Charmitas Class was FUN!

It started so quietly.  All set up and waiting for 1:00.

Shazzam!! Look at them goooooo!  Ideas and techniques and cool beads and problem-solving FUN!

Starting at the lower left corner and clockwise around: Pattie, Sue T., Peter, Julie, Sarah and Sue S.

Sarah is engrossed in her challenging pieces while Carol and Sue S. chat.

Rosemary is sooo ambitious to make lots of pieces.  See her wonderful necklace??  She took home lots of cut out copper to finish in her own workspace.

Pattie always smiling, always working.  LOVE her Hawaiian shirt!  And Sue T. and Peter quietly focused on their pieces.

Julie and Sarah's pieces.....Julie had the most luminous piece of labradorite...this picture doesn't capture how mystical it was...AND Sarah brought this amazing Shark's tooth!!!! Sarah always has to do something different.

Sue T's cool pieces.  She called the left one "Crystals in Bondage".  :-)  Sue is an accomplished silversmith. I was honored that she took my class.  And I hope I can take one of hers when she teaches at Benicia Beads.

Peter, our lone guy created some really different funkified pieces.  He does kumihomo (hope I spelled that right) and plans on using that technique to make a necklaces for his pendants.

RATS! my camera died and I never got any pictures of Rosemary's or Sue W's or Pattie's work. They were amazing. Wish y'all could have been there!

I'm Teaching Tomorrow....holding a big box of Kleenex!

"Charmitas"

This is an example for the class I'm teaching tomorrow at Benicia Beads.  It should be fun!  BUT I've got the most amazing allergies right now.  I'm taking meds and eating local honey and using the Neti Rinse thingy and I feel like a sleepy-cloggy-head-zonked person.

I will hang onto my Kleenex box at class tomorrow.

I hope I don't fall asleep while teaching! lol

Have an amazing weekend!  Stay awake more than I do!  :-)

"Those Who Wait on the Lord Shall Find New Strength

Made a new pendant this Saturday.

Picasso Leopard Jasper, Turquoise and Moonstone.

Stamped, punched & wired.  Copper with a bit of silver.

"Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth?  He never grows faint or weary.  No one can measure the depths of his understanding.  He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak.  Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.  But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.  They will fly high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint."  

Isaiah 40: 28-31

One of my very favorite Bible passages.  I frequently get tired, both mentally and physically.  I look to God to fill me and renew me, so I can be the servant I was meant to be.

Have a blessed week!

 My friend Angie asked for a piece for a dear friend, a woman who is a new follower of Jesus.  She wanted it to encourage her.  

Brass, copper, aluminum rivet and dyed chalcedony.

Stamped and wired and ready to send~~

It's been a day full of worship and thanking God for His Son.  And an afternoon of finishing up this piece.  

My wonderful husband is making me dinner~~oh yum!


Wishes for a week of productive joy for all~~and can you BELIEVE that it's the first day of April tomorrow???   My brain tells me I'm still back in mid February.  :-)  

Gilder's Paste Baby Steps

Gilder's Paste!  I'd been longing to play with it, and was lucky enough to participate in a bulk buy with one of my Jewelry Artist Network friends. I got 10 small containers of the paste, assorted colors. 

I found that it is quite smelly and very messy.  After experimenting on a few etched pieces of metal, I applied the Bronze Gilder's paste to this etched copper piece I had hanging around the bench.  I used a toothpick and wore my magnifying glasses so that I wouldn't smear it everywhere!

I haven't sprayed any sealer on this piece, and I will wear it a lot and see how durable the paste is.  

Experiments, Baby steps~~Bliss!

Have a blessed week all!

Patience! And a wonderful friend

My dear friend Kate has wanted a "Trust God" copper bracelet for at least 2 years.  I kept making excuses and keeping busy with everyone else's project.  

Well, today I finished it!  Finally.  

I pray Kate is encouraged by its message.  She is a blessing to me.

Happy end of January 2013!  One more day left.....

ICE resin pendant "Worry about nothing, pray about everything"

New year.  New challenges.  The desire for greater peace & joy.  Knowing that if I can increase that for myself, I can share it with others.  This little pendant is for me.

Side view.

And the back.  Words are powerful.  I will focus on words of trust and encouragement.

It's crazy busy right now.  Has been for a month!   Good busy.  Full of family, jewelry projects and an article I hope to publish.  :-)  

May your New Year be a year of hope.  A year of greater calm & peace.  I pray that for you my friends!