more tree pins

i couldn't resist

i had to try a few color variations

o christmas tree, o christmas tree

i said it

you heard me
(for some the dreaded "c" word)

only 34 days til christmas

what are you doing to get ready??

i designed this tree pin for a class i taught yesterday

at john bead

i was like a kid in a candy store picking out all the elements

( oh, what i could do if i where locked up in this place........

like one of santa's elves, i would get so much work done)

a little wire, a mix of swarovoski and crystal beads,

and a pin to finish it off

the possibilities are endless

i think i will make one in every color

shape wire into a tree, add beads and pin

easy peasy

another alternative

since i had a few metal complex items on hand

and a wonderful letter set given to me from carmi

resin and wire jewelry

my favorite so far

on my last trip to   john bead   i bought several bezels with matching wire

my friend carmi gave me a package of the new jewelry resin by envirotex 

she also has a fantastic resin blog where you can find out all kinds of tips and tricks

i used some of my favorite photos to get me started and then used the resin

it worked wonderfully, no bubbles!!!

next i drilled some holes around the bezels and then they sat

i wanted to add the wire but with a twist, so i kept looking and deciding

finally a spark!!

one i started twisting i couldn't stop, the beads started flying and before i knew it

i had several done

inspired by the garden

playing around with some aluminium wire (12 and 18 gauge)

and a few beads

by the time i was finished it looked like a dragonfly

must have been inspired by all the time i've spent in the garden

i decided to make a few, i like the silver and blue one below

a new twist and one upped

after looking at several bezel that have been sitting on my work table

i got an idea, why not add some wire

so out came the drill, 1/16" bit

then the fun began
after a visit from my friend carmi, aka the resin queen
the ideas where flowing, she suggested using one of my digital photo
we narrowed it down to 2
since it has been a while since i poured resin, carmi offered to do the job


after several weeks, i almost forgot about it
while at carmi's studio i noticed the finished project
it looked great, she posted it on the john bead blog
now that we have worked out all the kinks i will get
busy making more!!

see shells......make something!!

something really appealing/pleasing about shells

maybe because they come from the water like me

i purchased a few mixed bags and some pearls at john bead

add a little copper wire and a crochet hook
fast and easy

and the finished project

my new toy

i love power tools, but sometimes when i'm trying to make

a very small hole it gets a little tricky

on my outing to john bead with carmi

she pointed out the metal complex gadget

it works great!! a couple of turns and

i was ready for assemblage



a little wire wrapping and my necklace was finished!

on my last visit to john bead i picked up several packets of

metal complex shapes in silver and copper

along with some aluminum wire

it didn't take long before i had several projects done

this is just the start of a new obsession!!

copper pendent

a few weeks ago i visited john bead and bought some copper wire

i usually work with silver but for some reason the copper appealed to me

in one day i made 10 necklaces

above one of the pendents i gave to my friend carmi

who decided to make a kumihimo cord to match (see below)

and then posted it on the john bead blog

now the wheels are turning again!!!!

too many projects..................

i have at least a hundred ideas running around in my head

some of them new things i want to try

like crocheting wire

i've crocheted since i was 7, every barbie had a poncho

it's something i do while watching tv
it was so easy, i have tons of wire, yarn and beads

all i had to do was make some time and start!

now i can't stop

last minute gifts

i finally got a chance to add some beads to the shapes i made last month

sharing ideas

last year i met irina pertseva at a local craft show

i loved her wire work so i bought one of her heart and stone necklace

i was wearing one of my celtic twist wire necklaces

and irina asked if she could take a photo and use the idea for her work

i said of course

sharing ideas is what makes the world go round

i knew that her jewelry would inspire me to try something new, which it did

today i saw her again and was amazed by her new stuff

and i was happy to see that i did inspire her to create the above necklace
i just had to buy it!!!

felting fun

this weekend , between teaching classes

i got to take one with my friend carmi

felted and stitched beads

what a great class

carmi is a wonderful teacher and

super organized

above her demo and some samples

i of course couldn't wait to hang one around my neck

so i twisted some wire to feature my bead

and then had time for another

thanks carmi for introducing me another way

to pass the time while watching tv

celtic twist

last nites class was great!

thanks girls for making it a wonderful experience
amazing work by all!!!



BTW, this is all the stuff that came out of the bug!!

not sure how it all fit but it did, with room for more!!

what to do when it rains for a week!!

after all the weed pickin'

it was time to get some jewelry made for

my upcoming classes at

mixed minded
there as still some spaces available

i'm also teaching an encaustic class

it will be a fun weekend

creating and catching up with my art buddies

hope to see you there

kink in my neck

while preparing for my jewelry classes

hosted by mixed minded

i got a little carried away twisting wire and

managed to make a few new pieces

now, if there only something i could do
to get rid of the kink in my neck

shellin' out

my friend karen, the queen of jewelry making

gave me some irregular pearls

not knowing what to do with them i put them away

until now.............

which lead me on the hunt for more



i never knew there was some many to choose from
i love a various shapes and sizes
they work well with pearls and shells
and with my wire shapes