Don’t Forget…

I have a lot of new designs  running around in my head

so “out with the old” & “in with the new”

***End of Year Sale***

Everything in my shop is 20% off thru December 31. 

Use coupon code EOF2010 when you check out.

Happy Shopping!

A White Christmas & Photos

We spent Christmas in Evansville with my family; we had a wonderful visit with Daddy & Kathy, my brother Larry and his family.  Larry has has 3 children (2 were home for Christmas) & 4 grandchildren.  We had a wonderful holiday and we even had a white Christmas; it started snowing Christmas Eve and by Christmas morning we had about 4 inches.  It was a beautiful snow that sticks to every branch, leaf, etc. but the streets were warm enough that it didn’t stay on them restricting traffic; everyone could drive around safely.  Here are some of our Christmas photos…hope you enjoy them.

 
My brother Larry & his grandbaby, Sophia

Larry’s daughter Kim & her daughter Sophia

Daddy in his Elf hat

Jim & Sophia
(he was pretty smitten with her)

Daddy & Kathy with
my nephew Chris & his new bride Tori
 
Daddy & his great grandchild Sophia

My favorite picture:
my stepmom has macular degeneration
so my dad paints her fingernails…that’s so sweet!

We have 3 other great nieces & nephews but 2 of them were sick in bed and the other one wouldn’t stand still long enough for me to get photos; Sophia was the only one posing for us.

Merry Christmas

We are spending the holidays with family but I wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

And One More Bracelet

I am totally hooked (no pun intended) on these bracelets.  This one was such fun…I hand-cut the fish and its “pond” and made it into a link to connect two of the cabs…what’s an ocean jasper bracelet without a fish.

Max & Jake

As you know, Sonny is not our only dog.  We have two other dogs, Max & Jake that live outside.  They are both fairly large dogs and love to roam our woods…they seem to be very content outside even when it’s very cold weather; they can come inside any time they want but they choose not to.  Both dogs look like they gain 20 pounds in the winter because their coats get so wooly so I think they stay pretty warm.  Since we will not be home during the holidays we thought we would make some wind-breaks for them on the back porch which is covered.  Each dog has their own space plus we have an automatic dog feeder for them.  Our neighbor will check on them daily but at least they can eat when hungry and get in out of the weather…if they choose to.

This is Max’s room; he is posing for us.

This is Jake’s room.

As you can see, Jake prefers a bed of leaves. 
He will find a depression in the ground and make him a nest out of the leaves
and evidently stays pretty comfortable

Spectacular Sunset & New Ring

This evening’s sunset…isn’t it awesome!

…and I just listed this ring…I love it.   The setting sits on a bar that raises it about 1/8” off the band

From My Bench

Another new bracelet – I am totally in love with this piece…I think I am the most pleased with the toggle clasp I made.  The little strips on the back plate of the center stone are recycled 14K gold and the bead dangle is also gold.

Lapis & Moon Face

Shattuckite Ring (stone cut by hubby – he’s so good)

Riviera Plume Agate Necklace

The more simple settings I make, the more I like them, especially when the stone is pretty enough to hold it’s own….what do you think?

Painting With Beads - Treasury

I love seed beads and I really admire what artists can do with them.    The purse in the first picture inspired me to curate this gorgeous treasury of hand-beaded items.  You really have to look at these items close-up to really appreciate all the work - I hope you will visit and give the treasury and the artists lots of lovin’.

Painting With Beads

From My Bench

I just finished a couple new designs…I hope you like them.

Nevada Turquoise (SOLD - Thank You)

Royston Ribbon Turquoise

Another Piece Finished & News

I don’t seem to have gotten much done this week but I was gone 3 out of 4 days so that may have something to do with it.  Anyway, here’s another necklace I have completed…it is for sale in my Etsy shop.  I love this stone, Riviera Plume agate…the pendant comes with a sterling chain and a caramel-colored rubber cord that matches the caramel colors in the stone.  The small stone is a purple chalcedony.

As for my news…I have decided to fire up my lampworking torch again…I have really missed the bead scene.  Jim and I have been working for a couple of days now setting up my lampworking studio where my metalsmithing used to take place.  No, I am not giving up metalsmithing…I just moved it indoors.  I just have to find a way to divide my time between the two.  I gave up bead making about a year after I took silversmithing lessons – I just felt I needed to devote all my time to one art form to master it…not saying I am a master,  just saying I am very comfortable with those skills for now.  I hope lampworking is like riding a bicycle – you don’t really forget how to do it…you just have to practice, practice, practice…again.

If all goes well, I will soon re-open my “SassyGlassDesigns” shop featuring my beads.

From My Bench

In my “On My Bench” post a couple of days ago I promised pictures of the pieces when I finished them…here are 2 of the pieces I have finished so far.  They will be listed in my Etsy shop shortly.

Moroccan Agate Necklace
This pendant comes with an eggplant-colored rubber cord
(love these rubber cords)
and a sterling chain

Bracelet with Ocean jasper, Kabamba jasper and Rainforest jasper
Jim cut the 2 smaller stones
(SOLD – thank you)