tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20503814126365169032024-03-06T03:12:26.053-08:00The Cerebral Dilettantelunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.comBlogger335125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-72387539565852277852019-04-21T14:38:00.001-07:002019-04-21T14:38:51.326-07:00Shell GameI'm totally into shell beads lately--silver, slate blue, cinnamon, creamy white, tropical blues and greens:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k42O5aN-GBFxFu-xVbiBHn9U13ak_ti9vpqwBPRz8uMyWvAMe2yKs6klzoRaQ1J5X3zBolrkpdva0nUc3M_kbyYi1-PtXFwT1qUpGBzJrEeSVivHOiTekujltB-ghWzORBmLAWyg9rI/s1600/DSCN0750+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k42O5aN-GBFxFu-xVbiBHn9U13ak_ti9vpqwBPRz8uMyWvAMe2yKs6klzoRaQ1J5X3zBolrkpdva0nUc3M_kbyYi1-PtXFwT1qUpGBzJrEeSVivHOiTekujltB-ghWzORBmLAWyg9rI/s400/DSCN0750+copy.jpg" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sold</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPf9zWhnKC9hikZcuhRXJ67FkLXrb3V58wGVRJ6bgttTW9j5LYL5vNEcuopBYZPeybe9Iv30P8ZdxsWmm4UZDQjT3xz0UsImTwUN0wBzwvBVKVre2kTYR8abJsdTOXfo2bv04p1ygTl8s/s1600/DSCN0764+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1064" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPf9zWhnKC9hikZcuhRXJ67FkLXrb3V58wGVRJ6bgttTW9j5LYL5vNEcuopBYZPeybe9Iv30P8ZdxsWmm4UZDQjT3xz0UsImTwUN0wBzwvBVKVre2kTYR8abJsdTOXfo2bv04p1ygTl8s/s400/DSCN0764+copy.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/700452011/cinnamon-shell-dangle-earrings-with?ref=shop_home_feat_1">Cinnamon and Cream</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5iaHorT_fPuHFTUNVrtHNAEThyS3PfD9yQum9QFbK0yAGgejkJpdX-cBNmOp_SnQHT1BNhW8jfbIMnd_2XlZW_BKR5jhRVD8H-8w5N1wLW-buLSz4x9HoJ9Dbomps4Ty576XodxG3fU/s400/DSCN0795+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/700466123/slate-blue-shell-chandelier-earrings-in?ref=shop_home_feat_2">Slate Blue Skies</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1336" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TofAY_odjFvLAarFi2OK-xwHbkEtr-IpfJ9g50WpnNtMoGPABOJxAZeNvbJM_bZsIIanqWYrLTjhniOw_1HmhDzhXsL2A_mp7zcsvPqGHmurM_d37SqN3CDctxdtICh9VXJj91UBR1o/s400/DSCN0813+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="333" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/686624062/pearly-shell-fan-dangle-earrings-with?ref=shop_home_feat_4">Fan Club</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsrAJYOliUOdDQ_NZU47FJDean_PXk_CplV6shcEZXiYF7jLZkQXS6EqGgLdzDV154oS3hOBLu1hryXwVPgL3QKpYx0ZNit1HSEWQgMApSNLb30NgMxpJFKBdkTq9lKtUX9D9_HNNwsQ/s1600/DSCN0864+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1582" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsrAJYOliUOdDQ_NZU47FJDean_PXk_CplV6shcEZXiYF7jLZkQXS6EqGgLdzDV154oS3hOBLu1hryXwVPgL3QKpYx0ZNit1HSEWQgMApSNLb30NgMxpJFKBdkTq9lKtUX9D9_HNNwsQ/s400/DSCN0864+copy.jpg" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/700488153/paua-shell-chandelier-earrings-in-copper?ref=shop_home_feat_3">Butterfly Wings</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-63132190693261234092018-10-07T17:30:00.000-07:002018-10-07T17:30:00.104-07:00A Little New StuffHello everybody! I took a little break from jewelry (the Muse was apparently doing other things!) but I'm slowly working my way back into it. I thought I'd start with some earrings--baby steps! I thought I would use my small supply of enamel elements as inspiration:<br />
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Here is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/649293595/lemon-and-deep-berry-pearl-enamel-sand?ref=shop_home_feat_3">a pair</a> with some lime-hued sand dollars from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GardanneBeads">Anne Gardanne</a>:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylP3SrETvwDfkg1rMNPTWeKySyaHq-0lYoevyYYNsNhi2BDsMIcqQJ_UhJbry4ZguQtJL8Sbcee7QiYRFujfXVE3vItntzXhAkdG52wb-bO-oXOdM5Z158FFOtfgMTgt88iplNI6P9z0/s1600/DSCN0651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1521" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylP3SrETvwDfkg1rMNPTWeKySyaHq-0lYoevyYYNsNhi2BDsMIcqQJ_UhJbry4ZguQtJL8Sbcee7QiYRFujfXVE3vItntzXhAkdG52wb-bO-oXOdM5Z158FFOtfgMTgt88iplNI6P9z0/s400/DSCN0651.JPG" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/649293595/lemon-and-deep-berry-pearl-enamel-sand?ref=shop_home_feat_3">Raspberry Lemonade</a></td></tr>
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The little glass beads right above the sand dollars are lampwork spacers in "jonquil" by Michelle at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSpacerBeadShop">The Spacer Bead Shop</a> on Etsy (she took a break for a few years, so glad she's back! Crazy-huge assortment of colors and sizes). The little berry-colored beads are itty bitty pearls. I used a mixture of copper and argentium silver (a low tarnish type of sterling) here--the earwires are argentium silver.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWn0u-G6E-dti6tc4aSsooBIXj2N-nUf8yzHNlazUtXSOapd1Kuet3MqE2B9ROkUEDm3CDFw3_4PnelyUcp0CoV2gb91YExjD0QoNjVzHuK5LJLeevQTmKvGL8JI2KfaN4ARApMv58-1Q/s1600/DSCN0649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1541" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWn0u-G6E-dti6tc4aSsooBIXj2N-nUf8yzHNlazUtXSOapd1Kuet3MqE2B9ROkUEDm3CDFw3_4PnelyUcp0CoV2gb91YExjD0QoNjVzHuK5LJLeevQTmKvGL8JI2KfaN4ARApMv58-1Q/s320/DSCN0649.JPG" width="308" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/649393575/powder-blue-and-mauve-enamel-keyhole?ref=shop_home_feat_1">This pair</a> is built around a couple of enameled keyhole elements in pretty powder blue and mauve, also by Anne Gardanne:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Pm0-o2_Taik2qtI1h23y17c6cxAgKwnaMq8jQJh3xYCTx0rX-wj9BkC6X9_kRiZcZGbQFhMkp-otjHcKu2Vkib__wHXmjWhFbsuz5-ewcvGI7NvKkgAcpQsoB3mQtYcgSh2tTbjWAho/s1600/DSCN0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1401" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Pm0-o2_Taik2qtI1h23y17c6cxAgKwnaMq8jQJh3xYCTx0rX-wj9BkC6X9_kRiZcZGbQFhMkp-otjHcKu2Vkib__wHXmjWhFbsuz5-ewcvGI7NvKkgAcpQsoB3mQtYcgSh2tTbjWAho/s400/DSCN0681.JPG" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/649393575/powder-blue-and-mauve-enamel-keyhole?ref=shop_home_feat_1">Blue Jeans and Rosy Cheeks</a></td></tr>
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I used copper and silver again, leaving the rosy coloration on the headpins from the torch. (If I pickle them in salt and vinegar after torching them, it takes off the black, but not the pink--yay!). The other beads are lampwork (above the keyholes), moukaite jasper, and etched glass seed beads.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1ye3RKmQpH5m9qtBpiAnKxXQw5weKU9wdsx4w2yxQnSHHjNqXR3cg-pzjUXclka1kXJIjGs4uDmOYdCf5dDYGTherEQ1xm-dIXNSjR_Iq-5lF_xli_qPV-8sYVrESCb87HRcmIqD2Xo/s1600/DSCN0679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1ye3RKmQpH5m9qtBpiAnKxXQw5weKU9wdsx4w2yxQnSHHjNqXR3cg-pzjUXclka1kXJIjGs4uDmOYdCf5dDYGTherEQ1xm-dIXNSjR_Iq-5lF_xli_qPV-8sYVrESCb87HRcmIqD2Xo/s400/DSCN0679.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/649390399/sky-blue-and-deep-berry-enamel-sand?ref=shop_home_feat_4">Here is my other set</a> of sand dollars, in sky blue and rusty red, again with copper and silver, lampwork glass spacers in baby blue, and pretty Indonesian glass beads in shades of deep red.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGXSDAsIU0-vFc8_Jv4LLMpuS8lLLwnaYld6Grmj5tkz-06G1XBvlZbW7x64yoNSs3gVBVGV7eZmfAFI0phHdQgMRWWc30qr3Ep0aU-f4vwFNxZ9lkkTcJe9BH-UN-YOBaAb6oKrHxgQ/s1600/DSCN0673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGXSDAsIU0-vFc8_Jv4LLMpuS8lLLwnaYld6Grmj5tkz-06G1XBvlZbW7x64yoNSs3gVBVGV7eZmfAFI0phHdQgMRWWc30qr3Ep0aU-f4vwFNxZ9lkkTcJe9BH-UN-YOBaAb6oKrHxgQ/s400/DSCN0673.JPG" width="351" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/649390399/sky-blue-and-deep-berry-enamel-sand?ref=shop_home_feat_4">Blue Sky Sand Dollars</a></td></tr>
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The little silver beadcaps are the ones I make with my hand punch from silver sheet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVehQ4OtITHJzKIJre4FzDlUib8dsTO3CKciS3mxYt3bRIpJL0aixVmJlZkuMuiMbIU56SUmKbbTZzsVfwWmUrjEFwJyopQ9BGCs5q1wcUSglATLVwAs6B1H_7GQ_X-QhQix5zvgH7oo/s1600/DSCN0675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1484" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVehQ4OtITHJzKIJre4FzDlUib8dsTO3CKciS3mxYt3bRIpJL0aixVmJlZkuMuiMbIU56SUmKbbTZzsVfwWmUrjEFwJyopQ9BGCs5q1wcUSglATLVwAs6B1H_7GQ_X-QhQix5zvgH7oo/s320/DSCN0675.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/635470684/sky-blue-and-sea-green-glass-flower?ref=listing-shop-header-1">Lastly, this pair</a> is lampwork glass and Czech "Picasso" glass flowers, with just argentium silver. I liked the different glass beads together so much I couldn't resist, and I've never used these little flower beads before!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-roVYRCnjRYe6I7beoumePuLWKYpU_ywptx2vDqaw8j4LeMK7rpKcURiQltmZkpVQKhfYeDNsjusvquGkoTIHyPdq5PvE1hwm1BUJlcDHN1k8PwJK8_O98K6AdRDNJnRvSmeCMWARUQ/s1600/DSCN0656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1597" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-roVYRCnjRYe6I7beoumePuLWKYpU_ywptx2vDqaw8j4LeMK7rpKcURiQltmZkpVQKhfYeDNsjusvquGkoTIHyPdq5PvE1hwm1BUJlcDHN1k8PwJK8_O98K6AdRDNJnRvSmeCMWARUQ/s400/DSCN0656.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/635470684/sky-blue-and-sea-green-glass-flower?ref=listing-shop-header-1">Farewell to Summer</a></td></tr>
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I guess I was feeling nostalgic for summer...It's pretty cold here in the Rockies!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsnzz7gYX3GMFM2Xv3OtKUY7jral6mknnhqpC61u7IARv-O6pHQ_DOJyHAaQXGg65oApi4z22CcjHNzag-9Z_X1-w-R-sGejW8rbnQawKOFwRWM1Nc12F7mQPIxdpwokHLWU4pzx44nc/s1600/DSCN0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1086" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsnzz7gYX3GMFM2Xv3OtKUY7jral6mknnhqpC61u7IARv-O6pHQ_DOJyHAaQXGg65oApi4z22CcjHNzag-9Z_X1-w-R-sGejW8rbnQawKOFwRWM1Nc12F7mQPIxdpwokHLWU4pzx44nc/s400/DSCN0664.JPG" width="271" /></a></div>
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OK, that's all for now, I wish you a peaceful evening!lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-34660225599115871612018-04-06T16:21:00.000-07:002018-04-06T16:21:13.476-07:00Southwest Heart Necklaces Are Back!I have finally bowed to public pressure and have created another batch of my "<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/589327400/southwest-heart-turquoise-magnesite-and?ref=shop_home_feat_2">Southwest Heart</a>" pendants. (For a while after my first batch, I never wanted to see them again but I guess I got that out of my system. Plus I'm a little less tired now that my work load at the day job has evened out some, so I have some energy for creating.) I <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/603086051/southwest-heart-turquoise-magnesite-and?ref=shop_home_feat_4">tweaked the design just a bit</a>, but overall it is essentially the same:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXd7Z4ZKB0VNbvkVvIwI950SDCJp5ph2XZxofdAqsGiplG1zx3WjPbmAg3OYRVNGOnWFIpp1e5wuUFGYkh7x6JIhQ8crqPDfOEaREBADCsm-E8daKHAEOPFZ4kcSLpZE5H4mprH-jFlaM/s1600/sw+heart+pendant+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXd7Z4ZKB0VNbvkVvIwI950SDCJp5ph2XZxofdAqsGiplG1zx3WjPbmAg3OYRVNGOnWFIpp1e5wuUFGYkh7x6JIhQ8crqPDfOEaREBADCsm-E8daKHAEOPFZ4kcSLpZE5H4mprH-jFlaM/s640/sw+heart+pendant+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/603108491/southwest-heart-turquoise-magnesite-and?ref=shop_home_active_21"><span style="font-size: small;">Southwest Hearts 2018</span></a></td></tr>
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I varied them slightly to keep myself entertained.<br />
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I have also created a small selection of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/603928839/southwest-copper-toggle-bracelet?ref=shop_home_feat_1">coordinating bracelets</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrKwPXmaY-p_BdfhOEJpYG3tIWk5tNOy5fmTU07KdiLZD5aCQ6F60MocEa1UBLEGsM5pM9Aki5ki1P2EGNSj9fNf8Qk9dtoJFbz5BKMje7MAkMtgJde7k-pxzG8Zuqre0F5DxzWzXSVA/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrKwPXmaY-p_BdfhOEJpYG3tIWk5tNOy5fmTU07KdiLZD5aCQ6F60MocEa1UBLEGsM5pM9Aki5ki1P2EGNSj9fNf8Qk9dtoJFbz5BKMje7MAkMtgJde7k-pxzG8Zuqre0F5DxzWzXSVA/s640/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As well as <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/589339144/southwest-copper-and-silver-earrings?ref=shop_home_feat_3">earrings</a>:<br />
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If Southwest is your bag, stop by and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/590144838/southwest-copper-and-silver-earrings?ref=shop_home_active_12">check it out</a>!lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-2194304976325178162017-06-05T17:50:00.000-07:002017-06-05T17:50:18.547-07:00The Blues. And the Greens.I've got The Blues. And apparently The Greens, too. See what I mean?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBT_38-WqltVN-t4fQ5nGfDkykEo6Gn5YdRNjQCX6fwZHAo35NRhosr6OGD3FRYIgJJIF-Vj4XZpgDg51A0DJu58Y3HHGDYpENfmFbQRHVYl937af7YRjekn6cIJjDe1pQP_ATmJWakBI/s1600/DSCN9597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1600" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBT_38-WqltVN-t4fQ5nGfDkykEo6Gn5YdRNjQCX6fwZHAo35NRhosr6OGD3FRYIgJJIF-Vj4XZpgDg51A0DJu58Y3HHGDYpENfmFbQRHVYl937af7YRjekn6cIJjDe1pQP_ATmJWakBI/s640/DSCN9597.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I wanted to make some bracelets, because I haven't in a while, and I wanted to use copper. I love blues and greens with copper so I started looking in my blue and green bins and holy cow! I have a lot of green beads. When did I get those? WHERE did I get those? Alas, I stopped keeping track a long time ago, and figuring out where they all came from would be rather a chore. I do generally know WHAT they are however--the beads in this bracelet are lapis lazuli, blue agate, azurite, blue impression jasper, turquoise, and probably green howlite. (I'm guessing they came mostly from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>, <a href="http://www.limabeads.com/">Lima Beads</a>, and maybe an Etsy shop or two.)<br />
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And because one of each thingy is never enough (this one has the same beads, except with some bronzite and a chrysocolla thrown in, royal blue cording instead of brown, and a smattering of tiny lampwork donuts):<br />
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And lastly this one (I wasn't quite sick of blue and green yet so I made just one more):<br />
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I will be listing these in my shop in the next few days--probably one at a time, so that it's less confusion (they are slightly different sizes).<br />
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<br />lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-25474668403988746712017-05-15T09:17:00.000-07:002017-05-15T09:17:48.005-07:00ButtonsWhat is it with me and anything shaped like a coin? (Except for actual coins?) Buttons activate some kind of primal gluttony in me for small, disc-shaped items. And then this happens:<br />
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And this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvq5DbfEsXnbxfxvwF56xIW-txyXsRb5vrPydGPyuh9gfRNdf8CwZp7Ro2VCgg1uNhv5jjHLoLS-pBGtZhy6lz4ePM59kAWuX8crORpLaB4T2Iyz-NuQ6GUBw-jlDwGhvFZ453ig_otk/s1600/33821791584_1e834b4d2b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvq5DbfEsXnbxfxvwF56xIW-txyXsRb5vrPydGPyuh9gfRNdf8CwZp7Ro2VCgg1uNhv5jjHLoLS-pBGtZhy6lz4ePM59kAWuX8crORpLaB4T2Iyz-NuQ6GUBw-jlDwGhvFZ453ig_otk/s640/33821791584_1e834b4d2b_o.jpg" width="518" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/530862329/gray-mother-of-pearl-and-metal-button?ref=shop_home_feat_2">Gray Skies</a></span></td></tr>
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And even this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzUInzHLlGJZ3GPDa_h5VmjcPfxb3WEi8odjjj_tmQ8zx0PBf9QvBNvRntlUmLxvP-vYQKnLke5FsglkRLxOg7j9ki9jX5KfnZtN49C17Fn9SaNP0KlU1MaMidNxCUDEmB_5GmhpMWSw/s1600/34502321372_ca85df1ece_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzUInzHLlGJZ3GPDa_h5VmjcPfxb3WEi8odjjj_tmQ8zx0PBf9QvBNvRntlUmLxvP-vYQKnLke5FsglkRLxOg7j9ki9jX5KfnZtN49C17Fn9SaNP0KlU1MaMidNxCUDEmB_5GmhpMWSw/s640/34502321372_ca85df1ece_o.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/530857129/mother-of-pearl-flower-button-necklace?ref=listing-shop-header-1">Mother of Pearl</a></span></td></tr>
