20,000 Leagues Collection

I was so excited to spot my 20,000 Leagues Urchin Toggle in the Vintaj's Mixed Metals book earlier this year.  If you haven't picked up this booklet I highly recommend it.  It's filled with innovative ways to combine Vintaj components, altered art techniques and jewelry designs with lots of art beads sprinkled throughout projects.  The Vintaj team is so stinking creative, I don't know how they constantly come up with new brilliant designs, but they amaze me every time.

I love this bracelet by Jessica Klaaren from Beadful Things Jewelry using one of my 20,000 Leagues Urchin Connectors.

The days are getting warmer and June is getting closer - are you feeling summer yet? 

Vintaj Art Bead Partner

Howdy Partner!

I'm excited to tell you that I am Vintaj's current Art Bead Partner!

What does that mean?  Well I sent some goodies to the Vintaj design team a while back and they have worked in their magic to create some inspiring pieces combining their components with my beads.

You can find the project above featured on their blog today.

They also have a Forest Friends Challenge for this month.

And later there will be a giveaway on their blog.

New in my Etsy shop - Dogwood Blossom Charms

I'm waiting for my copy of the new Vintaj book, Mixed Metals, to arrive - there are some Humblebeads in the projects!

And you know what else I'm waiting for?  A whole big box of Vintaj goodies because I will be selling Vintaj along with some of my other favorite beads on the Bead Cruise, at my retreats and in my Etsy shop.  I'm looking forward to branching out offering some of my favorite pairings with my Humblebeads.

P.S. - Thank you to everyone who has left me notes of encouragement about my knees and using the cane and scooter.  It really did help yesterday and I will be ordering the scooter tomorrow.  I have a feeling my Mom and Rosanne will be trying to hitch rides as we zoom down the long halls on the ship.  I'm going to focus on having a good time on the cruise and not worry about whether I'm sitting or standing for the festivities.  I know it will take some time, but these knees will be working again and until then I will take care of myself and not worry about my pride!

The Key to Happiness

Oh, I likey!  I took two floral skeleton keys from Vintaj and made them into curved bracelet components.  I punched holes in one end of each key to convert them into connectors.  The big leaf was from Ornamentea, it was raw brass that I antiqued with liver of sulphur - love that stuff.  I added a little pinch of navy blue ribbon to offset my branch disk bead in midnight blue.

The keys were hammered and buffed to bring out the silver under tones.

I picked up a whole new bag of tricks from the Vintaj 2-Day workshop that I attended last month.  Jess and her gang are so creative and inspiring!  I love how innovative they were with their decorivets line. They transformed them into charms and connectors.  I love being wowed and seeing something I would never have thought of - that's how you know it was a good class!  More on that later.

So let's talk about the key to happiness.  

It's something I've been thinking about a lot lately.

I am happy.

My happiness doesn't come from moving here to Michigan or being with my family.  Although that is awesome!

The key to my happiness is not letting outward things dictate my happiness.  

My happiness comes from a well deep within.

My happiness comes from ability to be thankful no matter the circumstance.

People can disappoint or fail me, but I still love them.

I weed out bitterness and never let that root take hold.

I accept the struggles as a chance to grow.

I find the good in each day and the more I look, the more good there is to find.

We all have struggles, but we are not alone.  Reach out when you need someone to help lighten the load.  I don't know of anything that makes my heart lighter than sharing with a friend and being able to find the humor in what seems unbearable at the moment.

Life passes by so quickly, if we only wait for those perfect moments or when things are going our way to find happiness we will miss out on all the good that is mixed in with the mess.  

And you thought I just made a pretty bracelet to share!  Jewelry is a way to share our stories.  They have different meanings for the maker and the wearer, what stories are you telling?

Sending hugs out to all those who need them today.

Starry Night Challenge

Vintaj's next design challenge is Starry Nights - how could I not be all over that!

Van Gogh and Vintaj - throw in some chocolate and I'm in heaven.

Read all about the challenge here.

Order Van Gogh beads here.

Get the best chocolate in the world here.  (Thanks Erin!)

