Gearing Up For The Scott County Art Crawl

I work well under stress!

Tom and I are selling our house.  We are moving to the lake and at the same time I am getting ready for 

The Scott County Art Crawl.

I am also rehabbing my arm from frozen shoulder syndrome after having Hydroplasty.  I have never been very good at taking care of myself properly and I suppose that will never change.  

So in-between playing painter and cleaning lady I get to find some jewelry desk time.  One thing is certain my creative juices keep flowing despite the stress level or pain.  They have a mind of their own and ask to be created.

This latest design of mine has been brewing for nearly a year.  Not sure why it has taken this long for me to finally give it it's due course.

What I can say about this design is this.  They are long, sexy and very earthy.  I do more classic pieces also and always have them for sale in my show but I do really love earthy jewelry.  I am still at a bit of a quandary as what style to call them.  I would love to entertain your thoughts on the matter.

I have also slipped in a few new bracelets into the mix.  

More designs will be coming this week.  A very good start to 

The Scott County Art Crawl.  

October 5th, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. 

 In my home.  I am number 19 on the Art Crawl Map.  I will have maps at my home so you can visit the many artists in the Scott County area.

Looking for some of my art bead components.  You can find them here.

Donna Millard Art Glass

Outwest

Scorched Earth

Angel Whisperer

I also purchase many of my stones from

Dakota Stones.

Hope to see you at the Crawl!!!!!

Helga Gets a Makeover

Meet Helga, my ratty old bust.  

  

She was covered with all this ugly blue fabric. 

I bought Helga a few years ago at my local thrift store for $20.00.  I have seen old busts go for $500.  I was not really loving the blue fabric on it.  I remember seeing some photographs of busts with a craypaper look....old and ratty.  They looked like mine so today I thought I would see what Helga was really made of.

Reminds me to never judge a book by its cover.  

She is a beauty...yup full of water stains, rust, missing screws, and she has a lovely pose (lopsided) but she is a highly sought after item by jewelry artists for displays and photography.

She Does Bite !!!!!!

 Good thing my Tetanus is updated.

So I thought I would try her out.  Not sure these are the best photos but a start.  Will have to figure out the best backdrop to take photos with her.

My latest creation from some of my purchases at the 

Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee.

This is a layered necklace.  Can be worn individually or together.  Choker & Long Necklace.

Made with some earthy green & brown ceramic beads that are chunky.  Some wavy chips that I bent, copper fish and Swarovski Crystals.

I Think Helga Approves!!!!

Looky Looky I Made The Front Cover Of Bead Chat Magazine

I joined a Facebook group of jewelry artists a little over a year ago called Artisan Whimsy.  This group started on facebook and has since then also started a Ning Group and now began putting out this lovely magazine you see below. Link just below.

Bead Chat Magazine

It is full of fabulous eye candy, education, inspirational stories on artist and artisan component sellers.

My favorite part about this group is the friends I have made.  I now have 100's of beading friends across the world!!!!!  They are supportive and have taught me so many things.  I credit this group for encouraging me to become published for the first time and for expanding my skills.

It was very exciting to head to my group one morning to see what everyone was up to (one of my daily activities) and to my surprise I see my earrings made the front cover!

Thank you Artisan Whimsy Team......I know how much work this magazine has been!

These earrings are made with some lovely components by Scorched Earth on Etsy.

They also gave in a lovely 2 page spread with my Scorched Earth Earrings and my Chunky Pearl Statement Necklaces.

I love the interview they did with Heidi Kingman.....she is one of my new friends that I made through The Artisan Group.  She is inspiring as she is always educating herself and trying new things.  She really puts what she learns to work.  She is amazing technically!

Thank you Artisan Whimsy for using me on the front cover and inspiring me to become more!!!!