Cabochons

I LOVE cabochons - gemstone, lampwork, polymer - all of the them.  In my attempts to practice my bezel soldering, I acquired some beautiful lampwork cabs from Sue Kennedy at Sue Beads.  Two of the classes at ArtBliss this year focused on soldering, one of them included cabs. It is so much easier to do with a teacher there!

This lampwork cab below- made by Sue - features a beautiful, transparent green glass with swirls.  In our class last year, we added silver embellishments to the design.  While I kinda like how this turned out, I see so many flaws.  I sawed around the back plate free form - intentionally. It's not perfect...I will freely admit that sawing is also something I need to work on!  I kept wishing I had a Beth or Evie McCord (EB Bead and Metalworks) as my neighbor, as I am convinced that either one of them can expertly saw anything in their sleep!

I also wanted to experiment with solder paste.  I will not be using that again too soon! LOL!  I made the silver balls from scrap fine silver and added what I thought was the tiniest amount of solder paste to the balls....there is excess solder on this backplate near those decorative balls that I just cannot remove - and I have tools for this! :)  

I am pleased with the bail, though!  Dear sweet Mom loved it - so I had some jade beads in my stash that matched this cab perfectly. So, Mom got a new necklace and earrings.

I have more cabs in my stash and I WILL GET BETTER! :) 

The next one I made is a very simple design. The colors in this glass just POP!

This was a gift for another person I know who was very recently struck with Cancer.  Have I mentioned how much I HATE the "C" word?   In November, she had a bad cough..thought it was a cold.  It was not a cold.... Prayers to her please!

This necklace had to be 100% handmade...so the link is another one of Cindy Wimmer's designs from her new book, The Missing Link.  I have made this necklace design before...for another woman struck with Cancer, and her friend whose father also suffers from this horrid disease.

I added a heart to remind her that she is loved by many.

Life is good...life is short...hug your loved ones!

Thanks for stopping by!

xo

Patti

A Little Bit of Progress

I have been diligently working on creating jewelry with the lovely beads so generously donated to me by Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens of GlassBeadArt on Etsy.  Here is what I have made so far.

I began with this pair of earrings.  LOVE the sunny colors in these beads!  They matched perfectly with a pair of lampwork headpins I recently acquired from Sue Kennedy at Sue Beads.  So, I soldered a copper jump ring, added some texture and wired these babies for earrings.

I absolutely love this next pair - I soldered more rings - this time in silver.  I am so drawn to the color blue...

The next pair are my mother's favorites - it is not often I see pure white as a base in lampwork, and I am not sure why.  But, the colors added to the beads really pop with this gorgeous background.

Peachy orange rounds - so pretty when wired in copper, don't you agree?  Lately, my earrings have been wrapped with large loops - I have been having some fun with adding texture to these loops.

More gorgeous blue - I used my texturing hammer on these - I hardly ever use this hammer and I do not know why!  Each blow of the hammer brings such nice faceting to the silver.

Pretty, deep burgundy color on these beads.  This is my first toggle soldered in this fashion - I like it!

This focal bead from Maryse matched PERFECTLY with these lovely artisan lampwork beads by Spawn of Flame (I LOVE her shop name!!!) The silver in that focal has such a cool flash of iridescent purple.

Last up is this bracelet - which gave me absolute fits!  I started this bracelet design in early December, but could not get a focal to work with the bars of silver I had formed.  Well, then I received Maryse's beads - and this one was a match made in heaven!

I twisted that 10 gauge wire at the tips - I am into texture lately, and this little twist at the ends provided just the touch I was looking for!

I have listed everything in my shop - 100% of the proceeds to be donated to Miracle Horse Rescue.

On another note, my blogging is going to be here and there for the next couple of months.  I am in the process of moving.  It's a local move, but a move none the less.  It's new construction, so I am at the mercy of Mother Nature (weather) and the Contractor.  But, we are shooting for early February.  I've done pretty well on my packing so far (Purple Heart, Good Will, and Salvation Army LOVE me).  But, I figure I need a solid week just to tackle my jewelry supplies.  I am saving that for last, as I need that creative outlet available to me when I need to de-stress.  Best part of this move is I get to relocate to an actual studio space, instead of my freezing cold, unfinished basement.  Very exciting for me!

So, if don't hear from me, it's because I am knee-deep in boxes!

Hope everyone is staying safe and warm in this deep-freeze of a Country.  Hoping all pets are warm, too!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

xo

Patti

A HUGE Thank you to Maryse of GlassBeadArt...and Reflections

Back in September of 2013, I started my own little "campaign" to raise funds for a charitable organization that is near and very dear to my heart....Miracle Horse Rescue.  This horse rescue, located outside of Las Vegas, is run solely by a wife and husband team - no volunteers.  These horses are basically "throw aways"...abused, some slaughter bound.  They live in contentment now, free to be horses, as God intended.  I had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie and Rob Pierce earlier this year, and I can attest that these two souls live for these horses (and their brood of dogs, too)!  Thank you Stephanie and Rob, for devoting the past 13 years of your life to this most wonderful cause!

I started donating proceeds from my Etsy sales and my craft shows to Miracle Horse Rescue.  I received a HUGE stash of gorgeous artisan lampwork, donated from Jan Onipenco of Molten Mayhem.  This woman makes AMAZING lampwork beads- I have 3 left in this special stash!  They are incredible beads and I am trying to create a design worthy of the beads themselves!  Thank you again, Jan!

Then, Jeannie Dukic of JKD Studio donated a boatload of her artisan polymer clay beads - these beads are fantastic!  Her beads are created in layers - quite laborious. Her polymer beads are like no other - distinctive, little wearable works of art from an artist with a heart of gold. I have two of Jeannie's pendants waiting  - again - for a design worthy of the beads themselves.  Thank you again, Jeannie!

Very late yesterday, my mail carrier knocked on my door to have me sign for an international package from Luxembourg.  I have been on a self-imposed bead buying budget (at least until the end of 2013- 1 day and counting..whoo hoo!), so  I had to ask myself, did I order beads from Maryse Fritzch-Thillens (GlassBeadArt) on one of my late night/can't sleep buying binges and forget?  No...I did not.  Along with an incredibly huge stage of artisan lampwork was a lovely note from Maryse asking me to use these beads in designs for Miracle Horse Rescue! Her daughter rides horses - and Maryse's family rescues rabbits! :)  Animal lovers unite!

The package included these beauties:

An entire set of lovelies with silvered ivory striping (my favorites) that will make an incredible bracelet,  as well as striking iridescent purples, blues...you name it - if it's a color in the rainbow, it's in these beads!

6 sets for earrings...6!!

Focals - incredible focals!  That red one, bottom left is just stunning in person!  

I have used Maryse's beads in many of my designs - here is just a sampling of recent jewelry made with her glorious beads:

I truly cannot thank Maryse enough for her incredible donation of artisan beads!  Please visit Maryse's shop here on Etsy and give her some love!  

These very special artisans donated these beads without even being asked...I find that so heart warming that words fail me.

Along with these three very special ladies, I have to thank each and every one who has made a purchase from me.  I am very happy to report, that since September, I have raised and donated - through my Etsy sales and 4 craft shows - over $5,350 to support in the feeding and care of the beautiful horses that live at Miracle Horse Rescue.  THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!

I mentioned in a blog post a few weeks ago that my jewelry designing started as a hobby.  I retired from the work force about 3.5 years ago - that's when my mother moved in with me.  Though she in no way requires any sort of constant care, it was a sacrifice for her to leave ALL HER FRIENDS IN FLORIDA and move in with her stubborn and opinionated daughter in Northern Virginia.  The least I could do was be a presence in the house for her (yes...I also take her shopping!)  

So, while my mother sews in her sewing room EVERY.SINGLE.DAY., I am in my basement studio happily wrapping beads or banging on metal or singeing the hair off my knuckles every now and then with my torch in the hopes that the proceeds from that piece of jewelry will buy another bale of hay for the furbaby residents of Miracle Horse Rescue.

2013 has been a wonderful year - thank you!  I hope and pray that 2014 is just as special!

I wish everyone Hope, Peace, and Love for 2014.  Stay Safe!

Thank you for stopping by!

xo

Patti

I Received THE BEST Christmas Present!

My immediate family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve.  My sister had the most glorious spread of food, including delicious appetizers made by her daughters (thank you Lori, Rachel and Sarah!) My brother, sister-in-law, and their 3 daughters were there, including Jen's husband Jason.  No offense to the adults, but these two stole the show for me:

I broke my Golden Rule of never holding babies until they are at least 6 months old (don't ask...it's silly)!  Ollie and Evie are 4 months and  3 days old in this picture.  

This may be the first - and the last - picture you see of me with my entire face in the photo! :)  It's worth it!

Hoping you all had a Merry Christmas - I sure did!

xo
Patti

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas....