Random 5 Friday

A Green Tomato

1. Growing and buying local is good but I still appreciate having access to a mango once in a while.

2. Have you ever closed your eyes and touched a cat's ear? - warm living velvet.

3. A defining moment of parenthood: hitting upon the thought that they may not achieve even their own expectations not to mention mine.

4. Personal expectations can be different then career oriented ones. That's a good thing, right?

5. Triple digits tomorrow and the green sun canopy over my garden is up.

angst [æŋst (German) aŋst]

n

1. an acute but nonspecific sense of anxiety or remorse

2. (Philosophy) (in Existentialist philosophy) the dread caused by man's awareness that his future is not determined but must be freely chosen

[German]
source: Collins English Dictionary

 

I Digress...

 

But only for a moment.
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Beaded Rings

These past few days, I have been having some fun making beaded rings from a pattern by Melinda Barta in the Jan 2013 edition of Beadwork Magazine. I started using size #8, #11 and #15 seed beads in a peyote stitch pattern and came up with this earring design:

 

Nice look for summer or something sort of retro with a bikini at the beach don't you think?

 

Next I switched to a smaller size using only #11 and #15 size seed beads. Smaller beads make it a little more challenging to stitch but I am liking the overall size somewhat better. These earrings measure 2 inches in total length.

 

 

 

The rings stand up well on their own with no underlying metal ring or tubing for support. For all my beady friends, have you made beaded rings before? How did you use them in a jewelry design?

 

Saguaro Cactus Flower Buds

 

These shots of saguaro cactus buds were taken a few weeks ago.

...and the hot summer will be here soon enough.

 



Stop by The View From Right Here for more great shots:

 

 



New Bead Bracelets...

 

Blue Peyote Stitch Bead Bracelet

 

 

 

 

Copper Lava Bead (fired clay) Bracelet

 

 

 

Stop by my shop for more info.



Are You a Jewelry Rock Star?

 

Cousin Corporation of America is pleased to announce a call for applicants for the Cousin Creative Circle™ Ambassador program for the 2013-14 term.

 

Ben Schumin

The Cousin Creative Circle™ is a diverse group of talented jewelry makers who have a strong commitment to the craft of jewelry making and who use Cousin products because they are the best in the industry. These brand ambassadors have a platform to share ideas with the product development team, receive Cousin products to incorporate into their work and attend a team building retreat at Cousin Headquarters in Florida.

Yeah, I'm rock'n on this, and I bet you are too...

Find out more by clicking here.

 

Applications are being accepted through June 17th, 2013