Out of my comfort zone

I tend to make jewelry that I would wear but might not be what everyone else would wear. I am trying to do things that are out of my comfort zone. I am sure that I will be super critical of these things, but I still am going to try.

I'm Plurking and Tweeting

I have joined plurk and twitter and have met some very nice people there.
My addresses are:
www.plurk.com/beadlesandstones
www.twitter.com/BeadlesStones
Come join the fun.

I got a photo studio in a box and have been playing with it this morning. Talk about a difference in quality of pictures. Will post pictures later.

Back from Reno

We just got back from Reno, NV. We attend the car show called Hot August Nights. There were over 6000 cars registered this year. They have to be older than a 1972.

While attending that, one of my favorite places to go is the swap meet. I picked up some tools.

We had a wonderful time. Our cousin's car got a special prize.

Now I need to get busy and finish some jewelry projects. That is fun too!!!!

At last, a posting

It has been a while since I posted. I did do a nice posting a couple of weeks ago, but there was a glitch and it went away!!!GRRRRRR!

I have been working on enameling projects and finishing up other projects.

Here are some samples.

I have started a new etsy store for findings. It is www.findingsmyway.etsy.com

Take a look and see if there is something you can use.

Three things finished

I finished an enameled ladybug bracelet and an enameled celtic cross pendant. I am putting the finishing touches on zebra rock earrings.

This week we get to go to Prescott, AZ. We will camp in our fifth wheel and listen to bluegrass.

I'm Back!!!

Wow, it sure doesn't take much to throw me off of posting to this blog.
I just started my fabrication class and then next week I will add the enameling. I was going through withdrawals.
This class we are going to learn straw and water casting!! I can't wait. I will post my projects as I get them done.

The sun is shining!

We have had two days of overcast skies and then some rain (which we always can use). As you have heard, Arizona is dry heat. Well, the monsoons in the summer make it pretty humid. Right now, it is very humid. I don't know how people do it where there is a lot of rain.
Today I want to finish some earrings and start a bracelet. I got some inspiration. Now, I want to see if I can carry it out.
I have two more weeks til class. I want to have my projects all together so I can go and do them. One of the lessons this time is straw casting. I can't wait to use my scraps of silver and cast them.

Sunday afternoon, cloudy and hot

It is 100 degrees here and cloudy.
I have done some etching this week. I am getting things ready for my new classes. I will use the pieces in my enameling class. The etching came out really nice and so I want to do some more.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Finishing projects

This week has been spent finishing up projects. I finished a necklace that is sold and then one that is going to be mine. There is some UA game jewelry that I have been putting chains on.
I have started a ladybug project. Hopefully that will go OK. The patina and oxidizing solutions are out for delivery so I should get them any minute.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful week and have a wonderful Mother's Day.

A new month

May 1 already!!!! This month I have no jewelry classes. I hope to complete some projects. An order was completed for oxidizer and patina. These will be put to good use. There is a ladybug design in the back of my head that I want to do. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

New concrete jewelry method

This week in class I have been learning about concrete jewelry. My piece is made with copper, faceted stones, and concrete. The other student used a center stone with copper pieces radiating around it. The teacher did a spiral in the concrete.

One of the other students used seed beads and grout. It looked like a mini mosaic, very pretty.

I am not convinced that I will be doing any more. The frame construction takes up almost a whole class period.

The mini mosaic looks interesting enough to try. Again, the frame will have to be constructed.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and will have a wonderful weekend.

Debbie

Sunday afternoon

I have been very lazy in blogging and just about everything else.

My last enameling class was Friday. I have two more classes in jewelry construction and then a six week layoff. I will be going through withdrawals.

Here is my last enamel piece.

Happy Easter

It is a beautiful day in Tucson, great for hunting Easter eggs. Yesterday was rather dreary.
Here is hoping everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Getting ready for classes

My work has come to a halt while waiting the arrival of silver wire. Jump rings and earwires need to be made to complete projects.

This week at class I hope to learn to dome objects that are not circles or squares. At enameling, a cloisonne project has my name on it. The first one that I completed last year is awful. Here's hoping I improve.

The weather is beautiful except for the wind. It is inching up to the 90's.

Here's hoping everyone is having a good week.

Second Sale

Today I completed my second sale. The person who purchased the item was very excited, whew.

I started working on a turquoise and graduated copper bead necklace. The pattern is starting to take shape. Tomorrow I will string it.

There are many projects that have been started but not enough hours in the day.

Exciting classes this last week in enameling and in construction. Now I need to apply the lessons.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
Debbie

New Enamel pieces

I am trying to finish things from last Fridays's enameling class. Of course I have every gauge wire but the one I need to make earwires!!

The one pair of earrings turned out to have a bright red. Usually I get a brown so I was happy. The counter enamel is the prettiest blue! I domed the squares and then put them on the diagonal. If no one buys them I will wear them to the UA ball games.

The other thing is a pendant with flux and then the color "water" on top. Swirls of copper are in the enamel along with three millefiori beads.

The other pair of earrings are the prettiest shimmery blue. I need to get some silver wire to finish them.

All in all, I am very happy with the colors.

Tomorrow I go to jewelry construction class. I must get projects ready to work on.

www.beadlesandstones.etsy.com

Working on projects

Today I am going to work on finishing projects that I started in jewelry classes this week.
The first is a two pair of earrings that are enameled. Earwires need to be attached. The enameled colors are very nice. (You never know what the colors will end up being.) The first pair is a beautiful shimmering blue. The other pair is red (finally a decent red) and blue. These might be used to go to the UA games, red and blue.

A bezel set lapiz on silver pendant needs to be polished. A pair of smoky topaz earrings need to be polished (the setting) and then set. When all of this is finished I need to clean and organize tools and materials. This is a never ending project.

Hope all have a wonderful weekend.

If you have time please visit my etsy shop. www.beadlesandstones.etsy.com

Thanks for reading.

So Much Information

I am totally amazed and thankful for the amount of information fellow jewelry makers are willing to share. I have looked at other crafts and it seems to me that there isn't as much sharing.
The jewelry making forums are a favorite haunt. The tips, techniques, and ideas are plentiful.

Today is the day before my jewelry class. This is the day that I get my thoughts and projects organized so I make the best of my time in class. The teacher and students are so supportive.
Tomorrow we are going to learn about soldering strategies and bezels. Many of us have seen the demonstrations before but always seem to pick up new hints.

Hope all of you have a wonderful day.

Debbie

Hello to All

This is my very first blog.

I am from sunny Tucson, Arizona. We have had very warm days this week. Tomorrow it is supposed to be very cool, 79 degrees for the high. Our nice weather affords me the opportunity to walk every morning in comfort.
I am a retired school teacher who taught for 26 years. I was fortunate to be able to have experiences in most grades.
Since retirement, I have been taking jewelry construction classes. What a wonderful teacher I have!!! My teacher is now trying to educate me in the art of enameling. I now have an inventory built up and have started an etsy shop.
I am a proud member of SATeam on etsy. Talk about a nice bunch of people. Their willingness to share experiences is amazing.
Jewelry is calling me. Hopefully there will be some successes that can be listed on etsy.