Virtual Craft Show !!!

***My Give-away ***

Time for the first annual Virtual Craft Show !!!!!

Check out Lori Anderson's blog everyday  from 11/26-12/3
for Great  Give-a ways and some Wonderful bargains!
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/
You can shop for Unique gifts and have a chance to win Awesome prizes!!!
70  Fabulous  Prizes !!!  New ones listed daily ! How cool is that ?
My give- away?
Three of my Poinsettia Pendants.
Three glamorous silk ribbons with metallic edges .
Sting together for a simple necklace
(great for those" oops I forgot someone " gifts)
Add to  your own show stopping jewelery designs
or use as a tie-on for your most extra special gifts !
Plus, I'm giving away one amazing  pine scented candle guaranteed to get you in the holiday mood !

I  Love,Love ,Love shopping on line .
No more wasting my time and gas money !
No more fighting crazy mall crowds!
Plus, I can find truly Unique gifts ...
no chance of giving Aunt Suzie something she already has if I pick a  one-of -a -kind item!
(no,I don't really have an Aunt Suzie ..but ,you get  the point )

I also feel good about supporting the  online community of artists and crafts people .
Handmade items seem to have a special feel so often lacking in our cookie cutter world.
So much hustle and hurry to make a zillion of this and a billion of that.
Don't misunderstand , I'm glad someone created a zillion computers like mine ...helps bring the price down ..LOL!
But, for holiday giving I prefer to slow down and make my gift more personal and meaningful .
A gift created by hand seems to me to embody the true  spirit of  holiday giving.
I really enjoy searching for that perfect gift for everyone on my list
I don't think the fact I can search here at my computer,in my P.J.'s,
with my cup of coffee; in any way detracts from the love and care I try to put into  choosing each present.
this week
hurry over the the Virtual Craft  Show
check it out Daily for Great Gifts
and
Bead Happy !

m.e.

come back on Sunday 12/4

     for a Sneak Peek  of my 

ABS  Ornament Blog Hop creation !

Harvest Time

 

Amber Waves  of Grain

This is the Season  of  the Harvest .
Summer's bounty is being stored away for the long winter.
It is the time to rest from the labor of the growing season .
It is a time to give thanks for what we have harvested .
Since the first nomadic people settled down to plant crops, this has been true.

However, most of us are removed from field and farm .
We don't labor in the fields or survive winter with stores from hay stack or root cellar.
But, I think even for jewelry designers this is the season of harvest.
A time to store all the inspiration planted throughout  the Spring and Summer.
A time to gather in all the new tecniques and materials we want to keep .

It is a time to give thanks for our blessings.
A  time to reflect on all the bounty  life has brought us.
including ..yes ...our beads.
My beads add a bit of "fun money " to my income
But, more importantly  they bring me happiness.
Because of beads I have made good friends the world over.
Throughout the year I have learned about politics,religion, world events ,art and much more! I like to call this my "beaducation"
Not less important , because of my bead connections I've just plain had FUN.
I have reaped a bountiful harvest of  laughter and joy !
this week
take stock of  your Summer's Harvest
count your blessings
and
Bead Happy !
m.e.

Heartless???

Eclipse of the Heart

Time for the Art Bead Scene Challenge !  

http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-monthly-challenge.html

This month's painting is

Madonna Pietra degli Scrovigni by Marie Spartali Stillman 
Gorgeous!!!
I immediately searched my stash for elements that would  reflect the colors and shapes in the painting.
I had some brass filigree components that seemed to suit  the painting's theme.
The saucer beads mirrored the pleats on the sleeves perfectly!
I found some lovely kyanite disk beads that had all the shades of green.Best of all the shape reminded me of the crystal ball in the painting !
I can never resist a touch of nature in my designs .
With the help of saw and Dremel I had a "branch bead "
For the  blossoms I added some fresh water pearls.
But, how to tie it all together?
I kept thinking  about this quote
"The woman is a character from the Italian poet Dante. She was described as a heartless lady dressed in green."
 Was she really heartless,or did life and love just leave an empty place in her heart ???
hummm........
empty place in her heart........
ah ha !!! A heart toggle !!!

Lately I have been busy creating handmade toggle clasps .
I have also discovered Gliders paste!!!
Wonderful stuff !!! You can turn anything metallic !
My family steers clear of me whenever I have those little cans of  paste in my hands. They  fear  I'll gild them!
More than once this week I've gone to work with metallic fingertips!

I created a heart toggle impressed with a flower/leaf design  .
Then I "gilded" it with a mix of colors to match my brass beads.
The clasp worked as a focal bead too!
It's refreshingly easy to put on a necklace with the clasp in front !
I am having the best time creating toggles !
And I'm having so much fun with Gilders paste!
I love that I was able to use both in my challenge entry !
this week try using  a new tecnique in your jewelry designs...
and
Bead Happy !!!

m.e.