Been a long time

                  Here are the things I made to finish out 2016 and never got around to posting here :-)

All The Shiny Things

This ornament went out as a Pay It Forward surprise early this morning. It has a peachblow dyed agate in the center, Czech crystals, seed beads in 11/0 and 15/0, nylon netting, and bugle beads. Backed in ultrasuede.

Nice photos of pretty things!

Had "real" photos taken of these pieces because they're all on charity auction this weekend. The last one with the bright pink eye shaped one is new. 

In Stitches

My first new piece is a petrified snail shell with druzy agate inside, Swarovski pearls, glass seed beads in 15/0 and 11/0, a Sterling silver clasp, backed in Ultrasuede. I donated it to the silent auction at my kids' school. You can click and enlarge the photos. 

The second piece is a geode slice with seed beads in 11/0 and 15/0, bugle beads, Swarovski pearls, Czech dragonscale beads, backed in Ultrasuede. It's about 4.47" from bail to the ends of the fringe. 

Egyptian Zodiac bead embroidery WIP

In progress photos of a bead embroidery project I'm currently working on. Czech glass button in mirror back purple/ pink/ orange finish, Swarovski crystals and pearls, glass seed beads, bugle beads, and amethyst chunks. It took a LONG time because I had to do every part at least three times. It's at a stopping point until I get some beads to make a necklace strong enough to hold it. I will have to re-paint the face when it's all finished since the paint wore off over the course of my work.

Sunken Treasure necklace

Made as a Facebook Pay It Forward project. Czech glass button, glass seed beads, gold-plated cord caps and clasp. About 30 hours, total.

Royal Carnival

Small progress since my last update as I spent a lot of time goofing off this week. Anyway, the center is finished and now I'm on to making the beaded kumihimo necklace.

Waves

From this point on, this will be solely an art display blog. All the brain ramblings will be posted here.  

Anyway, I've been working on a couple projects.

Taught myself to skin snakes (they were dead when I found them, so don't get upset)

I spent two days working on the fringe and made myself half crazy

                                                       

Finished this one this morning and you can enter to win it here.

Elevator Music

Sorry for such long absences. I've been working on various projects but sometimes the day is over before I realize it's even begun. 

We had teacher appreciation last week, then both daughters had their birthday on the fourth, and since then I've been trying to catch up on an end-of-the-year gift for the kids' bus driver.

So without further ado, here's the stuff  I've made but haven't posted;

Teacher Appreciation for Son's teacher

Teacher Appreciation door decoration with for an "UP" theme

Ugly shelves the previous house owners left behind, being primed for painting

Planets and nebulae done on the shelves in spray paint

Newly painted shelves hung over my dollhouse table

And said dollhouse table after I cleared 95% of the stuff off of it

Yesterday I was so into the creative spirit that I was drawing mandala patterns in dinner gravy while it was cooking, and then I made a potato man out of mashed potatoes and vegetables. 

Honestly, I like being more in the groove and don't mind being distracted from posting updates. 

Giving The Ocean

I have a lovely friend at my children's school. She's a transplant from Maryland and has five kids. Back in February, she mentioned that she'd be going through some major life changes that may include moving and she wasn't sure how to pick between the ocean (going back to Maryland) and the sun (staying in Colorado). I did my best to give her the ocean in hopes that she'll stay, but in the long run, I want her to go where her heart is happiest. 

Technical details; bead weaving necklace with 15/0 and 11/0 seed beads, bead embroidery focal piece on Lacy's Stiff Stuff base, real sea shells, Swarovski pearls, glass seed beads in 15/0 and 11/0, sterling silver clasp. About 24 hours work, total.

Evangeline

Bead embroidered pendant on a 19" satin ribbon with sterling silver clasp and end wraps. Iridescent white Czech glass button, seed beads in 11/0 and 15/0. Swarovski crystals and Swarovski pearls on ends of the fringe, and a multi-faceted green glass bead accent in the center. Backing is Ultrasuede. 3.57" long. 

earballs

New earrings, all completely stitched by hand. Czech glass buttons, glass seed beads, Swarovski black pearls. The pair on the left has 24K gold seed beads and gold fill ear wire. The pair on the right has Czech preciosa crystals and sterling silver ear wire. They measure about 2 3/4" long.