Trinkets

The closest, independent, bead store is about 20 minutes for me. It's called Just Bead It and they have several locations in Michigan. I don't get there as often as I like, but I did make a trip this week. One thing I bought was the Bungee Bracelet from The Bead Smith. It's a really cool, stretchable bracelet that is covered with chain and 16 jumprings to attach charms to. It comes in 5 different metal colors. Here is the bracelet I created today with it, which is now listed in my Etsy shop. I used various charms, button, and these really cool new safety pins I found at Michaels as part of the Tim Holtz line. I love how they have words and numbers stamped on them for a very vintage feel!

New Earrings...

... now on Etsy.

I hope everyone had a fabulous long holiday weekend! We enjoyed our company and we hope they had fun. My nieces made some lovely polymer creations that I will have to show, and they loved stringing jewelry! As always, I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Where does the time go? Even the best laid plans for my evenings seem to get foiled by unexpected errands, power outages, internet not working, etc..... those are the excuses this week anyway. I'd like to get on a regular schedule of blogging and posting, but it just doesn't seem to happen. I guess I shouldn't stress about it too much because if it loses it's fun, what's the point?

Some Eye Candy

Well, my weekend guests haven't arrived yet and I have the house to myself this morning. So I thought I'd post a few pics quick of some pieces I have been able to throw together quite quickly for myself. I've been playing around with decoupaging lately.... being a scrapbooker, I already have so many papers, glues, glazes, etc.... And of course, peacock images!

Here is a necklace I made, simply strung onto black polyester chain.

Here is a bracelet, in a muted color palette that I love!I wore both of these items to work this week, with different outfits. I'd love to make more decoupaged pieces, especially if I am going to go the all peacock route soon. The possibilities are endless when you think that you can create virtually any pendant or focal bead you desire out of a favorite pattern, picture, drawing, etc... You can get a variety of bezel type components specifically for mixed media, or you can use any flat surface bead you like. Here I used a black wood pendant I had from Michael's, and a bamboo bead I bought at a bead store last Fall.

Technically, it's still Friday......

Thank you everyone, for your comments (and patience) regarding my most recent giveaway of some of my wood components. I enjoyed reading about who you would want to meet and what you would shop for at Bead & Button. The winner is:

Fab Fibers!

A fellow Michigander, please email me your address at hatrudeau@hotmail.com

I apologize for being so boring lately. I am having company this weekend so this week has been busy getting our home ready. My husband was off work this week (unpaid) and he did a phenomenal job in getting the pool ready, mulch & other yard stuff, working on vehicles, power washing - way too much stuff to list. My visitors are coming tomorrow morning and I have a lot of fun plans for my 2 nieces - making paper beads, polymer clay beads and all other sorts of crafty things! Hopefully, this means some new pictures to post and I will get motivated to start creating again. Bear with me, I promise there will be exciting things to come! I have been getting all sorts of goodies in the mail and I can't wait to play with them!

Only 20 more days......

...... until I am shopping at the Bead & Button show! I am so excited! I think this is the 7th time I will have attended the show.So, what I want to know from you is:

Are you going to be there?

Who would you want to meet if you were going to be there?

What would you shop for if you were going to be there?

If you leave me a comment with an answer to all or any of these questions, I will choose a random winner on Friday and send some of my wood burned goodies your way!

ABS - May - Monet

I just entered the Art Bead Scene Blog's May Challenge - Monet's Water Lilies. This necklace is part of my own collection and as soon as I saw the painting, I knew all of these colors were perfect for the entry! I bought the focal bead from Andrea Guarino at the Bead & Button Show several years ago. I hung on to it for a long time before I finally had collected the perfect beads to make a necklace worthy of it's awesomeness. You might remember me showing this necklace a few months ago as part of my lampwork collection.

A giveway, and some events....

Visit Fab Fibers blog to find out how to win these beautiful beads from Blue Heeler! These are so unique, and the shop was immediately added to my favorites in Etsy!I am looking forward to going to the Spring into the Arts walk in downtown Battle Creek tonight! I hope the rain holds off..... This, and the Fall walk, are two events I look forward to every year. I have certain stops that are my favorite, and I often find some cool things to buy!

Also, the Art Center is having a reception tonight and tomorrow for their new Aviation Show. The few paintings I have seen so far are so detailed that they look like photographs from afar! It's a great collection from 10 very talented artists and the exhibit is drawing a lot of interest!