Yes, Pigs Do Fly

Hi everybody!

Hoping you've all had a wonderful week. 

Pigs learned how to fly, folks!

You know those people who say they've never won anything?  Well I've always been one of them. Until now. Cuz now, I"M A WINNER!!!  Woo-hoo.

I don't even bother entering to win prizes.  You know, why torture myself? 

But when Nunn Design sent an email announcing new products and a giveaway, I thought why not.  I was happy to leave a comment on Becky's blog, (which is how one entered the giveaway) because I use her products and like using her products and because I've always enjoyed doing business with her and her company.  I always make a point to look her up when I'm at the Bead and Button show in Milwaukee to see what's new.  I knew, however, as I typed in my comment about how much I like using their bezel products with my resin work, that I didn't stand a chance at actually winning.  Why? Well, because that was a well established impossibility. Imagine my surprise when I received an email saying that I had, in fact won!  Just so you know, this is life changing people.  I am now, officially,  a winner.  And here's what they sent to prove it

Thank you  Becky and everyone at Nunn Design!  Can't wait to try it out.

Thank all  of you, blog commenters, for your very helpful suggestions regarding both my ear display dilemma and my photos. Much appreciated.

Great suggestion for the display fix, Skye! Thank you!  I didn't have any contact cement so I used packing tape.  The industrial strength variety.   Here's your idea in action.

Really good idea, love it!

Still a great idea, I just need to get me some contact cement.

I've had a really busy week with not alot of time for making new jewelry.  These earrings have been finished for awhile, but they didn't seem done to me.  So there they sat.  I tend to leave alot of my sterling jewelry nice and bright, because if I want it all dark and grungy, I can use copper or brass and get the same effect for alot less $.  These just needed something extra, though, because they are basically understated.  So out came the oxidizer and viola'!    What do you think? Not that you saw them before for comparison........

These are soldered wire wrapped copper tri-hoops.  I used Silvergleem solder which is bright and beautiful but in this case it needed to be brought down a notch.

Same with these.  Ametrine crystals on a Silvergleem soldered wire wrapped hoop.  Loving how they look now.

Roller printed sterling half moons with black and white freshwater pearls.

with teeny tiny little rivets on only one of the hanging holes.  you know, for artistic flair.
 Or something.

Yes an eye!  You know you didn't expect an eye on this here blog.  Did ya? Naw, of course not.  Not on this blog.

No, you're not imagining things.  I definately have a black and white thing going on.  Sometimes I throw in some of that Venetian-Tiffany-blue-light-aqua color.  I explained that in the last blog. 

There's also this but it didn't need oxidized.  It's just right as is. Because it has verdigris patina.  Right?  Just right. Right?

A waterlily floating on clear blue water. Ok it's a fabric neckband with metal mesh ribbon and seed bead embellishments.  It is supposed to give the illusion of water.  Artistic license.  No, my artistic license has not been suspended, though maybe you guys think it ought to be.

Yes, it's a matchy-matchy set, cuz what other earrings would you wear with that necklace?

I also was thinking that since I don't have alot of fabulous new jewelry to share with you guys, That I would show you some of my own personal collection.  Doesn't that sound like fun?  C'mon, you know it does. Now you'll see for yourselves, that while I make tasteful (sometimes) things for my shop, I make big and unusual things for myself.  Cuz I like my jewels big and bold, mostly.

Ok you're not imagining things.  This one isn't big or bold.  But that's cuz if it was, you'd never be able to see that tiny little seahorse in there amongst the coral.  They were both collected before they became endangered.  When it was ok to harvest them.  Yes, matchy earrings. Quit snickering you guys.  Sometimes matchy is a good thing.

This is a vintage luggage tag.  Made before it became illegal to make things like this out of alligators.  Back when they too were endangered.  Now there's 3,984 gators to every person living in Florida.    I know, I can hear you all now.  "Poor Gator"  Not like I haven't heard that before.  So here's another view for your enjoyment, horror or indifference.

So that you'll have time to calm your fluttering heart after seeing that, feast your eyes on this bracelet I made using an incredible Anne Choi bead.

It says "disappointments should be cremated, not embalmed"  Love that.

Next is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry.  Yes there's a story accompanying it.  Isn't there always?  And yes, you're correct, it involves my husband, the most interesting man in the world,
(who in actuality does not smoke cigars.  Just in case you imagined an aura of cigar smoke punctuating the air, you would be wrong.)

One day he comes into the house with that look on his face.  The one that says "I found something for you that you're gonna love".  That's pretty much what his voice said too.  Then he opened his hand and there it was......  (cliffhanger for Petra's benefit, cuz she loves them)

A PERFECT ROBINS EGG!

I had to turn it into something to wear around my neck, now didn't I?  There's a little transparent face swimming in that resin, though you can't see it in this picture.  There's tourmalinated quartz and keishi pearls and aquamarine and mixed metals.  So many of my favorite things.  See my continuing theme?  Black, white and that light aqua blue you see all over the place here.  I don't just make you guys look at it here in my virtual world.  I make people in my real world look at it too. All the time.

one more....

Eyes are beautiful, that's why.

So there you have it!  A peak into my jewelry box.  Where apparently only 2 out of 5 items are either big or weird or both.  Pretty good odds, I'd say, considering what you were expecting, eh?

And how did I do with the photos guys?  Not quite so blurry, huh?  Thank you, fanci and Petra for your very nice suggestions on how to crisp them up!  It worked!  You guys must have been wondering if I still need your expert blogging tips since I haven't been pestering you with a bunch of ridiculous questions lately.  As you can see, you've taught me well and I thank you.  But, yes, I do.  I've got a long way to go.  Don't breathe easy yet......


And here for your amusement and nothing else

awwwww  something cute since the featherless chickens creeped out so many of you. 

Cao (Croatian)

Have a great week!