Look At All These Files!

Is it weird that I love getting tools? A friend of mine just gave me a handful of files. All different sizes and shapes. I am so excited to get them! I have been working with wire and metal for a little bit and I know these will come in handy. Wasn't sure I would use the handles, but we put the one on and it does make it much easier to hold.

Costa Rica

My family is planning a really big trip! And we are all so excited. My daughter Kate and I decided it would be fun if we made necklaces...or at least pendants for each of the girls. And even though we have never been there, we picked out colors that we felt were Costa Rican colors...is there such a thing?!

Well, this is what we came up with. Lots of flowers and leaves in coral, turquoise, blues, yellow and green.  I even made a little copper and sterling flower..well, just because I thought it would be fun!

So what do you think?

Mother's Day...sort of

Wow! I can't believe I haven't posted in two months! Time flies...I guess.

So I have had an idea for a bracelet for my Mom for awhile. She has grandchildren that range in ages from 23 to 8!! When each of the grandchildren were born, my Dad would get my Mom a charm with each kids name on it and she wears these on a necklace. I wanted to do kind of the same thing on a bracelet. I also wanted to incorporate my lampwork beads, because she loves them! (Although not as much as her grandchildren...lol)

I thought I would make it in sterling but got a little nervous that I might ruin a lot of silver when stamping the names, because I haven't stamped with letters that much. I thought I would practice on the copper first. Eight grand children names are a lot to fit on one bracelet, but it is nice that it is an even number. So it works  really well as two of the chains. I added the string of seed beads with some copper spacers. I actually really love how the copper turned out!

 I loved it so much I decided to make one for all the Moms in my family! (These projects always grew bigger and bigger!) This one is for my sister Sue.

This is for my sister-in-law Dana

And this one is mine

I am so happy with all of them! And since it is a few weeks after Mother's Day, I think they will all be surprised!!

Bead Soup Reveal

 

My partner, is Suzette Bentley and these are the beads she sent me. Don't they all look so pretty together? Lots of blues and browns. The clasp is brass and is two circles that link together. It is very cool! The focal is really organic looking and it is from Humblebeads.

 

In this necklace I used the brown and blue beads she sent me.  I then added a couple of my lampwork beads that I had in the blue that matched the clay focal perfectly!  I used all different kinds of brass chain, even one I made myself!  This is the first time I've ever made a chain from scratch.  Some of the brass is darkened and some of it is not.  I think it gives the necklace some nice highlights. This necklace used both the clasp and the focal Suzette sent me.

 

 Suzette also sent me some small round pink beads and I knew I wanted to use them in something.

 

I couldn't really figure out how to use them in my main piece.  So, I made a quick wrap bracelet in pinks and greys.  I added in some rose quartz, grey Swarovski crystals, opalite rondelles, and one of my lampwork beads for the closure.  I can't wait to see what Suzette and everyone else has created with their bead soup!

A Brown and Blue Treasury

It is always so nice when someone chooses one of your items to be in their treasury. Jennifer Teasdale of Jtartful Designs put together this combination of blues and browns, and she included my lampwork bracelet!  I think there are some interesting things in it, and it all looks great together. Thanks Jennifer!

Ingredients For Bead Soup Have Arrived!

It is so much fun to get a box of beads in the mail! My bead soup partner, Suzette, sent me a wonderful assortment of beads. blues, browns, ambers, and even a little pink thrown in! Also a really fun brass clasp and some flat leather cord. The focal is a clay bead from Humblebeads, it has a very organic feel to it. There are two matching clay beads also from Humblebeads. The light blue beads are faceted blue lace agate...a very pretty color! She put in some really neat shaped dark brown Phillippine wood beads, some Bronzite rondelles and a whole bag of czech glass beads that are amber in color. I have a couple ideas...we will see what I finally come up with. I can't wait to see what Suzette makes with the beads I sent her. The final reveal is March 3rd. There are 200 participants this time...that is a lot of blog hopping!

Etching Some Metal

I took a class on etching not too long ago. So this week I thought I would play around with it. I took some copper and nickel sheet metal and a few copper washers and stamped some designs on them. Then I put them in the etch and waited. This is how they turned out. I think they look pretty good. I have put some of these items on my Etsy site www.snazzydoodle.etsy.com

These are a couple of the washers and I added some Amazonite and Spectralite.

