Live in the Moment

You can find this piece in my Etsy shop. 

I tend to use mostly brass and copper wire in my designs and they both give my poor carpal tunnel riddled hands a run for my money but  since the price of sterling has gone through the roof, that is all I want to use. Is that crazy or what?

 I can't say what I sell the most of, no one has ever asked just for sterling, brass or copper. I think my customers just go for the overall design. How about you?

 What do you like using the most? Do your customers have a preference?

Just a reminder:
To all my very wonderful readers and new bead soup friends I would like to offer you a chance to win the March issue of Bead Trends magazine. All you have to do is stop by my facebook page,say hi and become a friend. I will pick a random winner on Tuesday morning.
Ok, dokey... see you in FB land.
 

Inspire

 

“I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world” 

             If interested you can find this piece on Etsy. Hope everyone has a great weekend! Stay warm!

Talk Less Listen More

I just finished up two of these necklaces for a special order. Did you know there are websites just devoted to teach you how to talk less and listen more? I did not know until I googled (is that even a word?) it today. 

I think I need to be a better listener....and not run my mouth or jump into a conversation while someone else is talking. Listen more...and be more attentive to the other person. I will try to do better, pause more and give the other person more attention.

How about you are you a good listener? 

So for today, give it a try...Talk less, Listen more. 

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 

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

Flea Market Finds

Here it is Sunday already and I forgot to share my flea market finds with you. I went to the Nashville Flea Market on Friday and it was promised to be a little cooler but it did not turn out that way and it seems the heat and humidity still remains with us, how I long for cooler weather! Here are some of my finds...

 Check out that cute little giraffe...not sure what I will do with it but it was irresistible! I love old bus and trolley tokens, they make great bracelets!

The printed mother of pearl beads were calling me, I just loved the mod look to them. 

...and the finished product. I love the colors!

 Hope everyone is having a great Sunday!

As always thanks so much for stopping by.

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.

Two sides of me

I do not think I could settle on making one "type" of jewelry....My right hand wants to make one thing and my left another, thankfully they compromise and each has its turn to create different pieces.

Here you have "Brand New Day"...fresh, new, and colorful. You can find this piece in my Flap Your Wings Etsy shop.

Now for the other side of me...the side with a "past"...showing its age and patina and usually darker. I love working with old things and mixing them with newer findings.

Kindred Spirits...
An antique classroom picture is forever preserved in resin and is the focal for this unique necklace. Our "kindred spirits" if you will...A handmade lampwork bead is sandwiched between two of my handmade bead caps. A hand stamped copper tag is oxidized to give it an aged look. Colorful czech glass beads are added.

You can find Kindred Spirits in my other Etsy shop Judith B. Designs

"To love what you do and feel that it matters,
how can anything be more fun?"
Katherine Graham

Are you creating what you love? What is your absolute favorite thing to make or do?

Feathered Wings

"I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world"

I am getting ready for an Art show next weekend, so I am making some new pieces. I think I am in my vintage/antique mood, all I want to work with are old elements. Here is a new favorite piece of mine I have named "Feathered Wings". I like the touch of whimsy... the addition of the bird and wings, and an antique key is always cool on anything.

"The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings. "


Re-purposed rosary bead necklace "Our Father"

We are Nashville!!

I just got in late last night from my wonderful trip out west...it was so much better than I could have imagined. I will post some pictures later and you will see what I mean. My DH had to go on business and I got to tag along. To top it off we got to visit with some of our good friends outside of San Fransisco.

I also had this nice surprise on being included in this great Etsy treasury called "We are Nashville!!" Fellow Etsian's reach out to assist with Nashville's flood relief. In here you will find my "Nashville Rising" hand stamped long necklace. All proceeds from the sale of my piece will be donated to Flood Relief - Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund.