Quick weekend project

I just posted a new project over on the Talisman Beads blog.

On the Road Again

My darling husband (who turns 41 today!) and I took another trip through MA to the bead show in Mansfield, MA. I scored some really great baskets there from the Africa Beads vendor. I am going to use them in our new house (if we ever get it.)
We also went to IKEA in Stoughton, MA, which is always a good time. And if you haven't yet, try the potato broccoli cakes in the cafe. Then you can get several boxes from the freezer downstairs and take them home like I did :)

I got to spend time with my dear friend Jane, who taught me how to do this awesome stitched leather bracelet. I haven't had any time to work on it since returning. My main job is really really busy and the bead blog and website is taking up some time. I need to do a project for this weekend. I am thinking something with the lucite flowers. I'll cross post it here so stay tuned.

Andrew Thornton

I just discovered the blog of jewelry artist Andrew Thornton. His work is exquisite. And today he posted a giveaway, and gave us permission to repost on our own blogs (never mind that doing that gives us extra brownie points for potentially WINNING the giveaway =D

Visit Andrew's Blog for details on how to win a class in Metal Fold Forming from Beaducation. They have free classes too! Special thanks to Andrew for pointing that out. I am going to start taking free classes as soon as I get back from the Mansfield, MA Divine Bead Festival this weekend.

Cat picture and Ring

Today I made a sweet little ring out of a piece of dyed magnesite and some coated wire.
The picture is a little blurry. You can see the dyed magnesite better via the above link.

On my beading table

This is what I have right now on my coffee beading table. It's some chain, with this really pretty vintage german glass that looks clear and grey and blue all at the same time. Then some pinkish pearls, some greyish blue pearls and a ribbon. I'd like to attach this Czech glass flower where the pink pearls and the chain meet. You can't see it very well in the picture but I love those little vintage flowers. At the bottom, a faceted teardrop, rose quartz I think.

Project on Talisman Blog

Hi All! I posted my first-ever project for Talisman over on the Talisman Blog. Go check it out!

Here is the finished project:

Procrastination, thy name is Tara.

Sorry for the bad lighting. Sigh. Such a beautiful jumble of beads and findings. I have so many ideas that I cannot seem to get started.

Gratuitious Cat Shot

This is my personal assistant, helping me sort pewter tubes. Isn't he beautiful?

Big weekend

Well! The Innovative Bead Show in Marlboro, MA was TONS of fun. We had SUCH a good time. I got to see my dear friend Jane, and her outstanding jewelry, and I got to meet so many nice people in the Talisman suite.
Since returning home, I've been busy going over my inventory so I can restock my kit for the Funky Stuff Bead Show in Mansfield, MA. It's a one day show and is sure to be very busy. I have a full kit of the pandora-style beads which I am in love with, and I have recently discovered FACETED PEARLS!
I missed the deadline for the 30 minute Bracelets book, but, given that I only found out about it a few days before the big show, I am not being too hard on myself. Now I only need to figure out what to submit to 500 Beaded Jewelry. I was mistaken earlier in what this book would be. I confused it with the 1000 series from Quarry. The Lark book requires high quality photography and is juried. I shall do my best. Note to self: read things over carefully.

Quickie bracelet

I made a quick bracelet from leather cord, Talisman "pandora-style" lampwork beads and some large hole goldtone pewter beads. I finished it off with a large goldtone pewter hook and a vintage brass heart as the closure. Oh, and a little heart milagro dangles from one side.

Click the photo to see the bracelet in detail.

I almost never wear gold, but this leather was a lighter color than I usually use, and it looked best with gold. And the large-holed lampwork beads had rich color as well. I'll wear this a the show this weekend.

Call for Jewelry

Hey friends, Lark Books has a call for beaded jewelry- click here to go to their site for details. Submitting jewelry for publication should not be scary- the worst they can say is no, and that doesn't mean your stuff isn't good. They get lots and lots of entries and they need to pick a diverse group. I'll be coming up with something in the next couple weeks to send. I won't be able to share it with you until the book comes out, if it is accepted. The books like to feature stuff that hasn't been widely seen yet. So go ahead, make something and send it in. Thanks to Barbe St. John for the head's up.

Project Design

It's Sunday evening here at the Finlay house and preparations for the Marlboro trip are in full swing. The house has been cleaned and the bead inventory counted. I am now prepping to make some projects to both wear at the show, and showcase on the Talisman Beads Blog. If you have not already signed up to be a follower of that blog, you should head on over and do so, because when we reach milestones (25, 50, 75, 100 followers etc) we are going to have fabulous giveaways! Feel free to pass this blog URL and the Talisman one along to anyone you know who is into jewelry making, mixed media art, and crafting using beads. The more followers, the more fabulous things I can do with you guys.
Anyway, I randomly grabbed thoughtfully selected beads and findings from my stash. I have some ideas about what I want to showcase- in my new job, I've been re-exposed to findings and bead types I haven't used in years- like toggles and crystals, and bead caps and cones. For now I am going to focus on using purchased beads and then later, when my studio is up and running, I'll start making my own beads in addition.
So for those of you who I haven't talked to in a long time, I've been talking studio since 2004. Still hasn't happened. However, this year, we are moving into a gorgeous house that has a sweet little room at the end, all in white, with two big windows and a wall of bookshelves. I cannot WAIT to get in there. And because the house we are buying is all set to go- no real work needed, I can literally move my stuff in and be up and running in no time. It's a long story why we are leaving this house Jon worked so hard on, but it is a good move and we are very happy about it.

What will become of these beauties???? Stay tuned....