Harbor Freight Washers~Gotta Love 'Em!

Harbor Freight copper washers are so nice!  Cheap, stampable, etchable.  And it is much easier to drag your husband to Harbor Freight rather than your local bead store!

Happy Birthday my sweet friend Dianne.

New Tool~~Riveting System from Beaducation

Got a new tool in the mail on Friday~~Riveting tool from Beaducation.  First try this afternoon.  Golly is it easy!  I've been riveting the old-school way for years.  This was a piece of cake. 

I LOVE new tools!

Have a wonderful week, all my friends.

Birthday Present

My lovely goddaughter Kate had a birthday last week~~

October seems like such a fun month for a birthday, doesn't it?  Pretty weather, pumpkins, harvest times, and a minute to reflect before the busy holiday times. 
Have a happy day, my friends!

Make Your Mark Etching Class

October 13, 2012 "Make Your Mark" Etching Class at Benicia Beads.

What a fun group!!!  The class was only 3 hours, though we hung around longer and Carol, the shop owner had to remind us that it was over.  

Maria, Kathryn & Diane started cutting metal  See how safety-conscious they were?  All were wearing their sexy safety glasses. 

  After learning about filings, sanding, resists and ferric chloride, the gals created way cool metal charms.  And they surprised themselves with the results.  Using Sharpie markers and/or rubber stamps, they etched their design into the copper or brass, then antiqued their piece with stinky liver of sulfur.  Whew!  Did we laugh about the smell!

Kathryn's pieces~~

Maria's work~~

Diana's creations~~

Their teacher had fun too!  

And I thank Carol & Grace at Benicia Beads for the lovely full-o-treasures store, their assistance to set up  & take down, and their support and enthusiasm!  You gals ROCK!

Etching Class "Make Your Mark"

Going to be a fun afternoon~ I'm privileged to teach at Benicia Beads this afternoon.  4 students, cool techniques, fun fun creative fun!  
Hope your weekend is blessed.  I need to make some coffee and get organized!  Perhaps I should change out of my pajamas?? :-)

Richard Salley~Art Is You~Petaluma 2012! Woo hoozie!

"Lasting Impressions" Class with the one-and-only Richard Salley!  I signed up in February.  Then, it seemed quite far away.  I was wrong.

There is Richard and the lovely Jessica Papke.  Each step was explained.  There were transferring, etching & torching stations around the room. 

We asked lots of questions.  Richard was quite patient.

Proof that I took the class and met Richard!  He's wearing one of his "Shadow Cowboy" shirts.  

Jessica Papke.  My new heroine.  Patient.  Eased us through the scariness of the little propane and oxygen torch.  I'm so grateful to her, because it was so very daunting to me.   

I stamped this on this backplate the night before the class.  I was so very tired, and  was quite tempted to wuss out and not really try.   With the help of my encouraging teachers, I was brave.  And I had the funnest day.  :-)

Jewelry for Spain~~

The pieces I brought to Spain~~

We'd been planning our Spain Trip for a long time.  Jenn and Paco's wedding celebration was May 26, 2012 at Alcala de Henares, just outside of Madrid.  Family and friends would be gathering to celebrate the happy day. 

Gifts of Jewelry!  Just the ticket to make the visit more fun~  I worked steadily for some months before we left.  Snippets of time, in between the day job and obligations.  And tah dahhhh!here's the collection.  Memories of smiles and thanks~~what an amazing time!  

Good to be back, though.  This life at home is a blessing to me~~I'm a lucky gal.