I love Shutterfly!

Click here to view this photo book larger

 I had purchased a Groupon for Shutterfly.com to make a photo book. I thought the book would be great to have on display at my shows and to use as a portfolio if I was to need one. Shutterfly offers so many design choices so your book can truly be one of a kind. I included some of my favorite pieces from this past year. Shipping was so quick and when my book arrived I was thrilled! I loved the high quality of both the paper and the photos. I am now a fan! I hope you will check them out.

On another note...I really want to thank everyone for their kind emails about my recent diagnosis. It means so much to me, more than I could ever express. I will keep you all posted. 

 

Bee Happy

They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world.

Someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.
–Tom Bodett

For this one of a kind piece I etched the brass and applied Miss Ficklemedia's Verdigris patina. Czech glass beads and a hand forged closure adds additional interest to the neckline. You can find this on my Judith B.Designs web site.

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections.
--Unknown
 

 
 

Happy Thanks for giving

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. 

W. T. Purkiser 

 For today and it's blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.

When my son was little he would say "Happy thanks for giving"  not a thanksgiving has gone by that I don't repeat those same words. My wishes to you are that you have a blessed holiday, are able to  have a wonderful meal and have someone to enjoy it with. Blessings to you all!

Show signs and advertising

 

I wanted to share with you a great and inexpensive way to advertise your business. A little over a month ago I ordered two large car magnets from Vistaprint, using an uploaded design of the front of my business card. When I went to their site my original intention was to order a banner, but I felt the banner was so large and too intrusive for my display. I saw the  large car magnets (17.3 x 11.25) and liked the look of them and thought I would order that. When they arrived I was so pleased at the coloring and gloss, they were awesome! I went and looked at all of my old frames that I use in my display and the magnet fit into one of them perfectly, I already had chicken wire on the frame so it stuck to it so problem, Voila, instant sign! The other magnet I use on the car when I am doing shows, so I get a little extra advertising in while traveling. Vistaprint is always having some type of sale so I am sure you can get them at a good price. I paid less than $35 including postage.

 I will give you a little update on my medical situation....I saw my surgeon today and have surgery scheduled for Dec. 8th to remove about a fist size area from my right leg. They will also be doing a skin graft and doing a dye injection into my lymph nodes to check for metastasis of the melanoma. Once that is done we will know what kind of treatment will follow, if any. Thanks for all of your kind words and thoughts on my previous post, it means so much!

Shift Lock

One more key necklace....I know... I suppose I am a little obsessed with the keys, but sometimes the addition of a key just makes the piece. As many of you know I love to etch, it is a love hate thing, the loving part taking precedent. Any whoooo...this piece also had some Verdigris patina applied and it just made the etch pop. It really is a fun process! Miss Ficklemedia offers a great tutorial on applying patinas, check it out!

 Shift Lock is an assemblage of vintage rosary beads, antique brass chain links, vintage typewriter key and an antique key.

 It has been a rough week, besides working like a crazy lady getting ready for my best show of the season lots of other things have come up. My dear mother-in-law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, we were shocked to learn this sad news. She lives in Connecticut so the distance will make it more difficult for us, but a 2 hour plane ride is easy to do. I too got some bad news, a diagnosis of Malignant Melanoma. I had something removed from my leg and the outcome was not as we hoped. Needless to say I have had lots rolling around in my head. I will be having additional surgery very soon on my leg to get clear margins on where the cancer is. I think that is all one person can handle for the week...I am looking forward to the show, it will surely keep my mind occupied. The weekend is upon us, I hope you all have a great one!

Key to wisdom

"The key to wisdom is knowing all the right questions"

John A. Simone Sr. 

This vintage key was once a brooch with a blue plastic bead in the center, its former life was not so attractive. I replaced the bead with an antique Victorian button and added some of Miss Ficklemedia's Verdigris Patina to the brass key, it added some life to the former wall flower. An array of beads, precious stones and vintage chain  are used to make this eclectic adornment.

A small key

"A small key opens BIG doors" 

The etched piece that is the focal for this pendant was purely an accident. I had etched the piece about a month and was not happy with the depth of the etch and left it on my work table on the porch. It caught my eye that other day and I went to retrieve it, the piece naturally patina'd to a great shade of green or verdi. I was so excited and took it to my work table and buffed it with some steel wool to bring out the etched design.....and here you have it! I will be applying some renaissance wax to the pendant as soon as it arrives. I think it will enhance the piece nicely.

You can find this piece in my Etsy shop.

Peace'mak"ing

one that makes peace....

 ....and then they laughed!

 The Peacemaker can be found on JudithBDesigns. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Yay, I am staying home and I am going to do what I do best...make jewelry!

It's a Hoot

Here is an etched owl pendant I made a while ago and today it found its home in this necklace called "Hoot". For some reason I really wanted something earthy paired with the etched piece, a combination of jasper, tiger eye, wood and African opal did the trick. Hope you like it! You can find "Hoot" in my Etsy shop.

I made a lady cry...

I sit here with my head in my hands not feeling good at all, I think the worst of me caught up with the best of me....does that make sense? Anyway, I think all this traveling and I just finished a two day show yesterday got to me. I have had a sore throat, cough and the aches all weekend and I lost my voice. It was very hard to talk with my customers, but I must say I met some of the most amazing ladies this weekend, vendors and customers. Yes, you read the title of my blog post correctly, I made a lady cry (not just one lady but actually two).

A women picked up my religious medal charm bracelet and looked it over and over and said she had to have it, she never buys herself anything and this she really wanted. She whipped out her money so fast and I put it on her wrist as she wanted to wear it. Then she said to me how she loved it so much and the tears started to run down her face...it reminded her of her grandmother so much and then she cried. I hugged her and she thanked me. My husband was sitting next to me with tears in his eyes. She touched my heart....and affirmed to me why I create what I do.

The next lady I met was named Brenda and she is a Gold Star Mom, she lost her son while he was serving our country, he was a Marine. She loved all my pieces that had a story to them....the ones with vintage or antique elements. She purchased three necklaces and would like for me to make a special piece for her someday with something that was her son's. She is president of the Gold Star chapter here in Tennessee. Tears flowed down her face when she said goodbye, she said we were destined to meet, and I do believe we were.

So now I think back on yesterday and I am feeling better...I hope you all had a great weekend too!

Whimsical Bliss

I know.... I should be finishing up pricing and all those little last minute things one does before doing a show...but I could not resist making one last thing. This was a quickie...

The next piece I do will have a resin filled bezel but I wanted an idea of what this piece would look like, since it has been floating in my mind. She is kinda funky...I look forward to hearing what people think of her at the show. In the mean time she is posted in my Flapyourwings Etsy shop. If you would like to make a bracelet like this you can find some etched copper wings in my Etsy shop as well.

Chicago

It has been such a whirlwind past 3 weeks! I am glad to be home for awhile. I just returned from a 4 day trip to Chicago, I am in love with this city! This was my first visit and I know it will not be my last. I love the architect of the buildings, the mix of the old and the new.

John Hancock Building

 I visited the Chicago Art Institute and was amazed at all the wonderful works of art .My favorites were the European paintings, considered one of the finest collections in the world. I favor Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Renoir being one of my favorites.

 Pierre-Auguste Renoir
French, 1841-1919
Two Sisters (On the Terrace), 1881

 Claude Monet
French, 1840-1926
Bordighera, 1884

 Georges Seurat
French, 1859-1891
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte -- 1884, 1884-86
 

 Vincent van Gogh
Dutch, 1853-1890
Self-Portrait, 1887

 Claude Monet
French, 1840-1926
Water Lilies, 1906

 American Art 1900-1955

 Edward Hopper
American, 1882-1967
Nighthawks, 1942
 

 Mary Cassatt
American, 1844-1926
The Child's Bath, 1893
 

 Grant Wood
American, 1891-1942

American Gothic, 1930

 

Millennium park was another great place to visit with its one of a kind "Cloud Gate" sculpture. The 110- ton elliptical sculpture is forged of seamless polished stainless steel which reflects the city's famous skyline.

...And lastly a visit to the Shedd Aquarium  

Today I need to get back to work, I have to finish pricing and get ready for a two day show this weekend. Hope everyone is well, have a great day!