tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25285044982839291182024-03-05T06:02:55.411-05:00Rigglettes<a href="http://pinterest.com/judyriggs/"><img src="http://passets-cdn.pinterest.com/images/follow-on-pinterest-button.png" width="156" height="26" alt="Follow Me on Pinterest"></a>Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-47813349148869794362019-09-17T13:41:00.002-04:002019-09-17T13:41:55.260-04:00Gettin' Back to Business!It's been so long since I've written a post that I basically don't remember what I'm supposed to do! So, to start out I'm going to just bring things up-to-date as far as what I'm working on these days.<br />
<br />
Not so long ago, I discovered a wonderful website for a company that prints stuff - <a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/" target="_blank">Spoonflower</a> - they will print pretty much anything on anything - fabric, wallpaper etc.. You can design your own stuff or you can select something from the site that was designed by someone else. There are hundreds and hundreds of patterns and designs - it's just wonderful.<br />
<br />
I've been getting hysterically snarky sayings, most of them by Cynthia Frenette, printed on pearl cotton to use on wallets that I make.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JF4ntMgO0Poll0TX7gCGY2EAkxm6CAA2gMO9HU0lQV-4okYKmiV8uKKeZliuhC8yd6wIIBY9ty6QKxg_yXUOqmnpwqAH7OKICsjgQiyWpXWld28Z0n5SXer5v-sLCsTwRd9-wR90rAc/s1600/MINI+SUNSHINE+FRONT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="1600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JF4ntMgO0Poll0TX7gCGY2EAkxm6CAA2gMO9HU0lQV-4okYKmiV8uKKeZliuhC8yd6wIIBY9ty6QKxg_yXUOqmnpwqAH7OKICsjgQiyWpXWld28Z0n5SXer5v-sLCsTwRd9-wR90rAc/s320/MINI+SUNSHINE+FRONT.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't think this about themselves??<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nBu55b2-dO_qkVlBaDx-movLL5_OQOLNQyVHgdZV6R1U0k6o882oMEfu3mvkgRlZJ7pOt5NsGRtwYNss6qehzaZHY_xiAJjSVT-VkDbaI7cTsGS-fXBG04Ufp3AZ6NHAN53yMTHpFng/s1600/LARGE+FUCK+WALLET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nBu55b2-dO_qkVlBaDx-movLL5_OQOLNQyVHgdZV6R1U0k6o882oMEfu3mvkgRlZJ7pOt5NsGRtwYNss6qehzaZHY_xiAJjSVT-VkDbaI7cTsGS-fXBG04Ufp3AZ6NHAN53yMTHpFng/s320/LARGE+FUCK+WALLET.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes, it's just the right word</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvWcj9usgb704Y0ZP_84BPJXyIz0kI66c5FPq6G9HrtlddkNznHBHQxuPIxjkkGuo1KiAUOGsIgDka80vBnlOKIFkf5Atxv86Y58k-e_L_JJHbP1ypIOBuPpihJKNJn2fhz059IGWOT4/s1600/UNICORN+WALLET+FRONT+LARGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvWcj9usgb704Y0ZP_84BPJXyIz0kI66c5FPq6G9HrtlddkNznHBHQxuPIxjkkGuo1KiAUOGsIgDka80vBnlOKIFkf5Atxv86Y58k-e_L_JJHbP1ypIOBuPpihJKNJn2fhz059IGWOT4/s400/UNICORN+WALLET+FRONT+LARGE.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just in case you can't read that - "Bitch, please - I'm a Unicorn"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've also been working on learning new techniques, upgrading my skills etc.. I've found a ton of Facebook groups filled with helpful smart people! In my next blog post I'll try to gather up a few of my favorites and put the links here.<br />
Also working on Halloween - love to make costumes!! If there was a way to make a living doing that - it would be my chosen career - maybe in my next lifetime?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-5692948064858239212015-10-28T17:49:00.000-04:002015-10-28T17:49:33.814-04:00Penny Pouch - Easy DIYThis is a little pattern that I've been playing around with for awhile. I think I finally have all the kinks worked out of it so, I thought I'd share it with you. It's a little zippered purse that's the right size for credit cards or drivers license and some cash. It has a keyring attached to one end and the whole thing will fit nicely in your pocket. It's great if you just want to grab your essentials for a quick run to the grocery store or any place that you'd rather be hands free!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2chSt4mI3WfvMl4fwMF6-dgoD7uNwwa9Atgm5B56-F0s9gTxi4RXrDMshHmDU9EhbxuqLjB1FRwWdhUbbtjo-XZJ7wOWe5a0THgpu4YDB1D5cGSZqbpvuc4YACipSR-Kz6i4O6kiOXA/s1600/Penny+Pouch+How+to.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2chSt4mI3WfvMl4fwMF6-dgoD7uNwwa9Atgm5B56-F0s9gTxi4RXrDMshHmDU9EhbxuqLjB1FRwWdhUbbtjo-XZJ7wOWe5a0THgpu4YDB1D5cGSZqbpvuc4YACipSR-Kz6i4O6kiOXA/s400/Penny+Pouch+How+to.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I started out making them out of fabric scraps - which works fine but you'd really need to line it and then you have to deal with two extra layers of fabric which reduces the overall size and changes how the zipper is put in.<br />
<br />
What I ended up using is Marine Vinyl - yup, the stuff they use to make boat seats. Waterproof (of course!), sturdy as all, easy to sew, self lined, doesn't fray or stretch, colorfast - what more can you ask for?<br />
<br />
Here's how it goes...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkyJQItWVh2Ry2lMQaHzvNQTXY3_2HZL19m35FqsQ8SA5C1MGMURpCgFStsfpdc4ErVdFRdoIGfo113rVsBjD-cJ4mtfQEuMpw8iVNi2vl1pkswTZtCzMTo_Vhmektygreun3prYFThI/s1600/Penny+Step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkyJQItWVh2Ry2lMQaHzvNQTXY3_2HZL19m35FqsQ8SA5C1MGMURpCgFStsfpdc4ErVdFRdoIGfo113rVsBjD-cJ4mtfQEuMpw8iVNi2vl1pkswTZtCzMTo_Vhmektygreun3prYFThI/s320/Penny+Step1.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You need one 4" x 5" rectangle, two strips that are 2" x 5", two strips that are 3/4" x 4" and a zipper that should be at least 6" long - you'll be trimming it to fit later.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Put the zipper in first by taking one of the 2" x 5" strips, placing the edge of the fabric very close to the zipper teeth and sew a close (1/8") seam. Leave at least an inch of zipper hanging off both ends of the strip, you'll trim this later</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ9C_fZaSycbo7QKWnuBwG5sTRHUKZyQtrRsh0kgkL5RlV0Gou5-MF2-Hj9vNXsO-DbrZmBKT3nPTVn4sk__JJ42xGEnvudRzLVF8AJlxUzv7SQ_7fqLjXnXinNNTsmikouOpq19ftIY/s1600/Penny+Step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ9C_fZaSycbo7QKWnuBwG5sTRHUKZyQtrRsh0kgkL5RlV0Gou5-MF2-Hj9vNXsO-DbrZmBKT3nPTVn4sk__JJ42xGEnvudRzLVF8AJlxUzv7SQ_7fqLjXnXinNNTsmikouOpq19ftIY/s400/Penny+Step2.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sew the second 2" x 5" strip to the zipper in the same manner. Now you have to create a zipper stop at each end. Do this by simply using a zigzag stitch at each end. Make sure to open the zipper before closing both ends - you want the zipper tab to be within the body of the zipper.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yhMHjKLmXA2aK0VEDCP-79pO0dt76h2Wl6ESWmkzcPIt1y1Vy6a9-l9-MLNnrr_x8A6ZvJ-om9Bv3ggZaJ-6zwvVOwUX2l5Ka7nTuDMugLwWJE-TLB7eFMQ8zTOOCEimBfPIMkqBeBY/s1600/Penny+Step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yhMHjKLmXA2aK0VEDCP-79pO0dt76h2Wl6ESWmkzcPIt1y1Vy6a9-l9-MLNnrr_x8A6ZvJ-om9Bv3ggZaJ-6zwvVOwUX2l5Ka7nTuDMugLwWJE-TLB7eFMQ8zTOOCEimBfPIMkqBeBY/s320/Penny+Step3.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhi_82jUdNSZc6BiSmTjJhenZWuShR_sQIEtxIgDeKXKx17yfREjvoiUWwMTBtYVrHP-1xRfWWJHYV6FoBAmkmMFlyH4mzXRuO9UHDSdfcuTztQmE1rQVBt5ejpoe-8zLtlnmB3tmcDQ/s1600/Penny+Step4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhi_82jUdNSZc6BiSmTjJhenZWuShR_sQIEtxIgDeKXKx17yfREjvoiUWwMTBtYVrHP-1xRfWWJHYV6FoBAmkmMFlyH4mzXRuO9UHDSdfcuTztQmE1rQVBt5ejpoe-8zLtlnmB3tmcDQ/s320/Penny+Step4.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Once you've zigzagged over the ends of the </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwny_8wkdDKb23Jic12F8QZJKUhBil2RtaER9Kx4lGT5oeoayzXASimbeoBEvmqph6oT7tirLgPV85z8k6xRMft-gFp_8UI6XL89pzzuGsL0uFVNG98mWqBRwhpWDQZ-YUkbTt5Fr-Y4g/s1600/Penny+Step6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwny_8wkdDKb23Jic12F8QZJKUhBil2RtaER9Kx4lGT5oeoayzXASimbeoBEvmqph6oT7tirLgPV85z8k6xRMft-gFp_8UI6XL89pzzuGsL0uFVNG98mWqBRwhpWDQZ-YUkbTt5Fr-Y4g/s320/Penny+Step6.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
zipper you can clip the remaining pieces of the zipper even with the fabric. This is the face of the bag - so simple!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYRQpbLCO9-0LW9Cd5nt5NPXhpKx1zRt3QYocFBOTb077N8qUFZTF7W74MMt5_IjbYs0GZSZYCBLlWrZUAndrndA7TKOtAuFGGuvIHf9wLI0ua5z3eyaXSJRkXNjbBBx65EFpWFqYjy8/s1600/Penny+Step5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYRQpbLCO9-0LW9Cd5nt5NPXhpKx1zRt3QYocFBOTb077N8qUFZTF7W74MMt5_IjbYs0GZSZYCBLlWrZUAndrndA7TKOtAuFGGuvIHf9wLI0ua5z3eyaXSJRkXNjbBBx65EFpWFqYjy8/s320/Penny+Step5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Now to make the keyring tab. Sandwich the two 3/4" x 4" strips wrong sides together and stitch all the way around as close as possible to the edges.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKt65cC-DA6FEfDzhBmU-X2fgxdNzVf-CPXNFgClrQTzq2YdVtpNZJV7SGPKvn2BEuyV00SKqwK_DJrygD4jALQNCx9FwWH6fyIzdBxsebM934zj8-BbV-nHPru3oMug0bi74kFw2ooU/s1600/Penny+Step7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKt65cC-DA6FEfDzhBmU-X2fgxdNzVf-CPXNFgClrQTzq2YdVtpNZJV7SGPKvn2BEuyV00SKqwK_DJrygD4jALQNCx9FwWH6fyIzdBxsebM934zj8-BbV-nHPru3oMug0bi74kFw2ooU/s640/Penny+Step7.jpg" width="336" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Now you're ready to assemble the purse. Slide the keyring onto the tab, fold the tab in half and place the ends centered over the zipper at the edge of the fabric. Stitch the tab in place. (Pretend like this photo is actually in focus!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g8tit4CVk2XmdO_MnxyNBrARrkpisTmam6L6YsdQnetAZJvOp4AE3vaFwTvJeP9gxFPwB0TO4SR5F5_rmpnBOUmM7EjfK9QFyNDXkGEbqbqDFNjSZkJVLTQk7sWBkqOAoqH_BZ9EeLw/s1600/Penny+Step8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g8tit4CVk2XmdO_MnxyNBrARrkpisTmam6L6YsdQnetAZJvOp4AE3vaFwTvJeP9gxFPwB0TO4SR5F5_rmpnBOUmM7EjfK9QFyNDXkGEbqbqDFNjSZkJVLTQk7sWBkqOAoqH_BZ9EeLw/s320/Penny+Step8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Now sandwich the bottom and top pieces right sides together. Remember to leave the zipper at least halfway open so you can turn the purse right side out after stitching, and make sure to keep the keyring out of the way as you stitch the two sections together. Use a 1/4" seam allowance. When you're finished, clip the corners, open the zipper as far as you can and turn the purse right side out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCWHCeCN_DdBnp5aH0MTPs61PKr_nR50zhUee9Q8VHPBlXZ0pFJARPS6An1neBnzXF3NP8VBgRSwQncIshUj_HtSd2auf3LRoK-OtAvB-oY3w3RwQsq39NyrMgO0x8QOSE4kmmiBayds/s1600/Penny+Step9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCWHCeCN_DdBnp5aH0MTPs61PKr_nR50zhUee9Q8VHPBlXZ0pFJARPS6An1neBnzXF3NP8VBgRSwQncIshUj_HtSd2auf3LRoK-OtAvB-oY3w3RwQsq39NyrMgO0x8QOSE4kmmiBayds/s400/Penny+Step9.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfUdC7um4lA94f8PxnUF4c6ayQHwArOOes9TyIB5zTXXv6TsI2d6AgCxk7qIttvmA1UGPkvOBqfUhiE_XTsYWSrpms91NLp69Bc9gFrgnzpcNCJXcbnsTdznJGf1ImgjToCGz_q1N1Ms/s1600/Penny+Step10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfUdC7um4lA94f8PxnUF4c6ayQHwArOOes9TyIB5zTXXv6TsI2d6AgCxk7qIttvmA1UGPkvOBqfUhiE_XTsYWSrpms91NLp69Bc9gFrgnzpcNCJXcbnsTdznJGf1ImgjToCGz_q1N1Ms/s400/Penny+Step10.jpg" width="341" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A chopstick or knitting needle work well to push the corners out. And - you're done! How easy was that? These make great little stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, teacher appreciation and on and on! You could make these longer or place the zipper higher or going in the opposite direction. It's a really easy, very versatile item that has hundreds of uses and is easy to alter to suit your needs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPuTNn1ljKcOwfi83Cbbpjah-yHj6POg90mQagnPIasKl3n16egwg_qGPKcD4fi_vwhbHABpyEic93rtqkQsZkBCPVsdUWp_IPaUQfL0t2D-_0EscoFPim_wzsRotJQJ1G-Ek-XR2xkE/s1600/Penny+Step11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPuTNn1ljKcOwfi83Cbbpjah-yHj6POg90mQagnPIasKl3n16egwg_qGPKcD4fi_vwhbHABpyEic93rtqkQsZkBCPVsdUWp_IPaUQfL0t2D-_0EscoFPim_wzsRotJQJ1G-Ek-XR2xkE/s640/Penny+Step11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Try making a few - send me pictures of what you come up with! We'd love to share your ideas here on the blog!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-1951474062221038602015-10-10T12:48:00.000-04:002015-10-10T12:48:04.109-04:00To Amazon or Not to Amazon<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNTWCYajT7mhBUABW6ZX7aglws_WfgzU3s3xmJz5zx68aajdDHA0dby9MXZLdSLfcBSxzJkqifXiTOUEO6aBcd0F4fuwuyAL9HaCv7l_VeUfg9XuZYnR-QHrUXk7xkCL-oIaFz6vCGJU/s1600/Rigglettes+Banner+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNTWCYajT7mhBUABW6ZX7aglws_WfgzU3s3xmJz5zx68aajdDHA0dby9MXZLdSLfcBSxzJkqifXiTOUEO6aBcd0F4fuwuyAL9HaCv7l_VeUfg9XuZYnR-QHrUXk7xkCL-oIaFz6vCGJU/s400/Rigglettes+Banner+Image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'm just gonna start this by telling you that I have been an Amazon seller since 1994 - over 20 years. I think it's safe to say that makes me an expert on selling through the Amazon platform.<br />
<br />
This is the story of my experience with Amazon.<br />
<br />
I owned a used bookstore for over 25 years. After a few years of struggling along what I noticed was that if I was going to be able to <i>make a living</i> from my store, I was going to have to figure out how to reach more customers - brilliant, right? As I was researching how to get into the mail order side of my business I came across Amazon. They were launching a new division. They were going to allow used book dealers to post their merchandise on the Amazon website. My husband thought I should try it putting my books on the site. As scary as it was I made the decision to try it, if it didn't work out in a couple of months I would pull out and try something else.<br />
<br />
It was a bit complicated to get started, there were many emails with instructions and such, I was by no means a computer expert but with my husbands help, muddled along, got our database together, figured out FTP and uploaded it one afternoon. Then, we waited... what happened was completely unexpected and overwhelming. Within minutes we started to get orders. Lots of orders.... so many orders that before the end of the first day, we had to put our store - 'on vacation' so that we could process the orders that had come in and order shipping supplies!<br />
<br />
Yes, it was expensive - we paid $39.99 per month for the site plus 15% of sales. For a little bitty bookstore just starting out that was a pretty big hit to the budget. But the old adage, "it takes money to make money," is absolutely true. Selling on Amazon more than tripled our business immediately. In less than 10 years it helped make our store the largest used bookstore in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. We grew to more than 3000 square feet with over 50,000 books on the sales floor. We were selling over 6000 books every month, making over $250,000 a year in sales! The biggest problem we had was keeping up with demand. The important thing to understand is that this never would have happened without Amazon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN89kJhDL4OA-XO32eiM8kS-WxqMxfa9HcVWgjqzcQCGlU6dlsosbnnjq-s3-W9IPmXAbTXlNUBX8bnLHgs2gnyVNuk4fYHdnT2WLcGeVNE1Ik47m6r79M7sHin0Qywl7vnfpX4SqJPA/s1600/Sherbet+and+Sky4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN89kJhDL4OA-XO32eiM8kS-WxqMxfa9HcVWgjqzcQCGlU6dlsosbnnjq-s3-W9IPmXAbTXlNUBX8bnLHgs2gnyVNuk4fYHdnT2WLcGeVNE1Ik47m6r79M7sHin0Qywl7vnfpX4SqJPA/s320/Sherbet+and+Sky4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Fast forward to today. I sold the store three years ago and moved out of state. I've been a jewelry artist for over ten years and I wanted to focus on growing that business. It's a struggle - I'm the entire business, manufacturing, marketing, sales, shipping, bookkeeping, social media department etc... For anyone running a business you know that it can be an all consuming venture. It's not a reliable income, it can be very much feast or famine. So, like any business you realize that if you're going to sell enough to<i> make a living</i> you have to reach more people. In the art business that generally means doing shows - Argh! what a pain!! A two day show means a minimum of four days work and a lot of expenses. Displays, packing, travel, hotels, meals, set up and sitting on site for usually two long days hawking your wares. There are no guarantees that it's going to pay off. I can tell you horror stories all day long about friends who shelled out hundreds of dollars in fees to sit at a show for two days and came away not even covering the expenses!<br />
<br />
Or, you try to find galleries or shops to take your work wholesale or on consignment. Most of the time this situation is expensive - average consignment commissions are 70% artist - 30% gallery. Wholesale is worse, most retailers want to give you 60% of your asking price to purchase your work. So we all became Etsy sellers because we could work from our studios, reach thousands of customers, the fees weren't as bad as the galleries or nearly as much work as shows... great, right?<br />
<br />
It worked pretty well for awhile - but before we knew what was happening Etsy began to implode. Pretty soon the people who were visiting your site weren't buyers... they were other sellers looking for better ideas to boost their own lagging sales. Then Etsy made some business decisions that may have worked out well for them, but not so great for the rest of us - and once again, the handcrafters began looking for a new platform.<br />
<br />
What you'll find is that it's pretty slim pickins' if you want to sell on someone else's platform. Sure, there are lots of them but they don't come close to the powerhouse of Amazon. Here's how it breaks down according to an article in <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/255698/the_5_best_online_marketplaces_for_selling_handmade_goods.html?page=2" target="_blank">PC World</a>: Etsy is the largest platform with 875,000 registered merchants, a number that is steadily dropping. Finding out how much the average seller is making is much more difficult but if you read the forums on Etsy it's a pretty sad state of affairs. Hundreds of merchants are listing but a very small percentage of them are doing more than covering the cost of their supplies and many of them don't even make that.<br />
<br />
If you combine the total of the next four biggest platforms, Bonanza, DaWanda, Zibbet and iCraft you'll only have a total of 173,000 registered merchants with pretty much the same results that the merchants on Etsy are having. If you're a US seller, only Bonanza is based in the US and selling through European platforms creates it's own headaches. Nevermind you say, you'll go it alone - set up your own website and learn SEO, RSS and all the rest of the techno alphabet soup!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hXt_7L-f5TL5drJixI35gdIg7Q6q05eFtnigwEeTZKFM4OjxnQR-MrUuMqo9MdrYGEDkeo8jsOcYT12xj5anxsKcC5R9za1fjSHpn0y2AxviiKgh2GTa6RPAifygjIRMznbeUiH5DaI/s1600/2015-08-27+13.08.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hXt_7L-f5TL5drJixI35gdIg7Q6q05eFtnigwEeTZKFM4OjxnQR-MrUuMqo9MdrYGEDkeo8jsOcYT12xj5anxsKcC5R9za1fjSHpn0y2AxviiKgh2GTa6RPAifygjIRMznbeUiH5DaI/s320/2015-08-27+13.08.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Everyone has a website, Facebook, Twitter, a blog, Instagram - you work really hard to make these platforms look professional - it's hard, we're not computer wizards - we're artists! But we struggle along trying to understand all the technobabble because, who can afford to pay $500 to an expert to develop and maintain a website? Does this help? Are you making a living from your craft? Probably not, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average income for a crafter is less than $30,000 a year. I don't know anyplace where you can get by on that kind of income.<br />
<br />
So, let's talk about Amazon - yes, Amazon has fees - so does every other platform out there. if you fairly compare features Amazon is not the most expensive. The professional level on Shopify is $79.00 per month plus fees and they have no where near the branded power of Amazon. I had a Shopify site for several months - made a total of two sales - dismal.<br />
<br />
Everyone shops on Amazon - it's easy, convenient, secure, fast and has everything - it's right in your living room. You have to understand and appreciate the value of what you are paying for - think of all the time and money you spend trying to get your work in front of people who are willing to pay you for it. Did any other crafters or artisans garner a prime time story on a national news channel (CNN) when their website launched? Amazon already has all the technical know-how, security, infrastructure, and marketing skills; but best of all, Amazon already has your customers, millions of them! That's what great about Amazon - they are marketing geniuses and they have more money than you're ever gonna have for promotion. If you could double or triple your business wouldn't that be worth $39.99 a month?<br />
<br />
But what about that small print you say? Yup, Amazon has lawyers - they write up those agreements to protect Amazon. So does Etsy and Ebay and every other platform out there. But seriously, if you believe that Amazon wants to steal your products and sell them for themselves you're delusional and should definitely look into other options. Amazon already has a great business model, they allow other people to sell their merchandise through the Amazon website - they've been doing it for over 20 years. It works for both parties - and you know what they say..."if it ain't broke, don't fix it."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzOTrgHo_D8KIzyDzdq8ACNxrWrlfcob7qpJGpjoJcdMehpiDZEVP7quj3rqINprWchfMNB932U19tjeH-bOjFVKEBAJBE8HxNUY4p372amlhCNTb4odTmfSGbynxfqFea4ac40kMJ_k/s1600/Tumbleweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzOTrgHo_D8KIzyDzdq8ACNxrWrlfcob7qpJGpjoJcdMehpiDZEVP7quj3rqINprWchfMNB932U19tjeH-bOjFVKEBAJBE8HxNUY4p372amlhCNTb4odTmfSGbynxfqFea4ac40kMJ_k/s320/Tumbleweed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You have to make up your mind - are you trying to<i><b> make your art your business </b></i>or, is this a hobby or a part time venture? If you're trying to make a living then you have to think like a business owner and use the left side of your brain instead of your heart to make decisions concerning your business. If you just love to craft and don't want to be buried in your projects then stick to the church bazaar and yard sale circuit.Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-74507123090213016422015-10-02T07:46:00.000-04:002015-10-02T07:46:47.034-04:00Yea, I Fixed That!I almost never buy jewelry, why should I? I usually just make my own. But once in awhile I see something that catches my eye. We were on vacation earlier this year and my daughter and I were shopping one afternoon. We found these nifty little bracelets called 'Gingersnaps' - they have a little piece in them that you can 'snap' different charms into. Aww, now who doesn't want a sparkly turtle? So, I bought one, made a nice, inexpensive souvenir from our trip.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpDn0Hy-dDTkk5NAe7PtqISdGwG33uT-2oCjZpc0cCV47Q5t3xciPKJkN0Znhj_U5pkpw3XmT3o2BknY9Xrux-qKYdWwiKKS8X6DyLBuWApPgsnIIV4FBcg3F5zf04mxYI0uEpz_zEXo/s1600/Turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpDn0Hy-dDTkk5NAe7PtqISdGwG33uT-2oCjZpc0cCV47Q5t3xciPKJkN0Znhj_U5pkpw3XmT3o2BknY9Xrux-qKYdWwiKKS8X6DyLBuWApPgsnIIV4FBcg3F5zf04mxYI0uEpz_zEXo/s400/Turtle.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa8lEOKz53fwnV18F8ozEQ0AiqEvvj-znlHVAE88RzTCqng3S_4qFrLX6A5JxcxqASb2gnKF0ku7yTlJPb07pcEfW7yfIdHDtRPBBovhHygWyA2duXgMEbeUHgnAsSENq3ViOB9Zm2nQ/s1600/Turtle3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa8lEOKz53fwnV18F8ozEQ0AiqEvvj-znlHVAE88RzTCqng3S_4qFrLX6A5JxcxqASb2gnKF0ku7yTlJPb07pcEfW7yfIdHDtRPBBovhHygWyA2duXgMEbeUHgnAsSENq3ViOB9Zm2nQ/s320/Turtle3.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQU2Q-XIdTc0GUITau73ADXxpreEBIDWqtgZWE6vh-BVf6KztJDk0qzHQ9zupasSBLT5drY1r3EtFVCBoioloIUSszJxG9cW0CBMYnzzBXhkH1N77C99mv5GReiK8hdMgQV7D3iHaP5j4/s1600/Turtle4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQU2Q-XIdTc0GUITau73ADXxpreEBIDWqtgZWE6vh-BVf6KztJDk0qzHQ9zupasSBLT5drY1r3EtFVCBoioloIUSszJxG9cW0CBMYnzzBXhkH1N77C99mv5GReiK8hdMgQV7D3iHaP5j4/s320/Turtle4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I wore it one day while we were still on vacation, then packed it up and brought it home. When I opened my travel case - it was broken. Dang it! I hate when that happens. But, serves me right for buying 'cheap'. So I fiddled around with it a little bit, decided that I could probably glue it and it might hold up for awhile. OR - I could make something else out of it, something better, something sparkly and unique!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rCA8x4bKWgUVOVwkEa5vWFoLz12up_KLHVi9IsZKWwequuk_asBCZ3zGHOqXR3DDRwS34Gd0e6id36rD5MYiY3Oq7aqpnM__SeRP6gxzu9YATOUC3PMrIgqV_DY5OrduTo3bOOahOws/s1600/Turtle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rCA8x4bKWgUVOVwkEa5vWFoLz12up_KLHVi9IsZKWwequuk_asBCZ3zGHOqXR3DDRwS34Gd0e6id36rD5MYiY3Oq7aqpnM__SeRP6gxzu9YATOUC3PMrIgqV_DY5OrduTo3bOOahOws/s320/Turtle2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, I took the whole thing apart, kept what I thought might be useful for other projects - waste not want not! I dug around in my stash of beads and such until I came up with a color scheme and some beads that I thought worked well together. I ended up with this...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pN3ZuVxHq6cwSRgzz1w3DZUd9rdUKkgf6U58sgO8g0jl7O5K39MHZoR3jI0DCGfyzgK2pH9_1R-NFGhOxDhwee9gsy_a-3BVk-60h7UFnCUa6g_VfEMwCmamtgfuEOacSCrcighYT2g/s1600/Turtle5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pN3ZuVxHq6cwSRgzz1w3DZUd9rdUKkgf6U58sgO8g0jl7O5K39MHZoR3jI0DCGfyzgK2pH9_1R-NFGhOxDhwee9gsy_a-3BVk-60h7UFnCUa6g_VfEMwCmamtgfuEOacSCrcighYT2g/s640/Turtle5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A little more my style... I love the colors and I prefer toggle clasps to the lobster claw that was on the original piece. I also really like that it looks like a watch but it isn't. Win - Win situation for me, I still have a souvenir from my vacation, I can still get more of the little snap on charms if I want something different which is a pretty cool feature and I ended up with a one-of-a-kind piece that I love!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8F4ceMJhUFPTNAbb-xj3DMZTjptAiQnLn4j_1oJoDeIEcD-F22hnylr68MrogpmnPjkGc-o53YZe_vMM6iSdQ49m9-4BufwYYnD3qhTNQOnoYNsFF8EZUYQ_ojc-e3lMXfvFoEdtMttg/s1600/Turtle6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8F4ceMJhUFPTNAbb-xj3DMZTjptAiQnLn4j_1oJoDeIEcD-F22hnylr68MrogpmnPjkGc-o53YZe_vMM6iSdQ49m9-4BufwYYnD3qhTNQOnoYNsFF8EZUYQ_ojc-e3lMXfvFoEdtMttg/s400/Turtle6.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Moral of the story, don't throw away old or broken jewelry. The components can usually be worked into something new that you can continue to love and wear!</div>
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-70318214268540783082015-09-17T09:57:00.000-04:002015-09-17T09:57:00.587-04:00Bears and Bears and Whale Tails? Oh My!Something I've learned about myself is that every once in awhile it's important for me to kick start my creativity. If I work too long at one particular type of craft I find myself losing steam and it becomes harder and harder for me to come up with something that feels fresh. As soon as that happens I know I need to be poked in that part of my brain that comes up with new ideas.<br />
<br />
Kickstarting isn't always complicated, sometimes it's as simple as buying a magazine and taking a look at what new products or trends are coming down the pike. Seeing another artists methods can trigger an idea, attending trade shows is an almost overwhelming stimulus to new ideas, but one of my favorite kickstarts is always classes or workshops.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS52wSy1wC5UGYg0n5TYBuc_dPWwcUYDci1B1Fx6FZ9AztbkDao_UGo8RSxKKymkFON4ZsxdCcLMYHc2QxCDJ1AMFrW922eq0_lyulXem-Ob65-L3OdWA39Fiv7vZ82ErxV-8VHNPKiw/s1600/mouse+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS52wSy1wC5UGYg0n5TYBuc_dPWwcUYDci1B1Fx6FZ9AztbkDao_UGo8RSxKKymkFON4ZsxdCcLMYHc2QxCDJ1AMFrW922eq0_lyulXem-Ob65-L3OdWA39Fiv7vZ82ErxV-8VHNPKiw/s400/mouse+door.jpg" width="351" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A couple of weeks ago I went to Pennsylvania to visit Jean Van Brederode in her studio - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charmed-Im-Sure-Studio/245968315497034?pnref=story" target="_blank">Charmed I'm Sure</a>. Jean was running a workshop on kiln enameling with liquid and powdered enamels. The finished project was this bracelet of polar bears. Once I saw the picture, I knew that I'd found my kickstarter!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvjlGdoTQ_7AALdyigUfVn2FpwMsKb3DQAeiUsAgDASqRqh-xcs49wwbnqEkE2ARoqWVDOqoFcglz5ZO7O_SEEPNZ9-B7Tfm3rrJh7artEmhoqcrI8kzmlNOZ5cnP4USh4tWD24qts6k/s1600/Jean%2527s+Bears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvjlGdoTQ_7AALdyigUfVn2FpwMsKb3DQAeiUsAgDASqRqh-xcs49wwbnqEkE2ARoqWVDOqoFcglz5ZO7O_SEEPNZ9-B7Tfm3rrJh7artEmhoqcrI8kzmlNOZ5cnP4USh4tWD24qts6k/s400/Jean%2527s+Bears.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Jean is the perfect person for visiting if you need a little inspiration boost. Her studio is jammed with the coolest tools, supplies and finished projects - you don't even need to do anything but sit there, you can't help but be motivated to create something. And Jean is a generous and patient instructor.<br />
<br />
So, we watched a short video presentation about the project we would be working on, Jean gave everyone a printed instruction sheet, tool kit and all the supplies we needed for the bear project.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYsJEbTDdOb-HsLz3euTHipul-duakvLb3za8zvshJcoZlh17qeoA29_VKLvPLj64eYfQiKOHkcK6w6afSpcDcOV7F3PoVw1mPOOXrty2SfiY2TXCa-1Gp4SD_TAOOixOKomNby7bxpE/s1600/2015-09-13+10.41.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYsJEbTDdOb-HsLz3euTHipul-duakvLb3za8zvshJcoZlh17qeoA29_VKLvPLj64eYfQiKOHkcK6w6afSpcDcOV7F3PoVw1mPOOXrty2SfiY2TXCa-1Gp4SD_TAOOixOKomNby7bxpE/s400/2015-09-13+10.41.41.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
We spent the next six hours learning about hydraulic presses, pancake dyes, kilns, enameling with liquids and powders and a host of other things related and not related to the project we were working on!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpQcSCspIiOlkslLSkQhrkIGjnUq_rzu-vMVnwrWciY_WvKanos-4IcxxGvu8ZcIj3BVp1LTbpaWHGHkPjaDhue6WAitcXlo0GnZ8iq4ZT4myQXXfPgMXzMEWf2JaVAZViyRCLRbm2LA/s1600/die+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpQcSCspIiOlkslLSkQhrkIGjnUq_rzu-vMVnwrWciY_WvKanos-4IcxxGvu8ZcIj3BVp1LTbpaWHGHkPjaDhue6WAitcXlo0GnZ8iq4ZT4myQXXfPgMXzMEWf2JaVAZViyRCLRbm2LA/s640/die+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The process of creating the little bears was enough to get me percolating with ideas on what to make. I knew that I wouldn't be happy making just one piece so I made sure to put holes in the sides and tops as well as making bears that faced in both directions. I also made a couple of bears with a tab on top thinking that they would make really cute necklaces. While I was at it, I made two whale tails just because Jean said I could!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCET-vnCeGUK7DwfUgrR9KWIdHbOhgSSLiFZMf2yDU8j6NGqF5xORscZt8Z-pKz4pae-HA4PIc4YJJrWK0hluDnLL6NKNIDp0yZeZ_JT9sjhYBjdcrTtHQ0N21Yl7GMlflwZR4ODuaxRI/s1600/2015-09-13+11.47.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCET-vnCeGUK7DwfUgrR9KWIdHbOhgSSLiFZMf2yDU8j6NGqF5xORscZt8Z-pKz4pae-HA4PIc4YJJrWK0hluDnLL6NKNIDp0yZeZ_JT9sjhYBjdcrTtHQ0N21Yl7GMlflwZR4ODuaxRI/s320/2015-09-13+11.47.02.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cN_ZuC1QWah7MB7THb76Z69EIn4f7pwWPUabOfl4f0Qxlbq7wfOhhvbSBH3N5sUO0lBikUTAhd9lJ2wtdh2SPOp1LGPSeTQIlVOXsa2lAE8_Rqg-J51xbWO_kNAASAiUg18x_Cv8hbg/s1600/2015-09-13+14.05.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cN_ZuC1QWah7MB7THb76Z69EIn4f7pwWPUabOfl4f0Qxlbq7wfOhhvbSBH3N5sUO0lBikUTAhd9lJ2wtdh2SPOp1LGPSeTQIlVOXsa2lAE8_Rqg-J51xbWO_kNAASAiUg18x_Cv8hbg/s320/2015-09-13+14.05.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
At the end of the day I had a little pile that looked like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKmKcZW9ojFuYef5dRhQlJBZ9fIF0usSEKlvdxwK_l-5ut5us5hO6njdyaF2Mz7uF0DKe7KTWVX1Qon5pQhcZD2hfD2HtAnj-37LLCinb_Al1ZiZTlR1t0PcDBWMd6MxArNLDnRsvSoE/s1600/2015-09-14+09.14.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKmKcZW9ojFuYef5dRhQlJBZ9fIF0usSEKlvdxwK_l-5ut5us5hO6njdyaF2Mz7uF0DKe7KTWVX1Qon5pQhcZD2hfD2HtAnj-37LLCinb_Al1ZiZTlR1t0PcDBWMd6MxArNLDnRsvSoE/s640/2015-09-14+09.14.02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I gleefully drove home with my little stash envisioning all the adorable things, rustic things, sparkly things that could be made with these delightful little copper bears!<br />
<br />
The first thing I made was this bracelet - I love that it feels chilly with the cold and snow but sparkly at the same time - like the sun on snow. Glass is almost always my medium of preference so of course I had to have some white and clear lampwork beads in there and silver is the perfect shiny accent.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnYkC5KNr5GTOUs_KbWgMG-07YPaU2U8Ih7O-8cZH7hgwyWiWkFGupJtcq3Pdkw4HcN5Cgz18QMzyRnh2WdHwawZgP9ykQ2cC8at4FZfqx09TjZS1cyHFG0dqweCYKlnhUoimLH-Pv34/s1600/Bears5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnYkC5KNr5GTOUs_KbWgMG-07YPaU2U8Ih7O-8cZH7hgwyWiWkFGupJtcq3Pdkw4HcN5Cgz18QMzyRnh2WdHwawZgP9ykQ2cC8at4FZfqx09TjZS1cyHFG0dqweCYKlnhUoimLH-Pv34/s400/Bears5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