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And then I just bought some more...I guess a button addiction is more economically sustainable than, say, a Faberge egg addiction.lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-24200539231559348822017-04-23T15:54:00.000-07:002017-04-23T15:54:14.536-07:00Wonder Woman, the Lone Star state, and Aidan QuinnWhat do Wonder Woman, the Lone Star state, and Aidan Quinn have in common?<br />
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I think of them when I look at these earrings!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/526456113/lone-star-state-mixed-metal-earrings?ref=shop_home_feat_3">I Fought the Law, and the Law Won</a></b></span></td></tr>
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I love these chubby little Mykonos stars from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>, and was thinking for a long time about how to create a pair of earrings with them. I thought I would pop them into a ring, and do up a whole mixed metal thing. While I was working on them, I couldn't help thinking of Texas, Wonder Woman (which I watched religiously as a youngster), and badges (Grandma and I used to watch Marshal Dillon clean up Dodge City, and how many times have I watched Practical Magic now?)<br />
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<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/sandra-bullock-practical-magic-sally-owens-515DpDKLjjmsE">via GIPHY</a><br />
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Have a splendid week, readers!</div>
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lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-62597941076319306592017-04-08T17:17:00.002-07:002017-04-08T17:17:56.271-07:00Waste Not, Want Not<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fiesta<br />(sold)</span></td></tr>
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I have been looking and looking for some plain, slim, tubular beadcaps/endcaps--could I find any anywhere? Of course not! Then I stumbled across these spent .22 caliber bullet casings for sale at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DesignFromDixie">Design From Dixie</a> on Etsy and I thought "Eureka!" They gather these up--and other calibers--at shooting ranges, check to make sure the primer is spent, and make them available for purchase for craft projects in their Etsy shop. (The brass is lovely, especially after banging it up with my hammer!). I'm not into shooting guns, but I will happily use these babies to make jewelry! I got some in stainless steel too. They're really a snap to drill, and if you have any questions about that, the shop owners are great and super helpful. They also have <a href="http://www.bulletjewelryhq.com/">a website about how to use bullet casings</a> in craft projects. I used them above with moukaite ovals and roundels, and brass wire.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/508617614/golden-pyrite-bullet-shell-earrings?ref=shop_home_feat_1">Industrial</a></span></td></tr>
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For these I stuck with a two-tone pallette of silver and brass--golden pyrite ovals, fine and Argentium silver wires, brass shell casings and brass wire. (Can't decide what I love more--the brass casings or the pyrite....) These are currently available in my Etsy shop.<br />
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OK, that's all I got! (Can't wait to use a pair of the steel ones.)lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-79817081902123899622017-02-13T10:06:00.000-08:002017-02-16T08:57:49.683-08:00Y's, Happy Fish and White Clover<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spring in the Rockies<br />(SOLD)</span></td></tr>
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Hello there, adoring fans. In case you were wondering, I'm still working my way through my artisan ceramic stash, most recently using some fab stoneware tubes in sea green glazes by <a href="http://www.happyfishwithheart.com/en/">Jana Bližňáková</a> of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/happyfishthings">Happy Fish Things</a>. I'm intrigued by Y necklaces (I think they're sexy and I'm all about that) so I thought I would do really elongated shapes with these. For the necklace above, I topped Jana's stoneware tube with an icy tablet of recycled glass from Happy Mango Beads (clear, with just the barest hint of a fluorite-type green), and dangled a few carved amethyst tulips underneath. It says SPRING to me!! I was playing with some dragonfly-wing shapes with copper wire, and initially thought it was going to form one side of the necklace, but then I liked it so much as part of the pendant section I left it there. I added some more clear glass nuggets to the necklace portion, and two long strands of gorgeous little seed beads in pearly lavender. (I'm really into stringing seed beads lately, I love the look).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Glacial Lakes<br />(SOLD)</span></td></tr>
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For this one, I hit the turquoise hard. (I love these variegated nuggets I got from a local bead store several years ago--I will be beside myself when I run out.) I kept it simple, with leather and copper. Recycled glass tablet in azure from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/508433501/sea-green-y-necklace-with-rustic?ref=shop_home_feat_2"><span style="font-size: small;">Caribbean Adventure</span></a></td></tr>
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I went all cool greens with this one, with recycled glass rounds and discs (the latter from Happy Mango Beads) in sea green, little rectangular nuggets of pale amazonite in iceberg hues, and a dollop of green dragon blood jasper (the rondelles at the end). I kept it earthy with leather and chubby seed beads in deep cocoa brown.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/506922101/beaded-y-necklace-spring-green-teal-and?ref=shop_home_active_2">I'm Going to Sandals</a></span></td></tr>
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For this one, I was inspired by some ombre-shaded seed beads I found at Michael's, so I decided to do three strands of them (when I love something, I REALLY love it), with a pair of my hand-formed tulip ends. I stacked up some recycled glass discs from Happy Mango Beads in sea green, "Capri blue" and powder blue under the stoneware tube, and then completed the pendant section with a large tablet of faux sea glass in a light azure from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>. The wrapped loop I made for the sea glass pendant seemed to need something, so I wrapped it in a bunch of waxed linen cording and more seed beads. Always remember, more is more. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Morning Alpenglow<br />(SOLD)</span></td></tr>
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And lastly, having used up my set of four Happy Fish tubes, I grabbed a gorgeous little porcelain pendant by Mary Hubbard of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhiteCloverKiln">White Clover Kiln</a> from my stash--I'd been wanting to use this little gem forever but just didn't have any ideas that seemed worthy of it. It fit right inside this wrapped ring I had made a long time ago for I-don't-know-what. Just futzing, I guess. I didn't want it to get too frothy with the pink, so I used Botswana agate (LOVE that stone) to draw out the gray and slatey violet tones in the swirls of the pendant, and added dark cocoa leather to ground it. I added some 3mm round beads at the ends--I think most of these are also Botswana agate, but I mixed in some rhodochrosite for a little extra pink. A dash of silver seemed right too.<br />
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Well that's all I got. I have another set of three tubes from Jana, that are a more vivid green--they remind me of bamboo. I think I'm going to use those horizontally...stay tuned!lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-26890089990727808112016-12-03T12:46:00.000-08:002016-12-03T12:46:23.174-08:00Pendants with Happy Fish Things!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3U1AMPzGflcg95cIsAcTIedgDHMGgOomZlvIWk1oJKh9Bm-CDA19LJvihnAyW0nOvshx6yGh1sxEdimZVG6bw2d59AfJ0eauucmzVkX9I65iO6aKZ9uF5Q7tNb2N0KIlqSzMReujUSs/s1600/DSCN8790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3U1AMPzGflcg95cIsAcTIedgDHMGgOomZlvIWk1oJKh9Bm-CDA19LJvihnAyW0nOvshx6yGh1sxEdimZVG6bw2d59AfJ0eauucmzVkX9I65iO6aKZ9uF5Q7tNb2N0KIlqSzMReujUSs/s640/DSCN8790.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have embarked on a mission to use up my two bins (ahem) of ceramic artist components--first up, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jana.jaromir">Jana Bližňáková</a> of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyFishThings">Happy Fish Things</a> and <a href="http://www.happyfishwithheart.com/en/">Happy Fish with Heart</a>! I decided to knot them--I find knotting so meditative! Needed a little of that.<br />
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This was<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/494403563/turquoise-wing-ceramic-bohemian-necklace?ref=shop_home_feat_4"> the first one I made</a>, with one of a pair of Jana's feather/wing-like elements (with their size and lightness, you could use them for fabulous earrings too, but I wanted to make them go farther, and I thought they'd be great in a more petite necklace). I just love the fine black tracery in the glaze. Sublime! I combined it with a pewter heart connector from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>, Indonesian glass beads in variegated turquoise (also from Happy Mango--aren't they fabulous? I love how obviously handmade they are), blackstone nuggets, transparent straw-hued Delicas, sterling silver, black Greek leather and waxed linen cording.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd8MMr4HDzdQ_YjYWZvTTZJIwGe6sLxx4N9Rx0Or-AXTsfegLukMY8Db4DcoXmDnicNIXrj7ivQ0LfYaqN85jqNjah8wI9xKIVQrjrwTOpWytt2kFewC1izEGEKwIuV7HHxJXlbZX5-8/s1600/DSCN8701+vignette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd8MMr4HDzdQ_YjYWZvTTZJIwGe6sLxx4N9Rx0Or-AXTsfegLukMY8Db4DcoXmDnicNIXrj7ivQ0LfYaqN85jqNjah8wI9xKIVQrjrwTOpWytt2kFewC1izEGEKwIuV7HHxJXlbZX5-8/s640/DSCN8701+vignette.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/494403563/turquoise-wing-ceramic-bohemian-necklace?ref=shop_home_feat_4">Heart Takes Flight</a></span></td></tr>
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Here is the second one--I had these wonderful Czech glass leaves in autumn tones hanging out in my workspace (where did I get those???...) and when I saw them together, I had to do it! I went back to my Happy Mango turquoise seed beads for a splash of matchy-matchy, added a little Red Creek jasper and a couple of carved black horn feathers, and finished the stringing with glossy black 1 mm leather cord and 11/0 matte black seed beads. I anchored the ends to a pair of my hand-textured silver connector rings, adding some nut brown 2 mm Greek leather with my coil ends, and a short length of sterling silver connector chain terminating in one of my hand-forged sterling hook and eye clasps. Sterling silver accent beads.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqPNF_fkuuZUmYcuFCYcaEsDFTPV7vulSZmtpE8khSbSKGNKNkt9NlDaiUciZG2vMoF47gIsDTxdk2Gd5AxbkBKo9rQDDG7Y3ebPq0SAGZtyan6ZNB2Gyg4KSwyV5ogM10gwn0MZ0XYk/s1600/DSCN8715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqPNF_fkuuZUmYcuFCYcaEsDFTPV7vulSZmtpE8khSbSKGNKNkt9NlDaiUciZG2vMoF47gIsDTxdk2Gd5AxbkBKo9rQDDG7Y3ebPq0SAGZtyan6ZNB2Gyg4KSwyV5ogM10gwn0MZ0XYk/s640/DSCN8715.JPG" width="482" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Autumn on the Wing<br />(sold)</span></td></tr>
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I also had two of these fantastically delicate cherry-blossom-style pieces of Jana's left in my ceramics bin (I had only used one so far). The glaze on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/481160698/turquoise-cherry-blossom-pendant-with?ref=listing-shop-header-3">this one</a> was a bit lighter than the other--a soft teal fading into a diaphanous sea green. It reminded me so much of the sea, I thought some recycled glass rounds with their sea-glass feel would be a nice addition, and I had some in a lovely celadon that went nicely with the glaze. I decided to stay with lighter colors, knotting it all together with Irish waxed linen cording in ivory, and adding Czech Picasso 3-cut glass seed beads in sea green and cobalt blue from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>. For a second it was a tossup between teal Greek leather and this lovely mint -- the mint seemed to make the whole thing pop more so I went with that. It's finished the same as the pieces above, with connector rings, coil ends, and extender chain. (That's a dollop of kyanite on the clasp ring.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJI1D-aWMXt2wxsc1HacfaK5YJaPxazrrxt91w0pkFI_aS1OmHVdPkNBQiYHFKEBRiIptZAz-Qc7xq6JHlwA9Rk90aEyC3kpACn75aBRSE71LWl4wiOubpmW0m5mqZh78r0-r7BOENXrg/s1600/DSCN8730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJI1D-aWMXt2wxsc1HacfaK5YJaPxazrrxt91w0pkFI_aS1OmHVdPkNBQiYHFKEBRiIptZAz-Qc7xq6JHlwA9Rk90aEyC3kpACn75aBRSE71LWl4wiOubpmW0m5mqZh78r0-r7BOENXrg/s640/DSCN8730.JPG" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/481160698/turquoise-cherry-blossom-pendant-with?ref=listing-shop-header-3">Serenity Now! Right Here Under My Beach Umbrella</a></span></td></tr>
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The other cherry blossom was in slightly more saturated, vivid hues of turquoise and teal, so I used bolder colors. I'm obsessed with these Czech "wampum" beads from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a> (they make the most wonderfully mellow clacking sound as they move together). I love the Southwest palette! I added black accents to ground it--black Indonesian glass nuggets from Happy Mango (I love the soft sheen on them), more of my 11/0 matte black Japanese seed beads from <a href="http://www.fusionbeads.com/">Fusion Beads</a>, black Irish waxed linen cording, and black Greek leather--and of course sterling silver (I love that little star jasmine charm--it makes me think of a marshal's badge!). The sweet little Czech glass bird bead is also from Stinky Dog Beads.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/481163634/turquoise-cherry-blossom-southwestern?ref=listing-shop-header-2">Marshal Miss Kitty</a></span></td></tr>
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I had two of these lovely crackle-glaze medallions in teal and turquoise tones--I love Jana's muted flower pattern, it makes me think of a batik. I thought the vibrant glaze could hold its own against some genuine turquoise, so I went to my favorite blocky turquoise heishi and paired them with garnets--I adore turquoise and garnets together! It's sort of a twist on the traditional Southwest palette, I guess. I love the juxtaposition of the opaque, matte turquoise with the translucent glossy garnets. To bring in some lightness, I teamed them up with vintage Ghanaian glass seed beads in ivory from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Afrobeadia">Afrobeadia</a>, sterling silver, matte black 11/0 seed beads, black waxed linen cord and black Greek leather.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTlVFvoD2z607ChKjM3WsIcf6Q0Srhf08SqEbH8guKDmOoABtkYxkt_G4VAKtGkUmQoGNrqJ0gQvmvyWtIyUES6o5tvOfCuWycl81xDW7ScwLTSgN0ZlRawlxzW7mHQsI02rebRqGixY/s1600/DSCN8752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTlVFvoD2z607ChKjM3WsIcf6Q0Srhf08SqEbH8guKDmOoABtkYxkt_G4VAKtGkUmQoGNrqJ0gQvmvyWtIyUES6o5tvOfCuWycl81xDW7ScwLTSgN0ZlRawlxzW7mHQsI02rebRqGixY/s640/DSCN8752.JPG" width="450" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/481165820/teal-ceramic-medallion-with-turquoise">Star Power</a></span></td></tr>
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This is the other medallion. I wanted to go warm with it, so I pawed through my enormous bin of Indonesian glass beads from Happy Mango until I found my favorite ones, in cocoa brown with stripes of pumpkin, saffron and ivory. To echo the teal in the medallion, I added large and small Indonesian glass beads in translucent teal (from Happy Mango Beads) and 11/0 Japanese seed beads in a similar color; and riffing off the colors in the brown striped beads I added more 11/0 seed beads in a warm maize color, Ghanaian seed beads in ivory, a few 8/10 seeds in root beer brown here and there, and deertan lace in a golden buff color. I added a pewter Celtic knot bead from Happy Mango, and finished it off as I did the others, with sterling silver rings, coils, chain and hook-and-eye clasp. (That little Czech glass flower in teal on the clasp is from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86ZfM-Z94ouBfDG4lqop4vaY8Mm4AF7OEgfF_lXX9ywmONYbYR_Z9Lc0cjhqsqObyipcfHHengkpuDIIAEhhall3r6Q53v9PFfjlI96tpEZ9q3iU7_kSZqw94ShQi1WgEd9MqZ62ELpc/s1600/DSCN8789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86ZfM-Z94ouBfDG4lqop4vaY8Mm4AF7OEgfF_lXX9ywmONYbYR_Z9Lc0cjhqsqObyipcfHHengkpuDIIAEhhall3r6Q53v9PFfjlI96tpEZ9q3iU7_kSZqw94ShQi1WgEd9MqZ62ELpc/s640/DSCN8789.JPG" width="612" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/481167654/sea-green-ceramic-necklace-with-brown?ref=listing-shop-header-0">The Warm and Cool of It</a></span></td></tr>
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I have more awesome stuff of Jana's left--this is what's on my worktable now:<br />
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<br />lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-25926111401575071182016-08-28T15:33:00.000-07:002016-08-28T15:33:39.898-07:00Tasselmania<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently learned how to make beaded tassel earrings (a year ago--what can I say? I'm slow), thanks to Bianca at <a href="http://www.allaboutbeads.com.au/">All About Beads</a> and her Fabby <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRbfBMS0iIzmqWz9doR-81w">YouTube channel</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB4_lAq00VI">HERE</a> is the tut if you're interested.<br />
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Well, as you can see, I went a little crazy--my wrapping my head around this technique coincided with a delivery of some rather delectable Czech glass beads from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>. I'm crazy for the <a href="https://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/10-off-20-inches-aged-picasso-wampum-czech-tube-bugle-bead-mix-9-x-4mm">"wampum" tube beads</a>, as you can see below. As well as the Picasso beads of every other shape and color--like the <a href="https://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/copy-of-6mm-rocailles-in-transparent-aqua-and-cobalt-blue-with-an-aged-picasso-coating-1">3-cut seed beads</a> and <a href="https://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-faceted-firepolished">faceted rondelles</a> in transparent sea green, and the <a href="https://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/20-inch-strand-8-0-aged-mosaic-picasso-seed-bead-mix-260-beads">red Picasso spacers</a> below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKew8Rti7X1H32fI8YMaH25F1psEobuzztAAWcNWQhYc9VoR0zN3B6AccZHxUpxfyiolr83uqxJXv_lm1hCad6gI-6tL7RJqDsLMgMoQuvJXqoyld0qBioOR52ChotANwpW5pVUX_nGRo/s1600/DSCN8136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKew8Rti7X1H32fI8YMaH25F1psEobuzztAAWcNWQhYc9VoR0zN3B6AccZHxUpxfyiolr83uqxJXv_lm1hCad6gI-6tL7RJqDsLMgMoQuvJXqoyld0qBioOR52ChotANwpW5pVUX_nGRo/s640/DSCN8136.JPG" width="610" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/475118141/southwest-beaded-tassel-turquoise?ref=shop_home_active_4">Southwest Bonanza</a></span></td></tr>
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These began with a gorgeous set of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/151326688/enameled-tulip-bud-pair-cobalt-blue?ref=shop_home_active_3">enameled beadcaps</a> from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Gardannebeads">Anne Gardanne</a>--these <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/267242389/100-aged-opaque-navajo-turquoise-picasso?ref=shop_home_active_29">aged Picasso seed beads</a> from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeadsandBabble">Beads and Babble</a> seemed perfect with them, as well as the short Czech Picasso barrels in mint green from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>, and again with the <a href="https://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/copy-of-6mm-rocailles-in-transparent-aqua-and-cobalt-blue-with-an-aged-picasso-coating-1">sea green 3-cut seeds</a>--LOVE those.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EcZgm7rFVlu3fMKDG9sCo04MfR0KUAFx2Z7f8jZX1fQN9WhnNkcaafX7CLnXhqwHJKEtywd5NaRjkQN0mXR0yYnGuK01pOHUqxZaGOxrgSoLhCf4iLd7IuIFKbmWaRPPFyRAQ8DrzW8/s1600/DSCN7979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EcZgm7rFVlu3fMKDG9sCo04MfR0KUAFx2Z7f8jZX1fQN9WhnNkcaafX7CLnXhqwHJKEtywd5NaRjkQN0mXR0yYnGuK01pOHUqxZaGOxrgSoLhCf4iLd7IuIFKbmWaRPPFyRAQ8DrzW8/s640/DSCN7979.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/458110328/beaded-tassel-earrings-sea-green-and?ref=shop_home_active_6">How Green Was My Lawn</a></span></td></tr>
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This pair of earrings began as 10 lovely <a href="https://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso?page=2">Czech Picasso glass teardrops</a> in azure and a couple of faceted sky blue rondelles from (yes, you guessed it) Stinky Dog Beads, which eventually joined ranks with more <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/267242389/100-aged-opaque-navajo-turquoise-picasso?ref=shop_home_active_29">seed beads from Beads and Babble</a>, big aqua glass spacers, my own embossed copper beadcaps, and Indonesian glass beads in turquoise from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a> (on the earwires).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcm6Tdz2hJcV3C2sDQyH5lMWqlNeLdNOhp6GVI4cA0TBNKZAf0p1gZ2cYKlcsh4j3EDfe1fYBObbpBO6DP9iy5740Va0uuADm4eBu9w4LFNQD1j32W9axApA7KioNbAKXemaV3E5V6Sr4/s1600/DSCN8037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcm6Tdz2hJcV3C2sDQyH5lMWqlNeLdNOhp6GVI4cA0TBNKZAf0p1gZ2cYKlcsh4j3EDfe1fYBObbpBO6DP9iy5740Va0uuADm4eBu9w4LFNQD1j32W9axApA7KioNbAKXemaV3E5V6Sr4/s640/DSCN8037.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/475094403/azure-and-olive-beaded-tassel-earrings?ref=shop_home_active_2">Island Paradise</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />
Well here is a little Cinco de Mayo for you at the end of August. I started with the little <a href="https://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/6-czech-glass-orange-red-hawaiian-flower-table-cut-beads-12mm">scarlet Czech flowers</a> (need I say it? from Stinky Dog Beads--or just "The Dog," as it is known at my house), determined to use them in a tassel earring. I finally settled on some other beads to go with them--variegated turquoise seed beads, pale yellow seed beads, Indonesian <a href="http://happymangobeads.com/glass/indonesia/reds/">glass seed beads in coral red</a> and <a href="http://happymangobeads.com/transparent-antiqued-aqua-glass-beads-3mm-44-strand-jv9017/">transparent teal</a> (those are the larger ones right on top of the flowers) from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>, my own embossed copper beadcaps, a couple of faceted Czech rondelles in azure from The Dog, and two carnelian rondelles from my ancient bead stash. I picture Frida Kahlo in these.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhyphenhyphenoylzMDSqEF6KEWIHODs4S9UGZm3bV5iEn-32OAj2816V6GRiJPZxitMmCfpKaEuKrMoP-OscghUyJ1xjErCXqSdaeyWde7PtuouznO5wIVGGXu0Yhb1ljSCfZHDcaXbt63CJ1c8Rk/s1600/DSCN8087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhyphenhyphenoylzMDSqEF6KEWIHODs4S9UGZm3bV5iEn-32OAj2816V6GRiJPZxitMmCfpKaEuKrMoP-OscghUyJ1xjErCXqSdaeyWde7PtuouznO5wIVGGXu0Yhb1ljSCfZHDcaXbt63CJ1c8Rk/s640/DSCN8087.JPG" width="586" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/475099777/festive-southwestern-flower-earrings-in?ref=shop_home_active_3"><span style="font-size: small;">Cinco de Mayo RIGHT NOW</span></a></td></tr>
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For these I started out with <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/243738283/100-turquoise-jade-striped-picasso-mix?ref=shop_home_active_30">Czech Picasso seed beads</a> from Beads and Babble (I believe they are the same ones as above in Island Paradise and How Green Was My Lawn, except not etched). I used some heavily Picassoed <a href="https://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/copy-of-6mm-rocailles-in-transparent-aqua-and-cobalt-blue-with-an-aged-picasso-coating-1">sea green 3-cuts</a> in the tassels, as well as a pair of <a href="https://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/30-jade-green-transparent-picasso-firepolished-rondelles-5-x-3mm">jade green faceted Czech rondelles</a>, <a href="https://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/copy-of-10-off-20-inches-green-turquoise-metallic-wampum-czech-tube-bugle-bead-mix-9-x-4mm">sea green wampum tubes</a> in metallic-accented sea green, all courtesy of The Dog, my own embossed beadcaps topped with a pair of Tierra Cast caps, and some old glass tile beads in amber from Fire Mountain (which they of course no longer carry because they were too fabulous.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SOBfRxY5NOorpccmy5CCmD_xjo_u4SsTOE58sJFzAImMPmCt85K-tzm225HwiqzqmolIndDGHpokhU27mSSHwWwEdFhmLABCSSulCq_sxXv0eH2VRrpZmUNaLzUO0HSdcc76Gka40sY/s1600/DSCN8146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SOBfRxY5NOorpccmy5CCmD_xjo_u4SsTOE58sJFzAImMPmCt85K-tzm225HwiqzqmolIndDGHpokhU27mSSHwWwEdFhmLABCSSulCq_sxXv0eH2VRrpZmUNaLzUO0HSdcc76Gka40sY/s640/DSCN8146.JPG" width="598" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/461638534/sea-green-emerald-green-saffron-beaded?ref=shop_home_active_5">Green and Gold</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />
And lastly, this is the first design I attempted when I finally sucked up the courage to try Bianca's tutorial. I started with a pair of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Gardannebeads">Gardanne</a> <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/166843280/enameled-bellflower-caps-teal-enamel?ref=shop_home_active_4">beadcaps</a>, and went from there. I used a mix of both Japanese and Indonesian seed beads in turquoise (the latter from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango</a>), rose-gold faceted Czech rondelles from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BobbiThisnThat">BobbiThisnThat</a>, and sultry black-finish rhinestone spacers from The Dog. And then lots of pewter and sterling silver. (I think the silver heishi are from Fusion Beads, and the little daisies are probably from <a href="https://www.monsterslayer.com/Pages/TierraCast/TC_BeadsSpacers.aspx">Monsterslayer</a>.) GIRLY!!! You could blow the lid off a My Little Pony party with this kind of ear candy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvfpy4fd8AUvmJhq_Zj29MwqBwNFXM3JhyphenhyphenD_qOsD2istxdchxYiAyLNb5z4uSc07mv2pdUB9HctWNTip3b42Xc-cmd9x99uo2rkcvrifGy3TrBtDrGjqgXZuX7kQWpGBJzGtCN-PImu8/s1600/DSCN7967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvfpy4fd8AUvmJhq_Zj29MwqBwNFXM3JhyphenhyphenD_qOsD2istxdchxYiAyLNb5z4uSc07mv2pdUB9HctWNTip3b42Xc-cmd9x99uo2rkcvrifGy3TrBtDrGjqgXZuX7kQWpGBJzGtCN-PImu8/s640/DSCN7967.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/471600575/beaded-tassel-earrings-southwest?ref=shop_home_active_1">Girl Power</a></span></td></tr>
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Well, frankly, I'm exhausted after all that. Time for a nap.lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-5572154331545826562016-08-06T16:15:00.001-07:002016-08-06T16:15:32.457-07:00The Glory of Summer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CBtSajh8LjFAIv70n3TaDxfoQYsVNjT43nhqL8gNzuJb-20taTFF74whEBKlHljgBx4DJizjyQFT1WrdefCxMVCcT2vTVGWHgxh4BlHxBghly1oZN6uUsVrKDcZsSFW5M3FMd-cFgRM/s1600/DSCN7918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CBtSajh8LjFAIv70n3TaDxfoQYsVNjT43nhqL8gNzuJb-20taTFF74whEBKlHljgBx4DJizjyQFT1WrdefCxMVCcT2vTVGWHgxh4BlHxBghly1oZN6uUsVrKDcZsSFW5M3FMd-cFgRM/s640/DSCN7918.JPG" width="586" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Summer</b></span><br />(sold)</td></tr>
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I designed this necklace--believe it or not--around the<a href="http://happymangobeads.com/light-blue-w-stripes-graduated-glass-beads-4-8mm-jv635/"> little blue multi-striped beads</a> around the bail. I had made a bracelet with them, and loved using them so much, I wanted to use them again in a necklace. Aren't they darling? (And of course they are from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>, my go-to bead store--and they have more!! Just click the link above, or below the picture below.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmiYFtPRK7yLJS7oIMcgqmKQGF4E4nxSRNhWJelxQiPQGE8VEYXuokZnN9bMwfY4_v5-y3gCUub_sR1HpjMFSEykLAf7QFhNgbNulVD42ReN4WjXJz_C9WHJdOEqvFktcwIrXFL91aew/s1600/beads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmiYFtPRK7yLJS7oIMcgqmKQGF4E4nxSRNhWJelxQiPQGE8VEYXuokZnN9bMwfY4_v5-y3gCUub_sR1HpjMFSEykLAf7QFhNgbNulVD42ReN4WjXJz_C9WHJdOEqvFktcwIrXFL91aew/s320/beads.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://happymangobeads.com/light-blue-w-stripes-graduated-glass-beads-4-8mm-jv635/">Indonesian Glass</a></b></span></td></tr>
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So off I went to excavate all my blue, yellow and orange beads to find the elements for my necklace. I knew it was meant to be when I found this spectacular enamel butterfly in my stash, from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GardanneBeads?ref=shop_sugg">Gardanne Beads</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV2NZFDe5FtyD6gvapPxxejiSngiohSt0Lo2dDQk10kecKu5J0r7IvPJPLHqV0nneQPy1isJR_Nekxbk56oR4pygCl3EVUCID4qmAiJe8FcJHqscUq8qM9-bKc64wb6Q133g8WAPSve0/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV2NZFDe5FtyD6gvapPxxejiSngiohSt0Lo2dDQk10kecKu5J0r7IvPJPLHqV0nneQPy1isJR_Nekxbk56oR4pygCl3EVUCID4qmAiJe8FcJHqscUq8qM9-bKc64wb6Q133g8WAPSve0/s320/butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The lady has a way with enamel, no?<br />
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I went with copper, because I love the warm/cool contrast, and chose a little of this and that to go with my beads and my butterfly--a cultured sea glass nugget from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a> in cornflower blue, a spotted, etched lampwork spacer in a similar shade (it worked great as part of my bail!) from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JulieMillerGlass">Julie Miller Glass</a>, blue kyanite ovals from <a href="http://www.limabeads.com/">Lima Beads</a>, recycled glass tulips in vivid yellow from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Afrobeadia">Afrobeadia</a>, seed beads from here and there, and tiny copper torpedo beads from <a href="http://www.monsterslayer.com/">Monsterslayer</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHWyKlL_MH7JCXIT4HihTnaRlYI-PT5uyLutP044z898hG-RMgXqtYvLXTMgQlyCmGBg2S_sn_G__iIeEIXPSJO18inNrItzjma6sTxspU6TwKH909CEBzqFwx_aGK9RGKbcp-zj3NGU/s1600/DSCN7920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHWyKlL_MH7JCXIT4HihTnaRlYI-PT5uyLutP044z898hG-RMgXqtYvLXTMgQlyCmGBg2S_sn_G__iIeEIXPSJO18inNrItzjma6sTxspU6TwKH909CEBzqFwx_aGK9RGKbcp-zj3NGU/s640/DSCN7920.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
I wanted to really make a statement with that butterfly, so rather than simply using the holes for stringing, I created a couple of yoke type contraptions from heavy copper wire, and attached them to the butterfly with copper headpins. I attached my beaded necklace portion (strung on Softflex) through a lampwork spacer--they have nice big holes, and the beading wire goes right through there. I was thrilled that it worked! I wanted to echo the yokes a bit in the chain portion, so I made some bar chain links, just by hammering more heavy copper wire, and making holes with my trusty <a href="http://www.beadaholique.com/p-31697-beadsmith-metal-hole-punch-pliers-for-sheet-metal-18mm.aspx">Beadsmith hole punch pliers</a>. I added a simple second strand of delicate copper chain, with another kyanite oval.<br />
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(I don't mean to brag, but the blue in that butterfly is the color of the clear skies up here in Montana--shocking, nearly cobalt blue overhead when you're out hiking.)<br />
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I don't usually use these colors--bright blue or bright yellow--but it was fun!<br />
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Happy rest-of-the-Summer to you!lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-31987470915139177152016-07-16T11:11:00.001-07:002016-07-16T13:24:18.666-07:00Red Planet 2.0<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgci1tUwFwaSu0phYLiRgg0SzJX4ChLPaBeAlQV77ik7QMGVZUQ1CEUja89BlZGTKlZKraP5b-wIMz9rdaVSGDj4JsXiwK2gz7GNPdqHttUdWjeM2GBqD5nISD4-1XUgaZIJwUjgZ1pu0w/s1600/DSCN7912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgci1tUwFwaSu0phYLiRgg0SzJX4ChLPaBeAlQV77ik7QMGVZUQ1CEUja89BlZGTKlZKraP5b-wIMz9rdaVSGDj4JsXiwK2gz7GNPdqHttUdWjeM2GBqD5nISD4-1XUgaZIJwUjgZ1pu0w/s640/DSCN7912.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red Planet 2.0<br />(sold)</span></td></tr>
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I liked a good friend's suggestion to add some turquoise to my "Red Planet" bracelet (see previous post), and so tossed some in--love it! I loved it so much, I couldn't help but create a necklace with the same feel and most of the same materials.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PP0rY1rcUgPg1wBtsHqHkcsH1FnIvdAWCCPlfGL2iFrLoIhhymx-z7g_ikhru75v_p4BTGHbTPNJL3UANKhh-QtdWbuyFG6Vh9UtkhI7PUGlO8Msp8Q_dIt4A6rJEj13FwlGmV8Yhso/s1600/DSCN7905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PP0rY1rcUgPg1wBtsHqHkcsH1FnIvdAWCCPlfGL2iFrLoIhhymx-z7g_ikhru75v_p4BTGHbTPNJL3UANKhh-QtdWbuyFG6Vh9UtkhI7PUGlO8Msp8Q_dIt4A6rJEj13FwlGmV8Yhso/s640/DSCN7905.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
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For the focal, I used a ring of copper I made several months ago as an experiment, and a heart-shaped raku bead from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SpinningStarStudio">Spinning Star Studio</a>. The raku bead has a hole in the upper left, but I felt when it was hanging sideways that way, it didn't resemble a heart so much as a mystery polygon. I decided to fill the hole with some turquoise on a headpin, and then created a bail for it with some wire. I like it this way much better!<br />
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Here is the revised "Red Planet" bracelet with a dash of turquoise added in:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuroY4tSc0hFM2ZQcjaHXT8vKmHUcj3eZtEv2-tkV1JGbdCzupjIZdtQ4v8OZnf378oeTpInBfJpU48VMZ8GdPrWDAlOnCyG7SWvIzdTW7HvDcgRrPHubaZV6lG7Q1zvLKr6rMz1ze9g/s1600/DSCN7916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuroY4tSc0hFM2ZQcjaHXT8vKmHUcj3eZtEv2-tkV1JGbdCzupjIZdtQ4v8OZnf378oeTpInBfJpU48VMZ8GdPrWDAlOnCyG7SWvIzdTW7HvDcgRrPHubaZV6lG7Q1zvLKr6rMz1ze9g/s400/DSCN7916.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I liked it before, but I think I like it better now.<br />
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Ta for now! Off to the gym. Yuck.lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-58365770021163511852016-06-19T09:47:00.000-07:002016-06-20T08:39:44.549-07:00A Picasso BenderYes, I've been binge beading. Look:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyokYN7p33C7fZzInOUDrpqRc9d43szHqPO1r_wbrSIVRiw6B4s7p_IEcO0rTo2XtJ6w-XVoptEEGA2-YHkJ0TE7wHMjxKwYr7wpr5YVlI7s9cxVoVdlNAAIUVtOTzTeLYQxZg79dtZQw/s1600/DSCN7779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyokYN7p33C7fZzInOUDrpqRc9d43szHqPO1r_wbrSIVRiw6B4s7p_IEcO0rTo2XtJ6w-XVoptEEGA2-YHkJ0TE7wHMjxKwYr7wpr5YVlI7s9cxVoVdlNAAIUVtOTzTeLYQxZg79dtZQw/s640/DSCN7779.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/399748157/southwest-gypsy-charm-bracelet-turquoise?ref=shop_home_active_1">Mad. MAD, I say, for that Czech Glass</a></span></td></tr>
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I have the most fabulous stash of Czech Picasso finish glass beads from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>. They look like stone. A stone formed in heaven. By Czech angels. And wouldn't you know, they go with all the other Picasso finish glass beads? It all works together, regardless of color. (Those cursed Czechs and their infernal bead sorcery!!! I am enslaved.) <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/399748157/southwest-gypsy-charm-bracelet-turquoise?ref=shop_home_active_1">This bracelet</a> is formed almost entirely of Czech glass beads, and a whole whack of those are from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>--the dangling lentils (LOVE those), the big faceted turquoise rondelles, the seed beads, the little aqua three-cut rondelles, the funky little dark red baroque bicones, and the little turquoise birdie. The fat little copper spacers are from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/afrobeadia">Afrobeadia</a> on Etsy, and the toggle clasp is one of my own hand-forged elements.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyomBYXIu0m4hNiJsbbZNwmbsZArYfsMtXrDb4V5YXU3SvBwGsg3bjlq6yBOzPZBmldiZzuJKpxiv16XMvgCxhD-Gn2PuJYvupN_wJhfDK8eZw5eR8aJCAR9hQoQCMWJSJmHJv7JftJM/s1600/DSCN7780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyomBYXIu0m4hNiJsbbZNwmbsZArYfsMtXrDb4V5YXU3SvBwGsg3bjlq6yBOzPZBmldiZzuJKpxiv16XMvgCxhD-Gn2PuJYvupN_wJhfDK8eZw5eR8aJCAR9hQoQCMWJSJmHJv7JftJM/s400/DSCN7780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I decided to make <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/386355702/sage-green-stone-pendant-with-multicolor?ref=listing-shop-header-2">a coordinating necklace</a> from some tiny Czech Picasso bugle beads I'd had for a while--the pendant is green magnesite and the little oval stone at the end is red creek jasper. Peaceful, no?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheh2XaFMD0ZaLiHxWaPnertOSWSRpfwZGUDtXUZOT4heHXhr6VY95ZYRN0cqfAhfILfyY1J9itn_NE43BEhjyWwwW35CtqJiLGMwg8n7s6L5nyAv-QaDTdjQJzWFrZELVi-mPw_Drh5Ck/s1600/DSCN7822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheh2XaFMD0ZaLiHxWaPnertOSWSRpfwZGUDtXUZOT4heHXhr6VY95ZYRN0cqfAhfILfyY1J9itn_NE43BEhjyWwwW35CtqJiLGMwg8n7s6L5nyAv-QaDTdjQJzWFrZELVi-mPw_Drh5Ck/s640/DSCN7822.JPG" width="362" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/386355702/sage-green-stone-pendant-with-multicolor?ref=listing-shop-header-2">Serenity Now</a></span></td></tr>
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And some earrings with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB4_lAq00VI">a tassel technique</a> I just learned (the beadcaps are mine, and the lampwork is from one of my favorite Etsy stores, which is now closed--BOOOO!!!!!!):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpd3zppa3Pa4oAtWCbB2PjR-DLF65qzIuRw6yvKfYScpS60vhdztnAp1q6OvIxU1f2sDfRt5jxNgMe-jdn6tdCtR-T_I8HteGF67j7e-cMaLi5hr6hYx3S1n6ENIGw1aYLZ_ivB42vj5M/s1600/DSCN7847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpd3zppa3Pa4oAtWCbB2PjR-DLF65qzIuRw6yvKfYScpS60vhdztnAp1q6OvIxU1f2sDfRt5jxNgMe-jdn6tdCtR-T_I8HteGF67j7e-cMaLi5hr6hYx3S1n6ENIGw1aYLZ_ivB42vj5M/s640/DSCN7847.JPG" width="548" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/400684515/beaded-tassel-earrings-southwest?ref=listing-shop-header-1">Shake Your Rustic Groove Thang</a></span></td></tr>
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I also made these (also on a secondary bracelet binge, which I think I'm over). The first one is designed around some happy and fun striped Indonesian glass beads from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>, seed beads and kyanite ovals from I don't know where, a sea glass nugget from Stinky Dog Beads, and a little yellow tulip from Afrobeadia (and one of my clasps again):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDhCoyrnAfvr-3WZkXZqYOCwIkcHd-cYM__74TNtADLU5peR9RPSB8Il4tBM00Awbd4sKFC57kWSflbj_bKbVqSz8Mul4ZNN-fpRsveLBrIMPJNYpYqMQ2b4YEXu5uyWXPqzbW6GMdJk/s1600/DSCN7606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDhCoyrnAfvr-3WZkXZqYOCwIkcHd-cYM__74TNtADLU5peR9RPSB8Il4tBM00Awbd4sKFC57kWSflbj_bKbVqSz8Mul4ZNN-fpRsveLBrIMPJNYpYqMQ2b4YEXu5uyWXPqzbW6GMdJk/s640/DSCN7606.JPG" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/399727669/charm-bracelet-striped-sky-blue-yellow?ref=shop_home_active_4">Summer Fun</a></span></td></tr>
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This one has a gypsy flair to me. Again I started with Indonesian striped glass (these ones are very earthy and subdued) from Happy Mango, fashioned them into a rolo-type chain, and riffed off the colors in the beads for the remainder of my elements:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy7Vk8CTBDmNO3M5RHsnzA-2s8I5TEGimLDj850Urdjeiz0hJ3OCKie7cI9gMjczbhi4JbmerrIzQH9DEOvQVvbc2dV889fOjd0IQTFajtduJfFp9_i-rliK4rmbmT-dYPau9lGJs_Zc/s1600/DSCN7671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy7Vk8CTBDmNO3M5RHsnzA-2s8I5TEGimLDj850Urdjeiz0hJ3OCKie7cI9gMjczbhi4JbmerrIzQH9DEOvQVvbc2dV889fOjd0IQTFajtduJfFp9_i-rliK4rmbmT-dYPau9lGJs_Zc/s640/DSCN7671.JPG" width="532" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/399742307/charm-bracelet-multicolor-beaded-gypsy?ref=shop_home_feat_1">Gypsy</a></span></td></tr>
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This one began with dark brick red Indonesian glass (yes, from Happy Mango), and I built off of those adding some translucent amber Czech glass, smoked glass seed beads, brown lip shell, and bronze and red pearls (my clasp again):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg976dOaq4gVwJXV7XPKVDu3TvKLFgtka95qMvBwxz6L2YoAO0eefopoSPAdz0BduGqgBevNlsIHeKTPPgO4xy8KdCi3_AqYa0Rs8I8bQrdfFJCDl0Hcb9jUOIr_S9dYkC-3IfqxYcyPII/s1600/DSCN7792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg976dOaq4gVwJXV7XPKVDu3TvKLFgtka95qMvBwxz6L2YoAO0eefopoSPAdz0BduGqgBevNlsIHeKTPPgO4xy8KdCi3_AqYa0Rs8I8bQrdfFJCDl0Hcb9jUOIr_S9dYkC-3IfqxYcyPII/s640/DSCN7792.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red Planet<br />(sold)</span></td></tr>
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(I'm actually thinking of adding a tiny dollop of turquoise to it--a good friend suggested that and I thought it would be spectacular.)<br />
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I also made another bracelet but I have grown to hate it so much (I only hated it a little when I first made it so I decided to take the high road and let it live), I think I am going to take it apart. It is an abomination of the Strawberry Shortcake variety (the worst kind). I can't even bear to show you.<br />
<br />lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-23206418335472472892016-04-09T13:51:00.000-07:002016-04-09T13:51:15.130-07:00It Lives<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgZSwyv0bjZ-_QX4h04S4182ASI5kdFbvCmiveFs07M-STFkV6We9FINdIE8Urgr9-LC2of06poYDaewhVypmCkjTZ0pT3IT61rO4rlkbhb-JGtp7YaFkjO0bi4XUOzR6A10MOEmu5Yc/s1600/DSCN7366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgZSwyv0bjZ-_QX4h04S4182ASI5kdFbvCmiveFs07M-STFkV6We9FINdIE8Urgr9-LC2of06poYDaewhVypmCkjTZ0pT3IT61rO4rlkbhb-JGtp7YaFkjO0bi4XUOzR6A10MOEmu5Yc/s640/DSCN7366.JPG" width="542" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Labradorite, Indonesian Glass and Other Stuff (sold)</span></td></tr>
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Well, you were all probably wondering if I was in jail or something, or on an extended spiritual retreat in a remote Himalayan monastery. Or maybe dead. Alas, it is none of the above. Just some burnout and a creative side trip into high fashion (spectating only). I'm mostly over the high fashion now, and feel a little bit more like making jewelry. I've mostly been making it behind your backs (sorry). Actually at the moment I am doing this blog post to avoid making jewelry.<br />
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This bracelet is one of my more recent creations. (Items in this post will appear in more or less reverse chronological order.) I did it when it was all murky outside--Hey, GRAY!! I thought. So out came the uber-cool striped Indonesian glass in gray-straw-slate tones (from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>) and the labradorite. The wan, winter sun did peek through a bit so I drew out the gold flash in the labs with some soft yellows--tiny glass seed beads in chardonnay tones and larger seed beads in a spectrum of sand hues, a drilled beach stone with a tawny she-lion-fur vibe, a citrine with a barely-there hint of lemon, and a big Botswana agate heishi in (I'm getting to the end of my yellow synonym collection here) pale butterscotch. (Mykonos cast heart charm in copper finish from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>.) I wanted to warm it up a bit with copper (instead of cold, cold silver) so I did that, including a strand of my rustic oval chain links. (My house looks like a gypsy caravan, a Bollywood wedding and Mardi Gras all exploded inside it and nobody ever cleaned it up, but heaven help me I'm perversely addicted to neutrals.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuuno2zcArQ13awAHL7Enp0Z0D3vEcsdYJulTynxMg_bM4Gykjjq6X_wDCpMFu2T6jiOaYxM75rZFYsms7sHIT_Uqtj_N4zCrj7-ByOqtBC9NV2texopmVUtYq_9pjFfepthtOfn79Z0/s1600/DSCN7372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuuno2zcArQ13awAHL7Enp0Z0D3vEcsdYJulTynxMg_bM4Gykjjq6X_wDCpMFu2T6jiOaYxM75rZFYsms7sHIT_Uqtj_N4zCrj7-ByOqtBC9NV2texopmVUtYq_9pjFfepthtOfn79Z0/s640/DSCN7372.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I Can't Help It I Love Those Almost-But-Not-Quite Colors--What Does That Mean?</span></td></tr>
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I already had the beach stones out so I threw this together (I love those soft colors):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_7Z1rpOTiWzGjWg9P72fN9Ft2GidPPCde_xmemkaM5TNvunS_FKk5VYVkbawWHdwdpz_v8Vo0kZKRWeti3jVbSRv5AbI8x0Y4GbpY-l_cvi52VehQ4bEfnBgIgYZt9nXNhaK6YshUMY/s1600/DSCN7408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_7Z1rpOTiWzGjWg9P72fN9Ft2GidPPCde_xmemkaM5TNvunS_FKk5VYVkbawWHdwdpz_v8Vo0kZKRWeti3jVbSRv5AbI8x0Y4GbpY-l_cvi52VehQ4bEfnBgIgYZt9nXNhaK6YshUMY/s640/DSCN7408.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(sold)</td></tr>
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Before that, away back in March, I was determined to use some of these agate slabs I got from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a> forever ago. I noodled with some wire and this came forth:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWDyPIcDJdEwPmCex8l_EoEqqxjs9nSIxA5jwDIO-G-DtbAH1eBnvvN8hAg0pJEsczGh6hvKTbibdBqnqYtToms4U-E1mye4j3RUfNRNEpRlmD-_xYGyL4v5IEhjLx5R84ngQhukA0YQ/s1600/DSCN7355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWDyPIcDJdEwPmCex8l_EoEqqxjs9nSIxA5jwDIO-G-DtbAH1eBnvvN8hAg0pJEsczGh6hvKTbibdBqnqYtToms4U-E1mye4j3RUfNRNEpRlmD-_xYGyL4v5IEhjLx5R84ngQhukA0YQ/s640/DSCN7355.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(sold)</td></tr>
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Interesting.<br />
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Earlier in March, I was thinking that I was sitting on an awful lot of metal components that I had made but never used. I decided to use one of them that's been haunting me ("Uuuuuuuse meeeee...uuuuuuse meeeeeee..." EERIE.) The lid on my bin of turquoise beads hasn't wanted to close so I thought I should use some of those. Went a little crazy (lid still won't close):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZgm8z5VC2NNuttBvxiNE1BDRdV16jz82RaJu_ACYGdOITc6PIemYsKxiYbcz15snUecOvxLFW5Z4McUj_nZhEKOSkEG3Ioxc_oq9MDQ9REHu0Kbov07qPODgG6JvYNaYtU3fj-4t_T4/s1600/DSCN7329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZgm8z5VC2NNuttBvxiNE1BDRdV16jz82RaJu_ACYGdOITc6PIemYsKxiYbcz15snUecOvxLFW5Z4McUj_nZhEKOSkEG3Ioxc_oq9MDQ9REHu0Kbov07qPODgG6JvYNaYtU3fj-4t_T4/s640/DSCN7329.JPG" width="408" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With moonstone and leather, and a pair of my tulip caps (sold)</td></tr>
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Now hopping in my time machine and turning the clock back to February, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/270463443/southwest-carved-flower-necklace-in?ref=shop_home_feat_3">I made this</a>:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE1ePUh_w4RmoHRbJqbJWko6aYsOK_IMoJybjj-7SgiA5IxkOlI5tA1tfP_af2_pF2kLdma_WSFOMXdd8kODSVGdw_BFpn6rLvanyYm_iLwRslYEB9pL0XcAO1ix1ZThaPcLlZKt_XUY/s1600/DSCN7307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE1ePUh_w4RmoHRbJqbJWko6aYsOK_IMoJybjj-7SgiA5IxkOlI5tA1tfP_af2_pF2kLdma_WSFOMXdd8kODSVGdw_BFpn6rLvanyYm_iLwRslYEB9pL0XcAO1ix1ZThaPcLlZKt_XUY/s640/DSCN7307.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/270463443/southwest-carved-flower-necklace-in?ref=shop_home_feat_3">Southwest State of Mind (Not Sold! For Ages and Ages)</a></td></tr>
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I'm so disappointed I can't find these little pewter flower charms ANYWHERE anymore. I'm guessing sterling silver is cheaper than pewter now, so they threw in the towel on it and now we can all buy Hill Tribes without going broke. Good thing I hoarded so many.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtwmmQSu_vmBufTGJ-Kz4H7Yu3ikvEIG9seh5HOkGcn5rVi4gwy6ulFLRoSFEUvfgHcKRMs_wL2FcjtX63MPWKgnaSvjKgg-kQyCA2GrDvFgr1FRVU_eBJaKchbeaATffUVsG3JA1nxc/s1600/DSCN7305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtwmmQSu_vmBufTGJ-Kz4H7Yu3ikvEIG9seh5HOkGcn5rVi4gwy6ulFLRoSFEUvfgHcKRMs_wL2FcjtX63MPWKgnaSvjKgg-kQyCA2GrDvFgr1FRVU_eBJaKchbeaATffUVsG3JA1nxc/s640/DSCN7305.JPG" width="562" /></a></div>
