2010 In a Nutshell

Wow!  It's been a month since I've posted anything.  My computer is virus free (for the moment),  and is as fast as it was the day I got it.  Thanks Chris!  It's amazing!!

This has a been a heck of a year.  My dad had back surgery.  Went to Cali to visit with JerBears daughter and family from Chicago.  Had a major computer virus a few months back.   Got my first look and hugs and kisses from Katrina's little boy Braden.  My daughter Jackie and family came out.  My grandson Larry made my heart stop a few times (he has no fear of anything).    My good friend Lucia came out and stayed with us.   Joined a gym and gained a couple of pounds.....we went to Cali for Thanksgiving,  visited with JerBear's sis and daughter and family,  came home.....got a virus.    Had Christmas.   So here it is New Year's Eve....lol!!   I'm so happy to have my computer back.  I got an Android a couple of weeks ago and it really saved me.  I could check emails and Facebook,  but it was hard to see (need new glasses)  and sometimes very frustrating.  

I made a few necklaces and a couple of bracelets for friends,  and now am working on a couple of pairs of earrings for JerBears boss and daughter.   

I love the look of dark patina'd copper with leather.  Any color leather.   I've been working with those two for  a little while now and have had excellent feedback. 

 Have a Happy New Year!!   See you next year!!

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!

TGIF!!!   JerBear starts his vacation at 5:00 today.  WOOHOOO!! 

I took Lucia to my bead store with me yesterday ,  and she found some beautiful Bronzite large pillow beads and we looked at pearls for her wedding jewelry.  I made the necklace and the bracelet last night while watching tv.

This next bracelet I decided to make for me.  I cut up a Turquoise necklace and my small  memory wire bracelet to have enough Turquoise beads for the six strands. 

It's a multi Turquoise with corals, coppers, silvers,  shell and ceramics. 

I'll be back after vacation,  so everyone have a great Thanksgiving!!

Monday's Photos

It's Monday and I finally photographed  the jewelry I was going to have posted on Friday!   Better late than never   I always wind up saying!! 

The first necklace is Monaco Agate and Ocean Jasper.  They go great together on this 19and a half inch necklace.  It's accompanied by African copper ,  some handmade copper links ,  and copper rings and chain. 

The second necklace is a large brass Tibetan bead surrounded by blue and red coral beads.  There are two Tibetan agates along with bone , African copper and my handmade chain and clasp.  It's 22 inches long.

This two strand necklace was one of the surfer necklaces I made earlier this year.   The blue-green Turquoise goes great with the African copper and also mixed in with the shells.     The necklace is 17 inches long and has a copper clasp.

This pearl necklace and bracelet has a large faceted Quartz bead sitting in the middle of both pieces.   There is sterling silver along with pearls and glass.   The necklace is 14 inches long. 

This next bracelet is  Cowgirl.       It has the colors of the earth and sky!   Along with copper and sterling silver,  there is Turquoise,  Sodalite, Pietersite, Coral,  Brecciated Jasper, Blue Calsilica and ceramic.    You can even hear her when you move your wrist!!

I hope you like these pieces.   All are pretty much casual except for the pearl pieces,  although they would look great with a white shirt and jeans. 

I've not finished Lucia's bracelet and I only have four full days before she gets here.  Don't worry Lucia,  it'll be finished,  and then we can start on your wedding jewelry!!  THAT will be fun!

Thanks for stopping by!! 

Bracelets

I really do try not to keep everything  I make.    The first two photos are the bracelets I've decided not to part with.  I really like the colors of Moukite.   The buckskins,  the greens ,  browns and such.  Lovely!!

The above is leather with copper spirals,  turquoise ,  moukite and copper danglies.

This has moukite rounds and I believe the large rectangle bead is moukite.  Lot's of handmade copper and a handmade clasp.   It also sounds good when my wrist moves.

This is a memory wire bracelet made with Spiny Oyster,  Turquoise,  copper,  bone and a Christmas Bead thrown in for good measure.  JerBear has brought to my attention that I prounounce oyster...oisshter.  Hmm.

This next bracelet is made with the rectangle  moukite.   All the wire wrapping and chain is handmade.  The lobster clasp came from the beadstore.   I wove a green silk ribbon through the chain and tied moukite beads on the ends. The danglies are a mixture of beads and copper.

The next bracelet is leather ,  copper and moukite .   The more I look at it ,   the more likely I am to add more dangly items. 

The green chevron braclet looks like tiny watermelons on your wrist.  It has coral  and African silver as spacers.  The clasp is Sterling Silver. 

These three are bracelets we're taking to Cali for the grandkids school Christmas sale.   I have got to get on the ball and make more jewelry  before we leave.

 
Last but certainly not least,  is Lucia's bracelet.  She 's coming for a visit in a couple of weeks,  and as everyone knows,  company gets a piece of jewelry.   Not that we have to bribe friends to come visit......lol!!
It's not finished yet ,  but will be shortly.

Well there you have it.  I do have some unfinished pieces in the works...several actually.   I'm sort of at a standstill until I haul out the Liver of Sulpher , plastic gloves and tweezers.   It's not hard at all,  just stinky.

Thanks for looking!!!

October Jewelry

It's been a long time since I've been to my blog.   I got the latest virus off  and hopefully won't have any more problems.   Thanks to Chris,  we didn't have to spend an electric bill payment to get rid of it. 

I am really into copper and Turquoise.  I LOVE Turquoise.  

This is three different necklaces.  There is a leather and chain necklace behind the other two.  It's about 19" long.  I made the clasp and the loops on this.

The lowest hanging necklace consists of  glass, leather, copper and Arizona  and Mexican Turquoise.   I made the large rings and wrapped them,  the smaller chain,  the connections  and then I patina'd them.   It can be worn at a 20" length or just a little longer.  It has turquoise and a handmade copper dangly on the end.

The middle necklace has three sets of three disc Turquoise.   I made the connecting loops.  The large chain closes with a large oxidized lobster clasp.   It's 18 and a half inches long.

 This necklace is 16" long at the neck,  but the two kinds of black chain extends much longer.  The gemstones are Black Onyx  round beads and square Sardonyx.   The wire used to connect the small Onyx beads is made from annealed steel.  So,  if it gets wet,  be sure to dry it!  It has a black lobster clasp.

This necklace is made from Peacock Colored Pearls.  I actually bought the pearls two years ago,  and made them into a necklace that I wore for dinner the first night on our  cruise.   I paired them with copper.   It's 20" long.

I have some bracelets made that I haven't photo'd yet.   Some of them,  when I got them finished,  I decided to keep!!   I'll be sure and show those too!! 

I have to run ,  but I hope to have those posted later today.  

Thanks for stopping by!! 

New Two Strand Pearl Bracelet

This two strand bracelet is loaded with Bali beads and Sterling silver.    There are Swarovski crystals along with button pearls and round pearls.   They go beautifully together.    This is the fourth or tenth (ha) bracelet I've made using pearls and I'm beginning to think maybe I need to make a bridal line.   Hmm...

Bead Finds

I found the Red Sardonyx today.  It goes great with the Fire Agate and  both plain and frosted Carnelians.

Finally!! I made something!

I have finally made myself sit down and make something....to the detriment of my house.  Of course! 

The first bracelet is Pearls with some Sterling Silver,  some Silver plated and some African Silver.  There are some Swarovski crystals and some glass beads thrown in the mix.  It's on memory wire,  and has four strands.  VERY pretty!!

The next memory wire bracelet is made with Christmas Beads.  Hence the name...Christmas Memory.  This is a five strand bracelet.  (I heard someone take dibbs on this one,  but I can make another).

This bracelet is made from Blue Calsilica pillow stones and is accented with brown pearls and put together with copper wire.  It fits a 6 and 1/2 inch wrist perfectly,  so if I need to,  I can add an extra jump ring.

This bracelet is made from silver colored chain.  The clasps are silver colored. 

This next bracelet is made from copper chains and a silver colored chain.  The clasp is handmade.

I handmade this necklace.  It's copper (not yet given a patina) with Turquoise, glass, copper, trade bead and a large stone in the center that I believe is an agate and dangles from the center wire.

I still haven't started on the pearl bracelet I have in my mind.   It will get done in due time!!  It's not ready til it's ready!

My trip to the bead store

I LOVE Turquoise.  This is from the Nacozari Mine in Mexico.   It's so beautiful!  Just the right matrix.  (sigh).   There are three different kinds of pearls.  One round and two potato in copper and white.  I have in my mind what I'm making out of the white potato pearls.  And I have a really good idea for the larger round white pearls!  The round pearls will go into a bracelet,  and I even bought a few more grams of Sterling Silver especially for that.   The Turquoise will wind up in a necklace.  

I have a feeling I'll be up late tonight!

Two Bangles and Necklaces

I'm very happy with this new bangle.  It's green ceramic and copper.  I left the copper un-patina'd,  since some beads and spacers are.  

The second bangle is pure copper.  I left some wire unpatina'd to give the bangle some depth.  I think it's very cute. 

I  just made two necklaces.  They are two different kinds of leather and two kinds of chain.  One chain I made and have not given a patina.  It looks good this way,  but if someone wanted it and wanted it patina'd,  I would do that for them.  The other is store bought chain on a really nice dark colored leather.

I still have my sheet copper earrings and bracelet in the works.  I have to get a couple of things before I can finish them,  so don't expect to see them TOO soon.  I'm hoping to have them finished by next weekend.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Here it is Tuesday......

Jackie and family made it home just fine.  Me?  I'm give out!  It was a great week.  A busy week.  I'm pooped.

I bought a sheet of copper a week before Jackie got here and have pulled it out and cut out what I'm eventually going to make.  I have to texture it,  cut out the holes,  and then put it through the tumbler before I give it a patina.  I'm sure it will take a few days to get it done.   A bracelet and a pair of earrings.   I haven't quite decided on the texture or even the complete design yet.   The one thing I don't have is a texturing hammer.  I have a couple of different hammers,  but not the one I need.   I'm going to make a bead store run after the gym tomorrow. 

Oh,  Jackie  loved her bracelet.   She said she had many comments on it today at work.  YAY!!! 

  I told JerBear that I would make spaghetti and meatballs tonight,  so I guess I'd better get to the kitchen. 

Turquoise Necklace with Cross

Here it is.  I think it's about the most beautiful necklace I've made.  The Turquoise is a very lt.blue and green,  most coming from a mine in Mexico.  There is African copper,  copper wire with copper chain that I made.   Sterling silver around the Cross.  Wood is separated with copper and Turquoise and it also has brass chain and leather strips. 

I love making multi-strand necklaces.   I had made two 5 strand ,   ethnic necklaces using some Turquoise,  Tibetan beads,  African clay beads and others,  with wood and leather.   Jackie got one and someone else got the other.   They were very pretty.  As a matter of fact,  I still have a few strands of the clay beads and Christmas beads left.  That means no excuses!!

Ametrine Bracelet

I have been busy.  We had  JerBears sis and niece out a couple of weeks ago.  Did a  lot of shopping.   Fun fun fun.   Now we have daughter and fam coming.   I ALWAYS make something,  usually bracelets,  for visitors.  I'm hoping she will love this bracelet as much as I do.   I think it's gorgeous.   It's quartz,  ametrine and loads of sterling silver and a sterling silver chain.  The danglies are antique ivory.

And I'm still NOT done sorting.  I did get some finished,  but I've put them away .  I bought a sheet of copper to make cuffs out of,  but it too,  is put away.   The tin snips I bought are huge!! 

I put together   what I think is the most beautiful necklace I've ever made..  I still have to put crimp covers on them,  but other than that,  I'm finished.  I have to let my camera recharge before making photos,   so I promise I will try to post it tomorrow.    Check back tomorrow!!!

If you've wondered where I've been......

I thought I'd better write something on here since it's been quite a while.   I had  seven viruses on my computer ,  so I spent  five days in withdrawal.  It happened during the time Bev and Janelle came out,  so I didn't really need it anyway.  I had put away my beads,  which means they are a thrown together mess.   I haven't made anything I need to post a photo of,  so I think I will sort beads.  The last time I sorted beads,  I spent several hours a day for four days.  I have a lot of beads. 

Check back soon.  As soon as I see what I have,  I'll get back to work!!!

New Necklace

This necklace is CUTE!!   It consists of  Blue Calsilica pillows with lots of copper and a couple of  Sleeping Beauty Turquoise beads sitting next to ceramic rounds.   It connects with copper,  leather and ends with more copper handmade chain and is approximately 18 inches long.     I made the clasp.

I made this a couple of weeks ago,  and I just love it.  I love Turquoise anyway, and  I think it goes great with the copper chain. 

Setting Up My Blog

Being the computer dummy that I am,  I think I have two blogs,  with the same name.     I am much better at surfing on the computer than setting up a simple blog. 

Anyhoo.....WELCOME!!!!!   I'm not yelling...I'm just excited you are reading this.   I am not going to use this blog to Tweet or Twitter or to tell you every thing I am doing since I don't want to bore you.

My goal is to throw myself into the blogosphere and let my friends and family and others hopefully , know what's  new in my studio,  which is from the second bedroom into the dining room.   Yes,  my studio is the dining room table.    Except for the beads on the floor,  they are in boxes and bags,   ready to be assembled into something amazing (or not,  depending on your taste) or to be put away at the hint of company.

I am so lucky to have my DH,  aka Dear Hunny or JerBear,  who never complains about having to sometimes eat on tv trays in front of the television  because my new strands of turquoise are lying in his chair.   He deals with it quite nicely.   Love him!!!!

I hope to see comments (well,  the good ones anyway) and I will have photos up soon.  Thanks for stopping by!!