the rest of the story...

 Window to My Heart

I will be teaching this cuff class for the first time this year.  It is a special one.

Made with layers of metal...some etched, some given a pattern with fire or metal stamping, layering of mica...it is packed full of super fun techniques.

Adding the tiny windows came natural, as this is really how I live my life.

I am pretty much, say what I am feeling, kind of girl. 

These pieces just seem to document that very fact...

starting clockwise in the picture above,

dance with heart

Feet seem to take me to places I've only dreamed of going...

And then there's

Granny Schultz

the cuff on the top right,

which holds my heart in a place only my granny, Josie, could ever hold.

That's her picture when she was only about 13 or 14 years old.

And then,

Stitched

the cuff on the lower bottom,

holds a tiny picture of a distant cousin.  One of two favorite sisters.

I've been using these girls in my art for several years...

So won't you join me in

Window to My Heart

this June in Coronado?  

Art Retreat by the Beach...I can't think of a better way to spend the summer.

Can you?

(I'll be sharing the rest of the story, 

 about the other two classes I'll be teaching in Coronado, 

in the weeks to come...=)

now a fellow Texan and the blog hop continues...

This picture was taken last August, during Art Unraveled in Phoenix,
where I will once again be traveling to teach two classes this summer.
My husband still shakes his head every time I mention
Phoenix and summer in the same sentence!

I hope to see you in one of my classes while I'm there:
Framed

 or
Believe Soldered Pendant

But, It was there, last year, that I first met the feisty 
Pam Carriker.
She is the lovely lady sitting right beside me,
who is now a fellow Texan....congrats Pam =)

Her art work is phenomenal, 

and I know she has a second book coming out soon.

 So, maybe you want to go check out her blog, 

and get the next word on the hop while you're there...

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2012 Online Art Retreat,
Open for Registration!
Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2012, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share out knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a prizes from Jerry's Artarama!

Each week the faculty of Artful Gathering will be announcing a featured blog to visit.

You can hop along with us until the final destination blog is reached, and where ONE Grand Prize winner will be chosen at Random for a chance to win a $200.00 e-gift card from Jerry's Artarama!!!Two Runner Up winners will also be chosen at random for a chance to win a $25.00 e-gift card from Jerry's.

Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way from blog to blog. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those contestants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words!
2. Three winners will be randomly drawn. One for the $200.00 e-card to Jerry's, and two runner's up for the 25.00 e-card to Jerry's. 

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawings!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing

Pam Carriker
http://pamcarriker.com/

(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

two winners & on a wing & a prayer

A quick peek at a new piece...

metal, wire, faceted aquamarine nuggets, oxidized crystal rondells, recycled sari silk,

and a vintage rhinestone earring connector...

speaks to me of Spring~new beginnings~hope. 

Many things in the works here at Studio Diane.

I have visions of Antique week running though my head, 

as it begins a week from this Friday.

Many of the fields are beginning to buzz with movement.  Some will be open before then.

I can hardly keep my feet still, thinking about it!

But, here I must stay for a few more days, 

in Studio Diane, 

working, dreaming, praying.

Yesterday was the first day of Spring,

and my husband drew two names out of the hat 

for the tutorial I mentioned way back here and here.

The winners are:

D Fritz

and 

maryharding

Please contact me ladies =)

My Friend Riki and the Blog Hop

 The Blog Hop for Artful Gathering brings us to my great friend Riki Schumacher.  

I have known Riki for way over three years, 

and met her face to face three years ago next month.

It was in April of 2009 that I jumped on an airplane and traveled to California to take a weekend of classes with a mentor of mine, Stephanie Lee.  

My friends, Riki Schumacher and Diana Frey, 

who I had never met but only spoken to online, 

let me tag along with them the entire weekend, as we took three days of classes with Stephanie, who by the way continues to be a never ending inspiration to me.

Riki and I talk on-line constantly, and at least once every week or so, on the phone. 

Two years ago, these same ladies traveled to Houston to teach at Adorn Me! and we again had the best time.  Riki and I took 3 classes together, 

when we weren't teaching ourselves.  

