December Component of the month Reveal: The Labyrinth
Today is the big day for the Art Jewelry Elements component of the month reveal. I am very late posting my piece because I overslept. Way overslept. Because I spent hours making this thing (with breaks for meals and when some friends came over….) and got to bed around 3am. We each started with one [...]
Macro vs zoom lens
A few days ago I mentioned one of my two Christmas presents was a macro lens. Yes, I am pretty excited about the possibilities. So I tried it out. I took photos of the same bead. First, the old zoom lens (28-135mm). It was zoomed in all the way with the lens as close as [...]
Super Easy Super Yummy Recipe Revamp
You know those Hershey’s kisses in multiple flavors you picked up for 50% off the day after Christmas? (or later…because those things seem to hang around forever) It’s time to make them even better. Because I was SO unorganized this year, I missed out on buying Rolos. I still don’t understand why those things disappear [...]
A Day of Peace and Rest
There are certain moments…peaceful, that you forget until you are in the moment once again. The day after Christmas is one of those. The last week has been a blur. A good sort of blur filled with family and fun, my kid coming home from school for 3 weeks, my baby sister home for a [...]
Spare Tools
A couple months ago I was trying to problem solve, in writing, how to set up a 2nd studio at our lake house that didn’t cost a ridiculous amount of money or drive me to drink. I am slooooowly working through that problem, but I might still drink anyway. Just because I love a glass [...]
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Looking for my Ornament Blog Hop post? Click the link or scroll down to the next post. This weekend was the big ornament exchange reveal blog hop (hosted and organized by Sally Russick). I gave a sneak peek of the ornament I made for Sandi Volpe, but didn’t do any more than that because I [...]
Christmas Ornament Blog Hop
The talented Sally Russick is hosting her 2nd annual Ornament Exchange today. I was paired with Sandi Volpe, who sent me the most gorgeous ornament! In fact, when I opened it, I was horrified because she sent me this gorgeous, elegant ornament, and I sent her….well…I guess you’ll have to see what she posts about [...]
Advent Calendar for the “Away from Home” Students
As I've mentioned before, my baby boy went off to boarding school for high school this year. One of the big traditions in our family is the advent calendar, which is a cabinet with small numbered doors. I add things in each compartment for each day. I start by adding the Playmobil nativity set pieces [...]
Got Copper Sheet Scraps? A Tutorial on Creating your own Components from Scraps
If you've got scrap copper like the piece above….or even totally different than the piece above, or if you don't have any, it's time to make something so you do have some. Then check out the tutorial I wrote up on Art Jewelry Elements on how to torture upcycle your metal into an interesting [...]
Rejects make me mad, but bring joy to others
Conversation with my mom (who is the power of attorney for one of the residents at the nursing home where she works): Mom: I was wondering if you could make a necklace for Jane* with one of your reject beads. Nothing fancy. Me: I’m offended you think I ever make ugly beads! Mom: That’s not [...]
