Scottish Games 2013

Scottish Games!  Pleasanton, California.  Labor Day weekend.  Every year my husband and his son and brother volunteer, along with many other dedicated souls, to help set up stages and misters and benches and lots of stuff for the Games.

 I make jewelry.  :-)  This year, I wanted to wear something that looked a bit tribal and honored my husband's family name.  So I had a piece of etched copper I'd set aside a couple of years ago.  The etching was of the Kerr family association crest.  

I patinaed it and then colored it in a bit with Gilder's Paste, which was an experience of messiness! lol  I can be a bit sloppy.

Next, I added some dimples with my favorite dimple pliers that I bought from Richard Salley.  LOVE them.  

Then, I riveted it to some stamped and hammered nickel.  Added a crystal drop, hung it on wire with embellishments and was happy with my new piece~

Is my husband darling??? Yep, he's mine, all mine!  

We had a fun time.  Saw LOTS of vendors and fun items for sale.  Exercised lots of self control and bought very little.  

Rocked out to the Celtic bands and droning bagpipes.  Saw every type of kilt and crazy outfit possible.  :-D

Wonderful time.  Another year gone by so fast!

October getting so close~~may this fall season be full of blessings for you all, my friends.  

Scottish Games Jewelry Bench Bliss

A few years back I purchased a Kerr crest rubber stamp.  Two years ago I stamped a bunch of copper and brass and etched some simple pendants.  

This year I wanted to play around with it.

Brass, Copper, Nickel: Etched, Sawn, Patinaed, Composite leafed, Pounded, Stamped and Riveted.  All cold connected.  

"Sero Sed Serio" means "Late But in Earnest".

I have no idea why they came up with that family motto.  :-)  

Anyway, I've been playing at the bench ALL DAY.  Now I must get in the kitchen, make my lunch for tomorrow's workday, pick out my scrubs & stuff, clean the cat box, wash dishes and shower and get in BED.  

Hope your Wednesday was as fun as mine.  Bench bliss....nothing like it!

"Relic" Earrings tweaked a bit and LISTED~!

In between about a hundred errands and weekend catch-up stuff, I tweaked these earrings a bit and listed them in my Etsy shop. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/157315010/turquoise-relic-earrings-of-brass-and?

A beautiful day in Northern California.  We live closer to the bay, so we were cooler than the high temps inland.  Gotta love the morning cloud cover!

We went shopping for clothes for our almost-six-year-old granddaughter's birthday next week, and we did grocery shopping, returning things, visiting my FAVORITE library, laundry, etc. etc. etc.~  A great day.  Just blessed for good health, good life.

Have a wonderful week everyone! 

Copper Cross Earrings for Kate's Birthday

My friend Kate is such a joy.  We walk together on Wednesday mornings.  She wrestles her Australian Shepherd "Buddy" and I tag along and, if needed, provide dog poop bags or cough drops.  

We talk about our joys and our concerns, and encourage each other to trust God.

When we return to her house, we sit and pray together. Clasping hands, we pour out our petitions and thanks.  That Kate has SUCH a heart for the Lord!

I'm so lucky she's my friend and I wish her the happiest birthday.  

These copper crosses are LITTLE~I sawed using my magnifying reading glasses on top of my prescription hobby glasses!  My neato Crafted Findings tool put the eyelets and rivets in place.

I gotta make myself a pair of these!  :-)

Hope your Wednesday is blessed~  

I heart PATINA~

Sorry this pic isn't bigger....This is "large" and "x-tra large" overflows over the whole page, obliterating my sidebar stuff....grrrr.....

What's this?  ANOTHER blog post?  Two in ONE MONTH?? Shocking, I say! haahaa

I just wanted to show you why I love patina.  This is my latest mixed metals cross.  I started it the same time I started the citrine cross and kinda worked on them together.  This one's mine.  I made a boo boo on my stamping on the back.  No, you can't see it.  No, I won't show it to you...:-)

This cross is made of four metals:  bronze for the back plate, etched brass on top, silver cradling the peridot, and copper circles under the silver circles riveted all around the edges.  I didn't know if Liver of Sulfur patina would do the trick, so I used Stephanie Lee's favorite patina stuff called Novacan Black Patina.  

I cleaned the cross with hot water and dish soap, then put on some gloves and brushed on the Novacan.  Neutralized it with baking soda and then cleaned it up~I just plain LOVE it...that aged look.  

I've had the best hermit-y weekend.  My sweet DH is away at my little brother's ranch.  He took the dogs, and I'm here with only the kitty to keep me company.  It's heaven....I think I needed a break from everything.  

Soooo, may your July be a month of summer fun, summer reading, summer renewal.  Blessings!

"Beloved" Mixed Metals Cold Connected Cross

Been working on this piece for a couple months.  In between the day job and family stuff, bit by bit it nudged at me, bit by bit it came together.

I love this piece.  I've wanted to create my version of the Cross for some time now.  How wonderful to see it completed!

In my Etsy shop now...I haven't listed anything there for so very long!  :-)   

https://www.etsy.com/listing/155853166/beloved-mixed-metal-cross

Fourth of July.  Birthday of our country.  When my grandparents traveled here from Poland and Moravia so many years ago, their courage and determination led them to this country of opportunity.  

Happy Birthday USA!  I'm so blessed to be one of your citizens!

Happy July to you all, dear friends~

Earrings Of Etched Brass

Just finished~ Etched brass, Stamped Silver and Beads of Amber~

Do we look related? Heehee~~

Last month I got to hang out at my brother's ranch with all my siblings (5 of us kids in all).  I LOVE this pic of me and my sis.  She's a smart and funny person.  I lucked out to get her for a sister.  

Memorial Day weekend.  Remembering those who sacrificed their lives to protect us. Truly blessed~

Eating organic cherries and enjoying my weekend.  Hope yours is great too!