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2011-03-29T17:37:00.011-06:00

It's Springtime!

Here are a couple of new necklaces I've recently created. It's been awhile! So much going on this Spring, aka, "life", has gotten in the way. That and my new found experimentation with freeform knitting. Oooooooooooo I've officially become a yarn junkie! I've always loved fibers and textures combined with beadwork...and frequently collect lots of goodies to have in class for students to add textures to their pieces. However, I think I now have developed a serious addiction! Not that I'm complaining mind you....but ...

Since I met Leslie (My knitting mentor) the "chick" from Fiber Chicks in Old Town Albuquerque, I'm continually inspired by her cutting edge creations, and sometimes my brain literally goes into knitting overload when we're tossing ideas between us!

Watch for knitting and more fibers to be pulled into my freeform beadwork in the near future!

I'm back to working on some beaded pieces. These two necklaces will be going into our Spring Bling show at the Wooden Cow Gallery. It's nearly April and the Cow will hosting the New Mexico Bead Society and their beautiful creations!. The opening reception is Friday April 1st, 5-8pm, but their beautiful jewelry and art will be on display for public enjoyment and purchase, for the entire month. We cows are so thrilled to have their work in the gallery! Moo!

The necklace below is entitled, "Iguana"....It's centerpiece is a turquoise donut, topped with a lampwork disk, and it's framed with turquoise, freshwater pearls, jade, tribal silver, and lots of other green stones. The findings are all sterling but have been oxidized to give them a patina to reflect that of the tribal silver.

This piece below is entitled "Silent Movie" as it features a vintage 1920's celluloid pinback button, with the photo of a silent film star. It's composed of a rusted metal lid, a watch face, vintage German porcelain doll arm, freshwater pearls, charms, vintage mother of pearl buttons, crystals and brass chain and findings. I just love creating jewelry with vintage treasures and found objects...I'm such a cheap date!

I hope your Spring is off to a creative start!!

If you'd like to share what you've been creating lately, I'm always thrilled to see and would love to post them for all to see!!

Belle Armoire Jewelry!

2011-02-23T09:45:00.016-07:00

I'm pleased to announce the release this week of the latest issue of

Belle Armoire Jewelry (Mar/Apr/May 2011)

Included in this issue, my article on Body Armor , based on my workshop of the same name. These pieces are fun and easy to make, using simple techniques....and of course, the possibilities are limitless! I hope you'll check out this issue, as there are many wonderful and inspiring jewelry designs to further your creative experimentation!

You'll find an array of beautiful adornments, created by very talented artists, using a variety of mediums!

The Body Armor pieces I've created below, are embellished with some wonderful finds!

From fossils, to interesting bits of olde, to the most whimsical and fun components made by talented hands...sometimes the search for them is half the fun!!

It's so simple and exciting to

create unique and impressive wearable art!

Beautiful and One of a Kind Raku pieces
from artist/seller

WondrousStrange

at www.Etsy.com

Spirit Goddesses!

2010-09-19T15:25:00.000-06:00

I'm creating a new class....I have it posted as an online class, but am teaching it in real time on Oct 9th at the Beaded Iris in Albuquerque. I think it will be a fun class! Lots of fibers and textures, beads and silk! We love that!

Artists for Autism

2010-09-10T17:05:00.008-06:00

Here's a new piece I finished this morning . As you can see..it's similar to the other piece I posted earlier. (I had a lot of the bead mix left from my contest piece so I put it to good use!)

This necklace has been donated to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, "Artists for Autism" gala event, which will be held tomorrow night. Art pieces will be auctioned off, and the money will go to the Autism Foundation. What a great cause!

Autumn (why do they call it "Fall"?)

2010-09-10T16:16:00.010-06:00

Here's the first of my new freeform pieces.... This was created for a contest at Mama's Minerals...

...our local rock, fossil and bead shop. They have wonderfully unusual finds.

They are hosting their contest under the theme, STRANDS... there are two categories... Single Strand (Fall colors) and a Multi Strand (also Fall colors)...15 entries in each category were juried in and will be voted on by the public from Sept 14-Oct 14. Winner of the multi strand (which I was juried into) wins a $200 gift certificate at their store..hmmm I could do a lot of damage with that! I was fortunate to win their first two contests two years ago. Since then I've not entered. Here is my entry...entitled "Katmandu Sunrise"...freeform beadwork, composed of Jasper,Coral, Agate,Pearls, Brass,Bronzite,Sea Glass, Jade and more..it was a fun piece to work on ...and I hope that many people go in and vote, no matter whom they vote for...okay yes..vote for ME vote for ME!! I'm sure there are many incredible entries...and I can't wait to see them all...I'm always inspired in the way others use particular beads.

Sooooooo..once again I ask....why do they call it "Fall" anyway?

INSPIRED!!!

2010-09-10T16:07:00.009-06:00

I AM INSPIRED..HEAR ME WHOO HOO!

Thank You to Nicole Campanella (a very talented and very published bead artist) whom the other day was very complimentary about my blog. Oh yes...I remember now...the blog I started (and was going to post to EVERY day) with the intention of inspiring others.

Obviously my goal has not been fully realized...as I'm sure I've only inspired the masses to bouts of prolonged yawning...or the urge to sit down with an entire lemon meringue pie (I won't mention names...you know who you are). Cough cough...starts with V...ends in ic.

As far as what inspires me personally...I'm inspired by everything...often seemingly miniscule things...which may slip unknowingly into my mind..tuck themselves away within some rat's nest of collected information, and then days or months later...reappear out of nowhere while I'm working on some unrelated project...and suddenly they will cause me to think of something that sprouts into a brilliant idea. Voila.

So...perhaps it's not important that I put out some earth shattering mind bending new creative explosion of enlightenment on a daily basis...but rather I just throw ideas out and let them be carried by the wind , and perhaps you'll find something inspiring to take from them...perhaps not. Even if only here or there, you find yourself inspired...and then you go on to inspire others...that's pretty awesome, don't you think? It kind of sounds rather, "we are the world-ish"..doesn't it? By the way, where did I put those Birkenstocks? LOL

Back to Nicole!!!...I have had the great pleasure of corresponding with Nicole recently...She's so enthusiastic and so creatively driven!! I ordered her wonderful BeadBacking!! It's the most incredible bead foundation!! It's something she herself developed years ago (It's new to me!!...Of course, you realize I'm a late bloomer)...and it comes in a beauiful array of colors!!

You MUST check it out!! Her website is http://nicolecampanella.com/...you can also find her wonderful goodies at http://www.beadwright.etsy.com/ and http://www.beadwright.artfire.com/ and you can follow her blog at http://www.beadwright.blogspot.com/I hope that you'll check out her sites!! She's incredibly talented!!

Now...Go forth, please..step away from the lemon pie...and be inspired!!!

MY NEW "BODY ARMOR" PIECES

2010-08-08T18:03:00.007-06:00

I created some of these pieces for our Ancient Culture's show... They are silk based...with wonderful elements, including bone, stone, raku , glass tiles and other finds. Two of my new pieces include vintage prosthetic human eyeballs...what fun!! They are encrusted with pearls and other wonderful stones and beads.

ANCIENT CULTURES

2010-08-08T17:59:00.003-06:00

The Wooden Cow Gallery's theme show for August is Ancient Cultures, Modern Artifacts ..what a great theme! Lots of incredible artwork on display!

My GrandCats!

2010-05-23T17:30:00.003-06:00

I'm posting photos of my "grandcats" (my daughter Jennifer's two Maine Coons)...Grandkids and Grandcats are staying with me temporarily as my daughter is off on military adventures for a few months. Jake (black & white) and Nala (tabby) weigh about 20+ lbs each...They are solid. Jake loves to slide forward and then push his hind legs out...his favorite way of relaxing!!

Steampunk Fever!

2010-05-23T17:23:00.003-06:00

Just finished my Steampunk Silk pouch....I love the way it came out...lots of hardware! brass and steel washers studded with gray pearls dot the background... Steampunk goes uptown!

New Class Posted on Craft Edu

2010-05-15T21:25:00.002-06:00

I just posted my second online class on CraftEdu.......It's a Freeform Multi Focal Pendant class...a lot of fun to create, because we can mix and match pieces till we have something that just feels right...then we design a pattern to frame them out with freeform beadwork! Fun fun fun!

Steampunk!

2010-05-15T21:14:00.003-06:00

Here's one of my new Steampunk creations...using a vintage optical lens and other bits and pieces!

Playing with PMC!

2010-05-15T20:38:00.002-06:00

I took a PMC on Paper class today with Tricia Simmons..Omgosh it was so much fun! I'm hooked!!! Here are my creations! The vase pendant on the left is about 3 1/2" long and the pea pod on the right is about 2 1/2" long...I frequently patina sterling with liver of sulfer but never get the vibrant colorful outcomes that my pmc has! I love it!

Leather Stamped Purses!

2010-03-25T11:12:00.002-06:00

I had fun creating these leather painted and stamped pouches...very freeform! (aka no rules)...soft leather (or ultrasuede) works best for these...think of the other possibilities...hats, belts, card cases...Oooooo!! Unlimited possibilities!

Finished This New Necklace Today!

2010-03-15T19:34:00.004-06:00

It was so much fun to create! I love the various elements I used..horn, pearls,old sea glass, jade, green turquoise, jasper, lampwork and other fun bits!

Tuesday February 23rd

2010-02-23T16:47:00.002-07:00

I'm finally beginning my blog! I've had my page up for months but have been procrastinating...the time has come....I will start posting new ideas, pieces in progress and finished pieces...including beadwork and mixed media creations..