Charmed I'm sure!

Going to holiday party and want to make a nice little hostess gift? These wine glass charms will surely be a hit! Check out the instructions on the Ice Resin blog HERE.

A Little Poison...

Oh yes, I love Halloween and I love skulls! You will see that I wear my skull ring year round.

Be sure to check out the instructions for this spooktacular necklace HERE. And yes, I will probably wear it on other days throughout the year to go with my ring.

Charmed for the holidays

I would like to gift all who purchase handmade this holiday season! If you purchase $100 from silverpeanut.etsy.com, you get a FREE lower case Itty Bitty Initial charm. Just add your selection to your shopping cart from HERE, then add the listing for the charm from HERE. During checkout, use Promo Code FREECHARM and the cost of the charm will be removed ($30). Be sure to let me know what initial you would like in the "notes to seller" during checkout. **Promo Expires 11/27/14**

Vampiress Necklace

I must say that Halloween was my favorite holiday growing up. I loved the smell of fall in the air and the crunch of the leaves underfoot as we headed out to trick-or-treat. As I got older, I loved watching horror movies. I started reading Ann Rice books and was fascinated by the stories of vampires. When I came across this Halloween stencil and stamp set at the craft store I knew I had to make a Vampiress Necklace!

Be sure to check out the full instructions HERE

"Unconditional" Love Picture Frame

Since I have been a part of the 2014 ICE Resin® Creative Design Team, I have been dabbling in mixed media. I have always wanted to play around with gel mediums and acrylics and make picture frames. The Mixed Metal Hobnail Bezels are a perfect accent to the frame and really add nice dimension!

Click HERE to get the full instruction with step out photos.

Funky Little Headpins

Every once in a while I want a little color in my wire, especially when I'm making a headpin. Watch this short video to see how I used Iced Enamels™ to do just that!

Christmas in July - Gilded Christmas Ornament

I am involved in my first blog hop with IndigoBlu. I was given some wonderful products to use in a mixed media project and it was fun working with something new. Of course, I had to have some kind of "metal" involved so I used the Merry Christmas stamp to make my gilded ornament out of solder.

I purchased blank card stock from the craft store that had a spot for a photograph to be slipped in. I cut out a piece of card stock the size of the window and covered it in green, brown and white distress paints. For the border I covered it in green distress paint and then went in with my distress ink pad and swiped it over the green very lightly to give it a slight woodgrain look.

I then used a piece of the Phat Foam to apply some FlitterGlu onto the Snowflake Lace rubber stamp. Once stamped, I sprinkled Mega-Flake in Lancashire Rose and wiped off with my hand (yes, you get nice and glittery during this process) and used the Scoochy sponge to polish it up a bit.

For the ornament I cut out a circle free-form out of 24 gauge copper sheet. I textured up the edges some with my hammer. Using a torch, I melted some lead free solder onto the copper. Once I had a nice flow approximately the size of the Merry Christmas Circle stamp, I let it cool for about 45 seconds and them gently set the stamp in the solder. I held it there for about 5 seconds and gently lifted it. It made such a beautiful, organic piece. I then oxidized it, buffed it up a bit and applied English Cottage Acrylic Paint in Miss MoneyPenny with a paint brush just in a few spots. While still damp, I used a paper towel to remove the excess paint. To hang it, I attached a jump ring and used a piece of Sari Fabric from my Opaque Silk Ribbon Bundle.

Please be sure to visit the other blogs from our creative design team for their fabulous creations!

Thursday:

Jenny Marples - http://pushingtherightbuttons.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/ice-resin-blog-hop.html

 

Lisa Baker - http://lisabdesignsinspiration.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/ice-resin-blog-hop.html

 

Kathy Cano Murillo http://www.craftychica.com/2014/08/quintessentially-christmas-gilded-butterfly-ornaments

 

Jennifer Cabic http://jennifercabic.blogspot.com/

Friday:

Nikki K - http://fairyelephantdesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/ice-resin-blog-hop.html

 

Linda Walmsley - http://lindylou-lifeinthecraftlane.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/ice-resin-blog-hop.html

 

Carol La Valley http://wp.me/p1MCno-3st

 

John Creighton Petersen http://artnewwave.com/?page_id=468

Saturday:

Laura Williams - http://laurawilliamscards.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/ice-resin-blog-hop.html

 

Baerbel Born http://wp.me/p4nlri-ud (English)

            http://www.baerbelborn.com/ (German)

 

Kay Halliwell-Sutton - http://www.indigoblu.com/blog/?p=6341

 

Clare Horner - http://gotpaintinmyhair.blogspot.com/2014/08/ice-resin-blog-hop.html

Copper Pipe and Shell Casing Bezels

I almost forgot to post my last video for the ICE Resin® Creative Team. I had a friend of mine send me some bullet casings from a shooting range he attends. So, why not make them into small bezels to accompany my Art Mechanique and Rue Romantique bezel collection!

Ice Crystals

Here is my latest technique video for the ICE Resin® Design Team.

A friend of mine sent me some bullet casings that I wanted to set some crystals in. There were only a couple that fit well inside the casing so I thought I would make my own with resin. Now,  I can put any inclusions in that I want and can make the same size over and over again.

Their Love is Unconditional...

I absolutely love my dog Jake! I'll never forget the day I decided to get him. I was getting ready to go through a divorce to my first husband. He was still living in my house and I could not wait for him to leave (I know, brutally honest). He was allergic to dogs and one morning I thought to myself while I was getting ready for work "As soon as he moves out, I'm getting a dog". Later that morning in my production meeting, one of my co-workers held up a flyer and asked if anyone wanted a puppy. Her daughter found him in a field by her college, was hiding him in her dorm room and was found out. I said instantly "I'll take him!"

He has always been there for me, is always happy to see me and snuggles up against my legs to go to sleep every night! I hate to think of the day when he is no longer there.

He is my Puppy, Jake, Jakey, Jakester, Jakester Peanut Dog, Puppy Peanut, JP Dogmont, Pupster, Pea Pup, Pup E Dog. And the list of names goes on and on.

I love you Jake!!!

Bone & ICE Rings

Let me say that I am having so much fun being a part of the ICE Resin® Design Team. The pictures below are from the project Bone & ICE Rings that are featured today. Be sure to check it out on the ICE Resin® Blog. To see how I did the cold connection, see my last post here.

Tech Tuesday Cold Connection Video

Want to use micro fasteners as a cold connection in jewelry? Then you don't want to miss my Tech Tuesday video for the ICE Resin Creative Team

8th Bead Soup Blog Party

Super excited for my second time participating in the Bead Soup Blog Party! Last year the beads I received from Jennie Davies-Reazor were fabulous! My necklace was a runner up and I received some beautiful beads from Lori Anderson!

If you are interested in getting in on the fun, there will only be one sign up which is February 9th! Don't miss out on this fabulous challenge!

Lucky 2013

I was reflecting on this past year and thinking about new goals for 2014. I don't know if I'm ready to say goodbye to 2013 yet, it has been such an amazing year for me! It was so much better than 2012 and 2011 which I was definitely ready to say buh-bye to!

I learned so much about myself this year. The biggest is to grasp my God given talent and put myself out there and not worry "what if I'm not good enough". Because I put my fear aside, I filled out an application to be a part of a design team that I have admired from afar. I still could not believe it, even after I read the email that I was chosen, oh, probably 20 times. (Be sure to look for my first project on the ICE QUEEN ZINE blog on New Year's Day!)

Something else I am getting better at is being fully present when I am talking with someone, especially my family. I'm certainly not perfect yet, but I am working on it.

I think though, one of my proudest moments is Aiden creating his own art and wanting to do shows with me. He has done his first 3 this year and has been so successful. He is also understanding the meaning of being an entrepreneur, saving money and being careful what to spend it on.  He is starting to understand how he can be and do anything he wants as long as he works at it and is true to himself.

As the last day of the year dwindles down, I will continue to think about the New Year and will be sure to write down my goals and what I want to achieve and manifest by December 31st, 2014. This past year will be tough to top, but I'm sure it will be quite exciting and will have a lot in store for me because I will be dreaming even bigger!

Eucharisteo

Eucharisteo...thanksgiving...always precedes the miracle.

I love to read and a friend of mine from church was reading a book one day at the pool this summer,  "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" by Ann Voskamp. Kathy told me a little bit about it and mentioned it was a book they were reading in their book club. I could not make the Monday evening get togethers, so I purchased the book on Amazon and read it pretty quickly.

Ann, the author of the book writes about "How do we find joy in the midst of deadline, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does a life of gratitude look like when your days are gritty, long and sometimes dark? What is God providing here and now?" She discovered, in giving thanks for the life she already had, she found the life she'd always wanted. She kept a notebook and wrote down her daily thanks as she came across them in the moment. 

Now, I also love to make jewelry and I am usually inspired by what I am reading at the time. I happened to be taking a webinar "Windows to My Heart" by Diane Cook at the same time and the image popped into my head what I had to make.

I really enjoyed the book and it opened a "Window to My Heart", so to speak and I translated this into my bracelet.

The base of the cuff and the heart are both nickel silver and the band in between the two is copper. On the heart I etched "Grace, thanksgiving, joy" and "Eucharisteo".

The copper band reads "The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live...He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything.

