ETSY TREASURY

Acid Etched Mehndi Earrings.

Thanks to Silver By Andy for adding me to her Etsy Treasury. The treasury's pieces were selected from members of a Facebook group that I belong to called Metalsmiths Unite. I'm honored to be included in such an outstanding group. Thank you Andy! If you'd like to check out the Treasury, click here.

FRIDAY PRETTIES

Lily and Miss Sophie on the Cat-io (cat patio, get it?).

For no other reason,except that they're pretty, Sophie and Lily. Happy Friday!

SUNDAY CLASS

One of the bracelets I made in Julie's class.

Red Creek Jasper beads.

The second bracelet I made in Julie's class.

Aqua Terra Jasper.

I love these and they were so fun to make.

Alice's buttons.

Pam's funky buttons.

Julie's bronze pieces .

Rose's buttons.

Last Sunday there was a special class at Bead Haven. In the morning, students made bronze buttons with me and in the afternoon they (and me too!) made these wonderful wrapped leather, stone and bronze bracelets with Julie Campbell. I'd never had a chance to take a class with Julie before and she's such a great teacher. Take a class with her if you ever get a chance. These were really easy to make once we got the hang of it. I liked it so much I've made 2 more since the class. Cindi had made kits in advance with everything that we needed including the beautiful stones and bronze buttons by yours truly! I got all of their work fired today (except for Cindi's which I'm doing right now!) and they came out great. I'm always so excited to take their work out of the kiln. I think we may offer this class again in July, so if you didn't get a chance to join us this time, I hope we see you then.

CLASSES THIS WEEK!

Julie's bracelet and my button (Sunday's class)

Tuesday's class is the ginkgo leaf. This photo is from the last time we offered the class.

Thursday's class is riveting!

This week I have 3 classes at Bead Haven in Cedar Rapids. On Tuesday, May 17th, I'll be teaching a PMC ginkgo leaf pendant with a nice, heavy-duty fine silver bale. I love this class because I love ginkgo trees (did you know that ginkgo trees have been on earth longer than most kinds of plants?)and I think it's nice to be able to make a closed bale that is made at the same time as the metal clay pendant and fired right on to the piece. No soldering needed!

On Thursday May 19th, I'm teaching a beginning riveting class. We'll use brass escutcheon pins to rivet a brass dragonfly stamping to a copper heart. We'll discuss wire gauge/drill bit sizes for ensuring a proper fit for making a secure rivet as well as metal texturing and patina of metals with flame.

On Sunday May 22nd, I'll be teaching a class on bronze clay buttons in the morning and then Julie Campbell will teach a bracelet class in the afternoon. Julie's will teach a leather and stone wrapped bracelet with a button closure like the ones that are so popular right now. The buttons that we make in the morning of course won't be ready for the afternoon class so Bead Haven will offer my bronze buttons in the kits for the class. You can use you own hand made buttons for your next bracelets, as after you make one, I'm sure you'll want to make several (I'll be staying for Julie's class because I LOVE this bracelet and can't wait to learn how to make it).

If you're interested in any of these classes please contact Bead Haven at www.beadhavenbeads.com.

MOM

My Mom's High School graduation picture.

Mom

I just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to my Mom. I miss you every day and I always will. I know you are still with us, watching over us. You are very loved.

SILVER'S DOWN!

Silver chain 2010

Photo by Jonathan D. Sabin

Friends, today would be a very good day to buy raw materials. Silver is at this moment, $35.72. This is, from all that I have read, possibly the best price that we will have for some time. I placed an order this morning that was so large that it made my hands shake. Of course, I could be wrong and it could go down! I don't think so.