The Modern Miner's Daughter

Do you find that a story behind your piece of jewelry gives it a bit of mystique and intrigue, maybe sparks the imagination of the new owner?  My friend, and occasional collaborator, Heidi, is a gifted and brilliant story-teller.  She just makes the piece come alive!  Here's an example of one of her stories that she wrote about the earrings I made for her!

"The Modern Miner's Daughter"

Though she's moved to the city, her earrings remind her of her pleasant childhood growing up in the mountains.  There she spent afternoons perusing her grandfather's collection of semi-precious stones and gleaming copper retrieved from his mining days.  The earrings themselves a gift from her father, also a miner of those mountains she now misses almost as much as her dear old dad.  The turquoise echoes the azure sky, while the shiny copper reflects the pink-orange sunsets that they watched together from the front porch swing...times beautiful and carefree...just the words to describe the earrings she wears so often these days with a happy wistfulness.

I hope you were taken into another time and place with Heidi's story!  Our fictional dream is that we make jewelry together and she writes all of the descriptions for a catalog!  Thanks, Heidi, for always being an inspiration and a joy!

Simple Truths Celebration

Erin Prais-Hintz has posed another challenge, this time using our Simple Truths pendants that have burrowed into our stash and gotten way too comfortable!  Erin generously gifted me with a charming Woodsy Owl.  Who wouldn't want to keep this little face around, no doubt full of "deep thoughts"!

                                                            So sweet!

I had a name in mind and wanted to try stamped copper pieces in one of the strands.

I would have preferred smaller jump rings, but that brought the pieces too close and they overlapped.  Note for next time.  We learn with each piece, right?

I love having a supply of copper clasps, ready to use!

And now we're ready for the whole show!

"Listen to Wisdom"

I was happy to have a copper leaf from Art Beads on hand to remind us of the woodsy theme.

Here are the earrings!

These were inspired by the "Sculpted Bird Earrings" in the Spring 2012

Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine.  They're just the look I wanted!  I will

make more of this style!

Thanks, Erin, for providing the motivation to give life to our Simple Truths pendants!

I'm under huge pressure to produce jewelry for this Thursday, following last Thursday's success at the flea market.  This will be one of the best things I'm showing!

Since this post refers to wisdom, I'm including this wise advice:

" As you journey through life,

Choose your destinations well,

but do not hurry there.

You will arrive soon enough."

Please visit the other participants:

I didn't have time to figure this out, sorry it's not clear!

Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com Sharon Misuraco http://goinoffthebeadinpath.blogspot.com/ Tanya Goodwin http://pixiloo.blogspot.com Alice Peterson http://www.alice-dreaming.blogspot.com Melissa Trudinger http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com Lori Bowring Michaud http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com Rebecca Anderson http://songbeads.blogspot.com Chris White http://dzeyenrstudio.blogspot.com Cherrie Fick http://designsinthelight.com Rosanne Garvison http://fabfibers@blogspot.com Shelley Turner http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com Marlene Cupo http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com/ Mary Harding http://www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com Lola Surwillo http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com Michelle Burnett http://reverieandrevival.blogspot.com Kirsi Luostarinen http://kirsiluokorut.blogspot.com Paige Maxim http://pmaximdesigns.blogspot.com Kristen Fagan http://www.creativestash.com Cynthia Riggs http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/

Your comments are like gems and can be hoarded on my computer forever!

The Challenge of Literature

Erin Prais-Hintz invited us to join her Challenge of Literature and design some jewelry inspired by something we read  that "speaks to us personally."  Avid bedtime reader that I am, while many of you are burning the midnight designer's oil, I could surely jump in on this one!  Starting with the Nancy Drew series, I have read mainly mysteries, FBI themes, and Michael Connelly-type books.  But I also enjoy Anita Shreve-style books about people's lives and challenges, which reminded me of a character in one of those books,  (sorry, no title or author remains in my memory) a young girl, who suddenly discovered poetry, and stayed in her room for days until she had read everything available by Anne Michaels.  I was immediately inspired by the quotes from the poems that struck this girl's heart and started taking notes.  So I was ready! when Erin posed this challenge!

