Rosa & Josie's

heart strings at home

2012-02-01T08:03:00.001-06:00

I could not have chosen a better group of ladies to spend my day with, last Saturday,
for my first in home class,
that wasn't a one on one special request.

The beauty of it began with the number of ladies who were able to join me.

Three. Not only, but actually.

Maybe that sounds small, but not for my home.

And certainly not for the students.

What they enjoyed was a day packed with much learning and laughter,
which included a day full of my undivided (except by 3) attention.

I sat at our breakfast table and was able to give short demos,
which included talks on my design process.

They were able to pull up a chair without feeling crowded.

It makes me happy just sitting here thinking about it.

And,

they were so excited about all the

new and wonderful tips and techniques I was able to share with them.
Since then I have been busy recording/editing/taking pictures for my classes at
Artful Gathering,
the first being my Heart Strings class which will be part of Session One this summer.
BTW, if you haven't noticed, but maybe you have,
my intro video link is up near the top on my right sidebar.
It gives you a glimpse into my studio, as small as it is!
And,
if you'd like to hear a bit about a little creative process of mine,
that has spanned almost four years,
tomorrow I will have a guest post on
Love My Art Jewelry.
It will explain how I arrived here....

Art Retreat at The Prairie

2012-01-30T11:32:00.000-06:00

Registration is open

for

Art Retreat at The Prairie

NOW!

Go here to see the classes,

instructors and to register today!

"Crystal Confetti"

time to hop again...

2012-01-29T00:01:00.000-06:00

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 Jerrys.
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:

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!
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 Jerrys.

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 Mixed Media Jewelry Artist...

Kecia Deveney

http://lemoncholys.blogspot.com/
(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

Art Saves...Barbara Lewis

2012-01-28T07:26:00.000-06:00

Today I am so very honored to have been chosen by

Barbara Lewis,

as she has shared all week how Art Saves on

Crescendoh.

Barbara chose to spotlight the post I shared with you last September called,

It's All in the Ingredients.

The best part of this day, is that I am paired with my great friend,

Cindy Wimmer.

Thank you Barbara for thinking of me.

This means more than you know =)

close to my heart.....

2012-01-22T12:06:00.000-06:00

"Heart Strings"

I believe the more that I design, the more I ♥ them!

This piece has almost all of the techniques I will be teaching this summer online at

Artful Gathering.

Yep, I tried to squeeze them all into this last necklace I made as a class sample for the one I'll be teaching in Katy this next weekend.

If you haven't heard, and you would like to be a part of it,

I still have some available spots.

All the details are here.

Won't you join me?

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-06:00

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!

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 Jerrys.

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:

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!
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 Jerrys.

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 Animal Portrait Artist...

Elizabeth G. Johnson

http://windandhoney.blogspot.com/
;
(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

A Giveaway and New Classes at The Prairie

2012-01-17T23:54:00.001-06:00

"Crystal Confetti"

I'd like to invite you to hop over to The Art Retreat at The Prairie,

where you'll see that Barb has added the classes we will be offering for the jewelry retreat this April.

It is there you will read the full class description for one of my newest classes called

Crystal Confetti.

In this class I will share my creative process for adding some of my favorite components together to design a one of a kind necklace.

I often will begin my designs using a perfectly chosen vintage rhinestone ear bob,

and that is exactly what we will do in this class.

We will then be adding what I call confetti to design a necklace that you will love to wear.

"Impressions"

This is also a new class of mine, and will be my first time to teach a two day class.

Two days will allow you to have much more time to explore and perfect this technique, allowing you to finally take home a completed piece or two,

or maybe more.

I do hope you can join me for one of these two classes.

But wait...there's more ;)

Barb is having a GIVEAWAY that you won't want to miss! You can hop over to
Vivi Magoo,
to see all the details on the classes, or you can just hit the link here to get the scoop on the GIVEAWAY!

All this to celebrate as she opens registration to the premier art event of the year

Art Retreat at The Prairie!
P.S.....Be sure and follow along at Vivi Magoo Presents,
as it is THERE where ALL the news for upcoming retreats will begin......

the next step...

2012-01-15T00:01:00.006-06:00

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!

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 Jerrys.

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:

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!
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 Jerrys.

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

Laura K. Aiken

(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

http://www.laurakaiken.blogspot.com/

are you ready to hop?

2012-01-08T00:01:00.015-06:00

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2012 Online Art Retreat,

Open for Registration!

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

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 Jerrys.

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:

Blog Hoppers need to Register for the Artful Gathering 2012 Event to be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing, AND must have all the secret puzzle words collected from each instructors blog.
Runner up prizes will be randomly selected from all participants. Registration to Artful Gathering is not required, but blog hoppers will need to have all the secret puzzle words to be eligible to win.

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

Jodi Ohl

Sweet Repeats

new classes in 2012

2012-01-06T20:31:00.005-06:00

"Impressions"

"Wind Thru the Trees"

This piece was designed using the technique I hinted about in my previous post,

and is one I will be teaching for Vivi Magoo Presents in 2012.

VMP umbrellas the three Art Retreats hosted by my friend,

Barb Solem, one being Art Retreat at the Prairie.

Yes!...registration will be opening very, very soon.

This class will be a two day affaire,

allowing students to delve into more than a one day class will allow.

The other class....

"Crystal Confetti "

This one touches my heart.

Loaded with bits and baubles, vintage rhinestones, faceted aquamarine, Swarovski crystals, baroque pearls, and one long vintage crystal chandelier drop.

But, its the crowning jewel in the middle that thrills me the most!

Luscious and so much fun to design.

I will also be teaching these two classes on the west coast in June for

Art Retreat by the Beach.

Won't you join me in 2012?

oh my! it's 2012

2012-01-05T00:39:00.001-06:00

"give me wings"

The end of December was a blur.
A huge family Christmas Eve party at our home,
was followed by my husband developing pneumonia.

He didn't hesitate to go to the doctor the day after Christmas,

but even then he was quite sick for almost two weeks.

We did travel down to the deer camp for several days,
which carried us thru New Years; something we've done for the past 15 years.

Since returning home I have been developing the classes I will be teaching at

The Prairie.
One of which (class samples) is shown above,
using a new technique I think you just might like.

And, again at the
Art Retreat by the Beach.

Barb plans on having the registration open for The Prairie by the middle of this month,
so be sure and follow the above blog link so you won't miss a single detail.
Next, I will once again focus on the two classes I will be teaching online this summer for Artful Gathering.
More details and links about these classes are found on my sidebar under Teaching.
One important note....
we will be having an instructor Blog Hop promoting
Artful Gathering starting this Saturday, January 7th.
It begins with the talented Jodi Ohl.
At the end of the hop, will be $$ prizes $$ from our sponsors,

so you might want to follow along =)

"dance with heart"
I found out that once again I will be traveling to Art Unraveled this August.
I'll teach two classes, one of which being Framed.
Which, by the way, was featured in the latest issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry.

The other class is my

Believe Soldered Pendant.
Whew! I think that just about covers it. For now.
I heard a quote on The Ellen Show today, which I really love.
Said by one of the children to an amazing school principal of an impoverished school
in Las Vegas.
"I dream of dreams like this".
I cried during this segment.

much to be thankful for...

2011-12-24T09:50:00.000-06:00

As we prepare for family to begin arriving today for our annual

Christmas Eve Party,

Allen and I would like to wish you a blessed

Christmas

with your own family

and/or friends.

I'd like to share the last scene from one of my favorite

Christmas movies of all time.

day eight of the twelve days of Chrismas ornament swap

2011-12-20T20:33:00.000-06:00

Next in line is one of the original Twelve Days of Christmas ornament swappers,

Lou McCulloch.

Her ornie came wrapped inside an envelope made out of a page from a vintage German Bible. Then tucked inside of it was another littler envelope made from what looks like

vintage wallpaper.

I don't know about you, but I am loving these extra "layers" I have to travel thru

before I get to the goodie!

What was tucked inside was a domino dressed up (faux painted) to have the look of a sweet book.

Maybe that isn't what Lou meant it to be,

but that is what my vivid imagination came up with =)

She cleverly attached an inked clip on top,

which helped her attach a beaded loop hanger.

The sparkles she added on top of an added vintage image and German text, gently grabs the twinkling lights of our Christmas tree.

And, here is the back.

My thought exactly Lou!

day seven of the twelve days of Christmas ornament swap

2011-12-20T12:28:00.000-06:00

Oh, isn't this tag from the next ornament swapper, Sally Turlington,

just so perfectly perfect?

When Sally's package reached my door,

I immediately loved the yummy green Christmas tape that circled gloriously around the box.

I get so excited about the littlest of details...

It was just like Sally to add one of her little photo note cards of a spiritual nature,

with a special hand written message inside =)

Once I broke thru the mailer box,

I found a little white box all tied up in red & white baker's twine....

inside was my ornament, all wrapped up in pretty Christmas paper,

affixed with the coolest puffy sticker.

But, what was really inside...well was just the best.

A delicious snowflake that looked good enough to eat! Really.

It looked like it had just popped out of the oven.

A gingerbread snowflake I say! LOL....including loads of sprinkles.

Adorned with a vintage religious charm, vintage red button and tiny green jingle bell.

Oh, what an awesome mixture of waxy wonderment.

Sally began with a double-sided brass snowflake, adding paper clay, Lumiere acrylic paint, and several layers of beeswax.

Then added crusty sprinkles of micro beads, collage bits and mica flakes...

with more beeswax.

On both sides.

I hung it on our tree with great joy and much appreciation for the amount of work she put into these "flakes", as she called them.

You can see her whole story here. It was quite the process.

Thanks Sally. I'll love it always.

day six of the twelve days of Christmas ornament swap

2011-12-19T22:50:00.000-06:00

Here I am....back to sharing the beautiful ornaments I received from the

Twelve Days of Christmas Ornament Swap

hosted by Deryn Mentock.

Day six belonged to the talented Crystal Neubauer.

Crystal is a talented mixed media artist who graced us each with a hand-painted

paper star.

Three layers, painted on each side, with a middle layer of scalloped text.

Hand stitched and embellished with bits of paper, fabric, and a huge creamy pearl.

What I loved most was how she embellished one of the corners......

She stitched three french knots. I love french knots.

When I was about nine years old, I went over to the house of my grandmother (Rosa) for the day. On that day she taught me how to embroidery, which included how to make french knots!

They were, and still are, my favorite knot!

Thanks Crystal.

I will always think of you AND my grandmother when I hang your star on my tree each year.

last minute gift ideas

2011-12-18T01:16:00.000-06:00

"Christmas Earrings"

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Need a last minute gift?

Lookie here.

diane

day five of the twelve days of Christmas ornament swap

2011-12-13T22:47:00.000-06:00

At this point in the swap, I am really beginning to feel so very humbled to be a part of it all...and to realize just how beautiful these ladies really are.

Little did I know that Melissa David lives just down the road from me.

Well, actually on the other side of the county,
but living anywhere in Texas makes her a sister =)
But way more than any of that, Melissa has a beautiful spirit,

which sweetly manifested itself into this most awesome ornament.

"My refuge ~ God's feathers"

It's actually a little "winged" book, made of multiple layers of netting, cheese cloth, vintage lace, felt, muslin and organza.
A tiny stitched pillow dangles gently on top, and just below the vintage mother of pearl button that holds the winged layers together so perfectly.
Within the wings Melissa has attached words from two passages in the Bible that she held close to her heart during a difficult time this past year.

Pain often results in beauty, and it is here where I say
Amen.

What a story of faith. What a story of surrender.

What a story.
Thank you Melissa, for being an inspiration.
Thank you for such a beautiful ornament.
I will cherish it always.

day four of the twelve days of Christmas ornament swap

2011-12-12T22:50:00.000-06:00

This ornament came creatively wrapped in a hand stamped brown paper bag,

randomly splattered with white paint. The ornament from

Pilar Pollock

was to be the one to open on the fifth day,

until some needed changes had her scoot up to number four.

I've always adored how Pilar incorporates Milagros into her work,

and she didn't disappoint me with this year's ornament.

See how she stitched our gift bag together with threads of red,

then tying a piece of torn muslin, also stamped with red Milagros,

adding a Milagros charm with lots of red thread with lots of loops and loose ends,

onto our package?

Once inside I found this....

Stitched layers of hand-painted fabric.

This lovely lady has carefully stitched 60s-style flipped hair,

along with a big Christmas bow right on top of her head.

She wears a skirt made from tattered strips of recycled sari and Dupioni silk,

which just so happens to dangle below a belt made from a small row of rhinestones.

How clever.

And, the colors are so perfect....ancient gold, brown, taupe.

Pilar, I especially love how you stitched the bustier.

Thanks so much!

I just ♥ my Joyous Christmas ornament!

day three of the twelve days of Christmas ornament swap

2011-12-07T13:11:00.001-06:00

You know....

tinsel makes me happy!

I forgot how much until I opened my package from JoAnna Periotti.
I must admit, JoAnnA knows EXACTLY what makes my heart go pitter patter....

My ornament came wrapped in a vintage envelope addressed to Mr. Arthur D. Shamp who lived in Louisiana in the year of 1921.

How ccol is that?

Each of our ornaments were a signature soldered creation of JoAnnA's.

Of course they were adorned with bits and pieces of vintage seam binding, soft silk tulle, and old mother of pearl buttons.

She stamped our initial on the vintage charlotte doll picture inside,

then covered her with a glass prism blanket that she made look just like vintage mercury glass.

Just below she attached/soldered a small loop of silver ball chain, which has more softness made with hand-dyed silk, tulle, net and a small mop button.

So now, here she is...all laid on top of my favorite white chippy topped stool.
She looks beautiful there doesn't she?
But, you know where she is now...happily hanging on my Christmas tree destined to become another one of my very favorites!!
Thank you JoAnnA.
I LOVE it!

day two of the twelve days of Christmas ornament swap

2011-12-06T20:25:00.001-06:00

Day two found me opening the ornament sent from the talented

Kelly Snelling.

Oh, this feels like Christmas!

The wrapping was bold and brilliant, but once I opened the package, I found a delicate ornament made with great care and creative thoughtFULLness.

After reading her post and how her ornaments were born,

well...it became ever the more meaningful to me.

The house began after Kelly found this picture of two sisters.

I have two sisters.

Kelly talks about missing her own sister, and calls her my "Sister Friend".

That is so beautiful.

She made each of our ornaments just a tad bit different.

I can relate to that....making 13 in a row can be challenging =)

How can I not be touched by Kelly sharing that she used

magic threads from her husband's Grandmother

to stitch the cardboard together when making each house?

Actually, as much as I adore the front,

I really love the back of the ornament!

Torn and well worn, she wrote some of the lyrics to one of her favorite

Christmas carol's.

Then, stamped each with a vintage 1950s holiday stamp.

Little did she know she chose a stamp for the back of mine

from the year I was born =)

Thanks Kelly.

Love it!

day one of the twelve days of Christmas ornament swap

2011-12-05T20:53:00.001-06:00

I have loved Ruth Rae's art for some time, and thoroughly enjoyed her book

layered, tattered & stitched.

So when I received her package in the mail, it was hard to resist opening it up right away!