A pendant I am working on.

This is a 1" copper square that I drilled a few holes in, added some sterling silver chain, pearls and copper spacers to make a necklace.

All that Glitters!

I have been looking for some older rhinestone jewelry for awhile. My daughter really likes pearls and rhinestones right now and I have seen a lot of jewelry remade with antique pieces. I had looked on line and at a couple of the local antique stores, but a lot of what I was finding was very expensive. I was looking for pieces and parts or something that wouldn’t make me feel terrible for taking it apart. A friend of mine told me to try out a Pawn shop. I had never thought of a Pawn shop! So last weekend Kate and I decided to check it out. I was a little nervous going in; I guess when I think of Pawn shops, the image isn’t great.  But this place was really neat! They had so much stuff. The woman that worked there asked us what we were looking for and she brought us out tray after tray of stuff.  She was great, we didn’t even finish with one tray and she would bring out a few more. It was crazy! It was so much fun! Now I am not saying the stuff we got was really antique…..but I think I would call it vintage.

Look at these treasures!

Doesn't it all look so pretty! We picked out chains, earrings and pins. Some are just square, but we also got some flowers and even some snowflakes!! This was a great place to go and I will definitely go back.

Lots of Bracelets!

I have a friend of mine who needed a few bracelets to give as gifts. So I thought I would get to work on them right away. These are some of the ones I have been working on. I showed them to her yesterday and she was really happy with all of them! Yeah!!

Beads and Bracelets

These are a bunch of beads I made the other day. I was so happy when I opened the kiln the next day, that I made some more! I have already posted some pendant necklaces on Etsy. They are very simple pendants, but I just love them.

I also made some bracelets this weekend and plan on getting them on Etsy this week. I really love the colors in these beads! On two of the bracelets I have fused fine silver into little rings and then I hammer them and put some texture in them. I use these for some of the links between the beads. It is so much fun to come up with these different designs and I love when they turn out so pretty!

The Party Has Begun!

 Today is the Bead Soup Blog Hop!!!  This has been challenging but fun and exciting.  My bead soup came from Natalie McKenna, I used some of her beads and some of my own.  The challenge was to use the focal and the clasp that was sent to you by your partner.  Natalie was kind enough to send me a couple options for the focal. 

For the necklace I used one of her "inchies" and riveted it to a piece of copper that I had cut and pounded and stamped, that became my focal.  I added a couple lampwork beads, enamel beads and some dog tooth amethyst. I like the light feel of this necklace and how I went from light purples in the front to a deep purple in the back. She sent me a leaf inchie too that I also loved, but unfortunately for me, when I was drilling it I had a mishap....I was very sad.

On the bracelet I used the really cool clasp that Natalie made herself out of copper. I also used some of the clay beads and a lot of the czech, seed and pony beads she sent me. I added some of my own lampwork and enamel beads and a bunch of copper spacers and chain.

I love the colors in both of these pieces. I am not usually a purple person, but really came to appreciate all the variations of purple Natalie sent me and happily used them all!!  I did go out of my comfort zone when I decided to rivet the focal.  And after a couple of tries, I am very happy with how it turned out. I did find myself going back to what is comfortable and using lampwork beads and the enameled beads that I have been learning to make myself lately.

I really enjoyed this hop. The uncertainty of putting together a soup for someone I have never met, the excitement of waiting for and getting my box of goodies and then getting down to business and putting it all together.

Click on each name to go to their blogs.
These are the partner pairs.

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

1. Aimee Wheaton and Barbara York
2. Alice Craddick and Sandra Richardson
3. Alison Sachs and Amy Severino
4. Allison Scott and Cynthia Abner
5. Amanda Cargill Austin and Charlene Sevier
6. Amanda Davie and Patsy Evins
7. Amber Dawn and Kim Ballor
8. Ambra Gostoli and Christine Hansen
9. Amy Freeland and Christine Altmiller
10. Ana Krepel-Novak and Eleanor Snare


