A chronicle of the meanderings, false starts (which in retrospect, while sort of embarrassing turned out to be highly instructive), epiphanies, selective apathy (still evolving), wild mood swings, opinions (subject to frequent change), and life lessons of an inveterate dabbler (and her latest dabblings).

Friday, December 30, 2011

Biting the Bullet

Goodness, I'm spastic tonight. Disregard any indecipherable blurb you might have just seen. Not sure what I did.

Anyway, the necklace below came about because I made myself do it. More and more I find myself not wanting to make anything. I enjoy cutting out metal and pounding it and turning it into things, but the process of incorporating it into an actual piece of jewelry seems more and more tiring. I suppose it's a combination of getting older, day job burnout, and letting my physical fitness slide. And vegetating doesn't make me particularly happy so I should probably just suck it up and and put something together. It's not like I don't have a list.



This was one of the flower clasps I made a couple months ago, this one with a double flower.

I knew I wanted to do something in blue with this clasp, and started out with some cornflower blue recycled glass from Happy Mango Beads. It just wasn't working for me so I dug around in the "Blue Gemstones" bucket and re-found this denim blue sponge coral. I was originally going to use some silk ribbon from Color Kissed Silk in "Ocean Pearl" (kind of pale denim and a sandy, pale yellow) but I eventually decided I didn't like that, although I wanted to keep the denim blue and butter scheme. I dug around in my lampwork stash for beads the same size as the coral and found these large lampwork roundels in kind of a toasted marshmallow color. They're by Pat at Being Beads. They're all knotted onto light denim blue Irish waxed linen cord from White Clover Kiln. In lieu of the ribbon, I decided to use some of my new copper ball chain from Chain Gallery, with the very handy little ball chain connectors they sell. Very excited to find that the holes in the connectors are big enough for a decently sturdy gauge of wire. I think I got some 18 gauge through there.

I have a whole bag of finished charms, focals and clasps that I want to turn into finished jewelry but it seems I prefer to lie around. Working fewer hours at my day job might help, but then I'd probably just lie around more. I need a personal jewelry trainer. A Jillian Michaels to come yell at me when I start to nod off on the couch. Speaking of which, time for bed!

P.S. I made these other things too:

Antique copper cocoons (based on a design by Kharisma Ryantori of Popnicute) and clear AB finish Czech glass teardrops:

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Raffle Fundraiser for Sparrow Salvage

Fanciful Devices is raising some cash for Sparrow Salvage, who recently lost her mother in a terrible car crash, and is herself in hospital with serious injuries. This stunning and mysterious choker is up for grabs! 
 Click HERE to go to Fanciful Devices' blog, where you can donate and enter the raffle.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Artists Helping Artists Winning Bid

Thank you to everyone who came out to bid on the silent auction items in this fundraiser! It was a resounding success! The winning bid on the two pair of earrings came from:

Carlene

Barbara Bechtel will be sending you a PayPal invoice via email--keep a lookout!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Artists Helping Artists Update


Hey everybody! We have some new artists joining the silent auction!


Erin's and Courtney's auctions have started, and Kerry's will start later today. Swing by and check out the items for auction! Not too late for Christmas gifts, and all proceeds go toward a very worthy cause.
Additionally, Erin Prais-Hintz and Kristi Bowman-Gruel are hosting second auctions, of a lovely winter-themed bracelet created by Regina Santerre of Sundance Gems, and a fabulous pair of earrings by Janet Miller (Pink Poppy Studio) made from a pair of Kristi's bronze charms. Stop by and bid!



Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Pot Sweetens! Artists Helping Artists

I am adding to the silent auction pot here at The Cerebral Dilettante:
These gorgeous sterling and fine silver earrings by Susan Fincher of Libellula Jewelry are now available for bidding, together with my copper jellyfish earrings! Susan was eager to join in as a partner in this Artists Helping Artists auction, and offers her support and warmest regards.

Here are some details about these lovely earrings:
  • torch-balled sterling silver ear wires
  • hammered, fused fine silver circular links
  • (PMC) paisley fine silver stars
  • torch-balled sterling silver headpins w/Czech glass beads
Everything but the Czech glass beads were handmade by Susan. The current bid from the previous post was $40--as those of you know who make jewelry, sterling silver is very valuable right now! By bettering that bid, you could be the proud (and crazy hot) owner of both pairs of earrings. A steal by any definition! These earrings are only available together, by bettering the previous high bid.


Would you like to be the winning bidder for BOTH pairs of earrings, from this post and the previous post? New bidders will be eligible, and previous bidders can increase their bid to be eligible for both pairs! Please, no bids on individual pairs; this fire-and-ice duo stays together! Please make your bid or rebid on the previous post. 


Bidding closes midnight, Sunday December 11. Thanks to Susan!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Artists Helping Artists



Artists Helping Artists Silent Auction

Several artists in the blog community have decided to band together to help a fellow artist in need.  The earrings below, currently featured at Earrings Everyday, are available here today by silent auction, as part of an "Artists Helping Artists" fundraiser.  


These earrings feature three each of my textured copper beadcaps, in graduated sizes, antiqued and tumbled to a high shine. They're stacked atop each other, with little amber foil Czech glass cone beads peeking from the bottom, on my hand-forged copper headpins. They hang from a pair of my handmade earwires. All the copper in these earrings, including the earwires, have been sealed in a protective lacquer to preserve patina and shine and guard against sensitivity. They're my interpretation (although more polite and less gelatinous) of a graceful, golden jellyfish!

The starting bid for these earrings is $18.00 (a steal!).  International participants welcome! Shipping costs will be included in the winning bid amount. Auction closes Sunday, December 11 at midnight.

Would you like to be the winning bidder?

Please leave a comment along with your bid. If you are the winning bidder, you will receive an invoice after the close of the auction. There must be a way to contact you. If you have email preferences turned off in your profile, please leave your email.

Many people are auctioning items to help out! Please visit these the other artists below and place your bid!

List of participants:


Feel free to return and bid again!

Happy bidding!