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. 

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. 

Raku For Me

I wouldn't have guessed that I would favor Raku pottery over rhinestones for my jewelry making. Yet here I am using 2 of Harry Wood's cabochons;  Harry's etsy store is oscarcrow. When these arrived in the mail, along with 2 others, I went into obsessive mode and had to design something around them. 

I rummaged in my stash and my new BSue Boutique supplies for proper elements to enhance the Raku. I used BSue chain, metal beads and the brass stamping that the comedy mask is set on. From my stash is carnelian, labradorite and old amber beads. I really like this guy and have been wearing it, even to the barn. 

Here is my latest supplies from BSue. Oh, there is some dazzling stuff here to play with. And, there is another shipment from Harry on the way. Yahoo. 

Key to Happiness Necklace

At the b'sue creative group on FB, there is Work Desk Wednesday and Finish Up Friday; milestones in the week to encourage creative time. Last Wednesday I took this pic of a necklace I wanted to work on. My notion was to make a lariat style toggle closure in front, with that Arita button as the focal. As I was pulling this and that out of my stash, I decided to use the precious Asian look metal beads to support the Buddha button. They are precious because they come from my mom or gramma. So, this was my rough idea of the design 

As I began to put things together I quickly found that the lariat toggle idea was not a go for this piece. I tell you, I worked and reworked everything and each jumpring.  That sweet man never lost his smile!  😍 I used only made in USA jewelry findings and chain here. OK, OK, there are a couple bead caps from across the sea.