After that there was no stopping! I made several more pieces...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbhUcD_NNni2YW-JOVSe6L2t5SJU31yvDCs3lCqEDEZOUFrrx7kVhETftI5gzdpLw2NFV5bOd-Xcl3rVYVjUS4VhfFdGekxdIkxIjEPCmACTFyHjQTZ54L_7g8jLJSY1scRtKLb627Ko/s1600/Bears3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbhUcD_NNni2YW-JOVSe6L2t5SJU31yvDCs3lCqEDEZOUFrrx7kVhETftI5gzdpLw2NFV5bOd-Xcl3rVYVjUS4VhfFdGekxdIkxIjEPCmACTFyHjQTZ54L_7g8jLJSY1scRtKLb627Ko/s400/Bears3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFL1ARMfjTeu9WQX1HMxXXmmuPiAIxHAc_EpT-cEMDAAtXeLKOfeuXF05rFwKMpGcabAhwq6V7w-89AwrepgZ26sDufsVYScRSfkxy64xzzyQtXtfN1_CFb5KghCnPdNDCNsmWN3-smc/s1600/Bears2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFL1ARMfjTeu9WQX1HMxXXmmuPiAIxHAc_EpT-cEMDAAtXeLKOfeuXF05rFwKMpGcabAhwq6V7w-89AwrepgZ26sDufsVYScRSfkxy64xzzyQtXtfN1_CFb5KghCnPdNDCNsmWN3-smc/s400/Bears2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r9RgEhy7L1jAibk0Q2viwlc8OtLr04lUoCMj9zdZl5Ep9I1IIvByZo8oGHUDUh7C9Ed9Nj1MC7hxoHKT0ObLrobC2NZF1FV0Srfi_LmNqHPhArtWjNw5HIGxLJYgDm1Ew5yB6ddsZkA/s1600/Bears4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r9RgEhy7L1jAibk0Q2viwlc8OtLr04lUoCMj9zdZl5Ep9I1IIvByZo8oGHUDUh7C9Ed9Nj1MC7hxoHKT0ObLrobC2NZF1FV0Srfi_LmNqHPhArtWjNw5HIGxLJYgDm1Ew5yB6ddsZkA/s400/Bears4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Two more bracelets and the necklace using one of the tabbed bears. AND.... I haven't even used the whales yet!<br />
<br />
This was the perfect day for me - I seriously kick started my creative brain process, I learned something new, had a great day with a fun bunch of other creative people and made new friends - oh, and for a bonus, had a delicious lunch!<br />
<br />
So the next time you're sitting in your studio pondering your pile of stash and drawing a blank - check out the internet - there are classes and workshops everywhere! If you live near Mechanicsburg, PA - go see Jean - she'll inspire you!Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-2673988138283585922015-08-31T10:19:00.000-04:002015-08-31T10:19:40.391-04:00DIY - Eyeglasses With Class!Eyeglass chains are one of my favorite things to make, they're such a personal statement of your style. They're also the perfect combination of form and function - who doesn't want to look great while doing something practical? An eyeglass chain keeps your readers or sunglasses close at hand, saves you time you would have wasted looking for them and looks great whether you have them hanging around your neck or perched on your nose!<br />
<br />
These chains are also a pretty easy do-it-yourself project.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, if you're feeling a little crafty - give it a try!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_grVGKx5zTI9RCgOPh2ofMEG1XneAj6kfJ-XoDFjUJOedwUBUrfQNH2dzo6ZYIpyly6Tq4WDEPMWq5h1TI6cEgBMotiiNSWwg4UGUg_figps3JjcMK_9XQMSd69_esxjDYS9GIKsuMk/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_grVGKx5zTI9RCgOPh2ofMEG1XneAj6kfJ-XoDFjUJOedwUBUrfQNH2dzo6ZYIpyly6Tq4WDEPMWq5h1TI6cEgBMotiiNSWwg4UGUg_figps3JjcMK_9XQMSd69_esxjDYS9GIKsuMk/s640/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25289%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
First thing you need to do is think about the colors - maybe you're a cool blue or a spicy orange - whatever it is you'll need to gather a few items to get started:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBq8gCgPkOGXii05z-UfrgB_cErwXtVPWhY4ZDEUK5cv6re0VmbRaRfplBEds317a23pmMKvb9ohJC7azLKgCIUYdrJ-bBUJjKa5jLxn2Kxxg93XMggUAsEEd8-HxmJGxHiX6DDyTVQY/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBq8gCgPkOGXii05z-UfrgB_cErwXtVPWhY4ZDEUK5cv6re0VmbRaRfplBEds317a23pmMKvb9ohJC7azLKgCIUYdrJ-bBUJjKa5jLxn2Kxxg93XMggUAsEEd8-HxmJGxHiX6DDyTVQY/s400/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You'll need an 18" length of chain - I like to use enameled chain because it's comfortable against your neck, really durable, colorfast and it comes in about a zillion colors.<br />
<br />
You'll also need the components - an important thing to keep in mind is that you'll need two of each bead or component because you'll want to make each end of the chain symmetrical.<br />
<br />
Finally, you'll need lots of jumprings and two rubber ends. I use 18gauge colored copper jumprings because they're sturdy and add a little extra pizzazz! The ends are made by tightly wrapping a set of rubber O rings with wire.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJltDdoIYD402XgsmjBIUJzT3XbATTI3CU-iMwoBWtNJo0YUYe6COOtdnuCj8QdPFQqXGb3S5UoKBYMXfSjlG-v66BnFwzJgav_i6KR4d8hbox8biEV-wBdTtUE6nmpd2GE8TKjPcqkT0/s1600/Jumprings+PACIFIC+BLUE+18g+%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJltDdoIYD402XgsmjBIUJzT3XbATTI3CU-iMwoBWtNJo0YUYe6COOtdnuCj8QdPFQqXGb3S5UoKBYMXfSjlG-v66BnFwzJgav_i6KR4d8hbox8biEV-wBdTtUE6nmpd2GE8TKjPcqkT0/s200/Jumprings+PACIFIC+BLUE+18g+%252817%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5stNPH7cYbj2UW8Yd75wYTOTH7OMDqCN6P56quuqC8vaH7hUO13X6JgkFsiveVfv_hNcupN8uA0xgk4qMNpBl03KW2AxJDbpkXeSs4lgm6CkNiaU69NhdSJR-XC9UpdJIkD9bAsz4S0/s1600/Eyeglass+Connectors+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5stNPH7cYbj2UW8Yd75wYTOTH7OMDqCN6P56quuqC8vaH7hUO13X6JgkFsiveVfv_hNcupN8uA0xgk4qMNpBl03KW2AxJDbpkXeSs4lgm6CkNiaU69NhdSJR-XC9UpdJIkD9bAsz4S0/s200/Eyeglass+Connectors+%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Now to the fun part!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Start by putting together the components. You can use simple wrapped loops on either end of a bead or two, just remember to make two of each component. You can lay them out along a ruler making sure that you have 5" or 6" of components, remembering that your O ring connectors will take up about an inch and also allowing for your jumpring connectors.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmn5db7MFbKyESnq6Tnt6X8SoO0iV2hKe1yjOvlSSiO0NYxh-_Ar88r52mMeAk4efyHAzeyxsktIOGGvBLNefQle7c_Nrvg7KVWnEcbHf6QERlXYTUhyphenhyphenlB8jPcZvR-LYxBhtzbhvD57w/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmn5db7MFbKyESnq6Tnt6X8SoO0iV2hKe1yjOvlSSiO0NYxh-_Ar88r52mMeAk4efyHAzeyxsktIOGGvBLNefQle7c_Nrvg7KVWnEcbHf6QERlXYTUhyphenhyphenlB8jPcZvR-LYxBhtzbhvD57w/s320/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMKem8doeJNXLo2tloD2XVQkHaVTSms0P0YiBFteW4fLA36wj5xANYuyJeCh67vkCgz5IJr5lBq8aL4YJ3QILfsAL0Zjs4qkIdsnZ800wE6r5_lFwmJ3HcZeHaq4TrzdI5xmnShzjX-k/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMKem8doeJNXLo2tloD2XVQkHaVTSms0P0YiBFteW4fLA36wj5xANYuyJeCh67vkCgz5IJr5lBq8aL4YJ3QILfsAL0Zjs4qkIdsnZ800wE6r5_lFwmJ3HcZeHaq4TrzdI5xmnShzjX-k/s320/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now to assemble your components!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WXWib-cYJUbO_qYNGNwLFsIq8PL4zu_aIjdGRNa__RkOOICj555ZhXkBN-T48rfmN0TfaTIkdBBH36Kx-Ih9C-QzHox3_mfSTZbdpt7oNrcbzrF5GlauZ2yYq0wmqGipxy34tQcFd4c/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WXWib-cYJUbO_qYNGNwLFsIq8PL4zu_aIjdGRNa__RkOOICj555ZhXkBN-T48rfmN0TfaTIkdBBH36Kx-Ih9C-QzHox3_mfSTZbdpt7oNrcbzrF5GlauZ2yYq0wmqGipxy34tQcFd4c/s640/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Think about how the piece will look hanging next to your face as well as hanging around your neck. Your components shouldn't be overly large or heavy. The finished piece shouldn't weigh more than two or three ounces. If you have larger pieces, add them first - that way they'll end up closest to the chain and furthest from your face.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhqH2wyOoxnY2Uzi6xbwrvunHQPKCJr0682CwubyP_R5XMNUMygxm4lQwWptOhSMf-yMDz_i1pJOc4xfZQrK3YIA5YZ7IzU61iEa-WkZQA0gxOCgg87zTATGVFBw9kv5SgRmydMn8HKo/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhqH2wyOoxnY2Uzi6xbwrvunHQPKCJr0682CwubyP_R5XMNUMygxm4lQwWptOhSMf-yMDz_i1pJOc4xfZQrK3YIA5YZ7IzU61iEa-WkZQA0gxOCgg87zTATGVFBw9kv5SgRmydMn8HKo/s400/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaeMim5nMCpuLdLvxA16bj94QivmZABevKwLjKa2DRcP7zca_1IKKTrUcW7dhnxIditZqYtuJxGk8m870xTdEIy9C8jHnuSn5pE102SRLvvIboUytGisTGJg1K84A_Ohch8JcUNBYOmU/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaeMim5nMCpuLdLvxA16bj94QivmZABevKwLjKa2DRcP7zca_1IKKTrUcW7dhnxIditZqYtuJxGk8m870xTdEIy9C8jHnuSn5pE102SRLvvIboUytGisTGJg1K84A_Ohch8JcUNBYOmU/s400/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What!? Yes, it's just that simple!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwV4en7OJvRePccYngRwL_IwtkJA0tzh-HK0dHhMVscCVnyd3-d6NlL0FdeoE52_8DizmRq5lCMwDVjqHH1PjpS8k00ctE6ujfXK4EdSmB33T1zWYLXUTvAjqcsdLb8qWJQ5gXNqH18BM/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwV4en7OJvRePccYngRwL_IwtkJA0tzh-HK0dHhMVscCVnyd3-d6NlL0FdeoE52_8DizmRq5lCMwDVjqHH1PjpS8k00ctE6ujfXK4EdSmB33T1zWYLXUTvAjqcsdLb8qWJQ5gXNqH18BM/s320/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25287%2529.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArJTLhbxvIgvGkmrycb7SMbjNAFo21PAKzJKJ-5fw2MAIseq-8C84STwhbFULvsRkklAQnpTTXyOCG59b2YAGq-r0KsI40Jag3pV6rtWXIAFOGA2IciTBcXH3ldQe1A6KXx83-7ixZgc/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArJTLhbxvIgvGkmrycb7SMbjNAFo21PAKzJKJ-5fw2MAIseq-8C84STwhbFULvsRkklAQnpTTXyOCG59b2YAGq-r0KsI40Jag3pV6rtWXIAFOGA2IciTBcXH3ldQe1A6KXx83-7ixZgc/s320/Eyeglass+Chain+DIY+%25288%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Put on your happy face and get out there! There are fun things to see and read!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-31631768436491737062015-06-23T19:10:00.000-04:002015-06-23T19:10:10.487-04:00Blooms for June!We had a wedding to go to this month - of course, cause it's June! So, I got my outfit together - white linen pants and an awesome seafoam green top - very pretty. But I still needed a great bracelet to pull it all together. I wanted something really colorful, fun and loaded with pizazz!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirw_pTpfdrsNk42YyBe3yywsvi22b6RR6TksOFA45RnDaq-6-rl2Qt4nKZ5I6CszfuQHhgVi6NT2E9G9NHTnA4xhJUtawpnDbt2PEjLnvwbeXHtQ0LQ2_ZfrEG8jIh-E0xl_z7OZpspB0/s1600/Bracelet+Urbanna+Wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirw_pTpfdrsNk42YyBe3yywsvi22b6RR6TksOFA45RnDaq-6-rl2Qt4nKZ5I6CszfuQHhgVi6NT2E9G9NHTnA4xhJUtawpnDbt2PEjLnvwbeXHtQ0LQ2_ZfrEG8jIh-E0xl_z7OZpspB0/s640/Bracelet+Urbanna+Wedding.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I ended up with tons of glass flowers, enameled beads and toggle and a mountain of colorful accents from Yvonne Irvin.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGGPc0yt3IoBqyf1oeIk_9A0635-EdDcLsv_YKrogl2Xc4axTPmG8LQ_VNGazr7-QUlWoBUpr4xIH15pR_XoRHf9hHF6y4Ej5Uf9XgALEzyHpP-ApSLQQE5muM2jApNyfY2XbikHHhZg/s1600/Bracelet+Urbanna+Wedding+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGGPc0yt3IoBqyf1oeIk_9A0635-EdDcLsv_YKrogl2Xc4axTPmG8LQ_VNGazr7-QUlWoBUpr4xIH15pR_XoRHf9hHF6y4Ej5Uf9XgALEzyHpP-ApSLQQE5muM2jApNyfY2XbikHHhZg/s400/Bracelet+Urbanna+Wedding+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Definitely feeling ready to party at a wedding!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMNYmxkgRxMBQokv2wn-_mes68DOt06IP2OUEO7-gtTgnHi5_P3WfTLSAAb8VK3eRNb6GNxvNfZdbSpIjwwEioyC1dvnX5MQ5siwBOh4tE2YT2w3Twy5_Jj5Pv7eRCowkmTqKtarF4E4/s1600/Bracelet+Urbanna+Wedding+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMNYmxkgRxMBQokv2wn-_mes68DOt06IP2OUEO7-gtTgnHi5_P3WfTLSAAb8VK3eRNb6GNxvNfZdbSpIjwwEioyC1dvnX5MQ5siwBOh4tE2YT2w3Twy5_Jj5Pv7eRCowkmTqKtarF4E4/s640/Bracelet+Urbanna+Wedding+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-79829868076212030722014-11-10T07:56:00.002-05:002014-11-10T07:56:28.478-05:00PDF or Not? I've been seeing a trend in the online stores lately. In addition to the physical item there is also the option of purchasing the electronic or video files for the step-by-step instructions so you can make the product yourself.<br />
<br />
My daughter-in-law is a member of a site for educators that is built on this premise. You create digital files of lesson plans or other classroom activities and make them available to other members of the site for a fee. It's called <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/" target="_blank">Teachers Pay Teacher</a> and it's and enormously popular site.<br />
<br />
I wanted to make an apron with a retro feel for a friend as a holiday gift. I went online and found that hundreds of patterns are available to purchase. Most of them are original patterns from Butterick or McCalls etc...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQByDL0cgxbFE-cj4YzP-8xnVpgiiF0mUQDJ9iMt6LqftddNLaIBxnkLs323M423A1irNRfhYPLTEIoIrpBLcj50IcnT4ytAyq_QNxuT7F4LLQG0HoDn7ZGHKw_uVLmO7SCsXqtLTN3hA/s1600/retro+apron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQByDL0cgxbFE-cj4YzP-8xnVpgiiF0mUQDJ9iMt6LqftddNLaIBxnkLs323M423A1irNRfhYPLTEIoIrpBLcj50IcnT4ytAyq_QNxuT7F4LLQG0HoDn7ZGHKw_uVLmO7SCsXqtLTN3hA/s1600/retro+apron.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
These are usually reasonably priced and a great way to find a pattern that is no longer made by the company.<br />
<br />
This made me curious - and I started doing searches for patterns or instructions for other items. I found patterns for a purse that I wanted to try that I couldn't find a commercial pattern for anywhere!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5mGxYWKd736wNvgPkUsRnnNRtO32yN3LBmf1mKThf3tfwJgMd76C8_G1-A3ulBpK1pPqPPum_cx6E4wz8pb6OI8cBhZ0TSKp72S4DA7A-yOFB-e1tWfrayr0Ok4gesWufs8RJebogyc/s1600/PatternRules_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5mGxYWKd736wNvgPkUsRnnNRtO32yN3LBmf1mKThf3tfwJgMd76C8_G1-A3ulBpK1pPqPPum_cx6E4wz8pb6OI8cBhZ0TSKp72S4DA7A-yOFB-e1tWfrayr0Ok4gesWufs8RJebogyc/s1600/PatternRules_2.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This one was a free download - and from this pattern I was able to make this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ89kewkYLQdjFxX5j307fef45zLR1Z6JCPvoXk4K2loKdfbJGB__nWKbbkQuTOmgcWh2i0d1oJLiTlMR4zmSDAX9SRcPQF-CrDHt3txZFdj3bHGDVWMpcws9EFQOVkEL6i-g750ail4/s1600/Coin+Purs+Boop+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ89kewkYLQdjFxX5j307fef45zLR1Z6JCPvoXk4K2loKdfbJGB__nWKbbkQuTOmgcWh2i0d1oJLiTlMR4zmSDAX9SRcPQF-CrDHt3txZFdj3bHGDVWMpcws9EFQOVkEL6i-g750ail4/s1600/Coin+Purs+Boop+(2).jpg" height="320" width="307" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, I continue thinking and decided that I like the idea of making step-by-step instructions for some of my most popular items and at the same time continuing to sell the physical item for people who aren't inclined to try a DIY project. This could open up an entire new market and help me combat the loss of sales on Etsy to the Chinese ready made companies that have flooded the site.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What do you think? Is this going to cost me sales? Am I going to start seeing my currently unique items flood the market? Do people really want to make everything themselves?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Much to think about before I step into the void...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-53712346485689378522014-10-21T15:31:00.000-04:002014-10-21T15:31:32.670-04:00Bow Ties ~ Charming, Sexy, Cool, Nerd Chic, Fun, In Style!Bow ties have made a wonderful comeback! I'm so excited about this - I love a man in a bow tie.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsDoE7W5ejV88K_6zhHQcsYCpmwA0LGTZ98oVBeo4r0AH01kD8PwymzMmUBo49aUyU4sxhNlS7hY5KkleuDKgXdCYnYR5fn3YuH0FwQnl59ejHVz6IGxYKDDxmNDrhrfpESpIAtvLzzA/s1600/Bow+Tie+Black+Swirls+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsDoE7W5ejV88K_6zhHQcsYCpmwA0LGTZ98oVBeo4r0AH01kD8PwymzMmUBo49aUyU4sxhNlS7hY5KkleuDKgXdCYnYR5fn3YuH0FwQnl59ejHVz6IGxYKDDxmNDrhrfpESpIAtvLzzA/s1600/Bow+Tie+Black+Swirls+(2).jpg" height="232" width="400" /></a></div>
I don't care what kind of bow tie - there's a bow tie for every man and every occasion - they are the classic, timeless men's accessory!<br />
<br />
When someone says bow tie, this is the image that immediately comes to mind... the ultimate sexy, cool, spy guy - Sean Connery. But then almost as fast I get several other images as well....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jIxExQ-Nm1Cs_cJ4N10ZLN9oLW6B9T4GL0QqVOeqi419RrNLetQEl1noQQD9le8hrfZANi88NAFMih6XH2al6d8r-P9CPhQXUohgrkHeqjHXp0L5V46maOgzOzQzMTTuyRX4aRqK5_8/s1600/men+in+ties6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jIxExQ-Nm1Cs_cJ4N10ZLN9oLW6B9T4GL0QqVOeqi419RrNLetQEl1noQQD9le8hrfZANi88NAFMih6XH2al6d8r-P9CPhQXUohgrkHeqjHXp0L5V46maOgzOzQzMTTuyRX4aRqK5_8/s1600/men+in+ties6.jpg" height="186" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Bill Nye!! Of course... I've never seen him without his signature bow ties - he's won awards for his ties! Nerd Chic! Love this look!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8xwgqV9O2k2UJCrL6Q5f937-kgNKKN4aoBnUQy6Wuzp4l8vczUnaZ1YMw-oLONBCMvNPc76-1yJdmFupWAH65y8jpKKf6-AleZf_coo693rbP4FeWPwHmB3drpIz-Ouy4MmDwR9C-To/s1600/men+in+ties8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8xwgqV9O2k2UJCrL6Q5f937-kgNKKN4aoBnUQy6Wuzp4l8vczUnaZ1YMw-oLONBCMvNPc76-1yJdmFupWAH65y8jpKKf6-AleZf_coo693rbP4FeWPwHmB3drpIz-Ouy4MmDwR9C-To/s1600/men+in+ties8.jpg" height="400" width="305" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My niece just got married - this is what the groomsmen all wore - completely adorable, sexy, fun. Men in fuchsia ties! It's a striking look with the black tux - so sharp, but still fun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbCji-OPyxjnkWgd7-t0wQKbiBROhfEOREIIfRZIks45fG_kqeLyeKeA2qhPONU72H2p8V_aB7tie6V3EDk-ZkjsGFnTsiGkwuWQLqZAmJNahd7t0sDBtUHBZY8hsR41ysmOCIoQNyAI/s1600/men+in+ties5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbCji-OPyxjnkWgd7-t0wQKbiBROhfEOREIIfRZIks45fG_kqeLyeKeA2qhPONU72H2p8V_aB7tie6V3EDk-ZkjsGFnTsiGkwuWQLqZAmJNahd7t0sDBtUHBZY8hsR41ysmOCIoQNyAI/s1600/men+in+ties5.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