The picture above was taken of us in the class we took with Keith Lo Bue, 

who is also part of Artful Gathering, and also teaching a couple of great classes.

Just last Spring, Riki traveled all the way to Texas to shop at Round Top, 

and experience our huge Antique Festival (which is 11 days from today!), 

AND stayed with my husband and I in our RV ... which is quite the close quarters.  

She had a blast, and so did I.  I just love this gal.  She is one of a kind.

She will be teaching two classes this summer along with me and 19 other artists 

at Artful Gathering, 

and I am sure at least one of them will spark your interest.  

So, you might just want to go take a look, 

and don't forget to keep joining us on the Blog Hop. 

I will be up in about three weeks myself =)

Our Next Artist is Up for the Artful Gathering Blog Hop!

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2012 Online Art Retreat,

Open for Registration!

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2012, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share out knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a prizes from Jerry's Artarama!

Each week the faculty of Artful Gathering will be announcing a featured blog to visit.

You can hop along with us until the final destination blog is reached, and where ONE Grand Prize winner will be chosen at Random for a chance to win a $200.00 e-gift card from Jerry's Artarama!!!Two Runner Up winners will also be chosen at random for a chance to win a $25.00 e-gift card from Jerry's.

Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way from blog to blog. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those contestants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words!
2. Three winners will be randomly drawn. One for the $200.00 e-card to Jerry's, and two runner's up for the 25.00 e-card to Jerry's.

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawings!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing
Pick Up the Next Secret Word
Riki Schumacher
http://rikijewelry.blogspot.com/

Registration for Coronado has opened!

Lookie what opened up this week?

Registration for classes in the beautiful seaside town of Coronado, California!

And, it will be held at the quaint boutique hotel of 

Glorietta Bay Inn,

June 22-24, 2012.

I will be teaching three of my favorite classes when I come to visit southern California.

My newest class

Window to My Heart

A mixture of metal work, mica, wire, vintage rhinestones (if you likey =), 

and cool tools.

 Doesn't this look like fun?

I will teach this cuff class on Friday, June 22nd.

Then...

how about some of this lusciousness?

I don't know about you, but his picture almost makes my heart stop every time I look at it.

Crystal Confetti

 Loads of vintageness in these pieces, along with gemstones, baroque pearls, Swarovski crystals, Czech fire polished crystals, a vintage rhinestone center , a faceted chandelier crystal and brass components, all happily dangling from a retro rope chain =)

Yumm...

 And then there is more!

 Heart Strings

on Sunday, June 24th.

I never tire of this class, and actually I will be teaching this one online for 

Artful Gathering this summer.

But, if you want to be with me in person...here is the time. 

I have seen so many variations in the tassels designed by my students...you just wouldn't believe.  I love the ideas students come up with, 

and most often the things they use in their strings represent

something tied to their heart, 

which is exactly what I shared here in the Belle Armoire Jewelry article, 

when I wrote about my very own Heart Strings,  

in the Spring of 2011.

So that's about it for now.  I am busy tweaking my videos for the two online classes I'll be teaching at Artful Gathering...and getting ready for a full weekend of family.  

Saturday my husband and I will be attending a family wedding (and eat wedding cake) 

and on Sunday we will be having a  

crawfish boil! 

I will get to spend time with my daughter and her new fiance, 

and our grandchildren 

(oh, yes that will come with their parents).

 Now that is really

YUMMMMM!

p.s. Don't hesitate if you want to join me in California, 

as the spots are limited at this retreat =)

recycled sari silk for Heart Strings and it's time to visit Cat

 I've been putting together Heart Strings kits that will soon be for sale in my Etsy shop.

I'll be teaching this class online in the first session of Artful Gathering 2012,

but I'll also have a bit of news to share this week.  

And, it involves Heart Strings =)

Our Next Artist is Up for the Artful Gathering Blog Hop!

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2012 Online Art Retreat,
Open for Registration!
Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2012, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share out knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a prizes from Jerry's Artarama!