The wrapping was way cool.

For starters,
she had a perfectly torn piece of muslin,
stamped with the words "Be Brave",
tack stitched to the bubble wrap!

Inside I found this " most thoughtful " ornament.

A small box that now holds layers of plaster wrap,

gently coated with my favorite robin's egg blue paint.

Right in the center sits a bright red hand sculpted paper-clay heart

that Ruth painted, then dipped into wax...her ode to a Sacred Heart.

It's been circled with wire, intertwined with

a sprinkle of pearls and crystals. You will also see several nails and a crystal bead crown.

A gentle dusting of mica around the lower bottom edge of the box,
reflects light in the most subtle way.

I simply adore this added ruffle of fabric at the bottom,
which holds bits of text and one single crystal bead.

Now it hangs sweetly on our tree!
Certain to be one of my many favorites.
Thank you Ruth.
I ♥ it!

ornament swap and classes in 2012

2011-12-04T10:25:00.005-06:00

I have patiently been watching this stack grow for the last

couple of weeks.

My friend, Deryn Mentock, asked me to (step in) participate in the annual

Twelve Days of Christmas Ornament Swap,
as she recuperates from what sounds like excruciating shoulder pain.

I was sad (for her) yet thrilled she asked me to be a part of it,
as I have watched from afar each year as she opened the swap ornaments, one by one, from 11 or sometimes 12, very talented artists...
Ruth Rae
Maija Lepore
Kelly Snelling
Joanna Pierotti
Pilar Pollack
Jackie Allison

Melissa David

Crystal Neubauer
Sally Turlington
Lou McCulloch
Danita Salcido
Deryn Mentock
So now, I am anxiously waiting for tomorrow,
as that's the day the group decided to begin opening the ornaments this year!
*(I will be posting pics each day)*

Soon after I had my 12 ornaments out the door, I began reminiscing on the past year.
My husband and I crisscrossed the United States,
as I taught at quite a variety of venues,
finding out that after teaching at the last retreat in September....

....I needed a little rest =)

Well, that lasted for about 2 weeks....or less.

I began working on preliminary details for a couple of online classes

that I will be teaching next summer at

Artful Gathering.

Two of my favorite classes,
Etched and Layered Cuffs

"Etched & Layered Cuff"

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and

Heart Strings

"Heart Strings"

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You can be sure that I'll be packing in as much information in these two classes
as I possibly can!
On another note, for the first time in over 15 years,
I was able to get our Christmas tree up by December 1st!
It felt great hanging the ornaments I've pulled out of boxes for more years than I can count.

This little snowman was made by my Melanie

(who is 36 today~HaPpY BirThDAy Mel)

in elementary school....*sigh*.
I love decorating for Christmas, and always vow I will do it earlier. But, I must admit,
it is just not that fun climbing up into the attic and pulling out way more boxes of decorations than are needed. Yes, I have some culling to do.
Which I will finally do, in January =)
Now, onto more class details for 2012.
I have been on the phone and emailing potential teachers for the
Spring and Fall art retreats at The Prairie.
As mentioned in my earlier post, Deryn Mentock and I will be teaching in the Spring.
Three days of classes. Special after hours activities. And MORE.
The lovely Karen Valentine is busy working away on our new site.
Details will continue to trickle in as they develop.
And finally,
I've been busy working on a new class that will debut at The Prairie.

Just can't get enough of it.
See you tomorrow.

using what i have

2011-11-20T03:03:00.001-06:00

"Heart Strings"

I have the tendency to buy way more than I need ~ of anything.

I sometimes sit in my little design space and think I feel the walls literally closing in on me.

Seems once a new idea flies into view, I go all out!

Delving into a new assignment this past week,

I ~~have~~ tried to turn over a new leaf. Don't laugh.

I told myself, use what you have.

You have much....just look...you will find all you need.

And more.

I did. I have. I am happy.

Other news is that my dear friend, Barb Solem and I visited

The Prairie

this past Wednesday to begin work on her new venture,

an art retreat (to begin the Spring of 2012)

in Round Top.

Beautiful and inspiring...the day was.

An unusual (for Texas)

cool breeze was gently blowing.

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture Shop

I literally wanted to jump into every bed Rachel had dressed in each of the

quaint little cottages on site.

This picture was actually taken in the downstairs bedroom of the big house,

the

Liliput Lodge.

There are two more additional bedrooms upstairs.

Then onto the

Bluebonnet Barn.

I don't know what to say about this darling cottage,

once a barn...except...

I want one!

Every bed, including this day bed in the barn,

is full of Rachel's pillows.

Next, we stepped into the Cornflower Cottage,

where Barb had stayed the night.

And, lastly...

The Meadow Manor.

Reserved for The Prairie event next Spring by Barb,

for she and the instructors.

Then it was back to the

Ranger Lounge.

Once a horse barn, creatively redesigned into a communal meeting/eating space by the previous owner, Lenore Prudhomme.

The classes will be held here, with plenty of space to spread out back.

And, of course,

Rachel had angel wings everywhere.

Simply divine.

playing with plaster

2011-10-29T23:53:00.001-05:00

I have been playing this past week with Stephanie Lee in her latest mini e-class
Handbook of Elements.

Oh, it's been way fun....causing me to have ideas floating in and out of

my head faster than the speed of light.

Maybe you saw the picture I posted on Facebook last week after our monthly

Rowdy Art Sisters get-together.

Red brass etched using two different rubber stamps~one primitive shell, the other,
a short row of starfish.
I knew that shell stamp would end up in a project in the not too distant future.
And, it did...this past week.

My own little Handbook of Elements called
Primitive Shell.
No, it isn't quite finished, there's book binding to do...then adding some
of my favorite elements onto the spine,
which I will do in due time, which makes me giddy with anticipation.

Rosey Locket
(front and back cover shots above)
was also born this week.
I had to make more than one book to put all these pages into.

Wonderful plaster pages.
Oh, yes...plaster is fun AND messy.
The fact is that it wasn't my first time
to make plaster pages.
I actually had taken an evening class at Art and Soul in Hampton, Virginia
in 2008 with Stephanie, called just that, Plaster Pages.
I never used them in a project, but I did keep the pages I made that night.
(Can't tell you how many times I almost threw them out).
These pages are much bigger, and a bit different.
But, now I know what I'll be doing with them, and it won't be making a
Handbook of Elements. We learned way more than that in this class.
You know Stephanie, there just isn't an end to her generosity.
So....my handbooks above measure 3"x4". They are a perfect little size.
The pages I made over 3 years ago measure double that!

Here was our set-up for drying our plasterly pages back then.
And, here's how my pages look today, which have been wrapped up in bubble wrap under a dresser in my spare bedroom, from 2008!

Ohhh....I've got some way BIGGER plans for these!

thru the eyes of a child

2011-10-23T21:43:00.000-05:00

i see love....

Grateful Living

2011-10-18T00:01:00.088-05:00

I am so blessed to have been asked to be a part of a vision held by my friend

Molly Alexander.

She has started a blog called

Grateful Living.

It is a space where a group of bloggers come together

in so many different ways. Sharing little short stories, video clips,

bittersweet tales from the past, losses and gains,

good times and much, much more.

I'd like to share what Molly posted last Saturday.

This clip reminded me how powerful gratitude can be.

How wonderful life truly is when shared with others.

To open my eyes and take in what I see and can't see before me.

And, to never, never take one moment for granted.

It's not that unusual
When everything is beautiful.
It's just another ordinary miracle today.

......A small clip from the song,

Ordinary Miracle,

by Sara Mclachlan

Thank you Molly.

Your vision rings clear and true.

Saturday Rewind

2011-10-16T12:44:00.001-05:00

I was featured yesterday on Susan Lenart Kazmer's

Ice Queen E-Zine!

It was there that I answered a few questions about myself,
and shared a few of my (currently) favorite creations.

I'd like to stretch that interview just a bit farther,
one piece of art at a time,

sharing the how and why behind each.

So....if you have a moment,
I'd like to tell you the history on this first piece!

"Book of Dreams"
:art sistas:
I first became interested in tiny books when I bought a dainty micro book
(as she calls them), from
a very creative jewelry designer from France,
Esther Ramos.
About that same time, I had bought some packs of vintage mini book paper from a
vendor at Marburger Farm Antique Show.

And, I had just over-etched a batch of brass cuffs.
Not being very happy with the results (lol)....didn't I say art was
PERFECT and imperfect?....I hammered out one of the cuffs,
cut it into bite-size pieces, filed and cleaned the metal,
added vintage book paper (securing it with an eyelet),
bent and shaped it into a tiny book, added a charm,
tied it with a piece of Dupioni silk, and as you would say....the rest is history!

Sometimes I simply patina the metal with a torch, stamp words,
and add little nesties on top, along with Ice-resin filled charms,
as I did in art sistas.

I find myself using these little bitties on more and more pieces of my jewelry,
sometimes adding vintage text....
such as in Heart Strings, shared here, on my last post.

And, in my one of my Believe pieces,
as seen here.

"Believe"
:i know she's in Heaven:
I hope you get to stop by the E-Zine.
I really meant it when I said,
More than any other bit of information, I share with my students, is that imperfection is required. There are NO mistakes. Mistakes will often take you in a direction you may not have ever taken. Art is both imperfect and perfect at the same time. I believe I give my students the freedom to learn to let go, and to embrace imperfection. I, myself, have Anne Grgich to thank for that!

I think you'll likey.....

Heart Strings

2011-10-13T23:16:00.000-05:00

"Heart Strings"

:True Heart:

~are what I call sleepers.

They were first published in the Spring 2011 Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine.

I taught this class at the Art Guild in Fayetteville, then again (just the

tassel) at ArtBLISS.

I will be teaching this class at Adorn Me! 2012,

and again online this summer for

Artful Gathering.

I love the options that await when designing them.

I added one of my tiny etched books to :True Heart:

These two new Heart Strings went to MimiBellas

today.

"Heart Strings"

:Sweet Bird:

I love to make the little "nesties" found in this one.

I will teach you how to make one for your

"Heart Strings"~

Along with a few other tips and tricks =)

virtual book tour stops here

2011-10-12T00:01:00.102-05:00

~The House~

"Framed Series"

I am stop number six (mentioned here)
on the Virtual Book Tour celebrating the new book
torch-fired enamel jewelry

a workshop in painting with fire
written by the talented,
Barbara Lewis.

(Thank you Barbara for asking me to share my work on your tour!)

One of the techniques I teach in my "Framed" class, (yes! a simple one),
of torch firing enamel onto a piece of base metal.

In this case, 24 gauge copper sheet metal.

I love the vivid opaque colors, and this one is my favorite,

Robin's Egg Blue.

~Family~

"Framed Series"

This piece was the second I designed in the series.

Again, using a piece of copper sheet metal as the base,

I chose to use the color, Spruce.

Yes, I love the blues and green blues!

~Dance with Heart~

"Framed Series"

My latest "Framed" piece, was basically the same as the first two,
but still slightly different, not counting the clever dangle =)

This time, if you look really close,

you will notice the subtle difference in the texture of the enameled base layer.

I didn't heat the enamel quite as long,

removing the torch just before it fully liquified.

This resulted in an "orange-peel-like" texture.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Now, as promised, I'd like to share some of the pendants my students made in the

"Framed" class I taught in Austin last month.
Great work ladies!

Back row: Cindy, Angela, Janise

Second row: Pat, Rita, Sue

Third row: Konnie (on the far right behind me)

Front row: Charlene, Charlotte, =)

p.s. watch for my "framed" article in the winter 2011 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry,

due out December 1st.

artful gathering 2012..i'll be there! more details to follow...

2011-10-08T12:25:00.003-05:00

virtutal book tour begins tomorrow

2011-10-05T23:06:00.001-05:00

Have you seen the new book,

written by the talented Barbara Lewis?

I am just one of the sixteen artists who will be featured on a virtual book tour beginning tomorrow, so you won't want to miss any of the next 16 days, as we share our experiences with painting with fire!

Just begin by visiting Barbara’s blog, Painting with Fire Artwear, to read all of the details about the virtual tour. Barbara has lined up an eclectic mix of jewelry designers who will share design ideas (and more) from each of their own perspectives. There will be giveaways along the way, which you won't want to miss.

Below is a list of the scheduled artists participating in the tour:

October 6, Mary Jane Dodd, www.mairedodd.blogspot.com

October 7, Gaea Cannaday, www.gaeabeads.blogspot.com

October 8, Linda Larsen, www.objectsandelements.typepad.com

October 10, Andrew Thornton, www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com

October 11, Lori Plyler, www.waterstonejewelry.blogspot.com

October 12, Diane Cook, www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com

October 13, Lori Anderson, http://www.prettythingsblog.com

October 14, LeAnn Weih, www.summersstudio.blogspot.com

October 15, Jen Judd Velasquez, www.jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

October 17, Melissa Meman, www.melissameman.blogspot.com

October 18, Lisa Crone, www.abeadaday.blogspot.com

October 19, Shannon LeVart, www.missficklemediacom.blogspot.com

October 20, Cindy Wimmer, www.sweetbeadstudio.com

October 21, Laura Twiford, www.souvenirsfromlife.blogspot.com

October 22, Erin Prais-Hintz, www.treasures-found.blogspot.com

October 24, Jennifer Cameron, www.glassaddictions.com
October 25, Sharilyn Miller, http://sharilynmiller.blogspot.com/

Did I tell you that there will be prizes given throughout the book tour? Everyone has the same chance to win simply by leaving a comment at the host's blog and by becoming one of their followers.

You also can increase your chances of winning by......

Tweeting, face-booking or blogging about the giveaway post, but you must leave a comment back at this post on Barbara's blog ("Book Launch!"), so that she can include your name in the drawing =)

You can bump up your chances yet again by becoming one of her followers. If you're one already, please just tell her so here =)

A winner will be selected by 10 p.m. eastern time and be announced the following day. You can check back at Barbara's blog for the announcement.

The bonus prize for the book tour participants will be a kit for Floral Cascade, which you see below. Isn't it gorgeous?
Everything will be included, including the chain, jump rings and clasp ... and of course all the enamel goodies!

But, that's not all!

For a chance to win the Grand Prize ... a Torch-Firing Kit (or $110 shopping experience at www.paintingwithfireartwear.com) ... please leave a review at Amazon.com by November 24. Please leave an honest review ... the book must stand on it's own merits.

Thanks for playing along! We are going to be having a lot of fun, and we want you to be a part of it!

P.S. Unfortunately, the giveaways are restricted to U.S. residents =(

Winners should contact Barbara with their name and address through her author website: www.torchfiredenameljewelry.com so that you can receive your prizes!

Don't forget to check back next Wednesday, October 12th, as I share my Painting with Fire "Framed" class experience in Austin.....

mentioned here =)

i'm .....

2011-10-03T23:47:00.009-05:00

I've found that once I return from a trip, I need a little down time.

This trip proved no different,

after traveling through seven states and back, on our way

to and from ArtBLISS.

The name is self explanatory.

Jeanette Blix and Cindy Wimmer have created an art retreat to remember.

If you have the opportunity to attend in 2012, start thinking about it now.

You won't regret it.

