Schnitzkästchen

Versatile Blogger Award and a necklace

2012-02-22T17:31:00.001-08:00

Normally I am not the award type.
But I am feeling very honored because Steph gave me the Versatlile Blogger Award.

Steph is one of my favorite artists, blogger friends, etsy sellers and fellow etsy circlers. Please visit her incredible blog and shop.
I don't take this as an award only but most of all as a good opportunity to show you some of my favorite blogs and... to finally blog again :)

There are several rules to accepting this award:
1. Add the award to your blog -- To come. Blogger doesn't let me today.
2. Thank the blogger who gave it to you. -- Merci beaucoup, Steph! 1000 Dank!
3. Mention 7 random things about yourself. -- See below.
4. List the rules. - Check!
5. Award to 15 bloggers. -- See below.
6. Inform each of those 15 by leaving a comment on their blog.

The 7 random things about myself:

1.) I can't stand to see a fruit fly in need. I have already saved the lives of thousands of fruit flies, snails (yes, even the naked ones, and even in my own garden), spiders and other little insects, crawlers, mice, rats..... Whenever I see a being in need, I help. The only exception: ticks, lice and fleas. But I would save their lives too, if I only knew how to save them and my family (including the cats) at the same time...!

2.) Ever since I was a little child I have altered and distressed things, and I have always collected what other people call "waste"

3.) I am coffee addicted and love to sit in coffee bars, writing or doodling and watching people.

4.) I love cooking, but I don't like to cook for my family.

5.) Someday I gotta get organized.

6.) I love Berlin. Every time I go there it immediately feels like home. Actually I am a town mouse. But I am also a nature lover and often need the silence.

7.) One day I want to say hello to a blue wale.

And the Versatile Blogger Award goes to...

...these fabulous bloggers:

1.) Mary Anne

2.) Claire

3.) Kim

4.) Richelle

5.) Petra

6.) Louise

7.) Steffi

8.) Nicki

9.) Mich

10.) Annette

11.) Gaby

12.) Mary Jane

13.) Moxie

14.) Vera

15.) Kate

Thanks to you all for being you.

And now to something different:
This is what I made for my little one's 13th birthday. She had asked for a white necklace with the same lace and one of the same tiny folding knives I used in these earrings.

Please double click the pictures to see more details.

The adorable handmade leather book is made by Louise (see list of awarded bloggers). It's detachable, so Yola is able to write in it without taking off the necklace.

I have also incorporated a bead from Steph and one of my paper beads.

Printed leather strap.

Yola loves her new necklace. Pheew....

Ornament Swap 2011

2011-12-30T14:21:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

I hope you had wonderful holidays.

My family and I stayed at home and enjoyed some very quiet and pieceful days together.

Oh, look!

This is an incredible bell, isn't it? Renate made it for our this year's ornament swap. It blew me away. Do you see the rock crystal? It makes a lovely sound. Oh, you should see this bell in real.

And this totally cute little snowman was made by Steffi. To look at him always puts a smile on my face. He is perfect!! I love him!!

Renate's bell was packaged in this beautiful cone which is an ornament itself.

Thank you ever so much, Renate and Steffi. Not only for these incredible ornaments but for being friends and inspire me in so many ways. Just... thank you for being you.

I am looking forward to our next German Ornament Swap in 2012!

If you want to read their posts about our little swap (and see what I made), please go to Renate's and Steffi's blog.

I wish you all a Happy New Year!!!

Greetings from the shabby side

2011-12-12T07:07:00.000-08:00

Ahem.
Obviously it's almost impossible to describe these earrings without using ths S-word.
No, the other one.
"Shabby" I mean.
These are so shabby chic - I wouldn't believe that I made them if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes ;) I made them (in a slightly different version) for myself to wear with a special dress on a special occasion. I wore them with great pride and got lots of compliments on them, but don't worry, there won't be a lot more shabby chic here in the future :)

Aren't the miniature pocket knives cute?!
The German words say "aus Treue Rache wurde". It means something like "of loyalty revenge became".

Recently my computer has commited suicide.
I don't want to tell the kids that Santa won't bring them anything because Mommy needs a new PC. So this will have to wait.
And I don't have a lot of time anyway, so I doubt if I would write a lot more if my computer was still among us.

2011-11-21T04:13:00.001-08:00

Y'Akoto's video below inspired me to these earrings. I absolutely love these vintage Mah-Jongg counting sticks and have to pay attention so that I won't use them in every further piece of mine ;) Soooo many ideas for these incredible thingies!

Nothing from me. Just music.

2011-11-15T19:14:00.000-08:00

This is Y'Akoto. She is from Hamburg. I thought I'd share this with you.

Work in progress

2011-11-13T04:04:00.001-08:00

Hi to you all,sorry for having been so quiet lately. For some reasons I haven't created anything in a long while. Finally, here is some work in progress I started yesterday. Not much, I know. But it's a beginning. At least I hope so. I made these pendants from epoxy clay. The flat one (not finished yet) has an image transfer on it, then I painted over the transfer, glued the German words "Donner und Blitz" (thunder and lightning) from an old book on it and distressed the whole thing. It was just to try out if an image transfer of an inkjet picture would work on uncured fixit sculpt, and let me tell you: it works great!! Just press an inkjet print upside down onto the uncured clay, allow to cure, wet the paper and rubb it off. The hand has a kuchi charm as a bail.Have a great sunday!

Ancient Spirit - reworked

2011-10-26T11:04:00.001-07:00

Remember the Ancient Spirit necklace? Someone has purchased it. A man. "Is it a present for your girlfriend?" I asked. "No", he said, "I want it for myself."

Okay. I truly loved the idea. But. I asked my husband to be my model, put it round his neck... and thought: "Wow, looks great, only the lipstick is missing!" It really didn't work for a men's neck and shoulder area. No way. Believe me.

So I asked my dear customer if he would allow me to rework it for him. "Okay", he answered, "but please keep it playful, keep it asymmetrical (but balance out the weight on both sides) , keep the ribbon part and the three strand part with beads and wirework, the scarab and the sea urchin spine. And make it a bit longer. Is that a problem for you?"

YES. It definitely was. Even more regarding the fact that I have next to no time these days.

But a challenge is a challenge is a challenge, right, Jo?!

So the first thing I changed was the color. I kept the pyrite but chose a thicker wire for it. Instead of the shiny czech glass beads in orange, red and lilac, I chose matt indonesian glass beads in black and grey tones with some stripes of red and other colors in them.

What followed was a long process of trial and error. What I liked was not what he wanted, and what he wanted wouldn't work for a man's neck, I was sure. Too fine, too filigree, too everything.

But then, in an e-mail, he asked: "What about a piece of a chain armor?" I was electrified. Immediately I knew that this was the missing link, the thing I had searched for all the time without knowing.

Here is what I came up with. Still not really the classical men's necklace ;) It looks great round my husband's neck. I love it, even my husband loves it... and my customer loves it too.

Just imagine it round a men's neck instead of the skinny model's neck.

I must admit that I would never have thought of a beaded three strand part for a men's necklace, and if I would have taken ribbon, it would have looked different from what you see here. It's his work more than mine. But still I'm proud.

And working on this necklace gave me so many ideas for more necklaces with Dorcas' incredible raku scarabs, that I have already purchased another three from her.

Something for your ears (and eyes)

2011-10-05T05:07:00.000-07:00

Just because...

Today's the day!!!

2011-09-17T02:59:00.000-07:00

Today is Bead Soup Bog Party Reveal Day!

I'm so excited!

362 participants from 5 continents in 21 countries show what they have created!

If you still don't know what Bead Soup Party is, please go to Lori Anderson's Blog. Lori is the host of this event, and she does an incredibly wonderful job!

Thank you, Lori!

Now here is what my partner Jo from the UK sent me:

Please don't forget to hop over to her blog and see what she has created from the beads I sent to her!!! She is so talented!!!

When I first saw all those beautiful, shiny beads, I felt a little rebellious. Oh, I really loved them! Especially the lampwork beads are exquisite!!! And Jo made the soldered copper rings and the clasp by hand! Just beautiful!

But I thought I'd have to make something odd. And I tried. But whatever I did, Jo's handmade components and the lampwork beads were shadowed by the other components I had added. I wasn't happy with it at all!

Then I let the soup simmer again. The beads stayed in their bowl and I looked at them every day. The more I looked at them, the more I thought: "These are lovely beads! I could create something lovely with them! Why not just go for it!?"

I separated the purple beads from the white and decided to go with the purple and the copper for my bead soup party piece: a bracelet. A lovely bracelet that shall remind me on my lovely partner Jo and this wonderful event.

(There is a white necklace in the making and I have worked all night to finish it, but I didn't succeed.)

I linked the copper rings together using double head pins that I had made from some of the purple beads, some copper wire and UTEE.The lampwork beads are being accompanied by some of my etched copper bead caps (plus purple glass bead caps on one).

I know there are a lot of blogs to hop this time, but you can find some incredible artists here, so don't hesitate to visit as many of the blogs as possible!

Here's the list:

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

1. Aimee Wheaton and Barbara York

2. Alice Craddick and Sandra Richardson

3. Alison Sachs and Amy Severino

4. Allison Scott and Cynthia Abner

5. Amanda Cargill Austin and Charlene Sevier

6. Amanda Davie and Patsy Evins

7. Amber Dawn and Kim Ballor

8. Ambra Gostoli and Christine Hansen

9. Amy Freeland and Christine Altmiller

10. Ana Krepel-Novak and Eleanor Snare

11. Andrea Morici and Hope Smitherman

12. Andrea Trank and Jayne Capps

13. Andrea Turini and Charlene Jacka

14. Angela May and Emanda Johnson

15. Anitra Gordy and Elizabeth Owens Dwy

16. Ann Rishell and Debbie Price

17. Ann Sherwood and Lynne Bowland

18. Anna Lear and Barbe Saint John

19. Anna Sabina and Erin Siegel

19. Nan Emmett and Erin Siegel

20. Astrid Boyce and Birgitta Lejonklou

21. B.R. Kuhlman and Deanna Chase

22. Barbara Bechtel and Bryna Lumb

23. Barbara Blaszczyk and DaviniaDesign

24. Barbara Judy and Holly Westfall

25. Barbara Lewis and Cathie Carroll

26. Barrie Edwards and Lyn Foley

27. Becky Fairclough and Jana Tarhala

28. Bella Borgouise and Gillian Lehman

29. Beth and Evie McCord and Erin Prais-Hintz

30. Beth Bricker and Heather Pyle

31. Beth Emery and Cassie Donlen

32. Bobbie Rafferty and Cindy Cima Edwards

33. Candice McGinnis and Sally Anderson

34. Carol Bradley and Cece Cormier

35. Cathy Khoury and Molly Alexander

36. Carol Tannahill and Hilary Frye

37. Carrie Tahquechi and Cris Peacock

38. Cat Pruitt and Cindy Gimbrone

39. Charlene Gary and Doris Stumpf

40. Charlotte Pevny and Kate Gardenghi

41. Cherrie Fick and Cathie Carroll

41. Claire Maunsell and Cherrie Fick

42. Cheryl Roe and Jenny Vidberg

43. Chris White and Norma Turvey

44. Christa Murphy and Kathy Alderfer

45. Christie Murrow and Dana James

46. Christina Miles and Collette Collins

47. Christine Brandel and Elizabeth Woodford

48. Christine Damm and Cynthia Deis

49. Christine Hendrickson and Debbie Goering

50. Christine Stonefield and Dee Wingrove-Smith

51. Cilla Watkins and Johanna Rhodes

52. Cindy Wimmer and Riki Schumacher

53. CJ Baushka and Cory Celaya

54. Courtney Breul and Joanna Matuszczyk

55. Cristi Clothier and Kathleen Robinson Young

56. Cryss Thain and Serena Trent

57. Cynthia Tucker and Kitty Durmaj

58. Dana Johnson Jones and Eva Sherman

59. Davinia Algeri and Janet McDonald

60. Deci Worland and Lara Lutrick

61. Diana Ptaszynski and Kristy Abner

62. Diane Cook and Kerry Bogert

63. Diane Hawkey and Jen Judd Velasquez

64. Dorcas Midkiff and Jill Harris

65. Doris Radlicki and Heather Goldsmith

66. Dot Lewallen and Gaea Cannaday

67. Elisabeth Auld and Jennifer Justman

68. Erin Fickert-Rowland and Geanina Grigore

69. Erin Grant and Julie Jones

70. Eszter Czibulyas and Helena Fritz

71. Fiona Christie and Michelle Heim

72. Gail Zwang and Genea Crivello-Knable

73. Geneva Collins and Jana Haag

74. Gretchen Nation and Heidi Post

75. Heather DeSimone and Karin Slaton

76. Heather Marley and Terry Carter

77. Ingrid McCue and Jennifer Pride

78. Jackie Ryan and Nicole Keller

79. Janna Harttgen (you are here!!!) and Joanne Tinley

80. Jean Yates and Lori Anderson

81. Jelveh Jaferian and Jenny Davies-Reazor

82. Jenni Connolly and Jennifer Heynen

83. Jennifer Cameron and Kristi Bowman

84. Jennifer Geldard and Lisa Liddy

85. Jennifer VanBenschoten and Kim Hora

86. Jess Italia Lincoln and Lori Greenberg

87. Jill MacKay and Lori Bergmann

88. JJ Jacobs and Karen Tremblay

89. Joyce Becker and Kathy Welsh

90. Judy Glende and Karen Sinkowski

91. Judy Riley and Kelly Morgan

92. JuLee Wolfe and Julie Bean

93. Julianna Cannon and Julianna Kis

94. Julie Nordine and Lesley Watt

95. K. Hutchinson and Shea Zukowski

96. Karen Firnberg and Karyn Bonfiglio

97. Karen Williams and Kimberly Roberts

98. Karen Zanco and Polly Barker

99. Kari Carrigan and Laura Twiford

100. Karin von Hoeren and Laura Blanck

101. Kate Richbourg and Lorelei Eurto

102. Kathleen Lange Klik and Maria Clark

103. Kathy Engstrom and Keri Lee Sereika

104. Kay Thomerson and Loretta Carstensen

105. Kelley Fogle and Laurel Bielec

106. Kelly Ramstack and Sally Anderson

107. Kim Stevens and Tiffany Long

108. Kristi Harrison and Mandy Williamson

109. Kristi Kyle and Lana Kinney

110. Kristina Johansson and Sue Hodgkinson

111. Kym Hunter and Laura Sanger

112. Laura Zeiner and Susan Kennedy

113. Laurel Steven and Mary McGraw

114. Laurie Hanna and Lisa Boucher

115. Lesley Weir and Liz DeLuca

116. Linda Djokic and Tracey Weiser

117. Linda Inhelder and Pam Brisse

118. Linda Landig and Lori Dorrington

119. Linda Murphy and Lisa Hamilton

119. Line Labrecque and Marianne Baxter

120. Lisa Lodge and Monica Johnson

121. Lois Moon and Melissa Muir

122. Lola Surwillo and Therese Frank

123. Lori Bowring Michaud and Marci Brooks

124. Lupe Meter and Norma Agron

125. Maggie Towne and Marge Beebe

126. Malin de Koning and Susie Hibdon

127. Mallory Hoffman and Shirley Moore

128. Marcie Abney and Patty Miller

129. Marcy Lamberson and Melissa Clarke

130. Margot Potter and Suzann Sladcik Wilson

131. Maria Grimes and Wendy Blum

132. Maria Horvath and Melinda Orr

133. Maria Rosa Sharrow and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp

134. Marian Hertzog and Melissa Mesara

135. Marianna Boylan and Sandi Lee James

136. Marina Dobrynina and Michaela Pabeschitz

137. Marsha Neal and Miri Agassi

138. Mary Ellen Parker and Melissa Meman

139. Mary Elliott and Tamara Soper

140. Mary McGraw and Laurel Steven

141. Melissa Pynn and Michelle Buettner

142. Michelle Hardy and Niki Meiners

143. Michelle Mach and Moira McEvoy

144. Missy Rappaport and Mags Sarri

145. Molly Alexander and Poranna

146. Mylene Hillam and Nicole Rennell

147. Nadezhda Parfyonova and Stacey Curry

148. Nan Emmett and Nancy Peterson

149. Nancy Boylan and Natalie McKenna

150. Natalie Monkivitch and Niky Sayers

151. Natasha Lutes and Pam Ferrari

152. Noemi Baena and Penny Ilagan

153. Pamela Petry and Rebecca Sirevaag

154. Pat Haight and Mary Shannon Hicks

155. Patty Gasparino and Vonna Maslanka

156. Penny Neville and Sandi Volpe

157. Pepita Bos and Wendy Chamberlain

158. Raida Disbrow and Rebecca Watkins

159. Rebecca Anderson and Sabrina Staub

160. Regina Santerre and Rose Binoya

161. Rhea Freitag and Tari Kahrs

162. Rochelle Brisson and Teri Baskett

163. Sally Russick and Tracy Bell

164. Sandra McGriff and Shay Williams

165. Sandra Wolberg and Sara Hardin

166. Sarah Elder and Salla Small

167. Saskia Kaffenberger and Sharon Gardner

168. Sharon Palac and Shannon Chomanczuk

169. Shay Stone and Suzette Bentley

170. Shiraz Biggie and Tammy Powley

171. Staci Smith and Tracy Stillman

172. Stacie Stamper and Tracy Martin

173. Stefanie Teufel and Vicky Taylor

174. Stephanie Dixon and Stephanie LaRosa

175. Stephanie Haussler and Valerie Norton

176. Suzanne Tate and Terri Wlaschin

177. Sweet Freedom Designs and Tammy Jones

178. Tania Spivey and Tari Sasser

179. Tara Plote and Terry Matuszyk

180. Terri Gauthier and Deana Hager

181. Theresa Fosdick and Tracey Nanstad

For a total of 362 people making jewelry!

Amazing!

The next Bead Soup Blog Party will take place around February, 2012.

Gypsy

2011-09-12T00:55:00.000-07:00

When I started creating these, I had something different in mind: very loooong earrings, maybe just a single one. I wanted them/it for myself, for a special outfit and occasion.

But sometimes (or always?) the components take the lead and I can only follow.

I really like these earrings, and as you can see they are still long. Not of the length that I had in mind, but still long. Unfortunately they are absolutely not what I imagined to complete my outfit, so I put them into my new etsy shop.

Right now I am working on another pair of earrings. Looong ones. Or maybe just a single one. For myself. Hope the components I have chosen this time will let me. Please keep your fingers crossed ;)

Remember always...

2011-09-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

Remember always that you are just a visitor here, a traveler passing through. Your stay is but short and the moment of your departure unknown. None can live without toil and a craft that provides your needs is a blessing indeed. But if you toil without rest, fatigue and wearness will overtake you, and you will denied the joy that comes from labour's end.

Speak quietly and kindly and be not forward with either opinions or advice. If you talk much, this will make you deaf to what others say, and you should know that there are few so wise that they cannot learn from others.Be near when help is needed, but far when praise and thanks are being offered.Take small account of might, wealth and fame, for they soon pass and are forgotten. Instead, nurture love within you and and strive to be a friend to all. Truly, compassion is a balm for many wounds.Treasure silence when you find it, and while being mindful of your duties, set time aside, to be alone with yourself.

Cast off pretense and self-deception and see yourself as you really are.

Despite all appearances, no one is really evil. They are led astray by ignorance. If you ponder this truth always you will offer more light, rather than blame and condemnation.

You, no less than all beings have Buddha Nature within. Your essential Mind is pure. Therefore, when defilements cause you to stumble and fall, let not remose nor dark foreboding cast you down. Be of good cheer and with this understanding, summon strength and walk on.

Faith is like a lamp and wisdom makes the flame burn bright. Carry this lamp always and in good time the darkness will yield and you will abide in the Light.

- Dhammavadaka -

Today I finally found some time to finish this buddha necklace. Yay!

The pendant and a matching bead is from epoxy clay. The clasp is bone and rock crystal, embellished with the words "secure the peace". Another word on a button says "voyage".

Namaste,

my friends.

The bead soup I sent

2011-08-22T02:27:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is a picture of the soup I sent to Joanne.

Joanne had told me that her skin reacts very sensitive to copper and brass, so all metal in here is solid sterling silver. The sea urchin (epoxy clay) , the cotton pearls and the clasp were handmade by me.

Bead Soup, again ;)

2011-08-21T04:38:00.000-07:00

Oooops, did I really forget to show you the lovely silver clasp that Joanne sent along with her bead soup as a "little" extra!?

I love it! It's so fine! Thank you ever so much, Joanne!
If you would like to own one of her beautiful handmade jewellery supplies, you can buy it here!

"You got Royal Mail" - Bead Soup is here!!!

2011-08-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

When I came home from work yesterday, there was an envelope waiting for me on the kitchen table, and it had a British stamp on it.

My first thought was: "Finally Mr. Bond asks me to be his new Bond Girl!", ....

... but then I turned the envelope around and saw that it was from Joanne, my incredibly talented Bead Soup partner.

(Okay, Mr. Bond, don't let me wait too long, because next time I might say NO! )

Just kidding.

I won't say no.

But back to topic:

When I opened the envelope, I found ths pretty card in it.

And a beautiful brown organza bag (unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of it, but I took 6 pictures of the envelope...ts,ts) with little packages in it, carefully wrapped in brown paper.

Here's what was in the packages: Three most beautiful lampwork beads (made by Isabelle Anderson), matte white and sparkling purple czech glass beads, some round copper beads, some copper rings (handmade by Joanne) and one of her georgeous handmade copper clasps!

The colour scheme will challenge me (that's part of the fun, you know) , but I love everything about my soup. You should see the lampwork beads - in reality they are so much more beautiful!

And I can't stop touching the copper clasp. It's perfect.

The dust on the czech glass beads was not in the package... it was in the bowl I put the soup in. If there is something that I am not, it's a good housewife ;)
If you would like to see the soup that I sent to Joanne, you can either wait for my next blog post or visit Joanne's blog :)

If love is shelter...

2011-08-19T01:45:00.001-07:00

Playing around with my new cotton pearls. These ones remind me a bit of old mercury glass - they are of warm, silvery color and one of them seems to have sprinkles of black patina on its surface.

"If love is shelter, I am going to walk in the rain."

My Bead Soup partner and what she'll receive from me

2011-08-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

This time, my bead soup partner is the fabulous Joanne Tinley (Daisychain Designs) from the UK. If you don't know her already, please go to her blog by clicking here! You won't regret it, I promise!!! She also has two etsy shops: one for supplies and one with her beautiful jewellery creations.

When I first saw who my partner was, I (honestly!!!) shoutet out: "Jackpot!" - we say that in Germany, too.

Obviously she and I both have different styles, but I really love her jewelry... oh, sorry, she lives in the UK, so it's jewellery of course... ;)

Here are some examples of her work:

Isn't she fantastic!?

I also really love her blog. She offers a lot of free tutorials there, and the pictures of her two little boys are too cute!

And here,

finally,

...

tadaaaaaaaa,

...

as promised,

is the bead soup I am going to send her:

Ooooooops, what's that!? Oh no! Something must be wrong with my camera! I'm so sorry for that! Hopefully I will manage to take some better pictures for reveal day... ;)

Some more Cotton Pearls

2011-08-07T09:17:00.000-07:00

I tried so hard to capture the beauty of these, but the picture can't do them justice.

DIY Cotton Pearls

2011-08-06T05:23:00.000-07:00

Do you know these adorable old japanese cotton pearls? Aren't they the most beautiful beads you have ever seen? Yes, they are. But they are also quite rare and expensive. Besides that, they often come in bigger sizes and I always wanted to have them a bit smaller and in different colors.

Inspired by Marina's (fancifuldevices) cooooooool UTEE experiment, I thought I'd try to make my own cotton pearls.

Okay, I didn't have any eye shadow powder like Fanci (really have to try it one day!!!), so I took the boring normal stuff instead: Ranger's "Perfect Pearls".

I used the colors "Pewter", "Biscotti" and "Perfect Pearl" and mixed a small amount of each with either black or clear UTEE. White UTEE would have worked great with Perfect Pearl and Biscotti I'm sure, but I didn't have any white handy.

I took some paper cotton balls in different sizes (10 and 12mm are pictured), rolled them around on a Perfect Medium stamp pad, dipped them into the UTEE mix of my choice and picked them on an awl. One at a time, of course. Then heated with my heat gun, dipped again, heated... and so on till I was pleased with my "pearl".

Okay, my cotton pearls are by no means comparable with the real Japanese Cotton Pearls. But these are also beautiful, don't you think? And like the originals they weigh next to nothing, so they are perfect for earrings.

The white one looks quite matte in the picture, but it is actually very shiny.

I absolutely LOVE (LOVE, LOVE) the texture of the two larger beads. To receive this texture, just stop heating the last layer of UTEE before it has melted completely.

If you try this, please let me know! I am looking forward to see what you'll come up with!!!

Sign up for Bead Soup Blog Party NOW!

2011-08-02T06:23:00.000-07:00

Twice a year, the amazing Lori Anderson is hosting her legendary Bead Soup Blog Party.

This time it's going to be the biggest Bead Soup Party ever! Right now, there are about 250 participants - and sign ups will be accepted till tomorrow, August 3rd!!!

To participate, you only need to have a blog, a focal, a clasp and some coordinating beads. You don't have to make your own beads and yes, it is international. So don't hesitate and join in the fun!

To read more about it, just go to her page!

I hope to see your creation on reveal day September 17th!!!

Goodbye

2011-07-24T03:27:00.000-07:00

I know I posted these videos before, but when I heard of Amy's passing away, I immediately thought of Phil Hansen's piece.
Goodbye, Amy. Rest in peace.

P.S. I love the obit Russel Brand wrote for her on his web page.

Men's necklace

2011-07-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

This is just an initial draft of a men's necklace. It's a custom order - a young lady asked me to create a necklace for her boy friend. She liked the "capsule" of the Milkman of Human Kindness Necklace, so I sent her an acrylic tube, she filled it with some handwriting and - how cool is that!!! - a drop of her own blood plus one of her baby teeth! She sent it back and I closed and distressed the tube.

For the chain I "wrote" her name in morse out of round pyrit beads (for "short") and brass tube beads (for - you guessed it - "long"). By now, the last three letters of her name are missing. It's a draft. Maybe we'll change the writing into "Mein Engel" ("My angel"), but we'll definitely keep the morse.

(Unfortunately, all horizontal pictures of this necklace turned out quite bad...!)

Then she challenged me a bit by asking me to add an angel pendant or charm. I looked through my stash but couldn't find anything that would go with a men's necklace - in particular not with this acrylic tube! The next morning (Do you create in your sleep? I do!) I remembered a bone "claw" I had purchased some time ago. Its shape reminds me a bit of an angel's wing. So I took out my soldering iron and burnt - sort of - an angel wing into it to compensate the missing angel charm. Afterwards we both, the wing and I, had a good hot cup of coffee together. I drank mine, the wing prefered to take a bath :)

Since the wing was bigger than the acrylic tube, I decided that it had to be the pendant. I played a bit around (actually it was not a bit but all sunday) and out came the necklace you can see in the pictures.

I love it, it looks SOOOOO cool round my husband's neck (the model's neck is way too slim for a men's necklace), but I think we'll change it again though. It's a bit more necklace than the young lady expected, I guess.

She hasn't seen it, yet, but I sent her some pictures and I'm really curious about what she'll say.

This snoopy baby toad hopped my way when I took the photos of the necklace outside. Too cute! Each summer we have hundreds and thousands of them in our garden. It always takes me ages to mow the lawn because I try to save every little toad's life, of course.

P.S. I just received her okay: all in all the necklace will stay as it is! Yay!

Back again :)

2011-07-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

Hello again! Hope you are doing well!!

So good to be here!

Though I normally LOVE to read about other artist's feelings, thoughts and intentions and it inspires me a lot, there are times when I have the feeling that it slows my own inner and "artistic" growth down. It's sometimes hard for me to differentiate between the thoughts and intentions of you guys and mine. So I felt that I needed a blog break.

During that break I used to play a lot with my new favourite toy, the etsy activity feed. Thank you, Renate ;) So many beautiful things out there, oh my! So if you have an etsy shop, chances are that I enjoyed your art work without visiting your blog.

Now I can't wait to visit all of your blogs again, to comment on your beautiful creations and, most of all, to read everything about what's going on in your minds! Though I really needed this break, I missed visiting your blogs. Honestly.

For the earrings above I riveted links of an old amber bracelet of mine onto the halfs of a found bottle cap and added indonesian glass beads and matte onyx drops.

Bye for now and... see you ;)

And the winner is...

2011-04-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, first of all I want to say that I am overwhelmed by the talent and creativity of you guys! Many of you I didn't know before, and now I am a follower of your blogs. Thank you so much for participating, everybody!

Now to the giveaway:

We decided to draw three winners, each of us drew one.

MY winner is:

(drum roll)

Berit!

Congratulations!

Please send me your snail mail adress so I can send out your surprise to you!

Okay, zuerst möchte ich sagen, dass ich von Eurer Begabung und Kreativität überwältigt bin! Viele von Euch kannte ich vorher nicht, und nun bin ich Follower Eurer Blogs. Vielen Dank für's Mitmachen, alle zusammen!

Nun zum Giveaway:

Wir haben beschlossen, drei Gewinner zu ziehen. Jeder von uns hat einen gezogen.

MEIN Gewinner ist:

(Trommelwirbel)

Berit!

Herzlichen Glückwunsch!

Bitte schick mir noch Deine Schneckenpost-Adresse, damit ich Dir Dein Überraschungs-Giveaway schicken kann!

German Bead Babes Challenge: Reveal Day!

2011-04-09T06:55:00.001-07:00

The German bead babes Janna (that's me), Stefanie and Nicki are hosting their first challenge ever: Blissed out by your favorite song. 12 bead artists have created a piece of jewelry based on their personal favorite song. There were no other rules but to blog about the piece, and share your excitement about the favorite song. Today is the big reveal day, so have fun looking at what we all made, and leave us a comment if you’d like. You will find the links of all bead babes below.

Janna (that's me), Stefanie und Nicki veranstalten ihre allererste Challenge: „Blissed out by your favorite song”, was soviel heißt wie “glückselig - oder auch inspiriert - durch dein Lieblingslied”. 12 Kreative haben ein Schmuckstück kreiert, das auf ihrem Lieblingslied basiert. Abgesehen davon, dass wir über unser Schmuckstück bloggen sollten und dabei auch erzählen sollten, was wir an dem betreffenden Song mögen, gab es keine Regeln. Heute ist der große Tag, an dem wir alle unsere Stücke zeigen, also viel Spaß beim Entdecken – und über ein Kommentar von Euch würden alle Teilnehmer sich natürlich sehr freuen! Die Links zu allen Teilnehmern findet Ihr unten.

I chose Billy Bragg's "The Milkman of Human Kindness" - one of my all time favourites since I was about twelve.

Ich habe mir Billy Bragg's "The Milkman of Human Kindness" ausgesucht - einen meiner allerliebsten Lieblingssongs seit ich zwölf war.

Here's the song:

And these are the lyrics:

Und hier ist der Text:

If you're lonely, I will call
If you're poorly, I will send poetry

I love you...
I am the milkman of human kindness
I will leave an extra pint

If you're sleeping, I will wait
If your bed is wet, I will dry your tears

I love you...
I am the milkman of human kindness
I will leave an extra pint

Hold my hand for me, I'm waking up
Hold my hand for me, I'm waking up
Hold my hand for me, I'm making up
Would you hold my hand, I'm making up

If you are falling, I'll put out my hands
If you feel bitter, I will understand

I love you...
I am the milkman of human kindness
I will leave an extra pint

(Billy Bragg)

"Milk of Human Kindness" is an English saying to approve someone's compassion and care for others.

It goes back to Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth who said:

"Milk of Human Kindness" sagen die Briten, wenn sie jemandem Mitgefühl und Sorge für seine Mitmenschen bescheinigen wollen. Es geht zurück auf Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth, die sagte:

" Glamis thou art, and cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promis'd. Yet do I fear thy nature, it is too full o' th' milk of Human Kindness to catch the nearest way."

(Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 5, 15-18)

So for Lady Macbeth, the Milk of Human Kindness is quite distasteful - In her eyes, her husband is too soft, too "milky" to kill King Duncan, which is "the nearest way" as she sees it.

Für Lady Macbeth ist die Milk of Human Kindness also eher nicht genießbar - in ihren Augen ist ihr Ehemann zu soft und "milchig", um King Duncan zu töten, was Lady Macbeth hier mit dem kürzesten Weg, dem "nearest way", meint.

"The Milkman of Human Kindness" is a simple song, sung by a man with his guitar, so I wanted to keep the necklace simple.

"The Milkman of Human Kindness" ist ein einfacher Song ohne viel Schnickschnack, gesungen von einem Mann mit einer Gitarre, deshalb wollte ich die Kette auch eher schlicht halten.

I cut out Lady Macbeth's words, rolled them up and put them into an acrylic tube. Then I sealed the tube with epoxy clay and distressed the whole thing using acrylic paints and pigments.

Ich habe Lady Macbeth's Worte ausgeschnitten, sie aufgerollt und sie in ein Röhrchen aus Acryl getan. Dann habe ich das Röhrchen mit Epoxy Clay versiegelt und das Ganze mit Acrylfarben und Pigmenten "distressed", also altern lassen, sozusagen.

For the chain I hammered links of steel wire. Amazonite is a stone of compassion, plus it doesn't add too much colour, so I chose it for one side of the necklace. On the other side of the necklace are "milk drops" of white glass. The clasp is a very, very simple hook clasp and is also made of steel wire.

Für die Kette habe ich Links aus Stahldraht gehämmert. Weil Amazonit ein Stein des Mitgefühls ist und er außerdem nicht so viel Farbe in die Kette bringt, habe ich mich für ihn entschieden. Auf der anderen Seite der Kette tropfen "Milchtropfen" aus weißem Glas herunter. Der Verschluß ist ein ganz, ganz einfacher Hakenverschluß, den ich ebenfalls aus Stahldraht gehämmert habe.

Please don't miss to see what all the other participants have created!

Laßt Euch auch nicht die Kreationen der anderen Teilnehmer entgehen!

Here are the links:

Hier ist die Linkliste:

1. Janna Harttgen - Palimpa-Lim (you are here)

2. Stefanie Teufel - Stefanies Sammelsurium

3. Nicole Keller - Nickis Reef

4. Berit Borchardt - Berit Borchardt

5. Rebecca Anderson - Songbeads

6. Maryse Thillens - Glassbeadart Lampwork

7. Krista French - French Elegant Jewelry

8. Linda Djokic - Lutka and Co

9. Karola Stein - Karolas Fundstuecke

10. Doris Radlicki - Doralila Beads

11. Jenn Judd - Jen Judd Rocks

12. Saskia Kaffenberger - Perlendistel

A HUGE thank you to all the participants - it is a pleasure and privilege to have you with us!

Ein DICKES Dankeschön an alle Teilnehmer - es ist eine Freude und Ehre, Euch dabei zu haben!

And now happy hopping :)

Und nun fröhliches Hüpfen :)

Finally!

2011-03-21T04:30:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love the raku work of Dorcas from wondrousstrange, but it's really hard for me to use her pieces in my jewelry - because I can't let them go.

Yesterday, finally, I made this necklace with the adorable scarab (and a sea urchin spine) as a pendant.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures - I will try to take some better pictures tomorrow. I just couldn't wait to show this piece to you, because I am really thrilled with it!

To see many, many more wondrous raku beauties, visit Dorcas' shop!

Innocent

2011-03-16T07:32:00.000-07:00

"When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college - that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said, "You mean they forget?""

- Howard Ikemoto -

I love this quote. There lies so much truth in it.

It came into my mind when I thought about what innocence is to me.

Yesterday I played a little around with some pieces from my stash without really thinking. Just playing. This pendant was one of the things I created.

I had screwed a beautiful white glass flower and a brass bead cap onto a black metal scrap disc, a piece of lace that I had cut into a round shape and a brass metal disc I had hammered for texture.

I really like it! It's a bit like people I love: there's something dark around the center and it's a bit scratched, but in a way still innocent.

So I decided to create a simple necklace for it. Handmade copper chain, a few czech glass beads, hammered copper washers, handmade copper bead caps and a simple handmade copper clasp (with brass) were all I added.

Spring is in the air

2011-03-12T03:32:00.000-08:00

I hadn't made anything for my shop since november. When I make something these days, it's more about trying new techniques, materials, styles or new shapes. I have made "thousands" of components - and I have no idea how to use them.

When I finished some jewelry, it was for friends or to keep them for myself. Yesterday, finally, I made these earrings to put them into my shop.

What about you? Do you know these times when you just aren't in the mood to finish something, and you are surrounded by fragments?

Hello sunshine!

2011-03-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

I am still a bit overwhelmed by the great bead soup blog hop. So much creativity and inspiration out there!!!

I have found some really interesting blogs, got new followers (hello to you all!!) and found a friend: my bead soup partner Nicki from Nicki's Reef.

Nicki, you rock!!

A huge THANK YOU goes to all the lovely people who stopped by and left a comment!

And of course, though I have said that quite often now, to Lori, the host of the whole incredible thing. Thank you so much, Lori!!

It's a beautiful sunny spring day here, so I was in the mood to take some pictures of the necklace and bracelet I had made for my daughter's 12th birthday in february.

Unfortunately the quality of the pictures is not the best, but I thought I'd send you some sunshine...!

Okay, this is shadow. But, friends... shadow!!! I haven't seen shadows for a long time!!!

Shadow again. But at least the necklace and bracelet say SUMMER, don't they.

Sunshine! Yay!

The resin pendant I have made especially for my daughter is from a painting/collage made by me (inspired by the towers and turrets workshop of Sharon Tomlinson and Deryn Mentock) and says "Glück", which means fortune - and also bliss, happiness, serendipity...!

Serendipity, by the way, is one of my favourite English words!

And here is a simple bracelet I have made for myself while I chose the beads for Nicki's bead soup. It's so simple, but I LOVE it especially for its simplicity!

Oh, and have you already signed up for our first German Bead Babes Challenge???

You can read everything about it in the post below! It's open to everyone, worldwide, wether you have a blog or not!

The German Bead Babes go challenge!

2011-03-06T11:46:00.000-08:00

The German Bead Babes go challenge: Blissed out by ….. your favorite song !

Through various bead events on the net we got inspired to challenge you bead people out there with something new. The thing that is constant through all challenges: it is about beads and jewelry and your creative ideas. What is new is the team and the theme: The German Bead Babes go challenge: Blissed out by ….. your favorite song !

So, up for something fun?

Über verschiedene Perlenevents im Internet sind wir auf die Idee gekommen, euch Perlenliebhaber auch mal herauszufordern. Was gleich bleibt: es geht um Perlen und eure Kreativität. Das Neue sind das Team und das Thema: Die Deutschen Bead Babes machen eine Challenge: Glückselig durch... dein Lieblingslied.

Also, habt ihr Lust auf drauf?

Who we are…

Janna – Palimpa-Lim.blogspot.com

Proud mom, life and nature lover, bead and wire addict, wife, friend, servant of ten cats and a rabbit, makes world’s best risi e bisi (risotto with smoked ham and peas)

Stolze Mama, liebt das Leben und die Natur, Perlen- und Drahtsüchtige, Ehefrau, Freundin, Dienerin von zehn Katzen und einem Kaninchen, macht das weltbeste Risi e Bisi (Risotto mit Schinken und Erbsen).

Stefanie – Stefaniessammelsurium.blogspot.com

I love jewelry - chunky, bold jewerly. I also like mystery-novels and cooking.

Ich liebe Schmuck - fetten, bunten prächtigen Schmuck. Außerdem liebe ich Krimis und Kochen.

Nicki – nickisreef.blogspot.com

Mommy of a 18 month old girl, Automotive Strategic Planner in the real world, collector of beads since 4 years, lover of nature, animals, and good food, the creative soul behind nickisreef.etsy.com.
Mama von einer 18 Monate alten Tochter, Strategischer Planer in der Autoindustrie im wahren Leben, Sammler von Perlchen seit ca. 4 Jahren, Liebhaber von Natur, Tieren und gutem Essen, die creative Seele hinter nickisreef.etsy.com

The challenge & the rules

This will be our first challenge, but if we have fun, it might become a recurring event. The theme of the first one will be “Your favorite song”.

You pick your own favorite song, and create a piece of jewelry with this song in mind. No other rules, use as many beads as you want, in any color, shape and size.

The challenge is open to everyone, worldwide!!

On April 9^th we will do a blog hop, talking about our piece of jewelry and our favorite song, and why it is inspiring to us. Maybe even some of the lyrics. Anything you like. And we will post links to all other music lovers, so we can see all the wonderful things the other artists made.

Dies wird unsere erste Challenge, aber wenn es uns und euch Spass macht, dann machen wir daraus eine regelmässige Sache. Das Thema der ersten Challenge wird „mein Lieblingslied“ sein.

Ihr sucht euch euer Lieblingslied aus, und kreiert ein Schmuckstück, was sich um diesen Song dreht. Keine anderen Regeln, benutzt so viele Perlen wie ihr wollt, in allem Farben, Formen und Grössen.

Jeder kann mitmachen - weltweit!!

Am 9. April veranstalten wir dann einen Blog Hop, und schreiben einen Post über das Schmuckstück und das Lieblingslied, und warum es uns inspiriert. Vielleicht auch über den Liedtext. Was ihr wollt. Und wir posten die links zu allen Musikliebhabern, damit wir die wunderschönen Kreationen der anderen Künstler sehen können.

The giveaway

The german girls have decided to make your mouth a bit watery and get a bit of excitement going around our challenge – so there will be a prize. Each of us will select something from her stash. We will do a random drawing the day of the blog hop and you will automatically be entered if you show your piece on your blog. If you don’t have a blog but would still like to participate, contact us and we will include your piece in our reveal posts on April 9^th.

Wir deutschen Mädels haben uns entschieden, euch den Mund wässrig zu machen und gleichzeitig die Lust auf unsere Challenge etwas zu erhöhen – daher gibt es auch einen Preis. Jede von uns wird etwas aus ihrer privaten Perlensammlung beisteuern. Am Tag des Blog Hops verlosen wir dann diesen Gewinn unter allen Teilnehmern, ihr seid also automatisch dabei, wenn ihr euer Schmuckstück auf eurem Blog zeigt. Wenn ihr keinen Blog habt, aber trotzdem mitmachen wollt, dann schreibt uns und wir zeigen eure Kreation auf unseren Posts am 9. April.

The timing

Sign up starts today and will last until Wednesday March 16^th. Please send your name, email and blog address to one of us. We will compile a list and share it with you, so you can post it as well on the blog hop date.

The reveal date will be on Saturday April 9^th.

So spread the word, sign up soon and start thinking about your favorite song. Hope to see you soon.

Die Anmeldung startet heute und läuft noch bis Mittwoch den 16. März. Schickt dafür euren Namen, eure Email und die Blogaddresse an einen von uns. Wir erstellen dann einen Liste und schicken sie euch, damit ihr sie dann am Blog Hop Tag auch posten könnt.

Der Tag, an dem wir unsere Schmuckstücke posten, ist Samstag, der 9. April.

Also, erzählt das weiter, schreibt euch bald ein und fangt schon mal an, über euer Lieblingslied nachzudenken. Und hoffentlich bis bald.

Contact us at

Schreibt an

Janna – palimpa-lim(at)hotmail(dot)de

Steffi – s(dot)teufel(at)ndh(dot)net

Nicki – nic12698(at)live(dot)de

Soup, anybody?

2011-02-21T23:56:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the 3rd Bead Soup Blog Party!

What is a Bead Soup Blog Party?

Each beader was paired up with another jewelry designer and tasked with sending the following:

~ A focal
~ A special clasp (not just a lobster claw)
~ Some coordinating spacers or beads

Using the focal and the clasp was mandatory, but we could use anything from our own stash to round out the rest, and choose to use the coordinating beads or not.

Do you remember the amazing soup ingredients my partner Nicki sent to me?

By the way: don't miss to visit her blog to see the incredible necklaces and earrings she made from the bead soup I sent to her!!!

nickisreef.blogspot.com

And here's what I made:

Here comes the main bead soup necklace with the beautiful pendant Nicki made especially for me and the matching clasp that was in my soup:

I have layered the flower pendant with a mother of pearl flower.

Come see what the rest of us made!

1. Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

2. Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life

3. Michelle Heim, Life In the Bead Lane

4. Lisa Petrillo, Lucid Moon Studio

5. Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

6. Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

7. Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things

8. Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe

9. Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto

10. Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio

11. Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas

12. Rachel Walsh, Balanced Crafts

13. Marian Hertzog, M's Place

14. Mary McGraw, MK's Musings

15. Sarabeth Burke, Chronicles of Sarita

16. Deci Worland, Gem Trails

17. Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found

18. Laura Zeiner, Stick Lizard Designs

19. Kristin Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

20. Cathryn Brooks-Williams, Chile Cats

21. Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs

22. Janna Harttgen, Palimpa-Lim (YOU ARE HERE!)

23. Libby Leuchtman, Libby Leu

24. Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads

25. Deb Hunter, Living On Air

26. Diana Ptaszynski, Suburban Girl Studio

27. Jennifer VanBenschoten, VanBeads

28. Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter

29. Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts

30. Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul

31. Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium

32. Patricia Gasparino, My Life Under the Bus

33. Tari Khars, Pearl and Pebble

34. Kristi Bowman-Gruel, Kristi Bowman Design

35. Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle

36. Becky Fairclough, Chameleons Designs

37. Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead & Metal Works

38. Lynne Bowland, Islandgirl's Insights

39. Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire

40. Lorelei Eurto, Inside the Studio

41. Stacy Hartis, Sissy & Jack's

42. Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions

43. Marcie Abney, La Bella Joya

44. Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations

45. Nan Emmett, Spirit Rattles

46. Melissa Mesara, One Eared Pig

47. Amanda Davie, Articulations

48. Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady

49. Virginia Joste, ViviBijoux

50. Andrew Thornton, The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
51. Lori Dorrington, Lori's Glassworks

52. Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

53. Kate Gardenghi, Tropical Blonde

54. Serena Trent, PinkIce Jewel's Blog

55. Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin de Koning

56. Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

57. Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio

58. Amy Freeland, Copper Diem

59. Lisa Liddy, Joolz By Lisa

60. Sandi Lee James, Do Be Do Bead Do

61. Mary Harding, Mary Harding Bead Blog

62. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon

63. Leslie Gidden, Mad Maggie Designs

64. Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

65. Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats

66. Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co.

67. Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash

68. Laurel Steven, Rue's Daftique

69. Ingrid McCue, Wrapped In Silver

70. Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit

71. Diana Hawkey, Diana Hawkey

72. Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas

73. Jeanette Ryan, Jeanette Blix

74. Jackie Ryan, Silver Lodge Gems

75. Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Be Done!

76. Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium

77. Valerie Norton, Hot Art

78. Jana Trupovniece, Stories of the Secret Garden

79. Amy Severino, Amy Beads

80. Emma Thomas, Fred Beans Nook

81. Karen Zanco, Everyday Gypsy

82. Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria

83. Janet McDonald, Singing Woods

84. Dana James, Dana's Jewelry Designs

85. Kristina Johansson, Wild Roses and Blackberries

86. CJ Bauschka, CJ Bauschka

87. Angela Barribea, Re: Angela Rae

88. Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy

89. Tanya Floyd, Glass Migrations

90. Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss

91. Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous

92. Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Bead

93. Nally Parfyonova, Nally's Creations

94. Karyn White, Releases By Rufydoof

95. Emanda Johnson, Artemisia Studio

96. Sandy Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box

97. Cindy Dolezal, Cindy Dolezal Designs

98. Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue

99. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads

100. Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings

101. Nicole Valentine-Rimmer, N. Valentine Studio

102. Jacinta Meyers, Jamberrysong's Creations

103. Charlene Gary, Gray Girl Studios

104. Rubiee Hayes, Glitter and Keys Galore

105. Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations

106. Elizabeth Freeman, Turquoise Sky

107. Shelby Foxwell, Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric

108. Lynda Moseley, Diva Designs

109. Grace Danel, Grace Beading

110. Lois Moon, Que Onda Quitman

111. Agnes Shapiro, Beader Bubbe

112. Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo

113. Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs

114. Mary Ellen Parker, Bee Tree By Me

115. Barbara Bechtel, Second Surf

116. Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer

117. Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

118. Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie

119. Ronda Adams, The Ravished Heart

120. Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs

121. Anna Lear, The Laughing Raven

122. Susie Hibdon, Vintagesusie & Wings

123. Amanda Austin, Sea Shore Glass

124. Jennifer Velasquez, Jen Judd Rocks

125. Hazel Ward, All Those Things

126. Brenda Salzano, Salzanos

127. Dee Gordon, Runako Designs by Dee

128. Anna Denisova, Anita-M

129. Margaret Saari, Mags-Jewelry

130. Genea Crivello-Knable, Genea Beads

131. Penny Neville, Copper Penny

132. Angela Blasingame, Hopemore

133. Helena Fritz, Beadwork by H's Blog

134. Stephanie LaRose, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder

135. Stephanie Haussler, PixyBug Designs

136. Diane Cook, Rosa & Josies

137. Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art

138. Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by J.P.

139. Shannon Chomanczuk, For My Sweet Daughter

140. Lisa Godfrey, Bead Happy

141. Heather Pyle, Welcome to My Muse

142. Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings

143. Liz DeLuca, Creative Arty Facts

144. Sig Wynne-Evans, Beaded Bear's Nonsense

145. Loretta Carstensen, Loretta's Boutique

146. Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads

147. Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul

148. Shelly Graves, Stars Dance With Me

149. Jess Italia Lincoln, Vintaj Blog

150. JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

151. Carrie Tahquechi, Carrie T

152. Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals

153. Katarzyna Kwiatkowska, Quiet Area

154. Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

155. Magdalena Sikora, Poranna Gazeta

156. Nicole Keller, Nicki's Reef

157. Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

158. Noemi Baena, Fire, Metal, and Color

159. Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman

160. Barbara Blaszczyk, Labotorium Flory

161. Collette Collins, Firefly Myst

162. Carola Greiser, Polymer Clay Shed

163. Joanna Kopijczuk, Bizuteria z Filcu

164. LeAnn Weih, Summers Studio

165. Cassandra Watsham, Design by Cassandra

166. Anna Motz, Stunning

167. Shea Zukowski, Gr8findings

168. Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads

169. Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings

170. Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope

171. Alison Crenshaw, Beads by Earth Tones

172. Dorcas Midkiff, Wondrous Strange Designs

173. Melissa Rediger, Sea of Glass

174. Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre

175. Julie Nordine, Julie Nordine | Credit River Art Glass

176. Menka Gupta, Menka's Blog

177. Patsy Evins, Patsy Evins Studio

178. Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're

179. Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux

180. Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

181. Lyn Foley, Lyn Foley Wearable Art

182. Tara Plote, The Newbie Beader's Blog

183. Natalie Schuetz, Natalie S Perlen

184. Kim Hutchinson, Running on Ink

185. Haley Frank, Wide Eyed Smilin

186. Grace Caputo, Suddenly Last Summer

187. Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp, Skye Jewels

188. Erin Siegel, Erin Siegel Jewelry

189. Janea McDonald, Organized Chaos

190. Kristi Evenson, Colie Bug & Co.

191. Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry

192. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle

193. Whitney Lassini, Whitney Lassini

194. Nancy Schindler, The Rabbit Muse

195. Pam Brisse, The Blue Between

196. Beth Bricker, Vintage Sweets

197. Ruthie Stickney, Rose Works Jewelry and Gifts

198. Rose Noble, Lady Noble Designs

199. Karen Williams, Baublicious

200. Claire Maunsell, The Next Bend

201. Christine Damm, Stories They Tell

202. Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts

203. Wendy Blum, Sand & Sea Designs

204. Juli Cannon, Julsbeads

205. Jenny Robledo, La Dona Boutique

206. Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry

207. Pam Krinski, Ewa Beads

208. Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love

209. Dana Jones, Dana's Jewelry

210. Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread

The next party's sign ups begin August 1-3, 2011. Don't miss it!

And please don't forget to visit our host, Lori of Pretty Things, on her blog:

http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

She is such a wonderful person and did a FANTASTIC job!!!

Thank you, Lori!

OWOH - The winner is....

2011-02-17T15:21:00.000-08:00

I had sooo much fun on my OWOH flight!
I met incredibly talented people, got lots of inspiration and hundreds of lovely comments on my blog.
Thank you all!!!
Today the random generator picked the winner of the One World earrings:
Grace from whymsyloft!
Congrats, Grace!!!
Please check out her blog: http://whymsyloft.com

As promised, I had another drawing just for the few lovely people who posted a comment but don't have a blog.
Congratulations, Val - you are the winner! I won't tell what your prize is - it's a secret.

Now that the storm is over, I am looking forward to visit the blogs I didn't manage to visit during the official OWOH ride.

Hope to meet you ;)

My Bead Soup has arrived!

2011-02-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

Finally, I was able to take some photos of the fabulous bead soup my partner Nicki sent to me a while ago.
Look at this treasure trove!

Nicki sent to me an international Bead Soup:
beautiful beads she found in a shop in France,
some big gems (red and green fire agate and others) she bought in Cologne (where she lives),
cute lampwork beads (artist unknown) from her favourite shop in Plymouth, USA, lacquered Chinese paper beads,

a variety of beads she bought at Michaels,
an adorable copper dragonfly charm from Summers Studio,
Susan Lenart Kazmer's Industrial Chic Charms,
some green nut beads,
a stunning lampwork egg from super talented Kelley Wenzel,
Alcantara,
rubber tube,
recycled sari ribbon...
...and...
.... drum roll...
...tadaa...
...look at this!!!

A flower shaped brass with copper pendant she sawed out especially for me!
I LOVE it!!!

Nicki even found the perfectly matching clasp for it!

(She was kind enough to give me an extra pendant (beautiful ceramic pendant from Indian Creek Studios) in case I don't like the one she made for me... I don't have to tell you which one I'll choose for my bead soup necklace...! )

Please visit Nicki's blog, where you can find some pictures of the soup she got from me: http://nickisreef.blogspot.com

Thank you, Nicki! I am over the moon with everything you sent to me!!!
And I am sooo glad I have found another kindred spirit in you!

One World One Heart

2011-01-30T09:44:00.000-08:00

A warm welcome to my blog and the fabulous fifths and final ONE WORLD ONE HEART event!!!
My name is Janna, I am from Bremen, Germany, and I love to create. Everything you can imagine, but especially jewelry.
I am looking forward to visit as many blogs of participating bloggers as possible - and the blogs of anyone who will leave a comment here, of course! It would be great to find kindred spirits and interesting people all around the world! That's what this event is all about.

As a little giveaway, I have created a pair of (pretty large!) earrings made of copper, light blue Indonesian glass beads, red freshwater pearls, recycled sari ribbons, brass wire and solid sterling silver wire.

To get entered, all you have to do is:
Leave a comment on this post!
That's it.
The giveaway is open to all active bloggers worldwide!

(If you don't have a blog, please leave a comment, too! There will be an extra drawing just for you - I have prepared a little surprise...!)

Blogger or not: Please make sure to leave your email address with your comment so I can reach you after the drawing!

The drawing will be on February 17th.

You can find a list of the participants and read all about OWOH on Lisa's blog by clicking on the button below:

Have fun, anyone... and a HUGE thank you, Lisa!

Great Giveaway!

2011-01-27T07:51:00.000-08:00

Ah, do you see all these yummy goodies in the picture? Aren't they adorable!?
Brigitta Lejonklou is offering a georgeous giveaway! It ends tomorrow at about 18 o'clock Swedish time. So hurry up and check it out! lejonklou.blogspot.com

Bead Soup Party

2011-01-16T23:19:00.000-08:00

Bead Soup Party has begun and I couldn't be happier with the partner Lori chose for me: Nicki!
Please visit her blog: http://nickisreef.blogspot.com/
I love the necklace Nicki made for the Colour Blog Hop and her interpretation of Klimt's Tree of Life.
Nicki is from Germany, like me, and it is always such a pleasure to meet creative people from "around the corner" - especially those who make jewelry that is quite similar to mine! There are so few!
Can't wait to receive my beads from her and get started!

Alive again

2011-01-15T07:21:00.000-08:00

Because of this bad flu I had, it has been quiet here for a while.
In my whole adult live I haven't felt so ill.
Today I am feeling much better, so I managed to put some earrings together.

More beads and beadcaps

2011-01-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

I have a bad cold and don't feel too good, but couldn't wait to enamel some more beads and beadcaps.

2011-01-05T06:57:00.000-08:00

Here is the necklace I have made with my new babies. I'll keep it for myself.
The tiny ceramic heart is from the incredibly talented Mary Harding. Go visit her blog: http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/
Now I'm off to make more of these little beauties...!

Bead Soup Party is almost there!

2011-01-04T18:02:00.001-08:00

I'm so excited because this time I'm going to join Lori's Bead Soup Blog Party!
You can read everything about it here: http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/p/bead-soup-blog-party.html
It's fun, it's easy, it's international and open for everyone - so don't miss it!

Painting with Fire

2011-01-04T09:35:00.001-08:00

My! First! Torch! Fire! Enameled! Beads!
Wooohoooooo!

Embrace

2011-01-02T10:01:00.000-08:00

1)My word for 2011 is EMBRACE.
Embrace life, the earth, people I love and people I don't like, creativity, pain, joy, love, my sorrows, you, nature, sadness, myself, memories (good and bad), my fears, whatever may come in the future...
...embrace...and let go.

2)Today I tried to create a necklace for a dear customer. She was one of my first customers and has got fourteen of my necklaces and even more pairs of my earrings by now (WOW!). Mostly she buys something she has seen in my shop or elsewhere, but sometimes she asks me to just make something for her.
That is such an honour and privilege, of course, but to be honest, I always have a hard time doing it. Though I know her likes and dislikes on the whole, it's so hard to figure out what she would like to have in this special case.
Today I put a gazillion things together and took them apart, again. Somewhere down the road I thought I needed some eggs, so I made some out of polymer clay. The little bird on our christmas tree is now wearing one of them around its neck. Birdy looks so happy with it - I won't take it from him, again.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T11:50:00.001-08:00

2010 was a really good year for me, and looking back fills me with deepest gratefulness.
I wish you all and your families a very happy and healthy New Year!

2010-12-28T02:58:00.000-08:00

Renate's Ornament Swap

2010-12-22T10:52:00.000-08:00

(Fortunately curiosity didn't kill the cat in this case! This is Tomcat Bruno looking at the ornaments I have made for Renate and Stefanie)

It was November 29th when Renate of Put a little magic in your life came up with the idea of a little German ornament swap and asked me if I'd like to participate. Of course I wanted! I loved the idea and felt (feel) so very honoured and flattered!
Renate also asked Gaby of Colourful Adventures(http://colorfuladventures.blogspot.com/) and Stefanie of Stefanies Sammelsurium. Sadly, Gaby wasn't able to participate because she already had too many other things to do - but we all hope she will join us next year!
So we were only three, but that felt quite right regarding the little time that was left till christmas.

Creating the ornaments for Renate and Stefanie was so much fun to do! They are both adorable and incredible talented persons - reading their blogs is always such a joy, such an inspiration! To know them means really much to me. For the first time I have the feeling that I have arrived. I feel connected. It is like camomille tea for my soul.
From the bottom of my heart I wanted to give something back.

Last night we finally unwrapped our treasures.

Renates Ornament came to me in this lovely pouch she sewed out of cotton fabric and felt and decorated it with stars from old lace and sari silk.

Inside was this stunning, double sided ornament:

A genuine watch face Renate sealed with resin because of the very sharp enamel edges on one side...

... and this beautiful Madonna with child on the other side.

She paired the medaillon with czech glass beads, brass wire and a georgeous chandelier crystal. I'm over the moon with it. It is perfect. Can't wait to decorate our tree!

Stefanie sent her ornament in this cute christmas gift box!

I opened it, and out came... tadaaaaa... this teriffic resin paper ornament - the world's most beautiful cherub medaillon!

Stefanie loves to use vibrant colours, sari silk ribbons and other fibers in her creations.
Can you see the beads that are hidden between the fibers?

Isn't it just magic!

Please don't miss to visit Renates
http://putalittlemagicinyourlife.blogspot.com/2010/12/beginnings-of-ornament-exchange.html
and Stefanies
http://stefaniessammelsurium.blogspot.com/2010/12/beautiful-gift-ein-wundervolles.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+StefaniesSammelsurium+%28Stefanies+Sammelsurium%29
blog, too!

Dear Renate, dear Stefanie, I don't have words for what I am feeling. This was so much more than an exchange of ornaments to me. Thank you!

Boys we almost stand in fear of

2010-12-21T02:21:00.000-08:00

"Ah, how often we read or hear of
Boys we almost stand in fear of!
For example, take these stories
Of two youths, named Max and Moritz,
Who, instead of early turning
Their young minds to useful learning,
Often leered with horrid features
At their lessons and their teachers.
(...)"

(Wilhelm Busch)

This morning, Mats (9) has designed this little fellow. His name is Max because he reminded Mats on Wilhelm Busch's Max and Moritz.
I love this picture and plan to print it on my coffee mug!

For my friend Kerstin

2010-12-20T05:45:00.000-08:00

The day after tomorrow will be my friend's birthday. I know she loves the dragonfly buttons I sometimes use in my necklaces - especially the blue ones.
So I have made a necklace with a blue butterfly button, another Czech glass button (with swarovski crystal in the center) and some bright blue faceted glass beads for her birthday.
I think she'll like it.

Advent Calendar, Day 18

2010-12-18T11:49:00.000-08:00

Look how Yola's Bracelets have grown since the second day!
Yola wears them all the time and is so excited about them! It's such a joy to see that!

One World One Heart

2010-12-18T03:53:00.000-08:00

This is the 5th and last giant, worldwide "One World One Heart" Event. When the 4th OWOH was, I didn't even have a blog, so this is my first and last chance to participate, and I am certainly going to take it!
The rules are clear and simple and just seem to add fun.
To find out more, go to: http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/2010/12/annoucning-the-fifth-and-final-one-world-one-heart-event-.html
I am really looking forward to it!

Winter Wonderland

2010-12-18T02:58:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share with you what I see when I look out of my window, today.

2010-12-07T00:09:00.000-08:00

This morning I hopped over to Sharon Tomlinson's blog All Norah's Art (http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com) and found a link to a video on youtube of Misty Mawn (http://mistymawn.typepad.com) that gave me goose bumps and made my heart sing. Here it is:

If you are interested to sign in (now!) to Misty Mawn's online workshop, you can find everything about it on her blog.

Advent Calendar, Day 2

2010-12-02T23:55:00.000-08:00

As you may notice, I have decided to write in English, from now on.
German is my mother tongue, so German words come much easier and faster into my mind, but bloggerland's language is English - 99,7% of the blogs I follow are written in English.
I felt more and more like a German tourist in a foreign country who insists on ordering German food in German language. If you really want to get to know each other, it's most important to understand each other, of course.
So, here we go.
The pictures show what my daughter Yola has found in her advent calendar, yesterday.

Türchen No. 1

2010-12-01T05:45:00.000-08:00

Dieses Armband war heute in Yolas Adventskalender und ist jetzt an ihrem Handgelenk.

