I Heart Macro

I love the line and the abstract quality. It's the same attraction I have to the water splashes on the shower door. Somehow there is a unique and individual story to each mark.

It is actually the shadow of a grass that Mr. Pearl and Pebble found on the grounds of the market while I was getting our coffee beans.

Love this shot. For some reason the golden glow isn't as intense here as in my album. Hmmm. Same computer. Dunno. That is a computer issue. I'm thankful I can do what I can do. (Add that to the list Erin!)

And as I walked around the yard, I saw this lonely dude. He's not quite as spectacular, however I do like the maroon bottom he's got. For some reason he is just a "weed". Still a little beauty though. The air is crisp, but the sun is shining and that makes it a perfect day. Enjoy yours! Oh and don't forget to click on the macro button over to the left. It will take you to Lori's blog over at Waterstone where you will be able to see everyone who is playing along today. Everybody is welcome, so go get your camera!

I Heart Hedgehogs

Here is the painting that is this month's inspiration for Art Bead Scene's monthly challenge. I love this painting. And I found it to be very very inspiring. Haven't assembled a piece of jewelry yet, but I did pull out my paper, polymer, pens and pencils. That is a good thing. One of the first things I started doing was just doodling on bristol with water soluble pencils and art markers.

Then I started doodling on wooden disks.

I filled in some with my art markers and really loved the color. HOWEVER when it came to varnishing, the reds tended to bleed. So now I am trying to figure out what sealer/varnish is best.

I like this one. It bled, so I took some Prismacolor pencils to it and coated it with gloss varnish/medium. Maybe now I can just use wax?

Or just leave things "naked"? I have a bunch of Aanraku bails coming. Hopefully I can get some put together to my liking and stick them in my shop. Someday.

I also played with my polymer. I want to play with my earth clay, but needed instant gratification. I like him. I have a few more that haven't been carved out, painted, inked up, stained and sealed yet, but I think I will go for it. So thank you Art Bead Scene, this was just the challenge I needed!

Macro Sunday

This time of year seems to revive my cooking desires. And there are things that I am pretty picky about. One of those things I insist on is grating my nutmeg. I love the little nut. I love scraping the "outerness" off, creating these wonderful facets and revealing all sorts of fabulous patterning. I love grating it, releasing the aroma and feeling the soft shavings left behind. I swear it enhances a recipe far more than pre-ground in a jar nutmeg. But I'm sure that could be debated and is a matter of opinion. So don't worry I don't think less of anyone who doesn't whip out their Microplaner when a quiche is on the dinner menu. (I know you find this to be a great relief!)

Another thing that I find fascinating is the "pictures" I see in such things. Do you see a smiling bird with really long legs too? (Yes, of course I'm tired, but he IS there.)

I Feel Trendy

There are so many things I want to do and feel like I don't have the time to do it. So when I got the word that my little earrings were selected to be in this month's issue of Bead Trends I was thrilled! Like the Universe was telling me to hang in there. And it's true, little by little I can do more.

Here they are on page 61. The charms are made by Pam at Indian Creek Studios. They feature amazonite rondelles from Rings and Things and cool rockey nuts from Beads and Pieces. Bead Trends is a beautiful magazine and I am so honored! If you haven't picked up a copy before, check it out.

I Heart Macro

I love texture. And I have always been drawn to objects that indicate they have a history. My photography professor would refer to it as "decay", which technically may be true, but I find that term to be too yucky. I prefer distressed, weathered, having a story, having a history etc. The story here is simply that our water is hard. It wrecks everything-eventually. This is the base of our coffee maker, the part the pot sits on. (Please disregard the coffee overspill along the edge that I have not yet cleaned up) This is probably our 5th maker since 2002. I don't know. Maybe that's normal. But the build up/break down on the heater seat here, "distressed" as it is, is so very beautiful to me. I want to recreate this somehow. I think it would be beautiful on clay, polymer and/or earth, paper, beaded beads...............

It looks very topographical to me. And a little like the solar system. Sigh. I REALLY REALLY REALLY want a whole day to play. Does this happen before kindergarten? Seriously?

