On Adulthood

I wrote this poem about 10 years ago when we were making the decision to  move up to Alaska....  And dealing with a difficult pregnancy.  Atwood's quote made me think of it.  I don't want to grow up, not really, but I like a lot of the perks of being an adult.  There has to be some where in between- where you can handle the responsibility, but still remember the joy of childhood.


Being an Adult

I whisper longingly of joining the circus,
transforming myself into a clown, or a high wire artist.
I dream of running away-
from our tidy condo where never, never echoes in the shadows.
I need to start over
like pulling clean warm laundry from the dryer.
Here is only sighs and promises.
Now is only collectors and debts,
dirty dishes and bills.
I miss running through the sprinkler and laughing as the water hit my skin.

I hate adulthood
dealing with it
and making something of your life

Wish there really was a net under this high wire act

Thinks I'm Thinking...

Farmer's Market is almost over (just two more days- tomorrow & Saturday) and I'm thinking about this winter...

Some yucky home stuff means that Two Sisters will not be at many Christmas bazaars, probably only two or three.  So what shall I do this winter to keep from going insane?  I was planning on taking metal-smithing, but the same yucky home stuff means I didn't get to do that this semester.  Boo!

I'm expecting to get to play a little more with polymer, and I'm hopeful about how that will come together in the next couple months. 
Deborah is learning violin and will be a little mouse in the Nutcracker. 
Abigail will be doing her Occupational Therapy (Sensory Processing Disorder) and she will also be starting girl scouts this Saturday.

But what else?  I have to have something solid to get me through the cold and dark....  I'll let you all know more when I know more.

Saturday Smiles

On Saturdays I post about a couple of things that have made me smile over the last week.
*****

1) I found a great place for beaders on Facebook! 

Creative Bead Chat is a group for beaders to share what they have made, to ask for help, and to find community.  I'm so lucky that I have my sister making jewelry with me and that we can share our work & difficulties and inspire each other.  However a lot of other beaders don't have that kind of immediate response from someone, and the CBC group is a place to get responses and community.  A place to have people flip over the amazing piece you just finished, or offer advice about how to get the perfect patina on a cuff bracelet...

1) I started back at work.

I like my job.  I'm a 1st-3rd grade "Early Reading Intervention Specialist".  It's not perfect (I have to be outside with the kids for one half hour recess every day, and that part can be very stressful), and I wish it were full time (if I were more than 15 hours they have to pay me benefits, so it's cheaper to have 3 of us at 14 hours a week). 
But I like working with kids and helping them learn to read.  I enjoy watching them grow and get better, understand more and learn to enjoy reading.  I enjoy figuring out with them what their individual reading quirks are and how to fix them.  I like feeling that I am actually making a difference for these kids- that because I am helping them now, maybe they will be able to finish high school and go on to a good paying job.
Although I'm not working with students til next week, I'm back at the school and prepping for my new students.  I am getting to know the kids through the recess time and introducing myself to them.  I really enjoy working with kids.  I admit I prefer kids to most adults.  They are more honest & more fun, as a general rule. 
I remember what it felt like to be a kid- how big everything was, and how overwhelming social conflicts were.  I think a lot of adults forget what it's like to be a kid- how out of control everything feels. I WANT to remember and not forget. 

2) I started a Beth Moore Bible study at church.

I'm so excited!  I haven't been in a good Bible study in probably 2 years, and I really miss the in-depth work and reading my Bible for change and growth.  Listening to God's voice and laying my heart out...  Hope I can buckle down and do the reading and study necessary.

Remember

Saturday Smiles

On Saturdays I post about a couple things that have made me smile over the last week.
*****

1) Polymer Clay and paint
I'm really having fun.  =)  I'm just jumping in and figuring it out as I go...  I've read a couple of good books, and looked in a couple of library books with different polymer clay jewelry.  Some of it I liked and some of it I just don't.  I'm hoping to grow and get better.
I think I like the painting as much as the clay.  I'm trying to remember to photograph my pieces before I sell them!

