What is an Adventure?

Jennifer posted this over on Facebook and it struck a chord with me..one does not have to rocket to the moon to challenge oneself..or have an impact on others. ..
This has always seemed a very contemplative time of year for me...considering what changes I'd like to put forward for the new year..honing and refining ..

In a few short days we are headed into 2013 ..which I'm in a shock over..2012, I barely knew you..or so it seems ...As a crafts person January ( after crazy Xmas production and shipping)  brings a moment of down time , opening up little blank spots in the never ending mental To Do lists , this in turn allows thoughts and insights to randomly wander in and out more freely.. also the Creative Muse returns from her December vacation.

I happened to be outside at 6am ,putting feed out for the birds,  a nearby church rings it's bell at that time..however today it wasn't just a bing bong bing , but a series of Christmas tunes..ringing thru the darkness ..what unexpected good fortune to be out there to hear this little concert...it's probably been going on all week..but the surprise of it was uplifting .

It occurred to me , that Magic is often to be discovered in very small things and events..and that little bit of surprise brings about a certain sort of joy...

For 2013 ,my wish and hope is that we are more frequently able to discover the simple joys and magic that fill this world.

Thanks..funny

http://www.jibjab.com/view/H37AmTJcTeqsUF3jWJEYpg?utm_campaign=Friends+Timeline&utm_medium=Share&utm_source=Facebook&

Peanut Butter rice crispy treats

Tried Trisha Yearwood's peanut butter rice crispy balls...very sweet and the sugar plus corn syrups made them rather hard and the ball shape was difficult for some to eat...
so trying a new recipe.

Peanut butter rice crispy treats

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
• - OR -
• 1 jar - 7 oz  marshmallow creme
• 1/2 cup peanut butter    
• 6 cups rice crispy cereal 
• options - drizzle melted chocolate on top, or  shredded coconut 

Directions:

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. *Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until melted.  * if  using jar creme..melt the Peanut butter first,  then stir in the marshmallow creme

 2. Add  RICE cereal...can use Cheerios's as a sub.  Stir until well coated.

3. Using buttered spatula  press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Add peanut butter, stirring until combined. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

** 

Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze, place in layers separated by wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

taking quality photos set up

I really try to get decent photos..but let's face it, my photo skills need a lot of help..not totally horrible...unlike some I saw on Ebay last night..which left me wondering how on earth that seller thought their, seen thru a fog, photos would get a buyer..but still ..my photos don't do my own work justice..this lady needs to power that shine off her nose..

I visited this site , http://www.handmadeology.com/studio-quality-product-photography-with-a-12-set-up/  linked from the Love My Art Jewelry..I can do this..and you can too.... the light set up uses simple, at home items that can be  set up and put away easily..cheap too..using daylight...I do have the advantage of living in Texas where there is plenty of strong sunshine in the winter months ( mostly)... check it out .

Holiday Party

Holiday Cocktails: Spicy GingerMan

Ingredients:

1 oz Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Hazelnut liqueur
1/2 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
2 oz Ginger Beer

Cinnamon stick

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake over ice. Pour over ice into a rocks glass and garnish with Cinnamon stick.

* from singlemindedwomen.com

I'm not much of a drinkin' woman..but I love all things Ginger....this sounds very festive for something different  this holiday season..though Butterscotch schnapps??? not sure about that..might just stick to the vanilla, hazelnut and ginger.. 

I absolutely need to start making more jewelry...not just components..

this piece was donated to a benefit for an animal shelter...

The holiday season is not just approaching but HERE...I want to make some earrings for friends.. in researching  good quality earring backs , I prefer lever backs, but a lot of people wear posts which are more affordable in sterling silver than the lever backs..however they might prove to be an interesting attaching challenge..in any case I came upon this article which  had a lot of good info on posts...so just bookmarking it here.

http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2002/jan02/0102pb1.html

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

silver filled wire

a little explaination about silver filled wire from Eva's blog
http://evashermandesigns.blogspot.com/2011/12/sterling-vs-silver-filled-wire.html

ammonia -salt patina tech

http://art.jewelrymakingmagazines.com/~/media/Files/PDF/art-jewelry-ammonia-salt-patina-judy-freyer-thompson.ashx

From Then to Now- Bugs,Beads and Soup

The Bead Soup Party is ongoing this month, with 3 different reveal days since there was such an enormous response to Lori's 6th blog hop event..
This blog, Spirited Earth Studio is sort of a side blog where i catalog things i want to remember of just random things..
Cindy Wimmer wrote in her blog about the very first Bead Soup Party, Feb 2010, and how she was the winner of my cup of soup giveaway..this time she was selected to be my BSP#6 partner..lucky day for me.

Anyway...it got me to thinking back about how I came to be in this place..a bead maker..I really didn't see that coming...
This is really going to be embarrassing...but..
 I'm going to post a photo of my first ,not made in class , jewelry piece...it was for a challenge on Silver Parrots Blog,Nov 2009, we were to make pieces inspired by photos of certain bugs..

as you can see ..not one ceramic bead was on this bead woven bangle.

Then came Lori Anderson's brilliant  idea for a Bead Soup Party..there were 84 participants..gulp!
ohh, really bad photography,  my camera didn't have macro option.




And now....

I'm happy with my improvement over these last 2+ years..

I love the beading community and I'm thrilled to have turned from ceramic production (stress out) work to making beads..

399 !!!!!

399 ...that's the final number of participants in the 6th Bead Soup Party Blog Hop..
wow...now that's a party!!!!
Please go over to our hosts Lori's Blog to read more about this spectacular event

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2012/06/participants-of-6th-bead-soup-blog.html

A Year Already!

 This week it's been one full year since this fellow came wandering up..He's gone from a rumpled mange-sad dog to something a bit different.

Big dog then-9months old

                                            
                                         Big Dog now..in his lawn chair..

Oh, I should be doing a million other things right now..the list is a mile long..but what am I actually doing..taking photos of the dog..

Photography..My DownFall

 Yes..it's no surprise to anyone who has visited my Etsy shop..I take crappy photos..they do nothing for my pieces.. recently I discovered the pale background I had been using made the pieces appear too blue and flattened out..duh.
Currently I'm using an up-cycled table I put together from an old sewing machine base and topped with a very cool  rusted tray..it's a little better solution..sort of.

I recently came across this post on Sparrow Salvage's Blog, posted last summer,it's got wonderful info on how to achieve interesting but not distracting backgrounds..I soo love her work and her photos convey the soulful nature of her pieces.

Sparrow Salvage Etsy shop

Here is a link to the Blog post ..please check this out, it's very inspiring

http://sparrowsalvage.blogspot.com/2011/08/back-stage-with-sparrow-or-how-to-get_15.html

wire wrapped rings

Lytha Studios.com has a lovely free tutorial on wire wrapped rings..
this type project has been around for quite awhile, but I especially like this tutorial for the clear step by step photos..http://lythastudios.com/123bead/project-46.html
also Beth has a great post about wire wrapped rings on her blog..
Hintjewelry.blogspot.com
go over and read all about it.

SpiritedEarthStudio.com 
domain name is now mine..woohoo

 Since Picnik closed I've been looking for a new photo editing location,
this was suggested by Heather
http://ipiccy.com/editor

Cerebral Dilettante Crimp End Tutorial

Cerebral Dilettante has a wonderful tutorial on making coil cord ends..lots of great photos . It's in 2 parts..
I use this blog to bookmark cool stuff I find in Blogland..
Please go over to Cerebral Dilettante's blog to read her tutorial...you'll really like it.
#1 http://cerebraldilettante.blogspot.com/2012/04/make-your-own-coil-crimp-ends.html
#2 http://cerebraldilettante.blogspot.com/2012/04/using-coil-crimp-ends.html

^04 texture glaze

Bleeding Cake - Cone 04

Volcanic Ash 33

Borax 20

Sand* 16 * (I use the fine grain hobby sand from Michael's or other craft store)

Grolleg 11

EPK 20____________ 100

*For color add...Dark blue: + Cobalt Carbonate 3%
Moss green: + Chrome 1%
Brick red/warm brown: + Red Iron Oxide 15%
Golden/Yellow Ochre: + Rutile 8%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's been a long time since I've mixed glazes from scratch..but this one looks very interesting.

This recipe and the color chips are from Meagan Chaney's blog..go over and check it out.

Oh and for anyone in the Houston area..the ceramics store..who we all know has the very best prices on Everything..is having a sale on Monday April 16th..go to their website to get more info about that.

you know I'll be waiting when the door opens.

