Wee World Domination one photo at a time

I just got a new camera.  I have been searching for THE perfect camera for me for the longest time.  Well, I do believe for right now I have found it.  It is a Nikon J3.  It is lightweight, interchangeable lenses, small, has a ton of fun tricks too. I know all of these manipulations are on lots of programs to use after you take the photo and download it on your computer, but this is instant gratification.  I can do it right there and see it!
 (I have issues with waiting)  One of the options is selective color.  The whole photo is in b & w except for 
whatever color you would like to showcase. I choose red on this one.

and blue for this one.
Just fun fun times!!
Yes I am easily amused. 












But my true obsession with my lovely adorable and darling camera is the Miniature Effect.  I am totally hooked on turning everything around me into miniature!  EVERYTHING!!!!!  It will be my wee world. and I will call it my wee world and I will love it and it will be MINE!

It's HERE! Bead Soup Reveal Day!!

I posted this at 12:30am East Coast Time but this lovely Blogger site keeps telling me I am in Pacific time.  LOL.  Oh this Timey Wimey stuff!
This is the 2nd Bead Soup I have done.  They are just a blast to do.
You can see what I did last year by just going back and looking at my blog.  
Just a reminder of what my amazing and talented partner, 

Shawn Price http://silkyshaven.blogspot.com sent my way

 

I just kept making things with these fun beads and made lots of jewelry!

I tried to use only what beads she sent me.  I did wind up using some of my own copper beads and of course my own wire.  

Here is the first piece I made~

~Ta Da, Le necklace~

I tried to keep the earthy, rustic tribal thing going throughout 

I started making this with the thought this would be a bracelet.  I made large jump rings out of 14 gauge copper, soldered, hammered then textured them.  I left a little of the silver solder showing because I just adore the mixed metal look plus it adds a bit of shimmer.  I then thought of connecting them with the cool coffee color ceramic round beads.  They needed a little something, so I wrapped copper wire into a circle then put the ceramic beads in the center of each. I filled in the rest with carved and inlaid beads in different cream and brown colors Shawn sent me. I really love the way this necklace just came together so seamlessly. It was a really enjoyable necklace to make.  I took the cloth that my soup was wrapped in and cut it up in small strips then made a 5 braided extension to hold the clasp. I liked the extra texture that provided to this necklace.  AND I really tried to use EVERYTHING she sent me.  I was so excited to use the zebra she sent but I didn't like the way it looked in this necklace.  I have it almost done in my studio.  She is adorned with rhinestones and hanging things and wears a crown.  lol.  Didn't get a chance to finish her.     
So, I decided to use the long shell beads with the brass beads with a carved bone bead on the top of it as my focal.  I made a tassel out of the string my soup was tied up with, but it didn't hang correctly.  I am obsessed with making tassels now so look for some with copper wrappings coming soon!
Here is another view of the necklace on my lovely model (my daughter).

A close up~

 I was frantically looking for a pin for my scarf a couple weeks ago and right then decided I was going to start making more scarf pins!  This is one I made for bead soup.  I will post more on my Etsy site because I just adore making them.  =)

Next thing was the earrings.  I wanted something tribal, just because.  I had these two matching beads and voila!  earrings!!

   I had a dream about this next earrings.  I just wanted something super simple and clean.  The mixed metal look is what I was going after.  

I think I will go back and make another pair in patina silver instead of the patina copper I used in the original.  Or I will patina the copper more.  I want a real black look to the long piece to really show off the brass cylinder and the bright sterling silver earwire. 

and last but not least, 

the bracelet.

I just used alot of the leftover beads.  I like the way it looks and my model insists I make her lots of them!

This bracelet can be made a tad larger and a tad smaller to help put it on your wrist.

I look forward to seeing what my partner has done with all her goodies!  

If you like any of these pieces I will be putting them up on my Etsy site for sale, except maybe the earrings. 

=D

A big shout out to Lori who put this whole thing together!  Thanks so much!  you rock!! Feel better.

Here is the soup I sent my amazing partner.  Shawn Price received her soup and is hopefully stirring the pot!

Am in love with the moonstones!

Clasp and focal

Sent Soup

This is the soup I sent today to my partner Shawn Price

Here is what Shawn sent me.  Tribal feel!!

Come back on May 3rd to see what I made with the soup Shawn sends me. 

