In the Mail...

YES!! Go US Postal Service...everything is wrapped up and on it's way by bus, plane, car, and train. I finished the last bead overnight and sewed it to the purse front this morning...ah, sweet completion. The Eagle looks a little like my postmaster Rob today when we brought in three more packages.

Snowy Dilemma

This is one of those little quandaries you end up in once in awhile. I've been "doing art" since - well, the first major kind of art show I was in was when I was twelve. The bug bit and I never turned back. When it comes down to it I've done a LOT of art, in a LOT of mediums. This, I guess, is a good thing. I also designed wooden toys for my husband's business for 28 years+. I knew where to find the kind of supplies that most of the major chains can find and by the dozen, case, or thousands. So, while I was ordering for him I'd pick up some "notions" that were interesting to me to use with either the metalsmithing or bead making.

Here's the quandary - nothing is new. At least not much. So when someone resurrects something you've done before and have considered doing again - do you go ahead and do it again?

You're lost, right? Well, I really don't like feeling I'm going to step on any ones toes. I'm not a well known person - just a well practiced artist. Okay, let's just go there because it's just stupid to think you can sort this out without more information.

Ten years ago, maybe more- I purchased empty water/snow globes. I made them for friends and some family and filled them with little glass sculptures I made. They were incredibly cute and fun to do.

Now, one of my friends brought to my attention that a very wonderful person, and I might add a person I adore as a human being, is making snow globes. Hey, I think it's very very cool. She, of course, has had no idea that I've made them before - or that I have a stock of empty ones to fill. How could she. I have not done them in years. I worked a 40 hour work week for a long time and didn't have time - or inclination to get them out again. And, anyone who is up on the "Sharon life" knows the past two years have been especially busy and a struggle for this family. Hence, I concentrated on what was accomplish able in short spurts of time - the beads. Nothing fancy or involved - no big jewelry pieces - elaborate projects - nothing that I couldn't put down and pick up later like a bead crochet or Viking knit.

I most certainly haven't tossed the idea to the curb just delayed the next cycle.

So I think I should say something to this person who has discovered the joys of snow globes. I don't think so. We are both of quirky beadmakers with similar styles that have crossed before. Do I think I should go ahead and make some more globes? That is the quandary. I don't want to be accused of copying some one's style - or tramping on their current mojo. It doesn't feel good to be accused of doing that. I'm NOT doing that - but I haven't kicked the globes to the curb either.

Now what? My quandary is out there for suggestions. The timer has rung and the bread is ready. I'm going down to torch now.

Oh, and I'm not out of holiday cartoons yet either!

It's Still Snowing

OH YEAH! The white stuff is still coming down in droves. Makes me want to sing..."Ohhhhh, the weather outside is frightful but the torch is so delightful - so if you've no place to go - let it snow - let it snow - let it snow. " TAH DAH! And trust me it is sounding a whole lot better in your voice than in mine.

Ho Ho Ho - He He He

Too Late for Coal Now Santa!!! I wanted to make some coal beads this year but never got to it so look out next year...sculptural coal chunks...hmmm. Naughty or Nice?

Elf

Hey There - new beads on Etsy with the Holiday Theme. One of my favorites to make has always been this elf. He's not exactly elfin sized but larger than I usually make (but not as large as the photo). Large seems to be the theme lately with the sculptural pieces and so it goes. I hope you like him...and the cartoon.

Sunday Funnies

Ho, Ho, Ho!

SciFi Day

I'm still sewing and torched some today...okay, it was hardly worth turning on the kiln. I made about a half a dozen beads. I'm also feeling a little "snowed in". Baby it's cold outside! It's a SciFi Channel day while I work. Let's see - so far today I've seen Ice Creatures, Ice Quakes, Snow Spiders, Switching Polar Ice Caps, and I'm not sure what is next but I swear I've seen the same generator spark out about 3 times. Now don't you think for a minute I've been vegetating here on the couch. I have not! But.., when you are lacking a lot of voices and like the noise level I find I can check in and out of these silly movies (like soap operas) and not miss a beat. And maybe - JUST MAYBE - they fill some quirky corner of my mind that finds them campy beyond belief. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

Snow!

I hung up my ski's a long time ago...unfortunately I haven't hung up my snow shovel. Winter is here and the white stuff is a fallin'. Are you ready for the holiday's? We don't have many shopping days left and I'm sorry I've been absent from posting. I am sewing my little heart out - surprises I can not mention here, in case the kiddies are monitoring Mom. I also made this gigantic mistake and sent two wonderful customers the wrong beads - got their orders switched because my mind was on a trip to Detroit. BAH HUMBUG on me. Making it right though so I have made some new ones. I've been busy busy at the torch. I don't want anyone to have bad experience this time of year. Things are just too hectic as it is. Ho Ho Ho....

Okay, now that just cracked me up. I guess I am in the spirit and have a twinkle in my eye. When I worked - and I miss it - the delinquents I counseled had a whole 'nother meaning around that phrase. Kids, whataya gonna do?

What's with the price of metal?

This post is going to "date" me. I know it, but I can't help it. Today - well actually, yesterday I was floored by the cost of silver for an ounce. It was over $28.00. That is totally insane. It used to be the "go to metal" when someone couldn't afford to work in gold. Today I am adding a ticker to the side bar of this blog so we can all watch what is going on here. Hopefully it will update as it's supposed to.

When you see jewelry made in copper and brass there is a very good reason for it...customers don't always understand why a silver jewelry piece is so expensive. Well, I get it - because I used to buy silver when it was $4.-$6.- an ounce and when we were teens those heavy ID bracelets and charm bracelets were silver and relatively inexpensive. Now we've all got sticker shock.

Today the price jumped by +$2.14 an ounce. When will the madness stop? Heck if I know, but it's not going to make creating silver jewelry very easy. What if you make a mistake on a piece? I can save the scrap and cast with it but even then you can only use 40% scrap in a piece. I feel like that info commericial diet lady who used to scream, "Stop the Insanity." Thank goodness for alternative metals but how long are those going to remain at a lower price? I'm betting not for long. Maybe we all ought to start stocking piling some of those soon.

Holiday Count Down

I’ve been making holiday beads and working on the sewing machine. If I had a clone I could both at once – but, I don’t (darn). Yes, you knew if I left the sewing machine out on the table I was not going to leave it alone. So far I have one purse that is done and in need of a handmade button. Since it’s a tapestry fabric of teddy bears I’m thinking a paw print might be nice but I just haven’t decided yet. The pattern was an on-line PDF freebie from Lazy Girl Designs It is called Noriko (click on Noriko and it will come up!). It includes some very good directions – and I must say they are a whole lot clearer than some of the ones I just purchased from McCall’s. Lazy Girl has some great purse patterns to purchase too and when I get past Christmas I'll go back and pick some of those out to sew. Below is the purse photo from the pattern:

In the directions she states she wanted to create a purse that was easy and that all four sides were the same to cut out. It’s a real cutie and I love the original version she shows with the tassels hanging from the bottom with beads. It seats very nicely when you sit it down and for power shopping it looks like it will work well to hold the necessities instead of the kitchen sink I normally drape over my shoulder. Do we hear future rotator cuff problems?

This is my Teddy Bear Purse - without the great photography of the original and without a button for the front - YET! I made the straps longer so it can go over my shoulder and used an elastic hair tie for front instead of a ribbon. Call me practical.

I think it’s the tassel that drew me to the purse in the first place. I used to love doing peyote stitching around a silk store bought tassel. I’d add all kinds of loops and fringes from the stitching. They look great on ceiling fans or anything like that you have to pull a chain to turn on.

I think there are a lot of possibilities with this pattern and it would be great to take a few to an art fair. It would encourage the sale of handmade buttons.

And another great thing about this pattern…you are going to love the generosity of the artist. She has also given everyone permission to make the purses, teach with it, copy the pattern for that purpose, etc. What a sweetheart. I loved making the purse and I plan on making more – I have holiday gifts to get done. ACK, self-imposed deadlines…will I never learn!