Yeah Graduation!!

I'm graduating!!!

Actually, the school is celebrating our graduation with a fake ceremony because we're not done school until August.  But that's just getting technical.

I'm graduating!!  The department is also having a luncheon for all of us and our families the day before graduation.  I made a new dress to wear and of course a new necklace!  When I was picking out the material for the dress, I wanted something plain so I could make a fantastic necklace.  I was thinking a solid teal or aqua but I saw this fabric and there was no other option.  I think the necklace is pretty great anyway!

 This fabric just called to me and I had to get it.  The pattern is very big and has many shades of raspberry and pink.  I chose a light pinky-peach bead to pick up on the lighter colors in the fabric, like the swirl in the bottom right corner of the second picture.

 Here is a close up of the necklace.

 

A close up of the toggle clasp.  I'm not usually into flowers, but this season I've used a lot of flowers in my designs.  I put the toggle on the side of the necklace- I'm also into asymmetry right now!

This isn't the greatest picture, I struggled to position the camera to get the whole necklace in the shot, but I think it gives you a pretty good idea of what I'll be wearing.

Congrats DPT Class 2011!

Twisted Wire Rings

Last week I was playing with wire and some beads and I came with these rings. Now, I can't stop making them! I like how it showcases several beads and the wire is still a focal part as well.

The big bead is blue onyx and the small ones are glass- they remind me of disco balls!

These are all glass

The oval bead is amethyst and it is surrounded by glass beads of a brighter hue

I like combining different colors and shapes and using different sizes of wire to alter the effect.  These will soon be listed on my Etsy shop.  I would love to make you a custom ring in the colors of your choice.  What colors would you like to see??

On the Way to Cape May

Today is the day!  Today my husband and I are leaving to spend the long weekend in Cape May.  I made this treasury with wonderful items from my Marketing in Minutes team members.

These items remind me of sitting on the porch with a steaming mug of coffee to watch an early morning sunrise, collecting sea shells from the grainy sand, and patriotic BBQs under a spread of stars...ah, summer!



What are you doing for Memorial Day?

Polymer Clay

Yesterday, with the help of my brother (Hi Joe!!), I had a polymer clay extravaganza!  We cleared off the kitchen table, pulled out the pasta roller, and got to work.  I'm always amazed at how much you can make from a block of polymer clay.  We used a half block of 4 different colors (fuchsia, purple, yellow, and glow in the dark) and here is a sampling of our creations.

A collection of the colorful beads we made, pre-hole making and pre-finishing touches (they aren't exactly round!)

Poking a hole in a yellow rose

A tie-dye rose made from the extra from the beads

A collection of roses!  My brother made the fuchsia one in the middle, it's fantastic!

 I modeled the roses after the cinnabar beads in my red rose ring and I'm very happy with the results!




I'm not sure what to learn to make with polymer clay next.  Any suggestions??

Spring Blossoms Contest

Prayers on a Wire team on Etsy is hosting a Spring Blossoms Contest.  There are several gorgeous pieces of jewelry and rosaries to choose from, including my flower pendant necklace.  Click to see the contest entries and take 3 seconds to vote.  (Really, it will take about 3 seconds- you do not have to register or anything, just click the bubble of the creation you like and hit "submit").

Here is a picture of my necklace that is entered.

The flowers are vintage lucite, which was popular during WWII as women turned in metal jewelry to support the war effort.  Tiny Swarovski crystals glint in the center of each flower and peak out of the bouquet.  The cluster of flowers dangles from a sterling silver chain and has a dainty sterling toggle in the back.

Scarlet Fever

Red is powerful and passionate and the cherry, scarlet, and ruby items in this treasury were made by my team members on Make My Etsy Techy team.




Aren't they creative?

Getting ready to create

I wasn't able to do the sewing and beading I was expecting today, but I am set for tomorrow!  I am planning on a crafting bonanza!  Here is a taste of what my apartment will probably look like...

I sit some where in the center of that chaos!  I like to work on the floor because there is lots and lots of space.  When I work on my desk, I just run out of room and wind up putting things on the floor anyway.  Note the iced coffee glass in the bottom corner- that's my current favorite drink!  I've been keeping a pot of coffee in the fridge constantly.  Look for new listings soon!

Interchangeable Medical Alert Bracelets

You know those bracelets that people wear in case of emergency that have vital health information?  Maybe serious allergies or a chronic disease?   While vital, I often hear women and girls say that they don't like to wear them because they aren't attractive. 

I made several pretty, colorful bracelets that are made to easily clip on and off of the medical tag to replace the generic bulky chain that the tags come from.  If you visit my Etsy store you can see all the details and many more pictures, but here is a sample.  And like most of my jewelry and rosaries, I can custom make these in your favorite color or to match an outfit! 

Lovely Blog Award

A big thanks to Diane of Always Crave Cute for this award.  Thanks for thinking of me!

 
After receiving the award, you are to share 7 things about yourself and then pass the award on to 15 other blogs.  So, here are my 7 facts.

1.  This fall I am moving to south Jersey.  Currently my husband and I live north of Philadelphia, but I have a job lined up that I think I will really like.  I am excited to start looking for apartments and cannot wait to move out of the tiny one we live in now.  Why do the building managers think it's ok to turn off our water for a whole day without telling us in advance??
2.  When we move I want to teach jewelry making classes.  It would be fun to go to people's houses and share my passion with them.  I have been brainstorming about this and I think I have some great ideas.
3.  My favorite color is orange because it is bright, happy, and cheerful.  I'm currently looking around my living room and I am seeing quite a lot of orange- my school bag, jacket, a laundry basket, giant coffee mugs...(bonus fact: I indulge in daily coffee...yum!)
4.  Crafting has always been a part of my life.  When I was very young, my mom and I would do arts and crafts on the patio while my baby brother took his afternoon nap.  What good memories!
5.  I also have wonderful memories of sitting next to my Great-Grandmother while she taught me how to crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch, and hook rug.  There is a picture of her holding me as a baby and I have a huge, cheesy smile on my face.
6.  I dream about having a house with a crafting studio and enough room to accommodate my sewing machine and all my beading supplies.  It would be great to have room for a toaster oven so I can experiment more with polymer clay and become more efficient.  I want to have several happy, healthy children who run around outside and play imaginary games.  I wouldn't say no to a hammock where I can watch them play either.  I would love to have a large garden so I can grow vegetables to make healthy and delicious meals for my family.  I'm not complaining about my life now though, I am very thankful for all the Lord has blessed me with.  I just like to day dream!
7.  I am very proud of my husband.  He works extremely hard at a job he is very good at, although he does not enjoy it.  I appreciate that he does that to support us while I am in school and not able to work much.  I pray that when we move he is able to find a job he likes more and that is more rewarding for him.  He has aspirations to become an entrepreneur, and I am excited to see where life leads us!

And now, a drum roll for the blogs I'm passing this award onto....

Frozen Sunshine 

Sweet will be the Flower 

Kelly's Pantry

Clay Beaute

Secondary Creations

Colorful Artisan Jewelry

Krissyanne Designs

Sea Shells by Sea Shore

Stephie's Treasure Trove

Pieces of Pisces

Plastic Rooster

Facebook Page

I finally made a Facebook fan page!  This is something I've wanted to do for a while, and today I finally sat down and made one.  I made a couple albums so far- there will be more to come!  Please take a moment to visit my page and "like" it!

I would also like to thank Diane from CraveCute for passing the One Lovely Blog Award to me.  That means that my next post will be 7 things about me and the 15 blogs I am giving the award to.