Rock Candy

I have a passion for Czech glass beads. I love the colors, the cuts, shapes and sparkle. I really like the picasso beads with their addition of a vintage like coating. It seems everything I make these days is with Czech glass....I suppose it is another phase, like  the one I just had with the making earrings, so I will roll with it. 

These beads are amazing and large at 14 x 16 mm with an amazing luster finish. I did not think they needed much so I just wire wrapped them in copper (I really wanted sterling, but yikes the price!) but in the end I am very pleased with the copper. Instead of doing anything fancy and adding other things to the bracelet I settled on making a chunky wire wrapped toggle. The piece definitely has a "Wilma Flinestone" style. 

 You can find Rock Candy in my Etsy shop.

 I took these pictures yesterday using some of the photography tips I got from this site. It was a dark rainy day and these pictures were taken in front of the window using the foil board.  I have never been able to take pictures like this before on a dark day. Good photography is key to showing off your items, so go and check the site out.

Just a little peak...

My bead soup is done...put a fork in it done...ta da done! I can't wait to see all the reveals tomorrow and I hope all my readers will join in and see them too.


Click here to see the blog hop list.

Click here to see the amazing world map of partiers.

See y'all tomorrow! 

 

Brotherly Love

How about these two don't they just look so sweet? NOT! 

more on them below.

Out of the Past

 This is a design style we have seen a lot of by various designers, it is a favorite of mine and thought I would join in and make a piece for my Etsy shop.  I just recently  purchased these gorgeous vintage teal rosary beads and the antique steel cut button and knew they would pair so nicely together. 

 I am still working on my pictures with the tips from yesterdays post, the bottom one could use a bit of work.

...so back to my boys.. 

When Morgan was just a baby they got along famously, Jack took on the role of his mother and bathed him and they played constantly. Now, Morgan still wants to play but Jack just opens up his mouth with a huge hiss and growls at him. We don't really understand the change in Jack, at first I thought he was sick or hurt, but he is fine. We did discover on Morgan that he had an extremely oil section on his tail, I thought he had gotten into something and washed it several times, but no change. So, we Googled  greasy tail on cats and low and behold he has what is called "Stud Tail". Now, I have had cats my whole life and never had a cat with this nor have I heard of it. Morgan has already been neutered so it is strange that he has this.  Apparently it is like a teenager with acne. So perhaps Jack can sense his adolescence and is not liking it! In the meantime the house sounds like the Serengeti with wild cats running and roaring. However when they are sleeping on my bed they are fine, Jack will take to cleaning Morgan again and all is well. Go figure! 

Improve your pictures for $12

 this is not a reveal....

Yep, that's right 12 bucks! ...and it works! I was working on my pictures for the big Bead Soup reveal and used the tips that photography pro Mariano talked about in this great tutorial. Some of the things I was doing was similar but without the use of the reflective card. 

The tutorial was found on Handmadeology.com

  "Handmadeology exists for the purpose of teaching artists how to successfully sell their handmade goods online, and to feature the newest handmade, vintage and supply items found on Etsy." Timothy Adams is the brainchild behind this site and offers great tips to you for your Etsy business.

Orangutan and the Hound

 No matter how many times I see this I laugh and cry. What an amazing friendship.
Click the link....it will make you smile.
Orangutan and the Hound

Still at it

my earring craze that is....

I finished another 10 pair...two I gave away as a gift, one pair for me and the others will be posted on Etsy sometime later today. Most of these are a chunky drop earrings. My hairdresser said she would love a pair of drops, so off I went with that idea. Hope you like them.

I cringe at the price of sterling and actually broke down and purchased some wire from Monster Slayer. These beads are from Ferrarioriginalbeads 

 Etched copper with African Opal, czech and copper beads.

Turquoise Drops

 

New Earrings

 This weeks obsession are earrings. All kinds...all colors. Don't know why, it is just my thing this week. Thoughts are flowing through my head like crazy and I suppose it is because I can make a pair and be done with it in a reasonably short time and move on to the next pair. 10:30 last night I had a thought and went into my studio and worked until 12:30, had to do it before I forgot, that's how I roll ...so here you have the results of the last few days. 

Life Whispers

Dress Greens

SOLD

Bedford Blue

Illumination

Cranberry Bog

 

Green Goddess 

Green Tea

Skylar 

...so there you have it. What is your obsession this week?

Happy Valentines Day!

New Etchings

I spent two days working on some new etched pieces, some for my Flapyourwings Etsy shop and others for me. Most of the pieces came out good and then there were some duds.  

My favorite is the "good pony" tag...it conjures up good memories, a time a few years ago when a friends horses were a very important part of my life. I miss them everyday....still.

look at the little ears peeking out....

 One of my etched pendants is the focal for this layered necklace. A butterfly image and the word "Inspire" evoke images of spring and inspiration. Tiny Czech glass beads are linked in a rosary fashion and a vintage brass chain is added as another layer to adorn the neck. 

You can find this piece on my website JudithBDesigns 

Pioneer Woman and a winner!

 I just got turned on to this new blog ( no pun intended ) A friend told me about this blog she loves to read and now I want to share it with you it's called  The Pioneer Woman.

Ree Drummond is  the author of this fun, wacky frontier blog where she chronicles her life living on a ranch.

 Although my reasons for reading this blog are all about the Pioneer women's  Marlboro Man...I mean what's not to love about a real cowboy!

 ok, seriously....check out her blog.

Ree's pictures are gorgeous, her recipes scrumptious and her daily like will make you smile. 

.....and now the winner of the CSN $35 gift certificate is....

MoonRae 

Congratulations! 

drop me an email and I will give you the code for your gift certificate 

Thanks so much everyone for entering!

 

This bed is just right!

 Since we have been having some cold weather with temps. in the teens, the kitties do not want to go outside. You can find them through out the house lounging in the sunbeams. Samuel Adams has found one better, a sunny confined spot....my photo box, and there was no getting him out of it either!

 In this picture he dared me to move him...can you believe it?

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 The mailman delivered me the sweetest package yesterday, the giveaway I won from LeAnn. Check out her wonderful packaging. I just love it! Very clever, the colored paper is actually a little note card with a hand written note. The heart inside is just beautiful, thanks so much!

Stay warm today! I am off to get a haircut (my hair grows sooooo fast!) then I am picking up my son Nick from school. I miss him terribly, he has not been home since he went back after Christmas break.  

Don't forget to ENTER my blog giveaway. Tomorrow I will be drawing the lucky winner for the $35 CSN stores gift certificate.