form of jewelry designing. I still have difficulties sticking to one thing and keep sidetracking and doing this and that. I have always so many projects going on that it takes sometimes a long time from one to finish.

What did you want to be when you were 12 years old? 

     I have always loved animals and I most likely wanted to be dolphin trainer (tough job in Finland where there aren't any dolphins) or orangutan researcher in Borneo. I also was interested in singing and acting, though my singing still has room for improvement. 

Where would you want to be in 10 years, or what would you like from your life to be like in 10 years? 

     I would love to be retired, live in a beautiful setting, either close to water or mountains or ideally both. Warm climate is preferred and I would love to devote my time for my little family, for animals and for my art.

What is your favorite media? 

     Glass and metal definitely, though I never overlook a media, I really like trying everything possible and use what ever feels right at any given time.

What inspires you? 

     Nature and Scandinavian design. I love organic lines, but also simple clean form pleases my eyes. And I love browsing other artists work and I take little bits and pieces that I love from their work and use them as my inspiration.

Take a gander at the gorgeous lampwork set she created for me!

I already have sketches and a plan for at least 3 pieces out of this soup.  She was nervous that she didn't send enough!

Now, here is the soup I sent her. I am pretty proud of the focal and clasp, as they are both fabricated by me!

Be sure to go over and check in on Pia's blog...she will be posting my answers to the questions soon!

Art Charm Swap Blog Hop!

I happily participated in an Art Charm Swap hosted by Jen Cameron.  I had seen posts about it from last year and was excited to get to play this time!

Besides getting to receive cool, inspirational charms from fabulous jewelry artists, the swap benefits an organization called Beads of Courage, a wonderful charity that provides supportive care programs for children coping with serious illness, their families and the health care providers who care for them. Please go and read about this generous organization and see how much they do for sick kids.  Each participant was required to create an extra charm to be auctioned off for this great charity.  

 

Jen chose the theme "Laugh" for this year's swap.  At first I had a hard time coming up with something, but as I was playing with ideas, I decided to create something that always makes me smile...flowers!  What else makes me happy?  Torch-fired enameling!  So, here are my enameled, layered flower charms!

I received my set of enameling pens right after getting these ready to put together and decided to go a step further and put some happy polka dots around the edges.  Some colors worked out better than others...but these definitely make me smile when I see them.  I hope the recipients feel the same way!

Here is a close up!

Jen will be listing the auctions up on eBay around 3pm EST today.  Please go and check them out and bid!  Here is a link to the Auction Site: http://myworld.ebay.com/glassaddictions.

A wonderful group of artists participated this year...so many that Jen had to divide us up into groups!  I received some gorgeous charms...I will feature them in a post later this week.  In the meantime, you can go see what every one created by hopping to the other blogs on the list!  Here they are....

Alenka Obid: http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchage-reveal.html

Alicia Marinache: http://www.allprettythings.ca/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-blog-hop-and-auction.html

Babette Cox: http://babettecox.com/blog.htm

Carol Watson: http://www.carolwatsonartglass.blogspot.com

Carolyn Chenault: http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/beads-of-courage-auction/

Cassi Paslick: http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-charm-swap-reveal.html

Charlene Jacka: http://clay-space.com/2012/11/early-christmas/

Cheri Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/2012/11/to-participate-in-charm-swap-you-must.html

Cheryl McCloud: http://cherylmccloud.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-blog-hop-and-beads-of.html

Deb Kauzlarich: http://debkauzlarich.blogspot.com

Denielle Hagerman: http://somebeadsandotherthings.com/beads-make-me-laugh/

Emma Todd: http://apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-in-aid-of-boc.html

Erin Prais-Hintz: http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-laugh.html

Ginger Bishop: http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchange-2012.html

Inge vonRoos: http://ingetraud.wordpress.com

Jean Peter: http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-charm-swap.html

Jeannie K Dukic: http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/2012/11/12/beads-of-courage/

Jennifer Cameron: http://wp.me/p1xIa0-wn  

Kia Dallons: http://kiadallonsstudio.blogspot.jp/2012/11/laughter-is-best-medicine.html

Kimberly Roberts: http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap.html

Kristi Bowman: http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-hop.html

Lea Avroch: http://lajewelrydesign.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-beads-of-courage-art-charm-swap.html

Leslie Schenkel: http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/?p=171

Linda Florian: http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com/

Lori Greenberg: http://lorigreenberg.com/blog

Lynnea Bennett: http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com

Mallory Hoffman: http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-time-has-come-art-charm-blog-reveal.html

Marcy Lamberson: http://studiomarcy.blogspot.com/2012/11/charmed-by-minions-im-sure.html

Marsha Neal Studio: http://marshanealstudio.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-exchange-and-beads-of-courage.html

Maureen Connolly: http://mrsbeadsley.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-reveal.html

Melissa Meman: You are here!!

Monique Urquhart: http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/2012/11/charmed-im-sure.html

Natalie McKenna: http://www.grubbi.co.uk/

Perri Jackson: http://shaktipajdesigns.com/11/blog/reveal-the-laughter-art-charms/

Renetha Stanziano: http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchange-auction-and-reveal.html

Robin Koza: http://www.robinkoza.com

Shaiha Williams: http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-hop.html

Shannon Hicks: http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Shelby Foxwell: http://sundownbeaddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal.html

Shelley Graham Turner: http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/2012/11/reveal-2012-charm-swap.html

Shirley Moore:  http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-art-charm-reveal.html

Stephanie Haussler: http://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/laughter-art-bead-charm-swap-auction.html

Susan Kennedy:  http://suebeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-charm-swap-reveal-and.html

Toltec Jewels:http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/2012/11/BOCArtCharmRevealBlogHop.html

Vanessa Gilkes: http://culturezine.com/blog/

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Monday!  Happy Veteran's Day!  Remember to check out the eBay auctions and remember what a great cause they support!

Long Time, No See...Ramblings

Hello, friends!  Time has flown by since I last posted anything...a lot of family activity this month and I have had a hard time sitting down and documenting anything.

School ended, B finished 5th grade!  He received a Presidential Certificate of Excellence!

We immediately went to the beach for a few days...had a blast, although the weather was not optimal.

We got a bit of sun, but it was mostly cloudy...

and windy!

B found this on the beach for me!

After we got home, we celebrated Father's Day, and our 13th anniversary on the 20th.  J got me 2 books I had on my wish list...Mixed Metal Mania by Kim St. Jean and Foldforming by Charles Lewton Brain!  I love them both...be prepared for new metal pieces!

Since then, it has been 9-5 work, house work, yard work, Boy Scouts (B got his Scout badge, so he is official!).  We are getting ready for him to go to Boy Scout camp for a week...his first sleep away...yikes!

Not much jewelry making going on...have some things started, and simmering, but not ready to show!

Here are some pretties from around my yard, however!

Stay tuned...I will be introducing my Bead Soup partner soon, and hopefully unveiling some new Melismatic Morsels!

Happy Friday...hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Flowers n' stuff...

...a few new blooms that I love!  My irises were a bit iffy this year, since last fall I had a big iris borer problem so I had to dig up rhizomes, cut off infected parts and replant.  I'm scared some of my special hybrid colors are not coming back, but you can't go wrong with old fashioned purples!  The big solid purple ones are heirlooms from my Momma's backyard....I can't look at them without thinking of her :)  The pink clematis is also a favorite!

This shot is from Ben's first Boy Scout meeting...they had their own bridge ceremony.  I like his face in this photo...he looks like he is has a secret!

These are patterned copper (thanks Keirsten, for tips!), embellished with stacked dapped and enameled disks...totally an experiment, and all mine, since they are not weighted right and therefore hang askew, plus the errant blob of white enamel.  I like the idea, though, so will be playing around with more!

Just a few rambling thoughts for Monday...I have loads of things to do around the house and garden, plus a couple of deadlines for custom work and Sally Russick's One Crayon Color Challenge...color me green, and it is my day on Thursday for Earrings Everyday, so check back in!

What about you?  What is on your agenda for the week?

Spring Fever Ramblings

Having a 9-5 job when Spring decides to flirt with your senses is totally unfair!  Granted, it has been  a very mild winter here in Maryland, I am so ready for warmer weather, green grass, and flowers!  The spring-like temps yesterday and today have me unfocused on my admin work and chomping at the bit to go and dig in some dirt!

