Reach Out

There were a few bumps this year; several health crisis in the family, I almost broke up with my BFF and more. In February I found myself diving into a "rabbit hole" on YouTube with Brenda Sue Lansdowne of B'Sue Boutiques. I watched hours of her jewelry making videos. Well, you are going to know this if you know me at all. Still, she came to me when I needed a purpose; she launched me on a new endeavor that has brought me a lot of joy. Brenda reaches out to all comers with a huge generous heart. In kind, I reached out to a jewelry artist who I came to "know" via her blog. She was not easy to find; her latest post was a couple years old; Google came up empty. My heart was sad to not find her. I created a Pinterest board in order to save and share pics of her beautiful creations. 

What does any of this have to do with these photos?  Be patient. Out of the blue, this artist messaged me when I clumsily mis-identified one of her pieces on Pinterest. She lives!!!  I was mortified that this was my introduction to her. She was kind and we began to chat. In the meantime I was learning from Brenda and making lots of pieces. With some basics in hand, I was ready to find my own style with vintage elements. Not always easy since many such elements don't have a loop or jump ring in place. 

I also wanted to use more beads. You know this already...along came an online workshop from Deryn Mentock...my education was rounding out.  I learned valuable techniques and practiced, practiced, practiced. 

My purchases were more selective and more $$$. Deryn and my new friend shared some of their special online shops. I even ordered tourmalines from Israel. My stash is small. Ah, WAS small.  I reached out, and was met with friendship and more generosity. This, all of this, was a gift from my friend. 

These particular beauties in this last photo are for me, all for me. I plan to make something true to her luxurious vintage style. As I do I shall think of Lisa all the while. 

Why This and Not That?

I am learning a lot about jewelry design and construction from Deryn Mentock's Alchemy of Objects online course. This is my latest necklace; The Patriot in honor of my Dad who was a Marine in WWII. During the many hours of fiddling with this piece, my desire to use "authentic" elements was strong. I wanted to use only things that were special, vintage, and of course everything needed to relate to the theme and color palate.  At Deryn's suggestion I replaced two of the focal charms with larger scale choices. It does not come naturally to me to go big scale. I'm gonna work on that. 

Running thru my mind was a debate on whether or not gemstone beads are always preferable to glass beads, even best quality glass. Are they better?  Do they feel different to the wearer?  Give off a special energy?  Look more luxurious?  Is it a matter of budget as to whether to use one versus the other?  Hmmm, can you tell which is garnet and which is not?

Can you tell the London blue topaz from the glass?

Tourmaline. Yes or no?  

How about these handsome nuggets?  Would you believe a box of turquoise from Michael's?  So...I would really LIKE to use peridot, and aquamarine, and garnet...but why?  

Where Have I Been?

Where have I been?  Learning and making jewelry, of course. I am halfway through Deryn Mentock's Alchemy of Objects online class.  The fish necklace was a lot of fun to make and is a happy piece. The design idea was asymmetrical. I started with an enameled articulated fish from my stash. I used glass pearls, B'Sue Boutiques chain and connectors, with a small seahorse charm from Sis. 

This necklace is focusing on texture. It started with a strand of vintage green glass beads with several shapes. The small mosaic brooch has been waiting to be called up for a long while. I decided this was the perfect companion for the beads. My color scheme is green, blue and brass. I restrung the beads and connected them to the brooch with (gasp) glued on jump rings. Crazy, I know. 

It is lightweight and kinda sparkly. I like making beaded chains and using found objects as the focal. I guess my taste in found objects is expensive vintage. 

This is the latest necklace that I like, but I'm still fussing with. I made the focal from an inexpensive big box frame for microscope slides. I sandwiched a piece of embroidered cloth between 2 pieces of acrylic packaging, then started to bead the chain. The design theme is proportion; I decided to mix up size and placement of beads, add in some brass and bits. Well, maybe too much adding and not enough continuity. Hmmm...still working on this one. 

Symmetry

I'm taking an online workshop with Deryn Mentok to help incorporate vintage elements into my jewelry. I'm thinking my style will observe a BD and AD influence (Before Deryn and After Deryn). Let's get right to it. 

The first week of class we are asked to create a symmetrical piece. I followed Deryn's design closely as I'm not yet ready to solo in this style. 

It became clear that I need my teachers guidance when I spent over an hour trying to find harmonious elements from my stash. Honestly?  With my decent selection of found objects, beads and chain, I should have been able to throw together 3-4 possibilities. Ah, no. Above is the first design I really wanted to work on...but I wasn't feeling it. 

