Doesn't work!

I know, I know, the background doesn't work with my banner...

I do like the Christmas banner, color and detail on the sides but plain in the middle, so I may try to change my banner somehow? I'll see what I can come up with.
I'm working on a new jewelry post...it will be up soon!

Cheers

Couldn't Wait!!!

I've been waiting for about a week now for a brighter day, it really does make a tremendous difference in my photos ...unfortunately it has been gloomy and gray! I have two necklaces I want to show you...for today I have just the one because the other necklace is made with Swarovksi crystals and I just couldn't get their sparkle, so that one will wait!!!

Back in September I won three strands each of two different colored African bone beads... I won these on my friend Pearls blog, thebeadinggem.com . The beads were courtesy of For The Love of Beads an online Canadian bead shop.

It took me awhile but I don't like to make something until I "feel" like it...sometimes it just doesn't work. Here you have it...the African bone beads, brown/black agate, crazy lace agate(love this stone) spaced with pewter beads, finished with a butterfly toggle...if you compare the top photo of the beads and the bottom of the necklace you will see what I mean about the quality of the photo...the bead photo was taken on a brighter day and the color is much nicer, more accurate!

I'll have to take another on a brighter day and post it...as this photo doesn't do the necklace justice, if I do say so myself!!! :0)

Cheers

Third time is not a charm!!!

Ok...ok...this is not "the one", but I do like the colors...as Mei suggested the lighter color is easier on the eyes!

I started playing around and lost track of time, so I will settle for this one for the time being. It came from Scrap-E-Blog, the blog backgrounds are by Cori and she has some great backgrounds...but still not as simple as I think I would like.

Will keep looking...but for now I have to go or I'll be late!!!

Cheers

Surprise Again!!!

While I love the last background, I found it just a bit too busy for me...especially when I upload jewelry photos...I do expect to change the backgrounds out often until I find the one that suits the best...I do like the colors in this one???

I found the link for this site The Background Fairy while visiting a friend Diane, I never noticed the link until this morning but thought I would take a look...

Cheers

Surpirse!

Hey...I know it is a bit of a shocker but it is sort of growing on me!!! I've been wanting to change the blogs appearance for some time now but I didn't know what to do so I didn't do anything! Until I came across "Scrappin Blogs" ...great site...lots of templates to choose from!

So I decided to give this one a try...if it doesn't end up being "the one" I'm sure I will find something else I like...

A new piece will be up in the next day or so...
Cheers

Awards!!!

Now that my busy time of the year has slowed tremendously I've the time to acknowledge two awards that two blogging friends saw fit to bestow on me!

I do have to mention during my busy season I don't usually have the time to respond to the awards...that in no way means I don't appreciate the kindness or the thought...it just means some things have to wait!!!

The first award is from Mei, at Wire Bliss Mei. Mei makes amazing wire wrapped jewelry and has an extensive list of great tutorials of her work, stop by and say hello! Thank you Mei for thinking of me...
Mei presented me with "The Premio Meme Award"...the rules are simple. List seven facts about yourself and pass the award to seven worthy bloggers.

1. Jewelry is my first passion...photography is fast becoming a second passion, beyond the need to take great photos of my jewelry...reading is in there somewhere!
2. Always wanted to paint...or write a book!!!
3. I get side tracked easily, which is why there never seems to be enough time in a day!
4. I dislike "house work" and that includes cooking!!!
5. I love the sun, sand and water...should have been born in the Caribbean...or Florida at the very least!!!
6. I have a certificate in Criminal Psychology & Behavior and seriously contemplated getting a degree, 5 years ago!!!!!
7. I've developed a strong liking for chocolate in the last few years!

The second award comes from Mei...it is the "One Lovely Blog Award"...
All this award requires is to be passed along to 15 other blogger that are newly discovered.

Thanks again Mei...

My third award comes from Diane at That's What I'm Here For ...Diane is a gentle soul who who writes about life and everything that comes with it! Stop by and visit Diane...she always has something interesting to say! Thank you Diane for thinking of me for the "Over The Top Award"...

This award calls for a quiz of one word answers...shouldn't be difficult, right???
Where is your cell phone? kitchen

Your hair? short

Your mother? Florida

Your dad? Passed

Your favorite food? Salty

Dream last night? No

Favorite drink? Wine

Goal? Many

What room are you in? Studio

Hobby? Lots
Fear? Flying over water

Where do you want to be in 6 years? Respected

Something you aren't? Disciplined enough

Muffins? Cranberry

Wish List? Peace

Where did you grow up? North Bay, Ontario

Last thing you did? Lunch

What were you wearing? Cloths

Your TV? Off
Your pets? Cat

Your life? May change directions

Your mood? Calm

Missing someone? Yes

Vehicle? Van

Something you're not wearing? Earrings

Favorite color? Purple

Last time you laughed? Today

Last time you cried? Recently

Best friend? Yes

Place you could go over and over? Beach

Person who emails regularly? Many

Favorite place to eat? Cecil's

Well...I didn't do too badly...some just required more than one word... :0)
Again...thank you Mei and Diane for thinking of me...I am truly honored!!!

I've thought about what I should do regarding passing these awards along, because with three awards there will be duplication, even triplication...is triplication a word??? :0)
I haven't decided so for now I'll do nothing, and leave that thought for another day!!!
Oh my...I just realized this is a very long post...hope you get through it...
Cheers

Red Magma Sprig Coral!

How is that for a name of a Swarovski crystal??? Red magma is a gorgeous color!

That is the color of the Swarovski Sprig Coral that I received from Artbeads.com in the same packages as the tanzanite Swarovski crystals. I just noticed while doing this post the Sprigs and many of the Swarovski pendants and components are 15% off until November 5th....I'm going to have to take a few minutes to do some shopping!!!

