Buried Treasure Blog Hop

One of my favorite blogs to keep up with all things jewelry is Art Jewelry Elements. They have regular challenges that I find a blast to participate in.  The challenge for January was to dig through our hoards or treasure of art beads and find one (or more) to make up in a piece of jewelry.

Now I am ashamed to say that I had forgotten about signing up for this hop until one of the wonderful moderators, Jenny Davies-Reazor, dropped me a line asking if I was still planning on participating.  I definitely was and spent a most enjoyable time digging through my beads and finding one that spoke to me.  

I had a few that I put to the side to consider when I ran across this dragonfly from Firefly Design Studio.  Now I am especially partial to dragonflies as they are one of my totems and usually signify that a change is coming.  I am hoping that it is a good one perhaps better sales with the new schedule that I will be starting late in February.

Now the next step was deciding on a supporting cast and I found a strand of aquamarine (or what I think is aquamarine since if this strand had a label, it had fallen off) that was close to the color of the glaze used on the dragonfly.  And of course, I needed a contrast so some onyx found its way onto my design board.  

For once everything went according to plan.  Love this necklace but I will be putting up it for sale as soon as I get some descriptions written up for a few different designs that I have made.

Now I can hardly wait to see what buried treasure everyone one else found when they went digging.  There is sure to be a lot of eye candy since these are some kick ass designers so be sure to check out their treasures also.

AJE team:

Lesley Watt

Lindsay Starr

Caroline Dewison

Jennifer Cameron

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Susan Kennedy

Guests: 

Terri - Terrri’s Blooming ideas

Melissa - Bead Recipes

Tammy - Paisley  Lizard

Sarajo - SJ Designs

Kathy - Bay Moon Designs

Karin - Ginko et Colquelicot

Lola - Bead Lola Bead

Samantha - Wescott Jewelry

Mona - Bijoux Gem

Suntsa - Suntsan

Brooke - Artistic Endeavours 101

Pine Ridge Treasures Evening Elegance Blog Hop

I just love the blog hops hosted by Lisa of Pine Ridge Treasures.  This time around we are focusing on jewelry to wear out to a nice dinner and perhaps dancing.  And I even remembered to take a pic of the beads I was sent to work with.

Aren't these real beauties!  I have been working more and more with purple lately so I was rather happy when I opened up my package.  I just love the lilac sea glass and those dark purple roundelles are just the cat's meow.

Now I wanted to go dark and edgy with my Evening Elegance which can be interesting with the color purple so I added some gunmetal findings to give it that thrill of danger.  The french hooks are sterling and I am still debating if I want to dunk them in liver of sulfer to darken them up.  What do you think?

I am rather happy with this necklace since it is a bit of a departure for me as it is strung.  I never string necklaces but I picked up some new wire that doesn't require crimping and I wanted to try it out.  This necklace whispers high teas with the delicate lilac sea glass and screams hard rock with the gun metal chain.

Now since this is a blog hop be sure to grab a cup of tea or coffee and be prepared for some really great eye candy.

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool Jewelry

Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures

Jacqui Kipfer, Seven Oaks Jewellery

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Marde Lowe, Fancimardesigns

Ramblings

• Well after all of my stressing about my new shift, I was able to find one that would work for me.  I no longer have weekends off, just saturdays, but since I don't have kids, having them off isn't a necessity.  I now have Tuesdays and Wednesdays off which work well for doctor's appointments and to tell you the truth, I would rather do my shopping on a weekday when everyone else is at work.  

• Wend out to lunch with the other ladies in our Shades of Ruby Red Hatter's chapter.  The theme was a pajama party and I just loved how the other patrons of the restaurant were looking at us.  I am not a big one for PJs so I just wore some yoga pants with a purple chemise.  Other ladies were all dolled up with curlers and pajamas.  Just love this group.  Everyone is there to have fun.  

• I did say that I was going to show off my designs for The Year of Jewelry Project to keep myself honest.  I forgot last week and did show a couple designs that I made up but none for that particular group so I have a couple to share.  
• Well I have an appointment for Wednesday to discuss my panic attacks.  I have to admit that I am rather nervous because while my body doesn't love me any more, I have always been in control of my mind and emotions.  Shall see how it goes.  

• Well I finished up my designs for a contest where I had to design up a necklace, earrings and bracelet using some ceramic components.  Finishing these are a huge relief because I had been stressing on it since I lost for components for the longest time.  My imp I am guessing since I walked into my studio the day after I had torn everything apart looking for them and there they were right in the middle of my work space. Sometimes my Imp can be so helpful though I am not too sure that he didn't hide them in the first place.
• Speaking of my Imp, apparently he is cold blooded.  We tend to keep the heat around 66  degrees during the day and someone or someone says that they aren't turning it up.  It's only myself and my husband so I am blaming it on the Imp.
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Ramblings

• I am still stressing about what shift I will get at work.  I have had the same shift for almost five years now and I have to admit that only a few of them really look like they will work for me.  I am crossing my fingers that I get one of those.  I mean I don't ask more much.  I would prefer a later shift that gives me at least one weekday and weekends off.  Yeah I like ten hour shifts.  I should be finding out in the next couple days what I am stuck with.
• Chloe is such a changed cat since her disappearance & reappearance.  She had always loved to spend a lot of time outside.  Now she wants to be closer to her humans.  I just wish that she could talk so she could tell me what happened.  

• I am beginning to think that I might have to talk to my doctor about possible depression and panic attacks.  I have always loved my job but now the thought of it is causing me to stress out and have trouble breathing.  I just wish that I could take a couple months off so that I could start looking forward to going back to work.
• A good friend of mine had been approved for disability a year ago and now they are saying that she doesn't qualify.  What's up with that?  Her issues haven't changed and if anything have gotten worse.  If she isn't able to fight this successfully, she might end up on the street because she can't work as she can't stand for long and if she is sitting down then she goes to sleep at random times.  

• I am still really bummed out by the deaths of Alan Rickman and David Bowie.  I know that I don't know them personally but at odd moments their loss will sneak up on me and I will find myself on the verge of tears.

• My muse has come back to visit and I spent a while in my studio on Saturday.  I made up a few necklaces with some beautiful brass focals.  They are all available for sale and if you are interested, just drop me a line.  I always give my readers a discount if they claim them before I have to take more pics and list them in my shop.
• I started editing my husband's, Saje Williams, latest book.  It's a young adult novel and looks really good. 

Art Bead Scene January Challenge

Landscape with Stars 

by Henri-Edmond Cross

Watercolor over graphite on paper

Date: ca. 1905–1908 

Image Credit: www.metmuseum.org 

One of my goals is to participate in all of the Art Bead Scene's Monthly Challenges.  I tried to do this last year but I missed a couple months so I plan on making 2016 the year that I succeed.  And if they keep picking such lovely and inspirational pieces of art, how can I fail.

What really struck me about this painting is the blue and yellow along with the stars.  I managed to cover all of my bases by combining a lovely blue ceramic focal from Grubbi with a gorgeous yellow polymer bird from Rosebud's Lampwork.   I don't usually work with yellow so I was ecstatic when this little bird arrived as a gift with a recent order.  The word joy sums up what I feel when I look at the painting.

I also added in a handmade beaded chain with sodalite rounds and brass wire along with some brass chain and a toggle clasp.  All in all, I am very happy with the necklace and pleased that I pushed by boundaries by both combining artists in my focal and using that dreaded color yellow.

For further info about this monthly challenge, just click here.