a hop, skip & a jump into 2011

 I have been soaring with eagles since the end of the year.

I have felt more relaxed and more free than any other time I can remember in my life.

Just after Christmas, I took a trip to deep south Texas.  One I have

made with my husband for the last 15 years.  

We spent time on a 6,000 acre spread....filled with an abundance of wildlife 
(like the Mexican Eagle we saw feeding its chick!) 
and lots of fresh clean air.

 Where we played one day of golf

and then went to eat great Mexican food after wards.

The name of the rustic little town,

Carizzo Springs.

But, once home...I had packages to unwrap. 

Congratulations to be had!  

This one from my dear east coast friend,

Cindy Wimmer.

Who sent me crystal goodies, rhinestone dreams and brass findings!

Thank you Cindy for thinking of me!

 Then, there was a sewing class I had scheduled!

Sewing class?  

Yes, I've been sewing since my 4-H years and in my high school homemaking class.

But, exactly two years ago, yes two, I bought a new machine, as I began sewing leather and vintage lace cuffs, which is also one of the classes I'm teaching at Adorn Me, called

Romancing the Cuff!  

I love this new machine, and it worked perfect for my meager needs.

But, there are gadgets on this Husqvarna Viking machine I wanted to know more about.  When I purchased it, a free class was thrown in.  I NEVER had the time to take it, so one of the very first things I did, in 2011, was finally take the class!

I learned more about my machine, and needles and thread than I ever learned in my teen years! I am so glad I did it, because now I can share it with my students =)

So, onto the next project....a magazine submission must be put into the mail.

It turned out to be fantastic, and I so wish I could share it ALL with you...but not yet =)
Okay, maybe a peak!

Oh, no I can't do it...

but I can share one of the newest rhinestone pieces I received in the mail.

 And, how about this vintage brooch?

This one will look beautiful on an Etched & Layered Cuff, while the rhinestones will be perfect for a Rhinestones & Rosaries piece.

So, back to the submission project.

All, I can say is....it was the most fun I have EVER had putting together an idea!

I was in no rush, no hurry....only a sure and steady relaxed resolve.

Retirement is THE BEST =)

Along the submission path I received a piece of information from my friend Cindy, who

told me about an Etsy dealer & talented artist, Lisa Jurist, of Mudhound Studio.
Lisa sells gorgeous recycled silk sari ribbon, including hand-dyed silk yarn.

I knew I had to have some, so I placed a order, 

and lookie what I received ~

It is luscious and SOFT...which is exactly what I was looking for.

 And, the colors are simply divine.

Rest assured, I will be using some of these sooner~than later.
They have had my head spinning with new design possibilities from the moment I opened the package!
So, now I have jumped into the new year head first!

Welcome 2011!
I have been waiting for you.....
a very long, long time!

rewind

"believe"

I designed this necklace just before my trip to Bead Fest Santa Fe in March of 2009.

I mostly solder in a "rustic" style.  This necklace was no different.

I wire wrapped a rhinestone bracelet onto one side of the soldered pendant.

 On the opposite, I added a thick rhinestone necklace...one with beautiful clear rhinestones that were prong set.  It was well made and one I did not want to part with.

Below the focal, I hung a couple of my "rustic" soldered charms.  One was a square of my favorite little muse, who wiggled her way into my heart, what seems like ages ago.
The other,
a small circle one with a favorite word
"fly".

 and

a bird's nest,
which dangles freely from a mother of pearl dove.
Nestled inside are three vintage baroque pearls.
I made many of these nests WAY back then. You can get an easy tutorial from my friend,
Deryn Mentock here.  It is her sweet design.

Today I look at
"Believe".
I think of who I was then, and who I am now.
I am retired.
Yesterday was my last full day at work.
It feels great.  It feels different.