11. Andrea Morici and Hope Smitherman
12. Andrea Trank and Jayne Capps
13. Andrea Turini and Charlene Jacka
14. Angela May and Emanda Johnson
15. Anitra Gordy and Elizabeth Owens Dwy
16. Ann Rishell and Debbie Price
17. Ann Sherwood and Lynne Bowland
18. Anna Lear and Barbe Saint John
19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel
19. Nan Emmett and Erin Siegel
20. Astrid Boyce and Birgitta Lejonklou


21. B.R. Kuhlman and Deanna Chase
22. Barbara Bechtel and Bryna Lumb
23. Barbara Blaszczyk and DaviniaDesign
24. Barbara Judy and Holly Westfall
25. Barbara Lewis and Cathie Carroll
26. Barrie Edwards and Lyn Foley
27. Becky Fairclough and Jana Tarhala
28. Bella Borgouise and Gillian Lehman
29. Beth and Evie McCord and Erin Prais-Hintz
30. Beth Bricker and Heather Pyle


31. Beth Emery and Cassie Donlen
32. Bobbie Rafferty and Cindy Cima Edwards
33. Candice McGinnis and Sally Anderson
34. Carol Bradley and Cece Cormier
 35.  Cathy Khoury and Molly Alexander
 36. Carol Tannahill and Hilary Frye
37. Carrie Tahquechi and Cris Peacock
38. Cat Pruitt and Cindy Gimbrone
39. Charlene Gary and Doris Stumpf
40. Charlotte Pevny and Kate Gardenghi


41. Cherrie Fickand Cathie Carroll
41. Claire Maunsell and Cherrie Fick
42. Cheryl Roe and Jenny Vidberg
43. Chris White and Norma Turvey
44. Christa Murphy and Kathy Alderfer
45. Christie Murrow and Dana James
46. Christina Miles and Collette Collins
47. Christine Brandel and Elizabeth Woodford
48. Christine Damm and Cynthia Deis
49. Christine Hendrickson and Debbie Goering
50. Christine Stonefield and Dee Wingrove-Smith


51. Cilla Watkins and Johanna Rhodes
52. Cindy Wimmer and Riki Schumacher
53. CJ Baushka and Cory Celaya
54. Courtney Breul and Joanna Matuszczyk
55. Cristi Clothier and Kathleen Robinson Young
56. Cryss Thain and Serena Trent
57. Cynthia Tucker and Kitty Durmaj
58. Dana Johnson Jones and Eva Sherman
59. Davinia Algeri and Janet McDonald
60. Deci Worland and Lara Lutrick


61. Diana Ptaszynski and Kristy Abner
62. Diane Cook and Kerry Bogert
63. Diane Hawkey and Jen Judd Velasquez
64. Dorcas Midkiff and Jill Harris
65. Doris Radlicki and Heather Goldsmith
66. Dot Lewallen and Gaea Cannaday
67. Elisabeth Auld and Jennifer Justman
68. Erin Fickert-Rowland and Geanina Grigore
69. Erin Grant and Julie Jones
70. Eszter Czibulyas and Helena Fritz


71. Fiona Christie and Michelle Heim
72. Gail Zwang and Genea Crivello-Knable
73. Geneva Collins and Jana Haag
74. Gretchen Nation and Heidi Post
75. Heather DeSimone and Karin Slaton
76. Heather Marley and Terry Carter
77. Ingrid McCue and Jennifer Pride
78. Jackie Ryan and Nicole Keller
79. Janna Harttgen and Joanne Tinley
80. Jean Yates and Lori Anderson


81. Jelveh Jaferian and Jenny Davies-Reazor
82. Jenni Connolly and Jennifer Heynen
83. Jennifer Cameron and Kristi Bowman
84. Jennifer Geldard and Lisa Liddy
85. Jennifer VanBenschoten and Kim Hora
86. Jess Italia Lincoln and Lori Greenberg
87. Jill MacKay and Lori Bergmann
88. JJ Jacobs and Karen Tremblay
89. Joyce Becker and Kathy Welsh
90. Judy Glende and Karen Sinkowski


91. Judy Riley and Kelly Morgan
92. JuLee Wolfe and Julie Bean
93. Julianna Cannon and Julianna Kis
94. Julie Nordine and Lesley Watt
95. K. Hutchinson and Shea Zukowski
96. Karen Firnberg and Karyn Bonfiglio
97. Karen Williams and Kimberly Roberts
98. Karen Zanco and Polly Barker
99. Kari Carrigan and Laura Twiford
100. Karin von Hoeren and Laura Blanck


101. Kate Richbourg and Lorelei Eurto
102. Kathleen Lange Klik and Maria Clark
103. Kathy Engstrom and Keri Lee Sereika
104. Kay Thomerson and Loretta Carstensen
105. Kelley Fogle and Laurel Bielec
106. Kelly Ramstack and Sally Anderson
107. Kim Stevens and Tiffany Long
108. Kristi Harrison and Mandy Williamson
109. Kristi Kyle and Lana Kinney
110. Kristina Johansson and Sue Hodgkinson


111. Kym Hunter and Laura Sanger
112. Laura Zeiner and Susan Kennedy
113. Laurel Steven and Mary McGraw
114. Laurie Hanna and Lisa Boucher
115. Lesley Weir and Liz DeLuca
116. Linda Djokic and Tracey Weiser
117. Linda Inhelder and Pam Brisse
118. Linda Landig and Lori Dorrington
119. Linda Murphy and Lisa Hamilton
119.  Line Labrecque and Marianne Baxter
120. Lisa Lodge and Monica Johnson


121. Lois Moon and Melissa Muir
122. Lola Surwillo and Therese Frank
123. Lori Bowring Michaud and Marci Brooks
124. Lupe Meter and Norma Agron
125. Maggie Towne and Marge Beebe
126. Malin de Koning and Susie Hibdon
127. Mallory Hoffman and Shirley Moore
128. Marcie Abney and Patty Miller
129. Marcy Lamberson and Melissa Clarke
130. Margot Potter and Suzann Sladcik Wilson


131. Maria Grimes and Wendy Blum
132. Maria Horvath and Melinda Orr
133. Maria Rosa Sharrow and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp
134. Marian Hertzog and Melissa Mesara
135. Marianna Boylan and Sandi Lee James
136. Marina Dobrynina and Michaela Pabeschitz
137. Marsha Neal and Miri Agassi
138. Mary Ellen Parker and Melissa Meman
139. Mary Elliott and Tamara Soper
140. Mary Hicks and Laurel Steven


141. Melissa Pynn and Michelle Buettner
142. Michelle Hardy and Niki Meiners
143. Michelle Mach and Moira McEvoy
144. Missy Rappaport and Norma Agron
145. Molly Alexander and Poranna
146. Mylene Hillam and Nicole Rennell
147. Nadezhda Parfyonova and Stacey Curry
148. Nan Emmett and Nancy Peterson
149. Nancy Boylan and Natalie McKenna
150. Natalie Monkivitch and Niky Sayers


151. Natasha Lutes and Pam Ferrari
152. Noemi Baena and Penny Ilagan
153. Pamela Petry and Rebecca Sirevaag
154. Pat Haight and Mary McGraw
155. Patty Gasparino and Vonna Maslanka
156. Penny Neville and Sandi Volpe
157. Pepita Bos and Wendy Chamberlain
158. Raida Disbrow and Rebecca Watkins
159. Rebecca Anderson and Sabrina Staub
160. Regina Santerre and Rose Binoya


161. Rhea Freitag and Tari Kahrs
162. Rochelle Brisson and Sheryl Stephen
163. Sally Russick and Tracy Bell
164. Sandra McGriff and Shay Williams
165. Sandra Wolberg and Sara Hardin
166. Sarah Elder and Salla Small
167. Saskia Kaffenberger and Sharon Gardner
 168. Sharon Palac and Shannon Chomanczuk
169. Shay Stone and Suzette Bentley
170. Shiraz Biggie and Tammy Powley


171. Staci Smith and Tracy Stillman
172. Stacie Stamper and Tracy Martin
173. Stefanie Teufel and Vicky Taylor
174. Stephanie Dixon and Stephanie LaRosa
175. Stephanie Haussler and Valerie Norton
176. Suzanne Tate and Terri Wlaschin
177. Sweet Freedom Designs and Tammy Jones
178. Tania Spivey and Tari Sasser
179. Tara Plote and Terry Matuszyk
180. Terri Gauthier and Deana Hager
181. Theresa Fosdick and Tracey Nanstad