Sneak Peak

2010-12-01T02:34:00.001-08:00

Diese kleinen "Krabbeltiere" sind mir heute im Garten begegnet. Weil es so kalt ist und ich Mitleid hatte, habe ich ihnen vorgeschlagen, dass sie dieses Jahr als Christbaumschmuck fungieren könnten - dann (hofffentlich) im Warmen.
Das Foto zeigt, wie sie sich darüber beraten. Meinen Vorschlag anzunehmen, würde nämlich bedeuten, dass sie sich trennen müßten, um in verschiedenen Teilen Deutschlands ihren Dienst zu tun.
Ich denke, ich konnte sie überreden.
Aber bis es so weit ist, liegt noch ein ganzes Stück Arbeit vor uns!

2010-11-28T21:25:00.000-08:00

Sind die nicht...WOW!?!
Ein genußvoller Umweg über Abbey Hendricksons Blog "Aesthetic Outburst" führte mich heute morgen hierher:
http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-acorn-wreath.html.
Eine Anleitung für wunderwunderschöne Eichelkränze, ganz einfach gemacht - und supergünstig, da die Eicheln ja überall umsonst herum liegen. Dazu die tollen, inspirierenden Fotos... ich bin ganz verliebt in die Idee und die Seite!
Auch die Idee, so einen Kranz mit getrockneten (Kidney-)Bohnen zu machen, gefällt mir ausnehmend - und plötzlich fällt mir sooo viel mehr ein, was herrlich puristisch an einem Kranz aussehen kann, wenn es gleichmäßig angeordnet und mit Farbe besprüht ist!

Neue Ohrringe und die kleinsten Bezels

2010-11-26T10:12:00.000-08:00

Dies sind die kleinsten Bezels die ich je gemacht habe!
Den kleinen Lotpunkt auf dem Bezel der auf meinem Finger liegt, habe ich tatsächlich absichtlich dort platziert - genau wie die Turm- oder eher Häuschenform (abgerundet wegen Verletzungsgefahr am Handgelenk) inspiriert durch den wunderbaren Towers-and-Turrets-Workschop von Sharon Tomlinson und Deryn Mentock auf All Norah's Art (siehe Button auf meiner Seite).

Einen der Anhänger bekommt unsere Tochter in ihrem Adventskalender, der in diesem Jahr zwei Armbänder, eine Kette und 21 kleine Anhängerchen enthält. Das hat sie sich so gewünscht, und sie freut sich darauf wie eine Schneekönigin :)
Unser Sohn bekommt verschiedene, sehr gute Stifte und 24 Tipps zum Mangazeichnen.

Weil ich natürlich mehr Sachen für das Resin brauchte als die drei Mini-Bezels, habe ich noch ein paar meiner Papierperlen gemacht - diesmal kurze, für Ohrringe. Und noch einige andere Dinge, die ich nicht zeigen kann (Weihnachten naht...!).

Ich wünsche allen einen schönen ersten Advent!

Das Statement zum Wochenende

2010-11-20T04:10:00.000-08:00

Gestern abend sprang mein Sohn plötzlich vom Sofa auf und sprintete Richtung Gästebad, während eine Fontäne Erbrochenes aus seinem Mund schoß und sich gleichmäßig über das frisch gewischte Parkett, die Seitenwand eines Bücherregals, ein Paar Schuhe, die Wand des Gästebads und das Gäste-WC ergoß.
Würde es Weitkotzwettbewerbe geben - mein Sohn wäre ganz weit vorne! Aber da spricht vielleicht auch nur der Mutterstolz aus mir.
Obwohl ich wahrlich keine überbehütende Glucke bin, hab ich ihn seitdem wohl etwas zu oft gefragt, wie es ihm geht, denn als ich mir heute morgen ein heißes Bad gönnte und ihn, als er kurz zu mir kam, wieder fragte, wie es ihm denn jetzt ginge, drehte er sich wortlos dem beschlagenen Spiegel zu und schrieb "Mir gehts gut" darauf.

Mix 'n Match

2010-11-14T05:14:00.001-08:00

Die Kette auf dem Bild besteht eigentlich aus zwei Armbändern mit kleinen Wechselanhängern, die eine sehr, sehr liebe Kundin gerade bei mir gekauft hat.
Ich fand, dass sie noch einen größeren Anhänger dazu braucht, damit sie die beiden Armbänder zusammen besser als vollwertige Kette tragen kann. Et voilà!

Die Armbänder sind Teil dieses Sets:

Leider bekomme ich zur Zeit mit meiner geliebten Kamera nur unscharfe Fotos hin, und ich finde einfach nicht heraus, woran es liegt...!

2010-11-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hui,

gerade habe ich mir selbst ein kleines Geschenk gemacht!
Bei uns verschwinden auf wundersame Weise immer wieder Müsli- und Milchkaffeeschalen...und tauchen...ich gestehe...meist irgendwo in meinem Bastelchaos wieder auf, um dann gleich wieder in demselben zu verschwinden... weil ich mal wieder gerade kein anderes Gefäß gefunden habe, um irgendwelche Kleinteile "kurz" aufzubewahren... ähem...!
In unserem Geschirrschrank jedenfalls befindet sich momentan tatsächlich keine einzige Schale in dieser Größe :D
Und das, wo ich doch Milchkaffeesüchtig bin!!
Als ich eben auf die schönen Kaffeeschalen stieß, die Laura Strasser (www.laura-strasser.de) in limitierter Auflage für Kahla entworfen hat, habe ich keine Sekunde lang überlegt und sie mir (auf www.ilmgold.de) gegönnt.
Künftig werden mir Artischigel (siehe Foto), Fenchelente, Zeebrär oder Flugfisch beim Kaffeetrinken Gesellschaft leisten... oder sie werden die zweifelhafte Ehre haben, "mal eben kurz" eines meiner unfertigen Werke zu beherbergen... ;)

Rosa Zuckerwatte und was mir heute dazu eingefallen ist

2010-11-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

Mit ein paar Freunden zusammen, die ich vom Schreiben her kenne (ja, ich habe auch noch andere Hobbies...), habe ich ein Spiel: zum ersten Wochenende eines jeden Monats verteilen wir Worte oder Begriffe untereinander, um die wir dann jeweils einen kleinen Text basteln müssen - und die in dem Text die Hauptrolle spielen sollen.
Einer fängt an und denkt sich irgendein Wort aus. Heute war es "Opernglas". Dieses Wort schickt er zum Nächsten, der es dann verwenden muß - und der an wiederum seinen Nächsten ein Wort schickt, das ihm zu seinem eigenen Begriff einfällt. Das war in diesem Fall "Ballerina". Diesmal war ich als Dritte dran. Meiner Vorgängerin, die ja Ballerina in ihrem Text verwenden muß, war "rosa Zuckerwatte" eingefallen. Das ist also für diesen Monat mein Begriff.
Was mir zuerst zu "rosa Zuckerwatte" einfiel, war kein Text, sondern diese hohlen, rosa Glasperlen, die ich vor Ewigkeiten unter dem Namen "Cotton Candy" gekauft habe, ohne eine Idee zu haben, was ich damit anfangen sollte.
Mein Mann ist den ganzen Tag über beruflich in Berlin und meine Kinder sind beide bei Geburtstagsfeiern eingeladen. Ein idealer Tag also, um sich dieser verwaisten Perlen anzunehmen. Ich habe sie mit Messingdraht, Kupferblech, Granat und Rocailles kombiniert und Ohrringe daraus gemacht.
Dann habe ich mindestens eine Stunde lang versucht, draußen in der Natur schöne Fotos von ihnen hinzubekommen. Die Sonne schien, es war windstill, und da die Ohrringe mich an Hagebutten erinnern, hatte ich die Idee, sie für die Fotos an Zweige zu hängen. Es ist nicht ein einziges brauchbares Foto dabei herausgekommen. Keine Ahnung, woran es lag.
So bin allerdings ich zu einem herrlichen Herbbstspaziergang gekommen, und das ist schließlich ebenfalls was Feines!

Mach ich mir die Welt...

2010-11-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

...wiedewiedewie sie mir gefällt :D

Während andere sich langsam auf den Winter einstellen, habe ich heute eine Blümchenkette fertiggestellt und damit ein paar Restsonnenstrahlen eingefangen.
Die große Blüte (mit Blütenblättern aus Luftballonresten) war zwar schon im Sommer fertig, doch dann hatte ich immer irgendwas Wichtigeres zu tun, weshalb ich mir erst jetzt eine Kette dafür gemacht habe.

Diese Kette hat einen Toggle-Verschluß aus Perlmutt und Kupfer.
Das ist eher ungewöhnlich für mich. Meist nehme ich für meine Ketten schnöde Karabinerhaken - nicht, weil mir beim Verschluß die Lust oder die Fantasie ausgehen würde, sondern weil ich den Gedanken schön finde, dass meine Ketten mit möglichst vielen anderen Ketten und Armbändern zusammenschließbar sind.
Ich mag diesen Mix, trage gerne völlig verschiedene Ketten zusammen, indem ich z.B. zwei kurze Ketten zu einer langen zusammenschließe. Die Ketten können dabei aus unterschiedlichen Materialien sein und haben sowieso immer unterschiedliche Designs. So kann ich erstens sehr leicht die Länge variieren, und zweitens sieht das meist sehr spannend aus.
Da diese Kette für mich selbst bestimmt ist und ich natürlich "Toggle-Adapter" in verschiedenen Größen besitze (eine Seite Ring bzw. Steg, andere Seite Karabiner bzw. Oese), habe ich einen Toggle-Verschluß für diese Kette gemacht. War auch mal wieder schön!

Amy herself

2010-11-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

Ach, aber weil sie, bevor sie vielleicht tatsächlich ganz verfällt, sooo großartige Momente hat, ist sie hier noch mal perönlich - und in Bestform. Ich liebe auch ihre Background-Sänger/-Tänzer!

2010-11-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

Manchen macht Phil Hansen zu viel Show. Mir eigentlich auch.
Generell mag ich einfach eher die Leiseren. Bin selbst leise - und bemühe mich - mit mäßigem Erfolg - sehr, etwas lauter zu werden. Aber gleich SO laut?!
Dass jemand sich selbst und seine Kunst dermaßen vor der Kamera inszeniert und produziert, ist mir fremd.
UNSERIÖS, wie manche sagen, finde ich das jedoch ganz und gar nicht! Es ist ja weit mehr als Show! An erster Stelle steht großartige, tiefsinnige, ernstzunehmende Kunst. Die Show ist Mittel zum Zweck.
Phil Hansen fügt seiner Kunst einige Dimensionen hinzu, öffnet Grenzen - und ich finde, davon kann die Kunst im Allgemeinen auf jeden Fall sehr profitieren.
Hansens Amy Winehouse liebe ich besonders, weil der rasante Verfall des Kunstwerks ebenso logisch ist wie es der der echten Amy zu sein scheint. Wir sehen sie vergehen.

