Super Secret Cuff

So I've been working on a secret project for a few weeks now.  It's something that only I knew about, not even J knew.  It wasn't as important as other projects, so it just got a little of my time here and there.  But I've finally finished it.  And I've pretty happy with it.

This is my cuff, it's not for sale, nor will there ever be one for sale.  It's a one of kind, something to show my boy I support him and the band.  It's the logo for J's band, 4 Aspirin Morning, or 4AM.

It doesn't look exactly like the actual logo, but I'm gonna go with it's my artistic take on the logo.  It's harder then it looks to make a cuff look like a logo.  Especially this one.  

I had to simplify some things and move some things around, but over all I think it looks good.

I wish I would have gotten a better picture for the reveal, but I couldn't wait any longer to post something on it.  My new remote shutter should be here next week, so I'll plan on getting a better picture and showing off some of the detail.

I like it a lot and wear it all the time.  I also am loving how the back background looks.  I used different sizes and finishes for the black, and it looks so cool.  I can see an all black cuff in my future.  Like I said I'll re-post better pictures of this cuff in a week or two.  Then I'll go through all the details.

So hopefully my cuff will go over with the other guys, I haven't shown anyone other then J so far (and all of you).  We'll see what they say.

And don't forget to enter my giveaway.  There are only a couple more days to get your name in the hat.  You could win one of two cuffs or a gift certificate.  Click HERE and help me celebrate my birthday with all of you.       

Wordless Wednesday!

Don't forget to enter my Blog Giveaway.  Only a few more days to enter and win one of two cuffs or a gift certificate to my etsy store.  Enter today. 

ArtBeads, Make It for Mom Challenge

Want to win a $250 ArtBeads.com gift card and be featured in their Learning Center?  Well then get on over to the Make it for Mom Challenge.  Show off what you've made for you mom for mother's day.  It can be anything, jewelry, crafts, etc, as long as it's made with beads.  Share with everyone your lovely creations that are truly special.   

All design submissions must contain at least 50% products available at the Artbeads.com website. Contestants must be 18 or older to enter and this contest is open to entrants worldwide. The winner will be determined by a public vote on Facebook starting at midnight (Pacific Time) on Mother’s Day. Make sure to submit a design yourself and tell all your beading friends, family and blog readers to enter this fun design challenge! 

Beaded Pendents

I've been working on a few smaller products as of late.  I think they help me keep focused and motivated.  They bead up in a few hours instead of a few days, so that instant gratification is what I need to keep me going. 

Here is my first little bead embroidered pendent.  Just a fun little one in dark blue and bright orange.  The center is a small blue cat eye cabochon. 

It's then backed with some nice leather and finished with a sheer white ribbon.

I like these because they are simple to work up, but they are also something that anyone would like. They are small, so the people who aren't big fans of my statement pieces would love this.  They are affordable, so the people that want something handmade and unique but are trying to save money (aren't we all), will also like it.  So it's a win for all different people.

I have a few more of these to take pictures and list.  I just finished up a fun green one with a lovely cameo cabochon.  These things are almost as addicting to make as the beaded triangles.

You can find this pendent in my esty store HERE.

And stay tuned for more of these little guys as well as a few new cuffs.  Plus a sneak peak of a custom order I'm working on for a repeat customer (I love custom orders).   

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 And don't forget to enter my birthday blog giveaway. I'm celebrating my birthday and thanking all of you that make blogging and creating so much fun. 

New Cuff!

Do you remember that little teaser shot I posted the other day?  One of some of the projects I've been working on.  It's okay if you don't that's it's not that big of deal.  ;-)

Well if you do remember it and were wondering what the finished product looked like (and even if you don't but just want to see some beady eye candy), well here it is.

I love it.  I've really been enjoying bead embroidery.  Who would have thought that I would be saying that.  Just a few years ago I loathed it with a passion.  I tried on project and vowed never to try it again.  It sickened me.  I would stick with my trusty peyote or herringbone or RAW stitches.  I didn't need no stinking bead embroidery.

 

Oh how time changes you.   Look at me lately, I'm on a bead embroidery roll.  Every time I start a project I think of another one I want to try.   There's just something about it that makes me happy.  It's like painting or something (and we all know I could paint a picture to save my life).

This cuff was just something quirky I wanted to try.  I didn't really have a design or pattern, I just glued some cabs down and went.  I didn't even know I was going to make it in this shape, the wavy shape.  I figured I would just make one in normal rectangle cuff pattern, but no, I ventured out of that dull, boring shape and got all crazy.  Now the possibilities are endless.  Who knows what I'll make next.

Thrift Store Shopping!

The ArtBead blog partner theme this time around is "What's Old is New Again".  What a truly fun theme.  There are so many possibilities.  The idea is to use something vintage (or vintage looking) and mix is with new components to make something awesome.  I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.  There are so many things that could be made, so many fantastic vintage items to use.

I swung by the thrift store on my weekly visit the other day to see what I could find.  I was a little distraught at first because I couldn't seem to find very inspiring jewelry pieces.  I use to stop by the local thrift shop all the time to pick up old costume jewelry to gut for their fantastic components.  But at first, my vintage hunting was not going as planned.

Click on the picture to see my thrift store finds better!

 Then I came across these fun little leaves.  Such cute little earrings (and of course they're clip on).  I love the little pearl detail.  Simple and beautiful.  I had an idea of what I would like to do with them, but wasn't sure.

