Brass Buddha Necklace

The year comes to a close with my thinking about all the bad things that have happened to me that I suppose I deserve. You always get what you pay for. Nothing happens for no reason. I may be so consumed with my latest heartbreak that I cannot even think straight, but I do know that the universe is paying me back for any heartbreaks I may have caused. I guess it's just something you have to learn to live with.

I made this necklace as a christmas present for someone who always says that karma is a bitch.

Silver and Turquoise Heart

This silver and turquoise heart represents my broken heart held together with tiny silvery strands. The bird represents the song that is still locked up there.

Christmas Bling

It wouldn't be christmas if I didn't hang some sort of bling from my neck despite the fact that we spent the day on my uncle's dock in our jeans. This necklace actually did look good with the velvet shirt I wore for the occassion.

Bead Space

Just set up a Bead Space site. It's just like My Space but is for jewelry makers and beaders. In just a short time I have made a bunch of friends on there. My musician friends over at My Space haven't all been this swift.

Since it's time for the holidays, my creativity has been frozen. Probably has to do with a severe case of SAD, but I'm hanging in there regardless.

I need some good luck so I present some lucky bracelets. I feel that lucky bracelets are for agnostics like me looking to cover all bases.

Wrist Cuff Weekend

A few cuffs made by Liz and Toni K. over the weekend.
Modeled by Toni K.


Sacred Heart of the bottle cap on grandma's embroidered doily cuff. Denim band.


Tie Dyed trim from Aunt Ann's inheritance cuff with button from mom's button box cuff.



Faces cuff with Aunt Ann's lace and Darbella Designs face cabs.


Faces cuff in all its glory.



Little lace skull cuff.

Antique Keys Necklace

Picked up some old keys and an old keyhole at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market last Saturday. They've been screaming to be chained up for a necklace ever since. Whew.

such a groovy bead

The picture on the jasper bead reminded me of the time I spent in the wilds of Arizona- in the petrified forest or the painted desert, or both. It screamed for some pearls and semi-precious beads as a bezel.

I'm a huge, huge fan of picture stones, beads and cabs.

Ho Ho Ho

Swarovski Christmas Tree Earrings.

Day of the Dead Charm Necklaces

I couldn't wait to string up these Day of the Dead babies from Silver Crow Creations, one of my favorite online places to shop.

They look nice worn together or separately.

One is the MINI HAND-PAINTED CERAMIC DAY OF THE DEAD MARIPOSA BEAD
and the other is
MINI HAND-PAINTED CERAMIC CATRINA BEAD

They come in different colors. They are on this web page at a mere $2.85 each.

Thinking of Spring on the First Snow Day of Winter

Eyelash yarn, glass beads, leaf and flower beads make for warm and fuzzy neckware.
Click for larger view as always.

"Steampunk" Fish

Inspired by Christi Friesen's steampunk critters
I tried my hand at a fish using black Fimo clay, bronze powders and stuff from my stash including old watch parts, tiny beads and brass filigree. Not bad for a first try. It's inspired me to try some other things with a lot of old jewelry I've collected. Stay tuned.

Charming Necklace

Fleur de Lis Necklace

Made this one for a friend of mine for Christmas. It's made of brass and copper with vintage looking charms based on old school tattoo art.

Time in a Pendant

The time pendant was made by dumping some watch parts in a brass bezel and then pouring Judi Kins Amazing Glaze over it. I baked it in the oven until the glaze melted and now there's a smooth as glass finish on it.

I think the embossing powder is a great idea for sealing these bezel pendants. It works much faster than 2 part epoxy resins and the one part gloss sealers. I didn't have to worry about dust and ripples on the surface because there was no waiting time for anything to dry.

Before: Jewelry display

Yikes, what a mess and this is just a small detail of the room that is my supposed studio. It's such an ordeal to get something off these displays that I mostly don't even bother to wear any jewelry. I'm having a lull in my creative mind, so it's probably time to revamp my room and organize my stuff. I dare not show photos of all the storage boxes and bags of stuff on the floor that came home from the stores and never made it into a drawer or on to a shelf. More before and after pictures will come... maybe.

For inspiring ways to store and/or display your stuff at home, Jennifer Perkins has 4 blog posts on this exact topic. How Ya Hangin'?
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV