A Cute Owl

I have been collecting owls because they are so popular and I think they are cute too.  Made a necklace that had nothing to do with owls and made a pair of earrings to go with it.  The earrings didn't work with the necklace; but I liked the earrings so I decided to make a necklace to go with them.  It felt a little like walking into a room backwards; always made the necklace first, until now.

I pulled beads and wire to make the necklace; then went to my stash of pendants and found a fun owl that worked with the colors.  I really like starting with a vague idea and ending up with something that "makes my eyes happy".  This set fits that scenario.  A few beads, sliders, some wire, and a fun little owl and here is the finished product:

What do you think?  Is it a hit or a miss.

Wedding Focus

I've been MIA for quite some time.  I've been working on a dream catcher for a good portion of that time.  I've seen pictures with large matting surfaces where guests can write wishes for the couple; but this was new to me.  A dream catcher with a basket where guests can place their "dreams" for the couple.

My niece to be (she is marrying my nephew) had the idea and when I finally understood what she was talking about (very different than my first mental image) I liked it a lot.  So with a double heart design in mind I started out.  First I had a couple short lengths of wire left over after cutting the main heart shapes.  I formed them into smaller hearts and set them aside thinking I would use them for something else.  Instead, I incorporated them into the center of each of the main hearts.  Before I could go much further I went to an Art show where there was a dream catcher display.  They were fabulous by the way.  During this coincidence (maybe not so coincidence) I saw a dream catcher with wire work, not just cord for the webbing.  Spark idea!

Now the design evolves again, enter wire and beads to the center of the small hearts.  Nice addition.

Now I need something to hold the index cards for the "dreams".  Looked for a small basket that would go with the design, or any small basket.  Found zero options (not that I looked for a long time) so I decided to make my own.  Wire framing with slats; some macrame, some beads on wire to support the structure.  Added some feathers and it is done.

Do I like it? Yes.  Did it take way too much time? Yes.  If I were making this to sell I would need to do some things that reduced the time; or price it higher than I want to.  This one was done for love, no charge.

What do you think?  By the way taking pictures of dream catchers is tricky.  I hope these represent the piece well.

A Reprieve Due to Weather

I've been looking forward to a Wedding Event that was scheduled for day after tomorrow.  While I am excited about the event, I've done what I tend to do; procrastinate.  Not a sit around and do nothing kind of procrastination; but more of a distracted with other projects, put this one on the back burner issue.  I have helped with materials needed for a truck rebuild project (also important), cleaned up my g-mail accounts (almost 800 messages in my inbox was unacceptable when trying to find something), and done other routine necessary tasks.  All of this left me with 2 days to get samples made, coordinate some display props, get pictures printed, and generally organize myself for the show.

Enter Mother Nature.....

I live in Virginia; we don't get much snow .... usually.  That said, we now have snow which is covered with ice and temperatures that aren't forecast to get to, let alone above, freezing for several days.  Schools and most businesses are closed today and schools won't be open until at least Thursday.  Side streets and parking lots are untreated and hazardous.  I was not feeling good about the turn out we could expect under these conditions.

Apparently I was not the only one with this thought, and thankfully, the venue where the event will be held is flexible.  The show is postponed until March.  YEA!!  I now have 30 days to get the above list done.  I plan to schedule show prep much better than I have thus far, so this "reprieve" does not go to waste.  So, for the next month I will make consistent progress toward the show.  I have new ideas that I'm anxious to try (thank you Teresa for the books) and now I have time to make a reasonable effort at several items.

If you have ideas for beaded and/or wire wedding related items I would love to hear about them, and perhaps expand my product line yet again.

Back with pictures in the next few days.

If you live in an area where the weather is bad please be careful on the roads; stay safe and warm.

Life Happens

I have thought about posting to this blog for several weeks; with no follow through.  By the time I sat down to post it was late evening and I had used up my focus quota for the day; so I put it off until "tomorrow".  Well while I wasn't posting, a friend's parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  She had a couple ideas for the celebration and asked if I could help her with them.  So, enter that life thing; of course I could help her.  She wanted a wire tree for the cake she was making.  I made a tree of life pendant a while back, seemed like a reasonable transition to a stand up tree.  I looked at pictures, made some prototypes, expanded the to do list by adding a wire and bead "50" to go with the tree and again realized how much my friends are responsible for expanding my product line.  Never stop being thankful for girlfriends!!

I realized quickly that it is difficult to take pictures of wire trees; going to have to take some lessons from a friend who is a great photographer.  I have several, they know who they are.  In the mean time I hope you will forgive the lack of quality photography.  Here are pictures of the prototypes and one I made after the one that went to the anniversary party.  Hope you like them.

The three small prototypes

Larger and mounted on a mirror

For 50 years of marriage

Ahead of the Curve

Update on improving my self-discipline; identifying the time leaks and sealing them up.  I bought a day planner that has multiple lines for each hour between 8 AM and 8 PM.  Today is the 2nd day I'm keeping track and I'm already seeing improvement; just have to keep it going.

Last night I went through papers, came away with a large bag of trash, YEA!  Also, went through some books and have at least one box to donate; maybe more after I get my husband's pass on the rest.  Baby steps, will take a few more this afternoon.

On to a jewelry project:

I have struggled since starting the jewelry business to get ahead of the holidays so to speak.  By the time I'm ready for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's day is around the corner and so on.  Well, this time I'm so far ahead there are about 4 holidays between now and the one I'm ready for.  :)  I found a cute corset pendant and it made me think of Breast Cancer Awareness.  So here is a set ready for October.  I have a couple more pendants and will make up other necklaces with different looks; same occasion.  What do you think of this one?

 Stayed with pink for this set and gave it extra length.  Two connection points, 20 and 26 inches.













Here's a little closer look: