What’s Old Is New Again – Artbeads Blogging Challenge

It is time to share another Artbeads Blog Partners Blogging Challenge design with you!  For this challenge, we were to create a design that took inspiration from the past and to incorporate at least one old or antique element, combining that element with modern pieces from Artbeads.

 

For the focal, I etched and distressed a large copper heart and brass washer, and used eyelets and rivets to connect them, giving it a steampunk feel.

For the chain, I used Artbeads’ antique brass-plated box rolo chain coupled with a large-link silver-toned chain from my stash.  I also created spring links from steel wire and filled them with amazonite rounds secured by copper wire to add more of an industrial feel to the piece.  The clasp is made by coiling wire onto a loop that fits over a fantastic steamppunk-themed button.  The rolo chain and button can be found in Artbeads’ steampunk collection. 

For the “something old” part of the necklace, I have been saving some antique sewing machine pieces and parts that fit perfectly into the piece.

I loved this challenge, and have a couple more designs up my sleeve to share soon.  If you are interested in purchasing this necklace, it is available in my Etsy shop.

Necessary Legal Stuff: I am honestly reviewing the products above which I have received free of charge from Artbeads.com, and I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to them.

"Art For A Cause" Treasury

I just found out that beadcandi has included my "HOPE" etched copper crosses in their "Art For A Cause" treasury:

Breast cancer awareness is a cause that is near and dear to my heart, and 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these crosses go directly to my local chapter.  I've also included free shipping on them, so go out and check them out in my store, and give the other generous artists in this great treasury a look as well.

A Couple More For My Etsy Shop...

Just a quick post to share two new items for sale in my etsy shop:

"Just Peace"

"This beautiful copper enameled peace sign is a little rough around the edges, showing the unique effects of torch-firing with lavender enamel. It measures approximately 1.75" in diameter, and hangs on an 18" brown leather cord."

 

"Musical Heart"

"This beautiful and versatile necklace features a pendant made from a 1.5" w x 2" h patinaed and sealed copper cross that has been etched with a unique collage design, hanging from an 18" black leather cord."

 

Happy shopping!

Fly Blackbird, Fly...

 "Fly Blackbird, Fly" available in my Etsy shop (whoops - just sold!)

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Home Is Where The Heart Is...

"House Of Love"

The necklace is made using etched copper, handmade copper wire beads, lampwork glass beads and beautiful solid copper beads from Rings and Things.

The clasp is made from twisted copper wire as well, and the whole piece was patinaed and tumbled to give the copper depth and age.

Underneath the butterfly 'house' is a handmade bezel with our friends' family picture  (check out those two beautiful babies!) covered with ICE resin.

This was a new bezel shape for me, and I really like how it turned out - I'm definitely going to use it again!   I've got more new ICE resin pieces to finish up and list in my etsy shop, so stop by again soon!

Thank You For Giving The Gift Of HOPE

While walking in the park, a child came upon a cocoon that obviously had a butterfly struggling to get out. The child felt sorry for the butterfly, and helped it to break free from the cocoon. As she watched the newly freed butterfly, expecting it to take flight, she noticed that its wings were not strong enough to lift itself off of the branch. You see, the butterfly’s ability to fly comes from the strength that is built during the struggle to free itself from the cocoon.

Just as it is true with the butterfly, it is also true for people: without the struggle, we cannot grow stronger. We cannot always choose the condition of our adversities, but we can choose to engage in the struggle. In doing so, we sustain hope in the knowledge that we will emerge stronger than we were when we began.

HOPE is what gives us the strength to fly.

I wanted to send out a big THANK YOU to everyone who has purchased one of my etched copper crosses in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.  Because of your support, I have sold 15 crosses and was able to send a $225 check to my local Breast Cancer Awareness chapter.

If you would like to support this wonderful cause, the crosses are still available in my Etsy store for $15 each, shipping included.

Again, thank you so very much!

Custom Jewelry Pieces Made With ICE Resin

This is just a quick post to share a couple of custom jewelry pieces I delivered yesterday to a longtime customer of mine.  She wanted to create something special for her sister who is graduating from law school that incorporated family photos, the law school's logo and the "DEM" symbol to represent her sister's political ambitions.

Here are the finished pieces:

I made handmade bezels out of etched copper sheet and copper tubing and decoupaged and sealed the pictures into the bezels.  When they dried, I poured the ICE Resin into the bezels and set them aside to cure. 

I fused and forged the copper hoops and the clasps, and added some beautiful Czech glass links to the necklace.

After putting all of the pieces and parts together, the jewelry turned out beautifully - this resin is amazing and I can't recommend it enough!  You can find it at Objects & Elements in their store.

...I'm thinking that I just might have to make one of these sets for myself!

Objects & Elements ICE Resin Blog Hop!

I am participating in a fun blog hop hosted by Objects and Elements featuring pieces made with ICE Resin.  The rules were that we could make anything, as long as we used ICE Resin in the piece.

Here are some new focal pieces that I am working into designs right now:

For this one, I started with a piece of 1.5" square copper and etched it with one of my favorite designs.  Then I cut a section of 7/8" copper tubing and soldered it to a piece of brass that was etched with a clock-themed design to make a bezel.  The bezel was then soldered to the copper square and aged and tumbled for a beautiful patina.  I placed the stamped metal "wish" into the bezel and filled the whole thing with resin.

 

For these butterfly focal pieces, I used the same procedure as I did on the piece above, but this time I filled the bezel with solder first and then aged and tumbled them. 

The piece on the left I colored a finding made for leatherwork using Staz-On red ink and heat-set the color.  I then set the floral finding in the bezel with a heishi bead in the center of the flower and then filled it with resin.  The piece on the right was made using the same procedure, except that I didn't use any color on the charms.

For this piece I simply soldered a piece of the copper tubing directly to the 1.25" x 2" piece of etched copper and aged and tumbled the piece.  I filled the bezel with one of my fused glass cabochons and filled and domed in and around the cabochon with resin.  It is always difficult to capture the colors in glass, so you'll have to take my word for it that this glass has beautiful eggplant, gold and ivory colors floating in it.

Below are a couple of pieces that I've posted before, but wanted to highlight the ICE Resin that was used in the focals:

Here is a list of other fabulous bloggers participating in this blog hop - check out their amazing work:

Ro Bhrun http://robruhn.blogspot.com/

Karen Burns http://web.me.com/vintagefindings/Vintage_Findings/Blog/Blog.html

Keecia Frazee Deveney http://www.lemoncholys.blogspot.com/

Mary Jane Dodd -- Mary Jane http://mairedodd.blogspot.com/

Melanie Earthenwood http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com/

Shea Fragoso http://www.whathappensnext.typepad.com/

Kerin Gale http://remnantsofolde.com/posts/

Vickie Hallmark http://fiberartglass.blogspot.com/

Jill Liles http://livngoodjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jess Italia Lincoln at Vintaj: http://www.vintaj.com/wpblog/

Heather Powers http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com/ and http://www.artbeadscene.blogspot.com/

Amy Purdes http://www.spritecreations.blogspot.com/

Jenny Barnett Rohrs http://www.crafttestdummies.com/

Stephanie Rubiano http://www.soigathered.typepad.com/

Lisa Sommerville  http://www.lisasomerville.com/

Kim Taylor http://sassycrafter.blogspot.com/

The Objects and Elements Design Team and Susan Lenart Kazmer:

Jen Cushman  http://www.objectsandelements.typepad.com/jencushman/

Deryn Mentock http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/

Kristen Robinson http://kristenrobinson.typepad.com/

Barbe Saint John  http://barbesaintjohn.blogspot.com/

Susan Lenart Kazmer http://susan-lenart-kazmer.blogspot.com/

Much thanks go out to Jen and Objects & Elements for organizing this fun hop!  Have a fantastic Monday!
:-)

New Etsy Items For Miss Molly's Supplies

Here are some new jewelry supplies listed in my Miss Molly's Supplies Etsy store: