Questioning the unknown

Dear Supreme Being/Beings/Powers that be,

I know you have a grand plan for me. I know there is SOME reason that instead of being in a small Cardiff apt, getting read to start a Welsh Language intensive Wlpan at Cardiff University tomorrow morning, I'm still in SF. Don't get me wrong, I love my home and family. Also, I'm loving the REAL summer weather and 80 degress outside but I'm still sad I'm not in Cardiff right now. I know you've got a REALLY GOOD reason for it...really, its good, right? Hello..............Hello..................

Not to sink into a solitary pity party, I will focus on the positives. It IS a gorgeous summer day today and a great day for the Pride Parade. Pride Day isn't the same with my cat Pan. He use to love watching the parade on tv. We had pics of him watching it but lost them when my computer did a big crash last year. I thought about taking the pooches down but DJ is still really fearful of lots of noise and I think it would be too much for him. Bettie, would bark her head off but you wouldn't be able to hear her over the crowd. So we'll watch a bit of it on TV then go over to the park and let the doggies soak up the sun.

I'm not going to be late with my Bead Bloggers post today either. We have a few new bloggers, so theres LOTS Of reading for you to enjoy!

A Bead A Day: Lisa shares her selection of summery pink beads and crystals. The "Watermelon Crawl" bead mix is sure to conjure up visions of a family picnic on a warm summer day!

About.com Jewelry Making: Take these quick polls about wearing and making jewelry. Which are your favorite pieces?

Art Bead Scene: The Trendy Bead shows off wood filigree pendants.

Barbe Saint John: Read Barbe's interview on the Objects and Elements blog

Beading Art:s Cyndi's initial thoughts on working with the new CopprClay. There'll be lots of projects coming this summer!
Carmi's Art/Life World; Carmi hand felts a pretty bead from wool roving.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva: A trip to glass city doesn't go as well as planned. Yet Cindy finds inspiration and few new tools!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles: Melanie mixes up gunmetal chains and components with brass to make a necklace with one of her Toolbox Treasure pendants

Humblebeads: Heather sketches out some new designs using this summer's hottest color.

Jean Campbell Ink: Eureka!: Beading in the fresh air clears the mind, bringing fresh creativity

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio: Searching for some new inspiration? Lorelei's got just the place for you to find it!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!": Jean reviews Wirework, a new book by the famous Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

Strands of Beads : Melissa shows off her new lunar phases and compass rose designs

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton: Andrew introduces eight new fine pewter pieces from his family's company, Green Girl Studios.

Polymer Clay Play Day

I finally pulled out my box of ancient polymer clay this week and did some playing around. Still usuable if a bit stiff to work with. Some things turned out great, others not so much. I love the way these 3, double sided soon to be beads or charms turned out. I used some old homemade texture sheets I created for a mica shift class I took with Grant Diffendaffer about 8 yrs ago. I'm glad I kept these sheets but now regret that I gave away most of the sheets now. I was a woman possessed after that class. I must have made 500 polymer clay beads, most of which weren't that great but I didn't care. I loved the process so much I couldn't get enough. I feel like making some right now, remembering it LOL. Back to the now- I need to seal these ones and can't remember if you use Future floor wax or car wax?? I need to see if I have any polymer clay books or make a run to Borders or the library.

This lot I did in the Pantera/Nunn Design Bezels I got a couple weeks ago. It's a different look than the ones in the top pic, these are gritty and steam punk. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep these or put them on Etsy. I have a couple for a project set aside but unsure about these 3.

I spent a bit of time doing some blog surfing this morning (instead of doing the work I needed to be doing!). I LOVE seeing other people's work spaces and all their stuff. I could get a bit jealous at the amount of room people have and all the COOOOOOOLLLLLL stuff they have to play with, but its better to be happy for someone than to be bitter. That got me thinking about a situation I'm viewing from a distance right now: Is someone REALLY your friend if they can't be happy for your successes? To often I see people pull away when a friend suddenly starts to make their dreams come true - someone takes an around the world trip,becomes successful with their business, or gets married, gets pregnant, etc......... Why do people get upset when a friend gets happier??? Isn't that what we should WANT for the people we love? There is plenty of goodstuff to go around, its not taking away from their happiness so what gives? Very strange to me. I think it brings up feelings of insecurity, self worthless, jealousy or doubt in some people when it really shouldn't. What someone else has, has no bearing on your life. If you want whatever it is that you are jealous of, go out and make it happen.

But on that happy note I need to walk the doggies and do some work myself!

Nose firmly planted on grindstone, grind grind grind!

I've spent the morning, doing my favorite (insert sarcasm)- resizing photos and adding new jewelry to the website. I got 3 pair of earrings and one bracelet done and now I need a break! Going to the worktable and work on some swap stuff.

