Whatchamacallit

I am not sure what to call this piece... I need a little help. I do usually like to name my pieces, I can relate to them much better than just a descriptive name. I am at a loss for this poor nameless piece.

I had this enamel bead  from Barbara Lewis sitting in one of my many pottery bowls for awhile, it was just patiently waiting its turn to be used...and then I came across this multi colored vintage bead strand and they met like old friends. I paired the two with a deeply etched brass watch face and the three of them were very happy together, although nameless. Any suggestions on a name?

I love that you can wear this long or as a lariat, my personal favorite.

 I am looking forward to hearing your suggestions!

Autumn is a Mosaic

~ Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~

Stanley Horowitz

The theme this month for Artbeads.com blogging program is "Colors of Fall". I created this piece I call "Autumn's Mosaics"  . A mosaic of Czech glass, lapis and fire polished beads dangle above a hand cut, shaped and patina-ed copper leaf, a leaf stamped copper cap keeps the beads all clustered. This one of a kind pendant is strung on a hand dyed silk ribbon. . 

 

 Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

George Eliot

Artbeads.com has added a new line called Kabela Design, brass components that are inspired by vintage style with a modern twist. For this piece I used  one of the brass filigrees components to frame the etched pendant.I also practiced my fusing and created a copper link chain.

You can find Resting Bird on my website JudithBDesigns.com 

  

and lastly...."Time to Fly"  using another filigree component that I used as a focal with an applied antique enamel watch face. This multi-layer long necklace was created with antique white glass beads, brass filigree and faceted silver glass beads. 

 Disclosure: All above mentioned beads from Artbead.com were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

The Fallen Leaf

 The days go by so fast around here...is it just me or is it everyone else too? The fall is always such a busy time of year. We had a neighborhood yard sale this past weekend, sales were not great but we had such great weather it did not matter. I got to visit with the neighbors and enjoy the fresh air. If you know me I can't just sit still, my hands have to be moving, so with a few tools, copper wire and beads in my lap this is what I accomplished on Friday, "The Fallen Leaf". The turquoise helps the colors in the leaf just pop, I just can't seem to get away from using the blue greens.

 “Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree” .....emily bronte

Shop Easy

Have you shopped at any of the 200 CSN stores yet? I just recently started browsing as they have asked me to do a review on one of their many items.They have everything from affordable Fitness Equipment to cheap Bedroom Furniture. CSN's motto is "shop easy" and it certainly is as I can speak from experience.

There are lots of things in our household that could use replacing with more energy efficient items, and you can't beat FREE SHIPPING on most items. I am off to shop!

Busy Hands

My fall shows are creeping up and the calendar is getting full. I just signed up to do a show in East Nashville in a historic/trendy area (...does that make sense?) The show is called NashVegas, how cool is that. My hands have been busy and they look like I work on trucks, no pretty nail polish for me!
This piece is made with antique glass beads, copper and sterling. I love combining sterling with copper, they play off of each other so nicely.

 The earrings were kind of a mistake, I had roughed up a stamped piece a bit that was intended for etching but decided I liked the stamping just as it was. Modern earrings with a vintage feel.

 

 

 

The Giving Hand

 Fabulous earthy ceramic hand pendant from Spirited Earth Ceramics

Pottery beads from Pottery Girl 

Bone, wood, brass and agate beads 

a little wire wrapping from me

Give more that you get...Priceless 

 You can find Giving Hand in my Etsy shop

Wishes to you all for a great weekend!

Estate Sale Finds

How I love a good estate sale! I mean really love...it has been a while since I have been to a good one so this morning as I was fighting the Nashville traffic I was praying it would be worth it, and it was!

I have been very neglectful of my antique booths at Bright's Antique World and I really need to spend a few days re-organizing and cleaning. Here are some of the goodies I found today.

a darling vintage print of a little boy (he reminds me of when my son was little), a vintage glass necklace and a 1907 3rd grade primer book. I just love old children's books!

a vintage quilt top, an old cupid candle holder, an old linen sewing bag, a doll suitcase, a great old brass birdcage, a deco metal tray, old frames and a signed original framed print. Some old linens and  some pottery bowls (to hold my bead stash).

...and the coolest shells ever! All hand painted and dated 1912, the photo does not do them justice, and I got two of them!

The gentleman running the sale said they would put more things out tomorrow, so since I will be back in town I will return to see if I can find anything else. Now I have to clean and price everything, not my favorite thing to do, I would rather just do the shopping!

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 Check out this great treasury my typewriter key bracelet was in today. It is called "Secretary" it reminds me of one of my favorite shows Mad Men, as it has mostly vintage. 

Stone Moss

Stone Moss

A long necklace full of textures created from one of the fabulous beads I blogged about a 10 days ago. This gorgeous bead is from Pottery Girl on etsy and I am sure you will recognize the lovely bronze floral pendant from Summers Studio. 

 I made another copper leaf and I am in love with it. I had lots of fun creating the patina and textures.

Happy Monday everyone!

Remembering

In memory of all those people who lost their lives on the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a nation remembers the horrors of that Tuesday morning in 2001. We all remember where we were and what we were doing, a day that will not be forgotten.

give a little love today, smile at a stranger, help your neighbor...for we are able to.

Falling Leaves

Well, not quite yet here in Tennessee but I am in the mood for Autumn.I would however prefer to keep wearing shorts and flip flops, I think someone shrunk all of my pants this summer....not so good!

Butterflies are everywhere here, you can not drive without hitting them, I have never seen so many in my life! So it seems I can not stop making butterfly pendants, I too am adding to the population! Still etching like a fool, some come out good and others not so, it is what it is. I really like doing it, I think I like the challenge. I just listed lots more etched pieces in my Etsy shop. Here are a few pieces I am fond of.

Sunflower Pendant 

I had a little surgery on my foot today so I better go and put it up, or I will be crying later. How do you like this fur rug? As you can see my baby Morgan is getting quite big

Busy Hands

I have been staying super busy making jewelry and doing lots of etching. The DH has been away in lovely Nevada and is on his way home as I speak, so when he is away I stay busier than usual so the time goes quicker. My fingers are a mess from oxidizing and scrubbing with steel wool, no model hands here. My fall and winter shows are lining up nicely. I have decided to offer some of my etched pieces in my Flapyourwings  Etsy shop. I have far too many pieces and will never use them all. Several people have asked if I would sell them so I decided to, so far it has been a great success.  

 Etched copper "good dog" tag/pendant

 Crossroads

I had purchased these gorgeous jasper and lapis beads from Mary on my last trip to the Nashville flea market. I can't get enough of this color combination!

Harvest Moon