Relaxing and Reflection

“A new year is unfolding – like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within.”

We are finally back home after a 10 day trip to Connecticut to visit family and  friends.  I am exhausted and so very happy to be able to sleep in my bed tonight. Thumbs up to Southwest Airlines for making our flights so easy and hassle free. No festivities for us tonight....relaxing, reflection and perhaps a nice martinis is in order. My best wishes to you all for a wonderful New Year filled with many blessings.

Snowbound

I do believe this could be a cozy pj day. We are at my sisters house in Connecticut, the snow is falling (again) and the wind is howling, how nice it is to be surrounded by those you love. The weather reports sound like y'all are snow bound as well.

Our visit has been wonderful....how nice it has been to be back in New England for Christmas (I will happily leave the snow behind when we head back to Tennessee). I hope you all are enjoying some time off and are spending it with those you love.

Christmas Blesssing

 A Christmas Blessing

During this Christmas season,
May you be blessed
With the spirit of the season,
which is peace,
The gladness of the season,
which is hope,
And the heart of the season,
which is love

Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing
Returns to you glad.

John Greenleaf Whittier

...this is my wish for you! I hope you all have a blessed holiday with those you love. 

I shall return next year!

Thank you to all of my dear friends who enrich my life each day, stay well.

 
 

Spoken Words

When I work with resin I usually make a batch of pendants or charms, without any plan in mind or what they will be used for. I like having a box of resin pieces to go to for inspiration when I need it. I love the graphics in vintage dictionaries and mostly work with them, I have a huge stack of old dictionaries for rummaging through. This particular image of the old phone grabbed me right away, I love the boldness of the image.

I hand stamped the words on brass that I had already etched with random words. Using my favorite Czech glass beads for a little color a necklace was created. I think it speaks volumes!

Share the joy of beading this holiday season!  

Artbeads.com is having a great giveaway Whether they've been good or bad, you get to select up to ten of your friends or family members to receive a free $10 Artbeads.com gift card, and they will even let you take the credit! If you've ever wanted to introduce your friends to the joy of beading and jewelry design, this is a great way to help them get started. There's no time to waste! This means they need your list by Midnight on Wednesday, December 22.

Good News

We just got home from my post-op visit and have good news to share. The lymph nodes that were removed are free of cancer...thank the Lord! I had prepared myself for different scenarios so I would be ready and thankfully I heard the news I wanted. My leg looks good according to my surgeon but to me it looks like I was bit by a shark ( a really big shark), so that's my new story and I'm sticking to it, I think it will make things a bit more interesting.  Thank you so much my friends for your prayers and good wishes, I feel you all have helped me through this. I am so happy we will be able to make the trip back to Connecticut to be with my MIL who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. My MIL is an amazing woman and has helped me through this ordeal and I hope I can do the same for her.

Blessing to you all!

Holiday Sale

 Hop on over to my Etsy shops I am having a  20% off sale on ALL items for a limited time...there just may be something you just can't resist! Just enter coupon code HolidaySale

JudithBDesigns.etsy.com

Flapyourwings.etsy.com 

Cozy Snowy Sunday

Nine 03 

antique enamel watch face forever preserved in resin in an old watch housing 

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Care  Share

 

Antique BPOE enameled medal Circa late 1800's

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Time is a Companion

etched and verdigris brass with antique rosary cross with turquoise beads

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I just listed these in my JudithBDesigns Etsy shop you can check them out here. 

It has been a cozy snowy day here in Tennessee, a little too early for the snow, we usually only get a few flurries late January or so. We are venturing out with our four wheel drive (our old New England Ford Explorer) to some holiday festivities with my friends at the antique shop. I am thinking a few hours will do me some good. Hope everyone is enjoying their day and doing what makes you happy.

Up and About ever so slowly

I am so glad to be upright and moving about, how ever so slowly and loudly, clunking on the wood floors with my crutches and ortho boot.  Thankfully the pain is subsiding and my mind is clearing, I am grateful...

Ever since I got home from the hospital my companion has been my big Ole lap cat Sam Adams. He likes to walk all over me and has to kneed on all my hurting spots, he found a comfy spot lying on my boot today.

Surgery went well, I did not need a skin graph as what was expected so that was a huge relief, my surgeon was able to join the skin together on my leg. Two lymph nodes were removed from my (R) groin, I am hoping pathology will be in by Thursday when I go for my post-op visit. In the meantime I am able to get into my studio put my legs and up and get some work done. My darling DH organized everything so nicely for me. I have very dear friends that are making us meals and keeping me company, like I said I am grateful...it is a huge blessing to have such wonderful family and friends. Many thanks again for all of your well wishes and friendship.

My Fingers are Crossed

"As with the Sign of the Cross, the Fingers Crossed action is used when the person feels the need for good luck, courage or protection". 

Tomorrow I am looking for all of the above...I am having surgery tomorrow as some of you know I was recently diagnosed with Ulcerative Melanoma. A large area on my right leg will be removed and a skin graph will also be done. I am praying my lymph nodes will be clear of the disease. So, I will be away from blog land for a bit. Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers and good wishes, it means so much to me having this wonderfully supportive network of such great friends.

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...and before I forget I want to congratulate "TopHat" for winning my sweet little giveaway. Please send along your address and I will make sure you get your little gift. 

Special Order

 I am trying to finish up some special orders this week. I especially love this fun colorful bracelet I made for one of my blog readers. This bracelet features some awesome handmade polymer clay beads from Aslan Crafts on Etsy, I just love these beads and their cool shape. Originally I wanted to pair them with a citrine color that is found in the floral design but It really did not look so great. So after rummaging through all my stash I improvised....

...I took these chunky silver plated metal beads and torched them! They turned a really great shade of "old gold" with hints of iridescence and shades of gray, so hard to explain but I am so pleased!

 ...and don't forget...

I am having a sweet little giveaway that ends tomorrow at 12 noon, so be sure to go and check it out! You can enter HERE.

Rings & a sweet little giveaway!

 

I found these awesome adjustable ring blanks some time ago on Etsy and just LOVE them! The quality is superb and I really like the matt antique silver finish. I have been using them to make typewriter key rings and purchased a few with a bezel to play with. Well, yesterday I figured out what I wanted to go in them can you guess? 

Etched metal and resin! I love the simplicity of them. I wish I wore rings but I just can't stand anything on my fingers (my stunning diamond rests in velvet). Sorry about the glare on the resin, there are no dark spots.

 What do you think? 
You can find these in my Flapyourwings Etsy shop. 

Since I have been having fun with my etching I would love to offer to y'all one of my etched pendants.

"Admit One" 

Measures 2" x 1 1/8" A ticket image has been etched on a purchased brass dog tag. I will also be including a very special surprise with the tag.

All I ask is this one little question:

If you could only make one piece of jewelry what would it be and who would you give it to? 

Leave your comment with email and your name will be entered in the drawing that will be held on Tuesday at 12 noon. If you share this blog post on twitter, facebook or your blog please leave another comment telling me. 

I really look forward to all of your comments. 

Etched Cuff Bracelets

 

I really enjoy making these cuffs...all the sanding and smoothing really gives you a good work out and gets out some of those frustrations. Once it is etched and oxidized you are rewarded with a glorious design...so very worth it! Several of my friends will be receiving these as Christmas presents this year.

You can find these bracelets on my website JudithBDesigns.com

 

I am hoping today is a better day, yesterday I spent 3 hours in the dentist chair....3 hours can you believe it? One of my porcelain crowns cracked on Thanksgiving evening ( of all days!) Thankfully it did not hurt so I could wait until yesterday. Now I have a temporary and a new one will be made in a few weeks. Today I am off for a haircut , maybe something new...we will see. My friend Renee who is my hairdresser wants me to bring in jewelry, all the girls want to see my work, that will be fun! Baptist hospital is down the road from the salon so I will also go and register for my surgery. I hope y'all have a wonderful day! Do something fun!!

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