Thanks to Susan Kennedy, I have the Blues...

Blue beads, that is!  Remember these gorgeous blue beads I ordered from Sue Kennedy of SueBeads?

I finished making my bracelets to be donated to Global Genes/7000 Bracelets for Hope.

The bracelet above features gorgeous beads with an ombre effect - I really love this look!

All of the bracelets are adjustable, with either a lobster clasp, or handmade chain and a toggle.

Ombre again - swoon! :)

The mottled blue in the beads above is so romantic!

Sue made two sets of beads (above and below) with the same gorgeous hues of blue, but one set had round beads, and one set had square beads.  I simply split them up.

The bracelet above was made with heavy gauge, square copper wire that I first twisted.  I try to put a little charm on each bracelet, i.e., hope, believe, etc.  I did not have any copper charms, so I made a tiny disc of copper and stamped it with the word HOPE, then slightly domed the disc.

Several bracelets have mixed metals - a look that I have grown to absolutely adore.

In addition to my favorite blue beads in the bunch (gorgeous swirls of blue and white that remind me of the sky), I added my handmade copper hollow bead to the bracelet above.

The last bracelet, above, was made with red brass.  It takes a liver of sulfur patina quite nicely, unlike "regular" yellow brass.

Thank you again to Sue Kennedy - who made magic with the words "please make me 10 sets of blue beads and use your imagination"!  Never fails!  You can visit Sue's shop on Etsy here .  She also has a website with a HUGE portfolio of gorgeous beads that she will custom make just for YOU - visit her website here.

I noticed that the Global Genes/7000 Bracelets for Hope Blog has not been updated in over a year.  So, I wrote them and asked if they were still taking donations - and they are!  If you would like to send a bracelet or two to be worn by a patient or Mom of a child who has been stricken with a rare disease, they can be sent to the following at any time:

Amy Grover

Global Genes

28 Argonaut, Suite 150

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Lastly, I am having a little sale in my shop - no coupon required!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your Labor Day weekend - it was hotter than you-know-what yesterday, and today is not much better - gonna stay in my basement studio until the sun sets!  

Thank you for stopping by!!

xo

Patti

Busy...busy..busy!

So, my niece Rachel was due to give birth to her first born son on August 12th - he did not arrive until August 19th at 12:04 am, and in my humble opinion, he was worth the wait!  Welcome to the newest member of my family, Gavin Tyler Morris (8 lbs 12 oz and 22 inches long).

I am a terrible photographer - most of my pictures (other than jewelry) are taken with my I-Phone, and they are not publish-worthy!  Gavin is the spitting image of his father and just ADORABLE!  Love at first site!

On Sunday, Gavin met his only cousins-to-date (on Rachel's side of the family, that is), Ollie and Evie.  They were celebrating their 1 year birthday - I cannot believe one year has passed since these little tiny squirts said hello to the world!

Their Aunt Jacki made them their very own Squash Cakes - and it was their first Sugar Rush!  Evie needed no direction whatsoever (she is half Vanderbloemen, of course!).

Ollie had fun playing with the butter cream icing.  My nieces sure make the most beautiful babies!!!

While waiting for Gavin to arrive last week, I finally finished my riveted chain necklace.  This baby is 30 inches long - the picture below is before I added patina.

It is so lightweight and comfortable!  I can definitely see this layered with another necklace, as well.  Not sure what took longer - making each link or buffing off the patina!

I needed another learning experience to keep me busy, so I went to the Cratsy blog again for inspiration (this post in particular)   Ema Kilroy hit another home run with me with this bracelet.

Each "washer" is is different  - different hole size in the middle, different texture applied to each disc.  This feels so good on the wrist and was so much fun to make!  Thanks, Ema!

A month or so ago, I realized it had been some time that I had made some bracelets to donate to the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Campaign.  The bracelets, sponsored by Global Genes, are donated by artisans and given to either patient or parent advocates of those suffering from rare diseases. - a truly worthy cause!  So, I immediately turned to my all time favorite lampwork bead artist - Sue Kennedy to go bead shopping.  Her beads are ALWAYS consistently beautiful - color, size and shape!  All I had to do was say "please make me 10 sets of blue beads" and of course, she delivered!  Aren't these yummy!

I received these last week and have so far completed 5 of the 10 bracelets.  I will post pictures when I am done!

Last - but not least - I FINALLY tackled a project I have wanted to try for eons.  About a year and a half ago, Jo Tinley wrote a tutorial for making hollow beads (in copper) published on the Art Jewelry Elements blog.  I kept this tutorial in the back of my mind for so long, that I actually tried it this morning.  I am happy to say it was successful! 

I thought for sure I would ruin it - but, there I go thinking again!  I have not added patina yet, as I am going to add this as a design element for one of my blue 7000 Bracelets.  Many thanks to Jo for her tips, and for Art Jewelry Elements for sharing!

I sure hope it works when I try this again! :)

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a wonderful rest of the week!!

xo

Patti

So I finally made a chain....

Just a short post today....

I have been going back and forth on how to properly hang this copper pendant.  While I believe it really looks beautiful hung simply on a copper chain, I wanted something different.  So, I made a chain of freshwater pearls.

I am loving the look of the gorgeous white of the pearls against the copper, which I antiqued before I started making the chain.  I think the copper makes this one of the pieces that can be either dressed up or dressed down.  I like it!

Thanks for stopping by today!

xo
Patti

Rivets.....

In my quest to continue to expand on my capabilities, I have been using rivets and cold connections in my designs.  I just recently made this bracelet - which I love!

The bracelet features a piece of tubing, flattened, with a triple strand of fine silver wire that I fused at the ends, twisted, flattened and riveted to the focal piece.  I chose 18 gauge fine silver because it is a bit more pliable than sterling silver.  Plus, I wanted the extra bright shiny pop of silver on top to stand out against the antiqued copper in this mixed metal piece.  

Although not a true cuff bracelet in the sense of the word, I shaped the focal to bend gently around the wrist, so it stays "on top" of the wrist, rather than turning around on the wrist.

Now, I have to be honest here - those are purchased rivets - Crafted Findings to be exact (purchased here) - which I love. But, last year, I actually made my first wire rivet, with the aid of an e-course from Kerry Bogert.  I have attempted to make wire rivets the "right" way since, and failed each time.  But, with the unexpected additional tips I picked up from Tracy Stanley's video, Make Metal Jewelry with Tubing, I decided to try again. (Yes - I love this video!)

So armed with 14 and 16 gauge wire, I have started on this chain.

Personally, I am finding it easier and easier with the repetitiveness of making each link.

It's still in its crude form and needs a bit of sanding (and definitely some liver of sulfur and a buff and tumble), but I see some potential here!

Have you been challenged to try something new lately?  If so, please share!

Thanks for stopping by - until next time!

xo

Patti

Winner!

The winner of this copper pendant:

is:

Stephanie McGinley!

Stephanie, please send me your mailing address via email  (pattivan@verizon.net) and I will send this right out to you!

Thank you to everyone!

xo
Patti