The Savvy Crafter

Triple Take...

Triple Take copyright, DRG/Simply Beads Magazine

The new Simply Beads is out!  Here are the Triple Take Girl's projects for this month.  We used Fire Mountain Gems shell beads and charms.  Katie made the bracelet and earring set, Margot made the cell phone holder and I made the mirror (which I bought at the thrift store for 50 cents and revamped, yay!  See the Artgirlz charmz?).  Get your free instructions for the projects here. 

It's raining today and I'm off to Hong Kong for some serious supply shopping.  Better wear my galoshers!  Have a great weekend... :-)

Charmed A Little More...

Joanne's Bracelet...

Here are a few pictures of the charm bracelets from the intermediate beading class.  This was everyone's first attempt at making a charm bracelet.  Talking to them now, 4 months later, it's still a favorite.  Mine too.

Chris's Bracelet....

Love those ribbon charms!

Bridget's Bracelet....

It really is an anything goes bracelet, using whatever you feel like.  Throw out all the rules and you get fabulousness.  I promise.

Anything Goes Charm Bracelet...

If you've ever been on vacation or gone antiquing with me, you know that by the end of the trip, my pockets are loaded with this's and that's.  Nothing in particular, but a lot of somethings....if that makes any sense.  One of my favorite pieces of jewelry to make are charm bracelets.  They allow for working in themes or you can attach whatever makes your heart sing at the moment.  The latter is the route I took for this particular bracelet.  Some initials, a little white beaded dog, an old license plate key chain thingy, a blue glass elephant from Germany and a lot of other random bits.  You can basically make a charm bracelet out of anything by drilling a hole and connecting a jump ring.  This project was the final class in my four week intermediate beading class here---I showed them the bracelet two weeks prior to making it so they could be scavenging for special parts and pieces.  So tomorrow, I'll show you some of their finished bracelets...

Links and snapping...

Last night, we got our Mother's Day packages ready to send.  The little bags seemed a little plain so I grabbed my instant camera and headed to the kitchen where Botch was making dinner.  This is how the conversation went....  "What are you doing?"  "I'm taking pictures for our Moms."  "Oh, cool."  Snap, shake shake shake.  "My head looks to big!" Snap, shake shake shake.  "Now my head looks big!" Snap, shake shake.  "Ok, this is getting crazy." Last Snap, shake.  "For real, this was supposed to be easy!  Crikey!"  All the while giggling and a gasp or two at how tired we look.  But then again, it was 9 o'clock at night. We also now have a nice picture of our bare wall because I mistakenly hit the shutter button instead of the power.  There's one for the fridge.  Are your Mother's Day gifts ready? 

And now, for some lovely links....

About.com Jewelry Making
When is it a good idea to help a fellow jewelry designer out, and when does it cross the line into your territory?

Art Bead Scene
Getting Connected Tips from ABS!

Jewelry & Beading
Need more time? Set aside a few minutes to assemble this mixed media necklace called "Time to Run"!

Katie's Beading Blog
Katie starts a new recurring feature on her blog: Books of Note. This week's review is Bead One, Pray Too.

Linda at Make It Mine magazine
Do your color preferences change as you age? Linda ponders Cathy Jakicic's thoughts on the subject.

Savvy Crafter
Candie and her lovely assistant whipped up a beady bookmark at breakfast this morning.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean was thrilled by the red carpet treatment she got from a cool magazine which hails from Australia, Australian Beading Magazine

The Impatient Blogger
Tune in to The Impatient Blogger to see the worldwide debut of The Impatient Crafter's first video! Phew. That is all.

Breakfast Bookmarks...

Rocker and I got up super early today---we've been batch'n it the past few days while Botch is in...well, come to think of it, I have no idea what town Butch is in!  That's nice.  I can't keep it all straight.  Anywho, we made some cinnamon toast and whipped up a bookmark while we nibbled.  Ok, Rocker didn't eat cinnamon toast...but he wanted to!  He is such a good assistant.  Don't you think he needs an apron?

I have a fetish for bookmarks and ribbons really do make the perfect bookmark.  They are pretty and flat---two very important bookmark qualities.  So many wonderful bookmarks round the craft-o-sphere.   Remember Martha's where she wove ribbon through ribbon?  Yum.  I'd love to make about 50 more of these----I have enough ribbon to make 3,000 probably.   

