A big THANK YOU to Jan Onipenco of Molten Mayhem and another GIVEAWAY!

WARNING - This is a long post - but there is a giveaway at the end!!

I have been having a fundraiser, donating all proceeds from my Etsy shop to Miracle Horse Rescue through October 31, 2013  To date, I have donated $2,278.  There is still  about 2 weeks left, and I have a 20% sale going on in my shop through October 31.  Please stop by if you can!

I received a message on Facebook from Jan Onipenco of Molten Mayhem last week.  She wanted to know if I would accept a donation of some of her lovely lampwork beads and if I could "make something with them", with all proceeds donated to Miracle Horse Rescue.  First of all - I was flabbergasted at her generosity....but then Friday, the mail carrier brought me these:

(Click on the picture for a larger view of these gorgeous beads)!

There are 10 sets of beads here!!! Do you see the fish beads?  They are two sides of absolute awesomeness with incredible details!  Also - that large focal bead - upper right corner....I immediately self-titled that baby "Bubblicious" because, well, it is!  The use of all the wonderful colors in these beads immediately had mind racing!  I could not wait to get started...so I did!

Lately, I have been obsessed with Cindy Wimmer's new book - The Missing Link.  I have been photo-bombing Facebook with my new creations made with these fabulous links.  Since my mind is still in this book (which is where it will be for quite some time), I made these earrings with one set Jan's beads:

These colors are so intense and jewel toned!  The link design is Cindy's, which combines two hoops into one design, which in my eyes screams "Earrings!"  So, after seeing Kerry Bogert's design with these links in Cindy's book, I was convinced that these beautiful lampwork beads had to be on these double hoops! (Side note: Cindy and Kerry have been my two wire -idols for ages now - it is no wonder they are such good friends)! 

These earrings are what I would call "shoulder-dusters" (just showed MY age)!  They are 3 1/4" long and have the most fabulous dangle!  But they are incredibly lightweight!  Love them!!

Next up, I used this beautiful bead set of Jan's:

There is sparkle within those incredibly blue streaks of glass! And the base color is a deep burgundy - so pretty!

I used three of these links from Cindy's book - probably one of the most intriguing designs!  I first saw this link in person at ArtBliss (it was made in silver) and I was awestruck at the complex look of this link. (This bracelet has since SOLD - Thank you!!)

I patterned this bracelet off of Cindy's design in her book, which is my favorite.  

The earrings and the bracelet above will be listed in my shop later tonight.

I will continue to post my designs made with Jan's beautiful beads (her Etsy shop can be found here).   They will be available in my shop and all proceeds - whenever they sell - will be donated to Miracle Horse Rescue!  THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, JAN!

Jan is a fellow-animal lover, too.  I knew this from "talking" with her on Facebook.  I cried when she lost Angus, her best friend Rottie.  And I was overjoyed when she rescued Bubba.  But, I did not know she was a horse lover.  Below is a picture of Jan and her furbaby, Maximum Override (an awesome name!).  Jan had Max for 18 years...isn't this picture priceless?

Miracle Horse Rescue (MHR)

MHR is a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and welfare of abused, neglected, and unwanted domesticated horses of all types and conditions.  MHR is a very small organization - run by only 2 people who have dedicated their lives to helping these horses in need.  I want to continue to help as much as I can.  For more information, please visit and "Like" their Face book page.  

If you have a few minutes to spare, please take the time to watch this video of the horses at MHR.  They are thriving here!  I hope to see these furbabies in person again soon!

The Giveaway
Yes - a Cindy Wimmer link has been included in this bracelet giveaway!  Gorgeous organic turquoise glass beads by LyndasLampwork.  I have made this link a few times now - this time I made the Stitched Infinity Link with sterling silver with sterling silver "stitches", because, one can never have too much silver!!  This is an ADJUSTABLE bracelet, too!  Fits a wrist diameter of 6 1/2" all the way to 8" if necessary!  I added a sterling silver heart charm to the handmade chain section - and placed some "love knot" links made of jump rings in between the beads.  It seems fitting that I call this bracelet Love Until Infinity.

How to Enter

1.  Leave a comment on this blog post - Equals 1 entry

2.  Post a link to this blogpost on Facebook - Equals 1 entry

3.  Go to my shop on Etsy (link here) and PIN an item to your Pinterest Board - Equals 1 entry

For each task above, you must leave a separate comment on my blog!!  I will choose a winner via Random Organizer by next Thursday.   Lastly, make sure your contact email is "turned on" or leave me your email address so that I can contact the winner!!

Thank you for stopping by - and thank you for helping me to spread the word!

xo

Patti

Barbie...or Lolita...and some New Work

I have been on a quest to find a mannequin.  I FINALLY found one that did not cost a fortune. I need said mannequin to assist me in taking a photo of my necklaces "when worn".  I am not into self portraits...ergo, I needed a mannequin.

Here she is in all of her naked glory!  She is a perfect size 8...I just need to find some proper clothes for her ... they will NOT be found in my closet, as I am not a perfect size 8!

I tend to name inanimate objects - my car is named "The Beast" because I am 5'0" tall and the length of my car feels like four times my height.  Anyway, since my mannequin was labeled "a perfect size 8" by the manufacturer, I feel that the name I give her must suit her perfect figure.  I am toying between Barbie and Lolita.

My next problem is where to put Barbie/Lolita. My "studio" is in my unfinished basement, which also happens to house my photography setup.  IT'S DARK DOWN THERE.  I work with 4 Ott lamps all concentrated on the same place of my table.  I repeat - it's dark down there!  I do use two photography lights for images of my jewelry.  I played around today for a bit - the lighting (or the backdrop) is still not right.  I got frustrated and quit for the day! But, at least I have the tools necessary to get a good picture of necklace when worn...eventually! 

The picture above shows a necklace on a my naked Barbie/Lolita.  I must find clothes for her, or a least a drape of fabric from my mother's fabric stash!

Here are a few pictures of the same necklace taken in my makeshift photo booth, in collage format.

I combined several sets of beads I recently purchased from Julie of Outwest - 23 beads to be exact.  I soldered a few rings as connectors, swirled some wire and some handmade "ladder chain", and came up with a 2 strand necklace.  I love this style! 

I recently purchased some beads from GlassBeadArt and made 2 bracelets.  Her beads are truly gorgeous, aren't they?!  I cannot get enough of these beads...I believe I have had every single color...if not, that will be my mission! :)

I made the toggle from 10 gauge silver soldered and formed into an off-center circle shape -- kind of like a belt buckle.  I added a cocoon bead made of silver, which I learned from a tutorial from Kay Sommers.  I have not made these in a while - so pretty!

The next bracelet also features more stunning "Sparkling Rock" beads from GlassBeadArt.  I call this bracelet Silver and Gold.

See that hand?  I bought a mannequin arm, too!  Anyway, I have made a few of this style of bracelet - it is so much fun to make, and the focal stays right on top of the wrist - where it is supposed to!

The next bracelet is in the same style, with all beads made by Kerry Bogert.  I have had these beads since I bought them at ArtBliss last year!  It was finally time to bring them out to play!

Kerry is the Queen of Color - and these rainbow stripes on her beads look fabulous! Even the back of the focal has a cool textured design - love it!

One more bracelet was made - again, with gorgeous beads by Julie of Outwest.  I call this one Night Sky - although in my neck of the woods, the night sky does not look this good! 

I added a "messy" wrapped bead in sterling.

I suppose I need to come up with a name for this mannequin arm, too...hmmmm

Last up are two pair of earrings - both made with beads made by Julie (Outwest).  Her disc beads are simply awesome - both in color and shape!

I have had a heck of a time with computer issues in both listing my items on Etsy and writing this blog post today. Phew!  I made it!

I hope everyone has a SAFE Labor Day Weekend!  Thank you so much for stopping by!

