Bead Soup project #2 - I thought the clasp looked like shells, so I used it with a focal made by a friend. He made the seahorse out of copper and scrap silver. I love how he used the torch to get colors on the seahorse. I used the clasp and the flat greenish disk beads sent by my Bead Soup partner. I used random beads from necklaces salvaged from thrift store finds, one of my favorite sources for beads.

Bead Soup project #1 This necklace was made using vintage cuckoo clock chain. The kind that hangs down from the clock with weights at each end. I used the focal sent by my Bead Soup partner, as well was the round metal disks. I used the disks to turn the focal from a pin to a necklace focal. I broke off the pin back, domed one of the disk and glued it to the back. Then I used two other disks to form the area to hang from the chain. The dark beads and crystals are also from my partner. I made another necklace using the clasp and some more beads. Click on the header "Every Good and Perfect Gift" to go to my main page and see the other project.....

I have an amazing new treasure - - I went to the Goodwill in our town to drop off some stuff I was getting rid of. Sitting at the back door, in pieces, was a lawyer’s bookcase. The shelves all swing up and slide back inside to open. The shelves all stack one on the other. So it is easily moved. I drooled over it and the Goodwill guy said it had just been dropped off and he didn't want it. He didn't think it would sell. (What??) He offered it to me for free. I said "Yes, Please", so I loaded it all up in the now empty van and brought it home. Honestly, I think the Goodwill guy thought it was a broken mess. As I loaded it in the van I stacked some of the units, and he said “Oh, that’s how it goes!” But, hey it was already in my van and I wasn't giving it back. I was just trying to get away without someone stopping me ~smile~

I seem to be going with a theme......another bird sculpture titled "Air Mail" made out of vintage letters. I got a large box of letters written in the 60's between two sisters. Found them at the flea market, being sold by the granddaughter of one of the sisters. I told her I would use them in my art, and she thought that would make her grandmother happy. I glued the letters to some handmade paper, in order to give them more strength. Then I sewed it together using a blanket stitch. I stuffed the bird with shredded paper. The wings are made of the air mail envelopes. The nest is made of shredded letters and glue, formed over a bowl. I even added various stamps to the nest before it dried.

Here is a mixed media sculpture I made recently.....I found a thrift store book titled "Looking for a Bluebird" and just knew it was the perfect base for a paper tree and paper clay blue bird. I drilled holes in the book about half way through and made a wire tree growing out of the cover. Then I used paper towels wound around the wire to build up the tree and covered the whole tree with book pages and gel medium. Finally I made a paper clay bird, painted it blue and glued it in the tree.

Here is a look at the beads I received from my Bead Soup partner, Sue. I have been thinking through what I think I'll do with these treasures. Reveal Day is July 28th. Looking forward to see all the amazing creations by the participants.

My "new" lamp.....

I found a wonderful vintage movie projector at one of my favorite thrift stores. I knew right away that it was going to be a lamp in my living room. The $20.00 price tag was just right, so it came home with me. At first I was going to drill a hole in the projector. But it was just so cool and still works, and I couldn't do it. So the next plan was to find a really big dictionary and drill a hole in it. I bought a $3.00 lamp from the thrift store to use as the new lamp. Took the legs off it, painted the small section at the top with black spray paint, drilled a hole half way through the dictionary, mounted the old lamp on the dictionary. I cut a grove in the pages so the cord comes out the middle of the dictionary. It turned out great and I love it.

I am very, very excited to be a part of a bead swap titled Bead Soup. A lovely, generous gal named Lori puts it all together. She pairs us all up and sends out the info. The partners swap beads and then on a certain reveal day we will post of creation on our blogs. Then we have the chance to visit all the blogs and see everyone's creation.

This is a necklace I made copying a drawing done by my then 6 year old son (he is now 23). I made it using the lost wax technique. I made the bee in wax, using melting tools. Then I cast it in sliver using a centrifuge. I used amber beads in order to replicate a honeycomb. It makes me happy when I wear it. :)

June 13th, 2011, I was in Venice, Italy with my daughter. June13th, 2012, I went to the bread store. Guess I can't have exciting travels all the time ~smile~

My college girl is home.......

One of the gifts of joy today......to have my sweet girl home for the long weekend. Thanks you, Father for blessing me with such a lovely daughter. How sweet it was to have breakfast together this morning. We have some fun stuff planned. I'll post pictures...

Giveaway of THREE pounds of beads, findings, etc

I am following a neat blog all about beads- Copper Diem......the gal is having a giveaway so go to her site and sign up.

http://copperdiem.blogspot.com/2012/02/three-pound-giveaway.html">

My Symphony....

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, to all bravely await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.”

― William Henry Channing

This speaks for me. It is how I want to live.