Thursday, December 2, 2010

My very first ACEO Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!


What is an ACEO?

Art Cards, Editions and Originals are miniature works of art the size of a baseball or playing card. They can be framed or stored in a trading card album. ACEOs can be created in any medium available in the art world. There are no rules limiting the artist, except that the dimensions have to be 2.5" x 3.5". They're a great way of collecting original art, at an affordable price. Start your collection today!

Here is a link to my first ACEO, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, featuring my Snow Dog, Aleutia. http://www.etsy.com/listing/63452848/let-is-snow-aceo

It's currently for sale at my Etsy shop as a refrigerator magnet.

Edge makes his Debut!


OMG! You need a haircut, is the first thing that comes to mind, lol. Seriously, I love this little guy and had great fun making him. He needs a few last minute finishing touches and then I will list him on Etsy. I want to embroider his mouth. Right now it is put on with permanent marker.

I want to share a story, my story and the story of how Edge came to be. Most who know me know that I am a private person. I don't air my dirty laundry, don't whine and complain when I have a problem, I don't discuss aches, pains, hurts, despair, and God knows the agony I have felt these past 6 months since my Brother died suddenly and unexpectedly even though we knew he had some issues. My family was just not prepared for the suddenness, the finality, knowing we would never see or talk to Bill ever again. I found myself slipping into a deep depression, a funk! My poor Mom was having an even harder time and I really worried about her. I did little things to try to cheer her up and hopefully I succeeded...... but we all know that time is what eventually heals all wounds. Time and the love of good friends and your family.

Ok, that being said, I received an email from a friend. You know the one.... the one with the cute little hedgehog balled up in the palm of someone's hand? It has circulated for about 2 years now. I have always loved hedgehogs..... well almost all animals. This little hedgehog was soooooo cute! I had to forward it on to Mom. She emailed back "I WANT ONE!!!!!" Well so did I but I knew that buying Mom (and myself) a hedgehog was not feasible nor practical so I got this idea in my head.... hmmmmmmm, I should make her one. Well the idea just remained an idea, until today that is.

I belong to an Etsy BNR called Shopper's Paradise. This group's members are the most loving, friendly, creative people that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Sometimes there are "Challenges." Our recent challenge was to create our first ACEO. Pray tell, someone tell me, what in God's name is an ACEO? Well now I know. My first attempt was a water color painting, which I still have. After someone explained what an ACEO actually was, I discovered my post card water color painting was too large so didn't qualify as a true ACEO. Drats! Then I thought "I will make a felt picture of a hedgehog!" And I almost did, but thought to myself, naw! I gotta make Mom one she can hold in her hand, you know, "see it, feel it, touch it."

I did submit my first ACEO (and sold two!) Yay! Then I set out to make the little hedgehog for Mom because that's what a loving Daughter does. I was so pleased at how he turned out. I named him Edge. He will now be a regular featured item in my Etsy store.

The morale of my story? In my funkenness, my turmoil, my pain, I found it very hard to create. Although I did bury myself in my wire wrapped jewelry, I forgot my "Critters" who have always been a very big part of who I was. I had not touched my felting needles or wool roving for months and months. I put aside my clay. It was almost like a small part of me died with my Brother or at least was put to rest for a little while. When we were asked to do the ACEO challenge it woke up that part of me that I had squelched or locked up inside.

Thank you my Paradise friends, family, loved ones. Sometimes all it takes is a word, an idea, a thought, a gentle nudge. Please remember, NEVER give up on your dreams!

Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday season. May your New Year be filled with love, happiness, enthusiasm, and hope!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Work Station


I thought you might like to look at a wire wrappers work station. Cleaned up and condensed version of course. Wire and tools have been put away. I was just putting finishing touches on a pair of earrings.

Rose Quartz Crystal Earrings


I love these Rose Quartz Crystal Earrings. Rose Quartz has always been so soothing and calming for me.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Santa's Work Shop


These are busy, busy times for me. The Christmas craft show at Stratton's is right around the corner and I am teaching wire wrap classes too! We will see how we do at the craft show this year. Economy really took it's toll last year but I still managed to do all right. Other's weren't as fortunate.

My Etsy store is stocked with all kinds of great gifts for your 4 legged and 2 legged loved ones.

This set is gorgeous and the price is right. It can be purchased at lvsbeadsnthings.etsy.com.

Happy fall y'all. Summer is definitely gone for another year..... sighs!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Peruvian Blue Opal Bangle Bracelet


Beyond Sunset is a gorgeous wire wrapped Peruvian Blue Opal Bangle Bracelet. This particular piece gave me fits and just did not want to come together until about 1:30 AM in the morning, thus the name, beyond Sunset...... far, far beyond, lol.

It is available for purchase at my Etsy store, lvsbeadsnthings.etsy.com

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Little Mountain Traveler


Small Mountain's pendant came together this morning. I designed it especially for him adding beads of sentiment. He loves turquoise so that was a no brainer. The pendant is a Koroit Opal, cut, polished and purchased from fellow Etsy artisan Keith Cler (cutforyou.) It's wire wrapped in different gauges of copper that I antiqued. If you look real close you will see a Carnelian chip taken from one of my Mom's broken necklaces that she sent to me to upcycle. It's surrounded by coils on the bottom left of the pendant. I also added a solo Peridot chip that I placed near the clasp, my Brother Bill's birthstone. Bill passed away in June. You can click on the photo to see it enlarged. The periodot chip is on the top right.

