Donate Please!

Hello friends,
Christmas is around the corner and I am wondering if you would consider something for me?


My friend Dan is only 29 and is in need of a heart transplant. You can read about his story here. 

Dan is fortunate to have health insurance; however, his current and future care will not be completely covered.   There will be many uninsured expenses such as: co-pays, deductibles, doctor visits, and the costly immunosuppressant medications that Dan will need for the rest of his life. Even with insurance, the cost is overwhelming. To help offset some of these expenses, a fundraising campaign in Dan’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive (formerly NTAF). HelpHOPELive, is a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for nearly 30 years. All contributions are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Mid-Atlantic Heart Transplant Fund and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Your contribution is greatly appreciated. 

He is a super talented sweet guy and I am asking if you would considering giving a gift that will really make a difference in his life. You can either donate online at the link above or can mail a check. Here are the details.

 

Make checks payable to:        

HelpHOPELive

 

Note in memo section:

In Honor of Dan Short

 

Please send to:

HelpHOPELive

150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120

Radnor, PA  19087                                                                                       

 

For card contributions, please call 800-642-8399

Busy Hands

The weather is really yucky here. It's been raining for a few days now and has been getting colder. I think winter is finally coming to TN. :(

Because I am pretty much stuck inside I figured it would be a good couple of days to work on some projects.

I have been crocheting a lot lately. I finished these two headband ear warmers today.

I really like this pattern a lot. It makes a really nice thick headband and the way it's crocheted doesn't give you a typical crocheted look. I also LOVE crocheting large flowers and I think they look cute on these.
Here is me trying to get a picture of it on my head.

Another project that I worked on today is a copper pendant I started a few weeks back. I sawed out the shape and it's just been sitting on my table all this time. Today I finally finished it! The pictures are kind of blurry and the lighting was horrible when I took these. The copper actually has a really pretty rainbow effect on it due to a patina I put on it and the stone is actually really deep blue. It is only my 3rd time making a bezel and setting a stone and frankly I am not very good at it, but hopefully you can't tell in the picture. haha...

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We ate our meal at Cracker Barrel and it was actually awesome. So nice to just show up and order and not have to cook all day long. I can't remember the last time I had a Thanksgiving with no family visiting or us traveling anywhere. I thought it would feel weird but I actually enjoyed it.

Pendant

In my last post I told you that I finally was able to solder a bezel with my tools for the first time. Here is a picture of one of the pendants I made. It is made with copper and fine silver. I can't remember what stone is in there-maybe some kind of quartz or something.

I stamped the word "flourish" around the bezel and hammered the edges for some texture. For my first try-I am happy with it. It got me so excited that I got online and ordered some more cabochons, beads, and wire to do some wire wrapped stones.

I am excited to dive more into jewelry making.There are so many different materials to make jewelry out of and now that I know how to make bezels and can incorporate stones the possibilities feel a bit endless.

I am off to buy some yarn to make a custom pair of crocheted slippers for a special gal and might stop off at Fulins for lunch where I always get the same meal- Kung Pao(Pow?) Chicken.

I hope you are having a nice Tuesday where ever you are. :)

Finally!

I finally did it! I was able to solder a bezel and set a stone at home!

I have been slowly collecting tools so that I can do metal-smithing at home and although I still need a few more essentials I am at a point where I can improvise and still make some things. I have been DYING to be able to use a torch and solder, but I just couldn't decide which one to buy. That issue might warrant it's own post at another time. I finally decided on a torch and it arrived last week. I set up my work station and attempted to make a bezel and solder it to a piece of copper. I TOTALLY FAILED! The bezel never did fit right and I couldn't get the solder to flow and so the bezel never did stick. I was totally bummed and felt defeated.
When I took classes a while back my teacher kept saying how easily I was picking everything up and how well I was doing. I think I was overconfident about my abilities and when it didn't work my first thought was something like " I seriously just spent every last amount of extra money I have accumulated on tools and I can't even figure out how to use them. I stink!". I had a horrible rest of that day.
I gave myself some time and after talking with a silversmith friend she gave me some insight into what might have happened and It made me feel a little better. I had a good weekend and today I felt motivated to try it again.

It totally worked! I did it! I even made and finished two pendants this evening. Are they super awesome? Not exactly, but they aren't bad for a first time home experiment.

I feel excited at the possibilities and am sort of proud of myself for using boy tools like torches and hammers and things with acid in them. Hahaha...ahh growth is good.

Working with Brass

Today I finished up this pendant and turned it into a necklace. I am just getting started with metal-smithing and I finally got in a few more tools so it has motivated me to play around with it all.

I sawed out this pendant from a thick piece of brass, pierced it and sawed out a heart shape, filed and sanded the edges, hammered the edges, banged around the top of the pendant with a hammer, and played around with my torch to get the patina. I like the texture and patina that resulted.

I will be putting this necklace in my Etsy shop shortly for purchase.

I am thinking about talking more about my experience as a beginner metal smith in future posts. I have had to search the internet like crazy for answers to some of my questions and I am finding that the info just isn't out there or at least not easily found. So, I may make a few posts about my experiences as I go. Thankfully right now I have an internet friend who is a silversmith who is gracious enough to answer my questions. You can see Amy's work here. She is the sweetest!

Monday

Today I am cleaning up the house, doing laundry, and working on some new jewelry pieces. My mom and step dad came for a short visit over the weekend. We had a nice time. We drove to Nashville and browsed around the Antique Archeology store and toured the Yazoo beer factory. I don't really drink and especially not beer (yuck!) but it was still fun. It was also my moms birthday and I was happy to get to share that with her.

I totally forgot to take pictures of their visit! Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Monday

I haven't posted anything in a little while. So, today I will just tell you a few random things.
I cut myself some bangs! And so far I haven't regretted it :)

I snapped this little picture of my dog Mose this morning. He reminds me of an Ewok...

About 3 minutes after this photo was taken he threw up on the floor. :(

I have been listening to a lot of this lady lately. And I love this video of her.
I am reading this.
I wish I were taking lots of classes here.
I am looking for a job. (I hate looking for a job)

Cooler weather always makes me want to crochet or knit. I may whip up a hat today.
Have a great Monday.

More Metal

I finished this pendant the other day and just added it to my etsy store yesterday.

I never considered myself a "gold" jewelry kind of gal, but I really like this brass after its had a patina applied. I also used sandpaper to give it a more satin looking surface.

On another note-
I joined Pinterest! A few friends told me about it and I never checked it out till recently. I am hooked. It's kind of fun putting together "boards" and it's a great place to keep pictures and things that inspire you. Check out my Pinterest HERE. Let me know if you are on there.

Movie

I got up kind of early this morning and decided to watch a movie. I watched this.

Marathon Etsy Posting

I just spent the past 2 hours (maybe longer) posting new items into my Etsy shop.

I sort of really dislike the whole process of posting new items. I don't know why I dislike it so much, but today I FINALLY took the time to photograph and work on it all. Several pairs of earrings, a new leather cuff, 2 paintings, and a few necklaces.

It feels good-like a small burden lifted. I feel free to make some new things since the "older" things are dealt with.

I am currently working on a few crocheted flower headbands. I have been making these for a few years now, but have never tried selling them on etsy. I have been selling them at a local coffee shop that sits next to a high school (they seem to do well with that crowd) and at craft shows. They are simple and cute. They look cute on little girls and even on my adult friends. They sort have a bohemian vibe to them and you can even wrap them around your wrist as a bracelet or wear it tied around your neck like a choker. I am sure I will post a picture soon once they are done.

It's been a good day. I hope whoever reads this is having a nice Monday too!

PS-I don't usually eat food from Sonic (I like their drinks!) but have you tried their new premium hot dogs? Yummers! I had the bacon blue dog (I think that is what it's called). It's really tasty! and unhealthy but who cares... :)

New Jewelry

Here are some new pieces I am about to add into my shop over the next few days.

Saturday

I woke up with a crafty spring in my step. I just felt like I needed to make something. Probably because yesterday I didn't work on anything and really didn't do a whole lot.

I made wall hangings!

I had a bag full of clothes that were waiting to be taken to the thrift store and I realized I could use some of the shirts in there to make scraps with. So-I picked out a few and began cutting thin strips of fabric. I also cut out the beaded section of one shirt and made the hanging below (my favorite of the 3).

.
These other two I just threaded the strips around the wooden stick (which I found outside). I tied some knots in the fabric to give it some more texture and the one hanging has some wooden beads dangling from it.

These were so fun to make and it gave me something to hang above my work desk.
I have a lot of scraps left over so I will probably make a few more for the fun of it. I think it would be neat to incorporate things like yarn, ribbon, and lace into them. Maybe even string some smaller beads or I might figure out a way to incorporate some of my leather into one.

Have a great weekend!

Late Night Shopping

It's late-like 1:02am late!
I am still up and have been "shopping" on Etsy for the past hour. I have been stalking this shop for awhile now. I think I even mentioned this store in a past post. I have always been a sucker for lip balms, lip gloss, and all things waxy and smelly for the lips. Looking at the scents and flavors remind me of when I was like 10 and wanting to buy a new flavored Bonne Bell chap stick from the store every chance I had. This store has flavors like Pumpkin Cheesecake, Chai Tea, Cherry Limeade, Raspberry Lemonade, and Caramel Apple! They look a bit more grown up and so you can hide your strange fascination with flavored waxes/oils like me! Eww...that sounds gross when I say it like that...Ha ha...

After going back and forth I decided to buy the Raspberry Lip Tint and the Lavender/Lemon perfume oil. I can't wait to try them out!

I really love buying from Etsy. Not just because I have a store on there, but because I love knowing I am buying something that someone put time and effort into(maybe even a bit of their heart and soul-because I know I feel like I do with each project that passes through my hands). It feels more special-in this case it feels way more special than buying a Cover Girl lip gloss from Walgreens not to mention this stuff is made with natural ingredients and not chemicals and preservatives. Also-I love buying from Etsy because I love getting fun mail-as appose to un-fun mail which is like bills and ads and what not.

Since I am talking about shopping on Etsy here are a few other things  have purchased from there recently.
These postcards from UmberDove(she is an amazing artist with a great blog!) and this print from Collage O Rama.

Time for bed!

Craft Room Clean Up

I like to read a bunch of different crafty/artsy girl blogs and sometimes they give you glimpses of the spaces they work in.

I came across one the other day and everything was all clean and neat and organized. It got me thinking about the space I use and how completely crazy and chaotic it usually is. It's a pretty small room and I have A LOT of supplies and things stuffed in there. My husband made me a special bookcase for me to have some storage. It's filled to the brim with yarns, bead boxes, art supplies, my camera, etc. I have two tables in my craft room. One is where I do all my work and the other has become a place I just sit random projects on. That table became piled high with stuff and was a real eye sore.

After thinking about my mess for days (and really if I am honest weeks) I decided today was the day to get things together.

I made two separate spaces. One table is where I will do my leather work and painting and the other table will soon be where I work on metal jewelry. I only took a picture of this table because the other doesn't really look like much yet.

I removed an old dingy carpet I had put in there awhile back. Getting rid of it has really made my room look bigger. I hung up a table cloth over my bookcase to hide all my stuff. (you can see a wee glimpse of it to the far right)

The only thing I need to do now is hang some pictures up. For now these little windowsill decorations will have to do.

Having a nice clean organized space definitely is more inviting. I hope it sparks some new creative juices.

What does your work space look like if you have one? Do you keep it organized or does it get crazy like mine?

Poor Guy

This little guy is getting neutered tonight. Say a prayer for him. ;)

Metal Work

I ordered some brass sheet metal and it finally came in! I am working on a few pendants and am excited to show you my first attempt(well-second attempt if you count the copper one I made and showed in an earlier post).

I like how it turned out but there are two things I am changing for the next attempt. For one-I don't like how shiny it still is. I tried using a wire brass brush to give it more of a satin finish but it didn't turn out right. I am not sure what I did wrong. Secondly, I didn't feel that the patina darkened the letters enough so I darkened it with a sharpie marker (little trick I saw on the Internet somewhere). It looks fine but I think it's a bit too dark now and stands out more than what I want. Any suggestions???

It's been fun experimenting though. I really like sawing with a jewelers saw and am getting better at not braking blades. My craft table is a huge mess already and now it has metal dust all over it. I am thinking I need a special table space for this type of work...

Happy Thursday!

Watercolors

Today I drove into Nashville with a good friends and we shopped at Plaza Art. I just LOVE that store! I didn't go there intending to buy anything but I always find something. I bought some watercolor paints! They came in a set of 12 and they aren't professional grade I guess but I am no professional so who cares. A few months back I bought one of those little plastic cases that contain about 5 colors of paint thinking that would do the trick. It's ok but I really wanted more colors and I kind of like using the tubes.

I got them home and decided to sit down and give them a try. Here is a little picture I painted today.

 I really enjoyed using the paints and I foresee many other pictures to come.

Lip Balm

If you love flavored/scented lip balm check out this esty store! Look at all those flavors! It's like Bonne Bell Lip Smackers only more grown up. ;)

Bye Bye FB

I just deactivated my Facebook account and it feels so good!

A Trade

I made an online friend, a fellow jewelry maker, who is so talented and has given me advice and opinions on all the different aspects of silver-smithing. Her name is Amy and she has an Etsy shop where she sells the most wonderful silver and copper jewelry. See her shop HERE.

I have long admired her work and was in major need of a new pair of earrings. I wear the same pair EVERY single day. I asked if she would be willing to do a trade. I would make her something and in return I asked if she would make me a pair of copper earrings. She agreed and so I went to work on a leather coin purse that she asked me to make. I meant to take pictures of it but I got so excited when I finished it I quickly mailed it off to her.

I received the copper earrings in the mail the other day and I SOOOOO LOVE them. They are light as a feather and so pretty. Take a look here!

 Do you see that they are rain clouds?!? So clever!

This is me wearing them-a happy camper to finally have another pair of earrings!

Thank you so much Amy!

If you love these like I do you can purchase a silver pair HERE.

Happy Saturday!

Playing Around with Copper

A few nights ago I decided to get out a sheet of copper and just play around with it. I haven't practiced sawing with my jewelers saw in a long while and wanted to try sawing out a small shape. I drew this little butterfly shape and sawed it out. I stamped "fly" onto the metal and then banged around the edges with a hammer to add some texture. I didn't necessarily plan on my little scrap becoming a pendant, but in the end that is what it became. I have been wearing it since I made it.

I pretty much used up the last scrap of copper that I had and so I ordered a sheet of brass to play with next. It's a bit thicker and I think it will be fun to make a few more similar necklaces, but hopefully they will be a bit more refined.

I wish I could buy silver but it's CRAZY expensive right now. I can buy a 6"x12" sheet of 20gauge brass for about 13 dollars or buy the same size in silver for like over 500!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean can that be right? Yikes! I am not sure how people do it!

New Glasses

I have always wanted a pair of cat eye-ish glasses! I finally got a pair thanks to an awesome groupon deal for See Eyewear in Nashville. They have the most awesome unique frames there!

Some New Things!

I have been working on some new things to sell in my Etsy shop. It's taken me a while to actually get them in my shop. Taking pictures and writing descriptions can take what feels like forever and I sometimes put that part of the process off for longer than I should. Today has been an excellent day though to do these kinds of things. I FINALLY did it and here are a few pictures...

As much as I love working with leather I have been dying to work more with metal. I am still collecting all the tools needed to do the kind of work I want to do, but in the mean time I realized I can still make a few things with what I do have. Last night I made the copper butterfly pendant above. I sawed it out with my jewelers saw and gave it texture with my special little hammer. Gave it a nice antiqued patina and made it into a pretty necklace.

Mose

My little Mose Mose