I also need to go over to Douglas & Sturgess today too. I've had it on my to do list and, have forgot about it for 3 days now. I want to get some quickset molding putty rather than making regular silicone molds and having to wait 24 hours for htem to set. Of course, if i had made the molds on MONDAY, they'd be done and useable today. Oh well better late than never. I love going over there anyway so gonna go put on a face and walk over. I might take DJ, since he won't bark at the guys like Bettie does. LOVE that they are a block away just wish they were open on Saturday.

Back and getting busy!

I've got an article in Belle Armoire July/Aug issue! The article is "Dragonfly Baby Necklace" and is available on some newstands now. I have another Dragonfly Baby necklace to put up on the website soon.

This week is ALL about catching up. I am FINALLY feeling ok after 10 days of fibro hell. I don't talk about it, because its been mostly managable the past 7 yrs however this past one was a doozee. Coupled with the new puppy and my Nephthys getting sick it was a HARD week. But today I'm feeing alot better and able to function 100%

The universe has other plans for me it seems. I was about to work on the website I got an email from someone letting me know it was down. Went and looked-yup its dead as well is my FTP so I can't even upload photos. CRAP! The service report says the server is down, they files are safe and they are working on it. I HOPE they get it back up soon!!!!! So if you went to the site and got a timed out message-its not you, its me.

So I'll go make stuff instead. I have a small pile of stuff to photograph, might as well add to it.

Also, this weeks Bead Bloggers links:

About.com Jewelry Making Summer time is affecting Tammy's jewelry designs. How about yours? Check out her summer jewelry plans so far.

Art Bead Scene Kandinsky inspires this month's challenge. The ABS editors suggest a selection of their handmade art beads for a Kandinsky inspired jewelry piece.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts Barbe reviews Ancient Modern Polymer Clay book.

Carmi's Art/Life World A vintage comic book becomes the inspiration for a necklace.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles A new shipment of copper blanks has Melanie plotting for some metal playtime!

Jewelry & Beading Auntie's Beads provided wonderful copper beads and findings so Cyndi could create this necklace!

Katie's Beading Blog In need of a speedy bead? Check out this quick and easy jewelry idea!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Pink, gold,and cream! Jean creates a lovely necklace and earring set featuring a beautiful Russian hand painted focal from Artbeads.com

Strands of Beads Melissa shows off her work in progress - an eerie lock and key design.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew shares a new necklace design. Check it out!

Is it Sunday already?

This weekend has flown by. We got a new temporary addition to our family, we are fostering a little Chi Mix puppy whom we've named D.J. Ska Bee. He has a non contagious skin problem, that needs to be cleared up before he is able to be adopted. Currently he is 2 1/2 pounds of pure energy, constantly running around trying to get the cats and Bettie to play with him 20 hours out of the day. He looks like a little bat to me, and I know someone is going to fall in love with him and give him a great forever home.

Also today, I took the train down to San Jose and hung out with Shoshanna and her friend Kristy all afternoon. We made jewelry and had a great time. Thanks again Shosh for the invite!!
Now for bead blogger news:

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy's got the scoop and a link to a free issue of The Crafts Report. They've gone digital! What do you think? Is this a good thing or a bad thing when craft magazines go totally electronic?

Art Bead Scene
In this economy, everyone is asking the advice of economists - ABS has brought in The Bead Economist with advice on how to get art beads on the cheap.

Carmi's Art/Life World
A little wood, paint and stickers helps Carmi to recreate a native art inspired pendant.

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi has decided that this summer is "The Season of Metal Clay"! Check out these inspiring metal clay sites.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean has a sparkly Swarovski bracelet in July's BeadStyle magazine! Check it oooout!

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off new jewelry designs using Soft Flex Trios wire

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew announces a NEW design competition to celebrate Cynthia's new book, Enchanted Adornments.

Bezel, Bezel, who got the Bezel?

I do, I do!!!! and I know what I'm doing with the rest of my day-playing with my new bezels.

I just got in a shipment of Patera Jewelry findings from Nunn Designs. Aren't they all lovely? These are all bezel settings, along with some great chain and other fun stuff like leaf connectors & toggles. I think I'm in love with the copper ones in particular. Copper findings are getting easier to find, but pendant settings are still like searching for a needle in a haystack. Patera has all their bezel settings available in antique silver, antique brass, antique copper and some in Sterling finish.

I'm also excited because they chose one of my necklace designs to be included in the gallery section of the site. My necklace "Springfield" is included in the Necklaces section along with a lot of gorgeous pieces.

I am in love with Romani, Rome, and Aspen necklaces as well. You can buy Patera Jewelry Findings at Alphastamps and other online suppliers.

Time to get off here and get onto my creating. May you all have a wonderful & creative day.

Perfumed Locket Class

Another class to tempt you! This will be at the lovely Tangerine shop in Dublin, CA on July 12th 10am to 1pm Special price=$65 Email me if you want to be included!

Perfumed Locket Necklace
In ancient times, solid perfumes were the standard. You’ll love applying and wearing perfume this way! In this class we’ll create a lovely necklace with a hammered wire centerpiece and personalized locket holding a solid perfume balm.

We’ll talk about perfumes and aromatherapy, discuss make your own perfume base from scratch, and make a scented balm to fill your locket. I'll have a selection of perfume oils and some single note oils. We’ll also embellish our lockets, create the wire centerpiece then finish our necklace as time permits. Everyone will create their own unique style so this is both a project and process based class. You'll learn both by working your own project as well as how your classmates create theirs. This class is for all levels of jewelry makers, beginners are welcome!

Kit will contain: A lovely Locket in gold/brass color, various items to embellish it with, perfume oils, perfume base, 18g & 26g wire in brass/gold color
Students Should Bring:
Full apron: in case the oils splash on you.
Basic Jewelry Craft kit: sharpie, paper, ruler, pliers, wire cutters, etc....
Tools : small jewelry hammer (Michaels or Joann usually have them to set eyelets) & anvil or steel block. If you don’t have one = we can share
Treasures: beads or chain to complete your jewelry piece, various jewelry findings like clasps, chain, jump rings, filigree, beads, brass stampings, charms, cameos, etc…
Wire: 20 g is a good 'basic' wire for wire wrapping. Some gemstone beads are tiny and need 22 or 24 gauge wire. I'll bring wire in various gauges and metals. If you prefer to bring your own sterling, brass, copper or craft colored wire to use that is fine too.
Adhesive: Clear Quick Set (5 min) 2 part Epoxy like Duco (from hardware store), or E6000.

If you have any questions: please email me.

Note: I will bring some supplies for everyone and a limited amount of extra goodies for purchase, but make sure you bring your own unique stuff to work with too because its all about YOU! When you gather the bits you plan on using, bring some that you may not think you will use. It's better to have multiple options when creating, and sometimes the parts will come together in a way they like rather than what you pre plan.

Title and content associated with this class are © Barbe Saint John/Saints and Sinners® 2009

Book Review: Ancient Modern: Polymer Clay & Wire Jewelry

Ancient Modern: Polymer Clay + Wire Jewelry by Ronna Sarvas Weltman
Paperback: 136 pages
Publisher: Interweave Press (June 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1596680970
ISBN-13: 978-1596680975

I was blown away when I saw the cover of this book and HAD to have it. The look of this necklace reminds of when the movie Bell, Book & Candle opens up, you see Gillian's shop full of African Statues and ethnic masks, SWOON!

The jewelry in this book makes a very distinctive statement. The author has a very distinct modernist primitive style that I personally LOVE, and if this is your style as well, you will be making some amazing jewelry. The book will teach you to artistically combine polymer clay and wire into organic, sophisticated, and contemporary jewelry.

Ancient Modern discusses the fundamentals of jewelry design as well as what makes a piece “primitive” and how to achieve an organic effect through color mixing and textures. The book starts with an introduction to deigning jewelry, color inspiration, the tools used with wire, wire techniques, creating clasps, and all about polymer clay. You'll learn a number of innovative techniques in designing beads and components from polymer clay, making wire work elements, clasps and ear wires, wire bead caps, polymer clay tipped head pins, and more. Once you have that down, there are 15 one-of-a-kind gorgeous projects to create and a gallery of more stunning jewelry to be inspired by.

The projects range from Lush Sonata Necklace, Three Ring Circus Brooch, to Dancing Bells Earrings and Embrace Me ring. All have very detailed photos and instructions and you will want to stay up all night crafting these. I do anyway!

This book is truly one of a kind polymer clay book. I've dug out my box of old polymerclay (hope its still soft!) and try out these techniques. I went to Pearl to find the dilutant but they were out of course!!! I will have to order some online and will post pics when I get some of these lovely projects finished.

A week of errand running

Yet another week that has just flown by WHOOSH! I did work on a few projects and run a bunch of errands. I also restocked my display space at Artist Xchange with lots of new jewelry. I went to get jump rings yesterday and came home to find the girl gave me the wrong size rings and wrong chain. Now I have to go back or go over to Pearl and get the right size gold rings. My intention is that I am much, much, MUCH more productive this week.

See what the bead bloggers are up to this week!

• About.com Jewelry Making Are you a Tweep? Do you Tweet? Find out about the fun of networking with other jewelry folks via Twitter.
• Art Bead Scene Trying to figure out how to use those swatches of trendy colors? Check out The Color Report for Beaders for help.
• Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts Barbe opens up about a new venture.
• Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi recycles the images of an old calender for her new gold bezel necklace.
• Jewelry & Beading Cyndi is concentrating on metal clay for the month of June. Come meet some amazing metal clay artists!
• Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! How simply sunny! A focal Celestial Crystal will encourage your love of the summer sun!
• Strands of Beads Melissa shows off beads by Andrew Thornton and plays tag this week.
• The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Last month's Art Bead Scene's theme, Monet's Water Lilies, inspires Andrew to create a new necklace.

Jewelry Alchemy Class

Space still available in the "Jewelry Alchemy" at Tangerine in Dublin June 14th from 10am to 1pm. Turn your old parts into fabulous new jewelry. $55. For more details email me or call Gina at Tangerine 925-548-8447

We'll transform ourselves into glamorous alchemists as we meld orphan bits & bobs, broken jewelry box treasures and modern components into fabulous one of a kind jewelry pieces.

Bring your your old broken jewelry bits and bobs. vintage paper, photos, relics, rosary and medals, buttons, etc... Bring what ever is special and speaks to you as well as stuff you may not like but just can't "throw away", trading will be encouraged! You'll learn to look at your junk drawer with a new eye. We'll also talk about mixing old with new and making new look worn and aged.

These pics are some examples of how you can combine all those little bits of chain, beads, wire, broken jewelry and findings into some fabulous new pieces.

Students Should Bring:

Required Tools:

• Pliers: Round nose, and flat nose or chain pliers (good to have 2 pairs of these flat pliers if you have them).
• Wire Cutters
• small sharpie
• needle files (available at any hardware store for about $5-$8)
• Treasures: Various beads, broken jewelry bits, single earrings, chain, lockets, metal beads, gemstones, pins, wire, charms, brass stampings, buttons, pendants, colored craft wire, etc... if you're not sure feel free to email me or just bring it!
• Chain: Bring at least two feet of your favorite chain style. Old necklaces are great or whatever you have.
• Findings: whatever you have - earring wires, clasps, jump rings, head pins, etc...
• Clear Quick Set 2 part Epoxy like Duco (from hardware store)

OPTIONAL tools: IF you have them or WANT to buy them but not required:

• metal hole punch (dick blick online, some local craft shops or online), center punch, hand drill/Dremel with metal and wood bits, wire wig jig, eyelet setting kit, bench block or small anvil
  

NOTE: I will bring a supply kit for everyone (wire, findings, goodies, etc...)and a limited amount of extra goodies for purchase, but make sure you bring your own unique stuff to work with too!

When you gather the bits you plan on using, bring some that you may not think you will use. It's better to have multiple options when creating, in this case more is more.

Writeup Love from Tangerine

Tooting my own horn and sending big THANK YOU to Gina for the linky love and kind words.

Gina from Tangerine wrote a lovely post about me on the Tangerine Blog, Thank you so much Gina!!!!

If you live in the Bay Area you MUST visit Tangerine. It's absolutely precious, you'll want to buy everything in there and sit on the floor and start making stuff.

And reminder-I'm teaching the Jewelry Alchemy class next Sunday (June 14th)from 10Am to 1pm. You can call or email Tangerine to sign up!

Get to know me better on Objects & Elements Blog

photo copyright Barbe Saint John 2009

I'm the "Meet the Design Team Member" this week on the Objects and Elements blog! You can read my interview by clicking the pic above or here. You can also see the full version of this necklace over there too.

Jane Salley's interview is up as well so you can get to know her a bit better. Deryn, Kristen and Jen will be up in the coming weeks. And if you love Twitter as much as I do, be sure to follow Objects and Elements there too.

Bead Bloggers Linky Love

Still recovering from Maker Fair on Saturday and a long day at Union Show yesterday.

It was typical grey, overcast and chilly Sunday to do a street fair. Jessica came down to help out and I finally got to meet Shelly of Lightbox and saw friends like Lisa & Willfredo, Leslie, Nadine, Annie and Joey. Had fun with my tent partner Vanina of 12 Moods Studios, but we barely sold anything. So today I have to focus on more sales, promo, pr and marketing. I think I am going to look for a PR agent to help, if you know of anyone good-let me know!

This weeks Bead Bloggers!
About.com Jewelry Making Silver Threads Web Videos - Watch Jeanne Rhodes-Moen make some gorgeous filigree jewelry.

Art Bead Scene Art Bead Scene's The Bead Biz offers up a "less is more" philosophy to selling your work

Carmi's Art/Life Carmi's newest pendant is inspired by the forest floor.

Jewelry & Beading More spring cleaning tips to get your jewelry business in tip-top shape this season!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Easy Beading volume number 5 is out this month and is as great as always--check it out on Jean's blog!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew discovers the online jewelry supply store, Auntie's Beads, and was inspired to create a summery pair of earrings.