Georgia O'Keeffe

I've always loved Georgia O'Keeffe..this looks like a good read


http://bellabeadjewelrybylinda.blogspot.com/2012/04/from-my-book-shelf-how-georgia-became.html

ceramic bead artists tutorials

http://ceramicbeadartists.com/index.php?inc=4

embellished clasps

Erin had a blog with this link..http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/11/on-4th-day-of-christmas-embellished.html

patina with LOS gel

http://www.artclayworld.com/ProductInstructions/Patina_Gel_Instructions.pdf

Spring and Rabbits

2011 was the Chinese year of the Rabbit, to celebrate, I created an assortment of rabbit, bunny and and running hare pendants.

The very talented designer Kristy Abner, KristyKreations had this lovely necklace published in this Spring's Stringing Magazine. If you would like to see more of Kristy's amazing work, please visit her website,

http://kristyskreations.com/id1.html

Cool cold connection tutorial

http://fancifuldevices.blogspot.com/2012/02/connections-tute.html

macrame bracelet tutorial

 http://smittenbyaknot.com/2011/01/01/easy-macrame-bracelet-tutorial/

wire wrapping cord tutorial

A Jewlery Accord had this link :
http://www.lythastudios.com/123bead/wire-hook-n-eye.html

chocolate granola

I've been thinking of making my own granola for a while..Lorelei discovered this yummy recipe..http://mylittlecelebration.com/food/chocolate-granola/

Wabi Sabi

Rustic, Spontaneous,Scumbled, Sketched, Wabi Sabi

I've often described my beads as being in the Wabi Sabi style, but sometimes, I've wonder, if that is in fact a correct use of the word..

 I came across an interesting article explaining in detail the origins of the term wabi sabi..

Much like the word Raku , with westernization,both have taken on a somewhat different understanding from the original meaning.  http://www.nobleharbor.com/tea/chado/WhatIsWabi-Sabi.htm

This about sums it up

Now that I have your attention..

 The first thing I read this morning was an interview with the actress who played Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, this one segment moved me..I know it will color my day..in the very best of ways

 Mary Badham on being Scout interview:

What do you think the movie -- and the book -- still have to say to us?

It just has everything to say about intelligence and getting a good education and trying to live a positive, good life. We're still dealing with issues of ignorance, which, to me, breeds things like bigotry and racism and intolerance and hatred. So I think it helps us to reach up, beyond that. And this is a very important treasure house of what we can do to live a better life and to make this world a happier place to live in. If more people would try and reach up instead of going to the lowest common denominator, I think we'd be a lot better off.

Oh by the way, that is not a photo of me..but of a friend, playing around ..I just happen to love that photo..it makes me laugh..a good way to begin any day don't you think?

and she will absolutely kill me if she ever sees this ..shhhh

also > Design tutorial from Fanciful Devices
http://fancifuldevices.blogspot.com/2011/07/entropyorder-chaospattern.html

OPA best in Show 1992

Ellen Fager

Clay is the most wonderful material:  it waits for you; it is humble and expendable; there is no end to the things you can do with it, up to that point where it quietly, steadfastly, asserts its limitations; it accepts the mark of your hand, and in that mark you see yourself and the path you have travelled
Ellen Fager

I could not think of a better way to express how I also feel about clay..thanks Ellen

wire wraps and casual style tutorials

http://www.fusionbeads.com/beadingfaq/techniques.php?bfid=222  ring
http://www.fusionbeads.com/beadingfaq/techniques.php?bfid=206  beads

http://www.fusionbeads.com/beadingfaq/techniques.php?bfid=204 macrame bracelet
http://www.fusionbeads.com/beadingfaq/techniques.php?bfid=57 stringing beaded bracelet

Multi Strand Tutorials

From Fusion Beads
http://www.fusionbeads.com/beadingfaq/techniques.php?bfid=26

Tutorial on Picasa Collage Banner

Saw this link on Lori's FB post. I've seen some wonderful collage photos in the Blogs and would love to try this.
Please check out this tutorial over on Clover Lane Blog


http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2009/08/tutorial-on-how-to-make-blog-banner.html

Quick Gifts Idea

 Discovered this polymer clay tutorial over at Heathers blog..great idea and could be expanded to other things
http://humblebeads.blogspot.com/2010/12/last-minute-gift-project-wordy-bobby.html