Some new things

It's late and I should be sleeping. But instead I'm going through some photos. Took almost 100 pictures off of my camera tonight so I've been tagging and sorting. But here's a few that I wanted to share.



This first one are some inchies that I did for a swap on the BookArtz group. They are 1 inch square. I did 16 of each color & rec'd some wonderful returns. They were fun to do.

These are the the beginnings of the pile of returns that I sent back from the charm swap that I hosted. I wrapped up the packages before I stuffed them into envelopes. They've been received by the participants and everyone is enjoying their returns. It was another fun swap. I had started to make a second set, ended up using some for fill ins, and a few became earrings before I was even finished- I'll have to grab a photo of those too.....I liked those!

Copper and sapphire swarovski crystals for a swap on Adornmentz. The copper was treated to a heat patina then hammered around the edges for texture.

Oh, these are terrible photos. But they are on the other side of the country now so these pix will have to do. For the same swap- copper washers hammered, then married with indicolite swarovski crystals.

And lastly, for the same swap, hammered and heat treated copper together with emerald swarovski crystals. The theme was earrings using swarovski crystals in case it wasn't obvious. Although I don't use them very often, I did really like this design. I'm going to do some more with little gemmies. Iolite, garnet or moonstone- I've got some pretty little rondells of those 3 stones. And all three would be pretty with copper. Notice how there's a crystal on the ear wire too? It was a nice touch to bring the design together, however.....I think I should have given them a LOS dip. Next time.....it was an after thought. I should have the returns from this swap in the next week or so. Looking forward to it!

More pieces out of the tumbler and photographed.....but it's time to me to head off to dreamland.



Be happy!

BookArtz Charm Swap

I almost forgot to post the pic of these charms. We're doing a charm swap and here is a few of my offerings. I'm looking forward to adding some of the charms from this swap to my bracelet that I always wear.....you know the jingly one.





I cut the copper sheet, used my new dividers....straight lines can be a beautiful thing. Then I filed the edges and corners. Drilled holes. Tumbled them. Grabbed some pages from an old book (1920's) and started tearing & burning. The smell of vintage paper burning isn't pleasant. Then I used gel medium to adhere the paper. I scanned this before I added jump rings so that I could get a better scan. Then I added the jump rings & bagged them up. Twenty five of them. Well I made more, but 25 are for the swap.

My oldest had a look at them while I was working on them & said they looked like something from the movie National Treasure. Then I realized that I had made them right after we watched the movie. Sometimes it amazes me where inspiration comes from, when you aren't even paying attention or looking for it. That's the best kind!

Lots of other things going on around here. I do have some pieces that need to be properly photographed. I envy people who have the knack to hang a piece on a tree and have an awesome picture come out.....I still struggle with every photograph. Lighting is my main issue.....and I'm still working on it.

www.BookArtz.com

After taking some time to consider and plan -I made a decision. Although I'll say the walls are unpainted & it's unfinished and unpolished- I'm ready for people to drop on in and become part of the community.





BookArtz.com is a community for mixed media and altered artists. It's open to everyone and costs nothing to join. You do not have to be a member of the yahoo group to join us. You can blog, visit friends and neighbors, post pictures and be inspired. I think that the community will continue to grow, as the yahoo group did, and before too long it may be a booming metropolis. If you're a vendor and would like an opportunity to advertise to a targeted audience, please let me know. I'm very happy about this and have had some great feedback from people so far. Why don't you pop on over, you do NOT have to be a member to check it out! Hope to see you there. ;-)

Love those pearls!

I'm currently having a serious love affair with pearls. Although earrings are the only items that have been finished and photographed, there are rings, bracelets & necklaces in the works. And today I hope to put the finishing touches & photograph a whole wad of them.

Last night, after I ordered our pizza, I posted a pair of gray peacock pearl earrings on Etsy. And I'm happy to report that they were sold before I went to bed. I love it that others love pearls as much as I do. Pearls just make a girl feel special and with contemporary design.....it's just the icing on the cake. My earrings have been simple, and that's what makes them so versatile.

Mmmmmm, like candy

My postman, Roger, likes delivering mail to my house. He appreciates the mail art that I receive almost as much as I do. I can see why he likes it, after all- his day is spent looking at boring plain envelopes......then he gets to mine. The envelopes are artfully decorated, and postcards always have art on them. Well, as much as I like receiving mail art, I also like getting little nondescript envelopes. I know when they're coming and wait with anticipation so I can bring it in and open it up to lovingly fondle the contents. This is a horrible pic of today's little envelope.



They are all faceted briolettes. Some dark amethyst puffed marquis, pink amethyst pears, swiss blue topaz hearts, garnet ovals and different colored aquamarine drops. I'm still really excited about them, such a nice sparkle. And this time, I drew the design first, THEN ordered the stones. LOL- so many of these already have plans. I hope the pictures of the finished pieces are better than this picture! Since I still haven't put away the silver, I think I'll go see what I can put together.

Metal Pix

Ahhhh......loving the new camera. Didn't get much time to play today but just enough to get a few pictures. Still inside at my desk- but here they are:

These are some sterling stackables that I've been wearing on my thumb for the last month. I love these. The hammered texture makes them glimmer in the light. More of these in process & they will be added to Etsy.

And these are charms that are in process for swaps. Not quite finished.....just had to take pictures for practice sake.

Hey Anne Marie......recognize these backgrounds?

Better Pictures

I'm on my way to better pictures. As soon as I really figure out how to use the camera. Look at these earrings:


Now, this picture was taken with them sitting on my desk. Using the overhead lights, macro setting & the flash. Because it had only been 5 minutes since I opened the book & turned it on for the first time. So I haven't experimented with any white balance settings, or used the light tent, or- gotten to the page in the manual that shows me how to turn the flash off. But, this is the same pair of earrings that I posted on June 7th. (scroll down for the ugly pictures) I was shocked & excited about the detail in the stones- you can't even see that with your naked eye.....well I can't! I never put them up for sale because the pictures were so bad. Originally I was going to keep them, but ya know....gotta support my buying habits somehow!

So.....I'm on my way. And so very happy about it. Just gotta figure out my new toy! Woo- hoo!