The intimate setting makes for a wonderful retreat. And, if there ever were the perfect hostess', these two ladies definitely fit the bill.

Here's what they had waiting for me at the front desk!

How sweet is that?

Lori, =), Cindy

I finally had the opportunity to meet Cindy Wimmer face to face,

after talking to her online for over two years.

And, meet Lori Anderson, who is the master mind behind the Bead Soup Blog Party!

I also met this round's soup partner, Kerry Bogert,

who taught a couple of classes herself.

Kerry, =), Deryn

I had an opportunity set up shop next to Deryn Mentock at the Friday night's Meet and Greet, before the first round of classes that started the next day.

And, what a whirlwind it was....as I taught two classes and was in the classroom from way before 8 am to way after 9 pm.

A long day for a short girl from Texas! LOL.

But, as I began this post....

I am now standing on the other side, and it feels good.

Last Saturday was the seventh time I've taught my

Etched and Layered cuff class.

Here were the first set of cuffs waiting to be dipped into the etching bath.

Just as it was for me the first time, my students were thrilled

when their cuffs came out of the bath looking beautifully etched!

Luckily I had some help from my dh, as always; and my friend,
Ronnie~who helped keep me on task.

I believe you'll agree, the cuffs are gorgeous!

That evening I taught the tassel part of my Heart Strings,

and had another great group of ladies.

Adrianne and Andi kept me in stitches,

as they built their tiny books and added the strings to their tassels.

Here is Andi's finished piece. Layer upon layer of recycled sari silk, vintage ribbon, chains of all kinds, pearls, vintage rhinestones, mother of pearl buttons,
brass bits and numerous baubles.
I just love it!

We laughed most about the text she cut out of my vintage book of Shakespeare,

and placed on the front of her tiny etched book.

The next day was my largest class of the three,

Believe Soldered Pendant ... where many super stars

showed up!

What an honor and a blast to have Jeanette, Cindy and Lori,
there to spend the whole day with me.
Thanks so much ladies....for humbling me to my knees.

Where is Jeanette? Oh, I know...running around trying to fill every one's "needs".

She must have had a "store" in her room!

I am amazed at how the ladies spent the morning making beautiful original art to tuck inside their pendants, charms and bubbles.

Then, that very afternoon,
pick up a soldering iron and take off like they had been soldering for years!
I was impressed.

Without further ado, here are some of their beautiful soldered charms....

Aren't they gorgeous?

Thanks to all my students who made me feel like a million bucks.

Thanks to Jeanette and Cindy for allowing me to come to the East Coast and share my passion for sharing.

And, thank you Allen for helping all along the way.

It made getting to the other side easier than you know.....xo

more than love

2011-09-20T01:19:00.005-05:00

In just a few days I will be traveling to the east.

All the way to the DC metro area to teach three classes at ArtBLISS.

Registration is still open online thru today!

I have been busy working on class samples, and more class proposals.

The class I taught last Sunday in Austin, will be the same class I teach this Sunday at ArtBLISS! Now that will be a first.

I finished the soldered charm I shared with you here,

and the rest of the necklace from my "Believe" series.

This one is called:

"I know she's in Heaven"

That is a tiny picture of my grandmother (Josie) standing in this amber colored vial.

She is nestled amongst a sea of tiny shells given to me by a student, Angela (thank you Angela =) last weekend.
(My grandmother had a giant conch shell that she would have me lift to my ear, so I could hear the waves of the sea. I now have that shell =)

I've soldered the top closed, attached vintage lace,

tulle and luscious recycled sari silk ribbon.

I tied it just below the pendant that way.

I've got so much to share about last weekend and the classes I taught in Austin.

I had a wonderful group of the most fabulous ladies, and they designed some pretty incredible pieces. But, alas...I will have to share more about that when I return.

I will give you a glimpse of the class photo though. I am so glad I took this picture.

Their smiling faces make me smile.

Front row: Charlene, Charlotte, Konnie

Second row: Pat, Rita, Sue

Back row: Cindy, Angela and Janise (my hostess)

Thank you again Janise!

Thank you all for a wonderful weekend!

Oh, and just a couple more pictures....

I just "love" it.

One of my tiny etched books.

It has the word "love" in vintage text on the front.

Oh, how I loved my grandmother.

Now, that really makes me smile.

it's all in the ingredients

2011-09-16T23:59:00.119-05:00

" Drops of Confetti"

This is my second Bead Soup Blog Party to be a part of,
started by the very talented jewelry designer, Lori Anderson.
If you go here, you'll get the whole scoop on just how the party works.

Once again I had the privilege of being paired with a great swap partner,

Kerry Bogert, an artist/author, who designs the most beautiful glass beads.

For the second time this year,
I found myself pushing past the type of beads/gemstones
I normally love to use.
I am the one who adores vintage jewelry ....rhinestones, pearls, brass.

Miriam Haskell, Wiess and Eisenberg.

Using vintage earrings, brooches, necklaces and bracelets is where I "spend my time".
It is a happy place for me. It is where I find myself....working and reworking time worn pieces from the past that lie dormant,
until I bring them back to life into jewelry that can be worn and enjoyed once more today.

I (most often) begin my jewelry with the focal. This is the heart of the piece.
The place where its life begins.

The colors, and ultimately the style, is born from the gemstones,

beads or components I then choose to add.
This time was no different.

The glass headpins Kerry designed, and sent for my soup shared here, had the most luscious drops of color....almost confetti-like....light and dark topaz, deep translucent turquoise, sades of brown, and an icy baby blue. They were perfect!

The focal was most unique, and one that called out to be "held".
I began by cold join attaching a vintage style piece of brass filigree from Brass Bouquet, to a piece of red brass I had etched over a year ago.
It is here the focal came to rest.

I used a narrow piece of etched brass to design the bail, attaching it with a Fleur de Lie studded ornament, purchased from Thomas Mann also much over a year ago.

The next decision involved the chain. I chose one that
had traveled all the way back with me from California earlier in the year.

Nancy, at Gilding the Lily, parted with just a small stash of her most precious brass chain at the trunk show she had while I was there teaching in May.

This particular hammered piece of chain was not very long, but simply stunning.

I want more.

The next step was the most fun, as I began placing Kerry's beautiful glass headpins,

along with faceted Czech fire polished glass beads, next to the chain.

I love how they compliment each.

Next, I added some of my favorite Brass Bouquet components.

(I have many you know).

Tiny brass puffy heart charms, itty bitty fleur and antique connectors, tiny daisy bead caps and my oxidized crystals rondells.

I added a splash of vintage by attaching teardrop rhinestone dangles, which by the way, are becoming extremely hard to find.

The most challenging part of my soup came when adding the clasp.

Kerry sent a most unusual, yet fun clasp. One that compliments the focal, and is held together by tiny, yet very strong, magnets. I "pulled" the opposite ends together by adding some of the faceted Czech glass beads next to the clasp,

which at the same time extended the length of the hammered brass chain.

(Nancy let go of only a very small piece of her precious chain).

I added a touch of recycled sari silk to soften the focal up just a bit.

Then, at the last moment decided if I wanted to really dress up and go "out on the town",

I would add the vintage rhinestone necklace you now see lying just inside the necklace.

It has a total of nine stunning rhinestone dangles,
which match the ones I used in the necklace.

Perfect.

Just in case you want to see the list of blog soup participants,

(there are 362 this round)

go here to see the list and each of their blog links.

Hop around! It IS a party!

Leave a comment or two or three....it will make someone's day =)

Inspiration

2011-09-06T22:32:00.002-05:00

I have been busy working on a new technique I plan on revealing at my

"Believe" class in Austin this Sunday.

If all goes well, I will gladly share it again in just two short weeks at ArtBLISS.