Mother's Jewels

When I worked at our local bead shop the current trend was mother's bracelets with their children's names spelled out with those alphabet beads and Swarovski crystals. After about the 500th bracelet I decided that particular look was never going to be for me. Sometimes the perfect piece if mother's jewelry expresses the simple prayer that is always present in her heart as seen in Lorelei's bracelet here. When Melanie over at Earthenwood Studio posted about her rabbit set here, I was instantly excited! This is a perfect set of beads for me for a mommy creation. This being the year of the rabbit and having twins....you see?

Another great example of something for mommy would be a glass and clay pendant from Kristie over at Artisan Clay. We wanted to give our mom something special for mother's day and I asked Kristie if she could make a pendant with glass colors signifying not only the twins, but also her other children. Never ever hesitate to ask an artist if they can do a custom piece for you, because they usually can and are quite happy to do so. I know Kristie bent over backwards for me, looking for the right colors and whipping up a few pieces to make sure she had something for me.

Do you have a favorite piece of mother's jewelry that you wear all the time or that you have made for someone special?

Important Reminder......

Has everyone had or scheduled all your necessary yearly appointments? Also, every now and then you should have a great facial, pedicure or massage. It feels like unnecessary indulgence, but I think it's more important than that. And it goes without saying that the bag of Dove dark should be right next to your vitamins-which you are taking RIGHT?!?!?

Very Vintage Blog Hop

The lovely Michelle Mach has hosted a Very Vintage Challenge and Blog Hop. She sent a yummy assortment of vintage beads and we all came up with designs using the components. For some reason I only have a macro shot with what she sent-sorry, but below you can see not only her treasures, but some of my own vintage hoardings in some of the same luscious Autumn tones. Be sure to click on her name up there to take you to the blogs of the other participants!

I wanted to use as much vintage as possible. Although the marvelous chain is quite now from Miss Fickle Media.

Michelle's connectors suspending some repurposed vintage Sarah Coventry beads.

I have had a stash of these "turtle" beads hanging around forever it seems! This is why we keep EVERYTHING! I drilled holes in the branch and hung all the linked up Lucite leaves she sent. I took my texture hammer to the brass leaf stamping. That actually started with my attempts at stamping a little owl, but he got turned around for some reason and didn't fully stamp out, so I had to go to plan B and camouflage

Using much of my own stash as well as my prized chain!! Michelle sent a really pretty teardrop ring that originally I tried to make a toggle. I made the toggle bar by putting the smaller bits she sent on copper wire, spiraled the ends and pounded them out. After some fiddling, I decided I liked the teardrop as a drop much better. I beaded the necklace quite randomly. And after photographing, found the little green seed to be a little problematic. Oh well, I can switch it out later.

Diggin the acorn cap on the lava stone, but didn't give him a permanent home yet.

And this sweet little dude is my favorite. I have plans for him I sure do, but I didn't get to him. I tossed around a few ideas and was afraid to "mess" him up. But I think I will paint a little something on him and coat him with resin. What do you think? And there you have it. Don't forget to hop around a check everyone else out. Sorry this post was a little late, this morning. We had a little power issue. Scared me it did-thought all this was lost, but thankfully Blogger saw fit to save it! Have a great day.

Mommy Might Be a Little Cranky

Sigh. These would be fabulous beads came with areas of issue for me. I'm sick of chasing after vendors. She did have a disclaimer for her Indonesian beads. These are resin. I guess I expected better OR more distressing. When there is just a single spot in an otherwise smooth area, it looks poorly made-NOT as having handmade character or however it was worded. AAANNNYHOOWW, I don't have any more energy to devote to bitching out a seller, so any thoughts on how to distress these more? Can I take a hammer to resin? Maybe stain them? Update on the beads that never came- I "opened a case" for non-delivery. (Etsy's term) and long story short, she had been sick, I now have my beads, and I have closed the case. Thanks for all your input. Babies are banging on something, I think I'll go join them!