What's been in the works

This week I have been rearranging my studio space (again).  This time was to accommodate the addition of a treadmill and recumbent stationary bike into the space.  I took advantage of the move to also add my bead table and storage in there and even do some reorganizing.  I will try to get yo some pics of that tomorrow.

Yesterday the temp here soared to an unprecedented 66 degrees with sun!  Yes, sun in western NY in January (it was back down in the 30's today but let's focus on the positive)!  So while the sun was out yesterday I took a few quick pics of some projects and beads I worked on in late Nov and Dec. 

First up is this cool copper cuff.  After cutting it out I textured it in my new Sizzix BigKick that I got a great Black Friday deal on.  Then I added patina with ammonia fuming and sealed it with Protectaclear.  The patina is actually a little more blue than it appears in this pic. Tip of the Day:  If you have been dreaming of a rolling mill but can't afford one the BigKick might be a temporary solution for you.

I also worked in quite a bit of enamel and copper.  The dragonfly is an older piece but I made him a new bail and a neck ring to hang from, the blue flower would also work with this neck ring.

There was some beading done.  The flat spiral bracelet is still in progress and is very similar to the necklace from the Hoops Challenge.

I worked on my lampwork skills.  It's a work in progress, still working on how not to get bubbles in my transparents. I love the paisley, too bad the ivory in the center of the paisley was very picky and burned.

Here are a couple bracelets I made from my very own beads :).  I need to rework the memory wire bracelet,    it holds it's shape well under the weight of the beads but needs more beads and it has a tendency to fling off my wrist when I talk with my hands, lol.

I had a bit of torch time today but the beads are still annealing, so those pics will have to wait too.

Pain is, well a pain, but...

Pain is indeed just that, a pain.  I often have horrible pain in my neck in shoulders that causes headaches so intense it's actually nauseating.  In a way the pain is my own fault, I know by now that it is often caused by stress, but sometimes I'm not entirely aware that I'm stressed until the pain comes. That coupled with the degenerated discs in my neck can be an ugly combo.  At least I haven't had the associated jaw pain in a couple years, and I give thanks for that regularly because a headache combined with a toothache type pain the length of your jaw can be really debilitating.

The positive side of this is... when the pain subsides life looks even more beautiful than before the pain began.  You are reminded how nice it is to be pain free.  I am reminded that I am lucky pain is not a constant for me as it is for so many people.  I am reminded that as long as I can still feel pain, that I can still feel.  I am reminded that as long as I can feel pain I am still living on the right side of the grass. 

Enough complaining, my pain may have kept me from creating today, but surely not tomorrow too :).  Tomorrow I move FORWARD again. What's the positive in your life today?

Poor Mr. Turtle :(

I made gifts for most everyone in the family for Christmas.  I know some of you are still waiting for your packages to arrive, I will get them mailed soon :).  Many of them I forgot to take pics of, not sure why I keep missing this step, a big DUH moment o my part.

Anyway, one of the gifts was this little lampwork turtle I made for oldest daughter Jacqui's boyfriend.  Younger daughter did the macrame for me and I made the toggle and clasp.    I think he really liked it, though I was worried it might be a lil too cutesy.  He's a big fan of turtles so he didn't mind the cute factor. Poor Mr. Turtle met his demise when he fell from Allen's neck to the terra tile floor at work :(.   My fault as it seems the toggle was a bit too small for the clasp, so i will be working on a new turtle bead and a new clasp for Allen soon.

 

Also got a quick and blurry shot of the mushroom pendant I made for Jacqui.  She loved it!  I had a ball making it and have a ton of ideas for a whole run of these mushroom pendants and trying my hand at implosion work.  I should have photographed this against a dark background rather than her very fair Irish skin. 

 

Forward in 2013

It seems choosing a word for the year is a popular habit amongst bloggers, so I figured I would join in.  My word is FORWARD as in, move forward, pay it forward, look forward to, be forward (when necessary), etc.

The last several days here have brought the WNY winters we used to be known for but haven;t seen in several years.  First was a snowstorm that dumped 12 inches on us and it has snowed at least an inch here everyday since.  It's okay though, we are western New Yorkers, we are getting used to it again.  It has been that pretty Currier & Ives snow, big fluffy flakes floating gently on the crisp air.

Had a lovely holiday season with family.  Looking FORWARD to the year ahead and all the change it may bring.  Wishing you a safe, happy and prosperous 2013.

A few pics of the snow here fro a couple days ago.

Beads and project pics coming soon!  Oh by the way at the end of 2012 I did a couple tutorial posts over at Artisan Whimsy.  Here are the links, post 1, post 2,  and post 3.

(Partial) studio redo

OK, so some of you probably know that my studio is actually several "mini" studios around my home.  I have redone my torching studio (which used to live in my kitchen, BAD I know).  My torching station/studio is now in another room.  My sewing machine used to live on this surface but has been put on a shelf since I haven't used it for anything major since the summer.  Don't get me wrong, I still love fiber too, but for the smaller projects I do now and again the machine can be used on my dining room table.

Here are some pics of the new torching set up...

Not a perfect ventilation system, but much better than what I was working with previously.  Since this pic was taken I have doubled my enamel and glass inventory.  Oooooh and added a mini bead annealing kiln (pics soon).  I wish I could say it always looks like this but truth be told, 5 minutes at the torch and the space looks nothing like this, lol.  Try not to be jealous of my super cool mandrel holder there on the right, and the recycled can rod holders on the left.

 Close up of my super cool mandrel holder.  Yes it is a recycled box with holes in it that I stabbed with a fork, hooray for upcycling!  I will say it is very serviceable, holds the mandrels upright and spaced well while the bead release dries.  When one is starting out we have can't have all the fancy stuff right away, gotta save the cash for the real supplies like enamel and glass.

View out the torching station window.  Not that I look out it much because I have to focus on what's under the torch, but it's a nice view when I do get to look up.  Thanks to my neighbors Sue and Al for keeping such lovely, stately trees for me to enjoy.

Where do you create? 

Back from a brief MIA...

Hi All,

Sorry I went off the grid for a bit there.  A number of personal things had finally caught up with me and after a brief pity party for myself, I have been busy making and had a few shows thrown in too.  I would like to thank all the peeps who visited me at the shows, particularly those who had such kind comments on my work and especially those who made purchases.  It truly warms me to the bottom of my heart when someone admires my work.  I suspect it is like that for most artisans, it's like a validation that all the passion you pour into your work is on the right track when other appreciate it :).  This of course includes all of the kind and dear readers who leave lovely comments here on my blog as well. 

I have been working in copper, enamel and glass these days as before.  I'm hoping to have bracelets completed combining those three materials for several people by Christmas.  This last week has been mostly a focus on lampwork beads and techniques.  Huge thanks to all those lampworkers out there who have posted tutorials all over the net for me to learn from, that goes for my enamel and metal buddies too.

Pics coming soon, have lots to show but need to get the camera out this weekend.  Also working on the tube bead tutorial for Artisan Whimsy.  Crossing my fingers that I can talk my daughter into playing photographer while I am at the torch because I'm not sure I can roll the bead etc one handed, lol.

Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving and wishing you all the joys of the winter holiday season!

Ears To You blog hop REVEAL...

I sincerely and humbly apologize for being over 12 hrs late getting this posted.  In my rush to get everythig done and attend a wholesale appt. yesterday and a retail show today, I completely spaced on doing my post.

Ears To You is a fabulous organization that was brought to my attention by Amy of Copper Diem via this blog hop.  Ears To You provides earrings for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment in a effort to raise their spirits.  We all have that fave piece of jewelry that makes our day a little brighter, that is the hope here.  The challenge was simple, make 3 to 5 pairs (or more) and send them off to Ears To You.

Here is what I have for Ears to You so far, I plan to donate more in the future.  Instead of my usual heavier earrings I pawed around my stash for beads that were lighter weight.  My thought was that sometimes it can be uncomfortable to wear heavier earrings and these women are going through enough already.

A big thank you to Amy for making us all aware of this great organization.  If you would like to donate too all the info is available at Amy's blog Copper Diem the link is below.  Thanks for stopping by, here's the list so you can keep hopping if you haven't already:

Copper Diem
My Addictions
Beads, Tea and Sweets
Juls Beads
Fabric of my Life
Blogging Business Artisans
Jeannie's Blog
Lorelei's Blog
One Kiss Creations
Backstory Beads
According to Katie
Cherish Designs
Beads: Rolling Downhill
Falling Into The Sky
Garden Path Beads
Antiquity Travelers
Sissy and Jacks
Erin Siegel Jewelry/Art Bead Scene
Northwood Creative Studio - you are here
SilverRose Designs
Dreamin of Beads/SAS Jewelry Design
Cabe Woman
Summers Studio
Honey from the Bee
Shaiha's Ramblings
Mama's Got to Doodle
Beads for Busy Gals
Tanya McGuire
Creative Atelier