It is something I have been thinking about for some time. Way before I left for Phoenix.

It began as a small idea after buying two vintage mantel mirrors from my friend, Kathleen.

Am I the only one who loves old peeling mirrors?

Ones that ~~you might think~~ need to be re-silvered?

I think not.

My husband shook his head when I brought home the first oval shaped beauty.

Then I carried in another one just a couple days later.

I now actually have three old mirrors on my mantel.

I love the way they look when their silver starts peeling off. The last one has a lot of sepia color that peaks through small bubbled areas. Crackled beauty.

I think this one will remain a class example.

soup is on....

2011-08-25T22:39:00.000-05:00

"Beads from Kerry"

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Unfold

2011-08-21T22:37:00.002-05:00

In between the thick of teaching classes, writing class proposals and submissions,

and end of season RV trips,

I am once again enjoying the thrill of Lori Anderson's

Bead Soup Blog Hop.

If this doesn't ring a bell in your world,

I'd like to suggest that it would (the next one will be in Feb. 2012),

as for now sign-up has ended and packages are beginning to arrive in the mail.

Just last Spring I participated for the first time.
Here was the result of the soup I received from a talented lamp work bead artist,
named Melissa Mesara.

There are 362 participants this time around, and when the names were dealt,

I was fortunate to be paired with Kerry Bogert.

A wire working, bead designing, book author.

She received my box of goodies and made a video as she unwrapped it.

How clever!

It was filled with quite a fun stash.

Not typical of what she would normally work with...which is exactly the point.

I included a vintage chandelier crystal that dangles from a focal made with a vintage rhinestone earring attached to a filigree focal.
Just above, I wrapped in a vintage crystal dangle. Kerry is also a knitter,
so I thought I'd slip in a bundle of "Merlot" colored recycled sari silk ribbon.
I gave her the choice of two clasps ~ one a vintage rhinestone, the other,

an oxidized sterling silver hook and eye which I designed.

I also included vintage rhinestone dangles, additional vintage crystal drops and dark ruby red garnets.

Lots and lots of garnets, silver disks and oxidized crystal rondells.

A group of my favorite vintage rhinestone buttons to play with.

So, here's the whole shebang...
which includes a string of unusual crystal nuggets & AB crystal beads,
found at my local antique store.
Awe, this was fun.

Fannie & Fairy

2011-08-19T15:46:00.001-05:00

Fannie and Fairy were twins, separated at birth.

Fairy lived a fairy tale life in a big city in California.

She took ballet lessons and learned how to play the piano.

Fairy took years of art lessons, learning how to paint and draw and how to stretch her creative wings, from the time she was 6 years old.

Fannie lived a modest life far down a country road outside a small town in Texas.

Little did each one know that they had a sister. Let alone a twin sister!

But one day in August of 2011, they found out the truth....as Fannie came to town.

When Fannie was a little girl, she longed to live in the big city.

She dreamed of the bright lights and big tall buildings.

She desperately wanted someone to play with, who lived right around the corner from a house in town where she lived with her parents.

Someone to ride bicycles with and to go shopping with at the nearby mall.

She longed to take art lessons...lots and lots of art lessons.

And, certainly would have loved to take ballet and piano lessons.

Fairy longed to live in the country, where she could breath pure country air.

Where she could take a simple cane pole and run down to the bottom to fish for perch in a creek that ran through the woods.

She longed to live on a ranch where she could ride horses and raise lambs to show at the county fair. She wanted to climb trees to her heart's desire.

Each one longed to live the other ones life.

Imagine that...if you will.

Somehow I can relate.

I longed to be a girl like Fairy.

Fannie's not dreaming any more =)

*****

Thank you JoAnnA for sharing your knowledge of doll making with me.

I am so glad I came to play with you in your beautiful studio in Phoenix!

I ♥ed every minute!

(p.s. JoAnnA and I are not really twins *wink* =)
* Fairy designed by JoAnna, Fannie designed by Diane *

Art Unraveled 2011

2011-08-13T16:36:00.004-05:00

Deryn, Maija, =) and Diana

Manager's Reception at Art Unraveled

August 4, 2011

I am still trying to land with both feet on the ground after the six days I spent in Phoenix

at Art Unraveled.

We ate good food with great new (and not so new) friends.

Diana Frey, JoAnnA Periotti, Pat Soenke, Renee Troy, Serena Barton, Pam Carriker and =)

The Mission in Scottsdale, Arizona

August 3, 2011

Thanks to my dh who safely drove us to Phoenix and back.

We traveled a total of 2,400 miles!

The next day I took a doll class with JoAnnA Periotti,
a wonderful artist and great new friend.
She was go gracious to have me in her home for one very full day.

And even though she isn't completely finished
(as I am still in the process of unpacking)

I am totally in love with her!

She's still a little "under dressed",

but as soon as I can, I will finish her, give her a name, and share her

"coming out" with you!

(BTW...I finished her yesterday...and all my supplies are back in their respective places~YEA!)

I think you will love her as much as I do. She has quite a story to tell.
You will meet her in my next post =)
******
So onto the reason I was in Phoenix. And that was to teach two classes!
On Friday I taught my Rhinestones & Rosaries class.
It was just the right size. I actually prefer a class with about 10 students.
I had the most beautiful group of ladies in my class.

Mary Ryan, Marbie Burnette, =) and Barb Solem

Laveta Casdorph and =)
Laveta was so excited, as she is new in jewelry design, and this was the first time she walked out of class wearing her project!

=) and Jo Stone
As did Jo, who also finished her piece in class.
She had brought along a beautiful vintage timepiece that was her mother's.
It had stopped keeping time and she wanted the "works" to show.

Isn't it beautiful?

Great job Jo!

The ladies worked tirelessly on mastering new techniques.
Look at that wire wrapping!

Very nice work Viki!
*****
On Saturday was the vendor event.

It was high energy as the ladies began lining up at the door to get in way before it opened. I choose to sit this time out as a "newbie", just to see how it worked.
Glad I did, as I had a great time helping my friend, Deryn.
I did walk across the isle to visit with Daniel Essig, who came along to eat dinner with us each evening. Quite the unassuming type with a super dry sense of humor.
He taught six classes while in Phoenix!
I picked out one of his tiny Window Samplers to bring home with me.

Love the tiny gem tintype on back.
I first saw his work when I took a class with my friend, Stephanie Rubiano.

She has (what he told me), one of his favorite pieces sitting in her home.

An amazing piece of art!
(Found in my picture archives date June, 2009).

Deryn, Ronnie, Ned, Daniel, =) and Diana

*****

Sunday was another class day, Words of Inspiration.

I really like this class, as it is ALL metal.

I had another "just right" class size, which I do believe worked out great for me

AND the students.

Maija and =)

Maija called us the "sexy water girls"

Don't drink the ART WATER!

Martha & Deb

Kathy

And here are their cuffs!

more than a word (of inspiration)

2011-08-01T15:49:00.001-05:00

Moos Flash! Stickers!

I used them on student packets for Art Unraveled.

Gosh I ♥ 'em!

One more "Word of Inspiration" cuff..."Believe".
What does it mean to you?
To me?
To have no doubt.
To act in faith accordingly.
It is a word of action.
I DO believe.

it's always in the details

2011-07-28T15:29:00.000-05:00

When I am hunting for vintage ear bobs, I am always looking at the tiny details.

Sometimes I will find a set that takes my breath away.

This was one of them.

It had vintage Miriam Haskell written all over it.

From the brass filigree, to the tiny crystal headpins, then onto the unmistakable patina of the drop pearls and the champagne colored baroque pearls nestled in the back.

I have had this focal made for some time, using it as an example in my Rhinestones & Rosaries class...

as well as in my Etched & Layered classes.

I decided several days ago to go ahead and finish it into a necklace for

Art Unraveled.

I will be teaching this very class, Rhinestones & Rosaries,

which is the first of two, a week from tomorrow.

I finished it off with a vintage rosary, that had the most beautiful champagne colored glass pearls, bought from a favorite Etsy dealer.

I had the same reaction to it when it arrived in the mail,

as I did when I found the ear bobs.

Little did I know that one day the two would come together.

I dug though some bits and pieces left over from necklaces past,

finding a few strings of filigree covered rosary beads that fit with the two just perfectly.

Now that will really take your breath away....

New Classes in Austin

2011-07-27T20:05:00.000-05:00

"Framed"

See more details here.

September 10, 2011

10am-5pm

"Believe" Soldered Pendant Necklace

See more details here.

September 11, 2011

10am-5pm

Classes will be held in the beautiful studio

Janise Simmons

7960 Mesa Trails Circle

Austin, Texas 78731

Spaces are limited to 8 students per class.

Please see my side bar to pay via Paypal

contact me to mail in payment to save your space.

"Love Bird" ...new cuff....Words of Inspiration Class... Art Unraveled 2011

2011-07-25T17:17:00.001-05:00

"Love Bird...Words of Inspiration"

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amazing friends

2011-07-25T01:10:00.000-05:00

I still have a few California stories to share.

This one is that of a friendship

that has spanned just over three years ~ thru blogland.

I met Chris thru our love for designing jewelry.

Don't remember just how, but it was while blogging that we crossed paths.

So, when I knew I was going to teach in southern California,

I had to go a little further north to meet her.

And, that I did.

The best part about our visit, besides finally seeing each other face to face,

was that our husbands had such a great time together.

We started out early the next morning, after we arrived,

by eating at a favorite restaurant in their town.

Then, onto Sonoma Valley...

where we went winery hopping.

Which included a little tasting

and a little buying.

Then off to the quaint town of Sonoma.

Stopping on the square for a little shopping.

Snacking, of course.

Then off to Bodega Bay for dinner.

Remember the movie The Birds?

Didn't see THE birds, but did see a pretty funny fisherman.

And quite a few fishing boats.

Chris and Rich took us to a beautiful restaurant on the bay,

where we ended the day doing what?

You guessed it.

Eating!

We had a great two days with our California friends.

And, before we left, Chris gifted me with one of her beautiful creations.

She can stamp the most beautiful charms.

Mine was a resin filled bezel, tab set onto a stamped heart...

then hung from a ribbon filled chain.

See what I mean? Look at all her stamping. It's so perfect.

Simply beautiful!

And, lookie at the little tag she attached to the felt jewelry holder it was placed in.

Chris had it featured, along with her beautiful jewelry, in the Spring issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry under the Art of Presentation!

Thank you Chris & Rich for all you shared with us.

You are truly...two amazing friends!

Sweetness

2011-07-18T00:32:00.000-05:00

Vintage lace calls my name more days than not.

Scraps of pages from a miniature book.

Wrap recycled sari silk ribbon tightly around metal oxidized with a small

micro torch.

Letters stamp out words of endearment.

Wire on so called tiny "nestie".

Final attachment:

sisters of the family kind encased in resin,

forever sealed in a vintage watch case.

Viola!

A class is born.

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T12:54:00.003-05:00

May we never forget that freedom is not free.

And that all the money in the world can't buy the laughter we share and

the joy we see in our children's & grand-children's faces.

Wishing you a safe and family-filled day!

castle in the air

2011-06-29T21:17:00.000-05:00

Who was I to miss seeing Hearst Castle, the iconic west coast castle that sits high on a mountain top above the Pacific Ocean outside of San Simeon?

We braved the packed tour bus as it traveled up the long winding road, where I began to take in the details of how this landmark came into being, and most notably, how long it took to build.

Reality is, the castle never was completed.
William Randolph Hearst, and his architect,
Julia Morgan worked on the entire estate for over 28 years.

What I enjoyed most about the two tours we took were the manicured grounds and the three houses that were built surrounding the castle. Especially the second one he and his family lived in while the castle was being built, Casa del Mar.

At double the size of the first house that was built (Casa del Monte), Casa del Mar was the second family residence. They moved in to Casa del Mar (House of the Sea) in 1924. It overlooked ocean views to the south that stretch one hundred miles on clear days. The most formal and most elaborately decorated of the cottages, Casa del Mar featured a different gold-leafed plaster ceiling in every room. Mr. Hearst moved to the the castle in 1928, but Casa del Mar still remained dear to him. At age eighty-two in the late 1940s, he returned there to live for his last two years on the hilltop--

before retiring to Beverly Hills, where he died in 1951.

After taking in all of this beauty, we meandered back down the hill, leaving the "castle in the air" to return to Pismo Beach.

That night we were invited back to Diana's for a

potluck dinner! My dh and I love potlucks!!

How could she have planned a better send off than this?

We ate taco soup, homemade cornbread, scrumptious salads and sipped a little

fine wine.

Later we girls huddled in Diana's studio, which is beautiful by the way!
Susan, Stephani, =) and Diana

Thanks so much Diana for the treasure chest of goodies you sent home with me.
Sure do miss those girls!

the central coast

2011-06-18T23:30:00.000-05:00

(My California trip continues).

Next stop...the central coast.

But, first Pismo Beach.

The temperature.... mid 60s every day we were there.

Three glorious days. This is when I began to wear long sleeves (LOL),

and never once went back to short. Oh, how I miss that.

It was 103 degrees in my Texas town today!

The first evening my friend Diana Frey, and her husband,

took my dh & I to an Italian restaurant that could not have been more perfect.

We had the best time.

When we landed at my friend Riki's house earlier that day,

lookie what was waiting there from my two amigas.....

A bottle of California wine. Creamy almond croissants. Trader Joe trek mix.

A bowl of fresh, ripe fruit...apples, tangerines, bananas.

Goodies in the fridge to make omelets, including fresh blackberries.

And, this gorgeous cut glass pitcher full of fragrant white stock.

Have you ever smelled stock?

It has the most romantic, intoxicating smell...sweet & spicy all wrapped up into one.

It filled Riki's house.

I will never forget that fragrance. And honestly, I almost cried.

The next day Diana took us into her town, San Luis Obispo.

It is a bustling college town. Full of shops, good food and life. I had no idea.

We went to a restaurant called Novo,

which sits right above the creek that meanders through the middle of town.

Next stop,

San Luis Obispo Mission de Tolosa.

It was originally built in the late 18th century, and is rich in history.

The grounds were full of bright colored (what I think was) foxglove.

And, subtle colored succulents.

Ahhh....I love the central coast of California,

and my central coast friends.

Next....Heart Castle and a potluck dinner.

Can it get any better?

a collaboration

2011-06-15T23:28:00.002-05:00

I wasn't at home when I received my complimentary issue of

Belle Armoire Jewelry.

I was happily touring around California, and the magazine was at home in my mailbox.

I kept thinking about it, as I had become so anxious to see how an article

I'd had a hand in putting together,

along with a few close friends, had turned out.

Cindy, Diana, Julie, Maire, Molly, Riki and I

would finally get to see an article we'd been working on since last October.

I was thrilled to have these wonderful ladies & artists,

come along with me on a fun little project I called

With One Finding.

I don't want to give away too much of the article,

but here are the pieces my fellow artists designed for the challenge,

all beginning with one specific finding.

In this case, a vintage inspired piece of brass filigree called "marianne" from

It is a great piece.

(Her piece was actually mislabeled in the magazine as being Riki's...

so sorry for that MJ)

Molly Alexander

Riki Schumacher

(Her piece was actually mislabeled in the magazine as being Maire's...

so sorry for that Riki)

"The Girls"

is mine.