Bow ties, everyone can wear one.... seriously - Good Guys, Bad Guys..... equally awesome look!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wO4NwLNdb1FHbEeg-G9M6hK-wXKQqskLf2Nndvmk-6BkX-wy42bmpAoqRjxT_gbhxzkVWw2-vFHLE4vPAg6vJVj0xXAcIaBftFPfmUFEs0XE1uRqFgfOe8TCGQQmq8bgs4Jkm3q0sWo/s1600/men+in+ties4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wO4NwLNdb1FHbEeg-G9M6hK-wXKQqskLf2Nndvmk-6BkX-wy42bmpAoqRjxT_gbhxzkVWw2-vFHLE4vPAg6vJVj0xXAcIaBftFPfmUFEs0XE1uRqFgfOe8TCGQQmq8bgs4Jkm3q0sWo/s1600/men+in+ties4.png" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Colorful guys look great - gotta love the pocket square accessory!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfqFVVDBIMeNyLmG5MIGL2i-SSdn-2rJXYVGPMBS086NjAYHZ1b6mXDeM73gCgPlUCJonEp5UC6PVTtQFO15yddK32SkSjLkxiPVqoi3jVWBikHiIRCwpwIMJEbEiYVllKac61SWKxLA/s1600/men+in+ties2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfqFVVDBIMeNyLmG5MIGL2i-SSdn-2rJXYVGPMBS086NjAYHZ1b6mXDeM73gCgPlUCJonEp5UC6PVTtQFO15yddK32SkSjLkxiPVqoi3jVWBikHiIRCwpwIMJEbEiYVllKac61SWKxLA/s1600/men+in+ties2.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Really, really smart guys can totally rock a bow tie! Even if they're having a bad hair day.....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqNFsOvilDGcZ7nOPB14_92MuiNMh4btqiOIQf182mJnv9Uv4jU8u1TKFqRTdH-STzto3SsOSxhVgA6_3qccnfMh6qACVB9b9msl1drEus5NBxkgPHrASozjamMtDQc9Cq2DLtF71H_Y/s1600/men+in+ties9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqNFsOvilDGcZ7nOPB14_92MuiNMh4btqiOIQf182mJnv9Uv4jU8u1TKFqRTdH-STzto3SsOSxhVgA6_3qccnfMh6qACVB9b9msl1drEus5NBxkgPHrASozjamMtDQc9Cq2DLtF71H_Y/s1600/men+in+ties9.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Funny guys look great in bow ties!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDplN8ff3ogRmdpcqijts0aHOTVa8Ecvbuww2xQig1oXTmBKd7r2p9odUw1z6gDDPBLtYo24tEUueN1Hp3znOyvtXG0FK7H-oLP5vx6t0ut8dwtiaQMSK1kVKK-r9Umljmwg28lXYL9O4/s1600/men+in+ties10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDplN8ff3ogRmdpcqijts0aHOTVa8Ecvbuww2xQig1oXTmBKd7r2p9odUw1z6gDDPBLtYo24tEUueN1Hp3znOyvtXG0FK7H-oLP5vx6t0ut8dwtiaQMSK1kVKK-r9Umljmwg28lXYL9O4/s1600/men+in+ties10.jpg" height="400" width="353" /></a></div>
<br />
I can't think of any occasions when a bow tie won't rock the house. So, if you have a guy and bow ties aren't a go to accessory in his wardrobe - you now know the perfect Christmas gift don't you????<br />
<br />
And - you're in luck - I happen to be making the most amazing bow ties!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/207449741/mens-bow-tie-wedding-groomsmen-pre-tied?ref=shop_home_active_5" target="_blank">Batik in Blue!</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR63yKC1lU9aR4OWg8M054xEf1vzICMksDVtMytLj8VrQ80er2l-c1nMiLvLWHJnK0WIY_NvJfwnmzPEOHG2YzGSXHfYnh6EmLtCgheOZ_7QbiLNbILxNh-dX3wBpctoRJE0BFxhmshXA/s1600/Bow+Tie+Blue+Batik+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR63yKC1lU9aR4OWg8M054xEf1vzICMksDVtMytLj8VrQ80er2l-c1nMiLvLWHJnK0WIY_NvJfwnmzPEOHG2YzGSXHfYnh6EmLtCgheOZ_7QbiLNbILxNh-dX3wBpctoRJE0BFxhmshXA/s1600/Bow+Tie+Blue+Batik+(2).jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/207452743/mens-bow-tie-wedding-groomsmen-pre-tied?ref=listing-shop-header-1" target="_blank">Peacock</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMW91YRpCNp-BEZrReKSHSlM6mg9m44E2goVe1a3B4eS-OdhhDDOetFHo-Ua60ZWKak7HMtFuqR5J6a3cjfPm0Hf1T21tZRHGh_O8IaZ4PcteHz4zF0cEHbnNuyqt_Q4LVbeGT012YFCY/s1600/Bowtie+Peacock+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMW91YRpCNp-BEZrReKSHSlM6mg9m44E2goVe1a3B4eS-OdhhDDOetFHo-Ua60ZWKak7HMtFuqR5J6a3cjfPm0Hf1T21tZRHGh_O8IaZ4PcteHz4zF0cEHbnNuyqt_Q4LVbeGT012YFCY/s1600/Bowtie+Peacock+(2).jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/207439084/mens-bow-tie-wedding-groomsmen-pre-tied?ref=listing-shop-header-3" target="_blank">Intense Red</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Of60pD0Xcu9hzIruwnHT8HioNetFvwgYdOCNyRAFP-WObo2wj6ENy7S6AXXmUrCnUlkZMZsY6rh-qCjlKcrmLBSnd3Hmlup-bYNWDn7h1PaUPiVpimwAnSZ0RdiUUCCsoFHadFfuME/s1600/Bow+Tie+Red+Batik+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Of60pD0Xcu9hzIruwnHT8HioNetFvwgYdOCNyRAFP-WObo2wj6ENy7S6AXXmUrCnUlkZMZsY6rh-qCjlKcrmLBSnd3Hmlup-bYNWDn7h1PaUPiVpimwAnSZ0RdiUUCCsoFHadFfuME/s1600/Bow+Tie+Red+Batik+(1).jpg" height="183" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGawRUPFoB6h_gvjpjYL0nEA6gmLhn7DdyohaYsyq1q_q6IyZnFDqSnVmwxRGqNB7awXYn5YV_TTIcRO3sM_NVrnPiZTYU07nsoMObvDWVFhLdJ6sroY_lM17rKC0brY6p9wYp4cFvJA/s1600/1+bow+tie+sampler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGawRUPFoB6h_gvjpjYL0nEA6gmLhn7DdyohaYsyq1q_q6IyZnFDqSnVmwxRGqNB7awXYn5YV_TTIcRO3sM_NVrnPiZTYU07nsoMObvDWVFhLdJ6sroY_lM17rKC0brY6p9wYp4cFvJA/s1600/1+bow+tie+sampler.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So, head over to my website - <a href="http://www.rigglettes.com/">www.rigglettes.com</a> and have a look. It doesn't matter what style your guy is - a bow tie will make it better!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02VmveRDMUvuOWfhShyYr1jWmp5cf5FmM7Za7FZqKXu3ZkQN7V_-CbSHDmuTwFoBRgwe6-AXU1TrxzLrqfTVk-5MIvBZ8IblcVK8Ti7FAYQeVFN3LshyphenhyphenhmGeaYD5dE_5-rfBaGkU7gPQ/s1600/men+in+ties7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02VmveRDMUvuOWfhShyYr1jWmp5cf5FmM7Za7FZqKXu3ZkQN7V_-CbSHDmuTwFoBRgwe6-AXU1TrxzLrqfTVk-5MIvBZ8IblcVK8Ti7FAYQeVFN3LshyphenhyphenhmGeaYD5dE_5-rfBaGkU7gPQ/s1600/men+in+ties7.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-24148906117136283182014-10-09T16:35:00.000-04:002014-10-09T16:35:09.561-04:00Eyeglass Chains - Add Some Fun! Like millions of other people I wear glasses. I can see far away, but I'm blind as a bat up close. So, I wear reading glasses. The frustrating part is that I put them down... I forget where I put them or I leave them in the car, at work, at my sisters GAK!! Then I need them, can't find them, buy another pair and the cycle starts all over.<br />
<br />
I must have at least a dozen pair of readers.<br />
<br />
I looked at eyeglass chains...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n3aPjEm5A0HkW3Z77In5TU1TZ63mvhx_f_SFDZC3xSDktO4qLZELuxe9iD65ZtiJ2fJmNR44RC49-tEVB2a4YeGC-g3fC874uBDlI6HKI8Sd7Ut9xJCzai0fEovcSdPm60eU6_H8hms/s1600/grandma+eyewear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n3aPjEm5A0HkW3Z77In5TU1TZ63mvhx_f_SFDZC3xSDktO4qLZELuxe9iD65ZtiJ2fJmNR44RC49-tEVB2a4YeGC-g3fC874uBDlI6HKI8Sd7Ut9xJCzai0fEovcSdPm60eU6_H8hms/s1600/grandma+eyewear.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Practical, sure -- but U-G-L-Y!<br />
<br />
And.... what the heck is this little rubber thingy on the end???<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcv0Nt9hRj8c60D_7esC6hc3Hrepml76XQb8SrBBRwYZzzdJlbviu0lgn4MY9wXyDD8VkNzJzNnhPlZHIkYM4Yamw__9ztxdoj7QpBrJvQ6l5oH6zqPhlxI8_MImKjnJRtnZxmZU9-hfg/s1600/end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcv0Nt9hRj8c60D_7esC6hc3Hrepml76XQb8SrBBRwYZzzdJlbviu0lgn4MY9wXyDD8VkNzJzNnhPlZHIkYM4Yamw__9ztxdoj7QpBrJvQ6l5oH6zqPhlxI8_MImKjnJRtnZxmZU9-hfg/s1600/end.jpg" height="320" width="258" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
BORING!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, I set out to make something that I would actually wear.... something colorful, something whimsical, something FUN!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN-ZLOVWXTQYyKkG_Cz-etliCxaZb-bqdqFnbNuRLtYqCqmYALyxcB1ypec5Hz4QpXgBEinudVX1HjzZYBe4aRFrax-BTwIIabRGWhOKDPGW0Mk1p6_WuTCBNhTEpCfbHSavuvm8pPzM/s1600/Eye+Blue+Yellow+204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN-ZLOVWXTQYyKkG_Cz-etliCxaZb-bqdqFnbNuRLtYqCqmYALyxcB1ypec5Hz4QpXgBEinudVX1HjzZYBe4aRFrax-BTwIIabRGWhOKDPGW0Mk1p6_WuTCBNhTEpCfbHSavuvm8pPzM/s1600/Eye+Blue+Yellow+204.JPG" height="400" width="332" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenVi1kjRrDAukgMxnubKU8_SUbvZz5z8og0oYkbDIAVFmQZQxjUpl1hwPY6Fr_SkIDcQ16VRP9sZNh7IWh98b0P8Vkht2zpBg_bUFfqB3Fzg3lG7ujGMNsxzEMpIiSuerjIHMbmaCoRc/s1600/Eyeglass+412+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenVi1kjRrDAukgMxnubKU8_SUbvZz5z8og0oYkbDIAVFmQZQxjUpl1hwPY6Fr_SkIDcQ16VRP9sZNh7IWh98b0P8Vkht2zpBg_bUFfqB3Fzg3lG7ujGMNsxzEMpIiSuerjIHMbmaCoRc/s1600/Eyeglass+412+(1).JPG" height="388" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k63SSVOASyDEBGkOeHXxLoS9S8Iud2Slia68hm40-k_v8RCC4yjBiN0g91QkpeCIFRMSLRrUdCRG3haquKJU-v8hhSlSJbmm9b89wGf0KnPCij1WcUJLkYO1d7bbaEs5XMDj2kbfffc/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+Purple+Teal+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k63SSVOASyDEBGkOeHXxLoS9S8Iud2Slia68hm40-k_v8RCC4yjBiN0g91QkpeCIFRMSLRrUdCRG3haquKJU-v8hhSlSJbmm9b89wGf0KnPCij1WcUJLkYO1d7bbaEs5XMDj2kbfffc/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+Purple+Teal+(1).jpg" height="327" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONrGOAXEymjGPZN5-UkhXaL0B-Oo6fpFWDKRIgzulUdNwzhke9K0loWW4gWkmCs95vzbozNrekYcQ_9ha-DjQ4OiVn_W_XiMz_H6ikNPBCy6QM6rjcVxjGnZob74iOOaswyAbwbn9rx8/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+Yellow+Orange+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONrGOAXEymjGPZN5-UkhXaL0B-Oo6fpFWDKRIgzulUdNwzhke9K0loWW4gWkmCs95vzbozNrekYcQ_9ha-DjQ4OiVn_W_XiMz_H6ikNPBCy6QM6rjcVxjGnZob74iOOaswyAbwbn9rx8/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+Yellow+Orange+(1).jpg" height="356" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5J50znM_2i5uMJfAqZGYc5ZdGUkBG6Ikxptmhn1IAa2fep0OyWRO5bjJgmVp70zqWygM-wvkeUDckcI-FJpWsTtbBHorT8neVs8GXblcBdebGs4QkekeE1LVmbBSYTWrAbVbCwaljRM/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+Pink+Yellow+Green+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5J50znM_2i5uMJfAqZGYc5ZdGUkBG6Ikxptmhn1IAa2fep0OyWRO5bjJgmVp70zqWygM-wvkeUDckcI-FJpWsTtbBHorT8neVs8GXblcBdebGs4QkekeE1LVmbBSYTWrAbVbCwaljRM/s1600/Eyeglass+Chain+Pink+Yellow+Green+(2).jpg" height="400" width="351" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The more I made - the more they made me smile..... such fun! Now I always know where my glasses are and this definitely doesn't look like something my great grandmother would have worn! I even figured out a way to make those little rubber ends more fun!! Now I need to do a post on how to make them!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You can see more of these on my Etsy site: www.rigglettes.com</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-64505597322485508792014-07-07T06:38:00.002-04:002014-07-07T06:38:43.645-04:00Summertime Earrings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Summer sun, summer flowers, summer bright colors... what to make when its hot, the kids are home, you're trying to plan vacation and a million other things are going on?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Earrings!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmoi3TznxDG996T5HFFU8Hk3xif6V4eexnKOQrw5RDsOEwdAiIkO65HqJBHfUIxWSPpng321J4Ozd2dQadwqeZVtIWDAUqvKCm4WrVj9YX602RyyIxqaC8kr2Kys-8zWV04sRvjPJqZM/s1600/bee+ears+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmoi3TznxDG996T5HFFU8Hk3xif6V4eexnKOQrw5RDsOEwdAiIkO65HqJBHfUIxWSPpng321J4Ozd2dQadwqeZVtIWDAUqvKCm4WrVj9YX602RyyIxqaC8kr2Kys-8zWV04sRvjPJqZM/s1600/bee+ears+(3).JPG" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
I love to make earrings... fast - easy - done! You can use all those bits and pieces left over from other projects or things you bought that didn't quite work out in the bracelet or necklace you planned.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHMeDtERDYLLNTaeUclIktiRQtoyuDEuDWpyS18j-I-E3ci6qD9EsQ7lXgZa4UlpgwIouFtKPOXxfAsydyKTw2zJpSxMtWebRC0zSJm0gWHun2cMhREF8R2hOYJtMHsET-Wzu0mirVLg/s1600/Bits+n+Pieces+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHMeDtERDYLLNTaeUclIktiRQtoyuDEuDWpyS18j-I-E3ci6qD9EsQ7lXgZa4UlpgwIouFtKPOXxfAsydyKTw2zJpSxMtWebRC0zSJm0gWHun2cMhREF8R2hOYJtMHsET-Wzu0mirVLg/s1600/Bits+n+Pieces+010.JPG" height="400" width="282" /></a></div>
These are literally leftovers!! They are the cut away pieces from MyElements shapes made by Yvonne Irvin!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKocKPus30UQSvTN2t5Xz8A7YnwcByGK7JDntkQIKvD286q7NwSUeTSPTwWo5wgeboe9EM3orsN_t8LqkSWH2jJALBH_rP4iDo0FjdtBOjawoxnJaXb_rNvXMQsAb8TKwBXVD4U0nnBA/s1600/blue+polka+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKocKPus30UQSvTN2t5Xz8A7YnwcByGK7JDntkQIKvD286q7NwSUeTSPTwWo5wgeboe9EM3orsN_t8LqkSWH2jJALBH_rP4iDo0FjdtBOjawoxnJaXb_rNvXMQsAb8TKwBXVD4U0nnBA/s1600/blue+polka+2.JPG" height="320" width="299" /></a></div>
Sunny, bright, fun ~ these are the last two beads from a set I bought ages ago. Perfect for the shore!<br />
<br />
Earrings are the perfect accessory when you don't want a lot of heavy stuff or too much hanging or bangling on your body. So hit that workbench and toss out a few pair and then get yourself to the beach!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKi9yFVi-BcufWI2OQnEM7UzXB-OsA6vbI17WtLFaD8tX_COROuacRHiUsGZJDQ3mK5ut2JIxzjajw9vnTPuBM9miCyjrg3U8ZzXolXO78V79JbO00xf2dH830Xo-QJF_6eAtKT7XDfE/s1600/By+the+Sea+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKi9yFVi-BcufWI2OQnEM7UzXB-OsA6vbI17WtLFaD8tX_COROuacRHiUsGZJDQ3mK5ut2JIxzjajw9vnTPuBM9miCyjrg3U8ZzXolXO78V79JbO00xf2dH830Xo-QJF_6eAtKT7XDfE/s1600/By+the+Sea+007.JPG" height="640" width="361" /></a>Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-70743874396363377032014-05-02T00:00:00.000-04:002014-05-10T07:13:21.345-04:00Serving Up 2014 Bead Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> How I Got From This.....</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqOxO3BjcNU2lCl8_MgsmB5r-mxFwyGPnvn3RbVKs8xgXhyphenhyphenzo5WLG5nkH1Rv9zDOSqvgCrJp2Sk3RwyO2fB6j9CX8t9fQ4LU9DQmZX8GHMEq32Qgdgcv4-oMrI4vKAEIlPNwBmBPrYJE/s1600/Beadsoup+Johana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqOxO3BjcNU2lCl8_MgsmB5r-mxFwyGPnvn3RbVKs8xgXhyphenhyphenzo5WLG5nkH1Rv9zDOSqvgCrJp2Sk3RwyO2fB6j9CX8t9fQ4LU9DQmZX8GHMEq32Qgdgcv4-oMrI4vKAEIlPNwBmBPrYJE/s1600/Beadsoup+Johana.jpg" height="404" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> ........... To This</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WoCWUUi9rTLGjd1hstRrUbAl4ygLa88X35fgBktmpvyhPIc4TGBIB8g3cwvED53NWRajHRcQACEQeWJlOkPZi4FcK-90apYoxbhB_1nTORmoRjuIsRWXegemmphipOzpv9w9kqbKO0g/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%252815%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WoCWUUi9rTLGjd1hstRrUbAl4ygLa88X35fgBktmpvyhPIc4TGBIB8g3cwvED53NWRajHRcQACEQeWJlOkPZi4FcK-90apYoxbhB_1nTORmoRjuIsRWXegemmphipOzpv9w9kqbKO0g/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%252815%2529.jpg" height="622" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to start by saying that I struggled mightily with this years soup! I love the beads that my partner J<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtIncendi?ref=listing-shop-header-item-count" target="_blank">ohana Nunez</a> sent to me. She does amazing enameled beads. I've always wanted to work with them so I was really excited when I opened her package and found a treasure of them! As I began to play with the beads, I had a definite vision for what I wanted to end up with, I'm just not sure that I accomplished exactly what I wanted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to use ribbon, I wanted to have multiple strands, I wanted to have dark chain.... no ~ I've never managed to do any of these things before... but I'm supposed to be thinking outside the box, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sigh.... I know, it was just too much change for my tiny brain!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwTSE1qrcNdyrnDTVX2Cs64jINNL_HGmYFt-OkSHAWCRvsWOaNRq5VkNMl965B9Jr2ek6NAVRQpyw5J9G2uM1YeqAD7cPIcqgQxN91h1BrEquPekmGvWKlP1opNTTB4hs_OYuVsfY8kE/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwTSE1qrcNdyrnDTVX2Cs64jINNL_HGmYFt-OkSHAWCRvsWOaNRq5VkNMl965B9Jr2ek6NAVRQpyw5J9G2uM1YeqAD7cPIcqgQxN91h1BrEquPekmGvWKlP1opNTTB4hs_OYuVsfY8kE/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25287%2529.jpg" height="328" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the first piece I completed. I know, I don't see any beautiful enameled beads either... and... yes, this piece looks suspiciously like my standard style. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like it, I love the beads, I also love the colors but there aren't any of the things I promised myself I would learn how to use.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I kept pondering and sketching and thinking and trying to combine all these amazing beads in to an incredible piece that would be the envy of the world!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1VW-mTJRuPjGBkhgB-gWdIullaLLN1UboiCEr-GgiwYB2KKv0YILUwqphrQ0I70RWhjXZ2dLIg9s1TWSn5-lECUdh4hwVHhHjQBBs5tpNY3wYkdhjR7VDKArkoqBMI_OTInS-DcVBDs/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1VW-mTJRuPjGBkhgB-gWdIullaLLN1UboiCEr-GgiwYB2KKv0YILUwqphrQ0I70RWhjXZ2dLIg9s1TWSn5-lECUdh4hwVHhHjQBBs5tpNY3wYkdhjR7VDKArkoqBMI_OTInS-DcVBDs/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25284%2529.jpg" height="385" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then came the little bird bracelet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Better.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I love working with colored wire and I really love the little bird clasp. This piece felt like a combination of Yvonne Irwin and Kerry Bogert - I'm a huge fan of both of them so that part was good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It wasn't quite what I was hoping to come up with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPlLAUyVYDQDpcASu_-1xIXxdgFWaQS_tITj_FoYBOWIBSdlW2kckuhOX4PUFPdB_I1YZ5ey9-yXSkXHA1v0fzpZKAcNH2eN6CqmCGYN8pb-iwQDra3NGlVypIjb8AkYR5adw3wTpp4k/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPlLAUyVYDQDpcASu_-1xIXxdgFWaQS_tITj_FoYBOWIBSdlW2kckuhOX4PUFPdB_I1YZ5ey9-yXSkXHA1v0fzpZKAcNH2eN6CqmCGYN8pb-iwQDra3NGlVypIjb8AkYR5adw3wTpp4k/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25285%2529.jpg" height="278" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzUbFoMUrBVdTDG1wVLbHnnwX77EIUu9mI44v-Ag4bpyqMnSJfLLxI7KTN4ZQtqtIMB9CfguPV0C6o3ToDQ8MJZRCjBneD6jcpugUvSxj5Z3RB6gI791r_hmd3exzBu_1fT0yCVyscPg/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzUbFoMUrBVdTDG1wVLbHnnwX77EIUu9mI44v-Ag4bpyqMnSJfLLxI7KTN4ZQtqtIMB9CfguPV0C6o3ToDQ8MJZRCjBneD6jcpugUvSxj5Z3RB6gI791r_hmd3exzBu_1fT0yCVyscPg/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%252810%2529.jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So.........</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to the drawing board.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA5lKwrSGomSYq-4NGDdz4XkXv0fNidz5-GFBoj1twBI3lJbkk_EReCrne9KEI4NZpIlmqxfzDmt8u7iTstRvpkaQwpDkz2sRP-NQ1YO_w9CAKZctGLld6BnA_-velWraDfNUOpWttmA/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA5lKwrSGomSYq-4NGDdz4XkXv0fNidz5-GFBoj1twBI3lJbkk_EReCrne9KEI4NZpIlmqxfzDmt8u7iTstRvpkaQwpDkz2sRP-NQ1YO_w9CAKZctGLld6BnA_-velWraDfNUOpWttmA/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25282%2529.jpg" height="374" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hmm....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm starting to feel a little bit better about where I'm getting to... I like the short piece of circle chain - and its dark (bonus!). Cording - like that too, not ribbon but I think it works with this piece. I like that I managed to use a lot of Johana's beads! I'm also feeling pretty good about the fact that its asymmetrical!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzfDQjbvVgIm4zzfrssH4FtrJyHXbLX-FtM_WP2GteqpsbFdY-HX5cfrYv-M1zlXeEiib0M-4T7FAcd_2D3j8mgcLbMZFAznX2SCKng-FdtNEY9klQRuOH7MSDOA71_blVJ1yxH0v5hI/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzfDQjbvVgIm4zzfrssH4FtrJyHXbLX-FtM_WP2GteqpsbFdY-HX5cfrYv-M1zlXeEiib0M-4T7FAcd_2D3j8mgcLbMZFAznX2SCKng-FdtNEY9klQRuOH7MSDOA71_blVJ1yxH0v5hI/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25281%2529.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BL-vacGQSlTR_0PAERXUjQnFejdGxIwcLaGjpZYiPdfj2wTr0rNbnOL0Ot7Y8nMzUZBCgsofL2kRzo0kjtYeuDY9Z5Qr5v5lOsZWCdf1IXsBsX4I9YMltuzYq-82JKpb1-I_yHoCMG8/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BL-vacGQSlTR_0PAERXUjQnFejdGxIwcLaGjpZYiPdfj2wTr0rNbnOL0Ot7Y8nMzUZBCgsofL2kRzo0kjtYeuDY9Z5Qr5v5lOsZWCdf1IXsBsX4I9YMltuzYq-82JKpb1-I_yHoCMG8/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%25283%2529.jpg" height="300" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Everything you see here came from Johana.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTlHx25FZaO2OhZMl75XtE5m6K2sMoeK_sLn9eELUA_u01AWYhTeQPJWTNg4d7Uio9DstIvTLntLs2qzOaMkIMDF4AP3GOE22TDWmQNlyzOEKm_B3gK7MIolvDU3ZJYvMq3PxLvVhHqo/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTlHx25FZaO2OhZMl75XtE5m6K2sMoeK_sLn9eELUA_u01AWYhTeQPJWTNg4d7Uio9DstIvTLntLs2qzOaMkIMDF4AP3GOE22TDWmQNlyzOEKm_B3gK7MIolvDU3ZJYvMq3PxLvVhHqo/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%252812%2529.jpg" height="484" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ooohh!! I love all the pieces that came together in this one. I like the whimsical feeling of the little butterfly hoovering near the flowers. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUREV6Wn_irkW_MLoipRrZAkoGsUTiM5H3H9XNNSaGjgTLqPioquYs2JvVDtNAnNz9uBTvoVgEVTsdfkneZd2tM71tW-1v_dhlZ4FM09BgrK2kOiSMYfOLIR8on24fBvAyXlY1VtUNzc/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUREV6Wn_irkW_MLoipRrZAkoGsUTiM5H3H9XNNSaGjgTLqPioquYs2JvVDtNAnNz9uBTvoVgEVTsdfkneZd2tM71tW-1v_dhlZ4FM09BgrK2kOiSMYfOLIR8on24fBvAyXlY1VtUNzc/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%252811%2529.jpg" height="400" width="291" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Simple - colorful - fun!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WoCWUUi9rTLGjd1hstRrUbAl4ygLa88X35fgBktmpvyhPIc4TGBIB8g3cwvED53NWRajHRcQACEQeWJlOkPZi4FcK-90apYoxbhB_1nTORmoRjuIsRWXegemmphipOzpv9w9kqbKO0g/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%252815%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WoCWUUi9rTLGjd1hstRrUbAl4ygLa88X35fgBktmpvyhPIc4TGBIB8g3cwvED53NWRajHRcQACEQeWJlOkPZi4FcK-90apYoxbhB_1nTORmoRjuIsRWXegemmphipOzpv9w9kqbKO0g/s1600/Bead+Soup+2014+%252815%2529.jpg" height="622" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, I never did get the ribbon worked out - but there's always next time. I'll keep trying new things but I have the feeling that I'm going to stick to my creative roots too!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-52550710566810438712014-03-10T19:54:00.003-04:002014-03-10T19:54:58.103-04:00Soup - Stage 2<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Yea! I love Bead Soup!</span></i></b><br />
<br />
I'm always so nervous about getting my soup - you wish for a partner that will send you something inspirational, something different, something awesome! I hit the jackpot with my partner this year!<br />
<br />
I hope that everyone is getting connected with partners like mine! I've been smiling all evening! I got home from work today and there was a lovely package from my partner <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtIncendi" target="_blank">Johana Nunez</a>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tw-_0vd_24kkpkl8xMbADE90rjTYqQlw8sMlsQ6siUEK7OyDnFq9pgV_IiRO0IPPaCDIp95rA-rkyZdF1r5THfAi3i7ObVREid_f3YbNhwmu4s0bga0QwULcXFUCs4LNzZIDgChh8Z0/s1600/Beadsoup+Johana3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tw-_0vd_24kkpkl8xMbADE90rjTYqQlw8sMlsQ6siUEK7OyDnFq9pgV_IiRO0IPPaCDIp95rA-rkyZdF1r5THfAi3i7ObVREid_f3YbNhwmu4s0bga0QwULcXFUCs4LNzZIDgChh8Z0/s1600/Beadsoup+Johana3.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I was so excited! Bead Soup is like Christmas - you never know what you're going to get, the suspense of opening the package is enormous!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3fbwebohANBt9jqy-j8k8Gh6uWaz8iCN8q26sfPuqbosInN6MyqOuDSq7_6OgufQsRunk4GMl9n4ewzGDvWbR9mfN2jiJnEXVeGIbA1-M098RltGhHcQ2jPdhXjze-hLLhj-ZfGGREg/s1600/Beadsoup+Johana2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3fbwebohANBt9jqy-j8k8Gh6uWaz8iCN8q26sfPuqbosInN6MyqOuDSq7_6OgufQsRunk4GMl9n4ewzGDvWbR9mfN2jiJnEXVeGIbA1-M098RltGhHcQ2jPdhXjze-hLLhj-ZfGGREg/s1600/Beadsoup+Johana2.jpg" height="474" width="640" /> </a> </div>
Johana's package kept getting better! I opened the box to find all these delightfully wrapped little tissue parcels and decorated boxes. It makes you want to sing Pharrell Williams song - 'Happy', doesn't it?? They were almost too pretty to open.... <b><i>almost! </i></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sha-zam!!! </span></u></span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-A6OH28W18pUzLW21uOH4V0O5CuNiCx_xOZ18FhEIHanwXADIl7psVqQPshJ1UVbqnletr799lZCMRccYrUnzmcrgLjVHPlFG9aOx3h9sh45T5Ir-fZ5y4b9uWwF_ykyGpYbjAsAdKM/s1600/Beadsoup+Johana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-A6OH28W18pUzLW21uOH4V0O5CuNiCx_xOZ18FhEIHanwXADIl7psVqQPshJ1UVbqnletr799lZCMRccYrUnzmcrgLjVHPlFG9aOx3h9sh45T5Ir-fZ5y4b9uWwF_ykyGpYbjAsAdKM/s1600/Beadsoup+Johana.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The packages were loaded with beautiful enameled beads and some lampworks and fillers - My eyes were so <i><b>FULL!!</b></i> I love the colors - purple is very, very close to the top of the list of my all time favorite colors! I love the feisty little red butterfly and the bead caps that look like flowers. The focal is simply amazing, painted with tiny trees. Her work is just so lovely!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">But truly, I was so completely excited when I saw the little bird....</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUNjRCrp9iNTUTnEkCAreRuEfvskp8QUKik78M_qgjWpFUzsBfzJbJ-QLILjqCeuGUAtkrC0ulRVJ0_w07nAUSNuFHURWW-D2lcJfibSwH1sw_EHO4X2wojgw0Udv5aOo5rX99WS7p0I/s1600/Beadsoup+Johana1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUNjRCrp9iNTUTnEkCAreRuEfvskp8QUKik78M_qgjWpFUzsBfzJbJ-QLILjqCeuGUAtkrC0ulRVJ0_w07nAUSNuFHURWW-D2lcJfibSwH1sw_EHO4X2wojgw0Udv5aOo5rX99WS7p0I/s1600/Beadsoup+Johana1.jpg" height="474" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Is that adorable!???! I loves me some birds! And this one is just so cute with his chubby yellow tummy and daring purple wing! I'm already jealous of whoever gets Johana at the next Bead Soup!<br />
<br />
I've never worked with the enameled beads before, but now that I have them I think they might be my new favorite beads! Even though they are pretty substantial, they're so lightweight and they have this whimsical sort of feeling to them. I'm going to simply hoard them for awhile, while I percolate about what to do with this amazing soup I received.<br />
<br />
While you're waiting to see what Johana's beads inspire me to do, please take the time to check out her <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtIncendi" target="_blank">Etsy </a>site - but don't be selfish and buy them all -- I'm definitely gonna need more of these!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9b9Ktc69kjiU-MMHSsTsu4WYhYYMF6ZopD9WFDghqFSzsUdTGsHLWETJXhYmhS_bzEZNvdd_OzbofkElS3VE0MvfL6ZlGmbLKG9ZigApj1lPXRjipovrhqLtjKEh6Own4oKihnPoki8/s1600/shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9b9Ktc69kjiU-MMHSsTsu4WYhYYMF6ZopD9WFDghqFSzsUdTGsHLWETJXhYmhS_bzEZNvdd_OzbofkElS3VE0MvfL6ZlGmbLKG9ZigApj1lPXRjipovrhqLtjKEh6Own4oKihnPoki8/s1600/shell.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-42816609832952673342014-03-03T09:31:00.000-05:002014-03-03T09:31:13.965-05:00Soup - Stage 1And so it begins!<br />
<br />
I got my Bead Soup partner - I couldn't be more excited! I'm paired up with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ArtIncendi/app_259525164100619" target="_blank">Johana Nunez</a>. She's from Aibonito, Puerto Rico. It's exciting to be paired with someone who's from a place so far from where I live, it's one of my favorite things about Bead Soup, the world shrinks! It's great to make new friends and learn about other artists passions.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_00tD0e402DE-huERUm_oEahOmOXyUGhYYBl26Ok2yVL_shuOZvvgOyRmrjnh7XNbAOIay8RzY6wWeZ2g5wQYDy95avAPOnpQex0VK9duQ6eHeq7mWtTJWwg7ZUeiv-hKh16NIem7hOg/s1600/Bead+Soup+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_00tD0e402DE-huERUm_oEahOmOXyUGhYYBl26Ok2yVL_shuOZvvgOyRmrjnh7XNbAOIay8RzY6wWeZ2g5wQYDy95avAPOnpQex0VK9duQ6eHeq7mWtTJWwg7ZUeiv-hKh16NIem7hOg/s1600/Bead+Soup+Map.jpg" height="400" width="391" /></a></div>
<br />
Johana works with enamels - she's a student of Barbra Lewis so you know her work is amazing!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSE9cFxEYKe4NLDTRMW5920KW52BsSSC3R016bOiBF7GjXef5fig2JeY3l5O9fAwdbaCVHsVrZPLy_Emrq9xkPz_aChqKSePMH9AaLFF2ribAuo4UTF3Ij7xBJmUn9zzcONomeikG67M/s1600/Seahorse+Nunez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSE9cFxEYKe4NLDTRMW5920KW52BsSSC3R016bOiBF7GjXef5fig2JeY3l5O9fAwdbaCVHsVrZPLy_Emrq9xkPz_aChqKSePMH9AaLFF2ribAuo4UTF3Ij7xBJmUn9zzcONomeikG67M/s1600/Seahorse+Nunez.jpg" height="200" width="162" /></a></div>
<br />
This is one of the pieces from her<a href="https://www.etsy.com/search?q=Art%20Incendi&ship_to=US" target="_blank"> Etsy</a> site. There are some great little birds that I just loved. She also does lots of enameled beads in really bright colors.<br />
<br />
I took a workshop in enameling with Jean van Brederode so I have an understanding of the process, but I definitely don't have the skills for making my own pieces.<br />
<br />
Its another great thing about Bead Soup - getting the chance to work with something you've never tried but would love to know more about.<br />
<br />
The next step is to send Johana some soup to work with. I use a lot of lampwork, very bright intense colors and unusual bits-n-pieces. One of my favorite resources for supplies is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyELEMENTS?ref=shop_sugg" target="_blank">MyElements </a>- Yvonne always has the most smile-inducing stuff!<br />
<br />
I've been scrounging through my piles of stuff trying to decide what to send. It's a bit of a process - I want to send something inspiring, colorful, different and out-of-the-ordinary. I also want to send things from my favorite artists and craftspeople. Finally got it together and packaged up so that as soon as I was partnered I was able to drop it in the mail.<br />
<br />
It looks like this....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9uXzARurrc0HuFakIJbnQfZkXZsckTccDHuUGcfcq_tXu5nmZyLNYsF5mAR1_rvmx1CQLQDkqIfhulNZp9cIguxC9FxwftBlHIDIM_dKO54cYfzVURy4lwaxGiE0cqmBjWJeBcjdTVo/s1600/BSBPpixel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9uXzARurrc0HuFakIJbnQfZkXZsckTccDHuUGcfcq_tXu5nmZyLNYsF5mAR1_rvmx1CQLQDkqIfhulNZp9cIguxC9FxwftBlHIDIM_dKO54cYfzVURy4lwaxGiE0cqmBjWJeBcjdTVo/s1600/BSBPpixel.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Ha! You didn't actually think I was going to let you see it before Johana did you??? It went in the mail this morning and as soon as she's had the first look, I'll put the picture in focus for the rest of you!<br />
<br />
I hope everyone else is having half as much fun as I am with this whole process -- Thanks to the intrepid <a href="http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lori Anderson</a> for making this all happen!!<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-85215976002076328192014-02-28T07:54:00.000-05:002014-02-28T07:54:59.809-05:00Gathering Ingredients for a SoupFor once in my life I'm not behind schedule!! High five ME!!<br />
<br />
I have once again joined the ranks of the creative crazies for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup event. This is my third soup and every year it gets to be more interesting.<br />
<br />
For those of you living in a cave out-of-touch - the Bead Soup Blog Party is an event that Lori sponsors every year. Hundreds of crazy jewelry artists are paired up, exchange sets of beads and make whatever they are inspired to make. You can see my soup from last year here: <a href="http://rigglettes.blogspot.com/2013/03/bead-soup-7.html" target="_blank">Bead Soup 7</a><br />
<br />
Usually I'm one of the people who doesn't manage to get the bead soup in the mail until very close to the deadline. It's hard for me to decide which beads to send. This year, I looked in the stash and the beads practically put themselves in the shipping box!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkwn-r7bCt05mUZyzGc4ZfcpGJXuVR3Omrc6pdZh24s2-gWH_t2PsNhM-zppZbhs30eR95dhRtUScRmi2hPZC97be9Co7iGAOBt3NHLmynnGwxex-TY67Q6-649h72BFN1Q1n_Jn_R6g/s1600/BSBP20142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkwn-r7bCt05mUZyzGc4ZfcpGJXuVR3Omrc6pdZh24s2-gWH_t2PsNhM-zppZbhs30eR95dhRtUScRmi2hPZC97be9Co7iGAOBt3NHLmynnGwxex-TY67Q6-649h72BFN1Q1n_Jn_R6g/s1600/BSBP20142.jpg" height="331" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
So, to keep myself from changing my mind before Lori emails the names, I packed the whole pile up and they are snug in a box and ready to roll!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVsxFpFFGj-RKosRNKgR2ylPs5VBI5H4zWsIhiV_Mt6EOTf857VLVEQ9KGKJ2KSvugbSTO6fbNPQ5c5EKc2afvKYNTTiF6AulWWob8w0qKIboA0zd_LcjCAhVgDv0zrhJsU6X7b7wrj4/s1600/BSBP20143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVsxFpFFGj-RKosRNKgR2ylPs5VBI5H4zWsIhiV_Mt6EOTf857VLVEQ9KGKJ2KSvugbSTO6fbNPQ5c5EKc2afvKYNTTiF6AulWWob8w0qKIboA0zd_LcjCAhVgDv0zrhJsU6X7b7wrj4/s1600/BSBP20143.jpg" height="368" width="400" /></a></div>
Now, I just have to hope that whoever I'm partnered with will send something that inspires me just as quickly to complete my project!<br />
<br />
I'll be posting pictures of what I sent and what I receive as we move along so keep an eye out for more bead soup news!Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-38616955738122459782014-02-18T07:48:00.002-05:002014-02-18T07:48:11.674-05:00A Little Creativity Change-UP Sometimes even though I feel the need to create something.... I sit down at the bench and<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>N-O-T-H-I-N-G</b></span> occurs to me. I don't see a bead, or a color, or a shape or a toggle that starts the bubble of creativeness rising up. Just the gray fluffiness of nothing... *sigh*<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYBvD8PDcT4bEzFuoKnO1U0SBAykCny13zv-0SXkbXFPQMdYncqJECYBOCBNdzDtFPselWbEnoE2Ji9Tiy3LS4nkSZqQ-XGDpRjrsWZfDTAiuBY-n3FQMrSoa4M2H_Jku3-gmV5Q_ZW0/s1600/Blurg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYBvD8PDcT4bEzFuoKnO1U0SBAykCny13zv-0SXkbXFPQMdYncqJECYBOCBNdzDtFPselWbEnoE2Ji9Tiy3LS4nkSZqQ-XGDpRjrsWZfDTAiuBY-n3FQMrSoa4M2H_Jku3-gmV5Q_ZW0/s1600/Blurg.jpg" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Very frustrating.</i></b></span><br />
<br />
This usually happens to me in the winter. This year has been especially bad - we've had mountains of snow. It seems endless and since I'm one of those people that is driven by color it's hard to get inspired when everything is freaking white.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBhr-kaFbZglI-V3-23ki-wS5iHfbvk4mcgHyqdzvAmaytlgEnhUsaJUNcxm9V_E-frkUKsoQj7aXThyphenhyphenqQSMoeSLMqGweA215ymdAOxnMmp1_sc79v9RauupkBER0iTCApOGwwHeBGDY/s1600/snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBhr-kaFbZglI-V3-23ki-wS5iHfbvk4mcgHyqdzvAmaytlgEnhUsaJUNcxm9V_E-frkUKsoQj7aXThyphenhyphenqQSMoeSLMqGweA215ymdAOxnMmp1_sc79v9RauupkBER0iTCApOGwwHeBGDY/s1600/snow.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Time for a change</span></b> - when this happens to me I head to the fabric store. I love to sew and I love fabric - the patterns, the colors, the textures - so many choices! Even if I didn't sew, I would still go to fabric stores - it's a world of eye candy, there are color combinations you will have never thought of and so much ....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8zjSDy9104Gg7VDfz53LmwHVYQcK8pBwucftOBJdG_APQ7mLoMm2Fy6EJmo4KmdZ7sqKDTy0W-d8bQS9cd3YvqA3npOs1Te-NjRnEFvawRe7VN7qU8JcQM-4zYCMRKflYm0dbrxfF5c/s1600/fabric2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8zjSDy9104Gg7VDfz53LmwHVYQcK8pBwucftOBJdG_APQ7mLoMm2Fy6EJmo4KmdZ7sqKDTy0W-d8bQS9cd3YvqA3npOs1Te-NjRnEFvawRe7VN7qU8JcQM-4zYCMRKflYm0dbrxfF5c/s1600/fabric2.jpg" height="400" width="376" /></a></div>
<br />
Sometimes just the colors are enough, fabric designers must be the most creative people on the planet. <br />
<br />
What a fun job it must be to just sit down and play with color and shapes and textures all day.<br />
<br />
<br />
I love the creative freedom of fabric.<br />
<br />
I love the way fabric makes me see things differently.<br />
<br />
That can be just the little push your creativity needs to go in a new direction. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpV3s7MkZ25Q1SwdRD1LZfG5pNjMrm4lfJd1xz-gd-79LEzsWFyVbDILzDRDGmgzBmArnvKdaMlEdtnsjKbLe6XaA8IYcjeYNMdS4mUVT8Ctjnvg1Xg6deP7jBR_GY3DQORrovQxnSfE/s1600/fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpV3s7MkZ25Q1SwdRD1LZfG5pNjMrm4lfJd1xz-gd-79LEzsWFyVbDILzDRDGmgzBmArnvKdaMlEdtnsjKbLe6XaA8IYcjeYNMdS4mUVT8Ctjnvg1Xg6deP7jBR_GY3DQORrovQxnSfE/s1600/fabric.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd3gy7UAYPdn006e-ix2yFPw1P31cDZf1JOGWsNNpMXTzYb9scor5zTIhpS2v6uEvfv2Dde-LB10-ZVMKVKQ1IC4efyN-JU46Q2beKpVOj6GtrF9yCwIlyBbqfMYLhlVj5eVNb_CIDb4/s1600/fabric4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd3gy7UAYPdn006e-ix2yFPw1P31cDZf1JOGWsNNpMXTzYb9scor5zTIhpS2v6uEvfv2Dde-LB10-ZVMKVKQ1IC4efyN-JU46Q2beKpVOj6GtrF9yCwIlyBbqfMYLhlVj5eVNb_CIDb4/s1600/fabric4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmB2WOUJyDyEGDm_95vRu68Iat6u5aNITS62BljH_1H8kWEUOQXlm0-dQqkjag9GfBH5BvHLspIpSmX6X6uDz6ZnbIoFoqu7EM9FaRwcIHjSnMXkI7NZIELXtE771cZueHrvi-WVS6w0w/s1600/fabric1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmB2WOUJyDyEGDm_95vRu68Iat6u5aNITS62BljH_1H8kWEUOQXlm0-dQqkjag9GfBH5BvHLspIpSmX6X6uDz6ZnbIoFoqu7EM9FaRwcIHjSnMXkI7NZIELXtE771cZueHrvi-WVS6w0w/s1600/fabric1.jpg" height="384" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Crazy FUN!!</span></i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other times I'll see something made by someone else....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzON8PqLPVuHHzPtJm0eOkaDipWaxcnfUEaPYX68N6Qsf28ku_CGiAUMH8qUBuaPg9gPWtj3BFAWkIF1iPVN5_Ubuo20bAefX-MVEC0MoXm-cYBSf1nvhrT7hwNWr5dBMLGMTT2kbxN4k/s1600/fabric3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzON8PqLPVuHHzPtJm0eOkaDipWaxcnfUEaPYX68N6Qsf28ku_CGiAUMH8qUBuaPg9gPWtj3BFAWkIF1iPVN5_Ubuo20bAefX-MVEC0MoXm-cYBSf1nvhrT7hwNWr5dBMLGMTT2kbxN4k/s1600/fabric3.jpg" height="304" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqCDCexZXqdPTK3qIN9Z9zLZ73vIP1HMTnk-shR0poyAu2r1LHy0N_DOOTy98pYMeKDofLHBw25qObOXkOER5LBKIeh8ogEK0NrZQunbhK1uN8Jhz2EaHdl8-HbD5tKhrxuohmlyzWcg/s1600/fabric6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqCDCexZXqdPTK3qIN9Z9zLZ73vIP1HMTnk-shR0poyAu2r1LHy0N_DOOTy98pYMeKDofLHBw25qObOXkOER5LBKIeh8ogEK0NrZQunbhK1uN8Jhz2EaHdl8-HbD5tKhrxuohmlyzWcg/s1600/fabric6.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></div>
.... and that will inspire me to do something completely different - something I haven't tried...<br />
<br />
Lately, I've been making these crazy fun<a href="http://www.rigglettes.com/" target="_blank"> tote bags</a> - I love the color combinations, the surprise of different lining fabric, but such a practical item! Who doesn't need a tote bag filled with pockets?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyspZ5tqpm1v72EV21dl0hpW9tM8Ekrbgtv4odBE1GfmCHlhmGgyPkU1wAYvqA3sa9thPZaCGwo_dLpeTLBsCRsZUFowba5Zr9kZ1F6Nuqfu2CNyMp7tOVdmK6cCcw4zNoXGgWYtj7NM/s1600/2014-02-27+12.37.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyspZ5tqpm1v72EV21dl0hpW9tM8Ekrbgtv4odBE1GfmCHlhmGgyPkU1wAYvqA3sa9thPZaCGwo_dLpeTLBsCRsZUFowba5Zr9kZ1F6Nuqfu2CNyMp7tOVdmK6cCcw4zNoXGgWYtj7NM/s1600/2014-02-27+12.37.03.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9i2J7maVRPR3wVKuHKqhIN07ZJ8nCKAabP-AC0D7KuMHhtsjwKoCSHalEWbJnY1ifB8KvEZup50ElwBOMzIg2gUbF5jwg_exbcsjwKCElOzFD36NtPbfr4iXxEsO6-9t3tFM45DPBPw/s1600/Cat+in+the+Hat+Tote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9i2J7maVRPR3wVKuHKqhIN07ZJ8nCKAabP-AC0D7KuMHhtsjwKoCSHalEWbJnY1ifB8KvEZup50ElwBOMzIg2gUbF5jwg_exbcsjwKCElOzFD36NtPbfr4iXxEsO6-9t3tFM45DPBPw/s1600/Cat+in+the+Hat+Tote.jpg" height="313" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-5Jg6b4fzUqpBOXRL5SEep9PxiIs4ZawYJxd5AGwZBo48yhX6xyvzVzs5Ve8jylX6R0etFaQPdIglwyRpHa6IiPfMzLzUwR3qQ_mw6GXX6sxZPo6Z3RPFhLBF8F1qatWikl1qWDbQYg/s1600/Cherry+Poppin+Tote+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-5Jg6b4fzUqpBOXRL5SEep9PxiIs4ZawYJxd5AGwZBo48yhX6xyvzVzs5Ve8jylX6R0etFaQPdIglwyRpHa6IiPfMzLzUwR3qQ_mw6GXX6sxZPo6Z3RPFhLBF8F1qatWikl1qWDbQYg/s1600/Cherry+Poppin+Tote+(3).jpg" height="301" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aL9SMO9i7Yy0kvyb7oG6ppTx98OGn_2n9Se4Ur0Od5L_LYyRM8Yczn7Ll2bQvMkPg_hvvE0faIA18g_2n-u-1rH6hoVo5SD1lkNiI8c8DPkCQCqOdN7z1Bah4XloO1t2zXJJCASn0U4/s1600/Hypnotic+Tote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aL9SMO9i7Yy0kvyb7oG6ppTx98OGn_2n9Se4Ur0Od5L_LYyRM8Yczn7Ll2bQvMkPg_hvvE0faIA18g_2n-u-1rH6hoVo5SD1lkNiI8c8DPkCQCqOdN7z1Bah4XloO1t2zXJJCASn0U4/s1600/Hypnotic+Tote.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, as soon as the roads are clear.... Get in your car.....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Inspiration awaits.....</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">What inspires you?</span></i></b></div>
Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-74236257204612854142014-02-14T09:32:00.000-05:002014-02-15T18:30:03.682-05:00A Weekend With Ann Scherm-Baldwin<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So ~ this is what I got for Christmas this year from my DIL</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know - you're jealous - and you should be, it was amazing!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQiCdHZxqfQo8I7WUUiyivU-s7zKEn3eETVtg4CVzJZ-Hq748rBP9cAFy94mUx4RzPwYyU8PRzWAhHQnfH3MrEX_1FFVahr01gaWa8NZ71PdQKaX9aAy5FQrrV8vRqYDolwDODYQnHDk/s1600/The+Ultimate+Xmas+Gift+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQiCdHZxqfQo8I7WUUiyivU-s7zKEn3eETVtg4CVzJZ-Hq748rBP9cAFy94mUx4RzPwYyU8PRzWAhHQnfH3MrEX_1FFVahr01gaWa8NZ71PdQKaX9aAy5FQrrV8vRqYDolwDODYQnHDk/s1600/The+Ultimate+Xmas+Gift+(2).jpg" height="473" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had a great view to wake up to every morning:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlFXEJUtPoUZoMwFsYWK-8dOcXJYIbBestVPj7EYQzvLroDZD0OYY13Yg7j8hwtkDxSExVGjBvcAdPaVoOqfDpYvMxCbqTt-NC2ZrdV_vSNcSC3gbxAFXFpc0H6B9h6BzuxvvV0qLFXs/s1600/Ann+Class7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlFXEJUtPoUZoMwFsYWK-8dOcXJYIbBestVPj7EYQzvLroDZD0OYY13Yg7j8hwtkDxSExVGjBvcAdPaVoOqfDpYvMxCbqTt-NC2ZrdV_vSNcSC3gbxAFXFpc0H6B9h6BzuxvvV0qLFXs/s1600/Ann+Class7.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Then we headed to Ann's house to start our lampworking adventure! The garage has been converted into Ann's Laboratory - it's crammed full of glass making STUFF!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUJY_W8dp1FKF96jyJVw-HhoVjM3NbJVWanKNZLo0Qu2lI4C3oPvluHLV8IYY1YxszpQML7TrgF-_IjrV7kM3oIvQwUmPGow7vzIHWwhjXMgNyM4KZg3nl38bGzN-ipGJ8LWznqW_-Os/s1600/2014-03-09+14.18.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUJY_W8dp1FKF96jyJVw-HhoVjM3NbJVWanKNZLo0Qu2lI4C3oPvluHLV8IYY1YxszpQML7TrgF-_IjrV7kM3oIvQwUmPGow7vzIHWwhjXMgNyM4KZg3nl38bGzN-ipGJ8LWznqW_-Os/s1600/2014-03-09+14.18.11.jpg" height="325" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_LEoiXANrLBeWrUrk1jHTgN7Zte8RSKG30Y8uo9NctcxFk8aBjuLLqu3Lb7Rl-FLu_TSBRqpM-rRHEmYsWTBImai5nIP2EhLCieQoToLCAELYqAT6rxRCJoOHPARlEVHHPHG8JgISwI/s1600/Ann+Class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_LEoiXANrLBeWrUrk1jHTgN7Zte8RSKG30Y8uo9NctcxFk8aBjuLLqu3Lb7Rl-FLu_TSBRqpM-rRHEmYsWTBImai5nIP2EhLCieQoToLCAELYqAT6rxRCJoOHPARlEVHHPHG8JgISwI/s1600/Ann+Class.jpg" height="316" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Ann is lots of fun - she's a bit of a hoarder, and besides glass she quilts, beads and is a Minecraft junkie. I could have spent days looking at all her collected beads and not have seen all of them. In addition to the garage she also has a craft room that is seriously jam packed with awesome sparkly goodness - my eyes were so full!<br />
<br />
It's great to have a teacher all to yourself. Ann's been doing classes for years and has mountains of patience, which in my case is extremely important because I have ADH-Oh Sparkly!! and have a hard time staying focused. I took a lampworking class at the bead show in Philly about a year ago.
Even though we had a really great teacher, it's hard to come away with a
lot of hardcore knowledge. There was a large group of us, all the
equipment was already set up and you're always aware of the time
constraints. <br />
The first part of the class is all about the back story to making beads - safety, equipment, glass, setting up a studio - It was fabulous because lampworking can be a bit scary. You work with extremely hot stuff, kilns, flames, molten glass ~ stuff you can seriously hurt yourself using! I felt like I asked a million questions and interrupted Ann's lecture thousands of times, but she never lost patience or scolded - such a sweet lady!<br />
Then we moved on to the fun (but still scary) part - actual bead making! The first thing I learned is that you can't do this right the first time or the tenth time or for a long time. You have to get over the scary part, you have to develop the muscle memory to make beads which only comes with practice, practice, practice!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtVCNnNY2zAyeKFS2BOtri-gwajZGmewDx8OKwvv_egpHVgJVZjkx_YfYkh_o23NSZJc8KtIHm1S1y46g0X-VX0BebjaInjAA_bTQsRuzqD8iJr5m0R88XKTOoWFudB-ngj7BssZUV2w/s1600/Ann+class3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtVCNnNY2zAyeKFS2BOtri-gwajZGmewDx8OKwvv_egpHVgJVZjkx_YfYkh_o23NSZJc8KtIHm1S1y46g0X-VX0BebjaInjAA_bTQsRuzqD8iJr5m0R88XKTOoWFudB-ngj7BssZUV2w/s1600/Ann+class3.jpg" height="338" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhaauOEMaVaUFJ90GPEj3x1ejPqsBtunCwLaz96gV7kSwfWnj5eKrWZLGO5D2kpMdxSKEDRQfLFxxlAGambdERlK8Ab0z_rbkwCP7MtvQmdL2avwIf3C-BtPR8cRpgjq_Cx-WkXNtRYc/s1600/Ann+Class64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhaauOEMaVaUFJ90GPEj3x1ejPqsBtunCwLaz96gV7kSwfWnj5eKrWZLGO5D2kpMdxSKEDRQfLFxxlAGambdERlK8Ab0z_rbkwCP7MtvQmdL2avwIf3C-BtPR8cRpgjq_Cx-WkXNtRYc/s1600/Ann+Class64.jpg" height="332" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The top picture is Jamie laying the glass on the mandrel to begin building a bead. You can see the bead taking shape in the bottom image.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhdC8A7yt_RPl0HKNTnij6IKco77tcavFtGRS5T7avsQvTiGbVGkSMPyxWEWvN8Empt3v5Ny4Eq_rDAaAbQWjOhAPDD9bQKbFj7KZHaF8U1fk0Blu7OI3Wa8kat-XdHEhjmn-u3tshY4/s1600/Ann+Class+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhdC8A7yt_RPl0HKNTnij6IKco77tcavFtGRS5T7avsQvTiGbVGkSMPyxWEWvN8Empt3v5Ny4Eq_rDAaAbQWjOhAPDD9bQKbFj7KZHaF8U1fk0Blu7OI3Wa8kat-XdHEhjmn-u3tshY4/s1600/Ann+Class+8.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No, they aren't perfect!</span> </div>
<br />
The ones in the top of the picture are the result of Ann trying to teach a decorating or shaping technique. The beads on the bottom are the ones made the second day when I was mostly just trying to get the hang of making them round, balanced and consistently the same size.<br />
<br />
I had such a fun time this whole trip - being at the beach was a nice break from the miserable winter. We had dinner in some great restaurants and relaxed for a couple days while learning about this awesome craft. Now I'll be able to survive the rest of the winter while plotting how to fit a studio in my house!<br />
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-88149372750822988462013-11-09T07:07:00.000-05:002013-11-09T07:07:16.187-05:00Making a Princess Feel the Part!My niece is getting married next summer to a wonderful guy. They've had a tough couple of months and have complicated lives so the wedding plans keep getting put on hold. But - finally - there is a date set for all the bridal party to get together to go dress and flower shopping. I thought it would be nice to start the day off with a little treat so I made bracelets for the bride-to-be and the merry maids in her wedding colors of pink & navy -<br />
I just wanted something simple, so I went with the classic round ceramic beads. I love the brides sparkly crown toggle and the merry maids smaller crown toggles. The charms are a nod to the location which is on the beach in Maryland.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT83G-vQDGPabMpkevxE0uKWS4JHAzvcT-Wa4KxeTgUmyGkYZiWO6-Bsv9yM7R888QZHjIN_5NnRBq48Pp7avi1J-a7tqXBFrUvSrTfgrosJaxy7oj7gJDjlxpuX2PwLntSLUL1HFbxd8/s1600/Bridal+Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT83G-vQDGPabMpkevxE0uKWS4JHAzvcT-Wa4KxeTgUmyGkYZiWO6-Bsv9yM7R888QZHjIN_5NnRBq48Pp7avi1J-a7tqXBFrUvSrTfgrosJaxy7oj7gJDjlxpuX2PwLntSLUL1HFbxd8/s640/Bridal+Party.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-10929299006963089062013-10-23T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-23T09:00:46.848-04:00Jumprings - DIY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2yC29fByA03pKOHVbID7y_L43rbkGxB5qQaMDdNKViglzItb_R0V6NeJGcQj3VhITwKhXWNkKeReg364AjmJSKlHOsNDcti7EbyKTPGTXeaqozSVMVaZS-me33KDJwru9XnzN4S8oww/s1600/jumprings+diy+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2yC29fByA03pKOHVbID7y_L43rbkGxB5qQaMDdNKViglzItb_R0V6NeJGcQj3VhITwKhXWNkKeReg364AjmJSKlHOsNDcti7EbyKTPGTXeaqozSVMVaZS-me33KDJwru9XnzN4S8oww/s640/jumprings+diy+(5).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There is something satisfying about making your own components, whether its the clasp, the beads or the connectors. If you've never tried making your own jumprings you're in for a pleasant surprise - it's not that hard and there are an endless number of ways to get just what you need.<br />
<br />
There are a ton of gizmo's out there to make your life easier.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKlZgZ1DwVRL4aiT5vDdas0X29LxjUWOH8Ypk12czx-yo73W5awxxnAoT0kLK39nw2dJFoTTgDXBqxCQj-G_ocGoiT-thhZjUAzhaCsFoWkIM07GKQT-qS1lPqBa9RBy1czQSzJC2yUg/s1600/jumprings+diy+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKlZgZ1DwVRL4aiT5vDdas0X29LxjUWOH8Ypk12czx-yo73W5awxxnAoT0kLK39nw2dJFoTTgDXBqxCQj-G_ocGoiT-thhZjUAzhaCsFoWkIM07GKQT-qS1lPqBa9RBy1czQSzJC2yUg/s400/jumprings+diy+%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhT9VeTW_5ZtEET9fZf5SocGX-s9j_FjZ2fK5NEP5jUAg8gsFnB0xeuNFrDPdJPTNLTo2SiHgnujK5eNjN-Bt_FaRoVayEr15CKErsY46almZQiSFxZ3H2yQIIXSJsbqYKrKjSgf3UvCE/s1600/jumprings+diy+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhT9VeTW_5ZtEET9fZf5SocGX-s9j_FjZ2fK5NEP5jUAg8gsFnB0xeuNFrDPdJPTNLTo2SiHgnujK5eNjN-Bt_FaRoVayEr15CKErsY46almZQiSFxZ3H2yQIIXSJsbqYKrKjSgf3UvCE/s640/jumprings+diy+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
These little mandrel sets are probably the easiest - its pretty self explanatory, wrap the wire around the mandrel, slide it off cut the rings apart. The problem with this is what kind of pliers do you use? You want a really flat cut so the ring will close as seamlessly as possible. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcOK60q1MguuBuVvHi8zInAYTrQ5ND4YdvT1xEproa6pxPktABk0CwjgJqG241vkGqzx-V1Wib5UwxlbrCGUMQceoP51ew1V40hKcJBxOGQ2eJil3SS5G5cGiLSRMlomhpisABKQM8K0/s1600/jumprings+diy+(2)a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcOK60q1MguuBuVvHi8zInAYTrQ5ND4YdvT1xEproa6pxPktABk0CwjgJqG241vkGqzx-V1Wib5UwxlbrCGUMQceoP51ew1V40hKcJBxOGQ2eJil3SS5G5cGiLSRMlomhpisABKQM8K0/s640/jumprings+diy+(2)a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The obvious choice is the Double Flush Cutter. There are problems with pliers - if you need a lot of rings for a large project this is going to take forever! The shape of the head on the double flush cutters make it hard to cut smaller rings, but if you're doing say, 9mm or larger and you only need a few at a time these are great.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUkfWd7rvyphdzMW3hATi1iDy0uH6nlWWMkavlsP4RTBxi6CgVoAjcCHJ_tR4_6dln6den_mqL-yR9BL95zfPfrJmcIxlhmX_huNrsJ8OIWlR0BS6g_LJOcacCBiwoMQxXg8JG0Ir7-k/s1600/2013-11-06+12.31.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUkfWd7rvyphdzMW3hATi1iDy0uH6nlWWMkavlsP4RTBxi6CgVoAjcCHJ_tR4_6dln6den_mqL-yR9BL95zfPfrJmcIxlhmX_huNrsJ8OIWlR0BS6g_LJOcacCBiwoMQxXg8JG0Ir7-k/s400/2013-11-06+12.31.24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Me - I like BULK - I don't want to have to stop in the middle of a project to wrap and cut jumprings.<br />
<br />
So, I went the semi-pro route -<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0zvPZTxVFag9YuoBWe9_SC2Drprspmn46p4toIMsKWfXqsqcespfBP1ZTZpLw4RMybP814Yv5eTlb9IIPYM2E4fbxK4h1hqUEaQm0CskACo09YbSW694QXpOfQJq4sddgKw5Vm-SOPM/s1600/Making+Jumprings+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0zvPZTxVFag9YuoBWe9_SC2Drprspmn46p4toIMsKWfXqsqcespfBP1ZTZpLw4RMybP814Yv5eTlb9IIPYM2E4fbxK4h1hqUEaQm0CskACo09YbSW694QXpOfQJq4sddgKw5Vm-SOPM/s640/Making+Jumprings+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
I have a complete cutting system - the Pepe coiler is awesome.<br />
<br />
It can make any size jumpring you can dream up simply by inserting the correct size mandrel in the handle and winding right off the wire spool. In a couple of seconds you have a wire coil about 4" long. <br />
The second step is as easy as the first. I have what my son calls the "Uber Dremel" - its a Flex Shaft cutting and grinding tool. The handle has a very thin (.008), VERY sharp blade, you operate with a foot pedal.<br />
<br />
The coil goes under the metal plate, tighten the nuts to hold it snug, place the shaft flat on the plate, press the pedal and slide forward at a steady pull. It only takes a couple of seconds to cut the coil into lovely, perfect, flush closing jumprings!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdyFbnFE6-W3BTo2VLVkBU1Sc-xpHu36fN9OS2d9IgDrYFWotINK6rR9RzHvgS6VT-8kCtZ73zSVRYdyC2_B0q4Htd1gePVkbbT2pgANdJL3WRiqxeiWRDRarhwBhwyOugnmTx5404gI/s1600/Making+Jumprings+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdyFbnFE6-W3BTo2VLVkBU1Sc-xpHu36fN9OS2d9IgDrYFWotINK6rR9RzHvgS6VT-8kCtZ73zSVRYdyC2_B0q4Htd1gePVkbbT2pgANdJL3WRiqxeiWRDRarhwBhwyOugnmTx5404gI/s640/Making+Jumprings+(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcusWLBjTXlrkEnRJHR1sG-HUfi3VO6RAqFgYzzWBCBQTRE2ZDUIXAtfFEkWFNGHCh2CPB_ruOOHUACZGcDmH8s3GVdJtiDeK7kn8LD9yqbQ33Dgz7EIUw3qGVY-hvfMne1PBg8y8UkU/s1600/Making+Jumprings+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcusWLBjTXlrkEnRJHR1sG-HUfi3VO6RAqFgYzzWBCBQTRE2ZDUIXAtfFEkWFNGHCh2CPB_ruOOHUACZGcDmH8s3GVdJtiDeK7kn8LD9yqbQ33Dgz7EIUw3qGVY-hvfMne1PBg8y8UkU/s640/Making+Jumprings+(4).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Before you know it, you have a zillion rings in a rainbow of colors!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxt37V3XV8hlvlaQKQOaEMVNPe8S1m6W3KDdFvoCdaN21C8oA44aicCE-dbWc0mCvDU70iCtO4j9Or1-Av6GfVnXY9-Yz8jQiNU1ik6jC-mo9oueHtl2a74iHL3oWA4_txVvBMsxWViD4/s1600/Making+Jumprings+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxt37V3XV8hlvlaQKQOaEMVNPe8S1m6W3KDdFvoCdaN21C8oA44aicCE-dbWc0mCvDU70iCtO4j9Or1-Av6GfVnXY9-Yz8jQiNU1ik6jC-mo9oueHtl2a74iHL3oWA4_txVvBMsxWViD4/s640/Making+Jumprings+(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
You can purchase jumprings in a fair number of colors at better bead stores but it's usually near impossible to get a variety of gauges or anything more then two or three sizes. What are you supposed to do when you want to have a hook that's the same color as the jumprings or maybe you need a 20mm jumpring? I love having the option of sizes, shapes and colors.<br />
<br />
You don't need anything expensive - you can use anything for a mandrel, a pen or a knitting needle are good choices. Get creative! Get exactly what you want - don't settle for what you can find - and as always.... have fun!Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-50082716825289171032013-10-22T20:05:00.002-04:002013-10-22T20:05:50.168-04:00Retro RemakeMy Aunt came to visit in September. She loves antiques, so while she was here I took her to a huge (5 barn sized buildings!!) antique place in Fayetteville, PA. I didn't really expect to find anything - it's not really my decorating style. I thought it would be a nice day for her...<br />
<br />
Was I ever wrong?? One of the vendors in the first building had cases and cases of vintage jewelry! It was awesome! I bought several brooches and pins for a bouquet I'm playing around with. I also got a couple of long necklaces that were made out of lucite. You know, that stuff your mom wore in the 50's? The beads were that typical salmon kind of pink that was so popular back then.<br />
<br />
Anyway - I stupidly did not take a photo of the necklaces before I cut them apart - sorry!! But I did want to share with you a couple of pieces that I've put together.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdifIeigxnF_n_5tQyjXn3UfiLVTRV7FihwD_e1LDQ-iYcnDq-ar9CtgXrk3RPpRFAA1TSCI-9caMy0lD7mGxiNzPsuFVXKqVCEpb7hZ4S6q1ryt_biIEP7X0Vd673EXzYcxUCN5DWRI/s1600/Revamped+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdifIeigxnF_n_5tQyjXn3UfiLVTRV7FihwD_e1LDQ-iYcnDq-ar9CtgXrk3RPpRFAA1TSCI-9caMy0lD7mGxiNzPsuFVXKqVCEpb7hZ4S6q1ryt_biIEP7X0Vd673EXzYcxUCN5DWRI/s640/Revamped+(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!<br />
<br />This one has the white sparkly lucite rounds and the pink inverted barrel shapes that turned out to be perfect with my favorite component - rubber O's!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMt9hTZIevh8WUyMzGNH_QFz2438RNf2iRKPAaOOH-BH17raFdIESW07ArOJpJVddZvA4NFPWh83-hL9zU5l8ziXNqoY5Hn4GalFRQCXUX9tOX4YJJbYjAUJ6fbG9xkabCjUbycIvlOo/s1600/Revamped+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMt9hTZIevh8WUyMzGNH_QFz2438RNf2iRKPAaOOH-BH17raFdIESW07ArOJpJVddZvA4NFPWh83-hL9zU5l8ziXNqoY5Hn4GalFRQCXUX9tOX4YJJbYjAUJ6fbG9xkabCjUbycIvlOo/s640/Revamped+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The hook is my own creation using 18g black wire, a bead cap and a bead.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvMe9Ficdph1Y1sv2a2ddxllPNL0tIJs8a7O-3Rh4EkOuWhHmnaqRrqJH7XRNmo5iIdl8cB8YHpaF90h9vAm21lyAB4ita8hw8U2ThvqGoDWHtFjH3vXO1Pm98OoWPmtsv2dgmYhhQ68/s1600/Candy+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvMe9Ficdph1Y1sv2a2ddxllPNL0tIJs8a7O-3Rh4EkOuWhHmnaqRrqJH7XRNmo5iIdl8cB8YHpaF90h9vAm21lyAB4ita8hw8U2ThvqGoDWHtFjH3vXO1Pm98OoWPmtsv2dgmYhhQ68/s640/Candy+(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
The necklace uses more of the pink barrels, which I think paired perfectly with Donna Millards hand made vintage caps.The ribbed turquoise rounds were a great spacer and the color has that vintage feel.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnlrCe3kCdgFO0LUDvfoTGAqNvLKM80bKRbM67ecAOy0zPuoAv_YeqproXm-ts0KXizIR9BF6u9Ks2GqxRlMvRLLkmLJlQ5Ktz3KFqBYvuYXvyYoCOAwjJ268Nru7RCCpfzqvTJI4NZ0/s1600/Candy+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnlrCe3kCdgFO0LUDvfoTGAqNvLKM80bKRbM67ecAOy0zPuoAv_YeqproXm-ts0KXizIR9BF6u9Ks2GqxRlMvRLLkmLJlQ5Ktz3KFqBYvuYXvyYoCOAwjJ268Nru7RCCpfzqvTJI4NZ0/s640/Candy+(3).JPG" width="520" /></a></div>
The etched lampwork lozenges came from IMakeBeads on Etsy. The hook is, of course, my creation. I used sterling 18g wire and one of the ribbed turquoise rounds as an accent. I love the fun, light hearted feeling of this piece.<br />
<br />
So - get yourself to an antique mall! They're loaded with fun vintage stuff at pretty good prices.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I even managed to find myself an awesome new desk chair!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-leMzz4AFi80-iSBs4_pkacBRxdvuOBchI01Jm_ElrDoUD_A3KDpQZ0VpAUQZx-rUwXNcDZIHrED52bwNjeutP9PIO8OR8_VE_TuqULTZMxMGc-ViM3efSgQxBcyyRMKtqPDogRYQYpk/s1600/CAM00017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-leMzz4AFi80-iSBs4_pkacBRxdvuOBchI01Jm_ElrDoUD_A3KDpQZ0VpAUQZx-rUwXNcDZIHrED52bwNjeutP9PIO8OR8_VE_TuqULTZMxMGc-ViM3efSgQxBcyyRMKtqPDogRYQYpk/s400/CAM00017.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-689583672280304012013-09-11T09:03:00.000-04:002013-09-11T09:03:16.210-04:00Create SpaceFor years I've dreamed of having a big, bright space all to myself. Space that I could use to make <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b><i>stuff</i></b></span></span>. Where I could start a project, and if I didn't finish it, I could leave it set up and come back to it later. Instead, I've worked at the kitchen table, in the laundry room, at the dining room table - having to set up, start, run out of time, pack it all up, store it out of the way - wasting all my 'create time' getting ready or cleaning up!! GAK!<br />
<br />
When we bought our new house, I thought that maybe I'd be able to convert some space in my garage. As it turns out, its too hot or too cold or too stuffed with stuff that we're storing for the kids (who no longer live at home!) ~ sigh ~<br />
<br />
BING! The light goes on (finally) - we have a H-U-G-E unfinished basement. So, thanks to <a href="http://www.angieslist.com/?gclid=CKDEp5Gtw7kCFUXNOgod1ksAiw&CID=BRANDPPC&af=103001&RefID=PPC:1%20&s_kwcid=AL!3718!3!27396094481!e!!g!!angie%27s%20list&ef_id=UewpZwAABPTEm3dj:20130911123256:s" target="_blank">Angie's List</a>, we found a local handyman who did the electrical and the framing. We hung the drywall, moulding, trim. Lowe's put down some fabulous carpet and viola! (mostly) - I have this awesome space to set up for CREATING!! It's very much a work in progress - my brother, who is a pretty awesome carpenter is making shelves that will hide my hot water tank and the HVAC. I still need lights and tons of other stuff but I'm getting there!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2xhuBw57Yi3oWswq9EAqX4RUe7Sobn0bJNuPXDt1GKx5U9fbZy9qM4GKD4W4zn02DOFY-XWbzYeE9tzuiHWz0tFLj92IISfAQzrLHg9rfRktLIS4Mvn8RdI2L8I-syPwevpvTsf9UBc/s1600/Create+space+2013+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2xhuBw57Yi3oWswq9EAqX4RUe7Sobn0bJNuPXDt1GKx5U9fbZy9qM4GKD4W4zn02DOFY-XWbzYeE9tzuiHWz0tFLj92IISfAQzrLHg9rfRktLIS4Mvn8RdI2L8I-syPwevpvTsf9UBc/s400/Create+space+2013+(2).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love that I have the doors out to the yard. Lots of natural light, and I hope to have a little patio and garden space out there! (future project!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuI0oLa1CVXYtO7J7DqnzbZf47oj_9zStbBFkO5H1IHiUmHOcoouga35IXAGVE-fHmNdwbckc_3maNZWzCEZZAi8yv1cm_xGwk0ge7tbCE9zTgBb46q_hf2eyxTIrrf2THE10JGGzFwdI/s1600/Create+space+2013+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuI0oLa1CVXYtO7J7DqnzbZf47oj_9zStbBFkO5H1IHiUmHOcoouga35IXAGVE-fHmNdwbckc_3maNZWzCEZZAi8yv1cm_xGwk0ge7tbCE9zTgBb46q_hf2eyxTIrrf2THE10JGGzFwdI/s400/Create+space+2013+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I love these base cabinets. I get them at Lowe's. So cheap! They make the perfect work station - slap a section of counter top on them - bang! done!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDA3O3Qt3tCWMjmZPNoYfAcK6dQFl-i5738Bknt6Z2DCebb0zPiOQb_W-pegMuwvV9gqPnT9ceFvrRfK1ePp0jV1YxqgLlXq6DuH8hJhrxT8Z4pRQIoemc6mnL2HYkZstuk-tNwIOVZIo/s1600/Create+space+2013+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDA3O3Qt3tCWMjmZPNoYfAcK6dQFl-i5738Bknt6Z2DCebb0zPiOQb_W-pegMuwvV9gqPnT9ceFvrRfK1ePp0jV1YxqgLlXq6DuH8hJhrxT8Z4pRQIoemc6mnL2HYkZstuk-tNwIOVZIo/s400/Create+space+2013+%25284%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The sewing corner - these cubes are going to do double duty - fabric storage and I'm planning to top them with a large counter piece for cutting.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZC2mgMC0fmNFcQ9hh1A43NR09hsXMqc73aoYVX1FGTbJgSTrtcyeDCbGNQEX7LQkvHr0GIZBqnx6uErhcCjdMTTZgOXytU96lwesrlfOBPvbSxXGNxBYny3CZiyMWRjW4fD3iH5tiK8g/s1600/Create+space+2013+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZC2mgMC0fmNFcQ9hh1A43NR09hsXMqc73aoYVX1FGTbJgSTrtcyeDCbGNQEX7LQkvHr0GIZBqnx6uErhcCjdMTTZgOXytU96lwesrlfOBPvbSxXGNxBYny3CZiyMWRjW4fD3iH5tiK8g/s640/Create+space+2013+%25285%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Now for the fun part! Gathering all the stuff from all the closets and hidey holes all over the house and getting it organized!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVYbNUVB4TFmgrgrsSpp5_V-UcUB9YAMRp98bo_XxYKO86rEwVzimKggCKEXvy28Er7qnkVP9A7vJgAAQgvbL_o654wRj8-AbAhvTPB4lAcNuF69OK9O8TcX_HhLJmU7JW-E-OotLxIg/s1600/Create+space+2013+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVYbNUVB4TFmgrgrsSpp5_V-UcUB9YAMRp98bo_XxYKO86rEwVzimKggCKEXvy28Er7qnkVP9A7vJgAAQgvbL_o654wRj8-AbAhvTPB4lAcNuF69OK9O8TcX_HhLJmU7JW-E-OotLxIg/s640/Create+space+2013+%25288%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
A place to bead - probably need some more shelving or cabinets above - but its a good start!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i39wW9qxNzA8L1x4legGz91qzYWzmIe86ZDlWSlIqCOpgYcOoocpKu_FNPiBIPFG1ikPOp0i_32o4QbYET35CEluNgUdPSNr9a7Rdxc5E5MCtfLaw47Iv2O5kFnasnwIVBdO-qbTpc0/s1600/Create+space+2013+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i39wW9qxNzA8L1x4legGz91qzYWzmIe86ZDlWSlIqCOpgYcOoocpKu_FNPiBIPFG1ikPOp0i_32o4QbYET35CEluNgUdPSNr9a7Rdxc5E5MCtfLaw47Iv2O5kFnasnwIVBdO-qbTpc0/s400/Create+space+2013+%25287%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Fabric storage and cutting table - I like that its tall enough to work around standing up without killing my back!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRd3E8wfj_aM_BYDUP2MPdjfmJbUg9F-NPyvHfPZN5Vb4oewnolF5jrdvvuJOLSsFlV6IIXUa7vHBjLD3-XtyivlMc1TcUP4xiPiE0fAZQD2jccICOeRYR69fHd_5aiiL8urfrT8xcNak/s1600/Create+space+2013+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRd3E8wfj_aM_BYDUP2MPdjfmJbUg9F-NPyvHfPZN5Vb4oewnolF5jrdvvuJOLSsFlV6IIXUa7vHBjLD3-XtyivlMc1TcUP4xiPiE0fAZQD2jccICOeRYR69fHd_5aiiL8urfrT8xcNak/s400/Create+space+2013+%252811%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
A nice, big table with a drawer for sewing - just have to figure out the ironing board situation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XDCvEvUF0rfXZ5u3bRDp_2HYMxaO7Q3M9d-jHF0Ap1xc6s85oFtODxWpBYHaGl4eHmMgzQb8K3Ojd9DuzE037jEF912PrPCVOQ8hSWuHrArubeQ6Zf7S8bnwz_II3HHABnexDNC4BsA/s1600/Create+space+2013+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XDCvEvUF0rfXZ5u3bRDp_2HYMxaO7Q3M9d-jHF0Ap1xc6s85oFtODxWpBYHaGl4eHmMgzQb8K3Ojd9DuzE037jEF912PrPCVOQ8hSWuHrArubeQ6Zf7S8bnwz_II3HHABnexDNC4BsA/s640/Create+space+2013+%25289%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
A sturdy new home for my favorite tool! the Flexshaft and Pepe coiler - awesome power!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFM7RDfj9dFrm-JiiBTJG0bBrg6Vm_ZuTPMb4RJE7qTLYJLB1UmyYzcaiq3DYGax8hELpIcmWWAyRTBYjyjk1BStBILBAV9WE49bo01rwQFjcbO3W9Ux5cBkqmI4ejEqLTqAmfbvLJsQ/s1600/Create+space+2013+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFM7RDfj9dFrm-JiiBTJG0bBrg6Vm_ZuTPMb4RJE7qTLYJLB1UmyYzcaiq3DYGax8hELpIcmWWAyRTBYjyjk1BStBILBAV9WE49bo01rwQFjcbO3W9Ux5cBkqmI4ejEqLTqAmfbvLJsQ/s320/Create+space+2013+%25281%2529.JPG" width="280" /></a></div>
Made this nifty cork board for ideas out of a frame I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $10!<br />
<br />
There you have it - the start of something big! Still needs a bit of work, a bit of polish - a few more storage ideas and definitely paint - who could live with all that white??? Anyone who has some awesome storage ideas - feel free to share!!Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-39748466354123584532013-09-05T09:56:00.001-04:002013-09-05T09:56:32.398-04:00Oh, the Shame!!I'm always happy to show people my creations. I know that my work isn't for everyone, but I'm always pleased with what I put in my shop. That's not to say that I'm always pleased with everything I do - case in point, my first attempt at making lampwork beads.<br />
<br />
I've wanted to learn this amazing craft for several years and finally had the opportunity to take a class from an incredible artist - <a href="http://bronwenheilman.com/" target="_blank">Bronwen Heilman</a> - at Bead Fest. Bronwen is a great teacher, patient and fun to work with.<br />
<br />
What I learned about working with glass is that it's much like patting your head and rubbing your tummy! There are a lot of things to be paying attention to at the same time. I think that you have to do a hundred of the same type of bead to develop the muscle memory needed for this craft. In my case, I might need to make 1000 of the same bead!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zKGNTv-RfIKOpZcS0NT-Gp6F5P1XOJV80kiqEW1-jRuiQt2yMlanV2LiixCAda4R6YlAbBcW6ADaGVBnvk-KBiWBGt47U6AdWn67Xb_qtL8EHyRcxgFQe6UQ93X2cIgoiaNkEp1Rzv0/s1600/First+lamp+work+beads+2013+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zKGNTv-RfIKOpZcS0NT-Gp6F5P1XOJV80kiqEW1-jRuiQt2yMlanV2LiixCAda4R6YlAbBcW6ADaGVBnvk-KBiWBGt47U6AdWn67Xb_qtL8EHyRcxgFQe6UQ93X2cIgoiaNkEp1Rzv0/s400/First+lamp+work+beads+2013+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In the eight hours I spent in class, I managed to make about two dozen beads. This is all that survived a night in the kiln. Apparently, you have to get them into the kiln while they are smokin' hot! I didn't move fast enough - sadly! The little blue one on the right was my very first bead - its about 9mm.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YtEUGD6o491o-RuaYpsM-xGeqGQdf-4Q7lefMw_1hlW1amqEmekGGsnmXnJAjUgFh5lUQQ7TyRVpNh9Avdvl-0wuJuqJ9xQiFPlI3e-c0h03Byeq5XoejJSyAsmkfmR3cMZ98j0759o/s1600/First+lamp+work+beads+2013+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YtEUGD6o491o-RuaYpsM-xGeqGQdf-4Q7lefMw_1hlW1amqEmekGGsnmXnJAjUgFh5lUQQ7TyRVpNh9Avdvl-0wuJuqJ9xQiFPlI3e-c0h03Byeq5XoejJSyAsmkfmR3cMZ98j0759o/s640/First+lamp+work+beads+2013+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