Our Anniversary Jewelry

I just thought I would post this years anniversary jewelry I made our little family.  
Just a little back story......I met my man Marcus and we were married 3 weeks later. That is the extremely quick version.  We just celebrated our 5 year together in Feb. We love celebrations in our family, so we make a big stink about it!  We are so blessed to have come together as a family, I like to mark the moment each and every anniversary.  Last year I made the three of us, daughter husband and I, bracelets.  I made rings out of copper, put a glop of pure silver on the join and soldered the ring closed.  I did that for three of the rings.  I hammered them flat and engraved our names on the silver part.  I took the three rings and connected them all together using sterling silver rings that I soldered shut.  I tied 4 thin pieces of leather together, representing our four years together.  I hung some rock dangles off of the clasp, of course because it needs to have movement.  I love it and never take it off.  Neither does my husband.  Our daughter has probably lost hers!  lol.  She is not fond of jewelry and usually doesn't wear it.  Imagine that!  So very ironic being that her mother is an obsessive jeweler.  She must have thousands of things I make her because I just cannot stop!  any whoo........ here is the bracelet.............

  You can see my other two braided bracelet from year 2(silver) and 3(copper).  I did for both, 3 bunches of wire to represent the three of us and in each bunch is the representation of the year.  Year 1 actually broke because I wore it out and lesson learned, the metal was too thin.
So that brings us to this year.  =)
I made three intertwined copper rings because no one had any more room on their arms for bracelets.  =) 

Freshly soldered on my messy block!
I over exaggerated on the silver solder because I just love the silver and copper look, but later decided to take most off.
I hammered six lines on each of the rings to represent that we as a family are in going into our sixth year (5th anniversary).

As you can tell from this blog entry, I do love hidden meaning in jewelry.  Just little secrets that only you as the maker know and whoever you decide to tell.
Now, everyone reading this entry knows a little Pendragon secret!

 

Bead Soup REVEAL today!

Today is the day!
My fab partner in soup Elisabeth Auld sent me some cool shiny things to play with.  It was fun using this palette to see what came about.  

You can see Elisabeth reveal here at her site at http://www.beadsforbusygals.com. I am so
excited to see what she made with the goodies I sent her. 

I made a necklace, earrings, shawl pin and just for fun, hair bling.  I tried to solder a ring but sadly the bead on it cracked.  =( 
So, without further adiu~
first, the necklace

 The blue/green swirl focal pendant looks so great with copper, I decided that is where I will start.  I soldered lots of copper but kept the silver showing to give a hot mixed metal look.  My new favorite thing to do right now is to take pennies and hammer the bejeebas out of them and melt silver on it so you get these really funky designs.  I used two of them in my necklace.  One of them I framed in a thick copper ring and the other the ring is below it.  The beautiful color blue stone rondelles were from my soup. 

 The amber glass pony beads are also from my soup.  I added a silver drop from one and the other I kept with the mixed metal theme and used pure silver bead caps from my wonderful and talented friend Tracy Kruse from http://goldkissesart.blogspot.com. Also from my soup I added the oval nut beads.  I had some other round nut beads that I had and thought they looked great together.  The back of the necklace was originally going to be a bracelet but I loved the look of all the colors together on the necklace that I modified it to be part of the clasp. 

Here is the clasp I wrapped in copper to match the metals.  It has a beautiful glass bead made by Elisabeth Auld.  

Modeled here by my lovely daughter Sadie, this is what the necklace looks like on. 

Here is the earrings I made.  I used two of the gorgeous lampwork beads made by Elizabeth.  I went a little crazy with the copper wrapping but I had fun doing this.  It is my first attempt at wrapping in this way.  I really like the way the earrings manifested themselves into this design and the way the copper frames the beads.  The colors go well with the necklace too.

I really needed a pin for my wrap I always wear so I created one using another of the lovely lampwork beads Elizabeth sent me and some 14 gauge copper.  The hanging orange beads just pop with the blue and grey of the lampwork bead. The copper bead caps were again made by Tracy Kruse from http://goldkissesart.blogspot.com.  I made some copper cranberry head pins and hung some crystals bicones to give it a little sparkle.  The pin is approx 2 1/2 inches long by 2 inches tall.  I am happy and cozy now my wrap stays on my shoulders!

...and finally, the hair pins.  I made these for my daughter. 