ORNAMENTEA's bird charms....

This is a great weekend craft and a perfect gift for your favorite reader.  Can't believe it's Friday already! 

Goodbyes...

My friend Meg heads out tomorrow for America.  I first met Meg on a field trip to the Indian spice store.  Then she popped up again in my felting class and we've been buddies ever since.  She took all my jewelry and craft classes---even though she really didn't need my help as she has a natural talent for making jewelry.  She's made beaded gifts for all her pals--including me (the yellow bracelet I'm showing you there on my wrist) and will dig into making her friend's wedding jewelry when she gets home, as well as pursue a second degree in library sciences.  So if you live on the East coast, be watching for Meg in a library near you and tell her I said HI.  Meg, we're going to miss your enthusiasm and warm personality around here.  Hugs.

Links and a Movie...

We watched a cute movie last night;  Waitress with Keri Russell.  We didn't really know what to expect and were pleasantly surprised.  Drama, a lot of creative pie baking, and a happy ending.  It was a perfect Sunday night flick, especially after my friend's farewell party.  Two of my best pals are moving home this week ironically.  One is heading back to Connecticut and the other to Portland.  It's going to be a hard week to say the least.  And on that note, I'll share some happy bead blogger links...

About.com Jewelry Making
Are your wire loops perfect? Why not? What the heck is wrong with you!?

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie's Studio Tour continues with a look at the skeletons in her craft closet, and in a new magazine!

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi has been working on her wire skills, and she's collected her favorite sites for learning the basics!

Make It Mine Magazine
Spread the word: Make It Mine's on MySpace.

PearlEsq.
Contest! Contest! Keep Robin busy while she recovers from her knee surgery and send Bandanna Technique Cards-You may win a full set of Ranger's new Adirondack(r) Pigment Ink Stamp Pads and Re-inkers! Bandanna on, Sister (or Brother)!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean explains why she is so proud of her wabi sabi compliment (concerning a ring she made) by the great Eni Oken, wire worker extraordinaire

Art Bead Scene
Economy Gone Bad? Read ABS Editor Cindy Gimbrone's series Beading on a Budget to keep you beading in style!

The Impatient Blogger
Madge takes matters in her own hands and collages an imperfect and quirky new bio photo. Just because.

Savvy Crafter
Candie shares a project for Ornament Thursday that she crafted with her mom.

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen has a fun DIY project showing you how to make a Tom Binns style No Time Watch in no time at all.

Katie's Beading Blog
Katie presents an easy wedding jewelry set this week. Check it out!

Spring Chowder for Soup Sunday....

You know you've been looking at this scrap-booking paper too long when your food takes on the same color palette...  I love this recipe because I can get all the ingredients at our local grocery store across the street.  Only, I still buy imported skim milk, but not for long----with the exchange rate it's pushing $10 a gallon!!!  Yikes!  I know some of you can relate because I heard gas was up to nearly $4 a gallon in some parts of the States yesterday.  I'm thinking we need some comfort food.

Spring Chowder, Anyone?

Ok, I sort of made this up myself--it's not as thick as a chowder, but yummy none the less.

• 1 head of broccoli
• 1 head of cauli
• a handful of chopped onion
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded
• chicken broth
• butter

(I'm not so precise on measurements---it's soup.)

In a large pot, saute onion in a bit of butter until lightly browned. Add chopped broc and cauli and cover with chicken broth.  Boil until veggies are tender.  Then I take the end of my wooden spatula and smash and chop the veggies until they get small.

Make the Cream Soup Base:

• 1/2 c. butter
• 6 tbsp. flour
• 2 c. milk
• 2 cubes chick bouillon (optional with broth)
• pinch o' pepper

Melt the butter, add flour to make a paste.  Add the milk, pepper, bouillon and heat---stir, stir, stir.  Add this base to the veggies.  Throw in the chicken and now comes my favorite part....fold in the shredded carrots.  Done, unless you want to toss in a couple of small cheese cubes...which I do on occasion.

You can add and modify this to your liking...I think there should be some herbs in it of some sort though.  Any suggestions?  Mrs. Eikenberry, thoughts?

  Wishing you all a cozy and relaxing weekend...

Round-up...

UR Charmed Mother's Necklace 
Easy to make and personalize necklace for Mom or Grandma!
http://beading.consumerhelpweb.com/blog/2008/04/ornament-thursday-motherhood.html

The Swell Life - Swelldesigner's blog 
Make this cool and colorful buckle inspired by the iconic "MOM" tattoo
http://swelldesigner.blogspot.com/2008/04/ornament-thursday-motherhood.html

Strands of Beads 
Melissa and the Short One celebrate motherhood with a little origami
http://strandsofbeads.blogspot.com/2008/04/ornament-thursday-motherhood.html

Mommy-isms by Michelle 
http://fromichelle.blogspot.com/2008/04/oh-mother-ot-strikes-again.html

Modern Glass Link Earrings 
Modern Glass Links for the Mom who's a classic!
http://lampworkdiva.blogspot.com/2008/04/organic-glass-link-earrings.html

Michelle Zimmerman - http design 
Michelle creates a floral tribute to motherhood
http://www.http-design.com/2008/04/ornament-thursday-redefines-motherhood.html

Linda at Make It Mine magazine 
Quilts inspired by Mom's Mom
http://cs.makeitminemag.com/mimcs/blogs/makeitmine/2008/04/24/ornament-thursday-motherhood.aspx

Katie's Beading Blog 
Make this easy talisman for new moms or moms-to-be
http://http://katiehacker.blogspot.com/2008/04/ornament-thursday-strong-mama.html

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles 
Celebrating Mother Earth with a ceramic pendant tutorial
http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com/2008/04/ornament-thursday-mother-earth-pendant.html

Candie Cooper 
See a sweet project that Candie and her mom made together.
http://candiecooper.typepad.com/savvycrafter/2008/04/ornament-thur-1.html 

Art Bead Scene 
Add art beads to needle-felted flowers for the perfect Mother's Day corsage.
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2008/04/ornament-thursday-sneak-peak.html

5 Generations of Mothers 
Hali's first attempt at an altered book featuring family photos of great grandmother down to her niece.
http://labyrinthgal.blogspot.com/2008/04/ornament-thursday-motherhood.html

Ornament Thursday~Motherhood

Happy Ornament Thursday!  This month's theme celebrates all the Mom's out there.  They bring us into this world, nurture and help us grow into the people we are today.  In a sense, we kind of are their ornaments.

I grew up in a very crafty and creative home.  My mom started taking painting classes one night a week shortly after I was born....and she hasn't stopped since (28.9999 years later).  When I lived back home, we did a lot of crafty collaborations and so I thought this month's theme was the perfect time to share one of them.

I found these little wooden torso-looking shapes in the wood section at the craft store---perfect for people pins.  My mom's the one with the steady hand so she set to work painting different faces and legs with ruffle-y anklet socks (remember those?).  In the mean time, I'd make a couple of cups of tea and we'd work around the island in the kitchen.  I would drill and assemble the spindle legs, which by the way are miniature balusters and set eyelet screws in the torsos to hang the legs from.  We wanted real vintage fabric for the dresses and she had the idea to use Mod Podge for that.  Genius!  Then she painted arms and a collar right onto the fabric.  I'm pretty sure we sealed them with an acrylic varnish too.

We've done many collaborations over the years.  I won't pretend like we haven't  butt heads a couple of times in the process (after all, according to the Ch!nese Zodiac we are both sheep. ;-)  We are so opposite, yet still cut from the same cloth---the true beauty of mother and daughter relationships.

Happy Earth Day!

Sweet Perfume, Simply Beads-Feb, 06 copyright DRG

It's Earth Day!  And you know how I (and a ton of other people) love to repurpose and recycle old junk things into new stuff!  I wanted to share one of my projects that does just that!  This is an old perfume bottle transformed into a hanging bud vase with beads, buttons and wire----Perfect for dangling violets, dandelions, and daisies on your kitchen window.  Back in the day, I sold these at the farmer's market.  Which reminds me of the lady next to me who sold wonderful homemade scones and coffee.  I could go for one of those right now!

 

I would search flea markets high and low for any sort of tiny bottle---and if you're really lucky, they still have the label on them.  Those were always my favorites.  Now that I think about it, I just saw some vintage label clip art on Dover's free sampler.  Hmmm, I bet you could decoupage with Mod Podge a faux label onto the bottle.  Thinking out loud here.

There are TONS of fun recycled craft ideas out there for you and for kids.  Craft Gossip's Recycled Crafts Blog had some good stuff (be sure to check out older posts) and book reviews on the topic.  Make-Stuff had some clever ideas.  If you liked yesterday's post about recycling clip-on earrings, check out my project in the Spring issue of Make It Mine, for tips on transforming vintage jewels into wine charms.

Have a Happy Earth Day! Go Green everyone!

Savvy Craft Break

Things have been hectic around here.  I needed to take a little, "just for fun" time and make something yesterday.  It all started when I found some cool, old clip-on earrings, so.....

   

These are so easy to make, you could do it on your lunch hour.  Grab your peeps and make some!

P.S.  I've been fiddling with Photoshop.  Can you tell!?!? I want to add text to everything!!!  It's a tad addicting, I must say. Still trying to balance colors...

Links...

Butch and Rocker just came in from a diet coke run.  "Rocker's got a new girlfriend" were the first words out of Butch's mouth.  "What happened to Kiki?"  "She's out, Spotty's in," he said.  I keep meaning to take my camera down to take a movie of Rocker and Kiki playing cat and mouse.  She's three times his size and likes to beat up on him while he cuts in and out of tight spaces so she can't get him.  Ah, love.  I'm working on some deadlines at the moment and as I crazily spun around to get something I see Rocker sniffing out some beads I left on the couch.  He's getting an early start on his Mother's Day gift, I'm pretty sure. About.com Jewelry Making Catch up on some jewelry product reviews and sign up for the About.com Jewelry Making bi-weekly newsletter.
Art Bead Scene Step into the world of faux-tiques and impossible objects. It isn't Alice in Wonderland, it's the world of Lynn Davis!
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie offers a rare glimpse into an even rarer sight: her clean beading studio!
Jewelry & Beading Need a new idea for bead embroidery? "Treasure Chest" will have you running for your stash!
Katie's Beading Blog Make these Butterfly Bliss earrings in an evening (okay, so they're really moths...)
Make It Mine Magazine New online content: shrink art videos and a downloadable pendant project
Naughty Secretary Club The king of the chain gang, Justin Giunta’s Subversive Jewelry comes to a Target near you.
PearlEsq. What a Hoot! Check out the artfully individual Owls of Massaustraliranger. HUH?!
Savvy Crafter It's a Pearl! Click over to Candie's blog to see where pearls come from and a pair of earrings!
Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! My cool bracelet which I made with wonderful components by Green Girl Studios!
The Impatient Blogger Madge is off to Japan for a designer exchange between the CHA and the HAJ! Check out this e-newsletter excerpt for the 411.

But then again, a nap sounds pretty good too.  Hope you're all having as relaxing a weekend as Rock is.

Um.

THIS is what happens when you can buy ribbon for 25 cents a meter.  Seriously, the poor thing (aka me) can't help herself.  Toss the ribbon salad and you get...

A whole new assortment.   Heavens to Murgatroid! I'm grounding myself from buying anymore ribbon....well, at least until the lid fits on the box again.  ;-)

Ornament Thursday!

Ornament Thursday is coming soon to a blog near you!  May's theme celebrates all the Moms!  This is a little teaser of my project or rather "OUR" project.  Recognize it, Mom? 

Do you have a craft that celebrates motherhood?  It would be cool if you leave a link to your blog in the comment section so we can see.  I'm also curious what you're planning to do for your mom.  Baking cookies?  Something crafty?  Flowers? 

P.S. Mother's Day is Sunday, May 11th.

Pearl Market...

Here are a couple of pictures from the pearl market up north.  If you look past the man, you can see that this place is pretty much endless.  Pearls and shell in every shape imaginable. I can only last about 3 hours before I start to get a little loopy and start buying random, sometimes ugly stuff.  The next picture is kind of gross, so don't look if you are turned off by slimy stuff.

