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.



I'm on a roll now

Update to my previous post :  Space Shuttle Discovery is housed at the Udvar Hazy Center in Washington D. C.  Space Shuttle Atlantis is at the Kennedy Space Center as a centerpiece to an interactive exhibit due to open July 2013.  Sorry for the mixup.  On a side note, TDH, Jason, Michelle and I saw the Atlantis launch from Kennedy Space Center on the first MIR-Shuttle hookup in 1995.

I'm still experimenting with more intricate and design-y wire works.  It's really fun and I find myself thinking of ways to improve a design or just give it that little bit extra.

Recently, I had a conversation with my sister and was inspired once again.  I started thinking about our sea glass hunting treasures and her sand collections.  They sit on shelves and you have to go by them to remember to look at them.

A long while ago (maybe a year or so), I'd bought little potion bottles thinking I'd find something to do with them...but hadn't - until now.

I formed a line of waves out of light blue and hammered them flat.  I circled them around one of the potion bottles and then wire wrapped the bottle with a brown wire.  I fashioned a handle from the wire that can be unhooked to remove the bottle and fill it with whatever inspires her that morning.  The handle is also the way the necklace fits on.  I'm pretty pleased with it.  What do you think?

 

 

 

I had actually wanted to make a medallion with a wave on it for the front of the bottle, but it was too big, so I finished it as a necklace with a little flourish.  It's blue wire with white seed beads as the spray.  I think it looks kind of cute.

 

 

 

On the Washington D.C. trip last year, I had picked up some 'celestial' marbles thinking that I'd wrap them one way or another and since I was in an inspired mood, I picked one up and just did it!  I fiddled a little with the fit of the jump ring and cross wires, but in the end, I think it turned out just fine.  You can see the marble and the wrap enhances it.

 

 

 

 

Well folks, that's all for now.  Thanks for checking in.

 



 

 





Thought you were rid of me, didn't you?

Happy New Year!!!  It's been over 6 months since my last confession, er, post.  Lots has happened since then;

        In August, I travelled with our daughter, her husband and children to Washington D.C.  We also visited our son and his girlfriend.  It was a great trip and visiting the Udvar-Hazy (where the Space Shuttle Atlantis resides) and the Native American Museums were some of my highlights.  The best part though was seeing our son on his birthday and watching him and his niece interact.

       In September, Tall Dark and Handsome and I travelled to PA to celebrate my Mom's 85th birthday.  My Dad surprised her with tickets to the Yankees vs. Rays game the Saturday following her birthday - and the whole family was invited to go along!  So there were 8 of us and it was a great game even though the Rays lost.  On the way home, Mom turned to us and said, "I had 46,000 people at MY birthday party, how many did YOU have?"  She also got another present on her birthday, our son proposed to his girlfriend.  Wedding planned for Spring 2014.

      In late October, I travelled to PA yet again to help Mom and Dad with Mom's hip replacement surgery.  She had the surgery the first week in November and was in the hospital for 2 weeks.  I stayed until the end of November to make sure everyone was settled.  During that time, my sister attained her Black Belt in Karate.  It was  nice to have a celebration during that time.  I also went 'Black" fishing with my sister, her husband and thier grandson.  I must be crazy, going out on the water in 40 degree weather, but, it was grand and I caught 2 keepers!  We also celebrated Thanksgiving at my sister's house.  She made a Thankfulness Tree that we all made cards saying what we were thankful for.  It was a great idea.

Another thing that happened during that time was I picked up another type of jewelry making, wire wrap.  I bought a book, some wire and some beads.  It gave me something to do during the long hours in the hospital and I experimented with all kinds of things.

 



 After I got home, I started doing more and more research on the internet about wire jewelry and made some more pieces based on those (and also the book) for the holidays.

 

 

 

As time went on, I got a little more ambitious and a little more confident in the things I could create.  I offered to make wedding bouquet charms for a friend of our daughter whose wedding was scheduled for 12/21/2012.  The Wedding at the End of the Universe.  Each dragonfly had it's own wand in a matching color and it hung down from the bride's and bridesmaid's bouquets with another charm on the end of the wand (which has a hook).  I am just so pleased with the way they turned out.  The bride and bridesmaids were too.

 

 

 

 

Christmas came and TDH (Tall Dark and Handsome) and I spent it at the Everglades National Park.  It was beautiful and really nice to spend time together.  I didn't make much jewelry over the holidays, but started again after New Year's.  I attempted a few things more complicated ... well, you be the judge.