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.

BUTTONS AND BRACELETS

Bracelet by Julie Campbell.

Big pile o' bronze buttons.

On May 22nd, one of my favorite people, Julie Campbell, will be teaching a cool bracelet class at Bead Haven. In the morning I'll be teaching a class on bronze buttons that can be used as the closure for the bracelet. Of course the buttons won't be finished in time for the bracelet class, so there will be bronze buttons available at the store. You'll be able to use your buttons for your next bracelet. I hope you can make it!

MONDAY HODGEPODGE

Chaco Sun pendant.

Bronze Buttons.

Pink flexshaft handpiece! It's pink!

Knew Concept Jeweler's Saw.

Well, it's Monday. I planted my tomatoes today. They are now in the basement on heated mats underneath the big fluorescent lights. I planted 48 plants, 13 different varieties. Sounds excessive doesn't it? I know. But I really like tomatoes, plus I'll give some of the plants away. Anyone want one? I usually have a big garden. This year I'll plant tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, basil (for the pesto that I freeze), patty pan squash, cucumbers, and lots of cosmos and nasturtiums. Please call me this summer if you want zucchini! I love it, but during a good year I nearly resort to leaving it in unlocked parked cars! Like last year, it's a little sad to plant my garden. It makes miss Mom and Dad even more. But, it would be even sadder to not plant it. When the the tomatoes come up in a few days I'll post some pictures as they grow.

I was in another Etsy Treasury today. It's nice when someone does that. It increases the traffic to your store which is also nice. This one's titled "The Sundance" and includes my Chaco Sun Pendant. See the treasury here. Thanks to CozzeCouture for including me.

Another thing I've been up to is making buttons. Julie, one of the two wonderful bead weaving instructors at Bead Haven is making cool stone and leather wrapped bracelets that are so hot right now and she needed some unique buttons for clasps. Think I made enough for her to choose from? I think we may soon do a shared class (buttons in the morning and bracelets in the afternoon). I think it'd be fun. I'll post photos of some of her finished bracelets as soon as I can.

Next, things I've been coveting. I totally don't need this, but how cool is the pink flexshaft handpiece. I love it! I already have this particular size handpiece, so I can't justify it, but IT"S PINK! Check it out at Rio Grande. The other thing I've been coveting is this new jeweler's say from Knew Concepts. The frame is made from aircraft aluminum making it very light weight and rigid. The reduced weight should help with fatigue, which is great since I'm having such trouble with repetitive injury to my hands right now. The rigidity should greatly reduce blade breakage. I'm a decent sawer (is that a word?) but I break a lot of blades. Not a big deal, as blades are cheap, but it's a pain to stop and replace them. Plus, it looks cool too. I must admit that I indulged myself and bought this. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but I'll let you know what I think. Check it out at Rio Grande.

ETSY TREASURY

My little bronze spider from Artlyon's treasury.

Another spider that I'm listing in my store tonight.

One of my pieces was selected for an Etsy treasury tonight. Etsy treasuries are member curated shopping galleries. A treasury features 16 of their favorite items, usually based on a theme. This list's theme is spring. Thank you to the Artlyons for including me. Take a look at the treasury here.