Wanted to share a couple of new things -

Just wanted to share a few of the things I have recently worked on. I have more but just a peek for now.

This first piece is actually a piece I saw on etsy.

Seller: Lonesomedovedesings

I loved this piece - I had to make one for myself.

I couldn't sell these - they are a replica for myself - not being my design I wanted to make sure & give a shout out for the amazing artist.

This other picture on the other hand is my design. I am pleased with it's turn out.

I do love being earth friendly - this is my earth friendly reminder.

The tree soldered together so easily - but boy when I went to solder it onto the back piece I had FITS!!!

But it for me was worth the trouble - I do love it.

It is ALL sterling silver.

Shame on ME!!

Blogging unfortunately has taken a back burner - & just when I was starting to do better!

So I - as mentioned before - had started a new job - plus it is summertime - & I have just been behind on some things.

Well a little news - I have been offered another job that I can't pass up - so here I go again!

LoL

But it will in the end free me up to do more of what I love - So don't give up on me.

I have been keeping up with some of my gardening.

I absolutely love to garden!!

Here are a few pics of my gardening -

I never knew Hens & Chicks bloomed so much to my surprise this is what mine look like right now.

I got my chicks last summer - I have a tendency to go to Lowe's & bringing home dying plants that are on clearance - like stray animals that need to be saved.

LoL

This is one my strays - this is NOT a cheap plant - I have wanted one for so long - my mom always had one & I love them - but I would see them at Lowe's for like $40.

Not me!!

But this one was on its last breath & I snagged it up for $5!!

YES!!!

AND just one year later & look at her!!

Beautiful & twice the size from when I got her!

Here is my newest stray - I will take pics through her healing process & share.

This one was $3.50 - normally $8.

Drawing for a free piece of jewelry ----

How do you enter???? Go be a fan on my business facebook page & leave a comment.



Yep it's that easy -



And there will be more - - I have another contest coming soon!!!



How do you join my fan page???





Right HERE

A couple of new pieces

I was off yesterday & got a few new pieces finished. I have several more in the works.

I will get them done soon.

This is just a pair of abstract earrings. I added the turquoise bead to the top of them & they finished them off just perfectly.

This pair of earrings is just a fun lil' piece that I had to make - I don't know how many people will love them as much as I do - but they represent my love for my home life.

Speaking of my home life: My oldest daughter will officially be a 'senior' when school lets out today. Oh my!!! Wasn't she just the other day lying in her crib wrapped up tight in her receiving blanket??? I remember she loved to be wrapped up sooooo tight in that blanket! I could never get it tight enough. My other kids would wiggle right out of it - but not her - even as she got bigger I would wrap her & she would love it. Although it got harder & harder the bigger she got I would continue to wrap her tiny hiney up.
She isn't so tiny anymore - but will always be my lil' baby!
What I wouldn't give to smell her baby smell RIGHT now!
I don't want to take away the adult she is becoming at all but I want just one more day of holding her in my arms - I can still hold her in my arms - but I know there is so much in her mind now - I want the innocent mind - small baby - just for another moment!!!
I am so proud of you Stephanie Anne Marie!!!

I was bit by a fairy!

It has been too long since I have said anything.

I started a new job - that I do like - but there are trying days (people are crazy - that is all I will say) - but I work 4 tens & have three days off a week. While I love the three days off a week - because of the hours I work it seems I can't get much done. I think the more I get use to this schedule I will learn to manage my off time to do more things I love.

I do have some amazing ideas floating around in this little brain of mine. I keep a notebook & a package of pencils & erasers on my desk to doodle all the time. At the rate I am going I will have enough 'doodles' to make a lifetime of work for myself - LOL!!!

I have had a lot of time to think about something I have known about myself for a long time though. Being an artist I am sometimes very judgemental on other art. Not always in a bad way - but I do have a tendency to see flaws - I never would tell an artist this - but while I do that I have recently learned to see past them & see the true beauty.

I tend to think things are beautiful I would not have thought so many years ago. My artist eye has fully formed. I don't see things for what they are but I see them for the blood sweat & tears that are put into them. I see what the artist has done with their hands & mind that have made an amazing display of beauty.

My husband & I went to an event this past weekend that had artist set up in their booths - I am looking at things going OMG that is absolutely AMAZING - I keep seeing in his face that he thought I was a little off my rocker. So I finally said - you think I have weird taste don't you? He of course agreed. I explained to him that I wasn't seeing the art like he was - I was seeing the work that went into the piece & not just the piece. I do so wish everyone could see the world the way I do - you would truly appreciate the beauty so much more.

So anyway I have some amazing ideas that I am going to try & get into form today before I have to get my yard mowed - the creative fairy has bit me - but she forgot to add 24 hours to each day for me to make it possible for me to actually get all this done!!! LoL

New Job - almost done with training - whew

Well I have been slacking on my blog - but for good reason - a new job.

I started a new job April 14 - my last day of training will be Friday - then I start working 4 ten hour days a week. While ten hours will make for a long day - I am excited about the 3 days off a week. I will be able to work on jewelry without taking a lot of time away from my family.

But since I have been slacking I have a few things to share.

My 13 yr old daughter is following in my creative shoes. For Christmas this year I bought her a sewing machine - she was always wanting to use mine - but because of the cost of mine I just couldn't let her so now she has her very own Singer!

Well this past week I kept hearing the hum of her machine but she didn't show me what she was working on - well here it is ----

Yes her very own FIRST rag quilt!!! I am so proud of her! She took it to school & gave it to one of her favorite teachers - I would love to have kept that one - being her first - but she is a giver & I won't take that from her.

I haven't played to much with my jewelry in the past few weeks - just not enough time in a day - but I did make these cute lil' earrings --

I just LOVE them!!

NOW for some really BIG news.

Well big for me -

I love to tease. I am really horrible at keeping secrets - I seem to always give them away or just tell because I can't stand myself!! BUT I am also very bad about teasing - well - my lil' sister decided to turn the tables on me. She is in the process of moving from Chicago to YellowStone park for the summer for work. Well on her way she came through here to see me. Well she had a 'secret' she was keeping from me!!!

Remember this pendant I made?

Well this is my sister's arm.

SHE TATTOOED IT ON HER ARM!!!

I am sooooooo soooooo honored!

I don't think I have ever felt like I did when I saw this on her arm.

I LOVE YOU SISTER!

The Process of Making a Bracelet -

I thought I would share with you the process of making my latest order.

It is a very inspirational piece - I am so happy my customer asked me to make this for her.

Each disc starts out a smooth 1" copper disc. I used both sides of my hammer to texture the disc. Then each word is stamped on. (sorry - didn't get pics of that part)

Once I got each disc textured just right & words stamped I grabbed my sterling silver wire & twisted & turned little swirls to fit each disc perfectly. Once they are all ready I punched the holes for the jump rings to go through. I did make my own jump rings as well. I will do a complete tutorial on this for you at some point - this was done already so I didn't get pics of it either.

Once each swirl is done & to my liking I use my solder paste & put just a very small amount on the swirls & place them on the disc - after they are all ready I fire up the torch to set them in place. This is something you have to be very careful with - sterling silver will melt if you get it too hot - then you have to start all over - no fixing that!


After you solder the silver to the copper it has to sit in a pickle solution (no not like the kind you eat - lol - it is a solution you will have to get from a bead supply store) - this process helps it set properly.
Once it comes out of the pickle solution I clean it up a bit with a brillo pad (I used the fine grade) then place it in a liver of sulfur solution for tarnishing - this stuff smells bad - but does make the piece look so much better in my opinion! When it first comes out it looks like it is ruined - BUT -

After using the brillo pad to clean it up - it leaves it shiny & shadowed beautifully!

Time to piece the charms together - each one it attached to the next with jump rings.

Oh & your hands look like you have been working on your transmission in your car!!!

Ewwwwww!!!!!!!

After attaching all jump rings (with several on the end for adjusting the length of the bracelet) I made a toggle - again I will do a tutorial on this for you later - it is attached with jump rings as well.

You now have a beautiful bracelet!

I hope to be doing more tutorials in the near future for anyone who wants to try their hand at making beautiful jewelry or just wants to see how it all happens!