What I did over the Holiday...and Donation!

I have been trying to write this blog post since yesterday.  Blogger is having problems with Internet Explorer and uploading pictures to your Blog.  The only way I can upload pictures is by switching to HTML MODE to upload, then switching back to COMPOSE MODE to edit.  Ugh...I hope this is fixed soon, as this post took me forever!

Onward....

During the Holidays, I found some time here and there to sneak away and make a few new things.

The necklace and earrings above combine beautiful porcelain jasper, a hand-forged silver back plate, and some hand-rolled silver beads. 

 

I have not worked with gemstones in quite some time and I was excited that I could fit 18 gauge sterling through the holes in the jasper!  I over-purchased (something I need to work on) the strands of beads, so I made a a matching bracelet.  I still have an entire strand of beads left after making the necklace, earrings, and bracelet! By the way, I purchased the jasper from Dakota Stones.

I just love these green lampwork beads by Unicorne - looks just like peridot. I made three tiny dangles with matching Czech glass and wired them to one end of the bracelet.

The bracelet below is inspired by a design from the uber-talented Cindy Wimmer in Wire Style 2 - love the lampwork lentils from Unicorne!
 

The next three pictures are of a necklace I made with beads I bought from Kerry Bogert - I did not buy these at the same time, but while staring at my unending stash of beads, I noticed that they went well together.

The drop contains varying lengths of silver chain and an enameled bead cap by Sue Kennedy (an amazing lampwork artist who also makes amazing enameled components, too!

This is a rather long necklace for me - about 28 inches total - my hands were tired when I was done!

I made the bracelet and earrings below for my sister-in-law (Unicorne beads again!).  She ONLY wears gold jewelry.  I don't use gold very often, and was irritated at myself for purchasing 16 gauge 14K gold wire - I meant to purchase 18 gauge.  She is also the tiniest person I have ever met, so I made it adjustable.  In the end, it worked out....well, she said she liked it...

Yesterday, I FINALLY sat down to package up my latest donation to Ears to You (shout out to Amy Taylor Freeland at Copper Diem for introducing me to this charity-thank you Amy!)  21 pairs of earrings were mailed yesterday to this wonderful organization.  The earrings are given to women who are in the hospital undergoing cancer treatment....hopefully, they will bring a smile to their face, albeit, temporary. 

 

I still cannot believe it 2013....

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a lovely weekend!

Ears to You Blog Hop

Amy Freeland, of Copper Diem fame, is truly a generous soul.  She makes and donates tons of jewelry to numerous organizations...and I like that.  Well, this blog hop entails making 3 pair of earrings and donating them to Ears to You, whose mission is to provide earrings to lift the spirits of women undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.  A fabulous idea!

 

The only requirements for the earrings (3-5 pairs for this hop) is that they be new, and lead and nickel-free.  They welcome a variety of earrings, including silver, gold, hoops, dangles, pierced or clipped. 

 

I have three craft shows this month.  I have only done home shows in the past.  My very first craft show is today (Saturday) and it has the weirdest hours - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, continuing at 6:00 PM - 8:30PM.  It then continues tomorrow at 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM.   I have had a serious set-back with a bulging disc in my back, which is pinching the nerves in my right leg (particularly my sciatica nerve), coupled with a flare-up of bursitis in my hip.  My right leg is useless to me.  I also just found out that I tore my meniscus in my left leg.  Went to the orthopedic yesterday to get some shots and drugs...I hope I make it! Luckily, my sweet niece Sarah has agreed to help me tomorrow!

 

Anyhow, my point in boring you with my physical ailments is that my crazy schedule has only allowed me to make 3 pairs of earrings - but I guarantee, I will be sending Ears to You more earrings!  Here they are:

 

I think these are my favorite! Gorgeous beads by OutWest (LOVE her beads!) Handmade sterling silver ear wires.

 

These were so hard to photograph!  They are much prettier hanging!  Anyhow, really cool lamp work beads by Rachel Bishop of Puffafish - she calls the bead style "asteroids" - LOVE THEM!  I added some pewter beads, silver bead caps, and handmade sterling silver ear wires.

I love this style of earring - I banged on some 10 gauge Sterling wire to make a paddle shape, textured the remainder of the wire, punched a hole for the ear wires and added some very cool lamp work beads.  I am normally so organized and can tell you the bead artist - but these were orphans from a full set used a long time ago, and I cannot remember her/his name (shame on me!) 

 

I already mailed my earrings and received the sweetest email from Ruth Crane of Ears to You. I sent my earrings as if they were a jewelry purchase:

 

Tip if you have not sent your earrings, or if you will send more in the future:  Ears to You does not save the boxes  - they hang the earrings on their own earring cards.  So, save yourself the expense of using your pretty boxes!

 

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Your comments are so very much appreciated!  Please be sure to visit the other participants for this most worthy cause!  Due to my crazy schedule, I won't be able to visit all participants until Sunday night or Monday - but I will get to it, I promise!

  

 

Copper Diem

My Addictions <------------You are here!

Beads, Tea and Sweets

Juls Beads

Fabric of my Life

Blogging Business Artisans

Jeannie's Blog

Lorelei's Blog

One Kiss Creations

Backstory Beads

According to Katie

Cherish Designs

Beads: Rolling Downhill

Falling Into The Sky

Garden Path Beads

Antiquity Travelers

Sissy and Jacks

Erin Siegel Jewelry/Art Bead Scene

Northwood Creative Studio

SilverRose Designs

Dreamin of Beads/SAS Jewelry Design

Cabe Woman

Summers Studio

Honey from the Bee

Shaiha's Ramblings

Mama's Got to Doodle

Beads for Busy Gals

Tanya McGuire

Creative Atelier

Beautiful beads!

 

(click on pics for larger view)

I wish my pictures could capture the real beauty of these lampwork beads by Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens (GlassBeadArt on Etsy).  She calls them "Sparkling Rocks" - and do they ever sparkle!  I bought some of these beads earlier this year and I begged her to make me some more.  Well, I received them last week and I am working like a mad woman to create more items for my upcoming shows (first one is this weekend). 

 

I think this bracelet came out so nice!  I have been making most of my findings of late - jump rings clasps, ear wires.  I made the toggle clasp based on a design I learned from Handcrafted Wire Findings (Denise Peck and Jane Dickerson-this is an AWESOME BOOK!).  I antiqued the sterling in Liver of Sulfur, buffed, and then it spent quite a bit of time in my tumbler.  I liked this bracelet so much that I used up all the beads from Maryse in the following two bracelets...

I also made this necklace with sweet beads by Nan Emmet of Spirited Earth. I was lucky to be in her shop while she was uploading!  Her beads go FAST!

The clasp design on this copper necklace is by the talented Cindy Wimmer - though I cannot remember the issue date, it was published in Step by Step Wire Jewelry Magazine. 

 

Donna Millard posted a picture on Facebook  of these cobalt blue lampwork beads in the shape of a snowflake, which she then fused with sterling silver.  Well, I showed a picture of the beads to my Mom and my sister - who then begged for multiple necklaces for Christmas for themselves and as gifts.  All I have to do is attach the silver chain to these and I am done.  Donna's bead are some of my all time favorites.

 

Hurricane Sandy is over now - I lost power for about two hours last night (Monday evening), but other than that, all is well.  My backyard, however, looks like soup.  SO.MUCH.RAIN. 

I will be back on Saturday for the Ears to You Blog Hop hosted by Amy Freeland of Copper Diem. This is a blog hop for earrings donated to "Ears to You" - a charitable organization that donates earrings to women who are in the hospital for cancer treatment - an excellent cause!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by - I love to read your comments!