That's when I surrendered to follow along with the boss. This design came together easily. Was I overthinking my own choices?  I'm gonna find out as we go along the next 2 months of classes. 

I just had to revisit my original idea with the reverse glass brooch. That's better. 

A Weekend With Terri

I live less than 2 hours from Terri Brush.   Finally I was able to schedule a weekend away to attend a workshop in her home studio. Above you will see the space all dressed up for a party. It was dressed in daytime finery for us; a nicely designed and decorated artist's studio with so many big girl toys...like a drill press, acyletine torches, all sort of hammers, pliers, heat, resin, dapping molds. I could go on. I spent 2 intense days here learning so much.  Terri is a patient and calm teacher.  Here is the link to learn about Terri and her classes. Terri Brush

For me the learning was experience based. I see.  I try to do. Then I see another thing to do. For example, the drill press. I loved it. The other material new to me is torching on enamel. I really liked the results and the tool investment isn't too large, maybe, if you already own a micro-torch?  HA! You need this sort of a tripod in order to apply torch heat from underneath. Plus the sheet copper, and the enamel powder, dapping molds... I'm sure there is a YouTube video out there for a "how to" on the enamel. 

The first thing we did is make bezels; cutting shapes from thin pieces of sheet metal; bending a narrow band of metal to fit inside of the shape, then soldering the 2 pieces of metal together.  Well, it sounds easy, but there is a skill to it. And I didn't have any of the this skill. 

No matter. I ended up making a few bezels that held together. Then we filled the bezels with bits and bobs; ice resined over the opening, and voila.  The ice resin was a new technique for me. Does everyone over pour the first time? The hearts were made by hammering thin copper into a heart shaped dapping mold. Cutting out the heart. Enameling it with the Thompson enamel. Then placing a tiny decal on top. Love them!!!  So, what to do with all of the bezels and enameled shapes?  How about leather cuffs?  Setting those snaps was probably a one-time thing for me so I'm gonna enjoy this bracelet. Oh, that was a lot of fun. 

Vintage Flair

For the month of September our challenge from the B'Sue FaceBook group is the theme "Vintage Flair". Well, I love using vintage components in my jewelry and so, I pulled out some stuff and shifted it around on my workable. Hmmm, this, that, the other thing. Part of the participating in these monthly themes is to prominently feature Products from B'Sue Boutique , which is easy to do. 

I wanted to feature some of the best true vintage  stuff I had on hand, starting with this bullion fringe from an old badge, a sparkly topaz from the Boutique and the unique bit of copper chain from B'Sues etsy store (on the right in above pic). But...I was far from done. 

Ultimately I used very little vintage in this necklace. I stayed with B'Sue brass stampings and charms. I torch patinaed a Victorian connector as the background with the rusty black bird connector on top. I dangled a B'Sue rusty black butterfly and some of that cool chain as a tassle. The necklace chain and all jumps are also from B'Sue. I will never again use steel or big box store components. They are cold. 

Gee, I like this layered look. Still, my vintage flair necklace doesn't have quite the flair I'm aiming for. I need to get back into my supplies. 

Touched By An Angel

I wanted to look, touch and buy some good antique jewelry bits to incorporate into my jewelry. Centralia, WA. has an antiques district that was near the Terri brush workshop. While I didn't find the multi-story antiques mall building, I did find one shop.  I walked into a store full of jewelry, much of it the flashy rhinestone brooches that are collectible. As I browsed I spotted some real nice things that were certainly out of my price range, all locked up in glass cases. Yet, as I asked to see some items, oohing and aahing, the owner quoted me prices that were much less than the price tags. Long story short...all of these pieces came home with me for an affordable price. Not too dear to repurpose. Specifics:  60" of delicious pearl/glass/rhinestone rosary chain, a goofus glass brooch, MOP brooch, a brooch for a fob or a charm, and a gold/crystal charm that look like 14k gold fill, a Limoges lady pendent, a fab piece of patinaed filigree with colored stones, a fur clip with crystals, and an old filigree bead and amythest glass chain. I had to stop. 

As I was paying, the shop owner reached under the counter and hauled out a $5 grab bag and asked if I was interested in old bits. Uh, yes, please.  As soon as I checked into the hotel, can you guess what I did?  Here is what I gleaned from the grab bag. Heck, I can use this to add a bit of old to my jewelry. 

I'm not through yet!  These items were also in the grab bag. what?!  There are no identifying marks, but this looks like decent quality. The 2 pair of stone earrings at left and middle have screw on posts of a type I haven't seen. Honestly, I feel like I was touched by an angel. 

