Something Simple Rustic and Earthy

Copper and Opal LOVE Pendant Handmade Metal Stamped Textured Rustic Pendant

This one would make a nice little stocking stuffer if you have a loved one who likes an earthy and rustic look.  Click HERE to check it out in my Etsy shop, or, as always, you can click on the picture.

Handmade hammered metal stamped LOVE pendant. The O in love is a small oval opal. This is a c grade opal and does not have any flash, however, it is a beautiful milky white. The pendant was hand cut from a sheet of copper metal. The letters were hand stamped and I made the bezel to fit the opal cab.

The pendant has been oxidized and has a very earthy, rustic look.

The pendant is a hair over 1 1/2 inches long.

Jewlery Supplies From JewelryCatSupplies

I am going to be sharing some other shops from both Etys and Artfire and possibly other places as well.  I have made some really good friends on line, and as a member of several different teams, and I wanted to share some the wonderful finds I have come across in their various shops.

Today, I am going to share some things from JewelryCatSupplies shop.  Like many of us, she also makes jewelry, but that will be a post for another day. 

One of my favorite things to look (and drool) over, is her lovely collection of leather cord.  She has a great collection of colors, sizes and lengths.  I am particularly fond of the turquoise myself lol. You can find all of her goodies in her shop JewelryCatSupplies.

 

She also has a wonderful supply of silver charms that make a great addition to almost any project!  Check out these whale tail charms!  I just love these!










Here is another great color for some jewelry or craft projects.

Are You Losing Facebook Fan Views?

Many of us who have a fan page on Facebook have noticed that the amount of fans that are seeing our posts (fans that many of us paid facebook to advertise for), the fans who signed up to see our posts, has been dropping dramatically.  I am currently at a bit over 3000 fans.  My posts to those 3000 fans are being seen, on average, by about 100 of them.  Less than 1%!!!!!  Facebook now wants me to pay them AGAIN to put my posts in front of the fans that I already paid to advertise for.

Here is a fantastic post that explains it much better than I can.  

DANGEROUS MINDS


 I will be doing far more with google+ from here on out instead of facebook.  The only effective way to make it clear to Facebook that we will not pay for this is to take our money and clicks and go somewhere else.

A Visit To the Park

We never know what we are going to see when we head to the park.  I have to say this is the first time I have ever seen someone practicing their tight rope walking skills.  It was really cool, and he was quite good!

Best Buds

I think the picture says it all lol!

I Love What I Do!

You know, every time I think I can't enjoy what I do any more than I already do, I sit down at the torch and realize that yes, I can enjoy it more lol.  Part of the joy of  making lampwork beads for me is that I find it very relaxing, it takes me to a different place and all of my energy is directed at the torch and watching how the glass flows and figuring out how to make it do what I want it to do.  Its that place where time kind of stops because you are so IN the moment.  Helps me keep my sanity lol!  As always if you would like to purchase this pretty set of periwinkle blue etched beads, simply click on the picture.

Heart Necklace Handmade Lampwork Glass Heart Necklace Copper Bronze Green Beaded

I really struggled with what to do with this particular heart bead.  I finally chose to pair it with faceted copper metallic beads and softer, pale green serpentine beads.  Here is the result!  I was qite happy with the way it turned out.  The metallic copper beads pic up the metallic look of the heart bead and serpentine softens it just enough. To see more about this necklace just click on the picture.

For The Music Lover

I just wanted to share this cute pair of earrings.  I have designed these clef note earrings and various variations in necklace form for a while now but I figured I would share them since these make a great Christmas stocking stuffer fore the music lovers out there.  You can purchase these by clicking on the pictures or clicking HERE.

Got My Metal Smithing Table Back!

I have not had access to my meta smithing space for about 9 months.  I had an unexpected "guest" take over my work space. ( My work spaces are divided into separate areas, so there isn't any cross contamination).  My son (who's room is very small) decided he needed to move the cage to the basement.  Unfortunately, my work table was the only flat surface that was big enough and stable enough to put the cage on.  I finally got enough space cleared that I could move the cage and reclaim my space.  I am very excited to be getting back into the metal smithing!

Here is the culprit. Pretty, isn't he?

Awesome Customers!

Just wanted to show this great pair of earrings made by one of my customers who bought some lampwork beads from me.  I love to see what people make from my beads, its usually very different than what I would think of, so its really fun to see the different interpretations people make.  And these are gorgeous!  You can find this pretty pair of earrings in her shop on Artfire.  Just click on the link or on the picture of the earrings.
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   From ShadowDogDesigns

 These are the beads.  If you are interested in beads just click on my etsy bead shop on the right

New Designs!

I have been really struggling with the flu the last couple of weeks.  No time to slow down, which means its taking longer to get well than I would like.  Despite the struggle I did manage to squeeze some creating time in.  I am introducing a line of glass rings into the jewelry shop.  These are fun and different and will come in a wide range of colors and designs, although each one will be one of a kind and unique.  Currently, they are available in a size 6, although I will be ordering the mandrels to make a size 5 and a size 7 ring.  If there is enough interest in other sizes I will consider ordering more mandrels in other sizes also.  Here is an example of a simple ring with a geometric dot design.

 If glass rings aren't your thing, I also have a variety of more traditional rings, like this pretty copper and red wire wrapped ring.  The wire wrapped rings come in a wider variety of sizes that the glass rings, although each one is also unique, and one of a kind.

    
I also have a small line of the more traditional metal smithed rings.  I will be adding to this line in the future, but for now, what I have listed is all I have left (we are working on re organizing my metal smithing space, currently, I have a 6 foot snake in a cage occupying most of my metal table). 


If you would like to purchase one of these rings or take a look at what rings are available you can either click on the pictures, which will take you directly to that listing or you can go to my Etsy shop and visit the rings section.

Speaking of Fall

Speaking of fall, these beads have wonderful rustic fall tones and can be found in my etsy shop.

Signs of Fall

When you start to see all of the boats being covered and brought into dry dock, you know that fall is right around the corner. 

My Supervisor

This is my unofficial supervisor and spell check guy.  He really, really wanted to be in my lap,
but his butt kept scrolling the mouse, so he was relegated to the supervisory position on the pillow next to me lol.

Tomatos

Considering how hot and dry it has been around here up til the last couple of weeks I am amazed that this tomato plant did as well as it has.  This baby is almost as tall as I am!

Sleeping Dragon

Is it just me or does this look incredibly uncomfortable?  I think cat's are like babies, they can sleep anywhere, and in any position lol.  And yes, his name is Dragon. 

Glow in the Dark Eyes

I was a wee bit startled the other night when I let the dogs go out before bed.  Fortunately, I had my camera handy and our boy Blackjack has just recently passed his 14th birthday so he isn't super fast going up and down the stairs anymore.  I almost took a jump backward he startled me so bad with the glowing eye thing going on!  His eyes are usually a beautiful ice blue.  Not so much in this picture!

From the Garden

Its been a tough year as far as the garden goes.  It was really a fight to keep things watered enough that they wouldn't shrivel up and die.  This was one of the successes.  This particular plant has about 12-15 of these massive blooms on it and has been flowering for two months now.  It was a gift from my neighbor.

Words of Wisdom

This really brings home the fact that if you you shouldn't give up!

p.s.  You don't have to share if you agree lol.

Adventures With The US Postal Service

So, I have shipped a lot of packages over the last 5 years.  I've always been very pleased with the USPS and haven't had any trouble with lost or damaged packages. Imagine my surprise when I had not one, but two packages go missing from the same facility within two days of each other.  Most of the packages I send get to their destination within the US in two or three days, occasionally,  a week.  (International is a whole different ballgame, time wise, but I digress).  After three weeks I called my post office to find out what happened to my packages. And let me just tell you, wading through the automated system made my blood pressure go up.  I finally got a hold of my local post office.  Once I actually spoke to a real person, they were very good about trying to track things down and keep me informed.  After another two weeks went by, the first customer contacted me to let me know that his bead had arrived (I had sent a replacement several weeks prior, which got to him in three days) Hurray!  One mystery solved, I'm happy, he's happy (he now has two beads instead of one lol).  The second package was still missing.  My customer and I had come to a satisfactory resolution since we had simply assumed that they were gone for good.  She contacted me this week with some surprising news.  The package had arrived!  She sent me a picture of what it looked like when she received it. Amazingly enough, the beads themselves are fine.  Thank goodness I tend to err on the side of caution when packaging my items!  She said that every single bubble on the bubble wrap they were wrapped in was popped.  There were insects smooshed into the packaging.  The best part is, the post office stamped it as damaged when recieved.  Bwahahahaha!  Really?  I know it didn't leave my hands looking like that, so I am pretty sure that stamp should say "damaged by the post office".
All is well that ends well though, and the beads are fine, customer is happy and I am  sooo relieved that the finally showed up (two months later!).

Lunch at the Winery

Well, its been a busy week, not to mention scorching hot.  Add some heavy duty thunderstorms to that and well, I am shocked to realize a small part of me is wishing for fall!
 Things have been so hectic with my last kid graduating from highschool, and now looking at two kids in college, the grad party, a new work schedule for my husband, I haven't had much time to do anything fun with friends

This is the view from our spot on the wrap around porch.

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Anyway, my friend Laura and I (we've been friends for 33 years!  Since junior high in fact lol), decided to spend the day together.  We headed out to the gym first then ran home, changed clothes and headed for the Wolf Creek Winery.   Not only do they have a nice variety of home grown wine, and
carry a nice variety of sweet fruity wine (which is the only kind I really like lol). they have a wonderful big wooden porch and they allow you to bring your own picnic food. (You can buy crackers and cheese etc from the also if you are in the mood)  So we gathered up our food and took off to the winery.  It was a bit humid (i.e. sticky and hot) but sitting under the roof on the porch with a bit of a breeze blowing was rather nice.  In case anyone is interested, besides the yummy wine (We settled on one called White Lies) we also had cheese and crackers, a delicious salad with tons of veggies and crab salad to add.  For desert, we had yogurt and fruit cups with fruit yogurt, blueberries, mangos and strawberries.  YUM! (and guilt free I might add!).  Every time we go, we say to each other, 'we need to this more often".  And we do. Need to do it more often.
 On a side note, if you like wine and you have lots of parties,
 I sell wine charms in my Etsy shop.  I will be contacting the appropriate
 people at the winery and see if they might be interested in carrying some of them in their winery.  Wish me luck!    

Busted!

What do you mean I'm not allowed on the dining room table!

Fine!  I'm leaving!

Our animals are not allowed to be on the dining room table.  Obviously, our cat Dragon has not read the memo lol!  After 10 years, he should know better!

The Garden

I love gardening.  Unfortunately the last couple of years have been so busy my garden was sadly neglected. (wish I had thought to take some before pictures lol).  So this year, while its still busy at my house, I decided that I was going to clean up the garden and whip the back yard back into shape.  I roto tilled a nice little spot for a vegetable and herb garden, fenced it off and weeded and planted all the beds along the fence and the garage. And then it hit the upper 90's with a bit of 100 degree weather thrown in for the fun of it.  My garden is struggling, despite the fact that my water bill has gone way up trying to keep everything alive!  There are some bright spots in the garden, this corner is doing very well.  And the weather is supposed to drop out of the 90's to a more reasonable mid 80's today and for the next couple of weeks.  I might actually get the rest of the garden up to par!

Big Hole Beads For European Charm Bracelets

Charm Bead Blue Green Sea Glass Dreadlock Bead
For those of you who didn't know, I do make big hole beads, just like you can find at the mall only mine are much less expensive.  I also make all of mine in my home studio.  They are properly cleaned and kiln annealed to help reduce the stress on the glass. (of course, it is still glass, and you shouldn't be taking a hammer to them and expecting them not to break lol!)





European Charm Bead Purple Skies
As you can see, some of them are cored and some of them are not. I have etched beads that mimic sea glass and I have shiny beads with lots of colors. 





  Turquoise Silver Big Hole Bead             
The turquoise one here has droplets of fine silver circling the bead.
I will be adding more beads in more colors to my Etsy shop on a regular basis.  Many of the uncored beads work really well with dreadlocks also.

 If you are interested in seeing more please click on one of the links to the beads or visit my Etsy shop, SilverRiverGlassworks.

Summit Nationals Drag Racing Norwalk Ohio

My husband goes to the races for the Nationals every year with a group of buddies.  This year, he finally took his camera lol.  So, I thought I would share some of the photos he took.  These were taken while the race was in progress (except for the one with the guys pushing the car lol)  so these cars were going at a very high rate of speed.  I'm so glad my husband picked up his camera again!