Hippocamp Necklace - Horse of the Sea

I have used another one of Ingrid's rustic porcelain pieces in this necklace.  I am a big fan of mythology, I love dragons and have an extensive collection of antique buttons in all materials depicting all form of dragons and other mythological creatures.  So when she listed this, I felt my heart begin to beat fast.

Hippocamps were the horses of the sea.  They were depicted as composite creatures with the head and fore-parts of a horse and the serpent like tail of a fish.  The ancients believed they were the adult-form of the fish we call the "sea-horse".  They were the mounts of nymphs and sea-gods and Poseidon drove a chariot drawn by two or four of the creatures.

In addition to Ingrid's lovely pendant, I have used one of Ingrid's embossed beads in the same glaze, a wonderfully textured stoneware bead by Marti Conrad, a fiber bead made by Carolyn Saxby (these were a gift from Sophie), a gorgeous lampwork bead by Lynda Cogbill and paint brush jasper ovals and rounds.  The creamy white disc bead is one of the wonderful colors of Mookaite.  I also added a twisted  sea urchin stick to represent Poseidon's trident.

There are some fabulous art beads in this necklace.  I hope you like it.

You will recall that Mom lost her Belgian Turvuren, Maggie, a few weeks ago.  Well, I would like to introduce you all to Latte, Mom's new baby.  She is a Chihuahua mix and weighs about 14 lbs.  She is settling right in to Mom's house, but let me tell you, Mom's house is pretty easy to settle into.  She is an old fashioned Mom that thinks she needs to be waiting on her youngin's all the time.

Horse Bracelet

I made this bracelet using one of Ingrid's (potterygirl1) rustic porcelain two-horse connectors.  I love it, it even has her fingerprints all over it - molded in the porcelain - a testament to her handmade goodiness.

I paired it with paint brush jasper and lots of my wirework.

Let me say again - I am no seed beader......but remember this necklace and earrings?

One of my good customers wanted this set, but she also wanted a bracelet to go with it.  She wanted it made like the new bead and leather bracelets are that are so popular now, but they are made with larger beads, not Size 8 seed beads.  And, I needed to work in the pattern.  Well, I figured I've overcome bigger obstacles than that and this is what I came up with.

The hardest part of making it was threading my needle three times.  But, I am very pleased with the way it turned out and she loves it.

Update on Justice.  She has been off the NSAID for about 36 hours now (she's still on the Tramadol) and she hasn't whimpered from pain in about three days.  She feels good, throws herself down on the grass on our walks and scratches her back and even manages to get into Jebadiah's face and scream at him when he's just being himself.  It is so wonderful - WONDERFUL - to have her feeling so well and apparently not in any pain.  Have I mentioned to you all that I love her, and Jeb and Sophie.....

Crayon Challenge

Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime is hosting a "One Crayon Color Challenge".  There are 66 participants.  The purpose is to pick a color from the crayons shown and create with it.  I chose orange.

 I made a necklace, bracelet and earring set from a wonderful set of stoneware by Marti Conrad.  I also used handmade lampwork beads made by Deb Houde of Overland Park, KS and handmade lampwork by Lynda Cogbill.


I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures.

It was a challenge for me because I wanted to use the lampwork and the stoneware components in the same pieces without them becoming too large or heavy.  And, I wanted to try to figure out something new to do with the two holes on either side of the bracelet focal.  It took me a few days, but I am pleased with the result.

Hosted by:

Sally Russick  http://thestudiosublime.com

Red

Therese Frank  http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com

Rochelle Brisson  http://acreativechelle.blogspot.com

Lisa Lodge   http://pineridgetreasures.blogspot.com

Malin de Koning  http://beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com

Bobbie Rafferty   http://beadsong.blogspot.com

Orange

Linda Landig  http://LindasBeadBlog.com

Cherrie Fick  http://designsinthelight.com

Beth McLarnan http://threetrees-art.blogspot.com

Cece Cormier  http://thebeadingyogini.com

Renetha Stanziano   http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Tanya Goodwin  http://pixiloo.blogspot.com

Jean Welles  http://jeanawells.blogspot.com

Amy Severino   http://amybeads.blogspot.com

Rebekah Payne   http://treewingsstudio.com

Lola Surwillo  http://.beadlolabead.blogspot.com

Judy Turner   http://silver-rains.blogspot.com

 Yellow

Jennifer Justman  http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com

Rose Brisson    http://ahteesblog.blogspot.com

Kim Bender  http://www.kimmykats.com/

Heather Powers   http://humblebeads.blogspot.com

Shelly Joyce  http://www.aujourlejour-shelly.blogspot.com

Blue

Cherie Reed  http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Rebecca Anderson  http://songbeads.blogspot.com

Hope Smitherman  http://craftyhope.blogspot.com

Patti Vanderbloemen  http://myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com

Michelle Buettner  http://MiShelDesigns.blogspot.com

Alicia Marinache  http://allprettythings.ca

Charissa Sloper   http://blog.obsidiansoda.com

Sonya Stille  http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com

Maria Grimes  http://mariagrimes.blogspot.com

Nancy Saccoccio  http://risingdesigns.blogspot.com

Sandi Volpe   http://sandivolpe.com

Joanne Tinley  http://daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com

Catherine Pruitt  http://boobeads.blogspot.com

 Green

Mary Harding  http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com

Karin Gilman http://www.qaygee.blogspot.com/

Jayne Capps   http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

Lorelei Eurto  http://lorelei1141.blogspot.com

Melissa Meman http://melissameman.blogspot.com

Alice Peterson  http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies Reazor   http://www.jdaviesreazor.com

Cynthia Machata    http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Melissa Essenburg  http://chinookdesigns.blogspot.com

Regina Santerre  http://reginaswritings.blogspot.com

Lauren Streets  http://ornthoughts.wordpress.com

Elizabeth Auld  http://beadsforbusygals.com

Purple

Tracy Mok   http://bumblebeadsdesigns.blogspot.com

Jennifer Judd Velasquez http://jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

Marti Conrad  http://marticsclay.blogspot.com

Lori Anderson  http://prettythingsblog.com

Donna Bradley  http://strandedbeads.blogspot.com

Courtney Breul  http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com

Linda Younkman   http://lindysdesigns.blogspot.com

Susan Kennedy  http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Lisa Liddy   http://Lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Tracy Stillman  http://www.tracystillmandesigns.com

Dawn Doucette  http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com

Brown

Diana Ptaszynski   http://suburbangirlstudio.com

Shannon Chomanczuk  http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Janice Everett   http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com

Karen Williams  http://Baublicious.blogspot.com

Black

Kashmira Patel  http://sadafulee.blogspot.com

Heidi Post  http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.com/

Birgitta Lejonklou  http://lejonklou.blogspot.com/

Holly Westfall  http://silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Karin Slaton  http://backstorybeads.blogspot.com

Mother's Day Sale

From May 1, 2012 through Mother's Day, I will be offering a 20% sale on everything in the shop.  Just use Coupon Code Mom2012 upon checkout to receive the discount.

A fun little set made with seed beads.  These are more new beads I've just received.  They have an opal milky look to them.  Opalescent is the glass term.

Update on Justice -- she is still having pain, and an occasional bad night.  I am going to complete the 14 day treatment on the non-steroidal pain medication, but if she's still having symptoms at that time, I guess we will proceed to the x-rays.  We really need to get a diagnosis so that we can decide how to best treat her.  I am pampering her even more than usual (if that is possible since that is pretty much what I have devoted my life to)
and she seems happy.....she still has an occasional whimpering when she shifts from a laying position.  Please keep praying for her.

Justice Marie and New Jewelry

I am so pleased to let you all know that Justice Marie is doing quite well.  The pain medication that Dr. Stewart prescribed her has really done the trick.  While pain medication can't do much but mask the pain while the condition heals, that appears to be what is happening in this situation.  She has only wimpered a couple of times since Monday.  Most important to me, her Mom, is that she has her happy affect back.  Her face smiles again. She is sleeping through the night......and today, once again, all is well in the pack.  I want to thank each and every one of you that remembered her in your prayers and also for all of your kind personal convos.

