Tuesday's Treasures: New Bracelets!

Summer Seduction Bracelet 5-Pack

As promised, I've got some beautiful new bracelets to show you today. Sorry for the late post...I seem to have lost track of time!
The first photo shows a beautiful multi-pack of bracelets, the first time I've bundled bracelets together like this, to give you a great value and lots of wardrobe choices.
I made 5 different bracelets on the same theme - summery, shiny, feminine - and made them so that they co-ordinate well together, but can also be worn apart if you just want a little glam. See my Etsy store here for details: http://www.etsy.com/listing/93557147/summer-seduction-5-pack-multicolored

Cleopatra's Blue Goddess Bracelet

This second bracelet I made to match my Cleopatra's Blue Goddess Necklace (found here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/91033798/cleopatras-blue-goddess-necklace). I made this bracelet with the same black beads as in the necklace, but I wound them on memory wire so that it will fit a variety of wrists. For more info, see the listing here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/93540180/cleopatras-blue-goddess-bracelet?ref=v1_other_2
These are some really great bracelets, made more awesome by the fact that, as they are on memory wire, they adjust to fit almost any wrist size...which makes them perfect for gift giving!
See you tomorrow,

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Oh yes, things they are a changin', which is partly the reason for the lack of posts lately. I am having my website re-done by a pro, this blog is getting a makeover (hopefully also by said pro!), my packaging is getting a makeover, almost everything is changing around here! Please be patient while I renovate, I am trying to streamline things so that everything is much cleaner, easier to navigate and (of course!) purchase from my various stores. While I want my blog redone by a professional, I am tweaking things myself to see what I like, what works, what doesn't. You'll notice first of all that I am getting rid of Project Wonderful. While I think it is a great idea, I am sick of having to reject the pornographic-site idiots that insist on trying to advertise here, even though I have made it VERY clear that this site is to be (as much as possible) ALL AGES. NO PORN, thank you very much! So I am going to offer advertising privately on my blog, starting at just $1/month. Yes, you read that correctly, just $1. I think it will be a bit cleaner-looking, and I know that anyone with a spam or porno site sending me emails will get blocked by my spam filter, so everyone wins :)

I also have some REALLY cool news in the realm of personal fitness which I'll try to share in the next few days as well.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, comments, suggestions or applause, please let me know, I want to make everything easy for you to move around in :)
Have a great weekend!

Fantastic Friday: A Few of My Favorite Etsy Dresses

Here are a few of my favorite dresses from Etsy sellers - please visit their shops for more delightful creations!

1. Tuileries Linen and Cotton Dress - Indigo, by TortillaGirl

2. Red Polka Dot Strapless Summer Dress by emilyelizabethcoutur

3. Perfect Little Audrey Dress Your Choice of Any Color by audreyandgrace

4. Hand-draped red silk cocktail dress by CoutureDivine

5. Roses and Creme Ruffle Dress by amandaarcher

Aren't they all just divine? From a simple dress for running errands to a silk concoction worthy of a gallery-opening, these dresses have you covered - in sexy, pretty style!

Another New Bracelet!

Here is another new bracelet with rainbow fluorite beads dangling from a sterling silver chain. Rainbow fluorite is hard to find in good quality, so it is expensive to use, but the results speak for themselves - gorgeous jewelry that no-one else will have!
I created a custom hook and "S" clasp from sterling silver wire, and then hammered it for strength and durability.
The drape on this piece is really fantastic - it isn't very heavy, but flows nicely on your wrist, as you can see here. This is now available on my Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/51503481/flora-sterling-silver-and-rainbow
Thanks for visiting!

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

Find them here in my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/littlestudiojewels

Fabulous Friday Finds: k9artgallery on Etsy

I love Etsy. I can find anything and everything I could ever possibly want to purchase - and then some! This artist, DJ Rogers, who sells on Etsy as k9artgallery, is absolutely incredible. The images really come alive, especially with the artist's point of view in many of the pieces. I love this piece, above. Arwen was lying on the floor this morning, with her head down, and lips flaring out just like this dog. It always makes me laugh when she does this, I love the way their mouth goes all floppy when they get tired!

Anyway, please do check out k9artgallery's Etsy shop, they have MANY different dog breeds, as well as cats and other wildlife in stunning realistic prints for just $12.50 each!

Fabulous Friday Finds: A Few of My Favourite Things

I have finally decided to redecorate my bedroom...well, actually, decorate my bedroom would be more accurate as we currently have a mish-mash of furniture in there that we have had for years! My dresser is still quite functional, but I've had it since I was 8 and I am sick to death of it. It will go to the Salvation Army or anyone who needs it, as will the other furniture that isn't falling apart (Brennan's "side" table is unstable at best, and if you lift it, one of the legs has a habit of trying to fall off). I am done with being super-frugal and ridiculously spend-thrift, I want our bedroom to be relaxing and cozy and us. We are going to redo it in a French style, similar to Marie Antoinette's Blue Room - though much toned down! Here are a few things that I love on Etsy that I think would add some style and grace: Top Right:Custom listing for BHILITHINN-altered frosted candle holder with roses,cameo would set the mood for relaxation. Top Center: Silver Vintage Serving Dish by vintageinmybasement would make a great place to store some jewelry or other small items to keep them dust free and organized. Top Right: 2 tier cake stand Princess by mycakestand would be a great way to hold smaller vintage jewelry boxes which I intend to start collecting (it seems appropriate doesn't it?).

Next, Left: HANDCARVED MEDIEVAL ART TILE -- TRAVERTINE FLEUR DE LYS by JolieFaireMedieval would be a nice, rustic addition to the walls, and make sure things aren't getting too 'girly' (Brennan has to live with it too, and I'd like him to like it!). Center: LE PETITE JOURNALS - FRENCH - HANDPAINTED - THIS LISTING IS FOR ONE BOOK OF YOUR CHOICE - EACH COMES WITH A LOVELY ORGANZA GIFT BAG by PaintedByRenee will be a beautiful and co-ordinated way to write my thoughts and ideas while in my lovely new bedroom. Right: Blue and White Toile Lampshade by Sassyshades would be a perfect addition to any smaller white lamp to give the room the finishing French touches.

I'll be sure to photograph the bedroom when it is all done (this is going to be a gradual, year-long project so that we don't have to use credit cards - I'm big on only spending when I have cash in my hands) so that you can see the desired effects. I'm so excited!

Please do visit these fabulous shops to see more of what they have to offer, and while you're there, why not drop them a line and tell them I sent you?

Have a great Friday,

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!

Thankful Thursday: At Last - New Couches!

Whew! I can't tell you how happy I am to get rid of our old, embarrassing couches. They had been a gift from my parents when Brennan and I first moved in together 8 years ago, but at that time, the couches were already 10 years old! Not that I minded - you know how tight finances are when you're first moving out, and they have definitely served us well over the years. However, we had noticed that lately, every time you sat in them, you tended to sink slightly lower than the time before, so we knew what was coming...

For the first time ever, Brennan and I bought new couches! We got a call on Tuesday telling us our delivery date, and they arrived yesterday! I can't tell you how excited we all are here. We purchased them from a Canadian store, The Brick, in late September and we were not supposed to get them until after the 20th of this month, but surprise! They came yesterday. Brennan and I spent all of Tuesday night cleaning the living room and using an at home floor refinishing kit to get the floors nice and shiny again (not that you can see it in these photos!) before the couches came. We were very fortunate to get these on sale ($200 off each!) and even better - they are made in Canada! I thought for sure that couches at this price would have been made in China (not that there is anything wrong with that), so it was nice to be able to support a Canadian business and manufacturer. Brennan also got some nice quilted blankets to protect the couches from Madame Arwen, and they just happen to go perfectly with our curtains (did my man deliver or what??). Unfortunately, the living room is ripped apart in these photos - we had a fabric protector kit come with the couches and I spent the majority of last night applying that so the couches had to be pulled out from the walls, cushions taken off, etc. It is a non-toxic, water based protectant, not that cancer-causing stuff, so that was a relief (though it still smelled icky).
Of course, as soon as I got up this morning and let Arwen into the living room (we kept her out of it to avoid breathing in the protectant while it was drying) Arwen was up on the couch, trying it on for size. Success! She loves it, and, as you can see, seems quite happy with the size. What is great is that we got two full sized couches, not a couch and love seat, so that if Brennan falls asleep on one couch, Arwen and I will both fit on the other one!

That is all for now, Arwen and I are going to go and sit on the new couches, and marvel in the fact that we don't sink up to our eyeballs in them!
and Arwen

Monday's Methods:Jewelry Making Basics

~Bent Chain Nose Pliers, Round Nose Pliers (Ergonomic), Flush Side Cutters~

For the first installment of Monday's Methods, we are going back to the basics: The very foundation, the tools of the trade as it were. This is a very BASIC list of tools (and you can be sure that I'll be adding to this list as we go on) that you can get at any jewelry supplier or bead store to start your own beading adventures! The biggest thing to keep in mind at any stage is to get the best you can afford. Never, ever get the cheapest pliers ($5 and under here in Canada, probably less in USA and abroad). They are uncomfortable (read: bruises and blisters), they don't have good construction, and they won't really last. A good starting point is about $10. From there, you can move up to more expensive ones (I am coveting a set of German ones, at about $40 per pair....it'll be awhile!), or resell them to a beading friend at a reasonable price if you don't think jewelry making is for you. A quick note: DO NOT use regular needle nose pliers that you would get at the hardware store. With very few exceptions, these all have ridges on the inside of them which will seriously mar your wire.

The first photo shows three sets of pliers: Bent Chain Nose Pliers, Round Nose Pliers (Ergonomic), and Flush Side Cutters.

Bent chain nose pliers are great for wire working when you need a bit of an angle on things. They are great for helping you get into tiny areas. If you look closely, or at the second photo, you'll see that mine taper to a fairly fine point. This is, again, to get into those tight spaces. The angle looks awkward, and feels awkward, at first, but after a little while working with these babies, you won't EVER want to go to back to straight chain nose pliers. When I teach classes, I always get my students to grab the bent chain nose over the straight. Try them and you'll see why!

~Tapered Bent Chain Nose Pliers~

Round Nose pliers are great for making wrapped loops, bends in wire, and so much more. They aren't as good for holding wire as the chain nose pliers, as the rounded sides may mar the wire if you press down too hard. Mine have more ergonomic handles which reduce stress and fatigue on your hands - always a plus if you are doing many hours at a time, or if you have arthritis.

Flush side cutters are great for cutting wire flat. You position the cutters perpendicular to the wire and it will cut at a ninety-degree angle, reducing the amount of filing time. They are a little more expensive than regular cutters, but worth it. A side note: do NOT cut thick wire or memory wire with these, as it will nick the blades. These are for regular wire only. I cut 18 gauge or less, though usually for 18 gauge, I'll use my big cutters, just to be safe.

~Nylon Jaw Pliers, Crimp Pliers, Heavy Duty Cutters~

The next photo shows Nylon Jaw Pliers, Crimp Pliers, and Heavy Duty Cutters. Though not strictly essential, they REALLY help move things along.

Nylon Jaw pliers are great for straightening curled wire, and work hardening wire (we'll get to that last technique another day). They are also great for holding soft wire without making dents in the wire. You can even make small pieces of wire decoration (swirls, etc) and then hold and press them in the pliers to make them more sturdy (again, we'll get to that another day).

Crimp pliers are a wonderful invention for using the very finicky crimp beads. They help to make crimping and flattening the crimp beads as simple and painless as possible (this is again, for another lesson).

Heavy duty cutters are just that: cutters for cutting heavier gauges of wire, or memory wire. These are actually taken from a regular old hardware store set of pliers. They are inexpensive and effective. You can, of course, get the fancy heavy duty ones from bead stores, for a little more expense.

~Right Angle Bent Chain Nose Pliers, File, Tape Measure/Ruler~

Here is another set of bent chain nose pliers, a metal file and tape measure.

This, second pair of bent chain nose pliers, is less expensive (they were actually my first pair that I have retired to second duty, as their joint is starting to wiggle) and are used when two pairs of flat pliers are needed (usually in finicky wire work). If you look at the fifth photo, you'll see that these pliers have a near ninety degree bend and don't taper quite as much at the end as the other pair - there are many types and styles of pliers, so if at first you don't find a favorite, keep trying and you're sure to find some that you like.

~Ninety Degree Bent Chain Nose Pliers~

The file is an essential piece of equipment in my opinion - you don't have to buy expensive metal ones either, as a simple nail file will suffice for all but the most rare of projects. Use this to file the ends of your wires to prevent snags on clothing, or for filing the ends of ear wires to prevent them being uncomfortable when inserting them into ears.

The tape measure, or a ruler, is imperative. If you want to produce accurate replicas of your work (for ear wires, or other more particular pieces), you must be able to accurately measure your wire or other materials. I have both a rigid 6 and 12 inch ruler, as well as a standard fabric tape measure. They are all worth the money you'll save in wasted, improperly measured wire later on!

The second, forth and fifth (above) photos show how to correctly hold your pliers. You want to cradle your pliers in the natural depression of your hands (above). Gently curl your fingers around the pliers as you'll see in photos 2 and four, and you'll have your grip. Here is where trying a few different sizes and types of pliers will come in handy - my hands are long and so the "mini" or smaller type pliers are out for me, unless I want to induce fatigue on my hands. Also, pay attention to the handles - the smaller or narrower they are, the quicker they will hurt or fatigue your hands if you are doing anything remotely finicky.

That is all for today, I'm sorry this was a bit late - our internet kept dropping and then I had a doctor's appointment. Tune in tomorrow for a bit of the project I'm working on now.

See you tomorrow!

New Celtic Watch!

I just added this watch to my Etsy store, What do you think?

Monday's Mother's Day Update - Fun for All!

Well, mother's day was a blast! I went to my mom's in the afternoon and gave her the present: the special edition of Mary Poppins - I had purchased it when it had first become available for pre-order in January, as I knew it was the first movie my mom had ever seen in the theaters as a kid. It was definitely a hit!
After that we went to see a quilt show that my mom's quilter's guild was holding (it's only every 2 years so we were lucky to go). My mom had several quilts on display there, including the one she made for me, above. She didn't win any awards (I'd like to have a chat with the judges, lol), but we had a great time seeing all of the different quilts - there were over 200!! - and also the different vendors. I'm not a quilter, but as an artist, I can definitely appreciate the love and hard work that goes into this art form :)
While browsing one of the vendors I found a really cool book on quilting landscapes - too amazing - and my mom said she had never seen it before and had always wanted to try quilting landscapes....so I bought it for her 'early birthday present'...keeping in mind that her birthday is in September, LOL. It is a phenomenal book, however, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with! We kept walking around, admiring the quilts and vendors (a few vendors were selling these amazing computerized quilting machines that took much of the back-breaking labor out of quilting, but were....wait for it....$16,000 dollars!! eep!). One of the vendors had 'easy quilt kits' that had all the material and the instructions for about the same price as the book I got my mom. The fabrics in it were sooooo pretty and I kept picking it up and putting it down...picking it up and putting it down. I really liked it, but I'd just bought the book and didn't have the money to buy that in the first place so the quilt kit was definitely out of the question...
...."moooom?"
...."Yes honey?"
....."This is really pretty fabric..."
..."Yes it is - and the quilt would be very easy to make," (at this point the sales lady says, "Oh yes, you can whip these up in about 3 hours!" and I say, "Not with my sewing skills you can't!", anyway, back to the narrative),
..."Mmooomm I can't sew, and I'm really trying to work on my jewelry at the moment....do you think we could do this for my early birthday present?" (now the sales lady asks when my birthday is and I have to tell her that it is in September, to the laughter of everyone around us)
...."You want this? But...But...But....It's so simple! I could do something with a bit more flourish, though it might take a bit longer..." She kept spluttering at the near indignity of being asked to do something so rudimentary *sigh* she is sometimes too much of an artist, LOL.
...."But this would be a really good lap quilt that I could snuggle in and wash a million times and not have to worry about the dog farting on it and I could think of you every time I warm up under it.....Pleeeeease? I'll even buy it if you are willing to make it" (Here is where I do 'cute' eyes, which my mom knows is a joke as I would never beg and if she didn't want to, I'd never push her, but she's got that smile on her face, you know the one, where your mom really wants to indulge, but still can't believe you want something so small, simple, and inexpensive)
"Really? You want this? For your birthday? 4 months from now?" Her eyebrows are in danger of disappearing into her hairline from surprise...
"Mmmm hmmm. It is so pretty and simple and beautiful and I love it! And you'd have lots of time to finish it if you got busy with your art quilts,"
"Where's my credit card?"
"Woo!"
It was a good Mother's Day all around :-D
I hope your day was great too!

Fabulous Friday - A Custom Order And Sale Announcement!

Not my usual photographic prowess, I'll admit, but I wanted to show you the custom order I received yesterday before I shipped it out. She ordered: a Celtic spiral bracelet, but wanted it in just sterling silver, instead of the silver and gold; a FibroAware Celtic spiral ring, but needed it a little smaller; the Airy Scroll Celtic Spiral necklace (it is packed in the white stuff at the top right of the photo so it doesn't tangle en route); and a Lapis Lazuli and sterling silver simple ring. Too awesome! These were gifts to herself for her birthday, and I have to say I admire that - we all need a little "To: Me, From: Me, Love: Me!" every now and then!

Also, this is the LAST CHANCE to purchase items from my 50% off sale! Get these deals while you can! I have a new collection waiting to be listed and I have to sell these sale items first to make room! Once these sale prices are gone, that is it!

I hope you all have a fabulous Friday of your own :)