New Jewels

This week I have made two new bracelets. I used Vintaj Natural Brass findings, beadcaps, charms and altered blanks.  The beads are dyed Jasper, czech glass and crystals. 

Autumn Days

Last weekend we went to Winterset to the Covered Bridges Festival. Lots of vendors selling crafts and food.  Beautiful day!  The weather was perfect.  On the way home we stopped at Howells Barn and pumpkin patch.  It was very busy. The barn is about 100 years old and the owners grow flowers in the fields behind it and then dry their flowers upstairs in the barn.  I love going there because of all the different flowers and the colours.  The mums were in full bloom - very pretty - Karen  

What a beautiful day.  Started out by walking a couple of miles before going to work at 10am.  Short shift today until 3pm.  Back home now.  Played frisbee for a short time with Manny.  Have a couple of errands to run in town and then down to some serious designing.  I bought myself the latest edition of "Stringing" yesterday so I plan to have a good look through it tonight.  Looks like there are loads of great tips and online bead suppliers that I haven't seen before.  Oh no!  I think I will be parting with some money!  I also have to take a really good photo of my "Maple Glow" necklace for the Vintaj October Challenge.  I'd better get busy.  Karen

Manny

My son Mike is currently living with us.  He has a dog called Manny.  Manny is an English Bulldog.  He is very sweet natured.  I wanted to share a photo of him on the blog since he keeps me from doing things that I should!  Look at that face - how can I resist that face!!  Karen

Great Fall day today.  Sunshine, cool breeze and a slight frost this morning.  Em and I  have been busy photographing our jewellery and have finally put some pieces on our Etsy Shop!  I have also been busy working on a piece of jewellery for a competition.  I am entering the "Maple Glow Challenge" on the Vintaj Blog.  I am reasonably happy with my creation and will post a photo on this blog later in the week.  Voting starts on Saturday October 9th through midnight October 15th.  Wish me luck!  Karen

Here is my box of Vintaj goodies.  I work in a bit of a mess but I do like my box of goodies to be in order so that I can see what I have.  I am trying to be a bit more organized but I need more storage and space to spread out!  I have some chain, blanks, charms and filigree.  The green stone (top right corner) came from a shop in Fort Collins, Co - Karen

Here I used a stamp and heat embossed the image onto the blank.  I then used alcohol inks and covered the surface with Glossy Accents to protect the blank - Karen

A while ago I won some Vintaj Natural Brass charms and made the earrings in the photo.  Today I made the necklace.  I used Adirondack Juniper paint dabber and then Sail Boat Blue Alcohol ink to color the sand dollars.  I got the blue beads from a shop in Loveland, Colorado a couple of weeks ago when I was on vacation - Karen

I love the colours on this piece.  All the components are Vintaj Natural Brass - Karen

I have been making jewellery for about 2 years now.  My 3 sisters from England (Sue, Babs and Jan) came to Iowa for a visit in October 2008. We took a trip to Galena, Il, and paid a visit to Galena Beads - that's where it all started.  I am happy to report that we are all beading fanatics now and we made a return visit in April 2010.  My daughter, Emma, is a phenomenal artist in her own right.  She plays drums and guitar in a band and can paint, draw and make beautiful pieces of jewellery. I have a wonderful husband - Graham, and an awesome son - Mike.  They are very patient and supportive in all that I do. 

This piece is called 'Forest Fern'.  It is made with Vintaj Natural Brass.  I love working with Vintaj components - they are high quality and very easy to work with.  I coloured the fern and embossed and inked the blank to make the pattern.  The pattern on the blank is sealed with Glossy Accents - Karen