harbinger habdashery

ppppounding metal. all day long. I am gearing up for my trunk show at the museum on Aug 12th. I figured I should get some Harbinger Collection items made but all I could seem to muster today was earrings (13 pairs!) and 5 Rings. It's a good start. I've still got some time, right? I'm hoping I get the bug to make some bracelets/necklaces before then.

Back to work tomorrow. This vacation went by way too fast. My Gosh! It's like it just started and now it's over.  I could use a vacation to recover from my vacation.  Hope you all had a productive weekend!

Jade + Lorelei = SALE!

For 2 days, Today and Tomorrow July 30-31, 

get 25% off your pendant purchase at Jade Scott's etsy shop!

Use coupon code LoreleisFriends to receive the immediate discount! 

Happy Summer!

Maryland and Back

 Joe and I took a  lovely vacation down to the St. Michaels area of Maryland, right at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. We had never been down that far south, so it was a nice adventure. I can tell you that a 7 hour drive on the way there feels much different than a 7 hour drive on the way home! For some reason it felt twice as long on the way back!

Maryland has a few things that New York does not have. 1. I have never seen so many dragonflies in my life. They were everywhere. Even buzzing around in the parking lots.
2. Maryland is extremely flat. I was happy to get back to NY with some hills and landscape that is a bit more to look at. 3. You can't really do any serious house-lusting because all of the homes that are on the water, are at the end of a 400 yard driveway. We ended up turning down a few of these because they seriously look like roads, and then had to U-turn our way outta there before being spotted.
4. Seafood is still expensive here. But we tried to take advantage and enjoyed soft shell crab, crab cakes, mussels, and Fish tacos. Our vacations are mostly about eating. The restaurants got progressively better the longer we were there. The best meal was at a pizza place in St. Michaels called Ava's. Best Bolognese I've ever had, and they had a cupcake of the day, which to me, is a really good thing.
5. Everyone was extremely friendly! The heat does crazy things to people in NY. Makes them mean and nasty. Maryland has had some seriously hot weather, but everyone was very happy and friendly.

We stayed at the cutest inn which is well known for being a popular wedding location. The Oaks Waterfront Inn was settled right on the water and really had a nice presence. The staff was helpful in providing us with suggestions and they put out complimentary wine, beer, and cookies every evening.
The breakfasts in the morning were pretty good too. We didn't take advantage of the bikes or the canoes, but had a nice time just sitting and enjoying the dock.
We checked out St. Michaels, took the ferry to Oxford, enjoyed a wine tasting at the St. Michaels winery and then stumbled next door to the St. Michaels Brewery. We brought home some "Oakey Dokey" Chardonnay. Really really good!

We took a nice sailboat road on Captain Wade's SkipJack- the oldest SkipJack in the nation. Learned all about some environmental issues on the bay, learned about oyster fishing and enjoyed Wade's stories. A man in his 70s, he was a real character and is very passionate about this 125 year old boat.
The boat ride was in the evening and the sunset was amazing!

We took a drive to Annapolis- a sweet little town nestled on the bay. The shops were great. I have to thank Barbara Lewis for the recommendation for Annapolis Pottery! Great store, and I brought home a cool Chips/dip bowl and a new tumbler.  I also got a pair of earrings from ReSource- a cute little store selling repurposed goods and they had some jewelry by one of my favorite Etsian's, Foundling.

all in all, a great and relaxing trip. The change of scenery was beautiful! I recommend this vacation spot to anyone that wants to enjoy the bay, the seafood, the people, the weather and wants to relax.

I'm back!

I'll tell you all about it tomorrow! G'Night!

Stringing, Fall 2011

The digital download is now available for the Fall issue of Stringing. Pick it up at the Interweave store. I have a few pieces in this issue, one necklace in particular that I love - using an etched copper leaf pendant and Lampwork acorn from Julie Nordine!

Long Overdue Holiday

I'm off to enjoy a bit of a holiday with my favorite man. I'll leave the shop open but orders will not ship til my return - Hoping to reconnect, and enjoy a bit of a change of scenery.  TaTaForNow!

Show Piece

 This hot weather has me crazy for color.

Friday Favorites: Jewelry Edition

I'm not just a bead junkie. I love buying jewelry for my own collection, too! Here are some of my favorites this week!

 MaggieJs

 Loleysco

 DinaAlexander

 6shadowsjewelry

 HeatherWynnMillican

Experimetal

Summers Studio Etc.

That LeAnn, she's on a roll!
I have been chomping at the bit to get my grubby little hands on these new tube beads that she showed on her blog a while back. Then this morning I looked at her shop and she's also doing bead caps !! and Toggles !!  what next LeAnn! there is no end to your talent!

*** on a side note:  the shadow boxes are shipping out today. I received everyone's address (thank you for all of your quick responses!) 

Anthropologie Design Boards SUMMER edition

 

 

 

All outfits, shoes and purses from Anthropologie
All jewelry from Lorelei Eurto Jewelry



If you'd like to see more of my design boards, look here

Butterflies

I knew that as soon as I saw these pretty enameled butterflies at Anne's shop, Gardanne Beads, I wanted to put them into a real show stopper piece. I have a trunk show coming up in a few weeks at the Museum, and I want to have a few big pieces to show off along with the simple stuff.

It's actually much more comfortable to wear that you'd think! I have been wearing it all morning and it's pretty lightweight. Nothing sharp to poke. Just a ring of butterflies fluttering around your neck.
I need one of those nice busts to display this on. Is that something I can find at Michaels? or Joann Fabric?

The Shadow Box Challenge Participants List

This reminds me back in the day when I was in school and had to run to see if I made the list for some club or group. So before you all start hurting each other by trampling to get to the list, here it is, in no particular order.

1.Lucid Moon Studio

2. Ann Rishell

3. Malin de Koning

4. Gray Girl Studios
5. Maria Grimes
6. Beads of Busy Gals- Elizabeth

7. The Silly Pearl
8. Shay Stone- Shays creative journey
9. LissC

10. the Beading Yogini

11. Grubbi

12. Jenny Davies- Reazor

13. Beth of Elizabeth Williams
14. Artybecca

15. Stefanies Sammelsurium

16. KreativeKsapylet
17. Shirley- Beads & Bread
18. Hilary Frye- Frye Style

19. Heather Wynn Millican
20. Staci Louise
21. Suzette- Ellie's Bijoux

22. Marina - Fanciful Devices
23. Andrew Thornton

If you see yourself on the list, Please email me asap with  your mailing address.  Please do this as soon as possible so that you'll have more time to get something made before the Aug. 27 Reveal date. I will ship you a bezel in the next few days. Still trying to think of the cheapest and best and safest way to mail out all these packages.

Create a piece using the bezel, photograph it and write your post. I will put together a blog post on my blog at least 2 days before reveal day,  where all the participants links will be active. Come on over, copy paste the list, and please post this list in your blog post.

Here is how a blog hop works successfully. You should be able to click the #1 link, and then on that blog, click the #2 link, and on that blog, click the #3 link.
Let me try to explain this better. Everyone should be posting the full list of participants and once they copy and paste the live link list to their blog, people should be able to click through each person's blog,  link by link by link. does that make sense?
Flowing easily from one blog to the next without going back to the original blog that showed the list. 

Any questions, shoot me an email!
Glad to see the enthusiasm for this challenge!! I look forward to doing more like this in the future!

Shadow Box Challenge and Blog Hop: Sign Up here!

Yes! A new challenge! I was so excited, I just had to get this post up today!! About a week or 2 ago, I contacted Sara Lukkonen of C Koop Beads about getting some of her enameled Shadow Boxes for a bit of a blog challenge. I saw these at Sara's booth when I was at Bead & Button, and have not been able to stop thinking about them.  The possibilities are endless!  SO! Sara sent me a bunch. And she's going to be adding them to her website in case you didn't snag a spot for the challenge- you can buy one instead.

Here they are in all their delicious colorful glory! She sent along many different colors, sizes and shapes.  They are really intriguing. They are about 4-5mm deep, and include holes- some have one on each end, some have more. Which I think adds to the challenge! I am really excited to see the different things that people can do with these. Use your imaginations! Stretch yourself to the limit with this! Have fun......don't let it stress you out..... and be creative and unique!

Details:

**  I have 23 shadow boxes available. (25 are pictured, but I have used one- and will use one more for the blog hop reveal day)

**  I will choose 23 random  participants. Please only leave 1 comment! I will pick winners on Monday July 18th. sometime in the evening. after work.

**  Leave a comment. If you are chosen, I will send you one shadow box, and you will create something using the shadow box.

**  All participants will reveal their final projects on Aug 27th.  Linking all of the participants in a blog hop. {You must have a blog to participate}

**  International participants are welcome!

**  The reveal/ Hop date will be August 27th. That way we'll have a little over 1 month to play around.


** I will need the 23 participants to send me their mailing address once chosen.



I put together this necklace just to wet your appetite for a little inspiration! I cut this bird image from a children's book page, and added some text. I sandwiched the papers in between some Mica tiles, punched holes that coordinate with the holes in the box, and wired it inside the shadow box with brass wire. A nice alternative to resin, I think!! My shadow box has 2 holes on one end and 1 hole on the other.  I did a simple wrapped loop on the top through the 2 holes. Then strung a brass headpin, brass round down through the hole in the mica, and down through the hole in the bottom of the box. I formed a wrapped loop and added a wire wrapped Shibuichi nest bead from Green Girl Studio.

Good luck to everyone! I hope you are excited as much as I am!!

Best Rumi Quote

 I found this quote several weeks ago and threatened to make a pendant with it on Facebook. People seemed enthusiastic and so I made it! Ok so the letters are a bit haphazardly placed. I think it adds to the humor of the pendant's quote. Let's just go with it.

 Now I just have to decide what kind of necklace to make with it.

Inspired by Nature Retreat

Lighthouse photo credit: Mic Stolz

How can you look at this photo and not be completely mesmerized and inspired!? Beautiful isn't it? This photo is from South Haven, Michigan, where Heather Powers is hosting an Inspired by Nature Retreat!

You'll be able to stay at the beach house, or in a bed and breakfast nearby- depends on how soon you sign up!

3 days packed full of beading, bead shopping, beautiful nature, a sunset, classes and workshops, did I mention beading? Does that not sound like a dream come true?

Heather is teaching 3 mini workshops (toggles, Exploring Color, and The Poetry of beads ... in addition to the 3 classes she's teaching : a faux seaglass pendant, wire wrapped nests, and her famous Sundries bracelet. With all kinds of fun jammed in between like a Farmers market, and a woodland adventure, bead shopping and a scavenger hunt! How fun!

It really does sounds like an amazing trip. But don't take my word for it. Head on over to the Retreat's website and find out all the details!

SCDiva Pendant Winners!

Thank you to everyone that left comments for this week's pendant giveaway. As you know, Lynda of SCdiva  donated 4 beautiful transfer polymer pendants.

Without further ado, the winners are!

1. Not Afraid
2. Deb
3. Julz
4. Nena

Winners, Your numbers coincide with the pendant numbers in the photo!

Please contact me with your addresses and I will send these right out!

If you enjoy these giveaways, and have suggestions on beads you'd like to see offered here, please leave a comment!

Treasure Hunt

One of my favorite movies of all time is Goonies. I love the characters. It's one of those movies I could watch if flipping through and it was on, even though I've seen a million times. 

Here's the deal. I have hidden a super special coupon code (for my etsy shop)  somewhere in one of the past 100 posts on my blog. 

Be one of the first 5 to find it and use it, as it is only good for the first 5 people. If you find it, you can use it once. That's it. I will deactivate the code after 5 purchases have been made.

Now, go. Find me Chester Copperpot. 

*UPDATE: All 5 coupon Codes have been used. THANKS EVERYONE FOR PLAYING ALONG!

SCDiva Pendant Giveaway

                                      Click this image to see closer details!

Lynda Moseley, of SCDiva has donated some of her incredible image transferred polymer clay pendants for my next blog giveaway.  She is primarily known for these image transferred pieces. Lynda emboss/stamps the reverse sides before curing, so the reverse is finished as nicely as the front, then the piece is sanded, and buffed for a nice glossy finish.

I have 4 pendants to giveaway.

1. Black line floral image
2.  Mauve Rose
3. Butterfly Ephemera
4. Klimt Cylinder pendant- comes capped with Vintage brass Magnolia bead caps and wire wrapped loops.

For this giveaway, I am going to randomly pick 4 winners for each of the 4 pendants. Please leave a comment on this post to be entered to win.

