Haider Ackermann: Where have you been all my life?

Why can't I wear this?  I mean everyone can wear this, and should. If you can find it. Plus you need to be size 0 or 2, maybe a 4. 

Still, these clothes have grabbed and shaken me. Yeah, let's put some style back into ranch life. 

Honestly, why would you need any other street clothes?  

Here is the man himself, with the MAN. 

I say why shouldn't the guys be comfortable and oh so metro. 

Chain Me

Here is my first collage or assemblage necklace. All of the special elements are from B'Sue boutique. That octopus is in the rusty black patina that I sanded lightly with 0000 steel wool to bring out copper highlights. The large flat back pearls I colored with black acrylic paint, then an overcoat of copper Guilders Paste. Everything glued down tight with e6000. 

I used some vintage garnet beads and a length of vintage brass chain from B'Sue etsy store. It was the perfect length for this; I surely did not want to waste any if it. I am so taken with brass in all of its forms now. 

The Raku cabochons from Harry Wood's etsy store, oscarcrow, are still my go-to for focals. Here I used three in the lariat necklace. All of the rest of the components are from B'Sue except that green bead. 

Gifts Galore

My sister gave me a shoebox full of fab brass stampings. She has been collecting them, these few with an Egyptian style, but many many more of all types. 

Within a day of my sisters gift to me, I won a gift from B'Sue's Boutique. Oh my what a treasure she gave me. These are all items she sells in her web store and all first rate. 

I am a very lucky girl. 

Days of Fun

I am still fascinated by these Raku cabochons made by Harry Wood. He sells on etsy as oscarcrow. Ideas come to me at random, and sometimes there are many days between ideas. Just before I left for Salem, OR I received a huge gift box of fab brass from B'Sueboutique.com. Then a day later my sister gave me a shoebox full of vintage brass stampings she had collected. Looking over the loot, I knew the pieces from Harry would be ideal. I am really happy with this piece. 

 Crazy as it may seem, I needed just the right jumprings to bring it together. I had those in a bag of mixed jumprings from B'Sue. That is also her copper chain in the middle of the 3 strands, plus her copper charms. 

While at Ellen's we made spiral bracelets with memory wire, and stretch bead bracelets. I also discovered the "beadtini" bar at Craft Warehouse, a well stocked independent craft store near Ellen. 

Ellen and I also made eyeglass neckchains. I gave this one to my mom. 

We were assisted by the four 6-week old kittens that Ellen is fostering. Kittens. Bead store. Jewelry making. Cocktails and potato chips. A girl can't ask for more.