Steampunk Pendant Class

While it was a long day, yesterday end with a four-hour creativity party. Four people took my Steampunk Pendant class at Eclectics Gallery - it's always such fun to watch other people come up with something completely their own using the same kits. (Steampunk pendant kits include a 1.25 x 1.5 inch copper rectangle, old jewelry chains, rivets, eyelets, screws, washers and old watch parts.)

The class teaches them some beginning metalworking techniques - filing, drilling, riveting, texturing and patina on copper - and everyone ends up with a pendant on chain or a pre-made necklace.

This one is almost done - missing the main event, which is a watch work piece that missed getting into the photo. Bella was a newbie who learned fast! Her grandma Nina already knew her way around jewelry-making and provided us all with some exercise as we crawled around looking for a teeny tiny watch-part that fell onto the charcoal-colored carpet. But we found it - it was the piece that looks like a miniature crescent wrench.

Joann also knew her way around jewelry making, but was new to using rivets and copper.

Our biggest glitch was using a 2-part epoxy to attach the tiniest watch gears. We had a 15 minute epoxy that really needed 2 hours to set up properly, so that caused us some grief, but everyone was very flexible and we learned as we went.

First Snow of the Season

Visiting my sister Kristin in northern Iowa this past weekend, we woke up to 4 inches of soft, wet snow.

It was perfect snowman-snow, covering trees, cars and building with fluffy beauty -and disturbing people's plans. My sister was concerned about the patio cement pour scheduled for today......likely not going to happen til Spring now.

We left early enough on Saturday to drive south to my mom's house before dark, and drove out of the snow about 40 miles south.....bringing fatigue and a cold home with me. But it was magical to see the world turn blue-white!

Ahead of the Curve Bead Kits

My pattern for an even-count peyote bracelet was published in the March/April 2009 issue of Step by Step Beads.

Although that mag has been combined into Interweave Press's other beading mag, Beadwork, the patterns are still available and Interweave keeps promoting them! Hurrah! I keep making bracelets using this pattern, varying the colors and beads sizes to make unique bracelets.

However, some people really want to replicate my Olivine Green color combo. I can tell you the beads were gathered from hither and yon and some are hard to find. Now when I find them, I buy lots, so kits containing JUST BEADS for this pattern are available at my Etsy site.

Don't have that issue or the pattern? Not a problem - it's available purchase and instant download for $4 from the Interweave online store. You'll need a beading needle #12 or #15 and beading thread. (Fireline is my preference)

Remember, published patterns are for personal use, not to make commercially.....but these bracelets make great "I made it myself" gifts! Don't be afraid to try other colors!!

Concordia Reunion

Apple Core Beads

My little apple core beads got noticed in my long-neglected ArtFire.com listing! Tis the season for fall fruits, so I guess the collection curator searched me. See my tutorial for making these beads, published in the October 2009 issue of Polymer Cafe.

This year I'm making other things - covered egg ornaments and mummies and broomsticks.

I  think Baghead is my favorite, but  this mummy is cute, too.

He inspired my smaller Mummy Face Brooches.....

Each one slightly different, with varying amounts of graveyard aging  -  they have been buried for many years, some of them. You think it's clean in those old tombs???

I was also curious about making broomsticks. I used raffia with both copper wire and twigs, using wire, wrapping and stitching for different types of brooms. Not exactly Harry Potter's Firebolt or even an older Nimbus 2000, but perhaps useful for someone. These are about 4" long. The earrings were shorter...

View ALL my new eggs and seasonal stuff on my Picasa web album here.