Patti

Designing in Black and White - Blog Hop Challenge

The lovely Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime is hosting another challenge - design a piece of jewelry that uses only black and white in the design - the exception being any metal of choice is acceptable.  (I tried to copy Sally's B&W Badge for this hop, but Blogger is giving me fits)!

Personally, I would fill my entire closet to mimic the attire of Johnny Cash - I LOVE black and white!  So much so, that I did not even have to purchase new beads for this challenge - I just went to my stash and actually had CHOICES!  Yay me!

I purchased three beautiful lampwork cabochons made by the lovely Kerry Bogert a while ago - all with a black and white theme.  I am trying to practice my soldering skills, so I bezel set the cabochon in sterling.

I did not want a single bail at the top - I knew I was going to wire wrap some beads and chain to the sides and I wanted two separate connections.  After I was done setting the lampwork,  a flash of Mickey Mouse and those ears of his came to mind...oh well...it's done.

Source:  family.go.com

Anyhow, I paired this new focal with gorgeous corkscrew lampwork beads by Alisha White.  The beads are made with clear glass with white and/or black stripes added.  These have awesome texture as well.  However, no matter what surface I used as a background, my pictures of these beautiful beads do not show how pretty they are in person!

See?  You can barely see on the black bead above the clear base, but trust me, the artist did a beautiful job!

In my quest to continue to make each piece of jewelry created entirely by hand, I added some handmade chain in sterling.  Just love making this!

I am not happy with my pictures, but I am pleased with how the necklace turned out!.

Of course, I made matching earrings!

I have made this style once before - I finished all ends of the wire by balling it in a flame - I "messy wrapped" intentionally to mimic the stripe in the pretty beads.

Thank you so much Sally - I have not been joining Blog Hops lately and I most certainly needed a push!

Please be sure to visit the blogs of all of the participants listed below.

Sally Russick

Monique Urquhart

Patti Vanderbloemen <----- That's me!

Veralynne Malone

Duane Clark

D Lynne Bowland

Michelle Buettner

Pam Sears

Therese Frank

Dawn Doucette

Nicole Rennell

Cynthia Machata

Alice Peterson

Carolyn Lawson

Evelyn Shelby

Ailsa Cordner

Michelle Escano

Mischelle Fanucchi

Jess Green

Adrienne Berry

Lynsey Brooks

Kashmira Patel

Ann Schroeder

Marlene Cupo

Susan F.

Susan Kennedy

Kathy Lindemer

Paula Kramer

Lisa Johnson

Sandi Volpe

Donna Bradley

Karin Slaton

Jasvanti Patel

Stefanie Teufel

Liz Engriser

Christine Altmiller

I love to read your comments!  Thank you so much for stopping by today!

--Patti

A new addition and artBLISS!

I have been a VERY BAD blogger lately.....but I have a very good reason!  On March 26th, this little guy became a permanent member of my family:

 

 

He was adopted from the local Prince William County Animal Shelter ( a kill shelter....ugh).  He was named Sarge, and his name seemed to fit him, so Sarge it is.  He was picked up as a stray on 2/16/13, and 10 days later was put on the adoption list.  I believe his days were numbered, as he had a big Red Dot on his badge.  Anyway, he is a beagle/pointer mix - fully grown - and estimated to be between 1-2 years of age.  He was mal-nourished when he got home...but not anymore!  He has put on 5 pounds and is now at his optimum weight of 40 pounds. My vet also did some major bloodwork and discovered that certain levels are very high and he may have Lyme Disease - though he shows absolutely no symptoms.  So, 30 days of antibiotics just in case.  He is the sweetest little guy!  And, he was housebroken in 1 day!  He is an ESCAPE ARTIST and does suffer from separation anxiety - working on these things now! I believe he was somebody's pet, as he is very well mannered!

 

So, my life has been quite full these days!  However, I was so excited to get my email from artBLISS announcing registration is open for September classes!  Yay! !  I am filling every hour of this 3 day weekend - 2 classes with Richard Salley & Jessica Papke, and classes from my all time favorite teachers ever - Stacie Florer and Kerry Bogert! 

 

 

  

The classes with Richard Salley and Jessica Papke are focused on ring-making.  I am finding my inner metal-smith these days and believe this is the path I want to take.  Stacie's class will focus on post earrings - (I purchased several of these post earrings from Stacie as gifts for myself and family members and they are drop-dead gorgeous)!

 

Image from Stacie Florer's store on Etsy.

 

Kerry's class will focus on making a unique wrapped bracelet using one of her awesome lampwork beads as the button closure. 

 

I am very excited about these classes and I hope to see some of you at this fantastic event!

 

I hope to get back to regular blogging soon - I have been creating some beautiful pendants and rings from some cabochons...just need to get them photographed and sit down to focus on my blog again.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Focus on Life Week 12 - Observe the Curve

This week's prompt from Sally Russick is to "Observe the Curves" in your life. So, I practiced my soldering and came up with a couple of curves...

Even the lampwork cabochon made by Kerry Bogert had curves!

Very cosmic...don't you think?

 

My niece, Sarah, actually asked me to make her a ring - a thick ring.  Man-I had no idea how thick 20 gauge silver sheet was until I tried to really curve it!

The tiny amethyst (5mm) ring was an afterthought.  But...I love that little ring!

To find out what others are observing this week, hop on over to Sally's blog here.

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy the weekend!

Progress via a Gift

Since my jewelry class debacle (I posted about it here), I have decided to brush off the negativity and put the soldering tips I learned to use.

I have had a friend via "the Internet" for many, many years now.  She is a very special person who has been going through some tough times lately.  She had a stroke last August, actually - two strokes - and she has been progressing wonderfully.  During this terrible time, her father was diagnosed with Cancer.  Having gone through this dreadful disease with my late father 8 years ago, I know all too well what she is going through.

She is one Tough Broad - in a good way (I would love to be called a Tough Broad!)  She is dealing with these emotional and physical hardships in the most beautiful way, and I am awestruck by her strength and beauty.

I wanted to give her something, specifically, I wanted to make her something that would reflect how I feel.  So, I did my best and put what little skills I have to use and I made her this pendant.

It features a cabochon by, quite frankly - yes I am going to say it - my FAVORITE lampwork artist - Sue Kennedy.  I usually say "one of my favorites" - but her work truly speaks to me and if you saw the amount of my purchases of lampwork beads from etsy, the majority are from Sue!  So there...I said it!  Anyway, I stamped the words STRENGTH on the back of the pendant (can you believe I forgot to take pictures of the back! ha!)  I was lucky to find in my stash other GORGEOUS lampwork beads by the ultra talented Donna Millard - a match made in heaven!

Naturally, I completed this necklace with swirled links (again - credit for this design goes to Kerry Bogert!).  This necklace had to be 100% handmade!  I oxidized, buffed, tumbled, buffed again....

My friend has a friend who was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  I am so tired of reading about one more person stricken with this horrible, horrible disease.  My immediate thoughts ran to Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp - a way-too-young mother who was also recently stricken with the Big C.  For those of you who may not know Marie (how can you not know her work??!!), she is an extremely talented jewelry AND component designer who has bravely shared her journey via the WWW.  Marie has exhibited an awesome amount of COURAGE during her ordeal....so I made a "kind of" matching pendant for my friend's friend:

Again - a most lovely cabochon by Sue and I believe these are my favorite color combinations!  And, how befitting to augment this cabochon with yet more gorgeous lovelies in purple by Donna.

I stamped the word COURAGE on the back of this pendant (again...no pictures of the back!  Shame on me!)

I made matching earrings - swirled links for the both of them.

My heart goes to anyone who is struggling with health issues...especially Cancer.  As only an "onlooker", as in I am not there physically, I feel helpless.  But, I say my prayers and hope the Good Lord takes the utmost care for not only those who are going through the actual physical suffering, but also the caretakers - their suffering is just as real.

