What to do at the Fair, Eat of Course!

Today was our last volunteer day at the fair in the Hobby Hall. This time I remembered to take the camera and now you can enjoy the fair with me.

It was a rainy day but it didn't stop us from walking around and eating some of the treats they had to offer.

Enjoy your evening, I'm off to enjoy a little TV for the night.

Creating Art

Have you ever felt in just one of those moods? I haven't been in the mood to make jewelry lately..I know it will come again and I made so many gem trees in the last month that I don't want to see them for a little while. So, now I go to my studio (you notice that when I create art I now call it my studio) and paint, collage, cut and ultimately just make a mess but sometimes I do end up with Art.

I joined an Artists Trading Card group to get me back into art and painting and so far love, love, love it. When I join a swap, it forces me to create. I know a lot of people can't create that way but sometimes I need the little push. The first swap was called "Tiki Party", how appropriate for the end of Summer and I just finished today my "Native American Design" cards. All of these cards are original paintings, watercolor pencil or pen/ink. Now to get them all in the mail to the swap host. I'll share the cards I get in return from the swap when they arrive in October.

6/6 "Tiki Party" swap cards

3/3 "Native American Design" swap cards (the large circle one is not part of the swap)

I did make a couple other cards just for fun today.

Since my studio is such a mess, maybe I'll make more art later this week. No reason to clean it up if I'm just going to get it messy again.

Tomorrow we are off to the Western Washington State Fair to volunteer for a few hours in the Hobby Hall for the gem and mineral club we belong to. If you live in Washington and you haven't been to the fair yet, you really need to go soon as Sunday is the last day.

What a Show

Just back from demonstrating at a rock and mineral show in Castle Rock, Washington. Fun time even though it rained buckets and we had a few worries about whether or not we would be able to get the bus out of the muddy lot where we parked for the weekend. We made it out fine and even came out a little ahead in money we took in. Here is a picture of my little space in the demonstrators room. I had one table for hubby and me to demonstrate and another one to show/sell trees and supplies.

The best thing about demonstrating at the gem and mineral shows is meeting all the wonderful people and sharing your love of the hobby.  As a demonstrator we are not charged for our table space as we are required to demonstrate and teach over the weekend and in turn we get to sell what we make. What a deal and what fun. The other hobbies being demonstrated were wire wrapping, silversmithing, faceting, cabbing and mineral identification. My next gem and mineral show demonstration for gem trees will be at the Bellevue Gem Show next month. I'll share more about that later.

In other news, I mentioned this Summer that I was involved in the Diary 2011 Project and now that project is almost ready and they are taking orders for the diaries. I still have yet to get my order in but I know what my friends and family are getting for Christmas presents. Here is where you can check it out and order if you wish.

I have lots more to share but this night is getting along and I'm ready for a rest after such a busy weekend. Until tomorrow.

A Little More Art

Today I decided to work on art. Not just any art but Art Cards. I am so fascinated with these little works of art. They are called ACEO's, which stand for Art Cards, Editions & Originals. They are only 2.5" x 3.5" the size of a trading card (like baseball or even playing cards). In fact, I used an old deck of playing cards for the base of my little pieces of art. Some of them I finished awhile ago but had never mounted so it was play around day....get those mounted and work on a couple more. I still have yet to figure out what to do with them once I finish. Should I join a swap/trade group, sell them or just keep them and if I keep them how do I display them. Oh well, I can figure all that out later, now I'm just happy to have some free time to play around with them.

These are the finished ones.

These are the ones that are still a work on progress or need to be mounted.

All of my cards have an acrylic base coat or two with a design and then other elements added on top except for the black card with the red paint. I like it so well I will probably leave it as is.

I found a lot of other cool ACEO's on ArtFire and made a collection to share with you. If you want to find out more about that piece of art or artist, just click on that picture.

ACEO Joy

  Curated By: danasjewelryd...

ArtFire.com

Cool ArtFire Feature

I just found this new feature in ArtFire called Collections. So neat to create a collection of items for sale with a common theme. I know, I'm behind the times...they've probably had it for ages and I just have been behind the times. My collection for the week gives tribute to the Sapphire which is the September birthstone.

