Photo of Amanda's Bead Soup for Me

Finally, my show this weekend is over.  I ended up doing pretty well, but I'm tired and way behind on so many things.  This is the primary item on my to-do list...posting what my partner, Amanda Tibbetts, sent me.  FYI, her blog is http://www.amandamade.com/blog.  She sent me a lovely collection, including nuggets and chips of lapis lazuli--what a deep, rich, beautiful blue!  She also sent gorgeous, iridescent moonstone and the prettiest aqua magnesite.  All my favorite colors!

Amanda also sent a couple of copper toggle clasps and some very intriguing copper teardrops...can't wait to come up with something good for those!

The very best part I saved for last.  Amanda took some extra time to hand make brass charms.  The focal is is a pretty round dome stamped with BEAUTY LIES WITHIN.  She stamped 6 smaller disks with a scrolled pattern and has punched them for use as links.  And the surprises keep coming!  She also stamped a smaller brass round dome and two little domes that I may use as earrings since she sent some nice earwires.  One is stamped with a butterfly and the other with my initial, C.

It is clear Amanda put a lot of thought into her contribution and I can't wait to get started.

My Soup!

I received my wonderful soup from Amanda today.  I love everything about it, especially the fact that she handmade the focal and some of the other pieces.  I don't have time to describe it right now, but I'll take a picture and list all the goodies, hopefully tomorrow.

My Bead Soup is Enroute!

Amanda emailed me yesterday that her "soup" is in the mail.  Can't wait!  In the meantime, I'm getting ready for the Treasure Coast Gem and Jewelry Show, which is 12-5 on Friday, 10-5 on Saturday, and 10-4 on Sunday at the Vero Beach Community Center.  It is always an energizing show, plus I don't have to haul my tent and tables since it is indoors.

Amanda received my soup!

Amanda emailed me that she received my bead soup and likes it!  I'm glad because they are some of my favorite color combinations.  I don't have mine yet, but she is making the focal (oh boy!).  She deserves some slack since she is one of us who is still working full time.  I'm so glad I retired from my "day job".  Oh course, I've somehow managed to fill my days so I'm still pretty busy, but it is all what I want to do.  Here's a photo of what I sent Amanda.  Nearly all of these came from AA Stained Glass and Beads, which is my favorite local bead store.  The owner, Leslie Wayment, is participating the Bead Soup Blog Party for the second year and encouraged me to particpate.  Very good advice, Leslie!

Bead Soup Blog Party Stash for My Partner

My partner, Amanda, and I have exchanged emails and both of us promised to mail the goodies we have for each other on Wednesday or Thursday. I have finalized mine and hope to get it in the mail tomorrow. Here's a sneak preview...

 



 



Space Coast Polymer Clay Guild

Yesterday I attended the Space Coast Polymer Clay Guild.  They meet once a month at the Suntree/Viera Library in Melbourne, FL.  It is a working session, from 11am to 4:30pm.  There were 5 of us there yesterday and I was amazed and impressed that a number of people saw us and came in to find out what was going on.  The meeting room is right near the front door and is the first thing you see.  We actually may have some new members from these encounters, and one woman stayed and Michelle, the founder, got her started on the basics.

At the Guild meet-ups you can do anything you want.  Either bring a project or learn something new.  Michelle had brought some books for us to look at and I picked Donna Kato's Millifiore book.  I made two canes from it, one using a Skinner blend and the other using my extruder.  Both came out great.  Now I just have to think about how I want to use them.  I'll post some pictures soon.

Bead Soup Blog Party Assignment!

I have received my partner assignment for the Bead Soup Blog Party!  This is going to be challenging but fun.  I'm eager to hear back from her.

Steep Learning Curve

As usual, I get myself involved in too many projects at once.  No one else does that, right?  :)
Anyway, I'm learning to do sculptural peyote and bead embroidery.  I've finished my first sculptural peyote pendant and when I finish the necklace portion, I'll post it.

I also took a class this week where I did my first metalwork (not counting silversmithing, which I've already done).  It was a bracelet of domed and patterned copper disks, starting from the raw sheet of copper.  I'll post that as soon as I finish oxidizing and polishing it.

This is all not counting the two necklaces I have started, nor the two bracelets.

I have a show tomorrow, the Sebastian Craft Club, in Riverview Park right here in Sebastian.  Seems like every show is better and better!

Meanwhile, I've been working on more polymer clay. I love the properties of this clay...so malleable, nice colors, and it doesn't dry out at room temperature. I've attached a few photos of some of my latest, a pendant and earring set, a heart pendant, and a pair of gold and red earrings.