It feels wonderful.....I do  "believe".

~~~~~~

"If I don't remember where I've been, I won't appreciate where I am."

             diane

Our Night Before Christmas

 For the last 25+ years we have had the family Christmas Eve's party at our home.

It is always FULL of family.

Full of fun.

Full of food.

We laugh a lot.

 We love much.

 

 It was a beautiful Christmas Eve.  

Filled with enough to keep me satisfied, 

well, until next year =)

with the faith of a child

"Believe"

A "Words of Inspiration" cuff, 

made just in the nick of time, 

for the class I taught last Saturday, in College Station, 

for the Brazos Valley Jewelry Artists' Guild.

This is how it's done ~

Take one very special etched brass cuff (etched by you).

Add another etched layer of textured goodness (made by you).

Top it off with an etched word of "inspiration" (yes, ALSO made by YOU).

That is the recipe for a class I will be teaching at

ART UNRAVELED in 2011!

But, for now let me share how full of

my heart is feeling,

as I reveal the artwork of eight

most enthusiastic and incredibly talented students from the 

class last Saturday!

Here are their pieces, one by one.....

 

Yes, they traveled from near and far.  Sort of like the wise men.

Well, not really like THE wise men, 

but Rita did come from Kerrville, while Esther came in from Rosenberg, 

to be with her friend Joanne, from Brenham.

Carrie drove Hwy-290 in from Houston, and Sue came all the way from Seadrift, Texas, 

while the others came from nearby Bryan.

I would love it if you could join me in Phoenix next August 7th for 

Words of Inspiration.

While there, I will also be teaching another class, Rhinestones & Rosaries, 

which I will be teaching at Adorn Me! 2011 in Houston. 

But if you can't get to Houston, I will be teaching this class in Phoenix, Friday, August 5th,

so go here to find out more about it.

As I reflect upon all the blessings I have received this past year, 

I want to thank each and every one of you who so faithfully came here to read my little bits of this and that.

I know that I have much to be thankful for....and one is YOU ♥

I wish each and every one a safe Christmas.  One filled with love overflowing.

One filled with the love of Jesus Christ.

And, even though Charlie Brown has nothing to do with the birth of our Savior, I will always hear Linus speak the very words that make me remember 

just what Christmas is REALLY ALL 

about...

 

I sighed

Two vintage hair combs were sent to me from 

a new blog friend, Connie, of She Dreams Big!

"Please transform these into two bracelets", she requested.
I had never seen such divine combs as these,
reminiscent of the Miriam Haskell style.

I began with this one.
The one with brilliant green rhinestones
and luscious mint green pearls.

I admit,
I am drawn to the color green like a moth to light.
I didn't even tremble,
as I gingerly cut the slightly yellowed combs away from the

pearl and rhinestone center pieces.

Maybe I should have, as I have never worked on pieces so divine,
that were not mine.
Yes, I've re-strung vintage pearl necklaces that were not mine.
But, usually I have been the one to purchase the vintage rhinestone pieces to alter.
Vintage ear bobs, pins, brooches and chain.
I buy them all the time to use in my designs.
But, this was different, they were not mine.
I didn't blink an eye!
It is now that I blink.
What if I had made a mistake?
If something broke, as it does and will.  It is vintage and sometimes often brittle.
But, it didn't.  I sigh.
Here is how they looked, just before I put them in a box.

A tiny box that will travel all the way to Nebraska.

"The Goddess"
Attached to an etched cuff, layered with a favorite piece of Brass Bouquet filigree.

As requested, the creamy baroque pearl and rhinestone comb

was fashioned after "The Wedding" bracelet shown in my previous post, 

and is in the Winter issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry.

"Baroque Bracelet"

This time I used four 10mm creamy baroque pearls I had bought from an Etsy dealer.

They matched the focal baroque pearl perfectly!

Thanks Connie for trusting me,
and for giving me the opportunity to transform your vintage combs into new pieces.
Just in time for Christmas!
Once again....I sigh.

The Art of Presentation

"The Wedding"
Thank you Christen for including me in the newest issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry!

I am always amazed when I open up one of the most beautiful magazines
on the newsstands and see my jewelry.

It is truly humbling.

Even today, as I sit here, less than one month three weeks away from retirement from a full time job in finance, I find myself in awe of it all!

I have been working on this line, called Cabinet Card Jewelry, since last June, after finally having the opportunity to take a class with Deryn Mentock to learn more about Ice Resin.

I am smitten with resin,
and designed many pieces just before Marburger Farm.

I think Christen did a marvelous job in writing the article, which included pictures of my bracelet and earrings.  But, the main piece, the necklace which actually has the picture of my grandmother wearing her wedding veil (which you see in my blog header), did not appear in the article.
So, here it is.

"My Grandmother's Veil"

Made with layers of vintage rhinestones, various vintage brass chains, as well as chain I design using vintage baroque pearls and one of my favorite Brass Bouquet findings,
the very vintage connectors.
I had been saving two identical rhinestone clasps I bought in Warrenton, which doubled as great connectors as well as clasps.

"Baroque Dangles"

The earrings are dainty.  

I loved them so much, I made a pair for myself, just a tad different, 

and wear them almost every day.

The issue hit the stands December 1st!

It has super how-to articles written by my friends 

Riki Schumacher and Barbara Lewis.

And, congratulations to my friends Cindy Wimmer, Esther Ramos,

 Renate Starke-Kramer, Veronique Perez and Sharon Borsavage,

for their Around the World: A Necklace Round-Robin article.

It was great to finally see their designs.

They really did so much more than what was revealed in the article, so if you have the time to jump over to their blogs, you'll be able to read about their experiences, see their beautiful jewelry journals, 

and find out all about their round robin trip!

Plus, the Designer Collection in this article is none other than the talented 

Melissa Manley.  

She is an extremely talented jewelry designer and artist!

And, there's one more.  

In the back of the magazine, is a beautiful boutique of jewelry, where my friend  

Stephani Gorman has a beautiful piece of jewelry, 

called Dancing in the Moonlight!

So, you can see, I am not alone.  There is a wealth of goodies and friends in this issue.

You will love it all.  I promise =)

Roses and Rustics

 Last week I was contacted by Jane Zavala, 

proprietress for a shop called Roses and Rustics in Nolensville, Tennessee.

First of all, the name of her shop alone caught my attention.

Then, as I perused her blog, I saw things I love.

Long story short, I will definitely find my way to her shop one day, 

but in the meantime a few of my Crystal Princess Drop necklaces are now for sale there!

The ones below are still with me,

and are for sale at $42, 

which includes one of my gift boxes.

"Watchfulls"

are also at her shop.

Two on the right below are the ones I still have 

and did not make the trip to Tennessee =)

They have vintage text with a dash of German glitter.  

The girl at the top right has a piece of vintage rhinestone,

while the girl on the bottom right has a 

simple ♥ inside....for a bit of movement!

They are $46.

And, I also have these....

"Nature Watchfulls"

Little bees live inside 

(from Brass Bouquet).

They are $44.

The shipping is on me....this holiday season =)

Wishing you a blessed Friday!