I also picked up a little bag of buttons at the first store.  I always love finding buttons. They can be used for so many different things.

And of course I found tons of buttons at the next store.  Even a few that I thought would work with the color scheme I'd like to go with.  I'll have to see if they work when I get my little package of beads.    

I can't wait to start working on this project.  I have my sketch all worked out and I'm ready to get beading.  I'll give you another little sneak peak when my beads arrive.  And I can't wait to see what all the other talented artists come up with.  I'm sure this challenge won't disappoint.

Out of a Rut?!?!

I've started to feel bogged down by all the work I want to do around the house and J having a show every other day (okay not exactly, but it sure feels like it).  It feels like I'm the only one who wants to do things around the house because he's so busy.  It has started to get to me, but I'm hoping the warmer weather that has finally arrived will change my mood. 

I seem to go through this cycle of being very productive and then just not even touching a bead for days.  I'm sure it doesn't help that my studio is still a pile of boxes and mess.  Or the fact that I haven't touched my torch in over a year (oh how I miss melting glass).  Or that I have to share the space with J's computer (which isn't fair because he has the garage and downstairs studio).  It's just not really an environment that produces a very productive state. 

But sometimes you just need someone to tell you that the rut will pass and things will be back to normal soon.  And I feel that's what happened.   I just needed someone to tell me to hang in there and things will calm down.  And sometimes you just need to clean up the sun porch yourself to create an awesome beading space (pictures to come).

Sneak Peak of Current Projects

Now things have not really calmed down.  J still has two shows every weekend, but I've started to put things into perspective.  And I'm trying not to take too much on and do what makes me happy. 

The result, I have been so unbelievable productive this week.  I really have. 

I finished up the bead embroidery on a cuff.  I started a beaded rope.  I am half way done with my super secret project (I'll share soon).  I started and almost finished a bead embroidered pendent.  I've started planning my ArtBead project.  And I've been sketching like crazy.   

Holy crap, that's a lot (for me).  I'm pretty proud of myself and I'm hoping that I can keep this up.  Hopefully I can balance beading and house projects for a while. 

And for an added bonus, I'm enjoying Awesome 80s Friday and new hair cut.  Have a fantastic weekend all!

Also don't forget to enter my birthday giveaway.  I'm giving away two cuffs and a gift certificate to three lucky winners this month.  All you have to do is comment.  Check out this blog post for details.  I want to celebrate my birthday by giving back to all of you that have made blogging such a wonderful experience!!!!  Thank you!       

Birthday Giveaway!!

So it's my birthday month, yay!!  Another year older and I hope another year wiser.  So in honor of this month being such and awesome month, I'm having a giveaway.  WooHoo!!! 

And what can you win?  Well it's a pretty awesome line up this month.  This month I'll be giving away two cuffs and a gift certificate to my etsy store (you can also use it if you visit me at an art show). 

Fist prize will win this fantastic green lace cuff on light brown leather.  I love these cuffs.  I love how the lace beadwork and the leather work together.  And these green beads are so beautiful.  This will make a perfect addition to anyone's jewelry collection.

The second prize is this great blue beaded cuff on light brown leather.  It has a subtle triangle design that's oh so pretty.

And the third prize is a $10 gift certificate to my etsy store.  That's $10 to use on anything you would like.  Pretty awesome.

And how do you enter, you ask?

Well it's easy.   All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post and you're entered.  And you're comment could be about anything.  It's as easy as that.

Want an extra entry?  Oh course you do.  I'm gonna leave that one up to you.  Anyone can have ONE extra entry if they promote this giveaway in anyway.  So you can blog about it, post something on facebook or twitter, or anything you can think of.  Let me know how you promoted this giveaway and I'll throw your name in the random list generator twice. 

So lets recap.  You could win one of two cuffs or a $10 gift certificate just by leaving a comment on this blog post.  And you can get an extra entry by promoting this giveaway.  That's sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

I'll be running this giveaway for the entire month of April.  So get your comments in by April 30, 2011, midnight (central time).  And don't forget to share this fantastic giveaway with others.  Good luck all of you and thank you for making my blogging experience so fantastic!!!

New Necklace

I finished up this necklace over a month ago, but haven't gotten any pictures posted.  I know, I've been really bad about blog posts as of late.  And, well to be honest, I've not been in that creative of a mood. 

I have a bunch of projects either half started or need to be started, but I've had very little motivation to do any of them.  I just think all the projects around the house are getting in the way.  And now it's spring, so major projects will be started (hopefully my studio will be one of the first).

But I'm gonna try and get things posted up here and try to get some new projects done, I promise.

But back to the necklace.  I am having a lot of fun making really simple bead embroidered brooches and pendents (when I get anytime to actually bead, see above statement).  And this one was no exception. 

I used a small rectangle cat's eye cabochon for the center and just went to town with pink, brown, pearl, and gold beads.  I'm in love with the color combo.

I lined this baby with soft brown leather and added some pink and gold beaded edges.  And I made one of my other favorite things, a spiral rope to finish it all off.  And this is a double spiral rope, so it's really full and beautiful.  And boy is it sparkly.

I like this a lot and I'm hoping to get a few more made before the show season starts (even though I'm only doing a few shows this year).

Now I just need to get the motivation to get this listed in my esty store (as well as all the other things I have waiting to be listed).  I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! ;-)