Countdown to "Seed Bead and Metal Blog Hop!" -- Final Details!

Here are the last-minute details for Saturday's blog hop!   Please let me know immediately if you have any last minute changes and I'll repost!    Hopefully all is good to go!  

1.  The participant list and links to blogs appears below.  Participants, please add this to your blog pages.  

2.  Cindy Wham and Angi Mullis, I asked for your photos and text by today (Wed.).  I'll look and see if you've sent a message to me via Facebook or my email.   You may have.  If not, please get to me ASAP!   Thanks much!   I'll need by Thursday night at the latest so I can add to my page!!!   

3.   Everyone, please have your blogs ready to post by 11:30pm Central time Friday night, so that we can all go live by midnight.    The blog hop is Sat. Oct. 19, and many people start looking for pages at midnight.  It's really a drag if the pages are not ready.   Sorry to harp on this.   

Hope you all had great fun!   I  know I found it a real challenge!   I finished my jewelry last night so I'm about to start on my own blog page now!   

I'm so anxious to see all your creations!      ~Sharyl

Participants:     

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson -- 

Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections  (*Co-Host)

   Candy Wham --  (Participant posting on Sharyl's blog) 

   Angi Mullis -- (Participant posting on Sharyl's blog)  

Shirley Moore -- Beads and Bread       (*Co-Host)     

       

                                           

Laren Dee Barton --  Laren Dee Designs     

Beti Horvath  --   Stringing Fool                 

Tanya Goodwin -- A Work in Progress       

Marybeth Rich -- Forest of Jewels                 

Amy Severino  -- AmyBeads                         

Carolyn's Creations -- Carolyn's Creations   

Toltec Jewels --  Jewel School Friends   

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New winner announced for Patina Prize:

Mary Anne!

Please leave me a comment here with your mailing address.  I will not make it public.  Thanks!

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Reminder:

20% off at Sharyl's Jewelry 

all week!

Use this coupon code at checkout:

FALLSALE

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"This and That"

Growing up in my small town, there was a lovely woman who wrote a chatty little column in the weekly newspaper called "This n' That by Pansy Penner."  In that column you might find out which friends had paid her a visit, who had their in-laws over for dinner and what they served, what former high school student in town won an award 15 years ago, who was ill that week, who went on vacation, who celebrated a birthday or anniversary, and any other news of equal importance to her and others in town!  It was a way to keep up on things you would not find out anywhere else, and sometimes it was just a hoot to read.   Stories about gatherings often ended with this phrase, "A fun time was had by all!"   It's funny how after all these years, some of these words, phrases, and stories have remained with me.   Just little bits and pieces of this and that...

That's what today's blog post is...some bits of news I want to make sure you hear about!

#1 --  Blog Hop Reminder!

First of all, a reminder to all participating in the "Seed Bead and Metal Blog Hop,"  Shirley Moore and I hope you've enjoyed creating your jewelry from the pieces you were sent!  The blog hop is Sat, Oct. 19th.

• Your pages should be ready to go live Friday night around 11:30pm Central time.  
• If you are posting your photos and text on my blog, please have to me by Wed. so I have time to get added to my page!   If you are on Facebook, please send your file to me via private message.  If not, email me at sharylsjewelry (at) kc (dot) surewest (dot) net
• I will repost the list of participants to be included in your blog pages later this week.  

#2-- SALE!

I'm putting everything at Sharyl's Jewelry on sale for the next week, through Sun, Oct 20, 2013, at 20% off!   Please use this coupon code at checkout:  FALLSALE

SPECIAL! 11-piece Autumn component set, altered brass AC13-059

#3-- Local Event:  

For any of you in the Kansas City area, I will have a booth at the Holiday Treasures Craft Festival Sat., Oct. 26, 9am-4pm, in Shawnee, KS!  Tanya Goodwin will be joining me!   Come visit us!


#4--Prize Winner of Components:

The winner of the patina prize did not claim her gift, so I will announce a new winner soon.

 * * * * * *

Now, "This and That" news can't be just about me, but must also be about friends and neighbors!   So are some newsy bits about others I'd like to share!

#5--TreeWingsStudio Updates:

Rebekah Payne of TreeWingsStudio is having a sale and a give-away!   Check out these precious items:

These 3 darling items will be given away!
Visit the Tree Wings Studio site to find out how to sign up for the drawing!

And just in case you fear  you may not win, why not purchase an item or two while the TreeWings Studio store is having a 15% off sale!  

#6--Amagazine Launch for Lisa!

In other news, this week, Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures launched  new magazine today on Amazine! Here is the link if you would like to "follow" her: http://www.amazine.com/user/pineridgetreasures
She kindly featured some of my components in her first issue!

#7--Local friends!

Finally, last week I met up with two local jewelry people from the KC area, Tanya Goodwin and Tracee Dock!   I will link to their pages and tell you more next time, but in the words of Pansy Penner,  I assure you, "a good time was had by all!" 

                                                * * * * * *

Image Credits:  

Newspaper:  http://www.wpclipart.com/education/books/books_4/.cache/newspaper.png

20% off sale:  http://www.wpclipart.com/office/sale_promo/burst_blue/.cache/20_off_left_blue.png

Sad Face:   http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/2013_09_01_archive.html

TreeWingsStudio photos by Rebekah Payne, used by permission.

Sharyl's Jewelry photos by Sharyl.

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Polymer Clay--Take 1!

A couple of months ago, I was following a conversation on Facebook, and saw people showing photos of polymer clay beads they had learned to make following a tutorial, 
"Rustic Beads and Components from Polymer Clay Project Fimo- Boho Distressed" written by Ginger Davis Allman of TheBlueBottleTree. 

Photo from The Blue Bottle Tree store on Etsy.

I never thought I wanted to make polymer clay beads, but these really appealed to me!   I bought the tutorial from Ginger's store, purchased the items I needed, but got off to a very slow start.  First, "real life" kept getting in my way.  Then,  I started reading more about polymer clay, much of it conflicting, and was unsure how to begin.  Until last night, I finally just waded in and gave it a try!

So here are my first 8 beads.  

And yes, they are a bit wonky!   

I just experimented with techniques and tried to get the hang of it.   The top two I made holes in the top, the bottom ones have holes running through the beads.  While the hole in the upper left looked huge, and I was just having some fun with those, they actually turned out the right size!  (What I learned:     Use larger holes!)

My trimming around the beads could have used some improvement, but I filed them as smooth as I could after baking.   Still, they didn't turn out very well shaped.  I'm not completely sure how to improve that.  (Suggestions?   Maybe laying them flat rather than on the skewers? Would their design go flat if I did that?)

After I made the beads, I baked them according to the directions, then I painted them.   Had I not looked back at the directions at the point to read up on sealing options, I would have missed the step that instructed me to bake again after painting!   (What I learned:  Must bake after painting!)

After they cooled, I experimented with different types of sealants.  Some of my sealants had color, some were clear.  The color of my clay was a light gray.  I had purchased more colorful clays too but thought I would start with this one.  I don't think I applied enough layers of color--paint or color sealant.  They look more transparent than opaque.  (What I learned:     Need more color!)

Well, as I said before, they look a bit "wonky" but I wasn't aiming for perfection.  I was "pleased enough" with my first 8 beads!    I did wonder if I had anything "usable" here.   What do you think?   

I thought about it a bit, and finally decided to use a few of them, just for fun.    This first piece, I think would have to be for me only, wearing at home with a pair of jeans!     It's not a "show piece"  (or a "show off" piece), but it will be a fun remembrance.

I'm a little happier with the pair of earrings that follow. Those long beads are "mood beads," and I think these are just a whimsical mix of colors and textures, so I can get away with my first-try wonky blue beads!  

For anyone interested in learning more about polymer clay, I encourage you to:

1) tune into Kashmira Patel's blog, Sadafulee...Always in Bloom! where there has been an ongoing sharing recently about how to get started with polymer clay.   There are beginners there, but also experts sharing, and it's very helpful and inspiring!   

2) purchase one or more of Ginger's tutorials on polymer clay.  I bought the one on rustic-looking beads, but there are many others!  

3) go to YouTube and watch videos, read blogs, follow discussions on Creative Bead Chat, Artisian Whimsy, and other web opportunities for learning.  (And remember, your local library is another good source for information!)

Thanks for joining me for the first look at my polymer clay beads!   Hopefully I'll have more to show you as time goes on, and my skills will greatly improve!   Please, share your experience working with this medium!  

~Sharyl

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Winner in Patina Drawing + Blog Hop Updates

Well, I totally miscalculated when I would get the winner posted from the patina drawing!  Apologies!   I submitted an article for the next Bead Chat magazine and had 3 blog hop reveals last week:

• "Pearls! Pearls! Pearls!" 
• Patina Sunset Challenge
• "Creating with Cabochons" 

I just barely kept ahead of all the deadlines the first part of the week, then collapsed the latter part.   But enough about that, thanks to all for your entries in the give-away!  

The correct answers were:

1)  Vintaj (also known as Ranger), Swellegant, and "Color Me This"

2) Gilder's Paste

Everyone who entered and tried to get them right got one point.  If you guessed both answers and got them correct, you got two entries.    And the winner is:   

Marlene Strait!   

Congrats, Marlene! You are the winner of the patina prize from Sharyl's Jewelry!  You will receive the brass beads and connectors below, plus some special surprise items!   (They are ready to ship, just don't want to spoil the fun for you!)

Marlene, please leave a message for me in the "Comments" section with your mailing address.  

I will not publish it.  

I'll just send your items on their way to you! 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Regarding the "Seed Bead and Metal Blog Hop,"  all the packets that have been purchased have been mailed.  I'm beginning to hear from the earlier ones sent that they have been received. Hopefully all participants will have their packet soon!

I'm happy to announce that Toltec Jewels will be joining us for the blog hop, and we still have one vacant spot.   This is the last time I plan to mention here, so if you are interested and didn't get in, please leave a comment at the end of this blog entry!  Sharing the news with your friends is also appreciated.   It would be nice to have all spots filled.  

Many thanks!   Wishing each of you a good week!   

(I've got lots of listing to do in the store.  And I want to move my "shipping center" to a different area of my workroom.  I'm trying to reorganize the space, little-by-little!)  What are your plans for this week?

~Sharyl

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"Creating with Cabochons" Blog Hop Reveal!

When I saw that Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime was hosting a blog hop on "Creating with Cabochons," I'll admit that my attention was grabbed but my reaction torn. Should I run toward the fire or run away from it? I've been avoiding cabochons since I started making jewelry.  I'm thinking in particular of setting stones in silver bezels.   I see people who do it very well, and some who don't. I watched a video some months back where the instructor seemed to struggle a great deal with it. That didn't make me leap to try it.

I know I'm not ready for that,...but, I've had another idea I've wanted to try for a very long while now, and this gave me the perfect little push to try it out.  So I signed up and gave it a try!  

Not only have I had this idea in my head for nearly a year now, I've had the piece I wanted to use for almost as long. It's not a stone or ceramic piece though.  It's a wooden tile art piece from "More Skye Jewels" (temporarily closed) that I asked Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp NOT to drill a hole in.  This was a departure for me.  Typically I ask for holes in her art tiles, tell her how many, and the placement.  This time I was brave and daring!    (I hope you can envision me in a cape and mask with hands on hips!)

I should have thought to take a "before" photo, but alas...

I was finished with it before I thought to take a picture.   I was slow to join the "key" movement, but really liked the colors in this tile and the simplicity of the piece.  The placement of the key image on the wooden tile seemed perfect for my experiment in framing it with metal.  I cut it all freehand so as to hold the tile in place and avoid covering the main key image with my metal "flaps."

It looks pretty "rugged" and it is.

I had a sort of steampunk image in mind all along.   I cut the frame out of aluminum.   (I had planned to use copper, but this aluminum seemed just the right gauge.)  After filing all the edges, I gave it a worn, industrial look by beating the metal up with stamped letters and a ball pein hammer.   

There is a built-in bail which I made by leaving a longer piece of metal on top and rolling it from back to front.  I bent the sides to frame the tile, then bent back enough to remove the tile so I could paint the metal frame.   I mixed green and black patina to come up with this dark grayish color, and applied several coats, then a sealant.  

I wasn't using a torch to anneal the metal though, (don't even know if you can anneal aluminum like you can copper)...so although it remained fairly flexible, I didn't want to over bend and break it.  I had trouble getting the flaps to remain flat against the tile.

With the blackened brass chain, I like the overall look of this, but think it needs to be redone, and didn't have the time or heart to start over right after I finished this attempt.   Preferring not to damage the wooden tile, I did not continue trying to flatten the flaps once it seemed it wasn't going to work using the tools I currently have.  I did have plans for finishing the necklace using some miniature black keys and some jasper beads that nicely complement the colors of the tile.  

Forgive me for not completing my work.  I decided against finishing my piece as is.

I learned a lot from doing this, and want to try again, hopefully with better results the next time!  (In addition to doing a better job with the metal frame, I think it needs something at the bottom to hang dangles from, including the miniature key charms!) If anyone has other suggestions for me, please include in the comments.  This did not end up as a "masterpiece" to show off, but turned out to be a real learning experience and work-in-progress.  I'd like to learn more from you about how to improve it!  

Many thanks!

~Sharyl

You've seen my example that didn't work so well, be sure to visit the others in the "Creating with Cabochons" Blog Hop.  There are sure to be some excellent examples there. I'm eager to see them myself!  

Our Host:  Sally Russick

D Lynne  Bowland
Alicia Marinache           
Lynn  Jobber           

Jenny Davies-Reazor           

Jo-Ann  Woolverton           

Marde Lowe           
Dawn Doucette           
Mary K McGraw           
Gloria Allen           

Cheri  Reed           
Sonya Stille           
Elizabeth Owens Dwy           
Veralynne   Malone           
Tania Hagen           
Lynsey  Brooks           
Christina Miles           
Holly  Westfall           
Kathy  Lindemer           
Patti Vanderbloemen           

Therese Frank           
Adrienne Berry           
Liz   E 
Tanty  Sri Hartanti           
Ginger Bishop
Renetha Stanziano           
Marlene  Cupo           
Sandi Volpe           
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson           <---You are here!
Niky  Sayers

Mischelle Fanucchi           
Tracy  Stillman           
Skylar Bre'z           
Ann Schroeder           
Paula Kramer
Jess Green           
Susan Kennedy           
Stacie  Florer           
Cathie  Carroll           
Susan F.  


Michelle Caballero       
Sabine Dittrich           
Kristina Johansson           
Kimberly Sturrup-Roberts           
Melissa  Meman           
Cheryl McCloud         
Michelle  Timms           
Cindy  Pack           
Lynda  Carson

Cynthia  Machata           
Julia  Harris           
Karin  Slaton
Ingrid  Anderson           
Karin Grosset Grange
Jasvanti  Patel  
Inge  von Roos
Molly Alexander

Toltec Jewels  

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Patina Sunset Challenge

Melinda Orr, ORRTEC, got me interested in metal work and patinas nearly a year ago now and I'm loving this aspect of jewelry making!   (Melinda is also the founder of the Facebook group, Creative Bead Chat, and the online community, Artisan Whimsy.  AW is currently hosting the Patina Sunset Challenge.  ) 

AW October Challenge: 

Patina Sunset...paint the sky with patina

Sept 18th : Deadline to submit 

Sept 19th: Winners announced

Oct 1st: Bead Chat Magazine Feature

In addition to a workbench full of metal-working tools (and I'm still just getting started), I have a small arsenal of items to color metals with.  

My newest color purchases!

Everything from the basic Liver of Sulfur (used to darken copper--one of my favorites) to a wide variety of color patinas that can be used on a variety of metals (such as copper, brass, and aluminum), these help me create a multitude of looks!

* * * * * *

Just for a bit of fun....  

Can you answer these questions?

1) Excluding the Liver of Sulfur Patina Gel, 

what 3 brands of liquid color patinas 

do you see here?

2) What metal coloring product comes in the silver tins?

How to play:

• Leave a comment and how to reach you.  
• One correct answer gets you one chance.  
• Two correct answers gets you two chances.  You can submit both answers in one message.  I will count as two.
• I will hold the comments for 24 hours.
• From these entries a winner will be drawn.
• The prize will be some assorted metal components by me.

PRIZE = These "Lime Green Lovelies" + ????

* * * * * *

Now, on to the Artisan Whimsy Challenge!   I hope some of you submitted pieces too!

This is my entry for a handmade piece:

It is a large, rectangular, hand made copper pendant, 

embossed with a flower design, 

treated with a variety of patina colors, then sealed.  

Be sure and visit the other contestants on the Artisan Whimsy site!

~Sharyl

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REMINDER:  I will be holding the comments for 24 hours so that we get original answers!   :-)   I can see your replies, but you won't be able to until tomorrow.  Thanks!  ~Sharyl

Tues last day to buy blog hop packets!

Looking for the "Pearls!" Blog Hop?  --->  Click here!

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Tomorrow, Tues, Sept. 17, is the last day to for the original 10 participants to purchase your "Seed Bead & Metal Blog Hop" packets. There are still 3  2 packets unsold.   

I've attempted to reach everyone individually and through blog postings. One email has been returned to me, so I'm concerned that someone may miss out just because they haven't seen the message(s).  I'm trying one more time to make sure everyone in the group is aware they were selected and that they need to purchase their packets by Tuesday night.  Those remaining are: Mary, Sonya, and Angi.    **To purchase your packet, please click here.

I know things change and if it's no longer a good time for you to join in, I understand.  But I do hope everyone gets the message and can participate who wants to!

We do have one waiting to get in.  (Toltec Jewels) After Tues night, I will reopen the event to others who might also be interested if the packets are not claimed.  If you missed getting in and would like to participate, please leave a comment on this blog post.   If we have openings, I will notify you Wed.

If you've purchased your packet already,...  it should be speeding its way toward you!   I've marked the date your package was mailed on this page.   Please let me know if you have any questions!   

Many thanks and wishing a good week to all!

~Sharyl

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