Jewelry the zine

What will it take to unlock your creativity?

~Jewelry the zine~
Catherine Witherell and Deryn Mentock have come together to produce the most unique instruction packed jewelry zine to date. And, I am so pleased to have been asked to be a part of it. Many of my favorite jewelry designers are included, so go here to order one now. They are in limited supply, so don't delay.

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Deryn's earring designs are are always captivating.

Diana Frey's use of vintage German doll parts just wow me!

And, who can resist Old & Rusty? The inspiration of Cindy Forrester touches my soul~Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Stacie Florer shares her bezel bead design. While Catherine's pages give us tips for making polymer molds.

My pages are filled with designs using vintage rhinestones and Czech crystals.

Now, as Catherine says~Go out and conquer the world!

the look of love

Our grandson arrived February 12th. We will never be the same.

Cleo's Turquoise

This cross reminds me of a piece of jewelry Cleopatra might wear. Can't you just see Claudette Colbert with this around her beautiful neck? I think it has to do with the shape of the vintage rhinestone shoe clip I used. I added nuggets of turquoise, those that weren't perfect, but with uneven beauty. The Czech crystal beads are also vintage, with the most interesting and irregular shape. They were bought from a vendor at the last Gem & Jewelry Show. Also added, were wrapped Swarovski crystal rondells and several flat sterling silver beads with great texture.

This will make someone I know very happy.

it's my sister's birthday

Today is my older sister Debbie's birthday! This is a picture of my older and younger sister behind my grandparent's house. This was the home of Adolph and Josie. Josie's on the right side of my blog banner. They raised a large garden, had large white (ornery) geese, and alot of chickens (as you see in the photo) to help feed their large family. My mother was number nine of thirteen children.

I loved to hunt chicken eggs. But, I was always a little scared of chicken snakes. My grandfather had built a double stack of chicken coups where the hens would lay their eggs. You may be able to see them way back in the right corner of the picture. The wheelbarrow my sisters are sitting in carried alot of firewood in its days. I remember my grandfather chopping alot of cedar fire wood. I don't know where I was when this picture was taken. Probably helping my granny water flowers. I loved that.

Belle Armoire Jewelry Spring 2009

I guess I have held it just about as long as I possibly can. It wasn't intentional. I learned about my jewelry submission being published in the Spring issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry last October. Then, about three weeks ago, I actually saw the article on Stampington's website; as they share a few of the pieces that will be featured in their future publications. The very next weekend I again saw the article there, but this time it also revealed the cover of the magazine. I couldn't believe it~my Vintage Rose Drop Necklace was on the cover! It's due out March 1st, so you must go see all the beautiful jewelry pieces, and instructions, shared by so many wonderful artists in this magazine. Plus, several of my blog friends, Diana Frey, Deryn Mentock and Stephani Gorman will also be featured in this issue, along with their unique styles of jewelry.

Stampington really has the most beautiful magazines in the industry, and so many different published titles. I really have lost count. Their magazines range from Altered Couture to Art Dolls to Life Images, Somerset Life, Art Journaling, Artful Blogging, Somerset Digital Studio, apron~ology, Haute Handbags, Stuffed; and one of their newest publications, Marie Antoinette (due out April 1st *wink*).

The Editor in Chief & Director of Publishing at Stampington & Company, Jenny Doh, is one of the lovely ladies I had the pleasure of meeting last year at the International Quilt Festival. Stampington & Company had a beautifully decorated booth showcasing their newest magazines, Where Women Create and Art Quilting.

I absolutely love all of their work! I guess the best way I can describe how I feel when I open one of their gorgeous magazines, is that it gives me the feeling I can do just about anything. The instructions and stories shared by the artists inside are not only inspirational, but the quality of the magazine and its articles, along with outstanding photography, is superior to any other in their genre.

Needless to say~I am impressed; and oh, so humbled.

a new collaboration begins

Disintigration Collaboration has been in full swing at The Altered Page. Go here to see how it began. The mission was to create a paper bundle, any way you like. Place said bundle in nature. Post a "before" picture on your blog. Watch and wait. Each artist will then reveal the result in an "after" picture posted on their own blog on May 1. Here's how it began for me:

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No.1 Coffee filter from the morning pot No.2 A few favorite stamps on Arches watercolor paper No.3 More favorite stamps~red included for Valentine's Day No. 4 Newspaper from the day-love included for Valentine's Day No. 5 Copper wire mesh as the base (not paper~I know) No. 6 Envelope from a friend No. 7 Seven layers, including the copper wire mesh No. 8 Wrapping supplies and tools No. 9 All tied up!

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This project intrigued me, so I started mine yesterday~Valentine's Day! Soon after we had a rain shower, but mine has been put next to our garage, just under the roof line. I wanted to somewhat control the amount of moisture it would receive, as our humidity can be overwhelming in the gulf coast area of Texas. Maybe this was or wasn't the best idea, but I will see on May 1st what has happened to my bundle of paper.

I snugged my bundle up as tight as possible to a small trellis which is waiting for a pepper bush to get large enough to lean against. If the bush starts to grow, it would be even more fun to see what happens. My little bundle may have to hang around till after the May 1st unveiling date......we'll see.

xoxo

I absolutely love the message heart I ordered from Stephanie Lee. You must go read about them here. I inched in an order just in the knick of time via e-mail on Monday. It came today! I can't wait to hide it in just the right place.

Lookie at the little bag it came in! I asked for acid green~she obliged!

xoxoxo Stephanie!
Here are some pages I have left over from the the Plaster Pages class I took from Stephanie at Art & Soul in Hampton last year. It was a fun class, and she is an amazing teacher. We used plaster of paris, which I hadn't used since grade school; and Rigid Wrap brand plaster gauze. It is really cool stuff, AND I had forgotten how much fun I had using it in her class...until my little heart came in the mail today!

A long-time blog friend in Kansas, commissioned me to design a simple choker to wear with a vintage cameo brooch from her grandmother. She sent a picture, and I went to work. I used lacey vintage bead caps, faceted lemon quartz rondells and Swarovksi bicones. She loves it.
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Happy Valentines Day
Jen!

package with heart

I believe I actually like to send packages more than receive them! But, you've got to know, I've been tested on this the past two weeks.

I have been working on new jewelry designs, and have made another felted heart!

I decided I needed a matching pair. Now I have two hearts! And, this week's theme on Shades of Inspiration are Hearts, of course!

Sometimes I wish I had more than one. One that could not be broken. One that couldn't be hurt. I must admit I have a tender trusting heart. I see only the good in people. I want to believe that their intentions are pure. But, in reality, that is not always true.

"Sister's Too"
This piece is part of my sister's series of necklaces.
I started with an original soldered charm, which holds a scanned cabinet card taken from my stash of family photos. I added a bit of stamping and paint to the photo before soldering. It dangles freely from a brass bullet~a gift fom my dear husband. I've soldered an oxidized sterling silver finding on top of the bullet. From it dangles a hand-linked chain with a faceted Crystal Quartz bead. Using steel wire, I've wire-wrapped Swarovski crystal squaredells and rondells, Czech glass and Crystal Quartz beads. There is also a couple of Bali sterling silver findings in the mix, holding more Czech glass beads.
The curly ribbons hanging from the bullet, are vintage hand dyed Italian ribbon I bought at the International Quilt Festival last October. It is a mix of soft peach, acid green, and a soft blue. I've added a piece of steel blue cotton lace on the bullet top, and in the ribbon dangle. But, my most favorite piece in the necklace, is the vintage rhinestone clasp. I bought it online from Etsy seller, Cluttered Mind. Valentine's Day is just around the corner!

Muted Pastels

This weekend I stopped in Nothing Ordinary Antiques & Oddies to drop off a few new charms, and a Rhinestone Crystal Princess. I also took alot of new photos. This shop has so much to offer, and I gleen so much inspiration when I go there. This time it began with this beautiful European Barbola Wall Frame. I just love the beautiful crackled flowers on the top and bottom of this frame. The muted pastel colors are simply gorgeous.
One the way home I stopped in My Little House Rug Hooking & Folk Art Studio, located in Dovetail Antiques. It is a beautiful little rug hooking and folk art shop in downtown Katy. I love all the hooked rug samples Jan has hanging on her studio walls. She offers both rug hooking and tin punching classes. I can't tell you how hard it is for me to resist taking a rug hooking class. The primitive look and relaxing hand craft of rug hooking is so appealing to me. I knew I could squeeze in some needle felting; so I picked up several felting needles, wool roving, a foam block, and a great little how to booklet by Kindred Spirits. I couldn't decide on one sampler pack of roving, so I chose both the Pastel and Primitive colors. I wanted to begin with a dimensional heart using the muted pastel roving. I now have this sweet little heart added to a piece of jewelry sitting on my work table. Needle felting is easy to learn, and much fun! And, I believe I can carry a small bag of supplies with me each morning and afternoon to use on my commute in and out of downtown Houston. Thanks to Beth Quinn for the tutorial she posted on Jolie Paquet. Her tutorial was super!