CHANGE IT UP - September 25

Welcome my friends. It makes me happy that you've dropped in for a visit. When the B'Sue boutiques creative group on Facebook proposed a "Change it up" blog hop, I said yes. I selected the embossed heart as my starting element.  I planned to go with a geisha theme, inspired by a geisha piece Brenda made; I wanted one for myself.  So I sat down at the work table...

...and everything changed. Ever had that happen to you?  Oh yeah.  Here was this gorgeous brass flower stamping that fit nicely on the heart, with the leaves, and the little brass layered flower...so the focal was designed around all B'Sue Boutiques components. Ok so far. But where is my "change it up" part of the blog hop theme?

Well, the chain is the "change". I'll make it a double wrap and decorative as opposed to simple good chain with a few beads. I started by setting old navettes in prong settings, used snippets of a couple B'Sue Boutiques brass chain, plus filigree beads, bits of coral, a variety of beads, some precious and some not. In the center of the choker section, I featured a B'Sue floral urn charm and a tiny bird. 

Here is my finished necklace.  I think Everything on the focal is From B'Sue Boutiques except the tiny bee near the bottom. Most of the brass has been torched, rubbed with Guilders Paste and sealed.  Around this time I was looking at lots of jewelry by Lisa Bommarito and Christine Wallace.  I was yearning to try for the same vintage luxury look. Yet I don't have the sort of unique (precious and hard to find) elements at my disposal. No worries...I'll use the best made in USA components and try to make them look old and valuable. Thank you, Brenda, for showing me the way and offering such great products. Oh, and that geisha?  She became a brooch.  She insisted on joining the hop. 

There is a lot of B'Sue boutiques components and education on her. All of the brass was primered, sanded, colored with Perfect Pearls, sealed with Krylon Matte spray. Several of the stones are from B'Sue, as is the blue moon glow bead that was so perfect I had to modify the design a bit in order to incorporate it. Alrighty now. What's next for the workable?!  

Please keep on hopping over to your friends. 

Brenda Sue Lansdowne

Jewelry Making Outside the Box

http://www.bsueboutiques.com

Mary Deis

The Rose Sword

http://theroseswordmdeis.blogspot.com/

Jann Tague

Clever Designs

https://janntague.wordpress.com/

Lori Beekman

B.Accessorized

https://baccessorized.wordpress.com/

Renee Hong

Fine and Dandy Jewelry

http://www.fineanddandyjewelry.blogspot.com/

Cynthia Wainscott

Exotic Peru Jewelry

http://exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com/

Dana Hickey

Magpie Approved

http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com/

Mary Beth Quigley-Spiker

Q Settings

https://qsettings.wordpress.com/

Karen Eaton

KJewelry Creations

http://kjewelrycreations1.blogspot.com/

Shari Gardner

SLG Jewelry Designs

https://slgdesigns.wordpress.com/

Alison Huie

Ally's Baubles

http://allysbaubles.blogspot.com/

Pamela Anger

Novegatti Designs

http://www.novegattidesigns.blogspot.com/

Carole Carlson

Beadsophisticate

https://beadsophisticate.wordpress.com/

Cindy Peterson

Howling Dog Jewelry

https://howlingdogjewelry.wordpress.com/

Marcia Tuzzolino

Aurora Designs

http://auroradesignsjewelryblog.me/

Charlotte Smothers

Sea Horse Ranch Life

http://seahorseranch.blogspot.com/

Catherine Shattuck

Victorian Rose Boutique

https://vrbrose.wordpress.com/

Clare Wells Nemeth

Papercrafting Magic

http://papercraftingmagic.blogspot.com/

Erin Whitacre

Shattered Time

https://shatteredtimejewelry.wordpress.com/

Lynda O'Mara

Lomara Creative

http://www.lomaracreative.com/

Ginger Hammond

Lynn Leigh Designs

https://lynnleighdesigns.wordpress.com/

Ingrid Anderson

Lilis Gems Artisan Jewelry

https://lilisgems.wordpress.com/

Deb Beechy

Beetique

http://www.beetique56.blogspot.com

Harry Wood

Oscar Crow

http://oscarcrow.blogspot.com/

Delyssa Maxwell

Past Time Fancies

https://pasttimefancies.wordpress.com/

Paula Gaskill

Lovely Layla Bugs

http://lovelylaylabugjewels.weebly.com/blog

Irene Hoffman

Heart's Dezire by Irene

https://heartsdezirebyirene.wordpress.com/

Alexandra Sefton

Imaginary Jewelry and Altered Art

http://wilywolverine.blogspot.com/

Leslie Carver

Adorn Divine Designs

http://adorndivinedesigns.blogspot.com

Please Use Jump Rings

A few years ago my niece made this beaded necklace for me. I loved it...maybe too much because the clasp broke and I set it aside for repairs. 