Here is my sweet heart modeling them with her sock bun.  (yes, she used a sock in her hair)  lol 

So there you have it!!  My first bead soup is over.  I had a grand time and I was challenged in so many ways.  I was privileged of having a talented  partner also.  Thanks so much Elisabeth Auld, http://www.beadsforbusygals.com and thanks so much to Lori Anderson for all her hard work to put this all together and running smoothly even when she wasn't feeling too hot! 

Here is the incredible list of participants.  Click and see what was made!

First and Last Name	Blog URL
Alicia Marinache	http://www.allprettythings.ca/
Amber Dawn Goldish	www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com
Barb Solem	http://www.vivimagoopresents.com
Bev Breisinger	http://countryfrogcreations.blogspot.com
Birgitta Lejonklou	www.lejonklou.blogspot.se
Breana Fry	www.vault31.blogspot.com
Brenda Sue Lansdowne	http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/
Bridget Torres	www.Shears58.com
Carol Dee Myers	http://caroldeezigns.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Chenault	www.carolynchenault.wordpress.com
Cassi Paslick	http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier	Http://www.thebeadingyogini.com
Cheryl McCloud	www.cherylmccloud.blogspot.com
Cindy Wilson	www.itsmyseaofdreams.blogspot.com
Crystal Thain	http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Riggs	http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/
Dana Hickey	http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com/
Dana James	http://danasjewelrydesign.blogspot.com
Darlene Fortier	www.darliciousrejuvenations.blogspot.com
Deana Hager	http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/
Deanna Cox	www.deannaaki.wordpress.com
Deb Brooks	http://www.fromtheheartcreations.blogspot.com/
Debra Behrends	http://www.hopefuljourneys.blogspot.com/
Denielle Hagerman	http://www.somebeadsandotherthings.blogspot.com/
Denise McCabe	www.cabewoman.blogspot.com
Diana Frey	www.dianafrey.blogspot.com
Diana Welte	http://lilyweeds.blogspot.com
Dini Bruinsma	http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
DiYana Alcalde	http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Dolores Raml	http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/
Donna Millard	http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/
Dot Lewallwn	http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com/
Duane Clark	http://biz-e-bead.blogspot.com/
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/
Eleanor Burian-Mohr	http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com/
Elisabeth Auld	www.beadsforbusygals.com
Elizabeth Owens Dwy	www.1996shabbylane.blogspot.com
Emily Greer	http://www.gaiacopia.com/blog-2/
Enikö Fabian	http://perleni.blogspot.co.at/
Erin Grant	http://ErinsJewelryCreations.blogspot.com
Eva Kovacs	http://ewagyongyosvilaga.blogspot.hu/
Eva Sherman	http://evashermandesigns.blogspot.com/
Gina Hockett	www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Grace Rotenberg	http://rivkasmomcom.blogspot.com/
Gretchen Nation	www.artfoodlodging.blogspot.com
Hannah Rosner	http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com
Heather Davis	http://www.blissfulgardenbeads.com/
Heather Marston	http://www.cswdesignsbyhehe.blogspot.com/
Heather Powers	http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Ingrid McCue	www.wrappedinsilver.com
Jacqueline Marchant	http://jaacquelinesjewels.blogspot.com/
Jan Petek	www.janpetek.com
Janeen Sorensen	http://wildvanilladesigns.com/
Jane-Michael Stallings	http://www.craftvacuum.blogspot.com
Jasvanti Patel	www.Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Jayashree Paramesh	www.nchantme.com
Jayne Capps	http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
Jean Yates	http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Cameron	http://glassaddictions.com
Jennifer LaVite	http://www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Joan Williams	www.lilrubyjewelry.com
Jodie Marshall	www.Marshalljodie.blogspot.com
Judy Riggs	www.rigglettes.blogspot.com
Julie Anne Leggett	www.thepeacefulbead.com
Kat Barron Miller	http://mkpbeadart.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Kim Hora	www.kimmykats.com
Kim Houston	http://thepinkmartiniboutique.blogspot.com
Kim Sparks	http://beadabunch.blogspot.com
Krafty Max	http://kraftymax.blogspot.com
Kris Lanae Binsfeld	www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com
Krista French	http://expressyourfaith.webs.com/apps/blog/
Kristen Stevens	http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/
Kristi Harrison	http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com
Kumi Fisher	http://maliekaidesigns.blogspot.com
Laren Dee Barton	www.larendeedesigns.blogspot.com
Laura Bracken	http://laurabrackenblog.blogspot.com/
Laura Demoya	www.Thebeadtherapist.blogspot.com
Laurie Hanna	http://jewelrybylh.blogspot.com/
Laurie Keefe-Cecere	http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/
Lea Avroch	http://www.LAJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Leanne Loftus	Http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Lee Anne Messerschmidt	http://wiredhammerednworn.wordpress.com
Leslie Schenkel	http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/
Linda Anderson	http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/
Linda Djokic	www.lutkaandco.com
Linda Murphy	www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Linda Sadler	http://idalouisejewelry.blogspot.com/
Lisa Liddy	http://lisaliddy.wordpress.com/
Lisa Suver	http://fanceethat.blogspot.com/
Liz DeLuca	http://www.creativeartyfacts.blogspot.com/
Liz Engriser	http://www.beadcontagion.blogspot.com/
Lola Surwillo	http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen	www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Lori Anderson	www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Lori Bergmann	www.LoriBergmann.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Lori Poppe	http://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider	www.Beadaddicted.blogspot.com
Lyn Foley	www.lynfoleyblog.com
Maddison Langford	http://maddy-moo.blogspot.com
Magdalena Sikora	http://porannagazeta.blogspot.com/
Mallory Hoffman	http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Marcella Austenfeld	www.goodtogojewelry.blogspot.com
Marcy Lamberson	http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
Maria Clark	http://sweetwillowdesigns.blogspot.com/
Maria Rosa Sharrow	www.willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Marianna Boylan	www.stargirlshop.blogspot.com
Marie Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Marti Conrad	www.marticsclay.blogspot.com
Mary Ellen Merrigan	http://www.MaryEllenBeads.com
Mary Harding	www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Molly Alexander	http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com
Nan Emmett	http://spiritrattles.blogspot.com/
Niky Sayers	http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Pam Chesbro	http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/
Pam Farren	http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Pam Sandy	http://pamseclecticstuff.blogspot.com/
Pam Traub	http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Pamela Gangler	http://shealwayslovedpink.blogspot.com/
Patricia Buchanan	http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/braceletstoo
Patricia Johnson	http://patricialjohnsonglassart.blogspot.com
Patty Miller	http://cabaribeads.blogspot.com/
Paula Hisel	http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Peggy Gabrielson	http://georgiamountainarts.blogspot.com
Perri Jackson	http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/
Rachel Baron	http://www.rbarondesigns.blogspot.com
Rachel Stanley	http://2catchahummingbird.blogspot.com
Rain Hannah	http://honeyandollie.com
Rana Wilson	http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano	www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Robin Reed	www.willowdragon.blogspot.com
Rochelle Brisson	http://www.acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Rose Rushbrooke	www.roserushbrooke.com/blog/
Ruth Szapa	www.trudicrufus.blogspot.com
Sally Russick	http://thestudiosublime.com
Sandi Volpe	www.sandivolpe.com
Sandra Pendragon	http://sandrapendragon.blogspot.com/
Sandy Richardson	www.SandyColoringBox.blogspot.com
Sarah Small	http://bysalla.blogspot.com
Shannon Hicks	http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/
Shari Replogle	www.playswithpaper.blogspot.com
Sheila Daniels	http://www.cheekymagpie.com
Sheila Davis	http://www.stonedesignsbysheila.blogspot.com/
Shiraz Biggie	www.secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com
Shirley Moore	www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Skylar Bre'z	http://brisingbeads.blogspot.com/
Staci Smith	www.stacilouiseoriginals.com
Stacie Florer	http://www.soultosubstance.com
Stacy Pomerleau	www.craftenvilleblog.com
Stephanie Weiss	www.uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com
Sumi Rani	www.HundredColors.blogspot.com
Susan Sheehan	http://susanasheehan.blogspot.com/
Suzette Bentley	http://elliesbijoux.blogspot.com
Tamera Norris	www.beadsinspireme.com
Tracy Choy	www.bumblebeadsdesigns.Blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman	www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Valerie Norton	www.hot-fused-glass.com
Vicki Holliday	http://flopcatdesign.blogspot.com/