Thanks for stopping by today...

Thank you Christine Altmiller!

I have met some wonderful beady friends through social networking such as blogging and Facebook.  One of these very special friends is Christine Altmiller of One Kiss Creations.  It is because of Christine's co-sponsorship of a bracelet donation blog hop to the Rare Foundation's 7000 Bracelets of Hope Campaign in 2012 that I have donated many bracelets to this wonderful organization.  Thanks Christine!

 

Christine always writes the sweetest comments on my blog posts.  Recently, she commented that she loved my wire work, especially the swirled link chain that I have been obsessed with lately.  So, I wrote her back, told her to give me her address and I would send her one.  She had an even better idea - let's swap jewelry! 

 

Now, unlike Yours Truly, Christine is an extremely talented bead weaver extraordinaire. In addition to hosting and participating in several blog hops related to this gorgeous art form, she and Therese have a monthly challenge  where they use the same beads to create their own designs.  I cannot even fathom threading a needle and weaving these teeny, weeny, tiny beads to form such beautiful wearable art!  Anyway, this is what Christine made just for me!!!

 

Look at this fantastic bezel around a rock that Christine picked up at the shores of Lake Michigan!  In her own words, she "picked the rock for the sneak peak inside the opening."  How many people do you know can pick up a rock and see the gorgeous beauty?  A true artist sees the beauty in nature, as she did here!

The back of the focal is as beautiful as the front! 

The chain is stunning - it is made with garnet and citrine - in my mind, I imagined myself counting beads, dropping beads, stringing the wrong bead, becoming upset, tearing it apart...you get my drift here....

Look at this toggle!!!  In her note, Christine named all the stitches she used to create this beautiful piece and I still have no idea how she made this toggle (or any of it!)  Isn't this amazing?!

This necklace is the perfect length - and I gravitate towards darker colors as well.  It is absolutely beautiful!

Not only did I receive a stunner of a necklace, but she made me these gorgeous matching earrings which she calls "Feather Earrings" - THE PERFECT SIZE EARRINGS FOR MY LITTLE EARS! (I did not mean to shout - but I am excited!)

The best part of this "trade" is the new friendship I have formed - I am so deeply grateful - I have few "live" friends and I cherish the friendship I have formed!  I feel so blessed!

Now - I will repeat that I am not a bead weaver - so I made Christine a necklace with a gorgeous piece of jasper - landscape jasper to be exact.

 

I made the bail with the two-tone coiling technique I learned from Kerry Bogert.

I made some rolled beads (actual name is Cocoon Beads) as Christine commented that she likes those!  Of course I added some swirled links (thank you again Kerry for the tut!)

The coordinating jasper beads have a wonderful, almost tubular shape to them.

 



 

I added an awesome twisted wire copper clasp made by Marie-Noel Voyer- Cramp

I had a hard time picking an earring design...

 

So, I just sent two pair!

I made Christine's set during a very troubling period - my niece had just lost her four and a half year golden retriever Daisy.  Daisy was a very intricate part of my life.  When my first dog, Abby passed away nearly 3 years ago, Rachel had moved close by and I took care of Daisy (with my remaining boy, Sam) during the day Monday-Friday (like a doggy day care!)  Daisy became Sam's rock - as he just was not the same after losing his litter mate sister, Abby.  After Sam passed away last June, Daisy would come to keep me company twice a month - in addition to weekend jaunts with her cousins in my yard.  Her illness was quick - and the 10 days she was sick, which included surgery, was very hard on everyone in my family.  To this day, I still cry for Abby, Sam, and now Daisy.  Daisy was truly an Ambassador of Love.  There is NO LOVE like that of a Dog.  I love you Daisy - and I miss you - and I thank you for being in my life for the short time you were here!

Daisy and Sam

Thank you again Christine, and thank you for stopping by!