From  Anne Michaels' poem, "Skin Divers":

    " Because the moon feels loved, she lets our eyes

     follow her across the field, stepping

     from  her clothes, strewn silk

     glinting in furrows.  Feeling loved,

     the moon loves to be looked at,

     swimming all night across the river."

The girl was elated to read this, because she watched the moon over the river outside her bedroom window!  The resulting necklace is "River Moon".  I know, it's the reverse of "Moon Ri-i-iver", but it had to be!

         Labradorites, pearls that are actually silvery, chain, and a "moon" bead - all from my stash!

The beloved "moon".

A kyanite planet, perhaps?

Different backgrounds and lighting, but I'm thinking different camera!

The moon is such an amazing part of creation!  No wonder it has inspired

art and literature forever!

Click on Erin's name above for a complete list of participants!

Here's another "moon" thought from further on in the same poem, "Skin Divers".

"The moon touches everything

into meaning, under her blind fingers,

then returns us to cerulean

aluminum dawns."

Thanks so much for visiting and I appreciate your comments!  Hope you enjoyed this brief journey through the night.

Maui Beading Buddy!

We've just enjoyed the most wonderful 2 weeks in Maui!  The first day we were here and on our way to the vegetable market, we glanced in a little shop that has jewelry.  Dan said "That looks like Jasmine"!  And there she was, now set up in her own shop, "At Witt's End", (because her last name is Witt).  I  met Jasmine during our first trip to Maui, about 9 years ago.  We were with our friends, Jim and Judy,  walking along the trail in the Iao Valley, when we came upon a lovely young girl, singing and making a gorgeous turtle necklace.  Of course, Judy and I stopped to chat, and Judy bought the necklace!  Two years later, Dan and I were back in Maui and I recognized Jasmine at a local market, selling her jewelry.  She kindly shared her supply of turtle pendants, made of carved mango wood and limpet shells.  The necklaces I made with these turtles were very popular, and one of them eventually became  my first time published in Bead Trends Magazine, August 2010.  I thought it was very exciting  to see how Jasmine persisted and  progressed from a small start to her own shop!  I hope the photos will capture enough of the story and give you some incentive!

                                        A variety of items invites you to take a closer look!
              "Handmade Hawaiian Polynesian jewelry, baskets, arts, and crafts"

Meet Jasmine!

                                                       Beautiful displays are everywhere!

             This is very interesting, especially her desire to put more "ALOHA" in her work!

                                                         These colors are gorgeous!

                                                 Shells, pearls, and coral are abundant!

Wish you could see it in person!

Had to include the corner where it all comes together -

                                            Isn't it fun to see someone else's work/mess area?
                                                            We all have this, right?

Jasmine doesn't have a blog, but you can leave comments here and she'll be glad to read them.  It was so much fun to visit with her again, and I wanted to share her success story with the bloggers!

Bead Soup Re-Vamp!

It's the middle of November, what a perfect time to have bright and beautiful jewelry to gaze upon!  I was the "left over" in pairing up, so Lori Anderson kindly took me on as her second partner.  She sent me a breezy, colorful necklace that I told her I would've worn to a beach wedding in Maui!  Here it is -

There was a lot to work with.  In order to be "me", I selected only 2 of the components, the fabulous silver clasp and the fun keishi pearls.  Lori also sent extras, and I discovered that the lampwork beads that were included had a colorful spot that coordinated with the pearls, although the photo doesn't really emphasize that.

This is the secondary focal and I used the clasp as the main focal.

Isn't it spectacular!!  The silver brings out the silvery-gray pearls very nicely.  I also added peach and gray potato pearls and one more of the lampwork beads.

Here is another view, it can be worn in several positions.

Thanks, Lori, for being a generous partner and for organizing!

"Elegance Re-Born"

Be sure you visit all the blogs!  

Each re-vamp is a delightful surprise!

Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com
Jen Velasquez http://jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com
Johanna Rhodes http://firephoenixcreations.blogspot.com
Laurel Steven http://laurelsteven.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen http://www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Lori Anderson http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Mallory Hoffman http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com

Marianna Boylan http://www.stargirlshop.blogspot.com
Norma Turvey http://www.bead dreams and moonlitfantaseas
Sharon Misuraco http://goinoffthebeadinpath.blogspot.com You are here.
Stacey Curry http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com
Tyne Bodenburg http://www. tynebodennecklaces.blogspot.com

Follow-up On the "Art Crawl" in Cornucopia!

As stated in the previous post, I was part of the Art Crawl in Cornucopia, WI.  It's way up there on the Lake Superior shore. The header is an early morning view of Lake Superior, you can barely see it, I know, but it's always there, like when you're driving west in Nebraska and you finally spot the foothills of the Rockies!
 Turned out to be a beautiful fall day, except for a cold wind off the lake, and the weather is a huge factor in the buying atmosphere.  I was all cozy in the Village Inn and feel that it was a worthwhile effort, at least it wasn't snowing!  Saw several of the people that come to the annual "Corny" Day in August. The people around there are so friendly and open, they make any event a fun time.  You have to be there to understand the unique experience.  Cornucopia is "Unincorporated", but the population mushrooms in the summer with many visitors and seasonal residents.  It's not that far to Bayfield, the other end of the spectrum, busy all the time, neat shops, large marina, constant events.  So visitors have their choice.  Dan took a few pictures, but I never got out, not even for the special hot chocolate!

The Village Inn

                        Everyone likes those blue bottles!  They're great for bracelets and extra chain.

      Looking across at the shops along the marina.  Just a few of them, but each one has a lot to offer!

             This is the place to get hot chocolate!  They did a beautiful job on this very old building.

              In the peak of summer, the blooms are profuse.  This is a "Come-on-in" setting!

     This is Manzanita's way cool shop.  Oh, and she has some of my jewelry, too.  Lots of old books, antiques, you can poke around in these little places for a long time.  We have many memories of times we were here with family and friends.  Glad you came by to see a little part of it!

Art Crawl, Cornucopia, WI This Weekend!

I've been putting in some long days to make those "special" items, just for the Art Crawl event in Cornucopia, WI.  Local artists and those who have art on consignment in one of the shops set up their display in one of the businesses.  People will follow a map to see all the variety.  "Corny" is a very small fishing village on the shore of Lake Superior, and one would never guess that it's such a happenin' place.  I'll try for some good photos, but for now, I'll give you a preview of some new items.

A pendant from Zoa Arts,  complemented by patinated chain from Miss Fickle !

My fall "show" necklace made to go with my new top!

I'm sure you recognize one of Swoondimples beautiful pendants!

This looks great with at least one of my own outfits, dilemma!

A lovely prenhite  nugget and Vintaj!

Thanks so much for coming by, and remember that your comments are highly valued! 

Regina's Writings Giveaway!!

I'm out of town, but wanted to let you know about the awesome necklace Giveaway on Regina's Writings! Do check it out by Sept. 30th.

Just to Keep Things Going....

What a difference a day makes!  Yesterday I was new and nervous, but the encouragement came showering in and made me feel right at home :)  A whole new social experience made possible by the upside of technology.  It's especially amazing to people of "my age" .  For example, I know it wasn't called technology back then, but my first experience on the phone was to crank the handle and say to the live operator, "Green 3-5", my Grandmother's number!  Okay, my father raised mink and we didn't live in town.  Dial phones came soon after.  My hubs just said I'm dating myself!  I am what I am and some of you will kindly relate!  Now here's what you came for, jewelry!

A Soft Opening

Another newbie enters the wide world of blogging!  I have published this in its incomplete state in hopes of "hands-on" assistance, and I do mean, "first you click here, then....."!  So don't feel like you're talking down to me.  I will try to eventually be a worthy member of the wonderful community of jewelry bloggers.    I really want to keep this template, but the font for the description is too light for the photo.  Love the title!  But when i select to place the description below the header, then the title disappears!  I'm thinking of typing it again, under the picture anyway. So any input will be appreciated.  TIA! (Thanks in Advance - I read some of Tara Frey's "Blogging for Bliss", on loan from Erin Prais-Hintz), and being reviewd on Art Bead Scene today.