Well, it's been a busy week so far, i've only got one project done. It is a pretty simple design using Byzantine weave to make a focal point for a necklace. You can see on each link in the triangle there are three Byzantine links. Then they are linked together so the top half of the ring is visible.
The chain is just two in one. I put a magnetic clasp on this one. The necklace is really light, and only measures just over 14".

The new job is going well, I am training at a store in Spartanburg, I can't wait to get to my usual store. It is in walking distance, so there won't be any drive time.

Another thing i've been thinking about is shutting down my ArtFire store. I don't get hardly any sales there, so i'm thinking of just listing everything on my blog. I've seen other people list things on their blog and buy through email. I will have to do a little research about taking payments through paypal and such.


We gave two puppies away this week. They went to a wonderful home. They took a boy and a girl. Their names are Brutis and Bella now. The lady sent me an email the next day and said they had a good first night. I'm so happy they have a good home and they are not alone. And, they have four kids to play with...

Wire Working

I thought I would play with some wire, get back into creating something after the holiday. I went to the library and picked up a couple books. One is an older one, published back in the 90's. It's called "Making Wire Jewelry" by Helen Clegg and Mary Larom. It's pretty good, it has in depth instructions and a gallery of photos in the center. There aren't a lot of photos throughout the book in the instructions but they are good enough that the drawings they use are sufficient. The ISBN, if you want to do a search for it, is 1-57990-002-X

So they first technique I tried in this one was the Egyptian coils. The authors explain that it is believed that the first time this was used was over four thousand years ago by an Egyptian goldsmith. It was the first time a necklace was produced using only wire.

I've seen these made before but never tried for myself. Here are a couple pics.
The one on the right is a bracelet made with purple enamel coated copper.

This is one of a pair of earrings made with black enamel coated copper.








There are a few other techniques in this book i'm going to try, I thought this one was the coolest though. The other book is on Viking weave and twisted viking weave and wire knitting. I'm gonna be busy....

New Year Comin!!!

What a year it's been. Some rough, some good but we made it through. I have high hopes for the coming year. This one has been such a roller coaster. I finished my tax season in April and though I would really concentrate on building my business. I think it's more of a hobby at this point, but again, high hopes!! I think I have too many ideas and not enough time. I have to pick one and stick with it, but when I try to do that I get sidetracked. I will be working on only jewelry and someone will want glass or windchimes. Then I get carried away with that. I want to do it all...

Well, we got the call in late June that my Mom was not well and I really needed to go home. So off I went. We lost her July 10th at 9pm. I was so sad for so long, I kinda still am. I used to call her for recipes that I knew she had in her head that I could never remember. I didn't have to cuz she was always there.

It took me a while to get back on track. Job hunting, jewelry making, bamboo harvesting....
Searching the web one day I came across the Hive. What a wonderful place, I have 'met' wonderful people with so much talent and humor and warmth. You have to love the artist. We have fun and get educated and just keep in touch every day.

So we come to the end of the year, with all it's trials and tribulations. I am working on my list. I have to have a list. I have to make myself sit down and decide what direction I want my 'business' to go. I have a great prospect on a job. Two interviews and I should get the call tomorrow.

So I am wishing everyone a happy and safe and prosperous new year.

Christmas Spirit

I'm trying very hard to get into the Christmas Spirit. I don't know why i'm having such a hard time with it this year. We put up the same tree with the same ornaments every year. We can't have a real tree anymore because of allergies. The pine stuffs us up so bad. The same old Christmas village.

I'm a little discouraged with my AF shop too. People look but don't buy. I understand the economy SUCKS. So i'm going to do something different there too after the holiday. Until then everything is marked down thirty percent, Actually, I think the scarves are going to http://homelessbridge.blogspot.com/ it's damn cold out.

Well, what i'm going to do is probably going to take till next year but i'm going to start working on it now. I am going to do an all Chain Maille Christmas tree. I will be doing Christmas ornaments all year long, some to sell and some for me.

So thats my plan....

Sketchbooks!!!!

I love my sketchbook. They are so important for any artist or crafter. I have always had one within reach, at least since 8th grade. Thats a long time. I know, a lot of people say, well I can't draw. Well, you don't need to be a professional artist to keep a sketchbook. You can doodle, keep notes, whatever. As long as you know the meaning of your scribbles.
My sketches are sometimes very amusing when I go back and look but I say, Oh, I remember what I was thinking about and here's how i'm going to build it.
I'm going to share some pages with you. This way you can see that being perfect is far from the goal of a sketchbook.

Well, i'm not sure why they turned and why they won't turn back. But you get the idea.

Here's an extra, the puppies are a week old.

Well, I guess these pics just wanna give me a hard time tonight....lol