New bracelets

Here's what I was up to this weekend. Found some time to finish off these two bracelets I started a while back. I'm slowly getting use to the jewelry creating process. I find it quite different than other things I create  It's been a little frustrating and difficult to concentrate on one piece because of the waiting time for some of the metal processes that I do like tumbling, etching, antiquing etc.

Sometimes when I have a vision of what I want to create I lose it during the process. Things seem to go in their own direction and I've learned to trust in the process. I think I need to make myself a sign "Trust in the Process" to remind myself sometimes though. Or maybe a bracelet...oh here we go again!

So what did you create this weekend?

Fall workshop schedule

Finally I've started my workshop schedule for this fall. This is my first time posting them on line, so let me know if I've messed anything or if you have any suggestions for me. So far I just have 2 classes scheduled but I hope to get a few more in the next few weeks. Check it out on the workshop page. The pictures are over there so I've got no exciting pictures to post here. How sad a post without a picture. Well I'm a little short for time and wanted to let you know about the workshop post so that's life.

I'm at the Perth Farmers Market tomorrow for my last day this summer there. Then it's off to Fibrefest in a few weeks. So much to do so little time. I have plans for a few new jewelry pieces so I'll try to get them posted soon.

Have a great weekend.

ATC's at the Park

 I had a wonderful time the other day with my ATC group. We met at a local park this month and the weather was perfect. The theme was "park" and a few members stood up to the challenge of making their card at the park. Linda excelled at the challenge and even added things she found in the park. I wasn't up to the challenge and made mine before going...maybe next month!

Mary(front)

Mary(inside)

Olive

Marie

Linda

Veronica

Wendy

Piano Hinge Book

 I'm working on setting up some fall workshops in my home studio, so I found some time this week to make this piano hinge book for one of them. It's a really fun book to make and is a great conversational piece. I had a few at some of my shows last year and people are always fascinated with them. Once they sold I didn't find time to make more but hope to do so for this falls shows.

 I get a little carried away with the dangles, at least the Tin Man thinks so. What can I say, have beads must dangle!

 Here you can see why it's called a piano hinge book. It works best if two alternating colours are used for the signatures. I've used brown and beige card stock but black and white is very striking. It's then bound together with skewers. I like to leave the spikes on the skewers but they can be trimmed for a less lethal book.

It stands on it's own for a great display book and has lots of pages to use for art journaling, scrapbooking or what ever your heart desires.

Pink and Purple

Ha, I'm not sure where the pink and purple came from. As you probably know, that's not my usual colours. The Tin Man says I must have found my feminine side. It doesn't happen very often. I'm much more attuned to my grungy side I think. Well I had flowers on my mind because I have a group of friend that get together to do some creating once a month and our theme for next meeting is flowers. So I thought I'd get out my box of extra flower...you know the ones you make but then they don't work for the project any way or you just get so into it that you make way too many. For some reason the flowers that appealed to me were all kind of pinks and purples. And so my feminine side emerged for a short time and these cards are what came out of it. Don't worry it didn't last too long. I've been back to hammering my copper since and the tumbler is going as we speak.

If you're in the Perth area on Saturday I'll by at the Market from 8am to 1 pm. Come on out and see me. it's a beautiful picturesque town well worth the trip out.

Summer fun.

So how has your summer been so far? As usual mine is going way too fast.

The last two weekends Sheila and I have been vendors at the Perth Farmers Market. This weekend I took a break to enjoy a few other local shows. It's nice to be on the other side of the table some times. I was also checking them out for possible shows next year. Yesterday the Tin Man and I went to the Urban Art Show. Unfortunately I forgot my camera in the car so I have no photo's for you. It was very cool show though, lots of local artist with a great selection of unique creations in a beautiful shady park in downtown Ottawa. I hadn't been to this show before but will definitely be going again.

Today we went to the Herbfest. We have been to this show before but it's been a few years and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it. I forgot to bring my camera with at all today but above is a few of the things we came home with. We picked up some garlic for our first garlic fix of the year. And the Tin Man was able to sample and choose some of his favourite mustards from Mrs. McGarrigle's. It's a beautiful venue and the weather was amazing. If you're ever in the Almonte area in July this is a must see show for all those nature and healthy living enthusiast.

I hope your weekend was as wonderful as mine.

Birds and birdhouses.

I had a very productive day today. Finished off a few of the necklaces that you saw on my desk yesterday. And even got a couple of them listed on Etsy.

 I tried some different chain, bead and ribbon combinations for a change. The embossed bird in the middle is a fine copper chain entwined through a purpley brown seed bead. I've done this combo a few times and really like the look.

Here I used a new kind of silk ribbon with some thin leather. I'm not sure yet if I like this ribbon. It's got raw edges and I'm not sure if it's going to keep fraying or not. I guess I'll have to wear it to see how it holds up.

So that was my day, how was yours?