Something smells fishy in here!

Oh yes it does! And I love it! 

I have about 8 lobster carcasses simmering on the stove and that wonderfully stinky stuff will become lobster bisque. I am in the process of making a stock for that wonderful fattening and decadent soup. It takes a while to extract all that flavor and then to reduce the stock so that the flavor intensifies. So, at this writing you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out how it was.

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In the meantime I am working on several things on my work table. These earrings seemed to take  f o r e v e r !  I kept changing how the disc's were to hang, I ended up making textured jump rings so they could dangle. They have a bohemian feel to them and I am calling them Gypsy. I just listed them in my Etsy shop.

Don't forget to check out the giveaway of the March issue of Bead Trends. The giveaway ends Tuesday am. Enter here

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.

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.

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.

A great day for etching

It warmed up today and it was a great day to etch. All summer I have had my etching "station" on the screened in porch off the kitchen. It has been a perfect place to etch, no fumes to deal with and closed off from critters. Since the weather has gotten a bit chilly, I had to move everything to the laundry room, but that stunk the house up too much, even with fans. Thankfully today was beautiful so I took the opportunity to etch like crazy on the porch. I suppose the winter station will have to be the garage. 

Here is one of the completed pieces. I used nickel silver and loved the result! You can find this piece in my Etsy shop. 

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

Inspire

 

Inspire –
To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion
To stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence.

 

"Inspire" etched cuff bracelet can be found at JudithBDesigns

 

Inspire Peacock Feather Necklace can be found on Etsy 

 

Stormy Seas

 My friend and fellow blogger Leslie of Bei Mondi had given me a great stash of beads when we got together last week. Why is it someone else's stash is always better than yours? I was thinking "fall" when I created this, darker colors, sweaters and denim. I am loving the texture of the lava stones, something I have never used. Thanks Miss Leslie for helping me think outside of my little box! 

 

Etched pieces

I have been working on some more etched pieces and am pretty pleased how they came out. I liked using the torch on these as well, for color and patina. It is fun to try to get the color  where you want it, sometimes I amaze myself and it actually works as planned.

I plan on working in my studio tonight with some of these pieces, maybe tomorrow I can share them with you.
Have a great Friday!

Unfold Your Wings

"My Soul is in the Sky"

I may be wearing out my welcome with all of my etching but I just can't help myself, I am like a kid with a new toy!  I had purchased this great twig piece at Michael's while I was in Nevada, I knew I wanted to do something a little different with it. I am not usually one to mix metal colors together, however I am working on that and trying to get out of my "box". I really like the combinations here and I think each element compliment each other nicely. 

The fab ceramic beads are from Summers Studio 

 You can find this whimsical piece on my website Judith B. Designs.com

 

We have been looking for a new car for sometime we know what we want but just have not found it at a price we are willing to pay. My DH has a friend who has a small dealership and has offered to take him to the car auction. Today was the auction day, but the DH is back in Nevada (poor guy) so guess who went to the auction?  Me, Me...me! It was just like on TV...way cool! Thousands upon thousands of cars...anything you want! It was so tempting to change my mind but I did not waiver. We are looking  for a Volvo SC90 , they had many of them but after weeding bad colors and other things out there were two that we were going to bid on, unfortunately the bidding went higher than our budget would allow. We will try again in a few weeks at the next auction. I will keep you posted if I get lucky!

The Butterfly is a Flying Flower

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. My DH took me out for a lovely dinner on Saturday night, a nice splurge I should say. We went to the Capital Grille in downtown Nashville, located in the Hermitage Hotel. Four years ago when we moved to Tennessee our new home was not ready for us to  move in,  we were fortunate to stay at the luxurious Hermitage Hotel with our cats for just over a week, needless to say I did not want to leave. It surely was a real treat, this being a very stressful time, chocolates on the pillow at night sure helped. So four years later, here we are dinning at this lovely restuarant. Romantic yes...wonderful yes..it was a very nice evening. Thanks honey!

I had my son take this picture before we left as I was wearing a new butterfly necklace that I had just finished making. I loved it so much and it went with my blouse so I decided to wear it. I was very happy with the piece and it was really comfortable to wear.

The Butterfly is A Flying Flower

You can find this piece in my Etsy shop.