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?