2) My girls like school this year!
It feels like a miracle to see them happily walking into school each morning... 
Abigail's kindergarten year was torture- every morning she would cry and refuse to go, and I'd end up having to carry her in crying.  First grade was better- good teacher, yucky social issues....  Have you ever noticed how mean little girls can be?
But finally, second grade has turned a corner for her.  She can read, and she can talk to people.  She likes playing with the other kids.  She likes her teacher.  She likes math, and stories, and music, and gym...  It's just amazing.
And Deborah has a fourth grade teacher who is emphasizing writing!!!  Truly, he is an answer to prayer.  She writes different bits (sometimes fiction, and sometimes non-fiction) every day and is doing so well.  Math is still a struggle for her, much like it was for me, but she is surviving.

3) Mercedes Lackey Elemental Masters Series
This is my last week before I go back to work tutoring, so I am taking advantage of my last few days with the girls in school and me at home.  I'm cleaning and reading.
Currently, I am re-reading Lackey's Elemental Masters turn of the century fantasy novels, and enjoying them again.  I've read each of them about twice, but never straight through back to back. She has a new one, and I want to read them all again before I jump into the new one.
I enjoy the little cross-overs.  Each story is complete in and of itself, but they all tie together and have some repeated characters.
I don't always agree with some of the moralizing/philosophizing that Lackey includes, but I always enjoy reading a book that makes me think.  The series starts right about 1905, and then continue into the start of WWI.  I like Lackey's characters- she creates people who you would like to know and hate to see go when the book is over.  And I always love re-telling of fairy-tales.

The second book of the series, and honestly my favorite- The Serpent's Shadow is a re-telling of the Snow White story, with an Indian touch.

 

I'm currently reading Phoenix and Ashes, the fourth book in the series.  It is a re-telling of the Cinderella story.

One of my favorite quotes from Phoenix is a comment made by a local village witch/mid-wife and the fairy godmother in the re-telling of the story:

"Eleanor looked up and lifted an eyebrow.  'I think I see why you never married, Sarah,' she replied, with irony.
Sarah laughed.  'Well, and I reckoned if I wanted something that'd come and go as he pleased, take me for granted and ignore me when he chose, I'd get a cat.  And if I wanted something I'd always have to be picking up after, getting into trouble, but slavishly devoted, I'd get a dog.'"

Friday is my Fun Day! - Polymer Charms

This week I worked with Polymer clay, and I had so much fun!  I started a couple weeks ago when I made the heart for my Bead Soup.  And now I've made some other pieces- Forget-Me-Not charms & butterflies.

 

Forget-Me-Not Charms

I used a flower stamp, cooked the clay, and then hand-painted the charms.  I'm pleased with them, and I can't wait to use them.  Maybe earrings?  Maybe more than 2 and I'll make a charm bracelet?

Butterfly Charms

 

I used the same procedure on these- a butterfly stamp, cooking the clay, and then hand-painting the charms.  The only difference on these is the sparkle.  I used a dab of glitter glue on each of the wings, to achieve the iridescence of butterfly wings. I will be making earrings for my girls out of these.

 

I have a lot of different butterflies- green, yellow, turquoise, red...  They were so fun, I couldn't stop making them!

Amazing Give-away

I just read about this wonderful give-away over at Gardanne!

 

But I don't want you to enter!  'Cuz then I'll have less chances to win. 

So, DON'T go over there, and DON'T enter!

Polymer Butterflies Awarded

Well, after some discussion and debate the decision was made to award TWO commenters some lovely butterflies.

And the winners are: ALICE and CRAFTY HOPE! 

 

Ladies, please contact me with your e-mail!

 

Thank you to all who commented & read my Blog Hop Post!

 

My Butterfly Charm Give-Away

It's 11 pm, and it's time for my girls and me to choose the lucky person who wins the butterfly charms.  Except my girls are in bed...  and asleep (which is rare).  And I don't want to wake them up. 

But I have the bowl all ready with the little paper slips!  So we'll choose early tomorrow.  'Til then, little slips of paper...

Challenge of Travel Blog Hop- Ireland

I am so excited to be part of Erin Prais-Hintz's Travel Blog Hop!  When I saw her invitational post about it, I wanted to be part of it immediately.  The idea of finding inspiration from another country excited and fascinated me.  I didn't even think about not joining, I just jumped right in with both feet.

