Getting Better Photos

I am so excited to be able to get better close up pictures of my work!! For my Birthday, Tom and the kids gave me a photo taking box with special lights for diffuse lighting and less glare!! The picture you see here is Turquoise Oceans cuff that I made for my daughter's Counselor in Middle School. Outstanding teachers and mentors really do need to be recognized and appreciated, don't you think??

Every time I create one of these cuffs I learn something more about the process. I think that this might be my best work yet.

These Shaggy Loops earrings are for Becca's wonderful Language Arts Teacher, Ms. Scott.

This Shaggy Loops Bracelet is for Becca's phenomenal French I teacher, Ms. Johnson. This gal is one of the best teachers at the high School where Becca will be going next year. Becca traveled tot eh HS every morning to take French and had a wonderful and inspiring educational experience. The kids are very upset to have to say good bye to her today. Becca actually told me that she wanted to take French all summer just to be with Ms. Johnson! All of her students feel this way. Now that is a wonderful teacher!!

Learning Something New

I find it so invigorating and exciting to stretch myself and learn a new skill. This Spring, as I have been unable to take advantage of several art retreats, I have been on the lookout for learning new techniques closer to home.
Beads On Parade is a wonderful bead shop in Fredericksburg where I will be teaching my Beaded Cuff class in the near future. Carol, who I have dubbed the Chain Maille Queen, works at the shop and is incredibly generous with her fabulous skills. Carol is a Chain Maille officianado and has designed many of her own patterns. Carol teaches many of the simpler techniques for FREE and displays an amazing array of Chain Maille patterns to entice we novices to plunge in with both feet!!!
About two weeks ago I sat down with Carol, a pile of beads and jump rings and tried my hand at a pattern called Shaggy Loops.

Besides beads and rings, one needs tow good pairs of pliers. My first creation was a pink shaggy loops bracelet for Becca. I used silver and rose gold colored links and two colors of pink beads. I put the entire piece together in about two hours!!! The bracelet is incredibly tactile and fun to wear along with being quite a nice bit of blingy color.

After finishing the bracelet, i went on to make several pairs of Shaggy Loops earrings. I was hooked!!!

For this pair I used wonderful matte finished peacock colored and purple beads and copper links.

Subtle and elegant, don't you think?

For this pair I used some of the fabulously colored rings that Beads on Parade has in stock. The color range is simply amazing and all are available on line!!

I started another set of earrings using the silver links from the bracelet but ran out after creating only one earring. Time to restock!!!!!

Needless to say, I will be spending more time with Carol the Chain Maille Queen to learn some of the more intricate chain maille techniques!!

Now I am off to spread mulch on my gardens before the rain rolls in! have a wonderful day!!