Copper Wire Wrapped Cuff - Inspired by Swirled Fudge!

Poking my way thru some awesome images at Pixabay - (an awesome public domain image site where the posters allow you use their images! ) one afternoon last week, I found this:

This was posted by Shirley of whom I became a fast fan.
I immediately slobbered on myself, because - I am REALLY watching what I eat. (not a diet - i don't believe in them - a life change. 6 lbs so far!)

I got lost in this image - maybe because I was craving something sweet. It became a birds eye view of a map, houses, hilltops, river beds, lakes, I wanted to go there. What would I wear if I went there? (this is how my mind works) Something just as delicious of course!

I let this image which had already taken me to someplace wonderful, take me by the hand, and lead me further into my creativity.


Then this popped up in my head. I RAN to my work table and started sorting thru beads and wire. I couldn't get this finished fast enuff. I was afraid the creativity would melt away like chocolate on a hot summer day, and I would never get it finished

 It's a creamy, dreamy, chocolate cuff of stoneware and ceramic, with a touch of swarovski crystals.

Thanks for going on this trip with me. Inspiration can come from many places.  Where does yours come from?

Handmade Business Success Tips!

I am always looking for ways to improve on my art, my marketing, working my business and so much more. I scour the interwebs, go to meet ups, talk to other business owners, hit the book stores, you get it.

Found this article on twitter, and added to my bookmarks to come back to it again and again as reference. I wanted to share it with you too!


I try my best to not gloss over articles, because I think, "Been there, done that". Each author has a different perspective of the way business has worked for them, and for others, and it is worth a look.

10 Essentials For Handmade Business Success is the article I just read. Topics like - "Develop consistent systems" or "Toot your horn" that make great points. But my favorite is "Find time for fitness". I love how this is not only focused on the business aspects,  but on you as well! You are the business, you as a person. Fitness is as important for your body as marketing is for sales. Think about it.

Give it a look see if you get some time. I hope it has point of interest that will help you become more of a success than what you are now!

Clusters, Clusters, CLUSTERS!!!!

I can't stop with the clusters. I am in love with them!

Each time you look at them, you find something new.

Each time you move, there is a tiny rustle from the beads. Like a tiny whisper - we are here!! Puts a confident spring in your step.

Solid colors, or color combinations, the list goes on and on. I think I may have found my niche :)

Faceted Fancy Jasper in a New Autumn Necklace

The weather has been glorious the past few days. Really putting me in the mood for fall.

I grabbed that fall muse by the hand and ran down the path of creativity giggling all the way. I have been very happy with myself the past few days, being able  to find time to create more jewelry and get it posted online.

This one is really a favorite of what I have been doing. These stones together have a beautiful offering of peace and gentleness. TTiny faceted fancy jasper beads are the accent to the piece, with a rose colored ceramic pendant. I added the tree agate, because summer is not yet over, and there is still plenty of green to be had. It is a nice splash of color, just like what is in my yard, and the fancy jasper is the leaves that have just started to fall, and are scattered around.

Notice how there are three seed beads between each of the stones, expect for in one spot. I do this intentionally. It is a signature so to speak. Yes there is a pattern, but everyonceinawhile, I like to mess it up, to remind myself, I am not perfect. I still have so much to learn and so much to do - if I was perfect, what else would there be?

Do you have a signature or message that you put into your designs, something that is a little bit of you?

Fun Earrings from a Broken Bracelet!

My mom is the best at finding me the best things to create from. She is always at flea markets, thrift stores and yard sales looking for little treasures to send to me. I have had this one for a couple of years, just waiting for the right inspiration. I love this bracelet so much, that it honestly was hard to not just fix it and wear it. But I wanted to give it new life.

Once I sat down, it didn't take too much effort to start putting these earrings together.

They have a bit of weight to them, that gives them the best swing. I feel sassy :)

I was watching one of my favorite movies while making these - Say Anything - Have you seen it? Do you see the 80's influence?

"Chicken Slayer" Viking Pendant Necklace

A couple weeks ago I got the visit of a lifetime. My friend Jenny, of whom I had never met face to face, but we have been dear friends online for nearly 10 years, came to visit me from Sweden!!! We had 10 glorious days together doing everything we could think of and then some. We definitely didn't waste anytime, we were always busy. She brought me the greatest little gifts. One of them was this little brass pendant. She thought I could do something with it. The pendant is a replica of Viking jewelry. I got really excited when I looked at the pendant, because there was a dragon on it. She politely told me - "It is a chicken darling"

I am still not convinced


I couldn't wait to sit down and get to work on this. I paired up the pendant with this large TierraCast bead I have been hoarding for so long from Rings and Things , they no longer have it on their site :(

I knew I had to use iolite. Iolite is known by some as 'The Viking' stone. The vikings cut slabs of iolite very thin and held it up to the sky on very cloudy/foggy days to find the sun and help them navigate their ships. Iolite is also one of my favorite stones. So to incorporate that into the piece has even more meaning. I added rainbow obsidian and tourmaline, with little brass cap accents. I used seed beads to separate the beads, which also allows the design to have a better flow

I also wanted this to be a simple design, to compliment the 'age' of the pendant.

I am so excited about this piece. It has been a while since I have made something for myself. I am thrilled by this gift from my friend, and can't wait to wear it!

What do you think? Chicken or Dragon?

Christmas Advertising has STaRteD!

I got my first Christmas craft idea email on Sunday....142 shopping days til Christmas.....

I haven't even dealt with end of summer yet.

I know people who shop all year - smart - they always have people in mind, they are always looking for that great sale, they are so thoughtful, they even have gifts for the post carrier. Most impressive to me, they keep things tucked away til it is time to wrap for Christmas. How do you wait all year?!?!?!? Such self control. Isn't there a box of snack cakes around here somewhere?!?

I can't do that - once I have a gift..I can hang onto it for oh, 2 hours before I have to have the satisfaction of giving the gift.

 This may be partly due to the fact that I am the last minute queen of buying gifts. Uncle Bob's birthday??? Dinner at 6??? (insert cuss words) Swing by the store on the way to dinner, buy something, done!

To take the edge of Christmas shopping, my daughter and I always have some sort of theme for Christmas. Most always is hand made, and the Jo is the best at  it. This year we have also added thrift store purchases, and have to keep it below $10. Fun!

Thrift store shopping is a treasure hunt, you can't just run in and buy. That email came at the perfect time. I need to start my hunt!

What fun Christmas traditions do you have?!