My listening skills were little to be desired by this point (I was more concerned with the large knife used to cut this sucker open), but I think these are freshwater pearls.  See them on the sides of the shell?  She cuts away some of the muscle and the pearls just fall out.  Congratulations!  It's a pearl!  (sorry couldn't resist)  I don't know about you, but this site pretty much erased my cartoony pearl and oyster vision of how pearls are made. 

The cool thing about pearls is they can look really classy or really arty depending on the design-especially with dyed pearls.  They look good alone or alongside other materials.  Here, they are strung  onto ear wires with a crystal.  The cloisonne bead is strung on a ball/star head pin from Beadalon.

 

Tons of info on the web including a few videos on knotting pearls. Definitely get a bead reamer if you are going to string pearls.  They make enlarging holes easy.  As our dear Martha would say, "it's a good thing."

I'm here...

Hey peeps!  Thanks for all the nice messages about the kids' projects.  Their enthusiasm really showed through in the pendants.  There have been a wind fall of random happenings around here.  It's been crazy----toilet troubles, Rocker's vaccination drama, fixing said toilet (I only wish I had enough nerve to show you the plunger I had to buy.  Seriously.  It looked more like an Oscar award than a plunger.), trip to the bead market, and spending every other waking moment back in my little work room.  Rocker is nudging his way under my arm as I type this----he's been pretty dramatic ever since he got his shots Saturday night.  Boy, he can lay it on thick with those puppy dog eyes!!!  Speaking of, it's time to take him down for "last call."  He's got his head on my keyboard now letting me know he's ready.  Ok, Rocker, ol' boy.  Such a doll.  Here's a picture of my new best friend from the bead market yesterday.  I hope you're all having a great day.  I'm off for some zzzzzzS.

Blast from the past and Links....

Figure Types-circa fall 2004

Here's a little blast from the past....  I started making a version of these back in school (you can see one of them in the gallery section of Fabulous Jewelry from Found Objects, Lark Books).  When we moved to Ch!na, I left so much behind---that could include simple things like recipes and craft supplies to complex things like relationships and inspirations that affect my work, all for an opportunity to live in a completely different culture.  There is a fine line of leaving too much or bringing too much with you.  If you've ever moved, you know it's impossible to up-root and not leave a few strands still in the dirt.  On a bad day, this can make me a little sad.  On a good day, I kind of look at them like seeds, looking forward to what will bloom when I come back home.  So many wonderful things will be there--people, libraries, markets, my tools in storage and a million more things I've forgotten about.  It's exciting and scary at the same time.  These little figures are made from dominos and typewriter keys.  I fabricated the limbs from sterling with vintage jewel embellishments.  My Indiana roots, make me no stranger to dusty flea markets and dear quirky vendors to haggle the day away with.  Thankfully, I've found places like that here...the only difference is dominos have transformed into mahjong tiles...and I haggle in Ch!nese.

About.com Jewelry Making 
With the cost of metals on the rise, many jewery makers are turning to copper. Here are some copper connections for you.

Art Bead Scene 
Free Project at ABS!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles 
Melanie digs in deep and picks at the heart and bones of her creative process.

Jennifer Jangles Blog 
Jennifer shows a sneak peek of a project from her new book, Ceramic Bead Jewelry, due out June 3rd.

Jewelry & Beading 
What do cherry donuts have to do with jewelry? Come find out ;-)

Katie's Beading Blog 
Look what happens when spring fever meets beads! A colorful necklace is born.

Make It Mine Magazine 
A challenge: transform something unpurselike into a purse!

Naughty Secretary Club 
Bead Simple: Essential Techniques for Making Jewelry Just the Way You Want It - A book report by Jen.

PearlEsq. 
Robin reports on her fun trip to Absolutely Everything and her "Kate's Neighborhood" Creation!

Savvy Crafter 
Hey Everybody, it's a wrap! Candie shows some finished pendants from the wire wrapping workshop.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! 
Jean interviewed Melanie Brooks Lukacs for Jean's book, Links, as Melanie is a terrific ceramic artist!

