I'm Back

Isn't it funny how life gets in the way of somethings.  I know it has been awhile since I posted anything, but once again, I am going to try and be better.  I bought an iPad since I last posted. I have loaded a blog program that should interact with this one. But we'll see. 

I have been busy creating new pieces.  I recently made a bracelet for a young man whose 6 year old daughter was going off to her first day of school.  I made it in the school colors. And on it I placed a little heart that said "love". This was for her to know that her Daddy was thinking of her as she embarked on this new journey.  When I gave it to her Daddy, he teared up.  I don't know who was going to cry more that first day of school, her, Daddy or Mom.  Before I know it, I'll be making her a necklace for her first prom!

My high school class is having our 45th year class reunion this weekend.  I don't know when we got older.  I don't think I've aged, but I will take that senior discount, thank you very much. It will be good to see friends and their spouses.

The necklace pictured is one I made for my sweet neighbor, Kim, who watches the house and picks up our mail when we are out of town.  She is a beautiful woman with dark hair and olive complexion.  I felt that this would enhance her beauty.  I hope she enjoys wearing it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Till next time, stay pretty.  Kathie

 

 

 

Oh my it is HOT!

Life in Alabama has been hot lately.  Over 100 a few days last week.  It makes you not want to do anything.  The only thing I have been doing is buying cabochons.  Those are large beads without holes.  I like to wire wrap them or do beaded embroidery around them.  I haven't been taking pictures like I should. And I haven't posted anything to my Etsy shop since before Christmas.  So I best get busy. I have been making jewelry and selling it face to face.  And I gave my sweet neighbor a necklace and earring set for picking up our mail and paper each time we go out of town.

I hope to start taking some pictures and posting them with my blog.  Till next time, Stay Pretty. 

Taxes

Let me just say I don't like doing taxes. I have a CPA, a great one at that, but all the stuff I have to do to get ready to take my "stuff" to him just drives me to distraction. I have working on the taxes for 2 days. It might be easier if I kept up with this during the year. But I do love to procrastinate. One of my weaknesses. Yesterday I got so fed up that I stopped and made some earrings. I had some gemstone crosses that I bought some time ago. I put them on a head pin, wrapped a loop and put them on a earring wire. They are really pretty. I used some antique bronze findings on some of them. Sold a pair this morning. I have lots of turquoise ones but there are some other colors too. They would make a nice Easter gift for someone. I'll try and post a picture soon.

Best get back and finish up these taxes so I can take them to my very patient CPA. Till next time, stay pretty.

Update

It is 0020, that's 20 minutes after midnight for those who don't know military time. I wanted to post pictures of 2 projects I did this weekend at Cecily Chaney's studio.

The stone in the ring is Unakite. It has some gorgeous shades of green and pink. I think it is a member of the quartz family. Except for the stone itself, I made the whole ring. I am very pleased with myself.

This is a turquoise pendant. Except for the stone and the chain it is hanging on I made it all too. I even made those little silver balls on each side. I plan on making a chain tomorrow for it, but I wanted to post a quick picture tonight to let you see what I had been doing all weekend. I want to thank Cecily Chaney for sharing her studio and knowledge with me. I plan to be making many more projects in the future.

This week I have some legal nurse consulting work to finish. Then I have a string of pearls to knot. Can't wait till I finish those and get them back to their owner. Time to make the coffee and head to bed.

An Important Announcement: Thanks to a friend Linda from a jewelry listserv that helped me change the settings so that anyone can post on my blog.

Till next time, stay pretty.

New Ring

I made myself a new ring today. It is Sterling Silver with an Azurite stone. I did the whole thing with the help of my friend Cecily Chaney. She has a studio at Artist On The Bluff in Hoover, AL. She has the torch and silver and all the things I need to make different jewelry items in silver. She has given me lots of good information and greatly expanded my knowledge of silversmithing. If you would like to see more of her work go to www.cecilychaney.com.

I am speaking at a seminar for attorneys on Friday morning. 2 other nurses will be speaking too. We are talking on medical aspects of different legal cases. I hope they take away some infomation they can use in their practice. Even if I am not working in a hospital or doctor's office, I will always be a nurse. So here is a thank you to my Mother and late Daddy for giving me an education.

Till next time, stay pretty

What Am I Doing?

Unfortunately I have not had a chance to make anything since the weekend. But I thought I would post this picture of some Mook Jasper also known as Mookaite (Mookite, Mook Jasper, Mook Mook). It is a gorgeous stone in person. Once I make something with it, I'll post a picture.

Until next time, stay pretty. Kathie

New Beads

My BFF Tijuana Buchanan has been here this weekend. We went to see Jimmy Buffett play Saturday night. AWESOME!!! It was a great concert. Tijuana's husband Joe has been making some glass beads. He sent a bunch of them down here for me to look at and make some jewelry with. The first thing Tijuana and I did was go through them to pick out the best. Then this evening I made her a bracelet. I put small silver beads between each glass beads. Finished with a simple toggle clasp it looks wonderful. I hope to make myself a bracelet soon.

This broken strand of garnet was brought to me to restring. I love the clasp on it. This is a stand that has been passed down in a family. These are so lovely. I will restring it tomorrow and take it back to the family it belongs to this week. I have so enjoyed looking at these little gems. But they must go back home to enhance the beauty of their owner.

Have a good week and stay pretty. Kathie

New classes

In the morning, February 18, 2012 I am taking 2 classes at The Bead Biz in Helena, AL. My first class will be a seed bead class. The second class will be an advanced wire wrapping class. I am looking forward to both classes. I hope to have some pictures to post after the class.

This evening I finished a kumihimo cord for a piece I am going to wire wrap. I made it too long, so I had to undo a large part of it. Kumihimo is very relaxing, so undoing part of it was not too bad.

Everyone have a good weekend. And stay dry. Birmingham, AL is predicted to get lots of rain on Saturday.