Weihnachten naht!

2010-11-03T00:30:00.000-07:00

Gerade habe ich gesehen, dass das neue Online Magazin von Amy Powers/inspire co (inspireco.blogspot.com) da ist! Natürlich geht es um alles rund um Weihnachten. Kränze, Christbaumschmuck, Girlanden, kleine Deko-Objekte, ein Kuchen, eine Kette... und so viel mehr! Mein Favorit ist ein traumhafter Cake Topper, den ich mir allerdings nicht auf den Kuchen setzen, sondern einfach irgendwo hin stellen oder hängen würde.
Es sind so viele tolle Ideen und Anregungen darin - und die teilweise sehr pastelligen Farben muß man ja nicht übernehmen, wenn man es - wie ich - farblich etwas zurückhaltender mag!
Ich kann dieses Heft jedem wärmstens empfehlen, der gerne bastelt! Da fast alles sehr, sehr leicht nachzubasteln ist und man viele der Zutaten oft sowieso schon irgendwo zuhause hat, muß man wahrlich kein Bastelcrack sein, um Spaß an den Anregungen zu haben.
Vielen, vielen Dank und...schlaf schön, Amy ;)

Geschwisterkampf :)

2010-10-31T08:38:00.000-07:00

Als unsere Große die neue Kette ihres Bruders gesehen hat, wollte sie natürlich ebenfalls sofort so einen Anhänger haben. Ganz Mädchen, hat sie ein Herzchen in ihren Stempel gearbeitet und sich für den fertigen Anhänger noch einen kleinen Glitzerstein ausgesucht.

Das Geheimnis des Glücks...

2010-10-30T04:19:00.000-07:00

...ist die Freiheit, aber deren Geheimnis ist der Mut.

- Perikles, geb. nach 500, gest. 429 v. Chr., athenischer Staatsmann -

Oh, boy!

2010-10-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

In den Herbstferien hat der Freund unseres Sohnes (unser Sohn ist 9, sein Freund Vincent 8) für ein paar Tage bei uns geschlafen, und da hat er gesehen, wie ich Stempel gemacht habe. Das wollte er auch. Also habe ich den beiden gezeigt, wie sie ihre eigenen Namensstempel herstellen konnten. Sie waren auch wirklich mit Eifer dabei. Es hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht und vor allem nicht zu lange gedauert - denn die Geduld der Jungs in diesem Alter ist, was das Basteln angeht, ja recht begrenzt ;)
In einem unbeobachteten Moment habe ich mir die Stempel später noch mal geschnappt und heimlich ein Stück Kupfer damit bestempelt.
Heute bin ich endlich mal dazu gekommen, es zu ätzen und dann zwei Kettenanhänger daraus zu machen. Die habe ich an Lederbänder gehängt, ganz einfach, wie es sich für echte Kerle gehört. Mein Sohn fand das "richtig cool", und beide haben sich sehr darüber gefreut! Jetzt haben sie echte Unikate. Ihre eigenen, selbst erstellten Stempelabdrücke am Lederband!
Cool!
;)

Jetzt stimmt's

2010-10-26T02:19:00.000-07:00

Meinen ersten, leicht mißglückten (aber, wie ich finde, trotzdem sehr liebenswerten) Spirit Guide hatte ich ja schon gezeigt - und geschrieben, dass ich es noch mal versuchen würde.
Nach einer durchperlten Nacht ist es nun vollbracht. Juchhuuu!
Diesmal habe ich es der Dupion-Seide nicht gestattet, die Größe und Form zu bestimmen, sondern es ist mir gelungen, das selbst zu übernehmen. Learning by doing. Jetzt sind die Proportionen so, wie ich es mir vorgestellt hatte. Sowohl was Gesicht und Körper, als auch was Anhänger und Kette betrifft. Jetzt bin ich happy!

Der neue Anhänger ziert nun die Kette, und der große Bruder wird wahrscheinlich einen Platz an der Wand über meinem "Altar" im Eßzimmer finden. Dort trage ich alles zusammen, was ich inspirierend finde. Und an die Wand paßt er mit seiner Größe viel besser.

Of Towers and Turrets

2010-10-24T23:39:00.001-07:00

Die Herbstferien waren ereignisreich, wunderschön, anstrengend und viel zu kurz!
Andererseits ist es auch gut, dass hier wieder etwas Alltag einkehrt.
Wie schon kurz erwähnt, gönne ich mir zur Zeit den Online-Workshop "Of Towers and Turrets" von Sharon Tomlinson (All Norah's Art) und Deryn Mentock. Er hatte mich gereizt, seitdem ich zum ersten Mal die Ankündigung gesehen hatte, und dann habe ich doch sehr lange gezögert, weil es dort für mich in dem Sinne eigentlich nichts Neues zu lernen gibt. Bezels löten und mit Ice Resin füllen... streckenweise mache ich schließlich kaum etwas anderes...!

(Was hier auf dem Bild auf den ersten Blick etwas aussieht wie eine zu große Nase, ist Medium, das ich nicht schön verstrichen habe)

Was die Collagen angeht, so bin ich mit den Techniken in ihren Grundzügen so weit vertraut, dass ich es für mich als ausreichend empfinde.
Beim Malen fehlt es mir an allen Ecken und Enden an Vertiefung, und die kann so ein vielfältiger Online-Workshop wie dieser natürlich eigentlich nicht leisten. Da müßte ich einen spezielleren Workshop belegen.
Andererseits ist das Metall meine große Liebe und mein Mittel der Wahl, wenn ich mich ausdrücken möchte, und weniger das Papier...! Ich WÜRDE also sehr wahrscheinlich keinen speziellen Malkurs belegen.
Wobei... seit Towers and Turrets liebäugele ich etwas mit Sharon's "Faces"...

Ich hab mich dann also doch dazu entschlossen, an Towers and Turrets teilzunehmen, weil es mich im Ganzen einfach zu sehr gereizt hat - und das war eine der besten Entscheidungen, die ich seit langer Zeit getroffen habe!
Es ist so wunderbar, zuerst sehr viel Mühe und Zeit auf ein komplettes "Kunstwerk" zu verwenden und dann Ausschnitte daraus in dem Schmuckstück zur Geltung kommen zu lassen! Das habe ich vorher noch nie so gemacht. Natürlich habe ich schon große Collagen erstellt, nur ist daraus dann nie Schmuck geworden (warum eigentlich? - das kann sich noch ändern...!).
Und ich habe auch schon Collagen erstellt, extra um daraus ein Schmuckstück entstehen zu lassen. Doch diese Collagen waren eben immer auch nur in etwa so groß wie das spätere Schmuckstück - und von vornherein für dieses Schmuckstück bestimmt.

Nun sitze ich mit Acrylfarben vor einem großen Blatt und male und klebe stundenlang vor mich hin, ohne eine Ahnung zu haben, was ich später in meinem Schmuckstück verwenden will. Das spätere Schmuckstück habe ich beim Malen noch gar nicht wirklich im Kopf. Da ich in meiner Freizeit kaum etwas anderes denken kann als Schmuck, Schmuck, Schmuck, ist das für mich sehr entspannend und öffnet ganz neue Horizonte! Ich kann nicht beschreiben, wie sehr ich es genieße - und wie sehr es mich auch in jeder Hinsich voranbringt!
Zur Zeit sind drei Collagen gleichzeitig im Entstehen. Immer wenn ich zwischendurch mal Zeit habe, sehe ich sie mir an und füge hier noch etwas hinzu, nehme da wieder etwas weg...!
Die neuen Collagen sind weiter von dem entfernt, was Sharon uns im Workshop vorgestellt hat. Die erste, zu sehen auf dem Bild oben, ist da noch ziemlich nah dran, was Hintergrund, Aufbau und Towers betrifft. Da mußte ich mich erst mal langsam an das Thema heran tasten, hatte sozusagen meine Stützräder noch nicht abgeworfen und war noch etwas steif.
Diesen Workshop kann ich allerwärmstens empfehlen! Er geht noch bis Ende Dezember, und für Neueinsteiger ist es noch nicht zu spät.
Es gibt ihn hier: http://allnorahsart.ning.com

See you there ;)

Glaube, Liebe, Hoffnung, diese drei...

2010-10-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

Das Bild oben zeigt eins der Originale von Cindy Chavez.

...und das ist meine Version.

In letzter Zeit habe ich hauptsächlich gemalt und gezeichnet: erstens Entwürfe in mein Skizzenbuch, zweitens male und klebe ich gerade eifrig meine "Towers and Turretts" für den wunderbaren Online-Workshop von Sharon und Deryn. Aber dazu irgendwann mehr.

Bei diesem Schmuddelwetter da draußen sehnte ich mich danach, mal wieder einfach im Sessel zu sitzen und selbstvergessen vor mich hin zu perlen. Als ich das Tutorial von Cindy Chavez auf craftedu.com für diesen Spirit Guide sah, hab ich daher nicht lange überlegt.
Ich mag die Art, wie bei craftedu gelehrt wird: per Video, mit einer druckbaren Anleitung als Begleitung. So kann man zuerst das Video schauen (ein Jahr lang, höchstens 12mal - aber das reicht dicke!!!) und dann ganz bequem der Anleitung auf Papier folgen. Da bleiben eigentlich keine Fragen offen.

Wer mich kennt, weiß: ich habe zwar einen tiefen Glauben, bin aber überhaupt nicht gläubig im CHRISTLICHEN Sinne. "Glaube, Liebe, Hoffnung" in dieser Kombination und Reihenfolge sind natürlich sehr christlich. Tja. Es hat mich selbst gewundert. Während ich diesen Anhänger machte, sagte er ständig zu mir: "Glaube, Liebe, Hoffnung, diese drei". Und, auch wenn ich nicht christlich bin: dies widerspricht meinem Glauben natürlich nicht. Im Gegenteil! So hab ich meinem Spirit Guide (ein Spirit Guide ist ja ebenfalls nicht gerade christlich...!) diese Worte zur Seite gestellt. Man kann wirklich sagen, er wollte es so.
Der Körper des Spirit Guides ist mir beim Bearbeiten länger und breiter geraten als auf der ursprünglichen Zeichnung. Da ich den Kopf aus Polymer Clay, den ich extra dafür gemacht habe, von der Größe her jedoch der Zeichnung angepaßt hatte, stimmen die Proportionen jetzt nicht mehr ganz. Ich werde ganz sicher noch weitere Spirit Guides machen (Suchtgefahr!!!) und dabei versuchen, die Proportionen besser hinzukriegen. Andererseits stört es mich gar nicht wirklich. Ich bin sehr zufrieden damit, wie mein erster Spirit Guide geworden ist!!!

... und mein Frame

2010-10-12T05:59:00.001-07:00