Oops! Margie and Me

Ah, I completely missed the reveal date for the Margie and Me Challenge over at La Bella Joya. Hahahaha! Oh, boy. :D What's really silly is that I had my pieces done two weeks before the deadline, and the pictures all taken and everything. I really need to set up a calendar or noteboard or something. At any rate, it's probably better late than never, so here we go!

This was my favorite of the two images, and I had a lot in my stash to work with for the color scheme, even though I don't usually use these colors together. I'm seriously considering keeping this bracelet for myself. XD

I challenged myself to make two bracelets because I don't have that many bracelets in my inventory and, if left to my own devices, would probably only ever make necklaces and earrings. This one, however, is not to my liking. I will probably take it apart and try again or make a necklace with the beads instead. Haven't decided yet.

Any plans for this weekend?


----- ----- -----

Mid-Monthly Challenge - First Hop!

I want to start something new, and invite everyone to participate. :) Each month right around the 15th or 16th, I would like to offer a new mini-challenge to base a design around. It might be a poem, a picture, a movie, or (in this case) a song.

This song is one of my favorites. It just captures that mysterious quality of a shifting seasons and the nature of certain things that people share with each other and others that they hide, evolving relationships, change.





The challenge is to listen to this song and read the lyrics as they play, then design a piece around its themes or inspired by them. It can be any medium, or even mixed media. We'll share these pieces at the end of the month in a little hop. :) Sound good?

Post a comment here to let me know if you're participating and I'll add you to the link list for the hop!

Best of luck. :D


----- ----- -----

Theme Challenge: "Too Precise" pendant

I'm still plodding slowly through my 150 Themes Challenge list. The next prompt was "too precise" and I used one of the tumbled stones I bought at the aquarium we went to for my birthday. This stone is amazing and as soon as I saw it, I wanted to make something with it!

Ok, some information about this stone. It is a special kind of fiber optic-like mineral that magnifies images! This means that the challenge for me was to make the wire-wrapping exactly the same on both sides (harder than it sounds!) so that you can't see it so obviously through the stone. Speaking of seeing things through the stone, that's why I chose this project to answer the "too precise" theme---no matter what you wear this pendant with, it will go with your outfit! And almost too precisely, too, because it actually slightly magnifies what you see through it! Here's some example pictures:

So it's almost like you're wearing a little magnifying glass! You can even put it on a long chain and use it to help you read the newspaper! Too cool. :D

Anyway, on to theme #5: "the most cutting criticism".

Tomorrow is also my playdate with Patty from My Life Under the Bus blog! Too exciting. :D


----- ----- -----

The Family Farm

All month long, I've posted about creating one's own worlds through art, jewelry, and writing. It has been a wonderful experience, and I hope you all have felt that, too.

Today I am posting about people who create new worlds of their own lives. People like Jenna Jackson of Cold Antler Farm and my own mother, both ladies who decided they were not fulfilled with the lifestyle they'd been given by time and circumstance, and decided to recreate themselves and their world on farms in this high-speed technological world.

We've just launched our own family farm blog.

I've been designing graphics and taking tons of pictures, along with helping out with farm work when I have the energy to (I was sick earlier this week, if you haven't been following my blog posts). Our hens have started laying more eggs again, we've finished our first batch of homemade maple syrup. It's been a fantastic way to spend our vacation. So wholesome and good. In a few months, we'll be moving here and I can't wait to get away from the dark dank of the city to this place nestled in the North Country where we can hike and immerse ourselves in our past and our heritage, and where I will finally have a place of my own for working on my art and jewelry.

There are still things to come for the "Creating Worlds" theme. One more giveaway, hopefully an interview with a bead artist, and several beautiful pieces of literature to share.

So stay inspired, keep creating. <3


----- ----- -----

First Prompt and Giveaway - Creating Self through Worlds

  "In a world where the moments of our lives can be captured and created in art of the everyday,

it’s important it reflects our own unique personality. Finding just the right objects, accents, and tools to use are most important. Whatever your artistic vision is, exploring the imaginative is a chance for our creativity to escape understanding. Remember life isn’t about finding yourself 

- life is about creating yourself."

---Tim Holtz 

~*~*~*~

Our lives are busy. There's work, networking and socializing (both for business and pleasure), responsibilities like getting the car's oil changed or cleaning the house, errands to run... hundreds of things pulling us in all directions at all times. Some believe that what we choose to do with our time is what defines us; and, even though we don't always have the privilege of being able to choose, what we do at our leisure is our own decision to make.

This weekend, take a bit of time to contemplate your sense of self. Imagine yourself in another time period and/or place. There are no limitations; you can be as fantastical as you please. Where and when does your imagination take you? What would your day-to-day life be like? What would you choose to do with your time there? It is often said that the best way to be true to yourself in what you make is to make things that you, yourself, would love and wear always. What would your work look like if you could follow your imagination to that place and/or time period?

Try to make something inspired by these musings. What sorts of materials would you use? Why? How does the piece capture your own personality as it is, but also become something more---capturing the spirit of the world or time period to which you ventured in your mind?

The first "Creating Worlds" giveaway is themed around fantasy worlds, nature, and times past.

Antiqued brass leaf charms, Baltic amber beads, carved bone* beads, tumbled citrine and tumbled agate beads, faceted glass, a faceted citrine and two faceted tiger's eye rounds, antiqued brass filigree, a hardware component in a floral design, two antique style brass buttons, two carved coconut leaves, an authentic antique key, and a Tim Holtz keyhole component.

*if the winner prefers not to use bone beads, I can substitute something else for them instead.

 

To enter, all you must do is leave a comment here.

For up to three extra entries, you may share pieces you've made

that capture your created self through your work.
For one extra entry, you may also reblog or tweet this giveaway.

Winners will be announced next Sunday, March 13th.
Good luck!

----- ----- -----

Follow our "Creating Worlds" progress.
March is National Craft Month; how appropriate!

----- ----- -----

Sneak Peek: March is for Creating Worlds! :D

If you are here for the Bead Soup Blog Party, you can find my post here! 

I'm still blog hopping, but I wanted to post an update on something I'm planning for March. In fact, this is partly inspired by the BSBP; as I hop around and look at all the marvelous pieces that participants have created, many of them have made me think of other places, other worlds, and other times.

I like pieces that inspire these kinds of musings. They transport the viewer via imagination. Don't know what I mean? Pick up the newest copy of Belle Armoire Jewelry, or the books Enchanted Adornments by Cynthia Thornton of Green Girl Studios or Amulets and Talismans by Robert Dancik and you'll see!

As a writer, I am often involved with world-building---whether it's in my own work or while helping someone else with their stories. But you know, we're all involved in world-building as consumers. Everything from listening to music to watching a movie, from running a computer program to playing a video game, can transport us in our imaginations to other times and places.
 

"They had great broches of emerald, earings of pearls that were so great and round and plentifull that they were reminisent of small bunches of grapes. Also, they were adorned with gold that was laid in with bits of broken up shell, polished until they shone bright as opalls. These were the prince and princess of Perania, the ailand kingdom whose eye was always fixed upon the sea. As far as a Cormorin could dream, and further than he could see, her ships did sail; though none had ever reached Corminlan continent to the far south. Thus now did the Cormorin sailors gaze upon the fairest city in all of Evalan, faces full all of wunder, and they were quite enamoured of her..."

[sic.; Captain Darrow's ship logs, Chronicles of Evalan]

So this month I am devoting my blog to creating worlds and will be exploring how to capture this quality of imaginative transportation with jewelry. You're welcome to make this voyage with me. :) There will be creative prompts, tutorials, shared resources, inspirations, reviews, interviews and features, and we'll see what else!

----- ----- -----