Now, for the new jewelry I've made the last three or four days.  My husband has been monopolizing the camera but I secreted it away from him this morning to take these pictures.  I'm still focusing on my seed beads, but once in awhile I get districted.....hence, the Raku necklace and earrings. 

The pendant is from Star Spirit Studio.  The red turquoise heishi is from Rosemary.  The Czech glass turquoise three-leaf flowers are also from Rosemary's shop - Beadstostring on etsy.

I have had the raku coin beads for quite some time and I don't know who made them.  They do have a design on both sides though.  The earwires are Trinity Brass Co. and the flower clasp on the necklace is from Thunderbird Supply Co.

These seed beads were a gift from Beads and Babble on etsy and the flowers and green leaves were also a gift, although I don't recall who from.  Once again, I managed to work in some of my "Utee" head pins.

Indian Creek Stoneware

This necklace features a pendant and two rustic stoneware discs by Pam Cresswell of Indian Creek Studios.  She lives just down the street from me about 4 miles and I would love to meet her.  Must put that on my list of things to do.

The pendant is a feather shape with the imprint of an ancient hand.  I also used aqua terra jasper from Rosemary of beadstostring, howlite from Happy Mango, and more great little seed beads from all over the place.  The blue rounds are jade.  I think this necklace has so many colors of water in it.

I have spent a sleepless weekend as Justice Marie seems to have something wrong with her neck.  Vet said upon examination she appears to have a slipped disc, or wobbles (never heard of that but she said it was bad.)  We have started her on an NSAID and I've been giving her tramadol all weekend which the vet said to keep giving her.  We're going to try to manage pain for next few days and see if there is an improvement before we have her anesthesized for x-rays.  At her age, I want to make that last resort.  She's only been willing to sleep on her tummy not flat out on her side and I put a pillow under her chin to hold her head up a bit.  It breaks my heart when she wimpers out in pain.  Please offer up your prayers for her.

I'm having a love affair with my seed beads......

Making the Clay Red earrings recently and receiving some new seed beads this week has gotten me into the seed beads.  I am no weaver of the seed beads, but I do love them.  I think they can be used in some very interesting ways to make non-woven jewelry.  Anyway, here is a necklace I finished today.  It's nice the way it is, but while making it, I've had about a kazillion ideas on how to do variations......so rather than put my beads away, I am am going to spend the next few days trying to execute some of those ideas and turn them into jewelry.

Stay tuned......

More Earrings....

Another new pair of earrings -- I love love love the clay red howlite bead.  One of my favorite colors.

Also, I love the new ceramic matte finish seed beads I just received.

And, here is a picture of the reworked dagger earrings.  Yep, more pink is better.

New Earrings

Just a quick post today to show you the earrings I have made this week.  Nothing special really, but in keeping with my current tribal vibe.  The first pair look more like a Kitsch tribal style.  I have had these dangles for a long time and I thought this was a great way to use them.

After I have looked at them more, I think I am going to replace that middle bugle bead with more pink beads.  I think they will look better.  Note to self......replace bugle beads with pink.

This pair is more southwestern or American Indian style.  I used some of my braided leather to make a link.  I also used some bright brass rings to make the "rusty" patina connectors.  I did a soft patina on the copper wire just to cut the shine, but didn't want to take it all the way to brown.  I have sealed all the metal with renaissance wax.

I also hammered out some little copper dangles to finish them off.   I hope you like them.

I have had an epiphany........

An epiphany is the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something.  In my case, the epiphany was that I have wayyyyy too many beads and findings.  Or maybe I just have a house that is too small, but I don't want a larger house - I want fewer things in it.

So, I have finally decided to begin a process to destash some of it.  I have thought about it over the past months but couldn't decide if I wanted to open another store or do it through my store.  I don't want the hassle of having two stores to keep up with so I have decided to list things through my jewelry store - slowly, but steadily.  I don't want people interested in jewelry to have to wade through listing after listing of supplies and vice versa.  The best I can come up with is to have a "Destash" category.

Also, I have no interest in being a retail bead store, so if you see something you want, better grab it because there may not be more.  If I have more than one of an item, I will say so in the listing.

So, I am beginning with the extra Vintaj dapping block that I accidently ordered two of and a hand carved turquoise Chinese coin pendant bead that I've had for a long time.