I wish I had looked at my calendar and thought about everything happening this week! =)  I got my travel inspiration piece done, but it was part of a mad, crazy week.

My girls started school last week, My Bead Soup Blog post was last Saturday, I started work this week (tutoring 1-3 graders in reading), I started metal-smithing class again, my daughter's 7th birthday was Friday...  It's been a good, but CRAZY week.

However, if I had thought about it I might not have signed up, and that would have been VERY sad.  I would have missed out on this exciting, cool event.  I wouldn't have made a fun piece, and I wouldn't have gotten to meet you, dear reader.

**********

My Country:  Ireland

 



 I feel compelled to be honest with you.  I chose Ireland for one reason:  My favorite color is green.  And when I think of green in the context of a country, I think of Ireland.  That's kind of a silly reason to have chosen a country, but it's the truth.  I like green, and I thought I would make a fun green piece.

 

And then I started exploring pictures of Ireland- beautiful pictures of Ireland.  Luscious, green pictures with rolling hills and cliffs, old castles with green moss, brilliant sunsets over the ocean off green coasts.  (Some great web-sites for pictures: Brides without Borders; TrekEarth)

 

 

 

 

I was entranced with the photos of Ireland- totally in love with the country-side, mood and age of the land.  I loved the old crumbled castles, buildings, and graveyards.  Since I grew up on the West coast of the U.S., I'm not around old buildings very much.  Alaska wasn't even 'civilized' until the 1970's, and most of the old crumbled houses around here look that way because of the melting permafrost not because of true age.

More than the countryside and old buildings, though, I was drawn in by the coastal pictures.  I grew up on the Oregon Coast, and the pictures of Coastal Ireland looked like home to me, in a way I can't quite explain.

 

 I LOVED the photos I found, but I didn't have any ideas about how to put them into a piece of jewelry...  Until Tuesday of this week, I felt frustrated, stymied and stuck.  I spent time looking at more and more landscape and castles...  Trying to find something that inspired me to make jewelry. 

 

And then I thought I'd look at Irish stories.  So I started looking at the mythology, and the fairy-tales....  And I discovered a treasure trove of magic, mystery and allure.  I read about banshees, leprechauns, and selkies. 

And finally I read about Irish mermaids, or merrow from the Gaelic murúch.  And I had my inspiration.

On the Wikipedia site, I found more information about Irish mermaids:

They appeared, as in other cultures, to be human from the waist up but have the body of a fish from the waist down. They have a gentle, modest, affectionate and benevolent disposition.

There are other names pertaining to them in Gaelic: Muir-gheilt, Samhghubha, Muidhuachán, and Suire. The merrow were capable of attachment to human beings and there are reports of them inter-marrying and living among humans for many years. However, most times they eventually return to their former homes beneath the sea.

Merrow-maidens are reputed to lure young men to follow them beneath the waves where afterwards they live in an enchanted state. Merrows wear a special hat called a cohuleen druith which enables them to dive beneath the waves. If they lose this cap, it is said they have no power to return beneath the water. Sometimes they are said to leave their outer skins behind, to assume others more magical and beautiful. The merrow has soft white webs between her fingers, she is often depicted with a comb parting her long green hair on either side. It is said that Merrow music is often heard coming from beneath the waves.

Renaissance Mermaid

 



 My piece is not green, which I find very humorous.  Instead, my Mermaid's Treasure is in shades of turquoise.

 

 

 I combined my wire-work with a Green Girls Mermaid pendant, and two Michael's waves.  Then I added Sea Opal, Amazonite, Apatite, shell, freshwater pearls, and Swarovski crystals.

 

 

I wish my photography captured the luminescence of the shell pendant, but it just doesn't do it justice.

 

 

I'm delighted to combine the low-end Michael's waves, with the stunning Green Girls Mermaid.

 

 

 

Thank you, Erin!  I feel so lucky to have been able to participate in this Challenge.  It wasn't easy, but I had fun, and got to be inspired in a different way.

 

To continue on with the Blog Hop, go HERE.



Lori's BEAD SOUP BLOG PARTY Reveal

I love Lori's Bead Soup Blog Parties!  They are fabulous.  A party right in your own house, where you can cozy down with hot chocolate and beads. What could be better?  Maybe getting to create something with a wonderful bead soup!

I love the reveal date, too.  I get to show off what I made, and I get to see what other people have made.  And today is the day!

So, just in case you don't remember, here is the faboo soup that my partner, Rose Binoya sent me.

Now, I have to be honest with you.  I loved the soup, but I had absolutely NO idea what I was going to do with that focal.  I've never worked with key-holes, and I am not a bead stitcher.  I was worried and fretful, and really wondered what I was going to do.

I thought and thought and thought, but was completely flummoxed until 2 weeks ago.  I was laying in bed dozing off when suddenly an idea came to me.  Fully formed and with a surprising amount of detail.  Just so you know, dear reader, I do not create that way.  Mostly my creations are as much the process as the end result.  I tend to kind of discover what I'm making as I go along.  I might have a general idea, but I rarely go into projects with them complete & fully formed.  So, I lay there for a couple seconds thinking, "Will I remember this idea in the morning?", and came to the decision that even IF I did, I probably wouldn't remember every little bit.  So I scooted out of bed, came downstairs and drew it.  My drawing leaves MUCH to be desired, but I still want to share the picture.

I sometimes draw a picture of what I'm going to make, but rarely does it end up looking the same.  I am delighted at how much my necklace looks like the picture.  I had a lot of fun putting this piece together, and got to use a lot of different techniques.

I don't have access to the metal-smithing shop during the summer, so I chose to create the heart from polymer clay.  I painted it, and glued the key-hole to it.  Then I used a pre-cut metal shape and stamped the words "Set it free" into it. I went over the letters with my black Sharpie, and used alcohol inks to give it texture.

 

I backed the metal with leather, and then wire-wrapped the birds, the key and the mint crystals from Rose with some green ones I already had.  I am very pleased with this piece.  And I had so much fun making it.  Thank you, Rose!  I would never have made this piece without your soup!

 

Next, I LOVED the beautiful button toggle Rose sent me, and I needed to use it.  I wanted to create a fun bracelet.  My sister had found an explanation of how to create button toggles, but I hadn't yet jumped into making them.  Now that I've seen how cool they are, I want to make some myself.  I used the purple crystals from the soup and paired them with green crystals, stones and a few wood beads.

 

 

I loved this little garden bracelet so much I ended up with another picture of it from a different angle.

 





Then I used those fantastic Lucite flowers and created a pair of wire-work earrings.  These look like some earrings I made over the winter, but I think this new pair is more fun.  I used glass pearls in the ones I made before, but Rose sent me some little tiny Lucite flowers, too.  I layered them with the pearls, and I really like the end result.

 

 

Finally, I only had two of Rose's lovely purple crystals left, and I wanted to make a pair of earrings with them.  I still had the lock and key image running around in my mind, and these reflect Rose's key-hole focal.

 

 

I enjoyed playing with this wonderful soup, and am delighted with how many pieces I was able to create.

 

Thank you, Rose!  You sent me a wonderful soup.

Thank you, Lori!  You throw the best parties.

 

Also, for you, dear reader, I have a give-away!  Yup, freebies!!!

Leave a comment, and next week on Saturday, the 1st of September, my girls will help me select one lucky beader to receive a pair of my hand-painted polymer butterfly charms!

 

 

 

And off you go, to the next reveal!

 

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart *My sister*

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation, Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs

Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope, LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place *YOU are HERE*
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog *My Bead Swap Partner*
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog

Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo

Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila
Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs


Solange Collin, Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

 



My Soup!

As part of Lori's Bead Soup Blog Party, I have been matched with the fabulously talented Rose Binoya of Ahtee's Blog.  Rose creates lovely and intricate wire pieces, such as this:

And this:

Beautiful, just beautiful.  I love twisting wire into jewelry, but I do not have the patience to do the intricate weaving and tension work involved in Rose's wire art.  I had seen the pendant in Jewelry Affaire, the magazine, and had fallen love with the copper twisting and the wonderful wire wrap around the central turquoise bead.  And then I get paired up with Rose by Lisa!  Pretty cool.

Rose sent me a wonderful soup to work with for the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party.  I'm excited and nervous.

I love that key hole focal, but I have no idea how I am going to use it...  I've never worked with a focal piece that's wide and short!  I've got some ideas percolating, and I've worked on some drawings.  I hope my ideas work out, 'cuz I'm not sure what I'll do if they don't!

I'm envisioning some polymer clay, some metal work... 





Me and sparklies are so closely entwined I should have been a raven.  I've never met a sparkly I didn't fall passionately in love with, so those glass crystals have found a home where they will be adored.  I love using Lucite flowers in my wire-work, and am looking forward to seeing what I can do with those new shapes.  I've never worked with the cute little four petal flowers.

Isn't that button clasp great?  Beth and I have just started playing around with the idea of buttons as wired clasps.  I'm in love with these clasps and am looking forward to creating a home for this one.

Check back in on Saturday, August 25th for the reveal!  I expect to reveal something fabulous and fun.

Saturday Smiles

On Saturday I post about a couple of things that have made me smile over the last week.
****

1) Pearl wire necklaces!

I like making these necklaces for many reasons.  I love working with the wire and quality pearls, the necklaces are lovely and sell well.  I also enjoy the fact that I have improved in my ability to making them.

The funnest part is making sure that each of them looks different.  I use different leaves and glass sparkles to create a slightly different mood with each pieces, while still maintaining the basic simplicity of the design.  At first I wasn't making the earrings but specific customers have asked, so I have started making something just in case a customer asks.

2) School starts in four days!

My girls go back to school next Tuesday, and I'm delighted, thrilled, ecstatic, even a little joyful.  Even though I hate to see summer dwindle away, I am ready to turn my children over to the keeping of the school district.  They have been at loose ends these last weeks and demanding more entertaining.  I'm ready for them to be entertained and learn and see their school friends.

3) Re-working necklaces

I've continued the process of remaking all the wire necklaces into new pieces.

This necklace used to be a circle of wire, but I've taken the central portion of the necklace and turned it into a large pendant.  I'm really pleased with these new/old pieces.  I've had many of them for a couple of summers and they needed a face-lift.  Hanging them on wire gives them more flexibility in length and a little more durability.

It's fun to re-imagine these pieces, and I'm so happy to see them looking good.



Saturday Smiles

On Saturday, I post about a couple of things that have made me smile over the last week.
*****

1) Necklace Remakes
This week I took apart 5 wire necklaces that I've had forever.  Well, maybe not forever, but at least 2 summers, and possibly more.  I am keeping the main ideas for each piece and then re-working the main structure.  Here's an example of a re-worked piece in progress:

This piece used to be a complete circle of gold wire, with a clasp at the back of the neck.  It had five flowers made from the vintage brass beads and 15 gold e-beads wrapped around them.  I unwrapped the back half of the necklace to create a pendant.  I'll hang this smaller piece from chain, instead of having wire go all the way around. 
I've added wire loops, green butterflies, and some sparkly beads.  The pendant is now much stronger than the original piece as I have worked with the wire, wrapped and wrapped additional wire around the original two twisted wires.  I haven't quite finished the piece yet, but this photo was taken about half-way through the remaking process.
I find it to be a fun and challenging process to remake these necklaces.  It's not the same as totally creating a brand new piece, and I like finding new ways to inspire the creative juices to flow.

2) My feet are finally feeling better!
I'm still stuck in the stupid boot, but my left foot is not hurting as much.  My right ankle (the sprained one) is feeling better, although it is still quite impressively purple and green.

3) The Olympics!

I love watching the Olympics- seeing the contests, hearing the stories, and coming to care for the competitors.  I want them all to win...  They've all worked so hard, and fought against so many odds.  I was way more involved this year. I don't know why.  Better interviews?  More sleep?  My girls are old enough to be interested?  Probably all of the above.

Bead Soup Blog Party

Today is the second reveal date!  I am not part of the second serving of soup because my reveal is not until August 28th, two weeks from today. 

However there are some AWESOME pots of bead soup out there to view.  You can find the list of participants HERE.  Go, Look, Enjoy!

Red Flower Remix

I've had this red and copper wire necklace hanging around for at least a year, maybe another summer, too. But I think I made it last year. I loved the necklace, but it has sat on my table for a year or so...

It is pretty, but it doesn't really fit in with what I am creating now.  So today I began the process of recreating it.  I am not sure how it will turn out.  I hope it will be smashing, a lovely floral & lace bauble to caress the neck of any maiden. 

The first step in the remixing process was to unwind the wire down to the flowers I am keeping, only the three in the center.  And I shall work out from there.  One big change: I am going to use chain and a lobster clasp so that the necklace has more flexibility in length. 

At this point, I don't know what else I'm going to do to it...

Saturday Smiles Missed

I missed my Saturday Smiles posting...  Mostly because there weren't very many smiles here that day.

This is how I spent my Friday, and much of my Saturday. 

I was already wearing the big black cast on my left foot for a stress fracture.  On Friday, I was hurrying down the stairs to get to the cabin at Pioneer Park where we have some of our jewelry, and I tripped on my stupid big black cast.  And now I have a cast on my right foot, too.  My ankle swelled up so much!  Not quite as much as when I was pregnant, but wow, it was big.  It's gotten smaller since then, but now it's covered in black & purple bruises.

If you know me, you probably know I have a history of falling down stairs.  I've gotten better about being more careful as I have aged, but I haven't met a set of stairs I can't fall down.  I don't know why- I'm not clumsy.  It's like my brain is already done with the stairs, but my body hasn't caught up. I've fallen down small flights, and I've fallen down terrifying long flights...  Oh, and I've fallen UP the stairs a couple of times, too.  I've learned to hold tight to the railings, and go SLOW.  Which I forgot on Friday.  Not only was I hurrying, I was carrying a bag.  So I couldn't hold on to the railing. 

I've never sprained my ankle from falling down the stairs before, though.   I don't think I would have fallen at all if I hadn't been wearing the stupid big black cast, and I certainly wouldn't have sprained my ankle if I hadn't been wearing the stupid big black cast.

So.  Now I am stuck sitting on my tushy for a while.  With both my feet up.  I seriously feel like God is saying, "Slow down, Rebecca!"  I hate sitting around.  I want to be moving, doing something, making jewelry, shopping, walking, gardening...  I'm going insane here...

Hope my foot and ankle are better soon.

Friday Art Day

I had so much fun working on projects this week and I wanted to share a little bit of what I've been doing.

I finished off the green butterfly, so now all three of them are done.  Filigree butterflies, Swarovski crystals, and flowers.  What other combo could be quite as fun?

I completed more of the little frame hearts, but I only have one picture...  Becca, Do more pictures!  These little hearts are so fun to make.  I enjoy creating the heart, and then wrapping the flowers and crystals to the heart.  My favorite touch is the little crystal butterfly dangling from the center.  The necklaces end up very simple and sweet.

Also, I've been making these wire Y-shaped flower necklaces for a while, but I'm making them a little differently now than I did when I first started making them.

New Necklaces, Summer 2012

I used to make the entire necklace out of wire, like this:

Forget-Me-Not Necklace, Summer 2009

And this:

Blue Flowers Necklace, Summer 2008

NOW, instead of making the entire necklace out of wire, I mostly make the focal/center out of wire and then attach chain.  I don't do this with ALL my wire necklaces, but I am finding that a lot of people like them better this way.  The chain and chain extensions give the necklaces more length, and they can be worn a little looser.  Most of my clientele do not like chokers, and a lot of the wire necklaces were pretty short.  I've learned to make them longer, but people like having the option of making them a little shorter or a little longer depending on their outfit.

I still make my pearl necklaces completely out of wire, but I use a chain extender in the back.  The wire foundation works better for these viney necklaces because the weight and balance of the wire and pearls gives the entire necklace a solid structure.  However the light pieces seem to work better (less bending, less damage, less kinking) when attached to chain.  The chained wire pieces are also just plain easier to make.  They take a little less time and allow me to really fine-focus the wire details.

I'm also making them all a little more sturdy- at least double wrapping the wire and sometimes triple.  I like the viney, natural feel the extra wrappings create and I like them to be a little less fragile.  They are still delicate and dainty, but they don't break easily. I'm delighted with how quickly these Y-flower necklaces have sold this summer. I can barely keep them on the table.

It's fun to look back and see that I've gotten better at what I'm doing!