The Impatient Blogger 
What's your Googleability Factor? Madge coins a new phrase and discovers that she's quite Googleable. Help her select a new promo photo too!

All Wrapped Up...

Some pictures from the international school workshop....

 

It's always good to end on a smile.  :-)       

Bird-Snack.

Here's a sweet painting that caught my eye leaving school the other day.  Who can resist a Robin perched on a cherry blossom tree branch?  Signs of Spring all around us...

Ever since I made the granola bars, I've been hooked.  Those had a lot of sugar in them, but the recipe I'm about to give you doesn't.  It was recently passed along to me by my friend, Inger from Norway (quite possibly the most healthy person I know).

Inger's Bird Balls --- (affectionately named by Candie)

• Ground up your oats in a food processor-enough for 2 c.
• 1 browned banana (I used 2)
• add some dried fruit, coconut, nuts and so on (I'd say 2 handfuls at least)

Mix it all together.  Inger says "if the mixture is too dry, she grates up an apple or melon or anything she has on hand" and adds it to the mixture.  Roll into balls and bake for 15 minutes at 300F/150C.

Store the balls in the fridge.  Inger also says they freeze well.

Thanks everybody for reading my blog and checking in over here.  Thank you for the notes and thoughts.  I always love reading them.  I hope you're all have a good week.  I just got some new pictures of the workshop, so I'll post those tomorrow.  I know I said that yesterday, eek. I'm off to buy some materials...let's hope I find some good treasures.

Seed Bead Loops and Links...

It's Sunday and my coffee cup is still half full as I write this.  I love a slow morning.  I was just looking back at the pictures from the wire wrapping workshop.  The kids made some great pendants that I want to share with you so I'll post pictures this week.  I really like this seed bead loopy loop embellishment (see detail above).  Must do some more experimenting with that back in the laboratory.  Speaking of, it's time to clock into my little work room.  I hope you're having a wonderfully creative weekend.  I'll see you tomorrow. 

Here's this week's Bead Blogger Links....

About.com Jewelry Making
So, you finally have a jewelry web site up now. But why don't you have any sales?

Art Bead Scene
Shakespeare inspires April's Challenge theme.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie ponders acceptance, as well as rejection, as it applies to submitting beading articles to magazines

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Jennifer shows off a necklace made with her new ceramic beads.

Jewelry & Beading
How do you learn about designing if you didn't go to art school? Check out all these online resources and see how you can learn about the principles of design and apply them to your jewelry making!

Katie's Beading Blog
Katie wrote an article about vintage style for Craftrends magazine and it hits mailboxes this week. Are you a subscriber?

Make It Mine Magazine
Even jewelry-making gals need to fix their britches once in a while. Check out the videos.

Naughty Secretary Club
Wanna win a contest or host your own craft show? I thought so. 

Savvy Crafter
Candie’s been “wrappin’” with the high school kids this week to create wire and found object pendants.  

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Whoa! What have we here? Jim's "lightshow garden" and a pair of chandeliers!

The Impatient Beader Margot received a lovely hand crafted gift from her good friend Jean Yates, come see and hear Jean talk about the gift and the materials she used to create it.

Flashback Friday!

I know.  It doesn't look like much, but think of it like an ancient pottery shard dug up from the earth.  Ok, that's a little dramatic.  I found it digging through a box of my old kid stuff last summer.  I'm always happily surprised when things like this turn up.  Sometimes, being a pack rat is a good thing, I guess.    It's a brooch made from "friendly plastic" that I decorated with a stone and rhinestone chain shaped into my initial.  So class-ay, eh?!?!  Oh and don't forget that pinking sheared orange buzz strip! I had my first friendly plastic experience in fourth grade at a Saturday art workshop for kids.  We were hooked, so my mom and I got some to experiment with.  Looking at this piece, I can still remember the bowl of hot water I soaked the pieces in and working at the end of our old stove on 449 Allen St.  Don't you love the associations that come with objects? Especially handmade ones?  Looking back, we really do have it "in" us our whole lives in terms of what our passions will be.  The art workshop could have just been the first piece to the puzzle.  Ah, the magic of life...

Happy Flashbacks!  For more flashback fun, check out Katie's adorable bracelet.  And, send me a link if you ever feel like sharing one of your flashbacks.

