Playing with wire.

I finally started playing with wire. I have been wanting to incorporate wire work in my jewelry for some time now and am so glad I took the plunge. Wire has a life of its own so it is taking some getting used to maneuvering it but in the few pieces I have done, I already feel like they are turning out better.


I bought a thing a majig today and some colored copper wire to practice. This is my first pieces and I think I went over board with the loops. I love how it turned out but I think they will be better next time after more practice.


This is the second design I did. I think it turned out much better. I also learned you need to press down on the wire after every loop you make to ensure that it stays together instead of pulling apart when you remove it from the pegs.
We are heading to Santa Cruz for the night tomorrow so I won't be able to spend more time with this until Thursday. Then baby sitting on Friday and a promise of GI Joe at the drive in Saturday so no beading for me for a few days.
The kids start school again on the 20th and I am really looking forward to having some free time to really get some things made up. I will hopefully be getting a table at the Holiday Craft Fair at Berryessa flea market in November and I want to be ready. It will be my first ever!

Pay it forward.

One of the things I like most about having a blog is my list of people I follow. Someone always has a cool project or something fun going on. That being said, I found this great game on Julie's blog and totally love the idea. Here is the post from her blog.

I found this Pay It Forward Game on a fellow Blog. I have followed Julie for awhile now after stumbling upon her site from another blog. I love seeing the new things she does and it really inspires me to get my but in gear to try new things.

Okay - Here's how it works:

I am entering into the following contract with the first 5 people who comment on this post and then commit to do the same on their blog. I'm the world's worst when it comes to commitments via the BLOG - but this one really appeals to me!

Just read below and if you feel up to the task copy the following into your blog and leave me a comment.

I am willing to send a surprise worldwide (I live in the USA, BUT before any goodies are sent out - I must see a post on your blog - send me a link - that'd be perfect).

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It’ll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber.
5. I reserve the right to do something strange or weird (though I don't really make strange or weird myself - but left the text in - just in case someone else may think so).
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.
7. Send your mailing address – after I contact you.

Welcome to everyone. I will however, make an effort to do something that you like based on what I see on your blog, BUT there are no guarantees.

Hoping I won't have to beg :)

Stuff for sale!

Yay! I finally got some more items posted on ETSY and the link is on the top of my blog. More to come in the next few days. I am so not hoarding stuff to post anymore, it will be up one or two at a time. I think it will save me so much time! Does anyone else have suggestions on how they post their stuff to sell? Any tips would be wonderfull!

Note to Self

I finally sat down tonight to start photographing and measuring things that I have made lately so I can get them listed on my ETSY site. I have learned a few things while doing this so here are my notes to self for next time.
1. Measure the finished length right when you are done.
2. Take a picture or two of the finished piece right when you are done.
3. Make sure you charged your camera battery so you don't have to stop halfway and scramble for your back up battery.
4. Make sure your back up battery is charged too.

I normally make a few things and do photos and stuff together and that is fine for a few items. I have made about 40 pieces since I last took pictures so it was a little labor intensive tonight, not to mention more than half are only measured and not photographed. Plus I still have to photo shop my pictures and get them posted. I am going to be busy this Wednesday!
I also noticed that I have been on a necklace kick lately. I made my mommy in law a clear illusion necklace for her birthday and fell in love with how they turn out.

I need to add some more items to my stock and put the necklace making up for awhile, well at least till I find out if anybody else likes them too!

Slacker that I am

Wow it has been ages since I have posted. I wasn't feeling up to much there for awhile but things are much better now. We made two trips up to Oregon this past spring, one for my brother who came home and one for my sister who graduated high school. It was nice seeing family but also hectic and exhausting. 1200 plus miles round trip and twice in 1.5 months.
Mike and I are doing really well. We decided to give things one more try before we give up for good and get a divorce. I guess we both realized what we would be losing and that we do love each other still. The good news is we are getting along really well.
I am also getting in a ton more beading time.
Best of all, I finally learned to do viking knit. Yay me! I had such a hard time finding a tutorial on this so I ending up piecing together info from lots of different sources.

The top piece is my first ever attempt at single viking knit. Then I tried again with I think much better results.
The bottom one is double viking knit and I am in love with this one. I will be working on piece tonight to make into a bracelet. These were just short pieces so I could see how my tension was working out. Now I just need to figure out how to finish the ends and add the clasp.

Getting out of my funk

It has been way to long since I have posted here so just wanted to give a little update. My husband and I have decided to separate and we will be getting divorced. It just seems we want different things out of life right now and it's the best solution to problems we can't seem to fix. I haven't been feeling very crafty lately or felt much like talking but I am going to pull myself out of this funk and start working on taking care of my kids and myself for a change so more to come because I think throwing myself into my beads is going to be the best therapy I can get right now.

Busy Busy and my first blog award

So things have been hectic, when are they not in my life right? I am in great fear that CPS will soon be at my door as I just spent yesterday evening in the ER again and with the same doctor who we saw with Jordan's broken arm. Colby sat on a display (one with a big please do not sit on these sign) at the grocery store and tumbled it over, cracked his head open and now has staples in his head. Eventually the ER Doctor is going to get suspicious right? Lol.
On to better news, I am ready to post my stuff up for sale but I am still debating about what site I want to use. At least I am all photographed and ready to go.
Now the funnest news, I have gotten my first blog award from Marie S., one of my favorite blogs that I follow!

Here is a description as to what this award means: "This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers"
I have made some great friends through my blog and I have learned so much from others. I am thrilled to pass this award on to some of these people.
The criteria for accepting the award is that you must post the picture and the meaning of the award on your blog (see above).
The blogs I picked are ones that I follow and look forward to reading everyday, that I learn something from, that make me laugh and that inspire me.
So in no particular order
beading at the beach
good quill hunting
king of mice studios
the crochet cultist
the jewellry goddess
whiMsy love
this girl beads
bead line studios