While Al wears his pendant he will have a small piece of my Mom and Bill to carry with him.

Here is the finished piece.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Love Abounds


Recently I purchased some Koroit Opals from Etsy artisan cutforyou. They were all absolutely beautiful stones and I couldn't wait to start creating with them. This morning I got them out and started wrapping one that I had envisioned would be a necklace for my Brother. I have to tell you, the wire and stone had different ideas than I did, lol. I don't know if this happens to other wire wrap artists but I don't mind. Our artistic talent is a gift, and being as such, I like to think that I am getting a little help along the way.

Ok... with that being said here is my "NOT" to be Brother's pendant, which I named Love Abounds.

Thank goodness I still have 5 more opals. I am looking forward to working with the rest of them and seeing what creations unfold.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Hoopla Affair


What have I been doing to keep myself busy these past couple of months he says? Check out my Etsy store and blog. I've been on a "creative" roll, dear.

These are my latest creations. I just finished them up today. I made them out of hammered copper wire that I antiqued with Liver of Sulfur, wire wrapped and added red coral beads and turquoise nuggets.

These earrings can be purchased from my Etsy store, lvsbeadsnthings.etsy.com along with other great custom jewelry pieces and gift items.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Remembrance


A very special OOAK tree of life pendant made in memory of my Brother, William J. Hamann, who passed away on June 24th 2010. It was made for my Mother and it is positioned so it will touch her heart and help to reflect upon the time that he spent here on earth with us. I hope it brings her lots of good memories.

Rest in peace Bill. We miss you!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Tree of Life Pendant


I got the greatest tutorial for tree of life pendants from jewelrylessons.com. You can do so many different variations just by adding different beads, antiquing, and using different wires. I used copper. I hammered the wire and gave it an antique finish with liver of sulfer gel. I used Flourite (Spiritual Awaking) gemstones. I LOVE this finished piece.

Kiss of Death


Gotta love these gorgeous little black widows spiders! They will dress up your Halloween costume or make fun conversation pieces at the office. You can purchase them at my Etsy store, lvsbeadsnthings.etsy.com

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Koroit Opals


Another great find! I was on a hunt for Boulder Opals and checked out my usual sources but I just didn't see anything that caught my eye or the prices were so out of line it was unreal. I was just about ready to give up when I decided to check out Etsy and lo and behold I found a couple of Koroit Opals that I just had to have. Both of these Boulder Opals were cut and polished by fellow Etsy Artisan and gemologist Keith Cler, who's fascinating gemstones can be found at cutforyou.

I wire wrapped both of the Opals in gold filled wire and although the oblong stone has a very unique design and more flash, my personal favorite is the triangular piece. I love the color, the shape, and the way the finished piece looks. I had a "coffee date" last Friday and I wore this pendant and my Ammolite wire wrapped bracelet. I got a lot of compliments on both of them. Even I had to admit, I was styling. :)

Here is a picture of some of the pieces that I worked on during the week. the two pendants on the right are the finished pendants with the Koroit Opals. Click on the photo to see enlargement. You will have to excuse the picture. On rainy, gloomy days, indoor shots with the flash do not do the jewelry pieces justice.

An awesome find!


I was so ecstatic! Today started out as just another drippy, dreary day so I was looking for projects or something to do to break the boredom. I decided to clean the closet in my craft room..... ha! Major chore...... but wouldn't you know, as luck had it, I got diverted. While going through boxes, bins, bags, I ran across a plastic baggie Mom had sent me over a year ago that contained vintage jewelry that belonged to my Grandmother. The plan was to go through it and find pieces to take to Liza who owns Turtle Beads in Newport, Wa. She LOVES vintage beads and jewelry and has a special case just for her vintage stuff. As I was sifting through it I ran across a beautiful sterling silver piece that had a large Garnet on it. I don't know how I ever missed it the first time I rummaged through it as Garnet is my birthstone. It did not have a chain with it but I had just the beads for it. I had some small Garnet nuggets that I had been hanging on to for just the right piece. I added Tourmaline (another one of my gemstone loves,) some sterling silver accent beads and spacers, and some e beads.

Here is the finished piece and you betcha, I will wear it with fond memories of my Grandmother.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Time flies............





Time flies when you are busy doing the local craft fair circuit and making up things to keep up with the supply and demand. I was so looking forward to our local Oktoberfest on the 26th of this month but as it turned it was a lot of work for nothing..... it was a bust! Little to no promoting was done, people who called in wanting to be vendors were not called back. It was finally announced in the local paper the week of the event. Needless to say there were hardly any vendors and no crowd so to speak of. Hopefully next year it will be better because it is one of the local events that I really enjoy and look forward to.

Here are just a few of my creations that I had on display for sale.