A Donation

I was asked to make a piece of jewelry for a fundraiser for ALS.  ALS or Lou Gherig's Disease is debilitating and there is no cure for it at this time. 

When someone asks me to donate my artwork for a fundraiser I have a difficult time saying "no".  I want to help.  However I have experienced some frustration because of donations I have given in the past to the point that I have learned to say "no" when asked.  I do donate to charities of my choice and prefer to give monetary donations rather than my artwork.

This time was different.  The person asking had purchased a piece of jewelry from me and they were very appreciative of my creativeness and the time involved in making the jewelry.  I couldn't say "no"!

I created this piece for the ALS fundraiser.

I tried patina on the copper for the first time.  I was surprised at how quick and easy it was!

I started out with the polymer yellow, green and orange beads.  It needed a pop of color so I added the blue.

I think someone will enjoy this late summer - early autumn necklace! 

I got a package today!

My bead soup was in the mail today! 

Woo hoo!  I love getting packages!

                                    

Look at this awesome tin that Lori Callahan of Dancing Wire and Beads made for my bead soup!  It is decoupaged on the top of the tin with lots of cool words.  I love it! And the soup looks soooo yummy!

"My, my" said the little birds "what do we have here?"  "Lots of pretties I see!"

That lapis focal has a gold streak down the middle!

I am loving that silver clasp and the pearls and shells!

There are lapis beads, coral beads, pearls and shells and a sterling filled clasp.... it has my muse swimming with ideas!  Totally different from beads that I have worked with which makes it so fun to do this BSBP!  Thank you so much Lori Callahan for the gorgeous beads!   I will tell you that lapis is one of my favorite stones.  Yay!  So exciting!  And thank you to Lori Anderson for hosting the 6th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party!

A Collection of Fun Things

Thrift stores entice me.  Yard sales call my name.  I could spend a day in antique and collectible shops. I can spend hours treasure hunting.  I have been trying really hard to spend time making some new treasures from all of the "finds" I have brought home with me!

This piece has a mix of old buttons, charms from found jewelry, czech glass beads, an earring from my collection of jewelry from an aunt who passed away and it is on a chain I found at the local thrift store.
It also contains some polymer beads that I made.  I purchased a small Wedgewood plate from an antique shop.

I made two polymer molds from the raised relief on the plate.  I made a ball of neutral colored polymer and put a pin in the center for a hole.  Using the two molds I pressed on two sides of the ball of polymer with the pin in it.  This made a coin shaped bead with the same relief that was on the plate.  After baking this bead I antiqued it with acrylic paints.

I love how it all came together!

It is a wearable story... especially when you think about where those buttons have been!

For My Daughter

I have been busy making jewelry for the bridesmaid's in my son's wedding.  I have a daughter that has been watching mom  make jewelry that she would actually wear... waiting patiently for me to work on jewelry for her for the wedding.

I have a collection of old jewelry from an aunt that we went through and found some interesting clear resin beads (I think) and some gold painted wooden beads.  We made up a bracelet and earrings to go with her outfit for the rehearsal dinner.  She is wearing a cream lace top.

She is happy and I have sore fingers... the sterling wire I used for the wedding jewelry is much easier to work with than the brass.  I am enjoying wire wrapping finally!  I have struggled to get this process down to where I am happy with it.

 I can't believe it is July 1st already!  This year is going by fast.  Hope you are enjoying your summer!  It has been a hot one!