Jewelry Making Morning

It has been a tough few days for our family. My husband's father has been on a respirator and not seeming to get much better. Friday our oldest dog had a seizure and when we took him to the vets he was diagnosed with lymphoma and it had spread throughout his body. We were able to get him on steroids and to buy some time so the girls each could have some time to say goodbye. Add on top of that youngest child was off to Israel and hubby was having to drive to NYC with her.
So the dogs had me up early today and I was not teaching Hebrew school so I had a few hours to myself.
I got out my beading supplies and with no pre-set ideas started to work on some projects.
As you will see there is really no rhyme or reason no theme, just using some of my stash to bring some joy and light into my house and into my soul.

 The hearts are made at the Corning Glass Museum they are normally $20 per class to make one heart, I was lucky at the annual Studio Sale I got them for much less. I usually make very symmetrical necklaces so I enjoyed doing different chain on each side.

The next piece is for Valetines day and is made up of Art-i-cake pendant and head pins. Added crystals and beads to the head pins I love how the queenbee seems to be flying off the flower.

The next pieces is an ICE RESIN bezel with small cut out hearts and an embedded key. It was place on a dark metal chain. It was a fun project I did with 3 girlfriends and my first time using resin I am quite pleased with it.

 This is a sterling silver and stone pendant I had first made years ago with wire wrapping I did not like how the metal had tarnished and did not wear it much. I cut it all apart add some wonderful barrel stones, the ceramic beads are also from the Corning Glass Museum studio sale. I put the clasp on the side it is a large leaf and added some playful metal bird beads. I am thrilled with the piece and know I will start wearing it again.

This is a iolite and peart pendant I have had for years it was special and I was not ready to put it together. Iolite is tricky as it seems blue one moment and purple the next. I got hold of some really nice barrell pearls and decided to just match the white pears and clear crystals. I used 3 sizes of graduated pearls. I just love how it turned out very elegant and one I will keep for years and years to come.

Snow People of Hector

The large snow woman was an ugly $1 doll from the Bargain Bin in Montour Falls. Working in Gail Walker's Studio I deconstructed the jacket and scarf- added a ruffle,  4 Jewish stars free embroidered on the sewing machine to make the scarf into a tallit. I made a flower rosette for the cap-the stamens were re-purposed from the beads that had been her smile. She was missing her nose hence the $1 price tag- so Gail whittled one for me and colored and covered it in orange glitter. Her jacket button is an old military button with an eagle and an anchor.

The three snowmen are made of Crayola paper clay seed beads for eyes and mouth. They sport brass military buttons with eagles. The large one we made a striped stocking hat with a pipe cleaner center so the stocking cap can be positioned. Base was a re-purposed plaque we removed the wire hanger. The bottom of the snowman has heavy glitter and it was added to the base as well. 

The last snowman although the tiniest took the most time to make. He is in a handmade wired cage the base has book print paper and black glitter around the outside. The body is paper clay with pipe cleaner arms and legs, the scarf is wrapping string. His hat is hand made with paper cone fastened with a jewish bard, then glittered. The small tree was mod-podged and glittered. It is amazing the smaller one took as much time as making two of the big snowman.

Wednesday Wild Women of Hector

Gail and I had art play last night. We both worked on seperate projects.
My goal was to cover some very ugly large plastic dreidels with tissue paper paper mache and then glitter them all over.
Gail was working on her snowman and made a black stove top hat with wiring in the brim so she could shape it. We figured out the front of the snow woman Gail had found some wonderful trim in black cord with pearls down the middle and after her snow woman's bariatric surgery she needed a whole new outfit!
The removed skin and stuffing made a small snow person...so was it bariatric surgery or did she just deliver a baby......
Hopefully Gail will post some finished product pictures of the snow people!

Review: We tried Lucy's gluten free pumpkin cookies.....not good no taste, seriously do not buy these. They printed on the box "little spice so the pumpkin taste can come through". Sorry I do not want to eat straight pumpkin I like mine with spice-make me feel like I am having a slice of pumpkin pie......