It's A Wrap! Well, Almost....

I mentioned it was back to school on Tuesday, but I wasn't expecting to be as tired as I've been when I get home!  I've been showing the high school kids how to make wire wrapped, found object pendants like this:

Pretty simple, but they only have 30 minutes per class.  Can you believe that?!?!?  As soon as you get into creating, you have to stop.  I budgeted two days, but I'm going back today, because they are not finished. 

I showed them how to hammer and texture the wire and I think they really liked that.  We're using 16-18 g. copper for the frames and 20-26g. for the wrapping and dangles. They started by drawing their "plan" like this:

We all know what wire looks like when you try to un-wrap it and start again, so they had to have a solid plan before the copper was passed out. 

On the second day, they brought in more found objects.  There's definitely not enough of me to run around and help the 22! students, but the pieces are looking good.  That's kids for you.  They are fearless in their creative process.

Surpise!

I mentioned before that we were lucky enough to catch a tour of the guitar factory in Cebu.  But!  I haven't told you that one lucky reader of this blog won a surprise from there.  Congratulations to Jean, aka my mom, the lovely winner of a coco-lele as seen on the right of this video.  Surpriiiiiise!  A cocolele is like a ukulele, but it has three halved coconuts on the back side.  They played this little number and then when we said, "we'll take it!" an encore of Rock Around the Clock was played.  I love that kind of enthusiasm.  Velmer (if you listen to the video) was our driver/tour guide and.....hula dancer on the side.  They were a fun group of peeps.  I just hung up on the phone with Jean.  A little history; she has been playing the guitar since 3rd grade.  She owns all sorts of stringed instruments and teaches guitar lessons today.  However, I learned tonight that she is taking lessons again to learn how to play "lead."  Here's what she's working on at the moment-Proud Mary, Come Together and my favorite- Crazy Train.   If you saw my mom walking down the street, she is probably the last person you would expect to know the lead guitar part for Crazy Train.....and that's why we love her.  Can't wait to give this to you!   Hugs   :-) Candie

P.S. It's back to school tomorrow to teach the high school kids how to do wire wrapped found object pendants.  I've got to get to bed!  Stay tuned for pics tomorrow!

You have to see....

Lars and the Real Girl.  We were absolutely clueless about this film when we put it into the DVD player yesterday afternoon.  I can't tell you how much we enjoyed it!  To quote, Botch, "it had everything you like about a good book."  An endearing story with brilliant actors---the family gives it four thumbs and two paws up.

Links and such...

Wooo, I love a man in beads!  What is it with me and these random mannequin pictures?!?  We made it to Hong Kong yesterday.  After our errands, we spent the day goofing off.  We shopped for clothes, went to the book store, and had time to spare before catching the 6 o'clock ferry so we headed for Hollywood Rd, an excellent little street that has fine art galleries and antiques.  I ended up with some great kitsch---mahjong tile bracelets, coins and old postcards for my Ch!na photo album cover.  It was such a fun day, I didn't want to come home...except to see Rocker. Here's some faboo Linkoos from the bead bloggers.  Enjoy! About.com Jewelry Making  Learn to "make it yours" from this latest issue of Make It Mine magazine. You'll find lots of crafty goodness including some fun jewelry articles, one even from our very own bead buddy, Candie Cooper!
Art Bead Scene  Is it time to get organized? Art Bead Scene has storage ideas to help you get organized.
Jennifer Jangles Blog  Jennifer shows two bright and fabulous projects featured in Simply Beads this month.
Jewelry & Beading  Glass bead curtains?? Come and see Denise Perreault's sun-catching masterpieces!
Katie's Beading Blog  Bead embroidery doesn't have to be hard! Check out Katie's embellished felt flower. It's just right for spring!
Naughty Secretary Club  Win a free copy of the spring issue of Make It Mine Magazine that includes painting projects by Jen’s younger sister Hope Perkins!
Savvy Crafter  It's a plane! No! It' a Felty Bird just in time to hang out on your spring jacket.
Snap out of it , Jean! There's beading to be done!  I had such a good time with Naomi Fujimoto that I wanted to repost our story of our trip to NYC!
The Impatient Blogger