A Little Piece of Art on Your Wrist

While preparing for my recent art show, I made a lot of new cuffs. These ones are a little different from the others I usually make. These ones have a beaded centerpiece and then the cuff is covered in ultrasuede.

Here's one that I made using one of my handmade cabochons with an Alphonse Mucha print. You can wear a little piece of art work on your wrist.

You can see more photos here.

Don't forget I'm offering free world wide shipping today through Monday. All items purchased during this time will be shipped on December 1, 2009.

FREE WORLD WIDE SHIPPING

Yep, that season is upon us. So get a jump on your shopping this weekend from the comfort of your home.

I will be offering FREE world wide shipping from my etsy shop between Friday, November 27-Monday, November 30, 2009. All orders placed on these dates will be sent out on December 1, 2009.

I'll be adding new items over the next few days, so stop by often.

If you have a minute come on over to ETSY lots of sellers are offering a variety of special offers. Maybe you'll finish all your holiday shopping by next Monday.

New Cuff

I love these 1/2 inch bead embroidered cuffs. They are perfect for everyday wear and they are lightweight. I just listed a new one at my etsy shop.

I've had these long bugle beads for awhile. I've used some for long fringe on bead woven earrings. I hadn't really tried to use them on any cuffs. They fit perfectly across a 1/2 inch cuff. These bugle beads are twisted and have a beautiful color that is both blue and purple. The texture of these beads provide a lot of interest to a simple cuff. The abalone provides a nice contrast and breaks up the line of beads. The beadwork is attached to a metal cuff and the underside is lined with ultrasuede.

You can see more pictures of the cuff here.

Guess who came to dinner?

Well not dinner (although there were wine and hors d'oeuvres), actually the art bazaar I was participating in this last weekend.

Sherry Serafini, the bead embroidery master herself.

The previous weekend she had invited me to an artisan open house that she was doing. We spent a little time catching up and she wanted to know what I was up to so I invited her to the show. And like that she was there. Her support and encouragement meant the world to me.

If you've never seen her work, you can find her website here. If you have a chance to see her in person (either a class or art show), I highly recommend it. Her classes are great. She shares so much information and is genuinely interested in you. She encourages you to work outside your comfort zone to create something that truly comes from your heart. It is a great experience.

Additionally, she has some really incredibly cool new pieces in her collection. Her neckpieces and purses are show stoppers!

So Sherry, if you are out there. THANK YOU!

Art Bazaar Preview Continues

Here's a few more things I'll have at the Art Bazaar, which starts tonight at 6:00 pm at the Boyd Community Center. You'll find more information here about the event.

This is a pendant made with with one of my handmade cabochons using a print of a Alphonse Mucha illustration.

The second is a pendant using another handmade cabochon of a sea shell print.

Art Bazaar

Sorry folks about my hit and miss blogging the last few weeks. Now that the BIG charity event is over, (as I wipe sweat from my forehead) I've got an art show this weekend. I've been madly beading the last few weeks. I've got most of my ducks in a row for the event and I'm crossing my fingers.

So, if you find yourself in Pittsburgh this weekend, you can find me here this Friday and Saturday. It is the Art Bazaar at the Boyd Community Center. The event is benefiting Art for Autism. Join me and over 30 other local artists and get some holiday shopping done while supporting a great organization.

Here's a sneak peak at a few items I will be selling at the show.

All dressed up and I have a place to go

Tonight is the night. It's finally here. After months of preparation and the last few weeks of coordinating ticket sales and seating, the benefit performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes for Child Watch of Pittsburgh is here. It is going to be SPECTACULAR. So many people have worked to make this event a huge success. The theater is going to be packed.

I was originally working on the bib necklace to wear to the event, but due to some technical difficulties and lack of time, plan b is going into action.

This past weekend I finished these earrings. These earrings came together so easily. It was like all the parts were meant to be. I just love them. So mama's got a new pair of earrings (and shoes) and ready to hit the town.

Bib Necklace Update

Well, I finished the beading on the necklace last weekend. I made a trip to the bead store to look at chain and decided it just wouldn't do. So instead I bought three strands of pearls, chain and a clasp. I'm thinking that there will be three strands of pearls on each side that meet at the top together at the clasp. I'm going to add some chain to the clasp so that they necklace will be adjustable. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to go back and finish the necklace, but the picture shows how it might look when it is done.

So, what do you think? Did I make the right decision with the pearls?

Stop the train, I want to get off

I've been MIA for awhile because I've been working on this HUGE charity event coming up next week. My job took a lot long than I would have ever expected, but it is a good thing because the event is going to be a tremendous success. However, I will be extremely happy when it is all over so I can back to some normal routine. I think that my kids are starting to think that the phone has been surgically attached to my head. So only 5 days to go and this train will come to a screeching stop!

In the few moments that I haven't been focused on this event, I have been beading. It has been a must for me to find a few minutes here and there to bead. It is my stress relief. (Oh and by the way, I have an art show coming up in two weeks, so beading for business is a must too.)

I've been working on a bib necklace that I may wear to the charity event. It is a dress up occasion so I'll be wearing my usual uniform (black dress pants and black top) so the necklace will take center stage.

Here's what I've got done so far...

I'm thinking that I will attach silk ribbon from the top edges so that the necklace can be adjustable, although I've also had thoughts about using chain.

What do you think ribbon or chain?

Creativity at Any Age

Last week was my youngest daughter's 6th birthday. She decided to have her birthday party at our local "paint your own pottery" place. The age range was 4 - 11. Boy, they were a really creative bunch. Everyone was working so hard that it was actually quiet. The adults could hardly belief that it was a kid's birthday party. It was so much fun to watch the kids working on their pieces. Each of them had a specific idea and were very precise in their work.

The kids made HUGE cups and saucers. Perfect for a huge cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream on top. The adults even got into the fun and made travel coffee mugs. The picture above shows the kid's finished pieces. I can't wait to see them when they are done being fired.

Silver Button Earrings

I just listed these Silver Button earrings in my Etsy shop. I really love these earrings and it was hard to decide to post them. I recently picked up these triangular drops and they are great. They have a really beautiful finish, kind of gray and brown. They were a great complement to the earrings. I used a matte gray, matte bronze, and shine bronze seed beads. The earrings were also embellished with silver pearls and hematite beads.

You can check out more photos here.