Ammolite Bracelet

This beautiful piece of Ammolite is wire wrapped in sterling silver and accented with silver Swarovski pearls. Ammolite, a rare opal like gemstone, is found primarily along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. It is now considered the rarest gemstone in the world. It's becoming rarer and rarer as the supply has almost been completely mined, thusly the price of Ammolite is escalating upwards of no less than 40% a year. Ammolite comes from the fossilized shells of Ammonites, distant cousins to the modern day Nautilus. They roamed the seas in prehistoric days and are from the Jurasic era.

The Blackfeet Tribe know Ammolite as "iniskim" which means "buffalo stone" and believe it to possess healing powers.Ammonite is a great investment and a perfect gift to give to a loved one for any occassion.

It is currently for sale at my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27782491

Name this Fish Contest!

In my last post I said I would be announcing a contest to name my fish. You have to admit this cute little fishy needs a name! How do you enter? Come up with a cute or unique name and post it in this thread. On July 19th (Son's Birthday) a winner will be announced. A panel of (5) will be doing the judging.

Good luck!

The winner will receive a pair of Sea Glass earrings or pendant (your choice.)

A Dream Come True!

Several of you may remember when I blogged about Artbeads blogging for beads program. A few select jewelry artisans were given an opportunity to periodically get free beads, supplies, and findings, in exchange for blogging about the items you choose to receive. You then have the option to either write a review or publish what you made with them. I have to tell you I got so excited when I got an email from Duchess a few days ago with the latest Blogging for Beads list! Wow! One of the items listed were these incredible Swarovski "Elements" crystal ovals. Talk about beautiful, big, BOLD! They measure 39x28mm and they were just perfect for my next "Cougar" creation. For my piece I chose the "Montana Sapphire," although I also got the Colorado Topaz and will use it to make "Goldie" the goldfish.

It was such a hard choice since they had offered so many great crystals! Buttons, squares, rivoli, round, flat.... it was like a jewelry artisan's dream come true! I also got some "jewelry cleaner" which was a "HOT" item and is currently on back order. What a great way to clean those finished pieces.

Later this week I will announce a "Name this Fish Contest." You will get a chance to win a pair of Sea Glass earrings. Check back for more details. I will also post the contest in the Etsy Dedicated Beaders and Jewelry makers BNR and a few other ones. ;-)

I hope you enjoy my finished Blogging for Beads creation. I enjoyed making it.

Another Fun Piece

This little piece, tiny bubbles, was also a fun piece to make. I really do love painting on the little pieces of sea glass. It's like each individual piece has it's own story to tell and my creative imagination comes up with some pretty good stories. ;-)

This Bud's for You!

Yesterday was one of those gloomy days. It was overcast and looked like it could have rained but never did. I did try to venture out and attempt to go grocery shopping, but every place was still so crowded I quickly did a hasty retreat and decided to put it off until today. Instead I decided to paint up more sea glass.

This piece I decided to name "This Bud's for You." It was most likely a beer bottle since the sea glass is brown. For some reason I was in the mood for a "tropical" look. The little sailboat reminded me of a time when I went sailing with Mom and Jack on their boat just off the gulf in Florida. Gosh that seems like it was so long ago now.

Anyway, this piece makes me wimsical and remember old times. I miss you Mom!

Wire wrapped Peruvian Blue Opal

Although I am pleased with the finished piece, I have to tell you that this bracelet was one of those pieces that gave me fits. I don't know how many times I reworked setting the stone. Perhaps the problem was the size of the nugget, or the fact that it was my last piece of Peruvian Blue Opal. I LOVE Peruvian Blue Opal and the look had to be just right.

I finished the setting off by adding Fire Agate rondelles. The gemstones on the sides are Crazy Horse Jasper. It is wrapped in Sterling Silver.

This is one of those pieces that will more than likely be a keeper. Some stones were just meant to stay with you. This is one of them. ;-)

Did someone say sea glass?

Is it sea glass you want? Well sea glass we've got. Lots of hand painted pendant necklaces and earrings too! Our sea glass jewelry can be purchased at our ArtFire store. We have lots that isn't listed and do custom orders too, so if you see something that you like contact us at lvsbeadsnthings@aol.com.

By the truck loads......

I have to tell you, I just finished up my second "Cougar" piece yesterday, a wire wrapped bracelet. Now I did improvise and changed it some and even then wasn't happen with my first attempt, so it got reworked. I did not make the piece as massive as what her instructions called for. The "big" jewelry pieces just isn't me, as I prefer the daintier pieces, but then I have small wrists and the larger pieces just look too gawdy on me. I know there are ladies out there that just LOVE the large pieces and I realize it is all about personal preferences, so I will do a few of the larger pieces in the near future. For now I am just having fun with all of these new techiques that I am learning, but I will admit, I am definitely burning some wire, rofl. I now have it coming in by the truck loads!

Here is my completed piece. I am pleased at it turned out.

My first "Cougar" piece

Well I know all of my wire wrap friends know who Dale (Cougar) Armstrong is, and my g/f Jo and I were like two little kids in a candy store when we found out she put out a new book. Of course we both had to have it and as soon as Jo gets her copy we will have much to share.... can't wait! Mine came yesterday. Now for those that know me, you would have guessed that I would have sat down and tried to make one of her pieces yesterday, but I had a full day and was NOT about to try to tackle it when tired. This afternoon was another story, lol. I grabbed my book and Aleutia (one of my huskies) and then headed out to the deck and read through it while I took in some welcomed sun.

The book had instructions for one piece in particular that caught my eye, a ring! I seem to have this ring thing, rofl. I don't see myself selling (or making) a lot of this style of jewelry as it is more for custom orders. It is heavier, and as a result pricier than the things that I normally make, but it was fun making something new.... different. I changed it around a bit as I wanted the ring to make a "statement." Instead of the suggested pearl, I added a Rose Quartz nugget. I will wear it on my index finger and see what kind of attention it gets.... and maybe I will even get a sale or two. ;-)

Here is my first "Cougar" piece.

All in a day........ or two!

What a day! Well actually the past 24 hours have been FUN! It started when I took my weekly trip to town to stop by Harvest Health foods, Harmony Healing, and Turtle beads. I make my rounds and stop in to see the girls and see if I have had any "sales." I gifted Robin (Harvest Health foods) a pair of sea glass earrings, which she loved. I gifted Gloria (Harmony Healing) a gold filigree heart with a piece of "blue lace agate" in it, since that is her mystical birthstone. She broke the clasp on her gold chain and asked me if I could fix it for her so I gathered it up, telling her I would bring it back to her the next day (today.) From Gloria's I headed to Turtle Beads to see Liza. I dropped off the sea glass jewelry that was going on display in the front window. Liza was ooh'ing and ah'ing over my wire wrapped pendants when one of her customers (Ron) came in and saw my Lapis pendants. He BOUGHT one of them on the spot... wooohooo!

Then he asked me if I could wire wrap one of his AA coins for him. I was honored and told him "Of course," adding I would bring it back in a day or so. Then Liza and I headed across the street and did the girlie lunch (my treat) because after all, I did get a sale, you know.

Yesterday afternoon I wire wrapped Ron's coin and I just was NOT happy with the silver wire wrapping that he wanted but put it aside and went to bed.... I was beat. It was a busy day. This morning there that coin lay, staring up at me, rofl. As I drank my coffee I picked it up and rubbed it between my fingers. I cut off the wire and decided I was going to tackle it again, this time using a combination of brass and sterling silver, which is what I wanted to do in the first place since the coin was brass.

Here is the finished project. I was pleased with how it turned out. I put it on a brass chain and delivered it to him today. He liked it, saying "that really turned out nice." And as we all sat there in the restaurant (yes, Liza and I did lunch again today... her treat) Ron put it on immediately, showing off his AA coin with pride. Congrats on 7 years of continued sobriety Ron!!!!! Way to go!

And.... it was another good day!