A Gift

Well it has been a while since I've blogged and believe me
when I say I was totally unprepared for what I found. 
Who changed my blogging world?  This is gonna take a little
getting used to.  So instead of jumping into the Bead and Button
show goodies I got last weekend, I am gonna start with a post about
a beautiful gift from my sister Beverly.  It arrived just a day before
I left for Wisconsin, I knew something was coming (Beverly almost
had to cut her tongue out so she wouldn't tell me!). 
I was thrilled when I opened the box and found this beautiful
pendant that she embroidered for me.  A beautiful ceramic cab
from Summers Studio Ceramics.  I love it!  And I just so happened
to get a pair of shell earrings from Nancy at Round Rabbit,
(who is having a SALE). Don't they match perfectly?  I thought so.
Love you Beverly!
I promise Bead and Button goodies tomorrow.  Cross my heart  ;^)

What were you thinking?

Seriously Heather and I did ask ourselves that the next day

when we finished our first ever attempt at etching metal.

Only because we over did it in the stamping department and

it took us a while to get them all etched. But I really enjoyed

this project the best. I got a sheet of 24 gauge copper at

Hobby Lobby with my 40% off coupon. It was a large sheet

too. We also used pieces of Vintaj brass purchased from

Bello Modo. We followed the instructions from the Etsy Metal

blog. Its an excellent tutorial. The etching chemical I got at my

local Radio Shack, had to order it special as they didn't carry

it in the shop, but I got it in two days so that was great. What is

the chemical you ask? PCB Etchant Solution, 16 oz. for $10.00

and it does a lot. Heather and I made a video and she's gonna

put it up for all to see, but I couldn't wait.

On the far left, under the finished pieces is the copper as

purchased. Pieces on top are done and pickled.

Some more of Vintaj pieces that I etched and shaped for

future resin projects. If you haven't tried etching metal

you shouldn't be afraid. It was lots of fun and if you are

careful, there is no danger that I could see. But I live life

on the edge...just kidding, why did I say that...

what was I thinking?

Its the 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! Today's a day for parades and
families. Fireworks and cookouts. Cold beer ...yum!
It's warming up nicely around here with just a chance of
rain (between you and me, it looks like a good chance.)
Geary and I are going to a party on Donovan Lake.
A friend of ours plays in a band and we are gonna go and
hear him play. Everyone else is up north at the lake,
boating and watching fireworks. I love these holiday
weekends.

Here's my display of fireworks. Heather and I had a little
clay play day. These are hot out of the oven and not quite
finished. Need some sanding and antiquing. But they are
gonna be nice when I'm done. In the next picture is a little
present from Heather, she was busy "hatching" eggs...lol!
Can you "spot" it? Ok, enough of the innuendos.

Next week we are playing with metals and etching.
We have bezels for resin. Heather found old books and I
have paper, stamps and ink. Wahoo....its gonna be great.
For next weekend we are planning on going to the
Renaissance Faire at Battle Creek. The theme for the
weekend is Believe the Magic, but darn, we don't have our
Faerie wings made! So we'll have to look like the regular
visitors. I have this idea for a costume that I would really
love to make and wear one of these days. I see it very clearly
in my mind. We'll take lots of pictures for sure. Its gonna be
fun.

Happy Halloween

I made this set last year for my self. I love the little pendants that

Penny Mitchell makes with Joan Miller's porcelain beads. Any hoo,

its feeling like Halloween...of course, its suppose to snow today.

Yesterday the wind blew most of the leaves out of the yard...Geary

appreciates that! I'm waiting for the Charlie Brown show to come

on this week..."It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" is one of my

favorites. Of course there are all the scary movies and ghost stories.

All in fun...

"I do believe in spooks!" Cowardly Lion.

"I do, I do, I do, I do, I DO believe in spooks!

SHUT UP! Its already August!

Where in the world has the summer gone too?

It was just the Fourth if July not too long ago.

I was outside looking at my plants and I noticed

they looked a little tired and stressed out. Winding

down already. The tops of the maple trees in the back

yard are already showing colors of yellow and orange.

Of all the seasons, I find autumn a strange melancholy

mix of emotions....glad the heat is going away, but sad

that the cold weather is coming. But then, I love the autumn

holidays, my favorites are Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Boo Hoo what a baby! Enough of that...I can't hardly stand

myself. I think I'm still recovering from spending time in the

hospital and having the reaction to the antibiotics, from

which I am still scratching at. I feel like a dawg with fleas.

And from the the looks of it the fleas have won.

On a lighter note I see my favorite Nephew-n-law (Jess)

Has put more items in his Etsy shop. Poetry for Skeptics.

My favorite is the Angels and Saints.

And Heather is adding more fun pendants too.

We made some great molds while she was home and

she has put them up in her shop too. Take a look...

Humblebeads.

I actually own the coin that we made the owl mold

from. Got it about ten years ago at a coin/jewelry shop

in Georgetown, Grand Cayman. Its Greek about 200 BC.

I keep it in the safe...so its nice to see it in clay and

wearable.