Growing

“Learn and grow all you can; serve and befriend all you can; enrich and inspire all you can.” - William Arthur Ward

I've had a challenging month, to say the least. I won't share details, because they are private family matters, but I have had to do a lot of reflection on how I'm living my life, spending my time and affecting those around me. I have spent the last few years with the single focus of growing my business. With my husbands' periods of unemployment it was a necessity. But I've had to stop and ask myself - at what cost?

As I was working this week I've been researching and focusing on what it means to share and tell your story as an artist. I feel my own story has been overshadowed by the bottom line of running a business. You can not pour water out of an empty pitcher - what do I fill my soul up for inspiration? What relationships am I cultivating to enrich my journey? Does the fruit of my labor reward my family or are the sacrifices I've asked of them too much?

Unfortunately there are no easy answers, it's just a daily growing and being available to those around me. Just knowing that the questions need to be asked is a good first step.

“Don't go through life, grow through life.” - Eric Butterworth

Vintaj arte metal name tag, jump rings, wire & bead caps. Humblebeads' acorn. Silk Cord from Angela Brittain.

Poppy Fields

Hey, there it is...the whole dang thing.  I wanted to wait until today to show it off so that I could send you along to the Vintaj blog to vote for your favorite design in their latest challenge.  Click on the image to see it larger.  Hmm, you'll see if 12 is my lucky number.

The ceramic bead in the center is from Earthenwood Studios.  The big round beads throughout are Elaine Ray. The lampwork ruffle beads were a gift from Rosanne, she'll have to clue on the name of the artist. I also have some of my branch beads in copper.

Sneak Peek

Okay, here is a peak at my challenge piece for Vintaj's contest this month.  The pendant is a Vintaj blank turned into a bezel with a collage of images, words and polymer clay. 

The back of the bezel.  These were part of our first metal etching session we did last summer.

And here was a flash of brilliance. (I know what happen to the humble Ms. Humblebeads?)  Anyway, I made these large jump rings with 16 gauge wire and used the metal texturing sheets to hammer a design for a faux 'etched' metal look.  Seriously love them. 

Faux Patina Pendants

On the Bead Cruise each instructor had a 30 minute session during our evening events.  There were demos, lectures and two make-and-takes.  Bello Modo did a UV resin project provided by TierraCast.

I did a make-and-take using Vintaj altered blanks to create faux patina pendants.

Supplies:

Vintaj blanks

Rubber stamps

StazOn Ink Pad

Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabbers (Stream, Juniper, Lettuce and Pebble)

Renaissance Wax

1. Dab on the paint lightly, wipe the excess with a tissue.  You can wait for this coat to dry or dab on another one for a mixed paint effect.

2. Stamp with StazOn ink pad and rubber stamp.

3. After the pendant is completely dry, use a tissue to wipe on a thin coat of wax.  Let dry completely.  If you don't have wax you could use Matte Spray.

This example was domed first with a dapping block and punch.  Use an unmounted rubber stamp for domed pieces.

Use can use domed pieces turned over as a bezel cup for trinkets and resin. 
1. Paint.  2. Stamp. 3. Add resin, 1/2 way.  Cure.  4. Add trinkets and more resin.  Cure again.

Egg beads can be found in my etsy shop.  Read all about the silk ribbon used on this pendant on the Art Bead Scene today.

And my mom happened to catch part of the demo on her Flip video camera:

Part 1. Here is the link, in case you can't see the video.


Part 2. And the link.

October Skies

For the Vintaj trunk show I created lots of limited edition pieces. The beads had a successful run in Galena and have returned home. This was my favorites from the batch. I did a whole collection of beads called "October Sky" that featured leaf and branches canes. There is a yellow/orange - blue/muted purple theme going on that I'm lovin. I really miss the leaves changing colors, we just don't have that here in SA.

Along with this style I did a few other bezels with a mix of canes and painting, but I'm going to do a layer of resin on top of those. They should be ready next week, if all goes according to plan.

Here is the back of the pendant, it's a Vintaj piece that I've dapt (or dapped, I'm not sure which way it's said and it's too late at night for googlin'.)

Thanks for the words of wisdom on pricing. I hope that by sharing my struggle I can help someone else who is in the same boat. It's always hard to talk about that kind of stuff and I was feeling a little exposed yesterday. But I'm glad I had the chance to hear your encouraging words.