Flower Power

Hi y'all, 

I've been working this afternoon on my brass flowers.  I posted some pics a few weeks ago and needed some more materials in order to finish them off.  These are brass components sprayed with good old fashioned spray paint and finished off with a coating of Ice Resin.  Once they're dried, I'll be able to assemble the flowers and make something fun and colorful with them!

Resin coating applied and needing a little dry time. 

Making a spoon flower series as well.  These are gonna be SO cool.  Hee hee! 

August Issue of Bead Chat

Happy Friday, y'all! 

The newest issue of Bead Chat is out and several of my favorite artisans are included.  Donna Millard makes art glass beads that will make you drool with her unique use of artful and whimsical color and pattern.   Please visit her Etsy  store, blog and Facebook page when you get the chance.  

B'Sue's pages feature our July challenge "The Music is You" and included my fun souvenir spoon necklace (Thanks for the shout out, Brenda!), Jann Tague of Clever Design's award-worthy beaded collar necklace, Judy Jones King of VintageFairJewelry's gorgeous polymer clay and mixed media coral beauty, Irene Hoffman's fun and colorful flower collage and Brenda's own lovely creation that includes a fabulous tassel - she even included a video this week to show you how to make your own!  I have to do a tassel necklace soon - they look like too much fun!

Marcia Tuzzolino of Aurora Designs is featured using her skill and artistry with Iced Enamels and mixed media and Cindy Cima Edwards has a great tutorial using Iced Enamels for a charm bracelet!   Terry Matuszyk of Pink Chapeau  has a beautiful leather necklace and Joan Williams of lilruby's beautiful work is featured as well.   Well done, everyone!

I love this e-magazine.  There's so much information crammed in an issue with really practical information for jewelry artisans with none of those annoying cards begging for subscriptions.   Y'all go show Bead Chat some looooooooooove.   :D  

Click to view August 2013 BEAD Chat Magazine by Artisan Whimsy on GLOSSI.COM

Jewelry Design Display Ideas

Happy Friday, y'all! 

I have to show y'all my shopping finds!  As you know, I've been working in my workroom to make it a little more stylish, efficient and organized.  I'm also planning in advance for the possibility of showing at a craft, art or jewelry show in the near future.  I have no idea on where or when that will be, but I do know that I can work on the merchandizing now so that when the time comes, I can hit the ground running!  

I was killing time at my local Big Lots and found a couple of things that definitely have potential.  The first are plaster hands (the tag says $10, but I guess they were on sale 'cause I got 'em for $6 - Yay!) and the reproduction bottle tray.  The bolt of fabric leaning on the table was a fabric purchase for some table covers.  I know I want to keep the color scheme of my displays in my signature blue and white.  This barkcloth fit the bill perfectly!  Check it out:

The first order of business is to rip that cheap fabric thing off the hands!  

MUCH better.  

I plan to spray the tray w/ cubby holes white and will probably spray the hands white as well.  My next projects will be sewing the table covers (or sending them to my mom to do - hee hee!) and working on a logo/business card design.  I'm dreading that....