Blog Buddy Beads

Ok, ok, ok...I know I have been extremely lax in my posts to the blog, but it has been somewhat boring around here. School, school and more school has taken up all of my time again. I will be so glad when this term is over and summer will be here. Conversion to semesters will finally happen in the fall and hopefully I will have that all under control.

Anyway, on to the main point of tonight's blog post. As I posted on Facebook earlier in the week, I won Magpie Gemstones Blog Buddy Bead Giveaway. Szarka Carter is the proprietor of Magpie and also a wonderful jewelry artist. You can see her work at Szarka's Artisan Couture Jewelry. I have "virtually" known Szarka for awhile now because we belong to several online jewelry artisan groups. I purchase some of my supplies, in particular gemstone beads, from Magpie and the quality is wonderful. For my jewelry making friends, I highly recommend Magpie, and I am happy to do this promotion. For my friends who love jewelry, please go check out Szarka's page. There are tons of lovely things to see.

Now on to what I did with my beads. If you checked out my Facebook page earlier in the week, you saw that I received what is in the picture on the right. First, is an abalone mosaic heart pendant and along with it is 2 strands of laboradorite beads. I wish my camera was better so you could see all of the wonderful colors in the pendant and beads. (For any family members who might read this money for my birthday to contribute to my camera fun would be great! Hint, hint. lol)

So, these all screamed out for sterling silver filled wire. First, I wrapped the pendant (no no, you don't get to see that yet). It needed to be hung on black suede cord, but you know me its not just plain black suede cord. Once I finished the necklace, I made a pair of matching heart earrings. Hearts made out of dark annealed wire with sterling and laboradite accents.

So here is the necklace on its embellished cord.

And, here is a close up of the cord.

Here is the set together.

I hope I did justice to these wonderful beads. Thanks Magpie Gemstones for picking me!

The Total Package

It has been awhile since I made a post. School is killing me this year. We have tons of changes...new classroom software, semester conversion, evaluations, assessments, grant, new course. It seems to be sucking the life out of me right now. Creative time has been fleeting, but I have managed to get a little bit of time in. I go crazy if I can't make something after awhile.

Since I'm getting very little creative time right now, I am doing my best to maximize the time I do get. I have been working really hard lately on stretching my creative abilities, going outside of the box, and trying to look at the total package. I think it has been a worthwhile exercise for me. I can see more growth and skill in the pieces I have made lately. I have never been one to achieve a goal and be perfectly satisfied with it. I am constantly driven to get better and to learn new things (this could explain why school is sucking up so much of my time as well).

Since my glass and wire wrapping skills have been getting better, I have been trying to stretch myself in the design area by looking at the total package of a necklace. I haven't been satisfied lately by putting my pendants on a cord. I have felt the need to make more dramatic pieces. So, I have been experimenting and testing my creativity in how I create the necklace portion of each piece. I've had some successes and some failures, but I am definitely learning a lot. These pictures are some of the recent pieces I've worked on.

I hope everyone likes the new pieces because I am having a thoroughly good time with this learning process.

For all of you who are having craft show withdrawals since the holidays are over, the Appalachian Artisans Guild Cabin Fever show will be coming up in March at the South Campus of Southern State Community College. I'll post more information on this later.

Holidays

It is the beginning of the holiday season. I wanted to take a moment to say how thankful I am for all of the new friends that I have met through my business and online who have been supportive of me and Big Grass Farm Designs. It makes this all worthwhile to know there are people out there who like what I do and enjoy the things I make. So, thanks to all of you. You mean a great deal to me.

I also want to remind those who are local that Saturday, December 3rd is the Holiday Heritage sale at Southern State Community College. It is a great day to start enjoying the holiday season. Tons of vendors, activities, a bell choir, and plenty of food. It is a good way to support the local artists and crafts people by doing some of your Christmas shopping there. The people on your shopping list will be pleased that you cared enough about them, that you got them something that is one of a kind, hand crafted, and not massed produced. While you're there stop by my booth to say hello.

I sincerely hope that everyone has a joyful and blessed Thanksgiving with there family and friends!

Holiday Sale!

Considering that I have only bought one Christmas present so far this year (and that was on Friday because my 11 year old pointed it out to me), I thought it was probably time to have a sale in my Etsy shop. Use Coupon Code HOLIDAY11 on any purchases in my Etsy shop from now to November 30th to receive a 15% discount. I will be adding new items all through the month so check back often. And, as always, if you are local to me use Coupon Code LOCAL1 to receive free shipping and then message me to arrange pickup/delivery. Also for those local, don't forget the Holiday Heritage Sale at Southern State Community College South Campus is coming up on December 3rd. I may just have a treat available for those of you who stop by my booth. Stay tuned...

The Countdown Is On!

Well, one week from today is the Appalachian Mountain Artisans Festival. I am extremely nervous for several reasons. The first one is the usual...will people like my jewelry...will they like it enough to buy it. I have managed to keep this fear under control for the last several years, because my jewelry and glass work have become more popular and I know I have many who buy from me frequently. That tells me someone likes it (besides my mom, who has too.) lol

More than that though is the fact that it is my first outdoor show, and it is three days long. All the shows I have done to this point have been indoor craft shows. No worrying with the weather. I have my canopy, and thanks to my wonderful husband I have all of the panels I need to close it up. I'm going to have to put it up by myself on Thursday while he is at work because I have ceramics class on Thursday night. Let's hope that goes smooth.

I am frantically making jewelry, and the kiln is running non-stop when I am at home. I think I have plenty of jewelry and glassware that people will like, but you just never know. It has been a mad rush with this and school. It won't stop any time soon. I have another show in Leesburg the first weekend in November and the Holiday Heritage show at Southern State Community College (where I work) the first weekend in December. I'm happy to have so many shows before Christmas. I hope I can keep up.

Three days...outdoor show...October in Ohio...need I say more. Everybody pray for good weather next weekend.