As you can see, I had a little trouble keeping things balanced and even! I also had a problem keeping the beads level on the mandrel, which is why they look like gourds!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dI4IN5r0B7hMQaIfSmrUxsp7vWFUSP6hOMSIwtYI7biG9pfWJK7TE4kjrIAPSc-Wj3IOtKZAB7ji2lJlOZ4PwmduSlZL6tmE0PtJ_4aBjevWJ6JIbe_D3mRePgazHqDKVsqY_LYgiy0/s1600/First+lamp+work+beads+2013+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dI4IN5r0B7hMQaIfSmrUxsp7vWFUSP6hOMSIwtYI7biG9pfWJK7TE4kjrIAPSc-Wj3IOtKZAB7ji2lJlOZ4PwmduSlZL6tmE0PtJ_4aBjevWJ6JIbe_D3mRePgazHqDKVsqY_LYgiy0/s640/First+lamp+work+beads+2013+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
The green and black with the little dots was my attempt at learning to use 'stringers' - a little wonky but not a complete failure! Can't even begin to tell you what happened to the weird orange one!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6nZqasTQTTtwRuvL2iHwEIt66IByupEGFvU_Mmo82KheHAMXUwy9NZ2oZFmM6wuUwQLX7KTKl7QZize_rksymHM9S8brLS5aYprkvXXZ5BQt6r5F-RnbwiV4oVRKbDVKCQsXcmBYbCI/s1600/First+lamp+work+beads+2013+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6nZqasTQTTtwRuvL2iHwEIt66IByupEGFvU_Mmo82KheHAMXUwy9NZ2oZFmM6wuUwQLX7KTKl7QZize_rksymHM9S8brLS5aYprkvXXZ5BQt6r5F-RnbwiV4oVRKbDVKCQsXcmBYbCI/s640/First+lamp+work+beads+2013+%25284%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Will I continue to try to make beads? YES! This was such a challenge, but so much fun. I love to learn new things, to expand my knowledge base is always a good thing - I might not become an expert, but as I progress I'll be sure to share my attempts with you!<br />
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-37716147532059486432013-08-29T08:30:00.000-04:002013-08-29T08:30:45.993-04:00Cool Tool!One of my favorite things about going to bead shows is getting to talk to so many experts. I was chatting with one of the sales people at the <a href="http://www.jewelrytools.com/" target="_blank">Jewelry Tools</a> booth where I got an awesome pair of Wubbers pliers when I saw this...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZOStiIaJiFcvBSf5qKgW_5VcaUKjFMROGUhfVvm3ix0Kp3WnOYmZLJ88tQVPZ0OzhHulH83dllKn8jbMwmy0WtcyqamnTRnquMtz7wprSt-Wt-ZRYVd8nlH1gsfo6pxRk0xlRtFJnSk/s1600/handy+tool+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZOStiIaJiFcvBSf5qKgW_5VcaUKjFMROGUhfVvm3ix0Kp3WnOYmZLJ88tQVPZ0OzhHulH83dllKn8jbMwmy0WtcyqamnTRnquMtz7wprSt-Wt-ZRYVd8nlH1gsfo6pxRk0xlRtFJnSk/s640/handy+tool+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It's called the <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;"><i><b>Double 3rd Hand</b></i>.</span></span> It's my new favorite tool. Everything on it is adjusts and swivels in every possible direction and is removable. The clips are strong enough to hold just about anything I need to hold onto and the magnifier is perfect for really close up work on tiny pieces. Here's the best part - <span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><i>it was only $5.95!!</i></u></b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
What's your favorite handy gadget in the playroom?</div>
Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-89659107291671211912013-08-26T11:48:00.001-04:002013-08-26T11:48:21.625-04:00Bead Fest ~ Day 2 ~ Lamp Work!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbt8ksDRMG4NVUfjVA-y1aMqzbzhGvZuJEoMzgw4Y7ohDijdZReSEKZQLpQejjj6J87SKgJilXFFKNc2DKtqvuJCl_7IIPIB8_eUdSCaq5M6ZWYN8xDvk8HdLhzgtESe4n-Gc_jGCAsuc/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbt8ksDRMG4NVUfjVA-y1aMqzbzhGvZuJEoMzgw4Y7ohDijdZReSEKZQLpQejjj6J87SKgJilXFFKNc2DKtqvuJCl_7IIPIB8_eUdSCaq5M6ZWYN8xDvk8HdLhzgtESe4n-Gc_jGCAsuc/s320/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+(12).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So in my first post about Bead Fest I left you with this picture. Today, I learned that it's actually called a 'marver' ~ so much smarter already!<br />
<br />
I spent over eight hours with the incomparable Bronwen Heilman, artist extrodinaire! A delightful, patient woman who taught the twelve of us in her basic lamp working class how not to set ourselves on fire while attempting to make beautiful glass beads.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNVnz4g4howYgFIZ91CI9BnaqJOcmBJ5X4nfaPC-DYE-Jqp7pvlZ4rY8nToozwTB8zqp9LjNmrQrne3GoF_BWFGBKowqQEazHrTGWvn3LfcQe_83C808-LIDCt42fVkqs3DALaQYClMU/s1600/Bead+Fest+2013+Day+2+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNVnz4g4howYgFIZ91CI9BnaqJOcmBJ5X4nfaPC-DYE-Jqp7pvlZ4rY8nToozwTB8zqp9LjNmrQrne3GoF_BWFGBKowqQEazHrTGWvn3LfcQe_83C808-LIDCt42fVkqs3DALaQYClMU/s400/Bead+Fest+2013+Day+2+002.JPG" width="280" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bronwen came all the way from her studio in Tucson, Arizona!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkexuXfXXp-pLYeDyVFULdaOQF-MnoUq17GtSF7OjukAZC7SYp34ZeSQi5VLg3nSKJ2Vu-HozPF7eNPyrUXhBbw_hRP-2x_jBzsRjGNI51kQ3QSEnzN1Jt38cUhUuihgB5vdUY_H1qwY/s1600/Bead+Fest+2013+Day+2+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkexuXfXXp-pLYeDyVFULdaOQF-MnoUq17GtSF7OjukAZC7SYp34ZeSQi5VLg3nSKJ2Vu-HozPF7eNPyrUXhBbw_hRP-2x_jBzsRjGNI51kQ3QSEnzN1Jt38cUhUuihgB5vdUY_H1qwY/s320/Bead+Fest+2013+Day+2+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We started the day by learning about the equipment, safety and prepping our stations. We each made twenty mandrels and coated them with bead release.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu6RDeJmyC2gRwa7jKDGZ5qyHu2HAf1G4brfpa-lZsB_oxNI5dhmNvxJ6G5WndT_SLjHnkUFi5TcmFPLHNXyFFBQS8K3tq-CQJAo5jEqTy0RFPR_D-UwECFux4U9vqBl0zwwtahzLYMo/s1600/Bead+Fest+2013+Day+2+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu6RDeJmyC2gRwa7jKDGZ5qyHu2HAf1G4brfpa-lZsB_oxNI5dhmNvxJ6G5WndT_SLjHnkUFi5TcmFPLHNXyFFBQS8K3tq-CQJAo5jEqTy0RFPR_D-UwECFux4U9vqBl0zwwtahzLYMo/s400/Bead+Fest+2013+Day+2+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ready!! Set!! GOOOOoooooooo!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All of our equipment was donated and set up by Ross Thackery of <a href="http://www.abrimagery.com/" target="_blank">ABR Imagery</a> - this included all the torches, hoses, propane, table plates, glasses, marvers etc... Thanks Ross!! Ross was at the show working and handing out advice all week - It was awesome!! If you need supplies, instructions or advice he's the person to help you out!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNtEys3kfk1wOajODbz7B00gGEQ0KBuCsSbF7CdbcA39APUGvNHvD6K98S5ASlJzJ6nc0GZHjLl3xDyZm9lDEUrYKheGHfKtscNwdKo-vVJbYeD4CFSCiKPgM6WLin2_2t6ipYnFfYf4/s1600/Bead+Fest+2013+Day+2+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNtEys3kfk1wOajODbz7B00gGEQ0KBuCsSbF7CdbcA39APUGvNHvD6K98S5ASlJzJ6nc0GZHjLl3xDyZm9lDEUrYKheGHfKtscNwdKo-vVJbYeD4CFSCiKPgM6WLin2_2t6ipYnFfYf4/s320/Bead+Fest+2013+Day+2+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pjMAQSnKA8IWFS9jPrrj_Gn6hcx2xQF4PRltyJ74QRMZDcYY3EsR63YL13acu3lTZduCqJuwbMZclYDl3lZbyCSZYSTPL7DveGUpnf4imrPV6PDGRheq-hYwKpgFo-J0R1kI8_BIKvI/s1600/Bead+Fest+2013+Day+2+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pjMAQSnKA8IWFS9jPrrj_Gn6hcx2xQF4PRltyJ74QRMZDcYY3EsR63YL13acu3lTZduCqJuwbMZclYDl3lZbyCSZYSTPL7DveGUpnf4imrPV6PDGRheq-hYwKpgFo-J0R1kI8_BIKvI/s400/Bead+Fest+2013+Day+2+005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bronwen showed us basic things like making rondelles, different shaping techniques, how to center the bead and getting our creations into the kiln. As if this wasn't enough (it was!!) she also showed us some more advanced techniques - adding embellishments like spots, making heart shaped beads, making and using stringers and twistys (no, I can't do that!), encasing a bubble (what?!) and feathering. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was an amazing day - I made many, very crooked, lopsided, strange looking things - I don't think any of them will actually turn out to be beads. They spent the night cooling in the kiln and will be shipped to me soon. When they arrive - if I'm not completely ashamed of my work - I'll post the pictures.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you've always wondered what it would be like to try working with molten hot glass - I definitely recommend going to one of Bronwen's classes. She is patient, amusing and an absolute expert. You'll come away with a whole new appreciation of this wonderful craft.</div>
<br />
<br />Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528504498283929118.post-22792729193960303932013-08-23T21:05:00.002-04:002013-08-23T21:05:59.877-04:00Bead Fest Philly ~ Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
For those of you who weren't able to attend Bead Fest this year - here's a taste of what you missed! There are a lot of great sponsors - The Urban Beader provided our badges and Metalliferous gave us these great totes for hauling our loot! Thanks Guys!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuJ4GeaJFcBFMDap7yoPKbOKvmsaDTbsYHHIeh7myS0Zlqej7ap0_AFQT0uOtUoDlxUKwsHNg4_IeBSV9oU08XVJWROOoZXq8cCPKhN6YYk-M3H5yONhW8sl0rObOksXc5fUxySkCxTI/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuJ4GeaJFcBFMDap7yoPKbOKvmsaDTbsYHHIeh7myS0Zlqej7ap0_AFQT0uOtUoDlxUKwsHNg4_IeBSV9oU08XVJWROOoZXq8cCPKhN6YYk-M3H5yONhW8sl0rObOksXc5fUxySkCxTI/s400/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+(5).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
After checking in I headed straight to the Exhibition Hall - this is where all the shopping fun takes place!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ0TKDn6m_-J92r5Gev-qCYEsvl5WmyC2gfZQYB0rVgfFHtOp7TjrkOYDkH1dK4KiuRSRMxpiMuAQ5YNbI5dBPc1WVj-piYMWFL9QIc0OnTV3qckU5_hUjmZq_2BUE94Huz9Fv20aYE8/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ0TKDn6m_-J92r5Gev-qCYEsvl5WmyC2gfZQYB0rVgfFHtOp7TjrkOYDkH1dK4KiuRSRMxpiMuAQ5YNbI5dBPc1WVj-piYMWFL9QIc0OnTV3qckU5_hUjmZq_2BUE94Huz9Fv20aYE8/s640/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
This is a look up the first aisle - there are over 300 vendors selling beading products from all over the world. Normally, I go to Bead Fest with my DIL - she's awesome at keeping me focused, organized and grounded. Sadly, she wasn't able to go with me this year so I might have run amok a little, ok - a lot!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOgZwwICX5mySm55VtAAGq6u70ccE7rEWWBpnMQdZU3pS9_mJLY1llOj332dKa67rDc-A8mIz9_8v6PGbg34U5hoX0jWVC3T6j4-2wBIqX7RZT4ouKpFb3iLGbY8bUOWBrgnptWgA-MU/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOgZwwICX5mySm55VtAAGq6u70ccE7rEWWBpnMQdZU3pS9_mJLY1llOj332dKa67rDc-A8mIz9_8v6PGbg34U5hoX0jWVC3T6j4-2wBIqX7RZT4ouKpFb3iLGbY8bUOWBrgnptWgA-MU/s640/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOgZwwICX5mySm55VtAAGq6u70ccE7rEWWBpnMQdZU3pS9_mJLY1llOj332dKa67rDc-A8mIz9_8v6PGbg34U5hoX0jWVC3T6j4-2wBIqX7RZT4ouKpFb3iLGbY8bUOWBrgnptWgA-MU/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are so many vendors that I HAVE to get to! Usually on the top of the list is seeing Yvonne at MyElements - I have to get my fun, color fix. There will be picts further down of what I bought!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdQA8ZT9SsJ1-3IeH5HDkDEcX8_8tV16vb07zr3Tml4lOcB_qieH6ukYM1VmTLVXC_MMYtm4_Dn2X3uaAUowBt5aa8pkkbPAyFm9YR8CmWjFN2Chh80yJf0wS3JhOxDjyB0Bp8L6boyQ/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdQA8ZT9SsJ1-3IeH5HDkDEcX8_8tV16vb07zr3Tml4lOcB_qieH6ukYM1VmTLVXC_MMYtm4_Dn2X3uaAUowBt5aa8pkkbPAyFm9YR8CmWjFN2Chh80yJf0wS3JhOxDjyB0Bp8L6boyQ/s640/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a>I also have to get to the wholesalers who come and take up as many as a dozen tables that they heap with piles of long strands of every kind of bead you can imagine. These are at least 75% less then you can get them anywhere else and the dealers always have show specials.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwFb5coxRKG_gayovF3FFaWpl4cyOF97E1Hi-v6-ryAekA3EcsqlwKWAar-Tz1HVVVTaXTF446tsUTd8QDNPANG5zE78ExEi9-cgpnZ1O96mBPmdUbSkIQb7GxKEcVW5k1uWSL35Z5GA/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwFb5coxRKG_gayovF3FFaWpl4cyOF97E1Hi-v6-ryAekA3EcsqlwKWAar-Tz1HVVVTaXTF446tsUTd8QDNPANG5zE78ExEi9-cgpnZ1O96mBPmdUbSkIQb7GxKEcVW5k1uWSL35Z5GA/s640/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25288%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The very first purchase I made was from Harry and Heather Boardman of HMB Studios. I just loved all the fun color combinations of these disks. Heather was so nice - she let me break up a set so that I could get just the right number of disks with orange. Harry is a truly talented portrait artist - check out their website!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2BySCXZejlwCFV53MmxeEbOQ_xxSVV7mE2kE3nbTCr8lIR0n0Wh-3uidAPYEbxUar8QrynNNi5ZuUE5uGDBjgqXAqmbVdPZT3tCCyDTNMFyM_1pHD5tf1yxT3OJvRVsq_M1D-KEhB-E/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2BySCXZejlwCFV53MmxeEbOQ_xxSVV7mE2kE3nbTCr8lIR0n0Wh-3uidAPYEbxUar8QrynNNi5ZuUE5uGDBjgqXAqmbVdPZT3tCCyDTNMFyM_1pHD5tf1yxT3OJvRVsq_M1D-KEhB-E/s400/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25287%2529.JPG" width="388" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At Julie Miller's booth I added these nifty little spacers that I use in a lot of my work.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtm1UOZpXvuyR9EkzGCAlr3Rm3EDRhAPwyZWCMnJo4H4rtkYhNXCOAQzOoLb7B7oWJ_VgMMDZJQ228leMSObYa7jkfBq_6D5YRo5zFJQOoaf9yuEbtOFhJj-USqGY7Djf8V0DNd4XHjk/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtm1UOZpXvuyR9EkzGCAlr3Rm3EDRhAPwyZWCMnJo4H4rtkYhNXCOAQzOoLb7B7oWJ_VgMMDZJQ228leMSObYa7jkfBq_6D5YRo5zFJQOoaf9yuEbtOFhJj-USqGY7Djf8V0DNd4XHjk/s640/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25286%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Finally got to Yvonne's booth which is an absolute explosion of juicy, fun colors and shapes. I had to pick up some of her hand painted plexiglass pieces in my favorite boomerang shapes. I added some chain and lots of odds-n-ends in bright colors.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozs4s5tx7HYkffuVcMGOK9yoS09cxq2RuJaAeuLuugZ7M5fD_8tMRFfe9JDlaPDxIKggf6qs6KYiUWJU_GSEq8FDC3S5OaGFYF-AvGQmK2NygwBOQ9zYR5pB2A0dLiNEbImSFaOVdr_g/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozs4s5tx7HYkffuVcMGOK9yoS09cxq2RuJaAeuLuugZ7M5fD_8tMRFfe9JDlaPDxIKggf6qs6KYiUWJU_GSEq8FDC3S5OaGFYF-AvGQmK2NygwBOQ9zYR5pB2A0dLiNEbImSFaOVdr_g/s640/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%252810%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One of my favorite things about Bead Fest is that I can stock up on all those little bits that you have to have - bead caps, spacers and filler inners that you use in every piece you make. Bulk is awesome!! Each of the bags of pewter components only set me back $3.00!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj7DRnpZTdHCUkkadmzuY4ekSPpYASuzV080Npw4x6WE49KpBVtiBqCVqW-MtJVayk_AizXiIYY6bE7AS2aTfmp2rB0yH_wKxxNIWn1rRW-Gx-bmaGnGbmgpvz6oiKaO9Ih58KHhMiFM/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj7DRnpZTdHCUkkadmzuY4ekSPpYASuzV080Npw4x6WE49KpBVtiBqCVqW-MtJVayk_AizXiIYY6bE7AS2aTfmp2rB0yH_wKxxNIWn1rRW-Gx-bmaGnGbmgpvz6oiKaO9Ih58KHhMiFM/s640/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%252811%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Found a whole rainbow of these little glass circles (75 in a bag) for only $5.00 each!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNSYoUgKi35y2y_TAMnjR45a_oJk4Jfb0KE_D_8djkQXfKBQ6YAYdScfa_quFckOEoUSbYWmo0JkWDB7Kq4V6RQIy0E4rqDazpdXLfMi-GNM1xXnup9MUhu__qnWYX2E9JSKkgpCj6Co/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNSYoUgKi35y2y_TAMnjR45a_oJk4Jfb0KE_D_8djkQXfKBQ6YAYdScfa_quFckOEoUSbYWmo0JkWDB7Kq4V6RQIy0E4rqDazpdXLfMi-GNM1xXnup9MUhu__qnWYX2E9JSKkgpCj6Co/s640/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+%25289%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Another of my favorite stops is the Parawire booth where I picked up a pile of 18 and 20 gauge wire to add to my stash. I love this wire - I make my own jumprings, clasps, hooks and toggles as well as using the wire to add that extra element to my colorful jewelry.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrB_o_ty4IYRVRdqDRVPVahsRp8zNM3RSS4rcMRAqTCk_0WLE_yCNmVfCLGhLwMbzUXV4yimpn8RzzrRhjDDA38rcCFTTecysJUDtc2vwoPWFCjWGT3U3jPo7Q1fW7bi3qQLFZKtZ6TA/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrB_o_ty4IYRVRdqDRVPVahsRp8zNM3RSS4rcMRAqTCk_0WLE_yCNmVfCLGhLwMbzUXV4yimpn8RzzrRhjDDA38rcCFTTecysJUDtc2vwoPWFCjWGT3U3jPo7Q1fW7bi3qQLFZKtZ6TA/s320/Bead+Fest+Philly+2013+(12).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
One of my last stops was ABR where I picked up this graphite paddle thingy. I have no idea what one does with such a thing but its on my list of supplies that I have to have for my lampworking class. I'll be spending Saturday learning how NOT to set my self on fire while making non-lopsided beads - I've been practicing by patting my stomach and rubbing my head simultaneously - I'll post the results soon!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Judy Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240909416987012627noreply@blogger.com5