Each week the faculty of Artful Gathering will be announcing a featured blog to visit.

You can hop along with us until the final destination blog is reached, and where ONE Grand Prize winner will be chosen at Random for a chance to win a $200.00 e-gift card from Jerry's Artarama!!!Two Runner Up winners will also be chosen at random for a chance to win a $25.00 e-gift card from Jerry's.

Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way from blog to blog. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those contestants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words!
2. Three winners will be randomly drawn. One for the $200.00 e-card to Jerry's, and two runner's up for the 25.00 e-card to Jerry's.

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawings!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing
Cat Kerr
Http://inthelightofthemoon.blogspot.com;
(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

a new listing...

"flower dreams"

If you just can' wait, my newest Etsy listing for

Transforming Vintage Jewelry into a Connector

is now here 

in my Etsy shop =)

Or,

as shared here and here,

2 people can win this tutorial.

The drawing will be on the first day of Spring,

March 20, 2012!

Leave a comment on either of the two posts mentioned above

for your chance to learn how to make your very own vintage jewelry connector...

"flower power"

 p.s. you'll see a little snip-it of my video at the bottom 
of my previous post here.

Bead Soup Blog Hop

"Blue Laurel"
This is my third time to participate in the Bead Soup Blog Party,

the brainstorm of an idea by my friend,
Lori Anderson.
Each time seems to get better than the last, so here we go...

When I opened up the package from my partner,

Lyn Foley,

that held this vintage sterling silver book marker,
I knew I had to use it. But, how?

I didn't exactly know, but it was here that I started.

I began by layering "Laurel" with a wonderful vintage brooch. 

I wish I could remember where this one came from, but alas I don't.

  I just know I liked it because of its shape, dainty rhinestone dangles, and great old rhinestones set in vintage pot metal.

When I pulled it out of my stash, 
it just looked like it belonged on top of the book marker, 
as it matched its shape so perfectly.

I tried it in all different directions, before deciding to slide it down just a bit to expose the wonderful curves at the very top of the marker.

 Next, I started traveling down to the lower part,
wrapping it with some of these tiny beauties from Lyn.

 I chose the peacock seed pearls to work with,

even though I tried desperately to squeeze in those beautiful creamy white ones.

I added a faceted crystal quartz dangle,
using a cool new bead cap I bought after one of my students, 
Michele, showed me some she had brought to class.
I pulled the pieces together by stringing a simple choker using the same peacock seed pearls and the gorgeous sterling silver clasp given to me by Lyn, 

then made some of my favorite rondell bead connectors.

 Lyn sent these clear, blue lined glass ones in my package.

I often use this style, sandwiching tube beads (sometimes long, sometimes short) in between two oxidized crystal rhinestone rondells.  

I sprinkled in some wire wrapped oxidized crystal rhinestone ball beads, vintage rhinestone buttons, some great chain, and all of the Indian silver beads sent to me by Lyn.

Now I have a great 4-piece set.

 Each piece can be worn individually or separate on their own.

 ~Next~
I had to use some of Lyn's gorgeous lampwork beads.
She's a master of color and style.
She sent a good stash of her wonderful ruffles of glass, 
in colors I adore.

I began by laying three of my favorites down on the table.
I tend to use things left lying on my work bench, and magically it always works out.
Once again it did, as I spotted one of my etched hearts sitting just to the right of my  beading pad, just waiting to be used.
I strung the ruffled beads onto three pieces of sterling silver wire,
using more of the rhinestone buttons, now as centers to the beads;
twisted more wire around the base to hold the trio together,

 then pulled the wire thru a piece of brass filigree, sort of arrow style...
punching and lacing this little sandwich onto the etched heart. 
I don't wear pins, so I knew this had to become a necklace.

I was stumped and had to sleep on it, which works for me. 

The next day I looked through my jewelry trays and found a necklace I had bought on Etsy,
one that had beautiful rhinestones that just seem to match 
the rhinestone button centers of my heart pendant so perfectly. 
First I had to set two eyelets, one in the heart, one in the filigree.

Then I used a technique I enjoy and incorporate into my designs often.  
I re-purposed a vintage Eisenberg ear bob into a connector.  
That's it just to the left of my heart.

 I did use one of the two vintage faceted earring drops Lyn sent, 
as the dangle beneath the heart.  It matched the ruffles perfectly.

~Next~ 
I wanted to use the last three of of Lyn's glass ruffles,

 so I made a fun cascade necklace, using them 
along with several brass crucifixes,
and the acid green freshwater pearls she also sent in my soup.

 If you have stuck thru with me all the way to this point
you get to see all of my soup pieces together.

 

 So now you also can watch a sneak peak 
of my new online tutorial which I talked about 
here.
Leave a comment (along with an email address if it's not connected to your name), 
and you too will be entered in the drawing, 
as two people will win one of my tutorials called,

Transforming Vintage Jewelry into a Connector,

which is exactly what I did when I re-purposed the Eisenberg ear bob talked about earlier.
You can see it again, just below in the necklace I call

"Flower Power"

Thanks for sticking all the way to the end.
Don't forget the drawing to win this tutorial,
(that will be is in my Etsy Shop on Monday, March 5th now)
will be on the first day of Spring,
March 20th, 2012!
Here's a snip-it.  Enjoy!

Artful Gathering Blog Hop Continues...

Our Next Artist is Up for the Artful Gathering Blog Hop!

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2012 Online Art Retreat,
Open for Registration!

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2012, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share out knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a prizes from Jerry's Artarama!

Each week the faculty of Artful Gathering will be announcing a featured blog to visit.

You can hop along with us until the final destination blog is reached, and where ONE Grand Prize winner will be chosen at Random for a chance to win a $200.00 e-gift card from Jerry's Artarama!!!

Two Runner Up winners will also be chosen at random for a chance to win a $25.00 e-gift card from Jerry's.
Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way from blog to blog. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those contestants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words!
2. Three winners will be randomly drawn. One for the $200.00 e-card to Jerry's, and two runner's up for the 25.00 e-card to Jerry's.

Week by week we'll go from one blog to the next!

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawings!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing

Pat Winter Gatherings

(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

busy little bee

"Texas mountain laurel"

Sophora secundiflora

Yesterday was one of those magical days we have in Texas, 

where everything was perfectly beautiful.

The temperature was mild.  Humidity was not "too" high.

And, the birds were outside my window singing the happy song of 

Spring days to come.

Many of our shrubs and bushes are beginning to bloom.

One of the first always seems to be my Texas mountain laurel.

This is one spectacular shrub/tree, and it has the most gorgeous clusters of

purple blossoms that you will ever see.

I had to bring this shrub here, as it didn't show up naturally.

It thrives in the hill country of Texas.  This one was bought at least 5 years ago from a nursery in San Antonio.  

I live in the part of Texas which is considered the Gulf Coast area (as I am about 80 miles away from the Gulf of Mexico).

I've shared with you before that I live on a prairie...the Katy Prairie.

Which in itself has had its share of heydays long past.

This prairie is slowly being gulped up by the sprawling huge city of Houston.

 It is flat here.  Flat as a pancake.  Not a hill in sight.

But, if I go back to my purpose here today, 

it is to show you what I saw when I stepped outside, if only for a moment, to see the beautiful Texas mountain laurel growing in my front yard.

Bees were everywhere!  

They were busy collecting pollen, and I am sure if I stepped back out there today, 

they would be happily doing the very same thing.

Digging their tiny heads way down deep inside the tight cluster of purple flowers.

I have been feeling a bit like this...busy, busy, busy.  My head down deep in my office.

Inside...not out there in that beautiful clean, fresh new air of life.

But, if only for a moment, I felt better after seeing the blooms of this beautiful 

bush, and all the activity surrounding it.

Ummmmm....

Then I came back inside, and started to take more pictures of the kits I will be offering

in my Etsy Shop for the Heart Strings class I will be teaching online this summer 

at Artful Gathering.

And, you know what?

I got all happy again.