December 31, 2008

Till the cows come home...

Or get names. Which ever comes first. I have to say there were some truely cute names posted and I wanted to thank everyone for putting their two cents in! Of course anything with belle or bella is going to get my attention but SummersStudio's "Moorice", I think, fit the bill. It didn't really hit me that the cow was a he, but I really do think it's a he! Send me an email with your mailing address (to gaea (at) gaea (dot) cc) and I'll get a goodie out to you! Thanks everyone! I just love a contest!

December 29, 2008

Guess who?!??!!!



It just kills me to sit on these things. I sent these things out about a bazillion years ago and then one day... plop! It arrives in the mail! The latest Stringing Magazine! And four of the items I sent in were selected. They don't tell you which ones they just say 3 of this 1 of that not saying which. So if you sent in 10 things it's a nice surprise! I won't spoil it if you haven't received your issue yet. Just check out the earring designs page and the bracelet designs page. OH! Maybe I should make it a contest. Now don't cheat and go looking at the back of the magazine to see who is who.... I have 3 pairs of earrings and 1 bracelet and the first person to correctly guess which ones are my designs (by listing the correct numbers) will get a gift! Good luck!

Ring Around The Rosie



This was a special request. They liked the Day of the Dead Queen necklace only with out the skulls! So here is the necklace that I made. Sweet!

December 26, 2008

Mooory Christmas...

Ok. It's not that clever but I think this button/pendant came out very cute. After naming the squirrel Clover, I'm thinking that would have been a perfect name for a cow. Any thoughts on a name? Of course your efforts will be rewarded and your name entered in a giveaway! Leave a comment by Tuesday and you will be entered in the drawing!







This is the perfect time to slow down, hang with the family and create some fancy newness! Maybe even finish up some loose ends....

I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday! I personally can't see Elf enough! I'm on my 4 viewing!

December 20, 2008

Aw Shucks!




I've been a Green Girl Studios "Super Fan" for years! And have been enjoying Cynthia Thornton's blog as well. You may even remember when Joelle and I were star struck at the Green Girl Studios bead booth last August. If you've been following her blog you may have been following the progress of the jewelry book she is creating. Last week she asked for help with the title and being the "Super Fan" that I am, as well as many others, threw in our two cents... her work is mystical, magical and truly inspired. We all seemed to be dancing around titles with similar words, mystical, magical, enchanted, adornments... my two cents were Enchanted Adornments! Thus the title of her soon to be published book... Enchanted Adornments: Creating Mixed-Media Jewelry with Metal Clay, Wire, Resin, and More. The last part was from her multi talented brother Andrew (read his blog here). They are quite the talent pool and I can't wait to see what they do next!

December 19, 2008

Tip toe...



Yep. Tulips. And yes, I've seen Tiny Tim live in concert. But that was a long time ago. Today is about this tulip necklace. A gift for my customers mother. Her fathers favorite flower was the tulip. I hope she enjoys it. I enjoyed making it. Tip toe on...

Happy Friday all!

December 17, 2008

Another step on the "Journey"


A few of the necklaces that were made, I made a total of seven, had crosses on them. I'm not a religious gal and was glad that my "t" worked out well as a cross. The Earthenwood bird charm was perfect for this as I was told that the recipient of this necklace loves turquoise and purple. Me too! It also had moonstone, labradorite (yum), chalcelony (DOUBLE YUM) and ceramic heart and round beads!

I've been working my way up to finishing the Art/Jewelry Exchange necklace... but not before my holiday shipping rolls out this afternoon!

December 16, 2008

foresty cuteness!

Check out Lorelei's Blog and the oh so cute mushroom necklace she made with our mushroom pendant! She makes me see my pendants in a whole new way!

Journey Necklaces

I had ordered/traded with Lynn Davis, some beads for some of her metal magic in the form of rings.



I was asked to create sets of necklaces and earrings for Sherry and the girls in her life, the journey necklaces. This one felt really special to me. Something about the wing and the tulip. There are chalcedony drops, ruby beads, opal, labradorite and moonstone beads as well as Lynn's magic ring....

December 15, 2008

This Girl Is Cookin'!

This is my dear friend Jenny. She is a down to earth glamour puss if ever I did meet one! Check out her cooking demo!

December 14, 2008

Bracelets: Less is more...




I've been selling on Sunday's at the "Made In Ojai" store here in town (you heard me Joelle, town ; )) and made a mess of these simple chain and bead bracelets. Some have beads that dangle and some are the focal. Some have multi chains in different styles of chain. It is such a simple design but really wearable. I really like the necklace I made to go with them. Just chain and bead. Easy!

December 12, 2008

Me, Only Craftier


Check out this lovely mention and mini interview at Crafty Hangover! Clever blog name, no?!

Winners and winners by association



Check out Heather Powers wonderful necklace. It won second prize in the heart category in the BeadStar design contest. Click here to read a bit more about it on Heathers blog. I feel a bit like a winner as well... that's my infinite love pendant right in front! That wonderful key with the glass bead is from The Venerable Bead check out her etsy shop! I had entered into the contest as well. Here is what I submitted but was not accepted...

December 7, 2008

Really? 14 days?

Can you believe it? It's just too quick. Have you gotten all of your shopping done? Me either. Actually, I've not gotten my gift making done yet. Every year is a new ornament. Last year was birds in frames. The year before was leaves and birds. This year... I'm not quite sure yet but I'd better step on it!

About those wooden beads...

Thanks for everyone chiming in! I drew a random # and the winner is...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

7
Timestamp: 2008-12-10 17:11:51 UTC

OMG! Lucky # 7! I hope Nancy isn't using up all her good giveaway luck on us! Hey Nancy! I should have your address from last time and will send out another goodie!

December 6, 2008

About those wooden beads...

I found this $2 wooden bead necklace at a thrift store in town and have had the grandest time with it. I made this....



and this...



Maybe a bracelet would be fetching too?

Where have you found some great beading finds? Leave us some bread crumbs in the comment box and I may have to send out a few goodies to a random name, drawn on Monday!

December 5, 2008

Funky Owl Necklace



This necklace has had quite the controversy going. It was made for Joelle, a gift of thanks for just being the great gal that she is. I showed it to my family around the Thanksgiving table and it was almost all out war. Did it look like an owl? Was the design lopsided? Was it kind of long? Tears were shed and voices were raised. Seriously? It's a necklace. I think my family has post traumatic stress disorder over last months elections. Sore losers (insert raspberry here). At any rate, Joelle apparently loves the owl necklace. Nuf said. Goal reached. I got the big wooden daisy bead from Lorelei's bead pod shop on etsy and the oval shaped bead with circles is a ceramic gem from Golem Studio. I die! (Is it too soon to be in total withdrawal over the Rachel Zoe Project?) The owl (or as was debated over Thanksgiving, lion?) and the ceramic daisy are mine. The copper tone big link chain is a favorite that I hadn't gotten to play with yet. Me likey!

December 4, 2008

IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE!!!!



Oh My Gosh! I've been waiting for ages and it's here! The project I submitted to Belle Armoire Jewelry just about an eternity ago arrived in my mail box! It is an exquisite magazine, published quarterly. The kind with the really thick pages and beautiful projects and photography.... They are constantly looking for projects, so get up off of that thang!

December 3, 2008

More "Feeling The Love"


And today was a package from Andrew Thornton! A wonderful assortment of treats as well as his one of a kind work of art. It has a Daliesque quality that I am loving! Check out Andrews blog it is chock full of fun and amazing places and jewelry. So, a big "thank you!" to Andrew!

December 1, 2008

Feeling the love...

The post office held many a treat this weekend! Unfortunately I could only covet the little yellow delivery notification cards that were sitting in my tiny little P.O. box and wonder what was being held for me only a few feet away...

The one package that did fit and was delivered was from Lynn! I couldn't wait to get home to open it!!! It was filled with magical treasures! I could have gotten a bit fancier with the charm that I sent for her charm exchange... next time! Here is the amazing assortment...




Can you believe the sweet bag that Lynn made? So special! The treats inside were just as sweet! Thanks, Lynn for such a fun exchange! I can't wait to play with them!