You can also see each of these beautiful pieces on my flicker page here.

This was such a fun collaboration.

Again, thank you ladies.

You were just the best to work with!!

diane

there's no place like home

2011-06-07T22:02:00.000-05:00

I took this picture almost a week ago when my feet hit the driveway in front of our home.
A couple days later, I started this post....
Even though I didn't wear ruby red slippers, I feel like I have been a time traveler for the past two weeks. My dh and I traveled over 4,400 miles.

From Texas...thru New Mexico, then Arizona, then on to California.

I taught two classes in Fullerton at the gorgeous home of Nancy Jamar,
who owns Gilding the Lily.

My first class, Etched and Layered, was on Saturday.

The weather was perfect.
We were able to etch outside and design inside~with the windows flung open wide!

I had my sweet friend Sandy in this class,
who came to Texas (from California) during the antique festival this last Spring.

Look at some of the beautiful and unique cuffs made on that day!

I tried out my my new (rubber) apron and gloves while etching!
Good thing it was such wonderful cool weather,
as I would have burned up wearing these outside in TEXAS!

Dede Warren is the class coordinator for Nancy's classes at Gilding the Lily.

She is the sweetest lady...just love her!

The very next day I taught

Heart Strings.

Look at this group of beautiful ladies....

I only wish I would have taken a picture the day before.

Time just flies by so fast. But, on Sunday I was able to snap a few pics before all the ladies got away....

In the very back of the class sat Andrea and Kim.

These are their Heart Strings.

It was fun meeting Ms.Kim, and she brought the teacher a present!

How cool is that?

I could go on and on about how much fun I had sharing design secrets with these ladies.

They were all so open, and soaked up every word I shared like sponges.

This short stint in Fullerton will have to be noted as two of my most satisfying classes to date... having come so far and to be treated so graciously by Nancy, Dede and all of the lovely ladies who came to class.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

So on Monday, after this very full weekend, we started our trek up north...

to Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo. The beautiful central coast of California.

That will have to be another post =)

is this a dream?

2011-05-20T18:39:00.000-05:00

Being here in southern California

makes my heart sing and my feet start to dance.

I do believe~

"my feet lead me to where my heart has always been"

Vintage Ear Bobs

2011-05-14T22:49:00.002-05:00

"Amber"

This cold join connection is probably my most favorite to use on my etched cuffs.

"Dancing Queen"

Along with using vintage ear bobs.

I don't call them clips. I call them bobs.

I most likely call them bobs because of my aunt Susie. She wore beautiful ear bobs.

Her name was actually Josie, like my grandmother's....but, the family called her Susie.

She was beautiful. Just like my grandmother.

When I was little, we would go into Houston where she lived.

Once when I was probably about seven years old, we went to visit.

At that time she was living in an apartment above a grocery store.

In her kitchen was a booth-like nook....early sixties-style.

I had never seen anything like it.

It was there...that particular time that I ate my first powdered do-nut.

I didn't know what to think as I popped them in my mouth,

and they just melted away. I thought they were the best thing I had ever eaten!

We never ate anything like that at home. And, you know what...never did.

My mother ~~did~~ would not buy them.

Yep, ear bobs. They don't have a thing to do with do-nuts.

But, then again....maybe they do.

etched & layered

2011-05-11T20:28:00.000-05:00

"Emerald Lady"

Etched & Layered

In preparation for my Etched & Layered class,

(and three more times after this one)

I finished my newest cuff last night.

I find myself trying to catch my breath as I think about seeing old friends

and meeting new ones. I will be in Fullerton in just over a week,

where I will teach two classes~one being Etched & Layered.

I will be at Gilding the Lily on Saturday, May 21st.

(I will be teaching Heart Strings there on May 22nd).

I am excited about finally meeting Nancy and Dede and so many other beautiful ladies.

Many I have only talked to online.

I do confess,

I am constantly on the lookout for vintage rhinestone brooches, ear clips,

shoe buckles and vintage buttons.

I probably have more than you can imagine.

But, when I saw this one sitting in one of the vendor's cases at my local antique shop,

I immediately knew I wanted it.

Now I know for sure it was worth every penny.

The best part of "Emerald Lady" (for me) is the gorgeous brass piece behind the Ruiz Studios 1920s brooch. It is one that Jill, at Brass Bouquet, named "Diane".

I thought this was a beautiful piece of filigree the moment I saw it.

Thank you Jill for such a beautiful honor.

And don't forget,

if you are on the east coast, registration is now open for ArtBLISS,

where I will be teaching Etched & Layered on September 24th.

I am sprinting past today only slowing down for tomorrow - diane =)

dreaming of dancing

2011-05-10T13:39:00.005-05:00

When I was a little girl I watched the Carol Burnett Show religiously.

It was one of the best variety shows wasn't it?

What I loved most about it were the dancers!

Remember, all the shows had them back when.

I confess, I wanted to be one of them.

The Ernie Flatt Dancers!

Really, was that their name?? Yes, I had to look it up =)

They would effortlessly spin together light as air on the dance floor.

I dreamed of twirling around and dancing with my partner on a stage like that!

To be part of a dance troupe on TV.

Oh, what funny dreams I had.

I guess Dancing with the Stars fills that empty gap today.

Not for me, as it is certainly not the same.

I have ~~been working on~~ finished a couple new classes this week,

this being one.

This cuff was cut and etched out of a gorgeous piece of red brass

I had etched almost 2 years ago.

It sports a forged, stamped & oxidized nickel silver heart,

with a tiny window letting you see into "my heart".

One that longed to dance on a TV stage!

Yes, I dance. But, not like they danced.

I have danced since I was 6, when I began tagging along with my mother & father

to country dances in old German dance halls. You must dance if you are from Texas!

Especially the part of Texas I was born & raised.

Today I still feel a deep stir inside my soul when I hear a beautiful waltz,

AND even a polka.

I probably always will....

Just let me dance.

And when I do, let it be with heart ~ diane =)

Thank you Mom...

2011-05-08T20:51:00.001-05:00

I don't have many pictures of my mother and I by ourselves.

This is one of the rare ones taken outside of her sister's home in Pasadena, Texas.

I was three.

My mom had a hard life. She was number 8 of 13 children.

Her father was a barber, but also drank too much.

Her mother, Josie, took care of her children and her home.

My mother and my father were married when she was just 16.

They had 4 children, but for many years there was just us three girls.
I was the middle child.

My little brother came 10 years after my little sister.

My mother is a strong woman.

I only hope to have as much strength as she has had to have in her life.

My Mom, =) and my daughter, Melanie =)

I love you Mom!

I love you both!

Happy Mother's Day!

ArtBLISS 2011

2011-05-06T21:49:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to share with you this great bit of news!

I'll be teaching three classes in the Washington DC Metro area this September.

I can hardly believe it!!

I am so excited that Cindy & Jeanette invited me to come to the east coast,

along with six other extremely talented teachers;

who are btw, teaching many new classes!

I will be in the company of Robert Dancik, Deryn Mentock, Richard Salley,

Jane Salley, Kerry Bogert and Christine Damm.

On Saturday, September 24th,

Etched & Layered Cuffs.

That evening I'll be teaching

Heart Strings.

....the fun tassel part of the necklace.

The same Heart Strings I had published in the latest issue of

Belle Armoire Jewelry, and the ones I talked about here.

Then on Sunday, September 25th,

I will be teaching a new class...

"Believe" Soldered Pendant Necklace.

This class will be chocked full of my "primitive style" of soldering

and fun techniques.

I hope I see you there!

Registration begins here tomorrow morning 7AM EST.