Focus on Life - 4/52

This week's prompt from Sally Russick's "Focus on Life Challenge" is to Create Art.  While I do consider my self somewhat creative, the mediums in which I dabble are limited.  I do not draw - I do sketch jewelry designs occasionally, but they tend to fall in to the category of doodles.  I do not own paints - though many years ago, I painted bisque ceramics (this art form came from my mother).  I do not own a journal - correction - I own several journals filled with completely blank pages.  I have not picked up a crochet hook in MONTHS ... and I miss it.  But at this point in my life, my jewelry is my way expressing my art.

 

I did not want to bore you with tons of pics, so here is a collage of just a portion of what I have created this week.  

In addition to my newest love - Jasper - there are lots of artbeads above, including lampwork from Kerry Bogert, Outwest, Unicorne, JavaBead, and SueBeads.  Have I mentioned I love lampwork beads???

I am still very much involved in Kerry Bogert's Aspire to Wire e-class - a new wire project every day for 30 days.  I open my emails at 5:30 am and BAM - a new project that I cannot wait to try!

Head on over to The Studio Sublime to follow the links of this week's Challenge participants.

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

AJE Earring Challenge...and Giveaway Winner!

Today is the first reveal in the Art Jewelry Elements (AJE) Challenge!  We have been challenged to make one pair of earrings per week, and to post these earrings every other Sunday.  The only requirement is to use a handmade art bead....my only problem with this is choosing which art bead to use!

First up is this pair of earrings, featuring handmade lampwork beads by Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads.  If you have read my blog, you already know that I am a HUGE lover of her beads! Not only is she a lampwork artist extraordinaire, but her enameled components are STUNNING.  But the beads I have chosen to illustrate here are so appropriate for this time of year - at least in my neck of the world (Virginia) - because they represent an escape:

Will you look at the detail in these beads!!  Sue calls them Beach Beads - and I am there in my mind right now!  I am not sure which aspect of these beads is my favorite - the sand, the beach ball represented by her murrini or the crystal blue of the water OR sky!  The bit of silver she swirled across the top could represent the stars at night - who does not love the beach at night, where the stars always look brighter than in City lights?!  I kept this design as simple as possible to highlight these gorgeous beads!

 

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I had to whip up a pair of earrings just for the occasion!  And, Unicorne Beads rose to this challenge!

  

Lovely swirls of blues and greens in these boro beads - and they are not large and heavy, as would be expected!  These beads are so lovely to look at - and wear! I have listed these beauties in my Etsy shop.

It was a busy morning for me today - I had to choose the winner of my 100th blog post Giveaway!  This bracelet - made with gorgeous purple boro beads (also from Unicorne) goes to....

Shirley Moore!!  I will be contacting you via email, Shirley, to get your mailing address!  Congratulations!

 

 

Thank you to EVERYONE who left comments for this giveaway - I was only anticipating a few and was astounded at the response!  This was so much fun that I will be having another giveaway soon!

 

Now...hop on over to the AJE Blog for links to all of the other participants in the AJE Earring Challenge!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by - and your comments are always so much appreciated!  Happy Sunday!

 



Focusing on Life - 3/52

This is week 3 of 52 for Sally Russick's Focus on Life photo challenge. This week's photo prompt is to take a picture that represents "what I did for me".  In Sally's words, "When was the last time you took a few moments to yourself?  Really took time for YOU without feeling guilty".

I've got to say - these weekly photo prompts have really got me thinking - the Self Portrait, the focus of "Our Word for the Year", and now this.  I believe this has been the hardest prompt so far...seriously.  Because I don't "do for me"....  There has been some serious re-evaluation of how I live my life these first 3 weeks of January, let me tell you! (Thank you, Sally!)

 

But, I did do one thing.

 

No - nothing is wrong - just my yearly check up (ugh).  The one where if I don't schedule the appointment I feel guilty.  So - appointment made - guilt gone. "It's a good thing".

 

Sometime tomorrow (Sunday, January 20th) is my drawing for this handmade silver and lampwork bracelet, to celebrate my 100th blog post.  If you have not signed up for the drawing, please visit this post - there is still time!

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Focusing on Life - 2/52

This is week 2 of 52 for Sally Russick's Focus on Life challenge.  This week's photo prompt is to take a picture that represents our "single word" or "resolution" for 2013.  My Word for 2013 is Fearless.

 

My chosen Word is truly not just a Word to me - it is more of a feeling, a direction in which I want to take my life.  I am also not a Resolution kinda gal - I prefer the term goal.  And my goal -not just for this year-is to become more self confident, to be less of a "naysayer", to not second-guess every little thing, to not constantly weigh the pros and cons ( the cons always seem to win).  I want to follow through!  I want to see where this journey - my life - can take me.  I want to be more positive.  About Everything.  I don't want to look back and have regrets about "what could have been".  I just want "to do".

 

This quote I found on the Internet sums it up for me - I wish I could credit the author - but there was no link (if anyone knows, please advise!)

 

BE FEARLESS - If you could make only one resolution this year, let it be to live boldy.  You control THIS moment.  Rather than cautiously test the water, dive straight into life with freeing abandon.  Imagine the person you want to be, and the life you want to live, then simply commit to them.  Believe in yourself.  Embrace your beauty.  Discover a new passion.  And, whatever you do, wherever you go, don't be afraid to make a splash.

 

 

In trying to come up with a picture that synopsizes my word - I looked around my little world to try to find something that relates to Fearless.  Steps - where can they take me next?  Who knows? !  I just know that I will be taking them.

Thank you Sally!  Please be sure to stop by Sally's blog for links to this week's participants.

Thank you for stopping by!

Giveaway!!!

This is my 100th blog post!  I have had this little blog since November 2011, and I have only written 100 posts!  I must rectify that this year!  Thank you to everyone who has ever read my blog - and I relish every single comment!  Keep reading - there is giveaway at the end of this post...but first, this is what I have been up to lately:

I am currently taking the Aspire to Wire e-class from Kerry Bogert - 30 wire wrapping projects in 30 days.  O.M.G.!  It is so much fun!  She is a wire-wizard and an excellent teacher! I have had the pleasure of taking 2 of her classes at artBLISS, and I also took her e-class - Snaptastic.  I cannot say enough good things about Kerry!

Her first project entailed her two-tone wire wrapping technique.  So far, I have made two necklace / bracelet / earrings sets with some lovely jasper I have been hoarding.

 

Kerry also uses beautiful colored wire - but I used copper and sterling to go with this set - which immediately went to my mother after I showed it to her!

Yes ...another set made with more jasper.

I have also been working with some amazing lampwork beads from Donna Millard.

I made some of the most awesome bead caps for this necklace, shown below, with my new dapping tool.

The tool creates a concave circle, as illustrated above, and in the bead below.  Isn't this cool?!

I really love this affect!

***UPDATE ON THE GIVEAWAY!  CONGRATS TO SHIRLEY MOORE!!! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO LEFT A COMMENT - IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME! *************

If you are still with me after all these pictures, THERE IS A GIVEAWAY to celebrate my 100th blog post!  I will be giving away this bracelet I made with gorgeous handmade lampwork beads by Unicorne and sterling silver:

There is also one spiral-wrapped Czech glass bead to round it out - the clasp is also handmade, and is wrapped with a tiny purple Czech bead.  The silver has been oxidized in liver of sulfer and tumbled.  But the beads....oh the beads...they have a beautiful shimmer and a lovely texture!

Here's what you need to do for a chance to win this silver bracelet:

1.  Just leave a comment on this blog post.
2.  Follow me on my blog (if you are already a follower, let me know in your comments-this will count as an extra chance to win).
3.  Subscribe by email to my blog posts (again, if you already subscribe to my feeds, let me know in your comment for an extra chance to win).
4.  Share the link to my blog post on Facebook - and let me know you have done this for the extra chance to win.

Please make sure I can reach you via email to let you know that you have won!  Winner will be announced sometime on Sunday, January 20th.

Thank you for stopping by!