Tuesday's Treasures - Newest Necklace Inspired by Boudica

Lamp Work Glass Boudica Celtic Sea Necklace, From my NeoAmour Collection

I am so thrilled to show you my latest necklace today, as today is Tuesday's Treasures, where I will aim to show you one completed jewelry piece per week. This necklace has been in the works for quite some time; almost a year, as that was when I bought this beautiful focal bead from my friend, incredible lamp work glass artist Louise, from Fireseed . It is a special bead, being one of a kind, and I knew it needed special treatment to do it justice. It took a while, but this is the fantastic result (if I do say so myself!).

Inspired by Boudica and the Ancient British Seas

I've long been inspired by the ancient Celts, as I've spoken about many times here on this blog, and beyond. When I recently took this bead out again and started turning it over in my hand, I was immediately reminded of the sea. I love the colors in this bead, as they are so vibrant yet still manage to be natural. I love how Louise managed to get so many different shades of brown, topaz, silver, black and blue into one bead, yet the whole bead does not look too busy. In fact, as I looked at it, I thought of the ancient English sea.

Simple, Yet Bold

Thinking of the ancient English sea, with its white foam, sandy stones and beaches, and vibrant blue of water and sky, I was suddenly, clearly inspired to create this necklace. I thought of, long ago, a young Celtic warrior Queen, Boudicca, as she prepared to take on the Roman Empire. She knew how important reserve forces would be for the Romans as they came over the channel from the Roman empire to Britain. I could see her planning her strategic attacks on British soil, against the usurping Romans, and thinking of how quickly reinforcements would come over the sea if the battles lasted too long.

This necklace was created for her. I used the stunning bead Louise had made, and then created a hand-blended mix of glass seed beads in shades to complement the focal bead. This necklace was made in a lariat-style so that you can wear it either choker style, with the bead hanging farther down your chest, or looser, with the pendant closer to your neck, depending on what you're wearing and how you like to wear your necklaces.

Please visit my Etsy shop to see the necklace here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/90201685/lamp-work-glass-boudica-celtic-sea and please let me know what you think!

For more stunning glass beads by Louise, please visit her Etsy store here: http://www.fireseed.etsy.com
or her website here: http://www.fireseed.ca

Have a great day,

Sorry I'm Late, It's Been a Busy Few Weeks!

Some of My Farmer's Market Gear

Wow, 2 weeks went by in a flash! Sorry about that, I've been a busy little bee. I've started working some mornings at a veggie farm down the road from me to earn a little extra $$ and to help out my friend who has a TON of planting to do. We've had a really wet early spring so most farmers are just getting things planted now. Last week we planted a ton of tomato, basil, melons, red and white cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sunberries, ground cherries, peas, beans, carrots, beets ad probably a few things I'm forgetting. she starts all of her seeds herself and they have been taking over her entire house! What is more amazing is that although I am only there for a few hours at a time, I'll be exhausted and SO ready for a shower and a nap, and yet, she keeps going for HOURS at a time, I mean, this woman should replace the Energizer bunny, it is incredible. I'll try to take some photos to show you the progress of the farm.

Goodies in the Fridge, Ready to Go!

In other news, Arwen the Wonder Dog and I have been doing obedience once per week for the last month or so. I really can't believe the changes in that short amount of time. Arwen has always been a great, friendly dog, but she's had her issues (as we all do, I'm sure). The four or five classes we've had have been just amazing and she is really quite a star (Though I knew that all along!). Arwen is now so much better behaved when people come to the door, she hardly even barks now, except for a few barks to let us know there is someone in the driveway. She isn't pulling me into ditches or across the dirt roads when we go for walks now either. The biggest thing so far? The instructor and my veggie farm friend, Kathy, brought their dogs last week for socialization. Initially Arwen was a real pain, but, knowing that she is really lacking in the social bits, she calmed down remarkably fast and went about her obedience as if very little else was happening. Amazing! We're doing another class this morning with the other dogs and I know she'll be good.

Breads, and Scones, and Cookies, Oh My!

And of course, what has been keeping me the busiest is doing the Merrickville Farmer's Market each Saturday. Initially I was only going to sell my jewelry, but after telling a few people that I eat gluten free, egg free, corn free, etc., etc., I was convinced that I needed to add my GF baking in the mix too. I've been busy baking, packaging and coming up with labels, ingredient lists and displays. Busy Busy!

The first weekend was two weeks ago and went very well, especially as it is a very small market (only 5 vendors) and no one knew that I would be there. I am very lucky to be sharing my tent with Louise of Fireseed. She makes amazing glass beads that are featured in a few of my pieces. She's ducking behind her display in the above photo, silly Louise!

Here's my table from the first week. This past weekend I toned down the jewelry a bit (I think there was too much for people to look at the first week) and added more gluten free vegan goodies, with sample plates for people to try things before the commit the money to a full bag of cookies. GF baking is SO much more expensive, though I am going to be getting my flours in bulk soon to cut costs. This past week went even better than the first! I sold a bit more jewelry and the gluten free vegan goodies just about flew off the table (And not only due to wind, people LOVE my goodies!). For this coming weekend I am working on some crusty breads, oh my gosh, there are some in the oven now and they smell SOOOO good!
Sorry I haven't been blogging much lately, I'll try to correct that this week!
Have a great Monday!

and Arwen the Wonder Dog

New Photo, Pledge Update and Glass Bead Demo!

Here is another photo of our rings - yes I had sapphire blue nail polish - I couldn't just go with traditional French, lol!

As for my Chatelaine pledge: Yesterday evening I rode my stationary bike for 30 minutes, and then did 40 minutes of yoga - feeling some serious exercise bliss and so proud that I did it instead of watching a movie and probably eating mindlessly (even if it is usually healthy stuff, it is still mindless eating - and I avoided it!). Woot!

Tomorrow I am going to watch a glass bead making demo with my friend Louise from Fireseed - we are going in together to see a woman make glass beads that look like the inside of an aquarium. I can't wait to see the demo! I am going to try to remember my camera to take some photos for you all :)

Have a great weekend!

Terrific Tuesday: A Great Contest!

My good friend Louise from Fireseed.ca is having a phenomenal giveaway where you could win one of 4 prizes, including a bracelet made by me with some of her fantastic beads. Head on over to her website, fireseed.ca to get the details...Good luck!

Fabulous Friday: New Bracelet!

Wow, where did Thursday go? I know I was busy cleaning the house and doing yet more holiday baking, but to miss a blog post?? I'm very sorry! I was also working on this beautiful new Viking Weave bracelet...maybe that is where the time went.
I do apologize for the rather crummy photos, but I will have this listed with better photos very soon. I used a beautiful round lamp work glass bead by my favorite glass artist, Louise Ingram of Fireseed. I wanted to complement the 15 feet of sterling silver wire that I carefully wove into this gorgeous Viking weave bracelet, and this big, heavy bead was the perfect match. It does make the bracelet a little top heavy, but it will be perfect for someone who likes to play with their jewelry when it is on...like me! Okay, I will list this for sale, but I do like it an awful lot...
I also hand forged a sterling silver "S" clasp and attached two silver plate jump rings to attach it. All in all, this is a soft, heavy, gorgeous piece and I hope you like it. I can't wait for it to find its forever home :)

Have a great Friday,

Tuesday's Treasures: Viking Weave Necklace is Complete!

It's Done, it's DONE! I am so happy and proud to show you my first completed Viking Knit (Weave) project! I chose to make a copper weave to keep the costs down in case I messed up my first project in this style, but it turns out the weave is actually very easy to do and quite fun too. I made a custom bail for my new Viking Monkee, Thor, made by Glass artist extraordinaire Louise of Fireseed.
It starts out as loops on a wooden mandrel, and you keep going until you have 10-12 inches of this (you gently pull it off the mandrel as you go so that you have enough of the dowel to weave on).
When you have enough length, you pull it through a draw plate (initially I just pulled it with my hands and it elongated and became tighter), until you get the desired diameter of weave. Mine ended up about 17 inches long, a little longer than I wanted it, but I wanted it to be a small diameter, which explains it. Next time (for me anyway) I'll weave a shorter amount of wire to make a slightly shorter necklace. This necklace took about 25 FEET of fine, 26 gauge copper wire to make this slim, graceful and very soft woven necklace. Pretty neat!
Here is my little Thor, all done up on his custom bail (the part that suspends the pendant from the necklace). I used a small spiral at the bottom to complement the chain, and made a simple wrapped loop at the top to hold the pendant onto the chain.

This one is mine, but what do you think? Would you wear a similar styled necklace? What about the bead? What kind of bead would you have? Should I keep this one or sell it? I'm kind of inclined to keep this one, but would you buy something similar?

I'm off to try this in sterling silver, I have another of Louise's beads that is perfect for a bracelet, though it isn't cute like my Thor bead, it is a beautiful, fluid round bead. I'll keep you updated on that.

I want to thank Louise for inspiring me to make this necklace, without you, I'd still be blankly staring at the components!

That's all for now!

Monday Update on the Bead Show!

I am interrupting Monday's normal "Monday's Methods" posts to bring you news of a fantastic show I went to over the weekend. On Saturday I took my mom to the Ottawa Glass Bead Artists Show in Ottawa, Ontario. It was fantastic! I didn't take many photos as it was crawling with people, and I didn't want to be jostling everyone, but I did get some great handouts from various glass bead makers.
I was also very, very good in that I only bought 2 strands of faceted onyx briolettes at half price. I stayed away from the Baltic Amber chips at $22 per strand...though I really, really wanted it!
I also bought a book on chain mail work! I am SO excited as I have had this on my Amazon.ca wish list for almost a year. This is a great book as it has great chain mail designs that are also added on to with beads:
It is fabulous and I can't wait to make some new creations with it, stay tuned for that!
I also saw my good friend Louise, who owns and runs Fireseed, her own private lamp work glass studio. She makes the most amazing beads and it was to see her and her newest creations in person that I really went to the show. She makes the most adorable Monkee beads - monkeys with different hats, different outfits, all out of glass! She even has a new Viking Monkee in honor of her newest endeavor - creating beads that are recreations of historical beads...some of them dating back thousands of years! Louise is on the right, and her good friend Jane is on the left.
I was, again, very good and didn't buy anything from Louise, though I am going to buy a Viking Monkee from her...she only had one at the show and I didn't want to take the only one and not let her clients see it. I will, however be buying it, or one like it if the original sold. That being said...
...I do already have quite a few "Fireseed By Louise Ingram" beads...I think I have an addiction...no, wait, I DO have an addiction. But really, after looking at these beads, how could I not?

I had a great time at the show, seeing so many different artists, being inspired, I will DEFINITELY be back next year, and I highly recommend that you go to...you need a vacation, right? See you there next year!

Tune in tomorrow for the FINISHED bracelet I've been working on!

Melodious Monday - I Won an Award!!

Ruthie at RoseWorksJewelry sent me a comment yesterday saying she had given me an award and I must say I am incredibly delighted. Her jewelry and blog are fantastic and I highly recommend you check her out, and treat yourself to one of her many gorgeous creations, guaranteed to make you feel like a million bucks.
Now, what is this award, you ask? Maybe you didn't ask, but I'll tell you anyway, since I'm bursting a few buttons from smiling so much :)
This is the Premio Meme Award and I need to tell you 7 things about myself. I'm not very good at this so I'll give it a try:
1. I'm 26 and disabled with Fibromyalgia (okay, okay, you knew that already)
2. I used to compete in horseback riding and was trying to be a professional show jumper (before the money ran out, LOL - not being rich in that sport is a definite drawback). I still want to get back into riding though, it was the best time of my life :)
3. I am addicted to books. Period. I have to keep buying new bookshelves because I fill up the ones I have so quickly, despite trying (unsuccessfully) to give away or sell my older books that I no longer read every year (yes, I read my books over and over and over...I like them, okay??)!
4. Hubby tries to keep me away from Amazon.ca because of #3...he's not always successful though ;-)
5. I love people commenting on my blog or Etsy store - it really does make my day.
6. I do actually cry a little bit from happiness at every sale I make; the fact that someone chose me out of all the other thousands of jewelry artists for their needs is the best feeling I can possibly have. I know, it is cheesy but true. I'm trying to embrace my 'softie' side!
7. I love gardening - even the weeding! It might be difficult when I get so sore, but there is nothing better than pulling a bunch of weeds to rid you of frustrations, and make you feel like you really accomplished something when you look at that small patch of weedless soil. Plus, I feel like the flowers and veggies thank me afterwards with their wonderful blooms and produce :)

Now I need to pass this on to 7 people, so here goes:
1. Louise from Fireseed - she never ceases to amaze and inspire me with her lamp work glass creations
2. Barry from An Explorer's View of Life - he is fighting the battle of his life and still maintains his humor and witty writing style.
3. Audrey at Stage 3 Who Me? - smart, capable and strong, she is also quite artistic and you'll love her.
4. Renee at Circling My Head - the strongest woman I know, and a blessing to all who read her blog.
5. Daisy and Harley at Daisy the Curly Cat - they always make me smile, and quite often laugh out loud at their outfits, expressions and antics.
6. Kathryn, Dobby, Franklin and Tasha at Mishkat - creative, funny and positive, there is always something to smile at or learn, or both. Despite not selling her art quilts, Kathryn is very talented and artistic
7. Sonia at the Dark Raven's Nest - starting to come out of her shell artistically, she is witty, funny and very creative. Always fun to read and be inspired.
Well that's all for now folks, tune in tomorrow for a new pair of earrings in my NeoAmour Collection!!

Funny Friday - A Cat That Waters Himself

~Raff, in One of His Lesser Moments~

Now, I didn't tell my friend Louise from Fireseed that I had posted this photo of her cat Raff, so I hope she doesn't mind, but I really couldn't help it. A photo like this needs to be shown to the world, in all it's embarrassing hilarity. It really is an accomplishment to get your head, shoulders and one front leg in the toilet, with the other front leg on the seat, and the rest of you perching precariously on the seat.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Sweet Saturday - What An Awesome Thank You!

I visited good friend and glass extraordinaire Louise Ingram from Fireseed yesterday, to pick up the beads I traded for the amigurumi dolls I made for her and her cat and wow am I impressed! The pink beads I asked her to make waaaay back in February and I have a design just waiting for them - aren't they fantastic?
She had mentioned that she had included a few surprises and when I got home, I found these stunning red beads too - don't they just look like candy? Maybe rubies? I can't decide - but either way they are so gorgeous, I made a bracelet from them right away, see below for more pictures :)Then, I peeked into the bag again and out came these beads! Wow, I can't wait to make things with them, they are so different and beautiful :)
Last but not least (not by a long shot!), I found that she had included her famous animal beads! The naughty-but-nice Louise had included a Bunkee Bead (her delightful Monkees dressed as bunnies!), a black cat bead, and a sweet little black dog bead that I swear she must have used a picture of my dog to make, the resemblance is staggering (she got the smile down perfectly, lol).
I have to say I feel very spoiled and I will have to do a few more monkey dolls to feel I have repaid her for her amazing generosity!
Here is a photo of the bracelet I made with the red-candy beads - I made links from individual rings that I had linked by hand to make a chain mail knot, then I attached each link to a bead. I made a square clasp to match the square beads - too cool, huh? I know Louise definitely brings out the best in my work - her beads are so beautiful they always inspire a piece that is (in my humble opinion) as much art as functioning jewelry. Thank you Louise!

Thankful Thursday - Some Spring in My House and a Very Happy Cat

~Raff and his hand-crocheted toys~

~My Vegetable and Flower Seeds!~

I popped on my friend Louise of Fireseed's blog and found some truly adorable pictures of her cat, Raff, enjoying his new toys, Octothello and Beary and had to show you! I posted about crocheting the little amigurumi doll last week (Click Here for the post), and I was so excited to see him play with the toys and enjoying them :)
I also started some of my vegetable and flower seeds yesterday and though I still have to put my lights on the shelves to help them, I couldn't wait to show you that I now have a bit of spring in my house :D
I started my hot peppers, block peppers, cherry tomatoes, Brandywine (like beefsteak) tomatoes, asparagus (that will take 3 years to produce spears, but it will be worth it to have asparagus!!), Daisy Fleabane (so pretty despite it's name), pansies (the ones covered in foil so they germinate), and Canterbury bells (they attract the biggest, slowest, fattest bumble bees you've ever seen!).
I still have many seeds to start, as I have to time them with my plant out dates, so I'll keep you posted as I plant and as they grow....At least I don't have to worry about cats getting into the soil this year - Gandalf LOVED to ruin my seed starting by dumping the soil and rolling in it, and though I miss him, I will NOT miss coming home to a filthy cat and no plants! :s
I hope you have a wonderful day, and I will try to continue posting through the Easter weekend, though it may get a little crazy.
Until next time!

Sweet Saturday - Beads That Make You Go Awwww!

~Bunkee~

~Easter Monkee~

I have posted about my good friend Louise, from Fireseed, here before, but she keeps inventing new and exciting (and CUTE!) beads so I suppose I will keep having to feature her until she stops :)
Her newest beads are an addition to her line of famous Monkee Beads, sold on her Etsy Store and her ArtFire Store; the newest additions are Easter Monkees and, most ingenious, Bunkees - Monkees dressed and Easter Bunnies! I saw them and almost fell off my chair...I don't know how she does it, but her work keeps getting better and better and I wish her many monkees new and happy homes :)
All of her work is digitally annealed so that they are very durable, and all are hand cleaned for a professional, smooth finish. These beads have a hole running horizontally through the back of their head, so it will be easy to string on a simple cord, or incorporated into a more elaborate project.
I have worked with her beads on many occasions and I have always been amazed at the quality and attention to detail in each bead, no matter how small. Each of her stores are different, so I do hope you'll visit Louise in each of her different shops and see all of the beautiful goodies she has to offer.

Thankful Thursday - I Got an Award!

I woke this morning to find that Mishkat had given me a Lemonade Blog Award!!

Here is the text of the award:

The Lemonade Award is given to sites which the giver show either great attitude and or gratitude.
The rules for these awards are:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate 10 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

Thank you so very much!! I'm going to have to give this award to a few people whose blogs make getting up in the wee hours of the morning very enjoyable - they are a joy to read and I always look forward to their updates:
Fireseed
Circling My Head
The Fantail
Gypsy Mare Studios
BeadedTail
FriendsFurEver
An Explorer's View of Life
TheLetteredCottage

Thank you again Mishkat, and I hope to continue to earn this award every day in the future as well :)

5/5 Meme on Tuesday - Woo What Fun!

Ok, so here goes: The fifth file in my fifth folder is this: This is a drawing I did a few years ago (not really a photo, but it is an image nonetheless) with Celtic knots upon Celtic knots. I used watercolor pencils in primary colors so that everything would stand out. I wrote "Siochan Leat" in the center in gold ink, which means "Peace Be With You" in Gaelic, and I also outlined the red knotwork in gold pen, though it doesn't show well in this photo.
I wanted to list it for sale on my Etsy store, but I don't have a clue as to how much I should charge for it. It is about the size of a regular piece of paper with the white border and signature, done on heavy drawing paper.
I hope you like it!
Here's how to play:
The rules are:
1. Open a file folder (note from me - I think this can be any folder with image files. If not, Mishkat just changed the rules...)
2. Click on the fifth folder.
3. Click on the fifth photo.
4. Post the photo and describe it.
5. Tag five other bloggers for the Meme.
Here's who I'm tagging:
BeadedTail
Fireseed
The Fantail
The Mare's Tales
Friends FurEver
WOO That was fun! Can't wait to see all of yours!