If you are so inclined, tell me what your summer plans are! or tell me your favorite summer dish to make!

Anonymous comments will not be counted unless you leave your contact information in your comment.

Winner will be drawn on Thursday at 6pm!

No tutes I'm afraid

Sorry guys, I don't have a tute for today. Last night I was feverishly working on a magazine submission for a friday deadline! And I was fighting against time and trying to take photos before it got too dark. I made it by the skin of my teeth.

This morning I put together this sweet and summery bracelet with one of Golem studios Ladybug rounds, and a Jade Scott charm. I am all inspired to make bracelets after yesterday's release of the Everyday Bracelets eMag.

Next time you order from Golem Studios, be sure to watch this. I have mega respect for this dynamic duo knowing that they hand-paint every one of their beads. It's pretty amazing.

Everyday Bracelets: New eMag at Interweave

If you like making bracelets as much as I do, you'll want to head over to the Interweave Store to buy the newest eMag, Everyday Bracelets. I haven't seen it yet, but am really excited to! I was invited to submit work for this new mag and had 2 bracelets accepted!

An eMag is different than a physical magazine in that there are really cool embellishments like VIDEOS! You will get to see 360 degree views of the bracelets, making it even easier to see how something is put together!
If you want to get a better idea of what the issue includes, head over and check out the preview.
The mag is available for Mac and for PC and is $9.97.

Saratoga Beads

Franny is here for the weekend. We didn't want to sit around the house today so we took a road trip out to Saratoga Springs, NY.  A full day of shopping and some great Italian food for lunch, and then a pit stop to one of my favorite bead shops in NY state. Saratoga Beads is fairly small but they have a really great selection of things I haven't seen elsewhere. I picked up some Czech strands..

These 2 are also Czech glass, but the colors are so yummy! Earthy tones, that almost appear painted.

They also have such a great selection of German glass, and Czech glass.  Of course they are all sold separately so I spent a boat load on these little teensy selections. If anyone knows of a great German glass or Czech glass supplier, please let me know. I'd love to buy more like this buy by the strand.

 And then the Greek metal beads are my favorite, and I always have to pick some up while I'm there. Flowers, buttons and a focal. Love em!

When we got home, Franny offered to help me clean out my closet which was a total disaster. It was a huge task to take on. I am so grateful for her help. I probably would never have done it otherwise.

Stamping

I bought some new tools this week from Limabeads.com, they arrived yesterday and I couldn't wait to dive right in when I got home from work. I picked this letter stamp set in a nice lowercase font, and a brass hammer to use with the stamps. I splurged on this set, because I think you get what you pay for. And I mean that in all honesty. I have been there, tried to get by with the cheap stuff and it generally doesn't work out. For me.

The stamps come in this beautiful hinged wooden box. And I love that the stamps have a printed letter on one side so that I know which way the letter is upright. They look really small at first but once I started stamping and darkened them with liver of sulphur, they are really a great size. I wouldn't want them any smaller or bigger. This set is 3mm.

So I started practicing right away. I cut discs of copper 22g sheet with my disc cutters. I had some knowledge beforehand because I just bought Lisa Niven Kelly's book Stamped Metal Jewelry.
But it still took some practice to learn that 3 or more taps of the hammer is too many. 2 is just enough, but they have to be nice and firm.

But then after stamping a bit, I noticed my new brass hammer had divits. I found out that this is fairly normal, since the brass is a softer metal than the stamps are. I get the same effect with a house hold hammer, but I like the weight of the brass hammer. It takes less effort.

Here is an attempt on a Vintaj Brass blank. I need to find my acrylic paints or get some of those cool paint dabbers so I can add some color.

This was my first successful pendant.  Getting the spacing just right, can be a little tricky. After stamping, I added some texture with the ball end of my ball peen hammer. I oxidized the pendant in Liver of Sulphur and then buffed it clean. What a pretty look this creates. I am totally addicted!

A few more! Earring pairs, and a link- all with the same stamping, hammering, oxidizing technique.

The finished product! These sweet bird earrings sold last night! The bracelets are listed in my shop now.

My next goal will be riveting! And I also have some pliers on their way from Beaducation. Better order some more copper sheeting! I have a feeling I am going to be doing a lot of stamping!