Skip forward a couple years. This vintage brass lady stamping arrived from B'Sue Boutiques .  Suddenly I had an idea for a renewed necklace. As I began to put the pieces together I saw that the lovely and delicate beaded chain was 100% wire wrapped. Think about it...no jump rings to make changes presto-chango. To top it off the wire she used was thin and the beads had tiny holes. 

I really struggled and almost quit trying to mend the chain. Yet it was such a nice match to the lady stamping that I toughed it out. I did learn a lesson on the value of jump rings. Breaks happen!  Repairs are necessary!!!

Carrying A Torch

Here I am firing up my micro torch for the first time. Life will never be the same!  I selected a few pieces of cleaned raw brass to test on. 

Over at the B'Sue Boutiques FB group I posted this peek of my work table. As you can see the torched pieces have captured my imagination. 

It happened to be a close friend's birthday. Yay! I can have a really fun play day at my work table and give something special to my friend. 

The FB group had a discussion on the sadness that can come from letting go of a beloved creation. My love affaire with a piece seems to last just the duration of the creative process through a test drive. Then...NEXT!  

All brass components from  B'Sue Boutiques, including the flower and the vine leaves. The vintage chain is from the BSue etsy store. 

Last Place?

I'm a senior woman with a lot of responsibility. Yes, we all have a lot of responsibility...so I won't bore you with my list and I sure don't have time to read your list. Doesn't mean I don't love you!  As I was recounting my list to myself, I ended with me. I came in last place on my list of things to take care of.  I vowed to give myself playtime today.  You are looking at it!!

I knew what I wanted to do. I sorta knew how to do it.  With the help of a kilt pin as the base, I played with chain, silver connectors, sari ribbon from B'Sues Boutique.   I got the green enabled seahorse and crab charms from Harry Wood's etsy store, oscarcrow. 

So that hour was about all I was able to carve out of my routine. It isn't enough time to dream designs and then to put pliers to wire. I have chain to drape.

I have new beads to combine. This stuff doesn't come cheap. Use it or lose it. 

Why Not?

After I colorized some brass this week, and it finally dried, the fun began. The lady and the connector piece between the heart focal and the chain is old brass from my sister.  The heart, silver pearl chain, bead caps and jump rings are all from B'Sue

I worked on the lady first, adding flat back pearls and crystals from my scrapbook supply stash. Those choices created the color scheme. I had just enough of BSues lovely pearl chain, along with some cornflower blue beads from my stash. I wanted something different for the clasp...I had salvaged the old fashioned clasp from somewhere. 

Bonus photo!  I'm using an app for blogging since I only use my iPad for all computing needs. Well, I got some learning to do since I'm unable to remove a pic once I add it in. 

I had a "why not" moment the other day. I make jewelry for me and to give away. So, ya know, a girl only needs so much. If I don't need it, no point in making it, right?  Wrong.  I can make it just because, or even to donate it. This little necklace came from that decision. I used a round "bracelet blank" to collage a small image from a Mod Podge paper pack, little goodies laying on my work table, a bit of AB rhinestone chain, a few beads...done!  The rolo chain and tiny bow are BSue, too. So simple. 

Today I have a few painted pieces ready for their make-up. So, if you'll excuse me...

For Starters

Today I whipped myself into some crafting action by watching a couple of B'Sue YouTube videos on colorizing brass. I've watched many of these videos, seen many excellent examples posted on the group's FB page, yet I hadn't tried it seriously. Today is the day. It all starts with washing and drying the brass to remove any trace of grease. Only then can I start to color. I used parchment white acrylic paint. Front and back. 

In used a heat gun to hasten the paint drying process. I painted 2 coats front and back which means there is drying time between coats; can't be avoided. Once everything was barely dry (I'm so impatient) I used 0000 steel wool to buff out some of the paint. 

Next I used clear Stamp Medium and Perfect Pearls to add some color on the painted brass. Hit it with the heat gun and let dry a bit.  

Then I was ready to seal the finish with Krylon Matte Spray; 2 coats on front and 1 on back. Good gravy this is taking forever. By now a couple of hours have passed. The final Krylon coat needs to dry a few hours at minimum.

 So...I'll see these guys again tomorrow.