Unfortunately, I have suffered with an off and on headache over the last 3-4 days...just when I think it is gone, it's knuckles tap me on the side of the head again..."I'm baacckkk"!

My day on Earrings Everyday....Confetti!

Here are a couple more pairs of earrings I created a while back featuring my new love of  bezel cups...

Handwrought copper  disks with faceted blue chalcedony; lampwork by SueBeads

Sterling disks with tiny turquoise cabs;  Picasso finish Czech glass drops

Have been working on some custom orders...including a silent auction piece for one of my co-worker's Breast Cancer fundraiser and a special gift for my son's Scout leader...she has been his den leader all the way through Cubs, and will continue into Boy Scouts.  Hope to have photos of these to show soon!

Speaking of Scouts, B crosses the bridge on Saturday!  Will take lots of photos!

Oh, I almost forgot...I am still going to have a giveaway based on my Bead Soup leftovers...will get a post up soon, I promise!

Hope you are all enjoying the spring-like weather and aren't stuck inside at your desk!

Stopping in to say hello...

Have been catching up on  family time/home life lately, so haven't been online much!  I missed you!

I've been recovering from a crappy jewelry show on the 1st...it was a cold and rainy day which pretty much killed my hopes of making any real profit that day. Bummer! But, onward and upward!  That was our first blast of Autumn here in Maryland...the leaves are changing colors, and you can just smell it in the air!  This past weekend, we enjoyed absolutely gorgeous weather and spent it outside almost the whole time.  While the boys worked on painting/waterproofing the back deck,  I planted some pretty garden mums and a few pansies in our front beds.

The rest of the week has been taken up by "old lady" medical tests...not fun, by any stretch of the imagination, but they are all out of the way (for a while) and so far, aside from cholesterol levels, and the need to lose a few more pounds, have been declared healthy!

On the jewelry front, I am caught up with custom orders, and am trying to get all the new stuff I didn't sell at the crappy show into my websites.  Other than that, I have only been playing when time allows.  I do have a couple of things that I would like to show you though, that I am pretty pleased with :)

This little birdy began at ArtBliss in Deryn's Wax On class...I cut the copper shape out, but put it away for later!  I decided to flood it with solder and add some texture, but decided it needed wings!  The malachite eye is a result of my Richard Salley class!



I have had this yellow calcite (I think) cab forever...I bought it ages ago and was going to do a woven wire bezel on it, but after playing with creating bezels for resin and embedding filigree into the flooded solder, I decided to try and set the stone.  Obviously, this is an untraditional bezel setting, and it has flaws...I didn't realize how soft the stone was - nicked it and scratched it!  Thought I had a great fit with the bezel wire, but forgot that this type of soldering will take up more space...ruh, roh! However...I love it!  It is mine! :)

Stay tuned for my "Virtual Book Tour" post on Monday, 10/17, where I extol my love and admiration for all things Barbara Lewis!  Who knows, I might even show up here before then and surprise you...that is, if stinkin' Google lets me post images....anyone else having issues with that?

Just Because

Some of my daylilies and stargazer lilies before it got so freakin' hot this past week...

Roses that J got for me after I dropped over $200 at Costco the other day...I love it when there are enough blooms in a bouquet to split it up into little ones for around the house!  My Fenton milkglass vase is in the downstairs loo, and my beloved blue McCoy is right next to my bed!

Enjoy!

Just a quick hello...

have been really busy with lots of stuff lately, but wanted to say "O hai" before you forget about me :)

I was scrambling, trying to get ready for a show tomorrow, alas, it was cancelled due to probable heavy rain and storms.  Part of me is sad, I really wanted to do the show, and I had been busting it for the last few days.  The more realistic part of me is relieved, as I wasn't really ready!  I have got to get my procrastination under control.

I hope to finish what I started, and get some photos taken and load all my new goodies into my shops, so stay tuned for that.

I'll leave you with a virtual walk through my garden as of a couple days ago...my iris and clematis are really kickin' it :)

Have a fabulous weekend!