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This little number is made from a wire heart charm I made like almost two years ago. Didn't know what to do with it. Then I thought, "When in doubt, ADD MORE STUFF." I put on a couple more <a href="http://happymangobeads.com/pewter/hearts/">charms in pewter from Happy Mango Beads</a> and <i>Presto</i>. Close enough for gummint work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsFRMUESh1b13WnpCNsiB20gELZrE6MDVEKgiUpcPvjafInZjM0B4wv5qyTgAZ6LNU00B32QqaDHJPzDsEj_osPOXWlj6dySQnGZcC99bAziHIoHTn0MZ8yyUHUDOX4_5YKYZKatv5XQ/s1600/DSCN7178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="561" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsFRMUESh1b13WnpCNsiB20gELZrE6MDVEKgiUpcPvjafInZjM0B4wv5qyTgAZ6LNU00B32QqaDHJPzDsEj_osPOXWlj6dySQnGZcC99bAziHIoHTn0MZ8yyUHUDOX4_5YKYZKatv5XQ/s640/DSCN7178.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(sold)</td></tr>
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Bird's eye view:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUUA6yFDAxATf9AqAUqsk_IN_X7BIu8V0D8BrIFg_tb3cOCLnV-2OMjIpSesCRTiV7ZDCZhIGauac23TohGZXFdLQYQ1v8uftfGUHHvQeUaDctJMiqBIS8yDGM9v1bODi2dqFad8uXFs/s1600/DSCN7168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUUA6yFDAxATf9AqAUqsk_IN_X7BIu8V0D8BrIFg_tb3cOCLnV-2OMjIpSesCRTiV7ZDCZhIGauac23TohGZXFdLQYQ1v8uftfGUHHvQeUaDctJMiqBIS8yDGM9v1bODi2dqFad8uXFs/s400/DSCN7168.JPG" width="187" /></a></div>
Before that I went through a minor seed bead obsession, wherein I was determined to use glazed ceramic heart charms from my stash as pendants. This one is my favorite (<a href="http://happymangobeads.com/sand-dollar-pewter-pendant-pw276/">sand dollar charm</a> from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>, as well as a bunch of pewter spacers; also some pewter spacers from <a href="http://www.monsterslayer.com/">Monsterslayer</a>):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqxsziBsNRxhxw6cXz_9Ur8hO4WzF8ZEZI9SPtAThOmaL5aCZPIAZk9INP-uGQJOsB_Ehfr_VjAbweY3WMfF59yORu5pBhrw6aldZgsyyhGX6EmyGrHxAZ_xXiQPGV9dAyyrZugUlTVA/s1600/DSCN7155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqxsziBsNRxhxw6cXz_9Ur8hO4WzF8ZEZI9SPtAThOmaL5aCZPIAZk9INP-uGQJOsB_Ehfr_VjAbweY3WMfF59yORu5pBhrw6aldZgsyyhGX6EmyGrHxAZ_xXiQPGV9dAyyrZugUlTVA/s640/DSCN7155.JPG" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(sold)</td></tr>
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This is my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/267288975/heart-and-flowers-multi-strand-necklace?ref=shop_home_feat_1">second favorite</a>:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEO2M_9EfCjB6GK2xmcfZHgIa2oeTHB4MvxtUyBpH1jyU44BfRo1hfGl-JOdCx2pzfQOrXsPf6oh9Y8inn7BGQmOeTQDa-ssQrRVFklFUnXWAJQk-nehHjhSjdO181CnA_qWkVczIO9E/s1600/DSCN7139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEO2M_9EfCjB6GK2xmcfZHgIa2oeTHB4MvxtUyBpH1jyU44BfRo1hfGl-JOdCx2pzfQOrXsPf6oh9Y8inn7BGQmOeTQDa-ssQrRVFklFUnXWAJQk-nehHjhSjdO181CnA_qWkVczIO9E/s640/DSCN7139.JPG" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/267288975/heart-and-flowers-multi-strand-necklace?ref=shop_home_feat_1">Whiskey and Denim (Not Sold! Been Sitting Around in My Shop Like Forever)</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/267285649/southwest-heart-necklace-turquoise?ref=shop_home_feat_2">Third favorite</a> (actually, just this moment, I decided to probably take it apart--so if you want it you better hurry):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXs2BzTVdH7ajMUi1-mNi720qn_a2XQHjeZxH4m4WxVwd78l1_jLKRNPwUasBJg1QcQBzhI-MidL7HuB1i8TF93GnG4ZCcdDq12g9FFUpgf3BTLyp1OUPCGNJgFplwj9AVJGVqv1Y2qa8/s1600/DSCN7129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXs2BzTVdH7ajMUi1-mNi720qn_a2XQHjeZxH4m4WxVwd78l1_jLKRNPwUasBJg1QcQBzhI-MidL7HuB1i8TF93GnG4ZCcdDq12g9FFUpgf3BTLyp1OUPCGNJgFplwj9AVJGVqv1Y2qa8/s640/DSCN7129.JPG" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/267285649/southwest-heart-necklace-turquoise?ref=shop_home_feat_2">Probably Getting Re-Assimilated</a></td></tr>
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And then, a big black creative hole until December. This was my last creative triumph in 2015, thanks to Jana Bližňáková of <a href="http://www.happyfishwithheart.com/en/">Happy Fish with Heart</a> and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyFishThings">Happy Fish Things</a> on Etsy and her stellar little poppy pendants. I have two more left! (You can see a hint of my future seed bead obsession here. These Czech glass seed beads are like a Gateway Drug into the larger world of Japanese Seed Beads--although I think I actually like the Czech ones best.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXaphN6CLl87uZboubHx-DGDqdeilGZqbxhzz2hCbsnnI40g06ts2WqhCxhYNZg_7a6jNc4q7CkDvWcFpVK9w2BKqeVTUoL8apg9c7v305wloYoNtzjn9AgjMTviHRFvssnOHvq2VfhI/s1600/DSCN7091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXaphN6CLl87uZboubHx-DGDqdeilGZqbxhzz2hCbsnnI40g06ts2WqhCxhYNZg_7a6jNc4q7CkDvWcFpVK9w2BKqeVTUoL8apg9c7v305wloYoNtzjn9AgjMTviHRFvssnOHvq2VfhI/s640/DSCN7091.JPG" width="608" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(sold)</td></tr>
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Aaaaand now we're caught up. And that means I have to make something. Dammit. I mean, Yay!lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-33005567883096248852016-04-01T14:30:00.000-07:002016-04-01T14:30:00.137-07:00Artisan Jewelry Times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYObmOdWPVUVoakivUFVVS1ROsH7UZqIhtQPGfUMx-t7mQhUoED_b0qfNvQbKIE7DXAUGMAuGjw-xw5LtB6KItyDlB_uOXBer9nJ1IeMCtEQIXaExLDJFgVCN5PS4He3Qu0tXBLKSRog/s1600/fof+April+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYObmOdWPVUVoakivUFVVS1ROsH7UZqIhtQPGfUMx-t7mQhUoED_b0qfNvQbKIE7DXAUGMAuGjw-xw5LtB6KItyDlB_uOXBer9nJ1IeMCtEQIXaExLDJFgVCN5PS4He3Qu0tXBLKSRog/s640/fof+April+2016.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
Hey everybody, guess what?? I've been featured by a very impressive online jewelry magazine, <a href="http://www.artisanjewelrytimes.com/">Artisan Jewelry Times</a>! Yay!! Be sure to click on the link and check out <a href="http://www.artisanjewelrytimes.com/">this great publication</a>--it is chock full of great tutorials, gorgeous photographs, and informative articles. Many thanks to Tracey for sharing my story and one of my favorite pieces of jewelry--"Art Deco Surprise"--which is built around a fabulous Mykonos verdigris openwork panel from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>. Enjoy!lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-78907869374960381032015-11-26T09:08:00.000-08:002015-11-26T09:08:19.311-08:00Stinky Dog Beads Black Friday Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0c7qTxDTake90dq5L4AT6heYdY63Fa9c-7oT7C83_W9Kq_gmbqYOPRGsx6uz1Dcjr7vvaR7tqs-ys3ZmSqUNkvxBn45PDE-7RB5embUjtw9c9HIQelFpYCFpHtBhNLHAcODcgGxBSjw/s400/Untitled.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<b style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a></b><span style="text-align: start;">, One of my favorite online jewelry supply stores is having a Black Friday sale, from Friday November 27 through Wednesday December 2--20% off of already great prices!! You MUST check it out--use code <b>BLACKFRI20</b>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ttywGQ7BxHRkWqKFUYw8pHZyDptgVc7pideQxy2gLz5-Pd8JSav9iV8x4WRPhm9teSCUsA-vtAdHGdGaxZ4PtAnhPfqarHqL25TqQASjnL-2oVAT7MzlJsqhbdQHq_RkLa-gpirjYwk/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ttywGQ7BxHRkWqKFUYw8pHZyDptgVc7pideQxy2gLz5-Pd8JSav9iV8x4WRPhm9teSCUsA-vtAdHGdGaxZ4PtAnhPfqarHqL25TqQASjnL-2oVAT7MzlJsqhbdQHq_RkLa-gpirjYwk/s400/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SALE!!!</b></span></a></td></tr>
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Here are some items I made this fall from Stinky Dog's offerings:<br />
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These earrings are made with <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/products/10-off-10-or-5-ceramic-tall-or-short-tube-beads-frosted-copper-raku">Mykonos glazed ceramic cubes</a>, in a soft turquoise with a wonderful copper raku spatter effect. The little <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/products/10-cast-6mm-square-ornate-pillow-beads-green-patina">verdigris flower beads</a> at the bottom are also Mykonos, as are the Czech glass beads <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-faceted-firepolished/products/50-turquoise-bronze-picasso-3mm-english-cut-czech-beads-1-strand">adorning the chain</a> and <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/30-jade-blue-green-with-picasso-firepolished-gemstone-donuts-5-x-3mm">on the earwires</a>--all from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>! ("SDB", to us insiders.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrtJRDpWl_lL4ZfWHm3wO1cSe5CDiYKq2yMzTt9mmGTx0w6EBjrQS-vBHvOstWH1Z9_ayk9CEVofwT9emMTeoRoOlBsYPlW2rWX-qxDX7QA1TE_VtmdaWBo4FB_DIenxX8yEH-Ea7Vco/s1600/DSCN6807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrtJRDpWl_lL4ZfWHm3wO1cSe5CDiYKq2yMzTt9mmGTx0w6EBjrQS-vBHvOstWH1Z9_ayk9CEVofwT9emMTeoRoOlBsYPlW2rWX-qxDX7QA1TE_VtmdaWBo4FB_DIenxX8yEH-Ea7Vco/s400/DSCN6807.JPG" width="377" /></a></div>
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These two pair of earrings are made with Unicorne lampwork glass teardrops (usually available at SDB but currently out of stock), and two different styles of <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/new-back-in-stock/products/12-cultured-recycled-sea-glass-large-pebble-drops-largest-10-x-15mm-choose-your-color">"sea glass" beads</a>, from SDB. The first pair is a little spicy...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUjQOP-bPowYrQ7olcqJ_3OwmNphrRqfucEJJVoRlel9mcm01N1MtLCvOi85h8u7YBDuGXrxUjq5oFeUUx6riMIjhpq4IYsxZsqAvvSL_IiB2kGWeTwFFUbYFW8uea2lQmYmeOYT680I/s1600/DSCN6865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUjQOP-bPowYrQ7olcqJ_3OwmNphrRqfucEJJVoRlel9mcm01N1MtLCvOi85h8u7YBDuGXrxUjq5oFeUUx6riMIjhpq4IYsxZsqAvvSL_IiB2kGWeTwFFUbYFW8uea2lQmYmeOYT680I/s400/DSCN6865.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
And the second pair is a little sweet!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnhkvSGaoDAUHNUwx8hxiR-HZq2Nw70FBp6R8gH9r3bg5SpuUMz64s_YmDgErUJL43yD0Q8xrljJd6S8OfDI8XM9TflzcnfpFQaDpKYXzab4LwcDXuou-y2Ovz14rXqYHO1gTIfRgJ3s/s1600/DSCN6871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnhkvSGaoDAUHNUwx8hxiR-HZq2Nw70FBp6R8gH9r3bg5SpuUMz64s_YmDgErUJL43yD0Q8xrljJd6S8OfDI8XM9TflzcnfpFQaDpKYXzab4LwcDXuou-y2Ovz14rXqYHO1gTIfRgJ3s/s400/DSCN6871.JPG" width="373" /></a></div>
Here's another SDB teaser...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEu-ieRAlkpCtWxvInVz-WrDtzWunhLX0hj8-gVk08do6iTFUh-aIylg7XSdPRc5tySsqt_KX_Wdz2NjKbuWvLuHJVLNWLmc90nYN6ET_sJk6w06EXYqf8ujlU9j0Zcx26JuiVEM4Ob0/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEu-ieRAlkpCtWxvInVz-WrDtzWunhLX0hj8-gVk08do6iTFUh-aIylg7XSdPRc5tySsqt_KX_Wdz2NjKbuWvLuHJVLNWLmc90nYN6ET_sJk6w06EXYqf8ujlU9j0Zcx26JuiVEM4Ob0/s400/PicMonkey+Collage2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I made these using some of my favorite Mykonos elements--<a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/metal-beads-charms-clasps/products/5-mykonos-antique-brass-15mm-star-charms">big chunky brass stars</a>! I threw in some <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-misc-beads/products/pre-order-50-6mm-matte-metallic-bronze-iris-rondelle-spacers">metallic matte Czech glass spacers</a> and <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-faceted-firepolished/products/3mm-english-cut-seed-beads-champagne-luster-2-strands">Czech glass English cut beads in champagne</a> for a mixed metal party look:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TzeB3a-fXtNy1ytmgdSTylfzmEiO7brurrpcEpHStIXh9LfFtQMWu9lyaHA936e9hODMxi0nq3ifzR6DJPEZYSUYHGTocCGvtFlAyo1tRjrf9iiwduPu31D2azKnbC_t6AgrtgoLWzE/s1600/DSCN6814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TzeB3a-fXtNy1ytmgdSTylfzmEiO7brurrpcEpHStIXh9LfFtQMWu9lyaHA936e9hODMxi0nq3ifzR6DJPEZYSUYHGTocCGvtFlAyo1tRjrf9iiwduPu31D2azKnbC_t6AgrtgoLWzE/s400/DSCN6814.JPG" width="378" /></a></div>
For this pair I went all Aegean, with <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/metal-beads-charms-clasps/Green-Patina-Finish">Mykonos seahorses</a>, <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/new-back-in-stock/products/12-cultured-recycled-sea-glass-large-pebble-drops-largest-10-x-15mm-choose-your-color">cherry red sea glass nuggets</a>, <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/3-0-aged-picasso-strand-aqua-blue-dark-blue-green-and-striped-yellow-rocailles">striped Czech glass Picasso beads</a>, <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/30-jade-blue-green-with-picasso-firepolished-gemstone-donuts-5-x-3mm">translucent aqua Czech glass beads</a>, and <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/metal-beads-charms-clasps/products/10-clam-shell-charm-dangles-7-10-and-9-x-6mm-your-choice-of-size-pewter">little pewter shell charms</a> (ADORE those):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQmavm4JnBmQGDzy1WihAxgKKdPtGRGl_-cyVxYh2Ft6VVU39fsuGZNWzNFXhsqEO__6eU6h280KS1XEVnKPzv5OUbYAQSlHq6u0eintbbuVPs05iZeZM6TvEZRmON9IzKq9XMKECIjc/s1600/DSCN6850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQmavm4JnBmQGDzy1WihAxgKKdPtGRGl_-cyVxYh2Ft6VVU39fsuGZNWzNFXhsqEO__6eU6h280KS1XEVnKPzv5OUbYAQSlHq6u0eintbbuVPs05iZeZM6TvEZRmON9IzKq9XMKECIjc/s400/DSCN6850.JPG" width="338" /></a></div>
But wait, there's more! These I made with some wonderful antique finish <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/cords-ribbons/products/3-feet-or-15-off-10-feet-round-highest-quality-leather-bordeaux-2mm">red round leather cord</a> (very supple too, for a colored Greek leather), <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-faceted-firepolished/products/31-0-big-7-x-4mm-seed-beads-aged-tribal-picasso-rondelles-25-beads">big Czech Picasso beads</a>, pewter flower <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/buttons-connectors-clasps/Metal-Buttons-and-Metal-Clasps-and-Metal-Connectors">crimp connectors</a>, and <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/3-cut-seed-beads-turquoise-jade-picasso-3-x-2mm">little Czech glass rondelles in vivid aqua</a> (on the earwires). This was a really fun design to do! (Of course all of these parts and pieces--not including the earwires, which I made myself--are from SDB.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqd8PLkU6bDl9rXf_T2Cqo55qdNECllgQ9BNrHO6srt2qnMJuLZJ9mq810AttWxAVyP9NPTV7tMNhKJ20go-ShdD7ZeXkTFp7EdRjyoTZOq9iBTHBCZ0DAuksXtXhC6Tuv4kXHEXPKHw/s1600/DSCN6843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqd8PLkU6bDl9rXf_T2Cqo55qdNECllgQ9BNrHO6srt2qnMJuLZJ9mq810AttWxAVyP9NPTV7tMNhKJ20go-ShdD7ZeXkTFp7EdRjyoTZOq9iBTHBCZ0DAuksXtXhC6Tuv4kXHEXPKHw/s320/DSCN6843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Then I made this little matched set of necklace + earrings from some of my favorite Mykonos items in the verdigris finish:<br />
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My Art Deco Surprise necklace (because I was surprised it turned out Art Deco). That wonderful cut-work panel in verdigris is another Mykonos element, from SDB (not available just yet). The rest of the elements I pulled from here and there.<br />
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I made this pair of earrings to go with it--and was floored/thrilled when they were actually purchased together! That NEVER happens. You might recognize those <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/products/10-cast-6mm-square-ornate-pillow-beads-green-patina">little Mykonos flower beads</a> from the first pair above. Love them!! And <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-picasso/products/3-cut-seed-beads-turquoise-jade-picasso-3-x-2mm">little Czech beauties</a> in azure are on the earwires.<br />
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If I quit my job and had all the time in the world, and had piles of money anyway (like a highly unlikely lottery scenario) I would buy Stinky Dog clean out. If you've not shopped with The Dog yet, it might be time!<br />
<br />lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-52517327836925422342015-10-11T15:01:00.001-07:002016-04-01T19:38:25.555-07:00Sun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/251065871/pewter-sun-totem-necklace-with-turqouise?ref=shop_home_feat_2">Sun</a></span></td></tr>
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I designed <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/251065871/pewter-sun-totem-necklace-with-turqouise?ref=shop_home_feat_2">this piece</a> around a <a href="http://happymangobeads.com/sun-northwest-totem-pewter-bead-talisman-pwt11/">pewter sun totem</a> from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>. These are my favorite totems at <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">HMB</a>! They make me happy. I made another bead frame for it (think I'm done with the bead frames for a while, just wanted to experiment a little), and ended up going with a kind of classic Southwest palette. (I originally was going to try a kind of autumn palette--olive green, goldenrod and brick red--combined with turquoise but it just wasn't working for me.)<br />
