THANKS MOLLY!!!

Molly Alexander http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/ has honored me with a "Brilliant Weblog" award. I'm truly excited and humbled to be mentioned with such talented artists and bloggers. Thank you, Molly. You are kind and generous.
Now I get to choose 7 other bloggers to nominate for the award. Not an easy task as there are so many talented and wonderful artists whose blogs I enjoy regularly. But here goes:

• Stacie Florer http://stacieflorer.typepad.com/nomadic_creations/


• Jessica Moreau-Berry http://sweetpeas.motime.com/


• Deryn Mentock http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/something_sublime_from_th/


• Sharon Thomlinson http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com/


• Lynn Davis http://z-llyynn.blogspot.com/
  
• Jen Worden http://www.jenworden.com/


• Jen Crossley http://amarkintime.blogspot.com/

The Rules:
Put the "Brilliant Weblog" logo on your blog
Add a link to the person who awarded you

Nominate at least 7 other blogs

Add links to those blogs on yours

Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

And be sure to check out the artists that I've nominated--you will be amazed by their talent....

Other Stuff

Our town had an "Arts Walk" over the week-end. It was so very hot out and I think that it kept many people at home. By Saturday evening when it was all over, I'd have to say that I was "well done" and over cooked. First thing my hubby and I did was drive through McDonald's and order LARGE ice cream cones to enjoy on the way home. Then at home the ice packs came out of the freezer directly to my head and feet. Ahhhh~~~that felt good.

I still enjoy doing the shows. With the price of gas I stick close to home though. I'm looking forward to the ones that are in the Fall. My favorite time of the year.

Here are some pictures of my set-up

#1 and #8

Here I am with more to add to Deryn's Summer Jewelry Challenge. Finally got around to #1.

For this one I used copper,silver and brass. The copper piece at the front was flame colored and I added some eyelets, however, I have the back side of the eyelets showing to the front~~~ they remind me of little flowers like that. Next is a textured piece of silver~~~then the brass piece.

I'm loving the way this one turned out. I used some homemade tools on it to get the design. I hammered wire into it to get the spirals. Then, accented the spirals using a nail and a hole punch. Then I worked from the back with a small dowel to get the raised effect. Instead of a bead at the top of the bail I used a small gear that spins.

The neck chain is steel and copper that I formed then flame colored. Then I did # 8~~~ two of them.

Didn't have a watch to use so I made a center piece using the same technique that I did on the brass piece of #1. The rest is made with sterling silver,hammered and an eyelet added and hammered and flame colored brass. All connected with sterling silver jump rings.

This one is copper and brass and sterling connecting it all. The center piece reminds me of a Yin and Yang symbol.

The challenge is helping me stretch myself. Sometimes I get stuck in a certain mode that doesn't let me try new things or go beyond my comfort zone. Doing this is giving me that boost that I need to do the techniques that I haven't done in a long time.

For this I'm grateful. Thanks Deryn.

Project # 2 Of Deryn's Challenge

I had a blast making these! I used flame colored copper, then I crimped it and folded it. Copper wire was used for the wrap and copper beads are hanging inside. The brass rose beads on the top are from some old, old jewelry that I had in my stash. I made the ear wires from GF 21 Ga wire. After I assembled everything I decided the folded copper would look better if I filed the high spots of the crimps and polished them a bit.

I like the aged look that they have.

Deryn's Challenge

Here are my entries for Deryn's summer challenge. I started with #3. Don't know why, but that one really called to me. In fact, I did two different ones.

I etched both brass pieces first. Then hammered the "shelf" so it would have texture when I folded them over. The shorter piece has some Swarovski crystals and Lapis Lazuli. I "repurposed" some beads from jewelry that I had in the 80's. Days of big hair and chunky earrings. Looking back I can't believe that I ever thought that looked good.

The other longer piece has glass pearls, FW pearls and a stick pearl. The circle hanging at the bottom is a textured copper washer. Both neck chains are made of annealed steel wire.

Here are Paige and Suzi one evening on our deck after catching lightening bugs to use as a night light. After Suzi's visit, I'll recover a bit first, then I plan on doing more pieces for Deryn's challenge.