Bead Soup!

I can't wait for my partner Pam Hurst to get her box. I think it should arrive tomorrow at her house. Yay! Then I can show you  what I sent! I need to get working and put some things together now!
So, here is what she sent to me. It is fabulous!

First, a pic of the whole grouping. Chunky carnelian, beautiful labradorite, round pearls, citrine squares, aquamarine squares, amethyst, moonstone, hematite, and some lovely shell beads that blend perfectly!

But this is her specialty! Sterling PMC pendants and it is gorgeous! It is almost 1.5 inches and has a sweet nameplate on the back with the name of her new line - sparkles. it gives fabulous weight to the piece!  WOW! Look and drool.

My Bead Soup partner is.....

Super talented Pam Hurst!  Pam works in silver precious metal clay and her jewelry designs are beautiful as you can see here with this earring and necklace set made by her. She makes her components and designs her jewelry.

Pam says she has been making jewelry forever  and she moved toward taking lampwork classes and making glass beads.  But with two children she doesn't have the time for lampwork beads but focuses on making silver components and designing gorgeous jewelry. 

Pam has taken bunches of classes from very talented teachers in metal clay, lampworking and metalsmithing and it shows in her beautiful work. She also uses gorgeous gemstones in her designs. I LOVE this necklace!

You can see more of her work here:  Pam Hurst Designs
           ENJOY!

A Bold Prediction

My thought is that March came in like a lion here in Tennessee and therefore it will go out like a lamb! lolol
It did though. It got back down to below freezing and spit a little snow and that is lionish for us here.
 ( hopeful smile )

Well, anyway, the garden is growing weeds and bulbs are blooming flowers! Pretty. That's a sign.

So, I am making some new etched copper disks with flower designs on them to celebrate the coming of spring. I also have some dragonflies, fairy wings and zen garden pieces. They will be in my Etsy store in a few days. Here is a preview. I hope you have a great day!

Spring Fever Design Challenge from BlueberriBeads!

I so love Blueberri's ceramic beads! They are so happy! Well, she and a couple friends are having a spring fever design challenge. There are several ways to  sign up for a chance to be included in this challenge. And yes, this is one of them. I saw the beads being offered and immediately wanted to partake! Look at her post here to see more.

http://blueberribeads.co.uk/archives/1836

Bead Soup Blog Hop is Coming Again

Sign ups are this weekend! I have been looking forward to this all year. The blog hops are only going to be once a year now but they are huge. Hundreds of people sign up for it and no one is turned down. There is only one reveal day and then we spend the next week or two hopping to see everyone's fabulous creations they have made from the bead soup that was sent to them in the mail .:o)

It is really fun and sometimes a challenge because you never know what you are going to get. Stay tuned for more info as it nears time!

Happy February!

Yes, I am thrilled! This has been a hard January for me.  I went back to work 2 weeks ago after  being off work for a back re-injury.  As soon as I got back to work the snow and ice came with freezing temperatures. I know everyone has had that! I drive for a living delivering mail for over 25 miles each day after sorting the mail and packages for 5 hours and then loading all the trays and parcels into my mail truck. Well, here in Tennessee we have winding curvy roads with steep hills - on both sides!  So it has a been a rough week and I am glad the snow is gone here. I love to see it but hate to drive in it. I look forward to a better February and an early spring (fingers crossed). And I can't wait to see things start peeking above ground in my garden! I hope you all have done well through this horrible cold and blizzardy weather.

I have been puttering with a few new things in my spare time which I have more of these days - well, no maybe less. I work more hours each day but only five days now instead of six! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!  You will not believe what a difference it makes to have two days off each week instead of one. Wow!

But I have been finishing up some ceramic pieces I have had in the works for a while. I have used oil colors and guilders paste and am waiting for them to dry so I can cold glaze them. I am excited about this process for coloring ceramics. And it can be used on any type of clay as long as you seal it with a permanent cold glaze. For polymer clay there are some colors and finishes you can put on before baking and they are permanent without glaze.

I am looking forward to making some new lampwork beads, too. I have been busy with custom orders. I try to make at least one new set of 6 beads each time I sit down to torch but do not always accomplish that. I do have some new beads that need photographing but I have to wait for sun.I also want to try my hand at some glass work on the ends of copper wire to use in jewelry designs. So much to try - so little time. Sigh.................

Here is a little preview of the ceramic pieces. I will get better pics later when they are finished.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr...It's Cold Outside

It has  been freezing outside this last week here in Tennessee! And the temperatures have not been as low as some areas of the country. Today it is up above freezing for the first time in a week and I am so relieved. My propane hoses were too frozen to fuel my torch. I brought them inside along with the propane regulator to thaw it out. I got a new tank of propane and today there is movement in the lines and the torch is lighting. Yay! I can make beads!  I have orders to make and need to get working.

But in the meantime I have been on a earring kick! I got an idea and ran with it so I have 12 new pair of earrings in my Etsy store. Yay again! I used a great variety of accent beads along with the etched copper tabs - some stone, lampwork beads and Czech glass. I love it all.

Here are a few. Stay warm.