Sapphires for September

  Curated By: danasjewelryd...

ArtFire.com

So many talented jewelry designer on ArtFire. These are all handmade jewelry pieces with natural sapphires. Click on any of the photos to view that item or purchase.

Trash to Treasure Contest Entry

I have never entered a contest with any of my designs just challenges. The difference? Challenges may or may not result in a prize if you win and then it may just be a random drawing on not one based upon your design whereas a contest always has some prize and is based upon the design you submit. So, I decided to do it. Happy Mango Beads was hosting their Trash to Treasure contest and I went for it. I had an idea for a piece to make with some previous used leather scraps and left over bits and pieces of chain and here is what I came up with.

I call this Elegant Biker. I don't know the leather and rivets reminded me of something a biker would wear and all the chain and rhinestone button added a touch of elegance. The Laugh charm I just had to add for a bit of whimsy and to remind us and those around us to laugh at ourselves every once in a while.

If you want to check out the contest, head over to Happy Mango Beads. You can still enter in one of the categories until 9/15.

Have a great day.

A Featured Tutorial - Wrap Bracelet by Ruby Mines

Remember this bracelet that I made back in August that was one of my Look for Less postings? Here is the link if you want to refresh your memory. http://danasjewelrydesign.blogspot.com/2010/08/look-for-less-or-is-it-more.html. Well I found a tutorial to make this exact bracelet based upon the original one by Chan Luu.

My version $10.00

Chan Luu for $295.00

Ruby Mines $15.00

Check out Robin's tutorial to make her version of this wonderful leather and bead wrap bracelet.

Having a great weekend, how about you?

Art Bead Scene Challenge for September

I feel so bad that I didn't get my challenge piece completed for the August challenge that I stepped it up this month to finish early. Here is our challenge piece.

It is called Persia by George Barbier (1882-1932). I wanted to capture that sense of lightness with a touch of the exotic. Here is the piece I am submitting. I originally thought I would make some of the lace tree fronds but found this chain maile chain in copper that evokes that same feeling.

I just lucked out in finding some of the most perfect copper charms that are butterflies and flowers that match the flowers of the woman's dress. The glass art beads (blue and white with a reddish orange background and the reddish orange glass beads) were made by Kathy Lowe of All Fired Up Glass Beads. I decided at the last minute that the copper really didn't give the same orange feeling as the woman's dress so I added the carnelian briolettes for a little more color. I really like this piece and it's going to be hard to put it up for sale....humm maybe I'll keep it around for awhile.

If you are interested in participating in the monthly challenges you can check out the Art Bead Scene blog by clicking on the icon in the right hand column and then just go to Current Monthly Challenge.

Have a great Labor Day weekend and play safe.

Friendships Last a Lifetime

Well with school starting up I feel like I've missed Summer. Not that I'm in school or even planning on taking any classes it really shouldn't matter but apparently it does. For as long as I can remember school starting was the end of Summer and the beginning of a new year. Now 30 years later it still appears that I think school starting is the end of a very long vacation when in fact I should be feeling that I'm always on vacation. It must be that we were so busy this Summer and I lost track of time.....yea that's it.

Well I've kind of digressed from where I wanted this post to go so I'll start over.

With all the kids starting back to school this month, along comes all the new friends they will be making. Of all the things I miss from being in school, it is the making of new friends and getting reacquainted with old friends that we missed all Summer. I do make new friends all the time through my crafts and blogging but the web really doesn't make friends does it? Is it the same type of friendship as those we had when we were working or going to school? I don't think so, but here for those kiddy's that are going to school and those adults that want a remembrance of new friendships and old, here is a great take on a friendship bracelet based upon a designer bracelet. The tutorial is by Kirsten Gail of Studs and Pearls. She has it posted on Craftster.

I love the mix of chain and thread although I can see using ribbon or leather for this look also. Humm I have lots of leftover leather and tons of chain, I may have to try that out.

Have a good day all and remember friends and keep those friendships alive. Call someone, have lunch, go shopping or send them a letter via snail mail. They will appreciate it and you.