Monday, November 24, 2008

OK, THE ELECTIONS OVER!


OK...Now that the election is over we can all get back to our stained glass and jewelry making as usual, right? Well, I hope so, but with the economy in such an up and down spin I know it's going to be hard. I try to keep a positive outlook on everything, after all that's really all you can do, your already surrounded by so much negativity. So here is what I suggest. Get back to the basics, or nature if you like. Open your eyes to everything and anything as a possibility for a piece of jewelry, or if it can take the heat of a soldering iron and you can wrap foil around it (or lead, zinc, copper or brass) then you could use it in a stained glass sun catcher or unique creation of your own. Be creative folks! They did it back in the great crash of 1929 with tin foil, sugar and you name it. So I know we can do it with what ever we come up with today. Granted I don't think sugar fits into stained glass or jewelry making, but you get the picture. Look at it like this, we've had since 1929 to prepare for the return of this type of money crunch time, so let's get down to business and show how creative we can be!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Shop Our New Location!

We are very excited about this new website we have just recently opened. Check it out and let us know what you think. We have a large selection of items, and plan on having a lot more, listed in the Gallery sections. Plus, we have about 50 items for sale in the Marketplace area as well. This is a new website and we are still in the beginning stages of setting it up, but with that in mind, there are still lots of great things to check out. Hope you enjoy it!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Falls Back!

Well falls back no matter if we like it or not! Frankly this is one of my favorite times of the year. I love to watch the leaves change colors, and the cooler temps don't bother me either. Well it never fails though when fall gets here I always get inspired to go back to those earthy, more natural colors. I do it in everything I do. The clothes I wear, the make-up I put on, and the glass and jewelry I create all seem to start having a more earth color to them. It's that "fall" side of me just falling out all over the place! Let's hope that's all that falls out:) Anyway, life always just feels better in the fall. I think it has something to do with going through the change (no, I mean the change for us women over 45!) and loving the cooler temps. It's that half way point between burning up and freezing to death. Ahh, just right! Well hopefully you get my point, it's just nice to have fall here. Because I know that in about a month and a half I'm going to be looking out my window and there's probably going to be about 3 to 4 feet of that white stuff on the ground. I'm going to be freezing to death and have my heat set on 68 degrees and be wrapped in every piece of extra clothing I can lay my hands on, because the gas and oil prices are going to be through the roof and I will need to conserve my heat! I know all this is going to happen because it always does happen, every winter, just like the winter before, without fail. There's not a lot I can do about that. But this morning it was a crisp cool 60 degree morning and it's been that way all day long. So that's why I'm loving it that fall's here. Because there's nothing I can do about it, and AT LEAST IT'S NOT SNOWING!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Just a Quick Catch Up

There are some great websites out there for all you want to be jewelry makers. I've found some really great ones over the years and have just recently found two more. BeadandButton.com and BeadUnique.com are both great sites, so if you've always dreamed of beads and jewelry making check them out.

Well with all the hurricanes lately the weather hasn't been all that great around here lately, so it has been a great time to catch up on all those in door projects I have put off. The trouble is that everyone else seems to have a project or two in mind for me that I'm not aware of until right before I decide to start my own. So I'm feeling the need to sneak off and not tell anyone, and just maybe I might get one of my own glass or jewelry projects started and possibly completed with a little luck!

Hope all of you out there are having a great end to your September. The holidays are fast approaching and hopefully you have plenty of product completed for all those great sales your going to make during the holidays! Don't forget, we'd like to hear your comments on the jewelry and glass, let us know what you think of the websites and the blog. Do you have any suggestions or ideas? Well speaking of ideas, there's no one around asking me to do anything right now, so I guess I better attempt to make my getaway! Remember DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF!

HAPPY CREATING!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

This is "African Royalty". I used African trade beads when I made it, along with a lot of glass and gemstones, not to mention metal beads too. What do you think? Did I name it right?
Like I said before this is one beautiful stone! This time I set it with hematite. It just makes it stand out even more.
I just love the color of coral! The coral and copper on this necklace reminds me of warm night in that sexy dress with that great someone!
This was a joy to make! Since my husband and I both play guitar I used Elixir guitar strings (only the finest!) to do some of the wire wrapping. The stones are a mix of turquoise and deep purple crystals.

Monday, August 11, 2008

These adjustable Chinese tile bracelets are some that I made after I received one from a friend of mine who is Chinese. She gave me one that was from where she was born, so these are the American version of the one I received.
This is one necklace and earrings set I made with various gemstones and beads and a sterling silver bail that I think is gorgeous. The bail is holding one of the most beautiful turquoise donuts I have ever seen!
This is an adjustable cord necklace with a Chinese Zodiac coin suspended from it topped with a carved cinnabar bead. I loved making this necklace, because I love the Chinese culture so much. This just has a special feel to it. What do you think?