Isn't the Sprig beautiful...I've never been a fan of orange red but this is special!

I also liked the is Swarovski Cosmic Oval in the red Magma...it will go nicely I think!

...and what about these huge Swarovski red Magma roundelles??? I love these so much I picked up a dozen more...not sure how many I'll use for the piece but they certainly won't go to waste!

There you have the individual pieces all from Artbead.com...I'm also planning on using one or two pieces of fine silver ovals and sterling silver chain...

Stay tuned for the finished piece soon...

A special thanks to Artbeads.com for all the gorgeous Swarovski components, pendants and beads.

Sorry I've been absent this week...I had a great three day show this past weekend and I'm preparing for the last of my three day shows this coming weekend...then I will have some time to get back to my regular visiting!

Cheers

Simply Elegant!

Here is the finished necklace made with the gorgeous tanzanite Swarovski filigree flower pendant that arrived from Artbeads.com...

If you remember I also received tanzanite Swarovski links as well as Swarovski tear drops. The links I spaced with in the chain and the tear drops as you see I hung from the pendant...

I decided to use a couple of clear bicone crystals along with a delicate round linked chain which I had on hand. I wire wrapped the bicones with sterling silver wire before adding them to the chain along with the Swarovski links...the round linked chain complimented the filigree effect of the pendant! I wire wrapped the pendant to rings because all my rings are 18g and the filigree around the edges was too small for the rings to fit through...not an issue for me but if you don't do much wire wrapping you would have to make sure you have a 20 gauge rings or smaller on hand. The tanzanite tear drops also had to be wire wrapped on to the pendant...a simple add with great results.

I have to congratulate the Swarovski company as they out-did themselves when they made this filigree flower pendant.. I can't say enough how gorgeous it is...delicate looking but substantial without being too heavy, it is rhodium plated which will help to keep it bright and sparkly as the day you receive it!

I wire wrapped two clear crystals to two of the links for a simple pair of complementing earrings which you see in the photo below.

Artbeads.com has over 20 other filigree flower pendants for you to check out...gold, silver or rhodium plated, with different colored Swarovski crystal, ranging in size from 19.5 x 19.5mm to 38 x 38 mm...

When I first saw the pendant I new right away what I wanted to do with it...something simple but elegant...not too fussy...
Artbeads.com is a great place to shop...they have some of the most interesting and unique items I've not found else where...
Thank you Artbeads.com
Cheers...

Who doesn't love Swarovski crystals???

I may not use them in every piece I make but I come back to them often...
I received my package from Artbeads.com and I'm so excited to show you part of the order today... gorgeous tanzanite Swarovski components and tear drop pendants ..when I was looking through Artbeads.com a few weeks ago and saw this stunning, delicate, yet substantial filigree pendant I knew I had to have it, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it as well...of course purple is my favorite color so the color of this pendant was a huge draw for me.

Then we need special accessories for the pendant...such as these great Tanzanite Swarovksi channel set links...are you getting the idea in my mind?

How about these three elegant tear drop pendants...they will be great additions to this piece or any piece for that matter...

Here is a photo of everything together...well almost everything...I will be using sterling silver chain as well, but I haven't decide which one to use just yet so instead of holding up the post I've decide to show it with out the chain! A surprise is good!

Thank you to the wonderful folks at Artbeads.com...check out their online store you won't be disappointed!!!
Cheers
PS...there is one more Swarovski crystal post...but not till I show this piece finished!

Winning beads!

Laundry room photography studio!!!!!!!
For the month of September we had warm sunny weather but the minute I wanted to take photos it started to rain, got cold and windy....down right nasty!!!
For the last three years I've tried to take photos indoors, in every room imaginable, upstairs, downstairs, living room, dining room...I've never been satisfied with the results after taking what felt like 100's...poor lighting, no sparkle, wrong color, etc., etc., etc.

BUT...Late yesterday afternoon it dawned on me when I was doing laundry that the window right beside my dryer just might have the perfect lighting!!! I couldn't believe it was staring me in the face daily. I went to take a few photos and of course my battery died so I had to wait until it charged, which takes a few hours. I took the photos this afternoon of all the beads and I'm so thrilled with them, especially the crystals...wish I had thought of it before!!! So ...here is the first of three post that I was talking about...

My beads have arrived...
On September 13th I entered a contest on Pearl's blog, a fellow Canadian, thebeadinggem.com. You really must visit her blog as her posts are always interesting, and informative, but often she showcases unique and unusual designers/jewelry. The prize for Pearl's draw was African trade bone beads from For The Love of Beads a Canadian online bead store, which is run by Emily and Suzanne the bead ladies who look after the store and their husbands Mike and Hayden who are the webmasters.

Here are my beads and I'm thrilled with them...take a look!!!
I received three 16 inch strands of these brown and beige beads, very earthy and rustic looking...I can dress these up or down, pair with other bone beads, wood, pewter, or copper beads, or how about smokey quartz or onyx or even carnelian...there are endless possibilities for these!

I also received three 17 inch strands of these gorgeous dark brown and turquoise colored beads...they would work perfectly with turquoise stones and sterling silver or copper accents...but my choice would be sterling silver! Onyx and smokey quartz would also be nice...it will take me fore ever to decide!!!

I would like to thank Pearl for having the contest and Emily and Suzanne for providing such a great prize...imagine 6 strands of beads!!!

Don't forget to stop by and visit Pearl and the ladies of For The Love of Beads!!!

Cheers

PS...watch for my posts with "sparkling Swarovskis" coming soon!