A Quiet Week, look out!





This week was a really quiet one, no surprizes, no unexpected guests, just a relaxing week with a few outings with friends.  So, you know what that means.  I had plenty of time to think of off the wall things to do with my jewelry.

 

This first necklace idea came from the daily newsletter I get from Handmade Jewelry Club.  I went to the website on the email and paged through the tutorial pages.  One was for a free form wire necklace.  It used a jig to do it's forms but it gave me an idea that I thought I could pull together with a fish bead I couldn't resist buying about 3 months ago.  I wanted to evoke a fish (with air bubble) and some seaweed.

This next one came from Pinterest.  I was looking at Celtic and Elven Crowns and saw the Triqueta and thought it would translate beautifully into a pendant.  I have some work to do to even out the loops but I think it came out nicely for a first try.

I'd really gotten away from hearts since Valentine's Day and just wanted to do one.  So here is the result.



 

I'd done an Egyptian Coil bracelet 2 weeks ago and wanted to try a necklace.  The chain was pre-made but I think it goes nicely to set off the coils and beads.  This time the uneveness of the sizes worked to my advantage.


Last but not least, a few weeks ago, the Bean and I were on the beach and we collected some shells, feathers and a piece of driftwood.  It's from a sea grape bush and is nicely twisted and knarled.  I kept picking it up, holding it, wondering what to do with it.  It's too small to make a wind chime and too big for a pendant.  Finally, I thought, I'll make a wand from the sea since that's where we got it.  But when I started it, the blue wire and beads I was using just didn't look right, so I took it all apart and made it with green.  I like it a lot.

I hope you enjoy my flights of fancy.  I did.  Thinking of Spring and warmer days.  Thanks for checking in.



A shortie this week....

Things got very hectic this week.  My Father-in-law was released from the hospital last Friday with new meds that seem to be working fine.  On Sunday, Daughter, Son-in-law, the Bean, Bubba and I went to Sarasota to see Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman at the Ringling College of Art and Design.  It was what they called a ninja gig set up in less than 20 hours just to get together and have fun.  They were in Sarasota to visit family and had the afternoon free, so they asked folks to come join them.  Amanda sang and played her ukelele and Neil read stories (one not published yet) and they both answered questions from the audience.  It was awesome - great weather, great music and stories.  Monday, two of my Father-in-law's daughters arrived for a short visit.  We went out for a seafood dinner that night, a pedicure the next morning and Italian Wednesday night and they left on Thursday morning for their vacation in Costa Rica.  Can't wait to hear all about it.

 I didn't get much jewelry done, but rather than skip a week, I want to build a habit of posting at least once a week.  Besides, I did this today and I'm really excited about it. 

I dreamed that I could create a dolphin and couldn't wait to try.  After I did that, I did a turtle, starfish and angel wing clam.  I think it's adorable and believe I'm going to keep it for myself.

I hope your week was enjoyable as mine was, filled with people and events that you love.

Be well.  Happy Spring.

Disney and old friends, what could be more nice?

This week, our friends from PA came to Disney with their daughter.  We took the Bean on Thursday to meet them for the day at Animal Kingdom and have dinner after.  Their daughter and the Bean acted like they'd seen each other yesterday instead of last year.  It's a beautiful thing.  We saw the new Finding Nemo musical and the Lion King Festival - wonderful.  And of course, since the Bean loves dinosaurs, we had to have lunch in DinoLand.  Dinner at Maya Grill in Coronado Springs was lovely, with music during dinner and scrumptious desserts.  A really memorable day, we felt we were leaving too soon.  It's always a great visit with them.

Aahhh, jewelry.  I've been experimenting a little with shapes and sizes.  I talked to Mom and she challenged me to do a piece with a larger center stone.  I had bought a slice of an agate geode earlier this year not exactly knowing what I'd do with it and this seemed the perfect way to meet the challenge.

How do you think it turned out?


I seem to be finding my interests lying in loops and curls lately.  I tried this one to the right just to see if I could.

And then this one to the left.






A woman I know is a yoga teacher, I found a piece on Pinterest that inspired me to try it for her.  Such a cute little yogini in tree pose.








I tried Egyptian Coils last week too.  I have to work a bit to get the coils even and the same size but I think it turned out pretty good.





Most of my creations are inspired by jewelry I've seen in person, on the tutorial pages or Pinterest.  These earrings to the right are mine and mine alone, ahem....  Old joke, sorry.  I like the combinations of colors of the wires and beads but have to figure out how to get the coils and loops to hang better.



Well, that's it for today.  Be well.

One visit down .... Spring to go.

Our son and our future daughter-in-law left for thier home yesterday.  It was a great visit and we enjoyed some awesome things together; shark tooth hunting in Englewood, fishing in Boca Ciega Bay, Phillies vs. Nationals Spring Training game in Clearwater, dinner out with our father-in-law and his wife, game night at the homestead with our daughter, son-in-law, the Bean and Bubba.  I couldnt' stop smiling that night, I love having the whole family together under one roof.

I've been working in green for St Patrick's Day and made a few bracelets and a necklace.  I made the chains for the bracelets, the one on the left is a figure eight chain, below that is a modified horseshoe chain.  Below right is a stylized shamrock chain that I made up.  It looks like a figure eight but with spirals on either side.



 I've also tried a few from inspirations on Pinterest.  When I made the one in green to the left, our future daughter-in-law asked for one in blue and silver, that's it on the right.  The one below is the inspiration posted by http://pinterest.com/kjcrume/



 

 

Well, that's it for now.  I need to recover my house and get ready for the next round of company.  Hope your late Winter days are bright and remember, Spring is not far away.

 

It's March!

Well, folks, it's March and there are lots of things happening. 

Tomorrow, our son and his fiance arrive for a week long vacation.  They haven't visited in 2 years so TDH and I have been really looking forward to it.

The week after they leave, our friends from PA are visiting Disney with their 5 year old, so TDH, our 4 year old grand-daughter and I are going to spend a day with them.

The next week or so after that, my Mom should be arriving for a visit - at least that's the plan at the moment.

Talk about March coming in like a lion!  It's so exciting to have plans for lots to do.

I saw a bracelet design with the "Tree of Life" and gave it a try.  I like the heft and statement quality of it, but some think it's too much.  Next time I may add more coils in the branch parts and maybe a different color, a lighter brown?















I also tried a single leaf on a necklace.  It uses wire weaving and coiling in it.  I also think it may be modified a bit to be a feather, I just have to indent along the sides a little.


I've been doing some designs for St. Patty's Day - shamrocks and keys in green on bracelets and necklaces.   I am also creating my own chains, figure 8s, dog bone and a very delicate one that I don't have a picture of right now.  I'll post that on the next installment.

 

 

I'm experimenting with a grapevine look, although no 2 come out alike so I can't make earrings.

What do you think of my Danish Knots in various colors?  I missed Fat Tuesday on February 12, but I'm all ready for next year with my version of a Mardi Gras necklace.  ( I also made the connectors and chain for this one.)

 

One last picture for now.  I love the serpentine effect of the wire around the beads.  It's a chakra necklace with new beads that I found.  I really like how it turned out.

 

 

Have a great week no matter where you are.  Thanks for checking in.