Wedding and the Honeymoon

Well, it's final...I am married and enjoying our honeymoon in Costa Rica!  The wedding was perfect, and I will have tons of photos to share soon!  We are relaxing in Costa Rica right now.  I never had time to post on my blog, so I thought I would write a quick post and say "hi!".  I have not had any time to catch up on my blog reading, but I look forward to seeing what everyone is up to.  Hope all is well in blog land...I'll be back soon!

Husband and wife!

You didn't think we would leave Cooper at home, did you?

Sipping Blue Hawaiians in the pool at the resort in Costa Rica

Hope everyone is doing great, and I will have more to post soon!!

 

Check Out the Gardanne Beads Giveaway!!

Anne of Gardanne Beads is having an amazing giveaway on her blog!  She is giving away a whole set of her gorgeous lampwork glass beads.  Just look at these beauties!

I love the color combination of turquoise and red!  All you have to do to be entered is leave a comment on her blog here.  She will draw the winning name on Wednesday, November 4th.  And if you happen to win them, you could give them to me for my birthday 3 days later :)  Ha, ha...just kidding!  So, go check it out!!

Happy Halloween!!

I think today is an appropriate day to share some Halloween costume photos!!  Here are some photos from the Ghostly Ghecko 5K race last weekend:

In case you couldn't figure it out...Cooper is a deadly shark, and Mark and I are shark attack survivors...

We forgot to apply the fake blood to Mark's shirt before this was taken, so it's not as gory as it ended up being :)

Blurry, but that's me running the race, getting beat by a whoopee cushion...

Closeup of "Jaws" with a severed hand...we never figured out who it had belonged to...

I ended up placing 3rd in my age group for the race, and we won the costume contest!  A very fun evening indeed!

Next up, I ran another race in costume yesterday evening, the Pumpkins in the Park 5K.  Usually dogs are not allowed to run the races, but I asked the race director if Cooper could run it with me since we were both in costume, and she allowed it.  My time was significantly slower (and I didn't place) mainly because we had to start at the end of the crowd, and it was very difficult to manuever around everyone with Cooper, but we had a BLAST running it!  Everyone cheered us, and when we sprinted to the finish line the crowd was roaring with applause for us!  It was quite a fun experience.  We were a little bummed that the costume contest was only for kids, but the prize was only a bag of candy, and Cooper shouldn't have sweets anyways :)

Supergirl and Superdog ready to go to the race and save the world...

Posing before the race

I wuv my Superdog

Another blurry photo during the race

Sweaty, tired and panting after the race...notice my boot covers did not stay up...

Lastly, after all the race excitement, we went home, showered and got dressed up for a Halloween street party!  In downtown Melbourne, there is a huge Halloween street party called Meg-O-ween that is held every year.  We love to go, dress up and see all the cool costumes.  This year, none of our friends were able to attend, so we did not stay as long as usual, but we got a chance to see some neat costumes!  Here are some highlights:

I went as the Queen of Hearts...I can't tell you how bad my feet hurt from those shoes!  What some of us do for fashion.

Mark likes to come up with his own costume, so this year he decided to be a blood donor who gave too much blood...7 pints to be exact.  The beer went right to his head...

This was my favorite costume!  I'm not sure if she was a little person or in wheelchair, but either way it is an incredibly creative costume!

This was Mark's favorite - Ghostbusters with intricate backpacks with flashing lights and all sorts of cool stuff on them...the guy who is the second from the left made all their costumes!

Closeup of one of the backpacks...

So, that's all the dressing up for us this year!  I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween and gets plenty of TREATS, but no TRICKS!!

Another Jewerly Tutorial :)

I have had the necklace for this next tutorial done for several days now, but it has taken longer to get the tutorial up than I expected.  It didn't help that my photos were taken when it was dark outside (and without the help of my lightbox), so they did not come out very well.  Needless to say, it took me forever to edit them in Photoshop so they looked decent.  So I apologize for the poor quality photos! 

When I received my pendant from Shaterra Clay Studio as part of the Totally Tutorials Exchange Program, I immediately thought of some hand dyed yarn that I had received from LLYYNN back when we did the Count Your Blessings charm swap (read about it here).  It matches the colors in the pendant perfectly.  However, I realized that I did not have any beads in my stash that matched very well.  Fortunately I was browsing in the Etsy shop of Gardanne Glass Lampwork Beads (one of my favorite pastimes!) and came across some glass beads that I thought would go with the pendant nicely.  It was also a good excuse to do some bead shopping!

  Pendant and hand dyed yarn

I struggled a bit with the design of this necklace, and actually started over twice.  I thought I would still show you my first 2 attempts so you could get an idea of how the design process works, or in this case, doesn't work!  My first idea was to weave the yarn through the brass chain.  It did not end up looking as good as it had in my mind.

My next idea was to attach little brass flower bead caps to the chain.  Although I thought this looked cute, I didn't like how some of the backsides were visible, and I couldn't get them to all face front.  By this time, I started to grow a bit frustrated.  I decided to just start with the pendant.

I started by looping a length of brass wire through the pendant and wrapping the loose wire end around.

I strung a lepidolite rondelle on the wire

then I made a loop and...

...hooked the loop around a brass ring

I finished by wrapping the loose end of wire around the bottom of the loop

Next I attached some brass chain that I purchased from Michaels craft store.  The chain links opened, so I attached the chain directly to the ring, however, if you are using closed link chain, then you can simply use jumprings to attach the chain.

I decided to attach two equal lengths of chain side-by-side

I then attached the ends of the chain to a second brass ring

I decided to use the yarn by itself, so I cut several equal lengths of it

then I threaded the yarn pieces through the brass ring and

looped it around the ring and wrapped a small length of brass wire around it to secure it

I continued to wrap the length of the wire around the yarn (making sure to push in the ends of wire with needle nose pliers so they did not stick out), then trimmed the loose short ends of yarn.

I attached the other end of the yarn pieces to another brass ring in the same way as above

I wire wrapped a purplish glass bead from Gardanne Beads with brass wire (for more detailed instructions on wire wrapping beads, see my previous tutorial post here)

I wire wrapped a second purple bead

I wire wrapped three small yellow faceted Czech glass beads

Then added a lime green Gardanne Beads glass bead

And another...

Then I attached a hook clasp that I formed with round nose pliers out of a piece of 20 gauge brass wire and hammered flat.

This hook clasp will hook onto the ring that the pendant hangs from

And....FINISHED!!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and I apologize that it took so long for me to post!  I still have Halloween costume photos and goodies I got in the mail that I want to share, but, alas, I don't have as much spare time to blog these days! 

I hope everyone is having a great week, and I'll try to blog again soon!!

Job, wedding, giveaway, etc, etc...

Well, my new job is going well so far!  Everyone I've met has been super nice.  Naturally, I feel a little overwhelmed, but I know that is normal when you start a new job.  At least I only had to work 3 days this week...if it had been 5 days, it would have been rough!  Especially with the wedding 22 days away!!  These last 2 days I have been trying to get as much as possible done for the wedding while I have the time.  Added to that, I have been planning Halloween costumes for me, Cooper and Mark because I am running a race tomorrow evening (Mark and Cooper are volunteering at it) and again next Saturday evening in costume.  It should be interesting considering my costume is 100% polyester, and it is supposed to be in the low 80's for the race!  I was sweating just trying it on today in the AC!  Of course, I will post photos for you ASAP!  If I win the costume contest, the prize is a new pair of running shoes, which I need, lol.  

I also wanted to mention that Cindy of Sweet Bead Studio is having an AMAZING giveaway!  She is celebrating the release of Easy Wire 2009, in which several of her jewelry pieces are featured.  This is a really cool special issue on wire jewelry projects that is published once a year.  One of Cindy's bracelets is even featured on the cover!  Congrats Cindy!!

   
I can't wait to get my issue!  If you would like to enter Cindy's giveaway for either the Grand Prize of:

-A copy of Easy Wire 2009

-36 piece 1/8″ Letter and Number stamp set

-Eurotool metal punch

-110 piece copper washer set

-Sheet metal: copper and nickel silver

-18 gauge pure copper wire, 10 yard spool

Or an additional prize of an issue of Easy Wire 2009...then just leave a comment on her blog by October 27th for one entry and if you would like a second entry, blog about it and help spread the word.  I, for one, would love that Grand prize...but I would also be happy with a free issue of Easy Wire 2009 :) 

Well, I need to get back to the necklace tutorial I've been working on...it's not going very well!  I've torn my design apart twice because I wasn't happy with it.  It is very frustrating...I think I have so much going on right now that it is blocking my creative juices!  Maybe this blogging break will help...hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!!

My First Jewelry Tutorial!

I had the opportunity recently to participate in Totally Tutorials Exchange Program.  The way the program works is someone who makes and or sells supplies offers a selection of free supplies to people willing to create a tutorial using the items and then post it online.  I was selected by Angie of Supply Pusher who sells jewelry supplies on Etsy.  She offered several different sets of supplies to choose from, and this is the one I chose because I was immediately drawn to the coins and button:

I have been feeling a pull in my jewerly designs towards using more vintage-like components in my jewelry lately, and I've really been inspired by all the talented mixed media jewelry designers out there.  I have been reading books like Semiprecious Salvage, A Charming Exchange, Making Connections: A Handbook of Cold Joins for Jewelers and Mixed-Media Artists and Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine.  I have especially been enamored with Deryn Mentock's jewerly design style.  The necklace that I created was inspired by her work, specifically her Joojoo Charm Keeper necklace.  I like the idea of a "charm necklace", and this design seemed appropriate for the coins, button, etc. 

So, in exchange for the supplies, I agreed to make something with the items and post a tutorial on my blog. Simple, right? Well, anyone who knows me personally knows that I often choose to make things much more complicated than they need to be. The design I decided to use these items in is a case in point! I could (should?) have just made a simple jewelry piece, but I had a more specific design in mind when I received the supplies, and I had to follow my heart. The techniques are relatively simple, but the time I put into making the necklace was pretty significant. I had an idea of what I wanted the necklace to look like ahead of time, but I mainly designed it as I went. This happened to work well, but sometimes it can end up being a disaster! I think the more jewelry you make, the easier it gets though.   Now, without further ado, here is my LONG tutorial!  I hope you enjoy :)

To start with, I used a metal shaped component that I made out of 18 gauge oxidized sterling silver awhile ago.  I simply used round nose pliers to make the swirls on each end, then hammered the middle to flatten it a bit.

Next I added the supplied smaller brass jumprings to each swirly end of the main piece

Next I decided to jazz up one of the coins a little by gluing a Swarovski flatback rhinestone to it using E6000 glue.

I also decided to add a second hole to the other coin so I could use it in the chain part of the necklace.  I used a nifty two-hole punch that I purchased from Monsterslayer.com.

Voila!  An easy way to punch holes in metal

I tend to prefer the look of oxidized sterling silver, so that's the type of wire I chose to use.  I also prefer to oxidize my spool of sterling wire before I make jewerly, but you could also wait until the design is made and then oxidize the whole piece.  I used 22 gauge wire.  I started by forming a loop a little more than an inch down from the end of the wire. 

I put the main metal piece through the loop in the wire, then wrapped the loose end of the wire around the wire under the loop several times.  This is a basic wire wrapped loop, and the rest of the necklace uses mainly this technique.

I added one of the beads I was provided between two turquoise Czech beads, then made another loop at the end of the wire with my round nose pliers.

I finished the wire wrap the same as above - by wrapping the loose end of the wire several times around the bottom of the loop.

I connected another wire wrapped loop to the first section, then added an elongated turquoise bead, then added the rhinestone embellished coin as a dangle using the technique shown above.

Here is the first complete dangle hanging from the main ring!  Now that I've showed you the basic technique, I will move along a bit quicker because it is just the same technique over and over.

I added the second dangle made up the supplied long turquoise bead sandwiched between 2 Swarovski crystals and one of my etched copper discs on the end.

I added one of my etched copper washers...

...and then wrapped some wire around one side of the ring, strung a turquoise Czech bead on, and then wrapped the wire around the other side of the ring (making sure to trim off excess wire at the end)

Like so:

Next, I took a labradorite briolette and looped a piece of wire through it, wrapping the extra wire around the top of the briolette

I took the other end of the wire and wire wrapped it around the bottom of the copper ring, wrapping the excess wire around the briolette again

I wire wrapped another dangle on consisting of two faceted labradorite rondelles, a copper spacer bead and added the supplied green stone at the end (sorry so blurry!)

Here is what it looks like so far:

Next, I added the last dangle consisting of two amazonite beads and an old button dangle

Now the main pendant part of the necklace is done!

I already had an S-shaped clasp that I had formed out of 20 gauge copper wire awhile back, so I decided it would go well with this necklace

I chose some rather large circle and oval fancy copper chain (from Micheals), and attached the S clasp to it

I attached one end on the supplied coin to the other end of the chain using a jumpring

I decided the worn button that was supplied might look good as a dangle over the coin.  I'll show the technique for this in more detail, since it is a little different and for a review.  First, string the button on a length of wire

Wrap the shorter end of the wire around the longer piece just above the button

Then loop the shorter end around the wire above the button several times.  Bend the long end of the wire at a 90 degree angle

Create a loop with round nose pliers

Hook the loop with the button onto the jumpring

And, finally, wrap the excess wire around the wire at the top of the button

Next, I wire wrapped a faceted round crystal bead to the bottom of the coin

I added a second faceted crystal bead, then wire wrapped it to the jumpring that attaches to the pendant

     

On the other jumpring, I attached a loop that I made with a piece of wire

I wrapped the shorter end of the wire below the loop, then strung the wire through a vintage turquoise button

I wrapped the excess wire around the base of the loop again

I took another one of my etched copper washers and wire wrapped a piece of wire to it

I attached the end of the wire to the other hole in the button in the same way as shown above.  This will be the ring that the clasp hooks into.

Guess what?!  We're finally done!!

Well, almost.  Next, I took some fine steel wool and sanded all the oxidized sterling wire so that only the recessed areas remain darkened.  Lastly we just need to take some quality photos of our beautiful creation!

I like to show how my necklaces look on my lovely mannequin so you have a better idea of the length and how it hangs

I did not use 2 of the rings provided because I could not seem to work them into the design, but I am sure they will be just what I'm looking for in a future desgn!  Thank you, Angie of Supply Pusher, for generously offering up your supplies!  Hopefully, even if you already know how to wire wrap, you will find this tutorial inspirational.  Make sure to check out Supply Pusher's shop, as she has tons of antique brass charms and findings, chain, beads and all sorts of cool stuff!

Next, I have this lovely ceramic pendant from Shaterra Clay Studio to create a tutorial about:

Don't worry though, it will be a much simpler design :)