Button Swap and blog hop

Cindy Wimmer organized this button swap and blog hop - what a great idea. Who knew there were so many "button lovers" out there!

I am posting this a bit early, because:
1) I find the scheduled posting by blogger to be a bit unreliable, and
2) posting over the weekend will not be possible for me. Everyone else will post on Sunday May 13th.

Cindy partnered me with Lori Finney. Lori lives near Toronto and makes the most fabulous beaded beads!! We emailed a few times, and checked out each other's blog, to get to know one another.
I did not take pictures of the buttons I sent to Lori, but I will tell you that I made or altered some of the buttons. One button is an old Buffalo Indian Head U.S. nickle, domed and made into a button (since she lives near Buffalo, NY). One button is a small pants button that says "Toronto" on it - I couldn't believe my eyes when I found it in my stash! I embossed a couple brass button blanks on my Vintaj Big Kick to send her. I then, after "talking" to Lori, got the idea to put enamel on old buttons. So, I grabbed a magnet and started looking through my button bins. I have about 3 or 4 large fruitcake tins full of buttons. Surprisingly, there were fewer metal buttons than I thought. But I found a good handful, and enameled them! I was very happy with my new buttons, and sent Lori one of the best of the bunch! And, since she liked my enameled flowers, I sent her one, even though it's not a "button".

Lori sent me 4 buttons and also a non-button. I opened my package to discover this fabulous beaded bead, which I plan on hoarding for a little while.It's just too fabulous!!

Thank you Lori, for everything you sent to me! I hope you like everything I did with them. I can't wait to see what you did with the buttons I sent you.

The first button I used was the one I really thought I'd have trouble with when I first saw it. It's a ceramic parrot! So cute, but what to do? What to do? I decided I'd use it as a toggle, and use a ring or something to create my own clasp. But then, going through my recent Beadfest Spring bags, I saw the dyed Howlite flower beads, and knew I could do something with them. I had the yellow leather already, which was so soft and supple. It was so easy to work with. I decided to forget about using a ring, and just tied a knot to slip the parrot through the end of the bracelet. Here's the result!

Not my usual style - no Vintaj brass in sight - but that is the point of a "challenge", no?

Next up, I set my sights on the sweet ceramic heart button. It is a pinky lavender color. Quite by coincidence, I just bought some new sari silk that had the same color in it. Throw in an enameled bead made by "moi", and it's a simple necklace. At first I tied a knot at the back. But, I don't like wearing long necklaces. I know some people do, but I don't. I remembered a tutorial I found somewhere about making a wire coil to use as a sliding clasp. I was all set to start coiling some wire when I found the small enameled tubes I'd made. They are some sort of copper doo-dads from the electrical dept at Lowes that I discovered one day!! So, I slipped both ends of the silk through one bead for the slide, and tied one to each end as stoppers. Now, the necklace can be worn any length you want!

I also wire wrapped a little piece of silk in between the button and the bead....

The third button is a beautiful (reproduction?) (Czech?) glass button. I have seen (and bought) similar ones at various bead shows. My photography fails to capture the true color. It's blue, but has pink iridescence, and gold highlights. OMG - so pretty! In preparation for the button swap, I recently bought a book, all about button jewelry. And in the book, the author shows a button centered on a doughnut, like stone or glass. I'm not sure how the necklaces she made work in real life, but mine kept flipping around to the back! So, I ended up gluing this button to a square Howlite "doughnut", with a Vintaj filigree ring. Then once the glue dried, I made different stations, in various blues. I use some Howlite beads that match the square, and more of my enameled beads (and some of Barbara Lewis' enameled beads). Let's have a look!

 And, of course, we need earrings to match!!! (I made the little beads at the top of the earrings different colors on purpose, in case someone noticed that!) I used both colors in the necklace, along with the little cloisonne beads.

And last, but certainly not least, there was a tiny little wooden birdhouse (button). And while I love this button, it took me a couple days to develop a plan.... Jade beads (that are probably older than me!) and some Chinese lampwork (again, from Beadfest Spring). I glued the birdhouse to a Vintaj ring, then attached it to a Vintaj branch. Made a little wire nest with jade "eggs". And hung a bird from the bottom.
After the sun went down, I noticed I just threw the earrings in the middle - sorry about that. I was racing to snap these last photos, and I did not "arrange" the earrings! And I'm too lazy to clone them out of the picture.

Great idea Cindy!! I had fun, and I was challenged!! And Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there!
Enjoy hopping everyone! I can't wait to see what everyone made with their buttons!
Here's the list of the other participants:

Alice Peterson  and Kim Bender

Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove

 Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame

 Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren

 Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen

 Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman

 Cat Kerr and Heather Powers

 Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic

 Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm

 Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston

 Christine Stonefield and Dana James

 Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud

 Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner

 Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson

 Cynthia Riggs and Lori Finney

 Dana James and Christine Stonefield

Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz

 Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson

 Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski

 Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage

 Heather Powers and Cat Kerr

 Holly Westfall and Sally Russick

 Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano

 Janet  McDonald and Kim Roberts

 Jayne Capps and Kim Dworak

 Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier

 Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison

 Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip

 Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe

 Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata

 Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman

 Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka

 Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano

 Karla Morgen and Mary Govaars

Kay Thomerson and Shannon Chomanczuk

 Kim Ballor and Laurel Steven

 Kim Bender and Alice Peterson

 Kim Dworak and Jayne Capps

 Kim Roberts and Janet  McDonald

 Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers

 Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede

 Kym Hunter and Lynda Moseley

 Laurel Steven and Kim Ballor

 Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino

 Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett

 Liz DeLuca and Lorelei Eurto

 Lorelei Eurto and Liz DeLuca

 Lori Anderson and Niky Sayers

 Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins

 Lori Finney and Cynthia Riggs

 Lynda Moseley and Kym Hunter

 Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler

 Mary Govaars and Karla Morgen

 Mary Harding and Stacie Florer 

 Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell

 Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick

 Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson

 Mimi Gardner and Cindy Wimmer

 Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners

 Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer

 Niky Sayers and Lori Anderson

 Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou

* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)

 Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic

 Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy

 Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas

 Rebekah Payne and Sue Kennedy

 Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell

 Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson

 Sally Russick and Holly Westfall

 Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor

 Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson

 Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya

 Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel

 Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone

 Stacie Florer and Mary Harding

* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)

 Sue Hamel and Terry Carter

 Sue Kennedy and Rebekah Payne

 Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle

 Tania Spivey and Teresa Gagne

 Teresa Gagne and Tania Spivey

 Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque

 Terry Carter and Sue Hamel

 Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin

 Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov

 Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan

 Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore

Vintaj Monthly Challenge

For the first time, in a long time, I entered the Vintaj Monthly Design Challenge. I was late sending in my photo, but the kind folks at Vintaj squeezed me in under the wire! This month's theme is "Storybook" and the Vintaj Art Bead Partner is Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati. You might remember her name from my previous post - she's the creator of "simple truths" pendants and beads, and made the focal pendant in my (now published) "Make a Wish" necklace!
After being published in Bead Trends, Erin kindly offered me a pendant as a gift. Of course, I took her up on her offer! The pendant  I chose reads "write your own happy ending", and is one of the many items she made to fit Vintaj's "Storybook" theme. (check out her etsy shop for more beautiful pendants).
When I saw the pendant, I immediately liked the message. I like thinking I can make my own happy ending, it's very hopeful.
The rose on the pendant is more of a brownish red, and matched some carnelian beads I had in my stash. I also wanted to bring out some of the green in the stem of the rose, so I found the lumpy etched lampwork bead. I wish I could remember who made it. I do know I bought it at Beadfest years ago. I also found some czech beads that were orangy red, with a greenish picasso finish - perfect! And of course, Vintaj bead caps, chain and findings.

If you are so inclined, please visit the Vintaj Monthly Challenge and vote for my design.

One reason I was late entering the challenge is....I got a new camera!! It's just a point and shoot style camera. I will learn about photography some other time. I really needed to take some photos, and they look pretty good to me.

My first magazine page!

Well, I received my necklace back from Bead Trends this week. I'm glad to have it back. I can now wear it, and then whip out the magazine! The photo is slightly bigger than real life, and the photography is really fantastic! Here's my first-ever magazine page!!!!

And, the cherry on top is that this picture also appeared on the Vintaj blog!

I'd like to thank Erin Prais-Hintz, for creating the beautiful focal!!

April showers....we need rain!

Well, I thought (for half a second) that maybe my camera had "healed thyself". But a closer look at the photos on the computer screen reveals it was wishful thinking. You know, on the tiny screen on the camera, all the photos looked pretty good, but almost all are fuzzy.
But heck, I'm not gonna let that stop me from showing you some more of my flowers. I apologize in advance if they give you a headache, trying to bring them in focus.
I must find the time to shop for and buy a new camera! Does anyone out there LOVE their camera? I'm seeking your advice....

This photo is the "straight on" shot. It shows the pretty little flower in the center. These flowers I'm making are in layers. Bottom layer is a piece of Vintaj filigree, then a large enameled daisy, then an enameled cage-like thing, then the small flower, and topped with a pale blue Swarovski.

But the "side shot" tells another side of the story. I bent some starburst type flowers to try to replicate some sort of tropical flower (the "cage-like" thing). I don't know what it's supposed to be, but I like it! They are slightly irregular and funky. And I like the dimension it gives my flowers.

Then I took it one step further. These are more like a 3-D objects that resemble a flower. They sort of remind me of Fuchsia, or a Japanese lantern. The purple and green one really has that lantern shape!

I bent more of the starburst flowers straight up from the center, to make them look like something you might find in the center of a flower. I was thinking of a Stamen. These don't really look like that, but that's what I was going for.

I wish I had the words to express how much I love enameling all the components, and how much I love assembling the components, and how much I love the results. I love that every time I turn on the torch, I'm never quite sure what I'll get. I guess if I wanted to make 10 things the same I'd be cursing. But I love the imperfections, and the surprises.

Other topics:
I am going to Beadfest Spring this Friday. I know the ONE booth I MUST visit is Barbara Lewis' Painting with Fire. I am actually starting to run out a couple colors of enamel already. Plus, I want to add some colors to my collection, and pick someone's brain about a couple things I haven't figured out yet.

I'm also participating in Cindy Wimmer's Button Swap. I think I'm more excited to send my buttons to my partner than I am to receive the package from her. Of course, all that will all change when I actually get my package and squeal with excitement! Can't wait!!!!

I'm published!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know there are many jewelry designers out there that are in magazines all the time, and would yawn at my news. But, this is my first time! The magazine(s) arrived in yesterday's mail! I swear, it was better than when I open the mailbox to find multiple etsy packages (and you know how good that is!!). There they were - my copies of Bead Trends April edition. I have been looking forward to April since mid-winter, when I sent my necklace in. I'm not sure what the rules are, so I'll just show you my name in print! I'm a little excited (just a little bit - like really a lot!)

Photo is from my ipod

Spring is Coming!!!!!

I do not understand why, after such a mild winter, I have such a bad case of Spring fever. Normally, after the drudgery of a hard winter, Spring is such a welcomed change. But this year, we barely got any snow or ice at all. So, it is unexplainable!

Maybe it's because I've been making tons of enameled flowers!! Look!

Large blue flower, medium violet flower and a  small filigree bead - enameled by moi!

An orange flower with a copper green bead cap - on a Vintaj butterfly.

This is a crazy one! Green pedals with a small orange flower and a smaller blue flower.

This angled shot shows the 3-d aspect of this "flower"

Sorry for the crappy photo, but here's a peek at some of the other flowers I've been making!

And just in time for St. Patty's - a shamrock! (this one is terribly out of focus SORRY!)

I'm going to display these at the shop on the green moss and moss covered "stones" in these photos. The moss is in a flower pot saucer!

I. Can. Not. Wait. For. Spring!!!!!

Challenge of Music blog hop

Today is the day for Erin Prais-Hintz's Challenge of Music blog hop. I must admit, I signed up for this challenge with a little apprehension. I wasn't sure if I could be inspired by music to make jewelry.
 I really started listening to some of my favorite artists and songs. I originally thought I'd use a song by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, because his songs are like little stories, with vivid imagery.

But as I started to look around online for components, I kept hearing "Home" by Daughtry in my head. Unless you've been living under a rock for the last 5 years or so, you probably have at least heard of them. I love "Home" (this link is to a youtube video), Daughtry's second hit single. I listen to Daughtry while I work out at the gym, so I've heard all their songs repeatedly. I know every lyric by heart....

"I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me."

I thought about "home" and what it could mean...
A house to a person...
A nest to a bird...
Family.
I started buying components for "home", each one more perfect than the next. So, in no particular order, I'll show you my homes....

This first one features components from Captured Moments. I fell in love with the egg connector, and the bird nest focal. I am sorry to say that my camera was acting up for these photos, but you get the idea (they really do not have that pinkish glow)! I added some carved bone beads that matched the ceramics pieces perfectly, and a wire bead that reminded me of a nest. Finished off with some Vintaj bead caps and wire.

The matching earrings are made with flower connectors. They came as a set with the one egg connector from the necklace.

Next...
These wooden birdhouses are from ARTchix Studios. How cute are they?? When I saw them on the website, I immediately knew I wanted to layer them, so I also bought plain houses without the window, to use as the back layer. Of course, once things are in your hands, it doesn't always work out how you planned. My thought was to put a vintage image of a bird on the back layer to show through the window, add some wire or other fibers in the middle, and the birdhouse on the top. Let's just say that I don't have all the needed skills, or materials! I made the wire nest and eggs to hang behind, and I'm happy with it (I still did "layers").
The blue beads are faceted czech glass in 2 sizes. I also folded an antique brass leaf bail to use at the top of my house, just to give it a little something extra. Added in some antique brass bead caps and Vintaj chain too.

This is the focal, behind the scenes. You can see the wood burn marks on the back. It smells like a fire in the fireplace. I love that smell.

The earrings are smaller houses. I hung the little "egg" in the front. I thought they might not show well  if I hung them on the back of the earrings.

Last, but not least, is my third house (This is turning into "The Three Little Pigs" lol...)
Anyway. This raku house is from Oscar Crow on etsy. There are some really interesting things in that shop! If any one ever hosts a challenge for jewelry with baby heads, I'll be ahead of the game. (check out the shop, you'll see).
Anyway. I love this little house, with it's red door and window. I sat and stared at it for a little while. Somehow, it occurred to me to make a cumulus cloud over the house. I bent the cloud out of 20g wire, and hammered it, so it will keep it's shape. As I was fussing with the cloud, I happen to see the orange-red key in the corner of my eye. This key has been on my messy desk for about 6 months. It's just an old key that I smeared with red "Rub-N-Buff". I found some czech picasso glass beads that match and bent some bead caps to fit over them. And of course, Vintaj chain.

That's it for me. Thank you Erin, for hosting another fun challenge!
Please visit the rest of the brave participants, or go to Erin's blog!!
Erin Prais-Hintz

Marcie Abney

Christine Altmiller

Elisabeth Auld

LJ B

Lori Bowring Michaud

Shannon Chomanczuk

Cece Cormier

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Malin de Koning

Beth Emery

Michelle Escano-Caballero

Erin Fickert-Rowland

Therese Frank

Amy Freeland

Tanya Goodwin

Stephani Gorman

Amy Grass

Beth Hemmila

Kristina Johansson

Jennifer Justman

Tari Kahrs

Susan Kennedy

Ema Kilroy

Kathleen Lange Klik

Kirsi Luostarinen

Paige Maxim

Beth McCord

Natalie McKenna

Alice Peterson

Cat Pruitt

Bobbie Rafferty

Johanna Rhodes

Cynthia Riggs ****YOU ARE HERE****

Sally Russick

Sarah Sequins

Amy Severino

Staci Smith

Kristen Stevens

Lola Surwillo

Stefanie Teufel

Sandi Volpe

Holly Westfall

Shaiha Williams