Groundhog Day!!!

Brrrrr...it's VERY cold!  I still have groceries in the back of the car.  It's too cold to go get them.    I'll let JerBear bring them in when he gets home. 

I haven't done a great lot.  I've also been working on a footstool.  I painted it,  and decided I'm not real happy with all of it.    I've made about four feet of chain.  Another foot and it will be as long as I am tall. 

This necklace is made of copper and leather,  with Pietersite beads.  Pietersite is such a beautiful stone.  The colors run from blues, to browns to reds, to creams...oh..just gorgeous!!  The clasp is handmade.

This  leather necklace has a Spiny Oyster as the center of attention. 

This is the footstool I've been working on.  I found some wallpaper border with roosters ( I love roosters) and it doesn't quite go with the some of the colors I used.  I'll glue it on,  and then repaint and then apply polyurethane.  I have a  larger bench that's still  raw that I'm going to do something with.  

I haven't painted anything in ages (a few years).   I'm out of practice. 

Anyhoo.  I'll post photos of the stool when completed. 

Thanks for looking!!

Jackie's Birthday

Hard to believe ,  but my daughter turns 31 today.  Wow.  Is she getting old!?!!!   I have a son who is at the end of his thirties this year,  he'll be 39 ,  and a daughter at the beginning.    I think I need a tissue.

I haven't worked a great lot this week,  Ross is here.   I worked on Jackie's gift,  earrings  and two bracelets.   I was in such a hurry to get them to her,  I packed her box and realized I didn't take photos.  Oh well.  I hope she likes them.   

Anyhoo...back to visiting with Ross.  Have a great day!!

Saturday Morning

It's chilly this early in the morning!   I'm only halfway through my second cup of coffee and I hope by the end of this posting I won't sound like I wrote it in my sleep!!

I bought some leather working tools the other day.  I'm still practicing ,  learning what to use with what thickness (rivets).   We may need to move into a barn with all the hammering (sometimes me yelling with the hammering) and I would love to be able to learn how to make lampwork beads.  Can't have that in an apartment. 

I need a new hammer.   Nuff said.

These photos don't show all the jewelry I have,  just those that really look great together.   The Turquoise,  corals,  spiny oysters and all the copper and sterling silver.   My friend named these the "Scottsdale" line.  Sounds good to me!! 

I can sit for hours and make chain.  I timed myself one time.  To make a foot of chain,  it took me an hour and a half.   You figure the time to cut the length,  make sure it's blunt cut,  twist it and connect it,  it does take a while.  Or,  maybe I'm just slow.  Don't know.  But I do love doing it!!

For some reason,  I never make a lot of earrings.  I do love earrings.  I was in Macy's the other day and found a gorgeous pair of earrings......

This is such a cute pair!!!    I haven't worn them but a couple of times.  

Have a great weekend.  We're going to do the same!

Thanks for stopping by!

New Earrings for 2011

January 1, 2011.  Time flies.   One of my resolutions for this new year is to tend to my blog more.  Of course,  if I could keep from getting viruses....

Anyhoo....

I have been busy today.  Not just lounging in front of the tv,  or watching JerBear change the channel from a show to a game...every ....couple....of.minutes....,  but I've made several sets of earrings. 

This pair is twisted copper with a blue coral bead dangling. 

This next pair of earrings  is made from leather and cable chain and my handmade squigglies.  I think this one is VERY cute!!! 

This pair I partially wrapped  to give a little interest.  

These earrings are SO cute!  Again,  the leather with copper squiggles. 

This pair of wrapped wire is surprisingly light. 

Last but not least,  more wire wrapped with wrapped squigglies. 

All earrings have handmade (by me) earwires and "squigglies".   

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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!!