The image under the mica is part of the painting "Supper at Emmaus" by Italian Baroque artist Caravaggio. In "1000 Gifts", Ann travels to Paris with a friend and sees a Rembrandt of strangers at Emmaus eating with Christ. Everything she wrote about came together and was so clear to her at this moment. I googled Rembrandt's painting and was in awe of Caravaggio's painting and had to use it in my piece instead of the Rembrandt. Don't get me wrong, I do love Rembrandt!

"When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him" (Luke 24"30-31 NIV).

I had to finish the back with sheet music of "Joy to The World" - it just seemed so appropriate to me.

"Thank You, God, for the bread of now...
for Your Son and sacrifice...
for the love song You keep singing, the gift of Yourself that You keep giving...
for the wild wonder of You in this moment."

Stacking Ring Class at Eva's

Last Friday, in the 90+ degree heat, 3 of us took a class at Grand River Bead Studio with Kristina Malcom. It was fantastic! It was like getting in a hot yoga class at the same time! I think the hardest part was walking up 3 flights of stairs with such humid air.

I have to say, heat aside, I really enjoyed the class along with the two others, Claudia and Marilyn, and all of our rings turned out beautifully.

I ended up coming home, ordering a bunch of supplies, which just came in the mail a couple days ago. I can't wait to fill up my fingers with stacking rings!

Kristina and Claudia polishing away

Marilyn busy shaping her rings

My rings soldered, pickled and ready to set!

Group shot from left: Marilyn, Krisina, Mine, Claudia

Close up of my rings with a 6mm Labradorite, copper band with silver ball and a 4mm Alexandrite

Copper and Leather and ICE Resin, oh my!

Here I go again, resin crazy, both Aiden and I are filling everything we can get our hands on!

I am hooked on combining copper and leather, I really like the look. Here, I've made some bezels out of copper tubing from the hardware store, soldered on a back and micro fastened them onto the leather. In the bezels, I've included handmade paper with skeleton leaves and some rhinestone chain that is oxidized and cut into individual pieces. And of course, some text out of a thesaurus distressed with ink.

I love working with Susan Lenart Kazmer's ICE Resin®; It mixes so clear with virtually no bubbles.  You'll have to check out her site for some of her newer products and bezels, very fun! I'll be sure to share some pieces soon with her new Iced Enamels®!

My Little Artist

Here is a picture from Art by the Falls this month with my 7 year old son's work. He has the crafting bug! Everyone in the family has been saving bottle caps for him to use and his most popular item at the show was his resin filled bottle caps. I really love the look when he squirts in different glitter glue and then lets it dry. When it dries, it shrivels up and makes very interesting patterns.

We signed up to do another show, Art on the Hill in Mantua on July 13th and we're pouring resin on a regular basis :o)

And the Winners Are......

I am so happy! Out of all the entrants, my Believe necklace was picked as a runner up for the 7th Bead Soup Challenge! You can see all of the winners here.

First of all, thank you so much to Lori Anderson who organized this event, it was my first time entering and I really enjoyed making everything from my "Soup".  Thank you to all of the sponsors: - Beaducation, Kalmbach Publishing, Fusion Beads, Nina Designs, Lima Beads, and PJ Tool Jewelry & Craft for their time and contributions.

A special thank you to my Bead Soup Partner, Jennifer Davies-Reazor, I was thrilled to be partnered with you and to receive such amazing pieces to work with - I am so happy to have made a new jewelry friend and am in total awe of your work!

Faux Bone with Becky

 What a fantastic day I spent with Becky. Her boyfriend, Harry, a good friend of mine, bought her a class to take from me as a Christmas present. She chose to spend a day exploring faux bone and what a fabulous outcome she had with her first piece! For those of you who aren't familiar with the substrate, it was founded by artist Robert Dancik. It is a completely non-toxic, high grade rigid PVC that does not outgas (produce fumes) when heated properly. Because it is malleable at just below 250 degrees it can be heat formed into just about any shape. You can learn more about it at Crackerdog Design.

Becky teaches African Dance and just a little over a year ago travelled to Africa, so, that was the inspiration for her creation!

 First, she learned how to use a jeweler's saw - talk about picking that up quickly, look how great her shape turned out!

 
Here is Becky cutting out a couple discs to possibly use on her piece. After the texture was added to both sides, she applied acrylic paints and shoe polish.

                 

Becky decided to put "location markers" with tube set cz's in the countries she went to when she visited Africa. She decided to put the copper disc she cut with an etched image of a butterfly wing on the back.

 Here are the finished creations with chain. She will be stopping back at Bead Paradise in the near future to pick out a couple African Trade Beads to add a splash of color to the chain.

Thanks again Becky! How much fun it was to hang with you for the day!!!