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I combined the turquoise with a wonderful etched red agate cylinder from a local bead store, some little yellow jasper rice-shaped beads, and a twisted oval of red agate. I added some wrapped silver bars, lacing I cut from a big swatch of saffron-colored, luxuriously-napped suede, and some burly sterling silver rolo chain.<br />
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I guess there's a reason this color scheme is a classic--it plays very nicely together! It feels good to use some of my silver, and break into new beads and other supplies. I am LOVING my Gentec mixed fuel (MAPP and oxygen) torch (now that I'm no longer afraid of it and have gotten all the connections together without leaks). What a difference having the right flame makes! (I am also excited to have gotten a fume extractor--my fan-aimed-toward-the-open-door approach wasn't working very well.)<br />
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Turkey and mashed potatoes are calling my name so I have to go (no, you didn't miss Thanksgiving.)<br />
<br />lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-37913350338391180422015-09-26T14:20:00.001-07:002016-04-01T19:39:02.843-07:00Snowy Owl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snowy Owl</span><br />
(sold)</td></tr>
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When I recently pulled out my stash of <a href="http://happymangobeads.com/pewter/totem/">pewter totems</a> from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a> with the intent of using them in necklaces, when I saw the owl totems I immediately thought of Snowy Owls, and sublime Botswana agate in its subdued, wintry colors--like owl feathers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJtXoemFtoxrJ3_scZWcTntZrHGfXcLl6BbSgaV52r2BDvbt31mZ0BA3ulaaKT_nQjs4N8Rz-EEkvDh0OHshstBWxE6u0qKvsg6b3nd6qwtArrXoSuA-K6Mfi50dYfdVH24b6hr_n0x0/s1600/DSCN6768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJtXoemFtoxrJ3_scZWcTntZrHGfXcLl6BbSgaV52r2BDvbt31mZ0BA3ulaaKT_nQjs4N8Rz-EEkvDh0OHshstBWxE6u0qKvsg6b3nd6qwtArrXoSuA-K6Mfi50dYfdVH24b6hr_n0x0/s640/DSCN6768.JPG" width="392" /></a></div>
Here I've created a frame for the totem in Argentium silver wire, and combined it with wonderful <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/98836656/waterfall-botswana-agate-gemstone?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=botswana">Botswana agate pebbles</a> from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DayBeads">DayBeads</a> at Etsy. (I loved the first strand I got so much, I had to go back and get two more.)<br />
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I went with an asymmetrical design incorporating more pebbles, finishing it off in warm brown Greek leather, sterling silver donut beads, and a short length of sterling silver rolo extender chain.<br />
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As is my wont, I added another little bead at the end of the chain, oohing an aahing to myself over the wonderful chevron pattern.<br />
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Fabby!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEUzvD084qDQKQIwVXs5f87W_5VMLisQ0S81bnri4BGBsggB8JUZHBaAB6JEXwQG6igUE44DRXMKpZrxAkR8a5s1q8pDF7KSZb1pE0M1L_TfAeV05wIlRVoqs9Gz2c7m6jeziUrV6YxM/s1600/DSCN6765+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEUzvD084qDQKQIwVXs5f87W_5VMLisQ0S81bnri4BGBsggB8JUZHBaAB6JEXwQG6igUE44DRXMKpZrxAkR8a5s1q8pDF7KSZb1pE0M1L_TfAeV05wIlRVoqs9Gz2c7m6jeziUrV6YxM/s320/DSCN6765+closeup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love this stone! (And this pretty girl below.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6Dd8wMzv4tS66cSqIWnDz0yZu7s9NmDlKIzNuq8cVzQAF8lZEopVp-Hh91BEFgBzjWjd9GFDQMvRkZlbIKhsQDEKXEQcvcptoQZcKo6ts4mgHtO8fQpZdDros07PtyQlXRpYvyJLic4/s1600/Snowy_Owl_-_Schnee-Eule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6Dd8wMzv4tS66cSqIWnDz0yZu7s9NmDlKIzNuq8cVzQAF8lZEopVp-Hh91BEFgBzjWjd9GFDQMvRkZlbIKhsQDEKXEQcvcptoQZcKo6ts4mgHtO8fQpZdDros07PtyQlXRpYvyJLic4/s320/Snowy_Owl_-_Schnee-Eule.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowy Owl From <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snowy_Owl_-_Schnee-Eule.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a><br />
User <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Connormah">Connormah</a></td></tr>
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lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-24571780657316321262015-09-13T14:28:00.002-07:002016-04-01T19:40:26.404-07:00Totems<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPE5PNW4H91Nc2Ygdg1L_jHXOHv_5ewjdBEBt_H4cQA4GJoNDP2suz70XUvSUATqhmhDZATyQWRb1R_Du3oSBYMdsZmBBOaU7LmWJjKo26Z-PG0reWRaoNbA39MDw9ITH_xWRZP4ix7M/s1600/DSCN6670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPE5PNW4H91Nc2Ygdg1L_jHXOHv_5ewjdBEBt_H4cQA4GJoNDP2suz70XUvSUATqhmhDZATyQWRb1R_Du3oSBYMdsZmBBOaU7LmWJjKo26Z-PG0reWRaoNbA39MDw9ITH_xWRZP4ix7M/s640/DSCN6670.JPG" width="355" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247066332/pewter-warrior-totem-pendant-with?ref=shop_home_feat_2">The Warrior</a></b></span></td></tr>
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It's been a while since I made any necklaces, so I thought I would get back to it (it took me several weeks but I did it). I have a lovely collection of pewter <a href="http://happymangobeads.com/pewter/totem/">Northwest Tribes-inspired totem pendants</a> from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>, so I thought I would start with those. I've also bought a lot of silver wire lately, taking advantage of the dip in price, and I thought I should use it! My plan is to make a necklace from each of the totems I have. These are the first three from my little stash.<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247066332/pewter-warrior-totem-pendant-with?ref=shop_home_feat_2">This pendant is "The Warrior."</a> I've combined it with lapis, turquoise, clear quartz, recycled glass in cobalt, leather and sterling silver (both Argentium and traditional sterling.) (Click on the links provided to see the item in my Etsy shop.) (Clear quartz wheel beads and <a href="http://happymangobeads.com/blue-recycled-glass-disc-beads-10-12mm-africa-rg469/">recycled glass disc</a> also from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9082fYhvr6onV7BXCnL2TBFAI-l-_RLFc12jT5sBgMomLNzrpZoqV9-khBkxJn0Ocp5njBjDrQqEOO-8-tX1NTDkqTHYA7960049cmiNSwjEa2fH5uiJLG9KKJscTZVpI0goKlQ0lhQ/s1600/DSCN6674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="587" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9082fYhvr6onV7BXCnL2TBFAI-l-_RLFc12jT5sBgMomLNzrpZoqV9-khBkxJn0Ocp5njBjDrQqEOO-8-tX1NTDkqTHYA7960049cmiNSwjEa2fH5uiJLG9KKJscTZVpI0goKlQ0lhQ/s640/DSCN6674.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247210566/hand-of-greeting-pewter-pendant-with?ref=shop_home_active_1">The next necklace I made</a> features a "greeting" totem. I combined it with turquoise, a recycled glass disc in root beer brown, and a little frosty clear glass rondelle (glass beads again from Happy Mango Beads). I decided to keep it simple, and suspended it from some buttery soft suede deertan lace.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBstO3VUKANFLOBvqPu0-RPhX1k2xmoE2EeITTDA6bnpeXtLAF70Mpe0rtEPYre9J_ekfIgAs3nDmisczWUTjexnpgYnqDhYJ4e8EQyVazzruraJAFfc-lVP7P5XPEPgLzl00QexjM8E/s1600/DSCN6683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBstO3VUKANFLOBvqPu0-RPhX1k2xmoE2EeITTDA6bnpeXtLAF70Mpe0rtEPYre9J_ekfIgAs3nDmisczWUTjexnpgYnqDhYJ4e8EQyVazzruraJAFfc-lVP7P5XPEPgLzl00QexjM8E/s640/DSCN6683.JPG" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247210566/hand-of-greeting-pewter-pendant-with?ref=shop_home_active_1">Hello, Friend</a></b></span></td></tr>
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I just can't seem to get away from this caramel-turquoise combination--the veining in this turquoise is a lovely amber color.<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247856823/orca-pendant-pewter-and-silver-indigo?ref=shop_home_active_1">The third pendant</a> is one of my favorites--<a href="http://happymangobeads.com/orca-northwest-totem-pewter-bead-talisman-pwt20/">the Orca totem</a>. I made a necklace with one of these eons ago, and decided to stick with the same color palette--indigo and smoked glass.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGthvFQZzBItUnaZ3kq93s2PWGiGQ-vStwROb7cHvdIbD9LO9SzezuGZ1yBu_EBpbT_1TgQmGoEKCKOLRHTa6Peanhx7qgHlMJanKrRQPwPzbwwAuPQiT09loTu04ZGyJV5YGSPg8urLs/s1600/DSCN6749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGthvFQZzBItUnaZ3kq93s2PWGiGQ-vStwROb7cHvdIbD9LO9SzezuGZ1yBu_EBpbT_1TgQmGoEKCKOLRHTa6Peanhx7qgHlMJanKrRQPwPzbwwAuPQiT09loTu04ZGyJV5YGSPg8urLs/s640/DSCN6749.JPG" width="369" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247856823/orca-pendant-pewter-and-silver-indigo?ref=shop_home_active_1">Orca</a></b></span></td></tr>
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Whenever I think of Orcas I think of the Pacific Northwest and the sea and sky on a cloudy day--slate blue and steely gray waters dotted with whitecaps.<br />
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I am looking forward to making more necklaces with the totems I have left--owls, suns, salmon, ravens and eagles!lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-74683069976020656482015-06-21T17:14:00.001-07:002016-04-01T19:43:35.855-07:00Crazy for Bracelets<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNX0ripslHIBExPOgD1otjYy1v1gOK_eZT1L0U74PViLk1AQCS_CRUH3oXbdNETVbbVL7SdGIxcFNtvDuBito2iwcVkeHu-v_owG5ddDV0rjnDWEon7dl2vmkWkPguGBaPVg5o9I4Hk8/s1600/DSCN6559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNX0ripslHIBExPOgD1otjYy1v1gOK_eZT1L0U74PViLk1AQCS_CRUH3oXbdNETVbbVL7SdGIxcFNtvDuBito2iwcVkeHu-v_owG5ddDV0rjnDWEon7dl2vmkWkPguGBaPVg5o9I4Hk8/s640/DSCN6559.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/237748343/southwest-turquoise-bracelet-with?ref=shop_home_feat_3">Flower of the Southwest</a></b></span></td></tr>
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Short-sleeve weather always makes me think of bracelets, so I've gone a little crazy making bracelets. I have this hoard of bracelet bars from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CapturedMoments">Captured Moments on Etsy</a>, and I've always adored the embossing and glaze on these "copper brown" ones--just like tooled leather! I thought, well, tooled leather--has to be Southwest. So I hauled out my bin of turquoise, and my small stash of Hill Tribes silver paraphernalia, my silver wire, sheet, and torch and got to work. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/237748343/southwest-turquoise-bracelet-with?ref=shop_home_feat_3">This is what transpired</a>! I tossed in a little Red Creek Jasper, Wood Jasper, and Tiger Eye to repeat the coffee/caramel browns, as well as a sprinkling of sterling silver freeform nuggets that I cannibalized years ago from a Coldwater Creek bracelet I had bought.<br />
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I have been really into knotting lately, and my remaining stash (which is generous) of drilled beach stones seemed made for waxed linen cording, so I went for an all-neutrals palette with this bracelet below, and what is more neutral than Botswana agate? I love the grays, and taupes, and creams, and almost-pinks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQL-ylFSwqy5OvZLsZBkA73-rbmOa2YimnhkrfsdHN_P0wTxAMRWDjdToCpuMtE2sZkwoQ9jtDUwiKSfW2ouPYNUnMtGqDXahjh71vOEClgORoEnIZzshyYH5yKrMFv6f-qUC91oZALlM/s1600/DSCN6505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQL-ylFSwqy5OvZLsZBkA73-rbmOa2YimnhkrfsdHN_P0wTxAMRWDjdToCpuMtE2sZkwoQ9jtDUwiKSfW2ouPYNUnMtGqDXahjh71vOEClgORoEnIZzshyYH5yKrMFv6f-qUC91oZALlM/s640/DSCN6505.JPG" width="592" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Sold)</td></tr>
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I love love LOVE the striping on the agate, and I was doubly thrilled to have a chance to use some more of my Silverleaf Jasper rondelles. I love these sweet little beads. I found several strands of "donut heishi" Botswana agate that were perfect for covering up termination points at clasp areas--it's like a little stone bouquet!<br />
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For the next four bracelets, I decided to go back to a style I used to use a lot--a curved focal piece, with either a beaded strap, some chain, or a solid metal "underbar" that fastens with a toggle closure. This bracelet was designed around some delicious "wing dings" by Geneal Crivello-Knabe of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Genea">Genea Beads</a>. I LOVE these colors.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNHEKI5vq5Bix7bOHTbTr4wZdFEiVQj1Re8O47xafDytGJJILu1_ecUxM1VUOPsV2Vrb9D8Q5plYwjgsLgbE2AFfwG7enSpqH45UDcaeG5TjQvEf-N7VQOF2SxGnKOguBCKyEOIWNE6Q/s1600/DSCN6445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNHEKI5vq5Bix7bOHTbTr4wZdFEiVQj1Re8O47xafDytGJJILu1_ecUxM1VUOPsV2Vrb9D8Q5plYwjgsLgbE2AFfwG7enSpqH45UDcaeG5TjQvEf-N7VQOF2SxGnKOguBCKyEOIWNE6Q/s640/DSCN6445.JPG" width="577" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/235390272/lampwork-bracelet-hinged-cuff-lime-mauve?ref=listing-shop-header-3">Sweet Tarts</a></b></span></td></tr>
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I did them up in copper, as I thought it would compliment the fall colors, and accented them with lampwork spacers in pale apple green and olive from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSpacerBeadShop">The Spacer Bead Shop</a> (Etsy), and lampwork rondelles in amber from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>. I couldn't help dangling a few things from it--A little pale carnelian donut, a Picasso Czech glass teardrop in variegated olive from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky dog Beads</a>, and a funky copper bead from <a href="http://www.jewelrysupply.com/">Jewelry Supply</a>. I made the toggle closure from a couple of my embossed copper rings, and one of my hand-forged wrapped toggle bars.<br />
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Then I dipped into my stash of recycled glass from Happy Mango Beads. Creature of habit that I am, I couldn't stay away from the sea green and azure beads. The bracelet below was built around some tulip-shaped recycled glass beads--the first time I have used these. Perfect size for the focal on a simple bracelet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZpe_s2_OX9vA9lXZ9sXb5wgqo2d0PPvPZo2jRvujn46uCJZMZDTacCmfGjC21LyznTAUSM2j6suvIthGuQYjFoHMjAEDOGgg_ZmQZPREFt73xP1ZjDgk6EVVQrCYhNiwHjAhgXccxEE/s1600/DSCN6462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="579" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZpe_s2_OX9vA9lXZ9sXb5wgqo2d0PPvPZo2jRvujn46uCJZMZDTacCmfGjC21LyznTAUSM2j6suvIthGuQYjFoHMjAEDOGgg_ZmQZPREFt73xP1ZjDgk6EVVQrCYhNiwHjAhgXccxEE/s640/DSCN6462.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/237085550/sea-green-recycled-glass-tulip-bracelet?ref=listing-shop-header-1">Art Deco Tulip</a></b></span></td></tr>
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I got all clever and added a couple triangular copper beads to echo the shape of the glass bead. The chain is one of my favorites from <a href="http://www.limabeads.com/">Lima Beads</a>. I love the Art Deco shape to these glass beads--this stylized lotus/tulip shape is so iconic to that era.<br />
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For this bracelet, I harkened back to the hinged bangle bracelets I used to make with lampwork--this one sports a rectangle of recycled glass flanked by two donut shapes, with one of my wrapped "underbars." I love the rustic feel of these beads! I like how they look with glossy, burnished copper.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGBcX0Apuvsu1w805PIxYdhhZ6_W9epzyocwlpX8JyaXv1v_TCKVAokWkPOjHd1BNo38ZxtX-zmjZ5PVboQDIotFfG9EBCQMiHyiFMM6KLH3tsXYtpMNgz1Kzkz5-wGb2mORFLV9Qbf4/s1600/DSCN6468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGBcX0Apuvsu1w805PIxYdhhZ6_W9epzyocwlpX8JyaXv1v_TCKVAokWkPOjHd1BNo38ZxtX-zmjZ5PVboQDIotFfG9EBCQMiHyiFMM6KLH3tsXYtpMNgz1Kzkz5-wGb2mORFLV9Qbf4/s640/DSCN6468.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Sold)</td></tr>
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I love how this semi-matte glass glows--there's nothing more luminous than etched glass! Except maybe a light bulb.<br />
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This bracelet was constructed around some recycled glass tablets from Happy Mango--one in transparent azure, one in solid teal, and another in a lovely robin's egg blue. I went dual-metal with this one--sterling/fine silver and copper. The underbar is heavy-gauge copper wrapped with 22 gauge fine silver wire, and the focal section is also wrapped with fine silver wire (its pliability is so nice for wrapping).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ72fdy0zwk10WIP5EPKgQfnLaQ1fe-XQn2nfyHrtx9P6K-foJWlXxsH88MC9NVh0YlLz7VTUmYvgKqNEww81CvwPAvqVFHs3XPujMHRrHBGvAIzAucYdTRXusCFrF_ODEzK_4OgkdVOM/s1600/DSCN6487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="627" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ72fdy0zwk10WIP5EPKgQfnLaQ1fe-XQn2nfyHrtx9P6K-foJWlXxsH88MC9NVh0YlLz7VTUmYvgKqNEww81CvwPAvqVFHs3XPujMHRrHBGvAIzAucYdTRXusCFrF_ODEzK_4OgkdVOM/s640/DSCN6487.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/237086444/recycled-glass-azure-teal-sky-blue?ref=listing-shop-header-2">Caribbean Dreams</a></b></span></td></tr>
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I love how the light comes through that glass! I adore the bubbles and flaws in it--just more things for the light to reflect off of.<br />
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Well that's all I got for now! Hope you are all enjoying your Sunday evening.<br />
<br />lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-82763179705920651242015-06-01T06:09:00.000-07:002015-06-01T06:09:52.241-07:00The Bird and the Dragonfly<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRURSzygT6h33B4vEt4X3AfNFA7Jgj_JpdAGYxK5-O8oNDZXedb_ebY2GdN20kUlYhbQ-Fel3ssH8WDbAFot450yj6sRY8aCcCQbbQcx57pC02GBdrn51fk-oAXlcQj_yckeSqLB1veGs/s1600/DSCN6363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRURSzygT6h33B4vEt4X3AfNFA7Jgj_JpdAGYxK5-O8oNDZXedb_ebY2GdN20kUlYhbQ-Fel3ssH8WDbAFot450yj6sRY8aCcCQbbQcx57pC02GBdrn51fk-oAXlcQj_yckeSqLB1veGs/s400/DSCN6363.JPG" width="353" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/235407636/scarlet-bird-pendant-in-copper?ref=shop_home_active_2">The Bird</a></b></span></td></tr>
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I have my own stash of Czech, Mykonos and other fabulous goodies from <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a>--I have been hoarding these <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-animal-flowers-leaves/Bird-Beads-and-Dragonfly-Beads-and-Seahorse-Beads">Czech bird and dragonfly coins</a>, trying to think of a design that would really showcase them. They're a smaller size--perfect for a modest choker-length necklace, bold earrings, or a layered set of necklaces--but I wanted to make a giant pendant out of them. I swear I wracked my brain for weeks (but my brain wasn't working too good at the time so it wouldn't have normally taken that long) trying to think of how to construct a bead frame (never did that before) and hang the coin from the inside. When my brain started working again <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/235407636/scarlet-bird-pendant-in-copper?ref=shop_home_active_2">I came up with this design</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87EYVb7xFgPV4p90imzVn5kPed8EA2_wCIDlbyGzh278kgJdMwWWbRcBX1GWoN_hfpCP9onKX-HpmNKO_23rNXjbZYmklLe_x2ZzER5q9ZLbNKYGknGgRcFiDZtwVa7eGH3C-JkCeYcM/s1600/DSCN6374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87EYVb7xFgPV4p90imzVn5kPed8EA2_wCIDlbyGzh278kgJdMwWWbRcBX1GWoN_hfpCP9onKX-HpmNKO_23rNXjbZYmklLe_x2ZzER5q9ZLbNKYGknGgRcFiDZtwVa7eGH3C-JkCeYcM/s400/DSCN6374.JPG" width="163" /></a></div>
I combined the lovely persimmon-hued bird (with subtle greenish Picasso effect) with pale carnelian, ivory bone, poppy jasper, a little more Czech glass, and my oval link chain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLoFSAa6PMjyDzj0cVbjCvGq6PuBtDBaY4fYsMAKe1PbYYJoe-XzuVi2FsZ21lTrb7iO2pX7jfi6tSESA9TGPJou0QNKgXBHfrME-CXQYtSzhQtJNjaq2IXKQmEH-8ru4Y8Oufm8V-90/s1600/DSCN6456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLoFSAa6PMjyDzj0cVbjCvGq6PuBtDBaY4fYsMAKe1PbYYJoe-XzuVi2FsZ21lTrb7iO2pX7jfi6tSESA9TGPJou0QNKgXBHfrME-CXQYtSzhQtJNjaq2IXKQmEH-8ru4Y8Oufm8V-90/s400/DSCN6456.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/collections/czech-animal-flowers-leaves/Bird-Beads-and-Dragonfly-Beads-and-Seahorse-Beads">My Stinky Dog Coin Stash</a></b></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/235364431/green-and-lavender-dragonfly-pendant-in?ref=shop_home_active_1">I went with same design</a> with a gorgeous green and lavender dragonfly bead, matching it up with white shell, faceted glass in deep amethyst, green opal, olive green snakeskin agate, and Czech glass roundels in olive and periwinkle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErOiQ_IQZzDqVdO9TKnkt_5hJh84w-HsmCk1AOII1LnlgN6jip3It1facJ-4v_iodL6MDSp_mHztDsBOjHqy1yRpmC5fm7gYMT1aZGMX3CnRCgbor4PEZIPZ2u34y7EChkV7s5VtJOhg/s1600/DSCN6407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErOiQ_IQZzDqVdO9TKnkt_5hJh84w-HsmCk1AOII1LnlgN6jip3It1facJ-4v_iodL6MDSp_mHztDsBOjHqy1yRpmC5fm7gYMT1aZGMX3CnRCgbor4PEZIPZ2u34y7EChkV7s5VtJOhg/s400/DSCN6407.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/235364431/green-and-lavender-dragonfly-pendant-in?ref=shop_home_active_1">The Dragonfly</a></b></span></td></tr>
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I used the rest of my oval chain, and one of my poppy caps on the long agate spear.<br />
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I really like how they turned out!<br />
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I would love to turn the little yellow bird up there into a knotted choker, with silver and turquoise blue beads. It would be part of my Yellow Desensitization therapy (I seem to have a psychological aversion to canary-type yellow colors, and I am trying to overcome it.)<br />
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Stop by <a href="http://www.stinkydogbeads.com/">Stinky Dog Beads</a> and check out the delectable offerings!<br />
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<br />lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-81006549299035739942015-03-26T20:13:00.000-07:002015-03-26T20:13:59.453-07:00Roberta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roberta</span></td></tr>
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Meet <a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1014406102">Roberta</a>. She is my new friend, who keeps me company at work. She also happens to be a real live faerie--an <i>Anxiety Faerie</i>.<br />
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"What is an <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Snotnormal?section_id=16049859&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1">Anxiety Faerie</a>?" you may ask. But better you should ask, "What can an Anxiety Faerie do for <i>me</i>?"<br />
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According to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/people/dianeslagle?ref=owner_profile_leftnav">Di</a>, at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Snotnormal">snotnormal</a> (the portal through which Anxiety Faeries enter our world):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Anxiety Faeries will absorb all angst and dread from an anxious person. They come from a mythical land far, far away, where people have piles of ugly, tedious paperwork and cars with dead batteries, and bosses from Uranus. A land with things called global warming, Fukushima, and WalMart, and root canals, and Miley Cyrus . . . and where are all the bees going, anyway?"</blockquote>
"Well, how does one avail oneself of the powers of an Anxiety Faerie?", you ask. Excellent question.<br />
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Again, Di explains:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"When agitated, simply clutch your Anxiety Faerie to your breast, with both arms. Then rant your heart out. Don’t hold back. Your Faerie can take it." </blockquote>
Well I tell ya, Di don't lie--Roberta is, so far, impressive. I confess I have clutched her to my breast a couple dozen times since she arrived. Because of lack of privacy, however, I have so far only muttered and not ranted, and yet still felt considerable relief. It is also effective to simply <i>look</i> at her. She normally sits just to the left of my computer screen so I need only slew my eyes slightly to the left to see her startled but comforting visage.<br />
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Sometimes it is just enough to be together, without saying a thing--that's how you recognize true friendship. Those comfortable silences. Roberta often likes to look out the window at the distant mountain peaks while I work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnl-oyTjx0X6P9n6gBZpO672D6mzSXCabPTzZx4h6N6rwk7TIhIvcqbA9NKxDTSUjEe4BqKxPa6ADofBChefOB9H1zk0hhvi2CF78RDZVDPaOmknbgy2MPxnN3tveNJdmFGN9D-GlByY/s1600/DSCN6167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnl-oyTjx0X6P9n6gBZpO672D6mzSXCabPTzZx4h6N6rwk7TIhIvcqbA9NKxDTSUjEe4BqKxPa6ADofBChefOB9H1zk0hhvi2CF78RDZVDPaOmknbgy2MPxnN3tveNJdmFGN9D-GlByY/s1600/DSCN6167.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chillin'</span></td></tr>
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As you might imagine, the life of service to which an Anxiety Faerie is dedicated can be a tiring one, and sometimes you just need some down time. Roberta is, like me, an introvert, and sometimes after a hectic day of being desperately clutched to my breast 10-12 times she just needs to be alone. If I see her in the jade, I know to just leave her be for a while.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Pek6tV357eSwKXWG_nN3U2DgUcxjyIwt0Xe2S8jQsjBu0TTa797W_mPj2kPxzIa1_mLURzSrN6LuDX0o5MNmBEPnbFEDBpYZuGvm6lHO_zB54byLqtl2SEP95dnlTLPSMaBmk_cFbT8/s1600/DSCN6185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Pek6tV357eSwKXWG_nN3U2DgUcxjyIwt0Xe2S8jQsjBu0TTa797W_mPj2kPxzIa1_mLURzSrN6LuDX0o5MNmBEPnbFEDBpYZuGvm6lHO_zB54byLqtl2SEP95dnlTLPSMaBmk_cFbT8/s1600/DSCN6185.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Leafy Retreat</span></td></tr>
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On occasion I have inadvertently woken her from a well-deserved nap:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc7v8sSDE6CrLz4hbIdUr4KX5ZUmPq32FFkhTjCSla_XQ2eblQpPsSfmavNVlOoxbxrkc07EWQsMvluuEsn1tHARzwZk_k7UoZf0RC86e35M4UDJKAK8n8fDUaEYKzYTqOtKN6przBtU/s1600/DSCN6176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc7v8sSDE6CrLz4hbIdUr4KX5ZUmPq32FFkhTjCSla_XQ2eblQpPsSfmavNVlOoxbxrkc07EWQsMvluuEsn1tHARzwZk_k7UoZf0RC86e35M4UDJKAK8n8fDUaEYKzYTqOtKN6przBtU/s1600/DSCN6176.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wakey Wakey!</span></td></tr>
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But for the most part, we make a great team. Roberta is definitely a believer in "Tough Love," and if I'm freaking out and not taking the time I need to release my anxious emotions, she just gets right in my face and doesn't let up until I do what I need to do, even though that means she's going to be crushed. She's a brave and generous soul.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiy1UU0o6rwFulYKvK8JJwn4V7fMMK8ichtd1kdWJ3YkSUtbZANH41EyOtqOxEnlk5pgAGz4gcGHuFyBDuCGtMAdpmYkzCZ1q1Lg-oJQMyfEqoWmgcDFMITyHLjqUySNfb7FygyRCZVI/s1600/DSCN6169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiy1UU0o6rwFulYKvK8JJwn4V7fMMK8ichtd1kdWJ3YkSUtbZANH41EyOtqOxEnlk5pgAGz4gcGHuFyBDuCGtMAdpmYkzCZ1q1Lg-oJQMyfEqoWmgcDFMITyHLjqUySNfb7FygyRCZVI/s1600/DSCN6169.JPG" height="400" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not taking "No" for an answer, young lady</span></td></tr>
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And don't let the firm set of her jaw fool you--she loves her some silly fun, and no one can play hide-and-seek like Roberta:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqVKwRH3oR-kScE-acGuHWZMCWQcPrn8ku8unNwCsNRMFVc5tack3aOQ3qN0aoet2zVYMY44iZH55gFZEDQ4-mn8KYFwtfp0Zg1ZfUE2Lg09x2G5afd8p661p36Q8s_O0CqiLsSR7Niw/s1600/DSCN6170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqVKwRH3oR-kScE-acGuHWZMCWQcPrn8ku8unNwCsNRMFVc5tack3aOQ3qN0aoet2zVYMY44iZH55gFZEDQ4-mn8KYFwtfp0Zg1ZfUE2Lg09x2G5afd8p661p36Q8s_O0CqiLsSR7Niw/s1600/DSCN6170.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Very clever, but maybe still struggling with the concept of transparency</span></td></tr>
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By now I am sure you are asking, "How do I get my own Anxiety Faerie?"<br />
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Well, I'll tell you, it's really quite simple. If you are 1) pure of heart, and 2) <i>wicked anxious</i>, simply click here --> <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Snotnormal"><b>SNOTNORMAL</b></a> <-- and follow the instructions of the incomparable Di: "Poke around and pick something out." You will not be disappointed.lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-61346705498570213822015-02-11T06:30:00.000-08:002015-02-11T06:30:27.439-08:00Self-Discipline. Of a sort.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7Vzi3I2lE1BZ426ilTu__oyE7Hr54_nb1rQzGDI_zbnTWL5IhaoaroAoK8z0lYYowmPHNr3m49205fCg6zO4x8jWEjGl7F35DBMriIrKpFsP9ORYnW1SUac2UjPVd2GePu0mZSzX8f0/s1600/DSCN5837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7Vzi3I2lE1BZ426ilTu__oyE7Hr54_nb1rQzGDI_zbnTWL5IhaoaroAoK8z0lYYowmPHNr3m49205fCg6zO4x8jWEjGl7F35DBMriIrKpFsP9ORYnW1SUac2UjPVd2GePu0mZSzX8f0/s1600/DSCN5837.JPG" height="400" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird on Some Wire (Sold)</td></tr>
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I am still working my way through my pendant stash. This necklace started with a bird element in raku by Duane Collins of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElementsPottery">Elements Pottery</a>. I suspended it from a large brass ring I soldered myself (yay!), and surrounded it with recycled glass from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>, lava, moss agate, more brass, and more artisan elements--a clay pottery bead by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jjpotterybeads">JJPotteryBeads</a> and a "belly" dangle by Petra Carpreau of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ScorchedEarthonEtsy">ScorchedEarthonEtsy</a>.<br />
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Where does the "self-discipline" come in, you say? Well, lately, after finishing a necklace, I have been marching right back to my pendant bin to choose another pendant, which I then put on my workbench, and there it stays until it becomes a full-blown necklace. And they haven't been staying there for months, as has been the case in the past, but just a week or two. I do not put it back in the bin if I'm temporarily stymied; I keep laboring stubbornly away at it. In fact, I reworked the pendant portion on the bird necklace above like seven times. (I feel less inhibited about doing that when I'm using waxed linen and I have entire spools of it--it's not like cutting up sterling silver wire.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kptgJRqt9pWzdK9_dChR5OU8Xmt1KBUKC9x8FKctvqMHm0z8qg83k6_x5t_bHzG5cy6gdYR1GPpICTBQQYhQ1cusSL6e0ua0WiB6UEA1t9RiHp8Znr2cjU3FcAdE7hYe-vTNLvbL6vQ/s1600/DSCN5836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kptgJRqt9pWzdK9_dChR5OU8Xmt1KBUKC9x8FKctvqMHm0z8qg83k6_x5t_bHzG5cy6gdYR1GPpICTBQQYhQ1cusSL6e0ua0WiB6UEA1t9RiHp8Znr2cjU3FcAdE7hYe-vTNLvbL6vQ/s1600/DSCN5836.JPG" height="400" width="226" /></a></div>
The next item I pulled out of my pendant bin was a stunning geometric pendant in raku-glazed porcelain from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SpinningStarStudio">SpinningStarStudio</a>. I even had raku spacers from the same shop. I started right away with the big dotted lampwork focal, and added this and that. It sat on the ottoman for a week, and every night when I got home from work I would stare at it and change around the beads. This is like the umpteenth "dry fit" version of this before I knotted it. Then I reworked the pendant portion a few times as well (AFTER it was knotted together), literally cutting it up and changing it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TqdRrgYGCDafwdje7NGge0KsWw2cZcL1SOjy395hsv4A_TNMqMYKyHF1nWtLcS7vZYtlMIiJ-pzyoQqADfK0w8LB9DzeDJ2sI2kOu1GkDi-LTqFRAJQlHE-8pLx31IcRTwp-yFSLdmg/s1600/DSCN5892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TqdRrgYGCDafwdje7NGge0KsWw2cZcL1SOjy395hsv4A_TNMqMYKyHF1nWtLcS7vZYtlMIiJ-pzyoQqADfK0w8LB9DzeDJ2sI2kOu1GkDi-LTqFRAJQlHE-8pLx31IcRTwp-yFSLdmg/s1600/DSCN5892.JPG" height="346" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/222047235/geometric-raku-pendant-with-turquoise?ref=shop_home_active_1"><span style="font-size: small;">High Priestess of Something-or-Other</span></a></td></tr>
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The lampwork bead, believe it or not, is from Michael's (it was one of three items in the bead section that were not atrocious--the Michael's franchise did NOT score a win with our new local store). The other turquoise stones are genuine turquoise (a local bead shop bought them in bulk and I loaded up on several strands), two earthy bulls-eye donuts from Jana of <a href="http://www.happyfishwithheart.com/en">HappyFishWithHeart</a> attached back to back, sand-hued seed beads from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>, a little silver and a little copper, a few square raku spacers also from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SpinningStarStudio">SpinningStarStudio</a>, and some altered bone spacers (I sanded, scored, and antiqued them to coordinate with Jana's donuts). I knotted it all onto black waxed linen cording, and finished it off with some Greek leather and copper chain. It is long. Priestess-long. I'm into that lately....It is actually NOT sold, and is available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/222047235/geometric-raku-pendant-with-turquoise?ref=shop_home_active_1">HERE</a>.<br />
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I picture it layered with other necklaces. The way a Priestess of Something-or-Other might do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Er4UtPfTt3s13IUOLDmw-ZQ8uZ74CmeijHFIrfn2h9J5Dx3_tNIJnnzlOJa_JUhVEyos5CQyryQ4Q05QdCbo_I_3GbeguerUNU7suwZV93YLMoJXkeVZk5Glhf6n5VVLhoIU82lIP2o/s1600/DSCN5907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Er4UtPfTt3s13IUOLDmw-ZQ8uZ74CmeijHFIrfn2h9J5Dx3_tNIJnnzlOJa_JUhVEyos5CQyryQ4Q05QdCbo_I_3GbeguerUNU7suwZV93YLMoJXkeVZk5Glhf6n5VVLhoIU82lIP2o/s1600/DSCN5907.JPG" height="400" width="246" /></a></div>
With a long tunic. Or a floor length Priestess dress.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWCI6sSr9KfVC6VKDeOO74srfznhckVIJeiOzoopCkGdBhZsHe4DJdgKwEj5L60q38i5xgyO7YchOYmY3XBLi7CFZx1kyAzHWedbI2S833UN4jnOoJiHg6EmrBA3JQYuK8m77iEf-hjQ/s1600/DSCN5889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWCI6sSr9KfVC6VKDeOO74srfznhckVIJeiOzoopCkGdBhZsHe4DJdgKwEj5L60q38i5xgyO7YchOYmY3XBLi7CFZx1kyAzHWedbI2S833UN4jnOoJiHg6EmrBA3JQYuK8m77iEf-hjQ/s1600/DSCN5889.JPG" height="400" width="271" /></a></div>
I got a little carried away.<br />
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I also thought I might make a bracelet to go with my Annie Oakley necklace (see my <a href="http://cerebraldilettante.blogspot.com/2015/01/annie-oakley-and-navi.html">previous post</a>). I rather like the bracelet more than the necklace! In fact it may upstage the necklace a bit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrQ-p87yuwraUqnkYy8dZCnLuneKNqNz94qa1LM2XPkgUcIwCQ-ImqC-AdT_9YilXNcTQobhz5khIkUldRENoYKyZ2fpCVKaEC5uZmWX2NzoCpkHkixeS8I_yA47mHifMDxoEDF-imUQ/s1600/DSCN5846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrQ-p87yuwraUqnkYy8dZCnLuneKNqNz94qa1LM2XPkgUcIwCQ-ImqC-AdT_9YilXNcTQobhz5khIkUldRENoYKyZ2fpCVKaEC5uZmWX2NzoCpkHkixeS8I_yA47mHifMDxoEDF-imUQ/s1600/DSCN5846.JPG" height="400" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annie Oakley's Wrist (SOLD)</td></tr>
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I picture it on her slender wrist as she lines up her shot....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLSi7kSYjBnm94Qb32S0f2jd2SxQWR4deEdci9DnvXI9laUK0HKUIVaOAF3TVECQ2DolBqLmMj3w9w-DzrdvG2EkWIK-XquYNIZlifvBgZhVmOk7mBnaizslBSx8V8YXTarFJ1AFVLQc/s1600/DSCN5848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLSi7kSYjBnm94Qb32S0f2jd2SxQWR4deEdci9DnvXI9laUK0HKUIVaOAF3TVECQ2DolBqLmMj3w9w-DzrdvG2EkWIK-XquYNIZlifvBgZhVmOk7mBnaizslBSx8V8YXTarFJ1AFVLQc/s1600/DSCN5848.JPG" height="400" width="372" /></a></div>
(I am thrilled to be finally achieving my half-hearted goal of using my hoard of drilled beach stones from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/StoneStudiosToo">StoneStudiosToo</a>. So hard to let them go...Gorgeous mother of pearl buttons from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/OritDotan">OritDotan</a>.)<br />
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Right now I have a sweet little round pendant by Mary Welsh Hubbard of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhiteCloverKiln">White Clover Kiln</a> sitting on my work table, with a half-formed idea in my head for it. I WILL PREVAIL!!! And after that I really gotta make some earrings.<br />
<br />lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-61272389502005521642015-01-18T08:52:00.000-08:002015-01-18T10:32:09.370-08:00Annie Oakley and the Na'vi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZMyDSF83PN2XRO009FJghD_KiSOMZLy4vzvRP4yiTqAZ6z2qeee7zTa15_eHn5bru4sfOvObpJBAJIE6LO-NKFph3Iog5HvluX_Ea69XXyQhxyRoPK0WXE-kJzWMVphEX-HvCgIRCVE/s1600/DSCN5808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZMyDSF83PN2XRO009FJghD_KiSOMZLy4vzvRP4yiTqAZ6z2qeee7zTa15_eHn5bru4sfOvObpJBAJIE6LO-NKFph3Iog5HvluX_Ea69XXyQhxyRoPK0WXE-kJzWMVphEX-HvCgIRCVE/s1600/DSCN5808.JPG" height="400" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Wild, Wild West<br />(sold)</span></td></tr>
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I created the Victorian-styled "shard" escutcheon focal above LAST January (as in 2014), with good intentions regarding doing an Art Jewelry Elements New Year-themed challenge (involving the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, Janus, after whom our month January is named; Janus was often symbolized by images of gates, doors, doorways, etc., hence my idea of a key and keyhole pendant.) I did not get very far. Well, this is how far I got:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JTFHkvv9lamNIxGKP-L6XRnIIxLdy5Fr9122vwSWyrfzI5md7ByiHLdnIvIxcVbAMZvSWcbMOH3d4PNfqlYiHN2iz8Nwvg1trckcxnqBZRzv3_9XkppwWlMVbdLNnKkqMkn_VwLJzJw/s1600/DSCN3179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JTFHkvv9lamNIxGKP-L6XRnIIxLdy5Fr9122vwSWyrfzI5md7ByiHLdnIvIxcVbAMZvSWcbMOH3d4PNfqlYiHN2iz8Nwvg1trckcxnqBZRzv3_9XkppwWlMVbdLNnKkqMkn_VwLJzJw/s1600/DSCN3179.JPG" height="320" width="297" /></a></div>
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Well, lately my "pendant" bin (where the escutcheon resided--what a wonderful word, "escutcheon") has been bulging at the seams, so rather than start pendant bin no. 2, I decided to systematically start using items from the pendant bin until I could easily snap the lid down again. And then after that I could return to my usual indolent and slothful ways.<br />
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I began this piece with the escutcheon element and a wonderful vintage skeleton key my Mom found for me (I have a little handful of some absolutely gorgeous little keys from Mom, all with a rich sable-colored patina on them--she is a brilliant treasure hunter), and a strand of small silver leaf jasper rondelles. It was feeling Victorian to me, and I initially assumed it would be "Posh-Victorian," but when I added the mother of pearl button (I really wanted some kind of shiny large translucent gray or cream tablet-type bead under it, but alas I had nothing like that), it struck me more as "Poverty-Stricken Victorian"; and then when (seized by some mysterious urge) I changed gears and went with dark cording and leather lace, it struck me as "Poverty-Stricken Victorian Wild West."<br />
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Well, once I strung the buttons on (that's a black agate nugget underneath them) the image of a woman sprang to my mind: a solitary, unconventional woman of the dusty Old West, who lives by her wits and her womanly wiles; but alas has no money with which to buy gems and jewels to adorn herself, so she makes her own from whatever she can find in her pockets, discarded by others, and offered by nature. Or maybe she doesn't live near a Tiffany's. Maybe someone like Annie Oakley, although I don't know whether she was poverty-stricken. Certainly not after Buffalo Bill hired her to shoot things for his Wild West show. But he probably paid her less than he paid the men, because that's just how it always is, so maybe she <i>was </i>poor...Did you know Annie Oakley was so lovely? Here she is:<br />
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She is one of the few famous Wild West ladies who did not look like a dude. (The outlaw Belle Starr was a dead ringer for James Mason, and Eleanor Dumont was appropriately referred to as "Madame Mustache.") I'm sure Buffalo Bill felt like he was sitting on a gold mine.<br />
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"Well, what does Annie Oakley have to do with the Na'vi?" you ask. Why, absolutely nothing.<br />
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Previous to the piece above, I made the pendant below with a glazed stoneware leaf element by <a href="http://www.starryroadstudio.com/">Karen Totten</a>, which was also residing in the overfilled pendant bin. The finished pendant immediately made me think of the movie Avatar ("Ah, there's the Annie Oakley-Na'vi link. It's in her MIND.")<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFkv4WvFKxAXRGhpODMVfhCdiGOVwtt9lUE1f0YWGAJBHVhE3lb53W_hWCapfWG_31imQcWzZllChdp-3m50RFrjta1FTveSrlH3MHWgP4B5rNE8VUSbDVqS8wfVlVhfnpw0exvToGYI/s1600/DSCN5741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFkv4WvFKxAXRGhpODMVfhCdiGOVwtt9lUE1f0YWGAJBHVhE3lb53W_hWCapfWG_31imQcWzZllChdp-3m50RFrjta1FTveSrlH3MHWgP4B5rNE8VUSbDVqS8wfVlVhfnpw0exvToGYI/s1600/DSCN5741.JPG" height="313" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Avatar<br />(sold)</span></td></tr>
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I think the brown cording makes me think of twigs and tree bark, and then of course there's the leaf, and it must be the blue beads that took it from merely "tree" to "Avatar", because the Na'vi are a lovely shade of blue, not unlike these recycled glass disc and tulip beads from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Afrobeadia">Afrobeadia</a>.<br />
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The terra cotta-colored stoneware bead just above Karen's leaf is from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jjpotterybeads">jjpotterybeads</a> on Etsy; the tiny multicolored sead beads are Czech Picasso seed beads from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/beadsandbabble">beadsandbabble</a> on Etsy; the yummy butterscotch-colored beads are Indonesian glass from <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>; there is a green opal bead from I don't remember where; and the crusty-looking rosy bead is lava. Drilled beach stone from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/stonestudiostoo">stonestudiostoo</a> at the end of the chain.<br />
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I created some interesting-looking cuff-and-anchor elements to cover the knots that fasten the lower portion to the connector rings--I like to use a metal cuff, or cut tube to cover knots sometimes, but I find if there is not a bead under it to hold it in place, the tube won't stay put and it slides down off the knot. On the right side of this pendant, where it is knotted to the ring, there is a beadless section immediately underneath; I needed a way to anchor the cuff to the ring so it would stay put, so I used a double-headed headpin like a little trouser suspender, turning the ends up to hold up the tubes. I thought it actually looked kind of cool. I will probably do it again, but I just remembered this other thing I used to do for hiding knots that is way slicker so maybe not for a while.<br />
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Today I hope to get another pendant mostly finished, also using an item from the pendant bin. So I better get busy.<br />
<br />lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2050381412636516903.post-89544251504793503962015-01-01T15:40:00.002-08:002015-01-01T15:40:34.022-08:00Some New PendantsWell, I was having a hard time getting the lid to close on my "artisan ceramics" and "pendants" containers, so I decided I'd better get busy. I had been thinking of this pendant for a long time-- a graceful rectangular polymer clay pendant by <a href="http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/">Erin Prais-Hintz</a> of <a href="http://www.tesoritrovati.com/content/welcome-tesori-trovatitreasures-found">Tesori Trovati</a>, from her "Forest Finery" series called "<a href="http://www.tesoritrovati.com/product/simply-oak-orange-oak-leaf-stick-pendant-simple-truths-made-order">Simply Oak</a>":<br />
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I wanted to match the gunmetal color on the pendant frame, so I fished out some <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lyanwood">pewter-colored buttons</a> I've had in my stash forever, and knotted them together with dark brown waxed linen cording.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sold)</span></td></tr>
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Miraculously I had glass seed beads from <a href="http://www.fusionbeads.com/">Fusion Beads</a> in a matte, metallic denim color that EXACTLY matched the subtly varying blues in the pendant, and some sweet little carnelian nuggets.<br />
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I finished it off with some no-nonsense silver-plated steel chain.<br />
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<span id="goog_191871716"></span><span id="goog_191871717"></span>Next, I dipped into my hoard of <a href="http://www.starryroadstudio.com/">Karen Totten ceramic components</a>, and plucked out this little gem:<br />
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I circled it for a day, trying it with this bead and that bead, this cording and that, arranging and rearranging. I came back to it the next day, and this was what I eventually arrived at as it grew dark outside:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Sold)</td></tr>
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Recycled glass beads from Ghana via <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/">Happy Mango Beads</a>; two more little glazed lozenge beads by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ktotten?ref=em">Karen</a>; lovely matte glass seed beads in sand hues also from Happy Mango; ceramic discs in coffee glaze from somewhere like Michael's, I don't remember; sterling silver wire and tiny sterling silver beads; waxed linen cording and leather; and a little drilled beach stone at the end, just for fun.<br />
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I started out with way more beads than I ended up with--I kept paring down, paring down, and the sterling wire and beads were a last-minute addition related to covering up some knots. I rather like the extra interest the little silver "bubbles" added here and there. I used double-ended 18 gauge fine silver headpins to fasten the leather into loops, and tossed in some of my embossed beadcaps.<br />
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I am especially fond of the nekkid sections of cording--I guess that would be "negative space," jewelry-style!<br />
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I have more <a href="https://www.facebook.com/starryroadstudio">Karen Totten</a> in my container and I'm not afraid to use it. Anymore. This exotic little "Forest Fossil Ring" was next:<br />
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I held it in my hand for an evening, scrutinizing it under a full spectrum bulb, trying to tease out the colors. I eventually decided to combine it with both lighter and darker greens, antiqued copper, and brownish-rose colors, and follow the same basic design scheme as for the previous necklace. Here is the final product, completed on New Year's Day:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Sold)</td></tr>
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Stones include prehnite nuggets and irregular heishi, red lava, and dragon's blood jasper (the little green barrels). I knotted them onto Irish waxed linen cording in forest green and antique rose, and finished the back with dark reddish-brown leather cording.<br />
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I used one of my petaled beadcaps to add interest to the base of the focal, and linked everything together with my embossed copper rings.<br />
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I actually think I might be liking this one even more than the other one. I am in love with these lava beads.<br />
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I like the visual rhythm the prehnite disc beads give to it. I found these at a bead show, and also got strands of bronzite and Botswana agate in the same cut at that show. I love them. I am hatching a plan for the Botswana agate that might involve Karen Totten again. I'm on a <a href="http://artjewelryelements.blogspot.com/2014/12/starry-road-studio-looking-back-looking.html">Starry Road</a> bender!lunedreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194017326383981105noreply@blogger.com11